here lurketh some
hidden malice to deceiue the ignoraunce of my youth, wherby I am
wrapt in great perplexitie how to make you aunswere: for to
refuse the honest amitie which you haue offered, I shall doe
contrary to that I haue done hitherto, for I haue reposed in you
more trust than in any liuing creature: my conscience or mine
honour cannot gainesay your demaunde, nor the loue that I beare
to the sonne of the Infant Fortune, which is grounded vpon fayth
of mariage: where you say that you pretende nothinge but that is
good and vertuous, I cannot tell what thing should let me to
make you aunswere according to your request, but a feare that I
conceiue in hart, founded vpon the small occasion that you haue
to vse that speache, for if you haue alreadye what you demaunde,
what doth constraine you to speake so affectuouslie?" Amadour
that was not without an aunsweare, said vnto her: "Madame, you
speake very wisely, and you do me so much honour, for the
confidence and truste which according to your sayinge you do
repose in me, as if I doe not content my selfe with such a
benefite, I were the vnworthiest man aliue: but vnderstande
Madame, that he which goeth about to builde a perpetual mansion,
ought to haue regard to a sure and firme foundacion: wherfore I
which desire perpetually to remaine your seruaunte, doe seeke
not onely the meanes to kepe my selfe neare about you, but also
to foresee that none doe vnderstand the great affection that I
do beare you: for although my mind be so vertuous and honest, as
the same may disclose it selfe before the whole worlde, yet
there bee some so ignorant and vnskilfull of louers harts, as
manye times will iudge contrary to trouth, wherof proceedeth so
ill brute and report, as if the effectes were wicked: the cause
which hath made me so bold to say and declare vnto you thus
much, is the suspicion that Paulina hath conceyued, for that I
cannot loue her: who doth nothing els but marke and espie my
countenaunce in euerye place, and when you vse your familiar
talke with me before her, I am so afraide to shewe any signe
whereby shee maye grounde or verifie her iudgemente, that I fall
into that inconuenience, which I would willingly auoyde:
wherefore I haue thought good to beseech you (before her and
those which you do know to be so malicious) to refraine from
talkinge with mee so sodainlye, for I had rather dye, than anye
liuinge creature should haue mistrust thereof: and were it not
for the