Talano de Molese _dreamed, That a Wolfe rent and tore his wives faceand throate. Which dreame he told to her, with advise to keep her selfeout of danger; which she refusing to doe, received what followed._
The Seventh Novell.
_Whereby (with some indifferent reason) it is concluded, that Dreamesdo not alwayes fall out to be leasings._
By the conclusion of _Pamphilus_ his Novel, wherein the womans readywit, at a time of such necessity, carried deserved commendations: theQueen gave command to Madam _Pampinea_, that she should next begin withhers, and so she did, in this manner. In some discourses (graciousLadies) already past among us, the truth of apparitions in dreameshath partly bin approved, whereof very many have made a mockery.Neverthelesse, whatsoever hath heeretofore bin sayde, I purpose toacquaint you with a very short Novell, of a strange accident happeningunto a neighbour of mine, in not crediting a Dreame which her Husbandtold her.
I cannot tell, whether you knew _Talano de Molese_, or no, a man ofmuch honour, who tooke to wife a yong Gentlewoman, named _Margarita_,as beautifull as the best: but yet so peevish, scornefull, andfantasticall, that she disdained any good advice given her; neythercould any thing be done, to cause her contentment; which absurd humourswere highly displeasing to her husband: but in regard he knew not howto helpe it, constrainedly he did endure it. It came to passe, that_Talano_ being with his wife, at a summer-house of his owne in thecountry, he dreamed one night, that he saw his Wife walking in a fairewood, which adjoyned neere unto his house, and while she thus continuedthere, he seemed to see issue foorth from a corner of the said Wood, agreat and furious Wolfe, which leaping sodainly on her, caught her bythe face and throate, drawing her downe to the earth, and offering todrag her thence. But he crying out for helpe, recovered her from theWolfe, yet having her face and throat very pitifully rent and torne.
In regard of this terrifying dreame, when _Talano_ was risen in themorning, and sate conversing with his wife, he spake thus unto hir.Woman, although thy froward wilfull Nature be such, as hath notpermitted me one pleasing day with thee, since first we becam man andwife, but rather my life hath bene most tedious to me, as fearing stillsome mischeefe should happen to thee: yet let mee now in loving manneradvise thee, to follow my counsell, and (this day) not to walke abroadout of this house. She demanded a reason for this advice of his. Herelated to her every particular of his dreame, adding with all thesespeeches.
True it is Wife (quoth he) that little credit should bee given todreames: neverthelesse, when they deliver advertisement of harmesto ensue, there is nothing lost by shunning and avoiding them. Shefleering in his face, and shaking her head at him, replyed. Such harmesas thou wishest, such thou dreamest of. Thou pretendest much pittieand care of me, but all to no other end: but what mischeefes thoudreamest happening unto mee, so wouldest thou see them effected on me.Wherefore, I will well enough looke to my selfe, both this day, and atall times else: because thou shalt never make thy selfe merry, with anysuch misfortune as thou wishest unto me.
Well Wife, answered _Talano_, I knew well enough before, what thouwouldst say: An unsound head is soone scratcht with the very gentlestCombe: but beleeve as thou pleasest. As for my selfe, I speake with atrue and honest meaning soule, and once againe I do advise thee, tokeepe within our doores all this day: at least wife beware, that thouwalke not into our wood, bee it but in regard of my dreame. Well sir(quoth she scoffingly) once you shall say, I followed your counsell:but within her selfe she fell to this murmuring. Now I perceive myhusbands cunning colouring, & why I must not walke this day into ourwood: he hath made a compact with some common Queane, closely to haveher company there, and is afraide least I shold take them tardy. Belikehe would have me feed among blinde folke, and I were worthy to beethought a starke foole, if I should not prevent a manifest trechery,being intended against me. Go thither therefore I will, and tarry thereall the whole day long; but I will meet with him in his merchandize,and see the Pink wherein he adventures.
After this her secret consultation, her husband was no sooner goneforth at one doore, but shee did the like at another, yet so secretlyas possibly she could devise to doe, and (without any delaying) shewent to the Wood, wherein she hid her selfe very closely, among thethickest of the bushes, yet could discerne every way about her, ifany body should offer to passe by her. While shee kept her selfe inthis concealment, suspecting other mysterious matters, as her idleimagination had tutord her, rather then the danger of any Wolfe; out ofa brakie thicket by her, sodainly rushed a huge & dreadfull Wolfe, ashaving found her by the sent, mounting uppe, and grasping her throat inhis mouth, before she saw him, or could call to heaven for mercy.
Being thus seised of her, he carried her as lightly away, as if sheehad bin no heavier then a Lambe, she being (by no meanes) able to cry,because he held her so fast by the throate, and hindred any helpingof her selfe. As the Wolfe carried her thus from thence, he had quitestrangled her, if certaine Shepheards had not met him, who with theiroutcries and exclaimes at the Wolfe, caused him to let her fall, andhast away to save his owne life. Notwithstanding the harme done to herthroat and face, the shepheards knew her, and caried her home to herhouse, where she remained a long while after, carefully attended byPhysitians and Chirurgians.
Now, although they were very expert and cunning men all, yet couldthey not so perfectly cure her, but both her throate, and part ofher face were so blemished, that whereas she seemed a rare creaturebefore, she was now deformed and much unsightly. In regard of whichstrange alteration, being ashamed to shew her selfe in any place, whereformerly she had bene seene: she spent her time in sorrow and mourning,repenting her insolent and scornfull carriage, as also her rash runningforth into danger, upon a foolish and jealous surmise, beleeving herhusbands dreames the better for ever after.