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casuall happening hither； if you can like the motion so well as shee
that makes it； my deceased Lord and Husband living so perfectly in
your person； this house； and all mine is yours； and of a widdow I will
become your wife； except （unmanly） you deny me。 Rinaldo hearing
these words； and proceeding from a Lady of such absolute
perfections； presuming upon so proud an offer； and condemning himselfe
of folly if he should refuse it； thus replied。 Madam； considering that
I stand bound for ever heereafter； to confesse that you are the
gracious preserver of my life； and I no way able to returne requitall；
if you please so to shadow mine insufficiencie； and to accept me and
my fairest fortunes to doe you service： let me die before a thought of
deniall； or any way to yeeld you the least discontentment。
Heere wanted but a Priest to joyne their hands； as mutuall affection
already had done their hearts； which being sealed with infinit kisses；
the Chamber…maide called up Friar Roger her Confessor； and wedding and
bedding were both effected before the bright morning。 In breefe； the
Marquesse having heard of the marriage； did not mislike it； but
confirmed it by great and honourable giftes； and having sent for his
dishonest Servant； he dispatched him （after sound reprehension） to
Ferrara； with Letters to Rinaldoes Father and Friends； of all the
accidents that had befalne him。 Moreover； the very same morning； the
three Theeves that had robbed； and so ill intreated Rinaldo； for
another facte by them the same night committed； were taken； and
brought to the Towne of Chasteau Guillaume； where they were hanged for
their offences； and Rinaldo with his wife rode to Ferrara。
THE SECOND DAY； THE THIRD NOVELL
WHEREIN IS DECLARED THE DANGERS OF PRODIGALITIE； AND
THE MANIFOLD MUTABILITIES OF FORTUNE
Three young Gentlemen； being Brethren； and having spent all their
Lands and possessions vainely； became poore。 A Nephew of theirs
（falling almost into as desperate a condition） became acquainted
with an Abbot； whom he afterward found to be the King of Englands
Daughter； and made him her Husband in mariage； recompencing all his
Uncles losses； and seating them againe in good estate。
The fortunes of Rinaldo de Este； being heard by the Ladies and
Gentlemen； they admired his happinesse； and commended his devotion
to Saint Julian； who （in such extreame necessity） sent him so good
succour。 Nor was the Lady to be blamed； for leaving base liberty；
and converting to the chaste embraces of the marriage bed； the dignity
of Womens honour； and eternall disgrace living otherwise。 While thus
they descanted on the happy night betweene her and Rinaldo； Madam
Pampinea sitting next to Philostratus； considering； that her Discourse
must follow in order； and thinking on what shee was to say； the Queene
had no sooner sent out her command； but she being no lesse faire
then forward； began in this manner。 Ladies of great respect； the
more we conferre on the accidents of Fortune； so much the more
remaineth to consider on her mutabilities； wherein there is no need of
wonder； if discreetly we observe that al such things as we fondly
tearme to be our owne； are in her power； and so （consequently）
change from one to another； without any stay or arrest （according to
her concealed judgement） or setled order （at least） that can bee
knowne to us。 Now； although these things appeare thus dayly to us；
even apparantly in all occasions； and as hath beene discerned by
some of our precedent Discourses； yet notwithstanding； seeing it
pleaseth the Queene； that our arguments should aime at these ends； I
will adde to the former tales another of my owne； perhaps not
unprofitable for the hearers； nor unpleasing in observation。
Sometime heeretofore； there dwelt in our Cittie； a Knight named
Signior Theobaldo； who （according as some report） issued from the
Family of Lamberti； but others derive him of the Agolanti； guiding
（perhaps） their opinion heerein； more from the traine of Children；
belonging to the saide Theobaldo （evermore equall to that of the
Agolanti） then any other matter else。 But setting aside from which
of these two houses he came； I say； that in his time he was a very
wealthy Knight； and had three sonnes； the first being named
Lamberto； the second Theobaldo； and the third Agolanto； all goodly and
gracefull youths： howbeit； the eldest had not compleated eighteene
yeares； when Signior Theobaldo the Father deceased； who left them
all his goods and inheritances。 And they； seeing themselves rich in
