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behaviour； that he greatly distasted the matter mooved； thus answered。
Worthy Master Doctor； the courtesies you have already extended towards
me； and the bountifull favours promised beside； I know to be exceeding
great； and farre beyond the compasse of any merit in me。 But
concerning your request； albeit in respect of your admired braine
and Wisedome； it is of little or no moment at all； yet it appeareth
over…mighty to mee； and there is not any man now living in the
world； that hath the like Authoritie over me； and can more commaund
me； then you （with one poore syllable） easily may doe： as well in
regarde of my Love and Dutie； as also your singular and sententious
speeches； able not onelie to make me breake a sound and setled
resolution； but （almost） to move Mountaines out of their places； and
the more I am in your Learned company； so much the faster am I lincked
unto you； in immooveable affection； so farre am I in love with your
admirable qualities。 And had I no other reason； to affect you in
such endeared manner； as I doe； yet because you are enamoured of so
rare a beauty； as you have already related to me； it onely were a
motive sufficient to compell me。 But indeed I must need tell you； that
I have not so much power in this case； as you （perhaps） do imagine；
which barreth me from such forward readines； as otherwise needed not
to be urged。 Neverthelesse； having so solemnly ingaged your faith to
me； and no way misdoubting your faithfull secrecy； I shall instruct
you in some meanes to be observed； and it appeareth plainly to me；
that being furnished with such plenty of Bookes； as you are； and other
rich endowments； as you have before rehersed； you cannot but attaine
to the full period of your longing desire。
Speake boldly thy minde Bruno； answered the Doctour： for； I perceive
thou hast no perfect knowledge of me as yet； neither what an especiall
gift I have of secrecy。 Messer Gasparino da Salicete； when he was
Judge and Potestat over the people of Forlini； made choise of mee
（among infinite of his dearest friends） to acquaint with a secret of
no meane moment。 And such a faithfull Secretary he found me； as I
was the onely man； that knew his mariage with Bergamino； why then
should any distrust be made of me？ If it be so as you say Sir
（answered Bruno） your credit is the sounder； and I dare the better
adventure on your fidelity： the meanes then which you are to worke by；
I shall now direct you in。
We have alwayes in this noble Society of ours； a Captaine； and two
Counsellors； which are changed at every six months end。 And now at
Christmas next （so neere drawing on） Buffalmaco shal be elected
Captaine； and my selfe one of the Counsellers； for so it is already
agreed on； and orderly set downe。 Now； he that is Captain； may doe
much more then any other can； and appoint matters as himselfe
pleaseth。 Wherefore I thinke it very expedient； that so soone as
possibly you may； you procure acquaintance with Buffalmaco； entreating
him with all respective courtesie。 Hee is a man； who when he
perceyveth you to be so wonderfully Wise and discreete； he will be
immediatly in love with you： so； when you have your best senses
about you； and your richest wearing Garments on （alwayes remembred；
that your acquaintance first be fully confirmed） then never feare to
urge your request； for he can have no power at all to denie you；
because I have already spoken of you to him； and find him to stand
affected unto you verie intirely： thus when you have begunne the
businesse； leave me to deale with him in the rest。
Now trust me kinde friend Bruno； replyed the Physitian； I like
your advice exceeding well。 For； if hee be a man； that taketh
delight to converse with men of skill and judgement； and you have made
the way for his knowing me： he wil him thirst； and long to follow
after mee； to understand the incredible eloquence flowing from me； and
the rare composition of my Musicall Ditties； out of which he may
learne no meane wisedome。 When the matter was thus agreed on
betweene them； Bruno departed thence； and acquainted Buffalmaco with
everie circumstance： which made him thinke everie day a yeare；
untill he might in the fooling of Mayster Doctoar； according to his
owne fancie。 Who beeing also as desirous on the other side； to make
one in the Corsicane Voyage； could take no manner of rest either by
day or night； till he was linked in friendship with Buffalmaco；
which very quickely after hee compassed。
For now there wanted no costly dinners and suppers； with al
delicates could be devised； for the entertainement of Buffalmaco and
