yong man whom she loued at supper with her Pedro returning home vpon a sodaine the young man was hidden vnder a Coope for Hens Pedro in excuse of his so soone comming home declareth how in the house of Herculano with whome hee should haue supt a friend of his wiues was found which was the reason of the suppers breaking off Pedroes wise reprouing the errour of Herculanoes wife an Asse by chance treades on the young-mans fingers that lay hidden vnder the Henne-Coope Vpon his crying out Pedro steppeth thither sees him knowes him and findeth the fallacie of his wife with whom neuerthelesse he groweth to agreement in regard of some imperfections in himselfe The End of the Table THE DECAMERON Containing an Hundred pleasant NOVELLES Wherein after demonstration made by the Author vpon what occasion it hapned that the persons of whom we shall speake heereafter should thus meete together to make so queint a Narration of Nouels Hee declareth vnto you that they first begin to deuise and conferre vnder the gouernment of Madam Pampinea and of such matters as may be most pleasing to them all The Induction of the Author to the following Discourses GRacious Ladies so often as I consider with my selfe and obserue respectiuely how naturally you are enclined to compassion as many times do I acknowledge that this present worke of mine will in your iudgement appeare to haue but a harsh and offensiue bâ—ginning in regard of the mournfull remembrance it beareth at the verie entrance of the last Pestilentiall mortality vniuersally hurtfull to all that beheld it or otherwise came to knowledge of it But for all that I desire it may not be so dreadfull to you to hinder your further proceeding in reading as if none were to looke thereon but with sighes and teares For I could rather with that so fearefull a beginning should seeme but as an high and steepy hil appeares to them that attempt to trauell farre on foote and ascending the same with some difficulty come afterward to walk vpon a goodly euen plaine which causeth the more contentment in them because the attaining thereto was hard and painfull For euen as pleasures are cut off by griefe and anguish so sorrowes cease by ioyes most sweete and happie arriuing After this breefe mollestation briefe I say because it is contained within small compasse of Writing immediately followeth the most sweete and pleasant taste of pleasure whereof before I made promise to you Which peraduenture could not bee expected by such a beginning if promise stoode not thereunto engaged And indeed if I could wel haue conueyed you to the center of my desire by any other way then so rude and rocky a passage as this is I would gladly haue done it But because without this Narration we could not demonstrate the occasion how and wherefore the matters hapned which you shall reade in the ensuing Discourses I must set them downe euen as constrained thereto by meere necessity in writing after this manner The yeare of our blessed Sauiours incarnation 1348. that memorable mortality happened in the excellent City farre beyond all the rest in Italy which plague by operation of the superiour bodies or rather for our enormous iniquities by the iust anger of God was sent vpon vs mortals Some few yeeres before it tooke beginning in the Easterne partes sweeping thence an innumerable quantity of liuing soules extending it selfe afterward from place to place Westward vntill it seized on the said City Where neither humane skill or prouidence could vse any preuention notwithstanding it was cleansed of many annoyances by diligent Officers thereto deputed besides prohibition of all sickly persons enterance and all possible prouision dayly vsed for conseruation of such as were in health with incessant prayers and supplications of deuoute people for the asswaging of so dangerous a sicknesse About the beginning of the yeare it also began in very strange manner as appeared by diuers admirable effects yet not as it had done in the East Countries where Lord or Lady being touched therewith manifest signes of incuitable death followed thereon by bleeding at the nose But here it began with yong children male and female either vnder the arm-pits or in the groine by certaine swellings in some to the bignesse of an Apple in others like an Egge and so in diuers greater or lesser which in their vulgar Language they termed to be a Botch or Byle In very short time after those two infected parts were grown mortiferous and would disperse abroad indifferently to all parts of the body whereupon such was the qualitie of the disease to shew it selfe by blacke or blew spottes which would appeare on the armes of many others on their thighes and euerie part else of the body in some great and few in others small and thicke Now as the Byle at the beginning was an assured signe of neere approaching death so prooued the spots likewise to such as had them for the curing of which sicknesse it seemed that the Physitians counsell the vertue of Medicines or any application else could not yeeld any remedy but rather it plainely appeared that either the nature of the disease would not endure it or ignorance in the Physitians could not comprehend from whence the cause prooceeded and so by consequent no resolution was to be determined Moreouer beside the number of such as were skilfull in Art many more both women and men without euer hauing any knowledge in Physicke became Physitians so that not onely few were healed but well-neere all dyed within three dayes after the saide signes were seene some sooner and others later commonly without either Feauer or any other accident And this pestilence was yet of farre greater power or violence for not onely healthfull persons speaking to the sicke comming to see them or ayring cloathes in kindnesse to comfort them was an occasion of ensuing death but touching their garments or any foode whereon the sicke person fed or any thing else vsed in his seruice seemed to transferre the disease from the sicke to the sound in very rare and miraculous manner Among which matter of maruell let me tell you one thing which if the eyes of many as well as mine owne had not seene hardly could I be perswaded to write it much lesse to beleeue it albeit a man of good credit should report it I say that the quality of this contagious pestilence was not onely of such efficacy in taking and catching it one of another either men or women but it extended further euen in the apparant view of many that the cloathes or any thing else wherein one died of that disease being toucht or lyen on by any beast farre from the kind or quality of man they did not onely contaminate and infect the said beast were it Dogge Cat or any other but also it died very soone after Mine owne eyes as formerly I haue said among diuers other one day had euident experience hereof for some poore ragged cloathes of linnen
both returned to great estate and credite 7. Nouell THe Soldane of Babylon sent one of his Daughters to be ioyned in marriage with the King of Cholcos who by diuers accidents in the space of foure yeares happened into the custodie of nine men and in sundry places At length being restored backe to her Father she went to the said king of Cholcos as a Maide and as at first she was intended to be his Wife 8. Nouell COunt D'Angiers being falsely accused was banished out of France and left his two children in England in diuers places Returning afterward vnknowne thorough Scotland hee found them aduanced vnto great dignity Then repairing in the habit of a Seruitor into the King of Fraunce his army and his innocency made publikely knowen he was reseated in his former honorable degree 9. Nouell BErnardo a Merchant of Geneway being deceiued by another Merchant named Ambrosio lost a great part of his goods and commanding his innocent wife to be murthered she escaped and in the habit of a man became seruant to the Soldan The deceiuer being found at last she coÌ„passed such means that her husband Bernardo came into Alexandria and there after due punishment inflicted on the false deceiuer she resumed the garments againe of a woman and returned home with her Husband to Geneway 10. Nouell PAgamino da Monaco a rouing Pyrate on the feas caried away the faire Wife of Signieur Ricciardo di Chiâ—zica who vnderstanding where shee was went thâ—ther and falling into friendship with Pagamino demanded his wife of him wherto be yeelded prouided that she would willingly go away with him shee denied to part thence with her husband and 〈◊〉 Ricciardo dying shee became the wife of Pagamino The third day gouerned by Madame Neiphila 1. Nouell MAssetto di Lamporechio by counterfetting himselfe dumbe became a Gardiner in a Monastery of Nuns where he had familiar conuersation with them all 2. Nouell A Querry of the stable belonging to Agilulffo K of the Lombards found the meanes of accesse to the Queenes bedde without any knowledge or consent in her This beeing secretly discouered by the King and the party knowne hee gaue him a marke by shearing the haire of his head Whereuppon hee that was so shorne sheared likewise the heads of all his fellowes in the lodging and so escaped the punishment intended towards him 3. Nouell VNder colour of confession and of a most pure coÌ„science a faire yong Gentlewoman being amorously affected to an honest man induced a deuout and solemne religious Friar to aduise her in the meanes without his suspition or perceiuing how to enioy the benefit of her friend and bring her desires to their full effect 4. Nouell A Yong scholler named Felice enstructed Puccio di Rinieri how to become rich in a very short time While Puccio made experience of the instructions taught him Felice obtained the fauour of his daughter 5. Nouell RIcciardo surnamed the Magnifico gaue a horse to signior Francesco Vergillisi vpon condition that by his leaue and license he might speak to his wife in his presence which he did and she not returning him any answer made answer to himself on her behalfe and according to his answer so the effect followed 6. Nouell RIcciardo Minutolo fel in loue with the Wife of Philippello Fighinolfi and knowing her to bee very iealous of her husband gaue her to vnderstand that he was greatly enamored of his Wife and had appointed to meete her priuatly in a bathing house on the next day following where shee hoping to take him tardy with his close compacted Mistresse found her selfe to be deceiued by the said Ricciardo 7. Nouelâ— THebaldo Elisei hauing receiued an vnkinde repulse by his beloued departed from Florence returning thither againe a long while after in the habit of a pilgrime hee spake with her and made his wrongs knowne vnto her Hee deliuered her husband from the danger of death because it was proued that he had slaine Thebaldo he made peace with his brethren and in the end wisely enioyed his hearts desire 8. Nouell FErando by drinking a certaine kind of pouder was buried for dead by the Abbot who was enamored of his wife was taken out of his graue and put into a darke prison where they made him beleeue that he was in purgatory afterward wheÌ„ time came that he should be raised to life againe he was made to keepe a childe which the Abbot had got by his wife 9. Nouell IVliet of Narbona cured the King of France of a dangerous Fistula in recompence wherof she requested to enioy as her husband in mariage Bertrand the Count of Roussilion He hauing maried her against his wil as vtterly despising her went to Florence where he made loue to a yong Gentlewoman Iuliet by a queint and cunning policy compassed the meanes insted of his chosen friend to lye with her owne husband by whom shee had two sonnes which being afterward made knowne vnto the Count hee accepted her into his fauor againe and loued her as his loyall and honourable wife 10. Nouell THe wonderfull and chaste resolued continencie of faire Serictha daughter to Siwalde King of Denmarke who beeing sought and sued vnto by many worthy persons that did affect her dearely would not looke any man in the face vntill such time as she was maried The Fourth Day gouerned by Philostratus 1. Nouell TAncrede Prince of Salern caused the amorous friend of his daughter to be slaine and sent her his heart in a cup of Golde which afterward she steeped in an impoysoned water then drinking it so dyed 2. Nouell FRiar Albert made a yong Venetian Gentlewoman beleeue that God Cupid was falne in loue with her and he resorted oftentimes vnto her in disguise of the same God afterward being frighted by the Gentlewomans kindred and friends hee cast himselfe out of her chamber window and was hidden in a poore mans house On the day following in the shape of a wilde or sauage man he was brought vpon the Rialto of S. Mark being ther publikely knowne by the Brethren of his Order he was committed to prison 3. Nouell THree yong Gentlemen affecting three Sisters fled with them into Canâ—â—e The eldest of them through iealousie becommeth the death of her Louer The second by consenting to the Duke of 〈◊〉 request is the meanes of sauing her life Afterward her owne friend killeth her thence flyeth away with the elder sister The third couple both man and woman are charged with her death and being committed to prison they coÌ„fesse the fact and fearing death by corruption of money they preuaile with their â—eepers escaping froÌ„ thence to Rhodes where they died in great pouerty 4. Nouell GErbino contrarie to the former plighted faith of his Grandfather King Gulielmo foughte with a ship at sea belonging to the King of Thunis to take away hi daughter who was then in the same ship She being slaine by them that had the possession of her he likewise slew
