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
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
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
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
haue found no mean inducement to loue in regard of my husbands far distance from me medling in the rude vnciuill actions of warre when he should rather be at home in more sweet imployment You see Sir that these Orators aduance themselues here in your presence to acquaint you with the extremity of my ouer-commanding agony and if the same power hath dominion in you which your discretion questionlesse cannot be voide of then let me entreate such aduise from you as may rather helpe then hinder my hopes Beleeue it then for trueth Sir that the long absence of my husband from me the solitary condition wherein I am left ill agreeing with the hot blood running in my veines the temper of my earnest desires haue so preuailed against my strongest resistances that not onely so weake a woman as I am but any man of much more potent might liuing in ease and idlenesse as I doe cannot withstand such continuall assaults hauing no other helpe then flesh and blood Nor am I so ignorant but publique knowledge of such an error in me would be reputed a shrewd taxation of honesty whereas on the other side secret carriage and heedfull managing such amorous affaires may passe for currant without any reproach And let me tell you Noble Counte that I repute Loue highly fauourable to mee by guiding my iudgement with such moderation to make election of a wise worthy and honourable friend fit to enioy the grace of a farre greater Lady then I am and the first letter of his name is the Count D'Angiers For if error haue not misled mine eye as in Loue no Lady can be easily deceiued for person perfections and all parts most to be commended in a man the whole Realme of France containeth not your equall Obserue beside how forward Fortune sheweth her selfe to vs both in this case you to be destitute of a wife as I am of an husband for I count him as dead to me when he denies me the duties belonging to a wife Wherefore in regard of the vnfaigned affection I beare you and compassion which you ought to haue of Royall Princesse euen almost sicke to death for your sake I earnestly entreate you not to denie me your louing society but pittying my youth and fiery afflictions neuer to be quenched but by your kindnesse I may enioy my hearts desire As shee vttered these words the teares streamed aboundantly downe her faire cheekes preuenting her of any further speech so that deiecting her head into her bosome ouercome with the predominance of her passions shee fell vpon the Countes knee whereas else shee had falne vpon the ground When hee like a loyall and most honourable man sharply reprehended her fonde and idle loue and when shee would haue embraced him about the necke hee repulsed her roughly from him protesting vpon his honourable reputation that rather then hee would so wrong his Lord and Maister he would endure a thousand deathes The Lady seeing her desire disappointed and her fond expectation vtterly frustrated grewe instantly forgetfull of her intemperate loue and falling into extremity of rage conuerted her former gentle speeches into this harsh and ruder language Villaine quoth shee shall the longing comforts of my life be abridged by thy base and scornefull deniall Shall my destruction bee wrought by thy currish vnkindnesse and all my hoped ioyes be defeated in a moment Know slaue that I did not so earnestly desire thy sweet embracements before but now as deadly I hate and despise them which either thy death or banishment shall dearely pay for No sooner had shee thus spoken but tearing her haire and renting her garments in pieces shee ranne about like a distracted woman crying out aloude Helpe helpe the Count D'Angiers will forcibly dishonour mee the lustfull Count will violence mine honour D'Angiers seeing this and fearing more the malice of the ouer-credulous Court then either his owne conscience or any dishonourable act by him committed beleeuing likewise that her slanderous accusation would bee credited aboue his true and spotlesse innocency closely he conueyed himselfe out of the Court making what hast hee could home to his owne house which being too weake for warranting his safety vpon such pursuite as would be vsed against him without any further aduice or counsell he seated his two children on horsebacke himselfe also being but meanly mounted thus away thence hee went to Calice Vpon the clamour and noise of the Lady the Courtiers quickly flocked thither and as lies soone winne beleefe in hasty opinions vpon any silly or shallow surmise so did her accusation passe for currant and the Counts aduancement being enuied by many made his honest carriage in this case the more suspected In hast and madding fury they