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desires can never be compleate。 Neverthelesse； I meane； that my
government shal be according to mine owne minde。 So； causing the
Master of the Houshold to be called for； as all the rest were wont
to do for conference with him： he gave him direction； for al things
fitting the time of his Regiment； and then turning to the Ladies； thus
he proceeded。
Honest Ladies； we have alreadie discoursed of variable devises；
and so many severall manners of humane industry； concerning the
busines wherewith Lacisca came to acquaint us： that her very words；
have ministred me matter； sufficient for our morrowes conference； or
else I stand in doubt； that I could not have devised a more convenient
Theame for us to talke on。 She （as you have all heard） saide； that
shee had not anie neighbour； who came a true Virgin to her Husband；
and added moreover； that she knew some others； who had beguiled
their Husbandes； in very cunning and crafty manner。 But setting
aside the first part； concerning the proofe of children； I conceive
the second to bee more apte for our intended argument。 In which
respect； my will is （seeing Lacisca hath given us so good an occasion）
that our discoursing to morow； may onely concerne such slye cunning
and deceits； as women have heeretofore used； for satisfying their owne
appetites； and beguiling their Husbands； without their knowledge； or
suspition； and cleanly escaping with them； or no。
This argument seemed not very pleasing to the Ladies； and
therefore they urged an alteration thereof； to some matter better
suting with the day； and their discoursing： whereto thus he
answered。 Ladies； I know as well as your selves； why you would have
this instant argument altered： but to change me from it you have no
power； considering the season is such； as shielding all （both men
and women） from medling with any dishonest action； it is lawfull for
us to speake of what wee please。 And know you not； that through the
sad occasion of the time； which now overruleth us； the judges have
forsaken their venerable benches； the Lawes （both divine and humane）
ceasing； granting ample license to every one； to do what best
agreeth with the conservation of life？ Therefore； if your honesties
doe straine themselves a little； both in thinking and speaking； not
for prosecution of any immodest deede； but onely for familiar and
blamelesse entercourse： I cannot devise a more convenient ground； at
least that carrieth apparant reason； for reproofe of perils； to
ensue by any of you。 Moreover； your company； which hath bin most
honest； since the first day of our meeting； to this instant： appeareth
not any jot to be disgraced； by any thing either said or done； neither
shal be （I hope） in the meanest degree。
And what is he； knowing your choise and vertuous dispositions； so
powerfull in their owne prevailing； that wanton words cannot
misguide your wayes； no nor the terror of death it selfe； that dare
insinuate a distempred thought？ But admit； that some slight or shallow
judgements； hearing you （perhaps sometimes） talke of such amorous
follies； should therefore suspitiously imagine you to be faulty； or
else you would bee more sparing of speech？ Their wit and censure are
both alike； savouring rather of their owne vile nature； who would
brand others with their basebred imperfections。 Yet ther is another
consideration beside； of som great injury offered to mine honor； and
whereof I know not how you can acquit your selves。
I that have bin obedient to you all； and borne the heavy load of
your businesse； having now （with full consent） created mee your
King； you would wrest the law out of my hands； and dispose of my
authoritie as you please。 Forbeare （gentle Ladies） all frivolotis
suspitions； more fit for them that are full of bad thoughts； then you；
who have true Vertue shining in your eyes； and therefore； let every
one freely speake their minde； according as their humors best pleaseth
them。
When the Ladies heard this； they made answer； that all should bee
answerable to his minde。 Whereupon； the King gave them all leave to
dispose of themselves till supper time。 And because the Sun was yet
very high； in regard all the re…counted Novels had bin so short：
Dioneus went to play at the Tables with another of the yong Gentlemen；
and Madame Eliza； having withdrawne the Ladies aside； thus spake
unto them。 During the time of our being heere； I have often bene
desirous to let you see a place somwhat neere at hand； and which I
suppose you have never seene； it being called The Valley of Ladies。
Till now； I could not finde any convenient time to bring you
thither； the Sunne continuing still aloft； which fitteth you with
the apter leysure； and the sight （I am sure） can no way discontent
you。
The Ladies replyed； that they were all ready to walk with her
thither： and calling one of their women to attend on them； they set
on； without speaking a word to any of the men。 And within the distance
of halfe a mile； they arrived at the Valley of Ladies； wherinto they
entred by a strait passage at the one side； from whence there issued
forth a cleare running River。 And they found the saide Valley to bee
so goodly and pleasant； especially in that season； which was the
hottest of all the yeare； as all the world was no where able to
yeeld the like。 And； as one of the said Ladies （since then） related to
mee； there was a plaine in the Valley so directly round； as if it
had beene formed by a compasse； yet rather it resembled the
Workmanship of Nature； then to be made by the hand of man：
containing in circuite somewhat more then the quarter of a mile；
environed with sixe small hils； of no great height； and on each of
them stood a little Palace； shaped in the fashion of Castles。
The ground…plot descending from those hils or mountaines； grew lesse
and lesse by variable degrees； as wee observe at entering into our
Theaters； from the highest part to the lowest； succinctly to narrow
the circle by order。 Now； concerning these ground…plottes or little
Meadowes； those which the Sun Southward looked on； were full of Vines；
Olive…trees； Almond…trees； Cherry…trees； and Figge…trees； with
divers other Trees beside； so plentifully bearing fruites； as you
could not discerne a hands bredth of losse。 The other Mountaines；
whereon the Northerne windes blow； were curiously covered with small
Thickets or Woods of Oakes； Ashes； and other Trees so greene and
straite； as it was impossible to behold fairer。 The goodly plaine it
selfe； not having any other entrance； but where the Ladies came in；
was planted with Trees of Firre； Cipresse； Laurell； and Pines； so
singularly growing in formall order； as if some artificiall or cunning
hand had planted them； the Sun hardly piercing through their branches；
from the top to the bottome； even at his highest； or any part of his
course。
All the whole field was richly spred with grasse； and such variety
of delicate Flowers； as Nature yeilded out of her plenteous
Store…house。 But that which gave no lesse delight then any of the
rest； was a smal running Brooke； descending from one of the Vallies；
that divided two of the little hils； and fell through a Veine of the
intire Rocke it selfe； that the fall and murmure thereof was most
delightfull to heare； seeming all the way in the descent； like
Quickesilver； weaving it selfe into artificiall workes； and arriving
in the plaine beneath； it was there receyved into a small Channell；
swiftly running through the midst of the plaine； to a place where it
stayed； and shaped it selfe into a Lake or Pond； such as our
Citizens have in their Orchards or Gardens； when they please to make
use of such a commodity。
This Pond was no deeper； then to reach the breast of a man； and
having no mud or soyle in it； the bottome thereof shewed like small
beaten gravell； with prety pibble stones intermixed； which some that
had nothing else to do； would sit downe and count them as they lay； as
very easily they might。 And not onely was the bottome thus
apparantly seene； but also such plenty of Fishes swimming every way；
as the mind was never to be wearied in looking on them。 Nor was this
water bounded in with any bankes； but onely the sides of the p