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But I have none; nor thinke I ever shall。
Wearisome is my life to me; etc。
Tell me; if I may hope in following dayes;
To have but one poore sight;
Of those bright Sunny rayes;
Dazeling my sence; did overecome me quite;
Bequeath'd to wandring wayes。
If I be poasted off; and may not prove;
To have the smallest grace:
Or but to know; that this proceeds from love;
Why should I live despisde in every place?
Wearisome is my life to me; etc。
Me thinkes milde favour whispers in mine eare;
And bids me not despaire;
There will a time appeare
To quell and quite confound consuming care;
And joy surmount proud feare。
In hope that gracious time will come at length;
To cheare my long dismay:
My spirits reassume your former strength;
And never dread to see that joyfull day。
Wearisome is my life to me;
Because I cannot once againe returne;
Unto the place; which made me first to mourne。
This Song gave occasion to the whole Company; to imagine; that
some new and pleasing apprehension of Love; constrained Madame
Philomena to sing in this manner。 And because (by the discourse
thereof) it plainely appeared; that shee had felt more then shee
saw; shee was so much the more happy; and the like was wished by all
the rest。 Wherefore; after the Song was ended; the Queene
remembring; that the next day following was Friday; turning her
selfe graciously to them all; thus she spake。
You know noble Ladies; and you likewise most noble Gentlemen; that
to morrow is the day consecrated to the Passion of our blessed Lord
and Saviour; which (if you have not forgotten it; as easily you
cannot) we devoutly celebrated; Madame Neiphila being then Queene;
ceasing from all our pleasant discoursing; as we did the like on the
Saturday following; sanctifiing the sacred Sabboth; in due regard of
it selfe。 Wherefore; being desirous to imitate precedent good example;
which in worthy manner shee began to us all: I hold it very decent and
necessary; that we should abstaine to morrow; and the day ensuing;
from recounting any of our pleasant Novels; reducing to our
memories; what was done (as on those dayes) for the salvation of our
soules。 This holy and Religious motion made by the Queene; was
commendably allowed by all the assembly; and therefore; humbly
taking their leave of her; and an indifferent part of the night
being already spent; severally they betooke themselves to their
Chambers。
THE INDUCTION TO THE EIGHT DAY
WHEREON ALL THE DISCOURSES; PASSE UNDER THE RULE AND
GOVERNMENT; OF THE HONOURABLE LADIE LAURETTA
Earely on the Sonday Morning; Aurora shewing her selfe bright and
lovely; the Sunnes Golden beames beganne to appeare; on the toppes
of the neere adjoyning Mountaines; so; that Hearbes; Plants; Trees;
and all things else; were verie evidently to be discerned。
When midday; and the heate thereof was well over…past; so that the
aire seemed mild and temperate: according as the Queene had commanded;
they were all seated againe about the Fountaine; with intent to
prosecute their former pastime。 And then Madame Neiphila; by the
charge imposed on her; as first speaker for this day; beganne as
followeth。
THE EIGHT DAY; THE FIRST NOVELL
WHEREIN IS DECLARED; THAT SUCH WOMEN AS WILL MAKE SALE OF THEIR
HONESTIE; ARE SOMETIMES OVER…REACHED IN THEIR PAYMENT;
AND JUSTLY SERVED AS THEY SHOULD BE
Gulfardo made a match or wager; with the Wife of Gasparuolo; for the
obtaining of her amorous favour; in regard of a summe of money first
to be given her。 The money hee borrowed of her Husband; and gave it in
payment to her; as in case of discharging him from her Husbands
debt。 After his returne home from Geneway; hee told him in the
presence of his wife; how he had payde the whole summe to her; with
charge of delivering it to her Husband; which she confessed to be
true; albeit greatly against her will。
Seeing is my fortune; Gracious ladies; that I must give beginning to
this dayes discoursing; by some such Novel which I thinke expedient;
as duty bindeth me; I am therewith well contented。 And because the
deceits of Women to men; have beene at large and liberally related;
I will tell you a subtile tricke of a man to a Woman。 Not that I blame
him for the deede; or thinke the deceyte not well fitted to the woman:
but I speake it in a contrarie nature; as commending the man; and
condemning the woman very justly; as also to shew; how men can as well
beguile those crafty companions; which least beleeve any such
cunning in them; as they that stand most on their artificiall skill。
Howbeit; to speake more properly; the matter by me to be reported;
deserveth not the reproachfull title of deceite; but rather of a
recompence duly returned: because women ought to be chaste and honest;
and to preserve their honour as their lives; without yeelding to the
contamination thereof; for any occasion whatsoever。 And yet
neverthelesse (in regard of our frailty) many times we proove not so
constant as we should be: yet I am of opinion; that she which
selleth her honestie for money; deserveth justly to be burned。 Whereas
on the contrary; she that falleth into the offence; onely through
intire affection (the powerfull lawes of Love beeing above all
resistance) in equity meriteth pardon; especially of a Judge not
over…rigorous: as not long since wee heard from Philostratus; in
revealing what hapned to Madam Phillippa de Prato; upon the
dangerous Edict。
Understand then; my most worthy Auditors; that there lived
sometime in Millaine an Almaigne Soldiour; named Gulfardo; of
commendable carriage in his person; and very faithfull to such as he
served; a matter not common among the Almaignes。 And because he made
just repayment; to every one which lent him monies; he grew to such
especiall credit; and was so familiar with the very best Marchants; as
(manie times) he could not be so ready to borrow; as they were willing
alwaies to lend him。 He thus continuing in the Cittie of Millaine;
fastened his affection on a verie beautifull Gentlewoman; named
Mistresse Ambrosia; Wife unto a rich Merchant; who was called
Signior Gasparuolo Sagastraccio; who had good knowledge of him; and
respectively used him。 Loving this Gentlewoman with great
discretion; without the least apprehension of her husband: he sent
upon a day to entreate conference with her; for enjoying the
fruition of her love; and she should find him ready to fulfill
whatsoever she pleased to command him; as; at any time he would make
good his promise。
The Gentlewoman; after divers of these private solicitings;
resolutely answered; that she was as ready to fulfill the request of
Gulfardo; provided; that two especiall considerations might ensue
thereon。 First; the faithfull concealing thereof from any person
living。 Next; because she knew him to be rich; and she had occasion to
use two hundred Crowns; about businesse of important consequence: he
should freely bestow so many on her; and (ever after) she was to be
commanded by him。 Gulfard