wife and for her he had presumed in that manner closely was he kept in prison till the next morning When he came into the Kings presence and there boldly iustified the goodnesse of his cause Restituta likewise was sent for who no sooner saw her deare Loue Guian but shee ran and caught him fast about the necke kissing him in teares and greeuing not a little at his hard fortune Hereat the King grew exceedingly enraged loathing and hating her now much more then formerly he did affect her and hauing himselfe seene by what strange meanes he did climbe ouer the wall and then mounted to her Chamber window he was extreamely impatient and could not otherwise be perswaded but that their meetings thus had beene very many Forthwith he sentenced them both with death commanding that they should be conueyed thence to Palermo and there being stript starke naked be bound to a stake backe to backe and so to stand the full space of nine houres to see if any could take knowledge of whence or what they were then afterward to be consumed with fire The sentence of death did not so much daunt or dismay the poore Louers as the vnciuill and vnsightly manner which in feare of the Kings wrathfull displeasure no man durst presume to contradict Wherefore as he had commanded so were they carried thence to Palermo and bound naked to a stake in the open Market place and before their eyes the fire and wood brought which was to consume them according to the houre as the King had appointed You need not make any question what an huge concourse of people were soone assembled together to behold such a sad and wofull spectacle euen the whole City of Palermo both men and women The men were stricken with admiration beholding the vnequalled beauty of faire Restituta the selfe same passion possessed the women seeing Guian to be such a goodly and compleat young man but the poore infortunate Louers themselues they stood with their lookes deiected to the ground being much pittied of all but no way to be holpen or rescued by any awaiting when the happy houre would come to finish both their shame and liues together During the time of this tragicall expectation the fame of this publike execution being noysed abroade calling all people farre and neere to behold it it came to the eare of Don Rogiero de Oria a man of much admired valour and then the Lord high Admirall of Sicily who came himselfe in person to the place appointed for their death First he obserued the Mayden confessing her in his soule to be a beauty beyond all compare Then looking on the young man thus he saide within himselfe If the inward endowments of the mind doe paralell the outward perfections of body the World cannot yeeld a more compleate man Now as good natures are quickly incited to compassion especially in cases almost commanding it and compassion knocking at the doore of the soule doth quicken the memory with many passed recordations so this noble Admirall aduisedly beholding poore condemned Guion conceiued that he had somewhat seene him before this instant and vpon this perswasion euen as if diuine vertue had tutured his tongue he saide Is not thy name Guion di Procida Marke now how quickly misery can receiue comfort vpon so poore and silly a question for Guion began to eleuate his deiected countenance and looking on the Admirall returned him this answere Sir heretofore I haue been the man which you spake of but now both that name and man must die with me What misfortune quoth the Admirall hath thus vnkindly crost thee Loue answered Guion and the Kings displeasure Then the Admirall would needs know the whole history at large which briefly was related to him and hauing heard how all had happened as he was turning his Horse to ride away thence Guion called to him saying Good my Lord entreate one fauour for me if possible it may be What is that replyed the Admirall You see Sir quoth Guion that I am very shortly to breathe my last all the grace which I doe most humbly entreate is that as I am here with this chaste Virgin whom I honour and loue beyond my life and miserably bound backe to backe our faces may be turned each to other to the end that when the fire shall finish my life by looking on her my soule may take her flight in full felicity The Admirall smyling saide I will doe for thee what I can and perhaps thou mayest so long looke on her as thou wilt be weary and desire to looke off her At his departure he commanded them that had the charge of this execution to proceede no further vntill they heard more from the King to whom hee gallopped immediately and although hee beheld him to be very angerly moued yet he spared not to speake in this manner Sir wherin haue those poore young couple offended you that are so shamefully to be burnt at Palermo The King told him whereto the Admirall pursuing still his purpose thus replyed Beleeue me Sir if true loue be an offence then theirs may be termed to be one and albeit it did deserue death yet farre be it from thee to inflict it on them for as faults doe iustly require punishment so doe good turnes as equally merit grace and requitall Knowest thou what and who they are whom thou hast so dishonourably condemned to the fire Not I quoth the King Why then I will tell thee answered the Admirall that thou mayest take the better knowledge of them and forbeare hereafter to be so ouer-violently transported with anger The young Gentleman is the Sonne to Landolfo di Procida the onely Brother to Lord Iohn di Procida by whose meanes thou becamest Lord and King of this Countrey The faire young Damosell is the Daughter to Marino Bolgaro whose power extendeth so farre as to preserue thy prerogatiue in Ischia which but for him had long since beene out-rooted there Beside these two maine motiues to challenge iustly grace and fauour from thee they are in the floure and pride of their youth hauing long continued in loyall loue together and compelled by feruency of endeared affection not any wil to displease thy Maiesty they haue offended if it may be termed an offence to loue and in such louely young people as they are Canst thou then find in thine heart to let them die whom thou rather oughtest to honour and recompence with no meane rewards When the King had heard this and beleeued for a certainty that the Admirall told him nothing but truth he appointed not onely that they should proceede no further but also was exceeding sorrowfull for what he had done sending presently to haue them released from the Stake and honourably to be brought before him Being thus enstructed in their seuerall qualities and standing in duty obliged to recompence the wrong which he had done with respectiue honours he caused them to be cloathed in royall garments and knowing them to
