rise blushing red； when the Queene （and all the faire company） were
come abroad forth of their Chambers； the Seneshall or great Master
of the Houshold； having （long before）； sent all things necessary to
the place of their next intended meeting。 And the people which
prepared there every needfull matter； suddainely when they saw the
Queene was setting forward； charged all the rest of their followers；
as if it had beene prepatation for a Campe； to make hast away with the
carriages； the rest of the Familie remaining behind； to attend upon
the Ladies and Gentlemen。
With a milde； majesticke； and gentle pace； the Queene rode on； being
followed by the other Ladies； and the three young Gentlemen； taking
their way towards the West； conducted by the musicall notes of
sweete singing Nightingales； and infinite other pretty Birds beside；
riding in a tract not much frequented； but richly abounding with faire
hearbes and flowres； which by reason of the Sunnes high mounting；
beganne to open their bosome。
But； after the dayes warmth was more mildely qualified； and every
one had made benefit of their best content： they went （by order sent
from the Queene） into the Meadow where the Fountaine stood； and
being set about it； as they used to do in telling their Tales （the
argument appointed by the Queene being propounded） the first that
had the charge imposed； was Philostratus； who began in this manner。
THE THIRD DAY； THE FIRST NOVELL
WHEREIN IS DECLARED； THAT VIRGINITY IS VERY HARDLY TO BE
KEPT IN ALL PLACES
Massetto di Lamporechio； by counterfetting himselfe to be dumbe；
became a Gardiner in a Monastery of Nunnes； where he had familiar
conversation with them all。
Most worthy Ladies； there wants no store of men and women； that
are so simple； as to credit for a certainty； that so soon as a yong
virgin hath the veile put on hir head； and the black Cowle given to
cover withall； she is no longer a woman； nor more sensible of feminine
affections； then as if in turning Nun； shee became converted to a
stone。 And if （perchance） they heard some matters； contrary to their
former perswasion； then they grow so furiously offended； as if one had
committed a most foule and enormous sinne； directly against the course
of Nature。 And the torrent of this opinion burries them on so
violently； that they wil admit no leisure to consider； how （in such
a scope of liberty） they have power to doe what they list； yea
beyond all meanes of sufficient satisfying； never remembring how
potent the priviledge of idlenes is； especially when it is backt by
solitude。 In like manner； there are other people now； who verily
beleeve； that the Spade and Pickaxe； grosse feeding and labour； do
quench al sensual and fleshly concupiscence； yea； in such as till
and husband the ground； by making them dull； blockish； and （almost）
meere senslesse of understanding。 But I will approve （according as the
Queene hath commanded me； and within the compasse of her direction） by
a short and pleasant Tale； how greatly they are abused by errour； that
build upon so weake a foundation。
Not farre from Alexandria； there was a great and goodly
Monasterie； belonging to the Lord of those parts； who is termed the
Admirall。 And therein； under the care and trust of one woman； divers
virgins were kept as recluses； or Nuns； vowed to chastity of life； out
of whose number； the Soldan of Babylon （under whom they lived in
subjection） at every three yeers end； had usually three of these
virgins sent him。 At the time wherof I am now to speake； there
remained in the Monastery； no more but eight religious Sisters only；
beside the Lady Abbesse； and an honest poor man； who was a Gardiner；
and kept the Garden in commendable order。
His wages being small； and he not well contented therewith； would
serve there no longer： but making his accounts even； with the Factotum
or Bayliffe belonging to the house； returned thence to the village
of Lamporechio； being a native of the place。 Among many other that
gave him welcom home； was a yong Hebrew pezant of the country； sturdy；
strong and yet comely of person； being named Masset。 But because he
was born not farre off from Lamporechio； and had there bin brought
up all his yonger dayes； his name of Masset （according to their vulgar
speech） was turnec to Massetto； and therefore he was usually called
and knowne by the name of Massetto of Lamporechio。
Massetto； falling in talke with the honest poore man； whose name was
Lurco； demanded of him what services hee had done in the Monasterie；
having continued there so long a time？ Quoth Lurco； I laboured in
the Garden； which is very faire and great； then I went to the Forest
to fetch home wood； and cleft it for their Chamber fuell； drawing up
all theyr water beside； with many other toilsome services else： but
the allowance of my wages was so little； as it would not pay for the
shoes I wore。 And that which was worst of all； they being all women； I
thinke the divel dwels among g them； for a man cannot doe any thing to
please them。 When I have bene busie at my worke in the garden； one
