THE Decameron CONTAINING An hundred pleasant Nouels Wittily discoursed betweene seauen Honourable Ladies and three Noble Gentlemen London printed by Isaac Iaggard 1620. TO THE RIGHT HOnourable Sir PHILLIP HERBERT Knight of the Bath at the Coronation of our Soueraigne Lord King Iames Lord Baron of Sherland Earle of Montgomery and Knight of the most Noble Order of the Garter c. * ⎠* THE Philosopher Zeno Right Honourable and my most worthily esteemed Lord being demaunded on a time by what meanes a man might attaine to happinesse made answere By resorting to the dead and hauing familiar conuersation with them Intimating thereby The reading of ancient and moderne Histories and endeauouring to learne such good instructions as haue bene obserued in our Predecessors A Question also was mooued by great King Ptolomy to one of the learned wise Interpreters In what occasions a King should exercise himselfe whereto thus hee replyed To know those things which formerly haue bin done And to read Bookes of those matters which offer themselues dayly or are fittest for our instant affaires And lastly in seeking those things whatsoeuer that make for a Kingdomes preseruation and the correction of euill manners or examples Vpon these good and warrantable grounds most Noble Lord beside many more of the same Nature which I omit to auoide prolixity I dare boldly affirme that such as are exercised in the reading of Histories although they seeme to be but yong in yeares and slenderly instructed in worldly matters yet grauity and gray-headed age speaketh maturely in them to the no meane admiration of common and vulgar iudgement As contrariwise such as are ignorant of things done and past before themselues had any being continue still in the estate of children able to speake or behaue themselues no otherwise and euen within the bounds of their Natiue Countries in respect of knowledge or manly capacity they are no more then well-seeming dumbe Images In due consideration of the precedent allegations and vppon the command as also most Noble encouragement of your Honour from time to time this volume of singular and exquisite Histories varied into so many and exact natures appeareth in the worlds view vnder your Noble patronage and defence to be safely sheelded from foule mouthed slander and detraction which is too easily throwne vpon the very best deseruing labours I know most worthy Lord that many of them haue long since bene published before as stolne from the first originall Author and yet not beautified with his sweete stile and elocution of phrases neither sauouring of his singular morall applications For as it was his full scope and ayme by discouering all vices in their vgly deformities to make their mortall enemies the sacred Vertues to shine the clearer being set downe by them and compared with them so euery true and vpright iudgement in obseruing the course of these well-carried Nouels shall plainly perceiue that there is no spare made of reproofe in any degree whatsoeuer where sin is embraced and grace neglected but the iust deseruing shame and punishment thereon inflticted that others may be warned by their example In imitation of witty Aesope who reciteth not a Fable but graceth it with a iudicious morall application as many other worthy Writers haue done the like For instance let me heere insert one A poore man hauing a pike staffe on his shoulder and trauailing thorow a Countrey Village a great Mastiue Curre ran mainly at him so that hardly he could defend himselfe from him At the length it was his chance to kill the Dogge for which the Owner immediately apprehending him and bringing him before the Iudge alledged that he had slaine his seruant which defended his life house and goods and therefore challenged satisfaction The Iudge leaning more in fauour to the Plaintiffe as being his friend neighbor and familiar then to the iustice and equity of the cause reprooued the poore fellow somwhat sharpely and peremptorily commanded him to make satisfaction or els he would commit him to prison That were iniustice replyed the poore man because I kilde the dogge in defence of mine owne life which deserueth much better respect then a million of such Curres Sirra sirra saide the Iudge then you should haue turned the other end of your staffe and not the pike so the dogges life had beene saued and your owne in no danger True Sir quoth the fellow if the dog would haue turn'd his taile and bit mee with that and not his teeth then we both had parted quietly I know your Honor to be so truly iudicious that your selfe can make the morall allusion both in defence of my poore paines and acceptation of the same into your protection with most humble submission of my selfe and all my vttermost endeauours to bee alwayes ready at your seruice The Authors Prologue to the Lords Ladies and Gentlewomen IT is a matter of humanity to take compassion on the afflicted and although it be fitting towards all in generall yet to such as are most tied by bond of duty who hauing already stood in neede of comfort do therfore most needfully deserue to enioy it Among whom if euer any were in necessity found it most precious and therby receiued no small contentment I am one of them because from my verie yongest yeeres euen vntill this instant mine affections becam extraordinarily enflamed in a place high and Noble more perhaps then beseemed my humble condition albeit no way distasted in the iudgement of such as were discreete when it came truly to their knowledge and vnderstanding Yet indeed it was very painfull for me to endure not in regard of her cruelty whom I so deerely loued as for want of better gouernment in mine owne carriage being altogether swayed by rash and peeuish passions which made my afflictions more offensiue to mee then either wisedome allowed or suited with my priuate particular But as counsell in misery is no meane comfort so the good aduice of a worthy friend by many sound and singular perswasions wrought such a deliberate alteration as not onely preserued my life which was before in extreame perill but also gaue conclusion ro my inconsiderate loue which in my precedent refractarie carriage no deliberation counsell euident shame or whatsoeuer perill should ensue thereon could in any manner contradict beganne to asswage of it selfe in time bestowing not onely on me my former freedome but deliuering me likewise from infinite perplexities And because the acknowledgement of good turnes or courtesies receiued in my poore opinion is a vertue among all other highly to bee commended and the contrary also to be condemned to shewe my selfe not ingratefull I determined so soone as I saw my selfe in absolute liberty in exchange of so great a benefit bestowne on mee to minister some mitigation I will not say to such as releeued me because their owne better vnderstanding or blessednesse in Fortune may defend them from any such necessity but rather to them which truly stand in need And although
recreatiue spirits and of indifferent good capacity often resorting to the said Calandrino because they tooke delight in his honest simplicity and pleasant order of behauiour At the same time likewise there dwelt in Florence a yong Gentleman of singular disposition to euery generous and witty conceite as the world did not yeeld a more pleasant companion he being named Maso del Saggio who hauing heard somwhat of Calandrinos sillinesse determined to iest with him in merry manner and to suggest his longing humors after Nouelties with some conceit of extraordinary nature He happening on a day to meete him in the Church of Saint Iohn and seeing him seriously busied in beholding the rare pictures and the curious carued Tabernacle which not long before was placed on the high Altar in the said Church considered with himselfe that he had now fit place and opportunity to effect what hee had long time desired And hauing imparted his minde to a very intimate friend how he intended to deale with simple Calandrino they went both very neere him where he sate all alone and making shew as if they saw him not began to consult between themselues concerning the rare properties of precious stones whereof Maso discoursed as exactly as he had beene a most skilfull Lapidarie to which conference of theirs Calandrino lent an attentiue eare in regard it was matter of singular rarity Soone after Calandrino started vp and perceiuing by their loude speaking that they talked of nothing which required secret Counsell he went into their company the onely thing which Maso desired and holding on still the former Argument Calandrino would needs request to know in what place these precious stones were to be found which had such excellent vertues in them Maso made answere that the most of them were to be had in Berlinzona neere to the City of Bascha which was in the Territory of a Countrey called Bengodi where the Vines were bound about with Sâ—â—â—cidges a Goose was sold for a penny and the Goslings freely giuen in to boote There was also an high mountaine wholly made of Parmezane grated Cheese whereon dwelt people who did nothing else but make Mocharones and Rauiuolies boyling them with broth of Capons and afterward hurled them all about to whosoeuer can or will catch them Neere to this mountaine runneth a faire Riuer the whole streame being pure white Bastard none such was euer sold for any money and without one drop of water in it Now trust me Sir said Calandrino that is an excellent Countrey to dwell in but I pray you tell me Sir what doe they with the Capons after they haue boyld them The Baschanes quoth Maso eate them all Haue you Sir said Calandrino at any time beene in that Countrey How answered Maso doe you demaund if I haue beene there Yes man aboue a thousand times at the least How farre Sir I pray you quoth Calandrino is that worthy Countrey from this our City In troth replyed Maso the miles are hardly to be numbred for the most part of them vve trauell vvhen vve are nightly in our beddes and if a man dreame right he may be there vpon a sudden Surely Sir said Calandrino it is further hence then to Abruzzi Yes questionlesse replyed Maso but to a vvilling minde no trauell seemeth tedious Calandrino well noting that Maso deliuered all these speeches with a stedfast countenance no signe of smyling or any gesture to vrge the least mislike he gaue such credit to them as to any matter of apparent and manifest truth and vpon this assured confidence he said Beleeue me Sir the iourney is ouer-farre for mee to vndertake but if it vvere neerer I could affoord to goe in your Company onely to see hovv they make these Macherones and to fill my belly vvith them But now wee are in talke Sir I pray you pardon mee to aske whether any such precious stones as you spake off are to be found in that Countrey or no Yes indeed replyed Maso there are two kinds of them to be found in those Territories both being of very great vertue One kind are gritty stones of Settignano and of Montisca by vertue of which places when any Mill-stones or Grind-stones are to bee made they knede the sand as they vse to doe meale and so make them of what bignesse they please In which respect they haue a common saying there that Nature maketh common stones but Montisca Mill-stones Such plenty are there of these Mill-stones so slenderly here esteemed among vs as Emeralds are with them whereof they haue whole mountaines farre greater then our Montemorello which shine most gloriously at midnight And how meanly soeuer we account of their Mill-stones yet there they drill them and enchase them in Rings which afterward they send to the great Soldane and haue whatsoeuer they will demaund for them The other kinde is a most precious Stone indeede which our best Lapidaries call the Helitropium the vertue whereof is so admirable as whosoeuer beareth it about him so long as he keepeth it it is impossible for any eye to discerne him because he walketh meerely inuisible O Lord Sir quoth Calandrino those stones are of rare vertue indeede but where else may a man finde that Helitropium Whereto Maso thus answered That Countrey onely doth not containe the Helitropium for they be many times found vpon our plaine of Mugnone Of what bignesse Sir quoth Calandrino is the Stone and what coulour The Helitropium answered Maso is not alwayes of one quality because some are bigge and others lesse but all are of one coulour namely blacke Calandrino committing all these things to respectiue memory and pretending to be called thence by some other especiall affaires departed from Maso concluding resoluedly with himselfe to finde this precious stone if possibly hee could yet intending to doe nothing vntill hee had acquainted Bruno and Buffalmaco therewith whom he loued dearly he went in all hast to seeke them because without any longer trifling the time they three might bee the first men that should find out this precious stone spending almost the whole morning before they were all three met together For they were painting at the Monastery of the Sisters of Faenza where they had very serious imployment and followed their businesse diligently where hauing found them and saluting them in such kinde manner as continually he vsed to doe thus he began Louing friends if you were pleased to follow mine aduise wee three will quickely be the richest men in Florence because by information from a Gentleman well deseruing to be credited on the Plaine of Mugnone there is a precious stone to be found which whosoeuer carrieth it about him walketh inuisible and is not to be seene by any one Let vs three be the first men to goe and finde it before any other heare thereof and goe about it and assure our selues that we shall finde it for I know it by discription so soone as I see it And when wee haue it who
redound to his no meane danger thus he replied My Lord the question propounded by you is faire and worthy to answer mine opinion truly threof doth necessarily require some time of consideration if it might stand with your liking to allow it but if not let me first make entrance to my reply with a pretty tale and well worth the hearing I haue oftentimes heard it reported that long since there was a very wealthy man who among other precious Iewels of his owne had a goodly Ring of great valew the beauty and estimation whereof made him earnestly desirous to leaue it as a perpetuall memory and honour to his successors Whereupon he willed and ordained that he among his male children with whom this Ring being left by the Father should be found in custody after his death hee and none other was to bee reputed his heire and to be honoured and reuerenced by all the rest as being the prime and worthiest person That Sonne to whom this Ring was left by him kept the same course to his posterity dealing in all respects as his predecessor had done so that in short time the Ring from hand to hand had many owners by Legacie At length it came to the hand of one who had three sonnes all of them goodly and vertuous persons and verie obedient to their Father in which regard he affected them all equally without any difference or partiall respect The custome of this ring being knowne to them each one of them coueting to beare esteeme aboue the other desired as hee could best make his meanes his father that in regard he was now grown very old he would leaue that Ring to him whereby he should bee acknowledged for his heire The good man who loued no one of them more then the other knew not how to make his choise nor to which of them he should leaue the Ring yet hauing past his promise to them seuerally he studied by what meanes to satisfie them all three Wherfore secretly hauing conferred with a curious and excellent Goldsmith hee caused two other Rings to bee made so really resembling the first made Ring that himself when he had them in his hand could not distinguish which was the right one Lying vpon his death-bed and his Sonnes then plying him by their best opportunities he gaue to each of them a Ring And they after his death presuming seuerally vpon their right to the inheritance honor grew to great contradiction and square each man producing then his Ring which were so truly all alike in resemblance as no one could know the right Ring from the other And therefore suite in Law to distinguish the true heire to his Father continued long time and so it dooth yet to this very day In like manner my good Lord concerning those three Lawes giuen by God the Father to three such people as you haue propounded each of them do imagine that they haue the heritage of God and his true Law and also duely to performe his Commandements but which of them do so indeede the question as of the three Ringes is yet remaining Saladine well perceyuing that the Iew was too cunning to be caught in his snare and had answered so well that to doe him further violence would redound vnto his perpetuall dishonour 〈◊〉 to reueale his neede and extremity and try if he would therein friendly sted him Hauing disclosed the matter and how he purposed to haue dealt with him if he had not returned so wise an answer the Iew lent him so great a sum of money as hee demanded and Saladine repayed it againe to him iustly giuing him other great gifts beside respecting him as his especiall frend and maintaining him in very honourable condition neere vnto his owne person A Monke hauing committed an offence deseruing to be very grieuously punished freede himselfe from the paine to be inflicted on him by wittily reprehending his Abbot with the very same fault The fourth Nouell Wherein may be noted that such men as will reproue those errors in others which remaine in themselues commonly are the Authors of their owne reprehension SO ceased Madam Philomena after the conclusion of her Tale when Dioneus sitting next vnto her without tarrying for any other command from the Queene knowing by the order formerly begunne that he was to follow in the same course spake in this manner Gracious Ladies if I faile not in vnderstanding your generall intention we are purposely assembled here to tell Tales and especially such as may please our selues In whith respect because nothing should be done disorderly I hold it lawfull for euery one as our Queene decreed before her dignity to relate such a nouelty as in their owne iudgement may cause most contentment Wherefore hauing heard that by the good admonitions of Iehannot de Cheuigny Abraham the Iew was aduised to the saluation of his soule and Melchisedech by his witty vnderstanding defended his riches from the traines of Saladine I now purpose to tell you in a few plaine words without feare of receiuing any reprehension how cunningly a Monke compassed his deliuerance from a punishment intended towards him There was in the Country of Lunigiana which is not farre distant from our owne a Monastery which sometime was better furnished with holinesse and Religion then now adayes they are wherein liued among diuers other a young nouice Monke whose hot and lusty disposition being in the vigour of his yeeres was such as neither fastes nor prayers had any great power ouer him It chanced on a fasting day about high noone when all the other Monkes were asleepe in their Dormitaries or Dorters this frolicke Friar was walking alone in their Church which stood in a very solitary place where ruminating on many matters by himselfe hee espied a pretty hansome wench some Husbandmans daughter in the Countrey that had beene gathering rootes and hearbes in the field vppon her knees before an Altar whom he had no sooner seene but immediately hee felt effeminate temptations and such as ill fitted with his profession Lasciuious desire and no religious deuotion made him draw neere her and whether vnder shift the onely cloake to compasse carnall affections or some other as close conference to as pernicious and vile a purpose I know not but so farre he preuailed vpon her frailety and such a bargaine passed betweene them that from the Church he wonne her to his Chamber before any person could perceiue it Now while this yong lusty Monke transported with ouer-fond affection was more carelesse of his dalliance then he should haue beene the Lord Abbot being newly arisen from sleepe and walking softly about the Cloyster came to the Monkes Daughters doore where hearing what noyse was made between them and a feminine voyce more strange then hee was wont to heare he layed his eare close to the Chamber doore and plainly perceiued that a woman was within Wherewith being much moued he intended suddenly to make him open the doore but vpon better
consideration hee conceiued it farre more fitting for him to returne backe to his owne chamber and tary vntill the Monke should come forth The Monke though his delight with the Damosel was extraordinary yet feare and suspition followed vpon it for in the very height of all his wantonnesse he heard a soft treading about the doore And prying thorow a small creuice in the same doore perceiued apparantly that the Abbot himselfe stood listening there and could not be ignorant but that the Maide was with him in the Chamber As after pleasure ensueth paine so the veniall Monke knew well enough though wanton heate would not let him heede it before that most greeuous punishment must be inflicted on him which made him sad beyond all measure Neuerthelesse without disclosing his dismay to the young Maiden he began to consider with himselfe on many meanes whereby to find out one that might best fit his turne And suddenly conceited an apt stratagem which sorted to such effect as he would haue it whereupon seeming satisfied for that season hee tolde the Damosell that being carefull of her credit as he had brought her in vnseen of any so he would free her from thence again desiring her to tarrie there without making any noyse at all vntil such time as he returned to her Going forth of the Chamber and locking it fast with the key he went directly to the Lord Abbots lodging and deliuering him the saide key as euery Monke vsed to doe the like when he went abroade out of the Conuent setting a good countenance on the matter boldly saide My Lord I haue not yet brought in all my parâ— of the wood which lieth ready cut downe in the Forrest and hauing now conuenient time to doe it if you please to giue me leaue I will goe and fetch it The Abbot perswading himselfe that he had not beene discouered by the Monke and to be resolued more assuredly in the offence committed being not a little iocund of so happy an accident gladly tooke the key and gaue him leaue to fetch the wood No sooner was he gone but the Abbot beganne to consider with himselfe what he were best to doe in this case either in the presence of all the other Monkes to open the Chamber doore that so the offence being knowne to them all they might haue no occasion of murmuring against him when he proceeded in the Monkes punishment or rather should first vnderstand of the Damosell her selfe how and in what manner shee was brought thither Furthermore he considered that shee might be a woman of respect or some such mans daughter as would not take it well to haue her disgraced before all the Monkes Wherefore he concluded first to see himselfe what shee was and then afterward to resolue vpon the rest So going very softly to the Chamber and entring in locked the doore fast with the key when the poore Damosell thinking it had beene the gallant young Monke but finding it to be the Lord Abbot shee fell on her knees weeping as fearing now to receiue publike shame by being betrayed in this vnkinde manner My Lord Abbot looking demurely on the Maide and perceiuing her to be faire feate and louely felt immediately although he was olde no lesse spurring on to fleshly desires then the young Monke before had done whereupon he beganne to conferre thus priuately with himselfe Why should I not take pleasure when I may freely haue it Cares and molestations I endure euery day but sildome find such delights prepared for me This is a delicate sweete young Damosell and here is no eye that can discouer me If I can enduce her to doe as I would haue her I know no reason why I should gaine-say it No man can know it or any tongue blaze it abroade and sinne so concealed is halfe pardoned Such a faire fortune as this is perhaps hereafter will neuer befall me and therefore I hold it wisedome to take such a benefit when a man may enioy it Vpon this immodest meditation and his purpose quite altered which he came for he went neerer to her and very kindly began to comfort her desiring her to forbeare weeping and by further insinuating speeches acquainted her with his amorous intention The Maide who was made neither of yron nor diamond and seeking to preuent one shame by another was easily wonne to the Abbots will which caused him to embrace and kisse her often Our lusty young nouice Monke whom the Abbot imagined to be gone for wood had hid himselfe aloft vpon the roofe of the Dorter where when he saw the Abbot enter alone into the Chamber hee lost a great part of his former feare promising to himselfe a kinde of perswasion that somewhat would ensue to his better comfort but when he beheld him lockt into the Chamber then his hope grew to vndoubted certainty A little chincke or creuice fauoured him whereat he could both heare and see whatsoeuer was done or spoken by them so when the Abbot thought hee had staide long enough with the Damosell leauing her still there and locking the doore fast againe hee returned thence to his owne Chamber Within some short while after the Abbot knowing the Monke to be in the Conuent and supposing him to be lately returned with the wood determined to reproue him sharpely and to haue him closely imprisoned that the Damosell might remaine solie to himselfe And causing him to be called presently before him with a very stearne and angry countenance giuing him many harsh and bitter speeches commanded that he should be clapt in prison The Monke very readily answered saying My good Lord I haue not yet beene so long in the order of Saint Benedict as to learne all the particularities thereto belonging And beside Sir you neuer shewed mee or any of my brethren in what manner we young Monkes ought to vse women as you haue otherwise done for our custome of prayer and fasting But seeing you haue so lately therein instructed mee and by your owne example how to doe it I heere solemnely promise you if you please to pardon me but this one error I will neuer faile therein againe but dayly follow what I haue seene you doe The Abbot being a man of quicke apprehension perceiued instantly by this answere that the Monke not onely knew as much as he did but also had seene what was intended that hee should not Wherefore finding himselfe to be as faulty as the Monke and that hee could not shame him but worthily had deserued as much himselfe pardoning him and imposing silence on eithers offence they conuayed the poore abused Damosell forth of their doores she purposing neuer after to transgresse in the like manner The Lady Marquesse of Montferrat with a Banquet of Hennes and diuers other gracious speeches beside repressed the fond loue of the King of France The fift Nouell Declaring that wise and vertuous Ladies ought to hold their chastitie in more esteeme then the greatnesse and treasures of Princes and that a
