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change affection） or （at the best） made such account of me； as I never
heard the least salutation from you。 Now you know me to be a married
wife； in regard whereof； my thoughts have embraced that chaste and
honourable resolution； not to minde any man but my husband； and
therefore； as you are come hither Without my love or license； so in
like manner I do desire you to be gone。 Let this priviledge of my
Husbandes sound sleeping； be no colour to your longer continuing here；
or encourage you to finde any further favour at mine hand： for if mine
husband should awake； beside the danger that thereon may follow to
you； I cannot but loose the sweet happinesse of peacefull life；
which hitherto we have both mutually embraced。
The yong man； hearing these wordes； and remembring what loving
kindnesse he had formerly found； what secret love Letters he had
sent from Paris； with other private intelligences and tokens； which
never came to her receite and knowledge； so cunningly his Mother and
Tutors had carried the matter： immediately felt his heart…strings to
breake； and lying downe upon the beds side by her； uttered these his
very last words。 Silvestra farewell； thou hast kilde the kindest heart
that ever loved a woman： and speaking no more； gave up the ghost。
She hearing these words delivered with an entire sighe； and
deepe…fetcht groane； did not imagine the strange consequence following
thereon； yet was mooved to much compassion； in regard of her former
affection to him。 Silent she lay an indifferent while； as being unable
to returne him any answer； and looking when he would be gone；
according as before she had earnestly entreated him。 But when she
perceyved him to lye so still； as neither word or motion came from
him； she saide： Kinde Jeronimo； why doest thou not depart and get thee
gone？ So putting forth her hand； it hapned to light upon his face；
which she felt to be as cold as yce： whereat marvailing not a
little； as also at his continued silence； she jogged him； and felt his
hands in like manner； which were stiffely extended forth； and all
his body cold； as not having any life remaining in him； which
greatly amazing her； and confounding her with sorrow beyond all
measure； she was in such perplexity； that she could not devise what to
do or say。
In the end； she resolved to try how her husband would take it；
that so strange an accident should thus happen in his house； and
putting the case as if it did not concerne them； but any other of
the neighbours； awaking him first； demaunded of him what was best to
be done； if a man should steale into a neighbours house； unknowne to
him； or any of his family； and in his bed chamber to be found dead。 He
presently replyed （as not thinking the case concerned himselfe）
that； the onely helpe in such an unexpected extremity； was to take the
dead body； and convey it to his owne house； if he had any； whereby
no scandall or reproach would follow to them； in whose house he had so
unfortunately dyed。 Hereupon she immediately arose； and lighting a
candle； shewed him the dead body of Jeronimo； with protestation of
every particular； both of her innocency； either of knowledge of his
comming thither； or any other blame that could concerne her。 Which
he both constantly knowing and beleeving； made no more ceremony； but
putting on his Garments； tooke the dead body upon his shoulders； and
carried it to the Mothers doore； where he left it； and afterward
returned to his owne house againe。
When day light was come； and the dead body found lying in the Porch；
it moved very much greefe and amazement； considering； he had bin seene
the day before； in perfect health to outward appearance。 Nor neede
we to urge any question of his Mothers sorrow upon this strange
accident； who； causing his body to be carefully searched； without
any blow； bruise； wound； or hurt uppon it； the Physitians could not
give any other opinion； but that some inward conceyte of greefe had
caused his death； as it did indeed； and no way otherwise。 To the
cheefe Church was the dead body carried； to be generally seene of
all the people； his Mother and Friends weeping heavily by it； as
many more did the like beside； because he was beloved of every one。 In
which time of universall mourning； the honest man （in whose house he
dyed） spake thus to his wife： Disguise thy selfe in some decent
manner； and go to the Church； where （as I heare） they have laide the
body of Jeronimo。 Crowde in amongest the Women； as I will do the
like amongst the men； to heare what opinion passeth of his death；
