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please。〃
The wager was laid； and they all agreed to leave the decision to
Pietro di Florentino； who was then present。 Everyone expected Scalza
would lose； and began to laugh at him beforehand。 He that was to
determine the matter； being very judicious； first heard the reasons of
the opposite party； and then asked Scalza how he could prove his
assertion。
〃I will prove it so sufficiently；〃 says he； that you shall all be
thoroughly convinced。 Gentlemen；〃 says he； 〃by how much a family is
most ancient by so much it is most noble。 The family of the Baronchi
is the most ancient in Florence； ergo it is the most noble。 I have
nothing； then； to prove but the antiquity of the Baronchi。 This will
appear in that Prometheus made them at the time that he first began to
learn to paint； and made others after he was master of his art。 To
convince you of this； do but examine the figures of the one and the
other： you'll find art and proportion in the composition of the one；
whereas the others are but rough…drawn and imperfect。 Among the
Baronchi you'll meet with one with a long narrow face； another with
a prodigiously broad one； one is flat…nosed； another has a nose that
measures an ell； one has a long chin and jaws like an ass； another has
his short and flat； and is monkey…faced。 Nay； there are some of them
that have but one eye either larger or lower than the others have。
In a word； their faces for all the world resemble such as children
make when they first begin to draw。 Prometheus； you will allow； must
be no great master when he made these figures； as I told you before；
and consequently they must be more noble as they are more ancient。〃
So diverting an argument made them all to laugh heartily。 The
representation he gave of the Baronchi was so ust and natural that
they all agreed he had won： and nothing was heard for a full quarter
of an hour but 〃Scalza has won！〃 and 〃The Baronchi are the most
ancient and noble family in all Florence！〃
THE SIXT DAY； THE SEVENTH NOVELL
WHEREIN IS DECLARED； OF WHAT WORTH IT IS TO CONFESSE
TRUETH； WITH A FACETIOUS AND WITTY EXCUSE
Madam Philippa； being accused by her Husband Rinaldo de Pugliese；
because he tooke her in Adulterie； with a yong Gentleman named
Lazarino de Guazzagliotri： caused her to bee cited before the Judge。
From whom she delivered her selfe； by a sodaine； witty； and pleasant
answer； and moderated a severe strict Statute； formerly made against
women。
After that Madame Fiammetta had given over speaking； and all the
Auditory had sufficiently applauded the Schollers honest revenge；
the Queene enjoyned Philostratus； to proceede on next with his Novell；
which caused him to begin thus。 Beleeve me Ladies； it is an
excellent and most commendable thing； to speak well； and to all
purposes： but I hold it a matter of much greater worth； to know how to
do it； and when necessity doth most require it。 Which a Gentlewoman
（of whom I am now to speake） was so well enstructed in； as not onely
it yeelded the hearers mirthfull contentment； but likewise delivered
her from the danger of death； as （in few words） you shal heare
related。
In the Citie of Pirato； there was an Edict or Statute； no lesse
blameworthy （to speake uprightly） then most severe and cruell； which
（without making any distinction） gave strict command； That everie
Woman should be burned with fire； who husband found her in the acte of
Adultery； with any secret or familiar friend； as one deserving to
bee thus abandoned； like such as prostituted their bodies to publike
sale or hire。 During the continuance of this sharpe Edict； it fortuned
that a Gentlewoman； who was named Phillippa； was found in her
Chamber one night； in the armes of a yong Gentleman of the same
City； named Lazarino de Guazzagliotri； and by her owne husband；
called Rinaldo de Pugliese； shee loving the young Gallant； as her owne
life； because hee was most compleate in all perfections； and every way
as deerely addicted to her。
This sight was so irkesome to Rinaldo； that； being overcom with
extreame rage； hee could hardly containe from running on them； with
a violent intent to kill them both： but feare of his owne life
caused his forbearance； meaning to be revenged by some better way。
Such was the heate of his spleene and fury； as； setting aside all
respect of his owne shame： he would needs prosecute the rigour of
the deadly Edict； which he held lawfull for him to do； although it
extended to the death of his Wife。 Heereupon； having witnesses
sufficient； to approove the guiltinesse of her offence： a day being
