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deluded： which is so apparantly confirmed by you； and in the same
sort； as there needeth no doubt of both our beguiling； in one and
the same suspitious nature。 In which case to be the more assuredly
resolved； nothing can be questioned； but whether your beleefe do so
farre misleade you； as to thinke； that my Ladie （who hath alwayes bene
most wise； loyall； and vertuous；） would so shamefullie wrong you： yea；
and to performe it before your face； wherein I dare gadge my life to
the contrary。 Concerning my selfe； it is not fit for mee； to argue
or contest in mine owne commendation： you that have ever knowne the
sincerity of my service； are best able to speake in my behalfe： and
rather wold I be drawne in peeces with foure wilde horses； then bee
such an injurious slave to my Lord and Master。
Now then； it can be no otherwise； but we must needs rest
certainely perswaded； that the guile and offence of this false
appearance； was occasioned by thee onely。 For all the world could
not make me otherwise beleeve； but that I saw you kisse and most
kindely imbrace my Lady： if your owne eyes had not credited the like
behaviour in me to her； of which sinne； I never conceived so much as a
thought。 The Lady （on the other side） seeming to be very angerly
incensed； starting faintly up on her feet； yet supporting her selfe by
the tree； said。 It appeareth Sir； that you have entertained a goodly
opinion of me； as； if I were so lewde and lasciviously disposed； or
addicted to the very least desire of wantonnesse： that I would bee
so forgetfull of mine owne honour； as to adventure it in your sight；
and with a servant of my house？ Oh Sir； such women as are so
familiarly affected； need learne no wit of men in amourous matters；
their private Chambers shall be better trusted； then an open blabing
and tell…tale Garden。
Nicostratus； who verily beleeved what they had both said； and that
neither of them would adventure such familiarity before his face：
would talke no more of the matter； but rather studyed of the rarity of
such a miracle； not seene； but in the height of the tree； and changing
againe up on the descent。 But Lydia； containing still her
collourable kinde of impatience； and angerly frowning upon
Nicostratus； stearnely saide。 If I may have my will； this villanous
and deceiving tree； shall never more shame me； or any other woman： and
therefore Pyrrhus； runne for an Axe； and by felling it to the
ground； in an instant； revenge both thy wrong and mine。 Doest not thou
serve a worthy Lord？ And have not I a wise Husband； who； without any
consideration； will suffer the eye of his understanding to be so
dazeled； with a foolish imagination beyond all possibility？ For；
although his eyes did apprehend such a folly； and it seemed to be a
truth indeed： yet； in the depth of setled judgement； all the world
should not perswade him； that it was so。
Pyrrhus had quickely brought the Axe； and hewing downe the tree；
so soone as the Lady saw it fall； turning her selfe to Nicostratus；
she said。 Now that I have seene mine honour and honesties enemy laid
along； mine anger is past； and Husband； I freely pardon you：
intreating you heartily henceforward； not to presume or imagine；
that my love eyther is； or can bee altred from you。
Thus the mocked and derided Nicostratus； returned in againe with his
Lady and Pyrrhus； where perhaps （although the Peare…tree was cut
downe） they could find as cunning meanes to over…reach him。
THE SEVENTH DAY； THE TENTH NOVELL
WHEREIN SUCH MEN ARE COVERTLY REPREHENDED； WHO MAKE NO CARE OR
CONSCIENCE AT ALL OF THOSE THINGS THAT SHOULD PRESERVE
THEM FROM SINNE
Two Citizens of Siena； the one named Tingoccio Mini； and the other
Meucio di Tura； affected both one woman； called Monna Mita； to whom
the one of them was a Gossip。 The Gossip dyed； and appeared
afterward to his companion； according as he had formerly promised
him to doe； and tolde him what strange wonders he had seene in the
other world。
Now there remained none but the King himselfe； last of all to
recount his Novell； who； after hee heard the Ladies complaints
indifferently pacified； for the rash felling downe of such a
precious Peare…tree； thus he began。 Faire Ladies； it is a case more
then manifest； that every King； who will be accounted just and
upright： should first of all； and rather then any other； observe those
Lawes which he himselfe hath made； otherwise he ought to be reputed as
a servant； worthy of punishment； and no King。 Into which fault and
reprehension； I your King； shall well neere be constrained to fall；
for yesterday I enacted a Law； upon the forme of our discoursing； with
full intent； that this day I would not use any part of my
priviledge； but being subject （as you all are） to the same Law； I
should speake of that argument； which already you have done。
Wherein； you have not onely performed more then I could wish； upon a
subject so sutable to my minde： but in every Novell； such variety of
excellent matter； such singular illustrations； and delicate
eloquence hath flowne from you all； as I am utterly unable to invent
any thing （notwithstanding the most curious search of my braine） apt
or fit for the purpose； to paragon the meanest of them already
related。 And therefore seeing I must needs sinne in the Law
established by my selfe； I tender my submission； as worthy of
punishment； or what amends else you please to enjoyne mee。 Now； as
returned to my wonted priviledge； I say； that the Novell recounted
by Madame Eliza； of the Fryar Godfather and his Gossip Agnesia； as
also the sottishnesse of the Senese her Husband； hath wrought in me
（worthy Ladies） to such effect； as； forbearing to speake any more of
these wily prancks； which witty wives exercise on their simple
Husbands； I am to tell you a pretty short Tale； which； though there is
matter enough in it； not worthy the crediting； yet partly it will
bee pleasing to heare。
Sometime there lived in Sienna two popular men； the one being
named Tingoccio Mini； and the other Meucio de Tura； Men simple； and of
no understanding； both of them dwelling in Porta Salaia。 These two men
lived in such familiar conversation together； and expressed such
cordiall affection each to other； as they seldome walked asunder；
but （as honest men use to doe） frequented Churches and Sermons；
oftentimes hearing； both what miseries and beatitudes were in the
world to come； according to the merits of their soules that were
departed out of this life； and found their equall repaiment in the
other。 The manifold repetition of these matters； made them very
earnestly desirous to know； by what meanes they might have tydings
from thence； for their further confirmation。 And finding all their
endeavours utterly frustrated； they made a solemne vow and promise
（each to other under oath） that hee which first dyed of them two；
should returne backe againe （so soone as possibly he could） to the
other remaining alive； and tell him such tydings as hee desired to
heare。
After the promise was thus faithfully made； and they still keeping
company； as they were wont to doe： It fortuned； that Tingoccio
became Gossip to one； named Ambrosio Anselmino； dwelling in
Camporegglo； who by his wife； called Monna Mita； had a sweet and
lovely Sonne。 Tingoccio often resorting thither； and consorted with
his companion Meucio； the she…Gossip； being a woman worthy the loving；
faire and comely of her person。 Tingoccio； notwithstanding the
Gossipship betweene them； had more then a moneths minde to his
Godchilds Mother。 Meucio also fell sicke of the same disease；
because shee seemed Fleasing in his eye； and Tingoccio gave he no
meane commendations； yet； carefully hey concealed their love to
themselves； but not for one and the same occasion。 Because Tingoccio
kept it closely from Meucio； lest he should hold it disgracefull in
him； to beare amourous affection to his Gossip； and thought it
unfitting to bee knowne。 But Meucio had no such meaning； for hee
knew well enough that Tingoccio loved her； and therefore conceived
in his minde； that if he discovered any such matter to him： He will
（quoth he） be jealous