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to learne them both by hart； for （peradventure） they may stand you
in good sted； if ever you chance to have the like occasion。
THE SEVENTH DAY； THE SECOND NOVELL
WHEREIN IS DECLARED； WHAT HARD AND NARROW SHIFTS AND DISTRESSES；
SUCH AS BEE SERIOUSLY LINKED IN LOVE； ARE MANY TIMES ENFORCED TO
UNDERGO： ACCORDING AS THEIR OWNE WIT； AND CAPACITIE OF THEIR
SURPRIZERS； DRIVE THEM TO IN EXTREMITIES
Peronella hid a yong man her friend and Lover； under a great brewing
Fat； upon the sodaine returning home of her Husband； who told her；
that hee had solde the saide Fat and brought him that bought it； to
cary it away。 Peronella replyed； that shee had formerly solde it
unto another； who was now underneath it； to see whether it were
whole and sound； or no。 Whereupon； he being come forth from under
it； she caused her Husband to make it neate and cleane； and so the
last buyer carried it away。
Not without much laughter and good liking； was the Tale of Madame
Aemillia listened unto； and both the prayers commended to be sound and
soveraigne： but it being ended； the King commaunded Philostratus； that
hee should follow next in order； whereupon thus he began。
Deare Ladies； the deceites used by men towards your sexe； but
especially Husbands； have bene so great and many； as when it hath
sometime happened； or yet may； that husbands are requited in the
self…same kinde： you need not finde fault at any such accident； either
by knowledge thereof afterward； or hearing the same reported by any
one； but rather you should referre it to generall publication； to
the end； that immodest men may know； and finde it for trueth； that
if they have apprehension and capacity； women are therein not a jote
inferiour to them。 Which cannot but redound to your great benefite；
because； when any one knoweth； that another is as cunning and
subtile as himselfe； he will not be so rashly adventurous in
deceite。 And who maketh any doubt； that if those sleights and trickes；
whereof this dayes argument may give us occasion to speake； should
afterwardes be put in execution by men： would it not minister just
reason； of punishing themselves for beguiling you； knowing； that （if
you please） you have the like abilitie in your owne power？ Mine intent
therefore is to tell you； what a woman （though but of meane
qualitie） did to her husband； upon a sodaine； and in a moment （as it
were） for her owne safety。
Not long since； there lived in Naples； an honest meane man； who
did take to Wife； a fayre and lustie young Woman； being named
Peronella。…He professing the Trade of a Mason； and shee Carding and
Spinning； maintained themselves in a reasonable condition； abating and
abounding as their Fortunes served。 It came to passe； that a
certayne young man； well observing the beauty and good parts of
Peronella； became much addicted in affection towardes her： and by
his often and secret sollicitations； which he found not to be
unkindely entertayned； his successe proved answerable to his hope；
no unindifferencie appearing in their purposes； but where her estate
seemed weakest； his supplies made an addition of more strength。
Now； for their securer meeting； to stand cleare from all matter of
scandal or detection； they concluded in this order between themselves。
Lazaro； for so was Peronellaes Husband named； being an earely riser
every morning； either to seeke for worke； or to effect it being
undertaken： this amorous friend being therewith acquainted； and
standing in some such convenient place； where hee could see Lazaroes
departure from his house； and yet himselfe no way discerned； poore
Lazaro was no sooner gone； but presently he enters the house； which
stood in a verie solitarie street； called the Avorio。 Many mornings
had they thus met together； to their no meane delight and
contentation； till one especial morning among the rest； when Lazaro
was gone forth to worke； and Striguario （so was the amorous young
man named） visiting Peronella in the house： upon a verie urgent
occasion； Lazaro returned backe againe； quite contrary to his former
wont； keeping foorth all day； and never comming home till night。
Finding his doore to be fast lockt； and he having knockt softlie
once or twice； he spake in this manner to himselfe。 Fortune I thanke
thee； for albeit thou hast made mee poore； yet thou hast bestowed a
better blessing on me； in matching me with so good； honest； and loving
a Wife。 Behold； though I went early out of my house； her selfe hath
risen in the cold to shut the doore； to prevent the entrance of
