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mounted on horsebacke； accompanied onely with one servant； and
stayed no where； till hee came to the vault where the Lady was buried。
Which when he had opened； with instruments convenient for the purpose；
he descended downe into the vault； and kneeled downe by the Beere
whereon she lay； and in her wearing garments； according to the
usuall manner； with teares trickling mainly downe his cheekes； he
bestowed infinite sweet kisses on her。
But as we commonly see； that mens desires are never contented； but
still will presume on further advantages； especially such as love
entirely： so fared it with Gentile； who being once minded to get him
gone； as satisfied with the oblation of his kisses； would needs yet
step backe againe； saying。 Why should I not touch her yvory breast；
the Adamant that drew all desires to adore her？ Ah let me touch it
now； for never hereafter can I bee halfe so happy。 Overcome with
this alluring appetite； gently he laid his hand upon her breast；
with the like awefull respect； as if she were living； and holding it
so an indifferent while： either he felt； or his imagination so
perswaded him； the heart of the Lady to beate and pant。 Casting off
all fond feare； and the warmth of his increasing the motion： his
inward soule assured him； that she was not dead utterly； but had
some small sense of life remaining in her； whereof he would needs be
further informed。
So gently as possible he could； and with the helpe of his man； he
tooke her forth of the monument； and layingher softly on his horse
before him； conveighed her closely to his house in Bologna。 Signior
Gentile had a worthy Lady to his Mother； a woman of great wisdome
and vertue； who understanding by her Sonne； how matters had
happened； moved with compassion； and suffering no one in the house
to know what was done； made a good fire； and very excellent Bathe；
which recalled back againe wrongwandering life。 Then fetching a
vehement sigh； opening her eyes； and looking very strangly about
her； she said。 Alas！ where am I now？ whereto the good old Lady
kindly replyed； saying。 Comfort your selfe Madame； for you are in a
good place。
Her spirits being in better manner met together； and she still
gazing every way about her； not knowing well where she was； and secing
Signior Gentile standing before her： he entreated his mother to tell
her by what meanes she came thither； which the good old Lady did；
Gentile himselfe helping to relate the whole history。 A while she
grieved and lamented； but afterward gave them most hearty thankes；
humbly requesting； that； in regard of the love he had formerly borne
her； in his house she might finde no other usage； varying from the
honour of her selfe and her Husband； and when day was come； to be
conveighed home to her owne house。 Madame； answered Signior Gentile；
whatsoever I sought to gaine from you in former dayes； I never
meane； either here； or any where else； to motion any more。 But
seeing it hath been my happy fortune； to prove the blessed means of
reducing you from death to life： you shal find no other
entertainment here； then as if you were mine owne Sister。 And yet
the good deed which I have this night done for you doth well
deserve some courteous requitall： in which respect； I would have you
not to deny me one favour； which I will presume to crave of you。
Whereto the Lady lovingly replyed； that she was willing to grant it；
provided； it were honest； and in her power： whereto Signior Gentile
thus answered。
Madame； your parents； kindred and friends； and generally all
throughout Bologna； doe verily thinke you to be dead； wherefore
there is not any one； that will make any inquisition after you： in
which regard； the favour I desire from you； is no more but to abide
here secretly with my Mother； untill such time as I returne from
Modena； which shall be very speedily。 The occasion why I move this
motion； aymeth at this end； that in presence of the chiefest persons
of our City； I may make a gladsome present of you to your Husband。 The
Lady knowing her selfe highly beholding to the Knight； and the request
he made to be very honest： disposed her selfe to doe as he desired
（although she earnestly longed； to glad her parents and kindred with
seeing her alive） and made her promise him on her faith； to effect
it in such manner； as he pleased to appoint and give her direction。
Scarcely were these words concluded； but she felt the custome of
women to come upon her； with the paines and throwes incident to
childing： wherefore； with helpe of the aged Lady； Mother to Signior
