her Nouell but Madame Neiphila by the Kings command began to speake in this manner It seemeth to mee Gracious Ladies that there are some such people to be found who imagine themselues to know more then all other else in the world beside and yet indeede doe know nothing at all presuming thorough this arrogant opinion of theirs to imploy and oppose their senselesse vnderstanding against infallible grounded reason yea and to attempt courses not only contrary to the counsell and iudgment of men but also to crosse the nature of diuine ordination Out of which saucy ambitious presumption many mighty harmes haue already had beginning and more are like to ensue vppon such boldnesse because it is the ground of all euils Now in regard that among all other naturall things no one is lesse subiect to take counsell or can bee wrought to contrariety then Loue whose nature is such as rather to run vpon his owne rash consumption then to be ruled by admonitions of the very wisest my memory hath inspired it self with matter incident to this purpose effectually to approue what I haue already said For I am now to speake of a woman who would appeare to haue more wit then either she had indeed or appertained to her by any title The matter also wherein she would needs shew hir studious iudgement and capacity was of much more consequence then she could deserue to meddle withall Yet such was the issue of her fond presuming that in one instant she expelled both loue and the soule of her owne sonne out of his body where doubtlesse it was planted by diuine fauour and appointment In our owne City according to true ancient testimony there dwelt sometime a very worthy and wealthy Merchant named Leonardo Sighiero who by his wife had one onely Sonne called Ieronimo and within a short while after his birth Leonardo being very sicke and hauing setled al his affaires in good order departed out of this wretched life to a better The Tutors and Gouernours of the Childe thought it fittest to let him liue with his Mother where he had his whole education though schooled among many other worthy neighbours children according as in most Cities they vse to do Yong Ieronimo growing on in yeares and frequenting dayly the company of his Schoole-fellowes and others hee would often sport as the rest did with the neighbors and much prety pastime they found together In the harmlesse recreations of youth grauer iudgements haue often obserued that some especiall matter receiued then such original as greater effect hath followed thereon And many times parents and kindred haue bene the occasion although perhaps beyond their expectation of very strange and extraordinary accidents by names of familiarity passing betweene Boyes and Girles as King and Queene sweet heart and sweet heart friend and friend husband and wife and diuers other such like kind tearmes proouing afterwards to be true indeede It fell out so with our yong Ieronimo for among a number of pretty Damosels daughters to men of especiall respect and others of farre inferiour qualitie a Taylors daughter excelling the rest in fauour and feature albeit her Father was but poore Ieronimo most delighted to sport withall and no other titles passed betweene them euen in the hearing of their parents and friendes but wife and husband such was the beginning of their young affection presaging no doubt effectually to follow Nor grew this familiarity as yet any way distasted till by their dayly conuersing together and enterchange of infinite pretty speeches Ieronimo felt a strange alteration in his soule with such enforcing and powerfull afflictions as he was neuer well but in her company nor she enioyed any rest if Ieronimo were absent At the length this being noted by his Mother she beganne to rebuke him yea many times gaue him both threatnings and blowes which prouing to no purpose nor hindering his accesse to her she complained to his Tutors and like one that in regard of her riches thought to plant an Orange vpon a blacke thorne spake as followeth This Sonne of mine Ieronimo being as yet but fourteene years of age is so deeply enamored of a yong Girle named Siluestra daughter vnto a poore Tailor our neere dwelling neighbour that if we do not send him out of her company one day perhaps he may make her his wife and yet without any knowledge of ours which questionlesse would be my death Otherwise he may pine and consume himselfe away if he see vs procure her marriage to some other Wherefore I hold it good that to auoid so great an inconuenience we shold send Ieronimo some far distance hence to remaine where some of our Factors are employed because when he shall be out of her sight and their often meetings vtterly disappointed his affection to her will the sooner ceasse by frustrating his hope for euer enioying her and so we shall haue the better meanes to match him with one of greater quality The Tutors did like well of her aduice not doubting but it would take answerable effect and therefore calling Ieronimo into a priuate Parlor one of them began in this manner Ieronimo you are now growne to an indifferent stature and almost able to take gouernment of your selfe It cannot then seeme any way inconuenient to acquaint you with your deceased Fathers affaires and by what good courses he came to such wealth You are his onely sonne and heire to whom hee hath bequeathed his rich possessions your Mothers moity euermore remembred and trauaile would now seeme fitting for you as well to experience in Traffick and Merchandize as also to let you see the worlds occurrences Your Mother therfore and we haue thought it expedient that you should iourney from hence to Paris there to continue for some such fitting time as may grant you full and free opportunity to suruey what stocke of wealth is there employed for you and to make you vnderstand how your Factors are furtherous to your affayres Beside this is the way to make you a man of more solid apprehension perfect instruction in ciuill courses of life rather then by continuing here to see none but Lords Barons and Gentlemen whereof wee haue too great a number When you are sufficiently qualified there and haue learned what belongeth to a worthy Marchant such as was Leonardo Sighiero your famous Father you may returne home againe at your owne pleasure The youth gaue them attentiue hearing and in few words returned them answer That he would not giue way to any such trauaile because hee knew how to dispose of himselfe in Florence as well as in any other place he should be sent too Which when his Tutors heard they reproued him with many seuere speeches and seeing they could win no other answer from him they made returne thereof to his Mother Shee storming extreamly thereat yet not so much for denying the iourney to Paris as in regard of his violent affection to the Maide gaue him very bitter and
pardon me I pray you faire Ladies if my Tale trip in some part and sauour a little of immodesty yet in hearing it you may obserue the same course as you doe in pleasing and delightfull Gardens plucke a sweete Rose and yet preserue your fingers from pricking Which very easily you may doe wincking at the imperfections of a foolish man and smiling at the amorous subtilties of his Wife compassionating the misfortune of others where vrgent necessity doth require it There dwelt not long since in Perugia a wealthy man named Pedro di Vinciolo who perhaps more to deceiue some other and restraine an euill opinion which the Perugians had conceiued of him in matter no way beseeming a man then any beauty or good feature remaining in the woman entred into the estate of marriage And Fortune was so conforme to him in his election that the woman whom he had made his wife had a young lusty and well enabled body a red hairde wench hot and fiery spirited standing more in neede of three Husbands then he who could not any way well content one Wife because his minde ran more on his money then those offices and duties belonging to wed-lock which time acquainting his Wife withall contrary to her owne expectation and those delights which the estate of marriage afforded knowing her selfe also to be of a sprightly disposition and not to be easily tamed by houshold cares and attendances shee waxed weary of her Husbands vnkind courses vpbraided him daily with harsh speeches making his owne home meerely as a hell to him When shee saw that this domesticke disquietnesse returned her no benefit but rather tended to her owne consumption then any amendment in her miserable Husband shee began thus to conferre with her priuate thoughts This Husband of mine liueth with me as if he were no Husband or This Wife the marriage bed which should be a comfort to vs both seemeth hatefull to him and as little pleasing to me because his minde is on his money his head busied with worldly cogitations and early and late in his counting-house admitting no familiar conuersation with me Why should not I be as respectlesse of him as he declares himselfe to be of me I tooke him for an Husband brought him a good and sufficient dowry thinking him to be a man and affected a woman as a man ought to doe else he had neuer beene any Husband of mine If he be a Woman hater why did he make choyce of me to be his Wife If I had not intended to be of the World I could haue coopt my selfe vp in a Cloyster and shorne my selfe a Nunne but that I was not borne to such seuerity of life My youth shall be blasted with age before I can truly vnderstand what youth is and I shall be branded with the disgracefull word barrennesse knowing my selfe meete and able to be a Mother were my Husband but worthy the name of a Father or expected issue and posterity to leaue our memoriall to after times in our race as all our predecessours formerly haue done and for which mariage was chiefly instituted Castles long besieged doe yeeld at the last and women wronged by their owne Husbands can hardly warrant their owne frailty especially liuing among so many temptations which flesh and bloud are not alwayes able to resist Well I meane to be aduised in this case before I will hazard my honest reputation either to suspition or scandall then which no woman can haue two heauier enemies and very few there are that can escape them Hauing thus a long while consulted with her selfe and perhaps oftner then twice or thrice shee became secretly acquainted with an aged woman generally reputed to be more then halfe a Saint walking alwayes very demurely in the streetes counting ouer and ouer her Pater nosters and all the Cities holy pardons hanging at her girdle neuer talking of any thing but the liues of the holy Fathers or the wounds of Saint Frances all the World admiring her sanctity of life euen as if shee were diuinely inspired this she Saint must be our distressed womans Councellour and hauing found out a conuenient season at large she imparted all her mind to her in some such manner as formerly you haue heard whereto shee returned this answere Now trust me Daughter thy case is to be pittied and so much the rather because thou art in the floure and spring time of thy youth when not a minute of time is to be left for there is no greater an errour in this life then the losse of time because it cannot be recouered againe and when the fiends themselues affright vs yet if we keepe our embers still couered with warme ashes on the hearth they haue not any power to hurt vs. If any one can truly speake thereof then I am able to deliuer true â—estimony for I know but not without much perturbation of minde and piercing afflictions in the spirit how much time I lost without any profit And yet I lost not all for I would not haue thee thinke me to be so foolish that I did altogether neglect such an especiall benefit which when I call to minde and consider now in what condition I am thou must imagine it is no smal hearts griefe to me that age should make me vtterly despised and no fire afforded to light my tinder With men it is not so they are borne apt for a thousand occasions as well for the present purpose we talke of as infinite other beside yea and many of them are more esteemed being aged then when they were yong But women serue onely for mens contentation and to bring children and therefore are they generally beloued which if they faile of either it is by vnfortunate marriage or some imperfection depending on nature not through want of good will in themselues We haue nothing in this world but what is giuen vs in which regard we are to make vse of our time and employ it the better while we haue it For when we grow to be old our Husbands yea our very dearest and nearest friends will scarcely looke on vs. We are then fit for nothing but to sit by the fire in the Kitchin telling tales to the Cat or counting the pots and pannes on the shelues Nay which is worse rimes and songs is made of vs euen in meere contempt of our age and commendation of such as are young the daintiest morsels are fittest for them and we referred to feed on the scrappes from their trenchers or such reuersion as they can spare vs. I tell thee Daughter thou couldst not make choyce of a meerer woman in all the City to whom thou mightest safely open thy minde and knowes better to aduise thee then I doe But remember withall that I am poore and it is your part not to suffer pouerty to be vnsupplyed I will make thee partaker of all these blessed pardons at euery Altar I will say a Pater noster and an Aue Maria that thou maist