doe as diuers before vs haue done and yet daily endeauour to doe shunning death by the honest example of other make our retreate to our Countrey houses wherewith all of vs are sufficiently furnished and thereto delight our selues as best we may yet without transgressing in any act the limits of reason There shall we heare the pretty birds sweetly singing see the hilles and plaines verdantly flourishing the Corne twaning in the field like the billowes of the Sea infinite store of goodly trees and the Heauens more fairely open to vs then here we can behold them And although they are iustly displeased yet will they not there denie vs better beauties to gaze on then the walles in our City emptied of Inhabitants can offoord vs. Moreouer the Ayre is much fresh and cleere and generally there is farre greater abundance of all things whatsoeuer needefull at this time for preseruation of our health and lesse offence or mollestation then wee find here And although Countrey people die as well as heere our Citizens doe the griefe notwithstanding is so much the lesse as the houses and dwellers there are rare in comparison of them in our City And beside if we well obserue it here wee forsake no particular person but rather wee may tearme our selues forsaken in regard that our Husbands Kinred and Friends either dying or flying from the dead haue left vs alone in this great affliction euen as if we were no way belonging vnto them And therefore by following this counsell wee cannot fall into any reprehension whereas if we neglect and refuse it danger distresse and death perhaps may ensue thereon Wherefore if you thinke good I would allow it for well done to take our waiting women with all such things as are needfull for vs and as this day betake our selues to one place to morrow to another taking there such pleasure and recreation as so sweete a season liberally bestoweth on vs. In which manner we may remaine till we see if death otherwise preuent vs not what ende the gracious Heauens haue reserued for vs. I would haue you also to consider that it is no lesse seemely for vs to part hence honestly then a great number of other Women to remaine here immodestly The other Ladies and Gentlewomen hauing heard Madam Pampinea not onely commended her counsell but desiring also to put it in execution had already particularly consulted with themselues by what means they might instantly depart from thence Neuerthelesse Madam Philomena who was very wise spake thus Albeit faire Ladies the case propounded by Madam Pampinea hath beene very wel deliuered yet for all that it is against reason for vs to rush on as we are ouer-ready to doe Remember that we are all women and no one among vs is so childish but may consider that when wee shall be so assembled together without prouidence or conduct of some man we can hardly gouerne our selues We are fraile offensiue suspicious weake spirited and fearefull in regard of which imperfections I greatly doubt if we haue no better direction then our owne this society will sooner dissolue it selfe and perchance with lesse honour to vs then if we neuer had begunne it And therefore it shall be expedient for vs to prouide before wee proceede any further Madam Elissa hereon thus replied Most true it is that men are the chiefe or head of women and without their order sildome times doe any matters of ours sort to commendable ende But what meanes shal we make for men we all know well enough that the most part of our friends are dead and such as are liuing some be dispearsed here others there into diuers places and companies where we haue no knowledge of their being And to accept of strangers would seeme very inconuenient wherefore as we haue such care of our health so should wee be as respectiue withall in ordering our intention that wheresoeuer wee aime at our pleasure and contentment reproofe and scandall may by no meanes pursue vs. While this discourse thus held among the Ladies three young Gentlemen came forth of the Church yet not so young but the youngest had attained to fiue and twenty yeeres in whom neither malice of the time losse of friends or kinred nor any fearefull conceit in themselues had the power to quench affection but perhaps might a little coole it in regard of the queazy season One of them called himselfe Pamphilus the second Philostratus and the last Dioneus Each of them was very affable and well conditioned and walked abroade for their greater comfort in such a time of tribulation to trie if they could meete with their faire friends who happily might all three be among these seauen and the rest kinne vnto them in one degree or other No sooner were these Ladies espyed by them but they met with them also in the same aduantage whereupon Madam Pampinea amiably smiling saide See how graciously Fortune is fauourable to our beginning by presenting our eyes with three so wise and worthy young Gentlemen who will gladly be our guides and seruants if we doe not disdaine them the office Madam Neiphila beganne immediatly to blush because one of them had a loue in the company and saide Good Madam Pampinea take heed what you say because of mine owne knowledge nothing can be spoken but good of them all and I thinke them all to be absolutely sufficient for a farre greater employment then is here intended as being well worthy to keepe company not onely with vs but them of more faire and precious esteeme then we are But because it appeareth plainely enough that they beare affection to some here among vs I feare if wee should make the motion that some dishonour or reproofe may ensue thereby and yet without blame either in vs or them That is nothing at all answered Madam Philomena let mee liue honestly and my conscience not checke me with any crime speake then who can to the contrary God and truth shal enter armes for me I wish that they were as willing to come as all wee are to bid them welcome for truly as Madam Pampinea saide wee may very well hope that Fortune will bee furtherous to our purposed iourney The other Ladies hearing them speake in such manner not onely were silent to themselues but all with one accord and consent saide that it were well done to call them and to acquaint them with their intention entreating their company in so pleasant a voyage Whereupon without any more words Madam Pampinea mounting on her feete because one of the three was her Kinsman went towards theâ— as they stood respectiuely obseruing them and with a pleasing countenance giuing them a gracious salutation declared to them their deliberation desiring in behalfe of all the rest that with a brotherly and modest minde they would vouchsafe to beare them company The Gentlemen imagined at the first apprehension that this was spoken in mockage of them but when they better perceiued that her words tended to
I would not haue you to be any way doubtfull of me neither that you shold receiue the least damage by me I haue heard what you haue said and am certaine that it will happen according to your words if matters should fall out as you conceite but I am minded to deale otherwise I haue committed so many offences against our Lord God in the vvhole current of my life that now I intend one action at the hour of my death which I trust will make amends for all Procure therefore I pray you that the most holy and religious man that is to be found if there bee any one at all may come vnto me and referre the case then to me for I will deale in such sort for you and my selfe that all shall be well and you no way discontented The two Brethren although they had no great hope in his speeches went yet to a Monastery of Gray-Friars and requested that some one holy and learned man might come to heare the confession of a Lombard that lay verie weake and sicke in their house And one was granted vnto them beeing an aged religious Frier a great read master in the sacred Scriptures a very venerable person who beeing of good and sanctified life all the Citizens held him in great respect esteem and on he went with thē to their house When he was come vp into the Chamber wher Master Chappelet lay and being there seated downe by him he beganne first to comfort him very louingly demanding also of him howe many times he had bin at confession Whereto master Chappelet who neuer had bin shriuen in all his life time thus replied Holy Father I alwayes vsed as a common custome to bee confessed once at the least euery weeke albeit sometimes much more often but true it is that being faln into this sicknesse now eight dayes since I haue not bene confest so violent hath bene the extremity of my weaknesse My sonne answered the good old man thou hast done well and so keep thee still hereafter in that minde but I plainly perceiue seeing thou hast so often confessed thy selfe that I shall take the lesse labour in vrging questions to thee Master Chappelet replied Say not so good Father for albeit I haue bene so oftentimes confessed yet am I willing now to make a generall confession euen of all sinnes comming to my remembrance from the very day of my birth vntil this instant houre of my shrift And therefore I intreate you holy Father to make a particular demand of euery thing euen as if I had neuer bene confessed at al and to make no respect of my sicknesse for I had rather be offensiue to mine owne flesh then by fauoring or allowing it ease to hazard the perdition of my soule which my Redeemer bought with so precious a price These words were highly pleasing to the holy Frier and seemed to him as an argument of a good conscience Wherefore after hee had much commended this forwardnesse in him he began to demand of him if he had neuer offended with any Woman Whereunto master Chappelet breathing foorth a great sigh answered Holy Father I am halfe ashamed to tell you the truth in this case as fearing least I should sinne in vaine-glory Whereto the Confessor replyed Speake boldly Sonne and feare not for in telling the truth be it in confession or otherwise a man can neuer sinne Then sayde Maister Chappelet Father seeing you giue me so good an assurance I wil resolue you faithfully heerein I am so true a Virgin-man in this matter euen as when I issued forth of my Mothers wombe O Sonne quoth the Frier how happie and blessed of God art thou Well hast thou liued and therein hast not meanly merited hauing hadde so much libertie to doo the contrary if thou wouldst wherein very few of vs can so answer for our selues Afterward he demanded of him how much displeasing to God hee had beene in the sinne of Gluttony When sighing againe greatly he answered Too much and too often good Father For ouer and beside the Fasts of our Lent season which euerie yeare ought to bee dulie obserued by deuout people I brought my selfe to such a customarie vse that I could fast three dayes in euery Weeke with Bread and Water But indeede holy Father I confesse that I haue drunke water with such a pleasing appetite and delight especially in praying or walking on pilgrimages euen as greedy drunkards do in drinking good Wine And many times I haue desired such Sallades of small hearbes as Women gather abroad in the open fields and feeding onely vpon them without coueting after any other kinde of sustenance hath seemed much more pleasing to me then I thought to agree with the nature of Fasting especially when as it swerueth from deuotion or is not done as it ought to bee Sonne Sonne replied the Confessour these sinnes are naturall and very light and therefore I would not haue thee to charge thy conscience with them more then is needfull It happeneth to euery man how holy soeuer he be that after he hath fasted ouer-long feeding will be welcome to him and drinking good drinke after his trauaile O Sir said Maister Chappelet neuer tell me this to comfort me for well you know and I am not ignorant therein that such things as are done for the seruice of God ought all to be performed purely and without any blemish of the minde what otherwise is done sauoureth of sinne The Friar being well contented with his words said It is not amisse that thou vnderstandest it in this manner and thy conscience thus purely cleared is no little comfort to me But tell me now concerning Auarice hast thou sinned therein by desiring more then was reasonable or withholding from others such things as thou oughtst not to detaine whereto Maister Chappelet answered Good Father I would not haue you to imagine because you see me lodged here in the house of two vsurers that therefore I am of any such disposition No truly Sir I came hither to no other end but onely to chastise and admonish them in friendly manner to cleanse their mindes from such abhominable profit And assuredly I should haue preuailed therein had not this violently sicknesse hindered mine intention But vnderstand holy Father that my parents left me a rich man and immediatly after my fathers death the greater part of his goods I gaue away for Gods sake and then to sustaine mine ownelife and to helpe the poore members of Iesus Christ I betooke my selfe to a meane estate of Merchandise desiring none other then honest gaine thereby and euermore whatsoeuer benefit came to me I imparted halfe thereof to the poore conuerting mine owne small portion about my necessary affaires which that other part would scarsely serue to supply yet alwayes God gaue thereto such a mercifull blessing that my businesse dayly thriued more and more arising still from good to better Well hast thou done therein good Sonne said the Confessour but how
redound to his no meane danger thus he replied My Lord the question propounded by you is faire and worthy to answer mine opinion truly threof doth necessarily require some time of consideration if it might stand with your liking to allow it but if not let me first make entrance to my reply with a pretty tale and well worth the hearing I haue oftentimes heard it reported that long since there was a very wealthy man who among other precious Iewels of his owne had a goodly Ring of great valew the beauty and estimation whereof made him earnestly desirous to leaue it as a perpetuall memory and honour to his successors Whereupon he willed and ordained that he among his male children with whom this Ring being left by the Father should be found in custody after his death hee and none other was to bee reputed his heire and to be honoured and reuerenced by all the rest as being the prime and worthiest person That Sonne to whom this Ring was left by him kept the same course to his posterity dealing in all respects as his predecessor had done so that in short time the Ring from hand to hand had many owners by Legacie At length it came to the hand of one who had three sonnes all of them goodly and vertuous persons and verie obedient to their Father in which regard he affected them all equally without any difference or partiall respect The custome of this ring being knowne to them each one of them coueting to beare esteeme aboue the other desired as hee could best make his meanes his father that in regard he was now grown very old he would leaue that Ring to him whereby he should bee acknowledged for his heire The good man who loued no one of them more then the other knew not how to make his choise nor to which of them he should leaue the Ring yet hauing past his promise to them seuerally he studied by what meanes to satisfie them all three Wherfore secretly hauing conferred with a curious and excellent Goldsmith hee caused two other Rings to bee made so really resembling the first made Ring that himself when he had them in his hand could not distinguish which was the right one Lying vpon his death-bed and his Sonnes then plying him by their best opportunities he gaue to each of them a Ring And they after his death presuming seuerally vpon their right to the inheritance honor grew to great contradiction and square each man producing then his Ring which were so truly all alike in resemblance as no one could know the right Ring from the other And therefore suite in Law to distinguish the true heire to his Father continued long time and so it dooth yet to this very day In like manner my good Lord concerning those three Lawes giuen by God the Father to three such people as you haue propounded each of them do imagine that they haue the heritage of God and his true Law and also duely to performe his Commandements but which of them do so indeede the question as of the three Ringes is yet remaining Saladine well perceyuing that the Iew was too cunning to be caught in his snare and had answered so well that to doe him further violence would redound vnto his perpetuall dishonour 〈◊〉 to reueale his neede and extremity and try if he would therein friendly sted him Hauing disclosed the matter and how he purposed to haue dealt with him if he had not returned so wise an answer the Iew lent him so great a sum of money as hee demanded and Saladine repayed it againe to him iustly giuing him other great gifts beside respecting him as his especiall frend and