che man was gone to bed. Florinda whiche was not yet well
boldened by reason of her former feare, making a good face of
the matter to her mother, withdrewe her selfe into an oratorie
or chappell, to recommend her selfe to God, praying him to
defend her hart from al wicked affection, and therwithal
considered how often Amadour had praysed her beautie, which was
not impaired or diminished, although she had bene sicke of longe
time before: wherefore thinking it better to doe iniurie to her
beautie by defacing it, than to suffer the harte of so honest a
personage by meanes thereof wickedly to be inflamed, shee tooke
vp a stone which was within the Chappell, and gaue her selfe so
great a blowe on the face that her mouthe, eyes and nose, were
altogether deformed: and to thintent no man might suspect what
she had done, when the Countesse sent for her in going out of
the Chappell, she fell downe vppon a great stone, and
therewithall cried out so loude, as the Countesse came in and
founde her in pitious state, who incontinently dressing her
face, and binding it vp with clothes, conueyed her into her
chamber, and prayed her to goe into her closet to entertaigne
Amadour, tyll she were weary of his companie: whiche she did,
thinking that there had bene somebody with hym: but finding him
alone, and the doore shut vpon her, Amadour was not so well
pleased as she was discontented: who nowe thoughte eyther with
loue or force to get that, whiche hee had so long tyme desyred:
and after he had spoken a fewe woordes vnto her, and found her
in that mynde hee lefte her, and that to dye for it shee woulde
not chaunge her opinion, desperatly he sayde vnto her: "By God
madame, the fruite of my labour shall not be thus taken from me
for scruples and doubtes: and sithe that Loue, pacience, and
humble desires, cannot preuayle, I will not spare by force to
get that, which except I haue it will be the meanes of mine
overthrowe." When Florinda sawe his face and eyes so altered,
and that the fairest die and colour of the world, was become so
red as fier, with his most pleasaunt and amiable loke
transformed into horrible hew and furious, and therewithall
discried the very hote burning fier, to sparkle within his harte
and face: and how in that fury with one of his strong fistes he
griped her delicate and tender hands: and on the other side shee
seeing all her defences to fayle her, and that her feete and
handes were caught in suche captiuitie as she