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being brought vailed into the darke Chamber where Ricciardo was；
entred into the Bath； hoping to finde none other there but her
husband； and the custome of the Country； never disallowed such
meetings of men with their wives； but held them to be good and
commendable。 In a counterfeit voyce he bad her welcome； and she； not
seeming to be any other then shee was indeed； entertained his
imbracings in as loving manner； yet not daring to speake； least he
should know her； but suffered him to proceede in his owne errour。
Let passe the wanton follies passing betweene them； and come to
Madame Catulla； who finding it a fit and convenient time； to vent
forth the tempest of her spleene； began in this manner。 Alas！ how
mighty； are the misfortunes of women； and how ill requited is all
the loyall love of many wives to their husbands？ I； a poore
miserable Lady； who； for the space of eight yeeres now fully
compleated； have loved thee： more dearely then mine owne life； finde
now （to my hearts endlesse griefe） how thou wastest and consumest
thy desires； to delight them with a strange woman； like a most vile
and wicked man as thou art。 With whom doest thou now imagine thy selfe
to be？ Thou art with her； whom thou hast long time deluded by false
blandishments； feigning to affect her； when thou doatest in thy
desires else…where。 I am thine owne Catulla； and not the wife of
Ricciardo； trayterous and unfaithfull man； as thou art。 I am sure thou
knowest my voyce； and I thinke it a thousand yeeres； until wee may see
each other in the light； to doe thee such dishonour as thou justly
deservest； dogged； disdainfull； and villainous wretch。 By conceiving
to have another woman in thy wanton embraces thou hast declared more
joviall disposition； and demonstrations of farre greater kindnesse；
then domesticke familiarity。 At home thou lookest sower； sullen or
surly； often froward； and seldome well pleased。 But the best is；
whereas thou intendest this husbandrie for another mans ground； thou
hast （against thy will） bestowed it on thine owne； and the water
hath runne a contrary course； quite from the current where thou
meantst it。
What answer canst thou make； devill； and no man？ What； have my words
smitten thee dumbe？ Thou mayest （with shame enough） hold thy peace；
for with the face of a man； and love of an husband to his wife； thou
art not able to make any answere。
Ricciardo durst not speake one word； but still expressed his affable
behaviour towards her； bestowing infinite embraces and kisses on
her： which so much the more augmented her rage and anger； continuing
on her chiding thus。 If by these flatteries and idle follies； thou
hopest to comfort or pacifie me； thou runnest quite by as from thy
reckoning； for I shall never imagine my selfe halfe satisfied；
untill in the presence of my parents； friends； and neighbours； I
have revealed thy base behaviour。 Tell mee； treacherous man； am not
I as faire； as the wife of Ricciardo？ Am I not as good a Gentlewoman
borne； as shee is？ What canst thou more respect in her； then is in
mee？ Villaine； monster； why doest thou not answere mee？ I will send to
Ricciardo； who loveth mee beyond all other women in Naples； and yet
could never vaunt； that I gave him so much as a friendly looke： he
shall know； what a dishonour thou hadst intended towards him； which
both he and his friends will revenge soundly upon thee。 The
exclamations of the Lady were so tedious and irksome； that Ricciardo
perceiving； if shee continued longer in these complaints； worse
would ensue thereon； then could bee easily remedied： resolved to
make himselfe knowne unto her； to reclaime her out of this violent
extasie； and holding her somewhat strictly； to prevent her escaping
from him； he said。 Madam； afflict your selfe no further； for； what I
could not obtaine by simply loving you； subtilty hath better taught
me； and I am your Ricciardo： which she hearing； and perfectly
knowing him by his voyce； shee would have leapt out of the Bath； but
shee could not； and to avoyde her crying out； he layde his hand on her
mouth； saying。 Lady； what is done； cannot now be undone； albeit you
cried out all your life time。 If you exclaime； or make this knowne
openly by any meanes； two unavoydable dangers must needes ensue
thereon。 The one （which you ought more carefully to respect） is the
wounding of your good renowne and honour； because； when you shall say；
that by treacherie I drew you hither： I will boldly maintaine the
contrary； avouching； that having corrupted you with gold； and not
