THE FIFT NOVELL

 

         DECLARING, THAT WISE AND VERTUOUS LADIES, OUGHT TO HOLD

         THEIR CHASTITIE IN MORE ESTEEME, THEN THE GREATNESSE AND

        TREASURES OF PRINCES: AND THAT A DISCREETE LORD SHOULD NOT

                          OFFER MODESTIE VIOLENCE

 

  The Lady Marquesse of Montferrat, with a Banquet of Hennes, and

divers other gracious speeches beside, repressed the fond love of

the King of France.

 

  The Tale reported by Dioneus, at the first hearing of the Ladies,

began to rellish of some immodestie, as the bashfull blood mounting up

into their faces, delivered by apparant testimonie. And beholding

one another with scarse-pleasing lookes, during all the time it was in

discoursing, no sooner had he concluded: but with a few milde and

gentle speeches, they gave him a modest reprehension, and meaning to

let him know that such tales ought not to be tolde among women.

Afterward, the Queene commaunded Madam Fiammetta, (sitting on a

banke of flowers before her) to take her turne as next in order; and

she, smiling with such a virgin blush, as very beautifully became her,

began in this manner.

  It is no little joy to mee, that we understand so well (by the

discourses already past) what power consisteth in the delivery of wise

and readie answeres; And because it is a great part of sence and

judgement in men, to affect women of greater birth and quality then

themselves, as also an admirable fore-sight in women, to keepe off

from being surprized in love, by Lords going beyond them in degree:

a matter offereth it selfe to my memory, well deserving my speech

and your attention, how a Gentlewoman (both in word and deede)

should defend her honor in that kind, when importunity laboureth to

betray it.

  The Marquesse of Montferrat was a worthy and valiant Knight, who

being Captaine Generall for the Church, the necessary service required

his company on the Seas, in a goodly Army of the Christians against

the Turkes. Upon a day, in the Court of King Philip, sirnamed the

one eyed King (who likewise made preparation in France, for a royall

assistance to that expedition) as many speeches were delivered,

concerning the valour and manhoode of this Marquesse: it fortuned,

that a Knight was then present, who knew him very familiarly, and he

gave an addition to the former commendation, that the whole world

contained not a more equall couple in marriage, then the Marquesse and

his Lady. For, as among all knights, the Marquesse could hardly be

paraleld for Armes and Honour; even so his wife, in comparison of

all other Ladies, was scarcely matchable for beauty and vertue.

Which words were so weighty in the apprehension of King Philip, that

sodainly (having as yet never seen her) he began to affect her very

earnestly, concluding to embarke himselfe at Gennes or Genoua, there

to set forward on the intended voyage, and journying thither by

land, hee would shape some honest excuse to see the Lady Marquesse,

whose Lord being then from home, opinion perswaded him over fondly,

that he should easily obtaine the issue of his amorous desire.

  When hee was come within a dayes journey, where the Ladie

Marquesse then lay; he sent her word that she should expect his

company on the morrow at dinner. The Lady, being singularly wise and

judicious, answered the Messenger, that she reputed the Kings

comming to her, as an extraordinary grace and favour, and that he

should bee most heartily welcome. Afterward, entring into further

consideration with her selfe, what the King might meane by his private

visitation, knowing her Husband to be from home, and it to bee no

meane barre to his apter entertainement: at last she discreetly

conceited (and therin was not deceived) that babling report of her

beauty and perfections, might thus occasion the Kings comming thither,

his journey lying else a quite contrary way. Notwithstanding, being

a Princely Lady, and so loyal a wife as ever lived shee intended to

give him her best entertainement: summoning the chiefest Gentlemen

in the Country together, to take due order (by their advice) for

giving the King a gracious Welcome. But concerning the dinner, and

diet for service to his Table, that remained onely at her own

disposing.

  Sending presently abroad, and buying all the Hennes that the Country

affoorded, shee commaunded her Cookes, that onely of them (without any

other provision beside) they should prepare all the services that they

could devise. On the morrow, the King came according to his promise,

and was most honourably welcomed by the Lady, who seemed in his eye

(far beyond the Knights speeches of her) the fairest creature that

ever he had seene before; whereat he mervailed not a little, extolling

her perfections to be peerelesse, which much the more enflamed his

affections, and (almost) made his desires impatient. The King beeing

withdrawne into such Chambers, as orderly were prepared for him, and

as beseemed so great a Prince: the houre of dinner drawing on, the

King and the Lady Marquesse were seated at one Table, and his

attendants placed at other tables, answerable to their degrees of

honour.

  Plenty of dishes being served in, and the rarest Wines that the

Countrey yeelded, the King had more minde to the faire Lady Marques,

then any meate that stood on the Table. Neverthelesse, observing

each service after other, and that all the Viands (though variously

cooked, and in divers kindes) were nothing else but Hennes onely, he

began to wonder; and so much the rather, because he knew the Country

to be of such quality, that it afforded all plenty both of Fowles

and Venison: beside, after the time of his comming was heard, they had

respite enough, both for hawking and hunting; and therefore it

encreased his marvell the more, that nothing was provided for him, but

Hennes onely: wherein to be the better resolved, turning a merry

countenance to the Lady, thus he spake. Madam, are Hennes onely bred

in this Country, and no Cockes? The Lady Marquesse, very well

understanding his demand, which fitted her with an apt opportunity, to

thwart his idle hope, and defend her owne honour; boldly returned

the King this answere. Not so my Lord, but women and wives,

howsoever they differ in garments and graces one from another; yet

notwithstanding, they are all heere as they bee in other places.

  When the King heard this reply, he knew well enough the occasion

of his Henne dinner, as also, what vertue lay couched under her

answere; perceiving apparantly, that wanton words would prove but in

vaine, and such a woman was not easily to be seduced; wherefore, as

hee grew enamored on her inconsiderately, so he found it best

fitting for his honour, to quench this heate with wisedome discreetly.

And so, without any more words, or further hope of speeding in so

unkingly a purpose, dinner being ended, by a sudden departing, he

smoothly shadowed the cause of his comming, and thanking her for the

honour shee had done him, commended her to her chaste disposition, and

posted away with speede to Gennes.