maintaining him in very honourable condition neere vnto his owne person A Monke hauing committed an offence deseruing to be very grieuously punished freede himselfe from the paine to be inflicted on him by wittily reprehending his Abbot with the very same fault The fourth Nouell Wherein may be noted that such men as will reproue those errors in others which remaine in themselues commonly are the Authors of their owne reprehension SO ceased Madam Philomena after the conclusion of her Tale when Dioneus sitting next vnto her without tarrying for any other command from the Queene knowing by the order formerly begunne that he was to follow in the same course spake in this manner Gracious Ladies if I faile not in vnderstanding your generall intention we are purposely assembled here to tell Tales and especially such as may please our selues In whith respect because nothing should be done disorderly I hold it lawfull for euery one as our Queene decreed before her dignity to relate such a nouelty as in their owne iudgement may cause most contentment Wherefore hauing heard that by the good admonitions of Iehannot de Cheuigny Abraham the Iew was aduised to the saluation of his soule and Melchisedech by his witty vnderstanding defended his riches from the traines of Saladine I now purpose to tell you in a few plaine words without feare of receiuing any reprehension how cunningly a Monke compassed his deliuerance from a punishment intended towards him There was in the Country of Lunigiana which is not farre distant from our owne a Monastery which sometime was better furnished with holinesse and Religion then now adayes they are wherein liued among diuers other a young nouice Monke whose hot and lusty disposition being in the vigour of his yeeres was such as neither fastes nor prayers had any great power ouer him It chanced on a fasting day about high noone when all the other Monkes were asleepe in their Dormitaries or Dorters this frolicke Friar was walking alone in their Church which stood in a very solitary place where ruminating on many matters by himselfe hee espied a pretty hansome wench some Husbandmans daughter in the Countrey that had beene gathering rootes and hearbes in the field vppon her knees before an Altar whom he had no sooner seene but immediately hee felt effeminate temptations and such as ill fitted with his profession Lasciuious desire and no religious deuotion made him draw neere her and whether vnder shift the onely cloake to compasse carnall affections or some other as close conference to as pernicious and vile a purpose I know not but so farre he preuailed vpon her frailety and such a bargaine passed betweene them that from the Church he wonne her to his Chamber before any person could perceiue it Now while this yong lusty Monke transported with ouer-fond affection was more carelesse of his dalliance then he should haue beene the Lord Abbot being newly arisen from sleepe and walking softly about the Cloyster came to the Monkes Daughters doore where hearing what noyse was made between them and a feminine voyce more strange then hee was wont to heare he layed his eare close to the Chamber doore and plainly perceiued that a woman was within Wherewith being much moued he intended suddenly to make him open the doore but vpon better
that after the death of Fredericke the second Emperour one named Manfred was crowned King of Sicilie about whom liued in great account and authority a Neapolitane Gentleman called Henriet Capece who had to Wife a beautifull Gentlewoman and a Neapolitane also named Madam Beritola Caracalla This Henriet held the gouernment of the Kingdome of Sicilie and vnderstanding that King Charles the first had wonne the battle at Beneuentum and slaine King Maufred the whole Kingdome reuolting also to his deuotion and little trust to be reposed in the Sicillians or he willing to subiect himselfe to his Lords enemy prouided for his secret flight from thence But this being discouered to the Sicillians he and many more who had beene loyall seruants to King Manfred were suddenly taken and imprisoned by King Charles and the sole possession of the Iland confirmed to him Madam Beritola not knowing in so sudden and strange an alteration of State affaires what was become of her Husband fearing also greatly before those inconueniences which afterward followed being ouercome with many passionate considerations hauing left and forsaken all her goods going aboard a small Barke with a Sonne of hers aged about some eight yeeres named Geoffrey and growne great with childe with another shee fled thence to Lipary where shee was brought to bed of another Sonne whom shee named answerable both to his and her hard fortune The poore expelled Hauing prouided her selfe of a Nurse they altogether went aboard againe setting sayle for Naples to visit her Parents but it chanced quite contrary to her expectation because by stormie windes and weather the vessell being bound for Naples was hurried to the I le of Ponzo where entring into a small Port of the Sea they concluded to make their aboade till a time more furtherous should fauour their voyage As the rest so did Madam Boritola goe on shore in the Iland where hauing found a separate and solitary place fit for her silent and sad meditations secretly by her selfe shee sorrowed for the absence of her husband Resorting daily to this her sad exercise and continuing there her complaints vnseene by any of the Marriners or whosoeuer else there arriued suddenly a Galley of Pyrates who seazing on the small Barke carried it and all the rest in it away with them When Beritola had finished her wofull complaints as daily shee was accustomed to doe shee returned backe to her children againe but finding no person there remaining whereat she wondered not a little immediately suspecting what had happened indeede she lent her lookes on the Sea and saw the Galley which as yet had not gone farre drawing the smaller vessell after her Heereby plainly she perceyued that now she had lost her children as formerly shee had done her husband being left there poore forsaken and miserable not knowing when where or how to finde any of them againe and calling for her husband and children shee fell downe in a swound vppon the shore Now was not any body neere with coole water or any other remedy to helpe the recouery of her lost powers wherefore her spirites might the more freely wander at their own pleasure but after they were returned backe againe and had won their wonted offices in her body drowned in teares and wringing her hands shee did nothing but call for her children and husband straying all about in hope to finde them seeking in Caues Dennes and euery where else that presented the verie least glimpse of comfort But when she saw all her paines sort to no purpose and darke night drawing swiftly on hope and dismay raising infinit perturbations made her yet to be somewhat respectiue of her selfe therefore departing from the sea-shore he returned to the solitary place where she vsed to sigh and mourne alone by her selfe The night being ouer-past with infinite feares and affrights bright day saluting the world againe with the expence of nine hours and more she fell to her former fruitlesse trauailes Being somewhat sharply bitten with hunger because the former day and night shee hadde not tasted any food she made therefore a benefit of necessity and fed on the green heaâ—bes so well as she could notwithout many piercing afflictions what should become of her in this extraordinary misery As shee walked in these pensiue meditations she saw a Goate enter into a Caue and within a while after come forth againe wandering along thorow the woods Whereupon she stayed and entred where she saw the beast issue forth where she found two yong Kids yeaned as it seemed the selfesame day which sight was very pleasing to her and nothing in that distresse could more content her As yet she had milke freshly running in both her brests by reason of her so late deliuery in child-bed wherefore shee lay downe vnto the two yong Kids and taking them tenderly in her armes suffered each of them to sucke a teate whereof they made not any refusall but tooke them as louingly as their dammes and from that time forward they made no distinguishing betweene their damme and her Thus this vnfortunate Lady hauing found some company in this solitary desert fed on hearbes roots drinking faire running water and weeping silently to her selfe so often as she remembred her husband children and former dayes past in much better maner Here shee resolued now to liue and dye being at last depriued both of the damme and yonger Kids also by theyr wandering further into the neere adioyning Woods according to their Naturall inclinations whereby the poore distressed Lady became more sauage and wilde in her daily conditions then otherwise shee would haue bene After many monthes were ouer-passed at the very same place where she tooke landing by chance there arriued another small vessell of certaine Pisans which remained there diuers dayes In this Bark was a Gentleman named Conrado de Marchesi Malespini with his holy and vertuous wife who were returned backe from a Pilgrimage hauing visited all the sanctified places that then were in the Kingdome of Apulia now were bound homeward to their owne abiding This Gentleman for the expelling of melancholy perturbations one especiall day amongst other with his wife seruants and waiting hounds wandered vp into the Iland not far from the place of Madam Beritolaes desert dwelling The hounds questing after game at last happened on the two Kiddes where they were feeding and by this time had attained to indifferent growth and finding themselues thus pursued by the hounds fled to no other part of the wood then to the Caue where Beritola remained and seeming as if they sought to be rescued only by her she sodainly caught vp a staffe and forced the hounds thence to flight By this time Conrado and his wife who had followed closely after the hounds was come thither and seeing what had hapned looking on the Lady who was become blacke swarthy meager and hairy they wondered not a little at her and she a great deale more at them When vpon her reqâ—est Conrado had
should both shamefully be put to death The Mother to this regardlesse Daughter hauing heard the angry words of her Husband and how hee would be reuenged on the faultie could not endure that he should be so seuere wherefore although shee was likewise much afflicted in minde and reputed her Daughter worthy for so great an offence of all cruell punishment â—yet shee hasted to her displeased husband who began to entreate that he would not runne on in such a furious spleene now in his aged yeares to be the murtherer of his owne childe and soile his hands in the blood of his seruant Rather he might finde out some milde course for the satisfaction of his Anger by committing them to close imprisonment there to remaine mourne for their follie committed The vertuous and religious Lady alledged so many commendable examples and vsed such plenty of moouing perswasions that she quite altred his minde from putting them to death and he commanded onely that they should separately bee imprisoned with little store of foode and lodging of the vneasiest vntill hee should otherwise determine of them and so it was done What their life now was in captiuity and continuall teares with stricter abstinence then was needefull for them all this I must commit to your consideration Iehannot and Spina remaining in this comfortlesse condition and an whole yeere being now out-worne yet Conrado keeping them thus still imprisoned it came to passe that Don Pedro King of Arragon by the meanes of Messer Iohn de Procida caused the Isle of Sicily to reuolt and tooke it away from King Charles whereat Conrado he being of the Ghibbiline faction not a little reioyced Iehannot hauing intelligence therof by some of them that had him in custody breathing foorth a vehement sigh spake in this manner Alas poore miserable wretch as I am that haue already gone begging through the world aboue fourteene yeares in expectation of nothing else but this opportunity and now it is come must I be in prison to the end that I should neuer more hope for any future happinesse And how can I get forth of this prison except it be by death onely How now replied the Officer of the Guard What doth this businesse of great Kings concerne thee What affaires hast thou in Sicily Once more Iehannot sighed extreamly and returned him this answer Me thinkes my heart quoth hee doth cleaue in sunder when I call to minde the charge which my Father had there for although I was but a little boy when I fled thence yet I can well remember that I sawe him Gouernour there at such time as King Manfred liued The Guard pursuing on still his purpose demanded of him what and who his Father was My Father replyed Iehannot I may now securely speake of him being out of the perill which neerely concerned me if I had beene discouered He was the named and so still if he be liuing Henriet Capece and my name is Geoffrey not Iehannot and I make no doubt but if I vvere free from hence and might be returned home to Sicily I should for his sake be placed in some authority The honest man of the Guard without seeking after any further information so soone as he could compasse the leysure reported all to Messer Conrado who hauing heard these newes albeit he made no shew therof to the reuealer went to Madam Beritola graciously demaunding of her if she had any sonne by her husband who was called Geoffrey The Lady replyed in teares that if her eldest sonne were as yet liuing hee was so named and now aged about two and twenty yeares Conrado hearing this imagined this same to be the man considering further withall that if it fell out to proue so he might haue the better meanes of mercie and closely concealing his daughters shame ioyfully ioyne them in marriage together Hereupon he secretly caused Iehannot to be brought before him examining him particularly of all his passed life and finding by most manifest arguments that his name was truly Geoffrey he the eldest son of Henriet Capece he spake to him alone in this manner Iehannot thou knowest how great the iniuries which thou hast done me my deare daughter gently entreating thee as became a good honest seruant that thou shouldest alwayes haue bin respectiue of mine honor and all that do appertain vnto me There are many noble gentlewomen who sustaining the wrog which thou hast offred me they would haue procured thy shameful death which pitty compassion wil not suffer in me Wherfore seeing as thou informest me that thou art honorably deriued both by father mother I will giue end to all thine anguishes euen when thy self art so pleased releasing thee from the misery captiuity wherein I haue so long time kept thee and in one instant reduce thine honor mine into compleat perfection As thou knowest my Daughter Spina whom thou hast embraced in kindnesse as a friend although farre vnfitting for thee or her is a widow and her mariage is both great and good what her manners and conditions are thou indifferently knowest and art not ignorant of her Father and Mother concerning thine owne estate as now I purpose not to speake any thing Therefore when thou wilt I am so determined that whereas thou hast immodestly affected her she shall become thy honest wife and accepting thee as my Son to remain with me so long as you both please Imprisonment had somewhat mishapen Iehannot in his outward forme but not impaired a iot of that noble spirit really deriued from his famous progenitors much lesse the true loue he bare to his faire friend And although most earnestly he desired that which Conrado now so franckly offered him and was in his power onely to bestow on him yet could he not cloude any part of his greatnesse but with a resolued iudgement thus replied My Lord affectation of rule desire of wealthy possessions or any other matter whatsoeuer could neuer make me a traytor to you or yours but that I haue loued do loue for euer shal loue your beautious daughter if that be treason I freely coÌ„fesse it wil die a thousand deaths before you or any else shal enforce me to denie it for I hold her highly worthy of my loue If I haue bin more vnmaÌ„nerly with her then became me according to the opinion of vulgar iudgment I haue committed but that error which euermore is so attendant vpon youth that to denie it is to denie youth also And if reuerend age would but remember that once he was young measure others offences by his own they would not be thought so great or greeuous as you many more account them to be mine being coÌ„mitted as a friend not as an enemy what you make offer of so willingly to do I haue alwayes desired if I had thought it would haue bin granted long since I had most humbly requested it and so much the more acceptable would it
