admitted him。 Upon the hearing of her voyce； hee stept close to the
doore； saying。 For charities sake； good Lady； let me come in；
because I am almost dead with cold； whereto thus she answered in
mocking manner。 I make no doubt （my deare friend Reniero） but the
night is indifferent colde； and yet somewhat the warmer by the
Snowes falling： and I have heard that such weather as this； is
tenne…times more extreame at Paris； then heere in our warmer Countrey。
And trust me； I am exceeding sorrowfull； that I may not （as yet）
open the doore； because mine unhappy brother； who came （unexpected）
yester…night to suppe with mee； is not yet gone； as within a short
while （I hope） he will； and then shall I gladly set open the doore
to you； for I made an excuse to steale a little from him； onely to
cheare you with this small kind of comfort； that his so long
tarrying might be the lesse offensive to you。
Alas sweet Madame； answered quaking and quivering Reniero； bee then
so favourable to me； as to free me from forth this open Court； where
there is no shelter or helpe for me； the snow falling still so
exceedingly； as a man might easily be more then halfe buried in it：
let me but within your doore； and there I will wait your own good
leisure。 Alas deare Reniero （answered Helena） I dare not doe it；
because the doore maketh such a noyse in the opening； as it will be
too easily heard by my Brother： but I will goe and use such meanes； as
shortly hee shall get him gone； and then I dare boldly give you
entrance。 Doe so good Madame； replyed Reniero； and let there be a
faire fire made ready； that when I am within； I may the sooner warme
my selfe； for I am so strangely benummed with colde； as well…neere I
am past all sence of feeling。
Can it be possible （quoth Helena） that you should be so benummed
with colde？ Then I plainely perceive； that men can lye in their love
letters； which I can shew under your own hand； how you fryed in
flames； and all for my love； and so have you written to me in every
letter。 Poore credulous women are often thus deluded； in beleeving
what men write and speake out of passion： but I will returne backe
to my Brother； and make no doubt of dispatch； because I would gladly
have your Company。
The amourous Friend to Helena； who stood by all this while； laughing
at the Schollers hard usage； returned up againe with her to her
Chamber； where they could not take a jote of rest； for flouting and
scorning the betrayed Scholler； As for him poore man； hee was become
like the Swanne； coldly chattering his teeth together； in a strange
new kinde of harmony to him。 And perceiving himselfe to be meerely
mocked； he attempted to get open the doore； or how he might passe
forth at any other place； but being no way able to compasse it； he
walked up and downe like an angry Lyon； cursing the hard quality of
the time； the discourtesie of the Lady； the over…tedious length of the
night； but （most of all） his owne folly and simplicity； in being so
basely abused and gulde。 Now began the heat of his former affection to
Helena； altered into as violent a detestation of her； Yea； extremity
of hatred in the highest degree； beating his braines； and ransacking
every corner of in。 vention； by what meanes he might best be
revenged on her； which now he more earnestly desired to effect； then
to enjoy the benefit of her love； or to be embraced betweene her
armes。
After that the sad and discomfortable night had spent it selfe；
and the break of day was beginning to appeare； Ancilla the
waiting…woman； according as she was instructed by her Lady； went downe
and opened the Court doore； and seeming exceedingly to compassionate
the Schollers unfortunate night of sufferance； saide unto him。
Alas courteous Gentleman； in an unblessed houre came my Ladyes
brother hither yesternight； inflicting too much trouble upon us； and a
grievous time of affliction to you。 But I am not ignorant； that you
being vertuous； and a judicious Scholler； have an invincible spirit of
pacience； and sufficient understanding withall； that what this night
could not affoord； another may make a sound amends for。 This I can and
dare sufficiently assure you； that nothing could be more displeasing
to my Lady； neither can she well be quieted in her mind： untill she
have made a double and treble requitall； for such a strange unexpected
inconvenience； whereof she had not the very least suspition。
Reniero swelling with discontentment； yet wisely clouding it from
open apprehension； and knowing well enough； that such golden
speeches and promises； did alwaies savour of what intemperate
spleene would more lavishly have vented foorth； and therefore in a
modest dissembling manner； without the least shew of any anger； thus
he answered。
In good sadnesse Ancilla； I have endured the most miserablest
night of cold； frost and snow； that ever any poore Gentleman suffered；
but I know well enough； your Lady was not in any fault thereof；
neither meriteth to be blamed； for in her owne person （as being truely
compassionate of my distresse） she came so farre as the doore of
