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diff --git a/23700-h/23700-h.htm b/23700-h/23700-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..ba06feb --- /dev/null +++ b/23700-h/23700-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,29342 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" +"http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=utf-8" /> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> +<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Decameron of Giovanni Boccaccio</title> + +<style type="text/css"> + + p { margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + + p.hang {text-indent: -2em; margin-left: 2em; font-weight: bold;} + p.hangn {text-indent: -2em; margin-left: 2em;} + + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + } + + hr { width: 55%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; + } + + hr.long { width: 85%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; + } + + hr.short { width: 15%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; + } + + body{margin-left: 15%; + margin-right: 15%; + } + + .pagenum {position: absolute; left: 92%; + font-size: 75%; text-indent: 0em; + border-top: solid gray 1px; border-bottom: solid gray 1px; + background-color: inherit; font-weight: normal; + font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; + text-decoration: none;} + + .blockquot{margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + + .sidenote {position: absolute; + right: 92%; font-size: smaller; + font-weight: bold; text-align: center; + border: solid black 1px; padding: .5em;} + + .center {text-align: center;} + + .small {font-size: 75%;} + .lgsmcap {font-variant: small-caps; font-size: 125%;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + + .err {border-bottom: thin dotted red;} + + .bbox {border: solid black 1px; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + + .footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + .footnote .label {position: absolute; right: 84%; text-align: right;} + .fnanchor {vertical-align: baseline; + position: relative; bottom: 0.4em; + font-size: .8em; + text-decoration: none;} + + .notes {background-color: #eeeeee; color: #000; + padding-top: .5em; padding-bottom: .5em; + padding-left: 1em; padding-right: 1em; + margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 5%;} + + .cpoem {width: 50%; margin: 0 auto;} + .cpoems {width: 35%; margin: 0 auto;} + + </style> + </head> +<body> + +<div style='text-align:center; font-size:1.2em; font-weight:bold'>The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Decameron of Giovanni Boccaccio</div> +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and +most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions +whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms +of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online +at <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. If you +are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the +country where you are located before using this eBook. +</div> +<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Title: The Decameron of Giovanni Boccaccio</div> +<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Author: Giovanni Boccaccio</div> +<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Translator: John Payne</div> +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Release Date: December 3, 2007 [eBook #23700]<br /> +[Most recently updated: October 3, 2021]</div> +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Language: English</div> +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Character set encoding: UTF-8</div> +<div style='display:block; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Produced by: Ted Garvin, Linda Cantoni, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team</div> +<div style='margin-top:2em; margin-bottom:4em'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE DECAMERON ***</div> + +<div class="notes"> +<p class="center"><i>Transcriber's Notes:</i></p> + +<p>The original text does not observe the normal +convention of placing quotation marks at the beginnings of paragraphs +within a multiple-paragraph quotation. This idiosyncrasy has been +preserved in this e-text.</p> + +<p>Archaic spellings have been preserved, but +obvious printer errors have been corrected.</p> + +<p>In the untranslated Italian passage in <a href="#THE_TENTH_STORY3">Day 3, Story 10</a>, the original +is missing the accents, which have been added using an Italian edition +of <i>Decameron</i> (Milan: Mursia, 1977) as a guide.</p> + +<p>This e-text contains some Greek and Arabic words, which may not +display correctly in all browsers. Hover the mouse over the word to +see a pop-up transliteration, e.g., +<span lang="el" title="Greek: biblos">βιβλος</span>.</p> + +<p>John Payne's translation of <i>The Decameron</i> was +originally published in a private printing for The Villon Society, +London, 1886. The American edition from which this e-text was prepared +is undated.</p> +</div> + +<p><br /></p> + +<p class="center"> +<img src="images/title.png" width="453" height="700" alt="title page" /> +</p> + +<p><br /></p> + +<div class="bbox"> +<h2><i>The</i></h2> + +<h1><i>Decameron</i></h1> + +<h3><i>of</i></h3> + +<h2><i>Giovanni Boccaccio</i></h2> + +<h3><i>Translated by</i><br /> +<i>John Payne</i></h3> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p class="center"> +WALTER J. BLACK, INC.<br /> +171 Madison Avenue<br /> +NEW YORK, N.Y.<br /> +</p> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p class="center"><span class="small">PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA</span><br /><br /></p> +</div> + + + +<p><br /></p> +<h2><i>Contents</i></h2> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p><a href="#Proem"><b>PROEM.</b></a></p> + + +<p><br /><b><a href="#Day_the_First">DAY THE FIRST</a> <a href='#Page_1'>1</a></b></p> + +<p class="hangn"><a href="#THE_FIRST_STORY"><span class="smcap">The First Story.</span></a> <i>Master Ciappelletto dupeth a holy friar with a false +confession and dieth; and having been in his lifetime the worst of +men, he is, after his death, reputed a saint and called Saint +Ciappelletto</i> <a href='#Page_16'>16</a></p> + +<p class="hangn"><a href="#THE_SECOND_STORY"><span class="smcap">The Second Story.</span></a> <i>Abraham the Jew, at the instigation of Jehannot de +Chevigné, goeth to the Court of Rome and seeing the depravity of the +clergy, returneth to Paris and there becometh a Christian</i> <a href='#Page_25'>25</a></p> + +<p class="hangn"><a href="#THE_THIRD_STORY"><span class="smcap">The Third Story.</span></a> <i>Melchizedek the Jew, with a story of three rings, +escapeth a parlous snare set for him by Saladin</i> <a href='#Page_28'>28</a></p> + +<p class="hangn"><a href="#THE_FOURTH_STORY"><span class="smcap">The Fourth Story.</span></a> <i>A monk, having fallen into a sin deserving of very +grievous punishment, adroitly reproaching the same fault to his abbot, +quitteth himself of the penalty</i> <a href='#Page_30'>30</a></p> + +<p class="hangn"><a href="#THE_FIFTH_STORY"><span class="smcap">The Fifth Story.</span></a> <i>The Marchioness of Monferrato, with a dinner of hens +and certain sprightly words, curbeth the extravagant passion of the +King of France</i> <a href='#Page_33'>33</a></p> + +<p class="hangn"><a href="#THE_SIXTH_STORY"><span class="smcap">The Sixth Story.</span></a> <i>An honest man, with a chance pleasantry, putteth to +shame the perverse hypocrisy of the religious orders</i> <a href='#Page_35'>35</a></p> + +<p class="hangn"><a href="#THE_SEVENTH_STORY"><span class="smcap">The Seventh Story.</span></a> <i>Bergamino, with a story of Primasso and the Abbot +of Cluny, courteously rebuketh a fit of parsimony newly come to Messer +Cane della Scala</i> <a href='#Page_37'>37</a></p> + +<p class="hangn"><a href="#THE_EIGHTH_STORY"><span class="smcap">The Eighth Story.</span></a> <i>Guglielmo Borsiere with some quaint words rebuketh +the niggardliness of Messer Ermino de' Grimaldi</i> <a href='#Page_40'>40</a></p> + +<p class="hangn"><a href="#THE_NINTH_STORY"><span class="smcap">The Ninth Story.</span></a> <i>The King of Cyprus, touched to the quick by a Gascon +lady, from a mean-spirited prince becometh a man of worth and +valiance</i> <a href='#Page_42'>42</a></p> + +<p class="hangn"><a href="#THE_TENTH_STORY"><span class="smcap">The Tenth Story.</span></a> <i>Master Alberto of Bologna civilly putteth a lady to +the blush who thought to have shamed him of being enamoured of her</i> <a href='#Page_43'>43</a></p> + + +<p><br /><b><a href="#Day_the_Second">DAY THE SECOND</a> <a href='#Page_48'>48</a></b></p> + +<p class="hangn"><a href="#THE_FIRST_STORY2"><span class="smcap">The First Story.</span></a> <i>Martellino feigneth himself a cripple and maketh +believe to wax whole upon the body of St. Arrigo. His imposture being +discovered, he is beaten and being after taken [for a thief,] goeth in +peril of being hanged by the neck, but ultimately escapeth</i> <a href='#Page_49'>49</a></p> + +<p class="hangn"><a href="#THE_SECOND_STORY2"><span class="smcap">The Second Story.</span></a> <i>Rinaldo d'Asti, having been robbed, maketh his way +to Castel Guglielmo, where he is hospitably entertained by a widow +lady and having made good his loss, returneth to his own house, safe +and sound</i> <a href='#Page_52'>52</a></p> + +<p class="hangn"><a href="#THE_THIRD_STORY2"><span class="smcap">The Third Story.</span></a> <i>Three young men squander their substance and become +poor; but a nephew of theirs, returning home in desperation, falleth +in with an abbot and findeth him to be the king's daughter of England, +who taketh him to husband and maketh good all his uncles' losses, +restoring them to good estate</i> <a href='#Page_57'>57</a></p> + +<p class="hangn"><a href="#THE_FOURTH_STORY2"><span class="smcap">The Fourth Story.</span></a> <i>Landolfo Ruffolo, grown poor, turneth corsair and +being taken by the Genoese, is wrecked at sea, but saveth himself upon +a coffer full of jewels of price and being entertained in Corfu by a +woman, returneth home rich</i> <a href='#Page_63'>63</a></p> + +<p class="hangn"><a href="#THE_FIFTH_STORY2"><span class="smcap">The Fifth Story.</span></a> <i>Andreuccio of Perugia, coming to Naples to buy +horses, is in one night overtaken with three grievous accidents, but +escapeth them all and returneth home with a ruby</i> <a href='#Page_66'>66</a></p> + +<p class="hangn"><a href="#THE_SIXTH_STORY2"><span class="smcap">The Sixth Story.</span></a> <i>Madam Beritola, having lost her two sons, is found +on a desert island with two kids and goeth thence into Lunigiana, +where one of her sons, taking service with the lord of the country, +lieth with his daughter and is cast into prison. Sicily after +rebelling against King Charles and the youth being recognized by his +mother, he espouseth his lord's daughter, and his brother being +likewise found, they are all three restored to high estate</i> <a href='#Page_75'>75</a></p> + +<p class="hangn"><a href="#THE_SEVENTH_STORY2"><span class="smcap">The Seventh Story.</span></a> <i>The Soldan of Babylon sendeth a daughter of his to +be married to the King of Algarve, and she, by divers chances, in the +space of four years cometh to the hands of nine men in various places. +Ultimately, being restored to her father for a maid, she goeth to the +King of Algarve to wife, as first she did</i> <a href='#Page_85'>85</a></p> + +<p class="hangn"><a href="#THE_EIGHTH_STORY2"><span class="smcap">The Eighth Story.</span></a> <i>The Count of Antwerp, being falsely accused, goeth +into exile and leaveth his two children in different places in +England, whither, after awhile, returning in disguise and finding them +in good case, he taketh service as a horseboy in the service of the +King of France and being approved innocent, is restored to his former +estate</i> <a href='#Page_100'>100</a></p> + +<p class="hangn"><a href="#THE_NINTH_STORY2"><span class="smcap">The Ninth Story.</span></a> <i>Bernabo of Genoa, duped by Ambrogiuolo, loseth his +good and commandeth that his innocent wife be put to death. She +escapeth and serveth the Soldan in a man's habit. Here she lighteth +upon the deceiver of her husband and bringeth the latter to +Alexandria, where, her traducer being punished, she resumeth woman's +apparel and returneth to Genoa with her husband, rich</i> <a href='#Page_111'>111</a></p> + +<p class="hangn"><a href="#THE_TENTH_STORY2"><span class="smcap">The Tenth Story.</span></a> <i>Paganino of Monaco stealeth away the wife of Messer +Ricciardo di Chinzica, who, learning where she is, goeth thither and +making friends with Paganino, demandeth her again of him. The latter +concedeth her to him, an she will; but she refuseth to return with him +and Messer Ricciardo dying, she becometh the wife of Paganino</i> <a href='#Page_120'>120</a></p> + + +<p><br /><b><a href="#Day_the_Third">DAY THE THIRD</a> <a href='#Page_127'>127</a></b></p> + +<p class="hangn"><a href="#THE_FIRST_STORY3"><span class="smcap">The First Story.</span></a> <i>Masetto of Lamporecchio feigneth himself dumb and +becometh gardener to a convent of women, who all flock to lie with +him</i> <a href='#Page_129'>129</a></p> + +<p class="hangn"><a href="#THE_SECOND_STORY3"><span class="smcap">The Second Story.</span></a> <i>A horsekeeper lieth with the wife of King Agilulf, +who, becoming aware thereof, without word said, findeth him out and +polleth him; but the polled man polleth all his fellows on like wise +and so escapeth ill hap</i> <a href='#Page_134'>134</a></p> + +<p class="hangn"><a href="#THE_THIRD_STORY3"><span class="smcap">The Third Story.</span></a> <i>Under colour of confession and of exceeding niceness +of conscience, a lady, being enamoured of a young man, bringeth a +grave friar, without his misdoubting him thereof, to afford a means of +giving entire effect to her pleasure</i> <a href='#Page_137'>137</a></p> + +<p class="hangn"><a href="#THE_FOURTH_STORY3"><span class="smcap">The Fourth Story.</span></a> <i>Dom Felice teacheth Fra Puccio how he may become +beatified by performing a certain penance of his fashion, which the +other doth, and Dom Felice meanwhile leadeth a merry life of it with +the good man's wife</i> <a href='#Page_143'>143</a></p> + +<p class="hangn"><a href="#THE_FIFTH_STORY3"><span class="smcap">The Fifth Story.</span></a> <i>Ricciardo, surnamed Il Zima, giveth Messer Francesco +Vergellesi a palfrey of his and hath therefor his leave to speak with +his wife. She keeping silence, he in her person replieth unto himself, +and the effect after ensueth in accordance with his answer</i> <a href='#Page_147'>147</a></p> + +<p class="hangn"><a href="#THE_SIXTH_STORY3"><span class="smcap">The Sixth Story.</span></a> <i>Ricciardo Minutolo, being enamoured of the wife of +Filippello Fighinolfi and knowing her jealousy of her husband, +contriveth, by representing that Filippello was on the ensuing day to +be with his own wife in a bagnio, to bring her to the latter place, +where, thinking to be with her husband, she findeth that she hath +abidden with Ricciardo</i> <a href='#Page_152'>152</a></p> + +<p class="hangn"><a href="#THE_SEVENTH_STORY3"><span class="smcap">The Seventh Story.</span></a> <i>Tedaldo Elisei, having fallen out with his +mistress, departeth Florence and returning thither, after awhile, in a +pilgrim's favour, speaketh with the lady and maketh her cognisant of +her error; after which he delivereth her husband, who had been +convicted of murdering him, from death and reconciling him with his +brethren, thenceforward discreetly enjoyeth himself with his mistress</i> +157</p> + +<p class="hangn"><a href="#THE_EIGHTH_STORY3"><span class="smcap">The Eighth Story.</span></a> <i>Ferondo, having swallowed a certain powder, is +entombed for dead and being taken forth of the sepulchre by the abbot, +who enjoyeth his wife the while, is put in prison and given to believe +that he is in purgatory; after which, being raised up again, he +reareth for his own a child begotten of the abbot on his wife</i> <a href='#Page_169'>169</a></p> + +<p class="hangn"><a href="#THE_NINTH_STORY3"><span class="smcap">The Ninth Story.</span></a> <i>Gillette de Narbonne recovereth the King of France +of a fistula and demandeth for her husband Bertrand de Roussillon, who +marrieth her against his will and betaketh him for despite to +Florence, where, he paying court to a young lady, Gillette, in the +person of the latter, lieth with him and hath by him two sons; +wherefore after, holding her dear, he entertaineth her for his wife</i> +176</p> + +<p class="hangn"><a href="#THE_TENTH_STORY3"><span class="smcap">The Tenth Story.</span></a> <i>Alibech, turning hermit, is taught by Rustico, a +monk, to put the devil in hell, and being after brought away thence, +becometh Neerbale his wife</i> <a href='#Page_182'>182</a></p> + + +<p><br /><b><a href="#Day_the_Fourth">DAY THE FOURTH</a> <a href='#Page_189'>189</a></b></p> + +<p class="hangn"><a href="#THE_FIRST_STORY4"><span class="smcap">The First Story.</span></a> <i>Tancred, Prince of Salerno, slayeth his daughter's +lover and sendeth her his heart in a bowl of gold; whereupon, pouring +poisoned water over it, she drinketh thereof and dieth</i> <a href='#Page_194'>194</a></p> + +<p class="hangn"><a href="#THE_SECOND_STORY4"><span class="smcap">The Second Story.</span></a> <i>Fra Alberto giveth a lady to believe that the angel +Gabriel is enamoured of her and in his shape lieth with her sundry +times; after which, for fear of her kinsmen, he casteth himself forth +of her window into the canal and taketh refuge in the house of a poor +man, who on the morrow carrieth him, in the guise of a wild man of the +woods, to the Piazza, where, being recognized, he is taken by his +brethren and put in prison</i> <a href='#Page_201'>201</a></p> + +<p class="hangn"><a href="#THE_THIRD_STORY4"><span class="smcap">The Third Story.</span></a> <i>Three young men love three sisters and flee with +them into Crete, where the eldest sister for jealousy slayeth her +lover. The second, yielding herself to the Duke of Crete, saveth her +sister from death, whereupon her own lover slayeth her and fleeth with +the eldest sister. Meanwhile the third lover and the youngest sister +are accused of the new murder and being taken, confess it; then, for +fear of death, they corrupt their keepers with money and flee to +Rhodes, where they die in poverty</i> <a href='#Page_208'>208</a></p> + +<p class="hangn"><a href="#THE_FOURTH_STORY4"><span class="smcap">The Fourth Story.</span></a> <i>Gerbino, against the plighted faith of his +grandfather, King Guglielmo of Sicily, attacketh a ship of the King of +Tunis, to carry off a daughter of his, who being put to death of those +on board, he slayeth these latter and is after himself beheaded</i> <a href='#Page_213'>213</a></p> + +<p class="hangn"><a href="#THE_FIFTH_STORY4"><span class="smcap">The Fifth Story.</span></a> <i>Lisabetta's brothers slay her lover, who appeareth +to her in a dream and showeth her where he is buried, whereupon she +privily disinterreth his head and setteth it in a pot of basil. +Thereover making moan a great while every day, her brothers take it +from her and she for grief dieth a little thereafterward</i> <a href='#Page_216'>216</a></p> + +<p class="hangn"><a href="#THE_SIXTH_STORY4"><span class="smcap">The Sixth Story.</span></a> <i>Andrevuola loveth Gabriotto and recounteth to him a +dream she hath had, whereupon he telleth her one of his own and +presently dieth suddenly in her arms. What while she and a waiting +woman of hers bear him to his own house, they are taken by the +officers of justice and carried before the provost, to whom she +discovereth how the case standeth. The provost would fain force her, +but she suffereth it not and her father, coming to hear of the matter, +procureth her to be set at liberty, she being found innocent; +whereupon, altogether refusing to abide longer in the world, she +becometh a nun</i> <a href='#Page_220'>220</a></p> + +<p class="hangn"><a href="#THE_SEVENTH_STORY4"><span class="smcap">The Seventh Story.</span></a> <i>Simona loveth Pasquino and they being together in +a garden, the latter rubbeth a leaf of sage against his teeth and +dieth. She, being taken and thinking to show the judge how her lover +died, rubbeth one of the same leaves against her teeth and dieth on +like wise</i> <a href='#Page_225'>225</a></p> + +<p class="hangn"><a href="#THE_EIGHTH_STORY4"><span class="smcap">The Eighth Story.</span></a> <i>Girolamo loveth Salvestra and being constrained by +his mother's prayers to go to Paris, returneth and findeth his +mistress married; whereupon he entereth her house by stealth and dieth +by her side; and he being carried to a church, Salvestra dieth beside +him</i> <a href='#Page_228'>228</a></p> + +<p class="hangn"><a href="#THE_NINTH_STORY4"><span class="smcap">The Ninth Story.</span></a> <i>Sir Guillaume de Roussillon giveth his wife to eat +the heart of Sir Guillaume de Guardestaing by him slain and loved of +her, which she after coming to know, casteth herself from a high +casement to the ground and dying, is buried with her lover</i> <a href='#Page_232'>232</a></p> + +<p class="hangn"><a href="#THE_TENTH_STORY4"><span class="smcap">The Tenth Story.</span></a> <i>A physician's wife putteth her lover for dead in a +chest, which two usurers carry off to their own house, gallant and +all. The latter, who is but drugged, cometh presently to himself and +being discovered, is taken for a thief; but the lady's maid avoucheth +to the seignory that she herself had put him into the chest stolen by +the two usurers, whereby he escapeth the gallows and the thieves are +amerced in certain monies</i> <a href='#Page_235'>235</a></p> + + +<p><br /><b><a href="#Day_the_Fifth">DAY THE FIFTH</a> <a href='#Page_243'>243</a></b></p> + +<p class="hangn"><a href="#THE_FIRST_STORY5"><span class="smcap">The First Story.</span></a> <i>Cimon, loving, waxeth wise and carrieth off to sea +Iphigenia his mistress. Being cast into prison at Rhodes, he is +delivered thence by Lysimachus and in concert with him carrieth off +Iphigenia and Cassandra on their wedding-day, with whom the twain flee +into Crete, where the two ladies become their wives and whence they +are presently all four recalled home</i> <a href='#Page_244'>244</a></p> + +<p class="hangn"><a href="#THE_SECOND_STORY5"><span class="smcap">The Second Story.</span></a> <i>Costanza loveth Martuccio Gomito and hearing that +he is dead, embarketh for despair alone in a boat, which is carried by +the wind to Susa. Finding her lover alive at Tunis, she discovereth +herself to him and he, being great in favour with the king for +counsels given, espouseth her and returneth rich with her to Lipari</i> +252</p> + +<p class="hangn"><a href="#THE_THIRD_STORY5"><span class="smcap">The Third Story.</span></a> <i>Pietro Boccamazza, fleeing with Agnolella, falleth +among thieves; the girl escapeth through a wood and is led [by +fortune] to a castle, whilst Pietro is taken by the thieves, but +presently, escaping from their hands, winneth, after divers +adventures, to the castle where his mistress is and espousing her, +returneth with her to Rome</i> <a href='#Page_256'>256</a></p> + +<p class="hangn"><a href="#THE_FOURTH_STORY5"><span class="smcap">The Fourth Story.</span></a> <i>Ricciardo Manardi, being found by Messer Lizio da +Valbona with his daughter, espouseth her and abideth in peace with her +father</i> <a href='#Page_261'>261</a></p> + +<p class="hangn"><a href="#THE_FIFTH_STORY5"><span class="smcap">The Fifth Story.</span></a> <i>Guidotto da Cremona leaveth to Giacomino da Pavia a +daughter of his and dieth. Giannole di Severino and Minghino di +Mingole fall in love with the girl at Faenza and come to blows on her +account. Ultimately she is proved to be Giannole's sister and is given +to Minghino to wife</i> <a href='#Page_265'>265</a></p> + +<p class="hangn"><a href="#THE_SIXTH_STORY5"><span class="smcap">The Sixth Story.</span></a> <i>Gianni di Procida being found with a young lady, +whom he loved and who had been given to King Frederick of Sicily, is +bound with her to a stake to be burnt; but, being recognized by +Ruggieri dell' Oria, escapeth and becometh her husband</i> <a href='#Page_269'>269</a></p> + +<p class="hangn"><a href="#THE_SEVENTH_STORY5"><span class="smcap">The Seventh Story.</span></a> <i>Teodoro, being enamoured of Violante, daughter of +Messer Amerigo his lord, getteth her with child and is condemned to be +hanged; but, being recognized and delivered by his father, as they are +leading him to the gallows, scourging him the while, he taketh +Violante to wife</i> <a href='#Page_273'>273</a></p> + +<p class="hangn"><a href="#THE_EIGHTH_STORY5"><span class="smcap">The Eighth Story.</span></a> <i>Nastagio degli Onesti, falling in love with a lady +of the Traversari family, spendeth his substance, without being +beloved in return, and betaking himself, at the instance of his +kinsfolk, to Chiassi, he there seeth a horseman give chase to a damsel +and slay her and cause her to be devoured of two dogs. Therewithal he +biddeth his kinsfolk and the lady whom he loveth to a dinner, where +his mistress seeth the same damsel torn in pieces and fearing a like +fate, taketh Nastagio to husband</i> <a href='#Page_278'>278</a></p> + +<p class="hangn"><a href="#THE_NINTH_STORY5"><span class="smcap">The Ninth Story.</span></a> <i>Federigo degli Alberighi loveth and is not loved. He +wasteth his substance in prodigal hospitality till there is left him +but one sole falcon, which, having nought else, he giveth his mistress +to eat, on her coming to his house; and she, learning this, changeth +her mind and taking him to husband, maketh him rich again</i> <a href='#Page_282'>282</a></p> + +<p class="hangn"><a href="#THE_TENTH_STORY5"><span class="smcap">The Tenth Story.</span></a> <i>Pietro di Vinciolo goeth to sup abroad, whereupon +his wife letteth fetch her a youth to keep her company, and her +husband returning, unlooked for, she hideth her gallant under a +hen-coop. Pietro telleth her how there had been found in the house of +one Arcolano, with whom he was to have supped, a young man brought in +by his wife, and she blameth the latter. Presently, an ass, by +mischance, setteth foot on the fingers of him who is under the coop +and he roareth out, whereupon Pietro runneth thither and espying him, +discovereth his wife's unfaith, but ultimately cometh to an accord +with her for his own lewd ends</i> <a href='#Page_286'>286</a></p> + + +<p><br /><b><a href="#Day_the_Sixth">DAY THE SIXTH</a> <a href='#Page_294'>294</a></b></p> + +<p class="hangn"><a href="#THE_FIRST_STORY6"><span class="smcap">The First Story.</span></a> <i>A gentleman engageth to Madam Oretta to carry her +a-horseback with a story, but, telling it disorderly, is prayed by her +to set her down again</i> <a href='#Page_296'>296</a></p> + +<p class="hangn"><a href="#THE_SECOND_STORY6"><span class="smcap">The Second Story.</span></a> <i>Cisti the baker with a word of his fashion maketh +Messer Geri Spina sensible of an indiscreet request of his</i> <a href='#Page_297'>297</a></p> + +<p class="hangn"><a href="#THE_THIRD_STORY6"><span class="smcap">The Third Story.</span></a> <i>Madam Nonna de' Pulci, with a ready retort to a not +altogether seemly pleasantry, imposeth silence on the Bishop of +Florence</i> <a href='#Page_299'>299</a></p> + +<p class="hangn"><a href="#THE_FOURTH_STORY6"><span class="smcap">The Fourth Story.</span></a> <i>Chichibio, cook to Currado Gianfigliazzi, with a +ready word spoken to save himself, turneth his master's anger into +laughter and escapeth the punishment threatened him by the latter</i> <a href='#Page_301'>301</a></p> + +<p class="hangn"><a href="#THE_FIFTH_STORY6"><span class="smcap">The Fifth Story.</span></a> <i>Messer Forese da Rabatta and Master Giotto the +painter coming from Mugello, each jestingly rallieth the other on his +scurvy favour</i> <a href='#Page_303'>303</a></p> + +<p class="hangn"><a href="#THE_SIXTH_STORY6"><span class="smcap">The Sixth Story.</span></a> <i>Michele Scalza proveth to certain young men that the +cadgers of Florence are the best gentlemen of the world or the Maremma +and winneth a supper</i> <a href='#Page_304'>304</a></p> + +<p class="hangn"><a href="#THE_SEVENTH_STORY6"><span class="smcap">The Seventh Story.</span></a> <i>Madam Filippa, being found by her husband with a +lover of hers and brought to justice, delivereth herself with a prompt +and pleasant answer and causeth modify the statute</i> <a href='#Page_306'>306</a></p> + +<p class="hangn"><a href="#THE_EIGHTH_STORY6"><span class="smcap">The Eighth Story.</span></a> <i>Fresco exhorteth his niece not to mirror herself in +the glass if, as she saith, it irketh her to see disagreeable folk</i> +308</p> + +<p class="hangn"><a href="#THE_NINTH_STORY6"><span class="smcap">The Ninth Story.</span></a> <i>Guido Cavalcanti with a pithy speech courteously +flouteth certain Florentine gentlemen who had taken him by surprise</i> +309</p> + +<p class="hangn"><a href="#THE_TENTH_STORY6"><span class="smcap">The Tenth Story.</span></a> <i>Fra Cipolla promiseth certain country folk to show +them one of the angel Gabriel's feathers and finding coals in place +thereof, avoucheth these latter to be of those which roasted St. +Lawrence</i> <a href='#Page_311'>311</a></p> + + +<p><br /><b><a href="#Day_the_Seventh">DAY THE SEVENTH</a> <a href='#Page_322'>322</a></b></p> + +<p class="hangn"><a href="#THE_FIRST_STORY7"><span class="smcap">The First Story.</span></a> <i>Gianni Lotteringhi heareth knock at his door by +night and awakeneth his wife, who giveth him to believe that it is a +phantom; whereupon they go to exorcise it with a certain orison and +the knocking ceaseth</i> <a href='#Page_323'>323</a></p> + +<p class="hangn"><a href="#THE_SECOND_STORY7"><span class="smcap">The Second Story.</span></a> <i>Peronella hideth a lover of hers in a vat, upon her +husband's unlooked for return, and hearing from the latter that he +hath sold the vat, avoucheth herself to have sold it to one who is +presently therewithin, to see if it be sound; whereupon the gallant, +jumping out of the vat, causeth the husband scrape it out for him and +after carry it home to his house</i> <a href='#Page_326'>326</a></p> + +<p class="hangn"><a href="#THE_THIRD_STORY7"><span class="smcap">The Third Story.</span></a> <i>Fra Rinaldo lieth with his gossip and being found of +her husband closeted with her in her chamber, they give him to believe +that he was in act to conjure worms from his godson</i> <a href='#Page_329'>329</a></p> + +<p class="hangn"><a href="#THE_FOURTH_STORY7"><span class="smcap">The Fourth Story.</span></a> <i>Tofano one night shutteth his wife out of doors, +who, availing not to re-enter by dint of entreaties, feigneth to cast +herself into a well and casteth therein a great stone. Tofano cometh +forth of the house and runneth thither, whereupon she slippeth in and +locking him out, bawleth reproaches at him from the window</i> <a href='#Page_333'>333</a></p> + +<p class="hangn"><a href="#THE_FIFTH_STORY7"><span class="smcap">The Fifth Story.</span></a> <i>A jealous husband, in the guise of a priest, +confesseth his wife, who giveth him to believe that she loveth a +priest, who cometh to her every night; and whilst the husband secretly +keepeth watch at the door for the latter, the lady bringeth in a lover +of hers by the roof and lieth with him</i> <a href='#Page_336'>336</a></p> + +<p class="hangn"><a href="#THE_SIXTH_STORY7"><span class="smcap">The Sixth Story.</span></a> <i>Madam Isabella, being in company with Leonetto her +lover, is visited by one Messer Lambertuccio, of whom she is beloved; +her husband returning, [unexpected,] she sendeth Lambertuccio forth of +the house, whinger in hand, and the husband after escorteth Leonetto +home</i> <a href='#Page_341'>341</a></p> + +<p class="hangn"><a href="#THE_SEVENTH_STORY7"><span class="smcap">The Seventh Story.</span></a> <i>Lodovico discovereth to Madam Beatrice the love he +beareth her, whereupon she sendeth Egano her husband into the garden, +in her own favour, and lieth meanwhile with Lodovico, who, presently +arising, goeth and cudgelleth Egano in the garden</i> <a href='#Page_344'>344</a></p> + +<p class="hangn"><a href="#THE_EIGHTH_STORY7"><span class="smcap">The Eighth Story.</span></a> <i>A man waxeth jealous of his wife, who bindeth a +piece of packthread to her great toe anights, so she may have notice +of her lover's coming. One night her husband becometh aware of this +device and what while he pursueth the lover, the lady putteth another +woman to bed in her room. This latter the husband beateth and cutteth +off her hair, then fetcheth his wife's brothers, who, finding his +story [seemingly] untrue, give him hard words</i> <a href='#Page_348'>348</a></p> + +<p class="hangn"><a href="#THE_NINTH_STORY7"><span class="smcap">The Ninth Story.</span></a> <i>Lydia, wife of Nicostratus, loveth Pyrrhus, who, so +he may believe it, requireth of her three things, all which she doth. +Moreover, she solaceth herself with him in the presence of Nicostratus +and maketh the latter believe that that which he hath seen is not +real</i> <a href='#Page_353'>353</a></p> + +<p class="hangn"><a href="#THE_TENTH_STORY7"><span class="smcap">The Tenth Story.</span></a> <i>Two Siennese love a lady, who is gossip to one of +them; the latter dieth and returning to his companion, according to +premise made him, relateth to him how folk fare in the other world</i> +360</p> + + +<p><br /><b><a href="#Day_the_Eighth">DAY THE EIGHTH</a> <a href='#Page_365'>365</a></b></p> + +<p class="hangn"><a href="#THE_FIRST_STORY8"><span class="smcap">The First Story.</span></a> <i>Gulfardo borroweth of Guasparruolo certain monies, +for which he hath agreed with his wife that he shall lie with her, and +accordingly giveth them to her; then, in her presence, he telleth +Guasparruolo that he gave them to her, and she confesseth it to be +true</i> <a href='#Page_365'>365</a></p> + +<p class="hangn"><a href="#THE_SECOND_STORY8"><span class="smcap">The Second Story.</span></a> <i>The parish priest of Varlungo lieth with Mistress +Belcolore and leaveth her a cloak of his in pledge; then, borrowing a +mortar of her, he sendeth it back to her, demanding in return the +cloak left by way of token, which the good woman grudgingly giveth him +back</i> <a href='#Page_367'>367</a></p> + +<p class="hangn"><a href="#THE_THIRD_STORY8"><span class="smcap">The Third Story.</span></a> <i>Calandrino, Bruno and Buffalmacco go coasting along +the Mugnone in search of the heliotrope and Calandrino thinketh to +have found it. Accordingly he returneth home, laden with stones, and +his wife chideth him; whereupon, flying out into a rage, he beateth +her and recounteth to his companions that which they know better than +he</i> <a href='#Page_371'>371</a></p> + +<p class="hangn"><a href="#THE_FOURTH_STORY8"><span class="smcap">The Fourth Story.</span></a> <i>The rector of Fiesole loveth a widow lady, but is +not loved by her and thinking to lie with her, lieth with a +serving-wench of hers, whilst the lady's brothers cause the bishop +find him in this case</i> <a href='#Page_377'>377</a></p> + +<p class="hangn"><a href="#THE_FIFTH_STORY8"><span class="smcap">The Fifth Story.</span></a> <i>Three young men pull the breeches off a Marchegan +judge in Florence, what while he is on the bench, administering +justice</i> <a href='#Page_380'>380</a></p> + +<p class="hangn"><a href="#THE_SIXTH_STORY8"><span class="smcap">The Sixth Story.