THE FOURTH DAY

  WHEREIN ALL THE SEVERALL DESCOURSES, ARE UNDER THE GOVERNMENT OF

            HONOURABLE PHILSTRATUS: AND CONCERNING SUCH

        PERSONS, WHOSE LOVES HAVE HAD SUCCESSELESSE ENDING

  Most worthy Ladies, I have alwayes heard, as well by the sayings

of the judecious, as also by mine owne observation and reading, that

the impetuous and violent windes of envy, do sildome blow turbulently,

but on the highest Towers and tops of the trees most eminently

advanced. Yet (in mine opinion) I have found my selfe much deceived;

because, by striving with my very uttermost endeavour, to shunne the

outrage of those implacable winds; I have laboured to go, not onely by

plaine and even pathes but likewise through the deepest vallies. As

very easily may be seene and observed in the reading of these few

small Novels, which I have written not only in our vulgar Florentine

prose, without any ambitious title: but also in a most humble stile,

so low and gentle as possibly I could. And although I have bene rudely

shaken, yea, almost halfe unrooted, by the extreame agitation of those

blustering winds, and torne in peeces by that base back-biter, Envy:

yet have I not (for all that) discontinued, or broken any part of mine

intended enterprize. Wherefore, I can sufficiently witnesse (by mine

owne comprehension) the saying so much observed by the wise, to be

most true: That nothing is without Envy in this world, but misery

onely.

  But what shall I say to them, who take so great compassion on my

povertie, as they advise me to get some thing, whereon to make my

living? Assuredly, I know not what to say in this case, except by

due consideration made with my selfe, how they would answer me, if

necessitie should drive me to crave kindnesse of them;

questionlesse, they would then say: Goe, seeke comfort among thy

fables and follies.

  But now it is time (bright beauties) to returne whence we parted,

and to follow our former order begun, because it may seeme we have

wandered too farre. By this time the Sun had chased the Starre-light

from the heavens, and the shadie moisture from the ground, when

Philostratus the King being risen, all the company arose likewise.

When being come into the goodly Garden, they spent the time in

varietie of sports, dining where they had supt the night before. And

after that the Sunne was at his highest, and they had refreshed

their spirits with a little slumbering, they sate downe (according

to custome) about the faire Fountaine. And then the King commanded

Madam Fiammettal that she should give beginning to the dayes Novels:

when she, without any longer delaying, began: