further, why
should I not touche hir, why should I not proue whyther she be
alyue or dead?" Vanquished then wyth that motyon, hee felt hir
brests, and holding his hand there for a certayne tyme,
perceyued hir Heart as it were to pant, and thereby some lyfe
remayning in hir: wherefore so softly as he could, wyth the
helpe of his man, he raised hir out of the graue: and settynge
hir vppon his Horse before him, secretly caried hir home to his
house at Bologna. The mother of maister Gentil dwelled there,
which was a graue and vertuous Matrone, who vnderstandyng by her
sonne the whole effect of that chaunce, moued wyth compassion,
vnknowne to anye man, placing hir before a great fire, and
comfortyng hir wyth a bathe prepared for the purpose, she
recouered lyfe in the Gentlewoman that was supposed to bee
deade, who so soone as she was com to hir self, threw forth a
great sigh and sayd: "Alas, wher am I now?" To whom the good old
woman sayd: "Be of good cheere swete hart, yee bee in a good
place." The Gentlewoman hauing wholly recouered hir senses, and
looking round about hir, not yet well knowing where she was, and
seing maister Gentill before hir, prayed his mother to tell hir
how she came thither. To whome maister Gentil declared in order
what he had done for hir, and what meanes he vsed to bryng hir
thyther: wherof makyng hir complaynt, and lamentyng the lyttle
regard and neglygence of hir frends, she rendred vnto hym
inumerable thankes. Then she prayed him for the Loue which at
other times he bare hir and for his courtesie, that she might
not receyue in hys house any thing that should be dishonorable
to hir person, ne yet to hir husband, but so soone as it was
Daye to suffer hir to goe home to hir owne House: whereunto
maister Gentil answered: "Madam, what soeuer I haue desired in
time past, now am I fully purposed neuer to demaund any thyng
specially in this place or in any other but the safety of your
honour, and that I would doe to myne owne sister, sith it hath
pleased God to showe me that pleasure, as by my meanes you are
reuiued from death to life, and to delyuer you to mee in
consideration of the loue that I haue born you heretofore: but
this good worke, which this Nyghte I haue done for you, well
deserueth some recompence. Wherefore my desire is, that you deny
me not the pleasure which I shall demaund:" whome the
gentlewoman curteously answered, that shee was very ready, so
the same were honest and in hir powe