prosper in thy hearts desires and be defended from foule sinne and shame and so shee ended her Motherly counsell Within a while after it came to passe that her Husband was iniuited foorth to Supper with one named Herculano a kind friend of his but his Wife refused to goe because shee had appointed a friend to supper with her to whom the old woman was employed as her messenger and was well recompenced for her labour This friend was a gallant proper youth as any all Perugia yeelded and scarcely was he seated at the Table but her Husband was returned backe and called to be let in at the doore Which when shee perceiued shee was almost halfe dead with feare and coueting to hide the young man that her Husband should not haue any sight of him shee had no other meanes but in an enrry hard by the Parlour where they purposed to haue supt stood a Coope or Hen pen wherein she vsed to keepe her Pullen vnder which he crept and then shee couered it with an old empty sacke and after ran to let her Husband come in When he was entred into the House as halfe offended at his so sudden returne angerly he saide It seemes Sir you are a shauer at your meate that you haue made so short a supper In troth Wife quoth he I haue not supt at all no not so much as eaten one bit How hapned that said the woman Mary wife quoth he I will tell you and then thus he began As Herculano his wife and I were sitting downe at the Table very neere vnto vs we heard one sneeze whereof at the first we made no reckoning vntill we heard it againe the second time yea a third fourth and fifth and many more after whereat we were not a little amazed Now Wife I must tell you before we entred the roome where we were to sup Herculanoes wife kept the doore fast shut against vs and would not let vs enter in an indifferent while which made him then somewhat offended but now much more when he had heard one to sneeze so often Demanding of her a reason for it and who it was that thus sneezed in his House he started from the Table and stepping to a little doore neere the staires head necessarily there made to set such things in as otherwise would be troublesome to the roome as in all Houses we commonly see the like he perceiued that the party was hidden there which wee had heard so often to sneeze before No sooner had he opened the doore but such a smell of brimston came foorth whereof we felt not the least sauour before as made vs likewise to cough and sneeze being no way able to refraine it She seeing her Husband to be much moued excused the matter thus that but a little while before shee had whited certaine linnen with the smoake of brimstone as it is an vsuall thing to doe and then set the pan into that spare place because it should not be offensiue to vs. By this time Herculano had espied him that sneezed who being almost stifled with the smell and closenesse of the small roome wherein he lay had not any power to helpe himselfe but still continued coughing and sneezing euen as if his heart would haue split in twaine Foorth he pluckt him by the heeles and perceiuing how matters had past he saide to her I thanke you Wife now I see the reason why you kept vs so long from comming into this roome let me die if I beare this wrong at your hands When his Wife heard these words and saw the discouery of her shame without returning either excuse or answere foorth of doores she ran but whither we know not Herculano drew his Dagger and would haue slaine him that still lay sneezing but I disswaded him from it as well in respect of his as also mine owne danger when the Law should censure on the deede And after the young man was indifferently recouered by the perswasion of some Neighbours comming in he was closely conueyed out of the house and all the noyse quietly pacified Onely by this meanes and the flight of Herculanoes wife we were disappointed of our Supper and now you know the reason of my so soone returning When she had heard this whole discourse then she perceiued that other Women were subiect to the like infirmity and as wise for themselues as shee could be though these and the like sinister accidents might sometimes crosse them and gladly she wished that Herculanoes Wifes excuse might now serue to acquite her but because in blaming others errors our owne may sometime chance to escape discouery and cleare vs albeit we are as guilty in a sharpe reprehending manner thus she began See Husband here is hansome behauiour of an holy faire seeming and Saint like woman to whom I durst haue confest my sinnes I conceiued such a religious perswasion of her liues integrity free from the least scruple of taxation A woman so farre stept into yeeres as shee is to giue such an euill example to other younger women is it not a sinne beyond all sufferance Accursed be the houre when she was borne into this World and her selfe likewise to be so lewdly and incontinently giuen an vniuersall shame and slaunder to all the good women of our City Shall I terme her a woman or rather some sauage monster in a womans shape Hath shee not made an open prostitution of her honesty broken her plighted faith to her Husband and all the womanly reputation shee had in this World Her Husband being an honourable Citizen entreating her alwayes as few men else in the City doe their wiues what an heart-breake must this needes be to him good man Neither I nor any honest man else ought to haue any pity on her but with our owne hands teare her in peeces or dragge her along to a good fire in the market place wherein she and her minion should be consumed together and their base ashes dispersed abroade in the winde least the pure Aire should be infected with them Then remembring her owne case and her poore affrighted friend who lay in such distresse vnder the Hen-coope shee began to aduise her Husband that he would be pleased to goe to bed because the night passed on apace But Pedro hauing a better will to eate then to sleepe desired her to let him haue some meate else hee must goe to bed with an empty bellie whereto shee answered Why Husband quoth shee doe I make any large prouision when I am debard of your company I would I were the wife of Herculano seeing you cannot content your selfe from one nights feeding considering it is now ouer-late to make any thing ready It fortuned that certaine Husbandmen which had the charge of Pedroes Farme house in the Countrey and there followed his affaires of Husbandry were returned home this instant night hauing their Asses laden with such prouision as was to be vsed in his City-house When the Asses were vnladen and
the Priest was very vnwilling to meddle for feare of discouering his owne ignorance which passed vnder better opinion then he deserued But the Farmer beeing imimportunate and the Vicar many wayes beholding to him durst not returne deniall but vndertooke it very formally as if he had bene an able man indeede But see how Fooles are borne to be fortunate and where they least hope there they find the best successe the simplicitie of the Father must be the meanes for abusing his Schollerly Son and a skreene to stand betweene the Priest and his ignorance Earnest is the olde man to know what and how farre his Sonne had profited at Schoole and by what note he might best take vnderstanding of his answeres which iumping fit with the Vicars vanity and a warrantable cloake to couer his knauery he appoints him but one word onely namely Nescio wherewith if he answered to any of his demands it was an euident token that hee vnderstood nothing As thus they were walking and conferring in the Church the Farmer very carefull to remember the word Nescio it came to passe vpon a sodaine that the young man entred into them to the great contentment of his Father who prayed Master Vicar to make approbation of his Sonne whether he were learned or no and how hee had benefited at the Vniuersity After the time of the daies salutations had past betweene them the Vicar being subtle and crafty as they walked along by one of the tombs in the Church pointing with his finger to the Tombe the Priest vttered these words to the Scholler Quis hic est sepultus The yong Scholler by reason it was erected since his departure and finding no inscription whereby to informe him answered as well hee might Nescio Immediately the Father keeping the word perfectly in his memorie grewe verie angerly passionate and desiring to heare no more demaunds gaue him three or foure boxes on the cares with many harsh and iniurious speeches tearming him an Asse and Villaine and that he had not learned any thing His Sonne was pacienâ— and returned no answer but plainly perceiued that this was a tricke intended against him by the malicious treachery of the Priest on whom in time he might be reuenged Within a short while after the Suffragane of those parts vnder whom the Priest was but a Deputy holding the benefice of him with no great charge to his conscience being abroad in his visitation sent word to the Vicar that he intended to preach there on the next Sunday and hee to prepare in a readinesse Bonum Commodum because hee would haue nothing else to his dinner Heereat Master Vicar was greatly amazed because he had neuer heard such words before neither could hee finde them in all his Breuiarie Hereupon he went to the yong scholler whom he had so lately before abused and crying him mercy with many impudent and shallow excuses desired him to reueale the meaning of those words and what he should vnderstand by Bonum Commodum The Scholler with a sober and modest countenance made answere That he had bin ouer-much abused which neuerthelesse he tooke not so impaciently but hee had already both forgot and forgiuen it with promise of comfort in this his extraordinary distraction and greefe of minde When he had perused the Suffraganes Letter well obseruing the blushlesse ignorance of the Priest seeming by outward appearance to take it strangely he cryed out alowd saying In the name of Vertue what may be this mans meaning How quoth the Priest What maner of demand do you make Alas replyed the Scholler you haue but one poore Asse which I know you loue deerely and yet you must stew his genitories very daintily for your Patron will haue no other meat to his dinner The genitories of mine Asse answered the Priest Passion of me who then shall carrie my Corne to the Mill There is no remedie sayde the Scholler for he hath so set it downe for an absolute resolution After that the Priest had considered thereon a while by himselfe remembring the yearely reuennewes which clearely hee put vp into his purse to be ten times of farre greater worth then his Asse he concluded to haue him gelded what danger soeuer should ensue thereon preparing them in readinesse against his comming So soone as the Suffragan was there arriued heauily hee complained to him for his Asse which kinde of Language he not vnderstanding knew not what he meant nor how he should answer But beeing by the Scholler acquainted with the whole History he laughed heartily at the Priests ignorant folly wishing that all such bold Bayards from time to time might be so serued Likewise that all ignorant Priests Vicars and other Grashoppers of Townes or Villages who sometimes haue onely seene Partes â—â—ationis quod sunt not to stand ouer-much on their owne sufficiency grounded soly vpon their Grammar but to beware whom they iest withall without out medling with Schollers who take not iniuries as dullards doe least they proue infamous by then disputations Madam Phillippa being accused by her Husband Rinaldo de Puglieâ—e because he tooke her in Adulterie with a yong Gentleman named Lazarâ—no de Guazzagliotri caused her to bee cited before the Iudge From whom she deliuered her selfe by a sodaine witty and pleasant answer and moderated a seuere strict Statute formerly made against women The Seuenth Nouell Wherein is declared of what worth it is to confesse a trueth with a facetious and witty excuse AFter that Madame Fiammetta had giuen ouer speaking and all the Auditory had sufficiently applauded the Schollers honest reuenge the Queene enioyned Philostratus to proceede on next with his Nouell which caused him to begin thus Beleeue me Ladies it is an excellent most commendable thing to speak well and to all purposes but I hold it a matter of much greater worth to know how to do it and when necessity doth most require it Which a Gentlewoman of whom I am now to speake was so well enstructed in as not onely it yeelded the hearers mirthfull contentment but likewise deliuered her from the danger of death as in few words you shal heare related In the Citie of Pirato there was an Edict or Statute no lesse blame-worthy to speake vprightly then most seuere and cruell which without making any distinction gaue strict command That euerie Woman should be burned with fire whose husband found her in the acte of Adultery with any secret or familiar friend as one deseruing to bee thus abandoned like such as prostituted their bodies to publike sale or hire During the continuance of this sharpe Edict it fortuned that a Gentlewoman who was named Phillippa was found in her Chamber one night in the armes of a yong Gentleman of the same City named Lazarino de Guazzagliotori and by her owne husband called Rinaldo de Pugliese shee louing the young Gallant as her owne life because hee was most compleate in all perfections and euery way as deerely addicted to her This
