in comparison. I say this,
my lord, in reference to a certain gentleman" (naming her enemy) "who,
though reared by your own hand and treated more like a son than a
servant, has made a cruel and base attempt to ruin the honour of your
wife, in which is also bound up the honour of your house and your
children. Although for a long time he showed me such looks as pointed to
his wicked purpose, yet my heart, which only cares for you, understood
nothing of them; and so at last he declared himself in words to which
I returned a reply such as beseemed my condition and my chastity.
Nevertheless, I now so hate him that I cannot endure to look at him,
and for this cause I have continued in my own apartment and lost the
happiness of fellowship with you. I entreat you, my lord, keep not this
pestilence near your person; for, after such a crime, he might fear lest
I should tell you of it, and so attempt worse. This, my lord, is the
cause of my sorrow, and methinks it were right and fitting that you
should deal with it forthwith."

The Duke, who on the one hand loved his wife and felt himself grievously
affronted, and on the other loved his servant, whose faithfulness he had
so fully tried that he could scarce believe this falsehood against him,
was in great distress and filled with anger. Repairing to his own room,
he sent word to the gentleman to come no more into his presence, but to
withdraw to his lodging for a time. The gentleman, being ignorant of the
cause of this, was grieved exceedingly, for he knew that he had deserved
the opposite of such unworthy treatment. Aware, then, of his own
innocence in heart and deed, he sent a comrade to speak to the Duke and
take him a letter, humbly entreating that if any evil report had caused
his banishment, his master would be pleased to suspend judgment until he
had heard from himself the truth of the matter, when it would be found
that he had been guilty of no offence.

When the Duke saw this letter, his anger was somewhat abated. He
secretly sent for the gentleman to his own room, and with wrathful
countenance said--

"I could never have thought that the care I took to rear you as my own
child would be changed into regret at having so highly advanced you;
but you have attempted what was more hurtful to me than loss of life
or substance, and have sought to assail the honour of one who is half
myself, and so bring infamy on my house and name. You may be assured
that this outrage is so wo