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I forgive him； even so （good Mother and kinde Brethren；） let mee
entreate you to do the like。
When the Mother had heard these words； and confidently beleeved
her Daughter： she began to torment her selfe with anger； saying。 By
the faith of my body Daughter； this unkindnesse is not ＇to＇ be
endured； but rather let the dogge be hanged； that his qualities may be
knowne； he being utterly unworthy； to have so good a woman to his
wife； as thou art。 What could he have done if he had taken thee in the
open more； and in company of some wanton Gallants？ In an unfortunate
houre wast thou married to him； base jealous Coxecombe as he is； and
it is quite against sense； or reason； that thou shouldest be subject
to his fooleries。 What was hee； but a Merchant of Eale…skinnes or
Orenges； bred in some paltry countrey village； taken from
Hogge…rubbing； clothed in Sheepes…Sattin； with Clownish Startops；
Leather stockings； and Caddies garters： His whole habite not worth
three shillings： And yet he must have a faire Gentlewoman to his Wife；
of honest fame； riches and reputation； when； comparing his pedegree
with hers； hee is farre unfit to wipe her shooes。
Oh my deare sonnes； I would you had followed my counsell； and
permitted her to mate in the honourable family of Count Guido； which
was much mooved； and seriously pursued。 But you would needs bestow her
on this goodly jewell； who； although shee is one of the choysest
beauties in Florence； chaste； honest and truely vertuous： Is not
ashamed at midnight； to proclaime her for a common whore； as if we had
no better knowledge of her。 But by the blessed mother of Saint John；
if you would be ruled by mine advise； our law should make him
dearely smart for it。
Alas my sonnes； did I not tell you at home in our owne house； that
his words were no way likely to prove true？ Have not your eyes
observed his unmannerly behaviour to your Sister？ If I were as you
are； hearing what he hath said； and noting his drunken carriage
beside； I should never give over； as long as he had any life left in
him。 And were I a man； as I am a woman； none other then my selfe
should revenge her wrongs； making him a publike spectacle to all
drabbing drunkards。
When the brethren had heard and observed all these occurrences； in
most bitter manner they railed on Arriguccio； bestowing some good
bastinadoes on him beside； concluding thus with him in the end。
Quoth one of them； Wee will pardon this shamefull abusing of our
Sister； because thou art a notorious drunkard： but looke to it （on
perill of thy life） that we have no more such newes hereafter； for；
beleeve it unfainedly； if any such impudent rumours happen to our
eares； or so much as a flying fame thereof； thou shalt surely be paide
for both faults together。
So home againe went they； and Arriguccio stood like one that had
neither life or motion； not knowing （whether what he had done） was
true； or no； or if he dreamed all this while； and so （without uttering
any word） he left his Wife； and went quietly to bed。 Thus by her
wisdome； she did not onely prevent an imminent perill： but also made a
free and open passage； to further contentment with her amourous
friend； yet dreadlesse of any distaste or suspition in her Husband。
THE SEVENTH DAY； THE NINTH NOVELL
WHEREIN IS DECLARED； THAT GREAT LORDS MAY SOMETIME BE DECEIVED BY
THEIR WIVES； AS WELL AS MEN OF MEANER CONDITION
Lydia； a Lady of great beauty； birth； and honor； being Wife to
Nicostratus； Governour of Argos； falling in love with a Gentleman；
named Pyrrhus； was requested by him （as a true testimony of her
unfeigned affection） to performe three severall actions of her
selfe。 She did accomplish them all； and imbraced and kissed Pyrrhus in
the presence of Nicostratus； by perswading him； that whatsoever he
saw； was meerely false。
The Novell delivered； by Madame Neiphila； seemed so pleasing to
all the Ladies； as they could not refraine from hearty laughter；
beside much liberality of speech。 Albeit the King did oftentimes
urge silence； and commanded Pamphilus to follow next。 So； when
attention was admitted； Pamphilus began in this order。 I am of
opinion； faire Ladies； that there is not any matter； how uneasie or
doubtfull soever it may seeme to be； but the man or woman that
affecteth fervently； dare boldly attempt； and effectually
accomplish。 And this perswasion of mine； although it hath beene
sufficiently approved； by many of our passed Novels： Yet
notwithstanding； I shall make it much apparent to you； by a present
discourse of mine owne。 Wherein I have occasion to speake of a Lady；