therefore it is no meruaile if like will to like a beggers brats to keepe company with beggers The Count hearing these contemptible words was not a little greeued thereat and although his courage was greater then his poore condition would permit him to expresse yet clouding all iniuries with noble patience hanging downe his head and shedding many a salt teare endured this reproach as hee had done many both before and after But honourable Sir Roger perceiuing what delight his children tooke in the poore mans company albeit he was offended at his Fathers harsh words by holding his wife in such base respect yet fauoured the poore Count so much the more and seeing him weepe did greatly compassionate his case saying to the poore man that if hee would accept of his seruice he willingly would entertaine him Whereto the Count replied that very gladly he would embrace his kinde offer but hee was capable of no other seruice saue onely to be an horse-keeper wherein he had imployed the most part of his time Heereupon more for pleasure and pitty then any necessity of his seruice he was appointed to the keeping of one Horse which was onely for his Daughters saddle and daily after he had done his diligence about the Horse he did nothing else but play with the children While Fortune pleased thus to dally with the poore Count D'Angiers his children it came to passe that the King of France after diuers leagues of truces passed between him the Germaines died and next after him his Son the dolphin was crowned King and it was his wife that wrongfully caused the Counts banishment After expiration of the last league with the Germains the warres began to grow much more fierce and sharpe and the King of England vpon request made to him by his new brother of France sent him very honourable supplies of his people vnder the conduct of Perotto his lately elected President of Wales and Sir Roger Mandeuile Son to his other Lord high Marshall with whom also the poore Count went and continued a long while in the Campe as a common Souldier where yet like a valiant Gentleman as indeed he was no lesse both in aduice and actions he accomplished many more notable matters then was expected to come from him It so fell out that in the continuance of this warre the Queen of France fell into a grieuous sicknes and perceiuing her selfe to be at the point of death shee became very penitently sorrowfull for all her sinnes earnestly desiring that shee might be confessed by the Archbishop of Roane who was reputed to be an holy and vertuous man In the repetition of her other offences she reuealed what great wrong she had done to the Count D'Angiers resting not so satisfied with disclosing the whole matter to him alone but also confessed the same before many other worthy persons and of great honour entreating them to worke so with the King that if the Count were yet liuing or any of his Children they might be restored to their former honour againe It was not long after but the Queene left this life and was most royally enterred when her confession being disclosed to the King after much sorrow for so iniuriously wronging a man of so great valour and honour Proclamation was made throughout the Camp and in many other parts of France beside that whosoeuer could produce the Count D'Angiers or any of his Children should richly be rewarded for each one of them in regard he was innocent of the foule imputation by the Queenes owne confession and for his wrongfull exile so long he should be exalted to his former honour with farre greater fauours which the King franckely would bestow vpon him When the Count who walked vp and downe in the habite of a common seruitor heard this Proclamation forth-with he went to his Master Sir Roger Mandeuile requesting his speedy repaire to Lord Perotto that being both assembled together he would acquaint them with a serious matter concerning the late Proclamation published by the King Being by themselues alone in the Tent the Count spake in this māner to Perotto Sir S. Roger Mādeuile here your equal competitor in this military seruice is the husband to your naturall sister hauings yet neuer receiued any dowry with her but her inherent vnblemishable vertue honor Now because she may not stil remain destitute of a competent Dowry I desire that Sir Roger and none other may enioy the royall reward promised by the King You Lord Perotto whose true name is Lewes manifest your selfe to be nobly borne and sonne to the wrongfull banished Count D'Angiers auouch moreouer that Violenta shadowed vnder the borrowed name of Gianetta is your owne Sister and deliuer me vp as your Father the long exiled Count D'Angiers Perotto hearing this beheld him more aduisedly and began to know him then the tears flowing abundantly from his eyes he fell at his feete and often embracing him saide My deere and noble Father a thousand times more deerely welcome to your Sonne Lewes Sir Roger Mandeuile hearing first what the Count had said and seeing what Perotto afterward performed became surprized with such extraordinary ioy and admiration that he knew not how to carry himselfe in this case Neuerthelesse giuing credite to his words and being somewhat ashamed that he had not vsed the Count in more respectiue manner remembring beside the vnkinde language of his furious Father to him he kneeled downe humbly crauing pardon both for his fathers rudenes and his owne which was courteously granted by the Count embracing him louingly in his armes When they had a while discoursed their seuerall fortunes sometime in teares and then againe in ioy Perotto and Sir Roger would haue the Count to be garmented in better manner but in no wise he would suffer it for it was his onely desire that Sir Roger should be assured of the promised reward by presenting him in the Kings presence and in the homely habit which he did then weare to touch him with the more sensible shame for his rash beleefe and iniurious proceeding Then Sir Roger Mandeuile guiding the Count by the hand and Perotto following after came before the King offering to present the Count and his children if the reward promised in the Proclamation might be performed The king immediately commanded that a reward of inestimable valew should be produced desiring Sir Roger vppon the sight thereof to make good his offer for forthwith presenting the Count and his children Which hee made no longer delay of but turning himselfe about deliuered the aged Count by the title of his seruant and presenting Perotto next said Sir heere I deliuer you the Father and his Son his daughter who is my wife cannot so conueniently be heere now but shortly by the permission of heauen your Maiesty shall haue a sight of her When the King heard this stedfastly he looked on the Count and notwithstanding his wonderfull alteration both from his wonted feature and forme yet after
brothers Inne finding foure persons standing at the gate attired in mourning whereat he maruelled not a little knowing himselfe to be so transfigured both in body and habite farre from the manner of common vse at his parting thence as it was a difficult matter to know him he stept boldly to a Shooe-makers shop neere adioyning and demanded the reason of their wearning mourning The Shoo-maker made answer thus Sir those men are clad in mourning because a brothers of theirs being named Thebaldo who hath beene absent hence a long while about some fifteene dayes since was slaine And they hauing heard by proofe made in the Court of Instice that one Aldobrandino Palermini who is kept close prisoner was the murtherer of him as he came in a disguised habite to his daughter of whom he was most affectionately enamoured cannot chuse but let the World know by their outward habites the inward affliction of their hearts for a deede so dishonourably committed Thebaldo wondered greatly hereat imagining that some man belike resembling him in shape might be slaine in this manner and by Aldobr andino for whose misfortune he grieued maruellously As concerning his Mistresse he vnderstood that shee was liuing and in good health and night drawing on apace he went to his lodging with infinite molestations in his minde where after supper he was lodged in a Corne-loft with his man Now by reason of many disturbing imaginations which incessantly wheeled about his braine his bed also being none of the best and his supper perhaps somewhat of the coursest a great part of the night was spent yet could he not close his eyes together But lying still broade awake about the dead time of night he heard the treading of diuers persons ouer his head who discended downe a paire of stayres by his Chamber into the lower parts of the house carrying a light with them which he discerned by the chinkes and crannies in the wall Stepping softly out of his bed to see what the meaning hereof might be he espied a faire young woman who carried the light in her hand and three men in her company descending downe the stayres together one of them speaking thus to the young woman Now we may boldly warrant our safety because we haue heard it assuredly that the death of Thebaldo Elisei hath beene sufficiently approued by the Brethren against Aldobrandino Palermini and he hath confessed the fact whereupon the sentence is already set downe in writing But yet it behoueth vs notwithstanding to conceale it very secretly because if euer hereafter it should be knowne that we are they who murthered him we shall be in the same danger as now Aldobrandino is When Thebaldo had heard these words hee began to consider with himselfe how many and great the dangers are wherewith mens minds may daily be molested First he thought on his owne brethren in their sorrow and buried a stranger in steed of him accusing afterward by false opinion and vpon the testimony of as false witnesses a man most innocent making him ready for the stroke of death Next he made a strict obseruation in his soule concerning the blinded seuerity of Law and the Ministers thereto belonging who pretending a diligent and carefull inquisition for trueth doe oftentimes by their tortures and torments heare lies auouched onely for â—ase of paine in the place of a true confession yet thinking themselues by doing so to be the Ministers of God and Iustice whereas indeede they are the Diuels executioners of his wickednesse Lastly conuerting his thoughts to Aldobrandino the imagined murtherer of a man yet liuing infinite cares beleagured his soule in deuising what might best be done for his deliuerance So soone as he was risen in the morning leauing his seruant behinde him in his lodging he went when he thought it fit time all alone toward the house of his Mistresse where finding by good fortune the gate open he entred into a small Parlour beneath and where he saw his Mistresse sitting on the ground wringing her hands and wofully weeping which in meere compassion moued him to weepe likewise and going somewhat neere her he saide Madam torment your selfe no more for your peace is not farre off from you The Gentlewoman hearing him say so lifted vp her head and in teares spake thus Good man thou seemest to me to be a Pilgrim stranger what doest thou know either concerning my peace or mine affliction Madam replied the Pilgrime I am of Constantinople and doubtlesse am conducted hither by the hand of Heauen to conuert your teares into reioycing and to deliuer your Father from death How is this answered shee If thou be of Constantinople and art but now arriued here doest thou know who we are either I or my Father The Pilgrime discoursed to her euen from one end to the other the history of her Husbands sad disasters telling her how many yeeres since shee was espoused to him and many other important matters which wel shee knew and was greatly amazed thereat thinking him verily to be a Prophet and kneeling at his feete entreated him very earnestly that if hee were come to deliuer her Father Aldobrandino from death to doe it speedily because the time was very short The Pilgrime appearing to be a man of great holinesse saide Rise vp Madam refraine from weeping and obserue attentiuely what I shall say yet with this caution that you neuer reueale it to any person whatsoeuer This tribulation whereinto you are falne as by reuelation I am faithfully informed is for a grieuous sinne by you heretofore committed whereof diuine mercy is willing to purge you and to make a perfect amends by a sensible feeling of this affliction as seeking your sound and absolute recouery least you fall into farre greater danger then before Good man quoth shee I am burthened with many sinnes and doe not know for which any amends should be made by me any one sooner then another wherefore if you haue intelligence thereof for charities sake tell it me and I will doe so much as lieth in me to make a full satisfaction for it Madam answered the Pilgrime I know well enough what it is and will demand it no more of you to winne any further knowledge thereof then I haue already but because in reuealing it your selfe it may touch you with the more true compunction of soule let vs goe to the point indeede and tell me doe you remember that at any time you were married to an Husband or no At the hearing of these words shee breathed foorth a very vehement sigh and was stricken with admiration at this question beleeuing that not any one had knowledge thereof Howbeit since the day of the supposed Thebaldoes buriall such a rumour ran abroade by meanes of some speeches rashly dispersed by a friend of Thebaldoes who indeede knew it whereupon shee returned him this answere It appeareth to me good man that diuine ordinatiuation hath reuealed vnto you all the secrets of men and therefore I
