Table of Contents
Wherein is contained, how hard a thing it is, to distinguish
goodnesse from hypocrisie; and how (under the shadow of holinesse)
the wickednesse of one man, may deceive many
Wherein is contained and expressed, the liberality and goodnesse of
god, extended to the christian faith
Whereby the author, approving the christian faith, sheweth, how
beneficiall a sodaine and ingenious answere may fall out to bee,
especially when a man finds himselfe in some evident danger
Wherein may bee noted, that such men as will reprove those errours
in others, which remaine in themselves, commonly are the authors of
their owne reprehension
Declaring, that wise and vertuous ladies, ought to hold their
chastitie in more esteeme, then the greatnesse and treasures of
princes: And that a discreete lord should not offer modestie
violence
Declaring, that in few, discreete, and well placed words, the
covered craft of church-Men may bee justly reproved, and their
hypocrisie honestly discovered
Approving, that it is much unfitting for a prince, or great person,
to bee covetous; but rather to be liberall to all men
Which plainly declareth, that a covetous gentleman, is not worthy
of any honor or respect
Giving all men to understand, that justice is necessary in a king
above al things else whatsoever
Wherein is declared, that honest love agreeth with people of all
ages
Wherein, all the discourses are under the government of madam
philomena: Concerning such men or women, as (in divers accidents)
have been much mollested by fortune, and yet afterward a happy and
successefull deliverance
Wherein is signified, how easie a thing it is, for wicked men to
deceive the world, under the shadow and colour of miracles: And
that such treachery (oftentimes) redoundeth to the harme of the
deviser
Whereby wee may learne, that such things as sometime seeme hurtfull
to us, may turne to our benefit and commodity
Wherein is declared the dangers of prodigalitie, and the manifold
mutabilities of fortune
Whereby may be discerned, into how many dangers a man may fall,
through a covetous desire to enrich himselfe
Comprehending, how needfull a thing it is, for a man that
travelleth in affaires of the world, to be provident and well
advised, and carefully to keepe himselfe from the crafty and
deceitfull allurements of strumpets
Heerein all men are admonished, never to distrust the powerfull
hand of heaven, when fortune seemeth to be most adverse against
them
A lively demonstration, that the beauty of a woman (oftentimes) is
very hurtfull to her selfe, and the occasion of many evils, yea,
and of death, to divers men
Whereby all men may plainely understand, that loyalty faithfully
kept to the prince (what perils soever doe ensue) doth yet
neverthelesse renowne a man, and bring him to farre greater honour
Wherein is declared, that by overliberall commending the chastity
of women, it falleth out (oftentimes) to be very dangerous,
especially by the meanes of treacherers who yet (in the ende) are
justly punnished for their treachery
Wherein olde men are wittily reprehended, that will match
themselves with younger women then is fit for their yeeres, and
insufficient, never considering what may happen to them
Upon which day, all matters to be discoursed on, doe passe under
the regiment of madam neiphila: Concerning such persons as (by
their wit and industry) have attained to their long wished desires,
or recovered something, supposed to be lost
Wherein is declared, that virginity is very hardly to be kept in
all places
Wherein is signified, the providence of a wise man, when he shall
have reason to use revenge. And the cunning meanes of another, when
hee compasseth craft to defend himselfe from perill
Declaring, that the lewd qualities of some persons, oftentimes
misguide good people, into great and greevous errors.
Wherein is declared, what craft and subtilty some wily wits can
devise, to deceive the simple, and compasse their owne desires.
Wherein is described the frailety of some women, and folly of such
husbands, as leave them alone to their owne disposition
Declaring, how much perseverance, and a couragious spirit is
available in love
Wherein is signified the power of love, and the diversity of
dangers, whereinto men may dayly fall.
Wherein is displayed, the apparant folly of jealousie: And the
subtility of some religious carnall minded men, to beguile silly
and simple maried men
Commending the good judgement and understanding in ladies or
gentlewomen, that are of a quicke and apprehensive spirit
Wherein all the severall descourses, are under the government of
honourable philstratus: And concerning such persons, whose loves
have had successelesse ending
Wherein is declared the power of love, and their cruilty justly
reprehended, who image to make the vigour thereof cease, by abusing
or killing one of the lovers
Reprehending the lewd lives of dissembling hypocrites; and checking
the arrogant pride of vaine-Headed women
Heerein is declared, how dangerous the occasion is, ensuing by
anger and despight, in such as entirely love, especially being
injuried and offended by them that they love
In commendation of justice betweene princes; and declaring withall,
that neither feare, dangers, nor death it selfe, can any way daunt
a true and loyall lover
Wherein is plainly proved, that love cannot be rooted uppe, by any
humane power or providence; aspecially in such soule, where it hath
bene really apprehended
Describing the admirable accidents of fortune; and the mighty
prevailing, power of love
Whereby is given to understand, that love and death do use their
power equally alike, as well upon poore and meane persons, as on
them that are rich and noble
Wherein is againe declared, the great indiscretion and folly of
them, that think to constraine love, according to their will, after
it is constantly setled before: With other instructions, concerning
the unspeakeable power of love
Whereby appeareth, what ill successe attendeth on them, that love
contrary to reason: In offering injurie both to friendship and
marriage together
Wherein is declared, that sometime by adventurous accident, rather
then any reasonable comprehension, a man may escape out of manifold
perilles, but especially in occurrences of love.
