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The Queen wondering at this so rare and strange an accident, said to Ricaredo:

“I conceive, Ricaredo, that this interview was thus preordered in your discretion; but I must tell you I know not whether you did well in so doing, for we see by experience that a sudden joy as soon kills as a sudden sorrow.”

And having said this, she turned herself to Isabella, and took her apart from her mother, who having a little water sprinkled in her face, came again to herself, and calling her wits a little better about her, humbling herself on her knees before the Queen, she said unto her:

“I beseech your Majesty to pardon my boldness, for it is no marvel that I should forget myself and lose my senses with the overmuch joy I have received in the finding out this my beloved pledge.”

The Queen made answer that she had a great deal of reason on her side, making use of an interpreter that she might the better understand her.

Isabella came in this manner, as I told you before, to the knowledge of her parents, and her parents of her; whom the Queen commanded to reside in the Court, to the end that they might with the better leisure both see and talk with their daughter, and rejoice and make merry with her. Wherewith Ricaredo was wonderfully well pleased, and craved anew of the Queen that she would be pleased to make good her promise by bestowing Isabella upon him, in case he did deserve her; and if not, he humbly besought her Majesty that she would be pleased presently to put him upon some other employment that might make himself worthy of obtaining that which he so earnestly desired.

The Queen understood very well that Ricaredo rested well satisfied of himself and of his great valour, insomuch that there needed not any new proofs for to qualify him; and therefore told him that four days from that present being fully ended, she would deliver Isabella unto him, doing both of them all the grace and honour she possibly could. Upon this answer Ricaredo took his leave, being the most joyful and most contented man in the world, transported with that near hope which he now had of having Isabella in his power without any fear of losing her, which is the last and utmost desire of lovers.

Time ran, but not with that light and nimble foot as he wished; for they who live by the hope of promise to come do evermore imagine that time doth not fly with wings swift enough, but that he hath lead tied to his heels, and treads the steps of slothfulness itself.

Well, at last come that desired day, not wherein Ricaredo thought to put an end to his desires, but to find in Isabella new graces which might move him to love her the more, if more he could, than he did already. But in that short time whenas he thought the ship of his good fortune sailed with a prosperous wind towards the desired port, a contrary chance and cross accident raised up in this calm sea such a tempestuous storm that he feared a thousand times to see it sunk.

The case, then, is this. The chief bedchamber lady to the Queen, to whose charge Isabella was committed, had a son of the age of twenty-two years, called the Earl of Arnesto. The greatness of his estate, the nobleness of his blood, and the great favour which his mother held with the Queen, made him not only do those things which did not become him, and to break out into excesses, but also made him arrogant, proud, haughty, and confident of himself.