</span></a> <i>Bruno and Buffalmacco, having stolen a pig from +Calandrino, make him try the ordeal with ginger boluses and sack and +give him (instead of the ginger) two dogballs compounded with aloes, +whereby it appeareth that he himself hath had the pig and they make +him pay blackmail, and he would not have them tell his wife</i> <a href='#Page_383'>383</a></p> + +<p class="hangn"><a href="#THE_SEVENTH_STORY8"><span class="smcap">The Seventh Story.</span></a> <i>A scholar loveth a widow lady, who, being +enamoured of another, causeth him spend one winter's night in the snow +awaiting her, and he after contriveth, by his sleight, to have her +abide naked, all one mid-July day, on the summit of a tower, exposed +to flies and gads and sun</i> <a href='#Page_387'>387</a></p> + +<p class="hangn"><a href="#THE_EIGHTH_STORY8"><span class="smcap">The Eighth Story.</span></a> <i>Two men consorting together, one lieth with the +wife of his comrade, who, becoming aware thereof, doth with her on +such wise that the other is shut up in a chest, upon which he lieth +with his wife, he being inside the while</i> <a href='#Page_403'>403</a></p> + +<p class="hangn"><a href="#THE_NINTH_STORY8"><span class="smcap">The Ninth Story.</span></a> <i>Master Simone the physician, having been induced by +Bruno and Buffalmacco to repair to a certain place by night, there to +be made a member of a company, that goeth a-roving, is cast by +Buffalmacco into a trench full of ordure and there left</i> <a href='#Page_406'>406</a></p> + +<p class="hangn"><a href="#THE_TENTH_STORY8"><span class="smcap">The Tenth Story.</span></a> <i>A certain woman of Sicily artfully despoileth a +merchant of that which he had brought to Palermo; but he, making +believe to have returned thither with much greater plenty of +merchandise than before, borroweth money of her and leaveth her water +and tow in payment</i> <a href='#Page_418'>418</a></p> + + +<p><br /><b><a href="#Day_the_Ninth">DAY THE NINTH</a> <a href='#Page_427'>427</a></b></p> + +<p class="hangn"><a href="#THE_FIRST_STORY9"><span class="smcap">The First Story.</span></a> <i>Madam Francesca, being courted of one Rinuccio +Palermini and one Alessandro Chiarmontesi and loving neither the one +nor the other, adroitly riddeth herself of both by causing one enter +for dead into a sepulchre and the other bring him forth thereof for +dead, on such wise that they cannot avail to accomplish the condition +imposed</i> <a href='#Page_428'>428</a></p> + +<p class="hangn"><a href="#THE_SECOND_STORY9"><span class="smcap">The Second Story.</span></a> <i>An abbess, arising in haste and in the dark to find +one of her nuns, who had been denounced to her, in bed with her lover +and, thinking to cover her head with her coif, donneth instead thereof +the breeches of a priest who is abed with her; the which the accused +nun observing and making her aware thereof, she is acquitted and hath +leisure to be with her lover</i> <a href='#Page_432'>432</a></p> + +<p class="hangn"><a href="#THE_THIRD_STORY9"><span class="smcap">The Third Story.</span></a> <i>Master Simone, at the instance of Bruno and +Buffalmacco and Nello, maketh Calandrino believe that he is with +child; wherefore he giveth them capons and money for medicines and +recovereth without bringing forth</i> <a href='#Page_435'>435</a></p> + +<p class="hangn"><a href="#THE_FOURTH_STORY9"><span class="smcap">The Fourth Story.</span></a> <i>Cecco Fortarrigo gameth away at Buonconvento all +his good and the monies of Cecco Angiolieri [his master;] moreover, +running after the latter, in his shirt, and avouching that he hath +robbed him, he causeth him be taken of the countryfolk; then, donning +Angiolieri's clothes and mounting his palfrey, he maketh off and +leaveth the other in his shirt</i> <a href='#Page_438'>438</a></p> + +<p class="hangn"><a href="#THE_FIFTH_STORY9"><span class="smcap">The Fifth Story.</span></a> <i>Calandrino falleth in love with a wench and Bruno +writeth him a talisman, wherewith when he toucheth her, she goeth with +him; and his wife finding them together, there betideth him grievous +trouble and annoy</i> <a href='#Page_441'>441</a></p> + +<p class="hangn"><a href="#THE_SIXTH_STORY9"><span class="smcap">The Sixth Story.</span></a> <i>Two young gentlemen lodge the night with an +innkeeper, whereof one goeth to lie with the host's daughter, whilst +his wife unwittingly coucheth with the other; after which he who lay +with the girl getteth him to bed with her father and telleth him all, +thinking to bespeak his comrade. Therewithal they come to words, but +the wife, perceiving her mistake, entereth her daughter's bed and +thence with certain words appeaseth everything</i> <a href='#Page_446'>446</a></p> + +<p class="hangn"><a href="#THE_SEVENTH_STORY9"><span class="smcap">The Seventh Story.</span></a> <i>Talano di Molese dreameth that a wolf mangleth all +his wife's neck and face and biddeth her beware thereof; but she +payeth no heed to his warning and it befalleth her even as he had +dreamed</i> <a href='#Page_450'>450</a></p> + +<p class="hangn"><a href="#THE_EIGHTH_STORY9"><span class="smcap">The Eighth Story.</span></a> <i>Biondello cheateth Ciacco of a dinner, whereof the +other craftily avengeth himself, procuring him to be shamefully +beaten</i> <a href='#Page_451'>451</a></p> + +<p class="hangn"><a href="#THE_NINTH_STORY9"><span class="smcap">The Ninth Story.</span></a> <i>Two young men seek counsel of Solomon, one how he +may be loved and the other how he may amend his froward wife, and in +answer he biddeth the one love and the other get him to Goosebridge</i> +454</p> + +<p class="hangn"><a href="#THE_TENTH_STORY9"><span class="smcap">The Tenth Story.</span></a> <i>Dom Gianni, at the instance of his gossip Pietro, +performeth a conjuration for the purpose of causing the latter's wife +to become a mare; but, whenas he cometh to put on the tail, Pietro +marreth the whole conjuration, saying that he will not have a tail</i> +457</p> + + +<p><br /><b><a href="#Day_the_Tenth">DAY THE TENTH</a> <a href='#Page_462'>462</a></b></p> + +<p class="hangn"><a href="#THE_FIRST_STORY10"><span class="smcap">The First Story.</span></a> <i>A knight in the king's service of Spain thinking +himself ill guerdoned, the king by very certain proof showeth him that +this is not his fault, but that of his own perverse fortune, and after +largesseth him magnificently</i> <a href='#Page_462'>462</a></p> + +<p class="hangn"><a href="#THE_SECOND_STORY10"><span class="smcap">The Second Story.</span></a> <i>Ghino di Tacco taketh the Abbot of Cluny and having +cured him of the stomach-complaint, letteth him go; whereupon the +Abbot, returning to the court of Rome, reconcileth him with Pope +Boniface and maketh him a Prior of the Hospitallers</i> <a href='#Page_464'>464</a></p> + +<p class="hangn"><a href="#THE_THIRD_STORY10"><span class="smcap">The Third Story.</span></a> <i>Mithridanes, envying Nathan his hospitality and +generosity and going to kill him, falleth in with himself, without +knowing him, and is by him instructed of the course he shall take to +accomplish his purpose; by means whereof he findeth him, as he himself +had ordered it, in a coppice and recognizing him, is ashamed and +becometh his friend</i> <a href='#Page_468'>468</a></p> + +<p class="hangn"><a href="#THE_FOURTH_STORY10"><span class="smcap">The Fourth Story.</span></a> <i>Messer Gentile de' Carisendi, coming from Modona, +taketh forth of the sepulchre a lady whom he loveth and who hath been +buried for dead. The lady, restored to life, beareth a male child and +Messer Gentile restoreth her and her son to Niccoluccio Caccianimico, +her husband</i> <a href='#Page_472'>472</a></p> + +<p class="hangn"><a href="#THE_FIFTH_STORY10"><span class="smcap">The Fifth Story.</span></a> <i>Madam Dianora requireth of Messer Ansaldo a garden +as fair in January as in May, and he by binding himself [to pay a +great sum of money] to a nigromancer, giveth it to her. Her husband +granteth her leave to do Messer Ansaldo's pleasure, but he, hearing of +the former's generosity, absolveth her of her promise, whereupon the +nigromancer, in his turn, acquitteth Messer Ansaldo of his bond, +without willing aught of his</i> <a href='#Page_478'>478</a></p> + +<p class="hangn"><a href="#THE_SIXTH_STORY10"><span class="smcap">The Sixth Story.</span></a> <i>King Charles the Old, the Victorious, falleth +enamoured of a young girl, but after, ashamed of his fond thought, +honourably marrieth both her and her sister</i> <a href='#Page_481'>481</a></p> + +<p class="hangn"><a href="#THE_SEVENTH_STORY10"><span class="smcap">The Seventh Story.</span></a> <i>King Pedro of Arragon, coming to know the fervent +love borne him by Lisa, comforteth the lovesick maid and presently +marrieth her to a noble young gentleman; then, kissing her on the +brow, he ever after avoucheth himself her knight</i> <a href='#Page_485'>485</a></p> + +<p class="hangn"><a href="#THE_EIGHTH_STORY10"><span class="smcap">The Eighth Story.</span></a> <i>Sophronia, thinking to marry Gisippus, becometh the +wife of Titus Quintius Fulvus and with him betaketh herself to Rome, +whither Gisippus cometh in poor case and conceiving himself slighted +of Titus, declareth, so he may die, to have slain a man. Titus, +recognizing him, to save him, avoucheth himself to have done the deed, +and the true murderer, seeing this, discovereth himself; whereupon +they are all three liberated by Octavianus and Titus, giving Gisippus +his sister to wife, hath all his good in common with him</i> <a href='#Page_491'>491</a></p> + +<p class="hangn"><a href="#THE_NINTH_STORY10"><span class="smcap">The Ninth Story.</span></a> <i>Saladin, in the disguise of a merchant, is +honourably entertained by Messer Torello d'Istria, who, presently +undertaking the [third] crusade, appointeth his wife a term for her +marrying again. He is taken [by the Saracens] and cometh, by his skill +in training hawks, under the notice of the Soldan, who knoweth him +again and discovering himself to him, entreateth him with the utmost +honour. Then, Torello falling sick for languishment, he is by magical +art transported in one night [from Alexandria] to Pavia, where, being +recognized by his wife at the bride-feast held for her marrying again, +he returneth with her to his own house</i> <a href='#Page_503'>503</a></p> + +<p class="hangn"><a href="#THE_TENTH_STORY10"><span class="smcap">The Tenth Story.</span></a> <i>The Marquess of Saluzzo, constrained by the prayers +of his vassals to marry, but determined to do it after his own +fashion, taketh to wife the daughter of a peasant and hath of her two +children, whom he maketh believe to her to put to death; after which, +feigning to be grown weary of her and to have taken another wife, he +letteth bring his own daughter home to his house, as she were his new +bride, and turneth his wife away in her shift; but, finding her +patient under everything, he fetcheth her home again, dearer than +ever, and showing her her children grown great, honoureth and letteth +honour her as marchioness</i> <a href='#Page_510'>510</a></p> + + +<p><br /><b><a href="#Conclusion_of_the_Author">CONCLUSION OF THE AUTHOR</a> <a href='#Page_525'>525</a></b></p> + + + +<hr class="long" /> +<div class="blockquot"><p class="hang"><a name="Proem" id="Proem"></a><span class="lgsmcap">Here Beginneth the Book Called Decameron and Surnamed Prince Galahalt +Wherein Are Contained an Hundred Stories in Ten Days Told by +Seven Ladies and Three Young Men</span></p></div> + +<h2><span class="smcap">Proem</span></h2> + + +<p><br /><span class="smcap">A kindly</span> thing it is to have compassion of the afflicted and albeit it +well beseemeth every one, yet of those is it more particularly +required who have erst had need of comfort and have found it in any, +amongst whom, if ever any had need thereof or held it dear or took +pleasure therein aforetimes, certes, I am one of these. For that, +having from my first youth unto this present been beyond measure +inflamed with a very high and noble passion (higher and nobler, +perchance, than might appear, were I to relate it, to sort with my low +estate) albeit by persons of discretion who had intelligence thereof I +was commended therefor and accounted so much the more worth, natheless +a passing sore travail it was to me to bear it, not, certes, by reason +of the cruelty of the beloved lady, but because of the exceeding +ardour begotten in my breast of an ill-ordered appetite, for which, +for that it suffered me not to stand content at any reasonable bounds, +caused me ofttimes feel more chagrin than I had occasion for. In this +my affliction the pleasant discourse of a certain friend of mine and +his admirable consolations afforded me such refreshment that I firmly +believe of these it came that I died not. But, as it pleased Him who, +being Himself infinite, hath for immutable law appointed unto all +things mundane that they shall have an end, my love,—beyond every +other fervent and which nor stress of reasoning nor counsel, no, nor +yet manifest shame nor peril that might ensue thereof, had availed +either to break or to bend,—of its own motion, in process of time, on +such wise abated that of itself at this present it hath left me only +that pleasance which it is used to afford unto whoso adventureth +himself not too far in the navigation of its profounder oceans; by +reason whereof, all chagrin being done away, I feel it grown +delightsome, whereas it used to be grievous. Yet, albeit the pain hath +ceased, not, therefore, is the memory fled of the benefits whilom +received and the kindnesses bestowed on me by those to whom, of the +goodwill they bore me, my troubles were grievous; nor, as I deem, will +it ever pass away, save for death. And for that gratitude, to my +thinking, is, among the other virtues, especially commendable and its +contrary blameworthy, I have, that I may not appear ungrateful, +bethought myself, now that I can call myself free, to endeavour, in +that little which is possible to me, to afford some relief, in +requital of that which I received aforetime,—if not to those who +succoured me and who, belike, by reason of their good sense or of +their fortune, have no occasion therefor,—to those, at least, who +stand in need thereof. And albeit my support, or rather I should say +my comfort, may be and indeed is of little enough avail to the +afflicted, natheless meseemeth it should rather be proffered whereas +the need appeareth greater, as well because it will there do more +service as for that it will still be there the liefer had. And who +will deny that this [comfort], whatsoever [worth] it be, it behoveth +much more to give unto lovesick ladies than unto men? For that these +within their tender bosoms, fearful and shamefast, hold hid the fires +of love (which those who have proved know how much more puissance they +have than those which are manifest), and constrained by the wishes, +the pleasures, the commandments of fathers, mothers, brothers and +husbands, abide most time enmewed in the narrow compass of their +chambers and sitting in a manner idle, willing and willing not in one +breath, revolve in themselves various thoughts which it is not +possible should still be merry. By reason whereof if there arise in +their minds any melancholy, bred of ardent desire, needs must it with +grievous annoy abide therein, except it be done away by new discourse; +more by token that they are far less strong than men to endure. With +men in love it happeneth not on this wise, as we may manifestly see. +They, if any melancholy or heaviness of thought oppress them, have +many means of easing it or doing it away, for that to them, an they +have a mind thereto, there lacketh not commodity of going about +hearing and seeing many things, fowling, hunting, fishing, riding, +gaming and trafficking; each of which means hath, altogether or in +part, power to draw the mind unto itself and to divert it from +troublous thought, at least for some space of time, whereafter, one +way or another, either solacement superveneth or else the annoy +groweth less. Wherefore, to the end that the unright of Fortune may by +me in part be amended, which, where there is the less strength to +endure, as we see it in delicate ladies, hath there been the more +niggard of support, I purpose, for the succour and solace of ladies in +love (unto others<a name="FNanchor_1_1" id="FNanchor_1_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_1_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a> the needle and the spindle and the reel suffice) +to recount an hundred stories or fables or parables or histories or +whatever you like to style them, in ten days' time related by an +honourable company of seven ladies and three young men made in the +days of the late deadly pestilence, together with sundry canzonets +sung by the aforesaid ladies for their diversion. In these stories +will be found love-chances,<a name="FNanchor_2_2" id="FNanchor_2_2"></a><a href="#Footnote_2_2" class="fnanchor">[2]</a> both gladsome and grievous, and other +accidents of fortune befallen as well in times present as in days of +old, whereof the ladies aforesaid, who shall read them, may at once +take solace from the delectable things therein shown forth and useful +counsel, inasmuch as they may learn thereby what is to be eschewed and +what is on like wise to be ensued,—the which methinketh cannot betide +without cease of chagrin. If it happen thus (as God grant it may) let +them render thanks therefor to Love, who, by loosing me from his +bonds, hath vouchsafed me the power of applying myself to the service +of their pleasures.</p> + +<hr class="long" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1"></a></span></p> +<h1><a name="Day_the_First" id="Day_the_First"></a><i>Day the First</i></h1> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="hang"><span class="lgsmcap">Here Beginneth the First Day of the Decameron Wherein (After +Demonstration Made by the Author of the Manner in Which it +Came to Pass That the Persons Who Are Hereinafter Presented +Foregathered for the Purpose of Devising Together) Under the +Governance of Pampinea Is Discoursed of That Which Is Most +Agreeable Unto Each</span></p></div> + + +<p><br /><span class="smcap">As often</span>, most gracious ladies, as, taking thought in myself, I mind +me how very pitiful you are all by nature, so often do I recognize +that this present work will, to your thinking, have a grievous and a +weariful beginning, inasmuch as the dolorous remembrance of the late +pestiferous mortality, which it beareth on its forefront, is +universally irksome to all who saw or otherwise knew it. But I would +not therefore have this affright you from reading further, as if in +the reading you were still to fare among sighs and tears. Let this +grisly beginning be none other to you than is to wayfarers a rugged +and steep mountain, beyond which is situate a most fair and delightful +plain, which latter cometh so much the pleasanter to them as the +greater was the hardship of the ascent and the descent; for, like as +dolour occupieth the extreme of gladness, even so are miseries +determined by imminent joyance. This brief annoy (I say brief, +inasmuch as it is contained in few pages) is straightway succeeded by +the pleasance and delight which I have already promised you and which, +belike, were it not aforesaid, might not be looked for from such a +beginning. And in truth, could I fairly have availed to bring you to +my desire otherwise than by so rugged a path as this will be I had +gladly done it; but being in a manner constrained thereto, for that, +without this reminiscence of our past miseries, it might not be shown +what was the occasion of the coming about of the things that will +hereafter be read, I have brought myself to write them.<a name="FNanchor_3_3" id="FNanchor_3_3"></a><a href="#Footnote_3_3" class="fnanchor">[3]</a></p> + +<p>I say, then, that the years [of the era] of the fruitful Incarnation +of the Son of God had attained to the number of one thousand three +hundred and forty-eight, when into the notable city of Florence, fair +over every other of Italy, there came the death-dealing pestilence, +which, through the operation of the heavenly bodies or of our own +iniquitous dealings, being sent down upon mankind for our correction +by the just wrath of God, had some years before appeared in the parts +of the East and after having bereft these latter of an innumerable +number of inhabitants, extending without cease from one place to +another, had now unhappily spread towards the West. And thereagainst +no wisdom availing nor human foresight (whereby the city was purged of +many impurities by officers deputed to that end and it was forbidden +unto any sick person to enter therein and many were the counsels +given<a name="FNanchor_4_4" id="FNanchor_4_4"></a><a href="#Footnote_4_4" class="fnanchor">[4]</a> for the preservation<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2"></a></span> of health) nor yet humble +supplications, not once but many times both in ordered processions and +on other wise made unto God by devout persons,—about the coming in of +the Spring of the aforesaid year, it began on horrible and miraculous +wise to show forth its dolorous effects. Yet not as it had done in the +East, where, if any bled at the nose, it was a manifest sign of +inevitable death; nay, but in men and women alike there appeared, at +the beginning of the malady, certain swellings, either on the groin or +under the armpits, whereof some waxed of the bigness of a common +apple, others like unto an egg, some more and some less, and these the +vulgar named plague-boils. From these two parts the aforesaid +death-bearing plague-boils proceeded, in brief space, to appear and +come indifferently in every part of the body; wherefrom, after awhile, +the fashion of the contagion began to change into black or livid +blotches, which showed themselves in many [first] on the arms and +about the thighs and [after spread to] every other part of the person, +in some large and sparse and in others small and thick-sown; and like +as the plague-boils had been first (and yet were) a very certain token +of coming death, even so were these for every one to whom they came.</p> + +<p>To the cure of these maladies nor counsel<a name="FNanchor_5_5" id="FNanchor_5_5"></a><a href="#Footnote_5_5" class="fnanchor">[5]</a> of physician nor virtue +of any medicine appeared to avail or profit aught; on the +contrary,—whether it was that the nature of the infection suffered it +not or that the ignorance of the physicians (of whom, over and above +the men of art, the number, both men and women, who had never had any +teaching of medicine, was become exceeding great,) availed not to know +whence it arose and consequently took not due measures thereagainst,—not +only did few recover thereof, but well nigh all died within the third +day from the appearance of the aforesaid signs, this sooner and that +later, and for the most part without fever or other accident.<a name="FNanchor_6_6" id="FNanchor_6_6"></a><a href="#Footnote_6_6" class="fnanchor">[6]</a> And +this pestilence was the more virulent for that, by communication with +those who were sick thereof, it gat hold upon the sound, no otherwise +than fire upon things dry or greasy, whenas they are brought very near +thereunto. Nay, the mischief was yet greater; for that not only did +converse and consortion with the sick give to the sound infection of +cause of common death, but the mere touching of the clothes or of +whatsoever other thing had been touched or used of the sick appeared +of itself to communicate the malady to the toucher. A marvellous thing +to hear is that which I have to tell and one which, had it not been +seen of many men's eyes and of mine own, I had scarce dared credit, +much less set down in writing, though I had heard it from one worthy +of belief. I say, then, that of such efficience was the nature of the +pestilence in question in communicating itself from one to another, +that, not only did it pass from man to man, but this, which is much +more, it many times visibly did;—to wit, a thing which had pertained +to a man sick or dead of the aforesaid sickness, being touched by an +animal foreign to the human species, not only<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3"></a></span> infected this latter +with the plague, but in a very brief space of time killed it. Of this +mine own eyes (as hath a little before been said) had one day, among +others, experience on this wise; to wit, that the rags of a poor man, +who had died of the plague, being cast out into the public way, two +hogs came up to them and having first, after their wont, rooted amain +among them with their snouts, took them in their mouths and tossed +them about their jaws; then, in a little while, after turning round +and round, they both, as if they had taken poison, fell down dead upon +the rags with which they had in an ill hour intermeddled.</p> + +<p>From these things and many others like unto them or yet stranger +divers fears and conceits were begotten in those who abode alive, +which well nigh all tended to a very barbarous conclusion, namely, to +shun and flee from the sick and all that pertained to them, and thus +doing, each thought to secure immunity for himself. Some there were +who conceived that to live moderately and keep oneself from all excess +was the best defence against such a danger; wherefore, making up their +company, they lived removed from every other and shut themselves up in +those houses where none had been sick and where living was best; and +there, using very temperately of the most delicate viands and the +finest wines and eschewing all incontinence, they abode with music and +such other diversions as they might have, never suffering themselves +to speak with any nor choosing to hear any news from without of death +or sick folk. Others, inclining to the contrary opinion, maintained +that to carouse and make merry and go about singing and frolicking and +satisfy the appetite in everything possible and laugh and scoff at +whatsoever befell was a very certain remedy for such an ill. That +which they said they put in practice as best they might, going about +day and night, now to this tavern, now to that, drinking without stint +or measure; and on this wise they did yet more freely in other folk's +houses, so but they scented there aught that liked or tempted them, as +they might lightly do, for that every one—as he were to live no +longer—had abandoned all care of his possessions, as of himself, +wherefore the most part of the houses were become common good and +strangers used them, whenas they happened upon them, like as the very +owner might have done; and with all this bestial preoccupation, they +still shunned the sick to the best of their power.</p> + +<p>In this sore affliction and misery of our city, the reverend authority +of the laws, both human and divine, was all in a manner dissolved and +fallen into decay, for [lack of] the ministers and executors thereof, +who, like other men, were all either dead or sick or else left so +destitute of followers that they were unable to exercise any office, +wherefore every one had license to do whatsoever pleased him. Many +others held a middle course between the two aforesaid, not straitening +themselves so exactly in the matter of diet as the first neither +allowing themselves such license in drinking and other debauchery as +the second, but using things in sufficiency, according to their +appetites; nor did they seclude themselves, but went about, carrying +in their hands, some flowers, some odoriferous herbs and other some<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4"></a></span> +divers kinds of spiceries,<a name="FNanchor_7_7" id="FNanchor_7_7"></a><a href="#Footnote_7_7" class="fnanchor">[7]</a> which they set often to their noses, +accounting it an excellent thing to fortify the brain with such +odours, more by token that the air seemed all heavy and attainted with +the stench of the dead bodies and that of the sick and of the remedies +used.</p> + +<p>Some were of a more barbarous, though, peradventure, a surer way of +thinking, avouching that there was no remedy against pestilences +better than—no, nor any so good as—to flee before them; wherefore, +moved by this reasoning and recking of nought but themselves, very +many, both men and women, abandoned their own city, their own houses +and homes, their kinsfolk and possessions, and sought the country +seats of others, or, at the least, their own, as if the wrath of God, +being moved to punish the iniquity of mankind, would not proceed to do +so wheresoever they might be, but would content itself with afflicting +those only who were found within the walls of their city, or as if +they were persuaded that no person was to remain therein and that its +last hour was come. And albeit these, who opined thus variously, died +not all, yet neither did they all escape; nay, many of each way of +thinking and in every place sickened of the plague and languished on +all sides, well nigh abandoned, having themselves, what while they +were whole, set the example to those who abode in health.</p> + +<p>Indeed, leaving be that townsman avoided townsman and that well nigh +no neighbour took thought unto other and that kinsfolk seldom or never +visited one another and held no converse together save from afar, this +tribulation had stricken such terror to the hearts of all, men and +women alike, that brother forsook brother, uncle nephew and sister +brother and oftentimes wife husband; nay (what is yet more +extraordinary and well nigh incredible) fathers and mothers refused to +visit or tend their very children, as they had not been theirs. By +reason whereof there remained unto those (and the number of them, both +males and females, was incalculable) who fell sick, none other succour +than that which they owed either to the charity of friends (and of +these there were few) or the greed of servants, who tended them, +allured by high and extravagant wage; albeit, for all this, these +latter were not grown many, and those men and women of mean +understanding and for the most part unused to such offices, who served +for well nigh nought but to reach things called for by the sick or to +note when they died; and in the doing of these services many of them +perished with their gain.</p> + +<p>Of this abandonment of the sick by neighbours, kinsfolk and friends +and of the scarcity of servants arose an usage before well nigh +unheard, to wit, that no woman, how fair or lovesome or well-born +soever she might be, once fallen sick, recked aught of having a man to +tend her, whatever he might be, or young or old, and without any shame +discovered to him every part of her body, no otherwise than she would +have done to a woman, so but the necessity of her sickness required +it; the which belike, in those who recovered, was the occasion of +lesser modesty in time to come. Moreover, there ensued of this +abandonment the death of many who<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5"></a></span> peradventure, had they been +succoured, would have escaped alive; wherefore, as well for the lack +of the opportune services which the sick availed not to have as for +the virulence of the plague, such was the multitude of those who died +in the city by day and by night that it was an astonishment to hear +tell thereof, much more to see it; and thence, as it were of +necessity, there sprang up among those who abode alive things contrary +to the pristine manners of the townsfolk.</p> + +<p>It was then (even as we yet see it used) a custom that the kinswomen +and she-neighbours of the dead should assemble in his house and there +condole with those who more nearly pertained unto him, whilst his +neighbours and many other citizens foregathered with his next of kin +before his house, whither, according to the dead man's quality, came +the clergy, and he with funeral pomp of chants and candles was borne +on the shoulders of his peers to the church chosen by himself before +his death; which usages, after the virulence of the plague began to +increase, were either altogether or for the most part laid aside, and +other and strange customs sprang up in their stead. For that, not only +did folk die without having a multitude of women about them, but many +there were who departed this life without witness and few indeed were +they to whom the pious plaints and bitter tears of their kinsfolk were +vouchsafed; nay, in lieu of these things there obtained, for the most +part, laughter and jests and gibes and feasting and merrymaking in +company; which usance women, laying aside womanly pitifulness, had +right well learned for their own safety.</p> + +<p>Few, again, were they whose bodies were accompanied to the church by +more than half a score or a dozen of their neighbours, and of these no +worshipful and illustrious citizens, but a sort of blood-suckers, +sprung from the dregs of the people, who styled themselves +<i>pickmen</i><a name="FNanchor_8_8" id="FNanchor_8_8"></a><a href="#Footnote_8_8" class="fnanchor">[8]</a> and did such offices for hire, shouldered the bier and +bore it with hurried steps, not to that church which the dead man had +chosen before his death, but most times to the nearest, behind five or +six<a name="FNanchor_9_9" id="FNanchor_9_9"></a><a href="#Footnote_9_9" class="fnanchor">[9]</a> priests, with little light<a name="FNanchor_10_10" id="FNanchor_10_10"></a><a href="#Footnote_10_10" class="fnanchor">[10]</a> and whiles none at all, which +latter, with the aid of the said pickmen, thrust him into what grave +soever they first found unoccupied, without troubling themselves with +too long or too formal a service.</p> + +<p>The condition of the common people (and belike, in great part, of the +middle class also) was yet more pitiable to behold, for that these, +for the most part retained by hope<a name="FNanchor_11_11" id="FNanchor_11_11"></a><a href="#Footnote_11_11" class="fnanchor">[11]</a> or poverty in their houses and +abiding in their own quarters, sickened by the thousand daily and +being altogether untended and unsuccoured, died well nigh all without +recourse. Many breathed their last in the open street, whilst other +many, for all they died in their houses, made it known to the +neighbours that they were dead rather by the stench of their rot<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6"></a></span>ting +bodies than otherwise; and of these and others who died all about the +whole city was full. For the most part one same usance was observed by +the neighbours, moved more by fear lest the corruption of the dead +bodies should imperil themselves than by any charity they had for the +departed; to wit, that either with their own hands or with the aid of +certain bearers, whenas they might have any, they brought the bodies +of those who had died forth of their houses and laid them before their +doors, where, especially in the morning, those who went about might +see corpses without number; then they fetched biers and some, in +default thereof, they laid upon some board or other. Nor was it only +one bier that carried two or three corpses, nor did this happen but +once; nay, many might have been counted which contained husband and +wife, two or three brothers, father and son or the like. And an +infinite number of times it befell that, two priests going with one +cross for some one, three or four biers, borne by bearers, ranged +themselves behind the latter,<a name="FNanchor_12_12" id="FNanchor_12_12"></a><a href="#Footnote_12_12" class="fnanchor">[12]</a> and whereas the priests thought to +have but one dead man to bury, they had six or eight, and whiles more. +Nor therefore were the dead honoured with aught of tears or candles or +funeral train; nay, the thing was come to such a pass that folk recked +no more of men that died than nowadays they would of goats; whereby it +very manifestly appeared that that which the natural course of things +had not availed, by dint of small and infrequent harms, to teach the +wise to endure with patience, the very greatness of their ills had +brought even the simple to expect and make no account of. The +consecrated ground sufficing not to the burial of the vast multitude +of corpses aforesaid, which daily and well nigh hourly came carried in +crowds to every church,—especially if it were sought to give each his +own place, according to ancient usance,—there were made throughout +the churchyards, after every other part was full, vast trenches, +wherein those who came after were laid by the hundred and being heaped +up therein by layers, as goods are stowed aboard ship, were covered +with a little earth, till such time as they reached the top of the +trench.