theeves； or any other that might offend us。 Peronella having heard
what her husband sayde； and knowing the manner of his knocke； said
fearfully to Striguario。 Alas deare friend； what shall wee doe？ I am
little lesse then a dead Woman： For； Lazaro my Husband is come backe
again； and I know not what to do or say。 He never returned in this
order before now； doubtlesse； hee saw when you entred the doore； and
for the safety of your honour and mine： creepe under this brewing Fat；
till I have opened the doore； to know the reason of his so soone
returning。
Striguario made no delaying of the matter； but got himselfe closelie
under the Fat； and Peronella opening the doore for her husbands
enterance； with a frowning countenance； spake thus unto him。 What
meaneth this so early returning home againe this morning？ It
seemeth； thou intendest to do nothing to day； having brought backe thy
tooles in thy hands？ If such be thine intent； how shall we live？ Where
shal we have bread to fill our bellies？ Dooest thou thinke； that I
will suffer thee to pawne my gowne； and other poore garments； as
heeretofore thou hast done？ I that card and spinne both night and day；
till I have worne the flesh from my fingers； yet all will hardly finde
oyle to maintaine our Lampe。 Husband； husband； there is not one
neighbour dwelling by us； but makes a mockerie of me； and tels me
plainly； that I may be ashamed to drudge and moyle as I do；
wondering not a little； how I am able to endure it； and thou returnest
home with thy hands in thy hose； as if thou hadst no worke at all to
do this day。
Having thus spoken； she fell to weeping； and then thus began
again。 Poore wretched woman as I am； in an unfortunate houre was I
borne； and in a much worse； when I was made thy Wife。 I could have had
a proper； handsome yong man； one； that would have maintained mee brave
and gallantly： but； beast as I was； to forgoe my good； and cast my
selfe away on such a beggar as thou art； and whom none wold have
had； but such an Asse as I。 Other women live at hearts ease； and in
jollity； have their amorous friends and loving Paramours； yea； one；
two； three at once； making their husbands looke like a Moone cressent；
wheron they shine Sun…like； with amiable lookes； because they know not
how to helpe it： when I （poore foole） live heere at home a miserable
life； not daring once to dreame of such follies； an innocent soule；
heartlesse and harmelesse。
Many times； sitting and sighing to my selfe： Lord； thinke I； of what
mettall am I made？ Why should not I have a Friend in a corner；
aswell as others have？ I am flesh and blood； as they are； not made
of brasse or iron； and therefore subject to womens frailty。 would thou
shouldest know it husband； and I tell it thee in good earnest； That if
I would doe ill； I could quickely finde a friend at a neede。
Gallants there are good store； who （of my knowledge） love me
dearely； and have made me very large and liberall promises； of
Golde； Silver； jewels； and gay Garments； if I would extend them the
least favour。 But my heart will not suffer me； I never was the
daughter of such a mother； as had so much as a thought of such
matters： no； I thanke our blessed Ladie； and S。 Friswid for it： and
yet thou returnest home againe； when thou shouldst be at Worke。
Lazaro； who stoode all this while like a well…beleeving Logger…head；
demurely thus answered。 Alas good Wife！ I pray you bee not so angry； I
never had so much as an ill thought of you； but know wel enough what
you are； and have made good proofe thereof this morning。 Understand
therefore patiently （sweet Wife） that I went forth to my work as dayly
I use to do； little dreaming （as I thinke you doe not） that it had
bene Holyday。 Wife； this is the Feast day of Saint Galeone； whereon we
may in no wise worke； and this is the reason of my so soone returning。
Neverthelesse （dear Wife） I was not carelesse of our Houshold
provision： For； though we worke not； yet we must have foode； which I
have provided for more then a moneth。 Wife； I remembred the brewing
Fat； whereof we have little or no use at all； but rather it is a
trouble to the house； then otherwise。 I met with an honest Friend； who
stayeth without at the doore； to him I have sold the Fat for ten
Gigliatoes； and he tarrieth to take it away with him。
How Husband？ replied Peronella； Why now I am worse offended then
before。 Thou that art a man； walkest every where； and shouldst be
experienced in worldly affaires： wouldst thou bee so simple； as to
sell such a brewing Fat for ten Gigliatoes？ Why； I that am a poore
ignorant woman； a house Dove； sildome going out