[005]
You are to know, then, that in a convent in Lombardy of very
great repute for strict and holy living there was, among other ladies
that there wore the veil, a young woman of noble family, and extraordinary
beauty. Now Isabetta--for such was her name--having
speech one day of one of her kinsmen at the grate, became enamoured
of a fine young gallant that was with him; who, seeing her to be
very fair, and reading her passion in her eyes, was kindled with a like
flame for her: which mutual and unsolaced love they bore a great
while not without great suffering to both.
[006]
But at length, both being
intent thereon, the gallant discovered a way by which he might with
all secrecy visit his nun; and she approving, he paid her not one visit
only, but many, to their no small mutual solace. [007]But, while thus they
continued their intercourse, it so befell that one night one of the
sisters observed him take his leave of Isabetta and depart, albeit neither
he nor she was ware that they had thus been discovered. The sister
imparted what she had seen to several others. At first they were
minded to denounce her to the abbess, one Madonna Usimbalda,
who was reputed by the nuns, and indeed by all that knew her, to
be a good and holy woman; but on second thoughts they deemed it
expedient, that there might be no room for denial, to cause the abbess
to take her and the gallant in the act. So they held their peace, and
arranged between them to keep her in watch and close espial, that
they might catch her unawares.
[008]
Of which practice Isabetta recking,
witting nought, it so befell that one night, when she had her lover
to see her, the sisters that were on the watch were soon ware of it,
and at what they deemed the nick of time parted into two companies,
of which one mounted guard at the threshold of Isabetta's cell, while
the other hasted to the abbess's chamber, and knocking at the door,
roused her, and as soon as they heard her voice, said: "Up, Madam,
without delay: we have discovered that Isabetta has a young man
with her in her cell."
