THE SEVENTH NOVELL

 

     WHEREBY IS GIVEN TO UNDERSTAND, THAT LOVE AND DEATH DO USE

       THEIR POWER EQUALLY ALIKE, AS WELL UPON POORE AND MEANE

               PERSONS, AS ON THEM THAT ARE RICH AND NOBLE

 

  Faire Simonida affecting Pasquino, and walking with him in a

pleasant garden, it fortuned, that Pasquino rubbed his teeth with a

leafe of Sage, and immediately fell downe dead. Simonida being brought

before the bench of Justice, and charged with the death of Pasquino,

she rubbed her teeth likewise with one of the leaves of the same Sage,

as declaring what shee saw him do, and thereon she dyed also in the

same manner.

 

  Pamphilus having ended his Tale, the King declaring an outward

shew of compassion, in regard of Andreanaes disastrous Fortune;

fixed his eye on Madam Aemilia, and gave her such an apparant signe,

as expressed his pleasure, for her next succeeding in discourse; which

being sufficient for her understanding, thus she began. Faire

assembly, the Novell so lately delivered by Pamphilus, maketh me

willing to report another to you, varying from it, in any kinde of

resemblance; onely this excepted: that as Andreana lost her lover in a

Garden, even so did she of whom I am now to speake. And being

brought before the seate of Justice, according as Andreana was,

freed her selfe from the power of the Law; yet neither by force, or

her owne vertue, but by her sodaine and inopinate death. And

although the nature of Love is such (according as we have oftentimes

heeretofore maintained) to make his abiding in the houses of the

Noblest persons; yet men and women of poore and farre inferiour

quality, do not alwayes sit out of his reach, though enclosed in their

meanest Cottages; declaring himselfe sometime as a powerfull

commaunder in those humble places, as he doth in the richest and

most imperious Palaces. As will plainly appeare unto you, either in

all, or a great part of my Novell, whereto our Citie pleadeth some

title; though, by the diversity of our discourses, talking of so

many severall accidents; we have wandred into many other parts of

the world, to make all answerable to our owne liking.

  It is not any long time since, when there lived in our City of

Florence, a young and beautifull Damosell, yet according to the nature

of her condition; because she was the Daughter of a poore Father,

and called by the name of Simonida. Now, albeit she was not supplied

by any better means, then to maintaine her selfe by her owne

painfull travell, and earne her bread before she could eate it, by

carding and spinning to such as employed her; yet was she not so

base or dejected a spirit, but had both courage and sufficient vertue,

to understand the secret soliciting of love, and to distinguish the

parts of well deserving both by private behaviour and outward

ceremony. As naturall instinct was her first tutor thereto, so

wanted she not a second maine and urging motion, a chip hewed out of

the like Timber, one no better in birth then her selfe, a proper young

springall, named Pasquino, whose generous behaviour, and gracefull

actions (in bringing her dayly wooll to spin, by reason his Master was

a Clothier) prevailed upon her liking and affection.

  Nor was he negligent in the observation of her amorous regards,

but the Tinder tooke, and his soule flamed with the selfe same fire;

making him as desirous of her loving acceptance, as possibly she could

be of his: so that the commanding power of love, could not easily be

distinguished in which of them it had the greater predominance. For

every day as he brought her fresh supply of woolles, and found her

seriously busied at her wheele: her soule would vent forth many

deepe sighes, and those sighes fetch floods of teares from her eyes,

thorough the singular good opinion she had conceyved of him, and

earnest desire to enjoy him. Pasquino on the other side, as leysure

gave him leave for the least conversing with her: his disease was

every way answerable to hers, for teares stood in his eyes, sighes

flew abroad, to ease the poore hearts afflicting oppressions, which

though he was unable to conceale; yet would he seeme to clowd them

cleanly, by entreating her that his Masters worke might be neatly

performed, and with such speed as time would permit her, intermixing

infinite praises of her artificiall spinning; and affirming withall,

that the Quilles of Yearne received from her, were the choisest beauty

of the whole peece; so that when other workewomen played, Simonida was

sure to want no employment.

  Hereupon, the one soliciting, and the other taking delight in

being solicited; it came to passe, that often accesse bred the

bolder courage, and over-much bashfulnesse became abandoned, yet no

immodesty passing betweene them: but affection grew the better

setled in them both, by interchangeable vowes of constant

perseverance, so that death onely, but no disaster else had power to

divide them. Their mutuall delight continuing on in this manner,

with more forcible encreasing of their Loves equall flame: it

fortuned, that Pasquino sitting by Simonida, told her of a goodly

Garden, whereto he was desirous to bring her, to the end, that they

might the more safely converse together, without the suspition of

envious eyes. Simonida gave answer of her wellliking the motion, and

acquainting her Father therewith, he gave her leave, on the Sunday

following after dinner, to go fetch the pardon of S. Gallo, and

afterwards to visit the Garden.

  A modest yong maiden named Lagina, following the same profession,

and being an intimate familiar friend, Simonida tooke along in her

company, and came to the Garden appointed by Pasquino; where she found

him readily expecting her comming, and another friend also with him,

called Puccino (albeit more usually tearmed Strambo) a secret

well-willer to Lagina, whose love became the more furthered by his

friendly meeting. Each Lover delighting in his hearts chosen

Mistresse, caused them to walke alone by themselves, as the

spaciousnesse of the Garden gave them ample liberty: Puccino with

his Lagina in one part, and Pasquino with his Simonida in another. The

walke which they had made choise of, was by a long and goodly bed of

Sage, turning and returning by the same bed their conference ministred

occasion, and as they pleased to recreate themselves, affecting rather

to continue still there, then in any part of the Garden.

