midnight
` Fore God , then , let each she List to my prayer , nor e'er in my despite Such grievous wrong essay ; For should there any be That by or speech or mien 's allurements light Of him to rob me may Study or plot , I , witting , shall find way , My beauty it aby ! To cause her sore lament such frenesie . As soon as Fiammetta had ended her song , Dioneo , who was beside her , said with a laugh : -- `` Madam , ` twould be a great courtesy on your part to do all ladies to wit , who he is , that he be not stolen from you in ignorance , seeing that you threaten such dire resentment . '' Several other songs followed ; and it being then nigh upon midnight , all , as the king was pleased to order , betook them to rest . With the first light of the new day they rose , and , the seneschal having already conveyed thence all their chattels , they , following the lead of their discreet king , hied them back to Florence ; and in Santa Maria Novella , whence they had set forth , the three young men took leave of the seven ladies , and departed to find other diversions elsewhere , while the ladies in due time repaired to their homes . Most noble damsels , for whose solace I addressed me to this long and toilsome task , meseems that , aided by the Divine grace , the bestowal whereof I impute to the efficacy of your pious prayers , and in no wise to merits of mine , I have now brought this work to the full and perfect consummation which in the outset thereof I promised you . Wherefore , it but remains for me to render , first to God , and then to you , my thanks , and so to give a rest to my pen and weary hand .