a man in the skin of a Beare or in the shape of a sauage man or any other forme of better deuice Which being so done he is brought vpon S. Marks market place where being hunted a while with dogs vpon the huntings conclusion the Feast is ended and then each man leades his monster whether him pleaseth If you can accept any of these shapes before you bee seene heere in my poore abiding then can I safely afterward bring you where you would bee Otherwise I see no possible meanes how you may escape hence vnknown for it is without all question to the contrary that the Gentlewomans brethren knowing your concealment in some one place or other wil set such spies and watches for you throughout the City as you must needs be taken by them Now although it seemed a most seuere imposition for Albert to passe in any of these disguises yet his exceeding feare of Lisettaes brethren and friends made him gladly yeelde and to vndergo what shape the poore man pleased which thus he ordered Annointing his naked body with Hony he then couered it ouer with downy small Feathers and fastning a chaine about his necke and a strange vgly vizard on his face hee gaue him a great staffe in the one hand and two huge Mastiue dogs chained together in the other which he had borrowed in the Butchery Afterward he sent a man to the Rialto who there proclaimed by the sound of Trumpet That all such as desired to see God Cupid which the last night had descended downe from the skies and fell by ill hap into the Venetian gulfe let them repaire to the publike Market place of S. Marke and there he would appeare in his owne likenesse This being done soone after he left his house and leading him thus disguised along by his chaine hee was followed by great crowds of people euery one questioning of whence and what he was In which manner he brought him to the Market place where an infinite number of people were gathered together as well of the followers as of them that before heard the proclamation There he made choise of a pillar which stood in a place somewhat highly exalted wherto he chained his sauage man making shew as if he meant to awaite there till the hunting shold begin in which time the Flies Waspes and Hornets did so terribly sting his naked body being annointed with Hony that he endured therby vnspeakable anguish When the poore man saw that there needed no more concourse of people pretending as if he purposed to let loose his Saluage man he tooke the maske or vizard from Alberts face and then he spake aloud in this manner Gentlemen and others seeing the wilde Boare commeth not to our hunting because I imagine that he cannot easily be found I meane to the end you may not lose your labour in comming hither to shew you the great God of Loue called Cupid whom Poets feigned long since to be a little boy but now growne to manly stature You see in what maner he hath left his high dwelling onely for the comfort of our Venetian beauties but belike the night-fogs ouer-flagging his wings he fell into our gulfe and comes ow to present his seruice to you No sooner had he taken off his vizard but euery one knew him to be Friar Albert and sodainly arose such shoutes and out-cries with most bitter words breathed forth against him hurling also stones durt and filth in his face that his best acquaintance then could take no knowledge of him and not any one pittying his abusing So long continued the offended people in their fury that newes therof was carried to the Conuent and six of his Religious brethren came who casting an habite about him and releasing him from his chain they led him to the Monastery not without much mollestation and trouble of the people where imprisoning him in their house seueritie of some inflicted punishment or rather conceite for his open shame shortned his dayes and so he dyed Thus you see faire Ladies when licentious life must be clouded with a cloake of sanctity and euill actions dayly committed yet escaping vncredited there will come a time at length for iust discouering of all that the good may shine in their true luster of glory and the bad sinke in their owne deserued shame Three yong Gentlemen affecting three Sisters fledde with them into Candie The eldest of them through iealousie becommeth the death of her Louer The second by consenting to the Duke of Candies request is the meanes of sauing her life Afterward her owne Friend killeth her and thence flyeth away with the elder Sister The third couple both man woman are charged with her death and being committed prisoners they confesse the facte And fearing death by corruption of money they preuaile with their keepers escaping from thence to Rhodes where they died in great pouerty The third Nouell Heerein is declared how dangerous the occasion is ensuing by anger and despight in such as entirely loue especially being iniuried and offended by them that they loue WHen the King perceiued that Madame Pampinea had ended her discourse he sat sadly a prety while without vttering one word but afterward spake thus Little goodnesse appeared in the beginning of this Nouell because it ministred occasion of mirth yet the ending proued better and I could wish that worse inflictions had falne on the venerious Friar Then turning towards Madam Lauretta he said Lady do you tell vs a better tale if possible it may be She smiling thus answered the King Sir you are ouer-cruelly bent against poore Louers in desisiring that their amourous processions should haue harsh and sinister concludings Neuerthelesse in obedience to your seuere command among three persons amourously perplexed I will relate an vnhappy ending whereas all may be saide to speede as vnfortunately being equally alike in enioying the issue of their desires and thus I purpose for to proceede Euery vice choise Ladies as very well you know redoundeth to the great disgrace and preiudice of him or her by whom it is practised and oftentimes to others Now among those common hurtfull enemies the sinne or vice which most carrieth vs with full carrere and draweth vs into vnauoidable perils and dangers in mine opinion seemeth to be that of choller or anger which is nothing else but a sudden and inconsiderate mouing prouoked by some receiued iniury which hauing excluded all respect of reason and dimde with darke vapours the bright discerning sight of the vnderstanding enflameth the minde with most violent furie And albeit this inconuenience happeneth most to men and more to some few then others yet notwithstanding it hath been noted that women haue felt the selfe same infirmity and in more extreme manner because it much sooner is kindled in them and burneth with the brighter flame in regard they haue the lesser consideration and therefore not to be wondred at For if we will aduisedly obserue we shall plainely perceiue that
Magdalena in the still silence of the night Ninetta was conueyed into a sacke and sent in that manner to the House of Folco the Duke following soone after to challenge her promise Magdalena hauing acquainted her Husband with her vertuous intention for preseruing her Sisters life and disappointing the Duke in his wicked desire was as contrary to her true meaning in this case as Ninetta had formerly beene aduerse to Restagnone onely being ouer-ruled likewise by iealousie and perswaded in his rash opinion that the Duke had already dishonoured Magdalena otherwise he would not haue deliuered Ninetta out of prison Mad fury gaue further fire to this vnmanly perswasion and nothing will now quench this violent shame but the life of poore Magdalena suddenly sacrificed in the rescue of her Sisters such a diuell is anger when the vnderstandings bright eye is thereby abused No credit might be giuen to her womanly protestations nor any thing seeme to alter his bloody purpose but hauing slaine Magdalena with his Poniard notwithstanding her teares and humble entreaties hee ran in haste to Ninettaes Chamber shee not dreaming on any such desperate accident and to her he vsed these dissembling speeches Sister quoth he my wife hath aduised that I should speedily conuey you hence as fearing the renewing of the Dukes fury and your falling againe into the hands of Iustice I haue a Barke readily prepared for you and your life being secured it is all that she and I doe most desire Ninetta being fearefull and no way distrusting what he had saide in thankfull allowance of her Sisters care and curteous tender of his so ready seruice departed thence presently with him not taking any farewell of her other Sister and her Husband To the Sea-shore they came very weakely prouided of monies to defray their charges and getting aboard the Barke directed their course themselues knew not whether The amourous Duke in his disguise hauing long daunced attendance at Folcoes doore and no admittance of his entrance angerly returned backe to his Court protesting seuere reuenge on Magdalena if she gaue him not the better satisfaction to cleare her from thus basely abusing him On the morrow morning when Magdalena was found murthered in her Chamber and tidings thereof carried to the Duke present search was made for the bloody offendor but Folco being fled and gone with Ninetta some there were who bearing deadly hatred to Hugnetto incensed the Duke against him and his wife as supposing them to be guilty of Magdalenaes death He being thereto very easily perswaded in regard of his immoderate loue to the slaine Gentlewoman went himselfe in person attended on by his Guard to Hugnettoes House where both he and his wife were seized as prisoners These newes were very strange to them and their imprisonment as vnwelcome and although they were truly innocent either in knowledge of the horrid fact or the departure of Folco with Ninetta yet being vnable to endure the tortures extremity they made themselues culpable by confession and that they had hand with Folco in the murder of Magdalena Vpon this their forced confession and sentence of death pronounced on them by the Duke himselfe before the day appointed for their publike execution by great summes of money which they had closely hid in their House to serue when any vrgent extremitie should happen to them they corrupted their keepers and before any intelligence could be had of their flight they escaped by Sea to Rhodes where they liued afterward in great distresse and misery The iust vengeance of Heauen followed after Folco and Ninetta he for murthering his honest wife and she for poysoning her offending Husband for being beaten a long while on the Seas by tempestuous stormes and weather and not admitted landing in any Port or creeke they were driuen backe on the Coast of Candie againe where being apprehended and brought to the City before the Duke they confessed their seuerall notorious offences and ended their loathed liues in one fire together Thus the idle and loose loue of Restagnone with the franticke rage and iealousie of Ninetta and Folco ouerturned all their long continued happinesse and threw a disastrous ending on them all Gerbino contrary to the former plighted faith of his Grand-father King Gulielmo fought with a Ship at Sea belonging to the King of Thunis to take away his Daughter who was then in the same Ship Shee being slaine by them that had the possession of her he likewise slew them and afterward had his owne head smitten off The fourth Nouell In commendation of Iustice betweene Princes and declaring withall that neither feare dangers nor death it selfe can any way daunt a true and loyall Louer MAdam Lauretta hauing concluded her Nouel and the company complaining on Louers misfortunes some blaming the angry and iealous fury of Ninetta and euery one deliuering their seuerall opinions the King as awaking out of a passionate perplexity exalted his lookes giuing a signe to Madam Elisa that shee should follow next in order whereto she obeying began in this manner I haue heard Gracious Ladies quoth she of many people who are verily perswaded that Loues arrowes neuer wound any body but onely by the eyes lookes and gazes mocking and scorning such as maintaine that men may fall in loue by hearing onely Wherein beleeue me they are greatly deceiued as will appeare by a Nouell which I must now relate vnto you and wherein you shall plainely perceiue that not onely fame or report is as preuailing as sight but also hath conducted diuers to a wretched and miserable ending of their liues Gulielmo the second King of Sicilie according as the Sicilian Chronicles record had two children the one a sonne named Don Rogero and the other a daughter called Madam Constance The saide Rogero died before his Father leauing a sonne behind him named Gerbino who with much care and cost was brought vp by his Grand-father prouing to be a very goodly Prince and wondrously esteemed for his great valour and humanity His fame could not containe it selfe within the bounds or limits of Sicilie onely but being published very prodigally in many parts of the world beside flourished with no meane commendations throughout all Barbarie which in those dayes was tributary to the King of Sicilie Among other persons deseruing most to be respected the renowned vertues and affability of this gallant Prince Gerbino was vnderstood by the beautious Daughter to the King of Thunis who by such as had seene her was reputed to be one of the rarest creatures the best conditioned and of the truest noble spirit that euer Nature framed in her very choycest pride of art Of famous vertuous and worthy men it was continually her cheefest delight to heare and the admired actions of valiant Gerbino reported to her by many singular discoursers such as could best describe him with language answerable to his due deseruings won such honourable entertainment in her vnderstanding soule that they were most affectionately pleasing to her and
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
