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[Illustration: 232.jpg Tailpiece]

[Illustration: 233a.jpg The Lady killing herself on the Death of her Lover]

[The Lady killing herself on the Death of her Lover]

[Illustration: 233.jpg Page Image]

_TALE L_.

_Messire John Peter for a long time wooed in vain a
neighbour of his by whom he was sorely smitten, and to
divert his humour withdrew for a few days from the sight of
her; but this brought so deep a melancholy upon him that the
doctors ordered him to be bled. The lady, who knew whence
his distemper proceeded, then thought to save his life, but
did indeed hasten his death, by granting him that which she
had always refused. Then, reflecting that she was herself
the cause of the loss of so perfect a lover, she dealt
herself a sword-thrust that made her a partner in his fate_.
(1)

In the town of Cremona not long ago there lived a gentleman called
Messire John Peter, (2) who had long loved a lady that dwelt near to his
own house; but strive as he might he was never able to have of her the
reply that he desired, albeit he loved her with his whole heart. Being
greatly grieved and troubled at this, the poor gentleman withdrew into
his lodging with the resolve that he would no longer vainly pursue the
happiness the quest of which was devouring his life; and accordingly, to
divert his humour, he passed a few days without seeing her. This caused
him to fall into deep sadness, so that his countenance was no longer the
same. His kinsfolk summoned the doctors, who, finding that his face was
growing yellow, thought that he had some obstruction of the liver and
ordered a blood-letting.

1 The incidents here narrated probably occurred in or about
1544.--L.

2 "Jehan Pietre" (Pietro) in the MSS.--Ed.

The lady, who had dealt so sternly with him, knew very well that his
sickness was caused by her refusal alone, and she sent to him an old
woman in whom she trusted, to tell him that, since she saw his love to
be genuine and unfeigned, she was now resolved to grant him all that
which she had refused him so long. She had therefore devised a means to
leave her house and go to a place where he might privately see her.

The gentleman, who that same morning had been bled in the arm,
found himself better cured by this message than by any medicine or
bloodletting he could have had, and he sent word that he would be at the
place without fail a