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THE SECOND DAY； THE NINTH NOVELL
WHEREIN IS DECLARED； THAT BY OVERLIBERALL COMMENDING THE
CHASTITY OF WOMEN； IT FALLETH OUT （OFTENTIMES） TO BE VERY
DANGEROUS； ESPECIALLY BY THE MEANES OF TREACHERERS WHO YET
（IN THE ENDE） ARE JUSTLY PUNNISHED FOR THEIR TREACHERY
Bernardo； a Merchant of Geneway； being deceived by another Merchant；
named Ambroginolo； lost a great part of his goods。 And commanding
his innocent Wife to be murthered； she escaped； and （in the habite
of a man） became servant to the Soldane。 The deceiver being found at
last； shee compassed such meanes； that her Husband Bernardo came
into Alexandria； and there； after due punnishment inflicted on the
false deceiver； she resumed the garments againe of a woman； and
returned home with her Husband to Geneway。
Madam Eliza having ended her compassionate discourse； which indeede
had moved all the rest to sighing； the Queene； who was faire； comely
of stature； and tarrying a very majesticall countenance； smiling
more familarly then the other； spake to them thus。 It is very
necessary； that the promise made to Dioneus； should carefully be kept；
and because now there remaineth none； to report any more Novels； but
onely he and my selfe： I must first deliver mine； and he （who takes it
for an honour） to be the last in relating his owne； last let him be
for his owne deliverance。 Then pausing a little while； thus she
began againe。 Many times among vulgar people； it hath passed as a
common Proverbe： That the deceiver is often trampled on； by such as he
hath deceived。 And this cannot shew it selfe （by any reason） to be
true； except such accidents as awaite on treachery； doe really make
a just discovery thereof。 And therefore according to the course of
this day observed； I am the woman that must make good what I have
saide for the approbation of that Proverbe： no way （I hope）
distastfull to you in the hearing； but advantageable to preserve you
from any such beguiling。
There was a faire and goodly Inne in Paris； much frequented by
many great Italian Merchants； according to such variety of occasions
and businesse； as urged their often resorting thither。 One night among
many other； having had a merry Supper together； they began to
discourse on divers matters； and falling from one relation to another；
they communed in very friendly manner； concerning their wives； lefte
at home in their houses。 Quoth the first； I cannot well imagine what
my wife is now doing； but I am able to say for my selfe； that if a
pretty female should fall into my company： I could easily forget my
love to my wife； and make use of such an advantage offered。
A second replyed； And trust me； I should do no lesse； because I am
perswaded； that if my wife be willing to wander； the law is in her
owne hand； and I am farre enough from home： dumbe walles blab no
tales； and offences unknowne are sildome or never called in
question。 A third man unapt in censure； with his former fellowes of
the Jury； and it plainely appeared； that all the rest were of the same
opinion； condemning their wives over…rashly； and alledging； that
when husbands strayed so far from home； their wives had wit enough
to make use of their time。
Onely one man among them all； named Bernardo Lomellino； and dwelling
in Geneway； maintained the contrary； boldly avouching； that by the
especiall favour of Fortune； he had a wife so perfectly compleate in
all graces and vertues； as any Lady in the world possibly could be；
and that Italy scarsely contained her equall。 But； she was goodly of
person； and yet very young； quicke； quaint； milde； and courteous；
and not any thing appertaining to the office of a wife； either for
domesticke affayres； or any other imployment whatsoever； but in
womanhoode shee went beyond all other。 No Lord； Knight； Esquire； or
Gentleman； could bee better served at his Table； then himselfe dayly
was； with more wisedome； modesty and discretion。 After all this； hee
praised her for riding； hawking； hunting； fishing； fowling； reading；
writing； enditing； and most absolute keeping his Bookes of accounts；
that neither himselfe； or any other Merchant could therein excell her。
After infinite other commendations； he came to the former point of
their argument； concerning the easie falling of women into
wantonnesse； maintaining （with a solemne oath） that no woman
possibly could be more chaste and honest then she： in which respect；
he was verily perswaded； that if he stayed from her ten years space
（yea all his life time） out of his house； yet never would shee