ran to the Counts houses to arrest his person and carry him to prison but when they could not finde him they raced his goodly buildings downe to the ground and vsed all shamefull violence to them Now as il newes sildome wants a speedy Messenger so in lesse space then you will imagine the King and Dolphin heard thereof in the Camp and were therewith so highly offended that the Count had a sodaine and seuere condemnation all his progeny being sentenced with perpetuall exile and promises of great and bountifull rewards to such as could bring his body aliue or dead Thus the innocent Count by his ouer-hasty and sodaine flight made himselfe guilty of this foule imputation and arriuing at Callice with his children their poore and homely habites hid them from being knowne and thence they crossed ouer into England staying no where vntill hee came to London Before he would enter into the City he gaue diuers good aduertisements to his children but especially two precepts aboue all the rest First with patient soules to support the poore condition whereto Fortune without any offence in him or them had thus deiected them Next that they should haue most heedfull care at no time to disclose from whence they came or whose children they were because it extended to the perill of their liues His Sonne being named Lewes and now about nine yeares old his daughter called Violenta and aged seauen yeares did both obserue their fathers direction as afterward it did sufficiently appeare And because they might liue in the safer securitie hee thought it for the best to change their names calling his sonne Perotto and his daughter Gianetta for thus they might best escape vnknowne Being entred into the Citty and in the poore estate of beggers they craued euery bodies mercy and almes It came to passe that standing one morning at the Cathedral Church-doore a great Lady of England being then wife to the Lord high Marshall cōming forth of the Church espied the Count and his children there begging Of him she demanded what Countrey-man he was and whether those children were his owne or no The Count replyed that he was borne in Picardy and for an vnhappy fact committed by his eldest sonne a stripling of more
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
not any part or parcell but onely a Ladie for whose sake I haue vndertaken these Armes and freely giue you all the rest contained in the shippe Let vs set on them Gentlemen and my dearest friends couragiously let vs assaile the ship you see how the wind fauors vs and questionlesse in so good an action Fortune will not faile vs. Gerbino needed not to haue spoken so much in perswading them to seize so rich a booty because the men of Messina were naturally addicted to spoile and rapine and before the Prince began his Oration they had concluded to make the ship their purchase Wherefore giuing a lowde shout according to their Countrey manner and commaunding their Trumpets to sound chearefully they rowed on amain with their Oares and in meere despight set vpon the ship But before the Gallies could come neere her they that had the charge and managing of her perceyuing with what speede they made towards them and no likely meanes of escaping from them resoluedly they stood vppon their best defence for now it was no time to be slothfull The Prince being come neere to the Ship commanded that the Patrones should come to him except they would aduenture the fight When the Sarazines were thereof aduertised and vnderstood also what he demanded they returned answer That their motion and proceeding in this manner was both against Law and plighted faith which was promised by the King of Sicily for their safe passage thorow his Sea by no meanes to be mollested or assailed In testimony whereof they shewed his Gloue auouching moreouer that neyther by force or otherwise they would yeelde or deliuer him any thing which they had aboorde their Ship Gerbino espying his gracious Mistresse on the Ships decke and she appearing to be farre more beautifull then Fame had made relation of her being much more enflamed now then formerly he had bin replyed thus when they shewed the Gloue Wee haue quoth he no Faulcon heere now to be humbled at the sight of your Gloue and therefore if you wil not deliuer the Lady prepare your selues for fight for we must haue her whether you will or no. Hereupon they began to let flie on both sides their Darts and arrowes with stones sent in violent sort from their slings thus continuing the fight a long while to very great harme on either side At the length Gerbino perceyuing that small benefite would redound to him if he did not vndertake some other kinde of course he tooke a smal Pinnace which purposely he brought with him from Sardignia and setting it on a flaming fire conueyd it by the Gallies help close to the ship The Sarazines much amazed thereat and euidently