The Decameron (Day 6 to Day 10)

  Madam Phillippa, _being accused by her Husband_ Rinaldo de Pugliese,_because he tooke her in Adulterie, with a yong Gentleman named_Lazarino de Guazzagliotori: _caused her to bee cited before the Judge.From whom she delivered her selfe, by a sodaine, witty and pleasantanswer, and moderated a severe strict Statute, formerly made againstwomen._

  The Seventh Novell.

  _Wherein is declared, of what worth it is to confesse a trueth, with afacetious and witty excuse._

  After that Madame _Fiammetta_ had given over speaking, and all theAuditory had sufficiently applauded the Schollers honest revenge, theQueene enjoyned _Philostratus_, to proceede on next with his Novell,which caused him to begin thus. Beleeve me Ladies, it is an excellent& most commendable thing, to speak well, and to all purposes: but Ihold it a matter of much greater worth, to know how to do it, andwhen necessity doth most require it. Which a Gentlewoman (of whom Iam now to speake) was so well enstructed in, as not onely it yeeldedthe hearers mirthfull contentment, but likewise delivered her from thedanger of death, as (in few words) you shall heare related.

  In the Citie of _Prato_, there was an Edict or Statute, no lesseblameworthy (to speake uprightly) then most severe and cruell, which(without making any distinction) gave strict command; That everie Womanshould be burned with fire, whose husband found her in the acte ofAdultery, with any secret or familiar friend, as one deserving to beethus abandoned, like such as prostituted their bodies to publike saleor hire. During the continuance of this sharpe Edict, it fortuned thata Gentlewoman, who was named _Phillippa_, was found in her Chamberone night, in the armes of a yong Gentleman of the same City, named_Lazarino de Guazzagliotori_, and by her owne husband, called _Rinaldode Pugliese_, shee loving the young Gallant, as her owne life, becausehee was most compleate in all perfections, and every way as deerelyaddicted to her.

  This sight was so irkesome to _Rinaldo_, that, being overcom withextreame rage, hee could hardly containe from running on them, with aviolent intent to kill them both: but feare of his owne life caused hisforbearance, meaning to be revenged by some better way. Such was theheate of his spleene and fury, as, setting aside all respect of hisowne shame: he would needs prosecute the rigour of the deadly Edict,which he held lawfull for him to do, although it extended to the deathof his Wife. Heereupon, having witnesses sufficient, to approove theguiltinesse of her offence: a day being appointed (without desiring anyother counsell) he went in person to accuse her, and required justiceagainst her.

  The Gentlewoman, who was of an high and undauntable spirite, as allsuch are, who have fixed their affection resolvedly, and love uppona grounded deliberation: concluded, quite against the counsell andopinion of her Parents, Kindred, and Friends; to appeare in the Court,as desiring rather to dye, by confessing the trueth with a manlycourage, then by denying it, and her love unto so worthy a personas he was, in whole arms she chanced to be taken; to live basely inexile with shame, as an eternall scandall to her race. So, before thePotestate, shee made her apparance, worthily accompanied both with menand women, all advising her to deny the acte: but she, not minding themor their perswasions, looking on the Judge with a constant countenance,and a voyce of setled resolve, craved to know of him, what heedemaunded of her?

  The Potestate well noting her brave carriage, her singular beautie andpraise-worthy parts, her words apparantly witnessing the heighth ofher minde: beganne to take compassion on her, and doubted, least sheewould confesse some such matter, as should enforce him to pronounce thesentence of death against her. But she boldly scorning all delayes,or any further protraction of time; demanded again, what was heraccusation? Madame, answered the Potestate, I am sorry to tel you,what needs I must, your husband (whom you see present heere) is thecomplainant against you, avouching, that he tooke you in the act ofadultery with another man: and therefore he requireth, that, accordingto the rigour of the Statute heere in force with us, I should pronouncesentence against you, and (consequently) the infliction of death.Which I cannot do, if you confesse not the fact, and therefore be welladvised, how you answer me, and tell me the truth, if it be as yourHusband 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 foundme, on the night named, betweene the Armes of _Lazarino_, where manytimes heeretofore he hath embraced mee, according to the mutuall lovere-plighted together, which I deny not, nor ever will. But you knowwell enough, and I am certaine of it, that the Lawes enacted in anyCountrey, ought to be common, and made with consent of them whom theyconcerne, which in this Edict of yours is quite contrarie. For it isrigorous against none, but poore women onely, who are able to yeeldmuch better content and satisfaction generally, then remaineth in thepower of men to do. And moreover, when this Law was made, there was notany woman that gave consent to it, neither were they called to like orallow thereof: in which respect, it may deservedly be termed, an unjustLaw. 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 yourpower to do as you please.

  But before you proceede to pronounce any sentence, may it please youto favour me with one small request, namely, that you would demand ofmy Husband, if at all times, and whensoever he tooke delight in mycompany, 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 oftnerthen he could request it, was never sparing of her kindnesse, or puthim off with any deniall. Then the Lady, continuing on her formerspeeches, thus replyed. Let me then demand of you my Lord, being ourPotestate and Judge, if it be so, by my Husbands owne free confession,that he hath alwaies had his pleasure of me, without the least refusallin me, or contradiction; what should I doe with the over-plus remainingin mine owne power, and whereof he had no need? Would you have mee castit away to the Dogges? Was it not more fitting for me, to pleasuretherewith 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 lyelanguishing, and dye?

  Never was heard such an examination before, and to come from a woman ofsuch worth, the most part of the honourable _Pratosians_ (both Lordsand Ladies) being there present, who hearing her urge such a necessaryquestion, cryed out all aloud together with one voice (after they hadlaughed their fill) that the Lady had saide well, and no more then shemight. So that, before they departed thence, by comfortable adviceproceeding from the Potestate: the Edict (being reputed overcruell) wasmodified, and interpreted to concerne them onely, who offered injurieto their Husbands for money. By which meanes, _Rinaldo_ standing as oneconfounded, for such a foolish and unadvised enterprize, departed fromthe Auditorie: and the Ladie, not a little joyfull to bee thus freedand delivered from the fire, returned home with victorie to her ownehouse.