satisfyed. So, leaving the maide in her lodging, and returning again
to her owne Chamber: she made up the bed in such former manner, as
if no body had lodged therein that night. Then hanging up her Lampe
fresh fild with oyle, and clearly lighted, she deckt her selfe in so
decent sort, as if she had bin in no bed all that night.
Then taking sowing worke in her hand, either shirts or bands of
her Husbands; hanging the Lampe by her, and sitting downe at the
stayres head, she fell to worke in very serious manner, as if shee had
undertaken some imposed taske.
On the other side, Arriguccio had travelled so farre from his house,
till he came at last to the dwelling of Simonidaes brethren: where hee
knockt so soundly, that he was quickely heard, and (almost as
speedily) let in. Simonidaes brethren, and her mother also, hearing of
Arriguccioes comming thither so late. Rose from their beds, and each
of them having a Waxe Candle lighted, came presently to him, to
understand the cause of this his so unseasonable visitation.
Arriguccio, beginning at the originall of the matter, the thred
found tyed about his wives great toe, the fight and houshold
conflict after following: related every circumstance to them. And
for the better proofe of his words, he shewed them the thred it selfe,
the lockes supposed of his wives haire, and adding withall; that
they might now dispose of Simonida as themselves pleased, because
she should remaine no longer in his house.
The brethren to Simonida were exceedingly offended at this relation,
in regard they beleeved it for truth, and in this fury, commanded
Torches to be lighted, preparing to part thence with Arriguccio home
to his house, for the more sharpe reprehension of their Sister.
Which when their mother saw, she followed them weeping, first
entreating one, and then the other, not to be over rash in crediting
such a slander, but rather to consider the truth thereof advisedly:
because the Husband might be angry with his Wife upon some other
occasion, and having outraged her, made this the meanes in excuse of
himselfe. Moreover she said, that she could not chuse but wonder
greatly, how this matter should thus come to passe: because she had
good knowledge of her daughter, during the whole course of her
education, faultlesse and blamelesse in every degree; with many
other good words of her beside, as proceeding from naturall
affection of a mother.
Being come to the house of Arriguccio, entring in, and ascending
up the stayres: they heard Simonida sweetly singing at her working;
but pausing, upon hearing their rude trampling, shee demaunded, who
was there. One of the angry brethren presently answered: Lewde woman
as thou art, thou shalt know soone enough who is heere: Our blessed
Lady be with us (quoth Simonida) and sweet Saint Frances helpe to
defend me, who dare use such unseemely speeches? Starting up and
meeting them on the staire head: Kinde brethren, (said she) is it you?
What, and my loving mother too? For sweet Saint Charities sake, what
may be the reason of your comming hither in this manner. Shee being
set downe againe to her worke, so neatly apparelled, without any signe
of outrage offered her, her face unblemished, her haire comely
ordered, and differing wholly from the former speeches of her Husband:
the Brethren marvelled thereat not a little; and asswaging somewhat
the impetuous torrent of their rage, began to demaund in coole
blood, (as it were) from what ground her Husbands complaints
proceeded, and threatning her roughly, if she would not confesse the
truth intirely to them.
Ave Maria (quoth Simonida, crossing her selfe) Alas deare
Brethren, I know not what you say, or meane, nor wherein my Husband
should bee offended, or make any complaint at all of me. Arriguccio
hearing this looked on her like a man that had lost his Senses: for
well he remembred, how many cruell blowes he had given her on the
face, beside scratches of his nailes, and spurnes of his feet, as also
the cutting of her haire, the least shew of all which misusage, was
not now to be seene. Her brethren likewise briefly told her, the whole
effect of her Husbands speeches, shewing her the thred, and in what
cruell manner he sware hee did beate her. Simonida, turning then to
her Husband, and seeming as confounded with amazement, said. How is
this Husband? what doe I heare? would you have me supposed (to your
owne shame and disgrace) to be a bad woman, and your selfe a cruell
curst man, when (on either side) there is no such matter? When were
you this night heere in the house with mee? Or when should you beate
mee, and I not feele nor know it? Beleeve me (sweete heart) all
these are meerely miracles to me.