of his comming thither or any other blame that could concerne her Which hee both instantly knowing and beleeuing made no more ceremonie but putting on his Garments tooke the dead bodie vpon his shoulders and carried it to the Mothers doore where he left it and afterward returned to his owne house againe When day light was come and the dead body found lying in the Porch it moued very much greefe and amazement considering he had bin seene the day before in perfect health to outward appearance Nor neede we to vrge any question of his Mothers sorrow vpon this straunge accident who causing his body to bee carefully searched without any blow bruise wound or hurt vppon it the Physitians could not giue any other opinion but that some inward conceyte of greefe had caused his death as it did indeed and no way otherwise To the cheefe Church was the dead body carried to be generally seene of all the people his mother and friends weeping heauily by it as many more did the like beside because he was beloued of euery one In which time of vniuersall mourning the honest man in whose house he dyed spake thus to his wife disguise thy selfe in some decent manner and go to the Church where as I heare they haue laide the body of Ieronimo Crowde in amongest the Women as I will doe the like amongst the men to heare what opinion passeth of his death and whether wee shall bee scandalized thereby or no. Siluestra who was now become full of pitty too late quickely condiscended as desiring to see him dead whom sometime she dearly affected in life And being come to the Church it is a matter to bee admired if aduisedly we consider on the powerfull working of loue for the heart of this woman which the prosperous fortune of Ieronimo could not pierce now in his wofull death did split in sunder and the ancient sparks of loue so long concealed in the embers brake foorth into a furious flame and being violently surprized with extraordinary compassion no sooner did she come neere to the dead body where many stoode weeping round about it but strangely shrieking out aloud she fell downe vpon it euen as extremity of greefe finished his life so did it hers in the same manner For she moued neither hand nor foot because her vitall powers had quite forsaken her The women labouring to comfort her by al the best means they could deuise did not take any knowledge of her by reason of her disguised garments but finding her dead indeede and knowing her also to be Siluestra being ouercome with vnspeakable compassion danted with no meane admiration they stood strangely gazing each vpon other Wonderfull crowds of people were then in the Church and this accident being now noysed among the men at length it came to her Husbands vnderstanding whose greefe was so great as it exceeded all capacitie of expression Afterward he declared what had hapned in his house the precedent night according as his wife had truly related to him with all the speeches which past between Siluestra and Ieronimo by which discourse they generally conceiued the certaine occasion of both their sodaine deaths which moued them to great compassion Then taking the yong womans body and ordering it as a coarse ought to bee they layed it on the same Biere by the yong man and when they had sufficiently sorrowed for their disastrous fortune they gaue them honourable buriall both in one graue So this poore couple whome loue in life could not ioyne together death did vnite in an inseparable coniunction Messer Guiglielmo of Rossiglione hauing slaine Messer Guiglielmo Guardastagno whom hee imagined to loue his wife gaue her his heart to eate Which she knowing afterward threw her selfe out of an high window to the ground and being dead was then buried with her friend The ninth Nouell Whereby appeareth what ill successe attendeth on them that loue contrarie to reason in offering iniurie both to friendship and marriage together WHen the Nouell of Madam Neiphila was ended which occasioned much compassion in the whole assembly the King who wold not infringe the priuiledge graunted to Dioneus no more remaining to speake but they two began thus I call to minde gentle Ladies a Nouell which seeing we are so farre entred into the lamentable accidents of successelesse loue will vrge you vnto as much commisseration as that so lately reported to you And so much the rather because the persons of whom we are to speake were of respectiue quality which approueth the accident to bee more cruell then those whereof wee haue formerly discoursed According as the people of Prouence do report there dwelt sometime in that iurisdiction two noble Knights each well possessed of Castles followers the one beeing named Messer Guiglielmo de Rossiglione and the other Messer Guiglielmo Guardastagno Now in regard that they wer both valiant Gentlemen and singularly expert in actions of Armes they loued together the more mutually and held it as a kinde of custom to be seene in all Tiltes and Tournaments or any other exercises of Armes going commonly alike in their wearing garments And although their Castles stood about fiue miles distant each from other yet were they dayly conuersant together as very louing and intimate friends The one of them I meane Messer Guiglielmo de Rossiglione had to wife a very gallant beautifull Lady of whom Messer Guardastagno forgetting the lawes of respect and loyall friendshippe became ouer-fondly enamoured expressing the same by such outward meanes that the Lady her selfe tooke knowledge thereof and not with any dislike as it seemed but rather louingly entertained yet she grew not so forgetfull of her honour and estimation as the other did of faith to his friend With such indiscretion was this idle loue carried that whether it sorted to effect or no I know not but the husband receiued some such maner of behauiour as hee could not easily digest nor thought it fitting to endure Whereuppon the league of friendly amity so long continued began to faile in very strange fashion and became conuerted into deadly hatred which yet hee very cunningly concealed bearing an outwarde shew of constant friendshippe still but in his heart hee had vowed the death of Guardastagno Nothing wanted but by what meanes it might best be effected which fell out to bee in this manner A publicke lust or Tourney was proclaimed by sound of Trumpet throughout all France wherewith immediately Messer Guiglielmo Rossiglione acquainted Messer Guardastagno entreating him that they might further conferre theron together and for that purpose to come and visit him if he intended to haue any hand in the businesse Guardastagno being exceeding gladde of this accident which gaue him liberty to see his Mistresse sent answer backe by the messenger that on the morrow at night he would come and sup with Rossiglione who vpon this reply proiected to himselfe in what maner to kill him On the morrow after dinner arming himselfe and
was much commended and wrought such a miracle on penitent Ruggiero that after his marriage which was graced with great and honourable pompe he regained the intimate loue of all his kindred and liued in most Noble condition euen as if he had neuer beene the disordered man If the former Nouels had made all the Ladies sad and sighe this last of Dioneus as much delighted them as restoring them to their former iocond humor and banishing Tragicall discourse for euer The King perceyuing that the Sun was neere setting and his gouernment as neere ending with many kinde and courteous speeches excused himselfe to the Ladies for being the motiue of such an argument as expressed the infelicity of poore Louers And hauing finished his excuse vp he arose taking the Crowne of Lawrell from off his owne head the Ladies awaiting on whose head he pleased next to set it which proued to be the gracious Lady Fiammetta and thus hee spake Heere I place this Crowne on her head that knoweth better then any other how to comfort this fayre assembly to morrow for the sorow which they haue this day endured Madame Fiammetta whose lockes of haire were curled long and like golden wiers hanging somwhat downe ouer her white delicate shoulders her visage round wherein the Damaske Rose and Lilly contendeâ— for priority the eyes in her head resembling those of the Faulcon me senger and a dainty mouth her lippes looking like two little Rubyes with a commendable smile thus she replyed Philostratus gladly I do accept your gift and to the end that ye may the better remember your selfe concerning what you haue done hitherto I will and commaund that generall preparation bee made against to morrow for faire and happy fortunes hapning to Louers after former cruell and vnkinde accidents Which proposition was very pleasing to them all Then calling for the Master of the Housholde and taking order with him what was most needfull to be done shee gaue leaue vnto the whole company who were all risen to go recreate themselues vntil supper time Some of them walked about the Garden the beauty whereof banished the least thought of wearinesse Others walked by the Riuer to the Mill which was not farre off and the rest fel to exercises fitting their own fancies vntill they heard the summons for Supper Hard by the goodly Fountaine according to their wonted manner they supped altogether and were serued to their no mean contentment but being risen from the Table they fell to their delight of singing and dancing While Philomena led the dance the Queene spake in this manner Philostratus I intend not to varie from those courses heeretofore obserued by my predecessors but euen as they haue already done so it is my authority to command a Song And because I am well assured that you are not vnfurnished of Songs answerable to the quality of the passed Nouels my desire is in regard we would not be troubled heereafter with any more discourses of vnfortunate Loue that you shall sing a Song agreeing with your owne disposition Philostratus made answer that he was readie to accomplish her command and without all further ceremony thus he began The Song Chorus My teares do plainly proue How iustly that poore heart hath cause to greeue Which vnder trust findes Treason in his Loue. WHen first I saw her that now makes me sigh Distrust did neuer enter in my thoughts So many vertues clearly shin'd in her That I esteem'd all martyrdome was light Which Loue could lay on me Nor did I greeue Although I found my liberty was lost But now mine error I do plainly see Not without sorrow thus betray'd to bee My teares do c. For being left by basest treachery Of her in whom I most reposed trust I then could see apparant flatterie In all the fairest shewes that she did make But when I stroue to get forth of the snare I found my selfe the further plunged in For I beheld another in my place And I cast off with manifest disgrace My teares do c. Then felt my heart such hels of heauy woes Not vtterable I curst the day and houre When first I saw her louely countenance Enricht with beautie farre beyond all other Which set my soule on fire enflamde each part Making a martyrdome of my poore hart My faith and hope being basely thus betrayde I durst not mooue to speake I was affrayde My teares do c. Thou canst thou powerfull God of Loue perceiue My ceasselesse sorow voide of any comfort I make my moane to thee and do not fable Desiring that to end my misery Death may come speedily and with his Dart With one fierce stroke quite passing through my hart To cut off future fell contending strife An happy end be made of Loue and Life My teares do c. No other meanes of comfort doth remaine To ease me of such sharpe afflictions But only death Grant then that I may die To finish greefe and life in one blest houre For being bereft of any future ioyes Come take me quickly from so false a friend Yet in my death let thy great power approue That I died true and constant in my Loue. My teares c. Happy shall I account this sighing Song If some beside my selfe doe learne to sing it And so consider of my miseries As may incite them to lament my wrongs And to be warned by my wretched fate Least like my selfe themselues do sigh too late Learne Louers learne what t is to be vniust And be betrayed where you repose best trust The words contained in this Song did manifestly declare what torturing afflictions poore Philostratus felt and more perhaps had beene perceiued by the lookes of the Lady whom he spake of being then present in the dance if the sodaine ensuing darknesse had not hid the crimson blush which mounted vp into her face But the Song being ended diuers other beside lasting till the houre of rest drew on by command of the Queene they all repaired to their Chambers The End of the Fourth Day THE FIFT DAY Whereon all the Discourses do passe vnder the Gouernement of the most Noble Lady Fiammetta Concerning such persons as haue bene successefull in their Loue after many hard and perillous misfortunes The Induction NOW began the Sunne to dart foorth his golden beames when Madam Fiammetta incited by the sweete singing Birdes which since the breake of day sat merrily chanting on the trees arose from her bed as all the other Ladies likewise did and the three young Gentlemen descending downe into the fields where they walked in a gentle pace on the greene grasse vntill the Sunne were risen a little higher On many pleasant matters they conferred together as they walked in seuerall companies til at the length the Queene finding the heate to enlarge it selfe strongly returned backe to the Castle where when they were all arriued shee commanded that after this mornings walking their stomackes should bee refreshed with wholsome Wines as
shee wished her selfe to be dead and within some few dayes after she conferred againe with her Chamber-woman saying Lesca thou knowest well enough that the Oxe falleth not at the first blow of the Axe neither is the victory won vpon a silly and shallow aduenture Wherefore I thinke it conuenient that once more thou shouldst make another tryall of him who in preiudice to me standeth so strictly on his loyalty and choosing such an houre as seemeth most commodious soundly possesse him with my tormenting passions Bestirre thy Wittes and tippe thy tongue with a Womans eloquence to effect what I so earnestly desire because by languishing in this loue-sicke affliction it well bee the danger of my death and some seuere detriment to him to be the occasion of so great a losse Lesca comforted her Lady so much as lay in her power to doe and hauing sought for Pyrrhus whom she found at good leysure and in a pleasing humor thus she beganne Pyrrhus some few dayes since I tolde thee in what extreame Agonies thy Lady and mine was onely in regarde of her loue to thee and now again◠I come once more to giue thee further assurance thereof Wherefore beleeue it vnfeignedly that if thy obstinacie continne still in like manner as the other day it did expect very shortly to heare the tydings of her death It is my part therefore to entreat thee to comfort her long languishing desires but if thou persist in thy harsh opinion in stead of reputing thee a wise and fortunate yong man I shall confesse thee to bee an ignoraunt Asse What a glorie is it to thee to be affected of so faire and worthy a Lady beyond all men else what soeuer Next to this tell me how highly maist thou confesse thy selfe beholding to Fortune if thou but duly consider how shee hath elected thee as sole soueraigne of her hopes which is a crowne of honour to thy youth and a sufficieut refuge against all wants and necessities Where is any to thy knowledge like thy selfe that can make such aduantage of his time as thou maist do if thou wert wise Where canst thou find any one to go beyond thee in Armes Horses sumptuous garments and Gold as will be heaped on thee if Lydia may be the Lady of thy loue Open then thine vnderstanding to my words returne into thine owne soule and bee wise for thy selfe Remember Pyrrhus that Fortune presents her selfe but once before any one with cheerefull lookes and her lappe wide open of richest fauours where if choice be not quickely made before she folde it vp and turn her backe let no complaint afterward be made of her if the Fellow that had so faire an offer prooue to be miserable wretched and a Begger only thorow his owne negligence Beside what else hath formerly bin saide there is now no such neede of loyaltie in seruants to their Ladies as shonld be among deare Friends and Kindred but seruants ought rathee as best they may be such to their Masters as they are to them Doest thou imagine that if thou hadst a faire Wife Mother Daughter or Sister pleasing in the eye of our Nicostratus he would stand on such nice tearmes of duty or Loyaltie as now thou doest to his Ladie Thou went a verie foole to rest so perswaded Assure thy selfe that if entreaties and faire