a strong barred and defensible doore； whereby to mount or descend at
her pleasure。 And both the cave it selfe； as also the degrees
conducting downe into it； were now so quite worne out of memory （in
regard it had not beene visited by any one in long time before） as
no man remembred that there was any such thing。
But Love； from whose bright discerning eies； nothing can be so
closely concealed； but at the length it commeth to light； had made
this amorous Lady mindefull thereof； and because she would not be
discovered in her intention； many dayes together； her soule became
perplexed； by what meanes that strong doore might best be opened；
before she could compasse to performe it。 But after that she had found
out the way； and gone downe her selfe alone into the cave； observing
the loope…light and had made it commodious for her purpose； she gave
knowledge thereof to Guiscardo； to have him devise an apt course for
his descent； acquainting him truly with the height； and how farre it
was distant from the ground within。 After he had found the
souspirall in the hils side； and given it a larger entrance for his
safer passage； he provided a Ladder of cords； with steppes
sufficient for his descending and ascending； as also a wearing sute
made of leather； to keepe his skinne unscrached of the thornes； and to
avoyde all suspition of his resorting thither。 In this manner went
he to the saide loope…hole the night following； and having fastened
the one end of his corded ladder； to the strong stumpe of a tree being
by it； by meanes of the saide ladder； descended downe into the cave；
and there attended the comming of his Lady。
She； on the morrow morning； pretending to her waiting woman； that
she was scarsly well； and therefore would not be diseased the most
part of that day； commanded them to leave her alone in her Chamber；
and not to returne untill she called for them； locking the doore her
selfe for better security。 Then opened she the doore of the cave；
and going downe the staires； found there her amorous friend Guiscardo；
whom she saluting with a chaste and modest kisse； causing him to
ascend up the stayres with her into her Chamber。 This long desired；
and now obtained meeting； caused the two deerely affected Lovers； in
kinde discourse of amorous argument （without incivill or rude
demeanor） to spend there the most part of that day； to their hearts
joy and mutuall contentment。 And having concluded on their often
meeting there； in this cunning and concealed sort； Guiscardo went
downe into the cave againe； the Princesse making the doore fast
after him； and then went forth among her Women。 So in the night
season； Guiscardo ascended up againe by his Ladder of cords； and
covering the loopehole with brambles and bushes； returned （unseene
of any） to his owne lodging： the cave being afterward guilty of
their often meeting there in this manner。
But Fortune； who hath alwayes bin a fatall enemy to lovers stolne
felicities； became envious of their thus secret meeting； and overthrew
（in an instant） all their poore happinesse； by an accident most
spightfull and malicious。 The King had used divers dayes before； after
dinner time； to resort all alone to his daughters Chamber； there
conversing with her in most loving manner。 One unhappy day amongst the
rest； when the Princesse； being named Ghismonda； was sporting in her
private Garden among her Ladies； the King （at his wonted time） went to
his daughters Chamber； being neither heard or seene by any。 Nor
would he have his daughter called from her pleasure； but finding the
windowes fast shut； and the Curtaines close drawne about the bed； he
sate downe in a chaire behind it； and leaning his head upon the bed；
his body being covered with the curtaine； as if he hid himselfe
purposely； he mused on so many matters； at last he fell fast asleepe。
It hath bin observed as an ancient Adage； that when disasters are
ordained to any one； commonly they prove to be inevitable； as poore
Ghismonda could witnesse too well。 For while the King thus slept；
she having （unluckily） appointed another meeting with Guiscardo；
left hir Gentlewomen in the Garden； and stealing softly into her
Chamber； having made all fast and sure； for being descried by any
person： opened the doore to Guiscardo； who stood there ready on the
staire…head； awaiting his entrance； and they sitting downe on the
bed side （according as they were wont to do） began their usuall
kinde of conference againe； with sighes and loving kisses mingled
among them。 It chanced that the King awaked； and both hearing and
seeing this familiarity of Guiscardo with his Daughter； he became
extreamly confounded with greefe thereat。 Once he intended； to cry out
for have them both there apprehended； but he helde it a part of
greater wisedome； to sit silent still； and （if he could） to keepe
himselfe so closely concealed： to the end； that he might the more
secretly； and with farre lesse disgrace to himselfe； performe what
he had rashly intended to do。
The poore discovered Lovers； having ended their amorous
interparlance； without suspition of the Kings being so neere in
