mervaile； if he lived so merily as he did； having such a singular
supply； to avoide all necessities whatsoever： and very hardly could he
refraine from immediate request； to be accepted into the company。
But yet he thought fit to deferre it further； untill he had made Bruno
more beholding to him； by friendly entertainments and other
courtesies； when he might （with better hope） be bold to move the
motion。
Well may you conceive； that nothing more hammerd in the Doctors
head； then this rare voyage to Corsica； and Bruno was his daily
guest at dinner and supper； with such extraordinary apparances of
kindnesse and courtesie； as if the Physitian could not live； except he
had the company of Bruno。 Who seeing himselfe to bee so lovingly
respected； and hating ingratitude； for favours so abundantly heaped on
him： hee painted the whole story of Lent about his Hall； and an
Agnus Dei fairely gilt； on the portall of his Chamber； as also a
goodly Urinall on his street doore； to the end； that such as had neede
of his counsell； might know where so judicious a Doctour dwelt。 In a
Gallery likewise by his Garden； he painted the furious Battaile
betweene the Rats and Cats； which did （not a little） delight Master
Doctor。
Moreover； at such times as Bruno had not supt with our Physitian； he
would bee sure to tell him on the morrow； that the night passed； he
had bin with the Company which he did wot of。 And there （quoth he） the
Queene of England having somewhat offended mee； I commanded； that
the Gomedra； belonging to the Grand Cham of Tartaria； should be
brought me； and instantly shee was。 What may be the meaning of
Gomedrabe？ said the Doctor； I understand not those difficult names。
I beleeve you Sir； answered Bruno； nor do I need to marvalle
thereat： and yet I have heard Porcograsso speake； and also Vannacenna；
and both unexperienced in our Language。 You would say （replyed the
Doctor） Hippocrates and Avicenna； who were two admirable Physitians。
It may be so （said Bruno） and as hardly do I understand your names； as
you mine： but Gomedra； in the Grand Chams language； signifies Empresse
in ours。 But had you once seene her Sir； she would make you forget all
Physicall observations； your arguments； receits； and medicines；
onely to be in her heavenly presence； which words he used
（perceiving his forward longing） to enflame him the more。 Not long
after； as the doctor was holding the candle to Bruno； at the
perfecting the bloody Battayle of the Cattes and Rattes； because he
could never bee wearied in his Companie； and therefore was the more
willing； to undergoe the office of the Candle…holder： he resolved to
acquaint him with his minde； and being all alone by themselves； thus
he began。
Bruno； as heaven knoweth； there is not this day any creature living；
for whom I would gladly do more； then for thee； and the very least
word of thy mouth； hath power to commaund mee to goe bare…footed； even
from hence so farre as to Peretola； and account my labour well
employed for thy sake： wherefore； never wonder at my continuall
kindnesse towards thee； using thee as my Domesticke companion； and
embracing thee as my bosome friend； and therefore I am the bolder in
mooving one request unto thee。 As thou well knowest； it is no long
while since； when thou diddest acquaint me with the behaviour of the
Corsicane Roving Company； to be one in so rare and excellent a
Society； such hath bin my earnest longing ever since； as day nor night
have I enjoyed anie rest； but should thinke my felicity beyond all
compare； if I could be entertained in fellowship among you。
Nor is this desire of mine but upon great occasion； as thou thy
selfe shalt perceive； if I prove accepted into your Societie； and
let me then be made a mocking stocke for ever； if I cause not to
come thither one of the most delicate young women； that ever anie
eye beheld； and which I my selfe saw （not above a yeare since） at
Cacavinciglia； on whom I bestowed my intirest affection； and （by the
best Urinall that ever I gazed on） would have given her tenne faire
Bologninaes； to yeeld the matter I moved to her； which yet I could not
（by any meanes） compasse。 Therefore； with all the flowing faculties of
my soule I entreate thee； and all the very uttermost of my all
indeede； to instruct me in those wayes and meanes； whereby I may
hope to be a member of you。 Which if thou dooest accomplish for me；
and I may finde it effectually performed： I shall not onely be thy
true and loyall friend for ever； but will honour thee beside； beyond
all men living。
I know thee to bee a man of judgement； deepely informed in all
well…grounded experience： thou seest what a propper； portly； and
comely man I am； how fitly my legges are answerable to my body； my
lookes amiable； lovely； and of Rosie colour： beside I am a Doctor of
Physicke； of which profession （being only most expedient） I thinke you
have not one in your Society。 I have many commendable qualities in me；
as； playing on divers instruments； exquisite in singing； and composing
rare ditties； whereof I will instantly sing thee one。 And so he
began to sing。
