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I sufficient to content you； but you must be longing after change？ I
would thou hadst bin stifled in that foule filth； where thy fouler
life did justly cast thee。 Behold goodly Master Doctor of the
Leystall； who being maried to an honest woman must yet go abroad in
the night time； insatiatly lusting after whores and harlots。 With
these and the like intemperate speeches； she ceased not to afflict and
torment him； till the night was almost spent； and the Doctor brought
into a sweeter savour。
The next morning； Bruno and Buffalmaco； colourd their bodyes with
a strange kinde of painting； resembling blisters； swellings； and
bruises； as if they had bin extreamly beaten； came to the Physitians
house； finding him to be newly up； al the house yet smelling of his
foule savour （although it had bin very well perfumed） and being
admitted to him in the Garden； hee welcommed them with the mornings
salutations。 But Bruno and Buffalmaco （being otherwise provided for
him） delivering stearne and angry lookes； stamping and chafing；
Bruno thus replyed。
Never speake so faire and flattering to us； for we are moved
beyond all compasse of patience。 All misfortunes in the worlde fall
upon you； and an evill death may you dye； like the most false and
perfidious Traitor living on the earth。 We must beate our braines； and
move all our most endeared friends； onely for your honor and
advancement： while wee were well neere starved to death in the cold
like Dogs； and； by your breach of promise； have bin this night so
extreamly beaten； as if （like Asses） we should have beene driven to
Rome。
But that which is most greevous of all； is danger of excluding out
of the Society； where wee tooke good order for your admittance； and
for your most honourable entertainment。 If you wi not credit us；
behold our bodies； and let your owne eyes be witnesses； in what cruell
manner we have bin beaten。 So taking him aside under the Gallery；
where they might not be discovered by overmuch light； they opened
their bosomes； shewing him their painted bodies； and sodainly closed
them up againe。
The Physitian laboured to excuse himselfe； declaring his misfortunes
at large； and into what a filthy place he was throwne。 It maketh no
matter （answered Buffalmaco） I would you had bin throwen from off
the Bridge into Arno； where you might have beene recommended to the
Divell and all his Saints。 Did not I tell you so much before。 In
good sadnesse （quoth the Doctor） I neyther commended my selfe to
God； nor any of his Saints。 How？ sayde Buffalmaco； I am sure you
will not maintaine an untruth； you used a kind of recommendation：
for our messenger told us； that you talked of God； S。 Dominicke； and
your good Angell； whom you desired to assist you； being so
affrighted with feare； that you trembled like a leafe upon a tree； not
knowing indeede where you were。 Thus have you unfaithfully dealt
with us； as never any man shall doe the like againe； in seeking
honour； and losing it through your own negligence。
Master Doctor humbly entreated pardon； and that they would not
revile him any more； labouring to appease them by the best words he
could use； as fearing least they should publish this great disgrace of
him。 And whereas （before） he gave them gracious welcomes； now he
redoubled them with farre greater courtesies； feasting them daily at
his own table； and evermore delighting in their company。 Thus （as
you have heard） two poore Painters of Florence； taught Master Doctor
better Wit； then all the Learned at Bologna。
THE EIGHT DAY； THE TENTH NOVELL
WHEREBY APPEARETH； THAT SUCH AS MEET WITH CUNNING HARLOTS； AND
SUFFER THEMSELVES TO BE DECEIVED BY THEM： MUST SHARPEN THEIR WITS；
TO MAKE THEM REQUITALL IN THE SELFESAME KINDE
A Cicilian Courtezane； named Madame Biancafiore； by her craftie
wit and policie； deceived a young Merchant； called Salabetto； of all
the money he had taken for his Wares at Palermo。 Afterward； he
making shew of comming hither againe； with farre richer Merchandises
then hee brought before： made the meanes to borrow a great summe of
Money of her； leaving her so base a pawne； as well requited her for
her former cozenage。
Needlesse it were to question； whether the Novell related by the
Queene； in divers passages thereof； mooved the Ladies to hearty
laughter； and likewise to compassionate sighes and teares； as pittying
Madame Helena in her hard misfortune； and yet applauding the
Scholler for his just revenge。 But the discourse being ended； Dioneus；
who knew it was his Office to be the last speaker every day； after
silence was commanded； he began in this manner。
Worthy Ladies； it is a matter very manifest； that deceits do appeare
so much the more pleasing； when （by the selfesame meanes） the subtle
deceyver is artificially deceived。 In which respect； though you all
have reported very singular deceits： yet I meane to tel you one；
that may prove as pleasing to you； as any of your owne。 And so much
the rather； because the woman deceived； was a great and cunning
Mistris in beguiling others； equalling （if not excelling） any of
your former beguilers。
It hath bene observed heretofore； and （happily） at this very day
it is as frequent； that in all Cities and Townes upon the Seacoasts；
having Ports for the benefit and venting Merchandises； Merchants use
to bring their wealthy laden Vessels thither。 And when they unlade any
Ship of great fraught； there are prepared Store…houses； which in
many places are called Magazines or Doganaes； at the charge of the
Communalty； or Lord of the Towne or City； for the use whereof； they
receive yearly gain and benefit。 Into those warehouses； they deliver
（under writing； and to the owners of them in especiall charge） all
their goods and merchandises； of what price or valew soever they are。
Such as be the Owners of these Magazines； when the Wares are thus
stored uppe in them； doe safely locke them up there with their
keyes； having first registred downe truly all the goods； in the
Register belonging to the Custome…house； that the Merchant may have
a just account rendred him； and the rights payed to the
Customehouse； according to the Register； and as they are either in
part； or in all made sale of。
Brokers are continually there attending； being informed in the
quality of the Merchandises stored； and likewise to what Merchants
they appertaine： by meanes of these men； and according as the goods
come to their hands； they devise to have them exchaunged； trucked；
vented； and such other kinds of dispatches； answerable to the mens
minds； and worth of the Commodities。 As in many other Kingdomes and
Countries； so was this custome observed at Palermo in Sicily； where
likewise then were； and （no doubt） now adayes are； store of Women；
faire and comely of person； but yet vowed enemies to honesty。
Neverthelesse； by such as know them not； they are held and reputed
to be blamelesse Women； and by yeilding their bodyes unto generall
use； are the occasion of infinite misfortunes to men。 For so soone
as they espy a Merchant…stranger there arrived； they win information
from the Booke belonging to the Magazin； what wares are therein
stored； of what valew they bee； and who is the Owner of them。
Afterwards； by amorous actions； and affable speeches； they allure yong
Merchants to take knowledge of them； to bee familiar in their company；
till from some they get most part of their wealth； from others all。
Nay； divers have gone so farre； as to make Port…sale of Ship； Goods；
and Person； so cunningly they have bene shaven by these Barbers； and
yet without any Razor。
It came to passe； and no long time since； that a young Florentine of
ours； named Niccolo de Cignano； but more usually called Salabetto；
imployed as Factor for his Maister； arrived at Palermo； his Ship
stored with many Woollen Cloathes； a remainder of such as had bin sold
at the Mart of Salerno； amounting in valew to above five hundred
Florines of Gold。 When he had given in his packet to the
Custome…house； and made them up safe in his Warehouse； without
making shew of desiring any speedy dispatch； he delighted to view
all parts of the City； as mens minds are