discreete Lord should not offer modestie violence THE Tale reported by Dioneus at the first hearing of the Ladies began to rellish of some immodestie as the bashfull blood mounting vp into their faces deliuered by apparant testimonie And beholding one another with scarse-pleasing lookes during all the time it was in discoursing no sooner had hee concluded but with a fewe milde and gentle speeches they gaue him a modest reprehension and meaning to let him know that such tales ought not to be tolde among women Afterward the Queene commaunded Madame Fiammetta sitting on a banke of flowers before her to take her turne as next in order and she smiling with such a virgin-blush as very beautifully became her began in this manner It is no little ioy to me that wee vnderstand so well by the discourses already past what power consisteth in the deliuery of wise and ready answeres And because it is a great part of sence and iudgement in men to affect women of great birth and quality then themselues as also an admirable fore-sight in women to keepe off from being surprized in loue by Lords going beyond them in degree a matter offereth it selfe to my memory well deseruing my speech and your attention how a Gentlewoman both in word and deede should defend her honour in that kind when importunity laboureth to betray it The Marquesse of Montferrat was a worthy and valiant Knight who being Captaine Generall for the Church the necessary seruice required his company on the Seas in a goodly Army of the Christians against the Turkes Vpon a day in the Court of King Philip sirnamed the one eyed King who likewise made preparation in France for a royall assistance to that expedition as many speeches were deliuered concerning the valour and manhood of this Marquesse it fortuned that a Knight was then present who knew him very familiarly and hee gaue an addition to the former commendation than the whole world contained not a more equall couple in mariage then the Marquesse his Lady For as among all Knights the Marquesse could hardly be paraleld for Armes and honour euen so his wife in comparison of all other Ladies was scarcely matchable for beauty and vertue Which words were so waighty in the apprehension of King Philip that suddainly hauing as yet neuer seene her he began to affect her very earnestly concluding to embarque himselfe at Gennes or Genoua there to set forward on the intended voyage and iourneying thither by land hee would shape some honest excuse to see the Lady Marquesse whose Lord being then from home opinion perswaded him ouer-fondly that he should easily obtaine the issue of his amorous desire When hee was come within a dayes iourney where the Lady Marquesse then lay he sent her word that she should expect his company on the morrow at dinner The Lady being singularly wise and iudicious answered the Messenger that she reputed the Kings comming to her as an extraordinary grace and fauour and that hee should be most heartily welcome Afterward entring into further consideration with her selfe what the King might meane by this priuate visitation knowing her husband to be from home and it to be no meane barre to his apter entertainement at last she discreetly conceited and therein was not deceiued that babling report of her beauty and perfections might thus occasion the Kings cōming thither his iourny lying else a quite contrary way Notwithstanding being a Princely Lady and so loyall a wife as euer liued shee intended to giue him her best entertainement summoning the chiefest Gentlemen in the Country together to take due order by their aduise for giuing the King a gracious welcome But concerning the dinner and diet for seruice to his table that remained onely at her owne disposing Sending presently abroade and buying all the Hennes that the Country afforded shee commaunded her Cookes that onely of them without any other prouision beside they should prepare all the seruices that they could deuise On the morrow the King came according to his promise and was most honourable welcommed by the Lady who seemed in his eye farre beyond the Knights speeches of her the fairest creature that euer he had seene before whereat he meruailed not a little extolling her perfections to be peerelesse which much the more enflamed his affections and almost made his desires impatient The King being withdrawne into such Chambers as orderly were prepared for him and as beseemed so great a Prince the houre of dinner drawing on the King and the Lady Marquesse were seated at one Table and his attendants placed at other tables answerable to their degrees of honour Plenty of dishes being serued in and the rarest wines that the Countrey yeelded the King had more minde to the faire Lady Marquesse then any meate that stood on the Table Neuerthelesse obseruing each seruice after other and that all the Viands though variously cooked and in diuers kindes were nothing else but Hennes onely he began to wonder and so much the rather because he knew the Countrey to be of such quality that it affoorded all plenty both of Fowles and Venyson beside after the time of his comming was heard they had respite enough both for hawking and hunting and therefore it encreased his maruell the more that nothing was prouided for him but Hennes onely wherein to be the better resolued turning a merry countenance to the Lady thus he spake Madam are Hennes onely bred in this Countrey and no Cockes The Lady Marquesse very well vnderstanding his demand which fitted her with an apt opportunity to thwart his idle hope and defend her owne honour boldly returned the King this answere Not so my Lord but women and wiues howsoeuer they differ in garments and graces one from another yet notwithstanding they are all heere as they be in other places When the King heard this reply he knew well enough the occasion of his Henne dinner as also what vertue lay couched vnder her answer perceiuing apparantly that wanton words would proue but in vaine and such a woman was not easily to be seduced wherefore as hee grew enamored on her inconsiderately so he found it best fitting for his honour to quench this heate with wisedome discreetely And so without any more words or further hope of speeding in so vnkingly a purpose dinner being ended by a sudden departing he smoothly shadowed the cause of his comming and thanking her for the honour shee had done him commended her to her chaste disposition and posted away with speede to Gennes An honest plaine meaning man simply and conscionably reprehended the malignity hypocrisie and misdemeanour of many Religious persons The sixt Nouell Declaring that in few discreete and well placed words the couered craft of Church-men may be iustly reproued and their hypocrisie honestly discouered MAdam Aemilia sitting next to the gentle Lady Fiammetta perceiuing the modest chastisement which the vertuous Lady Marquesse had giuen to the King of France was generally graced by the whole
place but it is a matter much more admirable to see a thing suddenly appearing and sildome or neuer frequented before to be as suddenly hit by an ordinary Archer The vicious and polluted liues of Priests yeeldeth matter of it selfe in many things deseruing speech and reprehension as a true But of wickednesse and well worthy to be sharply shot at And therefore though that honest meaning man did wisely in touching Master Inquisitor to the quicke with the hypocriticall charity of Monkes and Friars in giuing such things to the poore as were more meete for swine or to be worse throwne away yet I hold him more to be commended who by occasion of a former tale and which I purpose to relate pleasantly reproued Master Can de la Scala a Magnifico and mightie Lord for a sudden and vnaccustomed couetousnesse appearing in him figuring by other men that which he intended to say of him in manner following Master Can de la Scala as fame ranne abroade of him in all places was beyond the infinite fauours of Fortune towards him one of the most notable and magnificent Lords that euer liued in Italy since the dayes of Fredericke the second Emperour He determining to procure a very solemne assembly at Verona and many people being met there from diuers places especially Gentlemen of all degrees suddenly vpon what occasion I know not his minde altered and hee would not goe forward with his intention Most of them hee partly recompenced which were come thither and they dismissed to depart at their pleasure one onely man remained vnrespected or in any kinde sort sent away whose name was Bergamino a man very pleasantly disposed and so wittily ready in speaking and answering as none could easily credit it but such as heard him and although his recompence seemed ouer long delayed yet hee made no doubt of a beneficiall ending By some enemies of his Master Can de la Scala was incensed that whatsoeuer he gaue or bestowed on him was as ill imployed and vtterly lost as if it were throwne into the fire and therefore he neither did or spake any thing to him Some fewe dayes being passed ouer and Bergamino perceiuing that hee was neither called nor any account made of notwithstanding many manly good parts in him obseruing beside that hee found a shrewd consumption in his purse his Inne horses and seruants being chargeable to him he begâ—n to grow extremely melancholly and yet hee attended in expectation day by day as thinking it farre vnfitting for him to depart before he was bidden farewell Hauing brought with him thither three goodly rich garments which had beene giuen him by sundry Lords for his more sightly appearance at this great meeting the importunate Host being greedy of payment first he deliuered him one of them and yet not halfe the score being wiped off the second must needes follow and beside except he meant to leaue his lodging hee must liue vpon the third so long as it would last till hee saw what end his hopes would sort to It fortuned during the time of liuing thus vpon his latest refuge that he met with Maister Can one day at dinner where he presented himselfe before him with a discontented countenance which Maister Can well obseruing more to distaste him then take delight in any thing that could come from him he said Bergamino how chearest thou Thou art very melancholly I pray thee tell vs why Bergamino suddenly without any premeditation yet seeming as if he had long considered thereon reported this Tale. Sir I haue heard of a certaine man named Primasso one skilfully learned in the Grammar and beyond all other a very witty and ready versifier in regard whereof he was so much admired and farre renowned that such as neuer saw him but onely heard of him could easily say this is Primasso It came to passe that being once at Paris in poore estate as commonly hee could light on no better fortune because vertue is slenderly rewarded by such as haue the greatest possessions he heard much fame of the Abbot of Clugni a man reputed next to the Pope to be the richest Prelate of the Church Of him he heard wonderfull and magnificent matters that he alwayes kept an open and hospitable Court and neuer made refusall of any from whence so euer hee came or went but they did eate and drinke freely there prouided that they came when the Abbot was set at the Table Primasso hearing this and being an earnest desirer to see magnificent and vertuous men he resolued to goe see this rare bounty of the Abbot demaunding how far he dwelt from Paris Being answered about some three leagues thence Primasso made account that if he went on betimes in the morning he should easily reach thither before the houre for dinner Being instructed in the way and not finding any to walke along with him fearing if he went without some furnishment and should stay long there for his dinner he might perhaps complaine of hunger he therefore caried three loaues of bread with him knowing that he could meete with water euery where albeit he vsed to drinke but little Hauing aptly conuayed his bread about him he went on his iourney and arriued at the Lord Abbots Court an indifferent while before dinner time wherfore entring into the great Hall and so from place to place beholding the great multitude of Tables bountifull preparation in the Kitchin and what admirable prouision there was for dinner he said to himselfe Truly this man is more magnificent then Fame hath made him because shee speakes too sparingly of him While thus he went about considering on all these things he saw the Maister of the Abbots houshold because then it was the houre of dinner commaund water to be brought for washing hands and euery one sitting downe at the Table it fell to the lot of Primasso to sit directly against the doore whereat the Abbot must enter into the Hall The custome in this Court was such that no foode should be serued to any of the Tables vntill the Lord Abbot was himselfe first sette whereupon euery thing being fitte and readie the Maister of the houshold went to tell his Lord that nothing now wanted but his presence onely The Abbot comming from his Chamber to enter the Hall looking about him as hee was wont to doe the first man hee saw was Primasso who being but in homely habite and he hauing not seene him before to his remembrance a present bad conceite possessed his braine that he neuer saw an vnworthier person saying within himselfe See how I giue my goods away to be deuoured So returning backe to his Chamber againe commaunded the doore to be made fast demaunding of euery man neere about him if they knew the base Knaue that sate before his entrance into the Hall and all his seruants answered no. Primasso being extreamely hungry with trauailing on foote so farre and neuer vsed to fast so long expecting still when meate would be serued
our Holy Father that his youth may be dispensed withall and he confirmed in the sayd dignity but hee is not to speake a word to any person On rode this new Abbot sometimes before his traine and other whiles after as we see great Lords vse to do when they ride vpon the High-wayes It chanced on a day that Alessandro rode somewhat neere to the Abbot who stedfastly beholding him perceiued that he was a verie comely young man so affable louely and gracious that euen in this first encounter he hadde neuer seene any man before that better pleased him Calling him a little closer he began to conferre familiarly with him demanding what he was whence he came and whether he trauelled Alessandro imparted freely to him all his affaires in euery thing satisfying his demands and offering although his power was small to doe him all the seruice he could When the Abbot had heard his gentle answers so wisely discreetly deliuered considering also more particularly his commendable cariage he tooke him to be at the least a well-borne Gentleman and far differing from his owne logger-headed traine Wherfore taking compassion on his great misfortunes he comforted him very kindly wishing him to liue alwayes in good hope For if hee were vertuous and honest he should surely attaine to the seate from whence Fortune had throwne him or rather much higher Entreating him also that seeing he iournied towards Tuscany as he himselfe did the like to continue stil if he pleased in his company Alessandro most humbly thanked him for such gracious comfort protesting that he would be alwaies ready to doe whatsoeuer he commanded The Abbot riding on with newer crochets in his braine then hee had before the sight of Alessandro it fortuned that after diuers dayes of trauaile they came to a small countrey Village which affoorded little store of lodging and yet the Abbot would needs lye there Alessandro being well acquainted with the Host of the house willed him to prouide for the Abbot and his people and then to lodge him where hee thought meetest Now before the Abbots comming thither the Harbinger that marshalled all such matters had prouided for his traine in the Village some in one place and others elsewhere in the best maner that the Towne could yeelde But when the Abbot had supt a great part of the night being spent and euery one else at his rest Alessandro demaunded of the Host what prouision he had made for him and how hee should be lodged that night In good sadnesse Sir quoth the Host you see that my house is full of Guests so that I and my people must gladly sleepe on the tables benches Neuerthelesse next adioyning to my Lord Abbots Chamber there are certaine Corn-lofts whether I can closely bring you and making shift there with a slender Pallet-bed it may serue for one night insted of a better But mine Host quoth Alessandro how can I passe thorow my Lords Chamber which is so little as it would not allowe Lodging for any of his Monkes If I had remembred so much said the Host before the Curtaines were drawne I could haue lodgd his Monkes in those Corn-lofts and then both you and I might haue slept where now they do But feare you not my Lords Curtaines are close drawne hee sleepeth no doubt soundly and I can conueigh you thither quietly enough without the least disturbance to him and a Pallet-bed shal be fitted there for you Alessandro perceyuing that all this might bee easilie done and no disease offered to the Abbot accepted it willingly went thither without any noyse at all My Lord Abbot whose thoughtes were so busied about amorous desires that no sleepe at all could enter his eyes heard all this talke betweene the Host and Alessandro and also where hee was appointed to lodge wherefore he sayd to himselfe Seeing Fortune hath fitted me with a propitious time to compasse the happines of my hearts desire I know no reason why I should refuse it Perhaps I shall neuer haue the like offer againe or euer be enabled with such an opportunity So being fully determined to prosecute his intention and perswading himselfe also that the silence of night had bestowed sleepe on all the rest with a lowe and trembling voyce he called Alessandro aduising him to come and lye downe by him which after some few faint excuses he did and putting off his cloaths lay downe by the Abbot being not a little prowde of so gracious a fauour The Abbot laying his arme ouer the others body began to imbrace and hugge him euen as amorous friends prouoked by earnest affection vse to do Whereat Alessandro very much maruayling and being an Italian himselfe fearing least this folly in the Abbot would conuert to foule and dishonest action shrunk modestly from him Which the Abbot perceiuing and doubting least Alessandro would depart and leaue him pleasantly smiling and with bashfull behauiour baring his stomack he tooke Alessandroes hand and laying it thereon saide Alessandro let all bad thoughts of bestiall abuse be farre off from thee and feele here to resolue thee from all such feare Alessandro feeling the Abbots brest found there two pretty little mountainets round plumpe and smooth appearing as if they had beene of polished Iuory whereby he perceiued that the Abbot was a woman which setting an edge on his youthfull desires made him fall to embracing and immediately he offered to kisse her but shee somewhat rudely repulsing him as halfe offended saide Alessandro forbeare such boldnesse vpon thy liues perill and before thou further presume to touch me vnderstand what I shall tell thee I am as thou perceiuest no man but a woman and departing a Virgin from my Fathers House am trauelling towards the Popes holinesse to the end that he should bestow me in mariage But the other day when first I beheld thee whether it proceeded from thy happinesse in fortune or the fatall houre of my owne infelicity for euer I know not I conceiued such an effectuall kinde of liking towards thee as neuer did woman loue a man more truly then I doe thee hauing sworne within my soule to make thee my Husband before any other and if thou wilt not accept mee as thy wife set a locke vpon thy lippes concerning what thou hast heard and depart hence to thine owne bed againe No doubt but that these were strange newes to Alessandro and seemed meerely as a miracle to him What shee was he knew not but in regard of her traine and company hee reputed her to be both noble and rich as also shee was wonderfull faire and beautifull His owne fortunes stood out of future expectation by his kinsmens ouerthrow and his great losses in England wherefore vpon an opportunity so fairely offered hee held it no wisedome to returne refusall but accepted her gracious motion and referred all to her disposing Shee arising out of her bed called him to a little Table standing by where hung a faire Crucifix vpon the wall
