Mistresse of the world, though now scarsely so good as the waiting,
maid: there dwelt sometime yong Gentleman, named Pedro Boccamazzo,
descended from one of the most honorable families in Rome, who was
much enamoured of a beautifull Gentlewoman, called Angelina,
Daughter to one named Gigliuozzo Saullo, whose fortunes were none of
the fairest, yet he greatly esteemed among the Romanes. The
entercourse of love betweene these twaine, had so equally enstructed
their hearts and soule, that it could hardly be judged which of them
was the more fervent in affection. But he, not being inured to such
oppressing passions, and therefore the lesse able to support them,
except he were sure to compasse his desire, plainly made the motion,
that he might enjoy her in honourable mariage. Which his parents and
friends hearing, they went to conferre with him, blaming him with
over-much basenesse, so farre to disgrace himselfe and his stocke.
Beside, they advised the Father to the Maid, neither to credit what
Pedro saide in this case, or to live in hope of any such match,
because they all did wholly despise it.
Pedro perceiving, that the way was shut up, whereby (and none other)
he was to mount the Ladder of his hopes; began to wax weary of
longer living: and if he could have won her fathers consent, he
would have maried her in the despight of all his friends.
Neverthelesse, he had a conceit hammering in his head, which if the
maid would bee as forward as himselfe, should bring the matter to full
effect. Letters and secret intelligences passing still betweene, at
length he understood her ready resolution, to adventure with him
thorough all fortunes whatsoever, concluding on their sodaine and
secret flight from Rome. For which Pedro did so well provide, that
very early in a morning, and well mounted on horsebacke, they tooke
the way leading unto Alagna, where Pedro had some honest friends, in
whom he reposed especiall trust. Riding on thus thorow the countrey,
having no leysure to accomplish their marriage, because they stood
in feare of pursuite: they were ridden above foure leagues from
Rome, still shortning the way with their amorous discoursing.
It fortuned, that Pedro having no certaine knowledge of the way, but
following a trackt guiding too farre on the left hand; rode quite
out of course, and came at last within sight of a small Castle, out of
which (before they were aware) yssued twelve Villaines, whom
Angelina sooner espyed, then Pedro could do; which made her cry out to
him, saying: Helpe deere Love to save us, or else we shall be
assayled. Pedro then turning his horse so expeditiously as he could,
and giving him the spurres as need required; mainly he gallopped
into a neere adjoyning Forrest, more minding the following of
Angelina, then any direction of way, or them that endeavoured to bee
his hindrance. So that by often winding and turning about, as the
passage appeared troublesome to him, when he thought him selfe free
and furthest from them, he was round engirt, and seized on by them.
When they had made him to dismount from his horse, questioning him
of whence and what he was, and he resolving them therein, they fell
into a secret consultation, saying thus among themselves. This man
is a friend to our deadly enemies, how can wee then otherwise
dispose of him, but dreame him of all he hath, and in despight of
the Orsini (men in nature hatefull to us) hang him up heere on one
of these Trees?
All of them agreeing in this dismall resolution, they commanded
Pedro to put off his garments, which he yeelding to do (albeit
unwillingly) it so fell out, that five and twenty other theeves,
came sodainly rushing in upon them, crying, Kill, kill, and spare
not a man.
They which before had surprized Pedro, desiring now to shift for
their owne safetie, left him standing quaking in his shirt, and so
ranne away mainely to defend themselves. Which the new crew
perceyving, and that their number farre exceeded the other: they
followed to robbe them of what they had gotten, accounting it as a
present purchase for them. Which when Pedro perceyved, and saw none
tarrying to prey uppon him; hee put on his cloathes againe, and
mounting on his owne Horse, gallopped that way, which Angelina
before had taken: yet could he not descry any tracke or path, or so
much as the footing of a Horse; but thought himselfe in sufficient
security, being rid of them that first seized on him, and also of
the rest, which followed in the pursuite of them.
