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few words； you shall plainly understand my meaning。 If you have well
considered on the course； which this day hath bene kept by Madam
Pampinea； me thinkes it hath bene very pleasing and commendable； in
which regard； untill by over…tedious continuation； or other
occasions of irkesome offence； it shall seeme injurious； I am of the
minde； not to alter it。 Holding on the order then as we have begun
to doe； we will depart from hence to recreate our selves a while；
and when the Sun groweth towards setting； we will sup in the fresh and
open ayre； afterward； with Canzonets and other pastimes； we will
out…weare the houres till bed time。 To morrow morning； in the fresh
and gentle breath thereof； we will rise and walke to such places； as
every one shall finde fittest for them； even as already this day we
have done； untill due time shall summon us hither againe； to
continue our discoursive Tales； wherein （me thinkes） consisteth both
pleasure and profit； especially by discreete observation。
Very true it is； that some things which Madam Pampinea could not
accomplish； by reason of her so small time of authority； I will
begin to undergo； to wit； in restraining some matters whereon we are
to speake； that better premeditation may passe upon them。 For； when
respite and a little leysure goeth before them； each discourse will
savour of the more formality； and if it might so please you； thus
would I direct the order。 As since the beginning of the world； all men
have bene guided （by Fortune） thorow divers accidents and occasions：
so beyond all hope and expectation； the issue and successe hath bin
good and successful； and accordingly should every one of our arguments
be chosen。
The Ladies； and the yong Gentlemen likewise； commended her advice；
and promised to imitate it； onely Dioneus excepted； who when every one
was silent； spake thus。 Madam； I say as all the rest have done； that
the order by you appointed； is most pleasing and worthy to bee
allowed。 But I intreate one speciall favour for my selfe； and to have
it confirmed to mee； so long as our company continueth； namely； that I
may not be constrained to this Law of direction； but to tell my Tale
at liberty； after mine owne minde； and according to the freedome first
instituted。 And because no one shall imagine； that I urge this grace
of you； as being unfurnished of discourses in this kinde； I am well
contented to bee the last in every dayes exercise。
The Queene； knowing him to be a man full of mirth and matter；
began to consider very advisedly； that he would not have mooved this
request； but onely to the end； that if the company grew wearied by any
of the Tales re…counted； hee would shut up the dayes disport with some
mirthfull accident。 Wherefore willingly； and with consent of all the
rest he had his suite granted。 So； arising all； they walked to a
Christall river； descending downe a little hill into a valley；
graciously shaded with goodly Trees； where washing both their hands
and feete； much pretty pleasure passed among them； till supper time
drawing neere； made them returne home to the Palace。 When supper was
ended； and bookes and instruments being laide before them； the
Queene commanded a dance； and that Madam Aemilia； assisted by Madam
Lauretta and Dioneus； should sing a sweet ditty。 At which command；
Lauretta undertooke the dance； and led it； Aemilia singing this song
ensuing。
THE SONG
So much delight my beauty yeelds to mee；
That any other Love；
To wish or prove；
Can never sute it selfe with my desire。
Therein I see； upon good observation；
What sweet content due understanding lends：
Old or new thoughts cannot in any fashion
Rob me of that； which mine owne soule commends。
What object then；
（mongst infinites of men）
Can I never finde
to dispossesse my minde；
And plaint therein another new desire？
So much delight； etc。
But were it so； the blisse that I would chuse；
Is； by continuall sight to comfort me：
So rare a presence never to refuse；
Which mortall tongue or thought； what ere it be
Must still conceale；
not able to reveale；
Such a sacred sweete；
for none other meete；
But hearts enflamed with the same desire。
So much delight； etc。
The Song being ended； the Chorus whereof was answered by them all；
it passed with generall applause： and after a few other daunces； the
night being well run on； the Queene gave ending to this first dayes
Recreation。 So； lights being brought； they departed to their
severall Lodgings； to take their rest till the next morning。
THE INDUCTION TO THE SECOND DAY
WHEREIN； ALL THE DISCOURSES ARE UNDER THE GOVERNMENT OF
MADAM PHILOMENA： CONCERNING SUCH MEN OR WOMEN； AS （IN DIVERS
ACCIDENTS） HAVE BEEN MUCH MOLLESTED BY FORTUNE； AND YET AFTERWARD
（CONTRARY TO THEIR HOPE AND EXPECTATION） HAVE HAD
A HAPPY AND SUCCESSEFULL DELIVERANCE
Already had the bright Sunne renewed the day every where with his
splendant beames； and the Birds sate merrily singing on the blooming
branches； yeelding testimony thereof to the eares of all hearers； when
the seven Ladies； and the three Gentlemen （after they were risen）
entered the Gardens； and there spent some time in walking； as also
making of Nose…gayes and Chaplets of Flowers。 And even as they had
done the day before； so did they now follow the same course； for；
after they had dined； in a coole and pleasing aire they fell to
dancing； and then went to sleepe a while； from which being awaked；
they tooke their places （according as it pleased the Queene to
appoint） in the same faire Meadow about her。 And she； being a goodly
creature； and highly pleasing to behold； having put on her Crowne of
Lawrell； and giving a gracious countenance to the whole company；
commanded Madam Neiphila that her Tale should begin this daies
delight。 Whereupon she； without returning any excuse or deniall； began
in this manner。
THE SECOND DAY； THE FIRST NOVELL
WHEREIN IS SIGNIFIED； HOW EASIE A THING IT IS； FOR WICKED MEN
TO DECEIVE THE WORLD； UNDER THE SHADOW AND COLOUR OF MIRACLES：
AND THAT SUCH TREACHERY （OFTENTIMES） REDOUNDETH TO
THE HARME OF THE DEVISER
Martellino counterfeitting to be lame of his members； caused
himselfe to be set on the body of Saint Arriguo； where he made shew of
his sudden recovery； but when his dissimulation was discovered； he was
well beaten； being afterward taken prisoner； and in great danger of
being hanged and strangled by the necke； and yet he escaped in the
end。
Faire Ladies； it hath happened many times； that he who striveth to
scorne and floute other men； and especially in occasions deserving
to be respected； proveth to mocke himselfe with the selfe same matter；
yea； and to his no meane danger beside。 As you shall perceive by a
Tale； which I intend to tell you； obeying therein the command of our
Queene； and according to the subject by her enjoyned。 In which
discourse； you may first observe； what great mischance happened to one
our Citizens； and yet afterward； how （beyond all hope） he happily
escaped。
Not long since； there lived in the City of Trevers； an Almaine or
Germaine； named Arriguo； who being a poore man； served as a Porter； or
burden…bearer for money； when any man pleased to employ him。 And
yet； notwithstanding his poore and meane condition； he was generally
reputed； to be of good and sanctified life。 In which regard （whether
it were true or no； I know not） it happened； that when he died （at
least as the men of Trevers themselves affirmed） in the very instant
houre of his departing； all the Belles in the great Church of Trevers；
（not being pulled by the helpe of any hand） beganne to ring： which
being accounted for a miracle； every one saide； that this Arriguo
had bene； and was a Saint。 And presently all the people of the City
ran to the house where the dead body lay； and carried it （as a
sanctified body） into the great Church； where people； halt； lame；
and blind； or trouble