them and afterwarâ— had his owne head smitten off 5. Nouell THe three Brethren to Isabella slew a Gentleman that secretly loued her His ghost appeared to her in her sleepe and shewed her in what place they had buried his body She in silent maner brought away his head and putting it into a put of earth such as Flowers Basile or other sweet herbes are vsually set in she watered it a long while with her teares whereof her Brethren hauing intelligence soone after she died with meere conceite of sorow 6. Nouell A Beautifull yong virgin named Andreana became enamored of a young Gentleman called Gabriello In conference together shee declared a dreame of hers to him and he another of his vnto her whereupon Gabriello fell down sodainly dead She and her Chamber-maid were apprehended by the Officers be oâ—ging vnto the Seigneury as they were carrying Gabriello to lay them before his owne doore The Potestate offering violence to the virgin and she resisting him vertuously it came to the vnderstanding of her Father who approued the innocence of his daughter and compassed her deliuerance But she afterward being wearie of all worldly felicities entred into Religion became a Nun. 7. Nouell FAire Simonida affecting Pasquino and walking with him in a pleasant garden it fortuned that Pasquino rubbed his teeth with a leafe of Sage and immediately fell downe dead Simonida being brought before the bench of Iustice and charged with the death of Pasquino she rubbed her teeth likewise with one of the leaues of the same Sage as declaring what she saw him do thereon she dyed also in the same manner 8. Nouell IEronimo affecting a yong Mayden named Syluestra was constrained by the earnest importunity of his Mother to take a iourney to Paris At his returne home from thence againe he found his loue Siluestra maried By secret meanes he got entrance into her house and dyed vpon the bed lying by her Afterward his body being caried vnto the Church to receiue buriall shee likewise died there instantly vpon his coarse 9. Nouell MEsser Guiglielmo of Rossiglione hauing slaine Messer Guiglielmo Guardastagno whom he imagined to loue his wife gaue her his hart to eat Which she knowing afterward threw her self out of an high window to the ground and being dead was then buried with her friend 10. Nouell A Physitians wife laid a Louer of her maids supposing him to be dead in a chest by reason that he had drunke water which vsually was giuen to procure a sleepy entrancing Two Lombard Vsurers stealing the chest in hope of a rich booty caried it into their owne house where afterwardes the man awaking was apprehended for a Theefe The Chamber-maid to the Physitians wife going before the bench of Iustice accuseth her self for putting the imagined dead body into the chest wherby he escaped hanging and the Theeues which stole away the chest were condemned to pay a very great summe of money The Fift day Gouerned by Madame Fiammetta 1. Nouell CHynon by falling in loue became wise and by force of Armes winning his faire Ladye Iphigema on the seas was afterward imprisoned at Rhodes Being deliuered by one name Lisimachus with him he recouered his Iphigenia againe and faire Cassandra euen in the middest of their mariage They fled with them into Candye where after they had maried them they wer called home to their owne dwelling 2. Nouell FAire Constance of Liparis fell in Loue with Martuccio Gonâ—â—to and hearing that hee was dead dâ—sperately she entred into a Barke which being transported by the winds to Susa in Barbary from thence she went to Thunis where she fouÌ„d him to be liuing There she made her selfe knowne to him and he being in great authority as a priuy Counsellor to the King he maried the saide Constance and returned richly home to her to the Island of Liparis 3. Nouell PEdro Bocamazzo escaping away with a yong Damosel which he loued named Angelina met with Theeues in his iourney The Damoseâ— flying fearfully into a Forest by chaunce commeth to a Castle Pedro being taken by the theeues hapning afterward to escape from them accidentally came to the same Castle where Angelina waâ— marying her they then returned home to Rome 4. Nouell RIcciardo Manardy was found by Messer Lizio da Valbonna as he sat fast asleep at his daughters chamber window hauing his hand fast in hirs and sleeping in the same manner Wherupon they were ioyned together in mariage and their long loyall loue mutually recompenced 5. Nouell GVidotto of Cremona departing out of this mortall life left a daughter of his with Iacomino of Pauia Giouanni di Seuerino and Menghino da Minghole fel both in loue with the yong Maiden and fought for her who being afterward knowne to be the sister to Giouanni shee was giuen in mariage to Menghino 6. Nouell GVion di Procida being found familiarly conuersing with a yong Damosel which he loued and had bene giuen formerly to Frederigo King of Sicily was bound to a stake to bee consumed with fire From which danger neuerthelesse hee escaped being knowne by Don Rogiero de Oria Lorde Admirall of Sicily and afterward marryed the Damosel 7. Nouelâ— THeodoro falling in loue with Violenta the daughter to his Master named Amarige and she conceyuing with childe by him was condemnd to be hanged As they were leading him vnto the gallowes beating and misusing him all the way hee happened to bee knowne by his owne Father whereupon he was released and afterward inioyed Violent a in mariage 8. Nouell ANastasio a Gentleman of the Family of the Honesti by louing the daughter to signior Pauâ—o Trauersario lauishly wasted a great part of his substance without receiuing any loue from her againe By perswasion of some of his kindred and friends he went to a countrey dwelling of his called Chiasso where hee saw a Knight desperately pursue a yong Damosell whom he slew afterward gaue her to be deuoured by his hounds A tastasio inuited his friends and herâ— also whom he so â—eâ—â—rly loued to take part of a dinner with him who likewise sawe the sâ—â—e Damosell so torne in peeces which his vnkind loue perceiuing fearing least the like ill fortune should happen to her she accepted Anastasio to bee her husband 9. Nouell FRederigo of the Alberighi Family loued a Gentlewoman and was not requited with like loue againe By bountiful expences and ouer liberal inuitations hee wasted and consumed all his lands and goods hauing nothing lefte him but a Hawke or Faulcon His vnkinde Mistresse happeneth to come visit him and he not hauing any other food for her dinner made a dainty dish of his Faulcon for her to feed on Being conquered by this his exceeding kinde courtesie she changed her former hatred towards him accepting him as her husband in marriage and made him a man of wealthy possessions 10. Nouell PEdro di Vinciolo went to sup at a friends house in the City His wife in the meane while had a
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
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
Laiazzo Being thus come to Laiazzo Osbech who was a braue and gallant young man vpon a reuiew of the pillage found the faire Lady whom hee knew to be the beloued of Constantine because shee was found lying on his bed Without any further delay he made choyse of her to be his Wife causing his nuptials to be honourably sollemnized and many moneths hee liued there in great ioy with her But before occasions grew to this effect the Emperour made a confederacy with Bassano King of Cappadocia that hee should descend with his forces one way vpon Osbech and hee would assault him with his power on the other But he could not so conueniently bring this to passe because the Emperour would not yeeld to Bassano in any vnreasonable matter he demanded Neuerthelesse when he vnderstood what had happened to his Son for whom his griefe was beyond all measure he granted the King of Cappadociaes request solliciting him withall instancy to be the more speedy in assailing Osbech It was not long before hee heard of this coniuration made against him and therefore speedily mustered vp all his forces ere he would be encompassed by two such potent Kings and marched on to meete the King of Cappadocia leauing his Lady and Wife for her safety at Laiazzo in the custodie of a true and loyall seruant of his Within a short while after he drew neere the Campe belonging to the King of Cappadocia where boldly he gaue him battell chancing therein to be slaine his Army broken and discomfited by meanes whereof the King of Cappadocia remaining Conquerour marched on towards Laiazzo euery one yeelding him obeysance all the way as he went In the meane space the seruant to Osbech who was named