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One while they would sit downe by the Sage bed； and afterward rise
to walke againe； as ease and wearinesse seemed to invite them。 At
length； Pasquino chanced to crop a leafe of the Sage； wherewith he
both rubbed his teeth and gummes； and champing it betweene them
also； saying； that there was no better thing in the world to cleanse
the teeth withall； after feeding。 Not long had he thus champed the
Sage in his teeth； returning to his former kinde of discoursing； but
his countenance began to change very pale； his sight failed； and
speech forsooke him； so that （in briefe） he fell downe dead。 Which
when Simonida beheld； wringing her hands； she cryed out for helpe to
Strambo and Lagina； who immediately came running to her。 They
finding Pasquino not onely to be dead； but his body swolne； and
strangely over…spred with foule black spots； both on his face；
hands； and all parts else beside： Strambo cried out； saying； Ah wicked
maide； what hast thou poisoned him？
These words and their shrill out…cries also were heard by Neighbours
dwelling neere to the Garden； who comming in sodainly uppon them；
and seeing Pasquino lying dead； and hugely swoln； Strambo likewise
complaining； and accusing Simonida to have poysoned him； she making no
answer； but standing in a gastly amazement； all her senses meerely
confounded； at such a strange and uncouth accident； in loosing him
whom she so dearely loved： knew not how to excuse…her selfe； and
therefore every one verily beleeved； that Strambo had not unjustly
accused her。 Poore wofull maide； thus was she instantly apprehended；
and drowned in her teares； they led her along to the Potes。 tates
Palace； where her accusation was justified by Strambo； Lagina； and two
men more； the one named Atticciato； and the other Malagevole； fellowes
and companions with Pasquino； who came into the Garden also upon the
out…cry。
The Judge； without any delay at all； gave eare to the busines； and
examined the case very strictly： but could by no meanes comprehend；
that any malice should appeare in her towards him； nor that she was
guiltie of the mans death。 Wherefore； in the presence of Simonida；
he desired to see the dead body； and the place where he fell downe
dead； because there he intended to have her relate； how she saw the
accident to happen； that her owne speeches might the sooner condemne
her； whereas the case yet remained doubtfull； and farre beyond his
comprehension。 So； without any further publication； and to avoid the
following of the turbulent multitude； they departed from the bench
of Justice； and came to the place； where Pasquinoes body lay swolne
like a Tunne。 Demanding there questions； concerning his behaviour；
when they walked there in conference together； and； not a little
admiring the manner of his death； while he stood advisedly considering
thereon。
She going to the bed of Sage； reporting the whole precedent history；
even from the originall to the ending： the better to make the case
understood； without the least colour of ill carriage towardes
Pasquino； according as she had seene him do； even so o she plucke
another leafe of the Sage； rubbing her teeth therewith； and champing
it as he formerly did。 Strambo； and the other intimate friends of
Pasquino； having noted in what manner she used the Sage； and this
appearing as her utmost refuge； either to acquit or condemne her： in
presence of the Judge they smiled thereat； mocking and deriding
whatsoever she saide； or did； and desiring （the more earnestly） the
sentence of death against her； that her body might be consumed with
fire； as a just punishment for her abhominable transgression。
Poore Simonida； sighing and sorrowing for her deere loves losse； and
（perhappes） not meanly terrified； with the strict infliction of
torment so severely urged and followed by Strambo and the rest
standing dumb still； without answering so much as one word； by tasting
of the same Sage； fell downe dead by the bed； even by the like
accident Pasquino formerly did； to the admirable astonishment of all
there present。
Oh poore infortunate Lovers； whose Starres were so inauspicious to
you； as to finish both your mortall lives； and fervent love； in
lesse limitation then a dayes space。 How to censure of your deaths；
and happines to ensue thereon； by an accident so strange and
inevitable： it is not within the compasse of my power； but to hope the
best； and so I leave you。 But yet concerning Simonida her selfe； in
the common opinion of us that remaine living： her true vertue and