</p> + +<p>Moreover,—not to go longer searching out and recalling every +particular of our past miseries, as they befell throughout the +city,—I say that, whilst so sinister a time prevailed in the latter, +on no wise therefor was the surrounding country spared, wherein, +(letting be the castles,<a name="FNanchor_13_13" id="FNanchor_13_13"></a><a href="#Footnote_13_13" class="fnanchor">[13]</a> which in their littleness<a name="FNanchor_14_14" id="FNanchor_14_14"></a><a href="#Footnote_14_14" class="fnanchor">[14]</a> were like +unto the city,) throughout the scattered villages and in the fields, +the poor and miserable husbandmen and their families, without succour +of physician or aid of servitor, died, not like men, but well nigh +like beasts, by the ways or in their tillages or about the houses, +indifferently by day and night. By reason whereof, growing lax like +the townsfolk in their manners and customs, they recked not of any +thing or business of theirs; nay, all, as if they looked for death +that very day, studied with all their wit, not to help to maturity the +future produce of their cattle and their fields and the fruits of +their own past toils, but to consume those which were<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7"></a></span> ready to hand. +Thus it came to pass that the oxen, the asses, the sheep, the goats, +the swine, the fowls, nay, the very dogs, so faithful to mankind, +being driven forth of their own houses, went straying at their +pleasure about the fields, where the very corn was abandoned, without +being cut, much less gathered in; and many, well nigh like reasonable +creatures, after grazing all day, returned at night, glutted, to their +houses, without the constraint of any herdsman.</p> + +<p>To leave the country and return to the city, what more can be said +save that such and so great was the cruelty of heaven (and in part, +peradventure, that of men) that, between March and the following July, +what with the virulence of that pestiferous sickness and the number of +sick folk ill tended or forsaken in their need, through the +fearfulness of those who were whole, it is believed for certain that +upward of an hundred thousand human beings perished within the walls +of the city of Florence, which, peradventure, before the advent of +that death-dealing calamity, had not been accounted to hold so many? +Alas, how many great palaces, how many goodly houses, how many noble +mansions, once full of families, of lords and of ladies, abode empty +even to the meanest servant! How many memorable families, how many +ample heritages, how many famous fortunes were seen to remain without +lawful heir! How many valiant men, how many fair ladies, how many +sprightly youths, whom, not others only, but Galen, Hippocrates or +Æsculapius themselves would have judged most hale, breakfasted in the +morning with their kinsfolk, comrades and friends and that same night +supped with their ancestors in the other world!</p> + +<p>I am myself weary of going wandering so long among such miseries; +wherefore, purposing henceforth to leave such part thereof as I can +fitly, I say that,—our city being at this pass, well nigh void of +inhabitants,—it chanced (as I afterward heard from a person worthy of +credit) that there foregathered in the venerable church of Santa Maria +Novella, one Tuesday morning when there was well nigh none else there, +seven young ladies, all knit one to another by friendship or +neighbourhood or kinship, who had heard divine service in mourning +attire, as sorted with such a season. Not one of them had passed her +eight-and-twentieth year nor was less than eighteen years old, and +each was discreet and of noble blood, fair of favour and well-mannered +and full of honest sprightliness. The names of these ladies I would in +proper terms set out, did not just cause forbid me, to wit, that I +would not have it possible that, in time to come, any of them should +take shame by reason of the things hereinafter related as being told +or hearkened by them, the laws of disport being nowadays somewhat +straitened, which at that time, for the reasons above shown, were of +the largest, not only for persons of their years, but for those of a +much riper age; nor yet would I give occasion to the envious, who are +still ready to carp at every praiseworthy life, on anywise to +disparage the fair fame of these honourable ladies with unseemly talk. +Wherefore, so that which each saith may hereafterward be apprehended +without confusion, I purpose to denominate them by names altogether or +in part sorting with each one's<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8"></a></span> quality.<a name="FNanchor_15_15" id="FNanchor_15_15"></a><a href="#Footnote_15_15" class="fnanchor">[15]</a> The first of them and +her of ripest age I shall call Pampinea, the second Fiammetta, the +third Filomena and the fourth Emilia. To the fifth we will give the +name of Lauretta, to the sixth that of Neifile and the last, not +without cause, we will style Elisa.<a name="FNanchor_16_16" id="FNanchor_16_16"></a><a href="#Footnote_16_16" class="fnanchor">[16]</a> These, then, not drawn of any +set purpose, but foregathering by chance in a corner of the church, +having seated themselves in a ring, after divers sighs, let be the +saying of paternosters and fell to devising with one another many and +various things of the nature of the time. After awhile, the others +being silent, Pampinea proceeded to speak thus:</p> + +<p>"Dear my ladies, you may, like myself, have many times heard that +whoso honestly useth his right doth no one wrong; and it is the +natural right of every one who is born here below to succour, keep and +defend his own life as best he may, and in so far is this allowed that +it hath happened whiles that, for the preservation thereof, men<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9"></a></span> have +been slain without any fault. If this much be conceded of the laws, +which have in view the well-being of all mortals, how much more is it +lawful for us and whatsoever other, without offence unto any, to take +such means as we may for the preservation of our lives? As often as I +consider our fashions of this morning and those of many other mornings +past and bethink me what and what manner discourses are ours, I feel, +and you likewise must feel, that each of us is in fear for herself. +Nor do I anywise wonder at this; but I wonder exceedingly, considering +that we all have a woman's wit, that we take no steps to provide +ourselves against that which each of us justly feareth. We abide here, +to my seeming, no otherwise than as if we would or should be witness +of how many dead bodies are brought hither for burial or to hearken if +the friars of the place, whose number is come well nigh to nought, +chant their offices at the due hours or by our apparel to show forth +unto whosoever appeareth here the nature and extent of our distresses. +If we depart hence, we either see dead bodies or sick persons carried +about or those, whom for their misdeeds the authority of the public +laws whilere condemned to exile, overrun the whole place with unseemly +excesses, as if scoffing at the laws, for that they know the executors +thereof to be either dead or sick; whilst the dregs of our city, +fattened with our blood, style themselves <i>pickmen</i> and ruffle it +everywhere in mockery of us, riding and running all about and flouting +us with our distresses in ribald songs. We hear nothing here but 'Such +an one is dead' or 'Such an one is at the point of death'; and were +there any to make them, we should hear dolorous lamentations on all +sides. And if we return to our houses, I know not if it is with you as +with me, but, for my part, when I find none left therein of a great +household, save my serving-maid, I wax fearful and feel every hair of +my body stand on end; and wherever I go or abide about the house, +meseemeth I see the shades of those who are departed and who wear not +those countenances that I was used to see, but terrify me with a +horrid aspect, I know not whence newly come to them.</p> + +<p>By reason of these things I feel myself alike ill at ease here and +abroad and at home, more by token that meseemeth none, who hath, as we +have, the power and whither to go, is left here, other than ourselves; +or if any such there be, I have many a time both heard and perceived +that, without making any distinction between things lawful and +unlawful, so but appetite move them, whether alone or in company, both +day and night, they do that which affordeth them most delight. Nor is +it the laity alone who do thus; nay, even those who are shut in the +monasteries, persuading themselves that what befitteth and is lawful +to others alike sortable and unforbidden unto them,<a name="FNanchor_17_17" id="FNanchor_17_17"></a><a href="#Footnote_17_17" class="fnanchor">[17]</a> have<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10"></a></span> broken +the laws of obedience and giving themselves to carnal delights, +thinking thus to escape, are grown lewd and dissolute. If thus, then, +it be, as is manifestly to be seen, what do we here? What look we for? +What dream we? Why are we more sluggish and slower to provide for our +safety than all the rest of the townsfolk? Deem we ourselves of less +price than others, or do we hold our life to be bounden in our bodies +with a stronger chain than is theirs and that therefore we need reck +nothing of aught that hath power to harm it? We err, we are deceived; +what folly is ours, if we think thus! As often as we choose to call to +mind the number and quality of the youths and ladies overborne of this +cruel pestilence, we may see a most manifest proof thereof.</p> + +<p>Wherefore, in order that we may not, through wilfulness or +nonchalance, fall into that wherefrom we may, peradventure, an we but +will, by some means or other escape, I know not if it seem to you as +it doth to me, but methinketh it were excellently well done that we, +such as we are, depart this city, as many have done before us, and +eschewing, as we would death, the dishonourable example of others, +betake ourselves quietly to our places in the country, whereof each of +us hath great plenty, and there take such diversion, such delight and +such pleasance as we may, without anywise overpassing the bounds of +reason. There may we hear the small birds sing, there may we see the +hills and plains clad all in green and the fields full of corn wave +even as doth the sea; there may we see trees, a thousand sorts, and +there is the face of heaven more open to view, the which, angered +against us though it be, nevertheless denieth not unto us its eternal +beauties, far goodlier to look upon than the empty walls of our city. +Moreover, there is the air far fresher<a name="FNanchor_18_18" id="FNanchor_18_18"></a><a href="#Footnote_18_18" class="fnanchor">[18]</a> and there at this season is +more plenty of that which behoveth unto life and less is the sum of +annoys, for that, albeit the husbandmen die there, even as do the +townsfolk here, the displeasance is there the less, insomuch as houses +and inhabitants are rarer than in the city.</p> + +<p>Here, on the other hand, if I deem aright, we abandon no one; nay, we +may far rather say with truth that we ourselves are abandoned, seeing +that our kinsfolk, either dying or fleeing from death, have left us +alone in this great tribulation, as it were we pertained not unto +them. No blame can therefore befall the ensuing of this counsel; nay, +dolour and chagrin and belike death may betide us, an we ensue it not. +Wherefore, an it please you, methinketh we should do well to take our +maids and letting follow after us with the necessary gear, sojourn +to-day in this place and to-morrow in that, taking such pleasance and +diversion as the season may afford, and on this wise abide till such +time (an we be not earlier overtaken of death) as we shall see what +issue Heaven reserveth unto these things. And I would remind you that +it is no more forbidden unto us honourably to depart than it is unto +many others of our sex to abide in dishonour."</p> + +<p>The other ladies, having hearkened to Pampinea, not only commended her +counsel, but, eager to follow it, had already begun to devise more +particularly among themselves of the manner,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11"></a></span> as if, arising from +their session there, they were to set off out of hand. But Filomena, +who was exceeding discreet, said, "Ladies, albeit that which Pampinea +allegeth is excellently well said, yet is there no occasion for +running, as meseemeth you would do. Remember that we are all women and +none of us is child enough not to know how [little] reasonable women +are among themselves and how [ill], without some man's guidance, they +know how to order themselves. We are fickle, wilful, suspicious, +faint-hearted and timorous, for which reasons I misdoubt me sore, an +we take not some other guidance than our own, that our company will be +far too soon dissolved and with less honour to ourselves than were +seemly; wherefore we should do well to provide ourselves, ere we +begin."</p> + +<p>"Verily," answered Elisa, "men are the head of women, and without +their ordinance seldom cometh any emprise of ours to good end; but how +may we come by these men? There is none of us but knoweth that of her +kinsmen the most part are dead and those who abide alive are all gone +fleeing that which we seek to flee, in divers companies, some here and +some there, without our knowing where, and to invite strangers would +not be seemly, seeing that, if we would endeavour after our welfare, +it behoveth us find a means of so ordering ourselves that, wherever we +go for diversion and repose, scandal nor annoy may ensue thereof."</p> + +<p>Whilst such discourse was toward between the ladies, behold, there +entered the church three young men,—yet not so young that the age of +the youngest of them was less than five-and-twenty years,—in whom +neither the perversity of the time nor loss of friends and kinsfolk, +no, nor fear for themselves had availed to cool, much less to quench, +the fire of love. Of these one was called Pamfilo,<a name="FNanchor_19_19" id="FNanchor_19_19"></a><a href="#Footnote_19_19" class="fnanchor">[19]</a> another +Filostrato<a name="FNanchor_20_20" id="FNanchor_20_20"></a><a href="#Footnote_20_20" class="fnanchor">[20]</a> and the third Dioneo,<a name="FNanchor_21_21" id="FNanchor_21_21"></a><a href="#Footnote_21_21" class="fnanchor">[21]</a> all very agreeable and +well-bred, and they went seeking, for their supreme solace, in such a +perturbation of things, to see their mistresses, who, as it chanced, +were all three among the seven aforesaid; whilst certain of the other +ladies were near kinswomen of one or other of the young men.</p> + +<p>No sooner had their eyes fallen on the ladies than they were +themselves espied of them; whereupon quoth Pampinea, smiling, "See, +fortune is favourable to our beginnings and hath thrown in our way +young men of worth and discretion, who will gladly be to us both<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12"></a></span> +guides and servitors, an we disdain not to accept of them in that +capacity." But Neifile, whose face was grown all vermeil for +shamefastness, for that it was she who was beloved of one of the young +men, said, "For God's sake, Pampinea, look what thou sayest! I +acknowledge most frankly that there can be nought but all good said of +which one soever of them and I hold them sufficient unto a much +greater thing than this, even as I opine that they would bear, not +only ourselves, but far fairer and nobler dames than we, good and +honourable company. But, for that it is a very manifest thing that +they are enamoured of certain of us who are here, I fear lest, without +our fault or theirs, scandal and blame ensue thereof, if we carry them +with us." Quoth Filomena, "That skilleth nought; so but I live +honestly and conscience prick me not of aught, let who will speak to +the contrary; God and the truth will take up arms for me. Wherefore, +if they be disposed to come, verily we may say with Pampinea that +fortune is favourable to our going."</p> + +<p>The other ladies, hearing her speak thus absolutely, not only held +their peace, but all with one accord agreed that the young men should +be called and acquainted with their project and bidden to be pleased +bear them company in their expedition. Accordingly, without more +words, Pampinea, who was knit by kinship to one of them, rising to her +feet, made for the three young men, who stood fast, looking upon them, +and saluting them with a cheerful countenance, discovered to them +their intent and prayed them, on behalf of herself and her companions, +that they would be pleased to bear them company in a pure and +brotherly spirit. The young men at the first thought themselves +bantered, but, seeing that the lady spoke in good earnest, they made +answer joyfully that they were ready, and without losing time about +the matter, forthright took order for that which they had to do +against departure.</p> + +<p>On the following morning, Wednesday to wit, towards break of day, +having let orderly make ready all things needful and despatched them +in advance whereas they purposed to go,<a name="FNanchor_22_22" id="FNanchor_22_22"></a><a href="#Footnote_22_22" class="fnanchor">[22]</a> the ladies, with certain +of their waiting-women, and the three young men, with as many of their +serving-men, departing Florence, set out upon their way; nor had they +gone more than two short miles from the city, when they came to the +place fore-appointed of them, which was situate on a little hill, +somewhat withdrawn on every side from the high way and full of various +shrubs and plants, all green of leafage and pleasant to behold. On the +summit of this hill was a palace, with a goodly and great courtyard in +its midst and galleries<a name="FNanchor_23_23" id="FNanchor_23_23"></a><a href="#Footnote_23_23" class="fnanchor">[23]</a> and saloons and bedchambers, each in +itself most fair and adorned and notable with jocund paintings, with +lawns and grassplots round about and wonder-goodly gardens and wells +of very cold water and cellars full of wines of price, things more apt +unto curious drinkers<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13"></a></span> than unto sober and modest ladies. The new +comers, to their no little pleasure, found the place all swept and the +beds made in the chambers and every thing full of such flowers as +might be had at that season and strewn with rushes.</p> + +<p>As soon as they had seated themselves, Dioneo, who was the merriest +springald in the world and full of quips and cranks, said, "Ladies, +your wit, rather than our foresight, hath guided us hither, and I know +not what you purpose to do with your cares; as for my own, I left them +within the city gates, whenas I issued thence with you awhile agone; +wherefore, do you either address yourselves to make merry and laugh +and sing together with me (in so far, I mean, as pertaineth to your +dignity) or give me leave to go back for my cares and abide in the +afflicted city." Whereto Pampinea, no otherwise than as if in like +manner she had banished all her own cares, answered blithely, "Dioneo, +thou sayst well; it behoveth us live merrily, nor hath any other +occasion caused us flee from yonder miseries. But, for that things +which are without measure may not long endure, I, who began the +discourse wherethrough this so goodly company came to be made, taking +thought for the continuance of our gladness, hold it of necessity that +we appoint some one to be principal among us, whom we may honour and +obey as chief and whose especial care it shall be to dispose us to +live joyously. And in order that each in turn may prove the burden of +solicitude, together with the pleasure of headship; and that, the +chief being thus drawn, in turn, from one and the other sex, there may +be no cause for jealousy, as might happen, were any excluded from the +sovranty, I say that unto each be attributed the burden and the honour +for one day. Let who is to be our first chief be at the election of us +all. For who shall follow, be it he or she whom it shall please the +governor of the day to appoint, whenas the hour of vespers draweth +near, and let each in turn, at his or her discretion, order and +dispose of the place and manner wherein we are to live, for such time +as his or her seignory shall endure."</p> + +<p>Pampinea's words pleased mightily, and with one voice they elected her +chief of the first day; whereupon Filomena, running nimbly to a +laurel-tree—for that she had many a time heard speak of the honour +due to the leaves of this plant and how worship-worth they made whoso +was deservedly crowned withal—and plucking divers sprays therefrom, +made her thereof a goodly and honourable wreath, which, being set upon +her head, was thenceforth, what while their company lasted, a manifest +sign unto every other of the royal office and seignory.</p> + +<p>Pampinea, being made queen, commanded that every one should be silent; +then, calling the serving-men of the three young gentlemen and her own +and the other ladies' women, who were four in number, before herself +and all being silent, she spoke thus: "In order that I may set you a +first example, by which, proceeding from good to better, our company +may live and last in order and pleasance and without reproach so long +as it is agreeable to us, I constitute, firstly, Parmeno, Dioneo's +servant, my seneschal and commit unto him the care and ordinance of +all our household and [especially] that which pertaineth to the +service of the saloon. Sirisco, Pamfilo's<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14"></a></span> servant, I will shall be +our purveyor and treasurer and ensue the commandments of Parmeno. +Tindaro shall look to the service of Filostrato and the other two +gentlemen in their bed chambers, what time the others, being occupied +about their respective offices, cannot attend thereto. Misia, my +woman, and Filomena's Licisca shall still abide in the kitchen and +there diligently prepare such viands as shall be appointed them of +Parmeno. Lauretta's Chimera and Fiammetta's Stratilia it is our +pleasure shall occupy themselves with the ordinance of the ladies' +chambers and the cleanliness of the places where we shall abide; and +we will and command all and several, as they hold our favour dear, to +have a care that, whithersoever they go or whencesoever they return +and whatsoever they hear or see, they bring us from without no news +other than joyous." These orders summarily given and commended of all, +Pampinea, rising blithely to her feet, said, "Here be gardens, here be +meadows, here be store of other delectable places, wherein let each go +a-pleasuring at will; and when tierce<a name="FNanchor_24_24" id="FNanchor_24_24"></a><a href="#Footnote_24_24" class="fnanchor">[24]</a> soundeth, let all be here, +so we may eat in the cool."</p> + +<p>The merry company, being thus dismissed by the new queen, went +straying with slow steps, young men and fair ladies together, about a +garden, devising blithely and diverting themselves with weaving goodly +garlands of various leaves and carolling amorously. After they had +abidden there such time as had been appointed them of the queen, they +returned to the house, where they found that Parmeno had made a +diligent beginning with his office, for that, entering a saloon on the +ground floor, they saw there the tables laid with the whitest of +cloths and beakers that seemed of silver and everything covered with +the flowers of the broom; whereupon, having washed their hands, they +all, by command of the queen, seated themselves according to Parmeno's +ordinance. Then came viands delicately drest and choicest wines were +proffered and the three serving-men, without more, quietly tended the +tables. All, being gladdened by these things, for that they were fair +and orderly done, ate joyously and with store of merry talk, and the +tables being cleared away,<a name="FNanchor_25_25" id="FNanchor_25_25"></a><a href="#Footnote_25_25" class="fnanchor">[25]</a><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15"></a></span> the queen bade bring instruments of +music, for that all the ladies knew how to dance, as also the young +men, and some of them could both play and sing excellent well. +Accordingly, by her commandment, Dioneo took a lute and Fiammetta a +viol and began softly to sound a dance; whereupon the queen and the +other ladies, together with the other two young men, having sent the +serving-men to eat, struck up a round and began with a slow pace to +dance a brawl; which ended, they fell to singing quaint and merry +ditties. On this wise they abode till it seemed to the queen time to +go to sleep,<a name="FNanchor_26_26" id="FNanchor_26_26"></a><a href="#Footnote_26_26" class="fnanchor">[26]</a> and she accordingly dismissed them all; whereupon the +young men retired to their chambers, which were withdrawn from the +ladies' lodging, and finding them with the beds well made and as full +of flowers as the saloon, put off their clothes and betook themselves +to rest, whilst the ladies, on their part, did likewise.</p> + +<p>None<a name="FNanchor_27_27" id="FNanchor_27_27"></a><a href="#Footnote_27_27" class="fnanchor">[27]</a> had not long sounded when the queen, arising, made all the +other ladies arise, and on like wise the three young men, alleging +overmuch sleep to be harmful by day; and so they betook themselves to +a little meadow, where the grass grew green and high nor there had the +sun power on any side. There, feeling the waftings of a gentle breeze, +they all, as their queen willed it, seated themselves in a ring on the +green grass; while she bespoke them thus, "As ye see, the sun is high +and the heat great, nor is aught heard save the crickets yonder among +the olives; wherefore it were doubtless folly to go anywhither at this +present. Here is the sojourn fair and cool, and here, as you see, are +chess and tables,<a name="FNanchor_28_28" id="FNanchor_28_28"></a><a href="#Footnote_28_28" class="fnanchor">[28]</a> and each can divert himself as is most to his +mind. But, an my counsel be followed in this, we shall pass away this +sultry part of the day, not in gaming,—wherein the mind of one of the +players must of necessity be troubled, without any great pleasure of +the other or of those who look on,—but in telling stories, which, one +telling, may afford diversion to all the company who hearken; nor +shall we have made an end of telling each his story but the sun will +have declined and the heat be abated, and we can then go a-pleasuring +whereas it may be most agreeable to us. Wherefore, if this that I say +please you, (for I am disposed to follow your pleasure therein,) let +us do it; and if it please you not, let each until the hour of vespers +do what most liketh him." Ladies and men alike all approved the +story-telling, whereupon, "Then," said the queen, "since this pleaseth +you, I will that this first day each be free to tell of such matters +as are most to his liking." Then, turning to Pamfilo, who sat on her +right hand, she smilingly bade him give beginning to the story-telling +with one of his; and he, hearing the commandment, forthright began +thus, whilst all gave ear to him.</p> + + + +<hr class="short" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16"></a></span></p> +<h2><br /><a name="THE_FIRST_STORY" id="THE_FIRST_STORY"></a>THE FIRST STORY</h2> + +<div class="sidenote">Day the First</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="hang">MASTER CIAPPELLETTO DUPETH A HOLY FRIAR WITH A FALSE +CONFESSION AND DIETH; AND HAVING BEEN IN HIS LIFETIME THE +WORST OF MEN, HE IS, AFTER HIS DEATH, REPUTED A SAINT AND +CALLED SAINT CIAPPELLETTO.</p></div> + + +<p><br />"<span class="smcap">It is</span> a seemly thing, dearest ladies, that whatsoever a man doth, he +give it beginning from the holy and admirable name of Him who is the +maker of all things. Wherefore, it behoving me, as the first, to give +commencement to our story-telling, I purpose to begin with one of His +marvels, to the end that, this being heard, our hope in Him, as in a +thing immutable, may be confirmed and His name be ever praised of us. +It is manifest that, like as things temporal are all transitory and +mortal, even so both within and without are they full of annoy and +anguish and travail and subject to infinite perils, against which it +is indubitable that we, who live enmingled therein and who are indeed +part and parcel thereof, might avail neither to endure nor to defend +ourselves, except God's especial grace lent us strength and foresight; +which latter, it is not to be believed, descendeth unto us and upon us +by any merit of our own, but of the proper motion of His own benignity +and the efficacy of the prayers of those who were mortals even as we +are and having diligently ensued His commandments, what while they +were on life, are now with Him become eternal and blessed and unto +whom we,—belike not daring to address ourselves unto the proper +presence of so august a judge,—proffer our petitions of the things +which we deem needful unto ourselves, as unto advocates<a name="FNanchor_29_29" id="FNanchor_29_29"></a><a href="#Footnote_29_29" class="fnanchor">[29]</a> informed +by experience of our frailty. And this more we discern in Him, full as +He is of compassionate liberality towards us, that, whereas it +chanceth whiles (the keenness of mortal eyes availing not in any wise +to penetrate the secrets of the Divine intent), that we peradventure, +beguiled by report, make such an one our advocate unto His majesty, +who is outcast from His presence with an eternal +banishment,—nevertheless He, from whom nothing is hidden, having +regard rather to the purity of the suppliant's intent than to his +ignorance or to the reprobate estate of him whose intercession be +invoketh, giveth ear unto those who pray unto the latter, as if he +were in very deed blessed in His aspect. The which will manifestly +appear from the story which I purpose to relate; I say manifestly, +ensuing, not the judgment of God, but that of men.</p> + +<p>It is told, then, that Musciatto Franzesi,<a name="FNanchor_30_30" id="FNanchor_30_30"></a><a href="#Footnote_30_30" class="fnanchor">[30]</a> being from a very rich +and considerable merchant in France become a knight and it behoving +him thereupon go into Tuscany with Messire Charles Sansterre,<a name="FNanchor_31_31" id="FNanchor_31_31"></a><a href="#Footnote_31_31" class="fnanchor">[31]</a> +brother to the king of France,<a name="FNanchor_32_32" id="FNanchor_32_32"></a><a href="#Footnote_32_32" class="fnanchor">[32]</a> who had been required and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17"></a></span> bidden +thither by Pope Boniface,<a name="FNanchor_33_33" id="FNanchor_33_33"></a><a href="#Footnote_33_33" class="fnanchor">[33]</a> found his affairs in one part and +another sore embroiled, (as those of merchants most times are,) and +was unable lightly or promptly to disentangle them; wherefore he +bethought himself to commit them unto divers persons and made shift +for all, save only he abode in doubt whom he might leave sufficient to +the recovery of the credits he had given to certain Burgundians. The +cause of his doubt was that he knew the Burgundians to be litigious, +quarrelsome fellows, ill-conditioned and disloyal, and could not call +one to mind, in whom he might put any trust, curst enough to cope with +their perversity. After long consideration of the matter, there came +to his memory a certain Master Ciapperello da Prato, who came often to +his house in Paris and whom, for that he was little of person and +mighty nice in his dress, the French, knowing not what Cepparello<a name="FNanchor_34_34" id="FNanchor_34_34"></a><a href="#Footnote_34_34" class="fnanchor">[34]</a> +meant and thinking it be the same with Cappello, to wit, in their +vernacular, Chaplet, called him, not Cappello, but Ciappelletto,<a name="FNanchor_35_35" id="FNanchor_35_35"></a><a href="#Footnote_35_35" class="fnanchor">[35]</a> +and accordingly as Ciappelletto he was known everywhere, whilst few +knew him for Master Ciapperello.</p> + +<p>Now this said Ciappelletto was of this manner life, that, being a +scrivener, he thought very great shame whenas any of his instrument +was found (and indeed he drew few such) other than false; whilst of +the latter<a name="FNanchor_36_36" id="FNanchor_36_36"></a><a href="#Footnote_36_36" class="fnanchor">[36]</a> he would have drawn as many as might be required of him +and these with a better will by way of gift than any other for a great +wage. False witness he bore with especial delight, required or not +required, and the greatest regard being in those times paid to oaths +in France, as he recked nothing of forswearing himself, he knavishly +gained all the suits concerning which he was called upon to tell the +truth upon his faith. He took inordinate pleasure and was mighty +diligent in stirring up troubles and enmities and scandals between +friends and kinsfolk and whomsoever else, and the greater the +mischiefs he saw ensue thereof, the more he rejoiced. If bidden to +manslaughter or whatsoever other naughty deed, he went about it with a +will, without ever saying nay thereto; and many a time of his proper +choice he had been known to wound men and do them to death with his +own hand. He was a terrible blasphemer of God and the saints, and that +for every trifle, being the most choleric man alive. To church he went +never and all the sacraments thereof he flouted in abominable terms, +as things of no account; whilst, on the other hand, he was still fain +to haunt and use taverns and other lewd places. Of women he was as +fond as dogs of the stick; but in the contrary he delighted more than +any filthy fellow alive. He robbed and pillaged with as much +conscience as a godly man would make oblation to God; he was a very +glutton and a great wine bibber, inso<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18"></a></span>much that bytimes it wrought him +shameful mischief, and to boot, he was a notorious gamester and a +caster of cogged dice. But why should I enlarge in so many words? He +was belike the worst man that ever was born.