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to any one； the Connies； Kids； and young Hindes skipping every where
about them； to their no meane； pleasure and contentment； Dioneus and
Fiammetta； sate singing together； of Messire Guiglielmo； and the
Lady of Vertur。 Philomena and Pamphilus playing at the Chesse； all
sporting themselves as best they pleased。 But the houre of Supper
being come； and the Tables covered about the faire fountaine； they
sate downe and supt in most loving manner。 Then Philostratus； not to
swerve from the course which had beene observed by the Queenes
before him； so soone as the Tables were taken away； gave commaund that
Madam Lauretta should beginne the dance； and likewise to sing a
Song。 My gracious Lord （quoth she） I can skill of no other Songs；
but onely a peece of mine owne； which I have already learned by heart；
and may well beseeme this assembly： if you please to allow of that；
I am ready to performe it with all obedience。 Lady； replyed the
King； you your selfe being so faire and lovely； so needs must be
whatsoever commeth from you； therefore let us heare such as you
have。 Madam Lauretta； giving enstruction to the Chorus prepared； and
began in this manner。
THE SONG
No soule so comfortlesse；
Hath more cause to expresse；
Like woe and heavinesse；
As I poore amorous Maide。
He that did forme the Heavens and every Starre；
Made me as best him pleased；
Lovely and gracious； no Element at jarre；
Or else in gentle breasts to moove sterne Warre；
But to have strifes appeased
Where Beauties eye should make the deepest scarre。
And yet when all things are confest；
Never was any soule distrest；
Like my poore amorous Maide。
No soule so comfortlesse； etc。
There was a time； when once I was held deare；
Blest were those happy dayes：
Numberlesse Love suites whispred in mine eare；
All of faire hope； but none of desperate feare；
And all sung Beauties praise。
Why should blacke cloudes obscure so bright a cleare？
And why should others swimme in joy；
And no heart drowned in annoy；
Like mine poore amorous Maide？
No soule so comfortlesse； etc。
Well may I curse that sad and dismall day；
When in unkinde exchange；
Another Beauty did my hopes betray；
And stole my dearest Love from me away：
Which I thought very strange；
Considering vowes were past； and what else may
Assure a loyall Maidens trust。
Never was Lover so unjust；
Like mine poore amorous Maide。
No soule so comfortlesse； etc。
Come then kinde Death； and finish all my woes；
Thy helpe is now the best。
Come lovely Nymphes； lend hands mine eyes to close；
And let him wander wheresoere he goes；
Vaunting of mine unrest；
Beguiling others by his treacherous showes。
Grave on my Monument；
No true love was worse spent；
Then mine poore amorous Maide。
No soule so comfortlesse； etc。
So did Madam Lauretta finish her Song； which being well observed
of them all； was understood by some in divers kinds： some alluding
it one way； and others according to their owne apprehensions； but
all consenting that both it was an excellent Ditty； well devised；
and most sweetly sung。 Afterward； lighted Torches being brought；
because the Stars had already richly spangled all the heavens； and the
fit houre of rest approaching： the King commanded them all to their
Chambers； where we meane to leave them untill the next morning。
THE FOURTH DAY
WHEREIN ALL THE SEVERALL DESCOURSES； ARE UNDER THE GOVERNMENT OF
HONOURABLE PHILSTRATUS： AND CONCERNING SUCH
PERSONS； WHOSE LOVES HAVE HAD SUCCESSELESSE ENDING
Most worthy Ladies； I have alwayes heard； as well by the sayings
of the judecious； as also by mine owne observation and reading； that
the impetuous and violent windes of envy； do sildome blow turbulently；
but on the highest Towers and tops of the trees most eminently
advanced。 Yet （in mine opinion） I have found my selfe much deceived；
because； by striving with my very uttermost endeavour； to shunne the
outrage of those implacable winds； I have laboured to go； not onely by
plaine and even pathes but likewise through the deepest vallies。 As
very easily may be seene and observed in the reading of these few
small Novels； which I have written not only in our vulgar Florentine
prose； without any ambitious title： but also in a most humble stile；
so low and gentle as possibly I could。 And although I have bene rudely
shaken； yea； almost halfe unrooted； by the extreame agitation of those
blustering winds； and torne in peeces by that base back…biter； Envy：
yet have I not （for all that） discontinued； or broken any part of mine
intended enterprize。 Wherefore； I can sufficiently witnesse （by mine
owne comprehension） the saying so much observed by the wise； to be
most true： That nothing is without Envy in this world； but misery
onely。
But what shall I say to them； who take so great compassion on my
povertie； as they advise me to get some thing； whereon to make my
living？ Assuredly； I know not what to say in this case； except by
due consideration made with my selfe； how they would answer me； if
necessitie should drive me to crave kindnesse of them；
questionlesse； they would then say： Goe； seeke comfort among thy
fables and follies。
But now it is time （bright beauties） to returne whence we parted；
and to follow our former order begun； because it may seeme we have
wandered too farre。 By this time the Sun had chased the Starre…light
from the heavens； and the shadie moisture from the ground； when
Philostratus the King being risen； all the company arose likewise。
When being come into the goodly Garden； they spent the time in
varietie of sports； dining where they had supt the night before。 And
after that the Sunne was at his highest； and they had refreshed
their spirits with a little slumbering； they sate downe （according
to custome） about the faire Fountaine。 And then the King commanded
Madam Fiammettal that she should give beginning to the dayes Novels：
when she； without any longer delaying； began：
THE FOURTH DAY； THE FIRST NOVELL
WHEREIN IS DECLARED THE POWER OF LOVE； AND THEIR CRUILTY JUSTLY
REPREHENDED； WHO IMAGE TO MAKE THE VIGOUR THEREOF
CEASE； BY ABUSING OR KILLING ONE OF THE LOVERS
Tancrede； Prince of Salerne； caused the amorous friend of his
daughter to bee slaine； and sent her his heart in a cup of Gold： which
afterwards she steeped in an impoysoned water； and then drinking it；
so dyed。
Our King （most Noble and vertuous Ladies） hath this day given us a
subject； very rough and stearne to discourse on； and so much the
rather； if we consider； that we are come hither to be merry and
pleasant； where sad Tragicall reports are no way suteable； especially；
by reviving the teares of others； to bedew our owne cheekes withall。
Nor can any such argument be spoken of； without moving compassion both
in the reporters； and hearers。 But （perhaps） it was his Highnesse
pleasure； to moderate the delights which we have already had。 Or
whatsoever else hath provoked him thereto； seeing it is not lawfull
for me； to alter or contradict his appointment； I will recount an
accident very pittifull； or rather most unfortinate； and well worthy
to be graced with bur teares。
Tancrede； Prince of Salerne （which City； before the Consulles of
Rome held dominion in that part of Italy； stoode free； and thence
（perchance） tooke the moderne title of a Principality was a very
humane Lord； and of ingenious nature； if； in his elder yeeres； he
had not soiled his hands in the blood of Lovers； especially one of
them； being both neere and deere unto him。 So it fortuned； that during
the whole life time of this Prince； he had but one onely daughter
（albeit it had beene much better； if he had had at all） whom he so
choisely loved and esteemed； as never was any childe more deerely
affected of a Father： and so farre extended his over…curious respect
of her； as he would seldome admit her to be forth of his sight；
neither would he suffer her to marry； although she had outs