Approving, that such as meet with cunning Harlots, suffering them selves to be deceyved, must sharpen their wits, to make them requitall in the same kind. * * * * * THE NINTH DAY, Governed under Madame Æmillia. Whereon, the Argument of each severall Discourse, is not limited to any one peculiar subject: but everie one remaineth at liberty, to speake of whatsoever themselves best pleaseth. The Argument of the first Novell. _Madam_ Francesca, _a Widdow of_ Pistoya, _being affected by two Florentine Gentlemen, the one named_ Rinuccio Palermini, _and the other_ Alessandro Chiarmontesi, _and she bearing no good will to either of them, ingeniously freed her selfe from both their importunate suites. One of them shee caused to lye as dead in a grave, and the other to fetch him from thence: so neither of them accomplishing what they were enjoyned, failed of their expectation._ _The Morall._ Approving, that chast and honest women, ought rather to deny importunate suiters, by subtle and ingenious means, then fall into the danger of scandall and slander. The Argument of the second Novell. _Madame_ Usimbalda, _Lady Abbesse of a Monastery of Nuns in_ Lombardie, _arising hastily in the night time without a Candle, to take one of her Daughter Nunnes in bed with a yong Gentleman, whereof she was enviously accused, by certaine of her other Sisters: The Abbesse her selfe (being at the same time in bed with a Priest) imagining to have put on her head her plaited vayle, put on the Priests breeches. Which when the poore Nunne perceyved; by causing the Abbesse to see her owne error, she got her selfe to be absolved, and had the freer liberty afterward, to be more familiar with her frend, then formerly she had bin._ _The Morall._ 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. The Argument of the third Novell. _Master_ Simon _the Physitian, by the perswasions of_ Bruno, Buffalmaco, _and a third Companion, named_ Nello, _made_ Calandrino _to beleeve, that he was conceived great with childe. And having Physicke ministred to him for the disease: they got both good fatte Capons and money of him, and so cured him, without any other manner of deliverance._ _The Morall._ Discovering the simplicity of some silly witted men, and how easie a matter it is to abuse and beguile them. The Argument of the Fourth Novell. Francesco Fortarigo, _played away all that he had at_ Buonconvento, _and likewise the money of_ Francesco Aniolliero, _being his Master: Then running after him in his shirt, and avouching that hee had robbed him: he caused him to be taken by Pezants of the Country, clothed himselfe in his Masters wearing garments, and (mounted on his horse) rode thence to_ Sienna, _leaving_ Aniolliero _in his shirt, and walked bare-footed._ _The Morall._