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ordained； so are thy dayes finished： for as all flesh hath an
ending； so hast thou concluded； albeit too soone； and before thy due
time。 The travalles and miseries of this World； have now no more to
meddle with thee； and thy very heaviest enemy hath bestowed such a
grave on thee； as thy greatnesse in vertue worthily deserveth； now
nothing else is wanting； wherewith to beautifie thy Funerall； but only
her sighes and teares； that was so deare unto thee in thy life time。
And because thou mightest the more freely enjoy them； see how my
mercilesse Father （on his owne meere motion） hath sent thee to me； and
truly I will bestow them frankly on thee； though once I had
resolved； to die with drie eyes； and not shedding one teare；
dreadlesse of their utmost malice towards me。
And when I have given thee the due oblation of my teares； my
soule； which sometime thou hast kept most carfully； shall come to make
a sweet conjunction with thine： for in what company else can I
travaile more contentedly； and to those unfrequented silent shades；
but onely in thine？ As yet am sure it is present here； in this Cup
sent me by my Father； as having a provident respect to the place；
for possess' of our equall and mutuall pleasures； because thy soule
affecting mine so truly； cannot walke alone； without his deare
companion。
Having thus finished her complaint； even as if her bead had been
converted into a well spring of water； so did teares abundantly flow
from her faire eyes； kissing the heart of Guiscardo infinite times。
All which while； her women standing by her； neither knew what heart it
was； nor to what effect her speeches tended： but being moved to
compassionate teares； they often demanded （albeit in vaine） the
occasion of her sad complaining； comforting her to their utmost power。
When she was not able to weepe any longer； wiping her eyes； and
lifting up her head； without any signe of the least dismay； thus she
spake to the heart。
Deare heart； all my duty is performed to thee； and nothing now
remaineth uneffected； but onely breathing my last； to let my ghost
accompany thine。
Then calling for the glasse of water； which she had readily prepared
the day before； and powring it upon the heart lying in the Cup；
couragiously advancing it to her mouth； she dranke it up every drop；
which being done； she lay downe upon her bed； holding her Lovers heart
fast in her hand； and laying it so neere to her owne as she could。 Now
although her women knew not what water it was； yet when they had seene
her to quaffe it off in that manner； they sent word to the King； who
much suspecting what had happened； went in all haste to his
Daughters Chamber； entring at the very instant； when she was laide
upon her bed； beholding her in such passionate pangs； with teares
streaming downe his reverend beard； he used many kinde words to
comfort her： when boldly thus she spake unto him。 Father （quoth she）
well may you spare these teares； because they are unfitting for you；
and not any way desired by me； who but your selfe； hath seene any
man to mourne for his owne wilfull offence。 Neverthelesse； if but
the least jot of that love do yet abide in you； whereof you have
made such liberall profession to me； let me obtaine this my very
last request； to wit； that seeing I might not privately enjoy the
benefit of Guiscardoes love； and while he lived； let yet （in death）
one publike grave containe both our bodies； that death may affoord us；
what you so cruelly in life denied us。
Extremity of griefe and sorrow； withheld his tongue from returning
any answer； and she perceiving her end approaching； held the heart
still closer to her owne bare brest； saying； Here Fortune； receive two
true hearts latest oblation； for； in this manner are we comming to
thee。 So closing her eyes； all sense forsooke her； life leaving her
body breathlesse。 Thus ended the haplesse love of Guiscardo； and
Ghismonda； for whose sad disaster； when the King had mourned
sufficiently； and repented fruitlesly； he caused both their bodies
to be honourably embalmed； and buried in a most royall Monument； not
without generall sorrow of the subjects of Salerne。
THE FOURTH DAY； THE SECOND NOVELL
REPREHENDING THE LEWD LIVES OF DISSEMBLING HYPOCRITES； AND
CHECKING THE ARROGANT PRIDE OF VAINE…HEADED WOMEN
Fryar Albert made a young Venetian Gentlewoman beleeve； that God
Cupid was falne in love with her； and he resorted oftentimes unto her；
in the disguise of the same God。 Afterward； being frighted by the
Gentlewomans kindred and friends； he cast himselfe out of her
