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and no more then she might。 So that； before they departed thence； by
comfortable advice proceeding from the Potestate： the Edict （being
reputed overcruell） was modified； and interpreted to concerne them
onely； who offered injurie to their Husbands for money。 By which
meanes Rinaldo standing as one confounded； for such a foolish and
unadvised enterprize； departed from the Auditorie： and the Ladie；
not a little joyfull to bee thus freed and delivered from the fire；
returned home with victorie to her owne house。
THE SIXT DAY； THE EIGHTH NOVELL
IN JUST SCORNE OF SUCH UNSIGHTLY AND ILL…PLEASING SURLY SLUTS； WHO
IMAGINE NONE TO BE FAIRE OR WELL…FAVOURED； BUT
THEMSELVES
Fresco da Celatico； counselled and advised his Neece Cesca： That
if such as deserved to be looked on； were offensive to her eyes； as
she had often told him； she should forbeare to looke on any。
All the while as Philostratus was recounting his Novell； it
seemed； that the Ladies （who heard it） found themselves much mooved
thereat； as by the wanton blood mounting up into their cheekes； it
plainly appeared。
But in the end； looking on each other with strange behaviour； they
could not forbeare smiling： which the Queene interrupting by a command
of attention； turning to Madame Aemillia； willed her to follow next。
When she； puffing and blowing； as if she had bene newly awaked from
sleepe； began in this manner。
Faire Beauties； My thoughts having wandred a great distance hence；
and further then I can easily collect them together againe； in
obedience yet to our Queene； I shall report a much shorter Novell；
then otherwise （perhappes） I should have done； if my minde had beene a
little neerer home。 I shall tell you the grosse fault of a foolish
Damosell； well corrected by a witty reprehension of her Unckle； if
shee had bin endued but with so much sence； as to have understood it。
An honest man； named Fresco da Celatico； had a good fulsom wench
to his Neece； who for her folly and squemishnes； was generally
called Cesta； or nice Francesca。 And althogh she had stature
sufficient； yet none of the handsomest； and a good hard favourd
countenance； nothing nere such Angelical beauties as we have seen； yet
she was endued with such height of minde； and so proud an opinion of
her selfe； that it appeared as a custome bred in hir； or rather a gift
bestowed on hir by nature （thogh none of the best） to blame and
despise both men and women； yea whosoever she lookt on； without any
consideration of her self； she being as unsightly； ill shaped； and
ugly faced； as a worse was very hardly to be found。
Nothing could be done at any time； to yeilde her liking or
content： moreover； she was so waspish； nice and squemish； that when
she cam into the royall Court of France； it was hatefull and
contemptible to hir。 Whensoever she went through the streets； every
thing stunke and was noisome to her； so that she never did any thing
but stop her nose； as if all men or women she met withall； and
whatsoever else she lookt on； were stinking and offensive。 But let
us leave all further relation of her ill conditions； being every way
（indeed） so bad； and hardly becomming any sensible body； that we
cannot condemne them so much as we should。
It chanced upon a day； that shee comming home to the house where her
Unckle dwelt； declared her wonted scurvy and scornfull behaviour；
swelling； puffing； and pouting extreamly； in which humor she sat downe
by her Unckle； who desiring to know what had displeased her； said。 Why
how now Francesca？ what may the meaning of this bee？ This being a
solemne festivall day； what is the reason of your so soone returning
home？ She coily biting the lip； and brideling her head； as if she
had bene some mans best Gelding； sprucely thus replyed。
Indeede you say true Unckle； I am come home verie earely； because；
since the day of my birth； I never saw a City so pestered with
unhandsome people； both men and women； and worse this high Holyday；
then ever I did observe before。 I walked thorow some store of
streetes； and I could not see one proper man： and as for the women；
they are the most mishapen and ugly creatures； that； if God had made
me such an one； I should be sory that ever I was borne。 And being no
longer able to endure such unpleasing sights； you wil not thinke
（Unckle） in what an anger I am come home。 Fresco； to whome these
stinking qualities of his Neece seemed so unsufferable； that hee could
not （with patience） endure them any longer； thus short and quickely
