“So soone as I heard that it was your pleasure to dine with me, hauing regard to your excellency, and what (by merit) is justly due vnto you, I thought it a part of my bounden duty to entertaine you with such exquisite viands as my poore power could any way compasse, and farre beyond respect or welcome to other common and ordinary persons. Whereupon remembering my faulcone, which now you aske for, and her goodnesse excelling all other of her kinde, I supposed that she would make a dainty dish for your dyet; and, hauing drest her so well as I could deuise to do, you haue fed heartily on her, and I am proud that I haue so well bestowne her. But perceiuing now that you would haue her for your sicke sonne, it is no mean affliction to me that I am disabled of yeelding you contentment which all my lifetime I haue desired to doe.” To approve his words, the feathers, feete and beake were brought in; and when she saw this, she greatly blamed him for killing so rare a faulcone, to content the appetite of any woman whatsoeuer. Yet she commended his height of spirit which poverty had no power to abase. Lastly, her hopes being frustrate, for enjoying the faulcone, and fearing besides the health of her sonne, she thanked Frederigo for his honorable kindnesse, returning home againe sad and melancholly. Shortly after, her sonne, either greeuing that he could not hauve the faulcone, or by extreamity of his disease, chanced to die, leauing his mother a most woeful lady. After so much time was expired, as conveniently might agree with sorrow and mourning, her brethren made many motions to her to joyne herself in marriage againe, because she was extraordinarily rich and as yet but yong in years. Now, although she was well contented neuer to be married any more, yet, being continually importuned by them, and remembring the honourable honesty of _Frederigo_,--his last poore, yet magnificent dinner, in killing his faulcone for her sake,--she saide to her brethren: “This kinde of widdowed estate doth like me so well, as willingly I would neuer leave it: but seeing you are so earnest for my second marriage, let me plainly tell you, that I will neuer accept of any other husband but onely Frederigo di Alberino.” CONCLUSION. Such are facts, from which the nature and strength and delicacy of affection may be seen. Dear, dear Woman!--Let me,--indebted as I am to your tenderness and love for every blessing of my life,--let me say, in the words of the sweet Northern poet: “Long since, this world’s thorny ways Had numbered out my weary days, Had it not been for you.” William Stevens, Printer, Bell Yard, Temple Bar. TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES: Italicized text is surrounded by underscores: _italics_. Obvious typographical errors have been corrected. The cover image for this eBook was created by the transcriber and is entered into the public domain.