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recollection of his spirits； thus he spake。 This inconvenience which
thus hath hapned； and confounded our senses with no common admiration；
in mine opinion concerneth the bed of Sage； avouching it either to
be venomous； or dangerously infected； which （neverthelesse） is
seldom found in Sage。 But to the end； that it may not be offensive
to any more hereafter； I will have it wholly digd up by the rootes；
and then to be burnt in the open Market place。
Hereupon； the Gardiner was presently sent for； and before the
Judge would depart thence； he saw the bed of Sage digged up by the
roots； and found the true occasion； whereby these two poore Lovers
lost their lives。 For； just in the middest of the bed； and at the
maine roote； which directed all the Sage in growth； lay an huge mighty
Toad； even weltring （as it were） in a hole full of poyson； by meanes
whereof； in conjecture of the judge； and all the rest； the whole bed
of Sage became envenomed； occasioning every leafe thereof to be deadly
in taste。 None being so hardy； as to approach neere the Toade； they
made a pile of wood directly over it； and setting it on a flaming
fire； threw all the Sage thereinto； and so they were consumed
together。 So ended all further suite in Law； concerning the deaths
of Pasquino and Simonida： whose bodies being carried to the Church
of Saint Paul； by their sad and sorrowfull accusers； Strambo；
Lagina； Atticciato and Malagevole； were buried together in one
goodly Monument； for a future memory of their hard Fortune。
THE FOURTH DAY； THE EIGHT NOVELL
WHEREIN IS AGAINE DECLARED； THE GREAT INDISCRETION AND FOLLY OF
THEM； THAT THINK TO CONSTRAINE LOVE； ACCORDING TO THEIR WILL；
AFTER IT IS CONSTANTLY SETLED BEFORE： WITH OTHER
INSTRUCTIONS； CONCERNING THE UNSPEAKEABLE POWER OF LOVE
Jeronimo affecting a yong Maiden； named Silvestra； was constrained
（by the earnest importunity of his Mother） to take a journey to Paris。
At his return home from thence againe； he found his love Silvestra
married。 By secret meanes； he got entrance into her house； and dyed
upon the bed lying by her。 Afterward； his body being carried to
Church； to receive buriall； she likewise died there instantly upon his
coarse。
Madam Aemilia no sooner concluded her Novell； but Madam Neiphila （by
the Kings command） began to speake in this manner。 It seemeth to me
（Gracious Ladies） that there are some such people to be found； who
imagine themselves to know more； then all other else in the world
beside； and yet indeede do know nothing at all： presuming （thorough
this arrogant opinion of theirs） to imploy and oppose their senselesse
understanding； against infallible grounded reason； yea； and to attempt
courses； not only contrary to the counsell and judgement of men； but
also to crosse the nature of divine ordination。 Out of which saucy and
ambitious presumption； many mighty harmes have already had
beginning； and more are like to ensue uppon such boldnesse； because it
is the ground of all evils。
Now； in regard that among all other naturall things； no one is lesse
subject to take counsell； or can be wrought to contrariety； then Love；
whose nature is such； as rather to run upon his owne rash consumption；
then to be ruled by admonitions of the very wisest： my memory hath
inspired it selfe； with matter incident to this purpose； effectually
to approve； what I have already said。 For I am now to speake of a
woman who would appeare to have more wit； then either she had
indeed； or appertained to her by any title。 The matter also； wherein
she would needs shew her studious judgement and capacity； was of
much more consequence then she could deserve to meddle withall。 Yet
such was the issue of her fond presuming； that （in one instant） she
expelled both love； and the soule of her owne sonne out of his body；
where （doubtlesse） it was planted by divine favour and appointment。
In our owne City （according to true and ancient testimony） there
dwelt sometime a very worthy and wealthy Merchant； named Leonardo
Sighiero； who by his wife had one onely Sonne； called Jeronimo； and
within a short while after his birth； Leonardo being very sicke； and
having setled all his affaires in good order； departed out of this
wretched life to a better。 The Tutors and Governours of the Childe；
thought it fittest to let him live with his Mother； where he had his
whole education； though schooled among many other worthy neighbours
children； according as in most Cities they use to do。 Yong Jeronimo
growing on in yeares； and frequenting dayly the company of his
Schoole…fellowes and others： he would often sport （as the rest did）
with the neighbors children； and much pretty pastime they found
together。
In the harmlesse recreations of youth； graver judgements have
often observed； that some especiall matter received then such
originall； as greater effect hath followed thereon。 And many times；
parents and kindred have bene the occasion （although perhaps beyond
their expectation） of very strange and extraordinary accidents； by
names of familiarity passing betweene Boyes and Girles； as King and
Queene； sweet heart and sweet heart； friend and friend； husband and
wife； and divers other such like kind tearmes； prooving afterwards
to be true indeed。 It fell out so with our yong Jeronimo； for； among a
number of pretty Damosels； daughters to men of especiall respect；
and others of farre inferiour quality： a Taylors daughter； excelling
the rest in favour and feature （albeit her Father was but poore）
Jeronimo most delighted to sport withall； and no other titles passed
betweene them； even in the hearing of their parents and friends； but
wife and husband： such was the beginning of their yong affection；
presaging （no doubt） effectually to follow。
Nor grew this familiarity （as yet） any way distasted； till by
their daily conversing together； and enterchange of infinite pretty
speeches； Jeronimo felt a strange alteration in his soule； with such
enforcing and powerfull afflictions； as he was never well but in her
company； nor she enjoyed any rest if Jeronimo were absent。 At the
length； this being noted by his Mother； she began to rebuke him； yea
many times gave him both threatnings and blowes； which proving to no
purpose； not hindering his accesse to her； she complained to his
Tutors； and like one that in regard of her riches； thought to plant an
Orange upon a blacke thorne； spake as followeth。
This Sonne of mine Jeronimo； being as yet but foureteene years of
age； is so deeply enamoured of a yong Girle； named Silvestra； daughter
unto a poore Tailor； our neere dwelling neighbour： that if we do not
send him out of her company； one day （perhaps） he may make her his
wife； and yet without any knowledge of ours； which questionlesse would
be my death。 Otherwise； he may pine and consume himselfe away； if he
see us procure her marriage to some other。 Wherefore； hold it good；
that to avoid so great an inconvenience； we should send Jeronimo
some far distance hence； to remaine where some of our Factors are
employed： because； when he shall be out of her sight； and their
often meetings utterly disappointed； his affection to her will the
sooner cease； by frustrating his hope for ever enjoying her； and so we
shall have the better meanes； to match him with one of greater
quality。 The Tutors did like well of her advice； not doubting but it
would take answerable effect： and therefore； calling Jeronimo into a
private Parlor； one of them began in this manner。
Jeronimo； you are now growne to an indifferent stature； and （almost）
able to take government of your selfe。 It cannot then seeme any way
inconvenient； to acquaint you with your deceased Fathers affaires； and
by what good courses he came to such wealth。 You are his onely sonne
and heire； to whom he hath bequeathed his rich possessions （your
Mothers moity evermore remembred） and travaile would now seeme fitting
for you； as well to gaine experience in Trafficke and Merchandize；
as also to let you see the worlds occurrences。 Your Mother therefore
（and we have thought it expedient） that you should journey from
hence to Paris； there to continue for some suc