wiues tempestuous stormes of chiding would bee worse to him then racking or torturing he gladly therefore gaue them money to buy the two couple of Capons and Wine being heartily contented likewise that hee was so well deliuered from them So the merry Priest Bruno and Buffalmaco hauing taken good order for salting the Brawne closely carried it with them to Florence leauing Calandrino to complaine of his losse and well requited for mocking them with the inuisible stones A young Gentleman being a Scholler fell in loue with a Ladie named Helena she being a Widdow and addicted in affection to another Gentleman One whole night in cold Winter she caused the Scholler to expect her comming in an extreame frost and snow In reuenge whereof by his imagined Art and skill he made her to stand naked on the top of a Tower the space of a vvhole day and in the hot moneth of Iuly to be Sun-burnt and bitten with Waspes and Flies The Seuenth Nouell Seruing as an admonition to all Ladies and Gentlewomen not to mock or scorne Gentlemen-Schollers vvhen they make meanes of loue to them Except they intend to seeke their owne shame by disgracing them GReatly did the Ladies commend Madame Philomenaes Nouell laughing heartily at poore Calandrino yet grieuing withall that he should be so knauishly cheated not onely of his Brawne but two couple of Capons and a Flaggon of Wine beside But the whole discourse being ended the Queene commanded Madame Pampinea to follow next with her Nouell and presently she thus began It hapneth oftentimes bright beauties that mockery falleth on him that intended the same vnto another And therefore I am of opinion that there is very litle wisedom declared on him or her vvho taketh delight in mocking any person I must needs confesse that we haue smiled at many mockeries and deceits related in those excellent Nouels which we haue already â—â—ard without any due reuenge returned but onely in this last of silly Calandrino Wherefore it is now my determination to vrge a kind of compassionate apprehension vpon a very iust retribution happening to a Gentlewoman of our Citie because her scorne fell deseruedly vpon her selfe remaining mocked and to the perill of her life Let me then assure you that your diligent attention may redound to your benefit because if you keepe your selues henceforward from being scorned by others you shall expresse the greater wisedome and be the better warned by their mishaps As yet there are not many yeares ouer-past since there dwelt in Florence a yong Lady descended of Noble parentage very beautifull of sprightly courage and sufficiently abounding in the goods of Fortune she being named Madame Helena Her delight vvas to liue in the estate of Widdow-hood desiring to match her selfe no more in marriage because she bare affection to a gallant young Gentleman whom she had made her priuate election of and with whom hauing excluded all other amorous cares and cogitations by meanes of her waiting-Waiting-woman she had diuers meetings and kinde conferences It chanced at the verie same time another young Gentleman of our Citie called Reniero hauing long studied in the Schooles at Paris returned home to Florence not to make sale of his Learning and experience as many doe but to vnderstand the reason of things as also the causes and effects of them which is meruailously fitting for any Gentleman Being greatly honoured and esteemed of euery one as well for his courteous carriage towards all in generall as for his knowledge and excellent parts he liued more like a familiar Citizen then in the nature of a Courtly Gentleman albeit he was choisely respected in either estate But as oftentimes it commeth to passe that such as are endued with the best iudgement and vnderstanding in naturall occasions are soonest caught and intangled in the snares of Loue so fel it out with our Scholler Reniero who being inuited to a solemne Feast in company of other his especiall Friends this Lady Helena attyred in her blacke Garments as Widowes commonly vse to wear was likewise there a Guest His eye obseruing her beauty and gracious demeanour she seemed in his iudgement to be a Woman so compleate and perfect as he had neuer seene her equall before therefore he accounted the man more then fortunate that vvas worthy to embrace her in his armes Continuing this amorous obseruation of her from time to time and knowing withall that rare and excellent things are not easily obtained but by painefull study labour and endeauour hee resolued with himselfe constantly to put in practise all his best parts of industry onely to honour and please her and attaining to her contentation it would be the means to winne her loue and compasse thereby his hearts desire The yong Lady who fixed not her eyes on inferiour subiects but esteemed her selfe aboue ordinary reach or capacity could mooue them artificially as curious women well know how to doe looking on euery side about her yet not in a gadding or grosse manner for she was not ignorant in such darting glaunces as proceeded from an enflamed affection which appearing plainely in Reniero with a pretty smile shee said to her selfe I am not come hither this day in vaine for if my iudgement faile me not I thinke I haue caught a Woodcocke by the Bill And lending him a cunning looke or two queintly caried with the corner of her eye she gaue him a kinde of perswading apprehension that her heart was the guide to her eye And in this artificial Schoole-tricke of hers shee carryed therewith another consideration to wit that the more other eyes fedde themselues on her perfections and were well-neere lost in them beyond recouery so much the greater reason had he to account his fortune beyond comparison that was the sole master of her heart and had her loue at his command Our witty Scholler hauing set aside his Philosophicall considerations stroue how he might best vnderstand her carriage toward him and beleeuing that she beheld him with pleasing regards hee learned to know the house where shee dwelt passing daily by the doore diuers times vnder colour of some more serious occasions wherein the Lady very proudly gloried in regard of the reasons before alleadged and seemed to affoord him lookes of good liking Being led thus with a hopefull perswasion hee found the meanes to gaine acquaintance with her waiting-woman reuealing to her his intire affection desiring her to worke for him in such sort with her Lady that his seruice might be gracious in her acceptance The Gentlewoman made him a very willing promise and immediately did his errand to her Lady who heard her with no small pride and squemishnesse and breaking forth into a scornefull laughter thus she spake Ancilla for so she was named dost thou not obserue how this Scholler is come to lose all the wit heere which he studyed so long for in the Vniuersity of Paris Let vs make him our onely Table argument and seeing his folly soareth so high we will
and this last passing among them with indifferent commendations vpon a generall silence commanded the Queene gaue order to Pamphilus that hee should follow next as indeed he did beginning thus Praise-worthy Ladies the name of Nicoletta so fondly affected by Calandrino putteth mee in minde of a Nouell concerning another Nicoletta of whom I purpose to speake to the ende you may obserue how by a sudden wary fore-sight a discreet woman compassed the meanes to auoyde a notorious scandall On the plaine of Mugnone neere to Florence dwelt not long since an honest meane man who kept a poore Inne or Ostery for trauellers where they might haue some slender entertainement for their money As he was but a poore man so his house affoorded but very small receit of guests not lodging any but on necessity and such as he had some knowledge of This honest poore hoste had a woman sufficiently faire to his wife by whom hee had also two children the one a comely young maiden aged about fifteene yeares and the other a sonne not fully as yet a yeare old and sucking on the mothers brest A comely youthfull Gentleman of our City became amorously affected to the Damosell resorting thither diuers times as hee trauelled on the way to expresse how much he did respect her And she accounting her fortune none of the meanest to bee beloued by so youthfull a Gallant declared such vertuous and modest demeanour as might deserue his best opinion of her so that their loue grew to an equall simpathy and mutuall contentment of them both in expectation of further effects he being named Panuccio and she Nicholletta The heate of affection thus encreasing day by day Panuccio grew exceedingly desirous to enioy the fruits of his long continued liking and diuers deuises mustred in his braine how he might compasse one nights lodging in her fathers house whereof hee knew euery part and parcell as not doubting to effect what hee desired yet vndiscouered by any but the maide her selfe According as his intention aymed so he longed to put it in execution and hauing imparted his mind to an honest loyall friend named Adriano who was acquainted with the course of his loue hyring two horses and hauing Portmantues behind them filled with matters of no moment they departed from Florence as if they had some great iourney to ride Hauing spent the day time where themselues best pleased darke night being entred they arriued on the plaine of Mugnone where as if they were come from the parts of Romanio they rode directly to this poore Inne and knocking at the doore the honest Hoste being familiar and friendly to all commers opened the doore when Panuccio spake in this manner to him Good man we must request one nights lodging with you for we thought to haue reached so farre as Florence but dark night preuenting vs you see at what a late houre wee are come hither Signior Panuccio answered the hoste it is not vnknowne to you how vnfiting my poore house is for entertaining such guests as you are Neuerthelesse seeing you are ouertaken by so vnseasonable an houre and no other place is neere for your receite I will gladly lodge you so well as I can When they were dismounted from their horses and entred into the simple Inne hauing taken order for feeding their horses they accepted such prouision as the place and time afforded requesting the Hoste to suppe with them Now I am to tell you that there was but one small Chamber in the house wherin stood three beds as best the Hoste had deuised to place them two of them standing by the walles side and the third fronting them both but with such close and narrow passage as very hardly could one step betweene them The best of these three beds was appointed for the Gentlemen and therein they l lay them down to rest but sleepe they could not albeit they dissembled it very formally In the second Bed was Nicholetta the daughter lodged by her selfe and the father and mother in the third and because she was to giue the child sucke in the night time the Cradle wherein it lay stood close by their beds side because the childes crying or any other occasion concerning it should not disquiet the Gentlemen Panuccio hauing subtily obserued all this and in what manner they went to bed after such a space of time as he imagined them to be all fast asleepe he arose very softly and stealing to the bed of Nicholetta lay downe gently by her And albeit she seemed somewhat afraid at the first yet when she perceiued who it was shee rather bad him welcome then shewed her selfe any way discontented Now while Panuccio continued thus with the maide it fortuned that a Cat threw down somewhat in the house the noise wherof awaked the wife and fearing greater harme then indeed had hapned she arose without a Candle and went groping in the darke towards the place where shee heard the noyse Adriano who had no other meaning but well found occasion also to rise about some naturall necessity and making his passage in the darke stumbled on the childes Cradle in the way where the woman had set it and being vnable to passe by without remouing it from the place tooke and set it by his owne beds side and hauing done the businesse for which he rose returned to his bed againe neuer remembring to set the Cradle where first he found it The Wife hauing found the thing throwne downe being of no value or moment cared not for lighting any candle but rating the Cat returned backe feeling for the bed where her Husband lay but finding not the Cradle there she said to her selfe What a foolish woman am I that cannot well tell my selfe what I doe Instead of my Husbands bed I am going to both my guests So stepping on a little further she found the childes Cradle and laid her selfe downe by Adriano thinking shee had gone right to her Husband Adriano being not yet falne asleepe feeling the hostesse in bed with him tooke aduantage of so faire an occasion offered and what he did is no businesse of mine as I heard neither found the woman any fault Matters comming to passe in this strange manner and Panuccio fearing lest sleepe seazing on him he might disgrace the maides reputation taking his kinde farewell of her with many kisses and sweet imbraces returned againe to his owne Bed but meeting with the Cradle in his way and thinking it stood by the hostes Bed as truely it did so at the first went backe from the Cradle and stept into the hostes Bed indeed who awaked vpon his very entrance albeit he slept very soundly before Panuccio supposing that he was laid downe by his louing friend Adriano merrily said to the Hoste I protest to thee as I am a Gentleman Nicholetta is a dainty delicate wench and worthy to be a very good mans wife this night shee hath giuen mee the sweetest entertainement as the best Prince in the
and wollen torne from a wretched body dead of that disease and hurled in the open streete two Swine going by and according to their naturall inclination seeking for foode on euery dung-hill tossed and tumbled the cloathes with their snouts rubbing their heads likewise vppon them and immediately each turning twice or thrice about they both fell downe dead on the saide cloathes as being fully infected with the contagion of them which accident and other the like if not far greater begat diuers feares and imaginations in them that beheld them all tending to a most inhumane and vncharitable end namely to flie thence from the sicke and touching any thing of theirs by which meanes they thought their health should be safely warranted Some there were who considered with themselues that liuing soberly with abstinence from all superfluity it would be a sufficient resistance against all hurtfull accidents So combining themselues in a sociable manner they liued as separatists from all other company being shut vp in such houses where no sicke body should be neere them And there for their more security they vsed delicate viands and excellent wines auoiding luxurie and refusing speech to one another not looking forth at the windowes to heare no cries of dying people or see any coarses carried to buriall but hauing musicall instruments liued there in all possible pleasure Others were of a contrary opinion who auouched that there was no other physicke more certaine for a disease so desperate then to drinke hard be merry among themselues singing continually walking euery where and satisfying their appetites with whatsoeuer they desired laughing and mocking at euery mournefull accident and so they vowed to spend day and night for now they would goe to one Tauerne then to another liuing without any rule or measure which they might very easilie doe because euery one of them as if he were to liue no longer in this World had euen forsaken all things that he had By meanes whereof the most part of the houses were become common and all strangers might doe the like if they pleased to aduenture it euen as boldly as the Lord or owner without any let or contradiction Yet in all this their beastly behauiour they were wise enough to shun so much as they might the weake and sickly In which misery and affliction of our City the venerable authority of the Lawes as well diuine as humane was euen destroyed as it were through want of the awefull Ministers of them For they being all dead or lying sicke with the rest or else liued so solitary in such great necessity of seruants and attendants as they could not execute any office whereby it was lawfull for euery one to