Antiochus and with whom the faire Lady was left in guard although hee was aged yet seeing shee was so extraordinarily beautifull he fell in loue with her forgetting the sollemne vowes he had made to his Master One happinesse hee had in this case to helpe him namely that he vnderstood and could speake her language a matter of no meane comfort to her who constrainedly had liued diuers yeeres together in the state of a deafe or dumbe woman because euery where else they vnderstood her not nor shee them but by shewes and signes This benefit of familiar conference beganne to embolden his hopes eleuate his courage and make him seeme more youthfull in his owne opinion then any ability of body could speake vnto him or promise him in the possession of her who was so farre beyond him and so vnequall to be enioyed by him yet to aduance his hopes a great deale higher newes came that Osbech was vanquished and slaine and that Bassano made euerie where hauocke of all whereon they concluded together not to tarrie there any longer but storing themselues with the goods of Osbech secretly they departed thence to Rhodes Being seated there in some indifferent abiding it came to passe that Antiochus fell into a deadly sicknesse to whom came a Cyprian Merchant one much esteemed by him as being an intimate friend and kinde acquaintance and in whom hee reposed no small confidence Feeling his sicknesse to encrease more and more vpon him dayly hee determined not onely to leaue such wealth as hee had to this Merchant but the faire Lady likewise and calling them both to his beds side he brake his minde vnto them in this manner Deare Loue and my most worthily respected friend I perceiue plainly and infallibly that I am drawing neere vnto my end which much discontenteth me because my hope was to haue liued longer in this world for the enioying of your kinde and most esteemed company Yet one thing maketh my death very pleasing and welcome to me namely that lying thus in my bed of latest comfort in this life I shall expire and finish my course in the armes of those two persons whom I most affected in all this world as you my euer dearest friend and you faire Lady whom since the very first sight of you I loued and honoured in my soule Irksome and very grieuous it is to me that if I dye I shall leaue you here a stranger without the counsaile and helpe of any body and yet much more offensiue would it become if I had not such a friend as you here present who I am faithfully perswaded will haue the like care and respect of her euen for my sake as of my selfe if time had allotted my longer tarying here And therefore worthy friend most earnestly I desire you that if I dye all mine affaires and she may remaine to your trusty care as being by my selfe absolutely commended to your prouidence and so to dispose both of the one and other as may best agree with the comfort of my soule As for you choise beauty I humbly entreate that after my death you would not forget mee to the end I may make my vaunt in another world that I was affected here by the onely fairest Lady that euer Nature framed If of these two things you will giue me assurance I shall depart from you with no meane comfort The friendly Merchant and likewise the Lady hearing these words wept both bitterly and after hee had giuen ouer speaking kindly they comforted him with promise and solemne vowes that if hee dyed all should be performed which he had requested Within a short while after he departed out of this life and they gaue him very honourable buriall according to that Country custome Which being done the Merchant dispatching all his affaires at Rhodes was desirous to returne home to Cyprus in a Carrack of the Catelans then there being mouing the Lady in the matter to vnderstand how shee stood enclined because vrgent occasions called him thence to Cyprus The Lady made answere that she was willing to passe thither with him hoping for the loue hee bare to deceased Antiochus that he would respect her as his Sister The Merchant was willing to giue her any contentment but yet resolued her that vnder the title of being his Sister it would be no warrant of security to them both wherefore hee rather aduised her to stile him as her husband and hee would terme her his wife and so hee should be sure to defend her from all iniuries whatsoeuer Being abord the Carrack they had a Cabine and small bed conueniently allowed them where they slept together that they might the better be reputed as man and wife for to passe otherwise would haue beene very dangerous to them both And questionlesse their faithfull promise made at Rhodes to Antiochus sicknesse on the Sea and mutuall respect they had of each others credit was a constant restraint to all wanton desires and a motiue rather to incite chastity then otherwise and so I hope you are perswaded of them But howsoeuer the windes blewe merily the Carrack sayled lustily and by this time they are arriued at Baffa where the Cyprian Merchant dwelt and where shee continued a long while with him no one
am determined not to conceale any of mine from you True it is that in my younger yeeres being left a widow I entirely affected an vnfortunate young Gentleman who in secret was my Husband and whose death is imposed on my Father The death of him I haue the more bemoaned because in reason it did neerely concerne me by shewing my selfe so sauage and rigorous to him before his departure neuerthelesse let me assure you Sir that neither his parting long absence from me or his vntimely death neuer had the power to bereaue my heart of his remembrance Madame saide the Pilgrime the vnfortunate young Gentleman that is slaine did neuer loue you but sure I am that Thebaldo Elisei loued you dearely But tell me what was the occasion whereby you conceiued such hatred against him Did he at any time offend you No trulie Sir quoth shee but the reason of my anger towards him was by the wordes and threatnings of a religious Father to whom once I reuealed vnder confession how faithfully I affected him and what priuate familiarity had passed betweene vs. When instantly he vsed such dreadfull threatnings to me and which euen yet doe afflict my soule that if I did not abstaine and vtterly refuse him the Diuell would fetch me quicke to Hell and cast me into the bottome of his quenchlesse and euerlasting fire These menaces were so preuailing with me as I refused all further conuersation with Thebaldo in which regard I would receiue neither letters or messages from him Howbeit I am perswaded that if he had continued here still and not departed hence in such desperate manner as he did seeing him melt and consume daily away euen as Snowe by power of the Sunne-beames my austere deliberation had beene long agoe quite altered because not at any time since then life hath not allowed me one merry day neither did I or euer can loue any man like vnto him At these wordes the Pilgrime sighed and then proceeded on againe thus Surely Madam this one onely sin may iustly torment you because I know for a certainty that Thebaldo neuer offered you any iniury since the day he first became enamoured of you and what grace or fauour you affoorded him was your owne voluntary gift and as he tooke it no more then in modesty might well become you for he louing you first you had beene most cruell and vnkinde if you should not haue requited him with the like affection If then he continued so iust and loyall to you as of mine owne knowledge I am able to say he did what should moue you to repulse him so rudely Such matters ought well to be considered on before hand for if you did imagine that you should repeate it as an action ill done yet you