<a name="FNanchor_37_37" id="FNanchor_37_37"></a><a href="#Footnote_37_37" class="fnanchor">[37]</a> His wickedness had +long been upheld by the power and interest of Messer Musciatto, who +had many a time safeguarded him as well from private persons, to whom +he often did a mischief, as from the law, against which he was a +perpetual offender.</p> + +<p>This Master Ciappelletto then, coming to Musciatto's mind, the latter, +who was very well acquainted with his way of life, bethought himself +that he should be such an one as the perversity of the Burgundians +required and accordingly, sending for him, he bespoke him thus: +'Master Ciappelletto, I am, as thou knowest, about altogether to +withdraw hence, and having to do, amongst others, with certain +Burgundians, men full of guile, I know none whom I may leave to +recover my due from them more fitting than thyself, more by token that +thou dost nothing at this present; wherefore, an thou wilt undertake +this, I will e'en procure thee the favour of the Court and give thee +such part as shall be meet of that which thou shalt recover.'</p> + +<p>Don Ciappelletto, who was then out of employ and ill provided with the +goods of the world, seeing him who had long been his stay and his +refuge about to depart thence, lost no time in deliberation, but, as +of necessity constrained, replied that he would well. They being come +to an accord, Musciatto departed and Ciappelletto, having gotten his +patron's procuration and letters commendatory from the king, betook +himself into Burgundy, where well nigh none knew him, and there, +contrary to his nature, began courteously and blandly to seek to get +in his payments and do that wherefor he was come thither, as if +reserving choler and violence for a last resort. Dealing thus and +lodging in the house of two Florentines, brothers, who there lent at +usance and who entertained him with great honour for the love of +Messer Musciatto, it chanced that he fell sick, whereupon the two +brothers promptly fetched physicians and servants to tend him and +furnished him with all that behoved unto the recovery of his health. +But every succour was in vain, for that, by the physicians' report, +the good man, who was now old and had lived disorderly, grew daily +worse, as one who had a mortal sickness; wherefore the two brothers +were sore concerned and one day, being pretty near the chamber where +he lay sick, they began to take counsel together, saying one to the +other, 'How shall we do with yonder fellow? We have a sorry bargain on +our hands of his affair, for that to send him forth of our house, thus +sick, were a sore reproach to us and a manifest sign of little wit on +our part, if the folk, who have seen us first receive him and after +let tend and medicine him with such solicitude, should now see him +suddenly put out of our house, sick unto death as he is, without it +being possible for him to have done aught that should displease us. On +the other hand, he hath been so wicked a man that he will never +consent to confess or take any<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19"></a></span> sacrament of the church; and he dying +without confession, no church will receive his body; nay, he will be +cast into a ditch, like a dog. Again, even if he do confess, his sins +are so many and so horrible that the like will come of it, for that +there is nor priest nor friar who can or will absolve him thereof; +wherefore, being unshriven, he will still be cast into the ditches. +Should it happen thus, the people of the city, as well on account of +our trade, which appeareth to them most iniquitous and of which they +missay all day, as of their itch to plunder us, seeing this, will rise +up in riot and cry out, "These Lombard dogs, whom the church refuseth +to receive, are to be suffered here no longer";—and they will run to +our houses and despoil us not only of our good, but may be of our +lives, to boot; wherefore in any case it will go ill with us, if +yonder fellow die.'</p> + +<p>Master Ciappelletto, who, as we have said, lay near the place where +the two brothers were in discourse, being quick of hearing, as is most +times the case with the sick, heard what they said of him and calling +them to him, bespoke them thus: 'I will not have you anywise misdoubt +of me nor fear to take any hurt by me. I have heard what you say of me +and am well assured that it would happen even as you say, should +matters pass as you expect; but it shall go otherwise. I have in my +lifetime done God the Lord so many an affront that it will make +neither more nor less, an I do Him yet another at the point of death; +wherefore do you make shift to bring me the holiest and worthiest +friar you may avail to have, if any such there be,<a name="FNanchor_38_38" id="FNanchor_38_38"></a><a href="#Footnote_38_38" class="fnanchor">[38]</a> and leave the +rest to me, for that I will assuredly order your affairs and mine own +on such wise that all shall go well and you shall have good cause to +be satisfied.'</p> + +<p>The two brothers, albeit they conceived no great hope of this, +nevertheless betook themselves to a brotherhood of monks and demanded +some holy and learned man to hear the confession of a Lombard who lay +sick in their house. There was given them a venerable brother of holy +and good life and a past master in Holy Writ, a very reverend man, for +whom all the townsfolk had a very great and special regard, and they +carried him to their house; where, coming to the chamber where Master +Ciappelletto lay and seating himself by his side, he began first +tenderly to comfort him and after asked him how long it was since he +had confessed last; whereto Master Ciappelletto, who had never +confessed in his life, answered, 'Father, it hath been my usance to +confess every week once at the least and often more; it is true that, +since I fell sick, to wit, these eight days past, I have not +confessed, such is the annoy that my sickness hath given me.' Quoth +the friar, 'My son, thou hast done well and so must thou do +henceforward. I see, since thou confessest so often, that I shall be +at little pains either of hearing or questioning.' 'Sir,' answered +Master Ciappelletto, 'say not so; I have never confessed so much nor +so often but I would still fain make a general confession of all my +sins that I could call to mind from the day of my birth to that of my +confession; wherefore I pray you, good<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20"></a></span> my father, question me as +punctually of everything, nay, everything, as if I had never +confessed; and consider me not because I am sick, for that I had far +liefer displease this my flesh than, in consulting its ease, do aught +that might be the perdition of my soul, which my Saviour redeemed with +His precious blood.'</p> + +<p>These words much pleased the holy man and seemed to him to argue a +well-disposed mind; wherefore, after he had much commended Master +Ciappelletto for that his usance, he asked him if he had ever sinned +by way of lust with any woman. 'Father,' replied Master Ciappelletto, +sighing, 'on this point I am ashamed to tell you the truth, fearing to +sin by way of vainglory.' Quoth the friar, 'Speak in all security, for +never did one sin by telling the truth, whether in confession or +otherwise.' 'Then,' said Master Ciappelletto, 'since you certify me of +this, I will tell you; I am yet a virgin, even as I came forth of my +mother's body.' 'O blessed be thou of God!' cried the monk. 'How well +hast thou done! And doing thus, thou hast the more deserved, inasmuch +as, an thou wouldst, thou hadst more leisure to do the contrary than +we and whatsoever others are limited by any rule.'</p> + +<p>After this he asked him if he had ever offended against God in the sin +of gluttony; whereto Master Ciappelletto answered, sighing, Ay had he, +and that many a time; for that, albeit, over and above the Lenten +fasts that are yearly observed of the devout, he had been wont to fast +on bread and water three days at the least in every week,—he had +oftentimes (and especially whenas he had endured any fatigue, either +praying or going a-pilgrimage) drunken the water with as much appetite +and as keen a relish as great drinkers do wine. And many a time he had +longed to have such homely salads of potherbs as women make when they +go into the country; and whiles eating had given him more pleasure +than himseemed it should do to one who fasteth for devotion, as did +he. 'My son,' said the friar, 'these sins are natural and very slight +and I would not therefore have thee burden thy conscience withal more +than behoveth. It happeneth to every man, how devout soever he be, +that, after long fasting, meat seemeth good to him, and after travail, +drink.'</p> + +<p>'Alack, father mine,' rejoined Ciappelletto, 'tell me not this to +comfort me; you must know I know that things done for the service of +God should be done sincerely and with an ungrudging mind; and whoso +doth otherwise sinneth.' Quoth the friar, exceeding well pleased, 'I +am content that thou shouldst thus apprehend it and thy pure and good +conscience therein pleaseth me exceedingly. But, tell me, hast thou +sinned by way of avarice, desiring more than befitted or withholding +that which it behoved thee not to withhold?' 'Father mine,' replied +Ciappelletto, 'I would not have you look to my being in the house of +these usurers; I have nought to do here; nay, I came hither to +admonish and chasten them and turn them from this their abominable way +of gain; and methinketh I should have made shift to do so, had not God +thus visited me. But you must know that I was left a rich man by my +father, of whose good, when he was dead, I bestowed the most part in +alms, and after, to sustain my life and that I might be able to +succour Christ's poor, I have done my little<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21"></a></span> traffickings, and in +these I have desired to gain; but still with God's poor have I shared +that which I gained, converting my own half to my occasion and giving +them the other, and in this so well hath my Creator prospered me that +my affairs have still gone from good to better.'</p> + +<p>'Well hast thou done,' said the friar; 'but hast thou often been +angered?' 'Oh,' cried Master Ciappelletto, 'that I must tell you I +have very often been! And who could keep himself therefrom, seeing men +do unseemly things all day long, keeping not the commandments of God +neither fearing His judgment? Many times a day I had liefer been dead +than alive, seeing young men follow after vanities and hearing them +curse and forswear themselves, haunting the taverns, visiting not the +churches and ensuing rather the ways of the world than that of God.' +'My son,' said the friar, 'this is a righteous anger, nor for my part +might I enjoin thee any penance therefor. But hath anger at any time +availed to move thee to do any manslaughter or to bespeak any one +unseemly or do any other unright?' 'Alack, sir,' answered the sick +man, 'you, who seem to me a man of God, how can you say such words? +Had I ever had the least thought of doing any one of the things +whereof you speak, think you I believe that God would so long have +forborne me? These be the doings of outlaws and men of nought, whereof +I never saw any but I said still, "Go, may God amend thee!"'</p> + +<p>Then said the friar, 'Now tell me, my son (blessed be thou of God), +hast thou never borne false witness against any or missaid of another, +or taken others' good, without leave of him to whom it pertained?' +'Ay, indeed, sir,' replied Master Ciappelletto; 'I have missaid of +others; for that I had a neighbour aforetime, who, with the greatest +unright in the world, did nought but beat his wife, insomuch that I +once spoke ill of him to her kinsfolk, so great was the compassion +that overcame me for the poor woman, whom he used as God alone can +tell, whenassoever he had drunken overmuch.' Quoth the friar, 'Thou +tellest me thou hast been a merchant. Hast thou never cheated any one, +as merchants do whiles!' 'I' faith, yes, sir,' answered Master +Ciappelletto; 'but I know not whom, except it were a certain man, who +once brought me monies which he owed me for cloth I had sold him and +which I threw into a chest, without counting. A good month after, I +found that they were four farthings more than they should have been; +wherefore, not seeing him again and having kept them by me a full +year, that I might restore them to him, I gave them away in alms.' +Quoth the friar, 'This was a small matter, and thou didst well to deal +with it as thou didst.'</p> + +<p>Then he questioned him of many other things, of all which he answered +after the same fashion, and the holy father offering to proceed to +absolution, Master Ciappelletto said, 'Sir, I have yet sundry sins +that I have not told you.' The friar asked him what they were, and he +answered, 'I mind me that one Saturday, after none, I caused my +servant sweep out the house and had not that reverence for the Lord's +holy day which it behoved me have.' 'Oh,' said the friar, 'that is a +light matter, my son.' 'Nay,' rejoined Master Ciappelletto, 'call it +not a light matter, for that the Lord's Day is greatly to be honoured, +seeing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22"></a></span> that on such a day our Lord rose from the dead.' Then said the +friar, 'Well, hast thou done aught else?' 'Ay, sir,' answered Master +Ciappelletto; 'once, unthinking what I did, I spat in the church of +God.' Thereupon the friar fell a-smiling, and said, 'My son, that is +no thing to be recked of; we who are of the clergy, we spit there all +day long.' 'And you do very ill,' rejoined Master Ciappelletto; 'for +that there is nought which it so straitly behoveth to keep clean as +the holy temple wherein is rendered sacrifice to God.'</p> + +<p>Brief, he told him great plenty of such like things and presently fell +a-sighing and after weeping sore, as he knew full well to do, whenas +he would. Quoth the holy friar, 'What aileth thee, my son?' 'Alas, +sir,' replied Master Ciappelletto, 'I have one sin left, whereof I +never yet confessed me, such shame have I to tell it; and every time I +call it to mind, I weep, even as you see, and meseemeth very certain +that God will never pardon it me.' 'Go to, son,' rejoined the friar; +'what is this thou sayest? If all the sins that were ever wrought or +are yet to be wrought of all mankind, what while the world endureth, +were all in one man and he repented him thereof and were contrite +therefor, as I see thee, such is the mercy and loving-kindness of God +that, upon confession, He would freely pardon them to him. Wherefore +do thou tell it in all assurance.' Quoth Master Ciappelletto, still +weeping sore, 'Alack, father mine, mine is too great a sin, and I can +scarce believe that it will ever be forgiven me of God, except your +prayers strive for me.' Then said the friar, 'Tell it me in all +assurance, for I promise thee to pray God for thee.'</p> + +<p>Master Ciappelletto, however, still wept and said nought; but, after +he had thus held the friar a great while in suspense, he heaved a deep +sigh and said, 'Father mine, since you promise me to pray God for me, +I will e'en tell it you. Know, then, that, when I was little, I once +cursed my mother.' So saying, he fell again to weeping sore. 'O my +son,' quoth the friar, 'seemeth this to thee so heinous a sin? Why, +men blaspheme God all day long and He freely pardoneth whoso repenteth +him of having blasphemed Him; and deemest thou not He will pardon thee +this? Weep not, but comfort thyself; for, certes, wert thou one of +those who set Him on the cross, He would pardon thee, in favour of +such contrition as I see in thee.' 'Alack, father mine, what say you?' +replied Ciappelletto. 'My kind mother, who bore me nine months in her +body, day and night, and carried me on her neck an hundred times and +more, I did passing ill to curse her and it was an exceeding great +sin; and except you pray God for me, it will not be forgiven me.'</p> + +<p>The friar, then, seeing that Master Ciappelletto had no more to say, +gave him absolution and bestowed on him his benison, holding him a +very holy man and devoutly believing all that he had told him to be +true. And who would not have believed it, hearing a man at the point +of death speak thus? Then, after all this, he said to him, 'Master +Ciappelletto, with God's help you will speedily be whole; but, should +it come to pass that God call your blessed and well-disposed soul to +Himself, would it please you that your body be buried in our convent?' +'Ay, would it, sir,' replied Master Ciappelletto.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23"></a></span> 'Nay, I would fain +no be buried otherwhere, since you have promised to pray God for me; +more by token that I have ever had a special regard for your order. +Wherefore I pray you that whenas you return to your lodging, you must +cause bring me that most veritable body of Christ, which you +consecrate a-mornings upon the altar, for that, with your leave, I +purpose (all unworthy as I am) to take it and after, holy and extreme +unction, to the intent that, if I have lived as a sinner, I may at the +least die like a Christian.' The good friar replied that it pleased +him much and that he said well and promised to see it presently +brought him; and so was it done.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, the two brothers, misdoubting them sore lest Master +Ciappelletto should play them false, had posted themselves behind a +wainscot, that divided the chamber where he lay from another, and +listening, easily heard and apprehended that which he said to the +friar and had whiles so great a mind to laugh, hearing the things +which he confessed to having done, that they were like to burst and +said, one to other, 'What manner of man is this, whom neither old age +nor sickness nor fear of death, whereunto he seeth himself near, nor +yet of God, before whose judgment-seat he looketh to be ere long, have +availed to turn from his wickedness nor hinder him from choosing to +die as he hath lived?' However, seeing that he had so spoken that he +should be admitted to burial in a church, they recked nought of the +rest.</p> + +<p>Master Ciappelletto presently took the sacrament and, growing rapidly +worse, received extreme unction, and a little after evensong of the +day he had made his fine confession, he died; whereupon the two +brothers, having, of his proper monies, taken order for his honourable +burial, sent to the convent to acquaint the friars therewith, bidding +them come thither that night to hold vigil, according to usance, and +fetch away the body in the morning, and meanwhile made ready all that +was needful thereunto.</p> + +<p>The holy friar, who had shriven him, hearing that he had departed this +life, betook himself to the prior of the convent and, letting ring to +chapter, gave out to the brethren therein assembled that Master +Ciappelletto had been a holy man, according to that which he had +gathered from his confession, and persuaded them to receive his body +with the utmost reverence and devotion, in the hope that God should +show forth many miracles through him. To this the prior and brethren +credulously consented and that same evening, coming all whereas Master +Ciappelletto lay dead, they held high and solemn vigil over him and on +the morrow, clad all in albs and copes, book in hand and crosses +before them, they went, chanting the while, for his body and brought +it with the utmost pomp and solemnity to their church, followed by +well nigh all the people of the city, men and women.</p> + +<p>As soon as they had set the body down in the church, the holy friar, +who had confessed him, mounted the pulpit and fell a-preaching +marvellous things of the dead man and of his life, his fasts, his +virginity, his simplicity and innocence and sanctity, recounting, +amongst other things, that which he had confessed to him as his +greatest sin and how he had hardly availed to per<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24"></a></span>suade him that God +would forgive it him; thence passing on to reprove the folk who +hearkened, 'And you, accursed that you are,' quoth he, 'for every waif +of straw that stirreth between your feet, you blaspheme God and the +Virgin and all the host of heaven.' Moreover, he told them many other +things of his loyalty and purity of heart; brief, with his speech, +whereto entire faith was yielded of the people of the city, he so +established the dead man in the reverent consideration of all who were +present that, no sooner was the service at an end, than they all with +the utmost eagerness flocked to kiss his hands and feet and the +clothes were torn off his back, he holding himself blessed who might +avail to have never so little thereof; and needs must they leave him +thus all that day, so he might be seen and visited of all.</p> + +<p>The following night he was honourably buried in a marble tomb in one +of the chapels of the church and on the morrow the folk began +incontinent to come and burn candles and offer up prayers and make +vows to him and hang images of wax<a name="FNanchor_39_39" id="FNanchor_39_39"></a><a href="#Footnote_39_39" class="fnanchor">[39]</a> at his shrine, according to the +promise made. Nay, on such wise waxed the frame of his sanctity and +men's devotion to him that there was scarce any who, being in +adversity, would vow himself to another saint than him; and they +styled and yet style him Saint Ciappelletto and avouch that God +through him hath wrought many miracles and yet worketh, them every day +for whoso devoutly commendeth himself unto him.</p> + +<p>Thus, then, lived and died Master Cepperello<a name="FNanchor_40_40" id="FNanchor_40_40"></a><a href="#Footnote_40_40" class="fnanchor">[40]</a> da Prato and became a +saint, as you have heard; nor would I deny it to be possible that he +is beatified in God's presence, for that, albeit his life was wicked +and perverse, he may at his last extremity have shown such contrition +that peradventure God had mercy on him and received him into His +kingdom; but, for that this is hidden from us, I reason according to +that which, is apparent and say that he should rather be in the hands +of the devil in perdition than in Paradise. And if so it be, we may +know from this how great is God's loving-kindness towards us, which, +having regard not to our error, but to the purity of our faith, whenas +we thus make an enemy (deeming him a friend) of His our intermediary, +giveth ear unto us, even as if we had recourse unto one truly holy, as +intercessor for His favour. Wherefore, to the end that by His grace we +may be preserved safe and sound in this present adversity and in this +so joyous company, let us, magnifying His name, in which we have begun +our diversion, and holding Him in reverence, commend ourselves to Him +in our necessities, well assured of being heard." And with this he was +silent.</p> + + + +<hr /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25"></a></span></p> +<h2><a name="THE_SECOND_STORY" id="THE_SECOND_STORY"></a>THE SECOND STORY</h2> + +<div class="sidenote">Day the First</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="hang">ABRAHAM THE JEW, AT THE INSTIGATION OF JEHANNOT DE CHEVIGNÉ, +GOETH TO THE COURT OF ROME AND SEEING THE DEPRAVITY OF THE +CLERGY, RETURNETH TO PARIS AND THERE BECOMETH A CHRISTIAN</p></div> + + +<p><br /><span class="smcap">Pamfilo's</span> story was in part laughed at and altogether commended by the +ladies, and it being come to its end, after being diligently +hearkened, the queen bade Neifile, who sat next him, ensue the +ordinance of the commenced diversion by telling one<a name="FNanchor_41_41" id="FNanchor_41_41"></a><a href="#Footnote_41_41" class="fnanchor">[41]</a> of her +fashion. Neifile, who was distinguished no less by courteous manners +than by beauty, answered blithely that she would well and began on +this wise: "Pamfilo hath shown us in his story that God's benignness +regardeth not our errors, when they proceed from that which is beyond +our ken; and I, in mine, purpose to show you how this same +benignness,—patiently suffering the defaults of those who, being +especially bounden both with words and deeds to bear true witness +thereof<a name="FNanchor_42_42" id="FNanchor_42_42"></a><a href="#Footnote_42_42" class="fnanchor">[42]</a> yet practise the contrary,—exhibiteth unto us an +infallible proof of itself, to the intent that we may, with the more +constancy of mind, ensue that which we believe.</p> + +<p>As I have heard tell, gracious ladies, there was once in Paris a great +merchant and a very loyal and upright man, whose name was Jehannot de +Chevigné and who was of great traffic in silks and stuffs. He had +particular friendship for a very rich Jew called Abraham, who was also +a merchant and a very honest and trusty man, and seeing the latter's +worth and loyalty, it began to irk him sore that the soul of so worthy +and discreet and good a man should go to perdition for default of +faith; wherefore he fell to beseeching him on friendly wise leave the +errors of the Jewish faith and turn to the Christian verity, which he +might see still wax and prosper, as being holy and good, whereas his +own faith, on the contrary, was manifestly on the wane and dwindling +to nought. The Jew made answer that he held no faith holy or good save +only the Jewish, that in this latter he was born and therein meant to +live and die, nor should aught ever make him remove therefrom.</p> + +<p>Jehannot for all that desisted not from him, but some days after +returned to the attack with similar words, showing him, on rude enough +wise (for that merchants for the most part can no better), for what +reasons our religion is better than the Jewish; and albeit the Jew was +a past master in their law, nevertheless, whether it was the great +friendship he bore Jehannot that moved him or peradventure words +wrought it that the Holy Ghost put into the good simple man's mouth, +the latter's arguments began greatly to please him; but yet, +persisting in his own belief, he would not suffer himself to be +converted. Like as he abode obstinate, even so Jehannot never gave +over importuning him, till at last the Jew, overcome by such continual +insistence, said, 'Look you, Jehannot, thou wouldst have me become a +Christian and I am disposed to do it; insomuch, indeed,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26"></a></span> that I mean, +in the first place, to go to Rome and there see him who, thou sayest, +is God's Vicar upon earth and consider his manners and fashions and +likewise those of his chief brethren.<a name="FNanchor_43_43" id="FNanchor_43_43"></a><a href="#Footnote_43_43" class="fnanchor">[43]</a> If these appear to me such +that I may, by them, as well as by your words, apprehend that your +faith is better than mine, even as thou hast studied to show me, I +will do as I have said; and if it be not so, I will remain a Jew as I +am.'</p> + +<p>When Jehannot heard this, he was beyond measure chagrined and said in +himself, 'I have lost my pains, which meseemed I had right well +bestowed, thinking to have converted this man; for that, an he go to +the court of Rome and see the lewd and wicked life of the clergy, not +only will he never become a Christian, but, were he already a +Christian, he would infallibly turn Jew again.' Then, turning to +Abraham, he said to him, 'Alack, my friend, why wilt thou undertake +this travail and so great a charge as it will be to thee to go from +here to Rome? More by token that, both by sea and by land, the road is +full of perils for a rich man such as thou art. Thinkest thou not to +find here who shall give thee baptism? Or, if peradventure thou have +any doubts concerning the faith which I have propounded to thee, where +are there greater doctors and men more learned in the matter than are +here or better able to resolve thee of that which thou wilt know or +ask? Wherefore, to my thinking, this thy going is superfluous. Bethink +thee that the prelates there are even such as those thou mayst have +seen here, and indeed so much the better as they are nearer unto the +Chief Pastor. Wherefore, an thou wilt be counselled by me, thou wilt +reserve this travail unto another time against some jubilee or other, +whereunto it may be I will bear thee company.' To this the Jew made +answer, 'I doubt not, Jehannot, but it is as thou tellest me; but, to +sum up many words in one, I am altogether determined, an thou wouldst +have me do that whereof thou hast so instantly besought me, to go +thither; else will I never do aught thereof.' Jehannot, seeing his +determination, said, 'Go and good luck go with thee!' And inwardly +assured that he would never become a Christian, when once he should +have seen the court of Rome, but availing<a name="FNanchor_44_44" id="FNanchor_44_44"></a><a href="#Footnote_44_44" class="fnanchor">[44]</a> nothing in the matter, +he desisted.</p> + +<p>The Jew mounted to horse and as quickliest he might betook himself to +the court of Rome, he was honourably entertained of his brethren, and +there abiding, without telling any the reason of his coming, he began +diligently to enquire into the manners and fashions of the Pope and +Cardinals and other prelates and of all the members of his court, and +what with that which he himself noted, being a mighty quick-witted +man, and that which he gathered from others, he found all, from the +highest to the lowest, most shamefully given to the sin of lust, and +that not only in the way of nature, but after the Sodomitical fashion, +without any restraint<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27"></a></span> of remorse or shamefastness, insomuch that the +interest of courtezans and catamites was of no small avail there in +obtaining any considerable thing.</p> + +<p>Moreover, he manifestly perceived them to be universally gluttons, +wine-bibbers, drunkards and slaves to their bellies, brute-beast +fashion, more than to aught else after lust. And looking farther, he +saw them all covetous and greedy after money, insomuch that human, +nay, Christian blood, no less than things sacred, whatsoever they +might be, whether pertaining to the sacrifices of the altar or to the +benefices of the church, they sold and bought indifferently for a +price, making a greater traffic and having more brokers thereof than +folk at Paris of silks and stuffs or what not else. Manifest simony +they had christened 'procuration' and gluttony 'sustentation,' as if +God apprehended not,—let be the meaning of words but,—the intention +of depraved minds and would suffer Himself, after the fashion of men, +to be duped by the names of things. All this, together with much else +which must be left unsaid, was supremely displeasing to the Jew, who +was a sober and modest man, and himseeming he had seen enough, he +determined to return to Paris and did so.</p> + +<p>As soon as Jehannot knew of his return, he betook himself to him, +hoping nothing less than that he should become a Christian, and they +greeted each other with the utmost joy. Then, after Abraham had rested +some days, Jehannot asked him how himseemed of the Holy Father and of +the cardinals and others of his court. Whereto the Jew promptly +answered, 'Meseemeth, God give them ill one and all! And I say this +for that, if I was able to observe aright, no piety, no devoutness, no +good work or example of life or otherwhat did I see there in any who +was a churchman; nay, but lust, covetise, gluttony and the like and +worse (if worse can be) meseemed to be there in such favour with all +that I hold it for a forgingplace of things diabolical rather than +divine. And as far as I can judge, meseemeth your chief pastor and +consequently all the others endeavour with all diligence and all their +wit and every art to bring to nought and banish from the world the +Christian religion, whereas they should be its foundation and support. +And for that I see that this whereafter they strive cometh not to +pass, but that your religion continually increaseth and waxeth still +brighter and more glorious, meseemeth I manifestly discern that the +Holy Spirit is verily the foundation and support thereof, as of that +which is true and holy over any other. Wherefore, whereas, aforetime I +abode obdurate and insensible to thine exhortations and would not be +persuaded to embrace thy faith, I now tell thee frankly that for +nothing in the world would I forbear to become a Christian. Let us, +then, to church and there have me baptized, according to the rite and +ordinance of your holy faith.'</p> + +<p>Jehannot, who looked for a directly contrary conclusion to this, was +the joyfullest man that might be, when he heard him speak thus, and +repairing with him to our Lady's Church of Paris, required the clergy +there to give Abraham baptism. They, hearing that the Jew himself +demanded it, straightway proceeded to baptize him, whilst Jehan<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28"></a></span>not +raised him from the sacred font<a name="FNanchor_45_45" id="FNanchor_45_45"></a><a href="#Footnote_45_45" class="fnanchor">[45]</a> and named him Giovanni. After +this, he had him thoroughly lessoned by men of great worth and +learning in the tenets of our holy faith, which he speedily +apprehended and thenceforward was a good man and a worthy and one of a +devout life."</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="THE_THIRD_STORY" id="THE_THIRD_STORY"></a>THE THIRD STORY</h2> + +<div class="sidenote">Day the First</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="hang">MELCHIZEDEK THE JEW, WITH A STORY OF THREE RINGS, ESCAPETH A +PARLOUS SNARE SET FOR HIM BY SALADIN</p></div> + + +<p><br /><span class="smcap">Neifile</span> having made an end of her story, which was commended of all, +Filomena, by the queen's good pleasure, proceeded to speak thus: "The +story told by Neifile bringeth to my mind a parlous case the once +betided a Jew; and for that, it having already been excellent well +spoken both of God and of the verity of our faith, it should not +henceforth be forbidden us to descend to the doings of mankind and the +events that have befallen them, I will now proceed to relate to you +the case aforesaid, which having heard, you will peradventure become +more wary in answering the questions that may be put to you. You must +know, lovesome<a name="FNanchor_46_46" id="FNanchor_46_46"></a><a href="#Footnote_46_46" class="fnanchor">[46]</a> companions<a name="FNanchor_47_47" id="FNanchor_47_47"></a><a href="#Footnote_47_47" class="fnanchor">[47]</a> mine, that, like as folly ofttimes +draweth folk forth of happy estate and casteth them into the utmost +misery, even so doth good sense extricate the wise man from the +greatest perils and place him in assurance and tranquillity. How true +it is that folly bringeth many an one from fair estate unto misery is +seen by multitude of examples, with the recounting whereof we have no +present concern, considering that a thousand instances thereof do +every day manifestly appear to us; but that good sense is a cause of +solacement I will, as I promised, briefly show you by a little story.