and began to imbrace and kisse her. The
maiden when she felt him, sodainly dipped her finger in the
colour and stained his face, not perceiued of him. When he had
accomplished the thing he came for, hee retourned to his place:
and then began to imagin vpon the Duke's wordes, and for what
policie he spake them. And lying a litle while still musing vpon
the same, he went againe to the gentlewoman's bedde, hauing
throughly disposed himself to the pleasures of this paradise
lambe: and perceiuing her to dippe her finger in the sawcer and
rubbe his face, Ricciardo toke away the sawcer from the bedde's
side, and round about bestowed the colour vpon the faces of his
felowes, who were so faste a sleepe that they did not fele him.
Some he marked with two spottes, some with six and some with X.
himselfe he painted but with foure besides those wherewith
already he was berayed by the gentlewoman: whiche done he set
the saucer agayne by the bedde's side, and when he had bidden
her farewell, faire and softly he returned againe to his bedde.
In the morning betimes, the damosels of the chamber came in to
helpe the ladye to make her readye, which done they wayted vpon
her to the duke, who asked her how the matter stode. She
aunswered well, for she had done his commaundement: and tolde
him howe one came vnto her three times, and euery time she gaue
him a tainte in his face. The duke by and by sent for them that
were of his counsell. To whome he said: "Sirs, I haue founde out
this good fellow, and therfore I haue sent for you, that we
altogether may goe to see him." They went all into the chamber,
and viewing them round about, they perceiued all their faces
coloured, whereat they fell into a great laughter: then one of
them sayde to another: "Suerly this fellowe hath the subtilest
head that euer was knowen:" and concluded that one of the
company had set that colour in their faces. The yong men
beholding one another paynted in that sorte, brake into great
sporte and pastime. Afterwardes the duke examined euery of them,
and seeing that he was not able by any meanes to vnderstande by
whome it was done, he determined to knowe the man before he
departed, and promised to him that should confesse the truthe,
to giue his daughter to him in mariage, and with her a very
great dowrie, and a generall pardon. Wherefore Ricciardo
vnderstanding the duke's minde, toke him asyde, and tolde hym
the whole matter particularly from the beginning to the ende