perceiuing that eyther they must yeeld or dy brought their Kings daughter vpon the prow of the ship most greeuously weeping and wringing her hands Then calling Gerbino to let him behold their resolution there they slew hir before his face and afterward throwing her body into the Sea said Take her there we giue her to thee according to our bounden duty and as thy periury hath iustly deserued This sight was not a little greeuous to the Prince Gerbino who madded now with this their monstrous cruelty and not caring what became of his owne life hauing lost her for whom hee onely desired to liue not dreading their Darts Arrowes slinged stones or what violence els they could vse against him he leapt aboord their ship in despight of all that durst resist him behauing himself there like a hunger-starued Lyon when he enters among a heard of beastes tearing their carkasses in pieces both with his teeth and pawes Such was the extreme fury of the poor Prince not sparing the like of any one that durst appeare in his presence so that what with the bloody slaughter and violence of the fires encreasing in the Ship the Mariners got such wealth as possibly they could saue and suffering the Sea to swallow the rest Gerbino returned vnto his Gallies againe nothing proud of this so ill-gotten victory Afterward hauing recouered the Princesses dead body out of the Sea and enbalmed it with sighes and teares hee returned backe into Sicilie where he caused it to be most honourably buried in a little Island named Vstica face to face confronting Trapanum The King of Thunis hearing these disastrous Newes sent his Ambassadors habited in sad mourning to the aged King of Sicily complaining of his faith broken with him and how the accident had falne out Age being sodainly incited to anger and the King extreamly offended at this iniury seeing no way whereby to deny him iustice it being vrged so instantly by the Ambassadours caused Gerbino to be apprehended and hee himselfe in regard that none of his Lords and Barons would therein assist him but laboured to diuert them by their earnest importunity pronounced the sentence of death on the Prince and commanded to haue him beheaded in his presence affecting rather to dye without an heire then to be thought a King void of iustice So these two vnfortunate Louers neuer enioying the very least benefite of their long wished desires ended both their liues in violent manner 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 manner brought away his head and putting it into a pot of earth such as Flowers Basile or other sweet hearbes are vsually set in she watered it a long while with her teares Whereof her Brethren hauing intelligence soone after she dyed with meere conceite of sorrow The fift Nouell Wherein is plainly proued that Loue cannot be rooted vppe by any humane power or prouidence especially in such a soule where it hath bene really apprehended THE Nouell of Madame Eliza being finished and some-what commended by the King in regard of the Tragicall conclusion Philomena was enioyned to proceede next with her discourse She beeing ouercome with much compassion for the hard Fortunes of Noble Gerbino and his beautifull Princesse after an extreme and vehement sighe thus she spake My tale worthy Ladies extendeth not to persons of so high birth or quality as they were of whom Madame Eliza gaue you relation yet peraduenture it may prooue to be no lesse pittifull And now I remember my selfe Messina so lately spoken of is the place where this accident also happened In Messina there dwelt three yong men Brethren and Merchants by their common profession who becoming very rich by the death of theyr Father liued in very good fame and repute Their Father was of San Gemignano and they had a Sister named Isabella young beautifull and well conditioued who vpon some occasion as yet remained vnmaried A proper youth being a Gentleman borne in Pisa and named Lorenzo as a trusty factor or seruant had the managing of the Brethrens businesse and affaires This Lorenzo being of comely personage affable and excellent in his behauiour grew so gracious in the
one who not by any accident hapning lifted vp her head to look about her neither intended euer to doe Now it came to passe that as the boate was driuen to the shore a poore woman stood at the Sea side washing certaine Fishermens Nets and seeing the boate comming towards her vnder saile without any person appearing in it she wondred thereat not a little It being close at the shore and she thinking the Fishermen to be asleepe therein stept boldly and looked into the boate where she saw not any body but onely the poore distressed Damosell whose sorowes hauing broght her now into a sound sleepe the woman gaue many cals before she could awake her which at the length she did and looked very strangely about her The poore woman perceyuing by her habite that