taketh him to be and so did I find him Hauing thus spoken and giuing kinde welcome to the Messenger secretly he called the Nurse vnto him whom he heedfully examined concerning this case Shee hauing heard the rebellion in the Kingdome of Sicilie and vnderstanding withall that Henriet was yet liuing ioyfully threw off all her former feare relating euery thing to him orderly and the reasons mouing her to conceale the whole businesse in such manner as shee had done Gasparino well perceiuing that the report of the Nurse and the message receiued from Conrado varied not in any one circumstance beganne the better to credit her wordes And being a man most ingenious making further inquisition into the businesse by all the possible meanes he could deuise and finding euery thing to yeeld vndoubted assurance ashamed of the vile and base vsage wherein hee had so long time kept the Ladde and desiring by his best meanes to make him amends he had a faire Daughter aged about thirteene yeeres and knowing what manner of man he was his father Henriet also yet liuing he gaue her to him in marriage with a very bountifull and honourable dowry The iouiall dayes of feasting being past he went aboard a Galley with the Poore expelled his Daughter the Ambassadour and the Nurse departing thence to Lericy where they were nobly welcommed by Messer Conrado and his Castle being not farre from thence with an honourable traine they were conducted thither and entertained with all possible kindnesse Now concerning the comfort of the Mother meeting so happily with both her Sonnes the ioy of the Brethren and Mother together hauing also found the faithfull Nurse Gasparino and his Daughter in company now with Conrado and his Wife friends familiars and all generally in a Iubilee of reioycing it exceedeth capacity in me to expresse it and therefore I referre it to your more able imagination In the time of this mutuall contentment to the ende that nothing might be wanting to compleat and perfect this vniuersall ioy our Lord a most aboundant bestower where he beginneth added long wished tydings concerning the life and good estate of Henriet Capece For euen as they were feasting and the concourse great of worthy guests both of Lords and Ladies the first seruice was scarcely set on the Tables but the Ambassador which was sent to Sicilie arriued there before them Among many other important matters he spake of Henriet who being so long a time detained in prison by King Charles when the commotion arose in the City against the King the people grudging at Henriets long imprisonment slew the Guards and set him at liberty Then as capitall enemy to King Charles he was created Captaine generall following the chase and killing the French By meanes whereof he grew great in the grace of King Pedro who replanted him in all the goods and honours which he had before with very high and eminent authority Hereunto the Ambassadour added that he was entertained with extraordinary grace and deliuery of publike ioy and exaltation when his Wife and Sonne were knowne to be liuing of whom no tydings had at any time beene heard since the houre of his surprizall Moreouer that a swift winged Barke was now sent thither vpon the happy hearing of this newes well furnished with noble Gentlemen to attend till their returning backe We neede to make no doubt concerning the tydings brought by this Ambassadour nor of the Gentlemens welcome thus sent to Madam Beritola and Geoffrey who before they would sit downe at the Table saluted Messer Conrado and his kinde Lady on the behalfe of Henriet for all the great graces extended to her and her Sonne with promise of any thing lying in the power of Henriet to rest continually at their command The like they did to Signior Gasparino whose liberall fauours came vnlooked for with certaine assurance that when Henriet should vnderstand what hee had done for his other Sonne the Poore expelled there would be no defailance of riciprocall courtesies As the longest ioyes haue no perpetuity of lasting so all these gracefull ceremonies had their conclusion with as many sighes and teares at parting as ioyes abounded at their first encountring Imagine then that you see such aboard as were to haue here no longer abiding Madam Beritola and Geoffrey with the rest as the Poore expelled the so late married Wiues and the faithfull Nurse bearing them company With prosperous windes they arriued in Sicilie where the Wife Sonnes and Daughters were ioyfully met by Henriet at Palermo and with such honourable pompe as a case so important equally deserued The Histories make further mention that there they liued a long while after in much felicity with thankfull hearts no doubt to Heauen in acknowledgement of so many great mercies receiued The Soldan of Babylon sent one of his Daughters to be ioyned in marriage with the King of Cholcos who by diuers accidents in the space of foure yeeres happened into the custody of nine men and in sundry places At length being restored backe to her Father shee went to the saide King of Cholcos as a Maide and as at first shee was intended to be his wife The seauenth Nouell Aliuely demonstration that the beauty of a Woman oftentimes is very hurtfull to her selfe and the occasion of many euils yea and of death to diuers men PEraduenture the Nouell related by Madam Aemilia did not extend it selfe so farre in length as it moued compassion in the Ladies mindes hearing the hard fortunes of Beritola and her Children which had incited them to weeping but that it pleased the Queene vpon the Tales conclusion to command Pamphilus to follow next in order with his discourse and hee being thereto very obedient beganne in this manner It is a matter of no meane difficulty vertuous Ladies for vs to take intire knowledge of euery thing we doe because as oftentimes hath beene obserued many men imagining if they were rich they should liue securely and without any cares And therefore not onely haue their prayers and intercessions aimed at that end but also their studies and daily endeauours without refusall of any paines or perils haue not meanely expressed their hourely solicitude And although it hath happened accordingly to them and their couetous desires fully accomplished yet at length they haue met with such kinde of people who likewise thirsting after their wealthy possessions haue bereft them of life being their kinde and intimate friends before they attained to such riches Some other being of low and base condition by aduenturing in many skirmishes and foughten battels trampling in the bloud of their brethren and friends haue beene mounted to the soueraigne dignity of Kingdomes beleeuing that therein consisted the truest happinesse but bought with the dearest price of their liues For beside their infinite cares and feares wherewith such greatnesse is continually attended at their royall Tables they haue drunke poyson in a golden pot Many other in like manner with most earnest appetite haue coueted
beauty and bodily strength not foreseeing with any iudgement that these wishes were not without perill when being endued with them they either haue beene the occasion of their death or such a lingering lamentable estate of life as death were a thousand times more welcome to them But because I would not speake particularly of all our fraile and humane affections I dare assure ye that there is not any one of these desires to be elected among vs mortals with entire foresight or prouidence warrantable against their ominous issue Wherefore if we would walke directly wee should dispose our willes and affections to be ordered and guided onely by him who best knoweth what is needfull for vs and will bestow them at his good pleasure Nor let me lay this blamefull imputation vpon men onely for offending in many things through ouer lauish desires because you your selues gracious Ladies sinne highly in one as namely in coueting to be beautifull So that it is not sufficient for you to enioy those beauties bestowne on you by Nature but you practise to encrease them by the rarities of Art Wherefore let it not offend you that I tell you the hard fortune of a faire Sarrazines to whom it happened by strange aduentures within the compasse of foure yeares nine seuerall times to be maried and onely for her beauty It is now a long time since that there liued a Soldane in Babylon named Beminidab to whom while he liued many things happened answerable to his owne desires Among diuers other children both male and female he had a daughter called Alathiella and shee according to the common voyce of euery one that saw her was the fayrest Lady then liuing in all the world And because the King of Cholcos had wonderfully assisted him in a valiant foughten battaile against a mighty Armie of Arabes who on a suddaine had assailed him hee demaunded his faire daughter in marriage which likewise was badly granted to him A goodly and well armed Ship was prepared for her with full furnishment of all necessary prouision and accompanied with an honourable traine both Lords and Ladies as also most costly and sumptuous accoustrements commending her to the mercy of heauen in this manner was shee sent away The time being propitious for their parting thence the Mariners hoised their sayles leauing the part of Alexandria and sayling prosperously many dayes together When they had past the Country of Sardignia and as they imagined were well neere to their iourneyes end suddainly arose boisterous and contrary windes which were so impetuous beyond all measure and so tormented the Ship wherein the Lady was that the Mariners seeing no signe of comfort gaue ouer all hope of escaping with life Neuerthelesse as men most expert in implacable dangers they laboured to their vttermost power and contended with infinite blustring tempests for the space of two dayes and nights together hoping the third day would proue more fauourable But therein they saw themselues deceiued for the violence continued still encreasing in the night time more and more being no way able to comprehend either where they were or what course they tooke neither by mariuall iudgement or any apprehension else whatsoeuer the heauens were so clouded and the nights darknesse so extâ—eame Being vnknowne to them neere the Isle of Maiorica they felt the Ship to split in the bottome by meanes whereof perceiuing now no hope of escaping euery one caring for himselfe and not any other they threw forth a Squiffe on the troubled waues reposing more confidence of safety that way then abiding any longer in the broken Ship Howbeit such as were first descended downe made stout resistance against all other followers with their drawne weapons but safety of life so farre preuailed that what with the tempests violence and ouer-lading of the Squiffe it sunke to the bottome and all perished that were therein The The Ship being thus split and more then halfe full of water tossed and tormented by the blustring windes first one way and then another was at last driuen into a strand of the Isle Maiorica no other persons remaining therein but onely the Lady and her women all of them through the rude tempest and their owne conceiued feare lying still as if they were more then halfe dead And there within a stones cast of the neighbouring shore the Ship by the rough surging billowes was fixed fast in the sands and so continued all the rest of the night without any further molestation of the windes When day appeared and the violent stormes were more mildly appeased the Lady who seemed well neere dead lifted vp her head and began weake as she was to call first one and then another but she called in vaine for such as she named were farre enough from her Wherefore hearing no answere nor seeing any one she wondered greatly her feares encreasing then more and more Raysing her selfe so well as shee could she beheld the Ladies that were of her company and some other of her women lying still without any stirring whereupon first iogging one and then another and calling them seuerally by their names shee found them bereft of vnderstanding and euen as if they were dead their hearts were so quailed and their feare so ouer-ruling which was no meane dismay to the poore Lady her selfe Neuerthelesse necessity now being her best counsailour seeing her selfe thus all alone and not knowing in what place she was she vsed such meanes to them that were liuing that at the last they came better to knowledge of themselues And being vnable to guesse what was become of the men and Mariners seeing the Ship also driuen on the sands and filled with water she began with them to lament most grieuously and now it was about the houre of mid-day before they could descry any person on the shore or any else to pitty them in so vrgent a necessity At length noone being past a Gentlewoman named Baiazeth attended by diuers of his followers on horseback and returning from a Country house belonging to him chanced to ride by on the sands Vpon sight of the Ship lying in that case he imagined truely what had happened and commanded one of his men to enter aboord it which with some difficulty hee did to resolue his Lord what remayned therein There hee found the faire young Lady with such small store of company as was left her fearefully hidden vnder the prow of the Ship So soone as they saw him they held vp their hands wofully desiring mercy of him but he perceiuing their lamentable condition and that hee vnderstoode not what they said to them their affliction grew the greater labouring by signes and gestures to giue them knowledge of their misfortune The seruaut gathering what he could by their outward behauiour declared to his Lord what hee had seene in the Ship who caused the women to be brought on shore and all the precious things remaining with them conducting them with him to a place not farre off where with
reuealed her whole intent to Gianetta and finding her constancie beyond common comparison acquainted her Lord with all she had done and both consented though much against their mindes to let him enioy her in honourable marriage accounting it better for preseruation of their onely sons life to match him farre inferiour to his degree then by denying his desire to let him pine away and die for her loue After great consultation with kindred and friendes the match was agreed vpon to the no little ioy of Gianetta who deuoutly returned infinite thankes to heauen for so mercifully respecting her deiected poore estate after the bitter passage of so many miseries and neuer tearming her selfe any otherwise but the daughter of a poore Piccard Soone was the yong Gentleman recouered and married no man aliue so well contented as he and setting downe an absolute determination to lead a louing life with his Gianetta Let vs now conuert our lookes to Wales to Perotto being lefte there with the other Lord Marshall who was the President of that Countrey On he grew in yeares choisely respected by his Lord because hee vvas most comely of person and addicted to all valiant attempts so that in Tourneyes Iustes and other actions of Armes his like was not to bee found in all the Island being named onely Perotto the valiant Piccard and so was he famed farre and neere As God had not forgotten his Sister so in mercy he became as mindefull of him for a contagious mortalitie hapning in the Country the greater part of the people perished thereby the rest flying thence into other partes of the Land whereby the whole Prouince became dispeopled and desolate In the time of this plague and dreadful visitation the Lord President his Lady Sonnes Daughters Brothers Nephewes and Kindred dyed none remaining aliue but one onely Daughter marriageable a few of the houshold seruants beside Perotto whom after the sicknesse was more mildly asswaged with counsaile and consent of the Country people the young Lady accepted to be her husband because hee was a man so worthy and valiant and of all the inheritance left by her deceased Father she made him Lord and sole commaunder Within no long while after the King of England vnderstanding that his President of Wales was dead and fame liberally relating the vertues valour and good parts of Perotto the Piccard hee created him to be his President there and to supply the place of his deceased Lord. These faire fortunes within the compasse of so short a time fell to the two innocent children of the Count D'Angiers after they were left by him as lost and forlorne Eighteene yeares were now fully ouer-past since the Count D'Angiers fled from Paris hauing suffered in miserable soâ—t many hard and lamentable aduersities and seeing himselfe now to be growne aged hee was desirous to leaue Ireland and to know if hee might what was become of both his children Hereupon perceiuing his wonted forme to be so altered that such as formerly had conuersed most with him could now not take any knowledge of him feeling his body through long labour and exercise endured in seruice more lusty then in his idle youthfull yeares especially when he left the Court of France hee purposed to proceede in his determination Being very poore and simple in apparell hee departed from the Irish Eare his Maister with whom hee had continued long in seruice to no aduantage or aduancement and crossing ouer into England trauailed to the place in Wales where he left Perotto and where hee found him to be Lord Marshall and President of the Country lusty and in good health a man of goodly feature and most honourably respected and reuerenced of the people Well may you imagine that this was no small comfort to the poore aged Countes heart yet would he not make himselfe knowne to him or any other about him but referred his ioy to a further enlarging or diminishing by sight of the other limme of his life his dearely affected daughter Gianetta denying rest to his body in any place vntill such time as he came to London Making there secret enquiry concerning the Lady with whom he had left his daughter hee vnderstoode that a young Gentlewoman named Gianetta was married to that Ladies onely Son which made a second addition of ioy to his soule accounting all his passed aduersities of no value both his children being liuing and in so high honour Hauing found her dwelling and like a kinde Father being earnestly desirous to see her he dayly resorted neere to the house where Sir Roger Mandauill for so was Gianettaes husband named chauncing to see him being moued to compassion because he was both poore and aged commaunded one of his men to take him into the house and to giue him some foode for Gods sake which accordingly the seruant performed Gianetta had diuers children by her husband the eldest of them being but eight yeares olde yet all of them so faire and comely as could be As the olde Count sate eating his meate in the Hall the children came all about him embracing hugging and making much of him euen as if Nature had truly instructed them that this was their aged though poore Graundfather and hee as louingly receiuing these kinde relations from them wisely and silently kept all to himselfe with sighes teares and ioyes entermixed together So that the children would not part from him though their Tutour and Maister called them often which being tolde to their Mother shee came foorth of the neere adioyning Parlour and threatned to beate them if they would not doe what their Maister commanded them Then the children began to cry saying that they would tarie still by the good olde man because he loued them better then their Maister did whereat both the Lady and the Count began to smile The Count like a poore beggar and not as father to so great a Lady arose and did her humble reuerence because shee was now a Noble woman conceiuing wonderfull ioy in his soule to see her so faire and goodly a creature yet could she take no knowledge of him age want and misery had so mightily altred him his head all white his beard without any comely forme his garments so poore and his face so wrinkled leane and meager that hee seemed rather some Carter then a Count. And Gianetta perceiuing that when her children were fetcht away they returned againe to the olde man and would not leaue him desired their Maister to let them alone While thus the children continued making much of the good olde man Lord Andrew Mandeuile Father to Sir Roger came into the Hall as being so willed to doe by the Childrens Schoolemaister He being a hastie minded man and one that euer despised Gianetta before but much more since her mariage to his sonne angerly said Let them alone with a mischiefe and so befall them their best company ought to be with beggers for so are they bred and borne by the Mothers side and
on foote out of the vally When he came to his Maister and had deliuered him her garments he assured him that he had not onely accomplished his commaund but also was most secure from any discouery because he had no sooner done the deede but foure or fiue very rauenous Wolfes came presently running to the dead body and gaue it buriall in their bellies Bernardo soone after returning to Geneway was much blamed for such vnkinde cruelty to his wife but his constant auouching of her treason to him according then to the Countries custome did cleare him from all pursuite of law Poore Geneura was left thus alone and disconsolate and night stealing fast vpon her shee went to a silly village neere adioyning where by the meanes of a good olde woman she got such prouision as the place afforded making the doublet fit to her body and conuerting her petticote to a paire of breeches according to the Mariners fashion then cutting her haire and queintly disguised like to a Sayler shee went to the Sea coast By good fortune she met there with a Gentleman of Cathalogna whose name was Signior Enchararcho who came on land from his Ship which lay hulling there about Albagia to refresh himselfe at a pleasant Spring Enchararcho taking her to be a man as shee appeared no otherwise by her habite vpon some conference passing betweene them shee was entertained into his seruice and being brought aboord the Ship she went vnder the name of Sicurano da Finale There shee had better apparell bestowne on her by the Gentleman and her seruice proued so pleasing and acceptable to him that hee liked her care and diligence beyond all comparison It came to passe within a short while after that this Gentleman of Cathalogna sayled with some charge of his into Alexandria carying thither câ—rtaine peregrine Faulcons which hee presented to the Soldane who oftentimes welcommed this Gentleman to his table where hee obserued the behauiour of Sicurano attending on his Maisters treâ—cher and therewith was so highly pleased that he requested to haue him from the Gentleman who for his more aduancement willingly parted with his so lately entertained seruant Sicurano was so ready and discreete in his dayly seruices that he grew in as great grace with the Soldane as before he had done with Enchararcho At a certaine season in the yeare as customarie order there obserued had formerly beene in the Citie of Acres which was vnder the Soldanes subiection there yearely met a great assembly of Merchants as Christians Moores Iewes Sarrazines and many other Nations beside as at a common Mart or Fayre And to the end that the Merchants for the better sale of their goods might be there in the safer assurance the Soldane vsed to send thither some of his ordinarie Officers and a strong guard of Souldiers beside to defend them from all iniuries and molestation because he reaped thereby no meane benefit And who should be now sent about this businesse but his new elected fauourite Sicurano because she was skilfull and perfect in the languages Sicurano being come to Acres as Lord and Captaine of the Guard for the Merchants and for the safety of their Merchandizes she discharged her office most commendably walking with her traine through euery part of the Fayre where shee obserued a worthy company of Merchants Sicilians Pisanes Genewayes Venetians and other Italians whom the more willingly shee noted in remembrance of her natiue Countrey At one especiall time among other chancing into a Shop or Boothe belonging to the Venetians she espied hanging vp with other costly wares a Purse and a Girdle which suddainly shee remembred to be sometime her owne whereat she was not a little abashed in her mind But without making any such outward shew courteously she requested to know whose they were and whether they should be sold or no. Ambroginolo of Placentia was likewise come thither and great store of Merchandizes hee had brought with him in a Carrack appertaining to the Venetians and hee hearing the Captaine of the Guard demaund whose they were stepped foorth before him and smiling answered That they wâ—re his but not to be solde yet if hee liked them gladly hee would bestowe them on him Sicurano seeing him smile suspected least himselfe had by some vnfitting behauiour beene the occasion thereof and therefore with a more setled countenance hee said Perhaps thou smilest because I that am a man professing Armes should question after such womanish toyes Ambroginolo replied My Lord pardon me Ismile not at you or your demaund but at the manner how I came by these things Sicurano vpon this answere was ten times more desirous then before and said If Fortune fauoured thee in friendly manner by the obtaining of these things if it may be spoken tell me how thou hadst them My Lord answered Ambroginolo these things with many more beside were giuen me by a Gentlewoman of Geneway named Madame Geneura the wife to one Bernardo Lomellino in recompence of one nights lodging with her and she desired me to keepe them for her sake Now the maine reason of my smiling was the remembrance of her husbands folly in waging fiue thousand Duckets of golde against one thousand of mine that I should not obtaine my will of his wife which I did and thereby wone the wager But hee who better deserued to be punished for his folly then shee who was but sicke of all womens disease returning from Paris to Geneway caused her to be slaine as afterward it was reported by himselfe When Sicurano heard this horrible lye immediatly shee conceiued that this was the occasion of her husbands hatred to her and all the hard haps which she had since suffered whereupon shee reputed it for more then a mortall sinne if such a villaine should passe without due punishment Sicurano seemed to like well this report and grew into such familiarity with Ambroginolo that by her perswasions when the Fayre was ended she tooke him higher with her into Alexandria and all his Wares along with him furnishing him with a fit and conuenient Shop where he made great benefit of his Merchandizes trusting all his monies in the Captaines custody because it was the safest course for him and so he continued there with no meane contentment Much did shee pitty her Husbands perplexity deuising by what good and warrantable meanes she might make knowne her innocency to him wherein her place and authority did greatly sted her and shee wrought with diuers gallant Merchants of Geneway that then remained in Alexandria and by vertue of the Soldans friendly Letters beside to bring him thither vpon an especiall occasion Come he did albeit in poore and meane order which soone was better altered by her appointment and he very honourably though in priuate entertained by diuers of her worthy friends till time did fauour what shee further intended In the expectation of Bernardoes arriuall shee had so preuailed with Ambroginolo that the same tale which he
