294 'i'HE 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 jovous company went slowly down to 
disport themselves at evening, barefooted and with bare arms, till thev 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 Safurdav, 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 w'e should rather say prayers to 
the worship of God than invent tales. .\nd on Saturdat' 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 came, 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 bv 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, w'e 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 
