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the contrary； he left her； and returned backe to him； certifying him
how the case stood。
Most highly pleased was Amarigo with these glad newes； and going
to the Ambassadour Phineo； in teares excused himselfe （so well as he
could） for his severity； and craving pardon； assured him； that if
Theodoro would accept his Daughter in marriage； willingly he would
bestow her on him。 Phineo allowed his excuses to be tollerable； and
saide beside； If my Son will not marry your Daughter； then let the
sentence of death be executed on him。 Amarigo and Phineo being thus
accorded； they went to poore Theodoro； fearefully looking every minute
when he should dye； yet joyfull that he had found his Father； who
presently moved the question to him。 Theodoro hearing that Violenta
should bee his Wife； if he would so accept her： was over come with
such exceeding joy； as if he had leapt out of hell into Paradise；
confessing； that no greater felicity could befall him； if Violenta her
selfe were so well pleased as he。
The like motion was made to her； to understand her disposition in
this case； who hearing what good hap had befalne Theodoro； and now
in like manner must happen to her： whereas not long before； when two
such violent deathes were prepared for her； and one of them shee
must needs embrace； she accounted her misery beyond all other
womens； but she now thought her selfe above all in happinesse； if
she might be wife to her beloved Theodoro； submitting her selfe
wholy to her Fathers disposing。 The marriage being agreed on
betweene them； it was celebrated with great pompe and solemnity； a
generall Feast being made for all the Citizens； and the young
married couple nourished up their sweete Son； which grew to be a
very comely childe。
After that the Embassie was dispatched at Rome； and Phineo （with the
rest） was returned thither againe； Violenta did reverence him as her
owne naturall Father； and he was not a little proud of so lovely a
Daughter； beginning a fresh feasting againe； and continuing the same a
whole moneth together。 Within some short while after； a Galley being
fairely furnished for the purpose； Phineo； his Sonne； Daughter； and
their young Sonne； went aboard； sayling away thence to Laiazzo；
where afterward they lived in much tranquility。
THE FIFT DAY； THE EIGHTH NOVELL
DECLARING； THAT LOVE NOT ONELY MAKES A MAN PRODIGALL； BUT ALSO AN
ENEMY TO HIMSELFE。 MOREOVER； ADVENTURE OFTENTIMES BRINGETH SUCH
MATTERS TO PASSE； AS WIT AND CUNNING IN MAN
CAN EVER COMPREHEND
Anastasio； a Gentleman of the Family of the Honesti； by loving the
Daughter to Signior Paulo Traversario； lavishly wasted a great part of
his substance； without receiving any love from her againe。 By
perswasion of some of his kindred and friends； he went to a Countrey
dwelling of his； called Chiasso； where he saw a Knight desperately
pursue a young Damosell； whom he slew； and afterward gave her to be
devoured by his Hounds。 Anastasio invited his friends； and hers also
whom he so dearely loved； to take part of a dinner with him； who
likewise saw the same Damosell so torne in peeces： which his unkind
Love perceiving； and fearing least the like ill fortune should
happen to her； she accepted Anastasio to be her Husband。
So soone as Madam Lauretta held her peace； Madam Pampinea （by the
Queenes command） began； and said。 Lovely Ladies； as pitty is most
highly commended in our sexe； even so is cruelty in us as severely
revenged （oftentimes） by divine ordination。 Which that you may the
better know； and learne likewise to shun； as a deadly evill； I purpose
to make apparant by a Novell； no lesse full of compassion； then
delectable。
Ravenna being a very ancient City in Romania； there dwelt sometime a
great number of worthy Gentlemen； among whom I am to speake of one
more especially； named Anastasio； descended from the Family of the
Honesti； who by the death of his Father； and an Unckle of his； was
left extraordinarily abounding in riches； and growing to yeares
fitting for marriage； （as young Gallants are easily apt enough to
do） he became enamored of a very bountifull Gentlewoman； who was
Daughter to Signior Paulo Traversario； one of the most ancient and
noble Families in all the Countrey。 Nor made he any doubt； but by
his meanes and industrious endeavour； to derive affection from her
againe； for he carried himselfe like a brave…minded Gentleman；
liberall in his expences； honest and affable in all his actions； which
commonly are the true notes of a good nature； and highly to be