For the losse of his beloved Angelina, he was the most wofull man in
the world, wandering one while this way, and then againe another,
calling for her all about the Forrest, without any answere returning
to him. And not daring to ride backe againe, on he travailed still,
not knowing where to make his arrivall. And having formerly heard of
savage ravenous beasts, which commonly live in such unfrequented
Forrests: he not onely was in feare of loosing his owne life, but also
despayred much for his Angelina, least some Lyon or Woolfe, had
torne her body in peeces.
Thus rode on poore unfortunate Pedro, untill the breake of day
appeared, not finding any meanes to get forth of the Forrest, still
crying and calling for his fayre friend, riding many times
backeward, when as hee thought hee rode forward, untill hee became
so weake and faint, what with extreame feare, lowd calling, and
continuing so long awhile without any sustenance, that the whole day
being thus spent in vaine, and darke night sodainly come uppon him, he
was not able to hold out any longer.
Now was he in farre worse case then before, not knowing where, or
how to dispose of himselfe, or what might best be done in so great a
necessity. From his Horse he alighted, and tying him by the bridle
unto a great tree, uppe he climbed into the same Tree, fearing to be
devoured (in the night time) by some wilde beast, choosing rather to
let his Horse perish, then himselfe. Within a while after, the Moone
beganne to rise, and the skies appeared bright and cleare: yet durst
hee not nod, or take a nap, least he should fall out of the tree;
but sate still greeving, sighing, and mourning, desparing of ever
seeing his Angelina any more, for he could not be comforted by the
smallest hopefull perswasion, that any good Fortune might befall her
in such a desolate Forrest, where nothing but dismall feares was to be
expected, and no likelihood that she should escape with life.
Now, concerning poore affrighted Angelina, who (as you heard before)
knew not any place of refuge to flye unto: but even as it pleased
the horse to carry her: she entred so farre into the Forrest, that she
could not devise where to seeke her owne safety. And therefore, even
as it fared with her friend Pedro, in the same manner did it fall
out with her, wandering the whole night, and all the day following,
one while taking one hopefull tracke, and then another, calling,
weeping, wringing her hands, and greevously complaining of her hard
fortune. At the length, perceiving that Pedro came not to her at
all, she found a little path (which she lighted on by great good
fortune) even when dark night was apace drawing, and followed it so
long, till it brought her within the sight of a small poore Cottage,
whereto she rode on so fast as she could; and found therin a very
old man, having a wife rather more aged then he, who seeing her to
be without company, the old man spake thus unto her.
Faire Daughter (quoth he) whether wander you at such an unseasonable
houre, and all alone in a place so desolate? The Damosell weeping,
replied; that she had lost her company in the Forrest, and enquired
how neere shee was to Alagna. Daughter (answered the old man) this
is not the way to Alagna, for it is above six leagues hence. Then shee
desired to know, how farre off she was from such houses, where she
might have any reasonable lodging? There are none so neere, said the
old man, that day light will give you leave to reach. May it please
you then good Father (replied Angelina) seeing I cannot travalle any
whether else; for Gods sake, to et me remaine heere with you this
night. Daughter answered the good old man, we can gladly give you
entertainement here, for this night, in such poore manner as you
see: but let mee tell you withall, that up and downe these woods (as
well by night as day) walke companies of all conditions, and rather
enemies then friends, who do us many greevous displeasures and harmes.
Now if by misfortune, you being here, any such people should come, and
seeing you so lovely faire, as indeed you are, offer you any shame
or injurie: Alas you see, it lies not in our power to lend you any
help or succour. I thought it good (therefore) to acquaint you
heerewith, because if any such mischance do happen, you should not
afterward complaine of us.
The yong Maiden, seeing the time to be so farre spent, albeit the
old mans words did much dismay her, yet she thus replyed. If it be the
will of heaven, both you and I shall be defended from any
misfortune: but if any such mischance do happen, I account the
meanes lesse deserving grief, if I fall into the mercy of men, then to
be devoured by wild beasts in this Forrest. So, being dismounted
from her horse, and entred into the homely house; shee supt poorely
with the old man and his wife, with such meane cates as their
provision affoorded: and after supper, lay downe in her garments on
the same poore pallet, where the aged couple tooke their rest, and was
very well contented therewith, albeit she could not refraine from
sighing and weeping, to be thus divided from her deare Pedro, of whose
life and welfare she greatly despaired.