she was a Christian demanded of her in speaking Latine how it was possible for her beeing all alone in the boate to arriue there in this manner When Constance heard her speake the Latine tongue she began to doubt least some contrary wiâ—de had turned her backe to Liparis againe and starting vp sodainly to looke with better aduice about her shee saw her selfe at Land and not knowing the Countrey demanded of the poore woman where she was Daughter quoth she you are heere hard by Susa in Barbarie Which Constance hearing and plainly perceyuing that death had denied to end her miseries fearing least she should receiue some dishonour in such a barbarous vnkinde Country and not knowing what shold now become of her she sate downe by the boates side wringing her hands weeping bitterly The good Woman did greatly compassionate her case and preuailed so well by gentle speeches that shee conducted her into her owne poore habitation where at length she vnderstoode by what meanes shee hapned thither so strangely And perceyuing her to be fasting shee set such homely bread as she had before her a few small Fishes and a Crewse of Water praying her for to accept of that poore entertainement which meere necessity compelled her to do and shewed her selfe very thankefull for it Constance hearing that she spake the Latine language so well desired to know what she was Whereto the olde woman thus answered Gentlewoman quoth she I am of Trapanum named Carapresa and am a seruant in this Countrey to certaine Christian Fishermen The yong Maiden albeit she was very full of sorow hearing her name to be Carapresa conceiued it as a good augury to her selfe that she had heard the name before although shee knew not what occasion should moue her thus to do Now began her hopes to quicken againe and yet shee could not tell vpon what ground nor was she so desirous of death as before but made more precious estimation of her life and without any further declaration of her selfe or countrey she entreated the good woman euen for charities sake to take pitty on her youth and help her with such good aduice to preuent all iniuries which might happen to her in such a solitary wofull condition Carapresa hauing heard her request like a good woman as shee was left Constance in her poore Cottage and went hastily to leaue her nets in safety which being done she returned backe againe and couering Constance with her Mantle led her on to Susa with her where being arriued the good woman began in this manner Constance I will bring thee to the house of a very worthy Sarazin Lady to whome I haue done manie honest seruices according as she pleased to command me She is an ancient woman full of charity and to her I will commend thee as best I may for I am well assured that shee will gladly entertaine thee and vse thee as if thou wert her owne daughter Now let it be thy part during thy time of remaining with her to employ thy vtmost diligence in pleasing her by deseruing and gaining her grace till heauen shall blesse thee with better fortune And as she promised so she performed The Sarazine Lady being well stept into yeares vpon the commendable speeches deliuered by Carapresa did the more seriously fasten her eye on Constance and compassion prouoking her to teares she tooke her by the hand and in louing manner kissed her fore-head So she led her further into her house where dwelt diuers other women but not one man all exercising themselues in seuerall labours as working in all sorts of silke with Imbroideries of Gold and Siluer and sundry other excellent Arts beside which in short time were verie familiar to Constance and so pleasing grew her behauiour to the old Lady and all the rest beside that they loued and delighted in her wonderfully and by little and little she attained to the speaking of their language although it were verie harsh and difficult Constance continuing thus in the old Ladies seruice at Susa thought to be dead or lost in her owne Fathers house it fortuned that one reigning then as King of Thunis who named himselfe Mariabdela there was a young Lord of great birth and very powerfull who liued as then in Granada and pleaded that the Kingdome of Thunis belonged to him In which respect he mustred together a mighty Army and came to assault the King as hoping to expell him These newes comming to the eare of Martuccio Gomito who spake the Barbarian Language perfectly and hearing it reported that the King of Thunis made no meane preparation for his owne defence he conferred with one of his keepers who had the custody of him and the rest taken with him saying If quoth hee I could haue meanes to speake with the King and he were pleased to allow of my counsell I can enstruct him in such a course as shall assure him to win the honor of the field The Guard reported these speeches to his master who presently acquainted the King therewith and