doe as he listed Betweene these two rehearsed extremities of life there were other of a more moderate temper not being so daintily dieted as the first nor drinking so dissolutely as the second but vsed all things sufficient for their appetites and without shutting vp themselues walked abroade some carrying sweete nose-gayes of flowers in their hands others odoriferous herbes and others diuers kinds of spiceries holding them to their noses and thinking them most comfortable for the braine because the ayre seemed to be much infected by the noysome smell of dead carkases and other hurtfull sauours Some other there were also of more inhumane minde howbeit peraduenture it might be the surest saying that there was no better physicke against the pestilence nor yet so good as to flie away from it which argument mainely mouing them and caring for no body but themselues very many both men and women forsooke the City their owne houses their Parents kindred friends and goods flying to other mens dwellings else-where As if the wrath of God in punishing the sinnes of men with this plague would fall heauily vpon none but such as were enclosed within the City wals or else perswading themselues that not any one should there be left aliue but that the finall ending of all things was come Now albeit these persons in their diuersity of opinions died not all so vndoubtedly they did not all escape but many among them becomming sicke and making a generall example of their flight and folly among them that could not stirre out of their beds they languished more perplexedly then the other did Let vs omit that one Citizen fled after another and one neighbour had not any care of another Parents nor kinred neuer visiting them but vtterly they were forsaken on all sides this tribulation pierced into the hearts of men and with such a dreadfull terrour that one Brother forsooke another the Vnkle the Nephew the Sister the Brother and the Wife her Husband nay a matter much greater and almost incredible Fathers and Mothers fled away from their owne Children euen as if they had no way appertained to them In regard whereof it could be no otherwise but that a countlesse multitude of men and women fell sicke finding no charity among their friends except a very few and subiected to the auarice of seruants who attended them constrainedly for great and vnreasonable wages yet few of those attendants to be found any where too And they were men or women but of base condition as also of groser vnderstanding who neuer before had serued in any such necessities nor indeed were any way else to be imployed but to giue the sicke person such things as he called for or to awaite the houre of his death in the performance of which seruices oftentimes for gaine they lost their owne liues In this extreame calamity the sicke being thus forsaken of neighbors kinred and friends standing also in such need of seruants a custome came vp among them neuer heard of before that there was not any woman how noble young or faire soeuer shee was but falling sicke shee must of necessity haue a man to attend her were he young or otherwise respect of shame or modesty no way preuailing but all parts of her body must be discouered to him which in the like vrgency was not to be seene by any but women whereon ensued afterward that vpon the parties healing and recouery it was the occasion of further dishonesty which many being more modestly curious of refused such disgracefull attending chusing rather to die then by such helpe to be healed In regard whereof as well through the want of conuenient remedies which the sicke by no meanes could attain vnto as also the violence of the contagion the multitude of them that died night and day was so great that it was a dreadfull sight to behold and as much to heare spoken of So that meere necessity among them that remained liuing begat new behauiours quite contrary to all which had beene in former times and frequently vsed among the City Inhabitants The custome of precedent dayes as now againe it is was that women kinred neighbours and friends would meete together at the deceased parties house and there with them that were of neerest alliance expresse their hearts
as the windes and billowes carried it all that day and night thus he floated vp and downe drinking more then willingly hee would but almost hunger-starued thorow want of foode The next morning either by the appointment of heauen or power of the Windes Landolpho who was well-neere become a Spundge holding his armes strongly about the Chest as wee haue some doe who dreading drowning take hold on any the very smallest helpe drew neere vnto the shore of the Iland Corfu where by good fortune a poore woman was scowring dishes with the salt water and sand to make them house-wife like neate and cleane When shee saw the Chest drawing neere her and not discerning the shape of any man shee grew fearefull and retyring from it cried out aloude He had no power of speaking to her neither did his sight doe him the smallest seruice but euen as the waues and windes pleased the Chest was driuen still neerer to the Land and then the woman perceiued that it had the forme of a Cofer and looking more aduisedly beheld two armes extended ouer it and afterward shee espied the face of a man not being able to iudge whether he were aliue or no. Moued by charitable and womanly compassion shee stept in among the billowes and getting fast holde on the haire of his head drew both the Chest and him to the Land and calling forth her Daughter to helpe her with much adoe shee vnfolded his armes from the Chest setting it vp on her Daughters head and then betweene them Landolpho was led into the Towne and there conueyed into a warme Stoue where quickly he recouered by her pains his strength benummed with extreame cold Good wines and comfortable broathes shee cherished him withall that his sences being indifferently restored hee knew the place where he was but not in what manner he was brought thither till the good woman shewed him the Cofer that had kept him floating vpon the waues and next vnder God had saued his life The Chest seemed of such slender weight that nothing of any value could be expected in it either to recompence the womans great paines and kindnesse bestowne on him or any matter of his owne benefit Neuerthelesse the woman being absent he opened the Chest and found innumerable precious stones therein some costly and curiously set in gold and others not fixed in any mettall Hauing knowledge of their great worth and value being a Merchant and skild in such matters he became much comforted praysing God for this good successe and such an admirable meanes of deliuerance from danger Then considering with himselfe that in a short time hee had beene twice well buffeted and beaten by Fortune and fearing least a third mishap might follow in like manner hee consulted with his thoughts how he might safest order the businesse and bring so rich a booty without perill to his owne home Wherefore wrapping vp the Iewels in very vnsightly cloutes that no suspition at all should be conceiued of them hee saide to the good woman that the Chest would not doe him any further seruice but if shee pleased to lende him a small sacke or bagge shee might keepe the Cofer for in her house it would diuers way stead her The woman gladly did as he desired and Landolpho returning her infinite thankes for the louing kindnesse shee had affoorded him throwing the sacke on his necke passed by a Barke to Brundusiam and from thence to Tranium where Merchants in the City bestowed good garments on him hee acquainting them with his disasterous fortunes but not a word concerning his last good successe Being come home in safety to Rauello hee fell on his knees and thanked God for all his mercies towards him Then opening the sacke and viewing the Iewels at more leysure then formerly he had done he found them to be of so great estimation that selling them but at ordinary and reasonable rates he was three times richer then when hee departed first from his house And hauing vented them all he sent a great sum of money to the good woman at Corfu that had rescued him out of the Sea and saued his life in a danger so dreadfull The like hee did to Tranium to the Merchants that had newly cloathed him liuing richly vpon the remainder and neuer aduenturing more to the Sea but ended his dayes in wealth and honour Andrea de Piero trauelling from Perouse to Naples to buy Horses was in the space of one night surprised by three admirable accidents out of all which hee fortunately escaped and with a rich Ring returned home to his owne house The fift Nouell Comprehending how needfull a thing it is for a man that trauelleth in affaires of the World to be prouident and well aduised and carefully to keepe himselfe from the crafty and deceitfull allurements of Strumpets THe precious Stones and Iewels found by Landolpho maketh mee to remember said Madam Fiammetta who was next to deliuer her discourse a Tale containing no lesse perils then that reported by Madam Lauretta but somewhat different from it because the one happened in sundry yeeres and this other had no longer time then the compasse of one poore night as instantly I will relate vnto you As I haue heard reported by many there sometime liued in Perouse or â—erugia a young man named Andrea de Piero whose profession was to trade about Horses in the nature of a Horse-courser or Horse-master who hearing of a good Faire or Market for his purpose at Naples did put fiue hundred Crownes of gold in his purse and iourneyed thither in the company of other Horse-coursers arriuing there on a Sunday in the euening According to instructions giuen him by his Host he went the next day into the Horse-maâ—ket where he saw very many Horses that he liked cheapening their prices as he went vp and downe but could fall to no agreement yet to manifest that he came purposely to buy and not as a cheapener onely oftentimes like a shalow brainde trader in the world he shewed his purse of gold before all passengers neuer respecting who or what they were that obserued his follie It came to passe that a young Sicillian wench very beautifull but at commaund of whosoeuer would and for small hire passing then by and without his perceiuing seeing such store of gold in his purse presently she said to her selfe why should not all those crownes be mine when the foole that owes them can keepe them no closer And so she went on With this young wanton there was at the same time an olde woman as commonly such stuffe is alwayes so attended seeming to be a Sicillian also who so soone as shee saw Andrea knew him and leauing her youthfull commodity ranne to him and embraced him very kindly Which when the younger Lasse perceiued without proceeding any further she stayed to see what would ensue thereon Andrea conferring with the olde Bawde and knowing her but not for any such creature declared himselfe very affable to her she
both her selfe and all the wealth shee had into his hands but things ill done and so long time since are more easily controled then amended Being left so young at Palermo and growing well neere to the stature as now you see me my mother being wealthy gaue mee in marriage to one of the Gergentes Family a Gentleman and of great reuenewes who in his loue to me and my mother went and dwelt at Palermo where falling into the Guelphes faction and making one in the enterprize with Charles our King it came to passe that they were discouered to Fredericke King of Arragon before their intent could be put in execution whereupon we were enforced to flie from Sicilie euen when my hope stood fairely to haue beene the greatest Lady in all the Iland Packing vp then such few things as wee could take with vs few I may well call them in regard of our wealthy possessions both in Pallaces Houses and Lands all which we were constrained to forgoe we made our recourse to this City where wee found King Charles so benigne and gracious to vs that recompencing the greater part of our losses he bestowed Lands and Houses on vs here beside a continuall large pension to my husband your brother in Law as hereafter himselfe shall better acquaint you withall Thus came I hither and thus remaine here where I am able to welcome my brother Andrea thankes more to Fortune then any friendlinesse in him with which words she embraced and kissed him many times sighing and weeping as shee did before Andrea hearing this fable so artificially deliuered composed from point to point with such likely protestations without faltring or failing in any one words vtteranee and remembring perfectly for truth that his Father had formerly dwelt at Palermo knowing also by some sensible feeling in himselfe the custome of young people who are easily conquered by affection in their youthfull heate seeing beside the teares trembling speeches and earnest embracings of this cunning commodity he tooke all to be faithfully true by her thus spoken and vpon her silence thus he replied Lady let it not seeme strange to you that your words haue raised maruell in me because indeede I had no knowledge of you euen no more then as if I had neuer seene you neuer also hauing heard my Father to speake either of you or your Mother for some considerations best knowne to himselfe or if at any time he vsed such language either my youth then or defectiue memory since hath vtterly lost it But truly it is no little ioy and comfort to me to finde a sister here where I had no such hope or expectation and where also my selfe am a meere stranger For to speake my mind freely of you and the perfections gracefully appearing in you I know not any man of how great repute or quality soeuer but you may well beseeme his acceptance much rather then mine that am but a meane Merchant But faire sister I desire to be resolued in one thing to wit by what meanes you had vnderstanding of my being in this City whereto readily shee returned him this answer Brother a poore woman of this City whom I employ sometimes in houshold occasions came to me this morning and hauing seene you tolde me that shee dwelt a long while with our Father both at Palermo and Perouse And because I held it much better beseeming my condition to haue you visit me in mine owne dwelling then I to come see you at a common Inne I made the bolder to send for you hither After which words in very orderly