S._, Advocates' Library, Edinburgh, edited with glossary by
F. Schultz, 1876.]

[Footnote 2: cf. Masuccio. _Il Novellino_, No. 23.]

[Footnote 3: Bandello's novels first appeared at Lucca, 4to, 1554.
Marguerite of Angouleme died 21 December, 1549. The _Heptameron_
was composed 1544-8 and published 1558.]

THE DUMB VIRGIN: or, the Force of Imagination.

_Rinaldo_, a Senator of the great City _Venice_, by a plentiful
Inheritance, and industrious Acquisitions, was become Master of a very
plentiful Estate; which, by the Countenance of his Family, sprung from
the best Houses in _Italy_, had rendred him extreamly popular and
honoured; he had risen to the greatest Dignities of that State, all
which Offices he discharged with Wisdom and Conduct, befitting the
Importance of his Charge, and Character of the Manager; but this great
Person had some Accident in his Children, sufficient to damp all the
Pleasure of his more smiling Fortunes; he married when young,
a beautiful and virtuous Lady, who had rendred him the happy Father of a
Son; but his Joys were soon disturbed by the following Occasion.

There stands an Island in the _Adriatick_ Sea, about twenty Leagues from
_Venice_, a Place wonderfully pleasant in the Summer, where Art and
Nature seem to out-rival each other, or seem rather to combine in
rendring it the most pleasant of their products; being placed under the
most benign climate in the World, and situated exactly between _Italy_
and _Greece_, it appears an entire Epitome of all the Pleasures in them
both; the proper glories of the Island were not a little augmented by
the confluence of Gentlemen and Ladies of the chiefest Rank in the City,
insomuch that this was a greater mark for Beauty and Gallantry, than
_Venice_ for Trade. Among others _Rinaldo's_ Lady begged her Husband's
permission to view this so much celebrated place.

He was unwilling to trust his treasure to the treachery of the watry
element; but repeating her request, he yielded to her desires, his love
not permitting him the least shew of command, and so thro' its extent,
conspiring its own destruction. His Lady with her young Son (whom she
would not trust from her sight) and a splendid attendance in a Barge
well fitted, sets out for the Island, _Rinaldo_ being detained at home
himself about some important affairs relating to the publick, committed
the care of his dear Wife and Child to a faithful Servant call'd
_Gaspar_; a