, came into the hall,
accompanied with the two Seruauntes, and was placed (as it
pleased the kynght) besides a very honest gentleman, and then he
sayde: "Syrs, behold the thing which I loue best, and purpose to
loue aboue all worldly things, and whither I haue occasion so to
doe, your eyes may bee Iudges." The gentlemen doing their
reuerence unto hir, greatly praised hir, and said to the Knight
that ther was good reason why she oughte to be beloued: Vpon
which commendations they began more attentyuely to behold hir,
and many of them would haue sayd and sworne that it had bin shee
in deede if it had not bin thought that she had bin dead. But
Nicholas beheld hir more than the rest, who very desirous to
know what she was, could not forbeare (when he saw that the
Knight was a little departed from the place) to aske hir whyther
shee was of Bologna, or a straunger. When the Gentlewoman saw
hir husband to ask hir that question, she could scarce forbeare
from making aunswere, notwithstanding to atchieue that whych was
purposed, she helde hir peace. Another asked her yf that little
Boye was hers: And another if shee were the Wyfe of mayster
Gentil, or any kin vnto hym: vnto whom shee gaue no answere at
all. But when maister Gentil came in, one of the straungers sayd
vnto him: "Syr, thys gentlewoman is a very good creature, but
she seemeth to be dumbe. Is it true or not?" "Syrs,{"} sayde
maister Gentil, "that is but a little argument of hir vertue for
this time to hold hir peace." "Tell vs then (sayde he) what is
she?" "That wil I do very gladly," sayd the knight, "vnder
condition that none of you shall remoue out of his place for any
thing I speake, vntill I haue ended my tale:" which request
being graunted, and the table taken vp, maister Gentil which was
set downe by the Gentlewoman, sayd: "My maysters, this
gentlewoman is the loyall and faithful seruant, of whom earst I
propounded the question, whom I haue releeued from amids the
streate, whither hir kin, little caring for hir, threw hir as a
vile and vnprofitable thing: and haue by my great care brought
to passe, that I haue discharged hir from death, vpon an
affection which God knoweth to be so pure and perfect, as of a
lumpe of dead lothsome flesh hee hath reuiued so fayre and
freshe as you see: but to the intent you may more playnly
vnderstand how it is come to passe, I will open the same in few
words." And beginning at the day when he fell in loue with hir,
he particu