belonging to my friend, I would not have touched her for all the gold in
the world; and though she declared she was madly in love with me, I
remained steadfast in my loyalty. But after they had gone to bed, I
stole away the little serving-girl, who was quite a fresh maid, and woe
to her if her mistress had known of it! The result was that I enjoyed a
very pleasant night, far more to my satisfaction than if I had passed it
with Faustina. I rose upon the hour of breaking fast, and felt tired,
for I had travelled many miles that night, and was wanting to take food,
when a crushing headache seized me; several boils appeared on my left
arm, together with a carbuncle which showed itself just beyond the palm
of the left hand where it joins the wrist. Everybody in the house was in
a panic; my friend, the cow and the calf, all fled. Left alone there
with my poor little prentice, who refused to abandon me, I felt stifled
at the heart, and made up my mind for certain I was a dead man.

Just then the father of the lad went by, who was physician to the
Cardinal Iacoacci, [1] and lived as member of that prelate's household.
[2] The boy called out: "Come, father, and see Benvenuto; he is in bed
with some trifling indisposition." Without thinking what my complaint
might be, the doctor came up at once, and when he had felt my pulse, he
saw and felt what was very contrary to his own wishes. Turning round to
his son, he said: "O traitor of a child, you've ruined me; how can I
venture now into the Cardinal's presence?" His son made answer: "Why,
father, this man my master is worth far more than all the cardinals in
Rome." Then the doctor turned to me and said: "Since I am here, I will
consent to treat you. But of one thing only I warn you, that if you have
enjoyed a woman, you are doomed." To this I replied: "I did so this very
night." He answered: "With whom, and to what extent?" [3] I said: "Last
night, and with a girl in her earliest maturity." Upon this, perceiving
that he had spoken foolishly, he made haste to add: "Well, considering