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be rid of her。 But they finding all his speeches to be utterly
false； and reputing him to bee a drunken jealous foole； all the
blame and disgrace falleth on himselfe。
It seemed to the whole assembly； that Madam Beatrix； dealte somewhat
strangely； in the manner of beguiling her husband； and affirmed
also； that Anichino had great cause of fear； when she held him so
strongly by her beds side； and related all his amorous temptation。 But
when the King perceyved； that Madame Philomena sate silent； he
turned to Madam Neiphila； willing her to supply the next place； who
modestly smiling； thus began。
Faire Ladies； it were an heavy burthen imposed on me； and a matter
much surmounting my capacity； if I should vainely imagine； to
content you with so pleasing a Novell； as those have already done；
by you so singularly reported： neverthelesse； I must discharge my
dutie； and take my fortune as it fals； albeit I hope to finde you
mercifull。
You are to know then； that sometime there lived in our Citie； a very
welthy Merchant； named Arriguccio Berlinghieri； who （as many Merchants
have done） fondly imagined； to make himselfe a Gentleman by
marriage。 Which that he might the more assuredly do； he took to wife a
Gentlewoman； one much above his degree or element； she being named
Simonida。 Now； in regard that he delighted （as it is the usuall life
of a Merchant） to be often abroad； and little at home； whereby shee
had small benefit of his company； shee grew very forward in
affection with a young Gentleman； called Signior Roberto； who had
solicited hir by many amorous meanes； and （at length） prevailed to win
her favor。 Which favour being once obtained； affection gaddes so farre
beyond al discretion； and makes Lovers so heedelesse of their
private conversations： that either they are taken tardy in their
folly； or else subjected to scandalous suspition。
It came to passe； that Arriguccio； either by rumour； or some other
more sensible apprehension； had received such intelligence
concerning his Wife Simonida； as he grew into extraordinarie jealousie
of her； refraining travaile abroad； as formerly he was wont to doe；
and ceassing from his verie ordinary affayres； addicting all his
care and endeavour； onely to be watchfull of his Wife； so that he
never durst sleepe； untill she were by him in the bed； which was no
meane mollestation to her； being thus curbd from her familiar meetings
with Roberto。 Neverthelesse； having a long while consulted with her
wittes； to find some apte meanes for conversing with him； being
thereto also very earnestlie still solicited by him； you shall heare
what course she undertooke。
Her Chamber being on the streete side； and somewhat juttying over
it； she observed the disposition of her Husband； that every night it
was long before he fell asleepe： but beeing once falne into it； no
noyse whatsoever； could easily wake him。 This his solemne and sound
sleeping； emboldned her so farre； as to meete with Roberto at the
streete doore； which （while her Husband slept） softly she would open
to him； and therein private converse with him。
But； because shee would know the certaine houre of his comming；
without the least suspition of any： she hung a thred forth of her
Chamber Window； descending downe； within the compasse of Robertoes
reach in the street； and the other end thereof； guided from the Window
to the bed； being conveyed under the Cloathes； and shee being in
bed； she fastned it about her left great Toe； wherewith Roberto was
sufficiently acquainted； and thus enstructed withall； that at his
comming； he should plucke the thred； and if her husband was in his
dead sleep； she would let go the thred； and come downe to him： but
if he slept not； she would hold it strongly； and then his tarrying
would prove but in vaine； there could be no meeting that night。
This devise was highly pleasing both to Roberto and Simonida；
being the intelligencer of their often meeting； and many times also
advising the contrary。 But in the end； as the quaintest cunning may
faile at one time or other； so it fortuned one night； that Simonida
being in a sound sleepe； and Arriguccio waking； because his drowsie
houre was not yet come： as he extendeth forth his legge in the bed； he
found the thred； which feeling in his hand； and perceiving it was tyed
to his wives great toe； it prooved apt tinder to kindle further
jealousie； and now hee suspected some treachery indeede； and so much
the rather because the thred guided （under the cloathes） from the
bed to the window； and there hanging downe into the streete； as a
