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also too strict； rigorous and severe。 Wherefore； when Madame
Pampinea had finished hir Novell； the Queene gave command to Madame
Fiammetta； that she should follow next with her discourse； whereto
shee shewing obedience； thus beganne。
Because it appeareth in my judgement （faire Ladyes） that the
Schollers cruelty hath much displeased you； making you more
melancholly then this time requireth： I holde it therefore very
convenient； that your contristed spirits should be chearfully revived；
with matter more pleasing and delightfull。 And therefore； I mean to
report a Novell of a certaine man； who too an injury done him； in much
milder manner； and revenged his wrong more moderately； then the
furious incensed Scholler did。 Whereby you may comprehend； that it
is sufficient for any man； and so he ought to esteeme it； to serve
another with the same sawce； which the offending party caused him
first to taste of： without coveting any stricter revenge； then agreeth
with the quality of the injury received。
Know then （Gracious assembly） that； as have heretofore heard；
there lived not long since in Sienna； two young men； of honest
parentage and equall condition； neither of the best； nor yet the
meanest calling in the City： the one being named Spinelloccio
Tavena； and the other tearmed Zeppa di Mino； their houses Neighbouring
together in the streete Camollia。 Seldome the one walked abroade
without the others Company； and their houses allowed equall welcome to
them both； so that by outward demonstrations； and inward mutuall
affection； as far as humane capacity had power to extend； they lived
and loved like two Brethren； they both beeing wealthy； and married
unto two beautifull women。
It came to passe； that Spinelloccio； by often resorting to the house
of Zeppa； as well in his absence； as when he abode at home； beganne to
glance amorous looks on Zeppaes wife； and pursued his unneighbourly
purpose in such sort： that hee being the stronger perswader； and she
（belike） too credulous in beleeving； or else overfeeble in
resisting； from private imparlance； they fell to action； and continued
their close fight a long while together； unseene and without
suspition； no doubt to their equall joy and contentment。
But； whether as a just punishment； for breaking so loving a league of
friendship and neighbour…hood； or rather a fatall infliction； evermore
attending on the closest Cuckoldry； their felicity still continuing in
this kinde： it fortuned on a day； Zeppa abiding within doors； contrary
to the knowledge of his wife； Spinelloccio came to enquire for him；
and she answering （as she verily supposed） that he was gon abroad：
uppe they went both together into the Hall； and no bodie being there
to hinder what they intended； they fell to their wonted recreation
without any feare； kissing and embracing as Lovers use to do。
Zeppa seeing all this； spake not one word； neither made any noise at
all； but kept himselfe closely hidden； to observe the yssue of this
amorous conflict。 To be briefe； he saw Spinelloccio goe with his
wife into the Chamber； and make the doore fast after them； whereat
he could have beene angry； which he held to be no part of true
wisedome。 For he knew well enough； that to make an out crie in this
case； or otherwise to reveale this kinde of injury； it could no way
make it lesse； but rather give a greater addition of shame and
scandall： he thought this no course for him to take； wiser
considerations entred his braine； to have this wrong fully revenged；
yet with such a discreete and orderly carriage； as no neighbours
knowledge should by any meanes apprehend it； or the least sig of
discontent in himselfe blabbe it； because they were two dangerous
evils。
Many notable courses whee。ed about his conceit； every one
promising fairely； and ministring meanes of formall apparance； yet one
（above the rest） wonne his absolute allowance； which he intended to
prosecute as best he might。 In which resolution； he kept still very
close； so long as Spinelloccio was with his Wife； but hee being
gone； he went into the Chamber； where he found his wife； amending
the forme of her head attyre； which Spinelloccio had put into a
disordred fashion。 Wife （quoth be） what art thou doing？ Why？ Do you
not see Husband？ answered she。 Yes that I do wife； replied Zeppa；
and something else happened to my sight； which I could wish that I had
not seene。 Rougher Language growing betweene them； of his avouching；
and her as stout denying； with defending her cause over…weakely；
against the manifest proofes both of eye and eare： at last she fell on