Bruno； who； like Guests very easie to be invited； where rich wines and
good cheare are never wanting； needed little sending for； because
his house was as familiar to them； as their owne。 In the end； when the
Physitian espyed an opportunitie apt for the purpose； he made the same
request to Buffalmaco； as formerly hee had done to Bruno。 Whereat
Buffalmaco； sodainly starting； and looking frowningly on Bruno； as
if he were extraordinarily incensed against him： clapping his hand
furiously on the Table； he sayde。 I sweare by the great God of
Pasignano； that I can hardly refrayne from giving thee such a blow
on the face； as should make thy Nose to fall at thy heeles： vile
Traitor as thou art： for none beside thy selfe； could discover so rare
and excellent a secret unto this famous Physitian。 The Doctour； with
very plausible and pleasing tearmes； excused the matter verie
artificially； protesting； that another had revealed it unto him： and
after many wise circumstantiall Allegations； at length hee prevailed
so farre； that Buffalmaco was pacified； who afterwardes turning in
kinde manner； thus hee beganne。
Master Doctour； you have lived both at Bologna； and heere in these
partes with us； having （no doubt） sufficiently understoode； what it is
to carry a close mouth； I meane the true Charracter of taciturnitie。
Questionlesse； you never learned the A。 B。 C。 as now foolish Ideots
do； blabbing their lessons all about the towne； which is much better
apprehended by rumination； and surely （if I be not much deceyved） your
Nativity happened on a Sonday morning； Sol being at that time； Lord of
the ascendent； joyned with Mercurie in a fierie Triplicitie。 By such
conference as I have had with Bruno； I conceyved （as he himselfe
also did） that you were verie singular in Physicke onely： but it
seemeth； your Studies reached a higher straine； for you have
learned； and know verie skilfullie； how to steale mens hearts from
them； yea； to bereave them of their verie soules； which I perceyve
that you can farre better doe； then any man else living to my
knowledge； only by your wise； witty； judicious； and more then meere
Mercurian eloquence； such as I never heard before。
The Physitian interrupting him bashfully； turned himselfe unto
Bruno； saying。 Did not I tell thee this before？ Observe what a notable
thing it is； to speake well； and to frequent the company of the
Wise。 A thousand other； meerely blockes and dullardes by Nature； could
never so soone comprehend all the particularities of my knowledge；
as this honest and apprehensive man hath done。 Thou didst not search
into it halfe so soone； nor （indeed） did I expresse a quarter of my
ingenuity to thee； as （since his comming） hath prodigally flowne
from me。
Well do I remember thy words； that Buffalmaco delighted to be
among men of Wisedome： and have I not now fitted him unto his owne
desire？ How thinkest thou Bruno？ The best （quoth Bruno） that any man
living in the World could do。 Ah worthy Buffalmaco； answered the
Physitian： What wouldst thou then have sayde； if thou hadst seene me
at Bologna； where there was neyther great nor small； Doctor nor
Scholler； but thought themselves happy by being in my company？ If I
ought any debts； I discharged them with my very wittie words： and
whensoever I spake； I could set them al on a hearty laughter； so
much pleasure they tooke in hearing mee。 And when I departed thence；
no men in the world could bee more sorrowfull then they； as desiring
nothing more then my remayning among them； which they expressed so
apparantly； that they made humble suite and intercession to me； to bee
cheefe Reader of the Physicke…Lecture； to all the Schollers studying
our profession。 But I could not be so perswaded； because my minde
was wholly addicted hither； to enjoy those Goods； Landes； and
Inheritances； belonging lineally to them of our house； and accordingly
I did performe it。
How now Buffalmaco （quoth Bruno） what is thine opinion now？ Thou
wouldst not beleeve me when I told thee； that there is not a Doctor in
all these parts； more skilfull in distinguishing the Urine of an Asse；
from any other； then this most expert and singular man： and I dare
boldly maintaine it； that his fellow is not to bee found； from hence
to the very gates of Paris。 Go then； and doe the uttermost endeavour
that thou canst； to grant the request which he hath made。
Beleeve me Buffalmaco； saide the Doctor； Bruno hath spoken nothing
but truth； for I am scarsely knowne heere in this City； where （for the
most part） they are all grosse…witted people； rather then any jot
judicious： but I would thou ha