falsifie her faith to him； or be lewdly allured by any other man。
Amongst these Merchants thus communing together； there was a young
proper man； named Ambroginolo of Placentia； who began to laugh at
the last prayses which Bernardo had used of his Wife； and seeming to
make a mockerie thereof； demaunded； if the Emperour had given him this
priviledge； above all other married men？ Bernardo being somewhat
offended； answered： No Emperour hath done it； but the especiall
blessing of heaven； exceeding all the Emperours on the earth in grace；
and thereby have received this favour； whereto Ambroginolo presently
thus replyed。 Bernardo； without all question to the contrary； I
beleeve that what thou hast said； is true； but （for ought I can
perceive） thou hast slender judgement in the Nature of things：
because； if thou diddst observe them well； thou couldst not be of so
grosse understanding。 For； by comprehending matters in their true
kinde and nature； thou wouldst speake of them more correctly then thou
doest。 And to the end； thou mayest not imagine； that we who have
spoken of our Wives； doe thinke any otherwise of them； then as well
and honestly as thou canst of thine； nor that any thing else did
urge these speeches of them； or falling into this kinde of
discourse； but onely by a naturall instinct and admonition； I wil
proceede familiarly； a little further with thee； uppon the matter
alreadie propounded。 I have evermore understoode； that man was the
most noble creature； formed by God to live in this World； and woman in
the next degree to him： but man； as generally is beleeved； and as is
discerned by apparant effects is the most perfect of both。 Having then
the most perfection in him； without all doubt； he must be so much
the more firme and constant。 So in like manner； it hath beene； and
is universally graunted； that Woman is more various and mutable； may
be approved by and the reason thereof may be approved by many naturall
circumstances； which were needlesse now to make any mention of。 If a
man then be possessed of the greater stability； and yet cannot
containe himselfe from condiscending； I say not to one that
entreates him； but to desire any other that please him； and beside； to
covet the enjoying of his owne pleasing contentment （a thing not
chancing to him once in a moneth； but infinite times in a dayes
space）。 What can you then conceive of a fraile Woman； subject （by
nature） to entreaties； flatteries； giftes； perswasions； and a thousand
other inticing meanes； which a man （that is affected to her） can
use？ Doest thou thinke then that she hath any power to containe？
Assuredly； though thou shouldest rest so resolved； yet cannot I be
of the same opinion。 For I am sure thou beleevest； and must needes
confesse it； that thy wife is a Woman； made of flesh and blood； as
other women are： if it be so； she cannot bee without the same desires；
and the weaknesse or strength as other women have； to resist
naturall appetites as her owne are。 In regard whereof； it is meerely
impossible （although she be most honest） but she must needs doe that
which other Women doe： for there is nothing else possible； either to
be denied or affirmed to the contrary； as thou most unadvisedly hast
done。
Bernardo answered in this manner。 I am a Merchant； and no
Philosopher； and like a Merchant I meane to answer thee。 I am not to
learne； that these accidents by thee related； may happen to fooles；
who are voide of understanding or shame： but such as are wise； and
endued with vertue； have alwayes such a precious esteeme of their
honour； that they wil containe those principles of constancie； which
men are meerely carelesse of； and I justifie my wife to be one of
them。 Beleeve me Bernardo； replyed Ambroginolo； if so often as thy
wives minde is addicted to wanton folly； a badge of scorne should
arise on thy forehead； to render testimony of hir female frailty； I
beleeve the number of them would be more； then willingly you would
wish them to be。 And among all married men in every degree； the
notes are so secret of their wives imperfections； that the sharpest
sight is not able to discerne them： and the wiser sort of men are
willing not to know them； because shame and losse of honour is never
imposed； but in cases evident and apparant。
Perswade thy selfe then Bernardo； that what women may accomplish
in secret； they will rarely faile to doe： or if they abstaine； it is
through feare and folly。 Wherefore； hold it for a certaine rule；
that that is onely chaste； that never was solicited personally； or
if she endured any such suite； either shee answered yea； or no。 And
alb