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travelled on the way； to expresse how much he did respect her。 And she
accounting her fortune none of the meanest； to bee beloved by so
youthfull a Gallant； declared such vertuous and modest demeanour； as
might deserve his best opinion of her： so that their love grew to an
equall simpathy； and mutuall contentment of them both； in
expectation of further effects； he being named Panuccio； and she
Nicholletta。
The heate of affection thus encreasing day by day； Panuccio grew
exceedingly desirous to enjoy the fruits of hi； long continued liking；
and divers devises mustred in his braine； how he might compasse one
nights lodging in her fathers house； whereof hee knew every part and
parcell； as not doubting to effect what hee desired； yet
undiscovered by any； but the maide her selfe。
According as his intention aymed； so he longed to put it in
execution； and having imparted his mind to an honest loyall friend；
named Adriano； who was acquainted with the course of his love：
hyring two horses； and having Portmantues behind them； filled with
matters of no moment； they departed from Florence； as if they had some
great journey to ride。 Having spent the day time where themselves best
pleased； darke night being entred； they arrived on the plaine of
Mugnone； where； as if they were come from the parts of Romanio； they
rode directly to this poore Inne； and knocking at the doore； the
honest Hoste （being familiar and friendly to all commers） opened the
doore； when Panuccio spake in this manner to him。 Good man； we must
request one nights lodging with you； for we thought to have reached so
farre as Florence； but dark night preventing us； you see at what a
late houre wee are come hither。 Signior Panuccio； answered the
hoste； it is not unknowne to you； how unfiting my poore house is；
for entertaining such guests as you are： Neverthelesse； seeing you are
overtaken by so unseasonable an houre； and no other place is neere for
your receite； I will gladly lodge you so well as I can。
When they were dismounted from their horses； and entred into the
simple Inne： having taken order for feeding their horses； they
accepted such provision； as the place and time afforded； requesting
the Hoste to suppe with them。 Now I am to tell you； that there was but
one small Chamsber in the house； wherin stood three beds； as best
the Hoste had devised to place them； two of them standing by the
walles side； and the third fronting them both； but with such close and
narrow passage； as very hardly could one step betweene them。 The
best of these three beds was appointed for the Gentlemen； and
therein they layd them down to rest； but sleepe they could not； albeit
they dissembled it very formally。 In the second Bed was Nicholetta the
daughter； lodged by her selfe； and the father and mother in the third；
and because she was to give the child sucke in the night time； the
radle （wherein it lay） stood close by their beds side； because the
childes crying or any other occasion concerning it； should not
disquiet the Gentlemen。
Panuccio having subtily observed all this； and in what manner they
went to bed； after such a space of time； as he imagined them to be all
fast asleepe； he arose very softly； and stealing to the bed of
Nicholetta； lay downe gently by her。 And albeit she seemed somewhat
afraid at the first； yet wheri she perceived who it was； shee rather
bad him welcome； then shewed her selfe any way discontented。 Now while
Panuccio continued thus with the maide； it fortuned that a Cat threw
down somewhat in the house； the noise wherof awaked the wife； and
fearing greater harme； then （indeed） had hapned； she arose without a
Candle； and went groping in the darke； towards the place where shee
heard the noyse。 Adriano； who had no other meaning but well； found
occasion also to rise； about some naturall necessity； and making his
passage in the darke； stumbled on the childes Cradle （in the way）
where the woman had set it； and being unable to passe by； without
removing it from the place： tooke and set it by his owne beds side；
and having done the businesse for which he rose； returned to his bed
againe； never remembring to set the Cradle where first he found it。
The Wife having found the thing throwne downe being of no value or
moment； cared not for lighting any candle； but rating the Cat；
returned backe； feeling for the bed where her Husband lay； but finding
not the Cradle there； she said to her selfe。 What a foolish woman am
I； that cannot well tell my selfe what I doe？ Instead of my Husbands
bed； I am going to both my guests。
