them up againe。
The Physitian laboured to excuse himselfe； declaring his misfortunes
at large； and into what a filthy place he was throwne。 It maketh no
matter （answered Buffalmaco） I would you had bin throwen from off
the Bridge into Arno； where you might have beene recommended to the
Divell and all his Saints。 Did not I tell you so much before。 In
good sadnesse （quoth the Doctor） I neyther commended my selfe to
God； nor any of his Saints。 How？ sayde Buffalmaco； I am sure you
will not maintaine an untruth； you used a kind of recommendation：
for our messenger told us； that you talked of God； S。 Dominicke； and
your good Angell； whom you desired to assist you； being so
affrighted with feare； that you trembled like a leafe upon a tree； not
knowing indeede where you were。 Thus have you unfaithfully dealt
with us； as never any man shall doe the like againe； in seeking
honour； and losing it through your own negligence。
Master Doctor humbly entreated pardon； and that they would not
revile him any more； labouring to appease them by the best words he
could use； as fearing least they should publish this great disgrace of
him。 And whereas （before） he gave them gracious welcomes； now he
redoubled them with farre greater courtesies； feasting them daily at
his own table； and evermore delighting in their company。 Thus （as
you have heard） two poore Painters of Florence； taught Master Doctor
better Wit； then all the Learned at Bologna。
THE EIGHT DAY； THE TENTH NOVELL
WHEREBY APPEARETH； THAT SUCH AS MEET WITH CUNNING HARLOTS； AND
SUFFER THEMSELVES TO BE DECEIVED BY THEM： MUST SHARPEN THEIR WITS；
TO MAKE THEM REQUITALL IN THE SELFESAME KINDE
A Cicilian Courtezane； named Madame Biancafiore； by her craftie
wit and policie； deceived a young Merchant； called Salabetto； of all
the money he had taken for his Wares at Palermo。 Afterward； he
making shew of comming hither againe； with farre richer Merchandises
then hee brought before： made the meanes to borrow a great summe of
Money of her； leaving her so base a pawne； as well requited her for
her former cozenage。
Needlesse it were to question； whether the Novell related by the
Queene； in divers passages thereof； mooved the Ladies to hearty
laughter； and likewise to compassionate sighes and teares； as pittying
Madame Helena in her hard misfortune； and yet applauding the
Scholler for his just revenge。 But the discourse being ended； Dioneus；
who knew it was his Office to be the last speaker every day； after
silence was commanded； he began in this manner。
Worthy Ladies； it is a matter very manifest； that deceits do appeare
so much the more pleasing； when （by the selfesame meanes） the subtle
deceyver is artificially deceived。 In which respect； though you all
have reported very singular deceits： yet I meane to tel you one；
that may prove as pleasing to you； as any of your owne。 And so much
the rather； because the woman deceived； was a great and cunning
Mistris in beguiling others； equalling （if not excelling） any of
your former beguilers。
It hath bene observed heretofore； and （happily） at this very day
it is as frequent； that in all Cities and Townes upon the Seacoasts；
having Ports for the benefit and venting Merchandises； Merchants use
to bring their wealthy laden Vessels thither。 And when they unlade any
Ship of great fraught； there are prepared Store…houses； which in
many places are called Magazines or Doganaes； at the charge of the
Communalty； or Lord of the Towne or City； for the use whereof； they
receive yearly gain and benefit。 Into those warehouses； they deliver
（under writing； and to the owners of them in especiall charge） all
their goods and merchandises； of what price or valew soever they are。
Such as be the Owners of these Magazines； when the Wares are thus
stored uppe in them； doe safely locke them up there with their
keyes； having first registred downe truly all the goods； in the
Register belonging to the Custome…house； that the Merchant may have
a just account rendred him； and the rights payed to the
Customehouse； according to the Register； and as they are either in
part； or in all made sale of。
Brokers are continually there attending； being informed in the
quality of the Merchandises stored； and likewise to what Merchants
they appertaine： by meanes of these men； and according as the goods
come to their hands； they devise to have them exchaunged； trucked；
vented； and such other kinds of dispatches； answerable to the mens
minds； and worth of the Commodities。 As in many other Kingdomes and
Countries； so was this custome observed at Palermo in Sicily； where
likewise then were； and （no doubt） now adayes are； store of Women；
faire and comely of person； but yet vowed enemies to honesty。
Neverthelesse； by such as know them not； they are held and reputed
to be blamelesse Women； and by yeilding their bodyes unto generall
use； are the occasion of infinite misfortunes to men。 For so soone
as they espy a Merchant…stranger there arrived； they win information
from the Booke belonging to the Magazin； what wares are therein