Now was Arriguccio ten times more mad in his minde, then before,
saying. Divell, and no woman, did wee not this night goe both together
to bed? Did not I cut this thred from thy great toe, tyed it to
mine, and found the craftie compact betweene thee and thy Minnion? Did
not I follow and fight with him in the streets? Came I not backe
againe, and beate thee as a Strumpet should be? And are not these
the locks of haire, which I my selfe did cut from thy bead?
Alas Sir (quoth she) where have you been? doe you know what you say?
you did not lodge in this house this night, neither did I see you
all the whole day and night, till now.
But leaving this, and come to the matter now in question, because
I have no other testimony then mine owne words. You say, that you
did beate me, and cut those lockes of haire from my head. Alas Sir,
why should you slander your selfe? In all your life time you did never
strike me. And to approve the truth of my speeches, doe you your
selfe, and all else heere present, looke on me advisedly, if any signe
of blow or beating is to be seene on me. Nor were it an easie matter
for you to doe either to smite, or so much as lay your hand (in anger)
on me, it would cost dearer then you thinke for. And whereas you
say, that you did cut those lockes of haire from my head; it is more
then either I know, or felt, nor are they in colour like to mine: but,
because my Mother and brethren shall be my witnesses therein, and
whether you did it without my knowledge; you shall all see, if they be
cut, or no. So, taking off her head attyre, she displayed her hayre
over her shoulders, which had suffered no violence, neither seemed
to bee so much as uncivilly or rudely handled.
When the mother and brethren saw this, they began to murmure against
Arriguccio, saying. What thinke you of this Sir? you tell us of
strange matters which you have done, and all proving false, we
wonder how you can make good the rest. Arriguccio looked wilde, and
confusedly, striving still to maintaine his accusation: but seeing
every thing to bee flatly against him, he durst not attempt to
speake one word. Simonida tooke advantage of this distraction in
him, and turning to her brethren, saide. I see now the marke whereat
he aymeth, to make me doe what I never meante: Namely, that I should
acquaint you with his vile qualities, and what a wretched life I leade
with him, which seeing hee will needes have me to reveale; beare
with me if I doe it upon compulsion.
Mother and Brethren, I am verily perswaded, that those accidents
which he disclosed to you, hath doubtlesse (in the same manner)
happened to him, and you shall heare how. Very true it is, that this
seeming honest man, to whom (in a lucklesse houre) you married me,
stileth himselfe by the name of a Merchant, coveting to be so
accounted and credited, as holy in outward appearance, as a
Religious Monke, and as demure in lookes, as the modestest Maide: like
a notorious common drunkard, is a Taverne hunter, where making his
luxurius matches, one while with one Whore, then againe with
another; hee causeth mee every night to sit tarrying for him, even
in the same sort as you found me: sometimes till midnight, and
otherwhiles till broad day light in the morning.
And questionlesse, being in his wounted drunken humour, hee hath
lyen with one of his sweet Consorts, about whose toe he found the
thred, and finding her as false to him, as he hath alwayes been to me:
Did not onely beat her, but also cut the haire from her head. And
having not yet recovered his sences, is verily perswaded, and cannot
be altered from it; but that hee performed all this villany to me. And
if you doe but advisedly observe his countenance, he appeareth yet
to be more then halfe drunke.
But whatsoever he hath said concerning me, I make no account at
all thereof, because he spake it in his drunkennesse, and as freely as
I forgive him, even so (good Mother and kinde Brethren,) let mee
entreate you to do the like.
When the Mother had heard these words, and confidently beleeved
her Daughter: she began to torment her selfe with anger, saying. By
the faith of my body Daughter, this unkindnesse is not [to] be
endured, but rather let the dogge be hanged, that his qualities may be
knowne, he being utterly unworthy, to have so good a woman to his
wife, as thou art. What could he have done if he had taken thee in the
open more, and in company of some wanton Gallants? In an unfortunate
houre wast thou married to him, base jealous Coxecombe as he is, and
it is quite against sense, or reason, that thou shouldest be subject
to his fooleries. What was hee, but a Merchant of Eale-skinnes or
Orenges, bred in some paltry countrey village; taken from
Hogge-rubbing; clothed in Sheepes-Sattin, with Clownish Startops,
Leather stockings, and Caddies garters: His whole habite not worth
three shillings: And yet he must have a faire Gentlewoman to his Wife,
of honest fame, riches and reputation; when, comparing his pedegree
with hers, hee is farre unfit to wipe her shooes.
