294 



THE GARDENS OF ITALY. 



for the time was law, and who settled the way in which the hours should be spent. Strolling 

 about the countryside while engaged in philosophical discussion and gathering at some spring 

 or charming point of view to tell tales were an important part of the proceedings. 



Here, then, the first series of those tales was supposed to be told ; and the Mensola flowing 

 below is that " stream of clear water " to which the joyous company went slowly down to 

 disport themselves at evening, barefooted and with bare arms, till they returned to the palace 

 for supper, music and dancing. 



A fresh queen was chosen each day, and at the end of the second day Neifile, being crowned, 

 said, " As you know, to-morrow is Friday, and the next day Saturday, days apt to be tedious 

 to most people on account of the viands ordered to be eaten ; besides, Friday was the day on 

 which He who died for our life, suffered His passion, and it is therefore worthy of reverence. 

 For thus, I consider it to be a proper and virtuous thing that we should rather say prayers to 

 the worship of God than invent tales. And on Saturday it is the custom for women to wash 



306. THE VILLA PALMIERI FROM THE GARDEN. 



their heads. . . . Being therefore unable on that day to fully carry out our established order 

 of life, I think it would be well done to refrain from reciting tales on that day. And as we shall 

 then have been here four days, if we are desirous to avoid being joined by others, I conceive it 

 would be more opportune to quit this place and go elsewhere, and I have already thought of a 

 place, and arranged everything." 



" So when Sunday carne, the queen, with slow steps and accompanied and followed by her 

 ladies and by the three youths, and led by the song of maybe twenty nightingales and other 

 birds, took her way towards the west by an unfrequented lane. . . . Gossiping, joking, 

 and laughing with her company, she led them to a beautiful and splendid palace." 



The " unfrequented lane " may still be followed, and passing by it from Majano to San 

 Dominico, we reach the Villa Palmieri, which then bore the name of Schifanoja, or " banish 

 care," where Boccaccio's fancy pictured the remainder of the tales being told. The palace 

 was seated on an eminence in the middle of a large plain. When they had entered and seen 

 the great hall and the chambers most elegantly fitted up, they greatly extolled it, judging its 