Martuccio being sent for he was commanded to speake his minde Whereupon he began in this manner My gracious Lord during the time that I haue frequented your countrey I haue heedfully obserued that the Militarie Discipline vsed in your fights and battailes dependeth more vpon your Archers then any other men imployed in your warre And therefore if it could bee so ordered that this kinde of Artillery might fayle in your enemies Campe yours be sufficiently furnished therewith you neede make no doubt of winning the battaile whereto the King thus replyed Doubtlesse if such an acte were possible to be done it would giue great hope of successefull preuailing Sir said Martuccio if you please it may bee done and I can quickly resolue you how Let the strings of your Archers Bowes bee made more soft and gentle then those which heretofore they haue formerly vsed and next let the nockes of the Arrowes be so prouided as not to receiue any other then those pliant gentle strings But this must be done so secretly that your enemies may haue no knowledge therof least they should prouide themselues in the â—ame manner Now the reason
Serpent I purpose with my vtmost hatred and as an ancient enemy to all such as thou art to make my reuenge famous on thee I am not ignorant that whatsoeuer I haue already done vnto thee cannot properly be termed reuenge but rather chastisement because reuenge ought alwayes to exceede the offence which as yet I am farre enough from For if I did intend to reuenge my wrongs and remembred thy monstrous cruelty to me thy life if I tooke it from thee and an hundred more such as thy selfe were farre insufficient because in killing thee I should kill but a vile inhumane beast yea one that deserued not the name of a Woman And to speake truely Art thou any more or better setting aside thy borrowed haire and painted beauty which in few yeares will leaue thee wrinkled and deformed then the basest beggarly Chamber-stuffe that can bee Yet thou soughtest the death of a Gentleman and Scholler as in scorne not long since thou didst terme me whose life may hereafter be more beneficiall vnto the world then millions of such as thou art to liue in the like multiplicity of ages Therefore if this anguish be sensible to thee learne what it is to mocke men of apprehension and amongst them especially such as are Schollers to preuent thy falling hereafter into the like extremity if it be thy good lucke to escape out of this It appeareth to me that thou art verie desirous to come downe hither on the ground the best counsell that I can giue thee is to leape downe headlong that by breaking thy necke if thy fortune be so faire thy life and lothsome qualities ending together I may sit and smile at thy deserued destruction I haue no other comfort to giue thee but only to boast my happinesse in teaching thee the way to ascend that Tower and in thy descending downe euen by what means thy wit can best deuise make a mockery of me and say thou hast learned more then all my Schollership could instruct thee All the while as Reniero vttered these speeches the miserable Lady sighed and wept very grieuously the time running on and the Sunne ascending higher and higher but when she heard him silent thus she answered Vnkinde and cruell man if that wretched night was so greeuous to thee and mine offence appeared so great as neither my youth beautie teares and humble intercessious are able to deriue any mercy from thee yet let the last consideration mooue thee to some remorse namely that I reposed new confidence in thee whē I had little or no reason at all to trust thee and discouered the integritie of my soule vnto thee whereby thou didst compasse the meanes to punish me thus deseruedly for my sinne For if I had not reposed confidence in thee thou couldst not in this maner haue wrought reuenge on me which although thou didst earnestly couet yet my rash credulitie was thy onely helpe Asswage then thine anger and graciously pardon me wherein if thou wilt be so mercifull to me and free me from this fatall Tower I do heere faithfully promise thee to forsake my most false and disloyall friend electing thee as my Lord and constant Loue for euer Moreouer although thou condemnest my beauty greatly esteeming it as a trifle momentary and of slender continuance yet such as it is being comparable with any other womans whatsoeuer I am not so ignorant that were there no other reason to induce liking thereof yet men in the vigour of their youth as I am sure you think your selfe not aged do hold it for an especiall delight ordained by nature for them to admire and honour And notwistanding all thy cruelty extended to mee yet I cannot be perswaded that thou art so flinty or Iron-hearted as to desire my miserable death by casting my selfe headlong downe like a desperate madde woman before thy face so to destroy that beuty which if thy Letters