fixed in the place appointed to his no meane torment he not onely died but likewise was deuoured to the bare bones by Flyes Waspes and Hornets whereof the Countrey notoriously aboundeth And his bones in full forme and fashion remained strangely blacke for a long while after knit together by the sinewes as a witnesse to many thousands of people which afterward beheld his carkasse of his wickednesse against so good and vertuous a woman that had not so much as a thought of any euill towards him And thus was the Prouerbe truly verified that shame succeedeth after vgly sinne and the deceiuer is trampled and trod by such as himselfe hath deceiued Pagammo da Monaco a rouing Pirate on the Seas caried away the faire Wife of Signior Ricciardo di Chinzica who vnderstanding where shee was went thither and falling into friendship with Pagamino demaunded his Wife of him whereto he yeelded prouided that shee would willingly goe away with him She denied to part thence with her Husband and Signior Ricciardo dying she became the Wife of Pagamino The tenth Nouell Wherein olde men are wittily reprehended that will match themselues with younger women then is fit for their yeares and insufficiencie neuer considering what afterward may happen to them EVery one in this honest and gracious assembly most highly commended the Nouell recounted by the Queene but especially Dioneus who remained to finish that dayes pleasure with his owne discourse and after many praises of the former tale were past thus he began Faire Ladies part of the Queenes Nouell hath made an alteration of my minde from that which I intended to proceede next withall and therefore I will report another I cannot forget the vnmanly indiscretion of Bernardo but much more the base arrogancie of Ambroginolo how iustly deserued shame fell vpon him as well it may happen to all other that are so vile in their owne opinions as he apparantly approued himselfe to be For as men wander abroade in the world according to their occasions in diuersity of Countries and obseruation of the peoples behauiour so are their humours as variously transported And if they finde women wantonly disposed abroade the like iudgement they giue of their wiues at home as if they had neuer knowne their birth and breeding or made proofe of their loyall carriage towards them Wherefore the Tale that I purpose to relate will likewise condemne all the like kinde of men but more especially such as suppose themselues to be endued with more strength then Nature euer meant to bestow vpon them foolishly beleeuing that they can couer and satisfie their owne defects by fabulous demonstrations and thinking to fashion other of their owne complexions that are meerely strangers to such grosse follies Let me tell you then that there liued in Pisa about some hundred yeeres before Tuscanie Liguria came to embrace the Christian Faith a Iudge better stored with wisdome and ingenuity then corporall abilities of the body â—e being named Signior Ricciardo di Cinzica He being more then halfe perswaded that he could content a woman with such satisfaction as he daily bestowed on his studies being a widdower and extraordinarily wealthy laboured with no meane paines and endeauour to enioy a faire and youthfull wife in marriage both which qualities he should much rather haue auoyded if he could haue ministred as good counsell to him as he did to others resorting to him for aduice Vpon this his amorous and diligent inquisition it came so to passe that a worthy Gentleman called Bertolomea one of the very fairest and choysest young Maides in Pisa whose youth did hardly agree with his age but mucke was the motiue of this mariage and no expectation of mutuall contentment The Iudge being maried and the Bride brought solemnly home to his house we need make no question of braue cheare banqueting wel furnished by their friends on either side other matters were now hammering in the Iudges head for though he could please all his Clyents with counsell yet now such a sute was commenced against himself and in Beauties Court of continual requests that the Iudge failing in plea for his owne defence was often non-suited by lacke of answer yet he wanted neither good wines drugges and all restauratiues to comfort the heart and encrease good blood but all auayled not in this case But well fare a good courage where performance faileth he could liberally commend his passed iouiall dayes and make a promise of as faire felicities yet to come because his youth would renew it selfe like to the Eagle and his vigour in as full force as before But beside all these idle allegations he would needs instruct his wife in an Almanack or Calender which long before he had bought at Rauenna and wherein he plainely shewed her that there was not any one day in the yeere but it was dedicated to some Saint or other In reuerence of whom and for their sakes he approued by diuers arguments reasons that a man his wife ought to abstaine from bedding together Hereto he added that those Saints dayes had their fasts feasts beside the foure seasons of the yeere the vigils of the Apostles and a thousand other holy dayes with Fridayes Saturdayes Sundayes in honor of our Lords rest and all the sacred time of Lent as also certaine obseruations of the Moone infinite other exceptions beside thinking perhaps that it was as conuenient for men to refraine from their wiues conuersation as he did often times from sitting in the Court These were his daily documents to his young wife wherewith with poore soule she became so tired as nothing could be more irksome to her and very careful she was lest any other shold teach her what beloÌ„ged to working daies because he wold haue herknow none but holidaies Afterwaâ—d it came to passe that the season waxing extremely hot Signior Ricciardo would goe recreate himselfe at his house in the Countrey neere vnto the black Mountaine where for his faire wiues more contentment he continued diuers dayes together And for her further recreation he gaue order to haue a day of fishing he going aboard a small Pinnace among the Fishers and shee was in another consorted with diuers other Gentlewomen in whose company shee shewed her selfe very well pleased Delight made them launch further into the Sea then either the Iudge was willing they should haue done or agreed with respect of their owne safety For suddenly a Galliot came vpon them wherein was one Pagamino a Pyrate very famous in those dayes who espying the two Pinnaces made out presently to them and seized on that wherein the women were When he beheld there so faire a young woman he coueted after no other purchase but mounting her into his Galliot in the sight of Signior Ricciardo who by this time was fearefully landed he caried her away with him When Signior Iudge had seene this theft he being so iealous of his wife as scarcely he would let the ayre
breathe on her it were a needlesse demand to know whether he was offended or no. He made complaint at Pisa and in many other places beside what iniury he had sustained by those Pryrates in carying his wife thus away from him but all was in vaine he neither as yet knew the man nor whether he had conueyed her from him Pagamino perceiuing what a beautifull woman she was made the more precious esteeme of his purchase and being himselfe a bachelar intended to keepe her as his owne comforting her with kind and pleasing speeches not vsing any harsh or vnciuill demeanor to her because shee wept and lamented grieuously But when night came her husbands Calendar falling from her girdle and all the fasts feasts quite out of her remembrance she receiued such curteous consolations from Pagamino that before they could arriue at Monaco the Iudge his Law cases were almost out of her memory such was his affable behauiour to her and she began to conuerse with him in more friendly manner and he entreating her as honourably as if shee had beene his espoused wife Within a short while after report had acquainted Ricciardo the Iudge where how his wife was kept from him whereupon he determined not to send any one but rather to go himselfe in person to redeem her from the Pyrate with what sums of mony he should demand By Sea he passed to Monaco where he saw his wife and shee him as soone after shee made known to Pagamino On the morrow following Signior Ricciardo meeting with Pagamino made means to be acquainted with him within lesse thē an houres space they grew into familiar priuate conference Pagamino yet pretending not to know him but expected what issue this talke would sort to When time serued the Iudge discoursed the occasion of his comming thither desiring him to demand what ransome he pleased that he might haue his wife home with him whereto Pagamino thus answered My Lord Iudge you are welcome hither and to answer you breefely very true it is that I haue a yong Gentlewoman in my house whome I neither know to be your wife or any other mans else whatsoeuer for I am ignorant both of you and her albeit she hath remained a while here with me If you bee her husband as you seeme to auouch I will bring her to you for you appeare to be a worthy Gentleman and questionles she cannot chuse but know you perfectly If she do confirme that which you haue said and be willing to depart hence with you I shall rest well satisfied and will haue no other recompence for her ransome in regard of your graue and reuerent yeares but what your selfe shall please to giue me But if it fall out otherwise and proue not to be as you haue affirmed you shall offer me great wrong in seeking to get her from me because I am a young man and can as well maintaine so faire a wife as you or any man else that I know Beleeue it certainly replied the Iudge that she is my wife and if you please to bring me where she is you shall soone perceiue it for she will presently cast her armes about my neck and I durst aduenture the vtter losse of her if shee denie to doe it in your presence Come on then said Pagamino and let vs delay the time no longer When they were entred into Pagaminoes house and sate downe in the Hall he caused her to be called and shee being readily prepared for the purpose came forth of her Chamber before them both where friendly they sate conuersing together neuer vttering any one word to Signior Ricciardo or knowing him from any other stranger that Pagamino might bring in to the house with him Which when my Lord the Iudge beheld who expected to finde a farre more gracious welcome he stoode as a man amazed saying to himselfe Perhaps the extraordinary griefe and mellancholly suffered by me since the time of her losse hath so altred my wonted complexion that shee is not able to take knowledge of me Wherefore going neerer to her hee said Faire Loue dearely haue I bought your going on fishing because neuer man felt the like afflictions as I haue done since the day when I lost you but by this your vnciuill silence you seeme as if you did not know me Why dearest Loue seest thou not that I am thy husband Ricciardo who am come to pay what ransome this Gentleman shall demaund euen in the house where now we are so to conuay thee home againe vpon his kinde promise of thy deliuerance after the payment of thy ransome Bertolomea turning towards him and seeming as if shee smiled to her selfe thus answered Sir speake you to me Aduise your selfe well least you mistake me for some other because concerning my selfe I doe not remember that euer I did see you till now How now quoth Ricciardo consider better what you say looke more circumspectly on me and then you will remember that I am your louing husband and my name is Ricciardo di Cinzica You must pardon me Sir replied Bertolomea I know it not so fitting for a modest woman though you perhaps are so perswaded to stand gazing in the faces of men and let mee looke vpon you neuer so often certaine I am that till this instant I haue not seene you My Lord Iudge cōceiued in his mind that thus she denied all knowledg of him as standing in feare of Pagamino and would not confesse him in his presence Wherefore hee entreated of Pagamino to affoord him so much fauour that he might speake alone with her in her Chamber Pagamino answered that he was well contented therewith prouided that he should not kisse her against her will Then he requested Bartolomea to goe with him alone into her Chamber there to heare what he could say and to answere him as shee found occasion When they were come into the Chamber and none there present but he and shee Signior Ricciardo began in this manner Heart of my heart life of my life the sweetest hope that I haue in this world wilt thou not know thine owne Ricciardo who loueth thee more then he doth himselfe Why art thou so strange Am I so disfigured that thou knowest me not Behold me with a more pleasing eye I pray thee Bertolomea smiled to her selfe and without suffering him to proceed any further in speech returned him this answere I would haue you to vnderstand Sir that my memory is not so obliuious but I know you to be Signior Ricciardo di Cinzica and my husband by name or title but during the time that I was with you it very ill appeared that you had any knowledge of me For if you had been so wise and considerate as in your own iudgement the world reputed you to be you could not be voide of so much apprehension but did apparantly perceiue that I was young fresh and cheerefully disposed and so by consequent meet to know matters
to be knowne whereupon he gathered that doubtlesse this was shee for whom he hadde sought with such tedious trauaile and therefore going directly vnto her thus hee spake Gentle Princesse wherefore do you thus hide your selfe from mee Why do you haunt these retreats and desolate abodes hauing power to commaund ouer infinite men that cannot liue but by your presence What hath moued you Madame to flye from company to dwel among desert Rockes and serue as a slaue to such as are no way worthy of your seruice Why do you forsake a potent King whose onely daughter and hope you are leauing your countrey and royall traine of Ladies and so farre abasing your selfe to liue in the deiected state of a seruant and to some rusticke clowne or peazant What reason haue you to despise so many worthy Lords that dearely loue and honor you but aboue them all your poore slaue Ocharus who hath no spare of his owne life for the safety of yours and also for the defence of your honor Royal maid I am the same man that deliuered you from the villaine who would haue violated your faire chastity and since then haue not spared any payne or trauell in your search for whose losse King Siwalde is in extreme anguish the Danes in mourning habites and Ocharus euen at the doore of death being no way able to endure your absence Are you of the minde worthy Madame that I haue not hitherto deserued so much as one good looke or glance of your eye in recompence of so many good loyall seruices If Alas I am neither rauisher nor demander of any vniust requests or else inciuill in my motions I may merit one regard of my Mistresse I require onely so silly a fauour that her eyes may pay me the wages for all which I haue hitherto done in her seruice What would you do Madam if I were an importunate solicitor and requested farre greater matters of you in iust recompence of my labours I do not desire that you should embrace me I am not so bold as to request a kisse of Sericthaes more then immortall lips Nor doe I couet that she should any otherwise entreate mee then with such seuerity as beseemeth so great a Princesse I aske no more but onely to eleuate your chaste eyes and grace me with one little looke as being the man who for his vertue and loyall affection hath deserued more then that fauour yea a much greater and excellent recompence Can you then be so cruell as to denie me so small a thing without regarde of the maine debt wherein you stand engaged to your Ocharus The Princesse perceiuing that it auailed nothing to conceale hir selfe being by him so apparantly discouered began now to speake which she had neuer done before either to him or any other of her amorous suters answering him in this manner Lord Orharus it might suffice you that your importunity made me forsake my Fathers Court and causeth me to liue in this abased condition which I purpose to prosecute all my life time or so long at the least as you and such as you are pursue me so fondly as you haue presumed to do For I am resolued neuer to fauour you any otherwise then hitherto I haue done desiring you therfore that Serictha wanting an Interpreter to tell you her wil you would now receiue it from her owne mouth determining sooner to dye then alter a iot of her intended purpose Ocharus hearing this vnwelcome answer was euen vpon the point to haue slaine himselfe but yet not to lose the name of a valiant man or to be thought of an effeminate or cowardly spirite that a Woman should force him to an acte so farre vnfitting for a man of his ranke hee tooke his leaue of her solemnly promising not to forget her further pursuite but at all times to obey her so long as he liued although her commaund was very hard for him to endure So hee departed thence not vnto the Court she being not there that had the power to enioyne his presence but home to his owne house where he was no sooner arriued but he began to waxe wearie of his former folly accusing himselfe of great indiscretion for spending so much time in vaine and in her seruice who vtterly despised him and all his endeuours which he vndertooke He began to accuse her of great ingratitude laying ouer-much respect vppon her vertue to haue no feeling at all of his loyall sufferings but meerely made a mockery of his martyrdome Heereupon he concluded to giue ouer all further affection to languish no longer for her sake that hated him and all his actions While he continued in these melancholly passions the Princesse who all this while had persisted in such strict seuerity as astonished the courages of her stoutest seruants considering more deliberately on the sincere affection of Ocharus and that vertue onely made him the friend to her modesty and not wanton or lasciuious appetite she felt a willing readinesse in her soule to gratifie him in some worthy manner and to recompence some part of his trauailes Which to effect she resolued to follow him in some counterfeite habite euen to the place of his own abiding to try if easily he could take knowledge of her whom so lately he saw in the garments of a Shephearddesse Being thus minded shee went to her Mistresse whom she serued and who had likewise seen Lord Ocharus of whom she had perfect knowledge when hee conferred with the Shephearddesse and enquiring the cause why hee resorted in that manner to her Serictha returned her this answer Mistresse I make no doubt but you will be somewhat amazed and perhaps can hardly credit when you heare that she who now serueth you in the poore degree of Shephearddesse is the onely daughter to Siwalde King of the Danes for whose loue so many great Lords haue continually laboured and that I onely attracted hither Ocharus the Noble Sonne of valiant Hebonius to wander in these solitary deserts to finde out her that fled from him and helde him in as high disdaine as I did all the rest of his fellow riuals But if my words may not heerein sufficiently assure you I would aduise you to send where Ocharus dwelleth there make further enquiry of him to the end that you may not imagine me a lyar If my speeches do otherwise preuaile with you and you remain assured that I am she whom your Noble neighbour so deerely affecteth albeit I neuer made any account at all of him then I do earnestly intreat you so much to stand my friend as to prouide some conuenient means for me whereby I may passe vnknowne to the Castle of Ocharus to reuenge my selfe on his ciuill honesty smile at him hereafter if he proue not so cleerely sighted as to know her being neere him whom he vaunteth to loue aboue all women else The good Countrey-woman hearing these wordes and perceyuing that she had the Princesse in her house of whose
subiect very rough and stearne to discourse on and so much the rather if we consider that we are come hither to be merry pleasant where sad Tragicall reports are no way suteable especially by reuiuing the teares of others to bedew our owne checkes withall Nor can any such argument be spoken of without mouing compassion both in the reporters and hearers But perhaps it was his highnesse pleasure to moderate the delights which we haue already had Or whatsoeuer else hath prouoked him thereto seeing it is not lawfull for mee to alter or contradict his appointment I will recount an accident very pittifull or rather most vnfortunate and well worthy to bee graced with our teares Tancrede Prince of Salerne which City before the Consulles of Rome held dominion in that part of Italy stoode free and thence perchance tooke the moderne title of a Principality was a very humane Lord and of ingenious nature if in his elder yeares he had not soiled his hands in the blood of Louers especially one of them being both neere and deere vnto him So it fortuned that during the whole life time of this Prince he had but one onely daughter albeit it had bene much better if he had had none at all whom he so choisely loued and esteemed as neuer was any childe more deerely affected of a Father and so farre extended his ouer-curious respect of her as he would sildome admit her to be foorth of his sight neither would he suffer her to marry although she had out-stept by diuers yeares the age meete for marriage Neuerthelesse at length he matched her with the Sonne to the Duke of Capua who liued no long while with her but left her in a widdowed estate and then shee returned home to her father againe This Lady had all the most absolute perfections both of fauour and feature as could be wished in any woman yong queintly disposed and of admirable vnderstanding more perhappes then was requisite in so weake a bodie Continuing thus in Court with the King her Father who loued her beyond all his future hopes like a Lady of great and glorious magnificence she liued in all delights pleasure She well perceiuing that her Father thus exceeding in his affection to her had no mind at all of re-marrying her and holding it most immodest in her to solicite him with any such suite concluded in her mindes priuate consultations to make choise of some one especiall friend or fauorite if Fortune would proue so furtherous to her whom she might acquaint secretly with her sober honest and familiar purposes Her Fathers Court beeing much frequented with plentifull accesse of braue Gentlemen and others of inferiour quality as commonly the Courts of Kings Princes are whose carriage and demeanor she very heedfully obserued There was a yong Gentleman among all the rest a seruant to her Father and named Guiscardo a man not deriued from any great descent by bloode yet much more Noble by vertue and commendable behauiour then appeared in any of the other none pleased her opinion like as he did so that by often noting his parts and perfections her affection being but a glowing sparke at the first grewe like a Bauin to take flame yet kept so closely as possibly she could as Ladies are warie enough in their loue The yong Gentleman though poore being neither blocke nor dullard perceiued what he made no outward shew of and vnderstood himselfe so sufficiently that holding it no meane happinesse to bee affected by her he thought it very base and cowardly in him if he should not expresse the like to her againe So louing mutually yet secretly in this maner and shee coueting nothing more then to haue priuate conference with him yet not daring to trust any one with so important a matter at length she deuised a new cunning stratageme to compasse her longing desire and acquaint him with her priuate purpose which proued to bee in this manner Shee wrote a Letter concerning what was the next day to be done for their secret meeting together and conueying it within the ioynt of an hollow Cane in iesting maner threw it to Guiscardo saying Let your man make vse of this insted of a paire of bellowes when he meaneth to make fire in your chamber Guiscardo taking vp the Cane and considering with himselfe that neither was it giuen or the wordes thus spoken but doubtlesse on some important occasion went vnto his lodging with the Cane where viewing it respectiuely he found it to be cleft and opening it with his knife found there the written Letter enclosed After he had reade it and well considered on the seruice therein concerned he was the most ioyfull man of the world and began to contriue his aptest meanes for meeting with his gracious Mistresse and according as she had giuen him direction In a corner of the Kings Palace it being seated on a rising hill a caue had long beene made in the body of the same hill which receiued no light into it but by a small spiracle or vent-loope made our ingeniously on the hils side And because it hadde not in long time bene frequented by the accesse of any body that ventlight was ouer-growne with briars and bushes which almost engirt it round about No one could descend into this caue or vault but only by a secret paire of staires answering to a lower Chamber of the Palace and very neere to the Princesses lodging as beeing altogether at her command by meanes of a strong barred and defensible doore whereby to mount or descend at her pleasure And both the caue it selfe as also the degrees conducting downe into it were now so quite worne out of memory in regard it had not bene visited by any one in long time before as no man remembred that there was any such thing But Loue from whose bright discerning eies nothing can be so closely concealed but at the length it commeth to light had made this amorous Lady mindefull thereof and because she would not bee discouered in her intention many dayes together her soule became perplexed by what meanes that strong doore might best be opened before shee could compasse to performe it But after that she had found out the way and gone downe her selfe alone into the caue obseruing the loope-light had made it commodious for her purpose shee gaue knowledge thereof to Guiscardo to haue him deuise an apt course for his descent acquainting him truly with the height and how farre it was distant from the ground within After he had found the souspirall in the hils side and giuen it a larger entrance for his safer passage he prouided a Ladder of cords with steppes sufficient for his descending and ascending as also a wearing sute made of leather to keepe his skinne vnscratched of the thornes and to auoide all suspition of his resorting thither In this manner went he to the saide loope-hole the night following and hauing fastened the one end of his corded
