dayes, they landed in Candie, not meeting with any impeachment on
the way. Determining there to spend their daies, first they provided
themselves of goodly land in the Countrey, and then of beautifull
dwelling houses in the City, with al due furnishments belonging to
them, and Families well beseeming such worthy Gentlemen, and all
delights else for their dally recreations, inviting their. Neighbours,
and they them againe in loving manner; so that no lovers could wish to
live in more ample contentment.
Passing on their time in this height of felicity, and not crossed by
any sinister accidents, it came to passe (as often wee may obserye
in the like occasions, that although delights doe most especially
please us, yet they breede surfet, when they swell too over-great in
abundance) that Restagnone, who most deerely affected his faire
Ninetta, and had her now in his free possession, without any perill of
loosing her: grew now also to bee weary of her, and consequently, to
faile in those familiar performances, which formerly had passed
betweene them. For, being one day invited to a Banket, hee saw there a
beautifull Gentlewoman of that Countrey, whose perfections pleasing
him beyond all comparison: he laboured (by painfull pursuite) to win
his purpose; and meeting with her in divers private places, grew
prodigall in his expences upon her. This could not be so closely
carried, but being seene and observed by Ninetta, she became possessed
with such extreame jealousie, that hee could not doe any thing
whatsoever, but immediately she had knowledge of it: which fire,
growing to a flame in her, her patience became extreamely provoked,
urging rough and rude speeches from her to him, and daily tormenting
him beyond power of sufferance.
As the enjoying of any thing in too much plenty, makes it appeare
irkesome and loathing to us, and the deniall of our desires, do more
and more whet on the appetite: even so did the angry spleen of Ninetta
proceed on in violence, against this new commenced love of Restagnone.
For, in succession of time, whether he enjoyed the embracements of his
new Mistresse, or no: yet Ninetta (by sinister reports, but much
more through her owne jealous imaginations) held it for infallible,
and to bee most certaine. Heereupon, she fell into an extreame
melancholly, which melancholly begat implacable fury, and
(consequently) such contemptible disdaine, as converted her formerly
kindely love to Restagnone, into Most cruell and bloudie hatred;
yea, and so strangely was reason or respect confounded in her, as no
revenge else but speed death, might satisfie the wrongs shee
imagined to receive by Restagnone and his Minion.
Upon enquiry, by what meanes shee might best compasse her bloody
intention, she grew acquainted with a Grecian woman, and wonderfully
expert in the compounding of poysons, whom shee so perswaded by
gifts and bounteous promises, that at the length shee prevayled with
her. A deadly water was distilled by her, which (without any other
counsell to the contrary) on a day when Restagnone had his blood
somewhat over-heated, and little dreamed on any such Treason conspired
against him by his Wife, shee caused him to drinke a great draught
thereof, under pretence, that it was a most soveraigne and cordiall
water; but such was the powerfull operation thereof, that the very
next morning, Restagnone was found to bee dead in his bed. When his
death was understoode by Folco, Hugnetto, and their Wives, and not
knowing how hee came to bee thus empoysoned (because their Sister
seemed to bemoane his sodaine death, with as apparant shewes of
mourning, as they could possibly expresse) they buried him very
honourably, and so all suspition ceased.
But as Fortune is infinite in her fagaries, never acting disaster so
closely, but as cunningly discovereth it againe: so it came to
passe, that within a few dayes following, the Grecian Woman that had
delivered the poyson to Ninetta, for such another deede of
damnation, was apprehended even in the action. And being put upon he
tortures, among many other horrid villanies her committed, she
confessed the empoysoning of Restagnone, and every particle thereto
appertaining. Whereupon, the Duke of Candie, without any noyse or
publication, setting a strong guard (in the night time) about the
house of Folco, where Ninetta then was lodged; there sodainly they
seized on her, and upon examination, in maintenance of desperate
revenge, voluntarily confessed the fact, and what else concerned the
occasion of his death, by the wrongs which he had offered her.
