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could） shee would not send for it； but go her selfe in person to
request it； and then returne home againe with it： whereupon thus she
spake。 Sonne； comfort thy selfe； and let languishing thoughts no
longer offend thee： for here I promise thee； that the first thing I do
to morrow morning； shall bee my journey for the Faulcon； and assure
thy selfe； that I will bring it with me。 Whereat the youth was so
joyed； that he imagined； his sicknesse began instantly a little to
leave him； and promised him a speedy recovery。
Somewhat early the next morning； the Lady； in care of her sicke Sons
health； was up and ready betimes； and taking another Gentlewoman
with her； onely as a morning recreation； shee walked to Frederigoes
poore Countrey Farme； knowing that it would not a little glad him to
see her。 At the time of her arrivall there； he was （by chance） in a
silly Garden； on the backe…side of the a si House； because （as yet） it
was no convenient time for flight： but when he heard； that Madam Glana
was come thither； and desired to have some conference with him； as one
almost confounded with admiration； in all hast he ran to her； and
saluted her with most humble reverence。 She in all modest and gracious
manner； requited him with the like salutations； thus speaking to
him。 Signior Frederigo； your owne best wishes befriend you； I am now
come hither； to recompence some part of your passed travailes； which
heretofore you pretended traval I to suffer for my sake； when your
love was more to me； then did well become you to offer； or my selfe to
accept。 And such is the nature of my recompence； that I make my
selfe your guest； and meane this day to dine with as also this
Gentlewoman； making no doubt of our welcome： whereto； with lowly
reverence； thus he replyed。
Madam； I doe not remember； that ever I sustained any losse or
hinderance by you； but rather so much good； as if I was worth any
thing； it proceeded from your great deservings； and by the service
in which I did stand engaged to you。 But my present happinesse can
no way be equalled； derived from your super…abounding gracious favour；
and more then common course of kindnesse； vouchsafing （of your owne
liberall nature） to come and visit so poore a servant。 Oh that I had
as much to spend againe； as heretofore riotously I have runne
thorow： what a welcome would your poore Host bestow upon you； for
gracing； this homely house with your divine presence？ With these
wordes； he conducted her into his house； and then into his simple
Garden； where having no convenient company for her； he said。 Madam；
the poverty of this place is such； that it affoordeth none fit for
your conversation： this poore woman； wife to an honest Husbandman will
attend on you； while I （with some speede） shall make ready dinner。
Poore Frederigo； although his necessity was extreame； and his greefe
great； remembring his former inordinate expences； a moity whereof
would now have stood him in some stead； yet he had a heart as free and
forward as ever； not a jotte dejected in his minde； though utterly
overthrowne by Fortune。 Alas！ how was his good soule afflicted； that
he had nothing wherewith to honour his Lady？ Up and downe he runnes；
one while this way； then againe another； exclaiming on his
disastrous Fate； like a man enraged； or bereft of senses： for he had
not one peny of mony neither pawne or pledge； wherewith to procure
any。 The time hasted on； and he would gladly （though in meane measure）
expresse his honourable respect of the Lady。 To begge of any； his
nature denied it； and to borrow he could not； because his neighbours
were all as needie as himselfe。
At last； looking round about； and seeing his Faulcon standing on her
pearch； which he felt to be very plumpe and fat； being voyde of all
other helpes in his neede； and thinking her to be a Fowle meete for so
Noble a Lady to feede on： without any further demurring or delay； he
pluckt off her necke； and caused the poore woman presently to pull her
Feathers： which being done； he put her on the spit； and in short
time she was daintily roasted。 Himselfe covered the Table； set bread
and salt on and laid the Napkins； whereof he had but a few left him。
Going then with chearfull lookes into the Garden； telling the Lady
that dinner was ready； and nothing now wanted； but her presence。 Shee；
and the Gentlewoman went in； and being sated at the Table； not knowing
what they fed on； the Faulcon was all their foode； and Frederigo not a
little joyfull； that his credite was so well saved。 When they were
risen from the table； and had spent some small time in familiar