her knees before him； weeping incessantly； and no excuses now
availing； she confest her long acquaintance with Spinelloccio； and
most humbly entreated him to forgive her。 Uppon the which penitent
confession and submission； Zeppa thus answered。
Wife； if inward contrition be answerable to thy outward seeming
sorrow； then I make no doubt； but faithfully thou dost acknowledge
thine owne evill dooing： for which； if thou expectest pardon of me；
determine then to fulfill effectually； such a busines as I must
enjoyne； and thou performe。 I command thee to tell Spinelloccio；
that to morrow morning； about nine of the clocke； we being both abroad
walking； he must finde some apt occasion to leave my company； and then
come hither to visit thee。 When he is here； sodainly will I returne
home； and upon thy hearing of my entraunce： to save his owne
credite； and thee from detection； thou shalt require him to enter this
Chest； untill such time as I am gone forth againe； which he doing； for
both your safeties； so soon as he is in the chest； take the key and
locke him up fast。 When thou hast effected this； then shall I acquaint
thee with the rest remaining； which also must be done by thee； without
dread of the least harme to him or thee； because there is no malicious
meaning in me； but such as （I am perswaded） thou canst not justly
mislike。 The wife； to make some satisfaction for her offence committed
promised that she would performe it； and so she did。
On the morrow morning； the houre of nine being come； when Zeppa
and Spinelloccio were walking abroad together； Spinelloccio remembring
his promise unto his Mistresse； and the clocke telling him the
appointed houre； hee saide to Zeppa。 I am to dine this day with an
especiall friend of mine； who I would be loath should tarry for my
comming； and therefore holde my departure excused。 How now？ answered
Zeppa； the time for dinner is yet farre enough off； wherefore then
should we part so soone？ Yea but Zeppa； replied Spinelloccio； wee have
weighty matters to confer on before dinner； which will require three
houres space at the least； and therefore it behoveth me to respect due
time。
Spinelloccio being departed from Zeppa （who followed faire and
softly after him）
being come to the house； and kindly welcommed by the wife： they were
no sooner gone up the staires； and entering in at the Chamber doore；
but the Woman heard her Husband cough； and also his comming up the
staires。 Alas deare Spinelloccio （quoth she） what shall we do？ My
Husband is comming uppe； and we shall be both taken tardie； step
into this Chest； lye downe there and stirre not； till I have sent
him forth againe； which shall be within a very short while。
Spinelloccio was not a little joyfull for her good advice； downe in
the Chest lay he； and she lockt him in： by which time Zeppa was entred
the Chamber。 Where are you Wife？ said he； （speaking so loud； as hee in
the Chest might heare him） What； is it time to go to dinner？ It will
be anon Sir； answered she； as yet it is overearly but seeing you are
come； the more hast shall be made； and every thing will be ready
quickly。
Zeppa； sitting downe upon the Chest； wherein Spinelloccio lay not
a little affrighted； speaking stil aloud； as formerly he did： Come
hither Wife （quoth he） how shall we do for some good companie to
dine with us？ Mine honest kinde neighbour Spinelloccio is not at home；
because he dineth forth to day with a deare friend of his； by which
meanes； his wife is left at home alone： give her a call out at our
Window； and desire her to come dine with us： for we two can make no
merry Musicke； except some more come to make up the consort。
His Wife being very timorous； yet diligent to doe whatsoever he
commanded； so prevailed with the Wife of Spinelloccio： that she came
to them quickely； and so much the rather； because her Husband dined
abroad。 Shee being come up into the Chamber； Zeppa gave her most kinde
entertainment； taking her gently by the hand； and winking on his Wife；
that she should betake her selfe to the kitchin； to see dinner
speedily prepared； while he sat conversing with his neighbour in the
Chamber。
His wife being gone； he shut the doore after her； which the new…come
Neighbour perceyving； she sayde。 Our blessed Lady defend me。 Zeppa；
What is your meaning in this？ Have you caused me to come hither to
this intent？ Is this the love you beare to Spinelloccio； and your
professed loyalty in friendshippe？ Zeppa； seating her downe on the
Chest； wherein her Husband was inclosed； entreating her patience； thus
began。 Kinde and loving Neighbor； before you adventure