按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
window； and spent wanton dalliances together； laughing； and deriding
（with many bitter taunts and jests） the lamentable condition of
poore Reniero。
About the Court walked hee numberlesse times； finding such exercises
as he could best devise； to compasse warmth in any manner： no seate or
shelter had he any where； either to ease himselfe by sitting downe a
while； or keepe him from the snow； falling continually on him； which
made him bestow many curses on the Ladies Brother； for his so long
tarrying with her； as beleeving him verily to be in the house； or else
she would （long before） have admitted his entrance； but therein his
hope was meerely deceived。 It grew now to be about the houre of
midnight； and Helena had delighted her selfe with her friend
extraordinarily； til at last； thus she spake to him。 What is thine
opinion of my amourous Scholler？ Which dost thou imagine to be the
greatest； either his sense and judgement； or the affection I beare
to him？ Is not this cold sufferance of his； able to quench the violent
heat of his loves extremitie； and having so much snow broth to helpe
it？ Beleeve me （sweet Lady） quoth her friend； as hee is a man； and a
learned Scholler； I pitty that he should bee thus ungently dealt
withall： but as he is my rivall and loves enemy； I cannot allow him
the least compassion； resting the more confidently assured of your
love to me； which I will alwayes esteeme most precious。
When they had spent a long while in this or the like conference；
with infinite sweet kisses and embraces intermixed； then she began
againe in this manner。 Deare love （quoth she） cast thy Cloake about
thee； as I intend to doe with my night mantle； and let us step to
the little window once more； to see whether the flaming fire； which
burned in the Schollers brest （as daily avouched to me in his love
letters） be as yet extinct or no。 So going to the window againe； and
looking downe into the Court； there they saw the Scholler dancing in
the snow； to the cold tune of his teeths quivering and chattering； and
clapping his armes about his body； which was no pleasing melody to
him。 How thinkest thou now sweet heart （saide cannot I make a man
daunce without the sound of a Taber； or of a Bagpipe？ yes beleeve me
Lady （quoth he） I plaine pereive you can； and would be very lothe；
that at should exercise your cunning on me。
Nay； said shee； we will yet delight our selves a little more； let us
softly descend downe the stayres； even so farre as to the Court doore：
thou shalt not speake a word； but I will talke to him； and heare
some part of his quivering language； which cannot choose but bee
passing pleasing for us to heare。
Out of the Chamber went they； and descended downe the stayres to the
Court doore； where； without opening it； she laide her mouth to a small
cranny； and in a low soft kinde of voyce； called him by his name：
which the Scholler hearing； was exceeding joyful； as beleeving verily；
that the houre of his deliverance was come； and entrance now should be
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 wel