Chamber window； and was bidden in a poore mans House； on the day
following； in the shape of a wilde or savage man； he was brought
upon the Rialto of Saint Marke； and being there publikely knowne by
the Brethren of his Order； he was committed to Prison。
The Novell recounted by Madam Fiammetta； caused teares many times in
the eyes of all the company； but it being finished； the King shewing a
stearne countenance； saide； I should have much commended the kindnesse
of fortune； if in the whole course of my life； I had tasted the
least moity of that delight； which Guiscardo received by conversing
with faire Ghismonda。 Nor neede any of you to wonder thereat； or how
it can be otherwise； because hourely I feele a thousand dying
torments； without enjoying any hope of ease or pleasure： but referring
my fortunes to their owne poore condition； it is my will； that Madam
Pampinea proceed next in the argument of successelesse love； according
as Madam Fiammetta hath already begun； to let fall more dew…drops on
the fire of mine afflictions。 Madam Pampinea perceiving what a taske
was imposed on her； knew well （by her owne disposition） the
inclination of the company； whereof shee was more respective then of
the Kings command： wherefore； chusing rather to recreate their
spirits； then to satisfie the Kings melancholy humour； she
determined to relate a Tale of mirthfull matter； and yet to keepe
within compasse of the purposed Argument It hath bene continually used
as a common Proverbe； that a bad man taken and reputed to be honest
and good； may commit many evils； yet neither credited； or suspected：
which proverbe giveth me very ample matter to speake of； and yet not
varying from our intention； concerning the hypocrisie of some
religious persons； who having their garments long and large； their
faces made artificially pale； their language meeke and humble to get
mens goods from them； yet sowre； harsh and stearne enough； in checking
and controuling other mens errours； as also in urging others to
give； and themselves to take； without any other hope or meanes of
salvation。 Nor doe they endeavour like other men； to worke out their
soules health with feare and trembling； but； even as if they were sole
owners； Lords； and possessors of Paradice； will appoint to every dying
person； place （there） of greater or lesser excellency； according as
they thinke good； or as the legacies left by them are in quantity；
whereby they not onely deceive themselves； but all such as give credit
to their subtile perswasions。 And were it lawfull for me； to make
knowne no more then is meerely necessary； I could quickly disclose
to simple credulous people； what craft lieth concealed under their
holy habites： and I would wish； that their lies and deluding should
speed with them； as they did with a Franciscane Friar； none of the
younger Novices； but one of them of greatest reputation； and belonging
to one of the best Monasteries in Venice。 Which I am the rather
desirous to report； to recreate your spirits； after your teares for
the death of faire Ghismonda。
Sometime （Honourable Ladies） there lived in the City of Imola； a man
of most lewd and wicked life； named； Bertho de la messa； whose
shamelesse deedes were so well knowne to all the Citizens； and won
such respect among them； as all his lies could not compasse any
beleefe； no； not when he delivered a matter of sound truth。 Wherefore；
perceiving that his lewdnesse allowed him no longer dwelling there；
like a desperate adventurer； he transported himselfe thence to Venice；
the receptacle of all foule sinne and abhomination； intending there to
exercise his wonted bad behaviour； and live as wickedly as ever he had
done before。 It came to passe； that some remorse of conscience tooke
hold of him； for the former passages of his dissolute life； and he
pretended to be surprized with very great devotion； becomming much
more Catholike then any other man； taking on him the profession of a
Franciscane coldelier； and calling himselfe； Fryar Albert of Imola。
In this habite and outward appearance； hee seemed to leade an
austere and sanctimonious life； highly commending penance and
abstinence； never eating flesh； or drinking wine； but when he was
provided of both in a close corner。 And before any person could take
notice thereof； hee became （of a theefe） Ruffian； forswearer； and
murtherer； as formerly he had…beene a great Preacher； yet not
abandoning the forenamed vices； when secretly he could put any of them
in execution。 Moreover； being made Priest； when he was celebrating
Masse at the Altar； if he saw himselfe to b