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

Talano de Molese dreamed, That a Wolfe rent and tore his wiues face and throate. Which dreame he told to her, with aduise to keep her selfe out of danger; which she refusing to doe, receiued vvhat follo∣wed.

The Seuenth Nouell.

Whereby (with some indifferent reason) it is concluded, that Dreames do not alwayes fall out to be leasings.

[illustration]

BY the conclusion of Pamphilus his Nouel, wherein the wo∣mans ready wit, at a time of such necessity, carried deser∣ued commendations: the Queen gaue command to Ma∣dam Pampinea, that she should next begin with hers, and so she did, in this manner. In some discourses (gracious Ladies) already past among vs, the truth of apparitions in dreames hath partly bin ap∣proued, whereof very many haue made a mockery. Neuerthelesse, whatsoeuer hath heeretofore bin sayde, I purpose to acquaint you with a very short Nouell, of a strange accident happening vnto a neighbour of mine, in not crediting a Dreame which her Husband told her.

I cannot tell, whether you knew Talano de Molese, or no, a man of much honour, who tooke to wife a yong Gentlewoman, named Margarita, as beautifull as the best: but yet so peeuish, scornefull,

and fantasticall, that she disdained any good aduice giuen her; ney∣ther could any thing be done, to cause her contentment; which ab∣surd humors were highly displeasing to her husband: but in regard he knew not how to helpe it, constrainedly he did endure it. It came to passe, that Talano being with his wife, at a summer-house of his owne in the country, he dreamed one night, that he saw his Wife walking in a faire wood, which adioyned neere vnto his house, and while she thus continued there, he seemed to see issue foorth from a corner of the said Wood, a great and furious Wolfe, which lea∣ping sodainly on her, caught her hy the face and throate, drawing her downe to the earth, and offering to drag her thence. But he cry∣ing out for helpe, recouered her from the Wolfe, yet hauing her face and throat very pitifully rent and torne.

In regard of this terrifying dreame, when Talano was risen in the morning, and sate conuersing with his wife, he spake thus vnto hir. Woman, although thy froward wilfull Nature be such, as hath not permitted me one pleasing day with thee, since first we becam man and wife, but rather my life hath bene most tedious to me, as fearing still some mischeefe should happen to thee: yet let mee now in lo∣uing manner aduise thee, to follow my counsell, and (this day) not to walke abroad out of this house. She demanded a reason for this aduice of his. He related to her euery particular of his dreame, ad∣ding with all these speeches.

True it is Wife (quoth he) that little credit should bee giuen to dreames: neuerthelesse, when they deliuer aduertisement of harmes to ensue, there is nothing lost by shunning and auoiding them. She fleering in his face, and shaking her head at him, replyed. Such harmes as thou wishest, such thou dreamest of. Thou pretendest much pittie and care of me, but all to no other end: but what mis∣cheefes thou dreamest happening vnto mee, so wouldest thou see them effected on me. Wherefore, I will well enough looke to my selfe, both this day, and at all times else: because thou shalt neuer make thy selfe merry, with any such misfortune as thou wishest vn∣to me.

Well Wife, answered Talano, I knew well enough before, what thou wouldst say: An vnsound head is soone scratcht with the very gentlest Combe: but beleeue as thou pleasest. As for my selfe, I speake with a true and honest meaning soule, and once againe I do aduise thee, to keepe within our doores all this day: at least wise be∣ware, that thou walke not into our wood, bee it but in regard of my dreame. Well sir (quoth she scoffingly) once you shall say, I follow∣ed your counsell: but within her selfe she fell to this murmuring. Now I perceiue my husbands cunning colouring, & why I must not

walke this day into our wood: he hath made a compact with some common Queane, closely to haue her company there, and is afraide least I shold take them tardy. Belike he would haue me feed among blinde folke, and I were worthy to bee thought a starke foole, if I should not preuent a manifest trechery, being intended against me. Go thither therefore I will, and tarry there all the whole day long; but I will meet with him in his merchandize, and see the Pink wher∣in he aduentures.

After this her secret consultation, her husband was no sooner gone forth at one doore, but shee did the like at another, yet so se∣cretly as possibly she could deuise to doe, and (without any delay∣ing) she went to the Wood, wherein she hid her selfe very closely, among the thickest of the bushes, yet could discerne euery way a∣bout her, if any body should offer to passe by her. While shee kept her selfe in this concealment, suspecting other mysterious matters, as her idle imagination had tutord her, rather then the danger of a∣ny Wolfe: out of a brakie thicket by her, sodainly rushed a huge & dreadfull Wolfe, as hauing found her by the sent, mounting vppe, and grasping her throat in his mouth, before she saw him, or could call to heauen for mercy.

Being thus seised of her, he carried her as lightly away, as if shee had bin no heauier then a Lambe, she being (by no meanes) able to cry, because he held her so fast by the throate, and hindred any hel∣ping of her selfe. As the Wolfe carried her thus from thence he had quite strangled her, if certaine Shepheards had not met him, who with their outcries and exclaimes at the Wolfe, caused him to let her fall, and hast away to saue his owne life. Notwithstanding the harme done to her throat and face, the shepheards knew her, and caried her home to her house, where she remained a long while af∣ter, carefully attended by Physitians and Chirurgians.

Now, although they were very expert and cunning men all, yet could they not so perfectly cure her, but both her throate, and part of her face were so blemished, that whereas she seemed a rare crea∣ture before, she was now deformed and much vnsightly. In regard of which strange alteration, being ashamed to shew her selfe in any place, where formerly she had bene seene: she spent her time in sor∣row and mourning, repenting her insolent and scornfull carriage, as also her rash running forth into danger, vpon a foolish and iealous surmise, beleeuing her husbands dreames the better for euer after.