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fast the doore against her Husband； and gave bim many reproachfull
speeches。
So soone as the King perceyved； that the Novell reported by Madame
Eliza was finished： hee turned himselfe to Madame Lauretta； and told
her as his pleasure； that she should now begin the next； whereto she
yeelded in this manner。 O Love： What； and how many are thy
prevailing forces？ How straunge are thy foresights？ And how
admirable thine attempts？ Where is； or ever was the Philosopher or
Artist； that could enstruct the wiles； escapes； preventions； and
demonstrations； which sodainly thou teachest such； as are thy apt
and understanding Schollers indeede？ Certaine it is； that the
documents and eruditions of all other whatsoever； are weak； or of no
worth； in respect of thine： as hath notably appeared； by the
remonstrances already past； and whereto （worthy Ladies） I wil adde
another of a simple woman； who taught her husband such a lesson； as
shee never learned of any； but Love himselfe。
There dwelt sometime in Arezzo （which is a faire Village of Tuscany）
a rich man； named Tofano； who enjoyed in marriage a young beautifull
woman； called Cheta： of whom （without any occasion given； or reason
knowne to himselfe） he became exceeding… jealous。 Which his wife
perceyving； she grew much offended thereat； and tooke it in great
scorne； that she should be servile to so vile and slavish a condition。
Oftentimes； she demanded of him； from whence this jealousie in him
received originall； he having never seene or heard of any； he could
make her no other answer； but who his owne bad humour suggested； and
drove him every day （almost） to deaths doore； by feare of that which
no way needed。 But； whether as a just scourge for this his grosse
folly； or a secret decree； ordained to him by Fortune and the Fates； I
am not able to distinguish： It came so to passe； that a young
Gallant made meanes to enjoy her favour； and she was so discreetly
wise in judging of his worthinesse； that affection passed so farre
mutually betweene them； as nothing wanted； but effects to answere
words； suited with time and place convenient； for which order was
taken as best they might； yet to stand free from all suspition。
Among many other evill conditions； very frequent and familiar in her
husband Tofano； he tooke a great delight in drinking； which not only
he held to be a commendable quality； but was alwaies so often
solicited thereto： that Cheta her selfe began to like and allow it
in him； feeding his humor so effectually； with quaffing and carowsing；
that （at any time when she listed） she could make him bowsie beyonde
all measure： and leaving him sleeping in this drunkennesse； would
alwayes get her selfe to bed。 By helpe heereof； she compassed the
first familiarity with her friend； yea； divers times after； as
occasion served： and so confidently did she builde on her husbands
drunkennesse； that not onely shee adventured to bring her friend
home into her owne house； but also would as often go to his； which was
some…what neere at hand； and abide with him there； the most part of
the night season。
While Cheta thus continued on these amorous courses； it fortuned；
that her slye suspitious husband； beganne to perceive； that though
shee drunke very much with him； yea； untill he was quite spent and
gone： yet she remained fresh and sober still； and therby imagined
strange matters； that he being fast asleepe； his wife then tooke
advantage of his drowsinesse； and mightand so forth。 Beeing desirous
to make experience of this his distrust； hee returned home at night
（not having drunke any thing all the whole day） dissembling both by
his words and behaviour； as if he were notoriously drunke indeede。
Which his Wife constantly beleeving； saide to her selfe： That hee
had now more neede of sleepe； then drinke； getting him immediately
into his warme bed； and then going downe the staires againe； softly
went out of doores unto her Friends house； as formerly she had used to
do； and there shee remained untill midnight。
Tofano perceiving that his Wife came not to bed； and imagining to
have heard his doore both open and shut： arose out of his bed； and
calling his Wife Cheta divers times； without any answere returned： hee
went downe the staires； and finding the doore but closed too； made
it fast and sure on the inside； and then got him up to the window；
to watch the returning home of his wife； from whence shee came； and
then to make her conditions apparantly knowne。 So long there he
stayed； till at the last she returned indeede； and finding the doore
so surely shut； shee was exceeding sorrowful； essaying how she might
get it open by strength： which when Tofano had long suffered her in
vaine to approove； thus hee spake to her。 Cheta； all thy labour is
meerely lost； because heere is no entrance allowed for thee； therefore
return to the place from whence thou camest； that all thy friends
may Judge of thy behaviour； and know what a night…walker thou art
become。
The woman hearing this unpleasing language； began to use all
humble entreaties； desiring him （for charities sake） to open the doore
and admit her entrance； because she had not bin in any such place；
as his jelous suspition might suggest to him： but onely to visit a
weak and sickly neighbour； the nights being long； she not （as yet）
capeable of sleepe； nor willing to sit alone in the house。 But all her
perswasions served to no purpose； he was so setled in his owne
opinion； that all the Town should now see her nightly gading； which
before was not so much as suspected。 Cheta seeing； that faire meanes
would not prevalle； shee entred into roughe speeches and
threatnings； saying： If thou wilt not open the doore and let me come
in； I will so shame thee； as never base man was。 As how I pray thee？
answered Tofano； what canst thou do to me？
The woman； whom love had inspired with sprightly counsell；
ingeniously enstructing her what to do in this distresse； stearnly
thus replyed。 Before I will suffer any such shame as thou intendest
towards mee； I will drowne my selfe heere in this Well before our
doore； where being found dead； and thy villanous jealousie so
apparantly knowne； beside thy more then beastly drunkennesse： all
the neighbours will constantly beleeve； that thou didst first strangle
me in the house； and afterwardes threw me into this Well。 So either
thou must flie upon the supposed offence； or lose all thy goodes by
banishment； or （which is much more fitting for thee） have thy head
smitten off； as a wilfull murtherer of thy wife； for all will Judge it
to be no otherwise。 All which wordes； mooved not Tofano a jot from his
obstinat determination： but he still persisting therin； thus she
spake。 I neither can nor will longer endure this base Villanie of
thine： to the mercy of heaven I commit my soul； and stand there my
wheele； a witnesse against so hard…hearted a murtherer。
No sooner had she thus spoke； but the night being so extreamly dark；
as they could not discerne one another； Cheta went to the Well；
where finding a verie great stone； which lay loose upon the brim of
the Well； even as if it had beene layde there on purpose； shee cried
out aloud； saying。 Forgive me faire heavens； and so threw the stone
downe into the Well。 The night being very still and silent； the fal of
the great stone made such a dreadfull noise in the Well； that he
hearing it at the Windowe； thought verily she had drowned her selfe
indeede。 Whereupon； running downe hastily； and taking a Bucket
fastened to a strong Cord： he left the doore wide open； intending
speedily to helpe her。 But she standing close at the doores
entrance； before he could get to the Wels side； she was within the
house； softly made the doore fast on the inside； and then went up to
the Window； where Tofano before had stood talking to her。
While he was thus dragging with his Bucket in the Well； crying and
calling Cheta； take hold good Cheta； and save thy life： she stood
laughing in the Window； saying。 Water should bee put into Wine
before a man drinkes it； and not when he hath drunke too much already。
Tofano hearing his Wife thus to flout him out of his Window； went back
to the doore； and finding it made fast