e and ended his days with
her in joy and solace."

THE TENTH STORY

[Day the Fifth]

PIETRO DI VINCIOLO GOETH TO SUP ABROAD, WHEREUPON HIS WIFE
LETTETH FETCH HER A YOUTH TO KEEP HER COMPANY, AND HER
HUSBAND RETURNING, UNLOOKED FOR, SHE HIDETH HER GALLANT
UNDER A HEN-COOP. PIETRO TELLETH HER HOW THERE HAD BEEN
FOUND IN THE HOUSE OF ONE ARCOLANO, WITH WHOM HE WAS TO HAVE
SUPPED, A YOUNG MAN BROUGHT IN BY HIS WIFE, AND SHE BLAMETH
THE LATTER. PRESENTLY, AN ASS, BY MISCHANCE, SETTETH FOOT ON
THE FINGERS OF HIM WHO IS UNDER THE COOP AND HE ROARETH OUT,
WHEREUPON PIETRO RUNNETH THITHER AND ESPYING HIM,
DISCOVERETH HIS WIFE'S UNFAITH, BUT ULTIMATELY COMETH TO AN
ACCORD WITH HER FOR HIS OWN LEWD ENDS

The queen's story come to an end and all having praised God for that
He had rewarded Federigo according to his desert, Dioneo, who never
waited for commandment, began on this wise: "I know not whether to say
if it be a casual vice, grown up in mankind through perversity of
manners and usances, or a defect inherent in our nature, that we laugh
rather at things ill than at good works, especially when they concern
us not. Wherefore, seeing that the pains I have otherwhiles taken and
am now about to take aim at none other end than to rid you of
melancholy and afford you occasion for laughter and merriment,--albeit
the matter of my present story may be in part not altogether seemly,
nevertheless, lovesome lasses, for that it may afford diversion, I
will e'en tell it you, and do you, hearkening thereunto, as you are
wont to do, whenas you enter into gardens, where, putting out your
dainty hands, you cull the roses and leave the thorns be. On this wise
must you do with my story, leaving the naughty man of whom I shall
tell you to his infamy and ill-luck go with him, what while you laugh
merrily at the amorous devices of his wife, having compassion, whenas
need is, of the mischances of others.

There was, then, in Perugia, no great while agone, a rich man called
Pietro di Vinciolo, who, belike more to beguile others and to abate
the general suspect in which he was had of all the Perugians, than for
any desire of his own, took him a wife, and fortune in this was so far
conformable to his inclination that the wife he took was a thickset,
red-haired, hot-complexioned wench, who would liefer have had two
husbands than one, whereas she happened upon one who had a mind far
m