to whom Fortune was more favourable； then either reason or
judgement； could give direction。 In which regard； I would not advise
any of you； to entertaine so high an imagination of minde； as to
tracke her footsteps of whom I am now to speake： because Fortune
containeth not alwayes one and the same disposition； neither can all
mens eyes be blinded after one manner。 And so proceed we to our Tale。
In Argos； a most ancient Citie of Achaya； much more renowned by
her precedent Kings； then wealth； or any other great matter of
worth： there lived as Lieutenant or Governour thereof； a Noble Lord；
named Nicostratus； on whom （albeit hee was well stept into yeares）
Fortune bestowed in marriage a great Lady； no lesse bold of spirit；
then choisely beautifull。 Nicostratus； abounding in treasure and
wealthy possessions； kept a goodly traine of Servants； Horses；
Houndes； Hawkes； and what else not； as having an extraordinary
felicity in all kinds of game； as singular exercises to maintaine
his health。
Among his other Servants and Followers； there was a yong
Gentleman； gracefull of person； excellent in speech； and every way
as active as no man could be more： his name Pyrrhus； highly affected
of Nicostratus； and more intimately trusted then all the rest。 Such
seemed the perfections of this Pyrrhus； that Lydia （for so was the
Lady named） began to affect him very earnestly； and in such sort； as
day or night shee could take no rest； but devised all meanes to
compasse her harts desire。 Now； whether he observed this inclination
of her towards him； or else would take no notice thereof； it could not
be discerned by any outward apprehension： which moved the more
impatiency in her； and drove her hopes to dispairing passions。 Wherein
to finde some comfort and ease； she called an ancient Gentlewoman of
her Chamber； in whom shee reposed especiall confidence； and thus she
spake to her。
Lesca； The good turnes and favours thou hast received from me；
should make thee faithfull and obedient to me： and therefore set a
locke uppon thy lippes； for revealing to any one whatsoever； such
matters as now I shall impart to thee； except it be to him that I
command thee。 Thou perceivest Lesca； how youthfull I am； apt to all
sprightly recreations； rich； and abounding in all that a woman can
wish to have； in regard of Fortunes common and ordinary favours： yet I
have one especiall cause of complaint： namely； the inequality of my
Mariage； my Husband being over…ancient for me； in which regard； my
youth finds it selfe too highly wronged； being defeated of those
duties and delights； which Women （farre inferiour to me） are
continuallie cloyed withall； and I am utterly deprived of。 I am
subject to the same desires they are； and deserve to taste the benefit
of them； in as ample manner； as they do or can。
Hitherto I have lived with the losse of time； which yet （in some
measure） may be releeved and recompenced： For； though Fortune were
mine enemy in Mariage； by such a disproportion of our conditions：
yet she may befriend in another nature； and kindely redeeme the injury
done me。 Wherefore Lesca； to be as compleate in this case； as I am
in all the rest beside； I have resolved upon a private Friend； and one
more worthy then any other； Namely； my Servant Pyrrhus； whose youth
carieth some correspondency with mine； and so constantly have I setled
my love to him； as I am not well； but when I thinke on him； or see
him： and （indeede） shall dye； except the sooner I may enjoy him。 And
therefore； if my life and well…fare be respected by thee； let him
understand the integrity of mine affection； by such good means as thou
findest it most expedient to be done： entreating him from me； that I
may have some conference with him； when he shall thereto be
solicited by me。
The Chamber…Gentlewoman Lesca； willingly undertooke the Ladies
Embassie； and so soone as opportunity did favor her： having withdrawne
Pyrrhus into an apt and commodious place； shee delivered the Message
to him； in the best manner she could devise。 Which Pyrrhus hearing；
did not a little wonder thereat； never having noted any such matter；
and therefore sodainly conceyved； that the Lady did this onely to
try him； whereupon； somewhat roundly and roughly； hee returned this
answere。 Lesca； I am not so simple； as to credite any such Message
to be sent from my Lady； and therefore be better advised of thy words。
But admit that it should come from her； yet I cannot be perswaded；
that her soule consented to such harsh Language； far differing from
a forme so full of beuty。 And yet admit a