two more of his seruants with him such as he had solemnly sworne to secrecy hee mounted on horseback and rode on about a mile from his owne Castle where he lay closely ambushed in a Wood through which Guardastagno must needs passe After he had stayed there some two houres space and more he espyed him come riding with two of his attendants all of them being vnarmed as no way distrusting any such intended treason So soone as he was come to the place where he had resolued to do the deed hee rushed forth of the ambush and hauing a sharpe Lance readily charged in his rest ran mainly at him saying False villaine thou art dead Guardastagno hauing nothing wherewith to defend himselfe nor his seruants able to giue him any succour being pierced quite through the body with the Lance downe hee fell dead to the ground and his men fearing the like misfortune to befall them gallopped mainely backe againe to their Lords Castle not knowing them who had thus murthered their Master by reason of their armed disguises which in those martiall times were vsually worne Messer Guiglielmo Rossiglione alighting from his horse and hauing a keene knife ready drawne in his hand opened therewith the brest of dead Guardastagno and taking foorth his heart with his owne hands wrapped it in the Banderole belonging to his Lance commanding one of his men to the charge thereof and neuer to disclose the deed So mounting on horse-backe againe and darke night drawing on apace he returned home to his Castle The Lady who had heard before of Guardastagnoes intent to suppe there that night and perhaps being earnestly desirous to see him meruailing at his so long tarrying saide to her husband Beleeue me Sir quoth she me thinkes it is somewhat strange that Messer Guiglielmo Guardastagno delayes his comming so long he neuer vsed to do so til now I receiued tidings from him wife said he that he cannot be heere till to morrow Whereat the Lady appearing to bee displeased concealed it to her selfe and vsed no more words Rossiglione leauing his Lady went into the Kitchin where calling for the Cooke he deliuered him the heart saying Take this heart of a wilde Boare which it was my good happe to kill this day and dresse it in the daintiest manner thou canst deuise to doe which being so done when I am set at the Table send it to me in a siluer dish with sauce beseeming so dainty a morsell The Cooke tooke the heart beleeuing it to be no otherwise then as his Lord had saide and vsing his vtmost skill in dressing it did diuide it into artificiall small slices and made it most pleasing to be tasted When supper time was come Rossiglione sate downe at the table with his Lady but hee had little or no appetite at all to eate the wicked deed which he had done so perplexed his soule and made him to sit very strangely musing At length the Cook brought in the dainty dish which he himselfe setting before his wife began to finde fault with his own lack of stomack yet prouoked her with many faire speeches to tast the Cooks cunning in so rare a dish The Lady hauing a good appetite indeede when she had first tasted it fed afterward so heartily thereon that shee left very little or none at all remaining When he perceyued that all was eaten he said vnto her Tel me Madam how you do like this delicate kinde of meat In good faith Sir quoth she in all my life I was neuer better pleased Now trust mee Madam answered the Knight I doe verily beleeue you nor do I greatly wonder thereat if you like that dead which you loued so dearly being aliue When she heard these words a long while she sate silent but afterward saide I pray you tell mee Sir what meate was this which you haue made me to eate Muse no longer said he for therein I will quickly resolue thee Thou hast eaten the heart of Messer Guiglielmo Guardastagno whose loue was so deare and precious to thee thou false perfidious and disloyall Lady I pluckt it out of his vile body with mine owne hands and made my Cooke to dresse it for thy diet Poor Lady how strangely was her soule afflicted hearing these harsh and vnpleasing speeches Teares flowed aboundantly from her faire eies and like tempestuous windes embowelled in the earth so did vehement sighes breake mainly from her heart and after a tedious time of silence she spake in this manner My Lord and husband you haue done a most disloyall and damnable deede misguided by your owne wicked iealous opinion and not by any iust cause giuen you to murther so worthie and Noble a Gentleman I protest vnto you vppon my soule which I wish to bee confounded in eternall perdition if euer I were vnchaste to your bedde or allowed him any other fauour but what might well become so honourable a friend And seeing my bodie hath bene made the receptacle for so precious a kinde of foode as the heart of so valiant and courteous a Knight such as was the Noble Guardastagno neuer shall any other foode heereafter haue entertainment there or my selfe liue the Wife to so bloody a husband So starting vppe from the Table and stepping vnto a great gazing Windowe the Casement whereof standing wide open behinde her violently shee leaped out thereat which beeing an huge heighth in distance from the ground the fall did not onely kill her but also shiuered her bodie into many peeces Which Rossiglione perceyuing hee stoode like a bodie without a soule confounded with the killing of so deare a friend losse of a chaste and honourable wife and all through his owne ounr-credulous conceit Vppon further conference with his priuate thoughtes and remorsefull acknowledgement of his heinous offence which repentance too late gaue him eyes now to see though rashnesse before would not permit him to consider these two extreamities inlarged his dulled vnderstanding First he grew fearfull of the friends and followers to murdered Guardastagno as also the whole Countrey of Prouence in regarde of the peoples generall loue vnto him which being two maine and important motiues both to the detestation of so horrid an acte and immediate seuere reuenge to succeed thereon hee made such prouision as best hee could and as so sodaine a warning would giue leaue hee fled away secretly in the night season These vnpleasing newes were soone spread abroad the next morning not only of the vnfortunate accidents but also of Rossiglions flight in regard wherof the dead bodyes being found and brought together as well by the people belonging to Guardastagno as them that attended on the Lady they were layed in the Chappell of Rossigliones Castell where after so much lamentation for so great a misfortune to befal them they were honourably enterred in one faire Tombe with excellent Verses engrauen thereon expressing both their noble degree and by what vnhappy meanes they chanced to haue buriall there A Physitians wife laide
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
sight was so irkesome to Rinaldo that being ouercom with extreame rage hee could hardly containe from running on them with a violent intent to kill them both but feare of his owne life caused his forbearance meaning to be reuenged by some better way Such was the heate of his spleene and fury as setting aside all respect of his owne shame he would needs prosecute the rigour of the deadly Edict which he held lawfull for him to do although it extended to the death of his Wife Heereupon hauing witnesses sufficient to approoue the guiltinesse of her offence a day being appointed without desiring any other counsell he went in person to accuse her and required iustice against her The Gentlewoman who was of an high and vndauntable spirite as all such are who haue fixed their affection resoluedly and loue vppon a grounded deliberation concluded quite against the counsell and opinion of her Parents Kindred and Friends to appeare in the Court as desiring rather to dye by confessing the trueth with a manly courage then by denying it and her loue vnto so worthy a person as he was in whose arms she chanced to be taken to liue basely in exile with shame as an eternall scandall to her race So before the Potestate shee made her apparance worthily accompanied both with men and women all aduising her to deny the acte but she not minding them or their perswasions looking on the Iudge with a constant countenance and a voyce of setled resolue craued to know of him what hee demaunded of her The Potestate well noting her braue carriage her singular beautie and praise-worthy parts her words apparantly witnessing the heighth of her minde beganne to take compassion on her and doubted least shee would confesse some such matter as should enforce him to pronounce the sentence of death against her But she boldly scorning all delayes or any further protraction of time demanded again what was her accusation Madame answered the Potestate I am sory to tel you what needs I must your husband whom you see present heere is the cōplainant against you auouching that he tooke you in the act of adultery with another man and therefore he requireth that according to the rigour of the Statute heere in force with vs I should pronounce sentence against you and consequently the infliction of death Which I cannot do if you confesse not the fact and therefore be well aduised how you answer me and tell me the truth if it be as your Husband accuseth you or no. The Lady without any dismay or dread at all pleasantly thus replied My Lord true it is that Rinaldo is my Husband and that he found me on the night named betweene the Armes of Lazarino where many times heeretofore he hath embraced mee according to the mutuall loue re-plighted together which I deny not nor euer will But you know well enough and I am certaine of it that the Lawes enacted in any Countrey ought to be common and made with consent of them whom they concerne which in this Edict of yours is quite contrarie For it is rigorous against none but poore women onely who are able to yeeld much better content and satisfaction generally then remaineth in the power of men to do And moreouer when this Law was made there was not any woman that gaue consent to it neither were they called to like or allow thereof in which respect it may deseruedly be termed an vniust Law And if you will in preiudice of my bodie and of your owne soule be the executioner of so vnlawfull an Edict it consisteth in your power to do as you please But before you proceede to pronounce any sentence may it please you to fauour me with one small request namely that you would demand of my Husband if at all times and whensoeuer he tooke delight in my company I euer made any curiosity or came to him vnwillingly Whereto Rinaldo without tarrying for the Potestate to mooue the question sodainly answered that vndoubtedly his wife at all times and oftner then he could request it was neuer sparing of her kindnesse or put him off with any deniall Then the Lady continuing on her former speeches thus replyed Let me then demand of you my Lord being our Potestate and Iudge if it be so by my Husbands owne free confession that he hath alwaies had his pleasure of me without the least refusall in me or contradiction what should I doe with the ouer-plus remaining in mine owne power and whereof he had no need Would you haue mee cast it away to the Dogges Was it not more fitting for me to pleasure therwith a worthy Gentleman who was euen at deaths doore for my loue then my husbands surfetting and hauing no neede of me to let him lye languishing and dye Neuer was heard such an examination before and to come from a woman of such worth the most part of the honourable Pratosians both Lords and Ladies being there present who hearing her vrge such a necessary question cryed out all aloud together with one voice after they had laughed their fill that the Lady had saide well and no more then she might So that before they departed thence by comfortable aduice proceeding from the Potestate the Edict being reputed ouercruell was modified and interpreted to concerne them onely who offered iniurie to their Husbands for money By which meanes Rinaldo standing as one confounded for such a foolish and vnaduised enterprize departed from the Auditorie and the Ladie not a little ioyfull to bee thus freed and deliuered from the fire returned home with victorie to her owne house Fresco da Celatico counselled and aduised his Neece Cesca That if such as deserued to be looked on were offensiue to her eyes as she had often told him she should forbeare to looke on any The Eighth Nouell In iust scorne of such vnsightly and ill-pleasing surly Sluts who imagine none to be faire or well-fauoured but themselues ALL the while as Philostratus was re-counting his Nouell it seemed that the Ladies who heard it found themselues much mooued thereat as by the wanton blood monting vp into their cheekes it plainly appeared But in the end looking on each other with strange behauiour they could not forbeare smiling which the Queene interrupting by a command of attention turning to Madame Aemillia willed her to follow next When she puffing and blowing as if she had bene newly awaked from sleepe began in this manner Faire Beauties My thoughts hauing wandred a great distance hence and further then I can easily collect them together againe in obedience yet to our Queene I shall report a much shorter Nouell then otherwise perhappes I should haue done if my minde had beene a little neerer home I shall tell you the grosse fault of a foolish Damosell well corrected by a witty reprehension of her Vnckle if shee had bin endued but with so much sence as to haue vnderstood it An honest man named Fresco da Celatico had a
Anichino was without more ado accepted into Eganoes seruice then which nothing could be more pleasing to him Now had he the benefit of dayly beholding his hearts Mistresse and so acceptable proued his seruice to Egano that he grew very farre in loue with him not vndertaking any affayres whatsoeuer without the aduice and direction of Anichino so that he reposed his most especiall trust in him as a man altogether gouerned by him It fortuned vpon a day that Egano being ridden to flye his Hawke at the Riuer and Anichino remaining behinde at home Madame Beatrix who as yet had taken no notice of Anichinoes loue to her albeit her selfe obseruing his faire carriage and commendable qualities was highly pleased to haue so seeming a seruant called him to play at the Chesse with her and Anichino coueting nothing more then to content her caâ—ried himselfe so dexteriously in the game that he permitted hir still to win which was no little ioy to her When all the Gentle-women and other friends there present as spectators to behold their play had taken their farewell and were departed leauing them all alone yet gaming still Anichino breathing forth an intire sigh Madame Beatrix looking merrily on him said Tell me Anichino art not thou angrie to see me win It should appeare so by that solemne sigh No truly Madame answered Anichino a matter of farre greater moment then losse of infinite games at the Chesse was the occasion why I sighed I pray thee replyed the Lady by the loue thou bearest me as being my Seruant if any loue at all remain in thee towards me giue me a reason for that harty sigh When he heard himselfe so seuerely coninred by the loue he bare to her and loued none else in the world beside he gaue a farre more hart-sicke sigh then before Then his Lady and Mistresse entreated him seriously to let her know the cause of those two deepe sighes whereto Anichino thus replyed Madam if I should tell you I stand greatly in feare of offending you and when I haue told you I doubt your discouery thereof to some other Beleeue me Anichino quoth she therein thou neither canst or shalt offend me Moreouer assure thy selfe that I will neuer disclose it to any other except I may do it with thy consent Madame saide hee seeing you haue protested such a solemne promise to mee I will reueale no meane secret vnto you So with teares standing in his eyes he told her what he was where he heard the first report of her singular perfections and instantly becam enamored of her as the maine motiue of his entring into her seruice Then most humbly he entreated her that if it might agree with her good liking she would be pleased to commisserate his case and grace him with her priuate fauours Or if shee might not be so mercifull to him that yet she would vouchsafe to let him liue in the lowly condition as he did and thinke it a thankefull duty in him onely to loue her O singular sweetnesse naturally liuing in faire feminine blood How iustly art thou worthy of praise in the like occasions Thou couldst neuer be wonne by sighes and teares but hearty imprecations haue alwayes preuailed with thee making thee apt and easie to amorous desires If I had praises answerable to thy great and glorious deseruings my voice should neuer faint nor my pen waxe weary in the due and obsequious performance of them Madam Beatrix well obseruing Anichino when he spake and giuing credit to his so solemne protestations they were so powerfull in preuailing with her that her senses in the same manner were enchanted and sighes flew as violently from her as before he had vented them which stormy tempest being a little ouer-blowne thus she spake Anichino my hearts deere affected Friend liue in hope for I tell thee truly neuer could gifts promises nor any Courtings vsed to me by Lords Knights Gentlemen or other although I haue bin solicited by many winne the lest grace or fauour at my hand no nor moue me to any affection But thou in a minute of time compared with their long and tedious suing hast expressed such a soueraigne potency in thy sweet words that thou hast madâ— me more thine then mine owne and beleeue it vnfeinedly I hold thee to be worthy of my loue Wherefore with this kisse I freely giue it thee and make thee a further promise that before this night shall be fully past thou shalt in better manner perceiue it Aduenture into my Chamber about the houre of midnight I will leaue the doore open thou knowest on which side of the bed I vse to rest come thither and feare not if I sleep the least gentle touch of thy hand will wake me and then thou shalt see how much I loue thee So with a kinde kisse or two the bargaine was concluded she licensing his departure for that time and he staying in hope of his hearts happinesse till when he thought euery houre a yeare In the meane while Egano returned home from Hawking and so soone as he had supt being very weary he went to bed and his Ladie likewise with him leauing her Chamber doore open according as she had promised At the houre appointed Anichino came finding the doore but easily put too which being entred softly he closed againe in the same manner as he found it Going to the beds side where the Lady lay and gently touching her brest with his hand he found her to be awake and perceiuing he was come according vnto promise shee caught his hand fast with hers and held him very strongly Then turning as she could towards Egano she made such meanes as hee awaked whereupon she spake vnto him as followeth Sir yester night I would haue had a fewe speeches with you but in regard of your wearinesse and early going to bed I could not haue any opportunity Now this time and place being most conuenient I desire to bee resolued by you Among all the men retained into your seruice which of them you do thinke to be the best most loyall and worthiest to enioy your loue Egano answered thus Wife why should you moue such a question to me Do not you know that I neuer had any seruant heeretofore or euer shall haue heereafter in whom I reposed the like trust as I haue done and do in Anichino But to what end is this motion of yours I will tell your Sir quoth she and then be Iudge your self whether I haue reason to moue this question or no. Mine opinion euery way equalled yours concerning Anichino that he was more iust and faithfull to you then any could be amongest all the rest But Husband like as where the water runneth stillest the Foord is deepest euen so his smooth lookes haue beguiled both you and me For no longer agoe then this verie day no sooner were you ridden foorth on Hauking but he belike purposely tarrying at home watching such a leysure as best fitted his intent
Ladies which had dined there spake in this mander Ill should I take reuenge on a King that had offended me if I had not so much heart as to wreake my spleene on a paltry Hawke Vnderstand then worthy Lords and Ladies that this Faulcone hath long time robbed me of those delights which men in meere equitie ought to haue with their wiues because continually so soone as breake of day hath appeared my Husband starting out of bed makes himselfe readie presently to Horsse and with this Faulcon on his Fist rides abroad to his recreation in the Fields And I in such forsaken sort as you see am left all alone in my bed discontented and despised often vowing to my selfe to bee thus reuenged as now I am being with-held from it by no other occasion but onely want of a fit and apt time to do it in the presence of such persons as might bee iust Iudges of my wrongs and as I conceiue you all to be The Lords and Ladies hearing these words and beleeuing this deed of hers to be done no otherwise but out of her entire affection to Nicostratus according as her speeches sounded compassionately turning towards him who was exceedingly displeased and all smiling said Now in good sadnesse Sir Madame Lydia hath done well in acting her iust reuenge vpon the Hawke that bereft her of her Husbands kinde companie then which nothing is more precious to a louing wife and a hell it is to liue without it And Lydia being sodainly withdrawne into her chamber with much other friendly and familiar talke they conuerted the anger of Nicostratus into mirth and smiling Pyrrhus who had diligently obserued the whole cariage of this businesse saide to himselfe My Ladie hath begun well and proceeding on with no worse successe will no doubt bring her loue to an happy conclusion As for the Lady her selfe she hauing thus kild the Hawke it was no long while after but being in the Chamber with her husband and they conuersing familiarly together she began to iest with him hee in the like manner with her tickling and toying each the other till at the length she played with his beard and now she found occasion aptly seruing to effect the second taske imposed by Pyrrhus So taking fast hold on a small tuft of his beard she gaue a sodaine snatch and plucked it away quite from his chin Whereat Nicostratus beeing angerly moued she to appease his distaste pleasantly thus spake How now my Lord Why do you looke so frowningly What Are you angry for a few loose haires of your beard How then should I take it when you plucke mee by the haire of my head and yet I am not a iot discontented because I know you do it but in iesting manner These friendly speeches cut off all further contention and she kepte charily the tuft of her Husbands beard which the verie selfe-same day shee sent to Pyrrhus her hearts chosen friend But now concerning the third matter to be aduentured it droue her to a much more serious consideration then those two which shee had already so well and exactly performed Notwithstanding like a Ladie of vnconquerable spirit and in whom Loue enlarged his power more and more she sodainly conceited what course was best to bee kept in this case forming her attempt in this manner Vpon Nicostratus wayted two young Gentlemen as Pages of his Chamber whose Fathers had giuen them to his seruice to learne the manners of honourable Courtship and those qualities necessarily required in Gentlemen One of them when Nicostratus sate downe to dinner or supper stood in Office of his Caruer deliuering him all the meats whereon he fed The other as Taster attended on his Cup and he dranke no other drinke but what hee brought him and they both were highly pleasing vnto him On a day Lydia called these two youths aside and among some other speeches which serued but as an induction to her intended policy she perswaded them that their mouths yeelded an vnsauoury il-pleasing smell whereof their Lord seemed to take dislike Wherefore she aduised them that at such times as they attended on him in their seuerall places they should so much as possibly they could withdraw their heads aside from him because their breath might not be noyous vnto him But withall to haue an especiall care of not disclosing to any one what she had told them because out of meere loue she had acquainted them therewith which very constantly they beleeued and followed the same direction as she had aduised being loath to displease where seruice bound them to obey Choosing a time fitting for her purpose when Nicostratus was in priuate conference with her thus she began Sir you obserue not the behauiour of your two Pages when they wait on you at the Table Yes but I do wife quoth he how squemishly they turn their heads aside from me and it hath often bin in my minde to vnderstand a reason why they do so Seating her selfe by him as if shee had some weighty matter to tell him she proceeded in this manner Alas my Lord you shall not need to question them because I can sufficiently resolue you therein which neuerthelesse I haue long concealed because I would not be offensiue to you But in regard it is now manifestly apparant that others haue tasted what I immagined none but my selfe did I will no longer hide it from you Assuredly Sir there is a most strange and vnwonted ill-sauour continually issuing from your mouth smelling most noysomely and I wonder what should be tbe occasion In former times I neuer felt any such foule breathing to come from you and you who do daily conuerse with so many worthy persons should seeke meanes to be rid of so great an annoyance You say verie true wife answered Nicostratus and I protest to you on my Credite I feele no such ill smell neither know what should cause it except I haue som corrupted tooth in my mouth Perhaps Sir quoth she it may be so and yet you feele not the sauour which others do yea very offensiuely So walking with her to a Window he opened wide his mouth the which nicely shee surueyed on either side and turning her head from him as seeming vnable to endure the sauour starting and shrieking out alowd she said Santa Maria What a sight is this Alas my good Lord How could you abide this and for so long a while Heere is a tooth on this side which so farre as I can pereeiue is not onely hollow and corrupted but also wholly putrified and rotten and if it continue still in your head beleeue it for a truth that it will infect and spoile all the rest neere it I would therefore counsell you to let it be pluckt out before it breede your further danger I like your counsell well Lydia replyed Nicostratus and presently intend to follow it Let therefore my Barber be sent for and vvithout any longer delay he shall plucke it forth instantly
