away the potte of Basile from her； for which she made infinite
wofull lamentations； earnestly entreating to have it restored
againe； avouching that she could not live without it。
Perceiving that she could not have the pot againe； she fell into
an extreame sicknesse； occasioned onely by her ceaselesse weeping： and
never urged she to have any thing； but the restoring of her Basile
pot。 Her brethren grew greatly amazed thereat； because she never
called
for ought else beside； and thereupon were very desirous to ransacke
the pot to the very bottome。 Having emptied out all the earth； they
found the Scarfe of silke； wherein the head of Lorenzo was wrapped；
which was （as yet） not so much consumed； but by the lockes of haire；
they knew it to be Lorenzoes head； whereat they became confounded with
amazement。
Fearing least their offence might come to open publication； they
buried it very secretly； and； before any could take notice thereof；
they departed from Messina； and went to dwell in Naples； Isabella
crying and calling still for her pot of Basile； being unable to give
over mourning； dyed within a few dayes after。 Thus have you heard
the hard fate of poore Lorenzo and his Isabella。 Within no long
while after； when this accident came to be publikely knowne； an
excellent ditty was composed thereof beginning thus。
Cruell and unkinde was the Christian；
That robd me of my Basiles blisse； etc。
THE FOURTH DAY； THE SIXTH NOVELL
DESCRIBING THE ADMIRABLE ACCIDENTS OF FORTUNE； AND THE
MIGHTY PREVAILING； POWER OF LOVE POWER OF LOVE
A beautifull young Virgine； named Andreana； became enamoured of a
young Gentleman called Gabriello。 In conference together； she declared
a dreame of hers to him； and he another of his to her； whereupon
Gabriello fell downe sodainly dead in her armes。 She； and her
Chamber…maide were apprehended； by the Officers belonging to the
Seigneury； as they were carrying Gabriello； to lay him before his owne
doore。 The Potestate offering violence to the Virgin； and she
resisting him vertuously： it came to the understanding of her
Father； who approved the innocence of his daughter； and compassed
her deliverance。 But she afterward； being weary of all worldly
felicities； entred into Religion； and became a Nun。
The Novell which Madam Philomena had so graciously related； was
highly pleasing unto the other Ladies； because they had oftentimes
heard the Song； without knowing who made it or upon what occasion it
was composed。 But when the King saw that the Tale was ended： he
commanded Pamphilus； that he should follow in his due course：
whereupon he spake thus。
The dreame already recounted in the last Novell； doth minister
matter to me； to make report of another Tale； wherein mention is
made of two severall dreames； which divined as well what was to ensue；
as the other did what had hapned before。 And no sooner were they
finished in the relation； by both the parties which had formerly
dreampt them； but the effects of both as soddainly followed。
Worthy Ladies； I am sure it is not unknowne to you； that it is；
and hath bene a generall passion； to all men and women living； to
see divers and sundry things while they are sleeping。 And although （to
the sleeper） they seeme most certaine； so that when he awaketh； he
judgeth the trueth of some； the likelyhood of others； and some
beyond all possibility of truth： yet notwithstanding； many dreames
have bene observed to happen； and very strangely have come to passe。
And this hath bene a grounded reason for some men； to give as great
credit to such things as they see sleeping； as they do to others
usually waking。 So that； according unto their dreames； and as they
make construction of them； that are sadly distasted； or merrily
pleased； even as （by them） they either feare or hope。 On the contrary；
there are some； who will not credit any dreame whatsoever； untill they
be falne into the very same danger which formerly they saw； and most
evidently in their sleepe。
I meane not to commend either the one or other； because they do
not alwayes fall out to be true； neither are they at all times
lyars。 Now； that they prove not all to be true； we can best testifie
to our selves。 And that they are not alwayes lyars； hath already
sufficiently bene manifested； by the Discourse of Madame Philomena；
and as you shall perceive by mine owne； which next commeth in order to
salute you。 Wherefore； I am of this opinion； that in matters of good
life； and performing honest actions； no dreame is to be feared
presaging the contrary； neither are good works any way to be hindred
by them。 Likewise； in matters of bad and wicked quality； although
our dreames may appeare favourable to us； and our visions flatter us
with prosperous successe： yet let us give no credence unto the best；
nor addict our minds to them of contrary Nature。 And now we wil。
proceed to our Novell。
In the Citie of Brescia； there lived somtime a Gentleman； named
Messer Negro da Ponte Cararo； who （among many other children） had a
daughter called Andreana； yong； and beautifull； but as yet