</p> + +<p>Saladin,—whose valour was such that not only from a man of little +account it made him Soldan of Babylon, but gained him many victories +over kings Saracen and Christian,—having in divers wars and in the +exercise of his extraordinary munificences expended his whole treasure +and having an urgent occasion for a good sum of money nor seeing +whence he might avail to have it as promptly as it behoved him, called +to mind a rich Jew, by name Melchizedek, who lent at usance in +Alexandria, and bethought himself that this latter had the wherewithal +to oblige him, and he would; but he was so miserly that he would never +have done it of his freewill and Saladin was loath<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29"></a></span> to use force with +him; wherefore, need constraining him, he set his every wit awork to +find a means how the Jew might be brought to serve him in this and +presently concluded to do him a violence coloured by some show of +reason.</p> + +<p>Accordingly he sent for Melchizedek and receiving him familiarly, +seated him by himself, then said to him, 'Honest man, I have +understood from divers persons that thou art a very learned man and +deeply versed in matters of divinity; wherefore I would fain know of +thee whether of the three Laws thou reputest the true, the Jewish, the +Saracen or the Christian.' The Jew, who was in truth a man of learning +and understanding, perceived but too well that Saladin looked to +entrap him in words, so he might fasten a quarrel on him, and +bethought himself that he could not praise any of the three more than +the others without giving him the occasion he sought. Accordingly, +sharpening his wits, as became one who felt himself in need of an +answer by which he might not be taken at a vantage, there speedily +occurred to him that which it behoved him reply and he said, 'My lord, +the question that you propound to me is a nice one and to acquaint you +with that which I think of the matter, it behoveth me tell you a +little story, which you shall hear.</p> + +<p>An I mistake not, I mind me to have many a time heard tell that there +was once a great man and a rich, who among other very precious jewels +in his treasury, had a very goodly and costly ring, whereunto being +minded, for its worth and beauty, to do honour and wishing to leave it +in perpetuity to his descendants, he declared that whichsoever of his +sons should, at his death, be found in possession thereof, by his +bequest unto him, should be recognized as his heir and be held of all +the others in honour and reverence as chief and head. He to whom the +ring was left by him held a like course with his own descendants and +did even as his father had done. In brief the ring passed from hand to +hand, through many generations, and came at last into the possession +of a man who had three goodly and virtuous sons, all very obedient to +their father wherefore he loved them all three alike. The young men, +knowing the usance of the ring, each for himself, desiring to be the +most honoured among his folk, as best he might, besought his father, +who was now an old man, to leave him the ring, whenas he came to die. +The worthy man, who loved them all alike and knew not himself how to +choose to which he had liefer leave the ring, bethought himself, +having promised it to each, to seek to satisfy all three and privily +let make by a good craftsman other two rings, which were so like unto +the first that he himself scarce knew which was the true. When he came +to die, he secretly gave each one of his sons his ring, wherefore each +of them, seeking after their father's death, to occupy the inheritance +and the honour and denying it to the others, produced his ring, in +witness of his right, and the three rings being found so like unto one +another that the true might not be known, the question which was the +father's very heir abode pending and yet pendeth. And so say I to you, +my lord, of the three Laws to the three peoples given of God the +Father, whereof you question me; each people deemeth itself<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30"></a></span> to have +his inheritance, His true Law and His commandments; but of which in +very deed hath them, even as of the rings, the question yet pendeth.'</p> + +<p>Saladin perceived that the Jew had excellently well contrived to +escape the snare which he had spread before his feet; wherefore he +concluded to discover to him his need and see if he were willing to +serve him; and so accordingly he did, confessing to him that which he +had it in mind to do, had he not answered him on such discreet wise. +The Jew freely furnished him with all that he required, and the Soldan +after satisfied him in full; moreover, he gave him very great gifts +and still had him to friend and maintained him about his own person in +high and honourable estate."</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="THE_FOURTH_STORY" id="THE_FOURTH_STORY"></a>THE FOURTH STORY</h2> + +<div class="sidenote">Day the First</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="hang">A MONK, HAVING FALLEN INTO A SIN DESERVING OF VERY GRIEVOUS +PUNISHMENT, ADROITLY REPROACHING THE SAME FAULT TO HIS +ABBOT, QUITTETH HIMSELF OF THE PENALTY</p></div> + + +<p><br /><span class="smcap">Filomena</span>, having despatched her story, was now silent, whereupon +Dioneo, who sat next her, knowing already, by the ordinance begun, +that it fell to his turn to tell, proceeded, without awaiting farther +commandment from the queen, to speak on this wise: "Lovesome ladies, +if I have rightly apprehended the intention of you all, we are here to +divert ourselves with story-telling; wherefore, so but it be not done +contrary to this our purpose, I hold it lawful unto each (even as our +queen told us a while agone) to tell such story as he deemeth may +afford most entertainment. Accordingly having heard how, by the good +counsels of Jehannot de Chevigné, Abraham had his soul saved and how +Melchizedek, by his good sense, defended his riches from Saladin's +ambushes, I purpose, without looking for reprehension from you, +briefly to relate with what address a monk delivered his body from a +very grievous punishment.</p> + +<p>There was in Lunigiana, a country not very far hence, a monastery +whilere more abounding in sanctity and monks than it is nowadays, and +therein, among others, was a young monk, whose vigour and lustiness +neither fasts nor vigils availed to mortify. It chanced one day, +towards noontide, when all the other monks slept, that, as he went all +alone round about the convent,<a name="FNanchor_48_48" id="FNanchor_48_48"></a><a href="#Footnote_48_48" class="fnanchor">[48]</a> which stood in a very solitary +place, he espied a very well-favoured lass, belike some husbandman's +daughter of the country, who went about the fields culling certain +herbs, and no sooner had he set eyes on her than he was violently +assailed by carnal appetite. Wherefore, accosting her, he entered into +parley with her and so led on from one thing to another that he came +to an accord with her and brought her to his cell, unperceived of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31"></a></span> +any; but whilst, carried away by overmuch ardour, he disported himself +with her less cautiously than was prudent, it chanced that the abbot +arose from sleep and softly passing by the monk's cell, heard the +racket that the twain made together; whereupon he came stealthily up +to the door to listen, that he might the better recognize the voices, +and manifestly perceiving that there was a woman in the cell, was at +first minded to cause open to him, but after bethought himself to hold +another course in the matter and, returning to his chamber, awaited +the monk's coming forth.</p> + +<p>The latter, all taken up as he was with the wench and his exceeding +pleasure and delight in her company, was none the less on his guard +and himseeming he heard some scuffling of feet in the dormitory, he +set his eye to a crevice and plainly saw the abbot stand hearkening +unto him; whereby he understood but too well that the latter must have +gotten wind of the wench's presence in his cell and knowing that sore +punishment would ensue to him thereof, he was beyond measure +chagrined. However, without discovering aught of his concern to the +girl, he hastily revolved many things in himself, seeking to find some +means of escape, and presently hit upon a rare device, which went +straight to the mark he aimed at. Accordingly, making a show of +thinking he had abidden long enough with the damsel, he said to her, +'I must go cast about for a means how thou mayest win forth hence, +without being seen; wherefore do thou abide quietly until my return.'</p> + +<p>Then, going forth and locking the cell door on her, he betook himself +straight to the abbot's chamber and presenting him with the key, +according as each monk did, whenas he went abroad, said to him, with a +good countenance, 'Sir, I was unable to make an end this morning of +bringing off all the faggots I had cut; wherefore with your leave I +will presently go to the wood and fetch them away.' The abbot, deeming +the monk unaware that he had been seen of him, was glad of such an +opportunity to inform himself more fully of the offence committed by +him and accordingly took the key and gave him the leave he sought. +Then, as soon as he saw him gone, he fell to considering which he +should rather do, whether open his cell in the presence of all the +other monks and cause them to see his default, so they might after +have no occasion to murmur against himself, whenas he should punish +the offender, or seek first to learn from the girl herself how the +thing had passed; and bethinking himself that she might perchance be +the wife or daughter of such a man that he would be loath to have done +her the shame of showing her to all the monks, he determined first to +see her and after come to a conclusion; wherefore, betaking himself to +the cell, he opened it and, entering, shut the door after him.</p> + +<p>The girl, seeing the abbot enter, was all aghast and fell a-weeping +for fear of shame; but my lord abbot, casting his eyes upon her and +seeing her young and handsome, old as he was, suddenly felt the pricks +of the flesh no less importunate than his young monk had done and fell +a-saying in himself, 'Marry, why should I not take somewhat of +pleasure, whenas I may, more by token that displeasance and annoy are +still at hand, whenever I have a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32"></a></span> mind to them? This is a handsome +wench and is here unknown of any in the world. If I can bring her to +do my pleasure, I know not why I should not do it. Who will know it? +No one will ever know it and a sin that's hidden is half forgiven. +Maybe this chance will never occur again. I hold it great sense to +avail ourselves of a good, whenas God the Lord sendeth us thereof.'</p> + +<p>So saying and having altogether changed purpose from that wherewith he +came, he drew near to the girl and began gently to comfort her, +praying her not to weep, and passing from one word to another, he +ended by discovering to her his desire. The girl, who was neither iron +nor adamant, readily enough lent herself to the pleasure of the abbot, +who, after he had clipped and kissed her again and again, mounted upon +the monk's pallet and having belike regard to the grave burden of his +dignity and the girl's tender age and fearful of irking her for +overmuch heaviness, bestrode not her breast, but set her upon his own +and so a great while disported himself with her.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, the monk, who had only made believe to go to the wood and +had hidden himself in the dormitory, was altogether reassured, whenas +he saw the abbot enter his cell alone, doubting not but his device +should have effect, and when he saw him lock the door from within, he +held it for certain. Accordingly, coming forth of his hiding-place, he +stealthily betook himself to a crevice, through which he both heard +and saw all that the abbot did and said. When it seemed to the latter +that he had tarried long enough with the damsel, he locked her in the +cell and returned to his own chamber, whence, after awhile, he heard +the monk stirring and deeming him returned from the wood, thought to +rebuke him severely and cast him into prison, so himself might alone +possess the prey he had gotten; wherefore, sending for him, he very +grievously rebuked him and with a stern countenance and commanded that +he should be put in prison.</p> + +<p>The monk very readily answered, 'Sir, I have not yet pertained long +enough to the order of St. Benedict to have been able to learn every +particular thereof, and you had not yet shown me that monks should +make of women a means of mortification,<a name="FNanchor_49_49" id="FNanchor_49_49"></a><a href="#Footnote_49_49" class="fnanchor">[49]</a> as of fasts and vigils; +but, now that you have shown it me, I promise you, so you will pardon +me this default, never again to offend therein, but still to do as I +have seen you do.' The abbot, who was a quick-witted man, readily +understood that the monk not only knew more than himself, but had seen +what he did; wherefore, his conscience pricking him for his own +default, he was ashamed to inflict on the monk a punishment which he +himself had merited even as he. Accordingly, pardoning him and +charging him keep silence of that which he had seen, they privily put +the girl out of doors and it is believed that they caused her return +thither more than once thereafterward."</p> + + + +<hr /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33"></a></span></p> +<h2><a name="THE_FIFTH_STORY" id="THE_FIFTH_STORY"></a>THE FIFTH STORY</h2> + +<div class="sidenote">Day the First</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="hang">THE MARCHIONESS OF MONFERRATO, WITH A DINNER OF HENS AND +CERTAIN SPRIGHTLY WORDS, CURBETH THE EXTRAVAGANT PASSION OF +THE KING OF FRANCE</p></div> + + +<p><br /><span class="smcap">The</span> story told by Dioneo at first pricked the hearts of the listening +ladies with somewhat of shamefastness, whereof a modest redness +appearing in their faces gave token; but after, looking one at other +and being scarce able to keep their countenance, they listened, +laughing in their sleeves. The end thereof being come, after they had +gently chidden him, giving him to understand that such tales were not +fit to be told among ladies, the queen, turning to Fiammetta, who sat +next him on the grass, bade her follow on the ordinance. Accordingly, +she began with a good grace and a cheerful countenance, "It hath +occurred to my mind, fair my ladies,—at once because it pleaseth me +that we have entered upon showing by stories how great is the efficacy +of prompt and goodly answers and because, like as in men it is great +good sense to seek still to love a lady of higher lineage than +themselves,<a name="FNanchor_50_50" id="FNanchor_50_50"></a><a href="#Footnote_50_50" class="fnanchor">[50]</a> so in women it is great discretion to know how to keep +themselves from being taken with the love of men of greater condition +than they,—to set forth to you, in the story which it falleth to me +to tell, how both with deeds and words a noble lady guarded herself +against this and diverted another therefrom.</p> + +<p>The Marquis of Monferrato, a man of high worth and gonfalonier<a name="FNanchor_51_51" id="FNanchor_51_51"></a><a href="#Footnote_51_51" class="fnanchor">[51]</a> of +the church, had passed beyond seas on the occasion of a general +crusade undertaken by the Christians, arms in hand, and it being one +day discoursed of his merit at the court of King Phillippe le +Borgne,<a name="FNanchor_52_52" id="FNanchor_52_52"></a><a href="#Footnote_52_52" class="fnanchor">[52]</a> who was then making ready to depart France upon the same +crusade, it was avouched by a gentleman present that there was not +under the stars a couple to match with the marquis and his lady, for +that, even as he was renowned among knights for every virtue, so was +she the fairest and noblest of all the ladies in the world. These +words took such hold upon the mind of the King of France that, without +having seen the marchioness, he fell of a sudden ardently in love with +her and determined to take ship for the crusade, on which he was to +go, no otherwhere than at Genoa, in order that, journeying thither by +land, he might have an honourable occasion of visiting the +marchioness, doubting not but that, the marquis being absent, he might +avail to give effect to his desire.</p> + +<p>As he had bethought himself, so he put his thought into execution; +for, having sent forward all his power, he set out, attended only by +some few<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34"></a></span> gentlemen, and coming within a day's journey of the +marquis's domains, despatched a vauntcourier to bid the lady expect +him the following morning to dinner. The marchioness, who was well +advised and discreet, replied blithely that in this he did her the +greatest of favours and that he would be welcome and after bethought +herself what this might mean that such a king should come to visit her +in her husband's absence, nor was she deceived in the conclusion to +which she came, to wit, that the report of her beauty drew him +thither. Nevertheless, like a brave lady as she was, she determined to +receive him with honour and summoning to her counsels sundry gentlemen +of those who remained there, with their help, she let provide for +everything needful. The ordinance of the repast and of the viands she +reserved to herself alone and having forthright caused collect as many +hens as were in the country, she bade her cooks dress various dishes +of these alone for the royal table.</p> + +<p>The king came at the appointed time and was received by the lady with +great honour and rejoicing. When he beheld her, she seemed to him fair +and noble and well-bred beyond that which he had conceived from the +courtier's words, whereat he marvelled exceedingly and commended her +amain, waxing so much the hotter in his desire as he found the lady +overpassing his foregone conceit of her. After he had taken somewhat +of rest in chambers adorned to the utmost with all that pertaineth to +the entertainment of such a king, the dinner hour being come, the king +and the marchioness seated themselves at one table, whilst the rest, +according to their quality, were honourably entertained at others. The +king, being served with many dishes in succession, as well as with +wines of the best and costliest, and to boot gazing with delight the +while upon the lovely marchioness, was mightily pleased with his +entertainment; but, after awhile, as the viands followed one upon +another, he began somewhat to marvel, perceiving that, for all the +diversity of the dishes, they were nevertheless of nought other than +hens, and this although he knew the part where he was to be such as +should abound in game of various kinds and although he had, by +advising the lady in advance of his coming, given her time to send +a-hunting. However, much as he might marvel at this, he chose not to +take occasion of engaging her in parley thereof, otherwise than in the +matter of her hens, and accordingly, turning to her with a merry air, +'Madam,' quoth he, 'are hens only born in these parts, without ever a +cock?' The marchioness, who understood the king's question excellent +well, herseeming God had vouchsafed her, according to her wish, an +opportune occasion of discovering her mind, turned to him and answered +boldly, 'Nay, my lord; but women, albeit in apparel and dignities they +may differ somewhat from others, are natheless all of the same fashion +here as elsewhere.'</p> + +<p>The King, hearing this, right well apprehended the meaning of the +banquet of hens and the virtue hidden in her speech and perceived that +words would be wasted upon such a lady and that violence was out of +the question; wherefore, even as he had ill-advisedly taken fire for +her, so now it behoved him sagely, for his own honour's sake,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35"></a></span> stifle +his ill-conceived passion. Accordingly, without making any more words +with her, for fear of her replies, he dined, out of all hope; and the +meal ended, thanking her for the honourable entertainment he had +received from her and commending her to God, he set out for Genoa, so +by his prompt departure he might make amends for his unseemly visit."</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="THE_SIXTH_STORY" id="THE_SIXTH_STORY"></a>THE SIXTH STORY</h2> + +<div class="sidenote">Day the First</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="hang">AN HONEST MAN, WITH A CHANCE PLEASANTRY, PUTTETH TO SHAME +THE PERVERSE HYPOCRISY OF THE RELIGIOUS ORDERS</p></div> + + +<p><br /><span class="smcap">Emilia</span>, who sat next after Fiammetta,—the courage of the marchioness +and the quaint rebuke administered by her to the King of France having +been commended of all the ladies,—began, by the queen's pleasure, +boldly to speak as follows: "I also, I will not keep silence of a +biting reproof given by an honest layman to a covetous monk with a +speech no less laughable than commendable.</p> + +<p>There was, then, dear lasses, no great while agone, in our city, a +Minor friar and inquisitor of heretical pravity, who, for all he +studied hard to appear a devout and tender lover of the Christian +religion, as do they all, was no less diligent in enquiring of who had +a well-filled purse than of whom he might find wanting in the things +of the Faith. Thanks to this his diligence, he lit by chance upon a +good simple man, richer, by far in coin than in wit, who, of no lack +of religion, but speaking thoughtlessly and belike overheated with +wine or excess of mirth, chanced one day to say to a company of his +friends that he had a wine so good that Christ himself might drink +thereof. This being reported to the inquisitor and he understanding +that the man's means were large and his purse well filled, ran in a +violent hurry <i>cum gladiis et fustibus</i><a name="FNanchor_53_53" id="FNanchor_53_53"></a><a href="#Footnote_53_53" class="fnanchor">[53]</a> to clap up a right +grievous suit against him, looking not for an amendment of misbelief +in the defendant, but for the filling of his own hand with florins to +ensue thereof (as indeed it did,) and causing him to be cited, asked +him if that which had been alleged against him were true.</p> + +<p>The good man replied that it was and told him how it chanced; +whereupon quoth the most holy inquisitor, who was a devotee of St. +John Goldenbeard,<a name="FNanchor_54_54" id="FNanchor_54_54"></a><a href="#Footnote_54_54" class="fnanchor">[54]</a> 'Then hast thou made Christ a wine-bibber and +curious in wines of choice, as if he were Cinciglione<a name="FNanchor_55_55" id="FNanchor_55_55"></a><a href="#Footnote_55_55" class="fnanchor">[55]</a> or what not +other of your drunken sots and tavern-haunters; and now thou speakest +lowly and wouldst feign this to be a very light matter! It is not as +thou deemest; thou hast merited the fire therefor, an we were minded +to deal with thee as we ought.' With these and many other<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36"></a></span> words he +bespoke him, with as menacing a countenance as if the poor wretch had +been Epicurus denying the immortality of the soul, and in brief so +terrified him that the good simple soul, by means of certain +intermediaries, let grease his palm with a good dose of St. John +Goldenmouth's ointment<a name="FNanchor_56_56" id="FNanchor_56_56"></a><a href="#Footnote_56_56" class="fnanchor">[56]</a> (the which is a sovereign remedy for the +pestilential covetise of the clergy and especially of the Minor +Brethren, who dare not touch money), so he should deal mercifully with +him.</p> + +<p>This unguent, being of great virtue (albeit Galen speaketh not thereof +in any part of his Medicines), wrought to such purpose that the fire +denounced against him was by favour commuted into [the wearing, by way +of penance, of] a cross, and to make the finer banner, as he were to +go a crusading beyond seas, the inquisitor imposed it him yellow upon +black. Moreover, whenas he had gotten the money, he detained him about +himself some days, enjoining him, by way of penance, hear a mass every +morning at Santa Croce and present himself before him at dinner-time, +and after that he might do what most pleased him the rest of the day; +all which he diligently performed.</p> + +<p>One morning, amongst others, it chanced that at the Mass he heard a +Gospel, wherein these words were chanted, 'For every one ye shall +receive an hundred and shall possess eternal life.'<a name="FNanchor_57_57" id="FNanchor_57_57"></a><a href="#Footnote_57_57" class="fnanchor">[57]</a> This he laid +fast up in his memory and according to the commandment given him, +presented him at the eating hour before the inquisitor, whom he found +at dinner. The friar asked him if he had heard mass that morning, +whereto he promptly answered, 'Ay have I, sir.' Quoth the inquisitor, +'Heardest thou aught therein whereof thou doubtest or would question?' +'Certes,' replied the good man, 'I doubt not of aught that I heard, +but do firmly believe all to be true. I did indeed hear something +which caused and yet causeth me have the greatest compassion of you +and your brother friars, bethinking me of the ill case wherein you +will find yourselves over yonder in the next life.' 'And what was it +that moved thee to such compassion of us?' asked the inquisitor. +'Sir,' answered the other, 'it was that verse of the Evangel, which +saith, "For every one ye shall receive an hundred." 'That is true,' +rejoined the inquisitor; 'but why did these words move thee thus?' +'Sir,' replied the good man, 'I will tell you. Since I have been used +to resort hither, I have seen give out every day to a multitude of +poor folk now one and now two vast great cauldrons of broth, which had +been taken away from before yourself and the other brethren of this +convent, as superfluous; wherefore, if for each one of these cauldrons +of broth there be rendered you an hundred in the world to come, you +will have so much thereof that you will assuredly all be drowned +therein.'</p> + +<p>All who were at the inquisitor's table<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37"></a></span> fell a-laughing; but the +latter, feeling the hit at the broth-swilling<a name="FNanchor_58_58" id="FNanchor_58_58"></a><a href="#Footnote_58_58" class="fnanchor">[58]</a> hypocrisy of himself +and his brethren, was mightily incensed, and but that he had gotten +blame for that which he had already done, he would have saddled him +with another prosecution, for that with a laughable speech he had +rebuked him and his brother good-for-noughts; wherefore, of his +despite, he bade him thenceforward do what most pleased him and not +come before him again."</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="THE_SEVENTH_STORY" id="THE_SEVENTH_STORY"></a>THE SEVENTH STORY</h2> + +<div class="sidenote">Day the First</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="hang">BERGAMINO, WITH A STORY OF PRIMASSO AND THE ABBOT OF CLUNY, +COURTEOUSLY REBUKETH A FIT OF PARSIMONY NEWLY COME TO MESSER +CANE DELLA SCALA</p></div> + + +<p><br /><span class="smcap">Emilia's</span> pleasantness and her story moved the queen and all the rest +to laugh and applaud the rare conceit of this new-fangled crusader. +Then, after the laughter had subsided and all were silent again, +Filostrato, whose turn it was to tell, began to speak on this wise: +"It is a fine thing, noble ladies, to hit a mark that never stirreth; +but it is well-nigh miraculous if, when some unwonted thing appeareth +of a sudden, it be forthright stricken of an archer. The lewd and +filthy life of the clergy, in many things as it were a constant mark +for malice, giveth without much difficulty occasion to all who have a +mind to speak of, to gird at and rebuke it; wherefore, albeit the +worthy man, who pierced the inquisitor to the quick touching the +hypocritical charity of the friars, who give to the poor that which it +should behove them cast to the swine or throw away, did well, I hold +him much more to be commended of whom, the foregoing tale moving me +thereto, I am to speak and who with a quaint story rebuked Messer Cane +della Scala, a magnificent nobleman, of a sudden and unaccustomed +niggardliness newly appeared in him, figuring, in the person of +another, that which he purposed to say to him concerning themselves; +the which was on this wise.</p> + +<p>As very manifest renown proclaimeth well nigh throughout the whole +world, Messer Cane della Scala, to whom in many things fortune was +favourable, was one of the most notable and most magnificent gentlemen +that have been known in Italy since the days of the Emperor Frederick +the Second. Being minded to make a notable and wonder-goodly +entertainment in Verona, whereunto many folk should have come from +divers parts and especially men of art<a name="FNanchor_59_59" id="FNanchor_59_59"></a><a href="#Footnote_59_59" class="fnanchor">[59]</a> of all kinds, he of a +sudden (whatever might have been the cause) withdrew therefrom and +having in a measure requited those who were come thither, dismissed +them all, save only one, Bergamino by name, a man ready of speech and +accomplished beyond the credence of whoso had not heard him, who, +having received neither largesse nor dis<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38"></a></span>missal, abode behind, in the +hope that his stay might prove to his future advantage. But Messer +Cane had taken it into his mind that what thing soever he might give +him were far worse bestowed than if it had been thrown into the fire, +nor of this did he bespeak him or let tell him aught.</p> + +<p>Bergamino, after some days, finding himself neither called upon nor +required unto aught that pertained to his craft and wasting his +substance, to boot, in the hostelry with his horses and his servants, +began to be sore concerned, but waited yet, himseeming he would not do +well to depart. Now he had brought with him three goodly and rich +suits of apparel, which had been given him of other noblemen, that he +might make a brave appearance at the festival, and his host pressing +for payment, he gave one thereof to him. After this, tarrying yet +longer, it behoved him give the host the second suit, an he would +abide longer with him, and withal he began to live upon the third, +resolved to abide in expectation so long as this should last and then +depart. Whilst he thus fed upon the third suit, he chanced one day, +Messer Cane being at dinner, to present himself before him with a +rueful countenance, and Messer Cane, seeing this, more by way of +rallying him than of intent to divert himself with any of his speech, +said to him, 'What aileth thee, Bergamino, to stand thus disconsolate? +Tell us somewhat.'<a name="FNanchor_60_60" id="FNanchor_60_60"></a><a href="#Footnote_60_60" class="fnanchor">[60]</a> Whereupon Bergamino, without a moment's +hesitation, forthright, as if he had long considered it, related the +following story to the purpose of his own affairs.</p> + +<p>'My lord,' said he, 'you must know that Primasso was a very learned +grammarian<a name="FNanchor_61_61" id="FNanchor_61_61"></a><a href="#Footnote_61_61" class="fnanchor">[61]</a> and a skilful and ready verse-maker above all others, +which things rendered him so notable and so famous that, albeit he +might not everywhere be known by sight, there was well nigh none who +knew him not by name and by report. It chanced that, finding himself +once at Paris in poor case, as indeed he abode most times, for that +worth is<a name="FNanchor_62_62" id="FNanchor_62_62"></a><a href="#Footnote_62_62" class="fnanchor">[62]</a> little prized of those who can most,<a name="FNanchor_63_63" id="FNanchor_63_63"></a><a href="#Footnote_63_63" class="fnanchor">[63]</a> he heard speak +of the Abbot of Cluny, who is believed to be, barring the Pope, the +richest prelate of his revenues that the Church of God possesseth, and +of him he heard tell marvellous and magnificent things, in that he +still held open house nor were meat and drink ever denied to any who +went whereas he might be, so but he sought it what time the Abbot was +at meat. Primasso, hearing this and being one who delighted in looking +upon men of worth and nobility, determined to go see the magnificence +of this Abbot and enquired how near he then abode to Paris. It was +answered him that he was then at a place of his maybe half a dozen +miles thence; wherefore Primasso<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39"></a></span> thought to be there at dinner-time, +by starting in the morning betimes.</p> + +<p>Accordingly, he enquired the way, but, finding none bound thither, he +feared lest he might go astray by mischance and happen on a part where +there might be no victual so readily to be found; wherefore, in order +that, if this should betide, he might not suffer for lack of food, he +bethought himself to carry with him three cakes of bread, judging that +water (albeit it was little to his taste) he should find everywhere. +The bread he put in his bosom and setting out, was fortunate enough to +reach the Abbot's residence before the eating-hour. He entered and +went spying all about and seeing the great multitude of tables set and +the mighty preparations making in the kitchen and what not else +provided against dinner, said in himself, "Of a truth this Abbot is as +magnificent as folk say." After he had abidden awhile intent upon +these things, the Abbot's seneschal, eating-time being come, bade +bring water for the hands; which being done, he seated each man at +table, and it chanced that Primasso was set right over against the +door of the chamber, whence the Abbot should come forth into the +eating-hall.</p> + +<p>Now it was the usance in that house that neither wine nor bread nor +aught else of meat or drink should ever be set on the tables, except +the Abbot were first came to sit at his own table. Accordingly, the +seneschal, having set the tables, let tell the Abbot that, whenas it +pleased him, the meat was ready. The Abbot let open the chamber-door, +that he might pass into the saloon, and looking before him as he came, +as chance would have it, the first who met his eyes was Primasso, who +was very ill accoutred and whom he knew not by sight. When he saw him, +incontinent there came into his mind an ill thought and one that had +never yet been there, and he said in himself, "See to whom I give my +substance to eat!" Then, turning back, he bade shut the chamber-door +and enquired of those who were about him if any knew yonder losel who +sat at table over against his chamber-door; but all answered no.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile Primasso, who had a mind to eat, having come a journey and +being unused to fast, waited awhile and seeing that the Abbot came +not, pulled out of his bosom one of the three cakes of bread he had +brought with him and fell to eating. The Abbot, after he had waited +awhile, bade one of his serving-men look if Primasso were gone, and +the man answered, "No, my lord; nay, he eateth bread, which it seemeth +he hath brought with him." Quoth the Abbot, "Well, let him eat of his +own, an he have thereof; for of ours he shall not eat to-day." Now he +would fain have had Primasso depart of his own motion, himseeming it +were not well done to turn him away; but the latter, having eaten one +cake of bread and the Abbot coming not, began upon the second; the +which was likewise reported to the Abbot, who had caused look if he +were gone.