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That speake I could not； nor durst be so bold；
To make the Ayre acquainted with my woe：
Alas！ I lookt so high； and doing so；
Justly deserve by death to be controld。
Yet mercies sight would lend me life a while；
Grant it （great love） mine anguish to beguffe。
Goe love； and tell the torments I endure；
Say to my Soveraigne Lord； that I must die：
Except he come； some comfort to procure；
For tell I may not； what I feele； and why。
The lines contained in this Ditty； Manutio fitted with noates so
mooving and singularly musicall； that every word had the seisible
motion of life in it； where the King being （as yet） not risen from the
Table； he commanded him to use both his Lute and voyce。
This seemed a happy opportunity to Manutio； to sing the dittie so
purposely done and devised： which hee delivered in such excellent
manner； the voice and Instrument concording so extraordinary pleasing；
that all the persons then in the Presence； seemed rather Statues； then
living men； so strangely they were wrapt with admiration； and the King
himselfe farre beyond all the rest； transported with a rare kinde of
alteration。
When Manutio had ended the Song； the King demanded of him； whence
this Song came； because he had never heard it before？ My gracious
Lord； answered Manutio； it must needes seeme straunge to your Majesty；
because it is not fully three dayes； since it was invented； made；
and set to the note。 Then the King asked； whom it concerned？ Sir
（quoth Manutio） I dare not disclose that to any but onely your
selfe。 Which answer made the King much more desirous； and being
risen from the Table； he tooke him into his Bedchamber； where
Manutio related all at large to him； according to the trust reposed in
him。 Wherwith the King was wonderfully well pleased； greatly
commending the courage of the Maide； and said； that a Virgin of such a
valiant spirit； did well deserve to have her case commiserated： and
commanded him also； to goe （as sent from him） and comfort her； with
promise； that the very same day； in the evening； he would not faile to
come and see her。
Manutio； more then contented； to carry such glad tydings to
Lisana； without staying in any place； and taking his Lute also with
him； went to the Apothecaries house； where speaking alone with the
Maide： he told her what he had done； and afterward sung the song to
her； in as excellent manner as he had done before； wherein Lisana
conceived such joy and contentment； as even in the very same moment；
it was observed by apparant signes； that the violence of her fits
forsooke her； and health began to get the upper hand of them。 SO；
without suffering any one in the house to know it； or by the least
meanes to suspect it； she comforted her selfe till the evening； in
expectation of her Soveraignes arrivall。
Piero being a Prince； of most liberall and benigne nature； having
afterward divers times considered on the matters which Manutio had
revealed to him； knowing also the yong Maiden； to bee both
beautifull and vertuous： was so much moved with pitty of her
extremitie； as mounting on horsebacke in the evening； and seeming as
if he rode abroad for his private recreation； he went directly to
the Apothecaries house； where desiring to see a goodly garden；
appertaining then to the Apothecarie； he dismounted from his horse。
Walking into the garden； he began to question with Bernardo；
demaunding him for his Daughter； and whether he had （as yet） marryed
her； or no？ My Gracious Lord； answered Bernardo； as yet shee is not
marryed； neither likely to bee； in regard shee hath had a long and
tedious sickenesse： but since Dinner time； she is indifferently
eased of her former violent paine； which we could not discerne the
like alteration in her； a long while before。
The King understood immediately； the reason of this so sudden
alteration； and said。 In good faith Bernardo； the world would sustaine
a great maine and imperfection； by the losse of thy faire daughter；
wherefore； we will goe our selfe in person to visite her。 So； with two
of his Lords onely； and the Father； he ascended to the Maides
Chamber and being entred； he went to the Beds side； where she sate；
somewhat raised； in expectation of his comming； and taking her by
the hand； he said。 Faire Lisana； how commeth this to passe？ You
being so faire a Virgin； yong； and in the delicacy of your daies；
which should be the chiefest comfort to you； will you suffer your
selfe to be over…awed with sickenesse？ Let us intreat you； that （for
our sake） you will be of good comfort； and thereby recover your health
