sake he loved her Sister likewise） but became so linked to her in
vehement maner； as he had no power to think on any thing else。
Pretending other urgent occasions； he fell into great familiarity with
Signior Neri； visiting very often his goodly Garden； onely to see
his faire Daughter Genevera； the Adamant which drew him thither。
When he felt his amourous assaults； to exceed all power of longer
sufferance： he resolved determinately with himselfe； （being unprovided
of any better meanes） to take her away from her Father； and not
onely she； but her Sister also； discovering both his love and intent
to Count Guy de Montforte； who being a very worthy and vertuous
Lord； and meet to be a Counseller for a King； delivered his mind in
this manner。
Gracious Lord； I wonder not a little at your speeches； and so much
the greater is my admiration； because no man els can be subject to the
like； in regard I have knowne you from the time of your infancy；
even to this instant houre； and alwayes your carriage to bee one and
the same。 I could never perceive in your youthfull dayes （when love
should have the greatest meanes to assaile you） any such oppressing
passions： which is now the more novell and strange to me； to heare
it but said； that you being old； and called the Aged； should be growne
amorous； surely to me it seemeth a miracle。 And if it appertained to
me to reprehend you in this case； I know well enough what I could say。
Considering； you have yet your Armour on your backe； in a Kingdome
newly conquered； among a Nation not knowne to you； full of falsehoods；
breaches； and treasons； all which are no meane motives to care and
needfull respect。 But having now wone a little leisure； to rest your
selfe a while from such serious affaires； can you give way to the idle
suggestions of Love？ Beleeve me Sir； it is no act becomming a
magnanimious King； but rather the giddy folly of a young braine。
Moreover you say （which most of all I mislike） that you intend to
take the two Virgines from the Knight； who hath given you
entertainment in his house beyond his ability； and to testifie how
much he honoured you； he suffered you to have a sight of them； meerely
（almost） in a naked manner： witnessing thereby； what constant faith he
reposed in you； beleeving verily； that you were a just King； and not a
ravenous Woolfe。 Have you so soone forgot； that the rapes and
violent actions； done by King Manfred to harmelesse Ladies； made
your onely way of entrance into this Kingdome？ What treason was ever
committed； more worthy of eternall punishment； then this will be in
you： to take away from him （who hath so highly honoured you） his
chiefest hope and consolation？ What will be said by all men； if you
doe it？
Peradventure you thinke； it will be a sufficient excuse for you；
to say： I did it； in regard hee was a Ghibelline。 Can you imagine this
to be justice in a King； that such as get into their possession in
this manner （whatsoever it be） ought to use it in this sort？ Let me
tell you Sir； it was a most worthy victory for you； to conquer King
Manfred： but it is farre more famous victory； for a man to conquer
himselfe。 You therfore； who are ordained to correct vices in other
men； learne first to subdue them in your selfe； and （by brideling this
inordinate appetite） set not a foule blemish on so faire a fame； as
will be honour to you to preserve spotlesse。
These words pierced the heart of the King deepely； and so much the
more afflicted him； because he knew them to be most true： wherefore；
after he had ventred a very vehement sigh； thus he replyed。 Beleeve me
noble Count； there is not any enemy； how strong soever he be； but I
hold him weake and easie to be vanquished； by him who is skilfull in
the warre； where a man may learne to conquere his owne appetite。 But
because he shall find it a laborious taske； requiring inestimable
strength and courage； your words have so toucht me to the quicke； that
it becommeth me to let you effectually perceive （and within the
compasse of few dayes） that as I have learned to conquer others； so
I am not ignorant； in expressing the like power upon my selfe。
Having thus spoken； within some few dayes after； the King being
returned to Naples； he determined； as we to free himself from any
the like ensuing follie； as also to recompence Signior Neri； for the
great kindnesse he had shewne to him （although it was a difficult
thing； to let another enjoy； what he rather desired for himselfe） to
have the two Damosels married； not as the Daughters of Signior Neri；
but even as if they were his owne。 And by consent of the Father； he
gave Genevera the faire； to Signior Maffeo da Palizzi； and Isotta
the amiable； to Signior Gulielmo della Magna； two Noble Knights and
honourable Barons。 After he had thus given them in marriage； in sad
mourning he departed thence into Apuglia； where by following worthy
and honourable actions； he so well overcame all inordinate
appetites： that shaking off the enthraling fetters of love； he lived
free from all passions； the rest of his life time； and dyed as an