Gentile； it was not long before her deliverance of a goodly Sonne；
which greatly augmented the joy of her and Gentile； who tooke order；
that all things belonging to a woman in such a case； were not wanting；
but she was as carefully respected； even as if she had been his owne
Wife。 Secretly he repaired to Modena； where having given direction for
his place of authority； he returned back againe to Bologna； and
there made preparation for a great and solemne feast； appointing who
should be his invited guests； the very chiefest persons in Bologna；
and （among them） Signior Nicoluccio Caccianimico the especiall man。
After he was dismounted from horsebacke； and found so good company
attending for him （the Lady also； more faire and healthful then
ever； and the Infant lively disposed） he sate downe at the Table
with his guests； causing them to be served in most magnificent manner；
with plenty of all delicates that could be devised； and never before
was there such a joviall feast。 About the ending of dinner； closely he
made the Lady acquainted with his further intention； and likewise in
what order every thing should be done； which being effected； he
returned to his company； and used these speeches。
Honourable friends； I remember a discourse sometime made unto me；
concerning the Countrey of Persia； and a kind of custome there
observed； not to be misliked in mine opinion。 When any one intended to
honour his friend in effectuall manner； he invited him home to his
house； and there would shew him the thing； which with greatest love he
did respect； were it Wife； Friend； Sonne； Daughter； or any thing
else whatsoever； wherewithall hee spared not to affirme； that as he
shewed him those choyce delights； the like view he should have of
his heart； if with any possibility it could be done； and the very same
custome I meane now to observe here in our City。 You have vouchsafed
to honour me with your presence； at this poore homely dinner of
mine； and I will welcome you after the Persian manner； in shewing
you the jewell； which （above all things else in the world） I ever have
most respectively esteemed。 But before I doe it； I crave your
favourable opinions in a doubt； which I will plainely declare unto
you。
If any man having in his house a good and faithfull servant； who
falling into extremity of sickenesse； shall be throwne forth into
the open street； without any care or pitty taken on him： A stranger
chanceth to passe by； and （moved with compassion of his weakenesse）
carryeth him home to his owne house； where using all charitable and
not sparing any cost； he recovereth the sicke person to his former
health。 I now desire to know； if keeping the said restored person； and
imploying him about his owne businesse： the first Master （by
pretending his first right） may lawfully complaine of the second；
and yeeld him backe againe to the first master； albeit he doe make
challenge of him？
All the Gentlemen； after many opinions passing among them； agreed
altogether in one sentence； and gave charge to Signior Nicoluccio
Caccianimico； （because he was an excellent and elegant speaker） to
give answere for them all。 First； he commended the custome observed in
Persia； saying； he jumpt in opinion with all the rest； that the
first Master had no right at all to the servant； having not onely
（in such necessity） forsaken him； but also cast him forth into the
comfortlesse street。 But for the benefits and mercy extended to him；
it was more then manifest； that the recovered person； was become
justly servant to the second Master； and in detayning him from the
first； hee did not offer him any injury at all。 The whole Company
sitting at the Table （being all very wise and worthy men） gave their
verdict likewise with the confession of Signior Nicoluccio
Caccianimico。 Which answere did not a little please the Knight； and so
much the rather； because Nicoluccio had pronounced it； affirming
himselfe to be of the same minde。
So； sitting in a pretended musing a while； at length he said。 My
honourable guests； it is now more then high time； that I should doe
you such honour； as you have most justly deserved； by performing the
promise made unto you。 Then calling two of his servants； he sent
them to Madame Catharina （whom he had caused to adorne her self in
excellent manner） entreating her； that she would be pleased to grace
his guests with her presence。 Catharina； having deckt her child in
costly habiliments； layed it in her armes； and came with the
servants into the dyning Hall； and sate down （as the Knight had
appointed） at the upper end of the Table； and then Signior Gentile
spake thus。 Behold； worthy