love I beare to you both； being as willing to worke any meanes that
may tend to your good； as I desire to compasse And because the truth
of mine affection cannot conceale it selfe to you； I meane to acquaint
you with an intention； wherewith my braine hath a long While travelled
and now may soone be delivered of； if it may passe with your liking
and approbation。 Let me then tell you； that except your speeches
savour of untruth； and your actions carry a double understaning； in
common behaviour both by night and day； you appeare to and consume
away； in the cordiall love you beare to two of the Sisters； as I
suffer the same afflictions for the third； with reciprocall。 requitall
of their deerest affection to us。 Now； to qualifie the heate of our
tormenting flames； if you will condescend to such a course as I
shall advise you； the remedy will yeild them equall ease to ours；
and we may safely injoy the benefit of contentment。 As wealth
aboundeth with you both； so doth want most extremely tyrannize over
me： but if one banke might be made of both your rich substances； I
embraced therein as a third partaker； and some quarter of the world
dissigned out by us； where to live at hearts ease upon your
possessions； I durst engage my credit； that all the sisters （not
meanely stored with their Fathers treasure） shall beare us company
to what place soever we please。 There each man freely enjoying his
owne deerest love； may live like three brethren； without any
hinderance to our mutuall content： it remaineth now in you
Gentlemen； to accept this comfortable offer； or to refuse it。
The two Brothers； whose pass exceeded their best means for
support； perceiving some hope how to enjoy their loves； desired no
long time of deliberation； or greatly disputed with their thoughts
what was best to be done： but readily replyed； that let happen any
danger whatsoever； they would joyne with him in this determination；
and he should partake with them in their wealthiest fortunes。 After
Restagnone had heard their answer； within some few dayes following； he
went to confer with Ninetta； which was no easie matter for him to
compasse。 Neverthelesse； opportunity proved so favourable to him； that
meeting with her at a private place appointed； he discoursed at large；
what had passed betweene him and the other two young Gentlemen；
maintaining the same with many good reasons； to have her like and
allow of the enterprize。 Which although （for a while） he could very
hardly doe； yet； in regard shee had more desire then power； without
suspition to be daily in his company； she thus answered。 My hearts
chosen friend； I cannot any way mislike your advice； and will take
such order with my Sisters； that they shal agree to our resolution。
Let it therefore be your charge； that you and the rest make every
thing ready； to depart from hence so soone； as with best convenient
meanes we may be enabled。
Restagnone being returned to Folco and Hugnetto； who thought
everie houre a yeare； to heare what would succeede upon the promise
past between them； he told them in plain termes； that their Ladies
were as free in consent as they； and nothing wanted now； but
furnishment for their sodaine departing。 Having concluded； that Candye
should bee their harbour for entertainment； they made sale of some few
inheritances which lay the readiest for the purpose； as also the goods
in their Houses； and then； under colour of venting Merchandizes
abroad； they bought a nimble Pinnace； fortified with good strength and
preparation； and wayted but for a convenient winde。 On the other side；
Ninetta who was sufficiently acquainted with the forwardnesse of her
Sisters desires； and her owne； had so substantially prevailed with
them； that a good Voyage now was the sole expectation。 Whereupon；
the same night when they should set away； they opened a stronk
barred Chest of their Fathers； whence they tooke great store of Gold
and costly jewels； wherewith escaping secretly out of the house；
they came to the place where their Lovers attended for them； and going
all aboord the Pinnace； the windes were so furtherous to them； that
without touching any where； the night following； they arrived at
Geneway。
There being out of perill or pursuit； they all knit the knot of
holy wedlocke； and then freely enjoyed their long wished desires； from
whence setting saile againe； and being well furnished with all
things wanting passing on from Port to Port； at the end of eight
dayes； they landed in Candie； not meeting with any impeachment on
the way。 Determining there to spend their daies； first they provided
themselves of goodly land in the Countrey； and then of beautifull
dwelling houses in the City； with al due furnishments belonging to
them； and Families well beseeming such worthy Gentlemen； and all
delights else for their dally recreations； inviting their。 Neighbours；
and they them againe in loving manner； so that no lovers could wish to
live in more ample contentment。
Passing on their time in this height of felicity； and not crossed by
any sinister accidents； it came to passe （as often wee may obserye