appointed （without desiring any other counsell） he went in person to
accuse her； and required justice against her。
The Gentlewoman； who was of an high and undauntable spirite； as
all such are； who have fixed their affection resolvedly； and love
uppon a grounded deliberation： concluded； quite against the counsell
and opinion of her Parents； Kindred； and Friends； to appeare in the
Court； as desiring rather to dye； by confessing the trueth with a
manly courage； then by denying it； and her love unto so worthy a
person as he was； in whose arms she chanced to be taken； to live
basely in exile with shame； as an eternall scandall to her race。 So；
before the Potestate； shee made her apparance； worthily accompanied
both with men and women； all advising her to deny the acte： but she；
not minding them or their perswasions； looking on the Judge with a
constant countenance； and a voyce of setled resolve； craved to know of
him； what hee demaunded of her？
The Potestate well noting her brave carriage； her singular beautie
and praiseworthy parts； her words apparantly witnessing the heighth of
her minde： beganne to take compassion on her； and doubted； least
shee would confesse some such matter； as should enforce him to
pronounce the sentence of death against her。 But she boldly scorning
all delayes； or any further protraction of time； demanded again；
what was her accusation？ Madame； answered the Potestate； I am sory
to tel you； what needs I must； your husband （whom you see present
heere） is the complainant against you； avouching； that he tooke you in
the act of adultery with another man： and therefore he requireth；
that； according to the rigour of the Statute heere in force with us； I
should pronounce sentence against you； and （consequently） the
infliction of death。 Which I cannot do； if you confesse not the
fact； and therefore be well advised； how you answer me； and tell me
the truth； if it be as your Husband accuseth you； or no。
The Lady； without any dismay or dread at all； pleasantly thus
replied。 My Lord； true it is； that Rinaldo is my Husband； and that
he found me； on the night named； betweene the Armes of Lazarino； where
many times heeretofore he hath embraced mee； according to the
mutuall love re…plighted together； which I deny not； nor ever will。
But you know well enough； and I am certaine of it； that the Lawes
enacted in any Countrey； ought to be common； and made with consent
of them whom they concerne； whichin this Edict of yours is quite
contrarie。 For it is rigorous against none； but poore women onely； who
are able to yeeld much better content and satisfaction generally； then
remaineth in the power of men to do。 And moreover； when this Law was
made； there was not any woman that gave consent to it； neither were
they called to like or allow thoreof： in which respect； it may
deservedly be termed； an unjust Law。 And if you will； in prejudice
of my bodie； and of your owne soule； be the executioner of so
unlawfull an Edict； it consisteth in your power to do as you please。
But before you proceede to pronounce any sentence； may it please you
to favour me with one small request； namely； that you would demand
of my Husband； if at all times； and whensoever he tooke delight in
my company； I ever made any curiosity； or came to him unwillingly。
Whereto Rinaldo； without tarrying for the Potestate to moove the
question； sodainly answered； that （undoubtedly） his wife at all times；
and oftner then he could request it； was never sparing of her
kindnesse； or put him off with any deniall。 Then the Lady；
continuing on her former speeches； thus replyed。 Let me then demand of
you my Lord； being our Potestate and Judge； if it be so； by my
Husbands owne free confession； that he hath alwaies had his pleasure
of me； without the least refusall in me； or contradiction； what should
I doe with the over…plus remaining in mine owne power； and whereof
he had no need？ Would you have mee cast it away to the Dogges？ Was
it not more fitting for me； to pleasure therwith a worthy Gentleman；
who was even at deaths doore for my love； then （my husbands
surfetting； and having no neede of me） to let him lye languishing； and
dye？
Never was heard such an examination before； and to come from a woman
of such worth； the most part of the honourable Pratosians （both
Lords and Ladies） being there present； who hearing her urge such a
necessary question； cryed out all loud together with one voice
（after they had laughed their fill） that the Lady had saide well；
and no more then she might。 So that； before they departed thence； by
comfortab