all； With which words he set him downe。 And Madame Lauretta being
now created Queene； shee caused the Master of the houshold to bee
called； to whom she gave command； that the Tables should be prepared n
the pleasant vally； but at a more convenient houre； then formerly
had beene； because they might （with better ease） returne backe to
the Pallace。 Then shee tooke order likewise； for all such other
necessary matters； as should bee required in the time of f Regiment：
and then turning her selfe to the whole Company； she began in this
manner。
It was the Will of Dioneus yesternight； that our discourses for this
day； should concerne the deceits of wives to their Husbands。 And
were it not to avoyde taxation； of a spleenitive desire to be
revenged； like the dog being bitten； biteth againe： I could command
our to morrows conference； to touch mens treacheries towards their
wives。 But because I am free from any such fiery humor； let it be your
generall consideration； to speake of such queint beguylings； as have
heretofore past； either of the woman to the man； the man to the woman；
or of one man to another： and I am of opinion； that they will yeeld us
no lesse delight； then those related （this day） have done。 When she
had thus spoken； she rose； granting them all liberty； to goe
recreate themselves untill Supper time。
The Ladies being thus at their owne disposing； some of them bared
their legges and feete； to wash them in the coole current。 Others； not
so minded； walked on the greene grasse； and under the goodly spread：
trees。 Dioneus and Madame Fiammetta； they sate singing together； the
love…warre between Arcit and Palemon。 And thus with diversity of
disports； in choice delight and much contentment； all were imployed；
till Supper drew neere。 When the houre re come； and the Tables covered
by the Ponds side： we need not question their dyet and dainties；
infinite Birds sweetly singing about them； as no musicke in the
world could be more pleasing； beside calme windes； fanning their faces
from the neighbouring hilles （free from flyes； or the least annoyance）
made a delicate addition to their pleasure。
No sooner were the Tables withdrawne； and all risen： but they fetcht
a few turnings about the vally； because the Sunne was not （as yet）
quite set。 Then in the coole evening； according to the Queenes
appointment： in a soft and gentle pace； they walked homeward： devising
on a thousand occasions； as well those which the dayes discourses
had yeelded； as others of their owne inventing beside。 It was almost
darke night； before they arrived at the Pallace； where； with variety
of choice Wines； and abounding plenty of rare Banquetting； they out
wore the little toile and wearinesse； which the long walke had charged
them withall。 Afterward； according to their wonted order； the
Instruments being brought and played on； they fell to dancing about
the faire Fountaine； Tindaro intruding （now and then） the sound of his
Bagpipe； to make the musicke seeme more melodious。 But in the end； the
Queene commanded Madame Philomena to sing； whereupon the Instruments
being tuned fit for the purpose； thus she began。
THE SONG
THE CHORUS SUNG BY THE WHOLE COMPANY
Wearisome is my life to me；
Because I cannot once againe returne；
Unto the place which made me first to mourne。
Nothing I know； yet feele a powerfull fire；
Burning within my brest；
Through deepe desire；
To be once more where first I felt unrest；
Which cannot be exprest。
O my sole good！ O my best happinesse！
Why am I thus restrainde？
Is there no comfort in this wretchednesse？
Then let me live content； to be thus painde。
Wearisome is my life to me； etc；
I cannot tell what was that rare delight；
Which first enflamde my soule；
And gave command in spight；
That I should find no ease by day or night；
But still live in controule。
I see； I heare； and feele a kinde of blisse；
Yet find no forme at all：
Other in their desire； feele blessednesse；
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 ve