warning to some further businesse。
Now was Arriguccio so furiously enflamed； that hee must needes bee
further resolved in this apparant doubt： and because therein hee would
not be deceived； softly he cut the thred from his wives toe； and
made it fast about his owne； to trye what successe would ensue
thereon。 It was not long before Roberto came； and according as hee
used to doe； hee pluckt the thred； which Arriguccio felt； but
because hee had not tyed it fast； and Roberto pulling it
over…hardly； it fell downe from the window into his hand； which he
understood as his lesson； to attend her comming； and so hee did。
Arriguccio stealing softly out of bed from his wife； and taking his
Sword under his arme； went downe to the doore； to see who it was； with
full intent of further revenge。 Now； albeit he was a Merchant； yet
he wanted not courage； and boldnesse of spirit； and opening the
doore without any noyse； onely as his wife was wont to doe： Roberto；
there waiting his entrance； perceived by the doores unfashionable
opening； that it was not Simonida； but her Husband； whereupon he
betooke himselfe to flight and Arriguccio fiercely followed him。 At
the length； Roberto perceiving that flight avayled him not； because
his enemy still pursued him： being armed also with a Sword； as
Arriguccio was； he returned backe upon him； the one offering to
offend； as the other stood upon his defence； and so in the darke
they fought together。
Simonida awaking； even when her Husband went foorth of the
Chamber； and finding the thred to be cut from her toe； conjectured
immediately； that her subtle cunning was discovered； and supposing her
Husband in pursuite of Roberto； presently she arose； and；
considering what was likely to ensue thereon； called her Chamber…maide
（who was not ignorant of the businesse） and by perswasions prevailed
so with her； that she lay downe in her place in the bed； upon
solemne protestations and liberall promises； not to make her selfe
knowne； but to suffer all patiently； either blowes； or other ill usage
of her Husband； which shee would recompence in such bountifull sort；
as she should have no occasion to complaine。 So； putting out the
watchlight； which every night burned in the Chamber； she departed
thence； and sate downe in a close corner of the house； to see what
would be the end of all this stirre； after her Husbands comming home。
The fight （as you have formerly heard） continuing betweene Roberto
and Arriguccio； the neighbours hearing of the clashing of their Swords
in the streets； arose out of their beds； and reproved them in very
harsh manner。 In which respect Arriguccio； fearing to be knowne； and
ignorant also what his adversary was （no harme being as yet done on
either side） permitted him to depart； and extreamely full of anger；
returned backe againe to his house。 Being come up into his
bed…chamber； thus he began； Where is this lewde and wicked woman？
what？ hast thou put out the light； because I should not finde thee？
that shall not avayle thee； for I can well enough finde a drab in
the darke。 So； groping on to the beds side； and thinking hee had taken
holde on his wife； he grasped the Chamber…maide； so beating her with
his fists； and spurning her with his feet； that al her face was bloody
and bruised。 Next； with his knife he cut off a great deal of her
haire； giving her the most villanous speeches as could be devised：
swearing； that he would make her a shame to all the world。
You need make no doubt； but the poore maide wept exceedingly； as she
had good occasion to doe： and albeit many times she desired mercy； and
that hee would not bee so cruell to her： yet notwithstanding； her
voyce was so broken with crying； and his impacience so extreame；
that rage hindered all power of distinguishing； or knowing his wives
tongue from a strangers。 Having thus madly beaten her； and cut the
lockes off from her head； thus he spake to her。 Wicked woman； and no
wife of mine； be sure I have not done with thee yet； for； although I
meane not now to beate thee any longer： I will goe to thy brethren；
and they shall understand thy dishonest behaviour。 Then will I bring
them home with me； and they perceiving how much thou hast abused
both their honour and thine owne； let them deale with thee as they
finde occasion； for thou art no more a companion for me。 No sooner had
he uttered these angry words； but hee went forth of the Chamber；
bolting it fast on the outward side； as meaning to keepe her safely
inclosed； and out of the house he went alone by himselfe。
Simonida； who had heard all this tempestuous conflict； perceiving
that her Husband ha