the sooner； especially； when it is requested by a King； who is sorry
to see so bright a beauty sicke； and would helpe it； it consisted in
his power。
Lisana； feeling the touch of his hand； whom she loved above all
things else in the world； although a bashfull blush mounted up into
her cheekes： yet her heart was seazed with such a rapture of pleasure；
that she thought her selfe translated into Paradise； and； so well as
she could； thus she replyed。 Great King； by opposing my feeble
strength； against a burden of over…ponderous weight； it became the
occasion of this grievous sickenesse： but I hope that the violence
thereof is （almost） already kild； onely by this soveraigne mercy in
you； and doubtlesse it will cause my speedy deliverance。 The King
did best understand this so well palliated answere of Lisana； which as
he did much commend； in regard of her high adventuring； so he did
againe as greatly condemne Fortune； for not making her more happy in
her birth。
So； after he had stayed there a good while； and given her many
comfortable speeches； he returned backe to the Court。 This humanity in
the King； was reputed a great honour to the Apothecary and his
daughter； who （in her owne mind） received as much joy and
contentment thereby； as ever any wife could have of her owne Husband。
And being assisted by better hopes； within a short while after；
she became recovered； and farre more beautifull （in common judgment）
then ever she was before。
Lisana being now in perfect health； the King consulted with his
Queene； what meete recompence he should gratifie her withall； for
loving and affecting him in such fervent manner。 Upon a day
determined； the King mounting on horsebacke； accompanied with many
of his cheefest Lords and Barons； he rode to the Apothecaries house；
where walking in his beautifull Garden； hee called for Bernardo and
his daughter Lisana。 In the meane space； the Queene also came thither；
Royally attended on by her Ladies； and Lisana being admitted into
their company； they expressed themselves very gracious to her。 Soone
after； the King and the Queene cald Lisana； and the King spake in this
manner to her。
Faire Virgin； the extraordinary love which you bare to us； calleth
for as great honour from us to you； in which respect； it is our Royall
desire； by one meanes or other to requite your kinde Love。 In our
opinion； the chief honour we can extend to you。 is； that being of
sufficient yeares for marriage； you would grace us so much； as to
accept him for your Husband； whom we intend to bestow on you。 Beside
this further grant from us； that （notwithstanding whatsoever else） you
shall call us your Knight； without coveting any thing else from you；
for so great favour； but only one kisse； and thinke not to bestow it
nicely on a King； but grant it the rather； because he begges it。
Lisana； whose lookes were dyed with a vermillian tincture； or rather
converted into a pure maiden blush； reputing the Kings desire to be
her owne； in a low and humbled voyce； thus answered。 My Lord； most
certaine am I； that if it had beene publikely knowne； how none but
your highnes； might serve for me to fixe my love on； I should have
been termed the foole of all fooles： they perhaps beleeving； that I
was forgetfull of my selfe； in being ignorant of mine owne
condition； and much lesse of yours。 But the Gods are my witnesses
（because they know the secrets of all hearts） that even in the very
instant； when Loves fire tooke hold on my yeelding affection： I knew
you to be a King； and my selfe the daughter of poore Bernardo the
Apothecary： likewise； how farre unfitting it was for me； to be so
ambitious in my loves presuming。 But I am sure your Majestie doth know
（much better then I am able to expresse） that no one becommeth
amourous； according to the duty of election； but as the appetite
shapeth his course； against whose lawes my strength made many
resistances； which not prevailing； I presumed to love； did； and so for
ever shall doe； your Majestie。
Now Royall Soveraigne； I must needes confesse； that so soone as I
felt my selfe thus wholly conquered by loving you； I resolved for ever
after； to make your will mine owne； and therefore； am not onely
willing to accept him for my Husband； whom you shall please to
appoint； befitting my honor and degree： but if you will have me to
live in a flaming fire； my obedience shall sacrifice it selfe to
your will； with the absolute conformity of mine owne。 To stile you
by the name of my Knight； whom I know to be my lawfull King and
Soveraigne； you are not ignorant； how farre unfitting a word that were
f