this Court； to excuse her selfe； and comfort mee。 But as you saide；
and very well too； what hath failed this night； another hereafter
may more fortunately performe： in hope whereof； commend my love and
duteous service to her； and （what else remaineth mine） to your
gentle selfe。
So our halfe frozen Scholler； scarcely able to walke upon his
legges； returned home； （so well as hee could） to his owne lodging；
where； his spirits being grievously out of order； and his eyes staring
gastly through lacke of sleepe： he lay downe on h bed； and after a
little rest； he found himselfe in much worse condition then before； as
meerely taken lame in his armes and his legges。 Whereupon he was
inforced to send for Phisitions； to be advised by their councell； in
such an extremity of cold received。 Immediately； they made provision
for his healthes remedie （albeit his nerves and sinewes could very
hardly extend themselves） yet in regard he was yong； and Summer
swiftly drawing on； they had the better hope of affecting his safty；
out of so great and dangerous a cold。
But after he was become almost well and lusty againe； hee used to be
seldome seene abroad for an indifferent while； concealing his intended
revenge secret to himselfe； yet appearing more affectionate to
Madame Helena； then formerly he had beene。
Now； it came to passe （within no long while after） that Fortune
being favourable to our injured Scholler； prepared a new accident；
wherby he might fully effect his harts desire。 For the lusty yong
Gallant； who was Madame Helenaes deare darling and delight； and （for
whose sake） she dealt so inhumanely with poore Reniero： became weary
of her amourous service； and was falne in liking of another Lady；
scorning and disdaining his former Mistresse； whereat shee grew
exceedingly displeased； and began to languish in sighes and teares。
But Ancilla her waiting…woman； compassionating the perilous
condition of her Lady； and knowing no likely meanes whereby to conquer
this oppressing melancholly； which shee suffered for the losse of
her hearts chosen friend： at length she began to consider； that the
Scholler still walked daily by the doore； as formerly hee was wont
to doe； and （by him） there might some good be done。
A fond and foolish opinion overswayed her； that the Scholler was
extraordinarily skilfull in the Art of Nigromancy； and could thereby
so over…rule the heart of her lost friend； as hee should bee compelled
to love her againe； in as effectuall manner as before； herewith
immediately she acquainted her Lady； who being as rashly credulous； as
her maide was opinionative （never considring； that if the Scholler had
any experience in Negromancy； hee would thereby have procured his owne
successe） gave releefe to her surmise； in very joviall and comfortable
manner； and entreated her in all kindnes； to know of him； whether he
could worke such a businesse； or no； and （upon his undertaking to
effect it） shee would give absolute assurance； that （in recompence
thereof） he should unfainedly obtaine his hearts desire。 Ancilla was
quicke and expeditious； in delivering this message to discontented
Reniero； whose soule being ready to mount out of his body； onely by
conceit of joy； chearefully thus he said within himselfe。 Gracious
Fortune！ how highly am I obliged to thee for this so great favour？ Now
thou hast blest me with a happy time； to be justly revenged on so
wicked a woman； who sought the utter ruine of my life； in recompence
of the unfaigned affection I bare her。 Returne to thy Lady （quoth
he） and saluting her first on my behalfe； bid her to abandon all
care in this businesse； for； if her amourous Friend were in India； I
would make him come （in meere despight of his heart） and crave mercy
of her for his base transgression。 But concerning the meanes how；
and in what manner it is to bee done； especially on her owne
behalfe： I will impart it to her so soone as she pleaseth： faile not
to tell her so constantly from me； with all my utmost paines at her
service。
Ancilla came jocondly home with her answere； and a conclusion was
set downe for their meeting together at Santa Lucia del prato； which
accordingly was performed； in very solemne conference between them。
Her fond affection had such power over her； that shee had forgot； into
what peril she brought his life； by such an unnatural nightwalke：
but disclosed all her other intention to him； how loth she was to lose
so deare a friend； and desiring him to exercise his utmost height of
skil； with large promises of her manifold favours to him； whereto
our Scholler thus replyed。
Very true it is Madam； that among other studies at Paris； I
learned the Art of Negromancy； the depth whereof I am as skilfull
in； as anie other Scholler whatsoever。 But； because it is greatly
displeasing unto God； I made a vow never to use it； either for my
selfe； or anie other。 Neverthelesse； the love I beare you is of such
power； as I know not well how to denie； whatsoever you please to
command me： in which respect； if in doing you my very best service；
I were sure to bee seized on by all the divels： I will not faile to