could not doe it because as he became yours so were you likewise onely his and he being yours you might dispose of him at your pleasure as being truely obliged to none but you How could you then with-draw your selfe from him being onely his and not commit most manifest theft a farre vnfitting thing for you to doe except you had gone with his consent Now Madam let me further giue you to vnderstand that I am a religious person and a pilgrime and therefore am well acquainted with all the courses of their dealing if therefore I speake somewhat more amply of them and for your good it cannot be so vnseeming for me to doe it as it would appeare vgly in another In which respect I will speake the more freely to you to the ende that you may take better knowledge of them then as it seemeth hitherto you haue done In former passed times such as professed Religion were learned and most holy persons but our religious professours now adayes and such as coueâ— to be so esteemed haue no matter at all of Religion in them but onely the outward shew habite Which yet is no true badge of Religion neither because it was ordained by religious institutions that their garments should be made of narrow plaine and coursest spun cloth to make a publike manifestation to the world that in meere deuotion and religious disposition by wrapping their bodies in such base clothing they condemned and despised all temporall occasions But now adayes they make them large deepe glistering and of the finest cloth or stuffes to be gotten reducing those habites to so proude and pontificall a forme that they walke Peacock-like rustling and strouting with them in the Churches yea and in open publike places as if they were ordinary secular persons to haue their pride more notoriously obserued And as the Angler bestoweth his best cunning with one line and baite to catch many fishes at one strike euen so do these counterfeted habite-mongers by their dissembling and crafty dealing beguile many credulous widowes simple women yea and men of weake capacity to credit whatsoeuer they doe or say and herein they doe most of all excercise themselues And to the end that my speeches may not sauour of any vntruth against them these men which I speake of haue not any habite at all of religious men but onely the colour of their garments and whereas they in times past desired nothing more then the saluation of mens soules these fresher witted fellowes couet after women wealth and employ all their paines by their whispering confessions and figures of painted feareful examples to affright and terrifie vnsetled and weake consciences by horrible and blasphemous speeches yet adding a perswasion withall that their sinnes may be purged by Almes-deedes and Masses To the end that such as credit them in these their dayly courses being guided more by apparance of deuotion then any true compunction of heart to escape seuere penances by them enioyned may some of them bring bread others wine others coyne all of them matter of commoditie and benefit and simply say these gifts are for the soules of their good friends deceased I make not any doubt but Almes-deedes and prayers are very mighty and preuailing meanes to appease heauens anger for some sinnes committed but if such as bestow them did either see or know to whom they giue them they would more warily keepe them or else cast them before Swine in regard they are altogether so vnworthy of them But come we now to the case of your ghostly father crying out in your eare that secret mariage was a most greeuous sinne Is not the breach thereof farre greater Familiar conuersation betweene man and woman is a concession meerely naturall but to rob kill or banish any one proceedeth from the mindes malignity That you did rob Thebaldo your selfe hath already sufficiently witnessed by taking that from him which with free consent in mariage you gaue him Next I must say that by all the power remaining in you you kild him because you would not permit him to remaine with you declaring your selfe in the very height of cruelty that hee might destroy his life by his owne hands In which case the Law
them At length Pasquino chanced to crop a leafe of the Sage wherewith he both rubbed his teeth and gummes and champing it betweene them also saying that there was no better thing in the world to cleanse the teeth withall after feeding Not long had he thus champed the Sage in his teeth returning to his former kinde of discoursing but his countenance began to change very pale his sight failed and speech forsooke him so that in briefe he fell downe dead Which when Simonida beheld wringing her hands she cryed out for helpe to Strambo and Lagina who immediately came running to her They finding Pasquino not onely to be dead but his bodie swolne and strangely ouer-spred with foule black spots both on his face handes and all parts else beside Strambo cried out saying Ah wicked maide what hast thou poisoned him These words and their shrill out-cries also were heard by Neighbours dwelling neere to the Garden who comming in sodainly vppon them and seeing Pasquino lying dead and hugely swoln Strambo likewise complaining and accusing Simonida to haue poysoned him shee making no answer but standing in a gastly amazement all her senses meerely confounded at such a strange and vncouth accident in loosing him whome she so dearely loued knew not how to excuse her selfe and therfore euery one verily beleeued that Strambo had not vniustly accused her Poore woful maide thus was shee instantly apprehended and drowned in her teares they led her along to the Potestates Palace where her accusation was iustified by Strambo Lagina and two men more the one named Atticciato and the other Malageuole fellowes and companions with Pasquino who came into the Garden also vpon the out-cry The Iudge without any delay at all gaue eare to the busines and examined the case very strictly but could by no meanes comprehend that any malice should appeare in her towards him nor that she was guiltie of the mans death Wherefore in the preâ—ence of Simonida hee desired to see the dead body and the place where he fell downe dead because there he intended to haue her relate how she saw the accident to happen that her owne speeches might the sooner condemne her whereas the case yet remained doubtfull and farre beyond his comprehension So without any further publication and to auoid the following of the turbulent multitude they departed from the bench of Iustice and came to the place where Pasquinoes body lay swolne like a Tunne Demanding there questions concerning his behauiour when they walked there in conference together and not a little admiring the manner of his death while hee stood aduisedly considering thereon She going to the bed of Sage reporting the whole precedent history euen from the original to the ending the better to make the case vnderstood without the least colour of ill carriage towardes Pasquino according as she had seene him do euen so did she plucke another leafe of the Sage rubbing her teeth therewith and champing it as he formerly did Strambo and the other intimate friends of Pasquino hauing noted in what manner she vsed the Sage and this appearing as her vtmost refuge either to acquit or condemne her in presence of the Iudge they smiled thereat mocking and deriding whatsoeuer shee saide or did and desiring the more earnestly the sentence of death against her that her body might be consumed with fire as a iust punishment for her abhominable transgression Poore Simonida sighing and sorrowing for her deere loues losse and perhappes not meanly terrified with the strict infliction of torment so seuerely vrged and