按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
King （upon hir excellent report） being very desirous to see it；
sodainely commaunded Supper to be served in； which was no sooner
ended； but they and their three servants （leaving the Ladies） walked
on to the Valley； which when they had considered； no one of them
having ever bin there before； they thought it to be the Paradise of
the World。
They bathed themselves there likewise； as the Ladies formerlie had
done； and being re…vested； returned backe to their Lodgings； because
darke night drew on apace： but they found the Ladies dauncing； to a
Song which Madame Fiammetta sung。 When the dance was ended； they
entertained the time with no other discourse； but onely concerning the
Valley of Ladies； whereof they all spake liberally in commendations。
Whereupon； the King called the Master of the Houshold； giving him
command； that （on the morrow） dinner should be readie betimes； and
bedding to be thence carried； if any desired rest at mid…time of the
day。
All this being done； variety of pleasing Wines were brought；
Banquetting stuffe； and other dainties； after which they fell to
Dauncing。 And Pamphilus； having receyved command to begin an
especial dance； the King turned himselfe unto Madame Eliza； speaking
thus。 Faire Lady； you have done me so much honour this day； as to
deliver mee the Crowne： in regard whereof； be you this night the
Mistresse of the song： and let it be such as best may please your
selfe。 Whereunto Madam Eliza； with a modest blush arising in her face；
replyed； That his will should be fulfilled； and then （with a
deficate voyce） she beganne in this manner。
THE SONG
The Chorus sung by all
Love； if I can scape free from forth thy holde；
Beleeve it for a truth；
Never more shall thy falshoode me enfolde。
When I was yong； I entred first thy fights；
Supposing there to finde a solemne peace：
I threw off all my Armes； and with delights
Fed my poore hopes； as still they did encrease。
But like a Tyrant； full of rancorous hate；
Thou tookst advantage：
And I sought refuge； but it was too late。
Love； if I can scape free； etc。
But being thus surprized in thy snares；
To my misfortune； thou madst me her slave；
Was onely borne to feede me with despaires；
And keepe me dying in a living grave。
For I saw nothing dayly fore mine eyes；
But rackes and tortures：
From which I could not get in any wise。
Love； if I can scape free； etc。
My sighes and teares I vented to the winde；
For none would heare or pittie my complaints；
My torments still encreased in this kinde；
And more and more I felt these sharpe restraints。
Release me now at last from forth his hell。
Asswage thy rigour；
Delight not thus in cruelty to dwell。
Love； if I can scape free； etc。
If this thou wilt not grant； be yet so kinde；
Release me from those worse then servile bands；
Which new vaine hopes have bred； wherein I finde；
Such violent feares； as comfort quite withstands。
Be now （at length） a little moov'd to pittie；
Be it nere so little：
Or in my death listen my Swan…like Dittie。
Love； if I can scape free from forth thy holde；
Beleeve it for a truth；
Never more shall thy falshood me enfolde。
After that Madame Eliza had made an end of her Song； which shee
sealed up with an heart…breaking sigh： they all sate amazedly
wondering at her moanes； not one among them being able to
conjecture； what should be the reason of her singing in this manner。
But the King being in a good and pleasing temper； calling Tindaro；
commaunded him to bring his Bagge…pipe； by the sound whereof they
danced divers daunces： And a great part of the night being spent in
this manner； they all gave over； and departed to their Chambers。
THE INDUCTION TO THE SEVENTH DAY
WHEN THE ASSEMBLY BEING MET TOGETHER； AND UNDER THE REGIMENT OF
DIONEUS： THE DISCOURSES ARE DIRECTED； FOR THE DISCOVERIE OF SUCH
POLICIES AND DECEITES； AS WOMEN HAVE USED FOR BEGUILING OF THEIR
HUSBANDES； EITHER IN RESPECT OF THEIR LOVE； OR FOR THE PREVENTION
OF SOME BLAME OR SCANDALL； ESCAPING WITHOUT SIGHT； KNOWLEDGE；
OR OTHERWISE
All the Starres were departed out of East； but onely that； which
commonly cal bright Lucifer； the Day…Star； gracing the morning very
gloriously： when the Master of the household； being risen； went with
all the provision； to the Valley of Ladies； to make everie thing in
due and decent readines； according as his Lord over…night had
commanded him。 After which departure of his； it was not long before
