and this done, rising to her feet, she gave the
company leave to do that which was most pleasing unto each.
Accordingly, ladies and men betook themselves to a little garden and
there, after they had disported themselves awhile, the hour of supper
being come, they supped with mirth and pleasance; then, all arising
thence and Emilia, by the queen's commandment, leading the round, the
ditty following was sung by Pampinea, whilst the other ladies
responded:

What lady aye should sing, and if not I,
Who'm blest with all for which a maid can sigh?
Come then, O Love, thou source of all my weal,
All hope and every issue glad and bright
Sing ye awhile yfere
Of sighs nor bitter pains I erst did feel,
That now but sweeten to me thy delight,
Nay, but of that fire clear,
Wherein I, burning, live in joy and cheer,
And as my God, thy name do magnify.

Thou settest, Love, before these eyes of mine
Whenas thy fire I entered the first day,
A youngling so beseen
With valour, worth and loveliness divine,
That never might one find a goodlier, nay,
Nor yet his match, I ween.
So sore I burnt for him I still must e'en
Sing, blithe, of him with thee, my lord most high.

And that in him which crowneth my liesse
Is that I please him, as he pleaseth me,
Thanks to Love debonair;
Thus in this world my wish I do possess
And in the next I trust at peace to be,
Through that fast faith I bear
To him; sure God, who seeth this, will ne'er
The kingdom of His bliss to us deny.

[Footnote 146: _i.e._ Friday being a fast day and Saturday a _jour
maigre_.]

[Footnote 147: _i.e._ generally upon the vicissitudes of Fortune and
not upon any particular feature.]

[Footnote 148: _Industria_, syn. address, skilful contrivance.]

After this they sang sundry other songs and danced sundry dances and
played upon divers instruments of music. Then, the queen deeming it
time to go to rest, each betook himself, with torches before him, to
his chamber, and all on the two following days, whilst applying
themselves to those things whereof the queen had spoken, looked
longingly for Sunday.

HERE ENDETH THE SECOND DAY
OF THE DECAMERON

_Day the Third_

HERE BEGINNETH THE THIRD DAY OF THE DECAMERON WHEREIN UNDER
THE GOVERNANCE OF NEIFILE IS DISCOURSED OF SUCH AS HAVE BY