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Nightingale sing？ Let there be a bed made for her in the Oven； and
there let the Crickets make her melody。 When Catharina heard this
answere from her Father； and saw her desire to be disappointed； not
onely could she take any rest the night following； but also complained
more of the heate then before； not suffering her Mother to take any
rest； which made her go angerly to her Husband in the morning； saying。
Why Husband； have we but one onely Daughter； whom you pretend to
love right dearly； and yet can you be so carelesse of her； as to denie
her a request； which is no more then reason？ What matter is it to
you or me； to let her lodge in the Garden Gallery？ Is her young
blood to be compared with ours？ Can our weake and crazie bodies； feele
the frolicke temper of hers？ Alas； she is hardly （as yet） out of her
childish yeeres； and Children have many desires farre differing from
ours： the singing of Birdes is rare musicke to them； and chiefly the
Nightingale； whose sweete notes will provoke them to rest； when
neither Art or Physicke can do it。
Is it even so Wife？ answered Messer Lizio。 Must your will and mine
be governed by our Daughter？ Well be it so then； let her bed be made
in the Garden Gallerie； but I will have the keeping of the key； both
to locke her in at night； and set her at liberty every morning。 Woman；
woman； yong wenches are wily； many wanton crotchets are busie in their
braines； and to us that are aged； they sing like Lapwings； telling
us one thing； and intending another； talking of Nightingales； when
their mindes run on Cocke…Sparrowes。 Seeing Wife； she must needes have
her minde； let yet your care and mine extend so farre； to keepe her
chastity uncorrupted； and our credulity from being abused。 Catharina
having thus prevailed with her Mother； her bed made in the Garden
Gallerie； and secret intelligence given to Ricciardo； for preparing
his meanes of accesse to her window； old provident Lizio lockes the
doore to bed…ward； and gives her liberty to come forth in the morning；
for his owne lodging was neere to the same Gallery。
In the dead and silent time of night； when all （but Lovers） take
their rest； Ricciardo having provided a Ladder of Ropes； with grapling
hookes to take hold above and below； according as he had occasion to
use it。 By helpe thereof； first he mounted over the Garden wall； and
then climbde up to the Gallery window； before which （as is every where
in Italie） was a little round engirting Tarras； onely for a man to
stand upon； for making cleane the window； or otherwise repairing it。
Many nights （in this manner） enjoyed they their meetings；
entermixing their amorous conference with infinite kisses and kinde
embraces； as the window gave leave； he sitting in the Tarras； and
departing alwayes before breake of day； for feare of being
discovered by any。
But； as excesse of delight is the Nurse to negligence； and begetteth
such an overpresuming boldnesse； as afterward proveth to be sauced
with repentance： so came it to passe with our over…fond Lovers； in
being taken tardy through their owne folly。 After they had many
times met in this manner； the nights （according to the season） growing
shorter and shorter； which their stolne delight made them lesse
respective of； then was requisite in an adventure so dangerous： it
fortuned； that their amorous pleasure had so farre transported them；
and dulled their senses in such sort； by these their continuall
nightly watchings； that they both fell fast asleepe； he having his
hand closed in hers； and she one arme folded about his body； and
thus they slept till broade day light。 Old Messer Lizio； who
continually was the morning Cocke to the whole House； going foorth
into his Garden； saw how his Daughter and Ricciardo were seated at the
window。 In he went againe； and going to his wives Chamber； saide to
her。 Rise quickly wife； and you shall see； what made your Daughter
so desirous to lodge in the Garden Gallery。 I perceive that shee loved
to heare the Nightingale； for she hath caught one； and holds him
fast in her hand。 Is it possible； saide the Mother； that our
Daughter should catch a live Nightingale in the darke？ You shall see
that your selfe； answered Messer Lizio； if you will make hast； and
go with me。
She； putting on her garments in great haste； followed her Husband；
and being come to the Gallery doore； he opened it very softly； and
going to the window； shewed her how they both sate fast asleepe； and
in such manner as hath bene before declared： whereupon； shee
perceiving how Ricciardo and Catharina had both deceived her； would
