shall neuer be anything reuealed. And when my
Lorde your brother at your requeste, shall execute the iustice
which you desire, and that the poore Gentleman shal be ready to
die, the brute will runne that he hath had his pleasure vpon
you. And the greatest numbre will say, that it is very difficult
for a Gentleman to doe suche an enterprise, except the Lady
minister some great occasion. Your grace is faire and yong,
frequenting your life in pleasant company, there is none in all
the Court, but seeth and marketh the good countenaunce you beare
to that Gentleman, whereof your selfe hath some suspicion: which
will make euery man suppose that if he hath done this
enterprise, it was not without some consent from you. And your
honor which hetherto hath borne your port a loft, shall be
disputed vpon in all places where this historie shall be
remembred." The Princesse well waying the good reasons and
aduise of her gentlewoman, knewe that she spake the truthe: and
that by moste iust cause she should be blamed: considering the
familiaritie and good countenaunce which dayly she bare vnto the
Gentleman. Wherefore she inquired of her woman of honour, what
was beste to bee done. Who aunswered her thus. "Madame, sith it
pleaseth you to receiue mine aduise, by waying the affection
whereof it procedeth, me thinke you ought in your hart to
reioyce, that the goodliest, and moste curteous Gentleman that
liueth, could neither by loue, or force, despoile you of your
greatest vertue and chastitie. For which (Madame) you are bounde
to humble your selfe before God, acknowledging that it is not
done by your vertue, bicause many women walking in a more
paineful and more vnpleasaunt trade then you do, haue humiliated
and brought low by men farre more vnworthy of loue, then he
which loueth you. And ye ought now to feare more than euer you
did, to vse any semblance and take of amitie, bicause there haue
bene many that haue fallen the second time into daungers and
perils, which they haue auoyded at the first. Remember (Madame)
that loue is blind, who blaseth mens eyes in such sort, as where
a man thinketh the waye moste sure, ther his most readie to fal.
And I suppose Madame, that you ought not to seme to be priuie of
this chaunce, neither to him, ne yet to any els, and when he
remembreth anye thing to you, doe make as though you did not
vnderstande his meaning, to auoyde twoo daungers. The one of
vaine glorie for the victorie you haue had, the oth