ready monies and revennewes； without any other governement then
their owne voluntary disposition； kept no restraint upon their
expences； but maintained many servants； and store of unvalewable
Horses； beside Hawkes and Hounds； with open house for all commers； and
not onely all delights else fit for Gentlemen； but what vanities
beside best agreed with their wanton and youthfull appetites。
Not long had they run on this race； but the Treasures lefte them
by their Father； began greatly to diminish； and their Revennewes
suffised not； to support such lavish expences as they had begun： but
they fell to engaging and pawning their inheritances； selling one to
day； and another to morrow； so that they saw themselves quickely
come to nothing； and then poverty opened their eyes； which prodigality
had before clozed up。 Heereupon； Lamberto （on a day） calling his
Brethren to him； shewed them what the honors of their Father had
beene； to what height his wealth amounted； and now to what an ebbe
of poverty it was falne； only thorow their inordinate expences。
Wherefore hee counselled them； （as best he could） before further
misery insulted over them； to make sale of the small remainder that
was left； and then to betake themselves unto some other abiding； where
fairer Fortune might chance to shine uppon them。
This advice prevailed with them； and so； without taking leave of any
body； or other solemnity then closest secrecie； they departed from
Florence； not tarrying in any place untill they were arrived in
England。 Comming to the City of London； and taking there a small house
upon yearely rent； living on so little charge as possibly might be；
they began to lend out money at use： wherein Fortune was so favourable
to them； that （in few yeares） they had gathered a great summe of mony：
by means whereof it came to passe； that one while one of them； and
afterward another； returned backe againe to Florence： where； with
those summes； a great part of their inheritances were redeemed； and
many other bought beside。 Linking themselves in marriage； and yet
continuing their usances in England； they sent a Nephew of theirs
thither； named Alessandro； a yong man； and of faire demeanor； to
maintaine their stocke in employment： while they three remained stil
in Florence； and growing forgetful of their former misery； fell againe
into as unreasonable expences as ever； never respecting their houshold
charges； because they had good credite among the Merchants； and the
monies still sent from Alessandro； supporting their expences divers
yeeres。
The dealings of Alessandro in England grew verie great； for hee lent
out much money to many Gentlemen； Lords； and Barons of the Land；
upon engagement of their Mannors； Castles； and other revennues： from
whence he derived immeasurable benefite。 While the three Brethren held
on in their lavish expences； borrowing moneys when they wanted
untill their supplies came from England； whereon （indeede） was theyr
onely dependance： it fortuned； that （contrary to the opinion of all
men） warre happened betweene the King of England； and one of his
sonnes； which occasioned much trouble in the whole Countrey； by taking
part on either side； some with the sonne； and other with the Father。
In regard whereof； those Castles and places pawned to Alessandro； were
sodainely seized from him； nothing then remaining； that turned him any
profite。 But living in hope day by day； that peace would be
concluded betweene the Father and the Sonne； he never doubted； but all
things then should be restored to him； both the principall and
interest； and therfore he would not depart out of the Countrey。
The three Brethren at Florence； bounding within no limites their
disordered spending； borrowed dayly more and more。 And after some
few yeares； the creditors seeing no effect of their hopes to come from
them； all credit being lost with them； and no repayment of promised
dues； they were imprisoned； their Landes and all they had； not
suffising to pay the moitie of Debts； but their bodies remained in
prison for the rest； theyr Wives and young children being sent thence；
some to one village； some to another； so that nothing now was to be
expected； but poverty and misery of life for ever。 As for honest
Alessandro； who had awaited long time for peace in England； perceyving
there was no likelyhoode of it； and considering also； that （beside his
tarrying there in vaine to recover his dues） he was in danger of his
life； without any further deferring； he set away for Italy。 It came to
passe； that as he yssued foorth of Bruges； hee saw a young Abbot
also journeying thence； being