followed by Strambo and the rest standing dumb still without answering so much as one word by tasting of the same Sage fell downe dead by the bed euen by the like accident as Pasquino formerly did to the admirable astonishment of all there present Oh poore infortunate Louers whose Starres were so inauspicious to you as to finish both your mortall liues and feruent loue in lesse limitation then a dayes space How to censure of your deaths and happines to ensue thereon by an accident so straunge and ineuitable it is not within the compasse of my power but to hope the best and so I leaue you But yet concerning Simonida her selfe in the common opinion of vs that remaine liuing her true vertue and innocency though Fortune was other wise most cruell to her would not suffer her to sinke vnder the testimony of Strambo Lagina Atticciato and Malageuole being but carders of wool or perhaps of meaner condition a happier course was ordained for her to passe clearly from their infamous imputation and follow her Pasquino in the verie same manner of death and with such a speedie expedition The Iudge standing amazed and all there present in his companie were silent for a long while together but vppon better re-collection of his spirits thus he spake This inconuenience which thus hath hapned and confounded our senses with no common admiration in mine opinion concerneth the bed of Sage auouching it either to bee venomous or dangerously infected which neuerthelesse is seldom found in Sage But to the end that it may not be offensiue to any more heereafter I will haue it wholly digd vp by the rootes and then to bee burnt in the open Market place Hereupon the Gardiner was presently sent for and before the Iudge would depart thence he saw the bed of Sage digged vp by the roots and found the true occasion whereby these two poore Louers lost their liues For iust in the middest of the bed and at the maine roote which directed all the Sage in growth lay an huge mighty Toad euen weltring as it were in a hole full of poyson by meanes whereof in coniecture of the Iudge and all the rest the whole bed of Sage became envenomed occasioning euery leafe thereof to be deadly in taste None being so hardie as to approach neere the Toade they made a pile of wood directly ouer it and setting it on a flaming fire threw all the Sage therinto and so they were consumed together So ended all further suite in Lawe concerning the deaths of Pasquino and Simonida whose bodies being carried to the Church of Saint Paul by their sad and sorrowfull accusers Strambo Lagina Atticciato and Malageuole were buried together in one goodlie Monument for a future memory of their hard Fortune Ieronimo affecting a yong Maiden named Siluestra was constrained by the earnest importunity of his Mother to take a iourney to Paris At his return home from thence againe hee found his loue Siluestra married By secret meanes he got entrance into her house and dyed vpon the bed lying by her Afterward his body being carried to Church to receiue buriall she likewise died there instantly vpon his coarse The eight Nouell Wherein is againe declared the great indiscretion and folly of them that think to constraine loue according to their will after it is constantly setled before With other instructions concerning the vnspeakeable power of Loue. MAdam Emillia had no sooner concluded
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
descended from the window and the other Ambassadours with him running in among the Sergeants to embrace his Sonne and casting his owne rich Cloake about his whipt body entreating them to forbeare and proceed no further till they heard what command he should returne withall vnto them which very willingly they promised to doe Already by the generall rumour dispersed abroade Phineo had vnderstood the occasion why Pedro was thus punished and sentenced to be hanged wherefore accompanied with his fellow Ambassadours and all their attending traine he went to Signior Conrado and spake thus to him My Lord he whom you haue sent to death as a slaue is a free Gentleman borne and my Sonne able to make her amends whom he hath dishonored by taking her in mariage as his lawfull Wife Let me therefore entreate you to make stay of the execution vntill it may be knowne whether she will accept him as her Husband or no least if she be so pleased you offend directly against your owne Law When Signior Conrado heard that Pedro was Sonne to the Lord Ambassadour he wondered thereat not a little and being somewhat ashamed of his fortunes errour confessed that the claime of Phineo was conformable to Law and ought not to be denied him going presently to the Councell Chamber sending for Signior Amarigo immediately thither and acquainting him fully with the case Amarigo who beleeued that his Daughter and her Child were already dead was the wofullest man in the World for his so rash proceeding knowing very well that if shee were not dead the scandall would easily be wipt away with credit Wherefore he sent in all poast haste to the place where his Daughter lay that if his command were not already executed by no meanes to haue it done at all He who went on this speedy errand found there Signior Amarigoes seruant standing before Violenta with the Cup of poyson in his one hand and the drawne Rapier in the other reproaching herewith very foule and iniurious speeches because shee had delayed the time so long and would not accept the one or other striuing by violence to make her take the one But hearing his Masters command to the contrary he left her and returned backe to him certifying him how the case stood Most highly pleased was Amarigo with these glad newes and going to the Ambassadour Phineo in teares excused himselfe so well as he could for his seuerity and crauing pardon assured him that if Theodoro would accept his Daughter in mariage willingly he would bestow her on him Phineo allowed his excuses to be tollerable and saide beside If my Sonne will not mary your Daughter then let the sentence of death be executed on him Amarigo and Phineo being thus accorded they went to poore Theodoro fearefully looking euery minute when he should die yet ioyfull that he had found his Father who presently moued the question to him Theodoro hearing that Violenta should be his Wife if he would so accept her was ouercome with such exceeding ioy as if he had leapt out of hell into Paradise confessing that no greater felicity could befall him if Violenta her selfe were so well pleased as he The like motion was made to her to vnderstand her disposition in this case who hearing what good hap had befalne Theodoro and now in like manner must happen to her whereas not long before when two such violent deathes were prepared for her and one of them she must needes embrace shee accounted her misery beyond all other womens but shee now thought her selfe aboue all in happinesse if she might be wife to her beloued Theodoro submitting her selfe wholy to her Fathers disposing The mariage being agreed on betweene them it was celebrated with great pompe and sollemnity a generall Feast being made for all the Citizens and the young maried couple nourished vp their sweete Son which grew to be a very comely childe After that the Embassie was dispatched at Rome and Phineo with the rest was returned thither againe Violenta did reuerence him as her owne naturall Father and he was not a little proud of so louely a Daughter beginning a fresh feasting againe and continuing the same a whole moneth together Within some short while after a Galley being fairely furnished for the purpose Phineo his Sonne Daughter and their young Son went aboard sayling away thence