The Decameron (Day 1 to Day 5)
Page 9
_The Lady Marquesse of_ Montferrat, _with a Banquet of Hennes, anddivers other gracious speeches beside, repressed the fond love of theKing of_ France.
The fift Novell.
_Declaring, that wise and vertuous Ladies, ought to hold theirchastitie in more esteeme, then the greatnesse and treasures ofPrinces: and that a discreete Lord should not offer modestie violence._
The tale reported by _Dioneus_, at the first hearing of the Ladies,began to rellish of some immodestie, as the bashfull blood mountingup into their faces, delivered by apparant testimonie. And beholdingone another with scarse-pleasing lookes, during all the time it wasin discoursing, no sooner had hee concluded: but with a fewe mildeand gentle speeches, they gave him a modest reprehension, and meaningto let him know, that such tales ought not to be tolde among women.Afterward, the Queene commaunded Madame _Fiammetta_, (sitting on abanke of flowers before her) to take her turne as next in order: andshe, smiling with such a virgin-blush, as very beautifully became her,began in this manner.
It is no little joy to me, that wee understand so well (by thediscourses already past) what power consisteth in the delivery ofwise and ready answeres; And because it is a great part offence andjudgement in men, to affect women of great birth and quality, thenthemselves, as also an admirable fore-sight in women, to keepe off frombeing surprized in love, by Lords going beyond them in degree: a matteroffereth it selfe to my memory, well deserving my speech and yourattention, how a Gentlewoman (both in word and deede) should defend herhonour in that kind, when importunity laboureth to betray it.
The Marquesse of _Montferrat_ was a worthy and valiant Knight, whobeing Captaine Generall for the Church, the necessary service requiredhis company on the Seas, in a goodly Army of the Christians againstthe Turkes. Upon a day, in the Court of King _Philip_, sirnamed theone eyed King (who likewise made preparation in _France_, for a royallassistance to that expedition) as many speeches were delivered,concerning the valour and manhood of this Marquesse: it fortuned, thata Knight was then present, who knew him very familiarly, and hee gavean addition to the former commendation, that the whole world containednot a more equall couple in mariage, then the Marquesse & his Lady.For, as among all Knights, the Marquesse could hardly be paraleld forArmes and honour; even so his wife, in comparison of all other Ladies,was scarcely matchable for beauty and vertue. Which words were sowaighty in the apprehension of King _Philip_, that suddainly (having asyet never seene her) he began to affect her very earnestly, concludingto embarque himselfe at _Gennes_ or _Genoua_, there to set forward onthe intended voyage, and journeying thither by land: hee would shapesome honest excuse to see the Lady Marquesse, whose Lord being thenfrom home, opinion perswaded him over-fondly, that he should easilyobtaine the issue of his amorous desire.
When hee was come within a dayes journey, where the Lady Marquessethen lay; he sent her word, that she should expect his company onthe morrow at dinner. The Lady, being singularly wise and judicious;answered the Messenger, that she reputed the Kings comming to her, asan extraordinary grace and favour, and that hee should be most heartilywelcome. Afterward, entring into further consideration with her selfe,what the King might meane by this private visitation, knowing herhusband to be from home, and it to be no meane barre to his apterentertainement: at last she discreetly conceited (and therein was notdeceived) that babling report of her beauty and perfections, mightthus occasion the Kings comming thither, his journy lying else a quitecontrary way. Notwithstanding, being a Princely Lady, and so loyall awife as ever lived, shee intended to give him her best entertainement:summoning the chiefest Gentlemen in the Country together, to take dueorder (by their advise) for giving the King a gracious welcome. Butconcerning the dinner, and diet for service to his table; that remainedonely at her owne disposing.
Sending presently abroade, and buying all the Hennes that the Countryafforded; shee commaunded her Cookes, that onely of them (without anyother provision beside) they should prepare all the services that theycould devise. On the morrow, the King came according to his promise,and was most honourable welcommed by the Lady, who seemed in his eye(farre beyond the Knights speeches of her) the fairest creature thatever he had seene before; whereat he mervailed not a little, extollingher perfections to be peerelesse, which much the more enflamed hisaffections, and (almost) made his desires impatient. The King beingwithdrawne into such Chambers, as orderly were prepared for him, and asbeseemed so great a Prince: the houre of dinner drawing on, the Kingand the Lady Marquesse were seated at one Table, and his attendantsplaced at other tables, answerable to their degrees of honour.
Plenty of dishes being served in, and the rarest wines that theCountrey yeelded, the King had more minde to the faire Lady Marquesse,then any meate that stood on the Table. Neverthelesse, observing eachservice after other, and that all the Viands (though variously cooked,and in divers kindes) were nothing else but Hennes onely; he began towonder, and so much the rather, because he knew the Countrey to be ofsuch quality, that it affoorded all plenty both of Fowles and Venyson:beside, after the time of his comming was heard, they had respiteenough, both for hawking and hunting; and therefore it encreased hismarvell the more, that nothing was provided for him, but Hennes onely:wherein to be the better resolved, turning a merry countenance to theLady, thus he spake. Madam, are Hennes onely bred in this Countrey,and no Cockes? The Lady Marquesse, very well understanding his demand,which fitted her with an apt opportunity, to thwart his idle hope, anddefend her owne honour; boldly returned the King this answere. Not somy Lord, but women and wives, howsoever they differ in garments andgraces one from another; yet notwithstanding, they are all heere asthey be in other places.
When the King heard this reply, he knew well enough the occasion ofhis Henne dinner, as also, what vertue lay couched under her answer;perceiving apparantly, that wanton words would prove but in vaine,and such a woman was not easily to be seduced; wherefore, as hee grewenamored on her inconsiderately, so he found it best fitting for hishonour, to quench this heate with wisedome discreetely. And so, withoutany more words, or further hope of speeding in so unkingly a purpose,dinner being ended, by a sudden departing, he smoothly shadowed thecause of his comming, and thanking her for the honour shee had donehim, commended her to her chaste disposition, and posted away withspeede to _Gennes_.