Whereon, all the discourses do passe under the government of the
most noble lady fiammetta: Concerning such persons, as have bene
successefull in their love, after many hard and perillous
misfortunes
Whereby that love (oftentimes) maketh a man both wise and valiant
Wherein is declared, the firme loyaltie of a true lover: And how
fortune doth sometime humble men, to raise them afterward to a
farre higher degree
Wherein, the severall powers both of love and fortune, is more at
large approved
Declaring the discreete providence of parents, in care of their
childrens love and their owne credit, to cut off inconveniences,
before they do proceede too farre
Wherein may be observed, what quarrels and contentions are
occasioned by love; with some particular description, concerning
the sincerity of a loyall friend
Wherein is manifested, that love can leade a man into numberlesse
perils: Out of which he escapeth with no meane difficulty.
Wherein is declared, the sundry travels and perillous accidents,
occasioned by those two powerfull commanders, love and fortune, the
insulting tyrants over humane life.
Declaring, that love not onely makes a man prodigall, but also an
enemy to himselfe. Moreover, adventure oftentimes bringeth such
matters to passe, as wit and cunning in man can ever comprehend
Wherein is figured to the life, the notable kindnesse and
courtesie, of a true and constant lover: As also the magnanimous
minde of a famous lady
Reprehending the cunning of immodest women, who by abusing
themselves, do throw evill aspersions on all their sexe
Governed under the authority of madam eliza, and the argument of
the discourses or novells there to be recounted, doe concerne
sudden, persons; who by some witty words (when any have checkt or
retorting them) have revenged themselves, in a sudden, unexpected
and discreet answere, thereby preventing losse, danger, scorne and
disgrace, retorting them on the busi-Headed questioners
Reprehending the folly of such men, as undertake to report
discourses, which are beyond their wit and capacity, and gaine
nothing but blame for their labour
Approving, that a request ought to be civill, before it should be
granted to any one whatsoever
Wherein is declared, that mockers do sometimes meete with their
matches in mockery, and to their owne shame
Whereby plainly appeareth, that a sodaine witty and merry answer,
doth oftentimes appease the furious choller of an angry man
Whereby may bee observed, that such as will speake contemptibly of
others, ought (first of all) to looke respectively on their owne
imperfections
Wherein is declared, of what worth it is to confesse trueth, with a
facetious and witty excuse
In just scorne of such unsightly and ill-Pleasing surly sluts, who
imagine none to be faire or well-Favoured, but themselves
Notably discovering the great difference that is betweene learning
and ignorance, upon judicious apprehension
Wherein may be observed, what palpable abuses do many times passe,
under the counterfeit cloake of religion
When the assembly being met together, and under the regiment of
dioneus: The discourses are directed, for the discoverie of such
policies and deceites, as women have used for beguiling of their
husbandes, either in respect of their love, or for the prevention
of some blame or scandall, escaping without sight, knowledge, or
otherwise
Reprehending the simplicity of some sottish husbands: And
discovering the wanton subtilties of some women, to compasse their
unlawfull desires
Wherein is declared, what hard and narrow shifts and distresses,
such as bee seriously linked in love, are many times enforced to
undergo: According as their owne wit, and capacitie of their
surprizers, drive them to in extremities
Serving as a friendly advertisement to married women, that monks,
friars, and priests may be none of their gossips, in regard of
unavoydable perilles ensuing thereby
Wherein is manifested, that the malice and subtilty of woman,
surpasseth all the art or wit in man
In just scorne and mockery of such jealous husbands, that will be
so idle headed upon no occasion. Yet when they have good reason for
it, do least of all suspect any such injury
Wherein is manifestly discerned, that if love be driven to a narrow
straite in any of his attempts; yet hee can accomplish his purpose
by some other supply
Whereby is declared, that such as keepe many honest seeming
servants, may sometime finde a knave among them, and one that
proves to be oversawcy with his master
Whereby appeareth, that an husband ought to be very well advised,
when he meaneth to discover any wrong offered his wife; except hee
him-Selfe do rashly run into all the shame and reproach
Wherein is declared, that great lords may sometime be deceived by
their wives, as well as men of meaner condition
Wherein such men are covertly reprehended, who make no care or
conscience at all of those things that should preserve them from
sinne
Whereon all the discourses, passe under the rule and government, of
the honourable ladie lauretta
Wherein is declared, that such women as will make sale of their
honestie, are sometimes over-Reached in their payment, and justly
served as they should be
Approving, that no promise is to be kept with such women as will
make sale of their honesty for coyne. A warning also for men, not
to suffer priests to be over familiar with their wives
Justly reprehending the simplicity of such men, as are too much
addicted to credulitie, and will give credit to every thing they
heare
Wherein is declared, how love oftentimes is so powerfull in aged
men, and driveth them to such doating, that it redoundeth to their
great disgrace and punishment
Giving admonition, that for the managing of publique affaires, no
other persons are or ought to be appointed, but such as be honest,
and meet to sit on the seate of authority
Wherein is declared, how easily a plaine and simple man may be made
a foole, when he dealeth with crafty companions.