unmarried。 It fortuned； that shee fell in love with a Neighbour； named
Gabriello； a comely young Gentleman； of affable complexion； and
graciously conditioned。 Which love was （with like kindenesse）
welcommed and entertained by him； and by the furtherance of her
Chamber…maide； it was so cunningly carried； that in the Garden
belonging to Andreanaes Father； she had many meetings with her
Gabriello。 And solemne vowes being mutually passed betweene them； that
nothing but death could alter their affection： by such ceremonious
words as are used in marriage； they maried themselves secretly
together； and continued their stolne chaste pleasures with equall
contentment to them both。
It came to passe； that Andreana sleeping in her bed； dreamed； that
shee met with Gabriello in the Garden； where they both embracing
lovingly together； she seemed to see a thing blacke and terrible；
which sodainely issued forth of his body； but the shape therof she
could not comprehend。 It rudely seized upon Gabriello； and in despight
of her utmost strength； with incredible force snatched him out of
her armes； and sinking with him into the earth； they never after did
see one another。 Whereupon； overcome with extremity of greefe and
sorrow； presently she awaked； being then not a little joyfull； that
she found no such matter as she feared； yet continued very doubtfull
of her dreame。 In regard whereof； Gabriello being desirous to visite
her the night following： she laboured very diligently to hinder his
comming to her； yet knowing his loyall affection toward her； and
fearing least he should grow suspitious of some other matter； she
welcommed him into the Garden； where gathering both white and
Damaske Roses （according to the nature of the season） at length；
they sate downe by a very goodly Fountaine； which stoode in the
middest of the Garden。
After some small familiar Discourse passing betweene them； Gabriello
demanded of her； upon what occasion shee denyed his comming thither
the night before； and by such a sodaine unexpected admonition？
Andreana told him； that it was in regard of a horrid Dreame； wherewith
her soule was perplexed the precedent night； and doubt what might
ensue thereon。 Gabriello hearing this； began to smile； affirming to
her； that it was an especial note of folly； to give any credit to idle
dreames： because （oftentimes） they are caused by excesse of feeding；
and continually are observed to be meere lyes。 For （quoth he） if I had
any superstitious beleefe of Dreames； I should not then have come
hither now： yet not so much as being dismayed by your dreame； but
for another of mine owne； which I am the more willing to acquaint
you withall。
Me thought； I was in a goodly delightfull Forrest； in the Noble
exercise of sportfull hunting； and became there possessed of a young
Hinde； the verie loveliest and most pleasing beast that was ever
seene。 It seemed to be as white as snow； and grew （in a short while）
so familiar with me； that by no meanes it would forsake mee。 I could
not but accept this rare kindnes in the beast； and fearing least I
should loose it； I put a collar of Gold about the necke thereof； and
fastned it into a chaine of Gold also； which then I held strongly in
my hand。 The blind afterward couched downe by me； laying his head
mildely in my lap； and on the sodaine； a black Grey…hound bitch came
rushing； on us （but whence； or how； I could not imagine） seeming halfe
hunger…starved； and very ugly to looke upon。 At me she made her full
carreere； without any power in me of resistance； and putting her mouth
into the left side of my bosom； griped it so mainly with her teeth；
that （me thought） I felt my heart quite bitten through； and she tugged
on still； to take it wholly away from me； by which imagined paine
and anguish I felt； instantly I awaked。 Laying then my hand upon my
side； to know whether any such harme had befalne me； or no； and
finding none； I smiled at mine owne folly； in making such a
frivolous and idle search。 What can be said then in these or the
like cases？
Divers times I have had as ill seeming dreames； yea； and much more
to be feared； yet never any thing hurtfull to me； followed thereon；
and therefore I have alwayes made the lesse account of them。
The young Maiden； who was still dismayed by her owne Dreame；
became much more afflicted in her minde； when shee had heard this
other reported by Gabriello： but yet to give him no occasion of
distast； she bare it out in the best manner she could devise to doe。
And albeit they spent the time in much pleasing discourse；
maintained with infinite sweete kisses on either side： yet was she
still suspitious； but knew not whereof； fixing her eyes oftentimes
upon his face； and throwing strange lookes to all parts of the Garden；
to catch hold on any such blacke ugly sight； whereof he had formerly
made description to her。 As thus she continued in these afflicting
feares； it fortuned； that Gabriello sodainly breathing forth a very
vehement sighe； and throwing his armes fast about her； said： O helpe
me dear Love； or else I dye； and； in