observed the behaviour of Sicurano, attending on his Maisters
Trencher, and therewith was so highly pleased; that hee requested to
have him from the Gentleman, who (for his more advancement)
willingly parted with his so lately entertained servant. Sicurano
was so ready and discreet in his daily services, that he grew in as
great grace with the Soldan, as before hee had done with Enchararcho.
At a certaine season in the yeare, as customary order (there
observed) had formerly beene, in the City of Acres which was under the
Soldanes subjection, there yeerely met a great assembly of
Merchants, as Christians, Moores, jewes, Sarazens, and many other
Nations besides, as at a common Mart or Fayre. And to the end, that
the Merchants (for the better sale of their goods) might be there in
the safer assurance, the Soldane used to send thither some of his
ordinarie Officers, and a strong guard of Souldiers beside, to
defend them from all injuries and molestation, because he reaped
thereby no meane benefit. And who should be now sent about this
businesse, but his new elected favourite Sicurano, because she was
skilfull and. perfect in the Languages.
Sicurano being come to Acres, as Lord and Captaine of the Guard
for the Merchants, and for the safety of their Merchandizes, she
discharged her office most commendably, walking with her traine
thorough every part of the Fayre, where she observed a worthy
company of Merchants, Sicilians, Pisans, Genewayes, Venetians, and
other Italians, whom the more willingly she noted, in remembrance of
her native Country. At one especiall time among other, chancing into a
Shop or Booth belonging to the Venetians, she espied (hanging up
with other costly wares) a Purse and a Girdle, which sodainly she
remembred to be sometime her owne; whereat she was not a little
abashed in her minde. But without making any such outward shew,
courteously she requested to know whose they were, and whether they
should be sold, or no.
Ambroginolo of Placentia, was likewise come thither, and great store
of Merchandizes hee had brought with him, in a Carracke appertaining
to the Venetians, and hee hearing the Captaine of the Guard demaund
whose they were, stepped foorth before him, and smiling, answered:
That they were his, but not to be solde; yet if hee liked them, gladly
he would bestow them on him. Sicurano seeing him smile, suspected
least himselfe had (by some unfitting behaviour) beene the occasion
thereof: and therefore, with a more setled countenance, hee said:
Perhaps thou smilest, because I that am a man, professing Armes,
should question after such womanish toyes. Ambroginolo replyed, My
Lord, pardon mee, I smile not at you, or at your demaund, but at the
manner how I came by these things.
Sicurano, upon this answere, was ten times more desirous then
before, and saide: If Fortune favoured thee in friendly maner, by
the obtaining of these things: if it may be spoken, tell mee how
thou hadst them. My Lord (answered Ambroginolo) these things (with
many more besides) were given me by a Gentlewoman of Geneway, named
Madam Genevra, the wife to one Bernardo Lomellino, in recompence of
one nights lodging with her, and she desired me to keepe them for
her sake. Now, the maine reason of my smiling, was the remembrance
of her husbands folly, in waging five thousand Duckets of Gold,
against one thousand of mine, that I should not obtaine my will of his
Wife; which I did, and thereby won the wager. But hee, who better
deserved to be punished for his folly, then shee, who was but sicke of
all womens disease; returning from Paris to Geneway, caused her to
be slaine, as afterward it was reported by himselfe.
When Sicurano heard this horrible lye, immediately shee conceived,
that this was the occasion of her husbands hatred to her, and all
the hard haps which she had since suffered: whereupon, shee reputed it
for more then a mortall sinne, if such a villaine should passe without
due punishment. Sicurano seemed to like well this report, and grew
into such familiarity with Ambroginolo, that (by her perswasions) when
the Fayre was ended, she tooke him higher with her into Alexandria,
and all his Wares along with him, furnishing him with a fit and
convenient shop, where he made great benefite of his Merchandizes,
trusting all his monies in the Captaines custody, because it was the
safest course for him, and so hee continued there with no meane
contentment.
Much did shee pitty her Husbands perplexity, devising by what good
and warrantable meanes she might make knowne her innocency to him;
wherein her place and authority did greatly sted her, and she
wrought with divers gallant Merchants of Geneway that then remained in
Alexandria, and by vertue of the Soldans friendly letters beside, to
bring him thither upon an lall occasion. Come he did, albeit in
especiall in poore and meane order, which soone was better altered
by her appointment, and he verie honourably (though in private)
entertained by divers of her woorthie friends, till time did favour
what she further intended.
