BOCCACCIO 



35 



DOOKES (Courteous Reader) may rightly be compared to BOCCACCIO 



^ Gardens \ wherein, let the painfull Gardiner expresse never ^^^^^"^375)' 



so much care and diligent endeavour; yet among the very 



fairest, sweetest, and freshest Flowers, as also Plants of most 



precious Vertue ; ill savouring and stinking Weeds, fit for no 



use but the fire or mucke-hill, will spring and sprout up. So 



fareth it with Bookes of the very best quality; let the Author 



bee never so indulgent, and the Printer vigilant : yet both may 



misse their ayme, by the escape of Errors and Mistakes, either 



in sense or matter, the one fault ensuing by a ragged Written 



Copy; and the other thorough want of wary Correction. — The 



Decameron {containing a hundred pleasant Novels.) {Preface to 



the last five days), 1620. 



On the morrow, being Wednesday, about breake of day, the 

 Ladies, with certaine of their attending Gentlewomen, and the 

 three Gentlemen, having three servants to waite on them, left 

 the City to beginne their journey, and having travelled about 

 a league's distance, arrived at the place of their first purpose 

 of stay ; which was seated on a little hill, distant (on all sides) 

 from any highway, plentifully stored with faire spreading Trees, 

 affording no meane delight to the eye. On the top of all stood 

 a stately Pallace, having a large and spacious Court in the 

 middest, round engirt with galleries, hals and chambers, every 

 one separate alone by themselves, and beautified with pictures 

 of admirable Cunning. Nor was there any want of Gardens, 

 Meadowes, and other pleasant walkes, with welles and springs 

 of faire running waters, all encompassed with branching vines, 

 fitter for curious and quaffing bidders, then women sober and 

 singularly modest. — Ibid. 



'T^O be as brief as I can then, Fabrizio was regaled there with MACHIAVELLI 



* all possible demonstrations of honour and respect : but (^69-1527)- 

 after the entertainment and usual formalities were over (which 

 generally are few and short amongst men of sense, who are 

 more desirous of gratifying the rational appetite), the days 