innocency （though Fortune was otherwise most cruell to her） would
not suffer her to sinke under the testimony of Strambo； Lagina；
Atticciato； and Malagevole； being but carders of wool； or perhaps of
meaner condition； a happier course was ordained for her； to passe
clearely from their infamous imputation； and follow her Pasquino； in
the very same manner of death； and with such a speedy expedition。
The Judge standing amazed； and all there present in his company；
were silent for a long while together： but； uppon better
recollection of his spirits； thus he spake。 This inconvenience which
thus hath hapned； and confounded our senses with no common admiration；
in mine opinion concerneth the bed of Sage； avouching it either to
be venomous； or dangerously infected； which （neverthelesse） is
seldom found in Sage。 But to the end； that it may not be offensive
to any more hereafter； I will have it wholly digd up by the rootes；
and then to be burnt in the open Market place。
Hereupon； the Gardiner was presently sent for； and before the
Judge would depart thence； he saw the bed of Sage digged up by the
roots； and found the true occasion； whereby these two poore Lovers
lost their lives。 For； just in the middest of the bed； and at the
maine roote； which directed all the Sage in growth； lay an huge mighty
Toad； even weltring （as it were） in a hole full of poyson； by meanes
whereof； in conjecture of the judge； and all the rest； the whole bed
of Sage became envenomed； occasioning every leafe thereof to be deadly
in taste。 None being so hardy； as to approach neere the Toade； they
made a pile of wood directly over it； and setting it on a flaming
fire； threw all the Sage thereinto； and so they were consumed
together。 So ended all further suite in Law； concerning the deaths
of Pasquino and Simonida： whose bodies being carried to the Church
of Saint Paul； by their sad and sorrowfull accusers； Strambo；
Lagina； Atticciato and Malagevole； were buried together in one
goodly Monument； for a future memory of their hard Fortune。
THE FOURTH DAY； THE EIGHT NOVELL
WHEREIN IS AGAINE DECLARED； THE GREAT INDISCRETION AND FOLLY OF
THEM； THAT THINK TO CONSTRAINE LOVE； ACCORDING TO THEIR WILL；
AFTER IT IS CONSTANTLY SETLED BEFORE： WITH OTHER
INSTRUCTIONS； CONCERNING THE UNSPEAKEABLE POWER OF LOVE
Jeronimo affecting a yong Maiden； named Silvestra； was constrained
（by the earnest importunity of his Mother） to take a journey to Paris。
At his return home from thence againe； he found his love Silvestra
married。 By secret meanes； he got entrance into her house； and dyed
upon the bed lying by her。 Afterward； his body being carried to
Church； to receive buriall； she likewise died there instantly upon his
coarse。
Madam Aemilia no sooner concluded her Novell； but Madam Neiphila （by
the Kings command） began to speake in this manner。 It seemeth to me
（Gracious Ladies） that there are some such people to be found； who
imagine themselves to know more； then all other else in the world
beside； and yet indeede do know nothing at all： presuming （thorough
this arrogant opinion of theirs） to imploy and oppose their senselesse
understanding； against infallible grounded reason； yea； and to attempt
courses； not only contrary to the counsell and judgement of men； but
also to crosse the nature of divine ordination。 Out of which saucy and
ambitious presumption； many mighty harmes have already had
beginning； and more are like to ensue uppon such boldnesse； because it
is the ground of all evils。
Now； in regard that among all other naturall things； no one is lesse
subject to take counsell； or can be wrought to contrariety； then Love；
whose nature is such； as rather to run upon his owne rash consumption；
then to be ruled by admonitions of the very wisest： my memory hath
inspired it selfe； with matter incident to this purpose； effectually
to approve； what I have already said。 For I am now to speake of a
woman who would appeare to have more wit； then either she had
indeed； or appertained to her by any title。 The matter also； wherein
she would needs shew her studious judgement and capacity； was of
much more consequence then she could deserve to meddle withall。 Yet
such was the issue of her fond presuming； that （in one instant） she
expelled both love； and the soule of her owne sonne out of his body；
where （doubtlesse） it was planted by divine favour and appointment。
In our owne City （according to true and ancient testimony） there
dwelt sometime a very worthy and wealthy Merchant； named Leonardo
Sighiero； who by his wife had one onely Sonne； called Jeronimo； and
within a short while after his