THE SEVENTH NOVELL

 

          WHEREIN IS DECLARED, OF WHAT WORTH IT IS TO CONFESSE

               TRUETH, WITH A FACETIOUS AND WITTY EXCUSE

 

  Madam Philippa, being accused by her Husband Rinaldo de Pugliese,

because he tooke her in Adulterie, with a yong Gentleman named

Lazarino de Guazzagliotri: caused her to bee cited before the Judge.

From whom she delivered her selfe, by a sodaine, witty, and pleasant

answer, and moderated a severe strict Statute, formerly made against

women.

 

  After that Madame Fiammetta had given over speaking, and all the

Auditory had sufficiently applauded the Schollers honest revenge,

the Queene enjoyned Philostratus, to proceede on next with his Novell,

which caused him to begin thus. Beleeve me Ladies, it is an

excellent and most commendable thing, to speak well, and to all

purposes: but I hold it a matter of much greater worth, to know how to

do it, and when necessity doth most require it. Which a Gentlewoman

(of whom I am now to speake) was so well enstructed in, as not onely

it yeelded the hearers mirthfull contentment, but likewise delivered

her from the danger of death, as (in few words) you shal heare

related.

  In the Citie of Pirato, there was an Edict or Statute, no lesse

blameworthy (to speake uprightly) then most severe and cruell, which

(without making any distinction) gave strict command; That everie

Woman should be burned with fire, who husband found her in the acte of

Adultery, with any secret or familiar friend, as one deserving to

bee thus abandoned, like such as prostituted their bodies to publike

sale or hire. During the continuance of this sharpe Edict, it fortuned

that a Gentlewoman, who was named Phillippa, was found in her

Chamber one night, in the armes of a yong Gentleman of the same

City, named Lazarino de Guazzagliotri, and by her owne husband,

called Rinaldo de Pugliese, shee loving the young Gallant, as her owne

life, because hee was most compleate in all perfections, and every way

as deerely addicted to her.

  This sight was so irkesome to Rinaldo, that, being overcom with

extreame rage, hee could hardly containe from running on them, with

a violent intent to kill them both: but feare of his owne life

caused his forbearance, meaning to be revenged by some better way.

Such was the heate of his spleene and fury, as, setting aside all

respect of his owne shame: he would needs prosecute the rigour of

the deadly Edict, which he held lawfull for him to do, although it

extended to the death of his Wife. Heereupon, having witnesses

sufficient, to approove the guiltinesse of her offence: a day being

appointed (without desiring any other counsell) he went in person to

accuse her, and required justice against her.

  The Gentlewoman, who was of an high and undauntable spirite, as

all such are, who have fixed their affection resolvedly, and love

uppon a grounded deliberation: concluded, quite against the counsell

and opinion of her Parents, Kindred, and Friends; to appeare in the

Court, as desiring rather to dye, by confessing the trueth with a

manly courage, then by denying it, and her love unto so worthy a

person as he was, in whose arms she chanced to be taken; to live

basely in exile with shame, as an eternall scandall to her race. So,

before the Potestate, shee made her apparance, worthily accompanied

both with men and women, all advising her to deny the acte: but she,

not minding them or their perswasions, looking on the Judge with a

constant countenance, and a voyce of setled resolve, craved to know of

him, what hee demaunded of her?

  The Potestate well noting her brave carriage, her singular beautie

and praiseworthy parts, her words apparantly witnessing the heighth of

her minde: beganne to take compassion on her, and doubted, least

shee would confesse some such matter, as should enforce him to

pronounce the sentence of death against her. But she boldly scorning

all delayes, or any further protraction of time; demanded again,

what was her accusation? Madame, answered the Potestate, I am sory

to tel you, what needs I must, your husband (whom you see present

heere) is the complainant against you, avouching, that he tooke you in

the act of adultery with another man: and therefore he requireth,

that, according to the rigour of the Statute heere in force with us, I

should pronounce sentence against you, and (consequently) the

infliction of death. Which I cannot do, if you confesse not the

fact, and therefore be well advised, how you answer me, and tell me

the truth, if it be as your Husband 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 found me, on the night named, betweene the Armes of Lazarino, where

many times heeretofore he hath embraced mee, according to the

mutuall love re-plighted together, which I deny not, nor ever will.

But you know well enough, and I am certaine of it, that the Lawes

enacted in any Countrey, ought to be common, and made with consent

of them whom they concerne, whichin this Edict of yours is quite

contrarie. For it is rigorous against none, but poore women onely, who

are able to yeeld much better content and satisfaction generally, then

remaineth in the power of men to do. And moreover, when this Law was

made, there was not any woman that gave consent to it, neither were

they called to like or allow thoreof: in which respect, it may

deservedly be termed, an unjust Law. 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 your power to do as you please.

  But before you proceede to pronounce any sentence, may it please you

to favour me with one small request, namely, that you would demand

of my Husband, if at all times, and whensoever he tooke delight in

my company, 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 oftner then he could request it, was never sparing of her

kindnesse, or put him off with any deniall. Then the Lady,

continuing on her former speeches, thus replyed. Let me then demand of

you my Lord, being our Potestate and Judge, if it be so, by my

Husbands owne free confession, that he hath alwaies had his pleasure

of me, without the least refusall in me, or contradiction; what should

I doe with the over-plus remaining in mine owne power, and whereof

he had no need? Would you have mee cast it away to the Dogges? Was

it not more fitting for me, to pleasure therwith 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 lye languishing, and

dye?

  Never was heard such an examination before, and to come from a woman

of such worth, the most part of the honourable Pratosians (both

Lords and Ladies) being there present, who hearing her urge such a

necessary question, cryed out all loud together with one voice

(after they had laughed their fill) that the Lady had saide well,

and no more then she might. So that, before they departed thence, by

comfortable advice proceeding from the Potestate: the Edict (being

reputed overcruell) was modified, and interpreted to concerne them

onely, who offered injurie to their Husbands for money. By which

meanes Rinaldo standing as one confounded, for such a foolish and

unadvised enterprize, departed from the Auditorie: and the Ladie,

not a little joyfull to bee thus freed and delivered from the fire,

returned home with victorie to her owne house.