Folco and Hugnetto understanding secretly, both from the Duke, and
other intimate friends, what was the reason of Ninettaes apprehension,
which was not a little displeasing to them, labored by all their
best paines and endeavour, to worke such meanes with the Duke, that
her life might not perish by fire, although she had most justly
deserved it; but all theyr attempts proved to no effect, because the
Duke had concluded to execute justice.
Heere you are to observe, that Magdalena (beeing a very beautifull
Woman, yong, and in the choisest flower of her time:) had often before
bene solicited by the Duke, to entertaine his love and kindnesse:
whereto by no meanes she would listen or give consent. And being now
most earnestly importuned by her for the safetie of her Sisters
life, hee tooke hold on this her dayly suite to him, and in private
told her, that if she was so desirous of Ninettaes life: it lay in her
power to obtain it, by granting him the fruition of her love. She
apparantly perceiving that Ninetta was not likely to live, but by
the prostitution of her chaste honour, which she preferred before
the losse of her owne life, or her sisters, concluded to let her dye,
rather then run into any such disgrace. But having an excellent
ingenious wit, quicke, and apprehensive in perillous occasions, she
intended now to make a triall of overreaching the lascivious Duke in
his wanton purpose, and yet to be assured of her sisters life, without
any blemish to her reputation.
Soliciting him still as shee was wont to doe, this promise passed
from her to him, that when Ninetta was delivered out of prison, and in
safetie at home in her house: hee should resort thither in some queint
disguise, and enjoy his long expected desire; but untill then she
would not yeeld. So violent was the Duke in the prosecution of his
purpose, that under colour of altering the manner of Ninettaes
death, not suffering her to bee consumed by fire, but to be drowned,
according to a custome observed there long time, and at the
importunity of her Sister Magdalena, in the still silence of the
night, Ninetta was conveyed into a sacke, and sent in that manner to
the House of Folco, the Duke following soone after, to challenge her
promise.
Magdalena, having acquainted her Husband with her vertuous
intention, for preserving her Sisters life, and disappointing the Duke
in his wicked desire; was as contrary to her true meaning in this
case, as Ninetta had formerly beene adverse to Restagnone, onely being
over-ruled likewise by jealousie, and perswaded in his rash opinion,
that the Duke had already dishonoured Magdalena, otherwise, he would
not have delivered Ninetta out of prison. Mad fury gave further fire
to this unmanly perswasion, and nothing will now quench this but the
life of poore Magdalena, suddenly sacrificed in the rescue of her
Sister, such a divell is anger, when the understandings bright eye
is thereby abused. No credit might bee given to her womanly
protestations, or any thing seeme to alter his bloody purpose; but,
having slaine Magdalena with his Poniard (notwithstanding her teares
and humble entreaties) he ranne in haste to Ninettaes Chamber, she not
dreaming on any such desperate accident, and to her he used these
dissembling speeches.
Sister (quoth he) my wife hath advised, that I should speedily
convey you hence, as fearing the renewing of the Dukes fury, and
your falling againe into the hands of justice: I have a Barke
readily prepared for you, and your life being secured, it is all
that she and I doe most desire. Ninetta being fearefull, and no way
distrusting what he had saide; in thankfull allowance of her Sisters
care, and curteous tender of his so ready service; departed thence
presently with him, not taking any farewell of her other Sister and
her Husband. To the Seashore they came, very weakely provided of
monies to defray their charges, and getting aboard the Barke, directed
their course themselves knew not whether.
The amorous Duke in his disguise, having long daunced attendance
at Folcoes doore, and no admittance of his entrance; angerly
returned backe to his Court, protesting severe revenge on Magdalena,
if she gave him not the better satisfaction, to cleare her from thus
basely abusing him. On the morrow morning, when Magdalena was found
murthered in her Chamber, and tidings thereof carried to the Duke;
present search was made for the bloody offendor, but Folco being
fled and gone with Ninetta; some there were, who bearing deadly hatred
to Hugnetto, incensed the Duke against him and his wife, as
supposing them to be guilty of Magdalenaes death. He being thereto
very easily perswaded, in regard of his immoderate love to the
slaine Gentlewoman; went himselfe in person (attended on by his Guard)
to Hugnettoes House, where both he and his wife were seized as
prisoners.