Bruno was swolne so bigge with desire of laughter； that hee had
scarsely any power to refraine from it： neverthelesse； he made the
best meanes he could devise： and the Song being ended； the Physition
saide。 How now Bruno？ What is thine opinion of my singing？ Beleeve
me Sir； replyed Bruno； the Vialles of Sagginali； will loose their very
best times； in contending against you； so mirilifficially are the
sweet accents of your voice heard。 I tell thee truly Bruno （answered
Master Doctor） thou couldst not by any possibility have beleeved it；
if thou hadst not heard it。 In good sadnes Sir （said Bruno） you speake
most truly。 I could （quoth the Doctor） sing thee infinite more beside；
but at this time I must forbeare them。 Let mee then further informe
thee Bruno； that beside the compleat perfections thou seest in me；
my father was a Gentleman； althogh he dwelt in a poore Country
village； and by my mothers side； I am derived from them of Vallecchio。
Moreover； as I have formerly shewn thee； I have a goodly Library of
Bookes； yea； and so faire and costly garments； as few Physitians in
Florence have the like。 I protest to thee upon my faith； I have one
gowne； which cost me （in readie money） almost an hundred poundes in
Bagattinoes； and it is not yet above ten yeares old。 Wherefore let
me prevaile with thee； good Bruno； to worke so with the rest of thy
friends； that I may bee one of your singular Society； and； by the
honest trust thou reposest in mee； bee boldly sick whensoever thou
wilt； my paines and Physicke shall be freely thine； without the
payment of one single peny。 Bruno hearing his importunate words； and
knowing him （as all men else did beside） to be a man of more words
then wit； saide。 Master Doctor； snuffe the candle I pray you； and lend
me a little more light with it hitherward； until I have finished the
tailes of these Rats； and then I wil answer you。
When the Rats tailes were fully finished； Bruno declaring by outward
behaviour； that he greatly distasted the matter mooved； thus answered。
Worthy Master Doctor； the courtesies you have already extended towards
me； and the bountifull favours promised beside； I know to be exceeding
great； and farre beyond the compasse of any merit in me。 But
concerning your request； albeit in respect of your admired braine
and Wisedome； it is of little or no moment at all； yet it appeareth
over…mighty to mee； and there is not any man now living in the
world； that hath the like Authoritie over me； and can more commaund
me； then you （with one poore syllable） easily may doe： as well in
regarde of my Love and Dutie； as also your singular and sententious
speeches； able not onelie to make me breake a sound and setled
resolution； but （almost） to move Mountaines out of their places； and
the more I am in your Learned company； so much the faster am I lincked
unto you； in immooveable affection； so farre am I in love with your
admirable qualities。 And had I no other reason； to affect you in
such endeared manner； as I doe； yet because you are enamoured of so
rare a beauty； as you have already related to me； it onely were a
motive sufficient to compell me。 But indeed I must need tell you； that
I have not so much power in this case； as you （perhaps） do imagine；
which barreth me from such forward readines； as otherwise needed not
to be urged。 Neverthelesse； having so solemnly ingaged your faith to
me； and no way misdoubting your faithfull secrecy； I shall instruct
you in some meanes to be observed； and it appeareth plainly to me；
that being furnished with such plenty of Bookes； as you are； and other
rich endowments； as you have before rehersed； you cannot but attaine
to the full period of your longing desire。
Speake boldly thy minde Bruno； answered the Doctour： for； I perceive
thou hast no perfect knowledge of me as yet； neither what an especiall
gift I have of secrecy。 Messer Gasparino da Salicete； when he was
Judge and Potestat over the people of Forlini； made choise of mee
（among infinite of his dearest friends） to acquaint with a secret of
no meane moment。 And such a faithfull Secretary he found me； as I
was the onely man； that knew his mariage with Bergamino； why then
should any distrust be made of me？ If it be so as you say Sir
（answered Bruno） your credit is the sounder； and I dare the better
adventure on your fidelity： the meanes then which you are to worke by；
I shall now direct you in。
We have alwayes in this noble Society of ours； a Captaine； and two
Counsellors； which are changed at every six months end。 And now at
Christmas next （so neere drawing on） Buffalmaco shal be elected
Captaine； and my selfe one of the Counsellers； for so it is already
agreed on； and orderly set downe。 Now； he that is Captain； may doe
much more then any other can； and appoint matters as himselfe
pleaseth。 Wherefore I thinke it very expedient； that so soone as
possibly you may； you procure acquaintance with Buffalmaco； entreating
him with all respective courtesie。 Hee is a man； who when he
perceyveth you to be so wonderfully Wise and discreete； he will be
immediatly in love with you： so； when yo