manner shee enquired of his chiefest kindred and friends calling them readily by their proper names according to her former instructions Whereto Andrea still made her answer confirming thereby his beliefe of her the more strongly and crediting whatsoeuer shee saide farre better then before Their conference hauing long time continued and the heate of the day being somewhat extraordinary shee called for Greeke wine and banquetting stuffe drinking to Andrea and he pledging her very contentedly After which he would haue returned to his lodging because it drew neere supper time which by no meanes shee would permit but seeming more then halfe displeased shee saide Now I plainely perceiue brother how little account you make of me considering you are with your owne Sister who you say you neuer saw before and in her owne House whether you should alwayes resort when you come to this City and would you now refuse her to goe and sup at a common Inne Beleeue me brother you shall sup with me for although my Husband is now from home to my no little discontentment yet you shall find brother that his wife can bid you welcome and make you good cheere beside Now was Andrea so confounded with this extremity of courtesie that he knew not what to say but onely thus replied I loue you as a Sister ought to be loued and accept of your exceeding kindnesse but if I returne not to my lodging I shall wrong mine Host and his guests too much because they will not sup vntill I come For that quoth shee we haue a present remedy one of my seruants shal goe and giue warning whereby they shall not tarry your comming Albeit you might doe me a great kindnesse to send for your friends to sup with vs here where I assure ye they shall finde that your Sister for your sake will bid them welcome and after supper you may all walke together to your Inne Andrea answered that he had no such friends there as should be so burthenous to her but seeing shee vrged him so farre he would stay to sup with her and referred himselfe solely to her disposition Ceremonious shew was made of sending a seruant to the Inne for not expecting Andreas presence at Supper though no such matter was performed but after diuers other discoursings the table being couered and variety of costly viands placed thereon downe they sate to feeding with plenty of curious Wines liberally walking about so that it was darke night before they arose from the table Andrea then offring to take his leaue she would by no meanes suffer it but tolde him that Naples was a Citie of such strict Lawes and Ordinances as admitted no night-walkers although they were Natiues much lesse strangers but punished them with great seuerity And therefore as she had formerly sent word to his Inne that they should not expect his comming to supper the like had she done concerning his bed intending to giue her Brother Andrea one nights lodging which as easily she could affoord him as she hadde done a Supper All which this new-caught Woodcocke verily crediting and that he was in company of his owne Sister Fiordeliza for so did she cunningly stile her selfe and in which beleefe hee was meerely deluded he accepted the more gladly her gentle offer and concluded to stay there all that night After supper their conference lasted very long purposely dilated out in length that a
any thing else did vrge these speeches of them or falling into this kinde of discourse but onely by a naturall instinct and admonition I will proceede familiarly a little further with thee vpon the matter already propounded I haue euermore vnderstood that man was the most noble creature formed by God to liue in this world and woman in the next degree to him but man as generally is beleeued and as is discerned by apparant effects is the most perfect of both Hauing then the most perfection in him without all doubt he must be so much the more firme and constant So in like manner it hath beene and is vniuersally graunted that woman is more various and mutable and the reason thereof may be approued by many naturall circumstances which were needlesse now to make any mention of If a man then be possessed of the greater stability and yet cannot containe himselfe from condiscending I say not to one that entreates him but to desire any other that may please him and beside to couet the enioying of his owne pleasing contentment a thing not chancing to him once in a moneth but infinite times in a dayes space What can you then conceiue of a fraile woman subiect by nature to entreaties flatteries gifts perswasions and a thousand other enticing meanes which a man that is affected to her can vse Doest thou think then that shee hath any power to containe Assuredly though thou shouldst rest so resolued yet cannot I be of the same opinion For I am sure thou beleeuest and must needes confesse it that thy wife is a woman madeâ— of flesh and blood as other women are if it be so shee cannot be without the same desires and the weakenesse or strength as other women haue to resist such naturall appetites as her owne are In regard whereof it is meerely impossible although shee be most honest but she must needs do that which other women do for there is nothing else possible either to be denied or affirmed to the contrary as thou most vnaduisedly hast done Bernardo answered in this manner I am a Merchant and no Philosopher and like a Merchant I meane to answere thee I am not to learne that these accidents by thee related may happen to fooles who are void of vnderstanding or shame but such as are wise and endued with vertue haue alwayes such a precious esteeme of their honour that they will containe those principles of constancie which men are meerely carelesse of and I iustifie my wife to be one of them Beleeue me Bernardo replied Ambroginolo if so often as thy wiues minde is addicted to wanton folly a badge of scorne should arise on thy forehead to render testimonie of her female frailty I beleeue the number of them would be more then willingly you would wish them to be And among all married men in euery degree the notes are so secret of their wiues imperfections that the sharpest sight is not able to discerne them and the wiser sort of men are willing not to know them because shame and losse of honour is neuer imposed but in cases euident and apparant Perswade thy selfe then Bernardo that what women may accomplish in secret they will rarely faile to doe or if they abstaine it is through feare and folly Wherefore hold it for a certaine rule that that woman is onely chaste that neuer was solicited personally or if she endured any such sute either shee answered yea or no. And albeit I know this to be true by many infallible and naturall reasons yet could I not speake so exactly as I doe if I had not tried experimentally the humours and affections of diuers women Yea and let me tell thee more Bernardo were I in priuate company with thy wife howsoeuer pure and precise thou presumest her to be I should account it a matter of no impossibility to finde in her the selfe same frailty Bernardoes blood began now to boile and patience being a little put downe by choller thus hee replied A combat of words requires ouerlong continuance for I maintaine the matter which thou deniest and all this sorts to nothing in the end But seeing thou presumest that all women are so apt and tractable and thy selfe so confident of thine owne power I willingly yeeld for the better assurance of my wifes constant loyalty to haue my head smitten off if thou canst winne her to any such dishonest act by any meanes whatsoeuer thou canst vse vnto her which if thou canst not doe thou shalt onely loose a thousand duckets of gold Now began Ambroginolo to be heated with these words answering thus Bernardo if I had won the wager I know not what I should doe with thy head but if thou be willing to stand vpon the proofe pawne downe fiue thousand Duckets of gold a matter of much lesse value then thy head against a thousand Duckets of mine granting me a lawfull limitted time which I require to be no more then the space of three moneths after the day of my departiug hence I will stand bound to goe for Geneway and there winne such kinde consent of thy Wife as shall be to mine owne consent In witnesse whereof I will bring backe with me such priuate and especiall tokens as thou thy selfe shalt confesse that I haue not failed Prouided that thou doe first promise vpon thy faith to absent thy selfe thence during my limitted time and be no hinderance to me by thy Letters concerning the attempt by me vndertaken Bernardo saide be it a bargaine I am the man that will make good my fiue thousand Duckets and albeit the other Merchants then present earnestly laboured to breake the wager knowing great harme must needs ensue thereon yet both the parties were so hot and fiery as all the other men spake to no effect but writings were made sealed and deliuered vnder either of their hands Bernardo remaining at Paris and Ambroginolo departing for Geneway There he remained some few dayes to learne the streetes name where Bernardo dwelt as also the conditions and qualities of his Wife which scarcely pleased him when he heard them because they were farre beyond her Husbands relation and shee reputed to be the onely wonder of women whereby he plainely perceiued that he had vndertaken a very idle enterprise yet would he not giue it ouer so but proceeded therein a little further He wrought such meanes that he came acquainted with a poore woman who often frequented Bernardoes house and was greatly in fauour with his wife vpon whose pouerty he so preuailed by earnest perswasions but much more by large gifts of money that he won her to further him in this manner following A faire and artificiall Chest he caused to be purposely made wherein himselfe might be aptly contained and so conueyed into the House of Bernardoes Wife vnder colour of a formall excuse that the poore woman should be absent from the City two or three dayes and shee must keepe it safe till he returne The Gentlewoman
taxation of the world or ill apprehension of the most curious inquisition Beside a greater happinesse can neuer befall me for while he assumeth the soule out of my body and walketh on the earth in my humane figure I shall be wandering in the ioyes of Louers Paradise feeling the fruition of their felicities which are such as no mortality can be capeable of no not so much as in imagination The wise Gentlewoman replied that she was well contented in regard of the seuere punishment inflicted on him by God Cupid for the reproachfull speeches he had giuen her to allow him so poore a kinde of consolation as he had requested her to grant him Whereuppon Fryar Albert saide Be ready then Madam to giue him welcome to morrow in the euening at the entering into your house for comming in an humane body he cannot but enter at your doore whereas if in powerfull manner he made vse of his wings he then would flye in at your window and then you could not be able to see him Vpon this conclusion Albert departed leauing Lisetta in no meane pride of imagination that God Cupid should bee enamored of her beauty and therefore she thought each houre a yeare till she might see him in the mortall shape of Friar Albert. And now was his braine wonderfully busied to visite her in more then common or humane manner and therefore he made him a sute close to his body of white Taffata all poudred ouer with Starres and spangles of Gold a Bow and Quiuer of Arrowes with wings also fastened to his backe behinde him and all cunningly couered with his Friars habit which must be the sole meanes for his safe passage Hauing obtained licence of his Superiour and being accompanyed with an holy Brother of the Conuent yet ignorant of the businesse by him intended he went to the house of a friend of his which was his vsuall receptacle whensoeuer he went about such deeds of darknes There did he put on his dissembled habit of God Cupid with his winges Bowe and Quiuer in formall fashion and then clouded ouer with his Monkes Cowle leaues his companion to awaite his returning backe while he visited foolish Lisetta according to her expectation readily attending for the Gods arriuall Albert being come to the house knocked at the doore and the Maid admitting him entrance according as her Mistresse had appointed shee conducted him to her Mistresses Chamber where laying aside his Friars habite and she seeing him shine with such glorious splendour adding action also to his assumed dissimulation with maiesticke motion of his body wings and bow as if he had bene God Cupid indeede conuerted into a body much bigger of stature then Painters commonly do describe him her wisedome was so ouercome with feare and admiration that she fell on her knees before him expressing all humble reuerence vnto him And he spreading his wings ouer her as with wiers and strings hee had made them pliant shewed how graciously he accepted her humiliation folding her in his armes and sweetly kissing her many times together with repetition of his entire loue and affection towards her So delicately was he perfumed with odorifferous sauours and so compleate of person in his spangled garments that she could do nothing else but wonder at his rare behauiour reputing her felicity beyond all Womens in the world and vtterly impossible to bee equalled such was the pride of her presuming For he told her diuers tales and fables of his awefull power among the other Gods and stolne pleasures of his vpon the earth yet gracing her praises aboue all his other Loues and vowes made now to affect none but her onely as his often visitations should more constantly assure her that shee verily credited all his protestations and thought his kisses and embraces â—arre to exceed any mortall comparison After they had spent so much time in amorous discoursing as might best fit with this their first meeting and stand cleare from suspition on either side our Albert-Cupid or Cupid-Albert which of theÌ„ you best please to terme him closing his spangled winges together againe behinde his backe fastening also on his Bow and Quiuer of Arrowes ouer-clouds all with his religious Monkes Cowle and then with a parting kisse or two returned to the place where he had left his fellow and companion perhaps imployed in as deuout an exercise as he had bin in his absence from him whence both repayring home to the Monastery all