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looke more circumspectly on me； and then you will remember； that I
am your loving husband； and my name is Ricciardo di Cinzica。 You
must pardon me Sir； replyed Bertolomea； I know it not so fitting for a
modest； woman to stand gazing in the faces of men： and let me looke
uppon you never so often； certaine I am； that （till this instant） I
have not seene you。 My Lord Judge conceived in his minde； that thus
she denied all knowledge of him； as standing in feare of Pagamino； and
would not confesse him in his presence。 Wherefore hee entreated of
Pagamino； to affoord him so much favour； that he might speake alone
with her in her Chamber。 Pagamino answered； that he was well contented
therewith； provided； that he should not kisse her against her will。
Then he requested Bartolomea； to goe with him alone into her
Chamber； there to heare what he could say； and to answere him as
shee found occasion。 When they were come into the Chamber； and none
there present but he and shee； Signior Ricciardo began in this manner。
Heart of my heart； life of my life； the sweetest hope that I have in
this world； wilt thou not know thine owne Ricciardo； who loveth thee
more then he doth himselfe？ Why art thou so strange？ Am I so
disfigured； that thou knowest me not？ Behold me with a more pleasing
eye； I pray thee。
Bartolomea smiled to her self and without suffering him to proceed
any further in speech； returned him this answere。 I would have you
to understand Sir； that my memory is not so oblivious； but I know
you to be Signior Ricciardo di Cinzica； and my husband by name or
title； but during the time that I was with you； it very ill appeared
that you had any knowledge of me。 For if you had bene so wise and
considerate； as （in your own judgement） the world reputed you to be；
you could not be voide of so much apprehension； but did apparantly
perceive； that I was yong； fresh； and cheerefully disposed； and so （by
consequent） meet to know matters requisite for such young women；
beside allowance of food and garments； though bashfulnesse and modesty
forbid to utter it。 But if studying the Lawes were more welcome to you
then a wife； you ought not to have maried； and you loose the worthy
reputation of a judge； when you fall from that venerable profession；
and make your selfe a common proclaimer of feasts and fasting dayes；
lenten seasons； vigils； and solemnities due to Saints； which prohibite
the houshold conversation of husbands and wives。
Here am I now with a worthy Gentleman； that entertaineth me with
very honourable respect； and here I live in this Chamber； not so
much as hearing of any feasts or fasting dayes； for； neither Fridaies；
Saturdaies； vigils of Saints； or any lingering Lent； enter at this
doore： but heere is honest and civill conversation； better agreeing
with a youthfull disposition； then those harsh documents wherewith you
tutord me。 Wherefore my purpose is to continue here with him； as being
a place sutable to my minde and youth； referring feasts； vigils； and
fasting daies； to a more mature and stayed time of age； when the
body is better able to endure them； and the mind may be prepared for
such ghostly meditations： depart therefore at your owne pleasure；
and make much of your Calender； without enjoying any company of
mine； for you heare my resolved determination。
The Judge hearing these words； was overcome with exceeding griefe；
and when she was silent； thus he began。 Alas deare Love； what an
answere is this？ Hast thou no regard of thine owne honor； thy Parents；
and friends？ Canst thou rather affect to abide here； for the pleasures
of this man； and so sin capitolly； then to live at Pisa in the state
of my wife？ Consider deare heart； when this man shall waxe weary of
thee； to thy shame and his owne disgrace； he will reject thee。 I
must and shall love thee for ever； and when I dye； I leave thee Lady
and commandresse of all that is mine。 Can an inordinate appetite；
cause thee to be carelesse of thine honour； and of him that loves thee
as his owne life？ Alas； my fairest hope； say no more so； but returne
home with me； and now that I am acquainted with thy inclination； I
will endeavour heereafter to give thee better contentment。 Wherefore
（deare heart） doe not denie me； but change thy minde； and goe with me；
for I never saw merry day since I lost thee。
Sir （quoth she） I desire no body to have care of mine honour；
beside my selfe； because it cannot be here abused。 And as for my
Parents； what respect had they of me； when they made me your wife？
If then they could be so carelesse of mee； what reason have I to
