French fiction -- Translations into English; Italian fiction -- Translations into English
The whole Citty also rang of the sleights and meanes she vsed to
trappe the Noblemen, and of her pollicies to be rid of them when
her thirst was stanched, or diet grew lothesome for want of
chaunge. And that whych greued hir most, an Italyan Epigram
blased forth hir prowes to hir great dishonour, whereof the Copy
I cannot get, and some say that Ardizzino was the author: for it
was composed, when he was dispossessed of pacience: and if shee
coulde haue wreked hir will on the knights, I beleeue in hir
rage she would haue made an Anathomy of their Bones. Of whych
hir two enimies, Ardizzino was the greatest, agaynst whom hir
displeasure was the more, for that he was the first with whom
she entred skirmish. Nothing was more frequent in Pauy, than
villanous Iests, and Playes vppon the filthy Behauiour of the
Countesse, which made hir ashamed to goe out of hir Gates. In
the ende shee purposed to chaunge the Ayre and place, hoping by
that alteration to stay the Infamous Brute, and Slaunder: so she
came to Millan, where first she was inuested wyth state of
honour, in honest Fame of Chaste lyfe so longe as Vicount Hermes
liued, and then was not pursued to staunch the thirst of those
that did ordinarily draw at hir Fountayne. About the tyme that
she departed from Pauy, Dom Pietro de Cardone a Scicilian, the
Bastard Brother of the Counte of Colisano, whose Lieuetenaunt he
was, and their father slayn at the Battayle of Bicocca wyth a
band of horsemen arriued at Milan. This Scicilian was about the
age of one or two and twenty yeres, somwhat black of face,
but well made and sterne of countenance: whiles the Countesse
soiorned at Milan, this gentleman fell in loue with hir, and
searched all meanes he coulde to make hir hys friende, and to
enioy hir: who perceyuing him to be young, and a Nouice in
Skirmishes of Loue, lyke a Pigeon of the first coate, determined
to lure him, and to serue hir turne in that which shee purposed
to doe on those agaynst whom shee was outragiously offended. Now
the better to entice thys younge Lorde vnto her Fantasye, and to
catch hym wyth hir bayte, when hee passed through the Streate,
and saluted hir, and when he Syghed after the manner of the
Spaniard, rominge before hys Lady, shee shewed him an
indifferent mery Countenaunce, and sodaynely restrayned that
Cheere, to make hym taste the pleasure mingled with the soure of
one desire, which he could not tel how to accomplish: and the
more faynt was his hardines for that he was neuer practised in
the daliance and seruice of Lady of noble house or calling,
who thincking that the Gentlewoman was one of the Principall of
Millan, he was straungely vexed, and tormented for hir loue, in
sutch wyse as in the night he could not rest for fantasing, and
thynking vpon hir, and in the Day passed up and downe before the
Doore of her lodging. One eueninge for his disport hee went
forth to walke in company of another Gentleman, which well could
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