</p> + +<p>At last, the Abbot still tarrying, Primasso, having eaten the second +cake, began upon the third, and this again was reported to the Abbot, +who fell a-pondering in himself and saying, "Alack, what new maggot is +this that is come into my head to-day? What avarice! What despite! And +for whom? This many a year have I given my substance to eat to +whosoever had a mind<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40"></a></span> thereto, without regarding if he were gentle or +simple, poor or rich, merchant or huckster, and have seen it with mine +own eyes squandered by a multitude of ribald knaves; nor ever yet came +there to my mind the thought that hath entered into me for yonder man. +Of a surety avarice cannot have assailed me for a man of little +account; needs must this who seemeth to me a losel be some great +matter, since my soul hath thus repugned to do him honour."</p> + +<p>So saying, he desired to know who he was and finding that it was +Primasso, whom he had long known by report for a man of merit, come +thither to see with his own eyes that which he had heard of his +magnificence, was ashamed and eager to make him amends, studied in +many ways to do him honour. Moreover, after eating, he caused clothe +him sumptuously, as befitted his quality, and giving him money and a +palfrey, left it to his own choice to go or stay; whereupon Primasso, +well pleased with his entertainment, rendered him the best thanks in +his power and returned on horseback to Paris, whence he had set out +afoot.</p> + +<p>Messer Cane, who was a gentleman of understanding, right well +apprehended Bergamino's meaning, without further exposition, and said +to him, smiling, 'Bergamino, thou hast very aptly set forth to me thy +wrongs and merit and my niggardliness, as well as that which thou +wouldst have of me; and in good sooth, never, save now on thine +account, have I been assailed of parsimony; but I will drive it away +with that same stick which thou thyself hast shown me.' Then, letting +pay Bergamino's host and clothing himself most sumptuously in a suit +of his own apparel, he gave him money and a palfrey and committed to +his choice for the nonce to go or stay."</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="THE_EIGHTH_STORY" id="THE_EIGHTH_STORY"></a>THE EIGHTH STORY</h2> + +<div class="sidenote">Day the First</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="hang">GUGLIELMO BORSIERE WITH SOME QUAINT WORDS REBUKETH THE +NIGGARDLINESS OF MESSER ERMINO DE' GRIMALDI</p></div> + + +<p><br /><span class="smcap">Next</span> Filostrato sat Lauretta, who, after she had heard Bergamino's +address commended, perceiving that it behoved her tell somewhat, +began, without awaiting any commandment, blithely to speak thus: "The +foregoing story, dear companions,<a name="FNanchor_64_64" id="FNanchor_64_64"></a><a href="#Footnote_64_64" class="fnanchor">[64]</a> bringeth me in mind to tell how +an honest minstrel on like wise and not without fruit rebuked the +covetise of a very rich merchant, the which, albeit in effect it +resembleth the last story, should not therefore be less agreeable to +you, considering that good came thereof in the end.</p> + +<p>There was, then, in Genoa, a good while agone, a gentleman called +Messer Ermino de' Grimaldi, who (according to general belief) far +overpassed in wealth of lands and monies the riches of whatsoever +other richest citizen was then known in Italy; and like as he excelled +all other Italians in wealth, even so in avarice and sordidness he +outwent beyond compare every other<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41"></a></span> miser and curmudgeon in the world; +for not only did he keep a strait purse in the matter of hospitality, +but, contrary to the general usance of the Genoese, who are wont to +dress sumptuously, he suffered the greatest privations in things +necessary to his own person, no less than in meat and in drink, rather +than be at any expense; by reason whereof the surname de' Grimaldi had +fallen away from him and he was deservedly called of all only Messer +Ermino Avarizia.</p> + +<p>It chanced that, whilst, by dint of spending not, he multiplied his +wealth, there came to Genoa a worthy minstrel,<a name="FNanchor_65_65" id="FNanchor_65_65"></a><a href="#Footnote_65_65" class="fnanchor">[65]</a> both well-bred and +well-spoken, by name Guglielmo Borsiere, a man no whit like those<a name="FNanchor_66_66" id="FNanchor_66_66"></a><a href="#Footnote_66_66" class="fnanchor">[66]</a> +of the present day, who (to the no small reproach of the corrupt and +blameworthy usances of those<a name="FNanchor_67_67" id="FNanchor_67_67"></a><a href="#Footnote_67_67" class="fnanchor">[67]</a> who nowadays would fain be called and +reputed gentlefolk and seigniors) are rather to be styled asses, +reared in all the beastliness and depravity of the basest of mankind, +than [minstrels, bred] in the courts [of kings and princes]. In those +times it used to be a minstrel's office and his wont to expend his +pains in negotiating treaties of peace, where feuds or despites had +befallen between noblemen, or transacting marriages, alliances and +friendships, in solacing the minds of the weary and diverting courts +with quaint and pleasant sayings, ay, and with sharp reproofs, +father-like, rebuking the misdeeds of the froward,—and this for +slight enough reward; but nowadays they study to spend their time in +hawking evil reports from one to another, in sowing discord, in +speaking naughtiness and obscenity and (what is worse) doing them in +all men's presence, in imputing evil doings, lewdnesses and knaveries, +true or false, one to other, and in prompting men of condition with +treacherous allurements to base and shameful actions; and he is most +cherished and honoured and most munificently entertained and rewarded +of the sorry unmannerly noblemen of our time who saith and doth the +most abominable words and deeds; a sore and shameful reproach to the +present age and a very manifest proof that the virtues have departed +this lower world and left us wretched mortals to wallow in the slough +of the vices.</p> + +<p>But to return to my story, from which a just indignation hath carried +me somewhat farther astray than I purposed,—I say that the aforesaid +Guglielmo was honoured by all the gentlemen of Genoa and gladly seen +of them, and having sojourned some days in the city and hearing many +tales of Messer Ermino's avarice and sordidness, he desired to see +him. Messer Ermino having already<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42"></a></span> heard how worthy a man was this +Guglielmo Borsiere and having yet, all miser as he was, some tincture +of gentle breeding, received him with very amicable words and blithe +aspect and entered with him into many and various discourses. Devising +thus, he carried him, together with other Genoese who were in his +company, into a fine new house of his which he had lately built and +after having shown it all to him, said, 'Pray, Messer Guglielmo, you +who have seen and heard many things, can you tell me of something that +was never yet seen, which I may have depictured in the saloon of this +my house?' Guglielmo, hearing this his preposterous question, +answered, 'Sir, I doubt me I cannot undertake to tell you of aught +that was never yet seen, except it were sneezings or the like; but, an +it like you, I will tell you of somewhat which me thinketh you never +yet beheld.' Quoth Messer Ermino, not looking for such an answer as he +got, 'I pray you tell me what it is.' Whereto Guglielmo promptly +replied, 'Cause Liberality to be here depictured.'</p> + +<p>When Messer Ermino heard this speech, there took him incontinent such +a shame that it availed in a manner to change his disposition +altogether to the contrary of that which it had been and he said, +'Messer Guglielmo, I will have it here depictured after such a fashion +that neither you nor any other shall ever again have cause to tell me +that I have never seen nor known it.' And from that time forth (such +was the virtue of Guglielmo's words) he was the most liberal and the +most courteous gentleman of his day in Genoa and he who most +hospitably entreated both strangers and citizens."</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="THE_NINTH_STORY" id="THE_NINTH_STORY"></a>THE NINTH STORY</h2> + +<div class="sidenote">Day the First</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="hang">THE KING OF CYPRUS, TOUCHED TO THE QUICK BY A GASCON LADY, +FROM A MEAN-SPIRITED PRINCE BECOMETH A MAN OF WORTH AND +VALIANCE</p></div> + + +<p><br /><span class="smcap">The</span> Queen's last commandment rested with Elisa, who, without awaiting +it, began all blithely, "Young ladies, it hath often chanced that what +all manner reproofs and many pains<a name="FNanchor_68_68" id="FNanchor_68_68"></a><a href="#Footnote_68_68" class="fnanchor">[68]</a> bestowed upon a man have not +availed to bring about in him hath been effected by a word more often +spoken at hazard than of purpose aforethought. This is very well shown +in the story related by Lauretta and I, in my turn, purpose to prove +to you the same thing by means of another and a very short one; for +that, since good things may still serve, they should be received with +a mind attent, whoever be the sayer thereof.</p> + +<p>I say, then, that in the days of the first King of Cyprus, after the +conquest of the Holy Land by Godefroi de Bouillon, it chanced that a +gentlewoman of Gascony went on a pilgrimage to the Holy Sepulchre and +returning thence, came to Cyprus, where she was shamefully abused of +certain lewd fellows; whereof having complained, without getting any +satisfaction, she thought to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43"></a></span> appeal to the King for redress, but was +told that she would lose her pains, for that he was of so abject a +composition and so little of worth that, far from justifying others of +their wrongs, he endured with shameful pusillanimity innumerable +affronts offered to himself, insomuch that whose had any grudge +[against him] was wont to vent his despite by doing him some shame or +insult.</p> + +<p>The lady, hearing this and despairing of redress, bethought herself, +by way of some small solacement of her chagrin, to seek to rebuke the +king's pusillanimity; wherefore, presenting herself in tears before +him, she said to him, 'My lord, I come not into thy presence for any +redress that I expect of the wrong that hath been done me; but in +satisfaction thereof, I prithee teach me how thou dost to suffer those +affronts which I understand are offered unto thyself, so haply I may +learn of thee patiently to endure mine own, the which God knoweth, an +I might, I would gladly bestow on thee, since thou art so excellent a +supporter thereof.'</p> + +<p>The King, who till then had been sluggish and supine, awoke as if from +sleep and beginning with the wrong done to the lady, which he cruelly +avenged, thenceforth became a very rigorous prosecutor of all who +committed aught against the honour of his crown."</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="THE_TENTH_STORY" id="THE_TENTH_STORY"></a>THE TENTH STORY</h2> + +<div class="sidenote">Day the First</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="hang">MASTER ALBERTO OF BOLOGNA CIVILLY PUTTETH A LADY TO THE +BLUSH WHO THOUGHT TO HAVE SHAMED HIM OF BEING ENAMOURED OF +HER</p></div> + + +<p><br /><span class="smcap">Elisa</span> being now silent, the last burden of the story-telling rested +with the queen, who, with womanly grace beginning to speak, said, +"Noble damsels, like as in the lucid nights the stars are the ornament +of the sky and as in Spring-time the flowers of the green meadows, +even so are commendable manners and pleasing discourse adorned by +witty sallies, which latter, for that they are brief, are yet more +beseeming to women than to men, inasmuch as much and long speech, +whenas it may be dispensed with, is straitlier forbidden unto women +than to men, albeit nowadays there are few or no women left who +understand a sprightly saying or, if they understand it, know how to +answer it, to the general shame be it said of ourselves and of all +women alive. For that virtue,<a name="FNanchor_69_69" id="FNanchor_69_69"></a><a href="#Footnote_69_69" class="fnanchor">[69]</a> which was erst in the minds of the +women of times past, those of our day have diverted to the adornment +of the body, and she on whose back are to be seen the most motley +garments and the most gaudily laced and garded and garnished with the +greatest plenty of fringes and purflings and broidery deemeth herself +worthy to be held of far more account than her fellows and to be +honoured above them, considering not that, were it a question of who +should load her back and shoul<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44"></a></span>ders with bravery, an ass would carry +much more thereof than any of them nor would therefore be honoured for +more than an ass.</p> + +<p>I blush to avow it, for that I cannot say aught against other women +but I say it against myself; these women that are so laced and purfled +and painted and parti-coloured abide either mute and senseless, like +marble statues, or, an they be questioned, answer after such a fashion +that it were far better to have kept silence. And they would have you +believe that their unableness to converse among ladies and men of +parts proceedeth from purity of mind, and to their witlessness they +give the name of modesty, as if forsooth no woman were modest but she +who talketh with her chamberwoman or her laundress or her bake-wench; +the which had Nature willed, as they would have it believed, she had +assuredly limited unto them their prattle on other wise. It is true +that in this, as in other things, it behoveth to have regard to time +and place and with whom one talketh; for that it chanceth bytimes that +women or men, thinking with some pleasantry or other to put another to +the blush and not having well measured their own powers with those of +the latter, find that confusion, which they thought to cast upon +another, recoil upon themselves. Wherefore, so you may know how to +keep yourselves and that, to boot, you may not serve as a text for the +proverb which is current everywhere, to wit, that women in everything +still take the worst, I would have you learn a lesson from the last of +to-day's stories, which falleth to me to tell, to the intent that, +even as you are by nobility of mind distinguished from other women, so +likewise you may show yourselves no less removed from them by +excellence of manners.</p> + +<p>It is not many years since there lived (and belike yet liveth) at +Bologna a very great and famous physician, known by manifest renown to +well nigh all the world. His name was Master Alberto and such was the +vivacity of his spirit that, albeit he was an old man of hard upon +seventy years of age and well nigh all natural heat had departed his +body, he scrupled not to expose himself to the flames of love; for +that, having seen at an entertainment a very beautiful widow lady, +called, as some say, Madam Malgherida<a name="FNanchor_70_70" id="FNanchor_70_70"></a><a href="#Footnote_70_70" class="fnanchor">[70]</a> de' Ghisolieri, and being +vastly taken with her, he received into his mature bosom, no otherwise +than if he had been a young gallant, the amorous fire, insomuch that +himseemed he rested not well by night, except the day foregone he had +looked upon the delicate and lovesome countenance of the fair lady. +Wherefore he fell to passing continually before her house, now afoot +and now on horseback, as the occasion served him, insomuch that she +and many other ladies got wind of the cause of his constant passings +to and fro and oftentimes made merry among themselves to see a man +thus ripe of years and wit in love, as if they deemed that that most +pleasant passion of love took root and flourished only in the silly +minds of the young and not otherwhere.</p> + +<p>What while he continued to pass back and forth, it chanced one holiday +that, the lady being seated with many others before her door and +espying Master Alberto making towards them from<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45"></a></span> afar, they one and +all took counsel together to entertain him and do him honour and after +to rally him on that his passion. Accordingly, they all rose to +receive him and inviting him [to enter,] carried him into a shady +courtyard, whither they let bring the choicest of wines and sweetmeats +and presently enquired of him, in very civil and pleasant terms, how +it might be that he was fallen enamoured of that fair lady, knowing +her to be loved of many handsome, young and sprightly gentlemen. The +physician, finding himself thus courteously attacked, put on a blithe +countenance and answered, 'Madam, that I love should be no marvel to +any understanding person, and especially that I love yourself, for +that you deserve it; and albeit old men are by operation of nature +bereft of the vigour that behoveth unto amorous exercises, yet not for +all that are they bereft of the will nor of the wit to apprehend that +which is worthy to be loved; nay, this latter is naturally the better +valued of them, inasmuch as they have more knowledge and experience +than the young. As for the hope that moveth me, who am an old man, to +love you who are courted of many young gallants, it is on this wise: I +have been many a time where I have seen ladies lunch and eat lupins +and leeks. Now, although in the leek no part is good, yet is the +head<a name="FNanchor_71_71" id="FNanchor_71_71"></a><a href="#Footnote_71_71" class="fnanchor">[71]</a> thereof less hurtful and more agreeable to the taste; but you +ladies, moved by a perverse appetite, commonly hold the head in your +hand and munch the leaves, which are not only naught, but of an ill +savour. How know I, madam, but you do the like in the election of your +lovers? In which case, I should be the one chosen of you and the +others would be turned away.'</p> + +<p>The gentlewoman and her companions were somewhat abashed and said, +'Doctor, you have right well and courteously chastised our +presumptuous emprise; algates, your love is dear to me, as should be +that of a man of worth and learning; wherefore, you may in all +assurance command me, as your creature, of your every pleasure, saving +only mine honour.' The physician, rising with his companions, thanked +the lady and taking leave of her with laughter and merriment, departed +thence. Thus the lady, looking not whom she rallied and thinking to +discomfit another, was herself discomfited; wherefrom, an you be wise, +you will diligently guard yourselves."</p> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p>The sun had begun to decline towards the evening, and the heat was in +great part abated, when the stories of the young ladies and of the +three young men came to an end; whereupon quoth the queen +blithesomely, "Henceforth, dear companions, there remaineth nought +more to do in the matter of my governance for the present day, save to +give you a new queen, who shall, according to her judgment, order her +life and ours, for that<a name="FNanchor_72_72" id="FNanchor_72_72"></a><a href="#Footnote_72_72" class="fnanchor">[72]</a> which is to come, unto honest pleasance. +And albeit the day may be held to endure from now until nightfall, +yet,—for that whoso taketh not somewhat of time in advance cannot, +meseemeth, so well provide for the future and in order that what the +new queen shall deem needful for the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46"></a></span> morrow may be +prepared,—methinketh the ensuing days should commence at this hour. +Wherefore, in reverence of Him unto whom all things live and for our +own solacement, Filomena, a right discreet damsel, shall, as queen, +govern our kingdom for the coming day." So saying, she rose to her +feet and putting off the laurel-wreath, set it reverently on the head +of Filomena, whom first herself and after all the other ladies and the +young men likewise saluted as queen, cheerfully submitting themselves +to her governance.</p> + +<p>Filomena blushed somewhat to find herself invested with the queendom, +but, calling to mind the words a little before spoken by +Pampinea,<a name="FNanchor_73_73" id="FNanchor_73_73"></a><a href="#Footnote_73_73" class="fnanchor">[73]</a>—in order that she might not appear witless, she resumed +her assurance and in the first place confirmed all the offices given +by Pampinea; then, having declared that they should abide whereas they +were, she appointed that which was to do against the ensuing morning, +as well as for that night's supper, and after proceeded to speak thus:</p> + +<p>"Dearest companions, albeit Pampinea, more of her courtesy than for +any worth of mine, hath made me queen of you all, I am not therefore +disposed to follow my judgment alone in the manner of our living, but +yours together with mine; and that you may know that which meseemeth +is to do and consequently at your pleasure add thereto or abate +thereof, I purpose briefly to declare it to you.</p> + +<p>If I have well noted the course this day held by Pampinea, meseemeth I +have found it alike praiseworthy and delectable; wherefore till such +time as, for overlong continuance or other reason, it grow irksome to +us, I judge it not to be changed. Order, then, being taken for [the +continuance of] that which we have already begun to do, we will, +arising hence, go awhile a-pleasuring, and whenas the sun shall be for +going under, we will sup in the cool of the evening, and after sundry +canzonets and other pastimes, we shall do well to betake ourselves to +sleep. To-morrow, rising in the cool of the morning, we will on like +wise go somewhither a-pleasuring, as shall be most agreeable to every +one; and as we have done to-day, we will at the due hour come back to +eat; after which we will dance and when we arise from sleep, as to-day +we have done, we will return hither to our story-telling, wherein +meseemeth a very great measure to consist alike of pleasance and of +profit. Moreover, that which Pampinea had indeed no opportunity of +doing, by reason of her late election to the governance, I purpose now +to enter upon, to wit, to limit within some bound that whereof we are +to tell and to declare it<a name="FNanchor_74_74" id="FNanchor_74_74"></a><a href="#Footnote_74_74" class="fnanchor">[74]</a> to you beforehand, so each of you may +have leisure to think of some goodly story to relate upon the theme +proposed, the which, an it please you, shall be on this wise; namely, +seeing that since the beginning of the world men have been and will +be, until the end thereof, bandied about by various shifts of fortune, +each shall be holden to tell OF THOSE WHO AFTER BEING BAFFLED BY +DIVERS CHANCES HAVE WON AT LAST TO A JOYFUL ISSUE BEYOND THEIR HOPE."</p> + +<p>Ladies and men alike all commended<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47"></a></span> this ordinance and declared +themselves ready to ensue it. Only Dioneo, the others all being +silent, said, "Madam, as all the rest have said, so say I, to wit that +the ordinance given by you is exceeding pleasant and commendable; but +of especial favour I crave you a boon, which I would have confirmed to +me for such time as our company shall endure, to wit, that I may not +be constrained by this your law to tell a story upon the given theme, +an it like me not, but shall be free to tell that which shall most +please me. And that none may think I seek this favour as one who hath +not stories, in hand, from this time forth I am content to be still +the last to tell."</p> + +<p>The queen,—who knew him for a merry man and a gamesome and was well +assured that he asked this but that he might cheer the company with +some laughable story, whenas they should be weary of +discoursing,—with the others' consent, cheerfully accorded him the +favour he sought. Then, arising from session, with slow steps they +took their way towards a rill of very clear water, that ran down from +a little hill, amid great rocks and green herbage, into a valley +overshaded with many trees and there, going about in the water, +bare-armed and shoeless, they fell to taking various diversions among +themselves, till supper-time drew near, when they returned to the +palace and there supped merrily. Supper ended, the queen called for +instruments of music and bade Lauretta lead up a dance, whilst Emilia +sang a song, to the accompaniment of Dioneo's lute. Accordingly, +Lauretta promptly set up a dance and led it off, whilst Emilia +amorously warbled the following song:</p> + +<p class="cpoem"> +I burn for mine own charms with such a fire,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Methinketh that I ne'er</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Of other love shall reck or have desire.</span><br /> +<br /> +Whene'er I mirror me, I see therein<a name="FNanchor_75_75" id="FNanchor_75_75"></a><a href="#Footnote_75_75" class="fnanchor">[75]</a><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">That good which still contenteth heart and spright;</span><br /> +Nor fortune new nor thought of old can win<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">To dispossess me of such dear delight.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">What other object, then, could fill my sight,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Enough of pleasance e'er</span><br /> +To kindle in my breast a new desire?<br /> +<br /> +This good flees not, what time soe'er I'm fain<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Afresh to view it for my solacement;</span><br /> +Nay, at my pleasure, ever and again<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">With such a grace it doth itself present</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Speech cannot tell it nor its full intent</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Be known of mortal e'er,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Except indeed he burn with like desire.</span><br /> +<br /> +And I, grown more enamoured every hour,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">The straitlier fixed mine eyes upon it be,</span><br /> +Give all myself and yield me to its power,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">E'en tasting now of that it promised me,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">And greater joyance yet I hope to see,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Of such a strain as ne'er</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Was proven here below of love-desire.</span><br /> +</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48"></a></span></p> +<p>Lauretta having thus made an end of her ballad,<a name="FNanchor_76_76" id="FNanchor_76_76"></a><a href="#Footnote_76_76" class="fnanchor">[76]</a>—in the burden of +which all had blithely joined, albeit the words thereof gave some much +matter for thought,—divers other rounds were danced and a part of the +short night being now spent, it pleased the queen to give an end to +the first day; wherefore, letting kindle the flambeaux, she commanded +that all should betake themselves to rest until the ensuing morning, +and all, accordingly, returning to their several chambers, did so.</p> + + +<p class="center"><br /> +<b>HERE ENDETH THE FIRST DAY<br /> +OF THE DECAMERON</b><br /> +</p> + + + +<hr class="long" /> +<h1><a name="Day_the_Second" id="Day_the_Second"></a><i>Day the Second</i></h1> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="hang"><span class="lgsmcap">Here Beginneth the Second Day of the Decameron Wherein Under +the Governance of Filomena Is Discoursed of Those Who After +Being Baffled by Divers Chances Have Won at Last to a Joyful +Issue Beyond Their Hope</span></p></div> + + +<p><br /><span class="smcap">The</span> sun had already everywhere brought on the new day with its light +and the birds, carolling blithely among the green branches, bore +witness thereof unto the ear with their merry songs, when the ladies +and the three young men, arising all, entered the gardens and pressing +the dewy grass with slow step, went wandering hither and thither, +weaving goodly garlands and disporting themselves, a great while. And +like as they had done the day foregone, even so did they at present; +to wit, having eaten in the cool and danced awhile, they betook them +to repose and arising thence after none, came all, by command of their +queen, into the fresh meadows, where they seated themselves round +about her. Then she, who was fair of favour and exceeding pleasant of +aspect, having sat awhile, crowned with her laurel wreath, and looked +all her company in the face, bade Neifile give beginning to the day's +stories by telling one of her fashion; whereupon the latter, without +making any excuse, blithely began to speak thus:</p> + + +<hr class="short" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49"></a></span></p> +<h2><br /><a name="THE_FIRST_STORY2" id="THE_FIRST_STORY2"></a>THE FIRST STORY</h2> + +<div class="sidenote">Day the Second</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="hang">MARTELLINO FEIGNETH HIMSELF A CRIPPLE AND MAKETH BELIEVE TO +WAX WHOLE UPON THE BODY OF ST. ARRIGO. HIS IMPOSTURE BEING +DISCOVERED, HE IS BEATEN AND BEING AFTER TAKEN [FOR A +THIEF,] GOETH IN PERIL OF BEING HANGED BY THE NECK, BUT +ULTIMATELY ESCAPETH</p></div> + + +<p><br />"<span class="smcap">It chanceth</span> oft, dearest ladies, that he who studieth to befool +others, and especially in things reverend, findeth himself with +nothing for his pains but flouts and whiles cometh not off scathless. +Wherefore, that I may obey the queen's commandment and give beginning +to the appointed theme with a story of mine, I purpose to relate to +you that which, first misfortunately and after happily, beyond his +every thought, betided a townsman of ours.</p> + +<p>No great while agone there was at Treviso a German called Arrigo, who, +being a poor man, served whoso required him to carry burdens for hire; +and withal he was held of all a man of very holy and good life. +Wherefore, be it true or untrue, when he died, it befell, according to +that which the Trevisans avouch, that, in the hour of his death, the +bells of the great church of Treviso began to ring, without being +pulled of any. The people of the city, accounting this a miracle, +proclaimed this Arrigo a saint and running all to the house where he +lay, bore his body, for that of a saint, to the Cathedral, whither +they fell to bringing the halt, the impotent and the blind and others +afflicted with whatsoever defect or infirmity, as if they should all +be made whole by the touch of the body.</p> + +<p>In the midst of this great turmoil and concourse of folk, it chanced +that there arrived at Treviso three of our townsmen, whereof one was +called Stecchi, another Martellino and the third Marchese, men who +visited the courts of princes and lords and diverted the beholders by +travestying themselves and counterfeiting whatsoever other man with +rare motions and grimaces. Never having been there before and seeing +all the folk run, they marvelled and hearing the cause, were for going +to see what was toward; wherefore they laid up their baggage at an inn +and Marchese said, 'We would fain go look upon this saint; but, for my +part, I see not how we may avail to win thither, for that I understand +the Cathedral place is full of German and other men-at-arms, whom the +lord of this city hath stationed there, so no riot may betide; more by +token that they say the church is so full of folk that well nigh none +else might enter there.' 'Let not that hinder you,' quoth Martellino, +who was all agog to see the show; 'I warrant you I will find a means +of winning to the holy body.' 'How so?' asked Marchese, and Martellino +answered, 'I will tell thee. I will counterfeit myself a cripple and +thou on one side and Stecchi on the other shall go upholding me, as it +were I could not walk of myself, making as if you would fain bring me +to the saint, so he may heal me. There will be none but, seeing us, +will make way for us and let us pass.'</p> + +<p>The device pleased Marchese and Stecchi and they went forth of the inn +without delay, all three. Whenas they<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50"></a></span> came to a solitary place, +Martellino writhed his hands and fingers and arms and legs and eke his +mouth and eyes and all his visnomy on such wise that it was a +frightful thing to look upon, nor was there any saw him but would have +avouched him to be verily all fordone and palsied of his person. +Marchese and Stecchi, taking him up, counterfeited as he was, made +straight for the church, with a show of the utmost compunction, humbly +beseeching all who came in their way for the love of God to make room +for them, the which was lightly yielded them. Brief, every one gazing +on them and crying well nigh all, 'Make way! Make way!' they came +whereas Saint Arrigo's body lay and Martellino was forthright taken up +by certain gentlemen who stood around and laid upon the body, so he +might thereby regain the benefit of health. Martellino, having lain +awhile, whilst all the folk were on the stretch to see what should +come of him, began, as right well he knew how, to make a show of +opening first one finger, then a hand and after putting forth an arm +and so at last coming to stretch himself out altogether. Which when +the people saw, they set up such an outcry in praise of Saint Arrigo +as would have drowned the very thunder.</p> + +<p>Now, as chance would have it, there was therenigh a certain +Florentine, who knew Martellino very well, but had not recognized him, +counterfeited as he was, whenas he was brought thither. However, when +he saw him grown straight again, he knew him and straightway fell +a-laughing and saying, 'God confound him! Who that saw him come had +not deemed him palsied in good earnest?' His words were overheard of +sundry Trevisans, who asked him incontinent, 'How! Was he not +palsied?' 'God forbid!' answered the Florentine. 'He hath ever been as +straight as any one of us; but he knoweth better than any man in the +world how to play off tricks of this kind and counterfeit what shape +soever he will.'</p> + +<p>When the others heard this, there needed nothing farther; but they +pushed forward by main force and fell a-crying out and saying, 'Seize +yonder traitor and scoffer at God and His saints, who, being whole of +his body, hath come hither, in the guise of a cripple, to make mock of +us and of our saint!' So saying, they laid hold of Martellino and +pulled him down from the place where he lay. Then, taking him by the +hair of his head and tearing all the clothes off his back, they fell +upon him with cuffs and kicks; nor himseemed was there a man in the +place but ran to do likewise. Martellino roared out, 'Mercy, for God's +sake!' and fended himself as best he might, but to no avail; for the +crowd redoubled upon him momently. Stecchi and Marchese, seeing this, +began to say one to the other that things stood ill, but, fearing for +themselves, dared not come to his aid; nay, they cried out with the +rest to put him to death, bethinking them the while how they might +avail to fetch him out of the hands of the people, who would certainly +have slain him, but for a means promptly taken by Marchese; to wit, +all the officers of the Seignory being without the church, he betook +himself as quickliest he might, to him who commanded for the Provost +and said, 'Help, for God's sake! There is a lewd fellow within who +hath cut my purse, with a good hundred gold florins. I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51"></a></span> pray you take +him, so I may have mine own again.'