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easily over…rule me。 But if your honor in estimation； bee now more
precious to you then heretofore； and it seemeth so offensive to
stand there naked： convert your perswasions and prayers to him； in
whose armes you were that night imbraced； both of your triumphing in
my misery； when poor I； trotted about your Court； with the teeth
quivering in my head； and beating mine armes about my body； finding no
compassion in him； or you。 Let him bring thee thy Garments； let him
come helpe thee down with the Ladder； and let him have the care of
thine honour； on whom thou hast bene so prodigall heretofore in
bestowing it； and now hast unwomanly throwne thy selfe in perill；
onely for the maintenance of thine immodest desires。
Why dost thou not call on him to come helpe thee？ To whom doeth it
more belong； then to him？ For thou art his and he thine。 Why then
shold any other but he help thee in this distresse？ Call him （foole as
thou art） and try； if the love he beareth thee； and thy best
understanding joyned with his； can deliver thee out of my sottish
detaining thee。 I have not forgot； that when you both made a pastime
of my misery； thou didst demand of him； which seemed greatest in his
opinion； either my sottish simplicity； or the love thou barest him。
I am not now so liberall or courteous； to desire that of thee； which
thou wouldst not grant； if I did request it： No； no； reserve those
night favours for thy amorous friend； if thou dost escape hence
alive to see him againe。 As for my selfe； I leave thee freely to his
use and service： because I have sufficiently payde for a womans
falshood； and wisemen take such warning； that they scorne to bee twice
deceived； and by one woman。 Proceed on stil in thy flattering
perswasions； terming me to be a Gentleman and a Scholler； thereby to
win such favor from me； that I should think thy villany toward me；
to be already sufficiently punished。 No； treacherous Helena； thy
blandishments cannot now hoodwink the eies of my understanding； as
when thou didst out…reach me with thy disloyall promises and
protestations。 And let me now tell thee plainely； that all the while I
continued in the Universitie of Paris； I never attained unto so
perfect an understanding of my selfe； as in that one miserable night
thou diddest enstruct mee。 But admit； that I were enclined unto a
mercifull and compassionate minde； yet thou art none of them； on whome
milde and gracious mercy should any way declare her effects。 For；
the end of pennance among savage beasts； such as thou art； and
likewise of due vengeance； ought to be death： whereas among men； it
should suffice according to thine owne saying。 Wherefore； in regard
that I am neither an Eagle； nor thou a Dove； but rather a most
venomous Serpent： I purpose with my utmost hatred； and as an ancient
enemy to all such as thou art； to make my revenge famous on thee。
I am not ignorant； that whatsoever I have already done unto thee；
cannot properly be termed revenge； but rather chastisement； because
revenge ought alwayes to exceede the offence； which （as yet） I am
farre enough from。 For； if I did intend to revenge my wrongs； and
remembred thy monstrous cruelty to me： thy life； if I tooke it from
thee； and an hundred more such as thy selfe； were farre
insufficient； because in killing thee； I should kill but a vile
inhumane beast； yea； one that deserved not the name of a Woman。 And；
to speake truely； Art thou any more； or better （setting aside thy
borrowed haire； and painted beauty； which in few yeares will leave
thee wrinkled and deformed） then the basest beggarly Chamber…stuffe
that can bee？ Yet thou soughtest the death of a Gentleman and Scholler
as （in scorne） not long since； thou didst terme me： whose life may
hereafter be more beneficiall unto the world； then millions of such as
thou art； to live in the like multiplicity of ages。 Therefore； if this
anguish be sensible to thee； learne what it is to mocke men of
apprehension； and （amongst them especially） such as are Schollers：
to prevent thy falling hereafter into the like extremity； if it be thy
good lucke to escape out of this。
It appeareth to me； that thou art verie desirous to come downe
hither on the ground； the best counsell that I can give thee； is to
leape downe headlong； that by breaking thy necke （if thy fortune be so
faire） thy life and lothsome qualities ending together； I may sit
and smile at thy deserved destruction。 I have no other comfort to give
thee； but only to boast my happinesse； in teaching thee the way to
ascend that Tower； and in thy descending downe （even by what means thy
