_Day the Seventh_
HERE BEGINNETH THE SEVENTH DAY OF THE DECAMERON WHEREIN UNDER THE GOVERNANCE OF DIONEO IS DISCOURSED OF THE TRICKS WHICH OR FOR LOVE OR FOR THEIR OWN PRESERVATION WOMEN HAVE HERETOFORE PLAYED THEIR HUSBANDS WITH OR WITHOUT THE LATTER'S COGNIZANCE THEREOF
Every star was already fled from the parts of the East, save only thatwhich we style Lucifer and which shone yet in the whitening dawn, whenthe seneschal, arising, betook himself, with a great baggage-train, tothe Ladies' Valley, there to order everything, according tocommandment had of his lord. The king, whom the noise of the packersand of the beasts had awakened, tarried not long after his departureto rise and being risen, caused arouse all the ladies and likewise theyoung men; nor had the rays of the sun yet well broken forth, whenthey all entered upon the road. Never yet had the nightingales and theother birds seemed to them to sing so blithely as they did thatmorning, what while, accompanied by their carols, they repaired to theLadies' Valley, where they were received by many more, which seemed tothem to make merry for their coming. There, going round about theplace and reviewing it all anew, it appeared to them so much fairerthan on the foregoing day as the season of the day was more sorted toits goodliness. Then, after they had broken their fast with good wineand confections, not to be behindhand with the birds in the matter ofsong, they fell a-singing and the valley with them, still echoingthose same songs which they did sing, whereto all the birds, as ifthey would not be outdone, added new and dulcet notes. Presently, thedinner-hour being come and the tables spread hard by the fair lakeletunder the thickset laurels and other goodly trees, they seatedthemselves there, as it pleased the king, and eating, watched the fishswim in vast shoals about the lake, which gave bytimes occasion fortalk as well as observation. When they had made an end of dining andthe meats and tables were removed, they fell anew to singing moreblithely than ever; after which, beds having been spread in variousplaces about the little valley and all enclosed about by the discreetseneschal with curtains and canopies of French serge, whoso wouldmight with the king's permission, go sleep; whilst those who had nomind to sleep might at their will take pleasure of their other wontedpastimes. But, after awhile, all being now arisen and the hour comewhen they should assemble together for story-telling, carpets were, atthe king's commandment, spread upon the grass, not far from the placewhere they had eaten, and all having seated themselves thereon hard bythe lake, the king bade Emilia begin; whereupon she blithely proceededto speak, smiling, thus:
The Decameron of Giovanni Boccaccio Page 69