WHILE SHE AND A
WAITING WOMAN OF HERS BEAR HIM TO HIS OWN HOUSE, THEY ARE
TAKEN BY THE OFFICERS OF JUSTICE AND CARRIED BEFORE THE
PROVOST, TO WHOM SHE DISCOVERETH HOW THE CASE STANDETH. THE
PROVOST WOULD FAIN FORCE HER, BUT SHE SUFFERETH IT NOT AND
HER FATHER, COMING TO HEAR OF THE MATTER, PROCURETH HER TO
BE SET AT LIBERTY, SHE BEING FOUND INNOCENT; WHEREUPON,
ALTOGETHER REFUSING TO ABIDE LONGER IN THE WORLD, SHE
BECOMETH A NUN

Filomela's story was very welcome to the ladies, for that they had
many a time heard sing this song, yet could never, for asking, learn
the occasion of its making. But the king, having heard the end
thereof, charged Pamfilo follow on the ordinance; whereupon quoth he,
"The dream in the foregoing story giveth me occasion to recount one
wherein is made mention of two dreams, which were of a thing to come,
even as the former was of a thing [already] betided, and scarce were
they finished telling by those who had dreamt them than the
accomplishment followed of both. You must know, then, lovesome ladies,
that it is an affection common to all alive to see various things in
sleep, whereof,--albeit to the sleeper, what while he sleepeth, they
all appear most true and he, awakened, accounteth some true, others
probable and yet others out of all likelihood,--many are natheless
found to be come to pass. By reason whereof many lend to every dream
as much belief as they would to things they should see, waking, and
for their proper dreams they sorrow or rejoice, according as by these
they hope or fear. And contrariwise, there are those who believe none
thereof, save after they find themselves fallen into the peril
foreshown. Of these,[245] I approve neither the one nor other, for
that dreams are neither always true nor always false. That they are
not all true, each one of us must often enough have had occasion to
know; and that they are not all false hath been already shown in
Filomena her story, and I also purpose, as I said before, to show it
in mine. Wherefore I am of opinion that, in the matter of living and
doing virtuously, one should have no fear of any dream contrary
thereto nor forego good intentions by reason thereof; as for perverse
and wicked things, on the other hand, however favourable dreams may
appear thereto and how much soever they may hearten him who seeth them
with propitious auguries, none of them should be credited, whilst full
faith should be