stored； of what valew they bee； and who is the Owner of them。
Afterwards； by amorous actions； and affable speeches； they allure yong
Merchants to take knowledge of them； to bee familiar in their company；
till from some they get most part of their wealth； from others all。
Nay； divers have gone so farre； as to make Port…sale of Ship； Goods；
and Person； so cunningly they have bene shaven by these Barbers； and
yet without any Razor。
It came to passe； and no long time since； that a young Florentine of
ours； named Niccolo de Cignano； but more usually called Salabetto；
imployed as Factor for his Maister； arrived at Palermo； his Ship
stored with many Woollen Cloathes； a remainder of such as had bin sold
at the Mart of Salerno； amounting in valew to above five hundred
Florines of Gold。 When he had given in his packet to the
Custome…house； and made them up safe in his Warehouse； without
making shew of desiring any speedy dispatch； he delighted to view
all parts of the City； as mens minds are continuallie addicted to
Novelties。 He being a very faire and affable yong man； easie to kindle
affection in a very modest eie： it fortuned； that a Courtezane； one of
our before remembred shavers； who termed hir selfe Madame Biancafiore；
having heard somewhat concerning his affairs； beganne to dart
amorous glances at him。 Which the indiscreete youth perceyving； and
thinking her to be some great Lady： began also to grow halfe
perswaded； that his comely person was pleasing to her and therefore he
would carrie this good fortune of his somewhat cautelously。
Without imparting his mind unto any one； he would daily passe too
and fro before her doore； which she observing； and having
indifferently wounded him with her wanton piercing lookes： she began
to use the first tricke of her Trade； by pretending her enflamed
affection towards him； which made her pine and consume away in care；
except he might be moved to pitty her。 Whereupon； she sent one of
her Pandoraes unto him； perfectly instructed in the Art of a
Maquerella； who （after many cunning counterfetted sighes； and
teares； which she had alwayes ready at command） told him that his
comely person and compleate perfections； had so wounded the very soule
of her Mistresse； as she could enjoy no rest in any place； either by
day or night。 In regard whereof； she desired （above all things else）
to meete with him privately in a Bathe： with which Wordes； she
straightway tooke a Ring forth of her pursse； and in most humble
manner； delivered it unto him； as a token from her Mistresse。
Salabetto having heard this Message； was the onely joyfull man
that could be： and having receyved the Ring； looking on it
advisedly； first kissed it； and then put it upon his finger。 Then in
answer to the Messenger； he sayd： That if her Mistresse Biancafiore
affected him； she sustained no losse thereby； in regard he loved her
as fervently； and was ready to be commanded by her； at any time
whensoever she pleased。
She having delivered this message to her Mistresse； was presently
returned backe againe to him； to let him understand； in which of the
Bathes she meant to meet him； on the next morrow in the evening。
This being counsell for himselfe onely to keepe； he imparted it not to
any friend whatsoever； but when the houre for their meeting was
come； he went unto the place where he was appointed； a Bathe
（belike） best agreeing with such businesse。
Not long had he taried there； but two Women slaves came laden to
him； the one bearing a Mattresse of fine Fustian on hir head； and
the other a great Basket filled with many things。 Having spred the
Mattresse in a faire Chamber on a Couch…bed； they covered it with
delicate white Linnen sheets； all about embroidred with faire
Fringes of gold； then laid they on costly quilts of rich Silkes；
artificially wrought with gold and silver knots； having pearles and
precious stones interwoven among them； and two such rich pillowes；
as sildome before had the like bin seene。 Salabetto putting off his
garments； entred the Bath prepared for him； where the two Slaves
washed his body very neatly。 Soone after came Biancafiore hirselfe；
attended on by two other women slaves； and seeing Salabetto in the
Bathe； making him a lowly reverence； breathing forth infinite
dissembled sighes； and teares trickling downe her cheekes； kissing and
embracing him； thus she spake。
I know not what man else in the worlde； beside thy selfe； could have
the power to bring me hither： the fire flew from thy faire eies （O
thou incompareable lovely Tuscane） that melted my soule； and makes
me onely live at thy command。 Then hurling off her light wearing
garment （because she came prepared for the purpose） shee stept into
the bathe to him； and； not permitting the Slaves a…while to come
neere； none but her selfe must now lave his body； with Muske
compounded Sope and Gilly…floures。 Afterward； the slaves washed both
him and her； bringing two goodly sheetes； softe and white； yeelding
such a delicate smell of Roses； even as if they had bene made of
Rose…leaves。 In the one； they folded Salabetto； a