and whether we shall be scandalized thereby； or no。
Silvestra； who was now become full of pitty too late； quickely
condiscended； as desiring to see him dead； whom sometime she dearly
affected in life。 And being come to the Church； it is a matter to be
admired； if advisedly we consider on the powerfull working of love；
for the heart of this woman； which the prosperous fortune of
Jeronimo could not pierce； now in his wofull death split in sunder；
and the ancient sparks of love so long concealed in the embers；
brake foorth into a furious flame； and being violently surprized
with extraordinary compassion； no sooner did she come neere to the
dead body； where many stood weeping round about it； but strangely
shrieking out aloud； she fell downe upon it： and even as extreamity of
greefe finished his life； so did it hers in the same manner。 For she
moved neither hand nor foot； because her vitall powers had quite
forsaken her。 The women labouring to comfort her by all best meanes
they could devise； did not take any knowledge of her； by reason of her
disguised garments： but finding her dead indeed； and knowing her
also to be Silvestra； being overcome with unspeakable compassion；
and danted with no meane admiration； they stood strangely gazing
each upon other。
Wonderfull crowds of people were then in the Church； and this
accident being now noysed among the men； at length it came to her
Husbands understanding； whose greefe was so great； as it exceeded
all capacity of expression。 Afterward he declared what had hapned in
his house the precedent night； according as his wife had truly related
to him； with all the speeches； which passed between Silvestra and
Jeronimo； by which discourse； they generally conceived； the certaine
occasion of both their sodaine deaths； which moved them to great
compassion。 Then taking the yong womans body； and ordering it as a
coarse ought to be： they layed it on the same Biere by the yong man；
and when they had sufficiently sorrowed for their disastrous
fortune； they gave them honourable buriall both in。 one grave。 So；
this poore couple； whom love （in life） could not joyne together； death
did unite in an inseparable conjunction。
THE FOURTH DAY； THE NINTH NOVELL
WHEREBY APPEARETH； WHAT ILL SUCCESSE ATTENDETH ON THEM；
THAT LOVE CONTRARY TO REASON： IN OFFERING INJURIE BOTH TO
FRIENDSHIP AND MARRIAGE TOGETHER
Messer Guiglielmo of Rossiglione having slaine Messer Guiglielmo
Guardastagno； whom hee imagined to love his wife； gave her his heart
to eate。 Which she knowing afterward； threw her selfe out of an high
window to the ground； and being dead； was then buried with her friend。
When the Novell of Madam Neiphila was ended； which occasioned much
compassion in the whole assembly； the King who wold not infringe the
priviledge granted to Dioneus； no more remaining to speake but they
two； began thus。 I call to minde （gentle Ladies） a Novell； which
（seeing we are so farre entred into the lamentable accidents of
successelesse love）； will urge you unto as much commisseration； as
that so lately reported to you。 And so much the rather； because the
person of whom we are to speake； were of respective quality； which
approveth the accident to be more cruell； then those whereof we have
formerly discoursed。
According as the people of Provence do report； there dwelt
sometime in that jurisdiction； two noble Knights； each well
possessed of Castles and followers； the one being named Messer
Guiglielmo de Rossiglione； and the other Messer Guiglielmo
Guardastagno。 Now； in regard that they were both valiant Gentlemen；
and singularly expert in actions of Armes； they loved together the
more mutually； and held it as a kinde of custome to be seene in all
Tiltes and Tournaments； or any other exercises of Armes； going
commonly alike in their wearing garments。 And although their Castles
stood about five miles distant each from other； yet were they dayly
conversant together； as very loving and intimate friends。 The one of
them； I meane Messer Guiglielmo de Rossilione； had to wife a very
gallant beautifull Lady； of whom Messer Guardastagno （forgetting the
lawes of respect and loyall friendship） became overfondly enamoured；
expressing the same by such outward meanes； that the Lady her selfe
tooke knowledge thereof； and not with any dislike； as it seemed； but
rather lovingly entertained； yet she grew not so forgetfull of her
honour and estimation； as the other did of faith to his friend。
With such indiscretion was this idle love carried； that whether it
sorted to effect； or no； I know not： but the husband p