In the expectation of Bernardoes arrivall, shee had so prevayled
with Ambrogiriolo, that the same tale which he formerly told to her,
he delivered againe in presence of the Soldan, who seemed to be wel
pleased with it. But after shee had once seene her Husband, shee
thought upon her more serious businesse; providing her selfe of an apt
opportunity, when shee entreated such favour of the Soldan, that
both the men might bee brought before him; where if Ambroginolo
would not confesse (without constraint) that which he had made his
vaunt of concerning Bernardoes wife, he might be compelled thereto
perforce.
Sicuranoes word was a Law with the Soldane, so that Ambroginolo and
Bernardo being brought face to face, the Soldane with a sterne and
angry countenance, in the presence of a most Princely Assembly,
commanded Ambroginolo to declare the truth, upon perill of his life,
by what meanes he won the Wager of the five thousand Golden Duckets he
received of Bernardo. Ambroginolo seeing Sicurano there present,
upon whose favour he wholly relyed, yet perceiving her lookes likewise
to be as dreadful as the Soldans, and hearing her threaten him with
most greevous torments except he revealed the truth indeed; you may
easily guesse in what condition he stood at that instant.
Frownes and fury he beheld on either side, and Bernardo standing
before him, with a world of famous witnesses, to heare his lye
confounded by his owne confession, and his tongue to denie what it had
before so constantly avouched. Yet dreaming on no other pain or
penalty, but restoring backe the five thousand Duckets of gold, and
the other things by him purloyned, truly he revealed the whole forme
of his falshood. Then Sicurano according as the Soldane had formerly
commanded him, turning to Bernardo, saide. And thou, upon the
suggestion of this foule lye, what didst thou to thy Wife? Being
(quoth Bernardo) overcome with for the losse of my money, and the
dishonor I supposed to receive by my Wife; I caused a servant of
mine to kill her, and as hee credibly avouched, her body was
devoured by ravenous Wolves in a moment after.
These things being thus spoken and heard, in the presence of the
Soldan, and no reason (as yet) made knowne, why the case was so
seriously urged, and to what end it would succeede: Sicurano spake
in this manner to the Soldane. My gracious Lord, you may plainly
perceive, in what degree that poore Gentlewoman might make her
vaunt, beeing so well provided, both of a loving friend, and a
husband. Such was the friends love, that in an instant, and by a
wicked lye, hee robbed her both of her renowne and honour, and
bereft her also of her husband. And her husband, rather crediting
anothers falshoode, then the invincible trueth, whereof he had
faithfull knowledge, by long and very honorable experience; caused her
to be slaine, and made foode for devouring Wolves. Beside all this,
such was the good will and affection borne to that Woman both by
friend and husband, that the longest continuer of them in her company,
makes them alike in knowledge of her. But because your great wisedom
knoweth perfectly what each of them have worthily deserved: if you
please (in your ever-knowne gracious benignity) to permit the
punishment of the deceiver, and pardon the partie so diceyved; I
will procure such meanes, that she shall appeare here in your
presence, and theirs.
The Soldane, being desirous to give Sicurano all manner of
satisfaction, having followed the course so indistriously, bad him
to produce the Woman, and hee was well contented. Whereat Bernardo
stoode much amazed, because he verity beleeved that she was dead.
And Ambroginolo foreseeing already a preparation for punishment,
feared, that the repayment of the money would not now serve his turne:
not knowing also, what he should further hope or suspect, if the woman
her selfe did personally appeare, which hee imagined would be a
miracle. Sicurano having thus obtained the Soldanes permission,
teares, humbling her selfe at his feete, in a moment she lost her
manly voyce and demeanour, as knowing that she was now no longer to
use them, but must truly witnesse what she was indeed, and therefore
thus spake.