lyed not was once so highly pleasing in thine eyes Take pitty then on mee for charities sake because the Sunne beginneth to heate extreamely and as ouer-much colde that vnhappy night was mine offence so let not ouer-violent warmth be now my vtter ruine and death The Scholler who onely to delight himselfe maintained this long discoursing with her returned her this answere Madame you did not repose such confidence in me for any good will or affection in you towards me but in hope of recouering him whom you had lost wherein you merit not a iot of fauour but rather the more sharpe and seuere infliction And whereas you inferre that your ouer-rash credulity gaue the onely meanes to my reuenge Alas therein you deceiue your selfe for I haue a thousand crochets working continually in my brain wherby to entrap a wiser creature then a woman yet veiled all vnder the cunning cloake of loue but sauced with the bitter Wormewood of hate So that had not this hapned as now it doth of necessity you must haue falne into another but as it hath pleased my happy stars to fauour mee therein none could prooue more to your eternall scandall and disgrace then this of your owne deuising which I made choise of not in regard of any ease to you but onely to content my selfe But if all other deuises els had failed my pen was and is my preuayling Champion where with I would haue written such and so many strange matters concerning you in your very dearest reputation that you should haue curst the houre of your conception wisht your birth had bin abortiue The powers of the pen are too many mighty wherof such weake wits as haue made no experience are the lesse able to vse any relation I sweare to you Lady by my best hopes that this reuenge which perhappes you esteeme great and dishonourable is no vvay compareable to the vvounding Lines of a Penne which can carracter downe so infinite infamies yet none but guilty and true taxations as will make your owne hands immediate instruments to teare the eyes from forth your head and so bequeath your after dayes vnto perpetuall darkenesse Now concerning your lost louer for whose sake you suffer this vnexpected pennance although your choise hath proued but bad yet still continue your affection to him in regard that I haue another Ladie and Mistresse of higher and greater desert then you and to whome I will continue for euer constant And whereas you thinke the warme beames of the Sunne will be too hot and scorching for your nice bodie to endure remember the extreame cold which you caused mee to feele and if you can intermixe some part of that cold with the present heat I dare assure you the Sun in his highest heate will be far more temperate for your feeling The disconsolate Lady perceiuing that the Schollers wordes sauoured of no mercy but rather as couering her desperate ending with the teares streaming downe her cheekes thus she replied Wel Sir seeing there is no matter of worth in me whereby to deriue any compassion from
seeing it is your most gracious pleasure that I should haue the honour to breake the first staffe of freedome in this faire company according to the iniunction of your Maiesty for liberty of our own best liking argumeÌ„ts wherein I dismay not if I can speake well enough but to please you all as well as any other that is to follow me Nor am I so obliuious worthy Ladies but full well I remember that many times hath bene related in our passed demonstrations how mighty and variable the powers of loue are and yet I cannot be perswaded that they haue all bene so sufficiently spoken of but something may bee further added and the bottome of them neuer diued into although we should sit arguing a whole yeare together And because it hath beene alreadie approued that Louers haue bene led into diuers accidents not onely ineuitable dangers of death but also haue entred into the verie houses of the dead thence to conuey their amorous friends I purpose to acquaint you with a Nouell beside them which haue bene discoursed whereby you may not onely comprehend the power of Loue but also the wisedome vsed by an honest Gentlewoman to rid her selfe of two importunate suiters who loued her against her owne liking yet neither of them knowing the others affection In the City of Pistoya there dwelt sometime a beautifull Gentlewoman being a Widdow whom two of our Florentines the one named Rinuccio Palermini and the other Alessandro Chiarmontesi hauing withdrawne themselues to Pistoya desperately affected the one ignorant of the others intention but each carrying his case closely as hoping to be possessed of her This Gentlewoman named Madame Francesca de Lazzari being often solicited by their messages and troublesomely pestered with their importunities at last lesse aduisedly then she intended shee granted admittance to heare either of them speake Which she repenting and coueting to be rid