have made an outcry； but that Messer Lizio spake thus to her。 Wife； as
you love me； speake not a word； neither make any noyse： for； seeing
shee hath loved Ricciardo without our knowledge； and they have had
their private meetings in this manner； yet free from any blamefu
imputation； he shall enjoy her； and she him。 Ricciardo is a Gentleman；
well derived； and of rich possessions； it can be no disparagement to
us； that Catharina match with him in mariage； which he neither
shall； or dare deny to do； in regard of our Lawes severity； for
climbing up to my window with his Ladder of Ropes； whereby his life is
forfeited to the Law； except our Daughter please to spare it； as it
remaineth in her power to doe； by accepting him as her husband； or
yeelding his life up to the Law； which surely she will not suffer；
their love agreeing together in such mutuall manner； and he
adventuring so dangerously for her。 Madam Jaquemina； perceiving that
her husband spake very reasonably； and was no more offended at the
matter； stept side with him behinde the drawne Curtaines； untill
they should awake of themselves。 At the last； Ricciardo awaked； and
seeing it was so farre in the day； thought himselfe halfe dead； and
calling to Catharina； saide。
Alas deare Love！ what shall we doe？ we have slept too long； and
shall be taken here。
At which words； Messer Lizio stept forth from behind the
Curtaines； saying。 Nay； Signior Ricciardo； seeing you have found
such an unbefitting way hither； we will provide you a better for
your backe returning。
When Ricciardo saw the Father and Mother both there present； he
could not devise what to do or say； his senses became so strangely
confounded； yet knowing how hainously he had offended； if the
strictnesse of Law should bee challenged against him； falling on his
knees； he saide。 Alas Messer Lizio； I humbly crave your mercy；
confessing my selfe well worthy of death； that knowing the sharpe
rigour of the Law； I would presume so audaciously to breake it。 But
pardon me worthy Sir； my loyall and unfeigned love to your Daughter
Catharina； hath bene the only cause of my transgressing。
Ricciardo （replied Messer Lizio） the love I beare thee； and the
honest confidence I do repose in thee； step up （in some measure） to
plead thine excuse； especially in the regard of my Daughter； whom I
blame thee not for loving； but for this unlawfull way of presuming
to her。 Neverthelesse； perceiving how the case now standeth； and
considering withall； that youth and affection were the ground of thine
offence： to free thee from death； and my selfe from dishonour；
before thou departest hence； thou shalt espouse my Daughter Catharina；
to make her thy lawfull wife in marriage； and wipe off all scandall to
my House and me。 All this while was poore Catharina on her knees
likewise to her Mother； who （notwithstanding this her bold
adventure） made earnest suite to her Husband to remit all； because
Ricciardo right gladly condiscended； as it being the maine issue of
his hope and desire； to accept his Catharina in marriage； whereto
she was as willing as he。 Messer Lizio presently called for the
Confessour of his House； and borrowing one of his Wives Rings；
before they went out of the Gallery； Ricciardo and Catharina were
espoused together； to their no little joy and contentment。
Now had they more leasure for further conference； with the Parents
and kindred to Ricciardo； who being no way discontented with this
sudden match； but applauding it in the highest degree； they were
publikely maried againe in the Cathedrall Church； and very
honourable triumphes performed at the nuptials； living long after in
happy prosperity。
THE FIFT DAY； THE FIFTH NOVELL
WHEREIN MAY BE OBSERVED； WHAT QUARRELS AND CONTENTIONS ARE
OCCASIONED BY LOVE； WITH SOME PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION；
CONCERNING THE SINCERITY OF A LOYALL FRIEND
Guidotto of Cremona； out of this mortall life； left a Daughter of
his； with Jacomino of Pavia。 Giovanni di Severino； and Menghino da
Minghole； fell both in love with the young Maiden； and fought for her；
who being afterward knowne to be the Sister to Giovanni； she was given
in mariage to Menghino。
All the Ladies laughing heartily； at the Novell of the
Nightingale； so pleasingly delivered by Philostratus； when they saw
the same to be fully ended； the Queene thus spake。 Now trust me
Philostratus； though yesterday you did much oppresse mee with
melancholly； yet you have made me such an amends to day； as we have
little reason to complaine any more of you。 So converting her speech
to Mad