with a marble statue.' These words were
mighty pleasing to the husband, who, for all he had a good opinion of
the lady, conceived of her a yet better and said, 'Now is thy palfrey
fairly mine.' 'Ay is it, sir,' replied Il Zima, 'but, had I thought to
reap of this favour received of you such fruit as I have gotten, I had
given you the palfrey, without asking it[173] of you; and would God I
had done it, for that now you have bought the palfrey and I have not
sold it.' The other laughed at this and being now provided with a
palfrey, set out upon his way a few days after and betook himself to
Milan, to enter upon the Provostship. The lady, left free in her
house, called to mind Il Zima's words and the love he bore her and the
palfrey given for her sake and seeing him pass often by the house,
said in herself, 'What do I? Why waste I my youth? Yonder man is gone
to Milan and will not return these six months. When will he ever
render me them[174] again? When I am old? Moreover, when shall I ever
find such a lover as Il Zima? I am alone and have no one to fear. I
know not why I should not take this good opportunity what while I may;
I shall not always have such leisure as I presently have. None will
know the thing, and even were it to be known, it is better to do and
repent, than to abstain and repent.' Having thus taken counsel with
herself, she one day set two napkins in the garden window, even as Il
Zima had said, which when he saw, he was greatly rejoiced and no
sooner was the night come than he betook himself, secretly and alone,
to the gate of the lady's garden and finding it open, passed on to
another door that opened into the house, where he found his mistress
awaiting him. She, seeing him come, started up to meet him and
received him with the utmost joy, whilst he clipped and kissed her an
hundred thousand times and followed her up the stair to her chamber,
where, getting them to bed without a moment's delay, they knew the
utmost term of amorous delight. Nor was this first time the last, for
that, what while the gentleman abode at Milan and even after his
coming back, Il Zima returned thither many another time, to the
exceeding satisfaction of both parties."

[Footnote 169: Lit. "The summit," or in modern slang "The tiptop,"
_i.e._ the pink of fashion.]

[Footnote 170: _i.e._ this love shall I bear you. This is a flagrant
instance of the misuse of ellipsis, which so frequently disfigures
Boccaccio's dialogue.]

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