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him any succour； being pierced quite through the body with the
Lance； downe he fell dead to the ground； and his men （fearing the like
misfortune to befall them） gallopped mainely backe againe to their
Lords Castle； not knowing them who had thus murthered their Master； by
reason of their armed disguises； which in those martiall times were
usually worne。
Messer Guiglielmo Rossiglione； alighting from his horse； and
having a keene knife ready drawne in his hand； opened therewith the
brest of dead Guardastagno； and taking foorth his heart with his
owne hands； wrapped it in the Bandelote belonging to his Lance；
commanding one of his men to the charge thereof； and never to disclose
the deed。 So； mounting on horse…backe againe； and darke night
drawing on apace； he returned home to his Castle。 The Lady； who had
heard before of Guardastagnoes intent； to suppe there that night；
and （perhaps） being earnestly desirous to see him； marvailing at his
so long tarrying； saide to her husband： Beleeve me Sir （quoth she）
me thinkes it is somewhat strange； that Messer Guiglielmo Guardastagno
delayes his comming so long； he never used to do so till now。 I
received tidings from him wife （saide he） that he cannot be here
till to morrow。 Whereat the Lady appearing to be displeased； concealed
it to herselfe； and used no more words。
Rossiglione leaving his Lady； went into the Kitchin； where calling
for the Cooke； he delivered him the heart； saying： Take this heart
of a wilde Boare； which it was my good happe to kill this day； and
dresse it in the daintiest manner thou canst devise to do； which being
so done； when I am set at the Table； send it to me in a silver dish；
with sauce beseeming so dainty a morsell。 The Cooke tooke the heart；
beleeving it to be no otherwise； then as his Lord had saide： and using
his utmost skill in dressing it； did divide it into artificiall
small slices； and made it most pleasing to be tasted。 When supper time
was come； Rossiglione sate downe at the table with his Lady： but he
had little or no appetite at all to eate； the wicked deed which he had
done so perplexed his soule； and made him to sit very strangely
musing。 At length； the Cooke brought in the dainty dish； which he
himselfe setting before his wife； began to finde fault with his owne
lacke of stomacke； yet provoked her with many faire speeches； to
tast the Cooks cunning in so rare a dish。
The Lady having a good appetite indeede； when she had first tasted
it； fed afterward so heartily thereon； that she left very little； or
none at all remaining。 When he perceived that all was eaten； he said
unto her： Tell me Madame； how you do like this delicate kinde of
meate？ In good faith Sir （quoth she） in all my life I was never better
pleased。 Now trust mee Madame； answered the Knight； I do verily
beleeve you； nor do I greatly wonder thereat； if you like that dead；
which you loved so dearly being alive。 When she heard these words； a
long while she sate silert； but afterward saide。 I pray you tell me
Sir； what meate was this which you have made me to eate？ Muse no
longer （saide he） for therein I will quickly resolve thee。 Thou hast
eaten the heart of Messer Guiglielmo Guardastagno； whose love was so
deare and precious to thee； thou false； perfidious； and disloyall
Lady： I pluckt it out of his vile body with mine owne hands； and
made my Cooke to dresse it for thy diet。
Poore Lady； how strangely was her soule afflicted； hearing these
harsh and unpleasing speeches？ Teares flowed aboundantly from her
faire eies； and like tempestuous windes embowelled in the earth； so
did vehement sighes breake mainly from her heart； and after a
tedious time of silence； she spake in this manner。 My Lord and
husband； you have done a most disloyall and damnable deede；
misguided by your owne wicked jealous opinion； and not by any just
cause given you； to murther so worthy and Noble a Gentleman。 I protest
unto you upon my soule； which I wish to be confounded in eternall
perdition； if ever I were unchaste to your bed； or allowed him any
other favour； but what might well become so honourable a friend。 And
seeing my body hath bene made the receptacle for so precious a kinde
of foode； as the heart of so valiant and courteous a Knight； such as
was the Noble Guardastagno； never shall any other foode hereafter；
have entertainment there； or my selfe live the Wife to so bloody a
Husband。
So starting up from the Table； and stepping unto a great gazing
Window； the Casement whereof standing wide open behinde her： violently
shee leaped out thereat； which beeing an huge height in distance
from the ground； the fall did not onely kill her； but also shivered
her body into many peeces。 Which Rossiglione perceiving； hee stoode
like a body without a soule； confounded with the killing of so deare a
friend； losse of a chaste and honourable wife； and all through his
owne overcredulous conceit。
Upon further conference with his private thoughts； and remorsefull
acknowledgement of his heinous offence； which repentance （too late）
gave him eyes now to see； though rashnesse before would not permit him
to consider； these two extreamities inlarged his dulled understanding。
First； he grew fearfull of the friends and followers to murthered
Guardastagno； as also the whole Country of Provence； in regard of
the peoples generall love unto him； which being two maine and
important motives； both to the detestation of so horrid an act； and
immediate severe revenge to succeede thereon： he made such provision
as best he could； and as so sodaine a warning would give leave； he Red
away secretly in the night season。
These unpleasing newes were soone spread abroad the next morning；
not only of the unfortunate accidents； but also of Rossiglions flight；
in regard whereof； the dead bodyes being found； and brought
together； as well by the people belonging to Guardastagno； as them
that attended on the Lady： they were layed in the Chappell of
Rossigliones Castle； where； after so much lamentation for so great a
misfortune to befall them； they were honourably enterred in one
faire Tombe； with excellent Verses engraven thereon； expressing both
their noble degree； and by what unhappy meanes； they chanced to have
buriall in that very place。
THE FOURTH DAY； THE TENTH NOVELL
WHEREIN IS DECLARED； THAT SOMETIME BY ADVENTUROUS ACCIDENT；
RATHER THEN ANY REASONABLE COMPREHENSION； A MAN MAY ESCAPE OUT OF
MANIFOLD PERILLES； BUT ESPECIALLY IN OCCURRENCES OF LOVE。
A physitians wife laide a Lover of her Maides （supposing him to be
dead） in a Chest； by reason that he had drunke Water； which usually
was given to procure a sleepy entrancing。 Two Lombard usurers；
stealing the Chest； in hope of a rich booty； carryed it into their
owne house； where afterward the man awaking； was apprehended for a
Theefe。 The Chamber…maide to the Physitians wife； going before the
bench of Justice； accuseth her selfe for putting the imagined dead
body into the Chest； by which meanes he escapeth hanging。 And the
theeves which stole away the Chest； were condemned to pay a great
summe of money。
After that the King had concluded his Novell； there remained none
now but Dioneus to tell the last： which himselfe confessing； and the
King commaunding him to proceede； hee beganne in this manner。 So
many miseries of unfortunate Love； as all of you have already related；
hath not onely swolne your eyes with weeping； but also made sicke
our hearts with sighing： yea （Gracious Ladies） I my selfe finde my
spirits not meanly afflicted thereby。 Wherefore the whole day hath
bene very irkesome to me； and I am not a little glad； that it is so
neere ending。 Now； for the better shutting it up altogether； I would
be very loath to make an addition； of any more such sad and
mournfull matter； good for nothing but onely to feede melancholly
humor； and from which （I hope） my faire Starres will defend me。
Tragicall discourse； thou art no fit companion for me； I will
therefore report a Novell which may minister a more joviall kinde of
argument； unto whose Tales that must be told to morrow； and with the
expiration of our present Kings reigne； to rid us