this nightes wandering was allowed as tollerable by them who made no spare of doing the like On the morrow following Madam Lisetta immediately after dinner being attended by her Chamber-maid went to see Friar Albert finding him in his wonted forme and fashion and telling him what had hapned betweene her and God Cupid with all the other lies and tales which hee had told her Truly Madam answered Albert what your successe vvith him hath beene I am no way able to comprehend but this I can assure you that so soone as I had acquainted him with your answer I felt a sodaine rapture made of my soule and visibly to my apprehension saw it carried by Elues and Fairies into the floury fields about Elisium vvhere Louers departed out of this life vvalk among the beds of Lillies and Roses such as are not in this world to be seene neither to be imagined by any humane capacity So super-abounding was the pleasure of this ioy and solace that how long I continued there or by what meanes I vvas transported hither againe this morning it is beyond all ability in mee to expresse or how I assumed my body againe after that great God hadde made vse thereof to your seruice Well Friar Albert quoth shee you may see what an happinesse hath befalne you by so grosse an opinion of my perfections and what a felicity you enioy and still are like to do by my pardoning your error and granting the Gods accesse to me in your shape which as I enuy not so I wish you heereafter to be wiser in taking vpon you to iudge of beautie Much other idle folly proceeded from hir which still he soothed to her contentment and as occasion serued many meetings they had in the former manner It fortuned within a few dayes after that Madam Lisetta being in company with one of her Gossips and their conference as commonly it falleth out to be concerning other women of the City their beautie behauiour amorous suters and seruants and generall opinion conceiued of their worth and merit wherein Lisetta was ouer-much conceyted of her selfe not admitting any other to be her equall Among other speeches sauouring of an vnseasoned braine Gossip quoth she if you knew what account is made of my beauty and who holdes it in no meane estimation you would then freely confesse that I deserue to bee preferred before any other As women are ambitious in their owne opinions so commonly are they couetous of one anothers secrets especially in matter of emulation whereupon the Gossip
open streete He hath had the sacrifice of my virgin teares and if I can preuaile he shall haue some of his kindred as I haue instantly deuised what in this hard case is best to be done Forthwith she sent the maid to her Chamber for diuers elles of white Damaske lying in her Chest which when she had brought they spread it abroad on the grasse euen in the manner of a winding sheete and therein wrapped the bodie of Gabriello with a faire wrought pillow lying vnder his head hauing first with their teares closed his mouth and eyes and placed a Chaplet of Flowers on his head couering the whole shrowd ouer in the same manner which being done thus she spake to her maide The doore of his owne house is not farre hence and thither between vs two he may be easily carried euen in this maner as we haue adorned him where leauing him in his owne Porch we may returne back before it be day and although it will be a sad sight to his friends yet because he dyed in mine armes and we being so well discharged of the bodie it will be a little comfort to me When she had ended these words which were not vttered without infinite teares the Maid entreated her to make hast because the night passed swiftly on At last she remembred the Ring on her finger wherewith Gabriello had solemnly espoused her and opening the shroud againe she put it on his finger saying My deare and louing husband if thy soule can see my teares or any vnderstanding to remaine in thy body being thus vntimely taken from me receiue the latest guifte thou gauest me as a pledge of our solemne and spotlesse marriage So making vp the shroud againe as it should be and conueighing it closely out of the Garden they went on along with it towardes his dwelling house As thus they passed along it fortuned that they were met and taken by the Guard or Watch belonging to the Potestate who had bin so late abroad about very earnest and important businesse Andreana desiring more the dead mans company then theirs whom she had thus met withall boldly spake thus to them I know who and what you are and can tel my selfe that to offer flight will nothing auaile me wherefore I am ready to go along with you before the Seigneurie and there wil tel the truth concerning this accident But let not any man among you be so bold as to lay hand on me or to touch me because I yeeld so obediently to you neither to take any thing from this body except he intend that I shal accuse him In which respect not any one daring to displease her shee went with the dead bodye to the Seigneurie there to answere all Obiections When notice heereof was giuen to the Potestate he arose and shee being brought foorth into the Hall before him he questioned with her how and by what meanes this accident happened Beside he sent for diuers Physitians to be informed by them whether the Gentleman were poysoned or otherwise murthered but al of them affirmed the contrary auouching rather that some impostumation had engendred neere his heart which sodainly breaking occasioned his as sodaine death The Potestate hearing this and perceiuing that Andreana was little or nothing at all faulty in the matter her beauty and good carriage kindled a villanous and lustfull desire in him towards her prouoking him to the immodest motion that vpon granting his request he would release her But when he saw that all his perswasions were to no purpose hee sought to compasse his will by violence which like a vertuous and valiant Virago shee worthily withstood defending her honour Nobly and reproouing him with many iniurious speeches such as a lustfull Letcher iustlie deserued On the morrow morning these newes being brought to her Father Messer Negro da Ponte Cararo greeuing thereat exceedingly and accompanied with many of his friends he went to the Palace Being there arriued and informed of the matter by the Potestate hee demaunded in teares of his daughter how and by what meanes shee was brought thither The Potestate would needs accuse her first of outrage and wrong offered to him by her rather then to tarry her accusing of him yet commending the yong Maiden and her constancie proceeded to say that onely to proue her he had made such a motion to her but finding her so firmly vertuous his loue and liking was now so addicted to her that if hir Father were so pleased to forget the remembrance of her former secret husband he willingly would accept her in marriage While thus they continued talking Andreana comming before her Father the teares trickling mainly downe her cheekes and falling at his feete she began in this manner Deare Father I shall not neede to make an historicall relation either of my youthfull boldnesse or misfortunes because you haue both seene and knowne them rather most humblie I craue your pardon for another errour by me committed in that both without your leaue and liking I accepted the man as my troth-plighted husband whom aboue all other in the world I most intirely affected If my offence heerein do challenge the forfeite of my life then good Father I free you from any such pardon because my onely desire is to die your daughter and in your gracious fauour with which words in signe of her humility she kissed his feete Messer Negro da Ponte being a man well stept into yeares and of a milde and gentle nature obseruing what his daughter had saide could not refraine from teares and in his weeping louingly tooke her from the ground speaking thus to her Daughter I could haue wished that thou hadst taken such an husbād as in my iudgement had bene best fitting for thee and yet if thou didst make election of one answerable to thine owne good opinion liking I haue no iust reason to be therewith offended My greatest cause of complaint is thy too seuere concealing it from me and the slender trust thou didst repose in me because thou hast lost him before I knew him Neuerthelesse seeing these occasions are thus come to passe and accidents alreadie ended cannot by any meanes be re-called it is my will that as I would gladly haue contented thee by making him my Sonne in Law if he had liued so I will expresse the like loue to him now he is dead And so turning himself to his kindred and friends louingly requested of them that they would grace Gabriello with most honorable obsequies By this time the kindred and friends to the dead man vppon noise of his death bruited abroad were likewise come to the Pallace yea most of the men and women dwelling in the Citty the bodie of Gabriello beeing laide in the midst of the Court vpon the white Damaske shrowde giuen by Andreana with infinite Roses and other sweet Flowers lying thereon and such was the peoples loue to him that neuer was any mans death more to be bemoaned and
they be abused The harsh and vnciuill vsage in her grew very distastefull to Anastasio and so vnsufferable that after a long time of fruitlesse seruice requited still with nothing but coy disdain desperate resolutions entred into his brain and often he was minded to kill himselfe But better thoughts supplanting those furious passions he abstained from any such violent act gouerned by more manly consideration determined that as she hated him he would require her with the like if he could wherein he became altogether deceiued because as his hopes grew to a dayly decaying yet his loue enlarged it selfe more and more Thus Anastasio perseuering still in his bootelesse affection and his expences not limited within any compasse it appeared in the iudgement of his Kindred and Friends that he was falne into a mighty consumption both of his body and meanes In which respect many times they aduised him to leaue the City of Rauenna and liue in some other place for such a while as might set a more moderate stint vpon his spendings and bridle the indiscreete course of his loue the onely fuell which fed this furious fire Anastasio held out thus a long time without lending an eare to such friendly counsell but in the end he was so neerely followed by them as being no longer able to deny them he promised to accomplish their request Whereupon making such extraordinary preparation as if he wer to set thence for France or Spaine or else into some further distant countrey he mounted on horsebacke and accompanied with some few of his familiar friends departed from Rauenna and rode to a country dwelling house of his owne about three or foure miles distant from the Cittie which was called Chiasso and there vpon a very goodly greene erecting diuers Tents and Pauillions such as great persons make vse of in the time of a Progresse he said to his friends which came with him thither that there hee determined to make his abiding they all returning backe vnto Rauenna and might come to visite him againe so often as they pleased Now it came to passe that about the beginning of May it being then a very milde and serrene season and he leading there a much more magnificent life then euer he had done before inuiting diuers to dine with him this day and as many to morrow and not to leaue him till after supper vpon the sodaine falling into remembrance of his cruell Mistris hee commanded all his seruants to forbeare his company and suffer him to walke alone by himselfe awhile because he had occasion of priuate meditations wherein he would not by any meanes be troubled It was then about the ninth houre of the day and he walking on solitary all alone hauing gone some halfe miles distance from his Tents entred into a Groue of Pine-trees neuer minding dinner time or any thing else but only the vnkind requitall of his loue Sodainly he heard the voice of a woman seeming to make most mournfull complaints which breaking of his silent considerations made him to lift vp his head to know the reason of this noise When he saw himselfe so farre entred into the Groue before he could imagine where he was hee looked amazedly round about him and out of a little thicket of bushes briars round engirt with spreading trees hee espyed a young Damosell come running towards him naked from the middle vpward her haire disheuelled on her shoulders and her faire skinne rent and torne with the briars and brambles so that the blood ran trickling downe mainly shee weeping wringing her hands and crying out for mercy so lowde as shee could Two fierce Blood-hounds also followed swiftly after and where their teeth tooke hold did most cruelly bite her Last of all mounted on a lusty blacke Courser came gallopping a Knight with a very sterne and angry countenance holding a drawne short Sword in his hand giuing her very vile and dreadfull speeches and threatning euerie minute to kill her This strange and vncouth sight bred in him no meane admiration as also kinde compassion to the vnfortunate woman out of which compassion sprung an earnest desire to deliuer her if he could from a death so full of anguish and horror but seeing himselfe to be without Armes hee ran and pluckt vp the plant of a Tree which handling as if it had beene a staffe he opposed himselfe against the Dogges and the Knight who seeing him comming cryed out in this manner to him Anastasio put not thy selfe in any opposition but referre to my Hounds and me to punish this wicked woman as she hath iustly deserued And in speaking these words the Hounds tooke fast hold on her body so staying her vntill the Knight was come neerer to her and alighted from his horse when Anastasio after some other angry speeches spake thus vnto him I cannot tell what or who thou art albeit thou takest such knowledge of me yet I must say that it is meere cowardize in a Knight being armed as thou art to offer to kill a naked woman and make thy dogges thus to seize on her as if she were a sauage beast therefore beleeue me I will defend her so farre as I am able Anastasio answered the Knight I am of the same City as thou art and do well remember that thou wast a little Ladde when I who was then named Guido Anastasio and thine Vnckle became as intirely in loue with this woman as now thou art of Paulo Trauersarioes daughter But through her coy disdaine and cruelty such was my heauy fate that desperately I slew my selfe with this short sword which thou beholdest in mine hand for which rash sinfull deede I was and am condemned to eternall punishment This wicked woman reioycing immeasurably in mine vnhappie death remained no long time aliue after me and for her mercilesse sinne of cruelty and taking pleasure in my oppressing torments dying vnrepentant and in pride of her scorne she had the like sentence of condemnation pronounced on her and sent to the same place where I was tormented There the three impartiall Iudges imposed this further infliction on vs both namely that shee should flye in this manner before mee and I who loued her so deerely while I liued must pursue her as my deadly enemy not like a woman that had any taste of loue in her And so often as I can ouertake her I am to kill her with this sword the same Weapon wherewith I slew my selfe Then am I enioyned therewith to open her accursed body and teare out her hard and frozen heart with her other inwards as now thou seest me doe which I giue vnto my hounds to feede on Afterward such is the appointment of the supreame powers that she re-assumeth life againe euen as if she had not bene dead at all and falling to the same kinde of flight I with my houndes am still to follow her without any respite or intermission Euery Friday and iust at this houre our course is this way