These newes were very strange to them, and their imprisonment as
unwelcome; and although they were truly inocent, either in knowledge
of the horrid fact, or the departure of Folco with Ninetta: yet
being unable to endure the tortures extremity, they made themselves
culpable by confession, and that they had a hand with Folco in the
murder of Magdalena. Upon this their forced confession, and sentence
of death pronounced on them by the Duke himselfe; before the day
appointed for their publike execution, by great summes of money, which
they had closely hid in their House, to serve when any urgent
extremitie should happen to them; they corrupted their keepers, and
before any intelligence could be had of their flight, they escaped
by Sea to Rhodes, where they lived afterward in great distresse and
misery. The just vengeance of Heaven followed after Folco and Ninetta,
he for murthering his honest wife, and she for poysoning her offending
Husband: for being beaten a long while on the Seas, by tempestuous
stormes and weather, and not admitted landing in any Port or creeke;
they were driven backe on the Coast of Candie againe, where being
apprehended, and brought to the City before the Duke, they confessed
their several notorious offences, and ended their loathed lives in one
fire together.
Thus the idle and loose love of Restagnone, with the franticke
rage and jealousie of Ninetta and Folco, overturned all their long
continued happinesse, and threw a disastrous ending on them all.
THE FOURTH DAY, THE FOURTH NOVELL
IN COMMENDATION OF JUSTICE BETWEENE PRINCES; AND DECLARING
WITHALL, THAT NEITHER FEARE, DANGERS, NOR DEATH IT SELFE,
CAN ANY WAY DAUNT A TRUE AND LOYALL LOVER
Gerbino, contrary to the former plighted faith of his
Grand-father, King Gulielmo, fought with a Ship at Sea, belonging to
the King of Thunis, to take away his Daughter, who was then in the
same Ship. Shee being slaine by them that had the possession of her,
he likewise slew them; and afterward had his owne head smitten off.
Madam Lauretta having concluded her Novel, and the company
complaining on Lovers misfortunes, some blaming the angry and
jealous fury of Ninetta, and every one delivering their severall
opinions; the King, as awaking out of a passionate perplexity, exalted
his lookes, giving a signe to Madame Elisa, that shee should follow
next in order, whereto she obeying, began in this manner. I have heard
(Gracious Ladies, quoth she) of many people, who are verily perswaded,
that loves arrowes, never wound any body, but onely by the eyes lookes
and gazes, mocking and scorning such as maintaine that men may fall in
love by hearing onely. Wherein (beleeve me) they are greatly deceived,
as will appeare by a Novell which I must now relate unto you, and
wherein you shall plainely perceive, that not onely fame or report
is as prevailing as sight; but also hath conducted divers, to a
wretched and miserable ending of their lives.
Gulielmo the second, King of Sicilie, according as the Sicilian
Chronicles record, had two children, the one a sonne, named Don
Rogero, and the other a daughter, called Madame Constance. The saide
Rogero died before his Father, leaving a sonne behind him, named
Gerbino, who, with much care and cost, was brought up by his
Grand-father, proving to be a very goodly Prince, and wonderously
esteemed for his great valour and humanity. His fame could not
containe it selfe, within the bounds or limits of Sicilie onely, but
being published very prodigally, in many parts of the world beside,
flourished with no meane commendations throughout all Barbarie,
which in those dayes was tributary to the King of Sicilie. Among other
persons, deserving most to be respected, the renowned vertues, and
affability of this gallant Prince Gerbino, was understood by the
beautious Daughter to the King of Tunis, who by such as bad seene her,
was reputed to be one of the rarest creatures, the best conditioned,
and of the truest noble spirit, that ever Nature framed in her very
choicest pride of Art.
Of famous, vertuous, and worthy men, it was continually her cheefest
delight to heare, and the admired actions of valiant Gerbino, reported
to her by many singular discoursers: such as could best describe
him, with language answerable to his due deservings, won such
honourable entertainment in her understanding soule, that they were
most affectionately pleasing to her, and in recapitulating (over and
over againe) his manifold and heroycall perfections; meere speech made
her extreamely amorous of him, nor willingly would she lend an eare to