honourable King。
Some perhaps will say； it was a small matter for a King； to give
away two Damosels in marriage； and I confesse it： but I maintaine it
to be great； and more then great； if we say； that a King； being so
earnestly enamoured as this King was； should give her away to another；
whom he so dearely affected himselfe； without receiving （in recompence
of his affection） so much as a leaffe； flowre； or the least fruit of
love。 Yet such was the vertue of this magnificent King； expressed in
so highly recompencing the noble Knights courtesie； honouring the
two daughters so royally； and conquering his owne affections so
vertuously。
THE TENTH DAY； THE SEVENTH NOVELL
WHEREIN IS COVERTLY GIVEN TO UNDERSTAND； THAT HOWSOEVER A PRINCE
MAY MAKE USE OF HIS ABSOLUTE POWER AND AUTHORITY； TOWARDS MAIDES
OR WIVES THAT ARE HIS SUBJECTS： YET HE OUGHT TO DENY AND REJECT
ALL THINGS； AS SHALL MAKE HIM FORGETFULL
OF HIMSELFE； AND HIS TRUE HONOUR
Lisana； the Daughter of a Florentine Apothecary； named Bernardo
Puccino； being at Palermo； and seeing Piero； King of Aragon run at the
Tilt； fell so affectionately enamored of him； that she languished in
an extreame and long sickenesse。 By her owne devise； and means of a
Song； sung in the hearing of the King： he vouchsafed to visite her；
and giving her a kisse； terming himselfe also to bee her Knight for
ever after； hee honourably bestowed her in marriage on a young
Gentleman； who was called Perdicano； and gave him liberall
endowments with her。
Madame Fiametta being come to the end of her Novell； and the great
magnificence of King Charles much commended （howbeit； some of the
Company； affecting the Ghibelline faction； were otherwise minded）
Madame Pampinea； by order given from the King； began in this manner。
There is no man of good understanding （honourable Ladies） but will
maintaine what you have said of victorious Charles； except such as
cannot wish well to any。 But because my memory hath instantly informed
me； of an action （perhaps） no lesse commendable then this； done by
an enemy of the said King Charles； and to a yong Maiden of our City； I
am the more willing to relate it； upon your gentle attention
vouchsafed； as hitherto it hath been courteously granted。
At such time as the French were driven out of Sicilie； there dwelt
at Palermo a Florentine Apothecary； named Bernardo Puccino； a man of
good wealth and reputation； who had by his Wife one onely Daughter； of
marriageable yeares； and very beautifull。 Piero； King of Arragon；
being then become Lord of that Kingdom； he made an admirable Feast
Royall at Palermo； accompanyed with his Lords and Barons。 In honour of
which publique Feast； the King kept a triumphall day （of Justs and
Turnament） at Catalana； and whereat it chanced； that the Daughter of
Bernardo； named Lisana； was present。 Being in a window； accompanied
with other Gentlewomen； she saw the King runne at the Tilt； who seemed
so goodly a person in her eye； that being never satisfied with
beholding him； she grew enamoured； and fell into extremity of
affection towards him。
When the Feastivall was ended； she dwelling in the house of her
Father； it was impossible for her to thinke on any thing else； but
onely the love； which she had fixed on a person of such height。 And
that which most tormented her in this case； was the knowledge of her
owne condition； being but meane and humble in degree； whereby she
confessed； that she could not hope for any successefull issue of her
proud love。 Neverthelesse； she would not refraine from affecting the
King； who taking no note of this kindnesse in her； by any
perceivable meanes； must needs be the more regardles； which procured
（by wary observation） her afflictions to be the greater and
intollerable。
Whereon it came to passe； that this earnest love encreasing in her
more and more； and one melancholly conceit taking hold on another： the
faire Maide； when she could beare the burden of her griefe no
longer； fell into a languishing sickenesse； consuming away daily （by
evident appearance） even as the Snow melteth by the warme beames of
the Sunne。
The Father and Mother； much dismayed and displeased at this haplesse
accident； applying her with continuall comforts； Phisicke； and the
best skill remayning in all the Phisitions； sought all possible meanes
wayes to give her succour： but all proved to no effect； because in
regard of her choyce （which could sort to none other then a
desperate end） she was desirous to live no longer。 Now it fortuned；
that her parents offering her whatsoever remained in their power to
performe； a sudden apprehension entred her minde； to wit； that （if
it might possible be done） before she dyed； she would first have the
King to know； in what manner she stood affected to him。 Wherefore； one
day she entreated her Father that a Gentleman； named Manutio de
Arezza； might be permitted to come see her。 This Manutio was （in those
times） held to be a most excellent Musitian； both for his voyce in
singing； and exquisite skill in playing on Instruments； for which he
wa