answered。 Francesca； if all people of our Citie （both men and women）
be so odious in thy eyes； and offensive to thy nose； as thou hast
often reported to me： bee advised then by my counsell。 Stay stil at
home； and look upon none but thy selfe onely； and then thou shalt be
sure that they cannot displease thee。 But shee； being as empty of
wit as a pith…lesse Cane； and yet thought her judgement to exceed
Salomons； could not understand the lest part of hir Unkles meaning；
but stood as senselesse as a sheepe。 Onely she replyed； that she would
resort to some other parts of the country； which if shee found as
weakly furnished of handsome people； as heere shee did； shee would
conceive better of her selfe； then ever she had done before。
THE SIXT DAY； THE NINTH NOVELL
NOTABLY DISCOVERING THE GREAT DIFFERENCE THAT IS BETWEENE
LEARNING AND IGNORANCE； UPON JUDICIOUS APPREHENSION
Signior Guido Cavalcante； with a sodaine and witty answer；
reprehended the rash folly of certaine Florentine Gentlemen； that
thought to scorne and flout him。
When the Queene perceived； that Madame Aemillia was discharged of
her Novell； and none remained now to speake next； but onely her selfe；
his priviledge alwayes remembred； to whom it belonged to be the
last； she began in this manner。
Faire Company； you have this day disappointed me of two Novells at
the least； whereof I had intended to make use。 Neverthelesse； you
shall not imagine mee so unfurnished； but that I have left one in
store； the conclusion whereof； may minister such instruction； as
will not bee reputed for ydle and impertinent： but rather of such
materiall consequence； as better hath not this day past among us。
Understand then （most faire Ladies） that in former times long
since past； our Cittie had many excellent and commendable customes
in it； whereof （in these unhappy dayes of ours） we cannot say that
poore one remaineth； such hath beene the too much encrease of Wealth
and Covetousnesse； the onely supplanters of all good qualities
whatsoever。 Among which lawdable and friendly observations； there
was one well deserving note； namely； that in divers places of
Florence； men of the best houses in every quarter； had a sociable
and neighbourly assemblie together； creating their company to
consist of a certaine number； such as were able to supply their
expences； as this day one； and to morrow another： and thus in a
kinde of friendly course； each dally furnished the Table； for the rest
of the company。 Oftentimes； they did honour to divers Gentlemen and
strangers； upon their arrivall in our Citty； by inviting them into
their assembly； and many of our worthiest Citizens beside； so that
it grew to a customary use； and one especially day in the yeare
appointed； in memory of this so loving a meeting； when they would ride
（triumphally as it were） on horsebacke thorow the Cittie； sometimes
performing Tilts； Tourneyes； and other Martiall exercises； but they
were reserved for Feastivall dayes。
Among which company； there was one called； Signior Betto
Bruneleschi； who was earnestly desirous； to procure Signior Guido
Cavalcante de Cavalcanti； to make one in this their friendly
society。 And not without great reason： for； over and beside his
being one of the best Logitians as those times could not yeeld a
better： He was also a most absolute naturall Philosopher （which worthy
qualities were little esteemed among these honest meeters） a very
friendly Gentleman； singularly well spoken； and whatsoever else was
commendable in any man； was no way wanting in him； being wealthy
withall； and able to returne equall honors； where he found them to
be duly deserved； as no man therin could go beyond him。 But Signior
Betto； notwithstanding his long continued importunitie； could not draw
him into their assembly； which made him and the rest of his company
conceive； that the solitude of Guido； retiring himselfe alwaies from
familiar conversing with men： provoked him to many curious
speculations： and because he retained some part of the Epicurean
Opinion； their vulgare judgement passed on him； that his
speculations tended to no other end； but onely to finde out that which
was never done。
It chanced upon a day； that Signior Guido departing from the
Church of Saint Michaell d'Horta； and passing along by the Adamari； so
farre as to Saint Johns Church； which evermore was his customarie
Walke： many goodly Marble Tombes were then about the saide Church；
as now adayes are at Saint Reparata； and divers more beside。 He
entring among the Collumbes of Porphiry； and the other Sepulcher