ad proof in the story you have heard; get
them, therefore, by heart and they may yet avail you."

THE SECOND STORY

[Day the Seventh]

PERONELLA HIDETH A LOVER OF HERS IN A VAT, UPON HER
HUSBAND'S UNLOOKED FOR RETURN, AND HEARING FROM THE LATTER
THAT HE HATH SOLD THE VAT, AVOUCHETH HERSELF TO HAVE SOLD IT
TO ONE WHO IS PRESENTLY THEREWITHIN, TO SEE IF IT BE SOUND;
WHEREUPON THE GALLANT, JUMPING OUT OF THE VAT, CAUSETH THE
HUSBAND SCRAPE IT OUT FOR HIM AND AFTER CARRY IT HOME TO HIS
HOUSE

Emilia's story was received with loud laughter and the conjuration
commended of all as goodly and excellent; and this come to an end, the
king bade Filostrato follow on, who accordingly began, "Dearest
ladies, so many are the tricks that men, and particularly husbands,
play you, that, if some woman chance whiles to put a cheat upon her
husband, you should not only be blithe that this hath happened and
take pleasure in coming to know it or hearing it told of any, but
should yourselves go telling it everywhere, so men may understand
that, if they are knowing, women, on their part, are no less so! the
which cannot be other than useful unto you, for that, when one knoweth
that another is on the alert, he setteth himself not overlightly to
cozen him. Who, then, can doubt but that which we shall say to-day
concerning this matter, coming to be known of men, may be exceeding
effectual in restraining them from cozening you ladies, whenas they
find that you likewise know how to cozen, an you will? I purpose,
therefore, to tell you the trick which, on the spur of the moment, a
young woman, albeit she was of mean condition, played her husband for
her own preservation.

In Naples no great while agone there was a poor man who took to wife a
fair and lovesome damsel called Peronella, and albeit he with his
craft, which was that of a mason, and she by spinning, earned but a
slender pittance, they ordered their life as best they might. It
chanced one day that a young gallant of the neighbourhood saw this
Peronella and she pleasing him mightily, he fell in love with her and
importuned her one way and another till he became familiar with her
and they took order with each other on this wise, so they might be
together; to wit, seeing that her husband arose every morning betimes
to go to work or to find work, they agreed that the young man should
be whereas he might see him go out, and that, as soon as he wa