the King arose； beeing awaked with the noise which the carriages made；
and when he was up； the other two Gentlemen and the Ladies were
quickly readie soone after。
Such as were so disposed； were licensed by the King to take their
rest： and they that would not； he permitted them to their wonted
pastimes； each according to their minds。 But when they were risen from
sleepe； and the rest from their other exercises； it seemed to be
more then high time； that they should prepare for talke and
conference。 So； sitting downe on Turky Carpets； which were spred
abroad on the green grasse； and close by the place where they had
dined： the King gave command； that Madam Aemillia should first
begin； whereto she willingly yeelding obedience； and expecting such
silent attention； as formerly had bin； thus she began。
THE SEVENTH DAY； THE FIRST NOVELL
REPREHENDING THE SIMPLICITY OF SOME SOTTISH HUSBANDS： AND
DISCOVERING THE WANTON SUBTILTIES OF SOME WOMEN； TO COMPASSE
THEIR UNLAWFULL DESIRES
John of Lorraine heard one knocke at his doore in the night time；
whereuppon he awaked his Wife Monna Tessa。 She made him beleeve；
that it was a Spirit which knocked at the doore； and so they arose；
going both together to conjure the Spirit with a prayer； and
afterwardes； they heard no more knocking。
My Gracious Lord （quoth Madame Aemillia） it had bene a matter highly
pleasing to mee； that any other （rather then my selfe） should have
begun to speake of this argument； which it hath pleased you to apoint。
But seeing it is your Highnesse pleasure； that I must make a passage
of assurance for all the rest； I will not be irregular； because
obedience is our cheefe Article。 I shall therefore （Gracious Ladies）
strive； to speake something； which may bee advantageable to you
heereafter； in regard； that if other women bee as fearfull as we；
especially of Spirits； of which all our sexe have generally bin
timorous （although； upon my credite； I know not what they are； nor
ever could meete with any； to tell me what they be） you may； by the
diligent observation of my Novell： learne a wholsome and holy
prayer； very availeable； and of precious power； to conjure and drive
them away； whensoever they shall presume to assault you in any place。
There dwelt sometime in Florence； and in the street of Saint
Brancazio； a woollen Weaver； named John of Lorrayne； a man more
happy in his Art； then wise in any thing else beside： because；
savouring somewhat of the Gregorie； and （in very deede）
little lesse then an Ideot； Hee was many times made Captain of the
Woollen Weavers； in the quarters belonging to Santa Maria Novella； and
his house was the Schoole or receptacle； for all their meetings and
assemblies。 He had divers other petty Offices beside； by the gnity and
authority whereof； hee supposed himselfe much exalted or elevated；
above the common pitch of other men。 And this humour became the more
tractable to him； because he addicted himselfe oftentimes （as being
a man of an easie inclination） to be a benefactor to the holy
Fathers of Santa Maria Novella； giving （beside his other charitable
Almes） to some one a paire of Breeches； to another a Hood； and to
another a whole habit。 In reward whereof； they taught him （by heart）
many wholsome prayers； as the Pater noster in the vulgar tongue； the
Song of Saint Alexis； the Lamentations of Saint Bernard； the Hymne
of Madame Matilda； and many other such like matters； which he kept
charily； and repeated usually； as tending to the salvation of his
soule。
This man； had a very faire and lovely wife； named Monna Tessa； the
daughter of Manuccio della Cuculia； wise and well advised； who knowing
the simplicity of her Husband； and affecting Frederigo di Neri
Pegolotti； who was a comely yong Gentleman； fresh； and in the floure
of his time； even as she was； therefore they agreed the better
together。 By meanes of her Chambermaid； Frederigo and shee met often
together； at a Countrie Farme of John of Lorraynes； which hee had
neere to Florence； and where she used to lodge all the Summer time；
called Camerata； whether John resorted somtimes to Supper； and lodge
for a night； returning home againe to his City house the next morning；
yet often he would stay there longer with his owne companions。
Frederigo； who was no meane man in his Mistresses favor； and
therefore these private meetings the more welcome to him； received a
summons or assignation from her； to be there on such a night； when hir
husband had no intent of comming thither。 There they