Wherein is manifestly discerned, that if Love be driven to a narrow straite in any of his attempts; yet hee can accomplish his purpose by some other supply.
Lodovico _discovered to his Mistresse Madame_ Beatrix, _how amourously he was affected to her. She cunningly sent_ Egano _her Husband into his garden, in all respects disguised like herselfe; while (friendly)_ Lodovico _conferred with her the meane while. Afterward,_ Lodovico _pretending a lascivious allurement of his Mistresse, thereby to wrong his honest Master, instead of her, beateth_ Egano _soundly in the Garden._
Whereby is declared, that such as keepe many honest seeming servants, may sometime finde a knave among them, and one that proves to bee over-sawcy with his Master.
Arriguccio Berlinghieri, _became immeasurably jealous of his Wife_ Simonida, _who fastened a thred about her great toe, for to serve as a signall, when her amourous friend should come to visite her._ Arriguccio _findeth the fallacy, and while he pursueth the amorous friend, shee causeth her Maide to lie in her bed against his returne: whom he beateth extreamly, cutting away the lockes of her haire (thinking he had done all this violence to his Wife_ Simonida:) _and afterward fetcheth her Mother and Brethren, to shame her before them, and so be rid of her. But they finding all his speeches to be false; and reputing him to be a drunken jealous foole; all the blame and disgrace falleth on himselfe._
Whereby appeareth, that an Husband ought to be very well advised, when he meaneth to discover any wrong offered by his Wife; except he himselfe doe rashly run into all the shame and reproch.
Lydia, _a Lady of great beauty, birth, and honor, being Wife to_ Nicostratus, _Governor of_ Argos, _falling in love with a Gentleman, named_ Pyrrhus; _was requested by him (as a true testimony of her unfeigned affection) to performe three severall actions of her selfe. She did accomplish them all, and imbraced and kissed_ Pyrrhus _in the presence of_ Nicostratus; _by perswading him, that whatsoever he saw, was meerely false._
Wherein is declared, that great Lords may sometime be deceived by their wives, as well as men of meaner condition.
_Two Citizens of_ Sienna, _the one named_ Tingoccio Mini, _and the other_ Meucio di Tora, _affected both one woman, called_ Monna Mita, _to whom the one of them was a Gossip. The Gossip dyed, and appeared afterward to his companion, according as he had formerly promised him to doe, and told him what strange wonders he had seene in the other world._