me and put me in very great feare, insomuch that I
marvelled greatly at the audacity of so little a beast.
To whom I said, get thou hence thou whore and hie
thee to thy fellowes, lest thou feele my fingers.
Why wilt thou not goe? Then incontinently she
ranne away, and when she was gon, I fell on the ground
so fast asleepe, that Apollo himself could not discern
which of us two was the dead corps, for I lay prostrat
as one without life, and needed a keeper likewise.
At length the cockes began to crow, declaring that
it was day: wherewithall I awaked, and being
greatly afeard ran to the dead body with the lamp
in my hand, and I viewed him round about: and
immediately came in the matron weeping with her Witnesses,
and ran to the corps, and eftsoons kissing him, she
turned his body and found no part diminished.
Then she willed Philodespotus her steward to pay me
my wages forthwith. Which when he had done he
sayd, We thanke you gentle young man for your paines
and verily for your diligence herein we will account
you as one of the family. Whereunto I (being
joyous of by unhoped gaine, and ratling my money in
my hand) did answer, I pray you madam esteeme me as
one of your servants, and if you want my service at
any time, I am at your commandement. I had not
fully declared these words, when as behold all the
servants of the house were assembled with weapons to
drive me away, one buffeted me about the face, another
about the shoulders, some strook me in the sides,
some kicked me, and some tare my garments, and so I
was handled amongst them and driven from the house,
as the proud young man Adonis who was torn by a Bore.
And when I was come into the next street, I mused
with my selfe, and remembred myne unwise and unadvised
words which I had spoken, whereby I considered that
I had deserved much more punishment, and that I was
worthily beaten for my folly. And by and by the
corps came forth, which because it was the body of
one of the chiefe of the city, was carried in funeral
pompe round about the market place, according to the
right of the countrey there. And forthwith stepped
out an old man weeping and lamenting, and ranne unto
the Biere and embraced it, and with deepe sighes and
sobs cried out in this sort, O masters, I pray you
by the faith which you professe, and by the duty which
you owe unto the weale publique, take pitty and mercy
upon this dead corps, who is miserably murdered, and
doe vengeance on this wicked and cursed woman his
wife which hath committed this fact: for it is
shee and no other which hath poysoned her husband
my sisters sonne, to the intent to maintaine her whoredome,
and to get his heritage. In this sort the old
man complained before the face of all people.
Then they (astonied at these sayings, and because
the thing seemed to be true) cried out, Burne her,
burne her, and they sought for stones to throw at her,
and willed the boys in the street to doe the same.
But shee weeping in lamentable wise, did swear by
all the gods, that shee was not culpable of this crime.