The decameron containing an hundred pleasant nouels. Wittily discoursed, betweene seauen honourable ladies, and three noble gentlemen.

Peronella hid a yong man her friend and Louer, vnder a great brewing Fat, vpon the sodaine returning home of her Husband; who told her, that hee had solde the saide Fat, and brought him that bought it, to carry it away. Peronella replyed, that shee had formerly solde it vnto another, who was now vnderneath it, to see whether it were whole and sound, or no. Where∣upon, he being come forth from vnder it; she caused her Husband to make it neate and cleane, and so the last buryer carried it away.

The Second Nouell.

Wherein is declared, what hard and narrow shifts and distresses, such as bee seriously linked in Loue, are many times enforced to vndergo: According as their owne wit, and capacitie of their surprizers, driue them to in ex∣tremities.

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NOT without much laughter and good liking, was the Tale of Madame Aemillia listened vnto, and both the prayers com∣mended to be sound and soueraigne: but it being ended, the King commaunded Philostratus, that hee should follow next in order, whereupon thus he began.

Deare Ladies, the deceites vsed by men towards your sexe, but espe∣cially Husbands, haue bene so great and many, as when it hath some∣time happened, or yet may, that husbands are required in the self-same kinde: you need not finde fault at any such accident, either by know∣ledge thereof afterward, or hearing the same reported by any one; but rather you should referre it to generall publication, to the end, that im∣modest men may know, and finde it for trueth, that if they haue appre∣hension and capacity; women are therein not a iote inferiour to them.

Which cannot but redound to your great benefite, because, when any one knoweth, that another is a cunning and subtile as himselfe; he will not be so rashly aduenturous in deceite. And who maketh any doubt, that if those sleights and trickes, whereof this dayes argument may giue vs occasion to speake, should afterwardes be put in execution by men: would it not minister iust reason, of punishing themselues for be∣guiling you, knowing, that (if you please) you haue the like abilitie in your owne power? Mine intent therefore is to tell you, what a woman (though but of meane quality) did to her husband, vpon a sodaine, and in a moment (as it were) for her owne safety.

Not long since, there liued in Naples, an honest meane man, who did take to Wife, a fayre and lustie young Woman, being named Peronel∣la. He professing the Trade of a Mason, and shee Carding and Spin∣ning, maintained themselues in a reasonable condition, abating and abounding as their Fortunes serued. It came to passe, that a certayne young man, well obseruing the beauty and good parts of Peronella, be∣came much addicted in affection towardes her: and by his often and secret sollicitations, which he found not to be vnkindely entertayned; his successe proued answerable to his hope, no vnindifferencie appea∣ring in their purposes, but where her estate seemed weakest, his supplies made an addition of more strength.

Now, for their securer meeting, to stand cleare from all matter of scandal or detection, they concluded in this order between themselues. Lazaro, for so was Peronellaes Husband named, being an earely riser e∣uery morning, either to seeke for worke, or to effect it being vnderta∣ken: this amorous friend being therewith acquainted, and standing in some such conuenient place, where hee could see Lazaroes departure from his house, and yet himselfe no way discerned; poore Lazaro was no sooner gone, but presently he enters the house, which stood in a ve∣rie solitarie street, called the Auorio. Many mornings had they thus met together, to their no meane delight and contentation, till one especiall morning among the rest, when Lazaro was gone forth to worke, and Striguario (so was the amorous young man named) visiting Peronella in the house: vpon a very vrgent occasion, Lazaro returned backe againe, quite contrary to his former wont, keeping foorth all day, and neuer comming home till night.

Finding his doore to be fast lockt, and he hauing knockt softlie once or twice, he spake in this manner to himselfe. Fortune I thanke thee, for albeit thou hast made mee poore, yet thou hast bestowed a better blessing on me, in matching me with so good, honest, & louing a Wife. Behold, though I went early out of my house, her selfe hath risen in the cold to shut the doore, to preuent the entrance of theeues, or any other that might offend vs. Peronella hauing heard what her husband sayde, and knowing the manner of his knocke, said fearfully to Striguario. Alas deare friend, what shall wee doe? I am little lesse then a dead Woman: For, Lazaro my Husband is come backe again, and I know not what to

do or say. He neuer returned in this order before now, doubtlesse, hee saw when you entred the doore; and for the safety of your honour and mine: creepe vnder this brewing Fat, till I haue opened the doore, to know the reason of his so soone returning.

Striguario made no delaying of the matter, but got himselfe closelie vnder the Fat, and Peronella opening the doore for her husbands ente∣tance, with a frowning countenance, spake thus vnto him. What mea∣neth this so early returning home againe this morning? It seemeth, thou intendest to do nothing to day, having brought backe thy tooles in thy hands. If such be thine intent, how shall we liue? Where shal we haue bread to fill our bellies? Dooest thou thinke, that I will suffer thee to pawne my gowne, and other poore garments, as heeretofore thou hast done? I that card and spinne both night and day, till I haue worne the flesh from my fingers; yet all will hardly finde oyle to maintaine our Lampe. Husband, husband, there is not one neighbour dwelling by vs, but makes a mockerie of me, and tels me plainly, that I may be asha∣med to drudge and moyle as I do; wondering not a little, how I a••••ble to endure it; and thou returnest home with thy hands in thy hose, as if thou hadst no worke at all to do this day.

