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while； and Pyrrhus； being formerly enstructed； in the directions which
she had given him； thus shee spake； some…what faintly。 Pyrrhus； I have
a kinde of longing desire upon a sodaine； to taste of these Peares：
Wherefore； climbe up into the Tree； and cast me downe one or two；
which instantly hee did。 Being aloft in the Tree； and throwing downe
some of the best and ripest Peares； at length （according to his
premeditated Lesson） looking downe； he said。
Forbeare my Lord； Do you not see； in how weake and feeble
condition my Ladie is； being shaken with so violent a sicknesse？ And
you Madam； how kinde and loving soever you are to my Lord； Are you
so little carefull of your health； being but now come forth of your
sicke Chamber； to be ruffled and tumbled in such rough manner？
Though such dalliances are not amisse in you both； being fitter for
the private Chamber； then an open garden； and in the presence of a
servant： yet time and place should alwaies bee respectively
considered； for the avoiding of ill example； and better testimonie
of your owne Wisedomes； which ever should be like your selves。 But
if so soone； and even in the heate of a yet turbulent sicknesse；
your equall love can admit these kisses and embraces： your private
Lodginges were much more convenient； where no Servants eye can see
such Wantonnesse； nor you be reproved of indiscretion； for being too
publique in your Familiaritie。 Madame Lydia； sodainely starting； and
turning unto her Husband； sayde。 What doth Pyrrhus prate？ Is he well
in his wittes？ Or is he franticke？ No Madame； replyed Pyrrhus； I am
not franticke。 Are you so fond as to thinke that I do not see your
folly？ Nicostratus wondering at his Words； presently answered。 Now
trust me Pyrrhus； I think thou dreamest。 No my Lord； replyed
Pyrrhus； I dreame not a jot； neither do you； or my Ladie： but if
this Tree could affoord the like kindnesse to me； as you do to her；
there would not a Peare bee left uppon it。 How now Pyrrhus？ （quoth
Lydia） this language goeth beyond our understanding； it seemeth thou
knowest not what thou saist。 Beleeve me husband； if I were as well
as ever I have bin； I would climb this tree； to see those idle wonders
which hee talketh of： for； while he continueth thus above； it
appeareth； hee can finde no other prattle； albeit he taketh his
marke amisse。
Heereupon； he commanded Pyrrhus to come downe； and being on the
ground： Now Pyrrhus （quoth he） tell me what thou saydst。 Pyrrhus；
pretending an alteration into much amazement； straungely looking about
him； saide； I know not verie well （my Lord） what answere I should make
you； fearing least my sight hath bin abused by error： for when I was
aloft in that Tree； it seemed manifestly to me： that you embraced my
Lady （though somewhat rudely； in regard of her perillous sicknesse；
yet lovingly） and as youthfully as in your yonger dales； with infinite
kisses； and wanton dalliances； such as （indeede） deserved a far more
private place in my poore opinion。 But in my descending downe； mee
thought you gave over that amorous familiaritie； and I found you
seated as I left you。 Now trust mee Pyrrhus； answered Nicostratus； Thy
tongue and wit have very strangely wandred； both from reason and all
reall apprehension： because we never stirred from hence； since thou
didst climbe up into the Tree； neither mooved otherwise； then as now
thou seest us。 Alas my Lord （saide Pyrrhus） I humbly crave pardon
for my presumption； in reprooving you for medling with your owne：
which shal make me hereafter better advised； in any thing what
soever I heare or see。
Mervaile and amazement； encreased in Nicostratus far greater then
before； hearing him to avouch still so constantly what he had seene；
no contradiction being able to alter him； which made him rashly sweare
and say。 I will see my selfe； whether this Peare…tree bee enchanted；
or no： and such wonders to be seene when a man is up in it； as thou
wouldst have us to beleeve。 And being mounted up so hy； that they were
safe from his sodaine comming on them； Lydia had soone forgotten her
sicknes； and the promised kisse cost her above twenty more； beside
verie kinde and hearty embraces； as lovingly respected and entertained
by Pyrrhus。 Which Nicostratus beholding aloft in the tree； cryed out
to her； saying。 Wicked woman； What doest thou meane？ And thou
villain Pyrrhus； Darst thou abuse thy Lord； who hath reposed so much
trust in thee？ So； descending in haste downe againe； yet crying so
to them still： Lydia replyed； Alas my Lord； Why do you raile and