conference： the Lady thought it fit； to acquaint him with the reason
of her comming thither； and therefore （in very kinde manner） thus
began。
Frederigo； if you do yet remember your former carriage towards
mee； as also my many modest and chaste denials； which （perhaps） you
thought to savour of a harsh； cruell； and un…womanly nature； I make no
doubt； but you will wonder at my present presumption； when you
understand the occasion； which expressely mooved me to come hither。
But if you were possessed of children； or ever had any； whereby you
might comprehend what love （in nature） is due unto them： then I
durst assure my selfe； that you would partly hold me excused。
Now； in regard that you never had any； and my selfe （for my part）
have but onely one； I stand not exempted from those Lawes； which are
in common to other mothers。 And being compelled to obey the power of
those Lawes； contrary to mine owne will； and those duties which reason
owne wi ought to maintaine； I am to request such a gift of you；
which I am certaine； that you do make most precious account of； as
in manly equity you can do no lesse。 For Fortune hath bin so extreamly
adverse to you； that she hath robbed you of all other pleasures；
allowing you no comfort or delight； but onely that poore one； which is
your faire Faulcone。 Of which Bird； my Sonne is become so strangely
desirous； as； if I doe not bring it to him at my comming home； I feare
so much； the extreamity of his sicknesse； as nothing can ensue
thereon； but his losse of life。 Wherefore I beseech you； not in regard
of the love you have borne me； for therby you stand no way obliged：
but in your owne true gentle nature （the which hath alwayes declared
it selfe ready in you； to do more kinde offices generally； then any
other Gentleman that I know） you will be pleased to give her me； or at
the least； let me buy her of you。
Which if you do； I shall freely then confesse； that onely by your
meanes； my Sonnes life is saved； and we both shall for ever remaine
engaged to you。
When Frederigo had heard the Ladies request； which was now quite out
of his power to graunt； because it had bene her service at dinner：
he stood like a man meerely dulled in his sences； the teares trickling
amaine downe his cheekes； and he not able to utter one word。 Which she
perceiving； began to conjecture immediately； that these teares and
passions proceeded rather from greefe of minde； as being loather to
part with his Faulcon； then any other kinde of manner： which made
her ready to say； that she would not have it。 Neverthelesse she did
not speake； but rather tarried to attend his answer。 Which； after some
small respite and pause； he returned in this manner。
Madame； since the houre； when first mine affection became soly
devoted to your service； Fortune hath bene crosse and contrary to
me； in many occasions； as justly； and in good reason I may complain of
her； yet all seemed light and easie to be indured； in comparison of
her present malicious contradiction； to my utter overthrow； and
perpetuall mollestation。 Considering； that you are come hither to my
poore house； which （while I was rich and able） you would not so much
as vouchsafe to looke on。 And now you have requested a small matter of
me； wherein she hath also most crookedly thwarted me； because she hath
disabled me； in bestowing so meane a gift； as your selfe will
confesse； when it shall be related to you in few words。
So soone as I heard； that it was your gracious pleasure to dine with
me； having regard to your excellency； and what （by merit） is justly
due unto you： I thought it a part of my bounden duty； to entertaine
you with such exquisite viands； as my poore power could any way
compasse； and farre beyond respect or welcome； to other common and
ordinary persons。 Whereupon； remembring my Faulcon； which now you aske
for； and her goodnesse； excelling all other of her kinde； I
supposed； that she would make a dainty dish for your dyet； and
having drest her； so well as I could devise to do： you have fed
heartily on her； and I am proud that I have so well bestowne her。
But perceiving now； that you would have her for your sicke Sonne； it
is no meane affliction to me； that I am disabled of yeelding you
contentment； which all my life time I have desired to doe。
To approve his words； the feathers； feete； and beake were brought
in； which when she saw； she greatly blamed him for killing so rare a
Faulcon； to content the appetite of any woman whatsoever。 Yet she
commended his height of spirit； which poverty had no power to abase。
Lastly； her hopes being frustrate for en