where they threwe downe what other stones they had gathered meaning not to molest him any more because they had done enough already There they stept before him vnto the Port and acquainted the Warders with the whole matter who laughing heartily at the iest the better to vpholde it would seeme not to see Calandrino in his passage by them but suffered him to go on sore wearied with his burthen and sweating extreamly Without resting himselfe in any place he came home to his house which was neere to the corner of the Milles Fortune being so fauourable to him in the course of this mockery that as he passed along the Riuers side and afterward through part of the City he was neither met nor seen by any in regard they were all in their houses at dinner Calandrino euery minute ready to sinke vnder his weightie burthen entred into his owne house where by great ill luck his wife being a comely and very honest woman and named Monna Trista was standing aloft on the stayres head She being somewhat angry for his so long absence and seeing him come in grunting and groaning frowningly said I thought that the diuell would neuer let thee come home all the whole Citie haue dined and yet wee must remaine without our dinner When Calandrino heard this perceiued that he was not inuisible to his Wife full of rage and wroth hee began to raile saying Ah thou wicked Woman where art thou Thou hast vtterly vndone me but as I liue I will pay thee soundly for it Vp the staires he ascended into a small Parlour where when he hadde spred all his burthen of stones on the floore he ran to his wife catching her by the hâ—â—re of the head and throwing her at his feete giuing her so many spurns and cruel blowes as shee was not able to mooue either armes or legges notwithstanding all her teares and humble submission Now Buffalmaco and Bruno after they had spent an indifferent while with the Warders at the Port in laughter in a faire gentle pace they followed Calandrino home to his house and being come to the doore they heard the harsh bickering betweene him and his Wife and seeming as if they were but newly arriued they called out alowd to him Calandrino being in a sweate stâ—â—ping and rauing still at his Wife looking forth of the window entreated them to ascend vp to him which they did counterâ—etting greeuous displeasure against him Being come into the roome which they saw all couered ouer with stones his Wife sitting in a corner all the haire well-neere torne off her head her face broken and bleeâ—ing and all her body cruelly beaten on the other side Calandrino standing vnbraced and vngirded strugling and wallowing like a 〈◊〉 quite our of breath after a little pausing Bruno thâ—â— spake Why how now Calandrino What may the mâ—â—â—ing of this matter be What art thou preparing for building that thou hast prouided such plenty of stones How sitteth thy poore wife How hast thou misvsed her Are these the behauiours of a wise or honest man Calandrino vtterly ouer-spent with trauaile and carrying such an huge burthen of stones as also the toylesome beating of his Wife but much more impatient and offended for that high good Fortune which he imagined to haue lost could not collect his spirits together to answer them one ready word wherefore hee sate fretting like a mad man Whereupon Buffalmaco thus began to him Calandrino if thou be angry with any other yet thou shouldest not haue made such a mockery of vs as thou hast done in leauing vs like a couple of coxcombes to the plaine of Mugnone whether thou leddest vs with thee to seeke a precious stone called Helitropium And couldst thou steale home neuer bidding vs so much as farewell How can vve but take it in very euill part that thou shouldest so abuse two honest neighbours Well assure thy selfe this is the last time that euer thou shalt serue vs so Calandrino by this time being somewhat better come to himselfe with an humble protestation of courtesie returned them this answer Alas my good frionds be not you offended the case is farre otherwise then you immagine Poore vnfortunate man that I am I found the rare precious stone that you speake of and marke me well if I do not tell you the truth of all When you asked one another the first time what was become of me I was hard by you at the most vvithin the distance of two yards length and perceiuing that you saw mee not being still so neere and alwaies before you I wâ—â—t on smiling to my selfe to heare you brabble and rage against me So proceeding on in his discourse he recounted euery accident as it hapned both what they had saide and did vnto him concerning the seuerall blowes with the two Flint-stones the one hurting him greeuously in the heele and the other paining him as extreamly in the backe with their speeches vsed then and his laughter notwithstanding hee felt the harme of them both yet beeing proud that he did so inuisibly beguile them Nay more quoth he I cannot forbeare to tell you that when I passed thorow the Port I saw you standing with the Warders yet by vertue of that excellent Stone vndiscouered of you all Beside going along the streets I met many of my Gossips friends and familiar acquaintance such as vsed day lie to conuerse with me and drinking together in euery Tauern yet not one of them spake to me neyther vsed any courtesie or salutation vvhich indeede I did the more freely forgiue them because they were not able to see me In the end of all when I was come home into mine owne house this diuellish and accursed Woman being aloft vppon my stayres head by much misfortune chanced to see me in regard as it is not vnknowne to you that women cause all things to lose their vertue In which respect I that could haue stild my selfe the onely happy man in Florence am now made most miserable And therefore did I iustly beate her so long as she was able to stand against mee and I know no reason to the contrary why I should not yet teare her in a thousand peeces for I may well curse the day of our mariage to hinder and bereaue me of such an inuisible blessednesse Buffalmaco and Bruno hearing this made shew of verie much meruailing thereat and many times maintained what Calandrino had said being well neere ready to burst with laughter considering how coÌ„fidently he stood vpon it that he had found the wonderful stone and lost it by his wiues speaking onely to him But when they saw him rise in fury once more with intent to beat her againe then they stept betweene them affirming That the woman had no way offended in this case but rather he himself who knowing that women cause all things to lose their vertue had not therefore expresly commanded her not to be seene in his presence all that day vntill
the Tarras whereof she was wholly disappointed she began to sighe and weepe exceedingly and in this heauy perplexity of spirit thus shee complained to her selfe Miserable and vnfortunate Helena what will be saide by thy Bretheren Kindred Neighbours and generallie throughout all Florence when they shall know that thou wast founde heere on this Turret starke naked Thine honourable carriage and honesty of life heeretofore free from a thought of suspition shall novv be branded with detestation and if thou wouldst cloud this mishappe of thine by such lies and excuses as are not rare amongst women yet Reniero that wicked Scholler who knoweth all thy priuy compacting will stand as a thousand witnesses against thee and shame thee before the whole City so both thine honor and loued frieâ—d are lost for euer Hauing thus consulted with her selfe many desperate motions entred her minde to throw her selfe headlong from off the Tarras till better thoughts wone possession of her soule And the Sunne being risen shee went to euery corner of the Tarras to espye any Lad come abroad with his beasts by whom she might send for her waiting-woman About this instant the Scholler who lay sleeping all this while vnder a bush suddenly awaking saw her looke ouer the wall and she likewise espyed him whereupon hee said vnto her Good morrow Madame Helena What are the Ladies come yet or no Helena hearing his scorning question and grieuing that hee should so delude her in teares and lamentations she intreated him to come neere the Tower because she desired to speake with him Which courtesie he did not deny her and she lying groueling vpon her brest on the Tarras to hide her body that no part thereof might be seene but her head weeping she spake thus to him Reniero vpon my credit if I gaue thee an ill nights rest thou hast well reuenged that wrong on me for although wee are now in the moneth of Iuly I haue beene plagued with extremity of colde in regard of my nakednesse euen almost frozen to death beside my continuall teares and lamenting that folly perswaded me to beleeue thy protestations wherein I account it well-neere miraculous that mine eyes should be capable of any sight And therefore I pray thee not in respect of any loue which thou canst pretend to beare me but for regard of thine owne selfe being a Gentleman and a Scholler that this punishment which thou hast already inflicted vpon me may suffiâ—e for my former iniuries towards thee and to hold thy selfe reuenged fully as also permit my garments to be brought me that I may descend from hence without taking that from me which afterward although thou wouldst thou canst neuer restore me I meane mine honour And consider with thy selfe that albeit thou didst not inioy my company that vnhappy night yet thou hast power to command me at any time whensoeuer with making many diuersities of amends for one nights offence only committed Content thy selfe then good Reniero and as thou art an honest Gentleman say thou art sufficiently reuenged on me in making me dearely confesse mine owne errour Neuer exercise thy malice vpon a poore weake woman for the Eagle disdaineeh to pray on the yeelding Doue and therefore in meere pitty and for manhoods sake be my release from open shame and reproch The Scholler whose enuious spleene was swolne very great in remembring such a malicious cruelty exercised on him beholding her to weepe and make such lamentations found a fierce conflict in his thoughts betweene content and pitty It did not a little ioy and content him that the reuenge which hee so earnestly desired to compasse was now by him so effectually inflicted And yet in meere humanity pitty prouoked him to commisserate the Ladies distressed condition but clemency being ouer-weake to withstand his rigor thus he replied Madam Helena if mine entreaties which to speake truly I neuer knew how to steepe in tears nor wrap vp my words in sugar Candie so cuningly as you women know how to do could haue preuailed that miserable night when I was well-neere frozen to death with cold and meerly buried with snow in your Court not hauing anie place of rescue or shelter your complaints would now the more easily ouer-rule me But if your honor in estimation bee now more precious to you theâ— heretofore and it seemeth so offensiue to stand there naked conuert your perswasions prayers to him in whose armes you vvere that night imbraced both of your triumphing in my misery when poor I trotted about your Court with the teeth quiuering in my head and beating mine armes about my body finding no compassion in him or you Let him bring thee thy Garments let him come helpe thee down with the Ladder and let him haue the care of thine honour on whom thou hast bene so prodigall heretofore in bestowing it and now hast vnwomanly throwne thy selfe in perill onely for the maintenance of thine immodest desires Why dost thou not call on him to come helpe thee To whom doeth it more belong then to him For thou art his and he thine Why theÌ„ shold any other but he help thee in this distresse Call him foole as thou art and try if the loue he beareth thee and thy best vnderstanding ioyned with his can deliuer thee out of my sottish detaining thee I haue not forgot that when you both made a pastime of my misery thou didst demand of him which seemed greatest in his opinion either my sottish simplicity or the loue thou barest him I am not now so liberall or courteous to desire that of thee which thou wouldst not grant if I did request it No no reserue those night fauours for thy amorous friend if thou dost escape hence aliue to see him againe As for my selfe I leaue thee freely to his vse and seruice because I haue sufficiently payde for a womans falshood wisemen take such warning that they scorne to bee twice deceiued by one woman Proceed on stil in thy flattering perswasions terming me to be a Gentleman and a Scholler thereby to win such fauor from me that I should think thy villany toward me to be already sufficiently punished No trecherous Helena thy blandishments cannot now hoodwink the eies of my vnderstanding as when thou didst out-reach me with thy disloyall promises and protestations And let me now tell thee plainely that all the vvhile I continued in the Vniuersitie of Paris I neuer attained vnto so perfect an vnderstanding of my selfe as in that one miserable night thou diddest enstruct mee But admit that I were enclined vnto a mercifull and compassionate minde yet thou art none of them on whome milde and gracious mercy should any way declare her effects For the end of pennance among sauage beasts such as thou art and likewise of due vengeance ought to be death whereas among men it should suffice according to thine owne saying Wherefore in regard that I am neither an Eagle nor thou a Doue but rather a most venomous