you for charities sake before thâ—â— pilfering knaue escape away from hence that I may haue Iustice against him for stealing my drawing-ouer stockeings which he stoutly denyeth yet mine owne eyes beheld the deed it being now not aboue fifteene dayes since when first I bought them for mine owne vse Worthy Lord Iudge cryed Ribi on the other side doe not beleeue what he saith for he is a paltry lying fellow and because hee knew I came hither to make my complaint for a Male or Cloakebag which he stole from me hee vrgeth this occasion for a paire of drawing Stockeings which he deliuered me with his owne hands If your Lordship will not credit me I can produce as witnesses Trecco the Shoemaker with Monna Grassa the Souse-seller and he that sweepes the Church of Santa Maria á Verzaia who saw him when he came posting hither Maso haling and tugging the Iudge by the sleeue would not suffer him to heare Ribi but cryed out still for Iustice against him as he did the like on the contrary side During the time of this their clamourous contending the Iudge being very willy willing to heare either party Matteuzzo vpon a signe receiued from the other which was a word in Masoes pleading laide holde on the broken boord as also on the Iudges low-hanging Breech plucking at them both so strongly that they fell downe immediately the Breeches being onely tyed but with one Poynt before He hearing the boards breaking vnderneath him and such maine pulling at his Breeches stroue as he sate to make them fast before but the Poynt being broken and Maso crying in his eare on the one side as Ribi did the like in the other hee was at his wits end to defend himselfe My Lord quoth Maso you may bee ashamed that you doe me not Iustice why will you not heare mee but wholly lend your eare to mine Aduersary My Lord said Ribi neuer was Libell preferd into this Court of such a paltry trifling matter and therefore I must and will haue Iustice By this time the Iudge was dismounted from the Bench and stood on the ground with his slouenly Breeches hanging about his heeles Matteuzzo being cunningly stolne away and vndiscouered by any body Ribi thinking he had shamed the Iudge sufficiently went away protesting that he would declare his cause in the hearing of a wiser Iudge And Maso forbearing to tugge his Gowne any longer in his departing said Fare you well Sir you are not worthy to be a Magistrate if you haue no more regard of your honour and honesty but will put off poore mens suites at your pleasure So both went seuerall wayes and soone were gone out of publike view The worshipfull Iudge Messer Niccolao stood all this while on the ground and in presence of all the beholders trussed vp his Breeches as if hee were new risen out of his bed when better bethinking himselfe on the matters indifference he called for the two men who contended for the drawing stockings and the Cloake-bag but no one could tell what was become of them Whereupon he rapt out a kinde of Iudges oath saying I will know whether it be Law or no heere in Florence to make a Iudge sit bare Breecht on the Bench of Iustice and in the hearing of criminall Causes whereat the chiefe Potestate and all the standers by laughed heartily Within fewe dayes after he was informed by some of his especiall Friends that this had neuer happened to him but onely to testifie how vnderstanding the Florentines are in their ancient constitutions and customes to embrace loue and honour honest discreet worthy Iudges and Magistrates Whereas on the contrary they as much condemne miserable knaues fooles and dolts who neuer merit to haue any better entertainment Wherefore it would be best for him to make no more enquiry after the parties lest a worse inconuenience should happen to him Bruno and Buffalmaco did steale a young Brawne from Calandrino and for his recouery thereof they vsed a kinde of pretented coniuration with Pilles made of Ginger and strong Malmesey But instead of this application they gaue him two Pilles of a Dogges Dates or Dowsets confected in Alloes which he receiued each after the other by meanes whereof they made him beleeue that hee had robde himselfe And for feare they should report this theft to his wife they made him to goe buy another Brawne The Sixt Nouell Wherein is declared how easily a plaine and simple man may be made a foole when he dealeth with crafty companions PHilostratus had no sooner concluded his Nouell and the whole Assembly laughed heartily thereat but the Queen gaue command to Madame Philomena that shee should follow next in order whereupon thus shee began Worthy Ladies as Philostratus by calling to memorie the name of Maso del Saggio hath contented you with another merry Nouell concerning him in the same manner must I intreat you to remember once againe Calandrino and his subtle Consorts by a pretty tale which I meane to tell you how and in what manner they were reuenged on him for going to seeke the inusible Stone Needlesse were any fresh relation to you what manner of people those three men were Calandrino Bruno and Buffalmaco because already you haue had sufficient vnderstanding of them And therefore as an induction to my discourse I must tell you that Calandrino had a small Country-house in a Village some-what neere to Florence which came to him by the marriage of his Wife Among other Cattle and Poultry which he kept there in store hee had a young Boare readie fatted for Brawne whereof yearly he vsed to kill one for his owne prouision and alwaies in the month of December he and his wife resorted to their village house to haue a Brawne both killed and salted It came to passe at this time concerning my Tale that the Woman being somewhat crazie and sickly by her Husbands vnkinde vsage whereof you heard so lately Calandrino went alone to the killing of his Boare which comming to the hearing of Bruno and Buffalmaco and that the Woman could by no meanes be there to passe away the time a little in merriment they went to a friendlie Companion of theirs an honest iouiall Priest dwelling not farre off from Calandrinoes Countrey house The same morning as the Boare was kilde they all three went thither and Calandrino seeing them in the Priests companie bad them all heartily welcome and to acquaint them with his good Husbandry hee shewed them his house and the Boare where it hung They perceyuing it to be faire and fat knowing also that Calandrino intended to salt it for his owne store Bruno saide vnto him Thou art an Asse Calandrino sell thy Brawne and let vs make merrie with the money then let thy wife know no otherwise but that it was stolne from thee by those theeues which continually haunt country houses especially in such scattering Villages Oh mine honest friends answered Calandrino your counsell is not to be followed neither
rest following after them deuising talking and answering to diuers demands both what that day was to be don as also concerning the proposed imposition After they had walked an indifferent space of time and found the rayes of the Sunne to be ouer-piercing for them they returned backe againe to the Pallace as fearing to haue their blood immoderately heated Then rinsing their Glasses in the coole cleare running current each tooke their mornings draught then walked into the milde shades about the Garden vntill they should bee summoned to dinner Which was no sooner ouer-past and such as slept returned waking they mette together againe in their wonted place according as the King had appointed where he gaue command vnto Madame Neiphila that shee should for that day begin the first Nouell which she humbly accepting thus began A Florentine knight named Signior Rogiero de Figiouanni became a seruant to Alphonso King of Spaine who in his owne opinion seemed but sleightly to respect and reward him In regard whereof by a notable experiment the King gaue him a manifest testimony that it was not through any defect in him but onely occasioned by the Knights ill fortune most bountifully recompencing him afterward The First Nouell Wherin may euidently be discerned that Seruants to Princes and great Lords are many times recompenced rather by their good fortune then in vny regard of their dutifull seruices I Doe accept it Worthy Ladies as no mean fauour that the King hath giuen me the first place to speake of such an honourable Argument as Bounty and Magnificence is which precious Iewell euen as the Sunne is the beauty or ornament and bright glory of al heauen so is bounty and magnificence the Crowne of all vertues I shall then recount to you a short Nouell sufficiently pleasing in mine owne opinion and I hope so much I dare rely on your iudgements both profitable and worthy to be remembred You are to know then that among other valiant Knights which of long haue liued in our City one of them and perhappes of as great merit as any was one named Signior Rogiero d'Figiouanni He being rich of great courage and perceiuing that in due consideration the quality belonging to life and the customes obserued among our Tuscanes were not answerable to his expectation nor agreed with the disposition of his valour determined to leaue his natiue Countrey and belong in seruice for some time to Alfonso King of Spaine whose fame was generally noised in all places for excelling all other Princes in those times for respect of mens well deseruings and bountifull requitall of their paines Being prouided in honorable order both of Horses Armes a competent train he trauelled to Spaine where he was worthily entertained Signior Rogiero continuing there liuing in honorable maner and performing many admirable actions of arms in short time he made himselfe sufficiently knowne for a very valiant and famous man And hauing remained there an indifferent long while obseruing diuers behauiours in the king he saw how he enclined himselfe first to one man then to another bestowing on one a Castle a Towne on another and Baronnies on diuers som-what indiscreetly as giuing away bountifully to men of no merit And restraining all his fauors from him as seeming close fisted and parting with nothing he took it as a diminishing of his former reputation and a great â—mpayring of his fame wherefore he resolued on his departure thence made his suit to the king that he might obtaine it The king did grant it bestowing on him one of the very best Mules and the goodliest that euer was backt a gift most highly pleasing to Rogiero in regarde of the long iourny he intended to ride Which being deliuerd the king gaue charge to one of his Gentlemen to compasse such conuenient meanes as to ride thorow the country and in the company of Signior Rogiero yet in such manner as he should not perceiue that the King had purposely sent him so to do Respectiuely he should obserue whatsoeuer he said concerning the king his gesture smiles and other behauior shaping his answers accordingly and on the nexte morning to commaud his returne backe with him to the King Nor was the Gentleman slacke in this command but noting Rogieroes departing forth of the city he mounted on horseback likewise aud immediatly after came into his company making him beleeue that he iournied towards Italy Rogiero rode on the Mule which the king had giuen him with diuersity of speeches passing between theÌ„ About three of the clocke in the afternoone the Gentleman said It were not amisse Sir hauing such fit opportunitie to Stable our horses for a while till the heate be a little more ouerpast So taking an Inne and the horses being in the stable they all staled except the Mule Being mounted againe and riding on further the Gentleman duely obserued whatsoeuer Rogiero spake and comming to the passage of a small Riuer or Blooke the rest of the beasts dranke and not the Mule but staled in the Riuer which Signior Rogiero seeing clapping his hands on the Mules mane hee said What a wicked beast art thou thou art iust like thy Master that gaue thee to mee The Gentleman committed the words to memory as he did many other passing from Rogiero riding along the rest of the day yet none in disparagement of the King but rather highly in his commendation And being the next morning mounted on horseback seeming to hold on still the way for Tuscane the Gentleman fulfilled the Kings command causing Signior Rogiero to turne back againe with him which willingly he yeelded to doe When they were come to the Court and the King made acquainted with the words which Rogiero spake to his Mule he was called into the presence where the King shewed him a gracious countenance demanded of him why he had compared him to his Mule Signior Rogiero nothing daunted but with a bold and constant spirit thus answered Sir I madâ— the comparison because like as you giue where there is no conueniency and bestow nothing where reason requireth euen so the Mule would not stale where she should haue done but where was water too much before there she did it Beleeue me Signior Rogiero replyed the King if I haue not giuen you such gifts as perhaps I haue done to diuers other farre inferiour to you in honour and merit this happened not thorough any ignorance in me as not knowing you to be a most valiant Knight and well-worthy of speciall respect but rather through your owne ill fortune which would not suffer me to doe it whereof she is guilty and not I as the truth thereof shall make it selfe apparant to you Sir answered Rogiero I complaine not because I haue receiued no gift from you as desiring thereby couetously to become the richer but in regard you haue not as yet any way acknowledged what vertue is remaining in me Neuerthelesse I allow your excuse for good and reasonable and am
consider with himselfe how he might cure the Abbot yet without any Bathe So commanding a good fire to be kept continually in his small Chamber and very good attendance on him the next morning he came to visite him againe bringing a faire white Napkin on his arme and in it two slices or toasts of fine Manchet a goodly cleare Glasse full of the purest white-Bastard of Corniglia but indeed of the Abbots owne prouision brought thither with him and then hee spoke to him in this manner My Lord when Ghinotto was yonger then now he is he studyed Physicke and he commanded me to tell you that the very best medicine he could euer learne against any disease in the stomacke was this which he had prouided for your Lordship as an especial preparatiue and which he should finde to be very comfortable The Abbot who had a better stomacke to eate then any will or desire to talke although hee did it somewhat disdainfully yet hee eate vp both the toastes and roundly dranke off the Glasse of Bastard Afterward diuers other speeches passed betweene them the one still aduising in Phisicall manner and the other seeming to care little for it but moued many questions concerning Ghinotto and earnestly requesting to see him Such speeches as sauoured of the Abbots discontentment and came from him in passion were clouded with courteous acceptance not the least signe of any mislike but ring his Lordship that Ghinotto intended very shortly to see him and so they parted for that time Nor returned he any more till the next morning with the like two toastes of bread and such another Glasse of white Bastard as he had brought him at the first continuing the same course for diuers dayes after till the Abbot had eaten and very hungerly too a pretty store of dryed Beanes which Ghinotto purposely yet secretly had hidden in the Chamber Wherevpon he demaunded of him as seeming to be so enioyned by his pretended master in what temper he found his stomacke now I should finde my stomacke well enough answered the Lord Abbot if I could get forth of thy masters fingers and then haue some good food to feed on for his medicines haue made me so soundly stomackt that I am ready to starue with hunger When Ghinotto was gone from him hee then prepared a very faire Chamber for him adorning it with the Abbots owne rich hangings as also his Plate and other moueables such as were alwayes vsed for his seruice A costly dinner he prouided likewise whereto he inuited diuers of the Towne and many of the Abbots chiefest followers then going to him againe the next morning he said My Lord seeing you doe feele your stomacke so well it is time you should come forth of the Infirmary And taking him by the hand he brought him into the prepared Chamber where he left him with his owne people and went to giue order for the dinners seruing in that it might be performed in magnificent manner The Lord Abbot recreated himselfe a while with his owne people to whom he recounted the course of his life since hee saw them and they likewise told him how kindly they had bin initeated by Ghinotto But when dinner time was come the Lord Abbot and all his company were serued with costly viands and excellent Wines without Ghinottoes making himselfe knowne to the Abbot till after he had beene entertained some few dayes in this order into the great Hall of the Castle Ghinotto caused all the Abbots goods and furniture to bee brought and likewise into a spacious Court wheron the windowes of the said Court gazed all his mules and horses with their sumpters euen to the very silliest of them which being done Ghinotto went to the Abbot and demaunded of him how he felt his stomacke now and whether it would serue him to venter on horse backe as yet or no The Lord Abbot answered that he found his stomacke perfectly recouered his body strong enough to endure trauell and all things well so hee were deliuered from Ghinotto Hereupon he brought him into the hall where his furniture was as also all his people commanding a window to be opned wherat at he might behold his horses he said My Lord let me plainely giue you to vnderstand that neither cowardise or basenesse of minde induced Ghinotto di Tacco which is my selfe to become a lurking robber on the high-wayes an enemy to the Pope and so consequently to the Romane Court but onely to saue his owne life and honour knowing himselfe to be a Gentleman cast out of his owne house and hauing beside infinite enemies But because you seeme to be a worthy Lord I will not although I haue cured your stomacks disease deale with you as I doe to others whose goods when they fall into my power I take such part of as I please bet rather am well contented that my necessities being considered by your selfe you spare me out a proportion of the things you haue heere answerable to your owne liking For all are present here before you both in this Hall and in the Court beneath free from any spoyle or the least impairing Wherefore giue a part or take all if you please and then depart hence when you will or abide heere still for now you are at your owne free liberty The Lord Abbot wondred not a little that a robber on the high wayes should haue such a bold and liberall spirit which appeared very pleasing to him and instantly his former hatred and spleene against Ghinotto became conuerted into cordiall loue and kindnes so that imbracing him in his armes he said I protest vpon my vow made to Religion that to win the loue of such a man as I plainely perceiue thee to be I would vndergo far greater iniuries then those which I haue receiued at thy hands Accursed be cruell destiny that forced thee to so base a kind of life and did not blesse thee with a fairer fortune After he had thus spoken he left there the greater part of all his goods and returned backe againe to Rome with few horses and a meaner traine Durig these passed accidents the Pope had receiued intelligence of the Lord Abbots surprizall which was not a little displeasing to him but when he saw him returned he demaunded what benefit he receiued at the Bathes Whereto the Abbot merrily smyling thus replyed Holy Father I met with a most skilfull Physitian neerer hand whose experience is beyond the power of the Bathes for by him I am very perfectly cured and so discoursed all at large The Pope laughing heartely and the Abbot continuing on still his report moued with an high and magnificent courage he demaunded one gracious fauour of the Pope who imagining that he would request a matter of greater moment then he did freely offered to grant whatsoeuer he desired Holy Father answered the Lord Abbot all the humble suit which I make to you is that you would be pleased to receiue into your grace and