Great Soldane, I am the miserable and unfortunate Genevra, that
for the space of sixe whole yeeres, have wandered through the world,
in the habite of a man, falsely and most maliciously slaundered, by
this villainous Traytor Ambroginolo, and by this unkinde cruell
husband, betraied to his servant to be slaine, and left to be devoured
by savage beasts. Afterward, desiring such garments as better fitted
for her, and shewing her breasts, she made it apparant before the
Soldane and his assistants, that shee was the very same woman indeede.
Then turning her selfe to Ambroginolo, with more then manly courage,
she demanded of him, when, and where it was, that he lay with her,
as (villainously) he was not ashamed to make his vaunt? But hee,
having alreadie acknowledged the contrarie, being stricken dumbe
with shamefull disgrace, was not able to utter one word.
The Soldane, who had alwayes reputed Sicurano to be a man, having
heard and seene so admirable an accident; was so amazed in his
minde, that many times he was very doubtfull, whether this was a
dreame, or an absolute relation of trueth. But, after hee had more
seriously considered thereon, and found it to be reall and infallible:
with extraordinary gracious praises, he commended the life, constancy,
condition and vertues of Genevra, whom (til that time) he had
alwayes called Sicurano. So committing her to the company of
honourable Ladies, to be changed from her manly habite; he pardoned
Bernardo her husband (according to her request formerly made) although
hee had more justly deserved death: which likewise himselfe confessed,
and falling at the feet of Genevra, desired her (in teares) to forgive
his rash transgression, which most lovingly she did, kissing and
embracing him a thousand times.
Then the Soldane strictly commaunded, that on some high and
eminent place of the Citie, Ambroginolo should be bound and impaled on
a stake, having his naked body nointed all over with hony, and never
to bee taken off, untill (of it selfe) it fell in peeces, which,
according to the sentence, was presently performed. Next, he gave
expresse charge, that all his mony and goods should be given to
Genevra, which valued above ten thousand double Duckets. Forthwith a
solemne Feast was prepared, wherein much honor was done to Bernardo,
being the husband of Genevra: and to her, as to a most worthy woman,
and matchlesse wife, he gave in costly jewels, as also vessels of gold
and silver plate, so much as did amount to above ten thousand double
Duckets more.
When the feasting was finished, he caused a Ship to be furnished for
them, graunting them license to depart from Geneway when they pleased;
whither they returned most richly and joyfully, being welcomed home
with great honour, especially Madam Genevra, whom every one supposed
to be dead; and alwayes after, so long as she lived, shee was most
famous for her manifold vertues. But as for Ambroginolo, the verie
same day that hee was impaled on the stake, annointed with honey,
and fixed in the place appointed, to his no meane torment: he not
onely died, but likewise was devoured to the bare bones, by Flies,
Waspes, and Hornets, whereof the Countrey notoriously aboundeth. And
his bones, in full forme and fashion, remained strangely blacke for
a long time after, knit together by the sinewes; as a witnesse to many
thousands of people, which afterward beheld the Carkasse of his
wickednesse against so good and vertuous a Woman, that had not so much
as a thought of any evill towards him. And thus was the Proverbe truly
verified, that shame succeedeth after ugly sinne, and the deceiver
is trampled and trod, by such as himselfe hath deceived.
THE SECOND DAY, THE TENTH NOVELL
WHEREIN OLDE MEN ARE WITTILY REPREHENDED, THAT WILL MATCH
THEMSELVES WITH YOUNGER WOMEN THEN IS FIT FOR THEIR YEERES,
AND INSUFFICIENT, NEVER CONSIDERING WHAT MAY HAPPEN TO THEM
Pagamino da Monaco, a roving Pyrate on the Seas, carried away the
fayre Wife of Signior Ricciardo de Chinzica, who understanding where
shee was, went thither; and falling into friendship with Pagamino,
demanded his Wife of him; whereto he yeelde, provided, that shee
would willing goe away with him. She denied to part thence with her
Husband, and Signior Ricciardo dying, she became the wife of Pagamino.
Every one in this honest and gracious assembly, most highly
commended the Novell re-counted by the Queene: but especially Dioneus,
who remained to finish that dayes pleasure with his owne Discourse,
and after many praises of the former tale were past, thus he began.
Faire Ladies, part of the Queenes Novell hath made an alteration of my
minde, from that which I intended to proceede next withall, and
therfore I will report another. I cannot forget the unmanly