to Laiazzo where afterward they liued long in much tranquility Anastasio a Gentleman of the Family of the Honesti by louing the Daughter to Signior Paulo Trauersario lauishly wasted a great part of his substance without receiuing any loue from her againe By perswasion of some of his kindred and friends he went to a Countrey dwelling of his called Chiasso where he saw a Knight desperately pursue a young Damosell whom he slew and afterward gaue her to be deuoured by his Hounds Anastasio inuited his friends and hers also whom he so dearely loued to take part of a dinner with him who likewise saw the same Damosell so torne in peeces which his vnkind Loue perceiuing and fearing least the like ill fortune should happen to her shee accepted Anastasio to be her Husband The eighth Nouell Declaring that Loue not onely makes a man prodigall but also an enemy to himselfe Moreouer aduenture oftentimes bringeth such matters to passe as wit and cunning in man can neuer comprehend SO soone as Madam Lauretta held her peace Madam Philomena by the Queenes command began and saide Louely Ladies as pitty is most highly commended in our Sexe euen so is cruelty in vs as seuerely reuenged oftentimes by diuine ordination Which that you may the better know and learne likewise to shun as a deadly euill I purpose to make apparant by a Nouell no lesse full of compassion then delectable Rauenna being a very ancient City in Romania there dwelt sometime a great number of worthy Gentlemen among whom I am to speake of one more especially named Anastasio descended from the Family of the Honesti who by the death of his Father and an Vnkle of his was left extraordinarily abounding in riches and growing to yeeres fitting for mariage as young Gallants are easily apt enough to doe he became enamoured of a very beautifull Gentlewoman who was Daughter to Signior Paulo Trauersario one of the most ancient and noble Families in all the Countrey Nor made he any doubt but by his meanes and industrious endeuour to deriue affection from her againe for hee carried himselfe like a braue minded Gentleman liberall in his expences honest and affable in all his actions which commonly are the true notes of a good nature and highly to be commended in any man But howsoeuer Fortune became his enemy these laudable parts of manhood did not any way friend him but rather appeared hurtfull to him so cruell vnkind and almost meerely sauage did she shew her selfe to him perhaps in pride of her singular beauty or presuming on her nobility by birth both which are on her blemishes then ornaments in a woman especially when
a great stone into the same Well Tofano hearing the fall of the stone into the Well and being perswaded that it was his Wife indeed came forth of his house and ran to the Welles side In the meane while his wife gotte into the house made fast the doore against her Husband and gaue him many reproachfull speeches The Fourth Nouell Wherein is manifested that the malice and subtilty of a woman surpasseth all the Art or Wit in man SO soone as the King perceyued that the Nouell reported by Madame Eliza was finished hee turned himselfe to Madame Lauretta and told her it was his pleasure that she should now begin the next whereto she yeelded in this manner O Loue What and how many are thy preuailing forces How straunge are thy foresights And how admirable thine attempts Where is or euer was the Philosopher or Artist that could enstruct the wiles escapes preuentions and demonstrations which sodainly thou teachest such as are thy apt and vnderstanding Schollers indeede Certaine it is that the documents and eruditions of all other whatsoeuer are weak or of no worth in respect of thine as hath notably appeared by the remonstrances already past and whereto worthy Ladies I wil adde another of a simple woman who taught her husband such a lesson as shee neuer learned of any but Loue himselfe There dwelt sometime in Arezzo which is a faire Village of Tuscany a rich man named Tofano who enioyed in marriage a young beautifull woman called Oneta of whom without any occasion giuen or reason knowne to himselfe he became exceeding iealous Which his wife perceyuing she grew much offended thereat and tooke it in great scorne that she should be seruile to so vile and slauish a condition Oftentimes she demanded of him from whence this iealousie in him receiued originall he hauing neuer seene or heard of any he could make her no other answer but what his owne bad humour suggested and droue him euery day almost to deaths doore by feare of that which no way needed But whether as a iust scourge for this his grosse folly or a secret decree ordained to him by Fortune and the Fates I am not able to distinguish It came so to passe that a young Gallant made meanes to enioy her fauour and she was so discreetly wise in iudging of his worthinesse that affection passed so farre mutually betweene them as nothing wanted but effects to answere words suited with time and place conuenient for which order was taken as best they might yet to stand free from all suspition Among many other euill conditions very frequent and familiar in her husband Tofano he tooke a great delight in drinking which not only he held to be a commendable quality but was alwaies so often solicited thereto that Cheta her selfe began to like and allow it in him feeding his humor so effectually with quaffing and carowsing that at any time when she listed she could make him bowsie beyonde all measure and leauing him sleeping in this drunkennesse would alwayes get her selfe to bed By helpe heereof she compassed the first familiarity with her friend yea diuers times after as occasion serued and so confidently did she builde on her husbands drunkennesse that not onely shee aduentured to bring her friend home into her owne house but also would as often go to his which was some-what neere at hand and abide with him there the most part of the night season While Cheta thus continued on these amorous courses it fortuned that her slye suspitious husband beganne to perceiue that though shee drunke very much with him yea vntill he was quite spent and gone yet she remained fresh and sober still and therby imagined strange matters that he being fast asleepe his wife then tooke aduantage of his drowsinesse and might and so forth Beeing desirous to make experience of this his distrust hee returned home at night not hauing drunke any thing all the whole day dissembling both by his words and behauiour as if he were-notoriously drunke indeede Which his Wife constantly beleeuing saide to her selfe That hee had now more neede of sleepe then drinke getting him immediately into his warme bed and then going downe the staires againe softly went out of doores vnto her Friends house as formerly she had vsed to do and there shee remained vntill midnight Tofano perceiuing that his Wife came not to bed and imagining to haue heard his doore both open and shut arose out of his bed and calling his Wife Cheta diuers times without any answere returned hee went downe the staires and finding the doore but closed too made it fast and sure on the inside and then got him vp to the window to watch the returning home of his wife from whence shee came and then to make her conditions apparantly knowne So long there he stayed till at the last she returned indeede and finding the doore so surely shut shee was exceeding sorrowful essaying how she might get it open by strēgth which when Tofano had long suffered her in vaine to approoue thus hee spake to her Cheta Cheta all thy labour is meerely lost because heere is no entrance allowed for thee therefore return to the place from whence thou camest