Supplemental Nights to the Book of the Thousand and One Nights — Volume 2 (of 6)
General
Supplemental Nights to the Book of the Thousand and One Nights — Volume 2 (of 6)
Fairy tales; Tales -- Arab countries
Wel, hee was bidden to supper the next night at her mother’s, she
thinking to make her daughter and him freends againe. In the meane time
he to his woonted walk in the church, and there, _præter expectationem_,
he found Lionello walking. Wondring at this, he straight enquires what
newes. What newes, Maister Doctor, quoth he, and he fell in a great
laughing; in faith yesterday, I scapt a scouring, for syrrha, I went to
the grange-house, where I was appointed to come, and I was no sooner
gotten up the chamber, but the magicall villeine, her husband, beset the
house with bils and staves, and that he might be sure no seeling nor
corner should shrowde me, he set the house on fire, and so burnt it
downe to the ground. Why, quoth Mutio, and how did you escape? Alas,
quoth he, wel fare a woman’s wit; she conveighed me into an old chest
full of writings, which she knew her husband durst not burne, and so I
was saved and brought to Pisa, and yesternight, by her maide, let home
to my lodging. This, quoth he, is the pleasantest jest that ever I
heard; and upon this I have a sute to you: I am this night bidden foorth
to supper, you shall be my guest, onely I will crave so much favour, as
after supper for a pleasant sporte, to make relation what successe you
have had in your loves. For that I will not sticke, quoth he, and so he
conveyed Lionello to his mother-in-lawe’s house with him, and discovered
to his wive’s brethren who he was, and how at supper he would disclose
the whole matter; For, quoth he, he knowes not that I am Margaret’s
husband. At this all the brethren bad him welcome, and so did the mother
to, and Margaret, she was kept out of sight. Supper time being come they
fell to their victals, and Lionello was carrowst unto by Mutio, who was
very pleasant, to drawe him into a merry humor, that he might to the ful
discourse the effect and fortunes of his love. Supper being ended, Mutio
requested him to tel to the gentlemen what had hapned between him and
his mistresse. Lionello, with a smiling countenance, began to describe
his mistresse, the house and street where she dwelt, how he fell in love
with her, and how he used the councell of this doctor, who in all his
affaires was his secretarye. Margaret heard all this with a great feare,
and when he came to the last point, she caused a cup of wine to be given
him by one of her sisters, wherein was a ring that he had given
Margaret. As he had told how he had escapt burning, and was ready to
confirme all for a troth, the gentlewoman drunke to him, who taking the
cup and seeing the ring, having a quick wit and a reaching head, spide
the fetch, and perceived that all this while this was his lover’s
husband to whome hee had revealed these escapes; at this drinking the
wine and swallowing the ring into his mouth he went forward. Gentlemen,
quoth he, how like you of my loves and my fortunes? Wel, quoth the
gentlemen; I pray you is it true? As true, quoth he, as if I would be so
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