light they opened their bosomes shewed him their painted bodies and sodainly closed them vp againe The Physitian laboured to excuse himselfe declaring his misfortunes at large and into what a filthy place he was throwne It maketh no matter answered Buffalmaco I would you had bin throwen from off the Bridge into Arno where you might haue beene recommended to the Diuell and all his Saints Did not I tell you so much before In good sadnesse quoth the Doctor I neyther commended my selfe to God nor any of his Saints How sayde Buffalmaco I am sure you will maintaine an vntrueth you vsed a kinde of recommendation for our messenger told vs that you talked of God S. Dominicke and your good Angell whom you desired to assist you being so affrighted with feare that you trembled like a leafe vpon a tree not knowing indeede where you were Thus haue you vnfaithfully dealt with vs as neuer any man shall doe the like againe in seeking honour and losing it through your own negligence Master Doctor humbly entreated pardon and that they would not reuile him any more labouring to appease them by the best words he could vse as fearing least they should publish this great disgrace of him And whereas before he gaue them gracious welcomes now he redoubled them with farre greater courtesies feasting them daily at his own table and euermore delighting in their company Thus as you haue heard two poore Painters of Florence taught Master Doctor better Wit then all the Learned at Bologna A Cicilian Courtezane named Madame Biancafiore by her craftie wit and policie deceiued a young Merchant called Salabetto of all the money he had taken for his Wares at Palermo Afterward he making shew of comming hither againe with farre richer Merchandises then hee brought before made the meanes to borrow a great summe of Money of her leauing her so base a pawne as well requited her for her former cozenage The Tenth Nouell Whereby appeareth that such as meet with cunning Harlots and suffer themselues to be deceiued by them must sharpen their Wits to make them requitall in the selfesame kinde NEedlesse it were to question whether the Nouell related by the Queene in diuers passages thereof mooued the Ladies to hearty laughter and likewise to compassionate sighes and teares as pittying Madame Helena in her hard misfortune and yet applauding the Scholler for his iust reuenge But the discourse being ended Dioneus who knew it was his Office to be the last speaker euery day after silence was commanded he began in this manner Worthy Ladies it is a matter very manifest that deceits do appeare so much the more pleasing when by the selfe-same meanes the subtle deceyuer is artificially deceiued In which respect though you all haue reported very singular deceits yet I meane to tel you one that may proue as pleasing to you as any of your owne And so much the rather because the woman deceiued was a great and cunning Mistris in beguiling others equalling if not excelling any of your former beguilers It hath bene obserued heretofore and happily at this very day it is as frequent that in all Cities and Townes vpon the Sea-coasts hauing Ports for the benefit and venting Merchandises Merchants vse to bring their wealthy laden Vessels thither And when they vnlade any Ship of great fraught there are prepared Store-houses which in many places are called Magazines or Doganaes at the charge of the Communalty or Lord of the Towne or City for the vse whereof they receiue yearly gain and benefit Into those ware-houses they deliuer vnder writing and to the owners of them in especiall charge all their goods and merchandises of what price or valew soeuer they are Such as be the Owners of these Magazines when the Wares are thus stored vppe in them doe safely locke them vp there with their keyes hauing first registred downe truly all the goods in the Register belonging to the Custome-house that the Merchant may haue a iust account rendred him and the rights payed to the Custome-house according to the Register and as they are either in part or in all made sale of Brokers are continually there attending being informed in the quality of the Merchandises stored and likewise to what Merchants they appertaine by meanes of these men and according as the goods come to their hands they deuise to haue them exchaunged trucked vented and such other kinds of dispatches answerable to the mens minds and worth of the Commodities As in many other Kingdomes and Countries so was this custome obserued at Palermo in Sicily where likewise then were and no doubt now adayes are store of Women faire and comely of person but yet vowed enemies to honesty Neuerthelesse by such as know them not they are held and reputed to be blamelesse Women and by yeilding their bodyes vnto generall vse are the occasion of infinite misfortunes to men For so soone as they espy a Merchant-stranger there arriued they vvin information from the Booke belonging to the Magazin what wares are therein stored of what valew they bee and who is the Owner of them Afterwards by amorous actions and affable speeches they allure yong Merchants to take knowledge of them to bee familiar in their company till from some they get most part of their wealth from others all Nay diuers haue gone so farre as to make Port-sale of Ship Goods and Person so cunningly they haue bene shauen by these Barbers and yet without any Razor It came to passe and no long time since that a young Florentine of ours named Niccolo dâ— Cignano but more vsually called Salabetto imployed as Factor for his Maister arriued at Palermo his Ship stored with many Woollen Cloathes a remainder of such as had bin sold at the Mart of Salerno amounting in valew to aboue fiue hundred Florines of Gold When he had giuen in his packet to the Custome-house and made them vp safe in his Warehouse without making shew of desiring any speedy dispatch he delighted to view all parts of the City as mens minds are continuallie addicted to Nouelties He being a very faire and affable yong man easie to kindle affection in a very modest eie it fortuned that a Courtezane one of our before remembred shauers who termed hir selfe Madame Biancafiore hauing heard somewhat concerning his affairs beganne to dart amorous glances at him Which the indiscreete youth perceyuing and thinking her to be some great Lady began also to grow halfe perswaded that his comely person was pleasing to her and therefore he would carrie this good fortune of his somewhat cautelously Without imparting his mind vnto any one he would daily passe too and fro before her doore which she obseruing and hauing indifferently wounded him with her wanton piercing lookes she began to vse the first tricke of her Trade by pretending her enflamed affection towards him which made her pine and consume away in care except he might be moued to pitty her Whereupon she sent one of her Pandoraes vnto him
prouided for their entertainment which hee intended on the morrow to recompence with larger amends at dinner Heereupon hauing instructed one of his men with what hee intended he sent him to Pauia which was not farre off and where he kept no doore shut to his Wife named Madam Adialetta a Woman singularly wise and of a Noble spirit needing little or no direction especially when she knew her husbands minde As they were walking in the Garden Thorello desired to vnderstand of whence and what they were Whereto Saladine thus answered Sir wee are Cyprian Marchants comming now from Cyprus and are trauailing to Paris about affaires of importance Now trust me Syr replyed Thorello I could heartily wish that this Countrey of ours would yeeld such Gentlemen as your Cyprus affordeth Marchants So falling from one discourse vnto another Supper was serued in and looke howe best themselues pleased so they sate at the Table where we neede make no doubt they were respected in honourable order So soone as the Tables were withdrawne Thorello knowing they might be weary brought them againe to their Chambers where committing them to their good rest himselfe went to bed soone after The Seruant sent to Pauia deliuered the message to his Lady who not like a woman of ordinary disposition but rather truely Royall sent Thorelloes seruants into the City to make preparation for a Feast indeed and with lighted Torches because it was somewhat late they inuited the very greatest and noblest persons of the Citie all the roomes being hanged with the richest Arâ—s Clothes of Golde worke Veluets Silkes and all other rich adornments in such manner as her husband had commanded and answerable to her owne worthy mind being no way to learne in what manner to entertaine strangers On the morrow morning the Gentlemen arose and mounting on horsebacke with Signior Thorello he called for his Hawkes and Hounds brought them to the Riuer where he shewed two or three faire flights but Saladine desiring to know which was the fayrest Hostery in all Pauia Thorello answered Gentlemen I wil shew you that my selfe in regard I haue occasion to ride thither Which they beleeuing were the better contented and rode on directly vnto Pauia arriuing there about nine of the clocke and thinking he guided them to the best Inne he brought them to his owne house where aboue fifty of the worthiest Citizens stood ready to welcome the Gentlemen imbracing them as they lighted from their Horsses Which Saladine and his associates perceiuing they guessed as it was indeede and Saladine sayd Beleeue me worthy Thorello this is not answerable to my demand you did too much yester-night and much more then we could desire or deserue Wherefore you might wel be the sooner discharged of vs and let vs trauaile on our iourney Noble Gentlemen replyed Thorello for in mine eye you seeme no lesse that courtesie which you met with yester-night I am to thanke Fortune for more then you because you were then straited by such necessity as vrged your acceptance of my poore Country house But now this morning I shall account my selfe much beholding to you as the like will all these worthy Gentlemen here about you if you do but answer kindnes with kindnes and not refuse to take a homely dinner with them Saladine and his friends being conquerd with such potent perswasions and already dismounted from their horses saw that all deniall was meerly in vaine and therefore thankfully condiscenâ—ing after some few ceremonious complements were ouer-past the Gentlemen conducted them to their Chambers which were most sumptuously prepared for them and hauing laid aside their riding garments being a little refreshed with Cakes and choice Wines they descended into the dining Hall the pompe whereof I am not able to report When they had washed and were seated at the Tables dinner was serued in most magnificent sort so that if the Emperor himself had bin there he could not haue bin more sumptuously serued And although Saladine and his Baschaes were very Noble Lords and wonted to see matters of admiration yet could they do no lesse now but rather exceeded in maruaile considering the qualitie of the Knight whom they knew to bee a Citizen and no Prince or great Lord. Dinner being ended and diuers familiar conferences passing amongst them because it was exceeding hot the Gentlemen of Pauia as it pleased Thorello to appoint went to repose themselues awhile and he keeping company with his three guests brought them into a goodly Chamber where because he would not faile in the least scruple of courtesie or conceale from them the richest Iewell which he had he sent for his Lady and wife because as yet they had not seene her She was a Lady of extraordinary beauty tall stature very sumptuously attired and hauing two sweet Sonnes resembling Angels she came with them waiting before her and graciously saluted her guests At her comming they arose and hauing receiued hir with great reuerence they seated her in the midst kindly cherishing the two Children After some gracious Language past on eyther side she demanded of whence and what they were which they answered in the same kind as they had done before to her husband Afterward with a modest smiling countenance she sayd Worthy Gentlemen let not my weake Womanish discretion appeare distastable in desiring to craue one especiall fauour from you namely not to refuse or disdaine a small gift wherewith I purpose to present you But considering first that women according to their simple faculty are able to bestow but silly gifts so you would be pleased to respect more the person that is the giuer then the quality or quantity of the gift Then causing to be brought for each of them two goodly gowns or Robes made after the Persian manner the one lyned thorough with cloth of Gold and the other with the costlyest Fur not after such fashion as Citizens or Marchants vse to weare but rather beseeming Lords of greatest account and three light vnder-wearing Cassocks or Mandillions of Carnatian Sattin richly Imbroidred with Gold and Pearles and lined thorow with White Taffata presenting these gifts to him she sayd I desire you Gentlemen to receiue these meane trifles such as you see my Husband weares the like and these other beside considering you are so far from your Wiues hauing trauailed a long way already and many miles more yet to ouertake also Marchants being excellent men affect to be comely and handsome in their habits although these are of slender value yet in necessity they may do you seruice Now was Saladine and his Baschaes halfe astonyed with admiration at the magnificent minde of Signiour Thorello who would not forget the least part of courtesie towardes them and greatly doubted seeing the beauty and riches of the Garments least they were discouered by Thorello Neuerthelesse one of them thus answered the Lady Beleeue me Madame these are rich guiftes not lightly either to be giuen or receyued but in regard of your strict imposition