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and when night was come； Geloso （for so must wee tearme the
Cocke…braind husband） armes himselfe at all points； with a browne Bill
in his hand； and so he sits to watch his owne doore。 His Wife had made
fast all the doores； especially that on the midst of the stayres；
because he should not （by any means） come to her Chamber； and so； when
the houre served； the Gentleman adventured over the house top； found
the gutter Window； and the way conducting him to her Chamber； where
I leave them to their further amorous conference。
Geloso； more than halfe mad with anger； first； because hee had
lost his supper： next； having sitten almost all the night （which was
extreamely cold and windle） his Armor much mollesting him； and yet
he could see no Friar come： when day drew neere； and hee ashamed to
watch there any longer； conveighed himselfe to some more convenient
place； where putting off his Armes； and seeming to come from the place
of his Lodging； about the ninth houre； he found his doore open； entred
in； and went up the stayres； going to dinner with his Wife。 Within a
while after； according as Geloso had ordred the businesse； a youth
came thither； seeming to be the Novice sent from the Confessor； and he
being admitted to speake with her； demanded； whether shee were
troubled or mollested that night passed； as formerly she had bin；
and whether the partie came or no？ The Woman； who knew well enough the
Messenger （notwithstanding all his formall disguise） made answer： That
the party expected； came not： but if hee had come； it was to no
purpose； because her minde was now otherwise altred； albeit she
changed not a jote from her amorous conclusion。
What should I now further say unto you？ Geloso continued his watch
many nights afterward； as hoping to surprize the Friar at his
entrance； and his wife kept still her contented quarter； according
as opportunitie served。 In the conclusion； Geloso beeing no longer
able to endire his bootlesse watching； nor some （more then ordinary）
pleasing countenance in his wife： one day demaunded of her （with a
very stearne and frowning brow） what secret sinnes shee had revealed
to the ghostly Father； upon the day of her shrift？ The Woman
replyed； that she would not tell him； neyther was it a matter
reasonable； or lawfull for her to doe。 Wicked Woman； answered
Geloso： I knowe them all well enough； even in despight of thee； and
every word that thou spakest unto him。 But Huswife； now I must further
know； what the Fryar is； with whom you are so farre in love； and （by
meanes of his enchantments） lyeth with you every night； tell me what
and who he is； or else I meane to cut your throate。
The Woman immediately made answer； it was not true； that she was
in love with any Fryar。 How？ quoth Geloso； didst not thou confesse
so much to the Ghostly Father； the other day when thou wast at shrift？
No Sir； sayde she； but if I did； I am sure he would not disclose it to
you； except hee suffered you to bee there present； which is an Article
beyonde his dutie。 But if it were so； then I confesse freely； that I
did say so unto him。 Make an end then quickely Wife （quoth Geloso） and
tell mee who the Friar is。 The Woman fell into a hearty laughter；
saying。 It liketh me singularly well； when a wise man will suffer
himselfe to be ledde by a simple Woman； even as a Sheepe is to the
slaughter； and by the hornes。 If once thou wast wise； that wisedome
became utterly lost； when thou felst into that divellish frensie of
jealousie； without knowing anie reason for it： for； by this
beastlike and no manly humor； thou hast eclipsed no meane part of my
glory； and womanly reputation。
Doest thou imagine Husband； that if I were so blinded in the eyes of
my head； as thou art in them which should informe thine understanding；
I could have found out the Priest； that would needs bee my
Confessor？ I knew thee Husband to be the man； and therefore I prepared
my wit accordingly； to fit thee with the foolish imagination which
thou soughtest for； and （indeed） gave it thee。 For； if thou hadst
beene wise； as thou makest the world to beleeve by outward
apparance； thou wouldest never have expressed such a basenesse of
minde； to borrow the coulour of a sanctified cloake； thereby to
undermine the secrets of thine honest meaning Wife。 Wherefore； to
feede thee in thy fond suspition； I was the more free in my
Confession； and tolde thee truely； with whom； and how heinously I
had transgressed。 Did I not tell thee； that I loved a Fryar？ And art
not thou he whom love； being a Fryar； and my ghostly Father； though