When it was almost day, she heard a great noise of people travailing
by, whereupon sodainly slie arose, and ranne into a Garden plot, which
was on the backside of the poore Cottage, espying in one of the
corners a great stacke of Hay, wherein she hid her selfe, to the
end, that travelling strangers might not readily finde her there in
the house. Scarsely was she fully hidden, but a great company of
Theeves and Villaines, finding the doore open, rushed into the
Cottage, where looking round about them for some booty, they saw the
Damosels horse stand ready sadled, which made them demand to whom it
belonged. The good old man, not seeing the Maiden present there, but
immagining that she had made some shift for her selfe, answered
thus. Gentlemen, there is no body here but my wife and my selfe: as
for this Horse, which seemeth to be escaped from the Owner; hee came
hither yesternight, and we gave him house-roome heere, rather then
to be devoured by Wolves abroad. Then said the principall of the
Theevish crew: This horse shall be ours, in regard he hath no other
Master, and let the owner come claime him of us.
When they had searched every corner of the poore Cottage, and
found no such prey as they looked for, some of them went into the
backeside; where they had left their Javelins and Targets, wherwith
they used commonly to travaile. It fortuned, that one of them, being
more subtily suspitious then the rest, thrust his javelin into the
stacke of Hay, in the very same place where the Damosell lay hidden,
missing very little of killing her; for it entred so farre, that the
iron head pierced quite thorough her Garments, and touched her left
bare brest: whereupon, shee was ready to cry out, as fearing that
she was wounded: but considering the place where she was, she lay
still, and spake not a word. This disordered company, after they had
fed on some young Kids, and other flesh which they brought with them
thither, they went thence about their theeving exercise, taking the
Damosels horse along with them.
After they were gone a good distance off, the good old man began
thus to question his Wife. What is become of (quoth hee) our young
Gentlewoman, which came so late to us yesternight? I have not seen her
to day since our arising. The old woman made answer, that she knew not
where she was, and sought all about to finde her. Angelinaes feares
being well over-blowne, and hearing none of the former noise, which
made her the better hope of their departure, came forth of the
Hay-stack; wherof the good old man was not a little joyfull, and
because she had so well escaped from them: so seeing it was now
broad day-light, he said unto her. Now that the morning is so
fairely begun, if you can be so well contented, we will bring you to a
Castle, which stands about two miles and an halfe hence, where you
will be sure to remaine in safety. But you must needs travaile thither
on foot, because the nightwalkers that happened hither, have taken
away your horse with them.
Angelina making little or no account of such a losse, entreated them
for charities sake, to conduct her to that Castle, which accordingly
they did, and arrived there betweene seven and eight of the clock. The
Castle belonged to one of the Orsini, being called, Liello di Campo di
Fiore, and by great good fortune, his wife was then there, she being a
very vertuous and religious Lady. No sooner did she looke upon
Angelina, but she knew her immediately, and entertaining her very
willingly, requested, to know the reason of her thus arriving there:
which she at large related, and moved the Lady (who likewise knew
Pedro perfectly well) to much compassion, because he was a kinsman and
deare friend to her Husband; and understanding how the Theeves had
surprized him, she feared, that he was slaine among them, whereupon
she spake thus to Angelina. Seeing you know not what is become of my
kinsman Pedro, you shall remaine here with me, untill such time, as
(if we heare no other tidings of him) you may with safety be sent
backe to Rome.
Pedro all this while sitting in the Tree, so full of griefe, as no
man could be more; about the houre of midnight (by the bright
splendour of the Moone) espied about some twenty Wolves, who, so soone
as they got a sight of the Horse, ran and engirt him round about.
The Horse when he perceived them so neere him, drew his head so
strongly back-ward, that breaking the reines of his bridle, he
