about midnight
persons by hymself , and in the middes of the chamber he commaunded a riche bed of estate to be set vp and furnished , wher was appointed to ly his own daughter , which was an exceading faire creature . And in the night when these yong men were layde in their beddes , manye gentlewomen attendant vpon the Lady , came in to bryng her to her lodging : and her father deliuered to her a sawcer full of black die , or stayning , and saide vnto her : `` If any of these yong men that doe lie here by thee , doe offer to come to thy bedde , looke that thou marke him in the face with this staining colour , that he may be knowen . '' At which wordes all the yong men maruelled and therefore durste not attempt to goe vnto her , but said one to another : `` Surely this commaundement of the Duke hath some secrete misterie in it . '' Notwithstanding Ricciardo determined about midnight to go to her bedde : and when the candle was out being a wake of purpose , he rose vp and went to the gentlewoman 's bedde and began to imbrace and kisse her . The maiden when she felt him , sodainly dipped her finger in the colour and stained his face , not perceiued of him . When he had accomplished the thing he came for , hee retourned to his place : and then began to imagin vpon the Duke 's wordes , and for what policie he spake them . And lying a litle while still musing vpon the same , he went againe to the gentlewoman 's bedde , hauing throughly disposed himself to the pleasures of this paradise lambe : and perceiuing her to dippe her finger in the sawcer and rubbe his face , Ricciardo toke away the sawcer from the bedde 's side , and round about bestowed the colour vpon the faces of his felowes , who were so faste a sleepe that they did not fele him .