I 55« 3 



BIANCA. 



ABOUT the end of the fifteenth century, Tho- 

 mas Buonaventuri, a young Florentine, of a good 

 family, but poor, took up his relidence with a mer- 

 chant in Venice, his countryman. Oppolite the houfe 

 where he lodged, was the back-gate of the dwelling of 

 a Venetian of quality, Bartolemeo Capello. In this 

 houfe lived a young lady of extraordinary beauty, of 

 the name of Bianca. She was indeed clofely watched ; 

 however, Buonaventuri foon difcovered her, as Ihe 

 came frequently to the window. Of a nearer accefs 

 to her, he did not dare to form any hopes ; yet he did 

 all he could to entertain her, and to evince his inclina- 

 tion. He was young and amiable ; it was not long be- 

 before he ceafed to be indifferent to her : and, in 

 fhort, after repeated negociations, the two lovers at 

 length found means to accomplifh their wifh.es. Bianca 

 never failed, every evening at a late hour, when all the 

 family were in bed, to flip into Buonaventuri's cham- 

 ber, in the merchant's houfe, by means of a little 

 back-door, which me took care to leave a-jar for that 

 purpofe ; and without any foul being aware of it, re- 

 turned every morning before break of day. 



After they had carried on this diverfion for a pretty 

 long while, as it commonly happens, lhe grew bolder 

 by habit ; and, having once fluid longer than ufual with 

 her lover, it happened by chance that a baker's boy, 

 who wanted to fetch yeaft from an adjoining houfe, 

 perceived that the little back door fcood open. Not 



dreaming 



