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not： if I sleep； the least gentle touch of thy hand will wake me；
and then thou shalt see how much I love thee。 So； with a kinde kisse
or two； the bargaine was concluded； she licensing his departure for
that rime； and he staying in hope of his hearts happinesse； till when；
he thought every houre a yeare。
In the meane while； Egano returned home from Hawking； and so soone
as he had supt （being very weary） he went to bed； and his Ladie
likewise with him； leaving her Chamber doore open； according as she
had promised。 At the houre appointed； Anichino came； finding the doore
but easily put too； which （being entred） softly he closed againe； in
the same manner as he found it。 Going to the beds side where the
Lady lay； and gently touching her brest with his hand； he found her to
be awake； and perceiving he was come according unto promise； shee
caught his hand fast with hers； and held him very strongly。 Then；
turning （as she could） towards Egano； she made such meanes； as hee
awaked； whereupon she spake unto him as followeth。
Sir； yesternight I would have had a fewe speeches with you： but；
in regard of your wearinesse and early going to bed； I could not
have any opportunity。 Now； this time and place being most
convenient； I desire to bee resolved by you： Among all the men
retained into your service； which of them do you thinke to be the
best； most loyall； and worthiest to enjoy your love？ Egano answered
thus： Wife； why should you move such a question to me？ Do not you
know； that I never had any servant heeretofore； or ever shall have
heereafter； in whom I reposed the like trust as I have done； and do in
Anichino？ But to what end is this motion of yours？ I will tell you Sir
（quoth she） and then be Judge your self； whether I have reason to move
this question； or no。 Mine opinion every way equalled yours；
concerning Anichino； and that he was more just and faithfull to you；
then any could be amongest all the rest： But Husband； like as where
the water runneth stillest； the Foord is deepest； even so； his
smooth lookes have beguiled both you and me。 For； no longer agoe； then
this verie day； no sooner were you ridden foorth on Hauking； but he
（belike purposely） tarrying at home； watching such a leysure as best
fitted his intent： was not ashamed to solicite mee； both to abuse your
bed； and mine owne spotlesse honor。
Moreover； he prosecuted his impious purpose with such alluring
perswasions： that being a weake woman； and not willing to endure
over many Amorous proofes （onely to acquaint you with his most
sawcie immodestie； and to revenge your selfe uppon him as best you
may； your selfe beeing best able to pronounce him guiltie） I made
him promise； to meete him in our Garden； presently after
midde…night； and to finde mee sitting under the Pine…Tree； never
meaning （as I am vertuous） to be there。 But； that you may know the
deceite and falshoode of your Servant； I would have you to put on my
Night…gowne； my head Attire； and Chinne…cloath； and sitting but a
short while there underneath the Pine…Tree： such is his insatiate
desire； as he will not faile to come； and then you may proceede； as
you finde occasion。
When Egano heard these Words； sodainely hee started out of Bed；
saying。 Doe I foster such a Snake in mine owne bosome？ Gramercie
Wife for this politicke promise of thine； and beleeve mee； I meane
to follow it effectually。 So； on he put his Ladies Night…gown； her
formall head Attire and Chin…cloth； going presently downe into the
Garden； to expect Anichinoes comming to the Pine…Tree。 But before
the matter grew to this issue； let me demand of you faire Ladies； in
what a lamentable condition （as you may imagine） was poore Anichino；
to bee so strongly detained by her； heare all his amorous suite
discovered； and likely to draw very heavy afflictions on him？
Undoubtedly； he looked for immediate apprehension by Egano；
imprisonment and publike punishment for his so malapert presumption：
and had it proved so； she had much renowned her selfe； and dealt
with him but as he had justlie deserved。
But frailtie in our feminine sex is too much prevalent； and makes us
wander from vertuous courses； when we are wel onward in the way to
them。 Madam Beatrix； whatsoever passed betweene her and Anichino； I
know not； but； either to continue this new begunne league for
further time； or； to be revenged on her husbands implicity； in
over…rashlie giving credit to so smooth a ly； this was her advise to
him。 Anichino； quoth she； Take a good Cudgell in thy hand； then go