that all thy friends may iudge of thy behauiour and know what a night-walker thou art become The woman hearing this vnpleasing language began to vse all humble entreaties desiring him for charities sake to open the doore and admit her entrance because she had not bin in any such place as his ielous suspition might suggest to him but onely to visit a weak sickly neighbour the nights being long she not as yet capeable of sleepe nor willing to sit alone in the house But all her perswasions serued to no purpose he was so setled in his owne opinion that all the Town should now see her nightly gading which before was not so much as suspected Cheta seeing that faire meanes would not preuaile shee entred into roughe speeches and threatnings saying If thou wilt not open the doore and let me come in I will so shame thee as neuer base man was As how I pray thee answered Tofano what canst thou do to me The woman whom loue had inspired with sprightly counsell ingeniously enstructing her what to do in this distresse stearnly thus replyed Before I will suffer any such shame as thou intendest towards mee I will drowne my selfe heere in this Well before our doore where being found dead and thy villanous iealousie so apparantly knowne beside thy more then beastly drunkennesse all the neighbours will constantly beleeue that thou didst first strangle me in the house and afterwardes threw me into this Well So either thou must flie vpon the supposed offence or lose all thy goodes by banishment or which is much more fitting for thee haue thy head smitten off as a wilfullmurtherer of thy wife for all will iudge it to be no otherwise All which wordes mooued not Tofano a iot from his obstinat determination but he
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
to be there when the Beast shall be sent for you I speake it the rather because it is cold weather and you Gentlemen Physitians can hardly endure it You are carefull of mee quoth the Doctor and I thanke you for it but I applaud my faire Starres I am none of your nice or easie-frozen fellowes because cold weather is very familiar to me I dare assure you when I arise in the night time for that naturall office whereto all men are subiect I weare no warmer defence then my thin wastcoat ouer my shirt and finde it sufficient for the coldest weather at any time When Bruno and Buffalmaco had taken their leaue the Physitian so soone as night drew neere vsed many apt excuses to his wife stealing forth his Scarlet Gowne and Hood vnseene of any wherewith being clothed at the time appointed he got vpon one of the Marble Tombes staying there quaking with cold awaiting when the Beast should come Buffalmaco being a lusty tall man of person had got an vgly masking suite such as are made vse of in Tragedies and Playes the out-side being of black shagged haire wherwith being cloathed he seemed like a strange deformed Beare and a Diuels vizard ouer his face with two gastly horrible hornes and thus disguised Bruno following him they went to behold the issue of the businesse so farre as the new Market place closely adioining to Santa Maria Nouella Hauing espyed Master Doctor vppon the Tombe Buffalmaco in his mishapen habite began to bound leape and carriere snuffling and blowing in mad and raging manner which when the Physitian saw his haire stood on end he quaked and trembled as being more fearfull then a Woman wishing himselfe at home againe in his house rather then to behold a sight so dreadfull But because he was come forth and had such an earnest desire to see the wonders related to him he made himselfe so coragious as possibly he could and bare all out in formall manner After that Buffalmaco had an indifferent while plaide his horse-trickes ramping and stamping somewhat strangely seeming as become of much milder temper he went neere to the Tomb whereon the Physitian stood and there appeared to stay contentedly Master Doctor trembling and quaking still extreamely was so farre dismayed as he knew not what was best to be done either to mount on the beasts backe or not to mount at all In the end thinking no harme could happen to him if he were once mounted with the second feare hee expelled the former and descending downe softly from the Tombe mounted on the beast saying out a lowde God Saint Dominicke and my good Angell helpe to defend mee Seating himselfe so well as he could but trembling still exceedingly he crossed his armes ouer his stomacke according to the Lesson giuen him Then did Buffalmaco shape his course in milde manner toward Santa Maria della Scala and groping to finde his way in the darke went on so farre as the Sisters of Ripole commonly called the Virgin Sanctuary Not farre off from thence were diuers trenches ditches wherein such men as are imployed in necessary night-seruices vsed to empty the Countesse di Cimillari and afterward imployed it for manuring Husbandmens grounds Buffalmaco being come neere one of them he stayed to breath himselfe awhile and then catching fast hold on one of the Doctours feete raysed him somewhat higher on his back for the easier discharging of his burthen and so pitched him with his head forwardes into the Lay-stall Then began he to make a dreadful kinde of noise stamping and trampling with his feete passing backe againe to Santa Maria della Scala and to Prato d'Ognissanti where hee met with Bruno who was constrained to forsake him because he could not refraine from lowde Laughter then both together went backe once more to see how the Physitian would behaue himselfe being so sweetely embrued Master Doctor seeing himselfe to ben in such an abhominable stinking place laboured with all his vtmost endeuouâ— to get himself released thence but the more he contended and stroue or getting forth he plunged himselfe the further in being most pitifully myred from head to foot sighing and sorrowing extraordinarily because much of the foule water entâ—ed in at his mouth In the end being forced to leaue his hood behinde him scrâ—mbling both with his hands and feet he got landing out of his stinking Labyrinth hauing no other means home he returned to his own house where knocking at the doore he was at length admitted entrance The doore being scarse made fast againe after his letting in Buffalmaco and Bruno were there arriued listning how M. Doctor should bee welcomd home by his angry wife who scolding and railing at him with wonderfull impatience gaue him most hard and bitter speeches terming him the vilest man liuing Where haue you bin Sir quoth she Are you becom a night-walker after other Women And could no worse garments serue your turne but your Doctors gown of Scarlet Am I to suffer this behauiour Or am not I sufficient to content you but you must be longing after change I would thou hadst bin stifled in that foule filth where thy fouler life did iustly cast thee Behold goodly Master Doctor of the Leystall who being maried to an honest woman must yet go abroad in the night time insatiatly lusting after whores and harlots With these and the like intemperate speeches she ceased not to afflict and torment him till the night was almost spent and the Doctor brought into a sweeter sauour The next morning Bruno and Buffalmaco hauing colourd their bodyes with a strange kinde of painting resembling blisters swellings and bruises as if they had bin extreamly beaten came to the Physitians house finding him to be newly vp al the house yet smelling of his foule sauour although it had bin very well perfumed and being admitted to him in the Garden hee welcommed them with the mornings salutations But Bruno and Buffalmaco being otherwise prouided for him deliuering stearne and angry lookes stamping and chafing Bruno thus replyed Neuer speake so faire and flattering to vs for we are moued beyond all compasse of patience All misfortunes in the worlde fall vpon you and an euill death may you dye like the most false and perfidious Traitor liuing on the earth We must beate our braines and moue all our most endeared friends onely for your honor and aduancement while wee were well neere starued to death in the cold like Dogs and by your breach of promise haue bin this night so extreamly beaten as if like Asses we should haue beene driuen to Rome But that which is most greeuous of all is danger of excluding out of the Society where wee tooke good order for your admittance and for your most honourable entertainment If you wil not credit vs behold our bodies and let your owne eyes be witnesses in what cruell manner we haue bin beaten So taking him aside vnder the Gallery where they might not be discouered by ouermuch
