th a kind of pleasant disdain, "How, my lord," said
I, "have you kissed me so often, and don't you know whether I am painted
or not? Pray let your Highness satisfy yourself that you have no cheats
put upon you; for once let me be vain enough to say I have not deceived
you with false colours." With this I put a handkerchief into his hand,
and taking his hand into mine, I made him wipe my face so hard that he
was unwilling to do it, for fear of hurting me.

He appeared surprised more than ever, and swore, which was the first
time that I had heard him swear from my first knowing him, that he could
not have believed there was any such skin without paint in the world.
"Well, my lord," said I, "your Highness shall have a further
demonstration than this, as to that which you are pleased to accept for
beauty, that it is the mere work of nature;" and with that I stepped to
the door and rung a little bell for my woman Amy, and bade her bring me
a cup full of hot water, which she did; and when it was come, I desired
his Highness to feel if it was warm, which he did, and I immediately
washed my face all over with it before him. This was, indeed, more than
satisfaction, that is to say, than believing, for it was an undeniable
demonstration, and he kissed my cheeks and breasts a thousand times,
with expressions of the greatest surprise imaginable.

Nor was I a very indifferent figure as to shape; though I had had two
children by my gentleman, and six by my true husband, I say I was no
despisable shape; and my prince (I must be allowed the vanity to call
him so) was taking his view of me as I walked from one end of the room
to the other. At last he leads me to the darkest part of the room, and
standing behind me, bade me hold up my head, when, putting both his
hands round my neck, as if he was spanning my neck to see how small it
was, for it was long and small, he held my neck so long and so hard in
his hand that I complained he hurt me a little. What he did it for I
knew not, nor had I the least suspicion but that he was spanning my
neck; but when I said he hurt me, he seemed to let go, and in half a
minute more led me to a pier-glass, and behold I saw my neck clasped
with a fine necklace of diamonds; whereas I felt no more what he was
doing than if he had really done nothing at all, nor did I suspect it in
the least. If I had an ounce of blood in me that did not fly up into my
face, neck, and breasts, it must be from some interrupti