giving you so much as covetously you desired； you grew offended； and
thereon made the outcry； and you are not to learne； that the world
is more easily induced to beleeve the worst； then any goodnesse； be it
never so manifest。 Next unto this； mortall hatred must arise
betweene your husband and mee； and （perhaps） I shall as soone kill
him； as he me； whereby you can hardly； live in any true contentment
after。 Wherefore； joy of my life； doe not in one moment； both shame
your selfe； and cause such perill betweene your husband and me： for
you are not the first； neither can be the last； that shall be
deceived。 I have not beguiled you； to take any honour from you； but
onely declared； the faithfull affection I beare you； and so shall
doe for ever； as being your bounden and most obedient servant； and
as it is a long time agoe； since I dedicated my selfe and all mine
to your service； so hence…forth must I remaine for ever。 You are
wise enough （I know） in all other things： then shew your selfe not
to be silly or simple in this。
Ricciardo uttered these words； teares streaming aboundantly downe
his cheekes； and Madame Catulla （all the while） likewise showred forth
her sorrowes equally to his； now； although she was exceedingly
troubled in mind； and saw what her owne jealous folly had now
brought her to； a shame beyond all other whatsoever： in the middest of
her tormenting passions； shee considered on the words of Ricciardo；
found good reason in them； in regard of the unavoydable evils
whereupon shee thus spake。 Ricciardo； I know not how to beare the
horrible injurie； and notorious treason used by thee against me； grace
and goodnesse having so forsaken me； to let me fall in so foule a
manner。 Nor becommeth it me； to make any noyse or out…cry heere；
whereto simplicity； or rather devillish jealousie； did conduct me。 But
certaine I am of one thing； that I shall never see any one joyfull
day； till （by one meanes or other） I bee reverged on thee。 Thou hast
glutted thy desire with my disgrace； let me therefore go from thee；
never more to looke upon my wronged husband； or let any honest woman
ever see my face。
Ricciardo perceiving the extremity of her perplexed minde； used
all manly and milde perswasions； which possibly he could devise to
doe； to turne the torrent of this high tide； to a calmer course； as by
outward shew shee made appearance of； untill （in frightfull feares
shunning every one shee met withall； as arguments of her
guiltinesse） shee recovered her owne house； where remorse so
tortured her distressed soule； that she fell into so fierce a
melancholy； as never left her till shee died。 Upon the report whereof；
Ricciardo becomming likewise a widdower； and grieving
extraordinarily for his haynous transgression； penitently betooke
himselfe to live in a wildernesse； where （not long after） he ended his
dayes。
THE THIRD DAY； THE SEAVENTH NOVELL
WHEREIN IS SIGNIFIED THE POWER OF LOVE； AND THE DIVERSITY OF
DANGERS； WHEREINTO MEN MAY DAYLY FALL。
Theobaldo Elisei； having received an unkinde repulse by his beloved；
departed from Florence； and returning thither （a long while after）
in the habite of a Pilgrime； he spake with her； and made his wrongs
knowne unto her。 He delivered her Father from the danger of death；
because it was proved； that he had slaine Theobaldo： he made peace
with his brethren； and in the end； wisely enjoyed his hearts desire。
So ceased Fiammetta her discourse； being generally commended； when
the Queene； to prevent the losse of time； commanded Aemillia to follow
next； who thus began。 It liketh me best （gracious Ladies） to returne
home againe to our owne City； which it pleased the for。
mer two discoursers to part from： And there I will shew you； how a
Citizen of ours； recovered the kindnesse of his Love； after hee had
lost it。
Sometime there dwelt in Florence a young Gentleman； named
Theobaido Elisei； descended of a noble House； who became earnestly
enamoured of a Widdow； called Hermelina； the daughter to
Aldobrandino Palermini： well deserving； for his vertues and
commendable qualities； to enjoy of her whatsoever he could desire。
Secretly they were espoused together； but Fortune； the enemy to Lovers
felicities； opposed her malice against them； in depriving Theobaldo of
those deere delights； which sometime he held in free possession； and
making him as a stranger to her gracious favours。 Now grew shee
contemptibly to despise him； not onely denying to heare any message
sent from him； but scorning also to vouch safe so much as a sight of
him； causing in him extreme griefe and melancholy； yet concealling all
her