  One while they would sit downe by the Sage bed, and afterward rise

to walke againe, as ease and wearinesse seemed to invite them. At

length, Pasquino chanced to crop a leafe of the Sage, wherewith he

both rubbed his teeth and gummes, and champing it betweene them

also, saying; that there was no better thing in the world to cleanse

the teeth withall, after feeding. Not long had he thus champed the

Sage in his teeth, returning to his former kinde of discoursing, but

his countenance began to change very pale, his sight failed, and

speech forsooke him; so that (in briefe) he fell downe dead. Which

when Simonida beheld, wringing her hands, she cryed out for helpe to

Strambo and Lagina, who immediately came running to her. They

finding Pasquino not onely to be dead, but his body swolne, and

strangely over-spred with foule black spots, both on his face,

hands, and all parts else beside: Strambo cried out, saying; Ah wicked

maide, what hast thou poisoned him?

  These words and their shrill out-cries also were heard by Neighbours

dwelling neere to the Garden, who comming in sodainly uppon them,

and seeing Pasquino lying dead, and hugely swoln, Strambo likewise

complaining, and accusing Simonida to have poysoned him; she making no

answer, but standing in a gastly amazement, all her senses meerely

confounded, at such a strange and uncouth accident, in loosing him

whom she so dearely loved: knew not how to excuse-her selfe, and

therefore every one verily beleeved, that Strambo had not unjustly

accused her. Poore wofull maide, thus was she instantly apprehended,

and drowned in her teares, they led her along to the Potes. tates

Palace, where her accusation was justified by Strambo, Lagina, and two

men more; the one named Atticciato, and the other Malagevole, fellowes

and companions with Pasquino, who came into the Garden also upon the

out-cry.

  The Judge, without any delay at all, gave eare to the busines, and

examined the case very strictly: but could by no meanes comprehend,

that any malice should appeare in her towards him, nor that she was

guiltie of the mans death. Wherefore, in the presence of Simonida,

he desired to see the dead body, and the place where he fell downe

dead, because there he intended to have her relate, how she saw the

accident to happen, that her owne speeches might the sooner condemne

her, whereas the case yet remained doubtfull, and farre beyond his

comprehension. So, without any further publication, and to avoid the

following of the turbulent multitude, they departed from the bench

of Justice, and came to the place, where Pasquinoes body lay swolne

like a Tunne. Demanding there questions, concerning his behaviour,

when they walked there in conference together, and, not a little

admiring the manner of his death, while he stood advisedly considering

thereon.

  She going to the bed of Sage, reporting the whole precedent history,

even from the originall to the ending: the better to make the case

understood, without the least colour of ill carriage towardes

Pasquino; according as she had seene him do, even so o she plucke

another leafe of the Sage, rubbing her teeth therewith, and champing

it as he formerly did. Strambo, and the other intimate friends of

Pasquino, having noted in what manner she used the Sage, and this

appearing as her utmost refuge, either to acquit or condemne her: in

presence of the Judge they smiled thereat, mocking and deriding

whatsoever she saide, or did, and desiring (the more earnestly) the

sentence of death against her, that her body might be consumed with

fire, as a just punishment for her abhominable transgression.

  Poore Simonida, sighing and sorrowing for her deere loves losse, and

(perhappes) not meanly terrified, with the strict infliction of

torment so severely urged and followed by Strambo and the rest

standing dumb still, without answering so much as one word; by tasting

of the same Sage, fell downe dead by the bed, even by the like

accident Pasquino formerly did, to the admirable astonishment of all

there present.

  Oh poore infortunate Lovers, whose Starres were so inauspicious to

you, as to finish both your mortall lives, and fervent love, in

lesse limitation then a dayes space. How to censure of your deaths,

and happines to ensue thereon, by an accident so strange and

inevitable: it is not within the compasse of my power, but to hope the

best, and so I leave you. But yet concerning Simonida her selfe, in

the common opinion of us that remaine living: her true vertue and

innocency (though Fortune was otherwise most cruell to her) would

not suffer her to sinke under the testimony of Strambo, Lagina,

Atticciato, and Malagevole, being but carders of wool, or perhaps of

meaner condition; a happier course was ordained for her, to passe

clearely from their infamous imputation, and follow her Pasquino, in

the very same manner of death, and with such a speedy expedition.

  The Judge standing amazed, and all there present in his company,

were silent for a long while together: but, uppon better

recollection of his spirits, thus he spake. This inconvenience which

thus hath hapned, and confounded our senses with no common admiration;

in mine opinion concerneth the bed of Sage, avouching it either to

be venomous, or dangerously infected, which (neverthelesse) is

seldom found in Sage. But to the end, that it may not be offensive

to any more hereafter, I will have it wholly digd up by the rootes,

and then to be burnt in the open Market place.

  Hereupon, the Gardiner was presently sent for, and before the

Judge would depart thence, he saw the bed of Sage digged up by the

roots, and found the true occasion, whereby these two poore Lovers

lost their lives. For, just in the middest of the bed, and at the

maine roote, which directed all the Sage in growth; lay an huge mighty

Toad, even weltring (as it were) in a hole full of poyson; by meanes

whereof, in conjecture of the judge, and all the rest, the whole bed

of Sage became envenomed, occasioning every leafe thereof to be deadly

in taste. None being so hardy, as to approach neere the Toade, they

made a pile of wood directly over it, and setting it on a flaming

fire, threw all the Sage thereinto, and so they were consumed

together. So ended all further suite in Law, concerning the deaths

of Pasquino and Simonida: whose bodies being carried to the Church

of Saint Paul, by their sad and sorrowfull accusers, Strambo,

Lagina, Atticciato and Malagevole, were buried together in one

goodly Monument, for a future memory of their hard Fortune.