commended in any man。 But； howsoever Fortune became his enemy； these
laudable parts of manhood did not any way friend him； but rather
appeared hurtfull to himselfe： so cruell； unkind； and almost meerely
savage did she shew her selfe to him； perhaps in pride of her singular
beauty； or presuming on her nobility by birth； both which are rather
blemishes； then ornaments in a woman； especially when they be abused。
The harsh and uncivill usage in her； grew very distastefull to
Anastasio； and so unsufferable； that after a long time of fruitlesse
service； requited still with nothing but coy disdaine； desperate
resolutions entred into his brain； and often he was minded to kill
himselfe。 But better thoughts supplanting those furious passions； he
abstained from any such violent act； and governed by more manly
consideration； determined； that as shee hated him； he would requite
her with the like； if he could： wherein he became altogether deceived；
because as his hopes grew to a dayly decaying； yet his love enlarged
it selfe more and more。
Thus Anastasio persevering still in his bootlesse affection； and his
expences not limited within any compasse； it appeared in the judgement
of his Kindred and Friends； that he was falne into a mighty
consumption； both of his body and meanes。 In which respect； many times
they advised him to leave the City of Ravenna； and live in some
other place for such a while； as might set a more moderate stint
upon his spendings； and bridle the indiscreete course of his love； the
onely fuell which fed this furious fire。
Anastasio held out thus a long time； without lending an eare to such
friendly counsell： but in the end； he was so neerely followed by them；
as being no longer able to deny them； he promised to accomplish
their request。 Whereupon； making such extraordinary preparation； as if
he were to set thence for France or Spaine； or else into some
further distant countrey： he mounted on horsebacke； and accompanied
with some few of his familiar friends； departed from Ravenna； and rode
to a countrey dwelling house of his owne； about three or foure miles
distant from the Cittie which was called Chiasso； and there （upon a
very goodly greene） erecting divers Tents and Pavillions； such as
great persons make use of in the time of a Progresse： he said to his
friends； which came with him thither； that there he determined to make
his abiding； they all returning backe unto Ravenna； and might come
to visite him againe so often as they pleased。
Now； it came to passe； that about the beginning of May； it being
then a very milde and serrene season； and he leading there a much more
magnificent life； then ever hee had done before； inviting divers to
dine with him this day； and as many to morrow； and not to leave him
till after supper： upon the sodaine； falling into remembrance of his
cruell Mistris； hee commanded all his servants to forbeare his
company； and suffer him to walke alone by himselfe awhile； because
he had occasion of private meditations； wherein he would not （by any
meanes） be troubled。 It was then about the ninth houre of the day； and
he walking on solitary all alone； having gone some halfe miles
distance from his Tents； entred into a Grove of Pine…trees； never
minding dinner time； or any thing else； but onely the unkind requitall
of his love。
Sodainly he heard the voice of a woman； seeming to make most
mournfull complaints； which breaking off his silent considerations；
made him to lift up his head； to know the reason of this noise。 When
he saw himselfe so farre entred into the Grove； before he could
imagine where he was； hee looked amazedly round about him； and out
of a little thicket of bushes and briars round engirt with spreading
trees； hee espyed a young Damosell come running towards him； naked
from the middle upward； her haire dishevelled on her shoulders； and
her faire skinne rent and torne with the briars and brambles； so
that the blood ran trickling downe mainely； she weeping； wringing
her hands； and crying out for mercy so lowde as she could。 Two
fierce Bloodhounds also followed swiftly after； and where their
teeth tooke hold； did most cruelly bite her。 Last of all （mounted on a
lusty blacke Courser） came gallopping a Knight； with a very sterne and
angry countenance； holding a drawne short Sword in his hand； giving
her very vile and dreadfull speeches； and threatning every minute to
kill her。
This strange and uncouth sight； bred in him no meane admiration；
as also kinde compassion to the unfortunate woman； out of which
compassion； sprung an earnest desire； to deliver her （if he could）