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but stop her nose； as if all men or women she met withall； and
whatsoever else she lookt on； were stinking and offensive。 But let
us leave all further relation of her ill conditions； being every way
（indeed） so bad； and hardly becomming any sensible body； that we
cannot condemne them so much as we should。
It chanced upon a day； that shee comming home to the house where her
Unckle dwelt； declared her wonted scurvy and scornfull behaviour；
swelling； puffing； and pouting extreamly； in which humor she sat downe
by her Unckle； who desiring to know what had displeased her； said。 Why
how now Francesca？ what may the meaning of this bee？ This being a
solemne festivall day； what is the reason of your so soone returning
home？ She coily biting the lip； and brideling her head； as if she
had bene some mans best Gelding； sprucely thus replyed。
Indeede you say true Unckle； I am come home verie earely； because；
since the day of my birth； I never saw a City so pestered with
unhandsome people； both men and women； and worse this high Holyday；
then ever I did observe before。 I walked thorow some store of
streetes； and I could not see one proper man： and as for the women；
they are the most mishapen and ugly creatures； that； if God had made
me such an one； I should be sory that ever I was borne。 And being no
longer able to endure such unpleasing sights； you wil not thinke
（Unckle） in what an anger I am come home。 Fresco； to whome these
stinking qualities of his Neece seemed so unsufferable； that hee could
not （with patience） endure them any longer； thus short and quickely
answered。 Francesca； if all people of our Citie （both men and women）
be so odious in thy eyes； and offensive to thy nose； as thou hast
often reported to me： bee advised then by my counsell。 Stay stil at
home； and look upon none but thy selfe onely； and then thou shalt be
sure that they cannot displease thee。 But shee； being as empty of
wit as a pith…lesse Cane； and yet thought her judgement to exceed
Salomons； could not understand the lest part of hir Unkles meaning；
but stood as senselesse as a sheepe。 Onely she replyed； that she would
resort to some other parts of the country； which if shee found as
weakly furnished of handsome people； as heere shee did； shee would
conceive better of her selfe； then ever she had done before。
THE SIXT DAY； THE NINTH NOVELL
NOTABLY DISCOVERING THE GREAT DIFFERENCE THAT IS BETWEENE
LEARNING AND IGNORANCE； UPON JUDICIOUS APPREHENSION
Signior Guido Cavalcante； with a sodaine and witty answer；
reprehended the rash folly of certaine Florentine Gentlemen； that
thought to scorne and flout him。
When the Queene perceived； that Madame Aemillia was discharged of
her Novell； and none remained now to speake next； but onely her selfe；
his priviledge alwayes remembred； to whom it belonged to be the
last； she began in this manner。
Faire Company； you have this day disappointed me of two Novells at
the least； whereof I had intended to make use。 Neverthelesse； you
shall not imagine mee so unfurnished； but that I have left one in
store； the conclusion whereof； may minister such instruction； as
will not bee reputed for ydle and impertinent： but rather of such
materiall consequence； as better hath not this day past among us。
Understand then （most faire Ladies） that in former times long
since past； our Cittie had many excellent and commendable customes
in it； whereof （in these unhappy dayes of ours） we cannot say that
poore one remaineth； such hath beene the too much encrease of Wealth
and Covetousnesse； the onely supplanters of all good qualities
whatsoever。 Among which lawdable and friendly observations； there
was one well deserving note； namely； that in divers places of
Florence； men of the best houses in every quarter； had a sociable
and neighbourly assemblie together； creating their company to
consist of a certaine number； such as were able to supply their
expences； as this day one； and to morrow another： and thus in a
kinde of friendly course； each dally furnished the Table； for the rest
of the company。 Oftentimes； they did honour to divers Gentlemen and
strangers； upon their arrivall in our Citty； by inviting them into
their assembly； and many of our worthiest Citizens beside； so that
it grew to a customary use； and one especially day in the yeare
appointed； in memory of this so loving a meeting； when they would ride
（triumphally as it were） on horsebacke thorow the Cittie； sometimes
performing Tilts； Tourneyes； and other Martiall exercises； but they
were reserved for Feastivall dayes。
Among which company； there was one called； Signior Betto
Bruneleschi； who was earnestly desirous； to procure Signior Guido
Cavalcante de Cavalcanti； to make one in this their friendly
society。 And not without great reason： for； over and beside his
being one of the best Logitians as those times could not yeeld a
better： He was also a most absolute naturall Philosopher （which worthy
qualities were little esteemed among these honest meeters） a very
friendly Gentleman； singularly well spoken； and whatsoever else was
commendable in any man； was no way wanting in him； being wealthy
withall； and able to returne equall honors； where he found them to
be duly deserved； as no man therin could go beyond him。 But Signior
Betto； notwithstanding his long continued importunitie； could not draw
him into their assembly； which made him and the rest of his company
conceive； that the solitude of Guido； retiring himselfe alwaies from
familiar conversing with men： provoked him to many curious
speculations： and because he retained some part of the Epicurean
Opinion； their vulgare judgement passed on him； that his
speculations tended to no other end； but onely to finde out that which
was never done。
It chanced upon a day； that Signior Guido departing from the
Church of Saint Michaell d'Horta； and passing along by the Adamari； so
farre as to Saint Johns Church； which evermore was his customarie
Walke： many goodly Marble Tombes were then about the saide Church；
as now adayes are at Saint Reparata； and divers more beside。 He
entring among the Collumbes of Porphiry； and the other Sepulchers
being there； because the doore of the Church was shut： Signior Betto
and his companie； came riding from S。 Reparata； and espying Signior
Guldo among the graves and tombes； said。 Come； let us go make some
jests to anger him。 So putting the spurs to their horses； they rode
apace towards him： and being upon him before he perceived them； one of
them said。 Guido thou refusest to be one of our society； and seekest
for that which never was： when thou hast found it； tell us； what
wilt thou do with it？
Guido seeing himselfe round engirt with them； sodainly thus replyed：
Gentlemen； you may use mee in your owne house as you please。 And
setting his hand on one of the Tombes （which was some…what great） he
tooke his rising； and leapt quite over it on the further side； as
being of an agile and sprightly body； and being thus freed from
them； he went away to his owne lodging。 They stoode all like men
amazed； strangely looking one upon another； and began afterward to
murmure among themselves： That Guido was a man without any
understanding； and the answer which he had made unto them； was to no
purpose； neither favoured of any discretion； but meerely came from
an empty brain because they had no more to do in the place where now
they were； then any of the other Citizens； and Signior Guido
（himselfe） as little as any of them； whereto Signior Betto thus
replyed。
Alas Gentlemen； it is you your selves that are void of
understanding： for； if you had but observed the answer which he made
unto us： hee did honestly； and （in verie few words） not onely
notably expresse his owne wisedome； but also deservedly reprehend
us。 Because； if wee observe things as we ought to doe； Graves and
Tombes are the houses of the dead； ordained and prepared to be their
latest dwellings。 He tolde us moreover； that although we have heere
（in this life） other habitations and abidings； yet these （or the like）
must at last be our houses。 To let us know； and all other foolish；
indiscreete； and