the same to his
Friende, inuiting hir to come and see the Garden which she had
procured him to make, to the intent thereby she might know the
loue that he bare hir, and to remember the promise which she
made him, and confirmed by othe, that he might from that time
forth esteeme hir a woman so good as hir promise. When the
Gentlewoman sawe the flowers and fruictes and hearing tell by
report of the straunge things that were in that Garden, began to
repent hir selfe of the promise which shee had made: but for all
her repentaunce, she like one desirous to se straung things,
wente wyth many other women to see the same: and hauing praised
it, not wythout greate admiration, she returned home, the
angriest woman that euer was, when she had considered in what
sort she had abused hir selfe by meanes of that Garden: and hir
rage was so greate, that she could by no meanes keepe the same
so secrete or close, but that her husband muste perceiue the
same, who woulde needes knowe of hir al the whole matter: the
Gentlewoman a long time kepte it secrete: in the ende she was
constrained to declare vnto him the same in order. Hir husbande
hearing what she had promised was sodainly very angry:
afterwardes considering the pure intente of his wife, hee wisely
appeaseed hir, and sayd: "Dianora, it is not the acte of a wyse
and vertuouse wife to encline hir eare to sutch messages as
those be, and lesse honest to make any marte or bargain of hir
honesty with any person, vnder what condicion soeuer it be.
Words which the hart receiueth by the eares, haue greater force
than many do esteme, and there is nothing so difficult, but by
the amorous is brought to passe. First therfore thou hast done
euil to giue eare vnto such ambassage, and afterwards for
agreement to the bargaine: for the weight of chastity is so
ponderous, as by no meanes it ought to be laid in balance,
eyther by impossibilities to boast and bragge therof, or else by
assurance of their conceiued thought to bring it into question,
leaste in all places the same may be dysputed vpon, and blemysh
with the note of lightnesse, the person tyll that time
vnspotted: but bycause I know the purity of thy heart, I wyll
agree vnto thee for discharge of thy promise, whych
peraduenture, some other would not doe, moued therunto for the
feare I haue of the Necromancer, who if he see Mayster Ansaldo
to be offended bicause thou hast deluded hym, may doe vs some
displeasure: wherfore I wyll that thou