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King called for a goodly standing cup of Gold； wherein he put the
heart of Guiscardo； sending it by one of his most familiar servants to
his Daughter； with command also to use these words to her。 Thy
Father hath sent thee this present； to comfort thee with that thing
which most of all thou affectest； even as thou hast comforted him with
that which he most hated。
Ghismonda； nothing altered from her cruell deliberation； after her
Father was departed from her； caused certaine poisonous roots and
hearbes to be brought her； which shee （by distillation） made a water
of； to drinke sodainly； whensoever any crosse accident should come
from her Father； whereupon； when the Messenger from her Father had
delivered her the present； and uttered the words as he was commaunded：
shee tooke the Cup； and looking into it with a setled countenance；
by sight of the heart； and effect of the message； she knew certainely；
that was the heart of Guiscardo； then looking stearnely on the
servant； thus she spake unto him。 My honest friend； it is no more then
right and justice； that so worthy a heart as this is； should have
any worser grave then gold； wherein my Father hath dealt most
wisely。 So； lifting the heart up to her mouth； and sweetly kissing it；
she proceeded thus。 In all things； even till this instant； （being
the utmost period of my life） I have evermore found my Fathers love
most effectuall to me； but now it appeareth farre greater； then at any
time heretofore： and therefore from my mouth； thou must deliver him
the latest thankes that ever I shall give him； for sending me such
an honourable present。
These words being ended； holding the Cup fast in her hand； and
looking seriously upon the heart； she began againe in this manner。
Thou sweete entertainer of all my dearest delights； accursed be his
cruelty； that causeth me thus to see thee with my corporall eyes； it
being sufficient enough for me； alwayes to behold thee with the
sight of my soule。 Thou hast runne thy race； and as Fortune
ordained； so are thy dayes finished： for as all flesh hath an
ending； so hast thou concluded； albeit too soone； and before thy due
time。 The travalles and miseries of this World； have now no more to
meddle with thee； and thy very heaviest enemy hath bestowed such a
grave on thee； as thy greatnesse in vertue worthily deserveth； now
nothing else is wanting； wherewith to beautifie thy Funerall； but only
her sighes and teares； that was so deare unto thee in thy life time。
And because thou mightest the more freely enjoy them； see how my
mercilesse Father （on his owne meere motion） hath sent thee to me； and
truly I will bestow them frankly on thee； though once I had
resolved； to die with drie eyes； and not shedding one teare；
dreadlesse of their utmost malice towards me。
And when I have given thee the due oblation of my teares； my
soule； which sometime thou hast kept most carfully； shall come to make
a sweet conjunction with thine： for in what company else can I
travaile more contentedly； and to those unfrequented silent shades；
but onely in thine？ As yet am sure it is present here； in this Cup
sent me by my Father； as having a provident respect to the place；
for possess' of our equall and mutuall pleasures； because thy soule
affecting mine so truly； cannot walke alone； without his deare
companion。
Having thus finished her complaint； even as if her bead had been
converted into a well spring of water； so did teares abundantly flow
from her faire eyes； kissing the heart of Guiscardo infinite times。
All which while； her women standing by her； neither knew what heart it
was； nor to what effect her speeches tended： but being moved to
compassionate teares； they often demanded （albeit in vaine） the
occasion of her sad complaining； comforting her to their utmost power。
When she was not able to weepe any longer； wiping her eyes； and
lifting up her head； without any signe of the least dismay； thus she
spake to the heart。
Deare heart； all my duty is performed to thee； and nothing now
remaineth uneffected； but onely breathing my last； to let my ghost
accompany thine。
Then calling for the glasse of water； which she had readily prepared
the day before； and powring it upon the heart lying in the Cup；
couragiously advancing it to her mouth； she dranke it up every drop；
which being done； she lay downe upon her bed； holding her Lovers heart
fast in her hand； and laying it so neere to her owne as she could。 Now
although her women knew not what water it was； yet when they had seene
her to quaffe it off in that manner； they sent word to the King； who
much suspecting what had happened； went in all haste to his
Daughters Chamber； entring at the very instant； when she was laide
upon her bed； beholding her in such passionate pangs； with teares
streaming downe his reverend beard； he used many kinde words to
comfort her： when boldly thus she spake unto him。 Father （quoth she）
well may you spare these teares； because they are unfitting for you；
and not any way desired by me； who but your selfe； hath seene any
man to mourne for his owne wilfull offence。 Neverthelesse； if but
the least jot of that love do yet abide in you； whereof you have
made such liberall profession to me； let me obtaine this my very
last request； to wit； that seeing I might not privately enjoy the
benefit of Guiscardoes love； and while he lived； let yet （in death）
one publike grave containe both our bodies； that death may affoord us；
what you so cruelly in life denied us。
Extremity of griefe and sorrow； withheld his tongue from returning
any answer； and she perceiving her end approaching； held the heart
still closer to her owne bare brest； saying； Here Fortune； receive two
true hearts latest oblation； for； in this manner are we comming to
thee。 So closing her eyes； all sense forsooke her； life leaving her
body breathlesse。 Thus ended the haplesse love of Guiscardo； and
Ghismonda； for whose sad disaster； when the King had mourned
sufficiently； and repented fruitlesly； he caused both their bodies
to be honourably embalmed； and buried in a most royall Monument； not
without generall sorrow of the subjects of Salerne。
THE FOURTH DAY； THE SECOND NOVELL
REPREHENDING THE LEWD LIVES OF DISSEMBLING HYPOCRITES； AND
CHECKING THE ARROGANT PRIDE OF VAINE…HEADED WOMEN
Fryar Albert made a young Venetian Gentlewoman beleeve； that God
Cupid was falne in love with her； and he resorted oftentimes unto her；
in the disguise of the same God。 Afterward； being frighted by the
Gentlewomans kindred and friends； he cast himselfe out of her
Chamber window； and was bidden in a poore mans House； on the day
following； in the shape of a wilde or savage man； he was brought
upon the Rialto of Saint Marke； and being there publikely knowne by
the Brethren of his Order； he was committed to Prison。
The Novell recounted by Madam Fiammetta； caused teares many times in
the eyes of all the company； but it being finished； the King shewing a
stearne countenance； saide； I should have much commended the kindnesse
of fortune； if in the whole course of my life； I had tasted the
least moity of that delight； whic