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me； having regard to your excellency； and what （by merit） is justly
due unto you： I thought it a part of my bounden duty； to entertaine
you with such exquisite viands； as my poore power could any way
compasse； and farre beyond respect or welcome； to other common and
ordinary persons。 Whereupon； remembring my Faulcon； which now you aske
for； and her goodnesse； excelling all other of her kinde； I
supposed； that she would make a dainty dish for your dyet； and
having drest her； so well as I could devise to do： you have fed
heartily on her； and I am proud that I have so well bestowne her。
But perceiving now； that you would have her for your sicke Sonne； it
is no meane affliction to me； that I am disabled of yeelding you
contentment； which all my life time I have desired to doe。
To approve his words； the feathers； feete； and beake were brought
in； which when she saw； she greatly blamed him for killing so rare a
Faulcon； to content the appetite of any woman whatsoever。 Yet she
commended his height of spirit； which poverty had no power to abase。
Lastly； her hopes being frustrate for enjoying the Faulcon； and
fearing besides the health of her Sonne； she thanked Frederigo for his
honorable kindnesse； returning home againe sad and melancholly。
Shortly after； her sonne either greeving that he could not have the
Faulcon； or by extreamity of his disease； chanced to dye； leaving
his mother a most wofull Lady。
After so much time was expired； as conveniently might agree with
sorrow； and mourning； her Brethren made many motions to her； to oyne
her selfe in marriage againe； because she was extraordinarily rich；
and as yet but yong in yeares。 Now although she was well contented
never to be married any more； yet being continually importuned by
them； and remembring the honorable honesty of Frederigo； his last
poore； yet magnificent dinner； in killing his Faulcon for her sake；
she saide to her Brethren。 This kind of widdowed estate doth like me
so well； as willingly I would never leave it： but seeing you are so
earnest for my second marriage； let me plainly tell you； that I will
never accept of any other husband； but onely Frederigo di Alberino。
Her Brethren in scornefull manner reprooved her； telling her； that
he was a begger； and had nothing left to keepe him in the world。 I
know it well （quoth she） and am heartily sorry for it。 But give me a
man that hath neede of wealth； rather then wealth that hath neede of a
man。 The Brethren hearing how she stood addicted； and knowing
Frederigo to be a worthy Gentleman； though poverty had disgraced him
in the World： consented thereto； so she bestowed her selfe and her
riches on him。 He on the other side； having so noble a Lady to his
Wife； and the same whom he had so long and deerely loved； submitted
all his fairest Fortunes unto her； became a better husband （for the
world） then before； and they lived； and loved together in equall joy
and happinesse。
THE FIFT DAY； THE TENTH NOVELL
REPREHENDING THE CUNNING OF IMMODEST WOMEN； WHO BY ABUSING
THEMSELVES； DO THROW EVILL ASPERSIONS ON ALL THEIR SEXE
Pedro di Vinciolo went to sup at a friends house in the City。 His
wife （in the meane while） had a young man whom shee loved； at supper
with Pedro returning home on a sodaine； the young man was hidden under
a Coope for Hens。 Pedro in excuse of his so soone comming home；
declareth； how in the house of Herculano （with whom he should have
supt） a friend of his Wives was found； which was the reason of the
Suppers breaking off。 Pedroes Wife reproving the error of
Herculanoes wife； an Asse （by chance） treads on the yong mans
fingers that lay hidden under the Hen…coope。 Upon his crying out Pedro
steppeth thither； sees him； knowes him； and findeth the fallacy of his
wife； with whom （nevertbelesse） he groweth to agreement； in regard
of some imperfections in himselfe。
The Queenes Novell being ended； and all applauding the happy fortune
of Frederigo； as also the noble nature of Madam Giana； Dioneus
expecting no command； prepared to deliver his discourse in this maner。
I know not whether I should terme it a vice accidentall； and insuing
thorow the badnes of complexions on us mortals； or an error in Nature；
to rejoyce rather at lewd accidents； then at deeds that deserve
commendation； especially when they no way concern our selves。 Now；
in regard that all the paines I have hitherto taken； and am also to
undergo at this present aymeth at no other end； but onely to purge
your minds of melancholly； and entertain the time with mirthful
matter： pardon me I pray you （faire Lacties） if my Tale trip in some
part； and savour a little of immodesty； yet in hearing it； you may
observe the same course； as you doe in pleasing and delightfull
Gardens； plucke a sweete Rose； and preserve your fingers from
pricking。 Which very easily you may doe； winking at the
imperfections of a foolish man； and at the amourous subtilties of
his Wife； compassionating the misfortune of others； where urgent
necessity doth require it。
There dwelt not long since in Perugia； a wealthy man named Pedro
di Vinciolo； who perhaps more to deceive some other； and restraine
an evill opinion which the Perugians had conceived of him； in matter
no way beseeming a man； then any beauty or good feature remaining in
the woman entred into the estate of marriage。 And Fortune was so
conforme to him in his election； that the woman whom he had made his
wife； had a yong； lusty； and well enabled bodie； a red…haird Wench；
hot and fiery spirited； standing more in neede of three Husbands； then
he； who could not any way well content one Wife； because his minde ran
more on his mony； then those offices and duties belonging to
wedlock； which time acquainted his Wife withall； contrary to her
owne expectation； and those delights which the estate of marriage
afforded； knowing her selfe also to be of a sprightly disposition； and
not to be easily tamed by houshold cares and attendances； shee waxed
weary of her husbands unkind courses； upbraided him daily with harsh
speeches； making his owne home meerly as a hell to him。
When she saw that this domesticke disquietnesse returned her no
benefit； but rather tended to her own consumption； then any
amendment in her miserable Husband； shee began thus to conferre with
her private thoughts。 This Husband of mine liveth with me； as if he
were no Husband； or I his Wife； the marriage bed； which should be a
comfort to us both； seemeth hatefull to him； and as little pleasing to
mee； because his minde is on his money； his head busied with worldly
cogitations； and early and late in his counting…house； admitting no
familiar conversation with me。 Why should not I be as respectlesse
of him； as he declares him selfe to be of me？ I tooke him for an
Husband； brought him a good and sufficient Dowry； thinking him to be
man； and affected a woman as a man ought to doe； else he had never
beene any Husband of mine。 If he be a Woman hater； why did he make
choice of me to be his Wife？ If I had not intended to be of the World；
I could have coopt my selfe up in a Cloyster； and shorne my selfe a
Nunne； but that I was not born