Hauing thus spoken, she fell to weeping, and then thus began again. Poore wretched woman as I am, in an vnfortunate houre was I borne, and in a much worse, when I was made thy Wife. I could haue had a proper, handsome yong man; one, that would haue maintained mee braue and gallantly: but, beast as I was, to forgoe my good, and cast my selfe away on such a beggar as thou art, and whom none wold haue had, but such an Asse as I. Other women liue at hearts ease, and in iolli∣ty, haue their amorous friends and louing Paramours, yea, one, two, three at once, making their husbands looke like a Moone cressent, wher∣on they shine Sun-like, with amiable lookes, because they know not how to helpe it: when I (poore foole) liue heere at home a miserable life, not daring once to dreame of such follies, an innocent soule, heartlesse and harmelesse.

Many times, sitting and sighing to my selfe: Lord, thinke I, of what mettall am I made? Why should not I haue a Friend in a corner, aswell as others haue? I am flesh and blood, as they are, not made of brasse or iron, and therefore subiect to womens frailty. I would thou shouldest know it husband, and I tell it thee in good earnest; That if I would doe ill, I could quickely finde a friend at a neede. Gallants there are good store, who (of my knowledge) loue me dearely, and haue made me ve∣ry large and liberall promises, of Golde, Siluer, Iewels, and gay Gar∣ments, if I would extend them the least fauour. But my heart will not suffer me, I neuer was the daughter of such a mother, as had so much as a thought of such matters: no, I thanke our blessed Ladie, and S. Fris∣wid for it: and yet thou returnest home againe, when thou shouldst be at Worke.

Lazaro, who stoode all this while like a well-beleeuing Logger-head,

demurely thus answered. Alas good Wife! I pray you bee not so an∣gry, I neuer had so much as an ill thought of you, but know wel enough what you are, and haue made good proofe thereof this morning. Vn∣derstand therefore patiently (sweet Wife) that I went forth to my work as dayly I vse to do, little dreaming (as I thinke you doe not) that it had bene Holy-day. Wife, this is the Feast day of Saint Galeone; whereon we may in no wise worke, and this is the reason of my so soone retur∣ning. Neuerthelesse (deare Wife) I was not carelesse of our Houshold prouision: For, though we worke not, yet we must haue foode, which I haue prouided for more then a moneth. Wife, I remembred the brew∣ing Fat, whereof wee haue little or no vse at all, but rather it is a trouble to the house, then otherwise. I met with an honest Friend, who stayeth without at the doore, to him I haue sold the Fat for ten Gigliatoes, and he tarrieth to take it away with him.

How Husband? replied Peronella, Why now I am worse offended then before. Thou that art a man, walkest euery where, and shouldst be experi••nced in worldly affaires: wouldst thou bee so simple, as to sell such a brewing Fat for ten Gigliatoes? Why, I that am a poore ignorant woman, a house-Doue, sildome going out of my doore: haue sold it al∣ready for twelue Gigliatoes, to a very honest man, who (euen a little be∣fore thy comming home) came to me, we agreed on the bargaine, and he is now vnderneath the Fat, to see whether it be sound or no. When cre∣dulous Lazaro heard this, he was better contented then euer, and went to him that taried at the doore, saying. Good man, you may goe your way; for, whereas you offered me but ten Gigliatoes for the Fat, my lo∣uing wife hath sold it for twelue, and I must maintaine what shee hath done: so the man departed, and the variance ended.

Peronella then saide to her husband. Seeing thou art come home so luckily, helpe me to lift vp the Fat, that the man may come foorth, and then you two end the bargaine together. Striguario▪ who thogh he was mewed vp vnder the tubbe, had his eares open enough; and hearing the witty excuse of Peronella, tooke himselfe free from future feare: and be∣ing come from vnder the Fat, pretending also, as if he had herd nothing, nor saw Lazaro, looking round about him, said. Where is this good wo∣man? Lazaro stepping forth boldly like a man, replyed: Heere am I, what wold you haue Sir? Thou? quoth Striguario, what art thou? I ask for the good wife, with whom I made my match for the Fat. Honest Gentleman (answered Lazaro) I am that honest Womans Husband, for lacke of a better, and I will maintaine whatsoeuer my Wife hath done.

I crie you mercie Sir, replyed Striguario, I bargained with your Wife for this brewing Fat, which I finde to be whole and sound: only it is vn∣cleane within, hard crusted with some dry soile vpon it, which I know not well how to get off, if you will be the meanes of making it cleane, I haue the money heere ready for it. For that Sir (quoth Peronella) take you no care, although no match at all had beene made, what serues my

Husband for, but to make it cleane? Yes forsooth Sir, answered sily La∣zaro, you shall haue it neate and cleane before you pay the mony.

So, stripping himselfe into his shirt, lighting a Candle, and taking tooles fit for the purpose; the Fat was whelmed ouer him, and he being within it, wrought vntill he sweated, with scraping and scrubbing. So that these poore Louers, what they could not accomplish as they wold, necessity enforced them to performe as they might. And Peronella, loo∣king in at the vent-hole, where the Liquor runneth forth for the mesh∣ing; seemed to instruct her husband in the businesse, as espying those parts where the Fat was fowlest, saying: There, there Lazaro, tickle it there, the Gentleman payes well for it, and is worthy to haue it: but see thou do thy selfe no harme good Husband. I warrant thee Wife, an∣swered Lazaro, hurt not your selfe with leaning your stomacke on the Fat, and leaue the cleansing of it to me. To be breefe, the Brewing Fat was neatly cleansed, Peronella and Striguario both well pleased, the mo∣ney paide, and honest meaning Lazaro not discontented.

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