set some friends to work to patch matters up, whereby
he did in fact induce his lady to forgive him and
live with him again, albeit he was fain to promise
her never again to be jealous, and to give her leave
to amuse herself to her heart’s content, provided
she used such discretion that he should not be ware
of it. On such wise, like the churl and booby
that he was, being despoiled, he made terms. Now
long live Love, and perish war, and all that wage
it!
— A jealous husband disguises himself
as a priest, and hears his own wife’s confession:
she tells him that she loves a priest, who comes to
her every night. The husband posts himself at
the door to watch for the priest, and meanwhile the
lady brings her lover in by the roof, and tarries with
him.
—
When Lauretta had done speaking, and all had commended
the lady, for that she had done well, and treated
her caitiff husband as he had deserved, the king,
not to lose time, turned to Fiammetta, and graciously
bade her take up her parable; which she did on this
wise:—Most noble ladies, the foregoing
story prompts me likewise to discourse of one of these
jealous husbands, deeming that they are justly requited
by their wives, more especially when they grow jealous
without due cause. And had our legislators taken
account of everything, I am of opinion that they would
have visited ladies in such a case with no other penalty
than such as they provide for those that offend in
self-defence, seeing that a jealous husband does cunningly
practise against the life of his lady, and most assiduously
machinate her death. All the week the wife stays
at home, occupied with her domestic duties; after
which, on the day that is sacred to joy, she, like
every one else, craves some solace, some peace, some
recreation, not unreasonably, for she craves but what
the husbandmen take in the fields, the craftsmen in
the city, the magistrates in the courts, nay what
God Himself took, when He rested from all His labours
on the seventh day, and which laws human and Divine,
mindful alike of the honour of God and the common
well-being, have ordained, appropriating certain days
to work, and others to repose. To which ordinance
these jealous husbands will in no wise conform; on
the contrary by then most sedulously secluding their
wives, they make those days which to all other women
are gladsome, to them most grievous and dolorous.
And what an affliction it is to the poor creatures,
they alone know, who have proved it; for which reason,
to sum up, I say that a wife is rather to be commended
than censured, if she take her revenge upon a husband
that is jealous without cause.
