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on me。 Wherefore； I will well enough looke to my selfe； both this day；
and at all times else： because thou shalt never make thy selfe
merry； with any such misfortune as thou wishest unto me。
Well Wife； answered Talano； I knew well enough before； what thou
wouldst say： An unsound head is soone scratcht with the very
gentlest Combe： but beleeve as thou pleasest。 As for my selfe； I
speake with a true and honest meaning soule； and once againe I do
advise thee； to keepe within our doores all this day： at least wise
beware； that thou walke not into our wood； bee it but in regard of
my dreame。 Well sir （quoth she scoffingly） once you shall say； I
followed your counsell： but within her selfe she fell to this
murmuring。 Now I perceive my husbands cunning colouring； and why I
must not walke this day into our wood： he hath made a compact with
some common Queane； closely to have her company there； and is
afraide least I should take them tardy。 Belike he would have me feed
among blinde folke； and I were worthy to bee thought a starke foole；
if I should not prevent a manifest trechery； being intended against
me。 Go thither therefore I will； and tarry there all the whole day
long； but I will meet with him in his merchandize； and see the Pink
wherin he adventures。
After this her secret consultation； her husband was no sooner gone
forth at one doore； but shee did the like at another； yet so
secretly as possibly she could devise to doe； and （without any
delaying） she went to the Wood； wherein she hid her selfe very
closely； among the thickest of the bushes； yet could discerne every
way about her； if any body should offer to passe by her。 While shee
kept her selfe in this concealment； suspecting other mysterious
matters； as her idle imagination had tutord her； rather then the
danger of any Wolfe： out of a brakie thicket by her； sodainly rushed a
huge and dreadfull Wolfe； as having found her by the sent； mounting
uppe； and grasping her throat in his mouth； before she saw him； or
could call to heaven for mercy。
Being thus seised of her； he carried her as lightly away； as if shee
had bin no heavier then a Lambe； she being （by no meanes） able to cry；
because he held her so fast by the throate； and hindred any helping of
her selfe。 As the Wolfe carried her thus from thence； he had quite
strangled her； if certaine Shepheards had not met him； who with
their outcries and exclaimes at the Wolfe； caused him to let her fall；
and hast away to save his owne life。 Notwithstanding the harme done to
her throat and face； the shepheards knew her； and caried her home to
her house； where she remained a long while after； carefully attended
by Physitians and Chirurgians。
Now； although they were very expert and cunning men all； yet could
they not so perfectly cure her； but both her throate； and part of
her face were so blemished that whereas she seemed a rare creature
before； she was now deformed and much unsightly。 In regard of which
strange alteration； being ashamed to shew her selfe in any place；
where formerly she had bene seene she spent her time in sorrow and
mourning； repenting her insolent and scornfull carriage； as also her
rash running forth into danger； upon a foolish and jealous surmise；
beleeving her husbands dreames the better for ever after。
THE NINTH DAY； THE EIGHT NOVELL
WHEREBY PLAINLY APPEARETH； THAT THEY WHICH TAKE DELIGHT IN
DECEIVING OTHERS； DO WELL DESERVE TO BE DECEIVED THEMSELVES
Blondello （in a merry maner） caused Guiotto to beguile himselfe of a
good dinner： for which deceit； Guiotto became cunningly revenged； by
procurng Blondello to be unreasonably beaten and misused。
It was a generall opinion in the whole Joviall Companie； that
whatsoever Talano saw in his sleepe； was not anie dreame； but rather a
vision： considring； every part thereof fell out so directly； without
the lest failing。 But when silence was enjoyned； then the Queene
gave forth by evident demonstration； that Madam Lauretta was next to
succeed； whereupon she thus began。 As all they （judicious hearers）
which have this day spoken before me； derived the ground or project of
their Novels； from some other argument spoken of before： even so；
the cruell revendge of the Scholler； yesterday discoursed at large
by Madame Pampinea； maketh me to remember another Tale of like nature；
some…what greevous to the sufferer； yet not in such cruell measure
inflicted； as that on Madam Helena。
There dwelt sometime in Florence； one who was generally called by
the name of Guiotto； a man being the greatest Gourmand； and grossest
feeder； as ever was seene in any Countrey； all his meanes and
procurements meerly unable to maintaine expences for filling his
belly。 But otherwise he was of sufficient and commendable carriage；
fairely demeaned； and well… discoursing on any argument： yet； not as a
curious and spruce Courtier； but rather a frequenter of rich mens
Tables； where choice of good cheere is sildome wanting； and such
should have his company； albeit not invited； yet （like a bold
intruder） he had the courage to bid himselfe welcome。
At the same time； and in our City of Florence also； there was
another man； named Blondello； very low of stature； yet comly formed；
quicke witted； more neat and brisk then a Butterflye； alwaies
wearing a wrought silke cap on his head； and not a haire staring out
of order； but the tuft flourishing above the forehead； and he such
another trencher…fly for the table； as our forenamed Guiotto was。 It
so fel out on a morning in the Lent time； that hee went into the
Fishmarket； where he bought two goodly Lampreyes； for Messer Viero
de Cherchi； and was espied by Guiotto； who to Blondello） said。 What is
the meaning of this cost； and for whom is it？ Whereto Blondello thus
answered。 Yesternight； three other Lampries； far fairer and fatter
then these； and a whole Sturgeon； were sent unto Messer Corso
Donati； and being not sufficient to feede divers Gentlemen； whom hee
hath invited this day to dine with him； hee caused me to buy these two
beside： Doest not thou intend to make one among them？ Yes I warrant
thee； replied Guiotto； thou knowst I can invite my selfe thither；
without any other bidding。
So parting； about the houre of dinner time； Guiotto went to the
house of the saide Messer Corso； whom he found sitting and talking
with certain of his neighbors； but dinner was not （as yet） ready；
neither were they come thither to dinner。 Messer Corso demaunded of
Guiotto； what newes with him； and whither he went？ Why Sir （said
Guiotto） I come to dine with you； and your good company。 Wherto Messer
Corso answered； That he was welcom； and his other friends being
gone； dinner was served in； none els therat present but Messer Corso
and Guiotto： al the diet being a poore dish of Pease； a litle piece of
Tunny； and a few smal fishes fried； without any other dishes to follow
after。 Guiotto seeing no better fare； but being disapointed of his
expectation； as longing to feed on the Lampries and Sturgeon； and so
to have made a ful dinner indeed： was of a quick apprehension； and
apparantly perceived； that Blondello had meerly guld him in a knavery；
which did not a litle vex him； and made him vow to be revenged on
Blondello； as he could compasse occasion afterward。
Before many dales were past； it was his fortune to meete with
Blondello； who having told this jest to divers of his friends； and
much good merriment made thereat： he saluted Guiotto in ceremonious
manner； saying。 How didst thou like the fat Lampreyes and Sturgeon；
which thou fedst on at the house of Messer Corso Donati？ Wel Sir
（answered Guiotto） perhaps before eight dayes passe over my head； thou
shalt meet with as pleasing a dinner as I did。 So； parting away from
Blondello； he met with a Porter or burthen…bearer； such as are usually
sent on errands； and hyring him to deliver a message for him； gave him
a glasse bottle； and bringing him neere to the Hal…house of
Cavicciuli； shewed him there a knight； called Signior Phillipo
Argenti； a man of huge stature； stout； strong； vain…glorious； fierce
and sooner mooved to anger then any other man。 To him （quoth
Guiotto） thou must