Serving as an admonition to all ladies and gentlewomen, not to mock
or scorne gentlemen-Schollers, when they make meanes of love to
them: Except they intend to seeke their owne shame, by disgracing
them
Wherein is approved, that he which offereth shame and disgrace to
his neighbour; may receive the like injury (if not in worse manner)
by the same man
Wherein is approved, that titles of honour, learning, and dignity,
are not alwayes bestowne on the wisest men
Whereby appeareth, that such as meet with cunning harlots, and
suffer themselves to be deceived by them: Must sharpen their wits,
to make them requitall in the selfesame kinde
Whereon, under the government of madame aimilia, the argument of
each severall descourse, is not limitted to any one peculiar
subject: But every one remaineth at liberty, to speak of whatsoever
themselves best pleaseth
Approving, that chaste and honest women, ought rather to deny
importunate suiters, by subtile and ingenious meanes, then fall of
scandall and slander
Whereby is declared, that whosoever is desirous to reprehend sinne
in other men, should first examine himselfe, that he be not guiltie
of the same crime
Discovering the simplicity of some silly witted men, and how easie
a matter it is to abuse and beguile them
Serving as an admonition to all men, for taking gamesters and
drunkards into their service
In just reprehension of those vaineheaded fooles, that are led and
governed by idle perswasions
Wherein is manifested, that an offence committed ignorantly, and by
mistaking; ought to be covered with good advise, and civill
discretion
Whereby (with some indifferent reason) it is concluded, that
dreames do not alwayes fall out to be leasings
Whereby plainly appeareth, that they which take delight in
deceiving others, do well deserve to be deceived themselves
Containing an excellent admonition, that such as covet to have the
love of other men, must first learne themselves, how to love: Also,
by what meanes such women as are curst and self-Willed, may be
reduced to civill obedience
In just reproofe of such foolish men, as will be governed by
over-Light beleefe
The companie
Whereon, under the government of pamphilus, the severall arguments
do concerne such persons, as either by way of liberality, or in
magnificent manner, performed any worthy action, for love, favour,
friendship, or any other honourable occasion
Wherin may evidently be discerned, that servants to princes and
great lords, are many times recompenced, rather by their good
fortune, then in any regard of their dutifull services
Wherein is declared that good men doe sometimes fall into bad
conditions, onely occasioned thereto by necessity: And what meanes
are to be used, for their reducing to goodnesse againe
Shewing in an excellent and lively demonstration, that any
especiall honourable vertue, persevering and dwelling in a truly
noble soule, cannot be violenced or confounded, by the most
politicke attemptes of malice and envy
Wherein is shewne, that true love hath alwayes bin, and so still
is, the occasion of many great and worthy courtesies
Admonishing all ladies and gentlewomen, that are desirous to
preserve their chastity, free from all blemish and taxation: To
make no promise of yeelding to any, under a compact or covenant,
how impossible soever it may seeme to be
Sufficiently declaring, that how mighty soever the power of love
is: Yet a magnanimous and truly generous heart, it can by no meanes
fully conquer
Wherein is covertly given to understand, that howsoever a prince
may make use of his absolute power and authority, towards maides or
wives that are his subjects: Yet he ought to deny and reject all
things, as shall make him forgetfull of himselfe, and his true
honour
Sung in the hearing of king piero, on the behalfe of love-Sicke
lisana
Declaring, that notwithstanding the frownes of fortune, diversity
of occurrences, and contrary accidents happening: Yet love and
friendship ought to be preciously preserved among men
Declaring what an honourable vertue courtesie is, in them that
truely know how to use them
Set downe as an example or warning to all wealthie men, how to have
care of marrying themselves. And likewise to poore and meane women,
to be patient in their fortunes, and obedient to their husbands
