The Decameron (Day 1 to Day 5)
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The Third Day.
_Upon which Day, all matters to be discoursed on, doe passe under theregiment of Madam_ Neiphila: _concerning such persons as (by their witand industry) have attained to their long wished desires, or recoveredsomething, supposed to be lost.
The Induction to the ensuing Discourses._
The morning put on a vermillion countenance, and made the Sunne to riseblushing red, when the Queene (and all the faire company) were comeabroade forth of their Chambers; the Seneshall or great Master of theHoushold, having (long before) sent all things necessary to the placeof their next intended meeting. And the people which prepared thereevery needfull matter, suddainely when they saw the Queen was settingforward, charged all the rest of their followers, as if it had beenpreparation for a Campe; to make hast away with the carriages, therest of the Familie remaining behind, to attend upon the Ladies andGentlemen.
With a milde, majesticke, and gentle peace, the Queen rode on, beingfollowed by the other Ladies, and the three young Gentlemen, takingtheir way towards the West; conducted by the musicall notes of sweetesinging Nightingales, and infinite other pretty Birds beside, riding ina tract not much frequented, but richly abounding with faire hearbesand floures, which by reason of the Sunnes high mounting, beganne toopen their bosome, and fill the fresh Ayre with their odorifferousperfumes. Before they had travelled two small miles distance, all ofthem pleasantly conversing together; they arrived at another goodlyPalace, which being somewhat mounted above the plaine, was seated onthe side of a little rising hill.
When they were entred there into, and had seene the great Hall, theParlours, and beautifull Chambers, every one stupendiously furnished,with all convenient commodities to them belonging, and nothing wanting,that could be desired; they highly commended it, reputing the Lordthereof for a most worthy man, that had adorned it in such Princelymanner. Afterward, being descended lower, and noting the most spaciousand pleasant Court, the Sellars stored with the choysest Wines, anddelicate Springs of water every where running, their prayses thenexceeded more and more. And being weary with beholding such varietyof pleasures, they sate downe in a faire Gallery, which took the viewof the whole Court, it being round engirt with trees and floures,whereof the season then yeelded great plenty. And then came thediscreete Master of the Houshold, with divers servants attending onhim, presenting them with Comfits, and other Banquetting, as also verysingular Wines, to serve in sted of a breakefast.
Having thus reposed themselves a while, a Garden gate was set open tothem, coasting on one side of the Pallace, and round inclosed withhigh mounted walles. Whereinto when they were entred, they found it tobe a most beautifull Garden, stored with all varieties that possiblycould be devised; and therefore they observed it the more respectively.The walkes and allyes were long and spacious, yet directly straite asan arrow, environed with spreading vines, whereon the grapes hung incopious clusters; which being come to their full ripenesse, gave so rarea smell throughout the Garden, with other sweete savours intermixedamong, that they supposed to feele the fresh spiceries of the East.
It would require large length of time, to describe all the rarities ofthis place, deserving much more to be commended, then my best facultieswill affoord me. In the middest of the Garden, was a square plot, afterthe resemblance of a Meadow, flourishing with high grasse, hearbes, andplants, beside a thousand diversities of floures, even as if by the artof painting they had beene there deputed. Round was it circkled withvery verdant Orenge and Cedar Trees, their branches plentiously storedwith fruite both old and new, as also the floures growing freshly amongthem, yeelding not onely a rare aspect to the eye, but also a delicatesavour to the smell.
In the middest of this Meadow, stood a Fountaine of white Marble,whereon was engraven most admirable workemanship, and within it (Iknow not whether it were by a naturall veine, or artificiall) flowingfrom a figure, standing on a Collomne in the midst of the Fountaine,such aboundance of water, and so mounting up towards the Skies, thatit was a wonder to behold. For after the high ascent, it fell downeagaine into the wombe of the Fountaine, with such a noyse and pleasingmurmur, as the streame that glideth from a mill. When the receptacle ofthe Fountaine did overflow the bounds, it streamed along the Meadow,by secret passages and chanelse, very faire and artificially made,returning againe into every part of the Meadow, by the like wayes ofcunning conveighance, which allowed it full course into the Garden,running swiftly thence down towards the plaine; but before it camethether, the very swift current of the streame, did drive two goodlyMilles, which brought in great benefit to the Lord of the soile.
The sight of this Garden, the goodly grafts, plants, trees, hearbes,frutages, and flowers, the Springs, Fountaines, and prety rivoletsstreaming from it, so highly pleased the Ladies and Gentlemen, thatamong other infinite commendations, they spared not to say: if anyParadise remayned on the earth to be seene, it could not possiblybee in any other place, but onely was contained within the compasseof this Garden. With no meane pleasure and delight they walked roundabout it, making Chaplets of flowers, and other faire branches of thetrees, continually hearing the Birds in mellodious notes, ecchoing andwarbling one to another, even as if they envied each others felicities.
But yet another beauty (which before had not presented it selfe untothem) on a sodaine they perceyved; namely divers prety creatures inmany parts of the Gardens. In one place Conies tripping about; inanother place Hares: in a third part Goats browsing on the hearbes, &little yong Hindes feeding every where: yet without strife or warringtogether, but rather living in such a Domesticke and pleasing kinde ofcompany, even as if they were appoynted to enstruct the most noble ofall creatures, to imitate their sociable conversation.
When their senses had sufficiently banquetted on these severalbeauties, the tables were sodainly prepared about the Fountaine,where first they sung sixe Canzonets; and having paced two or threedances, they sate downe to dinner, according as the Queene ordained,being served in very sumptuous manner, with all kinde of costly anddelicate viands, yet not any babling noise among them. The Tables beingwithdrawne, they played againe upon their instruments, singing anddancing gracefully together: till, in regard of the extreame heate, the_Queene_ commanded to give over, and permitted such as were so pleased,to take their ease and rest. But some, as not satisfied with the placespleasures, gave themselves to walking: others fell to reading the livesof the Romanes; some to the Chesse, and the rest to other recreations.
But, after the dayes warmth was more mildely qualified, and everie onehad made benefit of their best content: they went (by order sent fromthe _Queene_) into the Meadow where the Fountaine stood, and beingset about it, as they used to do in telling their Tales (the argumentappointed by the _Queene_ being propounded) the first that had thecharge imposed, was _Philostratus_, who began in this manner.