fauor Ghinotto di Tacco my Physitian because among all the vertuous men deseruing to haue especial account made of them I neuer met wi-h any equall to him both in honour and honesty Whatsoeuer iniury he did to me I impute it as a greater in-fortune then any way he deserueth to be charged withall Which wretched condition of his if you were pleased to alter and bestow on him some better meanes of maintenance to liue like a worthy man as he is no lesse I make no doubt but in very short time hee will appeare as pleasing to your holinesse as in my best iudgement I thinke him to be The Pope who was of a magnanimious spirit and one that highly affected men of vertue hearing the commendable motion made by the Abbot returned answere that he was as willing to grant it as the other desired it sending Letters of safe conduct for his comming thither Ghinotto receiuing such assurance from the Court of Rome came thither immediatly to the great ioy of the Lord Abbot and the Pope finding him to be a man of valor and worth vpon reconciliation remitted all former errors creating him knight and Lord Prior of the very chiefest Hospitall in Rome In which Office he liued long time after as a loyall seruant to the Church and an honest thankefull friend to the Lord Abbot of Clugny Mithridanes enuying the life and liberality of Nathan and trauelling thither with a setled resolution to kill him chaunceth to conferre with Nathan vnknowne And being instructed by him in vvhat manner he might best performe the bloody deede according as hee gaue direction hee meeteth with him in a small Thicket or Woode where knowing him to be the same man that taught him how to take away his life Confounded with shame hee acknowledgeth his horrible intention and becommeth his loyall friend The third Nouell Shewing in an excellent and liuely demonstration that any especiall honourable vertue perseuering and dwelling in a truly noble soule cannot be violenced or confounded by the most politicke attemptes of malice and enuy IT appeared to the whole assembly that they had heard a matter of meruaile for a Lord Abbot to performe any magnificent action but their admiration ceasing in silence the King commanded Philostratus to follow next who forthwith thus began Honourable Ladies the bounty and magnificense of Alphonso King of Spaine was great indeede and that done by the Lord Abbot of Clugny a thing perhaps neuer heard of in any other But it will seeme no lesse meruailous to you when you heare how one man in expression of great liberality to another man that earnestly desired to kill him should bee secretly disposed to giue him his life which had bin lost if the other would haue taken it as I purpose to acquaint you withall in a short Nouell Most certaine it is at least if Faith may bee giuen to the report of certaine Genewayes and other men resorting to those remote parts that in the Country of Cathaya there liued somtime a Gentleman rich beyond comparison and named Nathan He hauing his liuing adioyning to a great common rode-way whereby men trauayled from the East to the West as they did the like from the West vnto the East as hauing no other means of passage and being of a bountifull and chearfull disposition which he was willing to make knowen by experience he summoned together many Master Masons and Carpenters and there erected in a short time one of the greatest goodliest and most beautifull houses in manner of a Princes Pallace that euer was seene in all those quarters With mouables and all kinde of furnishment befitting a house of such outward apparance hee caused it to be plentifully stored onely to receiue entertaine and honor all Gentlemen or other Trauailers whatsoener as had occasion to passe that way being not vnprouided also of such a number of seruants as might continuallie giue attendance on all commers and goers Two and fifty seuerall gates standing alway wide open ouer each of them in great golden carracters was written Welcome welcome and gaue free admission to all commers whatsoeuer In this honourable order obserued as his estated custom he perseuered so long a while as not onely the East parts but also those in the west were euery where acquainted with his fame renown Being already well stept into yeares but yet not wearie therefore of his great charge and liberality it fortuned that the rumor of his noble Hospitality came to the eare of another gallant Gentleman named Mithridanes liuing in a Countrey not farre off from the other This Gentleman knowing himself no lesse wealthy then Nathan and enuiously repining at his vertue and liberality determined in his mind to dim and obscure the others bright splendor by making himselfe farre more famous And hauing built a Palace answerable to that of Nathans with like windings of gates and welcom inscriptions he beganne to extend immeasurable courtesies vnto all such as were dispoted to visite him so that in a short while hee grew very famous in infinite places It chanced on a day as Mithridanes sate all alone within the goodly Court of his Pallace a poore woman entred at one of the gates crauing an almes of him which she had and returned in againe at a second gate comming also to him and had a second almes continuing sostill a dozen times but at the thirteenth returning Mithridanes saide to her Good Woman you goe and come very often and still you are serued vvith almes When the old Woman heard these words she said O the liberality of Nathan How honourable and wonderfull is that I haue past through two and thirty gates of his Palace euen such as are here and at euery one I receyued an almes without any knowledgement taken of me either by him or any of his followers and heere I haue past but through thirteene gates and am there both acknowledged and taken Farewell to this house for I neuer meane to visit it any more with which words shee departed thence and neuer after came thither againe When Mithridanes had a while pondered on her speeches hee waxed much discontented as taking the words of the olde woman to extoll the renowne of Nathan and darken or ecclipse his glorie whereupon he said to himselfe Wretched man as I am when shall I attaine to the height of liberality and performe such wonders as Nathan doth In seeking to surmount him I cannot come neere him in the very meanest Vndoubtedly I spend all my endeauour but in vaine except I rid the world of him which seeing his age will not make an end of him I must needs do with my own hands In which furious and bloody determination without reuealing his intent to any one he mounted on horse-backe with few attendants in his company and after three dayes iourney arriued where Nathan dwelt He gaue order to his men to make no shew of beeing his seruants or any way to acknowledge him but to
Lord and meet to be a Counseller for a King deliuered his mind in this manner Gracious Lord I wonder not a little at your speeches and so much the greater is my admiratioÌ„ because no maÌ„ els can be subiect to the like in regard I haue knowne you from the time of your infancy euen to this instant houre and alwayes your carriage to bee one and the same I could neuer perceiue in your youthfull dayes when loue should haue the greatest meanes to assaile you any such oppressing passions which is now the more nouell and strange to me to heare it but said that you being old and called the Aged should be growne amorous surely to me it seemeth a miracle And if it appertained to me to reprehend you in this case I know well enough what I could say Considering you haue yet your Armour on your backe in a Kiugdome newly conquered among a Nation not knowne to you full of falsehoods breaches and treasons all which are no meane motiues to care and needfull respect But hauing now wone a little leisure to rest your selfe a while from such serious affaires can you giue way to the idle suggestions of Loue Beleeue me Sir it is no act becomming a magnanimious King but rather the giddy folly of a young braine Moreouer you say which most of all I mislike that you intend to take the two Virgines from the Knight who hath giuen you entertainment in his house beyond his ability and to testifie how much he honoured you he suffered you to haue a sight of them meerely almost in a naked manner witnessing thereby what constant faith he reposed in you beleeuing verily that you were a iust King and not a rauenous Woolfe Haue you so soone forgot that the rapes and violent actions done by King Manfred to harmelesse Ladies made your onely way of entrance into this Kingdome What treason was euer committed more worthy of eternall punishment then this will be in you to take away from him who hath so highly honoured you his chiefest hope and consolation What will be said by all men if you doe it Peraduenture you thinke it will be a sufficient excuse for you to say I did it in regard hee was a Ghihelline Can you imagine this to be iustice in a King that such as get into their possession in this manner whatsoeuer it be ought to vse it in this sort Let me tell you Sir it was a most worthy victory for you to conquer King Manfred but it is farre more famous victory for a man to conâ—uer himselfe You therfore who are ordained to correct vices in 〈◊〉 men learne first to subdue them in your selfe and by brideling this inordinate appetite set not a foule blemish on so faire a fame as will be honour to you to preserue spotlesse These words pierced the heart of the King deepely and so much the more afflicted him because he knew them to be most true wherefore after he had ventred a very vehement sigh thus he replyed Beleeue me noble Count there is not any enemy how strong soeuer he be but I hold him weake and easie to be vanquished by him who is skilfull in the warre where a man may learne to conquere his owne appetite But because he shall find it a laborious taske requiring inestimable strength and courage your words haue so toucht me to the quicke that it becommeth me to let you effectually perceiue and within the compasse of few dayes that as I haue learned to conquer others so I am not ignorant in expressing the like power vpon my selfe Hauing thus spoken within some few dayes after the King being returned to Naples he determined as well to free himself from any the like ensuing follie as also to recompence Signior Neri for the great kindnesse he had shewne to him although it was a difficult thing to let another enioy what he rather desired for himselfe to haue the two Damosels married not as the Daughters of Signior Neri but euen as if they were his owne And by consent of the Father he gaue Geneuera the faire to Signior Maffeo da Palizzi and Isotta the amiable to Signior Gulielmo della Magna two Noble Knights and honourable Barons After he had thus giuen them in marriage in sad mourning he departed thence into Apuglia where by following worthy and honourable actions he so well ouercame all inordinate appetites that shaking off the enthralling fetters of loue he liued free from all passions the rest of his life time and dyed as an honourable King Some perhaps will say it was a small matter for a King to giue away two Damosels in marriage and I confesse it but I maintaine it to be great and more then great if we say that a King being so earnestly enamoured as this King was should giue her away to another whom he so dearely affected himsefe without receiuing in recompence of his affection so much as a leaffe flowre or the least fruit of loue Yet such was the vertue of this magnificent King expressed in so highly recompencing the noble Knights courtesie honouring the two daughters so royally and conquering his owne affections so vertuously Lisana the Daughter of a Florentine Apothecary named Bernardo Puccino being at Palermo and seeing Piero King of Aragon run at the Tilt fell so affectionately enamored of him that she languishâ—â— in an extreame and long sickenesse By her owne deuise and means of a Song sung in the hearing of the King he vouchsafed to visite her and giuing her a kisse terming himselfe also to bee her Knight for euer after hee honourably bestowed her in marriage on a young Gentleman who was called Perdicano and gaue him liberall endowments with her The Seuenth Nouell Wherein is couertly giuen to vnderstand that howsoeuer a Prince may make vse of his absolute power and authority towards Maides or Wiues that are his Subiects yet he ought to deny and reiect all things as shall make him forgetfull of himselfe and his true honour MAdame Fiammetta being come to the end of her Nouell and the great magnificence of King Charles much commended howbeit some of the Company affecting the Ghibelline faction were otherwise minded Madame Pampinea by order giuen from the King began in this manner There is no man of good vnderstanding honourable Ladies but will maintaine what you haue said of victorious Charles except such as cannot wish well to any But because my memory hath instantly informed me of an action perhaps no lesse commendable then this done by an enemy of the said King Charles and to a yong Maiden of our City I am the more willing to relate it vpon your gentle attention vouchsafed as hitherto it hath been courteously granted At such time as the French were driuen out of Sicilie there dwelt at Palermo a Florentine Apothecary named Bernardo Puccino a man of good wealth and reputation who had by his Wife one onely Daughter of marriageable yeares and very beautifull Piero King of
they scorne them for full well they know They were not bred to prey so base and low Aloft they look to make their flight more faire And yet his sight would lend me life a while Grant it great loue mine anguish to beguile Goe loue and tell the torments c. If sight shall be denyed then tell them plaine His high triumphall day procurd my death The Launce that won him Honour hath me slaine For instantly it did bereaue my breath That speake I could not nor durst be so bold To make the Ayre acquainted with my woe Alas I lookt so high and doing so Iustly deserue by death to be controld Yet mercies sight would lend me life a while Grant it great loue mine anguish to beguile Goe loue and tell the torments I endure Say to my Soueraigne Lord that I must die Except he come some comfort to procure For tell I may not what I feele and why The lines contained in this Ditty Manutio fitted with noates so moouing and singularly musicall that euery word had the sensible motion of life in it where the King being as yet not risen from the Table he commanded him to vse both his Lute and voyce This seemed a happy opportunity to Manutio to sing the dittie so purposely done and deuised which hee deliuered in such excellent manner the voice and Instrument concording so extraordinary pleasing that all the persons then in the Presence seemed rather Statues then liuing men so strangely they were wrapt with admiration and the King himselfe farre beyond all the rest transported with a rare kinde of alteration When Manutio had ended the Song the King demanded of him whence this Song came because he had neuer heard it before My gracious Lord answered Manutio it must needes seeme straunge to your Maiesty because it is not fully three dayes since it was inuented made and set to the note Then the King asked whom it concerned Sir quoth Manutio I dare not disclose that to any but onely your selfe Which answer made the King much more desirous and being risen from the Table he tooke him into his Bed-chamber where Manutio related all at large to him according to the trust reposed in him Wherwith the King was wonderfully well pleased greatly commending the courage of the Maide and said that a Virgin of such a valiant spirit did well deserue to haue her case commiserated and commanded him also to goe as sent from him and comfort her with promise that the very same day in the euening he would not faile to come and see her Manutio more then contented to carry such glad tydings to Lisana without staying in any place and taking his Lute also with him went to the Apothecaries house where speaking alone with the Maide he told her what he had done and afterward sung the song to her in as excellent manner as he had done before wherein Lisana conceiued such ioy and contentment as euen in the very same moment it was obserued by apparant signes that the violence of her fits forsooke her and health began to get the vpper hand of them So without suffering any one in the house to know it or by the least meanes to suspect it she comforted her selfe till the euening in expectation of her Soueraignes arriuall Piero being a Prince of most liberall and benigne nature hauing afterward diuers times considered on the matters which Manutio had reuealed to him knowing also the yong Maiden to bee both beautifull and vertuous was so much moued with pitty of her extremitie as mounting on horse backe in the euening and seeming as if he rode abroad for his priuate recreation he went directly to the Apothecaries house where desiring to see a goodly garden appertaining then to the Apothecarie he dismounted from his horse Walking into the garden he began to question with Bernardo demaunding him for his Daughter and whether he had as yet marryed her or no My Gracious Lord answered Bernardo as yet shee is not marryed neither likely to bee in regard shee hath had a long and tedious sickenesse but since Dinner time she is indifferently eased of her former violent paine which we could not discerne the like alteration in her a long while before The King vnderstood immediately the reason of this so sudden alteration and said In good faith Bernardo the world would sustaine a great maine imperfection by the losse of thy faire daughter wherefore we will goe our selfe in person to visite her So with two of his Lords onely and the Father he ascended to the Maides Chamber being entred he went to the Beds side where she sate somewhat raised in expectation of his comming and taking her by the hand he said Faire Lisana how commeth this to passe You being so faire a Virgin yong and in the delicacy of your daies which should be the chiefest comfort to you will you suffer your selfe to be ouer-awed with sickenesse Let vs intreat you that for our sake you will be of good comfort and thereby recouer your health the sooner especially when it is requested by a King who is sorry to see so bright a beauty sicke and would helpe it if it consisted in his power Lisana feeling the touch of his hand whom she loued aboue all things else in the world although a bashfull blush mounted vp into her cheekes yet her heart was seazed with such a rapture of pleasure that she thought her selfe translated into Paradise and so well as she could thus she replyed Great King by opposing my feeble strength against a burden of ouer-ponderous weight it became the occasion of this grieuous sickenesse but I hope that the violence thereof is almost already kild onely by this soueraigne mercy in you and doubtlesse it will cause my speedy deliuerance The King did best vnderstand this so well palliated answere of Lisana which as he did much commend in regard of her high aduenturing so he did againe as greatly condemne Fortune for not making her more happy in her birth So after he had stayed there a good while and giuen her many comfortable speeches he returned backe to the Court This humanity in the King was reputed a great honour to the Apothecary and his daughter who in her owne mind receiued as much ioy and contentment thereby as euer any wife could haue of her owne Husband And being assisted by better hopes within a short while after she became recouered and farre more beautifull in common iudgment then euer she was before Lisana being now in perfect health the King consulted with his Queene what meete recompence he should gratifie her withall for louing and affecting him in such feruent manner Vpon a day determined the King mounting on horsebacke accompanied with many of his cheefest Lords and Barons he rode to the Apothecaries house where walking in his beautifull Garden hee called for Bernardo and his daughter Lisana In the meane space the Queene also came thither Royally attended on by her Ladies and Lisana
she started and throwing downe the Table before her cried out aloud This is my Lord and Husband this truely is my Lord Thorello So running to the Table where he sate without regard of all the riches thereon down she threw it likewise and clasping her armes about his necke hung so mainly on him weeping sobbing and kissing him as she could not be taken off by any of the company nor shewed any moderation in this excesse of passion till Thorello spake and entreated her to be more patient because this extremity was ouer-dangerous for her Thus was the solemnitie much troubled but euery one there very glad and ioyfull for the recouery of such a famous and worthy Knight who intreated them all to vouchsafe him silence and so related all his fortunes to them from the time of his departure to the instant houre Concluding withall that hee was no way offended with the new Bride-groome who vpon the so constant report of his death deserued no blame in making election of his wife The Bridegroome albeit his countenance was somewhat cloudie to see his hope thus disappointed yet granted freely that Adalietto was Thorello's wife in equitie and hee could not iustly lay any claime to her She also resigned the Crown and Rings which she had so lately receiued of her new Spouse and put that on her finger which she found in the Cup and that Crowne was set vpon her head in honor sent her from great Saladine In which triumphant manner she left the new Bridegrooms abiding and repayred home to Thorello's house with such pompe and magnificence as neuer had the like been seene in Pauia before all the Citizens esteeming it as a miracle that they had so happily recouered Signior Thorello againe Some part of the Iewells he gaue to him who had beene at cost with the marriage feasting and some to his Vncle the Abbot beside a bountie bestowed on the Monkes Then he sent a messenger to Saladine with Letters of his whole successe and confessing himselfe for euer his obliged seruant liuing many yeeres after with his wife Adalietta and vsing greater curtesies to strangers then euer before he had done In this manner ended the troubles of Signior Thorello and the afflictions of his dearely affected Lady with due recompence to their honest and ready courtesies Many striue in outward shew to doe the like who although they are sufficiently able doe performe it so basely as it rather redoundeth to their shame then honour And therefore if no merit ensue thereon but onely such disgrace as iustly should follow let them lay the blame vpon themselues The Marquesse of Saluzzo named Gualtiero being constrained by the importunate solliciting of his Lords and other inferiour people to ioyne himselfe in marriage tooke a woman according to his owne liking called Grizelda she being the daughter of a poore Countriman named Ianiculo by whom he had two children which he pretended to be secretly murdered Afterward they being grown to yeres of more stature and making shew of taking in marriage another wife more worthy of his high degree and Calling made a seeming publique liking of his owne daughter expulsing his wife Grizelda poorely from him But finding her incomparable patience more dearely then before hee receiued her into fauour againe brought her home to his owne Pallace where with her children hee caused her and them to be respectiuely honoured in despight of all her aduerse enemies The Tenth Nouell Set downe as an example or warning to all wealthie men how to haue care of marrying themselues And likewise to poore and meane women to be patient in their fortunes and obedient to their husbands QVestionlesse the Kings Nouell did not so much exceed the rest in length but it proued as pleasing to the whole assembly past with their generall approbation till Dioneus in a merry iesting humour said The plaine honest simple man that stood holding the Candle to see the setting on of his Mules tayle deserued two penny-worth of more praise then all our applauding of Signior Thorello And knowing himselfe to bee left for the last speaker thus he began Milde modest Ladies for ought I can perceiue to the contrary this day was dedicated to none but Kings Soldanes and great Potentates not in fauour of any inferiour or meaner persons And therefore because I would be loth to dis-ranke my selfe from the rest I purpose to speake of a Lord Marquesse not any matter of great magnificence but rather in a more humble nature and sorted to an honest end which yet I will not aduise any to immitate because perhaps they cannot so well digest it as they did whom my Nouell concerneth thus then I begin It is a great while since when among those that were Lord Marquesses of Saluzzo the very greatest and worthiest man of them al was a young Noble Lord named Gualtiero who hauing neyther wife nor childe spent his time in nothing else but hawking hunting nor had he any minde of marriage or to enioy the benefit of children wherein many did repute him the wiser But this being distastfull to his subiects they very often earnestly solicited him to match himselfe with a wife to the end that hee might not decease without an heire nor they be left destitute of a succeeding Lord offering themselues to prouide him of such a one so well descended by Father and Mother as not only should confirm their hope but also yeeld him high contentment whereto the Lord Marquess thus answered Worthie friends you would constraine me to the thing wherewith I neuer had any intent to meddle considering how difficult a case it is to meet with such a woman who can agree with a man in all his conditions and how great the number is of them who daily happen on the contrarie but most and worst of all the rest how wretched and miserable prooues the life of man who is bound to liue with a wife not fit for him And in saying you can learn to vnderstand the custome and qualities of children by behauiour of the fathers and mothers and so to prouide mee of a wife it is a meere argument of folly for neither shall I comprehend or you either the secret inclinations of parents I meane of the Father and much lesse the complexion of the mother But admitte it were within compasse of power to know them yet it is a frequent sight and obserued euery day that daughters doe resemble neither father nor mother but that they are naturally gouerned by their owne instinct But because you are so desirous to haue me fettered in the chains of wedlocke I am contented to grant what you request And because I would haue no complaint made of any but my selfe if matters should not happen answerable to expectation I will make mine owne eyes my electors and not see by any others sight Giuing you this assurance before that if she whom I shall make choice of be not of you honoured and respected as your
