THE SEVENTH NOVELL

 

      WHEREBY (WITH SOME INDIFFERENT REASON) IT IS CONCLUDED, THAT

             DREAMES DO NOT ALWAYES FALL OUT TO BE LEASINGS

 

  Talano de Molese dreamed, That a Wolfe rent and tore his wives

face and throate. Which dreame he told to her, with advise to keepe

her selfe out of danger; which she refusing to doe, received what

followed.

 

  By the conclusion of Pamphilus his Novel, wherein the womans ready

wit, at a time of such necessity, carried deserved commendations:

the Queen gave command to Madam Pampinea, that she should next begin

with hers, and so she did, in this manner. In some discourses

(gracious Ladies) already past among us, the truth of apparitions in

dreames hath partly bin approved, whereof very many have made a

mockery. Neverthelesse, whatsoever hath heeretofore bin sayde, I

purpose to acquaint you with a very short Novell, of a strange

accident happening unto a neighbour of mine, in not crediting a Dreame

which her Husband told her.

  I cannot tell, whether you knew Talano de Molese, or no, a man of

much honour, who tooke to wife a yong Gentlewoman, named Margarita, as

beautifull as the best: but yet so peevish, scornefull, and

fantasticall, that she disdained any good advice given her; neyther

could any thing be done, to cause her contentment; which absurd humors

were highly displeasing to her husband: but in regard he knew not

how to 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

the country, he dreamed one night, that he saw his Wife walking in a

faire wood, which adjoyned neere unto his house, and while she thus

continued there, he seemed to see issue foorth from a corner of the

said Wood, a great and furious Wolfe, which on her, caught her by

the face and throate, drawing her downe to the earth, and offering

to drag her thence. But he crying out for helpe, recovered her from

the Wolfe, yet having her face and throat very pitifully rent and

torne.

  In regard of this terrifying dreame, when Talano was risen in the

morning, and sate conversing with his wife, he spake thus unto hir.

Woman, although thy froward wilfull Nature be such, as hath not

permitted me one pleasing day with thee, since first we becam man

and wife, but rather my life hath bene most tedious to me, as

fearing still some mischeefe should happen to thee: yet let mee now in

loving manner advise thee, to follow my counsell, and (this day) not

to walke abroad out of this house. She demanded a reason for this

advice of his. He related to her every particular of his dreame,

adding with all these speeches.

  True it is Wife (quoth he) that little credit should bee given to

dreames: neverthelesse, when they deliver advertisement of harmes to

ensue, there is nothing lost by shunning and avoiding them. She

fleering in his face, and shaking her head at him, replyed. Such

harmes as thou wishest, such thou dreamest of. Thou pretendest much

pittie and care of me, but all to no other end: but what mischeefes

thou dreamest happening unto mee, so wouldest thou see them effected

on me. Wherefore, I will well enough looke to my selfe, both this day,

and at all times else: because thou shalt never make thy selfe

merry, with any such misfortune as thou wishest unto me.

  Well Wife, answered Talano, I knew well enough before, what thou

wouldst say: An unsound head is soone scratcht with the very

gentlest Combe: but beleeve as thou pleasest. As for my selfe, I

speake with a true and honest meaning soule, and once againe I do

advise thee, to keepe within our doores all this day: at least wise

beware, that thou walke 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 my husbands cunning colouring, and why I

must not walke this day into our wood: he hath made a compact with

some common Queane, closely to have her company there, and is

afraide least I should take them tardy. Belike he would have me feed

among blinde folke, and I were worthy to bee thought a starke foole,

if I should not prevent a manifest trechery, being intended against

me. Go thither therefore I will, and tarry there all the whole day

long; but I will meet with him in his merchandize, and see the Pink

wherin he adventures.

  After this her secret consultation, her husband was no sooner gone

forth at one doore, but shee did the like at another, yet so

secretly as possibly she could devise to doe, and (without any

delaying) she went to the Wood, wherein she hid her selfe very

closely, among the thickest of the bushes, yet could discerne every

way about her, if any body should offer to passe by her. While shee

kept her selfe in this concealment, suspecting other mysterious

matters, as her idle imagination had tutord her, rather then the

danger of any Wolfe: out of a brakie thicket by her, sodainly rushed a

huge and dreadfull Wolfe, as having found her by the sent, mounting

uppe, and grasping her throat in his 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 shee

had 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 helping of

her selfe. As the Wolfe carried her thus from thence, he had quite

strangled her, if certaine Shepheards had not met him, who with

their outcries and exclaimes at the Wolfe, caused him to let her fall,

and hast away to save his owne life. Notwithstanding the harme done to

her throat and face, the shepheards knew her, and caried her home to

her house, where she remained a long while after, carefully attended

by Physitians and Chirurgians.

  Now, although they were very expert and cunning men all, yet could

they not so perfectly cure her, but both her throate, and part of

her face were so blemished that whereas she seemed a rare creature

before, she was now deformed and much unsightly. In regard of which

strange alteration, being ashamed to shew her selfe in any place,

where formerly she had bene seene she spent her time in sorrow and

mourning, repenting her insolent and scornfull carriage, as also her

rash running forth into danger, upon a foolish and jealous surmise,

beleeving her husbands dreames the better for ever after.