in the like occasions； that although delights doe most especially
please us； yet they breede surfet； when they swell too over…great in
abundance） that Restagnone； who most deerely affected his faire
Ninetta； and had her now in his free possession； without any perill of
loosing her： grew now also to bee weary of her； and consequently； to
faile in those familiar performances； which formerly had passed
betweene them。 For； being one day invited to a Banket； hee saw there a
beautifull Gentlewoman of that Countrey； whose perfections pleasing
him beyond all comparison： he laboured （by painfull pursuite） to win
his purpose； and meeting with her in divers private places； grew
prodigall in his expences upon her。 This could not be so closely
carried； but being seene and observed by Ninetta； she became possessed
with such extreame jealousie； that hee could not doe any thing
whatsoever； but immediately she had knowledge of it： which fire；
growing to a flame in her； her patience became extreamely provoked；
urging rough and rude speeches from her to him； and daily tormenting
him beyond power of sufferance。
As the enjoying of any thing in too much plenty； makes it appeare
irkesome and loathing to us； and the deniall of our desires； do more
and more whet on the appetite： even so did the angry spleen of Ninetta
proceed on in violence； against this new commenced love of Restagnone。
For； in succession of time； whether he enjoyed the embracements of his
new Mistresse； or no： yet Ninetta （by sinister reports； but much
more through her owne jealous imaginations） held it for infallible；
and to bee most certaine。 Heereupon； she fell into an extreame
melancholly； which melancholly begat implacable fury； and
（consequently） such contemptible disdaine； as converted her formerly
kindely love to Restagnone； into Most cruell and bloudie hatred；
yea； and so strangely was reason or respect confounded in her； as no
revenge else but speed death； might satisfie the wrongs shee
imagined to receive by Restagnone and his Minion。
Upon enquiry； by what meanes shee might best compasse her bloody
intention； she grew acquainted with a Grecian woman； and wonderfully
expert in the compounding of poysons； whom shee so perswaded by
gifts and bounteous promises； that at the length shee prevayled with
her。 A deadly water was distilled by her； which （without any other
counsell to the contrary） on a day when Restagnone had his blood
somewhat over…heated； and little dreamed on any such Treason conspired
against him by his Wife； shee caused him to drinke a great draught
thereof； under pretence； that it was a most soveraigne and cordiall
water； but such was the powerfull operation thereof； that the very
next morning； Restagnone was found to bee dead in his bed。 When his
death was understoode by Folco； Hugnetto； and their Wives； and not
knowing how hee came to bee thus empoysoned （because their Sister
seemed to bemoane his sodaine death； with as apparant shewes of
mourning； as they could possibly expresse） they buried him very
honourably； and so all suspition ceased。
But as Fortune is infinite in her fagaries； never acting disaster so
closely； but as cunningly discovereth it againe： so it came to
passe； that within a few dayes following； the Grecian Woman that had
delivered the poyson to Ninetta； for such another deede of
damnation； was apprehended even in the action。 And being put upon he
tortures； among many other horrid villanies her committed； she
confessed the empoysoning of Restagnone； and every particle thereto
appertaining。 Whereupon； the Duke of Candie； without any noyse or
publication； setting a strong guard （in the night time） about the
house of Folco； where Ninetta then was lodged； there sodainly they
seized on her； and upon examination； in maintenance of desperate
revenge； voluntarily confessed the fact； and what else concerned the
occasion of his death； by the wrongs which he had offered her。
Folco and Hugnetto understanding secretly； both from the Duke； and
other intimate friends； what was the reason of Ninettaes apprehension；
which was not a little displeasing to them； labored by all their
best paines and endeavour； to worke such meanes with the Duke； that
her life might not perish by fire； although she had most justly
deserved it； but all theyr attempts proved to no effect； because the
Duke had concluded to execute justice。
Heere you are to observe； that Magdalena （beeing a very beautifull
Woman； yong； and in the choisest flower of her time：） had often before
bene solicited by the Duke； to entertaine his love and kindnesse：
whereto by no meanes she would listen or give consent。 And being now
most earnestly importuned by her for the safetie of her Sisters
life； hee tooke hold on this her dayly suite to him； and in private
told her； that if she was so desirous of Ninettaes life： it lay in her
power to obtain it； by granting him the fruition of her love。 She
apparantly perceiving that Ninetta was not likely to live； but by
the prostitution of her chaste honour； which she preferred before
the losse of her owne life； or her sisters；