person； or any else； to betray their overconfident trust； Guiscardo
descended againe into the Cave； and she leaving the Chamber；
returned to her women in the Garden； all which Tancrede too well
observed； and in a rapture of fury； departed （unseene） into his owne
lodging。 The same night； about the houre of mens first sleepe； and
according as he had given order； Guiscardo was apprehended； even as he
was comming forth of the loope…hole； and in his homely leather habite。
Very closely was he brought before the King； whose heart was swolne so
great with griefe； as hardly was he able to speake： notwithstanding；
at the last he began thus。 Guiscardo 。 cardo； the love and respect I
have used towards thee； hath not deserved the shamefull wrong which
thou hast requited me withall； and as I have seene with mine owne eyes
this day。 Whereto Guiscardo could answer nothing else； but onely this：
Alas my Lord！ Love is able to do much more； then either you； or I。
Whereupon； Tancrede commanded； that he should be secretly well
guarded； in a neere adjoyning Chamber； and on the next day；
Ghismonda having （as yet） heard nothing hereof； the Kings braine being
infinitely busied and troubled； after dinner； and as he often had used
to do： he went to his daughters Chamber； where calling for her； and
shutting the doores closely to them； the teares trickling downe his
aged white beard； thus he spake to her。
Ghismonda； I was once grounded in a setled perswasion； that I truely
knew thy vertue； and honest integrity of life； and this beleefe
could never have beene altred in mee； by any sinister reports
whatsoever； had not mine eyes seene； and mine eares heard the
contrary。 Nor did I so much as conceive a thought either of thine
affection； or private conversing with any man； but onely he that was
to be thy husband。 But now； I my selfe being able to avouch thy folly；
imagine what an heart…breake this will be to me； so long as life
remaineth in this poore； weake； and aged body。 Yet； if needes thou
must have yeelded to this wanton weaknesse； I would thou hadst made
choise of a man； answerable to thy birth and Nobility： whereas on
the contrary； among so many worthy spirits as resort to my Court； thou
likest best to converse with that silly young man Guiscardo； one of
very meane and base descent； and by me （even for Gods sake）
from his very youngest yeares； brought up to this instant in my
Court； wherein thou hast given me much affliction of minde； and so
overthrowne my senses； as I cannot well imagine how I should deale
with thee。 For him； whom I have this night caused to be surprized；
even as he came forth of your close contrived conveyance； and
detaine as my prisoner； I have resolved how to proceed with him： but
concerning thy selfe； mine oppressions are so many and violent； as I
know not what to say of thee。 e。 way； thou hast meerly murthered the
unfeigned affection I bare thee； as never any father could expresse
more to his childe： and then againe； thou hast kindled a most just
indignation in me； by thine immodest and wilfull folly； and whereas
Nature pleadeth pardon for the one； yet justice standeth up against
the other； and urgeth cruell severity against thee： neverthelesse；
before I will determine upon any resolution； I come purposely first to
heare thee speake； and what thou canst say for thy selfe； in a bad
case； so desperate and dangerous。
Having thus spoken； he hung downe the head in his bosome； weeping as
aboundantly； as if he had beene a childe severely disciplinde。 On
the other side； Ghismonda hearing the speeches of her Father； and
perceiving withall； that not onely her secret love was discovered； but
also Guiscardo was in close prison； the matter which most of all did
torment her； she fell into a very strange kinde of extasie； scorning
teares； and entreating tearmes； such as feminine frailety are
alwayes aptest unto： but rather； with height of courage； controuling
feare or servile basenesse； and declaring invincible fortitude in
her very lookes； she concluded with her selfe； rather then to urge any
humble perswasions； she would lay her life downe at the stake。 For
plainely she perceived； that Guiscardo already was a dead man in
Law； and death was likewise welcome to her； rather then the
deprivation of her Love； and therefore； not like a weeping woman； or
as checkt by the offence committed； but carelesse of any harme
happening to her： stoutely and couragiously； not a teare appearing
in her eye； or her soule any way to be perturbed； thus she spake to
her Father。
Tancrede； to denie what I have done； or to entreate any favour
from you； is now no part of my disposition： for as the one can
little availe me； so shall not the other any way advantage me。
Moreover； I covet not that you should extend any clemency or kindnesse
to me； but by my voluntary confession of the truth do intend （first of
all） to defend mine honour； with reasons sound； good； and
substantiall； and then vertuously pursue to full effect； the
greatnesse of my minde and constant resolution。 True it is； that I
have loved； and still do； hono