The Decameron (Day 6 to Day 10)

  THE NINTH DAY.

  _Whereon, under the Government of Madame_ ?MILLIA, _the Argument ofeach severall Discourse, is not limitted to any one peculiar subject:but every one remaineth at liberty, to speak of whatsoever themselvesbest pleaseth._

  The Induction.

  Faire _Aurora_, from whose bright and chearefull lookes, the duskiedarke night flyeth as an utter enemy, had already reached so highas the eight Heaven, converting it all into an Azure colour, andthe pretty Flowrets beganne to spred open their Leaves: when Madame_?millia_, beeing risen, caused all her female attendants, andthe yong Gentlemen likewise, to be summoned for their personallappearance. Who being all come, the Queen leading the way, and theyfollowing her Majesticke pace, walked into a little Wood, not farre offdistant from the Palace.

  No sooner were they there arrived, but they beheld store of WildeBeasts, as Hindes, Hares, Goats, and such like; so safely secured fromthe pursuite of Huntsmen (by reason of the violent Pestilence thenreigning) that they stood gazing boldly at them, as dreadlesse of anydanger, or as if they were become tame and Domesticke.

  Approaching neerer them, first to one, then unto another, as if theypurposed to play gently with them, they then beganne to skippe andrunne, making them such pastime with their pretty tripping, that theyconceyved great delight in beholding of them.

  But when they beheld the Sunne to exalt itselfe, it was thoughtconvenient to return back again, shrouding themselves under the Treesspreading armes, their hands full of sweete Flowers and OdorifferousHearbes, which they had gathered in their Walking. So that such aschanced to meete them, could say nothing else: but that death knew notby what meanes to conquer them, or els they had set down an absolutedetermination, to kill him with their Joviall disposition.

  In this manner, singing, dancing, or prettily pratling, at length theyarrived at the Palace, where they found all things readily prepared,and their Servants duly attending for them. After they hadde reposedthemselves awhile, they would not (as yet) sit downe at the Table,untill they had sung halfe a dozen of Canzonets, some more pleasantthen another, both the women and men together.

  Then they fell to washing hands, and the Maister of the Houshold causedthem to sit downe, according as the Queene had appointed, and Dinnerwas most sumptuously served in before them. Afterward, when the Tableswere with-drawne, they all tooke handes to dance a Roundelay; whichbeing done, they plaied on their Instruments a while; and then, such asso pleased, tooke their rest. But when the accustomed houre was come,they all repaired to the place of discoursing, where the Queen, lookingon Madam _Philomena_, gave her the honor of beginning the first Novellfor that day: whereto shee dutifully condiscending, began as followeth.