of them both a matter not easie to be done she wittily deuised the onely meanes namely to moue such a motion to them as neither would willingly vndertake yet within the compasse of possibility but they failing in the performance shee might haue the more honest occasion to bee free from all further mollestation by them and her politike intention was thus proiected On the same day when she deuised this peece of seruice a man was buried in Pistoya and in the Church-yard belonging vnto the gray Friars who being descended of good and worthie parentage yet himselfe was very infamous and reputed to be the vilest man liuing not onely there in Pistoya but throughout the whole World beside Moreouer while he liued he had such a strange mishapen body and his face so vgly deformed that such as knew him not would stand gastly affrighted at the first sight of him In regarde whereof shee considered with her selfe that the foule deformitie of this loathed fellow would greatly auayle in her determination and consulting with her Chamber-maid thus she spake Thou knowest my most true and faithfull seruant what trouble and affliction of minde I suffer dayly by the messages and Letters of the two Florentines Rinuccio and Alessandro how hate-their importunity is to me as being vtterly vnwilling to hear them speake or yeeld to any thing which they desire Wherefore to free myselfe from them both together I haue deuised in regard of their great and liberall offers to make trial of them in such a matter as I am assured they will neuer performe It is not vnknowne to thee that in the Church-yard of the Gray Friars and this instant morning Scannadio for so was the vgly fellow named was buried of whom when he was liuing as also now being dead both men women and children doe yet stand in feare so gastly and dreadfull alwayes was his personall appearance to them Wherefore first of all go thou to Alessandro and say to him thus My Mistris Francesca hath sent me to you to tell you that now the time is come wherein you may deserue to enioy her loue and gaine the possession of her person if you will accomplish such a motion as she maketh to you For some especiall occasion wherewith hereafter you shall bee better acquainted a neere Kinsman of hers must needs haue the body of Scannadio who was buried this morning brought to her house And she being as much affraid of him now he is dead as when he was liuing by no meanes would haue his body brought thither In which respect as a Token of your vnfeigned loue to her and the latest seruice you shall euer do for her shee earnestly entreateth you that this night in the very deadest time thereof you would go to the graue where Scannadio lyeth yet vncouered with earth vntill to morrow and attyring your selfe in his garments euen as if you were the man himselfe so to remaine there vntill her kinsman doe come Then without speaking any one word let him take you foorth of the graue bring you thence insted of Scannadio to hir house where she will giue you gentle welcome and disappoint her Kinsman in his hope by making you Lord of her and all that is hers as afterward shall plainly appeare If he say he wil do it it is as much as I desire but if hee trifle and make deniall then boldly tell him that he must refraine all places wheresoeuer I am and forbeare to send me any more Letters or messages Hauing done so then repaire to Rinuccio Palermini and say My Mistresse Francesca is ready to make acceptance of your loue prouided that you will do one thing for her sake Namely this ensuing night in the midst stillest season thereof to go to the graue where Scannadio was this morning buried without making any noise or speaking one word whatsoeuer you shall heare or see to take him forth of the graue and bring him home to her house wher you shal know the reason of this strange businesse and enioy her freely as your owne for euer But if he refuse to do it then I commaund him neuer hereafter to see me or moue further suite vnto mee by any meanes whatsoeuer The Chamber-maide went to them both and deliuered the seuerall messagâ—s from her Mistresse according as she had giuen her in charge whereunto each of them answered that they woulde for her sake not onely descend into a Graue but also into hell if it were her pleasure She returning with this answer vnto her Mistresse Francesâ—a remained in expectation what the issue of these fond attemptes in them would sort vnto When night was come and the middle houre thereof already past Alessandro Chiarmontesi hauing put off all other garments to his doublet and hose departed secretly from his lodging walking towards the Church-yard where Scannadio lay in his graue but by the way as he went hee became surprized with diuers dreadfull conceites and imaginations and questioned with himselfe thus What a beast am I What a businesse haue I vndertaken And whither am I going