istres, that was a very charitable and kinde
Gentlewoman, and loued so well the man, as if all their parentes
and kinne had bene of her's and the mayden's opinion they would
haue preferred the honestie of him, before the great substance
of the other. But the frendes of the father's side by no meanes
would consent vnto it. Yet the good Gentlewoman and her daughter
(for all the other's frowardnes) vouchsafed to visit the poor
gentleman whom they founde, rather declining towards death, then
in hope of life. And knowing his ende to approche, he was
shriuen and receiued the holy Sacrament, purposing of present
passage by panges of death, neuer to see any of his frendes
againe. Being in this case and yet seing her, whome he counted
to be his life and sauftie, felte suche soudden recouerie, as
hee threwe hym selfe alofte his bedde and spake these wordes
vnto her: "What cause hath drieuen you hither (mistres myne) by
takyng paines to visite him, who hath one of his feet alreadie
within the graue, the other stepping after with conuenient
speede, for execution whereof you bee the onely Instrument."
"Howe so, sir?" sayde the mother. "Is it possible that hee, whom
we so derely loue, can receiue death by our offences? I pray you
sir to tell me, what reason leadeth you to speake these wordes."
"Madame," sayde he, "so long as I could, I dissembled the loue
that I bare to my deare mistres your daughter: so it is that my
parentes and frendes speaking of a mariage betwene her and me,
haue clattred thereof moe nedeles woordes then I desired, by
waying the mishap that might insue, and nowe doth happe past all
hope not for my particular pleasure, but bicause I knowe with
none other she shalbe so well intreated nor beloued as she
should haue bene with me. The benefit which I see she hath lost,
is the most perfect frende the best affected seruaunt that euer
shee had in this worlde, the losse wherof summoneth death to
arrest the carcase, that should haue bene imployed for her
seruice, which intierly was conserued and should haue bene for
her sake: but sithe nowe it can serue her to no purpose, the
simple losse shall redounde to greatest gaine. I meane my selfe
(good Ladies bothe) that lieth bewrapped in death before your
faces, whose withered clammes hath catched the same within her
reach, and hath warned the clocke to tolle the dolefull bell for
his poor lovyng ghoste, nowe stretchynge out for the winding
shete to shrowde his maigre corps,