whereunto he was called. About the time
that hir husband being out of Bologna, and the gentlewoman at
hir Manour in the countrey, not past a mile and a halfe from the
Citty, (whither she went to remayne, bicause she was with
childe) it chaunced that she was sodenly surprised with a
sicknesse, which was of so great force, as there was no token of
lyfe in her, but rather iudged by all Phisitians to be a dead
Woman. And because that hir neerest Kinne reported that they
hearde hir saye, that shee could not bee longe time with Childe,
but that the infante must be perfect in her wombe and ready to
be deliuered, and therefore affected wyth some other disease and
griefe that would bring hir to hir ende, as a Timpany or other
swelling, rising of grosse humors, they thought hir a dead
Woman, and past recouery: wherefore vpon a time she falling into
a traunce, was verily supposed to be dead. Who after they had
mourned hir death, and bewayled the sodayn expiration of hir
soule, caused hir to be buried without hope of recouery (euen as
she was in that extasie) in a graue of a church adioyning harde
by the house wher she dwelt. Which thing incontinently was
aduertised master Gentil by one of his frends, who although he
was not likely, as he thought, to attayne hir fauor and in vtter
dispayre therof, yet it gryeued him very mutch that no better
heede was taken vnto hir, thynking by diligence and time shee
woulde haue reuyued agayn, sayinge thus in the end vnto him
selfe: "How now madam Katherin, that Death hath wrought his wyll
wyth you, and I could neuer obteyne durynge your life one simple
looke from those youre glistering eies, which lately I beheld to
my great ouerthrow and decay, wherfore now when you cannot
defend your self, I may bee bold (you being dead) to steale from
you some desired kisse." When hee had sayd so, beyng already
Nyght, and hauynge taken order that none should know of his
departure, he gat vpon his Horse, accompanied with one only
seruaunt, and wythout taryinge anye where, arriued at the place
where his Lady was buryed, and opening the Graue, forthwith he
entred in, and laying himself downe besides hir, he approched
neare hir face, and many times kissed hir, pouryng forthe great
abundance of teares. But as we see the appetyte of Man not to be
content excepte it proceede further (specially of sutch as bee
in loue) beyng determined to tarrye no longer there, and to
departe, he sayd: "Ah God, why should I goe no