</p> + +<p>Hearing this, a round dozen of sergeants ran straightway whereas the +wretched Martellino was being carded without a comb and having with +the greatest pains in the world broken through the crowd, dragged him +out of the people's hands, all bruised and tumbled as he was, and +haled him off to the palace, whither many followed him who held +themselves affronted of him and hearing that he had been taken for a +cutpurse and themseeming they had no better occasion<a name="FNanchor_77_77" id="FNanchor_77_77"></a><a href="#Footnote_77_77" class="fnanchor">[77]</a> of doing him +an ill turn,<a name="FNanchor_78_78" id="FNanchor_78_78"></a><a href="#Footnote_78_78" class="fnanchor">[78]</a> began each on like wise to say that he had cut his +purse. The Provost's judge, who was a crabbed, ill-conditioned fellow, +hearing this, forthright took him apart and began to examine him of +the matter; but Martellino answered jestingly, as if he made light of +his arrest; whereat the judge, incensed, caused truss him up and give +him two or three good bouts of the strappado, with intent to make him +confess that which they laid to his charge, so he might after have him +strung up by the neck.</p> + +<p>When he was let down again, the judge asked him once more if that were +true which the folk avouched against him, and Martellino, seeing that +it availed him not to deny, answered, 'My lord, I am ready to confess +the truth to you; but first make each who accuseth me say when and +where I cut his purse, and I will tell you what I did and what not.' +Quoth the judge, 'I will well,' and calling some of his accusers, put +the question to them; whereupon one said that he had cut his purse +eight, another six and a third four days agone, whilst some said that +very day. Martellino, hearing this, said, 'My lord, these all lie in +their throats and I can give you this proof that I tell you the truth, +inasmuch as would God it were as sure that I had never come hither as +it is that I was never in this place till a few hours agone; and as +soon as I arrived, I went, of my ill fortune, to see yonder holy body +in the church, where I was carded as you may see; and that this I say +is true, the Prince's officer who keepeth the register of strangers +can certify you, he and his book, as also can my host. If, therefore, +you find it as I tell you, I beseech you torture me not neither put me +to death at the instance of these wicked, men.'</p> + +<p>Whilst things were at this pass, Marchese and Stecchi, hearing that +the judge of the Provostry was proceeding rigorously against +Martellino and had already given him the strappado, were sore affeared +and said in themselves, 'We have gone the wrong way to work; we have +brought him forth of the frying-pan and cast him into the fire.' +Wherefore they went with all diligence in quest of their host and +having found him, related to him how the case stood. He laughed and +carried them to one Sandro Agolanti, who abode in Treviso and had +great interest with the Prince, and telling him everything in order,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52"></a></span> +joined with them in beseeching him to occupy himself with Martellino's +affairs. Sandro, after many a laugh, repaired to the Prince and +prevailed upon him to send for Martellino.</p> + +<p>The Prince's messengers found Martellino still in his shirt before the +judge, all confounded and sore adread, for that the judge would hear +nothing in his excuse; nay, having, by chance, some spite against the +people of Florence, he was altogether determined to hang him by the +neck and would on no wise render him up to the Prince till such time +as he was constrained thereto in his despite. Martellino, being +brought before the lord of the city and having told him everything in +order, besought him, by way of special favour, to let him go about his +business, for that, until he should be in Florence again, it would +still seem to him he had the rope about his neck. The Prince laughed +heartily at his mischance and let give each of the three a suit of +apparel, wherewith they returned home safe and sound, having, beyond +all their hope, escaped so great a peril."</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="THE_SECOND_STORY2" id="THE_SECOND_STORY2"></a>THE SECOND STORY</h2> + +<div class="sidenote">Day the Second</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="hang">RINALDO D'ASTI, HAVING BEEN ROBBED, MAKETH HIS WAY TO CASTEL +GUGLIELMO, WHERE HE IS HOSPITABLY ENTERTAINED BY A WIDOW +LADY AND HAVING MADE GOOD HIS LOSS, RETURNETH TO HIS OWN +HOUSE, SAFE AND SOUND</p></div> + + +<p><br /><span class="smcap">The</span> ladies laughed immoderately at Martellino's misfortunes narrated +by Neifile, as did also the young men and especially Filostrato, whom, +for that he sat next Neifile, the queen bade follow her in +story-telling. Accordingly he began without delay, "Fair ladies, needs +must I tell you a story<a name="FNanchor_79_79" id="FNanchor_79_79"></a><a href="#Footnote_79_79" class="fnanchor">[79]</a> of things Catholic,<a name="FNanchor_80_80" id="FNanchor_80_80"></a><a href="#Footnote_80_80" class="fnanchor">[80]</a> in part mingled +with misadventures and love-matters, which belike will not be other +than profitable to hear, especially to those who are wayfarers in the +perilous lands of love, wherein whoso hath not said St. Julian his +Paternoster is oftentimes ill lodged, for all he have a good bed.</p> + +<p>In the days, then, of the Marquis Azzo of Ferrara, there came a +merchant called Rinaldo d'Asti to Bologna on his occasions, which +having despatched and returning homeward, it chanced that, as he +issued forth of Ferrara and rode towards Verona, he fell in with +certain folk who seemed merchants, but were in truth highwaymen and +men of lewd life and condition, with whom he unwarily joined company +and entered into discourse. They, seeing him to be a merchant and +judging him to have monies about him, took counsel together to rob +him, at the first opportunity that should offer; wherefore, that he +might take no suspicion, they went devising with him, like decent +peaceable folk, of things honest and seemly and of loyalty, ordering +themselves toward him,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53"></a></span> in so far as they knew and could, with respect +and complaisance, so that he deemed himself in great luck to have met +with them, for that he was alone with a serving-man of his on +horseback.</p> + +<p>Thus faring on and passing from one thing to another, as it chanceth +in discourse, they presently fell to talking of the orisons that men +offer up to God, and one of the highwaymen, who were three in number, +said to Rinaldo, 'And you, fair sir, what orison do you use to say on +a journey?' Whereto he answered, 'Sooth to say, I am but a plain man +and little versed in these matters and have few orisons in hand; I +live after the old fashion and let a couple of shillings pass for +four-and-twenty pence.<a name="FNanchor_81_81" id="FNanchor_81_81"></a><a href="#Footnote_81_81" class="fnanchor">[81]</a> Nevertheless, I have still been wont, when +on a journey, to say of a morning, what time I come forth of the inn, +a Pater and an Ave for the soul of St. Julian's father and mother, +after which I pray God and the saint to grant me a good lodging for +the ensuing night. Many a time in my day have I, in the course of my +journeyings, been in great perils, from all of which I have escaped +and have still found myself at night, to boot, in a place of safety +and well lodged. Wherefore I firmly believe that St. Julian, in whose +honour I say it, hath gotten me this favour of God; nor meseemeth +should I fare well by day nor come to good harbourage at night, except +I had said it in the morning.' 'And did you say it<a name="FNanchor_82_82" id="FNanchor_82_82"></a><a href="#Footnote_82_82" class="fnanchor">[82]</a> this morning?' +asked he who had put the question to him. 'Ay did I,' answered +Rinaldo; whereupon quoth the other in himself, knowing well how the +thing was to go, 'May it stand thee in stead!<a name="FNanchor_83_83" id="FNanchor_83_83"></a><a href="#Footnote_83_83" class="fnanchor">[83]</a> For, an no hindrance +betide us, methinketh thou art e'en like to lodge ill.' Then, to +Rinaldo, 'I likewise,' quoth he, 'have travelled much and have never +said this orison, albeit I have heard it greatly commended, nor ever +hath it befallen me to lodge other than well; and this evening maybe +you shall chance to see which will lodge the better, you who have said +it or I who have not. True, I use, instead thereof, the <i>Dirupisti</i> or +the <i>Intemerata</i> or the <i>De Profundis</i>, the which, according to that +which a grandmother of mine used to tell me, are of singular virtue.'</p> + +<p>Discoursing thus of various matters and faring on their way, on the +look out the while for time and place apt unto their knavish purpose, +they came, late in the day, to a place a little beyond Castel +Guglielmo, where, at the fording of a river, the three rogues, seeing +the hour advanced and the spot solitary and close shut in, fell upon +Rinaldo and robbed him of money, clothes and horse. Then, leaving him +afoot and in his shirt, they departed, saying, 'Go see if thy St. +Julian will give thee a good lodging this night, even as ours<a name="FNanchor_84_84" id="FNanchor_84_84"></a><a href="#Footnote_84_84" class="fnanchor">[84]</a> will +assuredly do for us.' And passing the stream, they went their ways. +Rinaldo's servant, seeing him attacked, like a cowardly knave as he +was, did nought to help him, but turning his horse's head,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54"></a></span> never drew +bridle till he came to Castel Guglielmo and entering the town, took up +his lodging there, without giving himself farther concern.</p> + +<p>Rinaldo, left in his shirt and barefoot, it being very cold and +snowing hard, knew not what to do and seeing the night already at +hand, looked about him, trembling and chattering the while with his +teeth, if there were any shelter to be seen therenigh, where he might +pass the night, so he should not perish of cold; but, seeing none, for +that a little before there had been war in those parts and everything +had been burnt, set off at a run, spurred by the cold, towards Castel +Guglielmo, knowing not withal if his servant were fled thither or +otherwise and thinking that, so he might but avail to enter therein, +God would send him some relief. But darkness overtook him near a mile +from the town, wherefore he arrived there so late that, the gates +being shut and the draw-bridges raised, he could get no admission. +Thereupon, despairing and disconsolate, he looked about, weeping, for +a place where he might shelter, so at the least it should not snow +upon him, and chancing to espy a house that projected somewhat beyond +the walls of the town, he determined to go bide thereunder till day. +Accordingly, betaking himself thither, he found there a door, albeit +it was shut, and gathering at foot thereof somewhat of straw that was +therenigh, he laid himself down there, tristful and woebegone, +complaining sore to St. Julian and saying that this was not of the +faith he had in him.</p> + +<p>However, the saint had not lost sight of him and was not long in +providing him with a good lodging. There was in the town a widow lady, +as fair of favour as any woman living, whom the Marquis Azzo loved as +his life and there kept at his disposition, and she abode in that same +house, beneath the projection whereof Rinaldo had taken shelter. Now, +as chance would have it, the Marquis had come to the town that day, +thinking to lie the night with her, and had privily let make ready in +her house a bath and a sumptuous supper. Everything being ready and +nought awaited by the lady but the coming of the Marquis, it chanced +that there came a serving-man to the gate, who brought him news, which +obliged him to take horse forthright; wherefore, sending to tell his +mistress not to expect him, he departed in haste. The lady, somewhat +disconsolate at this, knowing not what to do, determined to enter the +bath prepared for the Marquis and after sup and go to bed.</p> + +<p>Accordingly she entered the bath, which was near the door, against +which the wretched merchant was crouched without the city-wall; +wherefore she, being therein, heard the weeping and trembling kept up +by Rinaldo, who seemed as he were grown a stork,<a name="FNanchor_85_85" id="FNanchor_85_85"></a><a href="#Footnote_85_85" class="fnanchor">[85]</a> and calling her +maid, said to her, 'Go up and look over the wall who is at the +postern-foot and what he doth there.' The maid went thither and aided +by the clearness of the air, saw Rinaldo in his shirt and barefoot, +sitting there, as hath been said, and trembling sore; whereupon she +asked him who he was. He told her, as briefliest he might, who he was +and how and why he was there, trembling the while on such wise that he +could scarce form the words, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55"></a></span> after fell to beseeching her +piteously not to leave him there all night to perish of cold, [but to +succour him,] an it might be. The maid was moved to pity of him and +returning to her mistress, told her all. The lady, on like wise taking +compassion on him and remembering that she had the key of the door +aforesaid, which served whiles for the privy entrances of the Marquis, +said, 'Go softly and open to him; here is this supper and none to eat +it and we have commodity enough for his lodging.'</p> + +<p>The maid, having greatly commended her mistress for this her humanity, +went and opening to Rinaldo, brought him in; whereupon the lady, +seeing him well nigh palsied with cold, said to him, 'Quick, good man, +enter this bath, which is yet warm.' Rinaldo, without awaiting farther +invitation, gladly obeyed and was so recomforted with the warmth of +the bath that himseemed he was come back from death to life. The lady +let fetch him a suit of clothes that had pertained to her husband, +then lately dead, which when he had donned, they seemed made to his +measure, and whilst awaiting what she should command him, he fell to +thanking God and St. Julian for that they had delivered him from the +scurvy night he had in prospect and had, as he deemed, brought him to +good harbourage.</p> + +<p>Presently, the lady, being somewhat rested,<a name="FNanchor_86_86" id="FNanchor_86_86"></a><a href="#Footnote_86_86" class="fnanchor">[86]</a> let make a great fire +in her dining-hall and betaking herself thither, asked how it was with +the poor man; whereto the maid answered, 'Madam, he hath clad himself +and is a handsome man and appeareth a person of good condition and +very well-mannered.' Quoth the lady, 'Go, call him and bid him come to +the fire and sup, for I know he is fasting.' Accordingly, Rinaldo +entered the hall and seeing the gentlewoman, who appeared to him a +lady of quality, saluted her respectfully and rendered her the best +thanks in his power for the kindness done him. The lady, having seen +and heard him and finding him even as her maid had said, received him +graciously and making him sit familiarly with her by the fire, +questioned him of the chance that had brought him thither; whereupon +he related everything to her in order. Now she had heard somewhat of +this at the time of his servant's coming into the town, wherefore she +gave entire belief to all he said and told him, in turn, what she knew +of his servant and how he might lightly find him again on the morrow. +Then, the table being laid, Rinaldo, at the lady's instance, washed +his hands and sat down with her to supper. Now he was tall of his +person and comely and pleasant of favour and very engaging and +agreeable of manners and a man in the prime of life; wherefore the +lady had several times cast her eyes on him and found him much to her +liking, and her desires being already aroused for the Marquis, who was +to have come to lie with her, she had taken a mind to him. +Accordingly, after supper, whenas they were risen from table, she took +counsel with her maid whether herseemed she would do well, the Marquis +having left her in the lurch, to use the good which fortune had sent +her. The maid, seeing her mistress's drift, encouraged her as best she +might to ensue it; whereupon the lady, returning to the fireside, +where she had left Rinaldo alone, fell to gazing amorously<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56"></a></span> upon him +and said to him, 'How now, Rinaldo, why bide you thus melancholy? +Think you you cannot be requited the loss of a horse and of some small +matter of clothes? Take comfort and be of good cheer; you are in your +own house. Nay, I will e'en tell you more, that, seeing you with those +clothes on your back, which were my late husband's, and meseeming you +were himself, there hath taken me belike an hundred times to-night a +longing to embrace you and kiss you: and but that I feared to +displease you, I had certainly done it.'</p> + +<p>Rinaldo, who was no simpleton, hearing these words and seeing the +lady's eyes sparkle, advanced towards her with open arms, saying, +'Madam, considering that I owe it to you to say that I am now alive +and having regard to that from which you delivered me, it were great +unmannerliness in me, did I not study to do everything that may be +agreeable to you; wherefore do you embrace me and kiss me to your +heart's content, and I will kiss and clip you more than willingly.' +There needed no more words. The lady, who was all afire with amorous +longing, straightway threw herself into his arms and after she had +strained him desirefully to her bosom and bussed him a thousand times +and had of him been kissed as often, they went off to her chamber, and +there without delay betaking themselves to bed, they fully and many a +time, before the day should come, satisfied their desires one of the +other. Whenas the day began to appear, they arose,—it being her +pleasure, so the thing might not be suspected of any,—and she, having +given him some sorry clothes and a purse full of money and shown him +how he should go about to enter the town and find his servant, put him +forth at the postern whereby he had entered, praying him keep the +matter secret.</p> + +<p>As soon as it was broad day and the gates were opened, he entered the +town, feigning to come from afar, and found his servant. Therewithal +he donned the clothes that were in the saddle-bags and was about to +mount the man's horse and depart, when, as by a miracle, it befell +that the three highwaymen, who had robbed him overnight, having been a +little after taken for some other misdeed of them committed, were +brought into the town and on their confession, his horse and clothes +and money were restored to him, nor did he lose aught save a pair of +garters, with which the robbers knew not what they had done. Rinaldo +accordingly gave thanks to God and St. Julian and taking horse, +returned home, safe and sound, leaving the three rogues to go kick on +the morrow against the wind."<a name="FNanchor_87_87" id="FNanchor_87_87"></a><a href="#Footnote_87_87" class="fnanchor">[87]</a></p> + + + +<hr /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57"></a></span></p> +<h2><a name="THE_THIRD_STORY2" id="THE_THIRD_STORY2"></a>THE THIRD STORY</h2> + +<div class="sidenote">Day the Second</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="hang">THREE YOUNG MEN SQUANDER THEIR SUBSTANCE AND BECOME POOR; +BUT A NEPHEW OF THEIRS, RETURNING HOME IN DESPERATION, +FALLETH IN WITH AN ABBOT AND FINDETH HIM TO BE THE KING'S +DAUGHTER OF ENGLAND, WHO TAKETH HIM TO HUSBAND AND MAKETH +GOOD ALL HIS UNCLES' LOSSES, RESTORING THEM TO GOOD ESTATE</p></div> + + +<p><br /><span class="smcap">The</span> adventures of Rinaldo d'Asti were hearkened with admiration and +his devoutness commended by the ladies, who returned thanks to God and +St. Julian for that they had succoured him in his utmost need. Nor yet +(though this was said half aside) was the lady reputed foolish, who +had known how to take the good God had sent her in her own house. But, +whilst they discoursed, laughing in their sleeves, of the pleasant +night she had had, Pampinea, seeing herself beside Filostrato and +deeming, as indeed it befell, that the next turn would rest with her, +began to collect her thoughts and take counsel with herself what she +should say; after which, having received the queen's commandment, she +proceeded to speak thus, no less resolutely than blithely, "Noble +ladies, the more it is discoursed of the doings of Fortune, the more, +to whoso is fain to consider her dealings aright, remaineth to be said +thereof; and at this none should marvel, an he consider advisedly that +all the things, which we foolishly style ours, are in her hands and +are consequently, according to her hidden ordinance, transmuted by her +without cease from one to another and back again, without any method +known unto us. Wherefore, albeit this truth is conclusively +demonstrated in everything and all day long and hath already been +shown forth in divers of the foregoing stories, nevertheless, since it +is our queen's pleasure that we discourse upon this theme, I will, not +belike without profit for the listeners, add to the stories aforesaid +one of my own, which methinketh should please.</p> + +<p>There was once in our city a gentleman, by name Messer Tedaldo, who, +as some will have it, was of the Lamberti family, albeit others avouch +that he was of the Agolanti, arguing more, belike, from the craft +after followed by his sons,<a name="FNanchor_88_88" id="FNanchor_88_88"></a><a href="#Footnote_88_88" class="fnanchor">[88]</a> which was like unto that which the +Agolanti have ever practised and yet practise, than from aught else. +But, leaving be of which of these two houses he was, I say that he +was, in his time, a very rich gentleman and had three sons, whereof +the eldest was named Lamberto, the second Tedaldo and the third +Agolante, all handsome and sprightly youths, the eldest of whom had +not reached his eighteenth year when it befell that the aforesaid +Messer Tedaldo died very rich and left all his possessions, both +moveable and immoveable, to them, as his legitimate heirs. The young +men, seeing themselves left very rich both in lands and monies, began +to spend without check or reserve or other governance than that of +their own pleasure, keeping a vast household<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58"></a></span> and many and goodly +horses and dogs and hawks, still holding open house and giving +largesse and making tilts and tournaments and doing not only that +which pertaineth unto men of condition, but all, to boot, that it +occurred to their youthful appetite to will.</p> + +<p>They had not long led this manner of life before the treasure left by +their father melted away and their revenues alone sufficing not unto +their current expenses, they proceeded to sell and mortgage their +estates, and selling one to-day and another to-morrow, they found +themselves well nigh to nought, without perceiving it, and poverty +opened their eyes, which wealth had kept closed. Whereupon Lamberto, +one day, calling the other two, reminded them how great had been their +father's magnificence and how great their own and setting before them +what wealth had been theirs and the poverty to which they were come +through their inordinate expenditure, exhorted them, as best he knew, +ere their distress should become more apparent, to sell what little +was left them and get them gone, together with himself. They did as he +counselled them and departing Florence, without leavetaking or +ceremony, stayed not till they came to England, where, taking a little +house in London and spending very little, they addressed themselves +with the utmost diligence to lend money at usance. In this fortune was +so favourable to them that in a few years they amassed a vast sum of +money, wherewith, returning to Florence, one after another, they +bought back great part of their estates and purchased others to boot +and took unto themselves wives.</p> + +<p>Nevertheless, they still continued to lend money in England and sent +thither, to look to their affairs, a young man, a nephew of theirs, +Alessandro by name, whilst themselves all three at Florence, for all +they were become fathers of families, forgetting to what a pass +inordinate expenditure had aforetime brought them, began to spend more +extravagantly than ever and were high in credit with all the +merchants, who trusted them for any sum of money, however great. The +monies remitted them by Alessandro, who had fallen to lending to the +barons upon their castles and other their possessions, which brought +him great profit, helped them for some years to support these +expenses; but, presently, what while the three brothers spent thus +freely and lacking money, borrowed, still reckoning with all assurance +upon England, it chanced that, contrary to all expectation, there +broke out war in England between the king and his son, through which +the whole island was divided into two parties, some holding with the +one and some with the other; and by reason thereof all the barons' +castles were taken from Alessandro nor was there any other source of +revenue that answered him aught. Hoping that from day to day peace +should be made between father and son and consequently everything +restored to him, both interest and capital, Alessandro departed not +the island and the three brothers in Florence no wise abated their +extravagant expenditure, borrowing more and more every day. But, when, +after several years, no effect was seen to follow upon their +expectation, the three brothers not only lost their credit, but, their +creditors seeking to be paid their due, they were suddenly arrested +and their<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59"></a></span> possessions sufficing not unto payment, they abode in +prison for the residue, whilst their wives and little ones betook +themselves, some into the country, some hither and some thither, in +very ill plight, unknowing what to expect but misery for the rest of +their lives.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, Alessandro, after waiting several years in England for +peace, seeing that it came not and himseeming that not only was his +tarrying there in vain, but that he went in danger of his life, +determined to return to Italy. Accordingly, he set out all alone and +as chance would have it, coming out of Bruges, he saw an abbot of +white friars likewise issuing thence, accompanied by many monks and +with a numerous household and a great baggage-train in his van. After +him came two old knights, kinsmen of the King, whom Alessandro +accosted as acquaintances and was gladly admitted into their company. +As he journeyed with them, he asked them softly who were the monks +that rode in front with so great a train and whither they were bound; +and one of them answered, 'He who rideth yonder is a young gentleman +of our kindred, who hath been newly elected abbot of one of the most +considerable abbeys of England, and for that he is younger than is +suffered by the laws for such a dignity, we go with him to Rome to +obtain of the Holy Father that he dispense him of his defect of +overmuch youthfulness and confirm him in the dignity aforesaid; but +this must not be spoken of with any.'</p> + +<p>The new abbot, faring on thus, now in advance of his retinue and now +in their rear, as daily we see it happen with noblemen on a journey, +chanced by the way to see near him Alessandro, who was a young man +exceedingly goodly of person and favour, well-bred, agreeable and fair +of fashion as any might be, and who at first sight pleased him +marvellously, as nought had ever done, and calling him to his side, +fell a-discoursing pleasantly with him, asking him who he was and +whence he came and whither he was bound; whereupon Alessandro frankly +discovered to him his whole case and satisfied his questions, offering +himself to his service in what little he might. The abbot, hearing his +goodly and well-ordered speech, took more particular note of his +manners and inwardly judging him to be a man of gentle breeding, for +all his business had been mean, grew yet more enamoured of his +pleasantness and full of compassion for his mishaps, comforted him on +very friendly wise, bidding him be of good hope, for that, an he were +a man of worth, God would yet replace him in that estate whence +fortune had cast him down, nay, in a yet higher. Moreover, he prayed +him, since he was bound for Tuscany, that it would please him bear him +company, inasmuch as himself was likewise on the way thitherward; +whereupon Alessandro returned him thanks for his encouragement and +declared himself ready to his every commandment.</p> + +<p>The abbot, in whose breast new feelings had been aroused by the sight +of Alessandro, continuing his journey, it chanced that, after some +days, they came to a village not overwell furnished with hostelries, +and the abbot having a mind to pass the night there, Alessandro caused +him alight at the house of an innkeeper, who was his familiar +acquaintance, and let prepare him his sleeping-chamber in the least<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60"></a></span> +incommodious place of the house; and being now, like an expert man as +he was, grown well nigh a master of the household to the abbot, he +lodged all his company, as best he might, about the village, some here +and some there. After the abbot had supped, the night being now well +advanced and every one gone to bed, Alessandro asked the host where he +himself could lie; whereto he answered, 'In truth, I know not; thou +seest that every place is full and I and my household must needs sleep +upon the benches. Algates, in the abbot's chamber there be certain +grain-sacks, whereto I can bring thee and spread thee thereon some +small matter of bed, and there, an it please thee, thou shalt lie this +night, as best thou mayst.' Quoth Alessandro, 'How shall I go into the +abbot's chamber, seeing thou knowest it is little and of its +straitness none of his monks might lie there? Had I bethought me of +this, ere the curtains were drawn, I would have let his monks lie on +the grain-sacks and have lodged myself where they sleep.' 'Nay,' +answered the host, 'the case standeth thus;<a name="FNanchor_89_89" id="FNanchor_89_89"></a><a href="#Footnote_89_89" class="fnanchor">[89]</a> but, an thou wilt, +thou mayst lie whereas I tell thee with all the ease in the world. The +abbot is asleep and his curtains are drawn; I will quickly lay thee a +pallet-bed there, and do thou sleep on it.' Alessandro, seeing that +this might be done without giving the abbot any annoy, consented +thereto and settled himself on the grain-sacks as softliest he might.</p> + +<p>The abbot, who slept not, nay, whose thoughts were ardently occupied +with his new desires, heard what passed between Alessandro and the +host and noted where the former laid himself to sleep, and well +pleased with this, began to say in himself, 'God hath sent an occasion +unto my desires; an I take it not, it may be long ere the like recur +to me.' Accordingly, being altogether resolved to take the opportunity +and himseeming all was quiet in the inn, he called to Alessandro in a +low voice and bade him come couch with him. Alessandro, after many +excuses, put off his clothes and laid himself beside the abbot, who +put his hand on his breast and fell to touching him no otherwise than +amorous damsels use to do with their lovers; whereat Alessandro +marvelled exceedingly and misdoubted him the abbot was moved by +unnatural love to handle him on that wise; but the latter promptly +divined his suspicions, whether of presumption or through some gesture +of his, and smiled; then, suddenly putting off a shirt that he wore, +he took Alessandro's hand and laying it on his own breast, said, +'Alessandro, put away thy foolish thought and searching here, know +that which I conceal.'</p> + +<p>Alessandro accordingly put his hand to the abbot's bosom and found +there two little breasts, round and firm and delicate, no otherwise +than as they were of ivory, whereby perceiving that the supposed +prelate was a woman, without awaiting farther bidding, he straightway +took her in his arms and would have kissed her; but she said to him, +'Ere thou draw nearer to me, hearken to that which I have to say to +thee. As thou mayst see, I am a woman and not a man, and having left +home a maid, I was on my way to the Pope, that he might marry me. Be +it thy good fortune or my mishap, no sooner did I see<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61"></a></span> thee the other +day than love so fired me for thee, that never yet was woman who so +loved man. Wherefore, I am resolved to take thee, before any other, to +husband; but, an thou wilt not have me to wife, begone hence +forthright and return to thy place.'</p> + +<p>Alessandro, albeit he knew her not, having regard to her company and +retinue, judged her to be of necessity noble and rich and saw that she +was very fair; wherefore, without overlong thought, he replied that, +if this pleased her, it was mighty agreeable to him. Accordingly, +sitting up with him in bed, she put a ring into his hand and made him +espouse her<a name="FNanchor_90_90" id="FNanchor_90_90"></a><a href="#Footnote_90_90" class="fnanchor">[90]</a> before a picture wherein our Lord was portrayed, after +which they embraced each other and solaced themselves with amorous +dalliance, to the exceeding pleasure of both parties, for so much as +remained of the night.</p> + +<p>When the day came, after they had taken order together concerning +their affairs, Alessandro arose and departed the chamber by the way he +had entered, without any knowing where he had passed the night. Then, +glad beyond measure, he took to the road again with the abbot and his +company and came after many days to Rome. There they abode some days, +after which the abbot, with the two knights and Alessandro and no +more, went in to the Pope and having done him due reverence, bespoke +him thus, 'Holy Father, as you should know better than any other, +whoso is minded to live well and honestly should, inasmuch as he may, +eschew every occasion that may lead him to do otherwise; the which +that I, who would fain live honestly, may throughly do, having fled +privily with a great part of the treasures of the King of England my +father, (who would have given me to wife to the King of Scotland, a +very old prince, I being, as you see, a young maid), I set out, +habited as you see me, to come hither, so your Holiness might marry +me. Nor was it so much the age of the King of Scotland that made me +flee as the fear, if I were married to him, lest I should, for the +frailty of my youth, be led to do aught that might be contrary to the +Divine laws and the honour of the royal blood of my father. As I came, +thus disposed, God, who alone knoweth aright that which behoveth unto +every one, set before mine eyes (as I believe, of His mercy) him whom +it pleased Him should be my husband, to wit, this young man,' showing +Alessandro, 'whom you see here beside me and whose fashions and desert +are worthy of however great a lady, although belike the nobility of +his blood is not so illustrious as the blood-royal. Him, then, have I +taken and him I desire, nor will I ever have any other than he, +however it may seem to my father or to other folk. Thus, the principal +occasion of my coming is done away; but it pleased me to make an end +of my journey, at once that I might visit the holy and reverential +places, whereof this city is full, and your Holiness and that through +you I might make manifest, in your presence and consequently in that +of the rest of mankind, the marriage contracted be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62"></a></span>tween Alessandro +and myself in the presence of God alone. Wherefore I humbly pray you +that this which hath pleased God and me may find favour with you and +that you will vouchsafe us your benison, in order that with this, as +with more assurance of His approof whose Vicar you are, we may live +and ultimately die together.'