（to thine owne shame） thou madst thy selfe so？ I said moreover； that
there is not any doore in our house； that can keepe it selfe shut
against him； but （when he pleaseth） he comes and lies with me。 Now
tell me Husband； What doore in our house hath （at any time） bin shut
against thee； but they are freely thine owne； and grant thee entrance？
Thou art the same Friar that confest me； and lieth every night with
me； and so often as thou sentst thy yong Novice or Clearke to me； as
often did I truly returne thee word； when the same Fryar lay with
me。 But （by jealousie） thou hast so lost thine understanding； that
thou wilt hardly beleeve all this。
Alas good man； like an armed Watchman； thou satst at thine owne
doore all a cold Winters night； perswading mee （poorelly credulous
woman） that； upon urgent occasions； thou must needs suppe and lodge
from home。 Remember thy selfe therefore better heereafter； become a
true understanding man； as thou shouldst bee； and make not thy selfe a
mocking stocke to them； who knoweth thy jealous qualities； as well
as I do； and be not so watchfull over me； as thou art。 For I sweare by
my true honesty； that if I were but as willing； as thou art
suspitious： I could deceive thee； if thou hadst an hundred eyes； as
Nature affords thee but two； and have my pleasures freely； yet thou be
not a jot the wiser； or my credit any way impaired。
Our wonderfull wise Geloso； who （very advisedly） considred that he
had wholly heard his wives secret confession； and dreamed now on no
other doubt beside； but （perceiving by her speeches） how hee was
become a scorne to al men： without returning other answer； confirmed
his wife to be both wise and honest； and now when he hadde just
occasion to be jealous indeede； hee utterly forsware it； and counted
them all Coxcombes that would be so misguided。 Wherefore； she having
thus wisely wonne the way to her owne desires； and he reduced into a
more humane temper： I hope there was no more neede； of clambring
over houses in the night time like Cats； nor walking in at gutter
Windowes； but all abuses were honestly reformed。
THE SEVENTH DAY； THE SIXTH NOVELL
WHEREIN IS MANIFESTLY DISCERNED； THAT IF LOVE BE DRIVEN TO A NARROW
STRAITE IN ANY OF HIS ATTEMPTS； YET HEE CAN
ACCOMPLISH HIS PURPOSE BY SOME OTHER SUPPLY
Madame Isabella； delighting in the company of her affected Friend；
named Lionello； and she being likewise beloved by Signior
Lambertuccio： At the same time as shee had entertained Lionello；
shee was also visited by Lambertuccio。 Her Husband returning home in
the very instant； shee caused Lambertuccio to run forth with a
drawne sword in his hand； and （by that meanes） made an excuse
sufficient for Lionello to her husband。
Wondrously pleasing to all the company； was the reported Novell of
Madame Fiammetta； every one applauding the Womans wisedome； and that
she had done no more； then as the jealous foole her husband justly
deserved。 But shee having ended； the King gave order unto Madame
Pampinea； that now it was her turne to speake； whereupon； thus she
began。 There are no meane store of people who say （though very false
and foolishly；） that Love maketh many to be out of their wits； and
that such as fall in Love； do utterly loose their understanding。 To
mee this appeareth a very ydle opinion； as already hath beene approved
by the related discourses； and shall also bee made manifest by another
of mine owne。
In our City of Florence； famous for some good； though as many bad
qualities； there dwelt （not long since） a Gentlewoman； endued with
choice beauty and admirable perfections； being wife to Signior
Beltramo； a very valiant Knight； and a man of great possessions。 As
oftentimes it commeth to passe； that a man cannot alwayes feede on one
kind of bread； but his appetite will be longing after change： so fared
it with this Lady； named Isabella； she being not satisfied with the
delights of her Husband； grew enamoured of a young Gentleman； called
Lionello； compleate of person and commendable qualities； albeit not of
the fairest fortunes； yet his affection every way sutable to hers。 And
full well you know （faire Ladies） that where the mindes irreciprocally
accorded； no dilligence wanteth for the desires execution： so this
amorous couple； made many solemne protestations； untill they should
bee friended by opportunity。
It fortuned in the time of their hopefull expectation a Knight；
named Signior Lambertuccio； fell likewise in love with Isabella： but
because he was somewhat unsightly of person； and utterly unpleasing in
the eye； she grew regardl