rave in such sort？ So； he（ found her seated as before； and Pyrrhus
waiting with dutiful reverence； even as when he climbed up the Tree：
but yet he thought his sight not deceyved； for all their demure and
formall behaviour； which made him walke up and downe； extreamely
fuming and fretting unto himselfe； and which in some milder manner
to qualifie； Pyrrhus spake thus to him。
I deny not （my good Lord） but freely confesse； that even as your
selfe； so I； being above in the Tree； had my sight most falsely
deluded： which is so apparantly confirmed by you； and in the same
sort； as there needeth no doubt of both our beguiling； in one and
the same suspitious nature。 In which case to be the more assuredly
resolved； nothing can be questioned； but whether your beleefe do so
farre misleade you； as to thinke； that my Ladie （who hath alwayes bene
most wise； loyall； and vertuous；） would so shamefullie wrong you： yea；
and to performe it before your face； wherein I dare gadge my life to
the contrary。 Concerning my selfe； it is not fit for mee； to argue
or contest in mine owne commendation： you that have ever knowne the
sincerity of my service； are best able to speake in my behalfe： and
rather wold I be drawne in peeces with foure wilde horses； then bee
such an injurious slave to my Lord and Master。
Now then； it can be no otherwise； but we must needs rest
certainely perswaded； that the guile and offence of this false
appearance； was occasioned by thee onely。 For all the world could
not make me otherwise beleeve； but that I saw you kisse and most
kindely imbrace my Lady： if your owne eyes had not credited the like
behaviour in me to her； of which sinne； I never conceived so much as a
thought。 The Lady （on the other side） seeming to be very angerly
incensed； starting faintly up on her feet； yet supporting her selfe by
the tree； said。 It appeareth Sir； that you have entertained a goodly
opinion of me； as； if I were so lewde and lasciviously disposed； or
addicted to the very least desire of wantonnesse： that I would bee
so forgetfull of mine owne honour； as to adventure it in your sight；
and with a servant of my house？ Oh Sir； such women as are so
familiarly affected； need learne no wit of men in amourous matters；
their private Chambers shall be better trusted； then an open blabing
and tell…tale Garden。
Nicostratus； who verily beleeved what they had both said； and that
neither of them would adventure such familiarity before his face：
would talke no more of the matter； but rather studyed of the rarity of
such a miracle； not seene； but in the height of the tree； and changing
againe up on the descent。 But Lydia； containing still her
collourable kinde of impatience； and angerly frowning upon
Nicostratus； stearnely saide。 If I may have my will； this villanous
and deceiving tree； shall never more shame me； or any other woman： and
therefore Pyrrhus； runne for an Axe； and by felling it to the
ground； in an instant； revenge both thy wrong and mine。 Doest not thou
serve a worthy Lord？ And have not I a wise Husband； who； without any
consideration； will suffer the eye of his understanding to be so
dazeled； with a foolish imagination beyond all possibility？ For；
although his eyes did apprehend such a folly； and it seemed to be a
truth indeed： yet； in the depth of setled judgement； all the world
should not perswade him； that it was so。
Pyrrhus had quickely brought the Axe； and hewing downe the tree；
so soone as the Lady saw it fall； turning her selfe to Nicostratus；
she said。 Now that I have seene mine honour and honesties enemy laid
along； mine anger is past； and Husband； I freely pardon you：
intreating you heartily henceforward； not to presume or imagine；
that my love eyther is； or can bee altred from you。
Thus the mocked and derided Nicostratus； returned in againe with his
Lady and Pyrrhus； where perhaps （although the Peare…tree was cut
downe） they could find as cunning meanes to over…reach him。
THE SEVENTH DAY； THE TENTH NOVELL
WHEREIN SUCH MEN ARE COVERTLY REPREHENDED； WHO MAKE NO CARE OR
CONSCIENCE AT ALL OF THOSE THINGS THAT SHOULD PRESERVE
THEM FROM SINNE
Two Citizens of Siena； the one named Tingoccio Mini； and the other
Meucio di Tura； affected both one woman； called Monna Mita； to whom
the one of them was a Gossip。 The Gossip dyed； and appeared
afterward to his companion； according as he had formerly promised
him to doe； and tolde him what strange wonders he had seene in the
other world。
Now there remained none but the King himselfe； last of all to
recount his Novell； who； after hee heard the Ladies c