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impeach or hinderance： and so parting； she returned home to her house。
Our over…joyed Scholler； applauding his happy Starres； for
furthering him with faire a way to his revenge； immagining that it was
already halfe executed； made the Image in due forme； and wrote an
old Fable； insted of a Charme； both which he sent to the Lady； so
soone as he thought the time to be fitting： and this admonition
withall； that the Moone being entering into the full； without any
longer delay； she might venter on the businesse the next night
following； and remaine assured to repossesse her friend。 Afterward for
the better pleasing of himselfe； he went secretly attended； onely by
his servant； to the house of a trusty frend of his； who dwelt
somwhat neere to the Turret； there to expect the issue of this
Lady…like enterprize。 And Madam Helena accompanied with none but
Ancilla walked on to her dairy Farme； where the night ensuing；
pretending to take her rest sooner then formerly she used to doe；
she commanded Ancilla to bed； referring her selfe to her best liking。
After she had to her first sleepe （according to the Schollers
direction） departing softly out of her chamber； she went on towards
the ancient Tower； standing hard by the river of Arno； looking every
way heedfully about hir； least she should be spied by any person。
But perceiving hir selfe to be so secure as she could desire；
putting off all her garments； she hid them in a small brake of bushes：
afterward； holding the Image in hir hand； seven times she bathd hir
body in the river； and then returned with it to the Tower。 The
Scholler； who at the nights closing up of day； had hid himselfe
among the willowes and other trees； which grew very thick about the
Tower； saw both hir going and returning from the River； and as she
passed thus naked by him； he plainly perceyved； that the nights
obscurity could not cloud the delicate whitenes of hir body； but
made the Starres themselves to gaze amorously on her； even as if
they were proud to behold her bathing； and （like so many twinkling
Tapers） shewed hir in emulation of another Diana。 Now； what
conflicts this sight caused in the mind of our Scholler； one while；
quenching his hatefull spleen towards hir； al coveting to imbrace a
piece of such perfection： another while； thinking it a purchase fit
for one of Cupids soldiers； to seize and surprize hir uppon so faire
an advantage； none being to yeild her rescue： in the fiery triall of
such temptations； I am not able to Judge； or to say； what resistance
flesh and blood could make； being opposed with such a sweet enemy。
But he well considering what she was； the greatnes of his injury； as
also how； and for whom： he forgot all wanton allurements of Love；
scorning to entertaine a thought of compassion； continuing constant in
his resolution； to let her suffer； as he himselfe had done。 So； Helena
being mounted up on the Turret； and turning her face towards the
North； she repeated those idle frivolous words （composed in the nature
of a charme） which shee had received from the Scholler。 Afterward；
by soft and stealing steps； hee went into the old Tower； and tooke
away the Ladder； whereby she ascended to the Tarras； staying and
listening； how shee proceeded in her amorous exorcisme。
Seven times she rehearsed the charme to the Image； looking still
when the two Ladies would appeare in their likenesse； and so long
she held on her imprecations （feeling greater cold； then willinglie
she would have done） that breake of day began to shew it selfe； and
halfe despairing of the Ladies comming； according as the Scholler
bad promised； she said to her selfe： I much misdoubt； that Reniero
hath quitted me with such another peece of night…service； as it was my
lucke to bestow on him： but if he have done it in that respect； hee
was but ill advised in his revenge； because the night wants now
three parts of the length； as then it had： and the cold which he
suffered； was far superior in quality to mine； albeit it is more sharp
now in the morning； then all the time of night it hath bin。
And； because day…light should not discover her on the Tarrasse；
she went to make her descent downe againe： but finding the Ladder to
be taken away； and thinking how her publike shame was now
inevitable； her heart dismayed； and shee fell downe in a swoune on the
Tarras： yet recovering her senses afterward； her greefe and sorrow ex。
ceeded all capacity of utterance。 For； now she became fully perswaded；
that this proceeded from the Schollers malice； repenting for her
unkinde usage towards him； but much more condemning her selfe； for