So； stepping on a little further； she found the childes Cradle；
and laid her selfe downe by Adriano； thinking shee had gone right to
her Husband。 Adriano being not yet falne asleepe； feeling the hostesse
in bed with him： tooke advantage of so faire an occasion offered；
and what he did； is no businesse of mine； （as I heard） neither found
the woman any fault。 Matters comming to passe in this strange
manner； and Panuccio fearing； lest sleepe seazing on him； he might
disgrace the maides reputation： taking his kinde farewell of her； with
many kisses and sweet imbraces： returned againe to his owne Bed； but
meeting with the Cradle in his way； and thinking it stood by the
hostes Bed； （as truely it did so at the first） went backe from the
Cradle； and stept into the hostes Bed indeed； who awaked upon his very
entrance； albeit he slept very soundly before。
Panuccio supposing that he was laid downe by his loving friend
Adriano； merrily said to the Hoste。 I protest to thee； as I am a
Gentleman； Nicholetta is a dainty delicate wench； and worthy to be a
very good mans wife： this night shee hath given mee the sweetest
entertainement； as the best Prince in the world can wish no better；
and I have kist her most kindly for it。 The Hoste hearing these newes；
which seemed very unwelcome to him； said first to himself： What make
such a devill heere in my Bedde？ Afterward being more rashly angry；
then well advised； hee said to Panuccio。 Canst thou make vaunt of such
a mounstrous villany？ Or thinkest thou； that heaven hath not due
vengeance in store； to requite all wicked deeds of darkenesse？ If
all should sleepe； yet I have courage sufficient to right my wrong；
and yet as olde as I am to rig thou shalt be sure to finde it。
Our amorous Panuccio being none of the wisest young men in the
world； perceiving his errour； sought not to amend it； （as well he
might have done） with some queint straine of wit； carried in quick and
cleanly manner； but angerly answered。 What shall I find that thou
darst doe to me？ am I any way afraid of thy threatnings？ The Hostes
imagining she was in bed with her Husband； said to Adriano： Harke
Husband； I thinke our Guests are quarrelling together； I hope they
will doe no harme to one another。 Adriano laughing outright； answered。
Let them alone； and become friends againe as they fell out： perhaps
they dranke too much yesternight。
The woman perceiving that it was her husband that quarrelled； and
distinguishing the voyce of Adriano from his： knew presently where
shee was； and with whom； wherefore having wit at will； and desirous to
cloude an error unadvisedly committed； and with no willing consent
of her selfe： without returning any more words； presently she rose；
and taking the Cradle with the child in it； removed it the to her
daughters bed side； although shee had no light to helpe her； and
afterward went to bed to her； where （as if she were but newly
awaked） she called her Husband； to understand what angry speeches
had past betweene him and Panuccio。 The Hoste replyed； saying。 Didst
thou not heare him wife； brag and boast； how he hath lyen this night
with our daughter Nicholetta？ Husband （quoth she） he is no honest
Gentleman； if hee should say so； and beleeve me it is a manifest
lye； for I am in bed with her my selfe； and never yet closed mine eyes
together； since the first houre I laid me downe： it is unmannerly done
of him to speake it； and you are little lesse then a logger…head； if
you doe beleeve it。 This proceedeth from your bibbing and swilling
yesternight； which （as it seemeth） maketh you to walke about the roome
in your sleepe； dreaming of wonders in the night season： it were no
great sinne if you brake your neck； to teach you keepe a fairer
quarter； and how commeth it to passe； that Signior Panuccio could
not keepe himselfe in his owne bed？
Adriano （on the other side） perceiving how wisely the woman
excused her owne shame and her daughters； to backe her in a
businesse so cunningly begun； he called to Panuccio； saying。 Have
not I tolde thee an hundred times； that thou art not fit to lye any
where； out of thine owne lodging？ What a shame is this base
imperfection to thee； by rising and walking thus in the night…time；
according as thy dreames doe wantonly delude thee； and cause thee to
forsake thy bed； telling nothing but lies and fables； yet avouching
them for manifest truthes？ Assuredly this will procure no meane perill
unto thee： Come hither； and keepe in thine owne bedde for meere shame。
When the honest meaning Host heard； what his own Wife and Adriano
had confirmed： he was verily perswaded； that Panuccio spake in a