mercy on him, and to confound his wickedness with courtesy. Then the tables were spread, and there was a royal banquet; which being ended, they went to rest in a splendid bed.
When morning came, and the Sun, brandishing the two-handed sword of the Light in the midst of the Stars, cries, "Back, you rabble!" Cienzo, standing at the window, saw at a house opposite a fair young girl; and turning round to Menechella, he said, "What beautiful creature is that standing in yon window opposite?"—"What does that matter to you?" answered his wife: "what are you staring at? what fancy have you got in your head now?" Upon this Cienzo hung his head, like a cat that has been up to some mischief, and said nothing; but making a pretence of going out on an affair of business, he left the palace, and went to the house of the maiden opposite, who was verily an exquisite morsel; you might fancy yourself looking at a delicate junket, a sugar pasty; she never turned the buttons[1] of her eyes, but she made an amorous blister on all hearts; she never opened the saucepan of her lips, but she poured scalding water upon souls; she never moved a foot, but she pressed down the shoulders of him who hung suspended by the cord of hope[2]. But beside all