into the Garden so farre as the Pine； and there； as if formerly thou
hadst solicited mee unto this secret meeting； only but by way of
approving my honestie： in my name； revile thy master so bitterly as
thou canst； bestowing manie sound blowes on him with thy cudgel； yet
urge the shame stil （as it were） to mee； and never leave him； til thou
hast beaten him out of the garden； to teach him keepe his bed
another time Such an apt Scholler as Anichino was in this kind；
needs no tutoring； but a word is enough to a ready Wit。 To the
Garden goes he； with a good willow cudgell in his hand； and comming
neere to the Pine…tree； there he found Egano disguised like to his
Lady； who arising from the place where he sate； went with chearefull
gesture to welcome him； but Anichino （in rough and stearne manner）
thus spake unto him。 Wicked shamelesse； and most immodest Woman； Art
thou come； according to thine unchaste and lascivious promise？
Couldest thou so easily credite； （though I tempted thee； to trie the
vertue of thy continencie） I would offer such a damnable wrong to my
worthy Master； that so deerely loves me； and reposeth his especiall
confidence in me？ Thou art much deceived in me； and shalt finde；
that I hate to be false to him。
So lifting up the Cudgell； he gave him therewith halfe a score
good bastinadoes； laying them on soundly； both on his armes and
shoulders： and Egano feeling the smart of them； durst not speake one
Worde； but fled away from him so fast as hee could； Anichino still
following； and multiplying many other injurious speeches against
him； with the Epithites of Strumpet； lustfull and insatiate Woman。
Go thou lewde beast （quoth he） most unworthy the title of a Lady； or
to be Wife unto so good a natured man； as my Mayster is； to whom I
will reveale thy most ungracious incivility to Morrow； that he may
punish thee a little better then I have done。
Egano being thus well beaten for his Garden walke； got within the
doore； and so went up to his Chamber againe： his Lady there
demanding of him； whether Anichino came according to his promise； or
no？ Come？
quoth Egano； Yes Wife； he came； but deerely to my cost： for hee
verily taking me for thee； hath beaten me most extreamly； calling me
an hundred Whores and Strumpets； reputing thee to bee the wickedst
Woman living。 In good sadnesse Beatrix； I wondred not a little at him；
that he would give thee any such vile speeches； with intent to wrong
mee in mine honour。 Questionlesse； because hee saw thee to be
joviall spirited； gracious and affable towardes all men； therefore hee
intended to make triall of thine honest carriage。 Well Sir （sayde
shee） twas happy that hee tempted mee with words； and let you taste
the proofe of them by deeds： and let him thinke； that I brooke those
words as distastably； as you do or can； his ill deeds。 But seeing he
is so just； faithfull； and loyall to you； you may love him the better；
and respect him as you finde occasion。
Whereto Egano thus replyed。 Now trust me thou hast said very well：
And me wi drawing hence the argument of his setled perswasion； that he
had the chastest Woman living to his wife； and so just a Servant； as
could not be fellowed： there never was any further discoverie of
this Garden…night accident。 Perhaps； Madame Beatrix and Anichino might
subtilly smile thereat in secret； in regard that they knew more then
any other else beside did。 But； as for honest meaning Egano； hee never
had so much as the verie least mistrust of ill dealing； either in
his Lady； or Anichino； whom hee loved and esteemed farre more
respectively uppon this proofe of his honestie towards him； then hee
would or could possibly have done； without a triall so playne and
pregnant。
THE SEVENTH DAY； THE EIGHT NOVELL
WHEREBY APPEARETH； THAT AN HUSBAND OUGHT TO BE VERY WELL ADVISED；
WHEN HE MEANETH TO DISCOVER ANY WRONG OFFERED HIS WIFE； EXCEPT
HEE HIM…SELFE DO RASHLY RUN INTO ALL THE SHAME AND REPROACH
Arriguccio Berlinghieri； became immeasurably jelous of his Wife
Simonida； who fastened a thred about her great toe； for to serve as
a small； when her amorous friend should come to visite her。 Arriguccio
findeth the fallacie； and while he pursueth the amorous friend； shee
causeth her Maide to lye in her bed against his returne： whom he
beateth extreamly； cutting away the lockes of her haire （thinking he
had doone all this violence to his wife Simonida：） and afterward
fetcheth her Mother and Brethren； to shame her before them； and so
be rid of her。 But they finding all his speeches to be utterly
false； and reputing him to bee a drunken jealous foole； all the
blame and disgrace fallet