meanes might not preuaile force and compulsion whatsoeuer ensued thereon woulde winne the masterie Let vs then vse them and the commodities vnto them belonging as they would vs and ours Vse the benefit of thy Fortune beware of abusing her fauonr She yet smiles on thee but take heede least she turne her backe it will then be ouer-late to repent thy folly And if my Ladie die through thy disdaine be assured that thou canst not escape with life beside open shame and disgrace for euer Pyrrhus who had often considered on Lescaes first message concluded with himselfe that if any more she moued the same matter hee would returne her another kinde of answere wholly yeelding to content his Lady prouided that he might remaine assured concerning the intyre truth of the motion and that it was not vrged onely to trie him wherefore thus he replyed Lesca do not imagine mee so ignorant as not to know the certaintie of all thy former allegations confessing them as freely as thou doest or canst But yet let mee tell thee withall that I knowe my Lord to be wise and iudicious and hauing committed all his affaire 〈◊〉 my care and trust neuer blame mee to misdoubt least my Ladie by his counsell and aduice make thee the messenger of this motion therby to call my Fidelitie in question To cleare which doubt and for my further assurance of her well 〈◊〉 toward me if she wil vndertake the performance of three such things as I must needes require in this case I am afterward her owne in any seruice she can command me The first of them is that in the presence of my Lord and Master she kill his faire Faulcon which so dearly hee affecteth The second to send me a locke or tuft of his beard being puld away vvith her owne hand The third and last with the same hand also to pluck out one of his best and soundest feth and send it mee as her loues true token When I finde all these three effectually performed I am wholly hers not before These three strict impositions seemed to Lesca and her Ladie likewise almost beyond the compasse of all possibility Neuertheles Loue being a powerfull Oratour in perswading as also aduenturous euen on the most difficult dangers gaue her courage to vndertake them all sending Lesca backe againe to him with full assurance of these more then Herculean labours Moreouer her selfe did intend to adde a fourth taske in regard of his strong opinion concerning the great Wisedome of his Lord and Maister After she had effected all the other three she would not permit him to kisse her but before his Lords face which yet should be accomplished in such sort as Nicostratus himselfe should not beleeue it although apparantly he saw it Well quoth Pyrrhus when all these wonders are performed assure my Ladie that I am truelie hers Within a short while after Nicostratus made a solemne Feastiual according as yearely he vsed to doe in honour of his birth day inuiting many Lords and Ladies thereto On which reioycing day so soone as dinner was ended and the Tables withdrawne Lydia came into the great Hall where the Feast was solemnly kept very rich and costly apparrelled and there in presence of Pyrrhus and the whole assemblie going to the Perch whereon the Faulcone sate wherein her Husband tooke no little delight and hauing vntyed her as if shee meant to beare her on her Fist tooke her by the Iesses and beating her against the wal killed her Nicostratus beholding this called out aloud vnto her saying Alas Madame What haue you done She making him no answere but turning to the Lords and
of Waxe lights burned in all partes of the roomes neither the excessiue store of rich Drugs Marchpanes Comfites and rare Banquetting stuffe consumed there at one Feasting wherein there wanted no bounty of the best and purest wines Nor do I Master Doctor repute you so weakly witted as to think that in the time of our being thus assembled there any of vs al were cloathed in such simple and meane Garments as ordinarily are worne in the streets on mens bodies or any so silly as the verie best you haue No Sir not any one man among vs but appeared by his apparrell equall to the greatest Emperour on the earth his robe most sumptuously imbroidered with precious stones Pearles and Carbuncles as all the world affoordeth not the like But aboue all the rest the delights and pleasures there are beyond my capacity to expresse or indeede any comparison as namely store of goodly and beautifull women brought thither from all parts of the world alwayes prouided if men bee desirous of their company but for your easier comprehension I will make some briefe relation of them to you according as I heard them there named There is the great Lady of Barbanicchia the Queene of Baschia the Wife to the great Soldane the Empresse of Osbeccho the Ciancianfera of Norniera the Semistante of Berlinzona and the Scalpedra of Narsia But why do I breake my braine in numbering vp so many to you All the Queenes of the world are there euen so farre as to the Schinchimurra of Prester Iohn that hath a horne in the midst of her posteriores albeit not visible to euery eye Now I am further to tell you that after we haue tasted a Cup of precious Wine fed on a few delicate Comfits and danced a dance or two to the rare Musicke euery one taketh a Lady by the hand of whom he pleaseth to make his election and she conducteth him to her Chamber in very graue and gracious manner Concerning the Chambers there each of them resembleth a Paradise to looke on they are so faire and goodly and no lesse odorifferous in smell then the sweetest perfumes in your Apothecaries shoppes or the rare compounds of Spices when they are beaten in an open Morter And as for the Beds they are infinitely richer then the verie costliest belonging to the Duke of Venice yet in such each man is appointed to take his rest the Musicke of rare Cymbals lasting all night long much better to be by you considered then in my rude eloquence expressed But of all those rich and sumptuous Beds if pride of mine owne opinion do not deceiue me them two prouided for Buffalmaco and me had hardly any equall he hauing the Queene of France as his Lady and Mistresse and I the renowned Queene of England the onely two choise beauties of the whole World and wee appeared so pleasing in their eyes as they would haue refused the greatest Monarkes on the earth rather then to bee reiected by vs. Now therefore you may easily consider with your selfe what great reason we haue to liue more merrily then any other men can doe in regard we enioy the gracious fauour of two such Royall Queenes receyuing also from them whensoeuer wee please to commaund them a thousand or two thousand Florines at the least which are both truly and duly sent vs. Enioying thus the benefit of this high happinesse we that are companions of this Society do tearme it in our vulgar Language The Pyrats voyage to Corsica Because as Rouers or Pyrats robbe and take away the goodes of such as they meete withall euen so do we only there remaineth this difference betweene vs that they neuer restore what they haue taken which we do immediately afterward whether it be required or no. And thus Master Doctor as to my most endeered friend I haue now reuealed the meaning of sayling to Corsica after the manner of our priuate Pyracie and how important the close retention of the voiage is you are best able your selfe to iudge In which regarde remember your Oathes and faithfull promises or else I am vndone for euer Our worthy wise Doctor whose best skill scarsely extended so farre as to cure the itch in Children gaue such sound beleefe to the relation of Bruno as any man could doe to the most certaine truth of life or death hauing his desire immeasurably enflamed to bee made a member of this straunge Societie which hee more coueted then any thing in the world beside accounting it a felicity farre beyond all other Whereupon he answered Bruno that it was no great matter of meruaile if he liued so merily as he did hauing such a singular supply to auoide all necessities whatsoeuer and very hardly could he refraine from immediate request to be accepted into the company But yet he thought fit to deferre it further vntill he had made Bruno more beholding to him by friendly entertainments and other courtesies when he might with better hope be bold to moue the motion Well may you conceiue that nothing more hammerd in the Doctors head then this rare voyage to Corsica and Bruno was his daily guest at dinner and supper with such extraordinary apparances of kindnesse and courtesie as if the Physitian could not liue except he had the company of Bruno Who seeing himselfe to bee so louingly respected and hating ingratitude for fauours so abundantly heaped on him hee painted the whole story of Lent about his Hall and an Agnus Dei fairely gilt on the portall of his Chamber as also a goodly Vrinall on his street doore to the end that such as had neede of his counsell might know where so iudicious a Doctour dwelt In a Gallery likewise by his Garden he painted the furious Battaile betweene the Rats and Cats which did not a little delight Master Doctor Moreouer at such times as Bruno had not supt with our Physitian he would bee sure to tell him on the morrow that the night passed he had bin with the Company which he did wot of And there quoth he the Queene of England hauing somewhat offended mee I commanded that the Gomedra belonging to the Grand Cham of Tartaria should be brought me and instantly shee was What may be the meaning of Gomedrabe saide the Doctor I vnderstand not those difficult names I beleeue you Sir answered Bruno nor do I need to maruaile thereat and yet I haue heard Porcograsso speake and also Vannacenna and both vnexperienced in our Language You would say replyed the Doctor Hippocrates and Auicenna who were two admirable Physitians It may be so said Bruno as hardly do I vnderstand your names as you mine but Gomedra in the Grand Chams language signifies Empresse in ours But had you once seene her Sir she would make you forget all Physicall obseruations your arguments receits and medicines onely to be in her heauenly presence which words he vsed perceiuing his forward longing to enflame him the more Not long after as the doctor was holding the candle
liberty and permitted to wander abroad in the Woods We see moreouer that Gardens and Orchards being planted with variety of the fairest fruit Trees are equalled in beauty by Woods and Forrests in the plentifull enioying of as goodly spreading branches In consideration whereof remembring how many dayes wee haue already spent vnder the seueritie of Lawes imposed shaping all our discourses to a forme of obseruation I am of opinion that it will not onely well become vs but also proue beneficiall for vs to liue no longer vnder such restraint and like enthralled people desirous of liberty wee should no more be subiected to the yoke but recouer our former strength in walking freely Wherefore concerning our pastime purposed for to morrow I am not minded to vse any restriction or tye you vnto any particular ordination but rather do liberally graunt that euery one shall deuise and speake of arguments agreeing with your owne dispositions Besides I am verily perswaded that variety of matter vttered so freely will be much more delightfull then restraint to one kinde of purpose onely Which being thus granted by me whosoeuer shal succeede me in the gouernment may as being of more power and preheminence restraine all backe againe to the accustomed lawes And hauing thus spoken she dispensed with their any longer attendance vntill it should be Supper time Euery one commended the Queenes appointment allowing it to rellish of good wit and iudgement and being all risen fell to such exercises as they pleased The Ladies made Nosegaies and Chaplets of Flowers the men played on their Instruments singing diuers sweete Ditties to them and thus were busied vntill Supper time Which beeing come and they supping about the beautifull Fountaine after Supper they fell to singing and dauncing In the end the Queene to imitate the order of her predecessors commanded Pamphilus that notwithstanding all the excellent songs formerly sung he should now sing one whereunto dutifully obeying thus he began THE SONG The Chorus sung by all LOVE I found such felicitie And ioy in thy captiuitie As I before did neuer proue And thought me happy being in Loue. COmfort abounding in my hart Ioy and Delight In soule and spright I did possesse in euery part O Soueraigne Loue by thee Thy Sacred fires Fed my desires And still aspires Thy happy thrall to bee Loue I found such felicity c. My Song wants power to relate The sweets of minde Which I did finde In that most blissefull state O Soueraigne Loue by thee No sad despaire Or killing care Could me prepare Still thou didst comfort me Loue I found such felicity c. I hate all such as do complaine Blaspheming thee With Cruelty And sleights of coy disdaine O Soueraigne Loue to mee Thou hast bene kinde If others finde Thee worse inclinde Yet I will honour thee LOVE I found such felicitie And ioy in thy Captiuitie As I before did neuer proue But thought me happie being in Loue. Thus the Song of Pamphilus ended whereto all the rest as a Chorus answered with their Voyces yet euery one particularly according as they felt their Loue-sicke passions made a curious construction thereof perhaps more then they needed yet not Diuining what Pamphilus intended And although they were transported with variety of imaginations yet none of them could ariue at his true meaning indeed Wherefore the Queene perceiuing the Song to be fully ended and the Ladies as also the young Gentlemen willing to go take their rest she commaunded them seuerally to their Chambers The End of the Eight Day THE NINTH DAY Whereon vnder the Gouernment of Madame AEMILLIA the Argument of each seuerall Discourse is not limitted to any one peculiar subiect but euery one remaineth at liberty to speak of whatsoeuer themselues best pleaseth The Induction FAire Aurora from whose bright and chearefull lookes the duskie darke night flyeth as an vtter enemy had already reached so high as the eight Heauen conuerting it all into an Azure colour and the pretty Flowrets beganne to spred open their Leaues when Madame Aemillia being risen caused all her female attendants and the yong Gentlemen likewise to be summoned for their personall appearance Who being all come the Queen leading the way and they following her Maiesticke pace walked into a little Wood not farre off distant from the Palace No sooner were they there arriued but they beheld store of Wilde Beasts as Hindes Hares Goats and such like so safely secured from the pursuite of Huntsmen by reason of the violent Pestilence then reigning that they stood gazing boldly at them as dreadlesse of any danger or as if they were become tame and Domesticke Approaching neerer them first to one then vnto another as if they purposed to play gently vvith them they then beganne to skippe and runne making them such pastime with their pretty tripping that they conceyued great delight in beholding of them But when they beheld the Sunne to exalt it selfe it was thought conuenient to return back again shrouding themselues vnder the Trees spreading armes their hands full of sweete Flowers and Odorifferous Hearbes which they had gathered in their Walking So that such as chanced to meete them could say nothing else but that death knew not by what meanes to conquer them or els they had set down an absolute determination to kill him with their Iouiall disposition In this manner singing dancing or prettily pratling at length they arriued at the Palace where they found all things readily prepared and their Seruants duly attending for them After they hadde reposed themselues awhile they would not as yet sit downe at the Table vntill they had sung halfe a dozen of Canzonets some more pleasant then another both the women and men together Then they fell to washing hands and the Maister of the Houshold caused them to sit downe according as the Queene had appointed and Dinner was most sumptuously serued in before them Afterward when the Tables were with-drawne they all tooke handes to dance a Roundelay which being done they plaied on their Instruments a while and then such as so pleased tooke their rest But when the accustomed houre was come they all repaired to the place of discoursing where the Queen looking on Madam Philomena gaue her the honor of beginning the first Nouell for that day whereto shee dutifully condiscending began as followeth Madam Francesca a Widdow of Pistoya being affected by two Florentine Gentlemen the one named Rinuccio Palermini and the other Alessandro Chiarmontesi and she bearing no good will to eyther of them ingeniously freed her selfe from both their importunate suites One of them she caused to lye as dead in a graue and the other to fetch him from thence so neither of them accomplishing what they were enioyned fayled of obtaining his hoped expectation The First Nouell Approuing that chaste and honest Women ought rather to deny importunate suiters by subtile and ingenious meanes then fall into the danger of scandall and slander MAdame it can no way discontent mee