Oh my deare sonnes, I would you had followed my counsell, and
permitted her to mate in the honourable family of Count Guido, which
was much mooved, and seriously pursued. But you would needs bestow her
on this goodly jewell; who, although shee is one of the choysest
beauties in Florence, chaste, honest and truely vertuous: Is not
ashamed at midnight, to proclaime her for a common whore, as if we had
no better knowledge of her. But by the blessed mother of Saint John,
if you would be ruled by mine advise; our law should make him
dearely smart for it.
Alas my sonnes, did I not tell you at home in our owne house, that
his words were no way likely to prove true? Have not your eyes
observed his unmannerly behaviour to your Sister? If I were as you
are, hearing what he hath said, and noting his drunken carriage
beside; I should never give over, as long as he had any life left in
him. And were I a man, as I am a woman, none other then my selfe
should revenge her wrongs, making him a publike spectacle to all
drabbing drunkards.
When the brethren had heard and observed all these occurrences; in
most bitter manner they railed on Arriguccio, bestowing some good
bastinadoes on him beside, concluding thus with him in the end.
Quoth one of them, Wee will pardon this shamefull abusing of our
Sister, because thou art a notorious drunkard: but looke to it (on
perill of thy life) that we have no more such newes hereafter; for,
beleeve it unfainedly, if any such impudent rumours happen to our
eares, or so much as a flying fame thereof; thou shalt surely be paide
for both faults together.
So home againe went they, and Arriguccio stood like one that had
neither life or motion, not knowing (whether what he had done) was
true, or no, or if he dreamed all this while, and so (without uttering
any word) he left his Wife, and went quietly to bed. Thus by her
wisdome, she did not onely prevent an imminent perill: but also made a
free and open passage, to further contentment with her amourous
friend, yet dreadlesse of any distaste or suspition in her Husband.
THE SEVENTH DAY, THE NINTH NOVELL
WHEREIN IS DECLARED, THAT GREAT LORDS MAY SOMETIME BE DECEIVED BY
THEIR WIVES, AS WELL AS MEN OF MEANER CONDITION
Lydia, a Lady of great beauty, birth, and honor, being Wife to
Nicostratus, Governour of Argos, falling in love with a Gentleman,
named Pyrrhus; was requested by him (as a true testimony of her
unfeigned affection) to performe three severall actions of her
selfe. She did accomplish them all, and imbraced and kissed Pyrrhus in
the presence of Nicostratus; by perswading him, that whatsoever he
saw, was meerely false.
The Novell delivered, by Madame Neiphila, seemed so pleasing to
all the Ladies; as they could not refraine from hearty laughter,
beside much liberality of speech. Albeit the King did oftentimes
urge silence, and commanded Pamphilus to follow next. So, when
attention was admitted, Pamphilus began in this order. I am of
opinion, faire Ladies, that there is not any matter, how uneasie or
doubtfull soever it may seeme to be; but the man or woman that
affecteth fervently, dare boldly attempt, and effectually
accomplish. And this perswasion of mine, although it hath beene
sufficiently approved, by many of our passed Novels: Yet
notwithstanding, I shall make it much apparent to you, by a present
discourse of mine owne. Wherein I have occasion to speake of a Lady,
to whom Fortune was more favourable, then either reason or
judgement, could give direction. In which regard, I would not advise
any of you, to entertaine so high an imagination of minde, as to
tracke her footsteps of whom I am now to speake: because Fortune
containeth not alwayes one and the same disposition, neither can all
mens eyes be blinded after one manner. And so proceed we to our Tale.
In Argos, a most ancient Citie of Achaya, much more renowned by
her precedent Kings, then wealth, or any other great matter of
worth: there lived as Lieutenant or Governour thereof, a Noble Lord,
named Nicostratus, on whom (albeit hee was well stept into yeares)
Fortune bestowed in marriage a great Lady, no lesse bold of spirit,
then choisely beautifull. Nicostratus, abounding in treasure and
wealthy possessions, kept a goodly traine of Servants, Horses,