regard them now？ And whereas you taxe me； that I cannot live here
without capitall sin； farre is the thought thereof from me： for；
here I am regarded as the wife of Pagamino； but at Pisa； you reputed
me not worthy your society： because； by the point of the Moone； and
the quadratures of Geometrie； the Planets held conjunction betweene
you and me； whereas here I am subject to no such constellations。 You
say beside； that hereafter you will strive to give me better
contentment then you have done； surely； in mine opinion it is no way
possible； because our complexions are so farre different； as yce is
from fire； or gold from drosse。 As for your allegation； of this
Gentlemans rejecting me； when his humour is satisfied； should it prove
to be so （as it is the least part of my feare） what fortune soever
shall betide me； never will I make any meanes to you； what miseries or
misadventures may happen to me； but the world will affoord me one
resting place or other； and more to my contentment； then if I were
with you。 Therefore I tell you once againe； to live secured from all
offence to holy Saints； and not to injure their feasts； fasts；
vigills； and other ceremonious seasons： here is my demourance； and
from hence I purpose not to part。
Our Judge was now in a wofull perplexity； and confessing his
folly； in marying a wife so young； and far unfit for his age and
abilitie： being halfe desperate； sad and displeased； he came forth
of the Chamber； using divers speeches to Pagamino； whereof he made
little or no account at all： and in the end； without any other
successe； left his wife there； and returned home to Pisa。 There
further afflictions fell upon him； because the people began to
scorne him； demanding dayly of him； what was become of his gallant
young wife； making hornes； with ridiculous pointings at him： whereby
his sences became distracted； so that he ran raving about the
streetes； and afterward died in very miserable manner。 Which newes
came no sooner to the eare of Pagamino； but； in the honourable
affection hee bare to Bertolomea； he maried her； with great solemnity；
banishing all Fasts； Vigils； and Lents from his house； and living with
her in much felicity。 Wherfore （faire Ladies） I am of opinion； that
Bernardo of Geneway； in his disputation with Ambroginolo； might have
shewne himselfe a great deale wiser； and sparing his rash proceeding
with his wife。
This tale was so merrily entertained among the whole company； that
each one smiling upon another； with one consent commended Dioneus；
maintaining that he spake nothing but the truth； and condemning
Bernardo for his cruelty。 Upon a generall silence commanded； the Queen
perceiving that the time was now very farre spent； and every one had
delivered their severall Novels； which likewise gave a period to her
Royalty： she gave the Crowne to Madam Neiphila； pleasantly speaking to
her in this order。 Heereafter； the government of these few people is
committed to your trust and care； for with the day concludeth my
dominion。 Madam Neiphila； blushing； at the honor done unto her； her
cheekes appeared of a vermillion tincture； her eyes glittering with
gracefull desires； and sparkeling like the morning Starre。 And after
the modest murmure of the Assistants was ceased； and her courage in
chearfull manner setled； seating her selfe higher then she did before；
thus she spake。
Seeing it is so； that you have elected me your Queene； to varie
somewhat from the course observed by them that went before me； whose
governement you have all so much commended： by approbation of your
counsell； I am desirous to speake my mind； concerning what I wold have
to be next followed。 It is not unknowne to you all； that to morrow
shal be Friday； and Saturday the next day following； which are daies
somewhat molestuous to the most part of men； for preparation of
their weekly food and sustenance。 Moreover； Friday ought to be
reverendly respected； in remembrance of him； who died to give us life；
and endured his bitter passion； as on that day； which makes me to hold
it fit and expedient； that wee should mind more weight）； matters；
and rather attend our prayers and devotions then the repetition of
tales or Novels。 Now concerning Saturday； it hath bin a custome
observed among women； to bath and wash themselves from such
immundicities as the former weekes toile hath imposed on them。 Beside；
it is a day of fasting； in honour of the ensuing Sabbath； whereon no
labor may be done； but the observation of holy exercises。
By that which hath bin saide； you may easily conceive； that the
course which we have hitherto continued； cannot