in it in the presence of Saladine was inuisibly carried thence and while he sate conferring with his Baschaes the bed Signior Thorello and all the rich Iewells about him was transported and set in the Church of San Pietro in Ciel d' Ore in Pauia according to his own request and soundly sleeping being placed directly before the high Altar Afterward when the bells rung to Mattines the Sexton entring the Church with a light in his hand where hee beheld a light of greater splendor and suddenly espied the sumptuous bedde there standing not only was he smitten into admiration but hee ranne away also very fearefully When the Abbot and the Monkes mette him thus running into the Cloyster they became amazed and demanded the reason why he ranne in such haste which the Sexton told them How quoth the Abbot thou art no childe or a new-come hither to be so easilie affrighted in our holy Church where Spirits can haue no power to walke God and Saint Peter wee hope are stronger for vs then so wherefore turne backe with vs and let vs see the cause of thy feare Hauing lighted many Torches the Abbot and his Monkes entred with the Sexton into the Church where they beheld the wonderfull riche bedde and the Knight lying fast a-sleepe in it While they stood all in amazement not daring to approach neere the bedde whereon lay such costly Iewells it chanced that Signior Thorello awaked and breathed forth a vehement sigh The Monkes and the Abbot seeing him to stirre ranne all away in feare crying aloud God and S. Peter defend vs. By this time Thorello had opened his eyes and looking round about him perceiued that hee was in the place of Saladines promise whereof hee was not a little ioyfull Wherefore sitting vp in the bedde and particularly obseruing all the things about him albeit he knew sufficiently the magnificence of Saladine yet now it appeared far greater to him and imagined more largely thereof then hee could doe before But yet without any other ceremony seeing the flight of the Monkes hearing their cry and perceiuing the reason he called the Abbot by his name desiring him not to be afraid for he was his Nephew Thorello and no other When the Abbot heard this hee was ten times worse affrighted then before because by publique fame hee had beene so many moneths dead and buried but receiuing by true arguments better assurance of him and hearing him still call him by his name blessing himselfe with the signe of the Crosse hee went somewhat neerer to the bed when Thorello said My louing Vncle and religious holy Father wherof are you afraid I am your louing Nephew newly returned from beyond the Seas The Abbot seeing his beard to be grown long and his habit after the Arabian fashion did yet collect some resemblance of his former countenance and being better perswaded of him tooke him by the hand saying Sonne thou art happily returned yet there is not any man in our Citie but doth verily beleeue thee to bee dead and therefore doe not much wonder at our feare Moreouer I dare assure thee that thy Wife Adalietta being conquered by the controuling command and threatnings of her kinred but much against her owne minde is this very morning to be married to a new husband and the marriage feast is solemnly prepared in honour of this second nuptialls Thorello arising out of the bedde gaue gracious salutations to the Abbot and his Monkes intreating earnestly of them all that no word might be spoken of his returne vntill he had compleated an important businesse Afterward hauing safely secured the bedde and all the rich Iewells he fully acquainted the Abbot with all his passed fortunes whereof he was immeasurably ioyfully hauing satisfied him concerning the new elected husband Thorello said vnto the Abbot Vnckle before any rumour of my returne I would gladly see my wiues behauior at this new briding feast although men of religion are seldome seene at such Iouiall meetings yet for my sake doe you so order the matter that I as an Arabian strange◠may be a guest vnder your prorection wherto the Abbot very gladly condescended In the morning he sent to the Bridegroom and aduertised him that he with a stranger newly arriued intented to dine with him which the Gentleman accepted in thankefull manner And when dinner time came Thorello in his strange disguise went with the Abbot to the Bridegroomes house where he was lookt on with admiration of all the guests but not knowne or suspected by any one because the Abbot reported him to be a Sarracine and sent by the Soldane in Ambassage to the King of France Thorello was seated at a by-table but directly opposite to the new Bride whom hee much delighted to looke on and easily collected by her sad countenance that shee was scarcely well pleased with this new nuptialls She likewise beheld him very often not in regard of any knowlege she took of him for the bushiness of his beard strangeness of habit but most of all firm beleefe of his death was the maine preuentiō At such time as Thorello thought it conuenient to approue how farre he was falne out of her remembrance he took the ring which she gaue him at his departure and calling a young Page that waited on none but the Bride said to him in Italian Faire youth goe to the Bride and saluting her from me tell her it is a custome obserued in my Country that when any Stranger as I am heere sitteth before a new married Bride as now shee is in signe that hee is welcome to her feast she sendeth the same Cup wherein she drinketh her selfe full of the best wine and when the stranger hath drunke so much as him pleaseth the Bride then pledgeth him with all the rest The Page deliuered the message to the Bride who being a woman of honourable disposition and reputing him to be a Noble Gentleman to testifie that his presence there was very acceptable to her shee commanded a faire Cuppe of gold which stood directlie before her to bee neately washed and when it was filled with excellent Wine caused it to bee carried to the stranger and so it was done Thorello hauing drunke a heartie draught to the Bride conueyed the Ring into the Cuppe before any person could perceiue it and hauing left but small store of Wine in it couered the Cuppe and sent it againe to the Bride who receiued it very graciously and to honour the Stranger in his Countries custome dranke vp the rest of the Wine and espying the Ring shee tooke it forth vndescried by any Knowing it to be the same Ring which shee gaue Signior Thorello at his parting from her she fixed her eyes often on it as often on him whom she thought to be a stranger the cheerfull bloud mounting vp into her cheeks and returning againe with remembrance to her heart that howsoeuer thus disguised he only was her husband Like one o◠Bacchus Froes vp furiously