wit can best devise） make a mockery of me； and say thou hast learned
more； then all my Schollership could instruct thee。
All the while as Reniero uttered these speeches； the miserable
Lady sighed and wept very grievously； the time running on； and the
Sunne ascending higher and higher； but when she heard him silent； thus
she answered。 Unkinde and cruell man； if that wretched night was so
greevous to thee； and mine offence appeared so great； as neither my
youth； beautie； teares； and humble intercessions； are able to derive
any mercy from thee； yet let the last consideration moove thee to some
remorse： namely that I reposed new confidence in thee （when I had
little or no reason at all to trust thee） and discovered the
integritie of my soule unto thee； whereby thou didst compasse the
meanes； to punish me thus deservedly for my sinne。 For； if I had not
reposed confidence in thee； thou couldst not （in this maner） have
wrought revenge on me； which although thou didst earnestly covet；
yet my rash credulitie was thy onely helpe。 Asswage then thine
anger； and graciously pardon me； wherein if thou wilt be so
mercifull to me； and free me from this fatall Tower： I do heere
faithfully promise thee； to forsake my most false and disloyall
friend； electing thee as my Lord and constant Love for ever。
Moreover； although thou condemnest my beauty greatly； esteeming it
as a trifle； momentary； and of slender continuance； yet； such as it is
（being comparable with any other womans whatsoever） I am not so
ignorant； that were there no other reason to induce liking thereof：
yet men in the vigour of their youth （as I am sure you think your
selfe not aged） do hold it for an especiall delight； ordained by
nature for them to admire and honour。 And notwithstanding all thy
cruelty extended to mee； yet I cannot be perswaded； that thou art so
flinty or Ironhearted； as to desire my miserable death； by casting
my selfe headlong downe （like a desperate madde woman） before thy
face； so to destroy that beuty； which （if thy Letters lyed not） was
once so highly pleasing in thine eyes。 Take pitty then on mee for
charities sake； because the Sunne beginneth to heate extreamely： and
as over…much colde （that unhappy night） was mine offence； so let not
over…violent warmth be now my utter ruine and death。
The Scholler； who （onely to delight himselfe） maintained this long
discoursing with her； returned her this answere。 Madame； you did not
repose such confidence in me； for any good will or afrection in you
towards me； but in hope of recovering him whom you had lost； wherein
you merit not a jot of favour； but rather the more sharpe and severe
infliction。 And whereas you inferre； that your over…rash credulity；
gave the onely meanes to my revenge： Alas！ therein you deceive your
selfe； for I have a thousand crochets working continually in my brain；
whereby to entrap a wiser creature then a woman； yet veiled all
under the cunning cloake of love； but sauced with the bitter Wormewood
of hate。 So that； had not this hapned as now it doth； of necessity you
must have falne into another： but； as it hath pleased my happy stars
to favour mee therein； none could proove more to your eternall
scandall and disgrace； then this of your owne devising； which I made
choise of； not in regard of any ease to you； but onely to content my
selfe。
But if all other devises els had failed； my pen was and is my
prevayling Champion； where…with I would have written such and so
many strange matters； concerning you in your very dearest
reputation； that you should have curst the houre of your conception；
and wisht your birth had bin abortive。 The powers of the pen are too
many and mighty； wherof such weake wits as have made no experience；
are the lesse able to use any relation。 I sweare to you Lady； by my
best hopes； that this revenge which （perhappes） you esteeme great
and dishonourable； is no way compareable to the wounding Lines of a
Penne； which can carracter downe so infinite infamies （yet none but
guilty and true taxations） as will make your owne hands immediate
instruments； to teare the eyes from forth your head； and so bequeath
your after dayes unto perpetuall darkenesse。
Now； concerning your lost lover； for whose sake you suffer this
unexpected pennance； although your choise hath proved but bad； yet
still continue your affection to him： in regard that I have another
Ladie and Mistresse； of higher and greater desert then you； and to
whome I will continue for ever constant。 And whereas you thinke； the
warme beames of the Sunne； will be too hot and scorching for your nice
bodie to en