Lady and Mistresse it will ensue to your detriment how much you haue displeased me to take a wife at your request and against mine owne will The Noble men answered that they were well satisfied prouided that he tooke a wife Some indifferent space of time before the beauty manners and well-seeming vertues of a poore Countrie-mans daughter dwelling in no farre distant village had appeared very pleasing to the Lord Marquesse and gaue him full perswasion that with her hee should lead a comfortable life And therefore without any further search or inquisition he absolutely resolued to marry her and hauing conferred with her Father agreed that his daughter should be his wife Whereupon the Marquesse made a generall conuocation Conuocation of all his Lords Barons and other of his especiall friends from all parts of his Dominion and when they were assembled together hee then spake vnto them in manner as followeth Honourable friends it appeared pleasing to you all and yet I thinke you are of the same minde that I should dispose my selfe to take a wife and I thereto condescended more to yeeld you contentment then for any particular desire in my selfe Let mee now remember you of your solemne made promise with full consent to honor and obey her whosoeuer as your Soueraigne Lady and Mistresse that I shall elect to make my wife and now the time is come for my exacting the performance of that promise and which I look you must constantly keepe I haue made choyce of a yong virgine answerable to mine owne heart and liking dwelling not farre off hence whom I intend to make my wife and within few daies to haue her brought home to my Pallace Let your care and diligence then extend so farre as to see that the feast may be sumptuous and her entertainment to bee most honourable to the end that I may receiue as much contentment in your promise performed as you shall perceiue I doe in my choice The Lords and all the rest were wondrously ioyfull to heare him so well inclined expressing no lesse by their shouts and iocund suffrages protesting cordially that she should be welcommed with pompe and maiestie and honoured of them all as their Liege Ladie and Soueraigne Afterward they made preparation for a princely and magnificent feast as the Marquesse did the like for a marriage of extraordinary state and qualitie inuiting all his kinred friends and acquaintance in all parts and Prouinces about him Hee made also readie most riche and costly garments shaped by the body of a comely young Gentlewoman who he knew to be equall in proportion and stature to her of whom hee hade made his election When the appointed nuptiall day was come the Lord Marques about nine of the clocke in the morning mounted on horse-backe as all the rest did who came to attend him honourably and hauing all things in due readinesse with them he said Lords it is time for vs to goe fetch the Bride So on hee rode with his traine to the same poore Village whereas shee dwelt and when hee was come to her Fathers house hee saw the maiden returning very hastily from a Well where shee had beene to fetch a paile of water which shee set downe and stood accompanied with other maidens to see the passage by of the Lord Marquesse and his traine Gualtiero called her by her name which was Grizelda and asked her where her Father was who bashfully answered him and with an humble courtesie saying My gracious Lord hee is in the house Then the Marquesse dismounted from his horse commanding euery one to attend him then all alone hee entred into the poore Cottage where he found the maides father being named Ianiculo and said vnto him God speed good Father I am come to espouse thy daughter Grizelda but first I haue a few demands to make which I will vtter to her in thy presence Then hee turned to the maide and saide Faire Grizelda if I make you my wife will you doe your best endeauour to please me in all things which I shall doe or say will you also be gentle humble and patient with diuers other the like questions whereto she still answered that she would so neere as heauen with grace should enable her Presently he tooke her by the hand so led her forth of the poore homely house and in the presence of all his company with his owne hands he took off her meane wearing garments smocke and all and cloathed her with those Robes of State which he had purposely brought thither for her and plaiting her haire ouer her shoulders hee placed a Crowne of gold on her head whereat euery one standing as amazed and wondring not a little hee said Grizelda wilt thou haue me to thy husband Modestly blushing and kneeling on the ground she answered Yes my gracious Lord if you will accept so poore a maiden to be your wife Yes Grizelda quoth hee with this holy kisse I confirme thee for my wife and so espoused her before them all Then mounting her on a milke-white Palfray brought thither for her shee was thus honourably conducted to her Pallace Now concerning the marriage feast and triumphes they were performed with no lesse pompe then if she had beene daughter to the King of France And the young Bride apparantly declared that with her garments her minde and behauior were quite changed For indeed shee was as it were shame to speake otherwise a rare creature both of person and perfections and not onely was shee absolute for beautie but so sweetely amiable gracious and goodlie as if she were not the daughter of poore Ianiculo and a Countrie Shepheardesse but rather of some Noble Lord whereat euery one wondred that formerly had knowne her Beside all this shee was so obedient to her husband so feruent in all dutifull offices and patient without the very least prouoking as hee held himselfe much more then contented and the onely happy man of the world In like manner towards the subiects of her Lord and Husband she shewed her selfe alwayes so benigne and gracious as there was not any one but the more they lookt on her the better they loued her honouring her voluntarily and praying to the heauens for her health dignity and well-faâ—â— long continuance Speaking now quite contrary to their former opinion of the Marquesse honourably and worthily that he had shewne him selfe a singular wise man in the election of his Wife which few else but he in the world would haue done because their iudgement might fall farre short of discerning those great and precious vertues veiled vnder a homely habite and obscured in a poore Countrey cottage To be briefe in very short time not onely the Marquisate it selfe but all neighbouring Prouinces round about had no other common talke but of her rare course of life deuotion charity and all good actions else quite quailing all sinister Instructions of her Husband before he receiued her in marriage About foure or fiue yeeres after the
sufficiently satisfied in his soule that he had seene so much as he desired concerning the patience of his Wife who in so many hart grieuing trials was neuer noated so much as to alter her countenance And being absolutely perswaded that this proceeded not from any want of vnderstanding in her because he knew her to be singularly wise he thought it high time now to free her from these afflicting oppressions and giue her such assurance as she ought to haue Wherefore commanding her into his presence openly before all his assembled friends smiling on her he said What thinkst thou Grizelda of our new chosen Spouse My Lord quoth she I like her exceeding well and if she be so wise as she is faire which verely I thinke she is I make no doubt but you shall liue with her as the onely happy man of the world But I humbly entreat your Honor if I haue any power in me to preuaile by that you would not giue her such cutting and vnkind language as you did to your other wife for I cannot thinke her armed with such patience as should indeed support them as wel in regard she is much yonger as also her more delicate breeding and education whereas she who you had before was brought vp in continual toile and trauaile When the Marquesse perceyued that Grizelda beleeued verily this yong daughter of hers should be his wife and answered him in so honest and modest manner he commanded her to sit downe by him and saide Grizelda it is now more then fitte time that thou shouldst taste the fruite of thy long admired patience and that they who haue thought me cruell harsh and vnciuill natured should at length obserue that I haue done nothing basely or vnaduisedly For this was a worke premeditated before for enstructing thee what it is to be a married wife and to let them know whosoeuer they be how to take and keepe a wife Which hath begotten to me perpetuall ioy and happinesse so long as I haue a day to liue with thee a matter whereof I stoode before greatly in feare and which in marriage I thought would neuer happen to me It is not vnknown to thee in how many kinds for my first proofe I gaue thee harsh and vnpleasing speeches which drawing no discontentment from thee either in lookes words or behauiour but rather such comfort as my soule desired and so in my other succeedings afterward in one minute now I purpose to giue thee that consolation which I bereft thee of in many tempestuous stormes and make a sweet restauration for all thy former sower sufferinges My faire and dearly affected Grizelda shee whom thou supposest for my new elected Spouse with a glad and cheerfull hart imbrace for thine owne daughter and this also her Brother beeing both of them thy children and mine in common opinion of the vulgar multitude imagined to be by my command long since slaine I am thy honourable Lord and Husband who doth and will loue thee farre aboue all women else in the world giuing thee iustly this deserued praise and commendation That no man liuing hath the like Wife as I haue So sweetly kissing her infinitely and hugging her ioyfully in his armes the teares now streaming like new-let-loose Riuers downe her faire face which no disaster before could force from her hee brought her and seated her by her daughter who was not a little amazed at so rare an alteration Shee hauing in zeale of affection kissed and embraced them both all else there present being clearely resolued from the former doubt which too long deluded them the Ladies arose iocondly from the tables and attending on Grizelda to her Chamber in signe of a more successefull augury to follow tooke off her poor contemptible rags and put on such costly robes which as Lady Marchionesse she vsed to weare before Afterward they waited on her into the Hall againe being their true Soueraigne Lady and Mistresse as she was no lesse in her poorest Garments where all reioycing for the new restored Mother happy recouery of so noble a son and daughter the Festiuall continued many months after Now euery one thought the Marquesse to be a noble and wise Prince though somewhat sharpe and vnsufferable in the seuere experiences made of his wife but aboue al they reputed Grizelda to be a most wise patient vertuous Lady The Count of Panago within few daies after returned backe to Bologna and the Lord Marques fetching home old Ianiculo from his country drudgery to liue with him as his Father in law in his Princely Palace gaue him honorable maintenance wherein hee long continued and ended his daies Afterward he matched his daughter in a Noble marriage he and Grizelda liuing long time together in the highest honor that possibly could be What can now be saide to the contrary but that poore Country Cottages may yeeld as diuine excellent spirits as the most stately and Royall mansions which breed and bring vppe some more worthy to be Hog-rubbers then hold any soueraignty ouer men Where is any other beside Grizelda who not only without a wet eye but imboldned by a valiant and inuincible courage that can suffer the sharpe rigors and neuer the like heard of proofes made by the Marquesse Perhaps he might haue met with another who would haue quitted him in a contrary kinde and for thrusting her forth of doores in her smocke could haue found better succor somewhere else rather then walke so nakedly in the cold streets DIoneus hauing thus ended his Nouel and the Ladies deliuering their seuerall iudgements according to their owne fancies some holding one conceite others leaning to the contrary one blaming this thing and another commending that the King lifting his eyes to heauen and seeing the Sun begin to fallow by rising of the Euening Starre without arising from his seat spake as followeth Discreet Ladies I am perswaded you know sufficiently that the sense and vnderstanding of vs mortals consisteth not onely as I think by preseruing in memory things past or knowledge of them present but such as both by the one and other kuow how to foresee future occasions are worthily thought wise and of no common capacity It will be to morrow fifteene dayes since we departed from the City of Florence to come hither for our pastime and comfort the conseruation of our liues and support of our health by auoyding those melanchollies griefes and anguishes which we beheld daylie in our City since the pestilentiall visitation beganne there wherein by my iudgement we haue done well and honestly Albeit some light Nouels perhaps attractiue to a little wantonnes as some say and our Iouiall feasting with good cheare singing and dancing may seeme matters inciting to inciuility especially in weake and shallow vnderstandings But I haue neither seene heard or knowne any acte word or whatsoeuer else either on your part or ours iustly deseruing to be blamed but all has bin honest as in a sweete and hermonious
If it be in regard of some vow which you haue consecrated to virginity and to some one of our Gods I seeke not therein to hinder your disseignes neither will bereaue the celestiall powers of whatsoeuer appertaineth to them Albeit I could wish that it should bee kept in a place more straited and separate from the resort of men to the end that so bright a beauty as yours is should cause no discords among amorous suters neither my Court proue a Campe destinied vnto the conclusion of such quarrels or you be the occasion of ruining so many whose seruice would beseeme a much more needfull place then to dye heere by fond and foolish opinion of enioying a vaine pleasure yet remaining in the power of another bodie to grant If therefore I shall perceiue that these behauiours in you do proceede from pride or contempt of them who endeuour to do you both honor and seruice and in sted of granting them a gracious looke in arrogancie you keepe from them making them enemies to your folly and my sufferance I sweare to you by our greatest God that I will take such due order as shall make you feele the hand of an offended Father and teach you hencefoorth to bee much more affable Wherefore deere daughter you shall do me a singular pleasure freely to acquaint me with your minde and the reasons of your so stricte seuerity promising you vpon the word and faith of a King nay more of a louing and kinde Father that if I finde the cause to bee iust and reasonable I will desist so farre from hindering your intent as you shal rather perceiue my fatherly furtherance and rest truly resolued of my help and fauour Wherefore faire daughter neither blush or dismay or feare to let me vnderstand your will for euidently I see that meere virgin shame hath made a rapture of your soule beeing nothing else but those true splendors of vertue deriued from your Auncestors and shining in you most gloriously gracing you with a much richer embellishing thē those beauties bestowed on you by Nature Speake therefore boldly to your Father because there is no law to prohibit your speech to him for when he commandeth he ought to bee obeyed promising vppon mine oath once againe that if your reasons are such as they ought to be I will not faile to accommodate your fancy The wise and vertuous Princesse hearing the King to alledge such gracious reasons and to lay so kinde a command on her making him most lowe and humble reuerence in signe of dutifull accepting such fauour thus she answered Royall Lord and Father seeing that in your Princely Court I haue gathered whatsoeuer may be termed vertuous in me you being the principall instructer of my life from whom I haue learned those lessons how maides of my age ought to gouerne and maintaine themselues you shall apparantly perceiue that neither gazing lookes which I ought not to yeelde without your consent nor pride or arrogancie neuer taughr me by you or the Queene my most honourable Lady and Mother are any occasion of my cariage towards them which come to make ostentation of their folly in your Court as if a meere look of Serictha were sufficient to yeeld assurance effectually of their desires victory Nothing my most Royall Lord and Father induceth mee to this kinde of behauiour but onely due respect of your honour mine owne and to the end it may not be thought that I belye my selfe in not eying the affectionate offers of amorous pursuers or haue any other priuate reserued meaning then what may best please King Siwalde my Father let it suffice Sir that it remaineth in your power onely to make an apt election and choice for me for I neither ought nor will allowe the acceptance of any suters kindnesse so much as by a looke much lesse then by words vntill your Highnesse shall nominate the man to be a meete husband for Serictha It is onely you then my Lord that beares the true life-blood of our Ancestors It is the vntainted life of the Queene my Mother that sets a chaste and strict restraint on mine eyes from estranging my heart to the idle amorous enticements of young giddy-headed Gentlemen and haue sealed vp my soule with an absolute determination rather to make choise of death then any way to alter this my warrantable seuerity You being a wise King and the worthie Father of Serictha it is in you to mediate counsell and effect what best shall beseeme the desseignes of your daughter because it is the vertue of children yea and their eternall glory and renowne to illustrate the liues and memories of their parents It consisteth in you either to grant honest license to such Lords as desire me or to oppose them with such discreete conditions as both your selfe may sit free from any further afflicting and they rest defeated of dangerous dissentions according as you foresee what may ensue Which yet neuerthelesse I hold as a matter impossible if their discord should be grounded on the sole apprehension of their soules and the onely preuention therof is not to yeeld any signe glance of the eie or so much as a word more to one man then another for such is the setled disposition of your daughters soule and which shee humbly entreateth may so be still suffered Many meanes there are whereby to winne the grace of the greatest King by employing their paines in worthy occasions answerable vnto their yeeres and vertue if any such sparkes of honour doe shine in their soules rather then by gaining heere any matter of so meane moment by endeauouring to shake the simplicity of a bashfull maide Let them cleare the Kings high-wayes of Theeues who make the passages difficult or let them expell Pirates from off the Seas which make our Danish coasts euery way inaccessible These are such Noble meanes to merit as may throw deserued recompence vppon them and much more worthily then making Idols of Ladies lookes or gazing for babies in their wanton eyes So may you bestowe on them what is your owne granting Serictha to behold none but him who you shall please to giue her for otherwise you know her absolute resolue neuer to looke any liuing man in the face but onely you my gracious Lord and Father The King hearing this wise and modest answer of his daughter could not choose but commend her in his heart and smiling at the counsell which she gaue him returned her this answer Vnderstand me wel faire daughter neither am I minded to breake your determination wholly nor yet to gouerne my selfe according to your fancie I stand indifferently contented that vntill I haue otherwise purposed you shall continue the nature of your ancient custome yet conditionally that when I command an alteration of your carriage you faile not therin to declare your obedience What else remaineth beside for so silly a thing as a Woman is and for the priuate pleasing of so many great Princes and Lords
I will not endanger any of their liues because their parents and friends being sensible of such losses may seeke reuenge perhaps to their owne ruine and some following scourge to my indiscretion For I consider daughter that I haue neighbours who scarsely loue me and of whom in time I may right my selfe hauing receiued by their meanes great wrongs iniuries Also I make no doubt but to manage your loue-sute with discretion and set such a pleasing proceednig betweene them as neyther shall beget any hatred in them towards me nor yet offend them in their affections pursuite till fortune may smile so fauourably vpon some one man to reach the height of both your wished desires Siwalde was thus determinately resolued to let his daughter liue at her owne discretion without any alteration of her continued seueritie perceiuing day by day that many came still to request her in mariage he could not giue her to them all nor make his choise of any one least all the rest should become his enemies and fall in quarrell one with another Onely this therefore was his ordination that among such a number of amorous suters he onely should weare the Lawrell wreath of victory who could obtaine such fauour of Serictha as but to looke him in the face This condition seemed to bee of no meane difficulty yea and so impossible that many gaue ouer their amorous enterprize whereof Serictha was wondrouslie ioyfull seeing her selfe eased of such tedious importunitie dulling her eares with their proffered seruices and foppish allegations of fantasticke seruitude such as ydle-headed Louers do vse to protest before their Mistresses wherein they may beleeue them if they list Among all them that were thus forward in their heate of affection there was a young Danish Lord named Ocharus the sonne of a Pirate called Hebonius the same man who hauing stolne the Sister vnto King Hunguinus and Sister to Siwalde affiancing himselfe to her was slaine by King Haldune and by thus killing him enioyed both the Lady and the kingdome of the Gothes also as her inheritance This Ocharus relying much on his comelinesse of person wealth power and valour but aboue all the rest on his excellent and eloquent speaking bestowed his best endeauour to obtaine Serictha notwithstanding the contemptible carriage of the rest towards him whereupon preuailing for his accesse to the Princesse and admitted to speake as all the other did he reasoned with her in this manner Whence may it proceede Madam that you being the fairest and wisest Princesse liuing at this day in all the Northerne parts should make so smal account of your selfe as to denie that which with honour you mâ—y yeeld to them as seeke to doe you most humble seruice and forgetting the rank you hold doe refuse to deigne them recompence in any manner whatsoeuer seeking onely to enioy you in honourable marriage Perhaps you are of opinion that the gods should become slaues to youâ— beauty in which respect men are vtterly vnworthy to craue any such acquaintance of you If it be so I confesse my selfe conquered But if the gods seeke no such association with women and since they forsooke the World they left this legacy to vs men I thinke you couet after none but such as are extracted of their blood or may make vaunt of their neere kindred and alliance to them I know that many haue wished and doe desire you I know also that as many haue requested you of the King your Father but the choyce remaineth in your power and you being ordained the Iudge to distinguish the merit of all your Sutors me thinkes you doe wrong to the office of a Iudge in not regarding the parties which are in suite to sentence the deseâ—t of the best and brauest and so to delay them with no more lingering I cannot thinke Madam that you are so farre out of your selfe and so chill cold in your affection but desire of occasions equall to your vertue and singular beauty doe sometime touch you feelingly and make you to wish for such a man answerable to the greatnesse of your excellency And if it should be otherwise as I imagine it to be impossible yet you ought to breake such an obstinate designe onely to satisfie the King your Father who can desire nothing more then to haue a Sonne in Law to reuenge him on the Tyrant of Swetia who as you well know was sometime the murtherer of your Grand-father Hunguinus and also of his Father If you please to vouchsafe me so much grace and fauour as to make me the man whom your heart hath chosen to be your Husband I sweare vnto you by the honour of a Souldier that I will vndergoe such seruice as the King shall be reuenged you royally satisfied and my selfe aduanced to no meane happinesse by being the onely fortunate man of the World Gentle Princesse the most beautifull daughter to a King open that indurate heart and so soften it that the sweete impressions of loue may be engrauen therein see there the loyall pursuite of your Ocharus who to saue his life cannot so much as winne one looke from his diuine Mistresse This nicenesse is almost meerely barbarous that I wishing to aduenture my life prodigally in your seruice you are so cruell as not to deigne recompence to this duty of mine with the least signe of kindnesse that can be imagined Faire Serictha if you desire the death of your friendly seruant Ocharus there are many other meanes whereby to performe it without consuming him in so small a fire and suffering him there to languish without any answere If you will not looke vpon me if my face be so vnworthy that one beame of your bright Sunnes may not shine vpon it If a word of your mouth be too precious for me make a signe with your hand either of my happinesse or disaster If your hand be enuious of mine ease let one of your women be shee to pronounce the sentence of life oâ— death because if my life be hatefull to you this hand of mine may satisfie your will and sacrifice it to the rigour of your disdaine But if as I am rather perswaded the ruine of your seruants be against your more mercifull wishes deale so that I may perceiue it and expresse what compassion you haue of your Ocharus who coueteth nothing more then your daily hearts ease and contentment with a priuiledge of honour aboue other Ladies All this discourse was heard by Serictha but so little was shee moued therewith as shee was farre enough off from returning him any answer neither did any of the Gentlewomen attending on her euer heare her vse the very least word to any of her amorous sollicitors nor did shee know any one of them but by speech onely which droue them all into an vtter despaire perceiuing no possible meanes whereby to conquer her The Histories of the Northeâ—ne 〈…〉 deâ—â—are that in those times the rapes of women were not much 〈…〉 and such
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