verily to perswade himselfe that some sodaine sicknes had seised vpon him which they could discerne although hee felt no anguish at all and therefore like a man much perplexed in minde demanded of them What he should do Beleeue me Calandrino answered Bruno if I were worthy to giue thee counsell thou shouldst returne home presently to thy house and lay thee downe in thy warme Bedde couered with so many cloathes as thou canst well endure Then to Morrow morning send thy Water vnto Learned Mayster Doctor the Physitian who as thou knowest is a man of most singular skill and experience he will instruct thee presently what is the best course to be taken and we that haue euer beene thy louing friends will not faile thee in any thing that lieth in our power By this time Nello being come againe vnto them they all returned home with Calandrino vnto his owne house whereinto he entering very faintly hee saide to his Wife Woman make my Bed presently ready for I feele my selfe to be growne extreamely sicke and see that thou layest cloathes enow vpon me Being thus laide in his Bedde they left him for that night and returned to visite him againe the verie next morning by which time he had made a reseruation of his Water and sent it by a young Damosell vnto Maister Doctor who dwelt then in the olde market place at the signe of the Muske Mellone Then saide Bruno vnto his Companions Abide you heere to keepe him company and I will walke along to the Physitian to vnderstand what he will say and if neede be I can procure him to come hither with me Calandrino very kindely accepted his offer saying withall Well Bruno thou shewst thy selfe a friend in the time of necessity I pray thee know of him how the case stands with me for I feele a very strange alteration within mee far beyond all compasse of my conceite Bruno being gone to the Physitian he made such expedition that he arriued there before the Damosell who carried the Water and informed Master Simon with the whole tricke intended wherefore when the Damosell was come and hee had passed his iudgement concerning the water he said to her Maide go home againe and tell Calandrino that he must keepe himselfe very warme and I my selfe will instantly be with him to enstruct him further in the quality of his sicknesse The Damosell deliuered her message accordingly and it was not long before Mayster Doctor Simon came with Bruno also in his company and sitting downe on the beds side by Calandrino hee began to taste his pulse and within a small while after his Wife being come into the Chamber he said Obserue me well Calandrino for I speake to thee in the nature of a true friend thou hast no other disease but only thou art great with child So soone as Calandrino heard these words in dispairing manner he beganne to rage and cry out aloud saying to his wife Ah thou wicked woman this is long of thee and thou hast done me this mischeefe for alwayes thou wilt be vpon me euer railing at mee and fighting vntill thou hast gotten me vnder thee Say thou diuellish creature do I not tell thee true The Woman bâ—ing of verie honest and ciuill conuersation hearing her husband speake so foolishly blushing with shame and hanging downe her head in bashfull manner without returning any answer went forth of her Chamber Calandrino continuing still in his angry humour wringing his hands and beating them vpon his brest said Wretched man that I am What shall I do How shal I be deliuered of this child Which way can it come from me into the world I plainly perceyue that I am none other then a dead man and all through the wickednesse of my Wife heauen plague her with as many mischiefes as I am desirous to finde ease Were I now in as good health as heeretofore I haue beene I would rise out of my bed and neuer cease beating her vntill I had broken her in a thousand peeces But if Fortune will be so fauourable to me as to helpe mee out of this dangerons agony hang me if euer she get me vnder her againe or make me such an Asse in hauing the mastery ouer mee as diuers times she hath done Bruno Buffalmaco and Nello hearing these rauing speeches of Calandrino were swolne so bigge with laughter as if their ribbes would haue burst in sunder neuerthelesse they abstained so well as they were able but Doctor Simon gaped so wide with laughing as one might easily haue pluckt out all his teeth In the end because he could tarry there no longer but was preparing to depart Calandrino thanked him for his paines requesting that hee would be carefull of him in aiding him with his best aduise and counsell and he would not be vnmindfull of him Honest neighbour Calandrino answered the Phisition I would not haue you to torment your selfe in such an impatient and tempestuous manner because I perceiue the time so to hasten on as we shall soone perceiue and that within very few dayes space your health well restored and without the sense of much paine but indeed it wil cost expences Alas Sir said Calandrino mak not any spare of my purse to procure that I may haue safe deliuerance I haue two hundred Florines lately falne to me by the death of mine Aunt wherewith I intended to purchase a Farme in the Countrey take them all if need be onely reseruing some few for my lying in Childbed And then Master Doctor Alas I know not how to behaue my selfe for I haue heard the grieuous complaint of women in that case oppressed with bitter pangs and throwes as questionlesse they will bee my death except you haue the greater care of me Be of good cheere neighbour Calandrino replyed Doctor Simon I will prouide an excellent distilled drinke for you marueilously pleasing in taste and of soueraigne vertue which will resolue all in three mornings making you as whole and as sound as a Fish newly spawned But you must haue an especiall care afterward being prouidently wise least you fall into the like follies againe Concerning the preparation of this precious drinke halfe a dozen of Capons the very fairest and fattest I must make vse of in the distillation what other things shall bee imployed beside you may deliuer forty Florines to one of these your honest friends to see all the necessaries bought and sent me home to my house Concerning my businesse make you no doubt thereof for I will haue all distilled against to morrow and then doe you drinke a great Glasse full euery morning fresh and fasting next your heart Calandrino was highly pleased with his words returning master Doctor infinite thankes and referring all to his disposing And hauing giuen forty Florines to Bruno with other money beside to buy the halfe dozen of Capons he thought himselfe greatly beholding to them all and protested to requite their kindenesse Master Doctor being gone home to his house made
they scorne them for full well they know They were not bred to prey so base and low Aloft they look to make their flight more faire And yet his sight would lend me life a while Grant it great loue mine anguish to beguile Goe loue and tell the torments c. If sight shall be denyed then tell them plaine His high triumphall day procurd my death The Launce that won him Honour hath me slaine For instantly it did bereaue my breath That speake I could not nor durst be so bold To make the Ayre acquainted with my woe Alas I lookt so high and doing so Iustly deserue by death to be controld Yet mercies sight would lend me life a while Grant it great loue mine anguish to beguile Goe loue and tell the torments I endure Say to my Soueraigne Lord that I must die Except he come some comfort to procure For tell I may not what I feele and why The lines contained in this Ditty Manutio fitted with noates so moouing and singularly musicall that euery word had the sensible motion of life in it where the King being as yet not risen from the Table he commanded him to vse both his Lute and voyce This seemed a happy opportunity to Manutio to sing the dittie so purposely done and deuised which hee deliuered in such excellent manner the voice and Instrument concording so extraordinary pleasing that all the persons then in the Presence seemed rather Statues then liuing men so strangely they were wrapt with admiration and the King himselfe farre beyond all the rest transported with a rare kinde of alteration When Manutio had ended the Song the King demanded of him whence this Song came because he had neuer heard it before My gracious Lord answered Manutio it must needes seeme straunge to your Maiesty because it is not fully three dayes since it was inuented made and set to the note Then the King asked whom it concerned Sir quoth Manutio I dare not disclose that to any but onely your selfe Which answer made the King much more desirous and being risen from the Table he tooke him into his Bed-chamber where Manutio related all at large to him according to the trust reposed in him Wherwith the King was wonderfully well pleased greatly commending the courage of the Maide and said that a Virgin of such a valiant spirit did well deserue to haue her case commiserated and commanded him also to goe as sent from him and comfort her with promise that the very same day in the euening he would not faile to come and see her Manutio more then contented to carry such glad tydings to Lisana without staying in any place and taking his Lute also with him went to the Apothecaries house where speaking alone with the Maide he told her what he had done and afterward sung the song to her in as excellent manner as he had done before wherein Lisana conceiued such ioy and contentment as euen in the very same moment it was obserued by apparant signes that the violence of her fits forsooke her and health began to get the vpper hand of them So without suffering any one in the house to know it or by the least meanes to suspect it she comforted her selfe till the euening in expectation of her Soueraignes arriuall Piero being a Prince of most liberall and benigne nature hauing afterward diuers times considered on the matters which Manutio had reuealed to him knowing also the yong Maiden to bee both beautifull and vertuous was so much moued with pitty of her extremitie as mounting on horse backe in the euening and seeming as if he rode abroad for his priuate recreation he went directly to the Apothecaries house where desiring to see a goodly garden appertaining then to the Apothecarie he dismounted from his horse Walking into the garden he began to question with Bernardo demaunding him for his Daughter and whether he had as yet marryed her or no My Gracious Lord answered Bernardo as yet shee is not marryed neither likely to bee in regard shee hath had a long and tedious sickenesse but since Dinner time she is indifferently eased of her former violent paine which we could not discerne the like alteration in her a long while before The King vnderstood immediately the reason of this so sudden alteration and said In good faith Bernardo the world would sustaine a great maine imperfection by the losse of thy faire daughter wherefore we will goe our selfe in person to visite her So with two of his Lords onely and the Father he ascended to the Maides Chamber being entred he went to the Beds side where she sate somewhat raised in expectation of his comming and taking her by the hand he said Faire Lisana how commeth this to passe You being so faire a Virgin yong and in the delicacy of your daies which should be the chiefest comfort to you will you suffer your selfe to be ouer-awed with sickenesse Let vs intreat you that for our sake you will be of good comfort and thereby recouer your health the sooner especially when it is requested by a King who is sorry to see so bright a beauty sicke and would helpe it if it consisted in his power Lisana feeling the touch of his hand whom she loued aboue all things else in the world although a bashfull blush mounted vp into her cheekes yet her heart was seazed with such a rapture of pleasure that she thought her selfe translated into Paradise and so well as she could thus she replyed Great King by opposing my feeble strength against a burden of ouer-ponderous weight it became the occasion of this grieuous sickenesse but I hope that the violence thereof is almost already kild onely by this soueraigne mercy in you and doubtlesse it will cause my speedy deliuerance The King did best vnderstand this so well palliated answere of Lisana which as he did much commend in regard of her high aduenturing so he did againe as greatly condemne Fortune for not making her more happy in her birth So after he had stayed there a good while and giuen her many comfortable speeches he returned backe to the Court This humanity in the King was reputed a great honour to the Apothecary and his daughter who in her owne mind receiued as much ioy and contentment thereby as euer any wife could haue of her owne Husband And being assisted by better hopes within a short while after she became recouered and farre more beautifull in common iudgment then euer she was before Lisana being now in perfect health the King consulted with his Queene what meete recompence he should gratifie her withall for louing and affecting him in such feruent manner Vpon a day determined the King mounting on horsebacke accompanied with many of his cheefest Lords and Barons he rode to the Apothecaries house where walking in his beautifull Garden hee called for Bernardo and his daughter Lisana In the meane space the Queene also came thither Royally attended on by her Ladies and Lisana