reposing any trust in him； who stood bound （by good reason） to be
her enemy。
Continuing long in this extreame affliction； and surveighing all
likely meanes about her； whereby she might descend from the Tarras；
whereof she was wholly disappointed： she began to sighe and weepe
exceedingly； and in this heavy perplexity of spirit； thus shee
complained to her selfe。 Miserable and unfortunate Helena； what will
be saide by thy Bretheren； Kindred； Neighbours； and generallie
throughout all Florence； when they shall know； that thou wast founde
heere on this Turret； starke naked？ Thine honourable carriage； and
honesty of life； heeretofore free from a thought of suspition； shall
now be branded with detestation； and if thou wouldst cloud this
mishappe of thine； by such lies and excuses； as are not rare amongst
women： yet Reniero that wicked Scholler； who knoweth all thy privy
compacting； will stand as a thousand witnesses against thee； and shame
thee before the whole City； so both thine honor and loved friend are
lost for ever。
Having thus consulted with her selfe； many desperate motions
entred her minde； to throw her selfe headlong from off the Tarras；
till better thoughts wone possession of her soule。 And the Sunne being
risen； shee went to every corner of the Tarras； to espye any Lad
come abroad with his beasts； by whom she might send for her
waitingwoman。 About this instant； the Scholler who lay sleeping （all
this while） under a bush； suddenly awaking； saw her looke over the
wall； and she likewise espyed him； whereupon hee said unto her。 Good
morrow Madame Helena； What？ are the Ladies come yet or no？ Helena
bearing his scorning question； and grieving that hee should so
delude her： in teares and lamentations； she intreated him to come
neere the Tower； because she desired to speake with him。 Which
courtesie he did not deny her； and she lying groveling upon her
brest on the Tarras； to hide her body that no part thereof might be
seene； but her head； weeping； she spake thus to him。
Reniero； upon my credit； if I gave thee an ill nights rest； thou
hast well revenged that wrong on me； for； although wee are now in
the moneth of july； I have beene plagued with extremity of colde （in
regard of my nakednesse） even almost frozen to death： beside my
continuall teares and lamenting； that folly perswaded me to beleeve
thy protestations； wherein I account it well…neere miraculous； that
mine eyes should be capable of any sight。 And therefore I pray thee；
lot in respect of any love which thou canst pretend to beare me； but
for regard of thine owne selfe； being a Gentleman and a Scholler； that
this punishment which thou hast already inflicted upon me； may suffice
for or my former injuries towards thee； and to hold selfe revenged
fully； as also permit my garments to be brought me； that I may descend
from hence； without taking th it from me； which afterward （although
thou wouldst） thou canst never restore me； I meane mine honour。 And
consider with thy selfe； that albeit thou didst not injoy my company
that unhappy night； yet thou hast power to command me at any time
when soever； with making many diversities of amends； for one nights
offence only committed。 Content thy selfe then good Reniero； and as
thou art an honest gentleman； say thou art sufficiently revenged on
me； in making me dearely confesse mine owne errour。
Never exercise thy malice upon a poore weake woman； for the Eagle
disdaineth to pray on the yeelding Dove： and therefore in meere pitty；
and for manhoods sake； be my release from open shame and reproch。
The Scholler； whose envious spleene was swolne very great； in
remembring such a malicious cruelty exercised on him； beholding to
weepe and make such lamentations； found a fierce conflict in his
thoughts； betweene content and pitty。 It did not a little joy and
content him； that the revenge which he so earnestly desired to
compasse； was now by him so effectually inflicted。 And yet （in meere
humanity） pitty provoked him； to commisserate the Ladies distressed
condition： but clemency being over…weake to withstand his rigor；
thus he replied。 Madam Helena； if mine entreaties （which； to speake
truly； I never knew how to steepe in tears； nor wrap up my words in
sugar Candie； so cuningly as you women know how to do） could have
prevailed； that miserable night； when I was well…neere frozen to death
with cold； and meerly buried with snow in your Court； not having
anie place of rescue or shelter； your complaints would now the more
easily over…rule me。 But if your honor in estimation； bee now more
precious to you then he