would come and say； Put this heere； put that there； and others would
take the dibble out of my hand； telling me； that I did not performe
any thing well； making me so weary of their continuall trifling； as
I have lefte all busines； given over the Garden； and what for one
mollestation； as also many other； I intended to tarry no longer there；
but came away； as thou seest。 And yet the Factotum desired me at my
departing； that if I knew any one who would undertake the aforesaid
labours； I should send him thither； as （indeed） I promised to do：
but let mee fall sicke and dye； before I helpe to send them any。
When Massetto had heard the words of Lurco； hee was so desirous to
dwell among the Nunnes； that nothing else now hammered in his head：
for he meant more subtilly than poore Lurco did； and made no doubt
to please them sufficiently。 Then considering with himselfe； how
best he might bring his intent to effect； which appeared not easily to
bee done。 He could question no further therein with Lurco； but onely
demaunded other matter of him； saying： Introth thou didst well
Lurco； to come away from so tedious a dwelling； had he need to be more
then a man that is to live with such women？ It were better for him
to dwell among so many divels； because they understand not the tenth
part that womens wily wits can dive into。
After their conference was ended； Massetto began to beate his
braines how he might compasse to dwell among them； and knowing that he
could wel enough performe all the labours whereof Lurco had made
mention； he cared not for any losse he should sustaine thereby； but
onely stood in doubt of his entertainment； because he was too yong and
sprightly。 Having pondered on many imaginations； he said to
himselfe。 The place is farre enough distant hence； and none there
can take knowledge of mee； if I have wit sufficient； cleanely to
make them beleeve that I am dumbe； then （questionles） I shal be
received。 And resolving to prosecute this determination； he tooke a
Spade on his shoulder； and without revealing to any body whether hee
went； in the disguise of a poore labouring Countryman； he travelled to
the Monastery。
When he was there arrived； he found the great gate open； and
entering in boldly； it was his good hap to espy the Fac…totum in the
court； according as Lurco had given description of him。 Making
signes before him； as if he were both dumbe and deafe； he
manifested； that he craved an Almes for Gods sake； making shewes
beside； that if need required； he could cleave wood； or doe any
reasonable kinde of service。 The Factotum gladly gave him food； and
afterward shewed him divers knotty logs of wood； which the weake
strength of Lurco had left uncloven； but this fellow being more active
and lusty； quickly rent them all to pieces。 Now it so fell out； that
the Fac…totum must needs go to the Forrest； and tooke Massetto along
with him thither： where causing him to fell divers Trees； by signes he
bad him to the two Asses therewith； which commonly carried home all
the wood； and so drive them to the Monasterie before him； which
Massetto knew well enough how to do； and performed it very
effectually。
Many other servile Offices were there to bee done； which caused
the Fac…totum to make use of his paines divers other dayes beside；
in which time； the Lady Abbesse chancing to see him； demanded of the
Factotum what he was？ Madani （quoth hee） a poore labouring man； who is
both deafe and dumbe； hither he came to crave an almes the other
day； the which in charity I could do no lesse but give him； for which；
hee hath done many honest services about the house。 It seemes
beside； that hee hath pretty skill in Gardening； so that if I can
perswade him to continue here； I make no question of his able
services： for the old silly man is gon； and we have need of such a
stout fellow； to do the busines belonging to the Monastery； and one
fitter for the turne； comes sildome hither。 Moreover； in regard of his
double imperfections； the Sisters can sustaine no impeachment by
him。 Whereto the Abbesse answered； saying； By the faith of my body；
you speake but the truth： understand then； if hee have any knowledge
in Gardening； and whether hee will dwell heere； or no： which
compasse so kindly as you can。 Let him have a new paire of shoes； fill
his belly daily full of meate； flatter； and make much of him； for
wee shall finde him worke enough to do。 All which； the Fac…totum
promised to fulfill sufficiently。
Massetto； who was not far off from them all this while； but seemed
seriously busied about sweeping and making cleane the Court； heard all
these speeches； and being not a little joyfull of them； said to
himselfe。 If once I come to worke in your Garden； let the proofe yeeld
praise of my skill and knowledge。 When the Fac…totum perceived； that
he knew perfectly how to undergo his businesse； and had questioned him
by signes； concerning his willingnesse to serve there still； and
received the like answere also； of his dutifull readinesse thereto； he
gave him order to worke in the Garden； because the