</p> + +<p>Alessandro marvelled to hear that the damsel was the King's daughter +of England and was inwardly filled with exceeding great gladness; but +the two knights marvelled yet more and were so incensed, that, had +they been otherwhere than in the Pope's presence, they had done +Alessandro a mischief and belike the lady also. The Pope also, on his +part, marvelled exceedingly both at the habit of the lady and at her +choice; but, seeing that there was no going back on that which was +done, he consented to satisfy her of her prayer. Accordingly, having +first appeased the two knights, whom he knew to be angered, and made +them well at one again with the lady and Alessandro, he took order for +that which was to do, and the day appointed by him being come, before +all the cardinals and many other men of great worship, come, at his +bidding, to a magnificent bride-feast prepared by him, he produced the +lady, royally apparelled, who showed so fair and so agreeable that she +was worthily commended of all, and on like wise Alessandro splendidly +attired, in bearing and appearance no whit like a youth who had lent +at usury, but rather one of royal blood, and now much honoured of the +two knights. There he caused solemnly celebrate the marriage afresh +and after goodly and magnificent nuptials made, he dismissed them with +his benison.</p> + +<p>It pleased Alessandro, and likewise the lady, departing Rome, to +betake themselves to Florence, whither report had already carried the +news. There they were received by the townsfolk with the utmost honour +and the lady caused liberate the three brothers, having first paid +every man [his due]. Moreover, she reinstated them and their ladies in +their possessions and with every one's goodwill, because of this, she +and her husband departed Florence, carrying Agolante with them, and +coming to Paris, were honourably entertained by the King. Thence the +two knights passed into England and so wrought with the King that the +latter restored to his daughter his good graces and with exceeding +great rejoicing received her and his son-in-law, whom he a little +after made a knight with the utmost honour and gave him the Earldom of +Cornwall. In this capacity he approved himself a man of such parts and +made shift to do on such wise that he reconciled the son with his +father, whereof there ensued great good to the island, and thereby he +gained the love and favour of all the people of the country.</p> + +<p>Moreover, Agolante thoroughly recovered all that was there due to him +and his brethren and returned to Florence, rich beyond measure, having +first been knighted by Count Alessandro. The latter lived long and +gloriously with his lady, and according as some avouch, what with his +wit and valour and the aid of his father-in-law, he after conquered +Scotland and was crowned King thereof."</p> + + + +<hr /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63"></a></span></p> +<h2><a name="THE_FOURTH_STORY2" id="THE_FOURTH_STORY2"></a>THE FOURTH STORY</h2> + +<div class="sidenote">Day the Second</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="hang">LANDOLFO RUFFOLO, GROWN POOR, TURNETH CORSAIR AND BEING +TAKEN BY THE GENOESE, IS WRECKED AT SEA, BUT SAVETH HIMSELF +UPON A COFFER FULL OF JEWELS OF PRICE AND BEING ENTERTAINED +IN CORFU BY A WOMAN, RETURNETH HOME RICH</p></div> + + +<p><br /><span class="smcap">Lauretta</span>, who sat next Pampinea, seeing her come to the glorious +ending of her story, began, without awaiting more, to speak on this +wise: "Most gracious ladies, there can, to my judgment, be seen no +greater feat of fortune than when we behold one raised from the lowest +misery to royal estate, even as Pampinea's story hath shown it to have +betided her Alessandro. And for that from this time forth whosoever +relateth of the appointed matter must of necessity speak within these +limits,<a name="FNanchor_91_91" id="FNanchor_91_91"></a><a href="#Footnote_91_91" class="fnanchor">[91]</a> I shall think no shame to tell a story, which, albeit it +compriseth in itself yet greater distresses hath not withal so +splendid an issue. I know well, indeed, that, having regard unto that, +my story will be hearkened with less diligence; but, as I can no +otherwise, I shall be excused.</p> + +<p>The sea-coast from Reggio to Gaeta is commonly believed to be well +nigh the most delightful part of Italy, and therein, pretty near +Salerno, is a hillside overlooking the sea, which the countryfolk call +Amalfi Side, full of little towns and gardens and springs and of men +as rich and stirring in the matter of trade as any in the world. Among +the said cities is one called Ravello and therein, albeit nowadays +there are rich men there, there was aforetime one, Landolfo Ruffolo by +name, who was exceeding rich and who, his wealth sufficing him not, +came nigh, in seeking to double it, to lose it all and himself withal. +This man, then, having, after the usance of merchants, laid his plans, +bought a great ship and freighting it all of his own monies with +divers merchandise, repaired therewith to Cyprus. There he found +sundry other ships come with the same kind and quality of merchandise +as he had brought, by reason of which not only was he constrained to +make great good cheap of his own venture, but it behoved him, an he +would dispose of his goods, well nigh to throw them away, whereby he +was brought near unto ruin.</p> + +<p>Sore chagrined at this mischance and knowing not what to do, seeing +himself thus from a very rich man in brief space grown in a manner +poor, he determined either to die or repair his losses by pillage, so +he might not return thither poor, whence he had departed rich. +Accordingly, having found a purchaser for his great ship, with the +price thereof and that which he had gotten of his wares, he bought a +little vessel, light and apt for cruising and arming and garnishing it +excellent well with everything needful unto such a service, addressed +himself to make his purchase of other men's goods and especially of +those of the Turks. In this trade fortune was far kinder to him than +she<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64"></a></span> had been in that of a merchant, for that, in some year's space, +he plundered and took so many Turkish vessels that he found he had not +only gotten him his own again that he had lost in trade, but had more +than doubled his former substance. Whereupon, schooled by the chagrin +of his former loss and deeming he had enough, he persuaded himself, +rather than risk a second mischance, to rest content with that which +he had, without seeking more. Accordingly he resolved to return +therewith to his own country and being fearful of trade, concerned not +himself to employ his money otherwise, but, thrusting his oars into +the water, set out homeward in that same little vessel wherewith he +had gained it.</p> + +<p>He had already reached the Archipelago when there arose one evening a +violent south-east wind, which was not only contrary to his course, +but raised so great a sea that his little vessel could not endure it; +wherefore he took refuge in a bight of the sea, made by a little +island, and there abode sheltered from the wind and purposing there to +await better weather. He had not lain there long when two great +Genoese carracks, coming from Constantinople, made their way with +great difficulty into the little harbour, to avoid that from which +himself had fled. The newcomers espied the little ship and hearing +that it pertained to Landolfo, whom they already knew by report to be +very rich, blocked against it the way by which it might depart and +addressed themselves, like men by nature rapacious and greedy of +gain,<a name="FNanchor_92_92" id="FNanchor_92_92"></a><a href="#Footnote_92_92" class="fnanchor">[92]</a> to make prize of it. Accordingly, they landed part of their +men well harnessed and armed with crossbows and posted them on such +wise that none might come down from the bark, an he would not be shot; +whilst the rest, warping themselves in with small boats and aided by +the current, laid Landolfo's little ship aboard and took it out of +hand, crew and all, without missing a man. Landolfo they carried +aboard one of the carracks, leaving him but a sorry doublet; then, +taking everything out of the ship, they scuttled her.</p> + +<p>On the morrow, the wind having shifted, the carracks made sail +westward and fared on their voyage prosperously all that day; but +towards evening there arose a tempestuous wind which made the waves +run mountains high and parted the two carracks one from the other. +Moreover, from stress of wind it befell that that wherein was the +wretched and unfortunate Landolfo smote with great violence upon a +shoal over against the island of Cephalonia and parting amidships, +broke all in sunder no otherwise than a glass dashed against a wall. +The sea was in a moment all full of bales of merchandise and chests +and planks, that floated on the surface, as is wont to happen in such +cases, and the poor wretches on board, swimming, those who knew how, +albeit it was a very dark night and the sea was exceeding great and +swollen, fell to laying hold of such things as came within their +reach. Among the rest the unfortunate Landolfo, albeit many a time +that day he had called for death, (choosing rather to die than return +home poor as he found himself,) seeing it near at hand, was fearful +thereof and like the others, laid hold of a plank that came to his +hand, so haply,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65"></a></span> an he put off drowning awhile, God might send him +some means of escape.</p> + +<p>Bestriding this, he kept himself afloat as best he might, driven +hither and thither of the sea and the wind, till daylight, when he +looked about him and saw nothing but clouds and sea and a chest +floating on the waves, which bytimes, to his sore affright, drew nigh +unto him, for that he feared lest peradventure it should dash against +him on such wise as to do him a mischief; wherefore, as often as it +came near him, he put it away from him as best he might with his hand, +albeit he had little strength thereof. But presently there issued a +sudden flaw of wind out of the air and falling on the sea, smote upon +the chest and drove it with such violence against Landolfo's plank +that the latter was overset and he himself perforce went under water. +However, he struck out and rising to the surface, aided more by fear +than by strength, saw the plank far removed from him, wherefore, +fearing he might be unable to reach it again, he made for the chest, +which was pretty near him, and laying himself flat with his breast on +the lid thereof, guided it with his arms as best he might.<a name="FNanchor_93_93" id="FNanchor_93_93"></a><a href="#Footnote_93_93" class="fnanchor">[93]</a></p> + +<p>On this wise, tossed about by the sea now hither and now thither, +without eating, as one indeed who had not the wherewithal, but +drinking more than he could have wished, he abode all that day and the +ensuing night, unknowing where he was and descrying nought but sea; +but, on the following day, whether it was God's pleasure or stress of +wind that wrought it, he came, grown well nigh a sponge and clinging +fast with both hands to the marges of the chest, even as we see those +do who are like to drown, to the coast of the island of Corfu, where a +poor woman chanced to be scouring her pots and pans and making them +bright with sand and salt water. Seeing Landolfo draw near and +discerning in him no [human] shape, she drew back, affrighted and +crying out. He could not speak and scarce saw, wherefore he said +nothing; but presently, the sea carrying him landward, the woman +descried the shape of the chest and looking straitlier, perceived +first the arms outspread upon it and then the face and guessed it for +that which it was.</p> + +<p>Accordingly, moved with compassion, she entered somedele into the sea, +which was now calm, and seizing Landolfo by the hair, dragged him +ashore, chest and all. There having with difficulty unclasped his +hands from the chest, she set the latter on the head of a young +daughter of hers, who was with her, and carried him off, as he were a +little child, to her hut, where she put him in a bagnio and so chafed +and bathed him with warm water that the strayed heat returned to him, +together with somewhat of his lost strength. Then, taking him up out +of the bath, whenas it seemed good to her, she comforted him with +somewhat of good wine and confections and tended him some days, as +best she might, till he had recovered his strength and knew where he +was, when she judged it time to restore him his chest, which she had +kept safe<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66"></a></span> for him, and to tell him that he might now prosecute his +fortune.</p> + +<p>Landolfo, who had no recollection of the chest, yet took it, when the +good woman presented it to him, thinking it could not be so little +worth but that it might defray his expenses for some days, but, +finding it very light, was sore abated of his hopes. Nevertheless, +what while his hostess was abroad, he broke it open, to see what it +contained, and found therein store of precious stones, both set and +unset. He had some knowledge of these matters and seeing them, knew +them to be of great value; wherefore he praised God, who had not yet +forsaken him, and was altogether comforted. However, as one who had in +brief space been twice cruelly baffled by fortune, fearing a third +misadventure, he bethought himself that it behoved him use great +wariness and he would bring those things home; wherefore, wrapping +them, as best he might, in some rags, he told the good woman that he +had no more occasion for the chest, but that, an it pleased her, she +should give him a bag and take the chest herself. This she willingly +did and he, having rendered her the best thanks in his power for the +kindness received from her, shouldered his bag and going aboard a +bark, passed over to Brindisi and thence made his way, along the +coast, to Trani.</p> + +<p>Here he found certain townsmen of his, who were drapers and clad him +for the love of God,<a name="FNanchor_94_94" id="FNanchor_94_94"></a><a href="#Footnote_94_94" class="fnanchor">[94]</a> after he had related to them all his +adventures, except that of the chest; nay more, they lent him a horse +and sent him, under escort, to Ravello, whither he said he would fain +return. There, deeming himself in safety and thanking God who had +conducted him thither, he opened his bag and examining everything more +diligently than he had yet done, found he had so many and such stones +that, supposing he sold them at a fair price or even less, he was +twice as rich again as when he departed thence. Then, finding means to +dispose of his jewels, he sent a good sum of money to Corfu to the +good woman who had brought him forth of the sea, in requital of the +service received, and the like to Trani to those who had reclothed +him. The rest he kept for himself and lived in honour and worship to +the end of his days, without seeking to trade any more."</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="THE_FIFTH_STORY2" id="THE_FIFTH_STORY2"></a>THE FIFTH STORY</h2> + +<div class="sidenote">Day the Second</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="hang">ANDREUCCIO OF PERUGIA, COMING TO NAPLES TO BUY HORSES, IS IN +ONE NIGHT OVERTAKEN WITH THREE GRIEVOUS ACCIDENTS, BUT +ESCAPETH THEM ALL AND RETURNETH HOME WITH A RUBY</p></div> + + +<p><br />"<span class="smcap">The</span> stones found by Landolfo," began Fiammetta, to whose turn it came +to tell, "have brought to my mind a story scarce less full of perilous +scapes than that related by Lauretta, but differing therefrom inasmuch +as the adventures comprised in the latter befell in the course of +belike several years and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67"></a></span> these of which I have to tell in the space +of a single night, as you shall hear.</p> + +<p>There was once in Perugia, as I have heard tell aforetime, a young +man, a horse-courser, by name Andreuccio di Pietro,<a name="FNanchor_95_95" id="FNanchor_95_95"></a><a href="#Footnote_95_95" class="fnanchor">[95]</a> who, hearing +that horses were good cheap at Naples, put five hundred gold florins +in his purse and betook himself thither with other merchants, having +never before been away from home. He arrived there one Sunday evening, +towards vespers, and having taken counsel with his host, sallied forth +next morning to the market, where he saw great plenty of horses. Many +of them pleased him and he cheapened one and another, but could not +come to an accord concerning any. Meanwhile, to show that he was for +buying, he now and again, like a raw unwary clown as he was, pulled +out the purse of florins he had with him, in the presence of those who +came and went. As he was thus engaged, with his purse displayed, it +chanced that a Sicilian damsel, who was very handsome, but disposed +for a small matter to do any man's pleasure, passed near him, without +his seeing her, and catching sight of the purse, said straightway in +herself, 'Who would fare better than I, if yonder money were mine!' +And passed on.</p> + +<p>Now there was with her an old woman, likewise a Sicilian, who, seeing +Andreuccio, let her companion pass on and running to him, embraced him +affectionately, which when the damsel saw, she stepped aside to wait +for her, without saying aught. Andreuccio, turning to the old woman +and recognizing her, gave her a hearty greeting and she, having +promised to visit him at his inn, took leave, without holding overlong +parley there, whilst he fell again to chaffering, but bought nothing +that morning. The damsel, who had noted first Andreuccio's purse and +after her old woman's acquaintance with him, began cautiously to +enquire of the latter, by way of casting about for a means of coming +at the whole or part of the money, who and whence he was and what he +did there and how she came to know him. The old woman told her every +particular of Andreuccio's affairs well nigh as fully as he himself +could have done, having long abidden with his father, first in Sicily +and after at Perugia, and acquainted her, to boot, where he lodged and +wherefore he was come thither.</p> + +<p>The damsel, being thus fully informed both of his name and parentage, +thereby with subtle craft laid her plans for giving effect to her +desire and returning home, set the old woman awork for the rest of the +day, so she might not avail to return to Andreuccio. Then, calling a +maid of hers, whom she had right well lessoned unto such offices, she +despatched her, towards evensong, to the inn where Andreuccio lodged. +As chance would have it, she found him alone at the door and enquired +at him of himself. He answered that he was the man she sought, +whereupon she drew him aside and said to him, 'Sir, an it please you, +a gentlewoman of this city would fain speak with you.' Andreuccio, +hearing this, considered himself from head to foot and himseeming he +was a handsome varlet of his person, he concluded<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68"></a></span> (as if there were +no other well-looking young fellow to be found in Naples,) that the +lady in question must have fallen in love with him. Accordingly, he +answered without further deliberation that he was ready and asked the +girl when and where the lady would speak with him; whereto she +answered, 'Sir, whenas it pleaseth you to come, she awaiteth you in +her house'; and Andreuccio forthwith rejoined, without saying aught to +the people of the inn, 'Go thou on before; I will come after thee.'</p> + +<p>Thereupon the girl carried him to the house of her mistress, who dwelt +in a street called Malpertugio,<a name="FNanchor_96_96" id="FNanchor_96_96"></a><a href="#Footnote_96_96" class="fnanchor">[96]</a> the very name whereof denoteth how +reputable a quarter it is. But he, unknowing neither suspecting aught +thereof and thinking to go to most honourable place and to a lady of +quality, entered the house without hesitation,—preceded by the +serving-maid, who called her mistress and said, 'Here is +Andreuccio,'—and mounting the stair, saw the damsel come to the +stairhead to receive him. Now she was yet in the prime of youth, tall +of person, with a very fair face and very handsomely dressed and +adorned. As he drew near her, she came down three steps to meet him +with open arms and clasping him round the neck, abode awhile without +speaking, as if hindered by excess of tenderness; then kissed him on +the forehead, weeping, and said, in a somewhat broken voice, 'O my +Andreuccio, thou art indeed welcome.'</p> + +<p>He was amazed at such tender caresses and answered, all confounded, +'Madam, you are well met.' Thereupon, taking him by the hand, she +carried him up into her saloon and thence, without saying another word +to him, she brought him into her chamber, which was all redolent of +roses and orange flowers and other perfumes. Here he saw a very fine +bed, hung round with curtains, and store of dresses upon the pegs and +other very goodly and rich gear, after the usance of those parts; by +reason whereof, like a freshman as he was, he firmly believed her to +be no less than a great lady. She made him sit with her on a chest +that stood at the foot of the bed and bespoke him thus, 'Andreuccio, I +am very certain thou marvellest at these caresses that I bestow on +thee and at my tears, as he may well do who knoweth me not and hath +maybe never heard speak of me; but I have that to tell thee which is +like to amaze thee yet more, namely, that I am thy sister; and I tell +thee that, since God hath vouchsafed me to look upon one of my +brothers, (though fain would I see you all,) before my death, +henceforth I shall not die disconsolate; and as perchance thou has +never heard of this, I will tell it thee.</p> + +<p>Pietro, my father and thine, as I doubt not thou knowest, abode long +in Palermo and there for his good humour and pleasant composition was +and yet is greatly beloved of those who knew him; but, among all his +lovers, my mother, who was a lady of gentle birth and then a widow, +was she who most affected him, insomuch that, laying aside the fear of +her father and brethren, as well as the care of her own honour, she +became so private with him that I was born thereof and grew up as thou +seest me. Presently, having occasion to depart Palermo and return to +Perugia, he left me a little maid with my mother nor ever after, for +all that I could hear,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69"></a></span> remembered him of me or her; whereof, were he +not my father, I should blame him sore, having regard to the +ingratitude shown by him to my mother (to say nothing of the love it +behoved him bear me, as his daughter, born of no serving-wench nor +woman of mean extraction) who had, moved by very faithful love, +without anywise knowing who he might be, committed into his hands her +possessions and herself no less. But what [skilleth it]? Things ill +done and long time passed are easier blamed than mended; algates, so +it was.</p> + +<p>He left me a little child in Palermo, where being grown well nigh as I +am now, my mother, who was a rich lady, gave me to wife to a worthy +gentleman of Girgenti, who, for her love and mine, came to abide at +Palermo and there, being a great Guelph,<a name="FNanchor_97_97" id="FNanchor_97_97"></a><a href="#Footnote_97_97" class="fnanchor">[97]</a> he entered into treaty +with our King Charles,<a name="FNanchor_98_98" id="FNanchor_98_98"></a><a href="#Footnote_98_98" class="fnanchor">[98]</a> which, being discovered by King +Frederick,<a name="FNanchor_99_99" id="FNanchor_99_99"></a><a href="#Footnote_99_99" class="fnanchor">[99]</a> ere effect could be given to it, was the occasion of +our being enforced to flee from Sicily, whenas I looked to be the +greatest lady was ever in the island; wherefore, taking such few +things as we might (I say few, in respect of the many we had) and +leaving our lands and palaces, we took refuge in this city, where we +found King Charles so mindful of our services that he hath in part +made good to us the losses we had sustained for him, bestowing on us +both lands and houses, and still maketh my husband, thy kinsman that +is, a goodly provision, as thou shalt hereafter see. On this wise come +I in this city, where, Godamercy and no thanks to thee, sweet my +brother, I now behold thee.' So saying, she embraced him over again +and kissed him on the forehead, still weeping for tenderness.</p> + +<p>Andreuccio, hearing this fable so orderly, so artfully delivered by +the damsel, without ever stammering or faltering for a word, and +remembering it to be true that his father had been in Palermo, +knowing, moreover, by himself the fashions of young men and how +lightly they fall in love in their youth and seeing the affectionate +tears and embraces and the chaste kisses that she lavished on him, +held all she told him for more than true; wherefore, as soon as she +was silent, he answered her, saying, 'Madam, it should seem to you no +very great matter if I marvel, for that in truth, whether it be that +my father, for whatsoever reason, never spoke of your mother nor of +yourself, or that if he did, it came not to my notice, I had no more +knowledge of you than if you had never been, and so much the dearer is +it to me to find you my sister here, as I am alone in this city and +the less expected this. Indeed, I know no man of so high a condition +that you should not be dear to him, to say nothing of myself, who am +but a petty trader. But I pray you make me clear of one thing; how +knew you that I was here?' Whereto she made answer, 'A poor woman, who +much frequenteth me, gave me this morning to know of thy coming, for +that, as she telleth me, she abode long with our father both at +Palermo and at Perugia; and but that meseemed it was a more reputable +thing that thou shouldst visit me in my own house than<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70"></a></span> I thee in that +of another, I had come to thee this great while agone.' After this, +she proceeded to enquire more particularly of all his kinsfolk by +name, and he answered her of all, giving the more credence, by reason +of this, to that which it the less behoved him to believe.</p> + +<p>The talk being long and the heat great, she called for Greek wine and +confections and let give Andreuccio to drink, after which he would +have taken leave, for that it was supper-time; but she would on no +wise suffer it and making a show of being sore vexed, embraced him and +said, 'Ah, woe is me! I see but too clearly how little dear I am to +thee! Who would believe that thou couldst be with a sister of thine, +whom thou hast never yet seen and in whose house thou shouldst have +lighted down, whenas thou earnest hither, and offer to leave her, to +go sup at the inn? Indeed, thou shalt sup with me, and albeit my +husband is abroad, which grieveth me mightily, I shall know well how +to do thee some little honour, such as a woman may.' To which +Andreuccio, unknowing what else he should say, answered, 'I hold you +as dear as a sister should be held; but, an I go not, I shall be +expected to supper all the evening and shall do an unmannerliness.' +'Praised be God!' cried she. 'One would think I had no one in the +house to send to tell them not to expect thee; albeit thou wouldst do +much greater courtesy and indeed but thy duty an thou sentest to bid +thy companions come hither to supper; and after, am thou must e'en +begone, you might all go away together.'</p> + +<p>Andreuccio replied that he had no desire for his companions that +evening; but that, since it was agreeable to her, she might do her +pleasure of him. Accordingly, she made a show of sending to the inn to +say that he was not to be expected to supper, and after much other +discourse, they sat down to supper and were sumptuously served with +various meats, whilst she adroitly contrived to prolong the repast +till it was dark night. Then, when they rose from table and Andreuccio +would have taken his leave, she declared that she would on no wise +suffer this, for that Naples was no place to go about in by night +especially for a stranger, and that, whenas she sent to the inn to say +that he was not to be expected to supper, she had at the same time +given notice that he would lie abroad. Andreuccio, believing this and +taking pleasure in being with her, beguiled as he was by false +credence, abode where he was, and after supper they held much and long +discourse, not without reason,<a name="FNanchor_100_100" id="FNanchor_100_100"></a><a href="#Footnote_100_100" class="fnanchor">[100]</a> till a part of the night was past, +when she withdrew with her women into another room, leaving Andreuccio +in her own chamber, with a little lad to wait upon him, if he should +lack aught.</p> + +<p>The heat being great, Andreuccio, as soon as he found himself alone, +stripped to his doublet and putting off his hosen, laid them at the +bedhead; after which, natural use soliciting him to rid himself of the +overmuch burden of his stomach, he asked the boy where this might be +done, who showed him a door in one corner of the room and said, 'Go in +there.' Accordingly he opened the door and passing through in all +assurance,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71"></a></span> chanced to set foot on a plank, which, being broken loose +from the joist at the opposite end, [flew up] and down they went, +plank and man together. God so favoured him that he did himself no +hurt in the fall, albeit he fell from some height; but he was all +bemired with the ordure whereof the place was full; and in order that +you may the better apprehend both that which hath been said and that +which ensueth, I will show you how the place lay. There were in a +narrow alley, such as we often see between two houses, a pair of +rafters laid from one house to another, and thereon sundry boards +nailed and the place of session set up; of which boards that which +gave way with Andreuccio was one.</p> + +<p>Finding himself, then, at the bottom of the alley and sore chagrined +at the mishap, he fell a-bawling for the boy; but the latter, as soon +as he heard him fall, had run to tell his mistress, who hastened to +his chamber and searching hurriedly if his clothes were there, found +them and with them the money, which, in his mistrust, he still +foolishly carried about him. Having now gotten that for which, +feigning herself of Palermo and sister to a Perugian, she had set her +snare, she took no more reck of him, but hastened to shut the door +whereby he had gone out when he fell.</p> + +<p>Andreuccio, getting no answer from the boy, proceeded to call +loudlier, but to no purpose; whereupon, his suspicions being now +aroused, he began too late to smoke the cheat. Accordingly, he +scrambled over a low wall that shut off the alley from the street, and +letting himself down into the road, went up to the door of the house, +which he knew very well, and there called long and loud and shook and +beat upon it amain, but all in vain. Wherefore, bewailing himself, as +one who was now fully aware of his mischance, 'Ah, woe is me!' cried +he. 'In how little time have I lost five hundred florins and a +sister!' Then, after many other words, he fell again to battering the +door and crying out and this he did so long and so lustily that many +of the neighbours, being awakened and unable to brook the annoy, arose +and one of the courtezan's waiting-women, coming to the window, +apparently all sleepy-eyed, said peevishly, 'Who knocketh below +there?'</p> + +<p>'What?' cried Andreuccio. 'Dost thou not know me? I am Andreuccio, +brother to Madam Fiordaliso.' Whereto quoth she, 'Good man, an thou +have drunken overmuch, go sleep and come back to-morrow morning. I +know no Andreuccio nor what be these idle tales thou tellest. Begone +in peace and let us sleep, so it please thee.' 'How?' replied +Andreuccio. 'Thou knowest not what I mean? Certes, thou knowest; but, +if Sicilian kinships be of such a fashion that they are forgotten in +so short a time, at least give me back my clothes and I will begone +with all my heart.' 'Good man,' rejoined she, as if laughing, +'methinketh thou dreamest'; and to say this and to draw in her head +and shut the window were one and the same thing. Whereat Andreuccio, +now fully certified of his loss, was like for chagrin to turn his +exceeding anger into madness and bethought himself to seek to recover +by violence that which he might not have again with words; wherefore, +taking up a great stone, he began anew to batter the door more +furiously than ever.</p> + +<p>At this many of the neighbours, who<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72"></a></span> had already been awakened and had +arisen, deeming him some pestilent fellow who had trumped up this +story to spite the woman of the house and provoked at the knocking he +kept up, came to the windows and began to say, no otherwise than as +all the dogs of a quarter bark after a strange dog, ''Tis a villainous +shame to come at this hour to decent women's houses and tell these +cock-and-bull stories. For God's sake, good man, please you begone in +peace and let us sleep. An thou have aught to mell with her, come back +to-morrow and spare us this annoy to-night.' Taking assurance, +perchance, by these words, there came to the window one who was within +the house, a bully of the gentlewoman's, whom Andreuccio had as yet +neither heard nor seen, and said, in a terrible big rough voice, 'Who +is below there?'</p> + +<p>Andreuccio, hearing this, raised his eyes and saw at the window one +who, by what little he could make out, himseemed should be a very +masterful fellow, with a bushy black beard on his face, and who yawned +and rubbed his eyes, as he had arisen from bed or deep sleep; +whereupon, not without fear, he answered, 'I am a brother of the lady +of the house.' The other waited not for him to make an end of his +reply, but said, more fiercely than before, 'I know not what hindereth +me from coming down and cudgelling thee what while I see thee stir, +for a pestilent drunken ass as thou must be, who will not let us sleep +this night.' Then, drawing back into the house, he shut the window; +whereupon certain of the neighbours, who were better acquainted with +the fellow's quality, said softly to Andreuccio, 'For God's sake, good +man, begone in peace and abide not there to-night to be slain; get +thee gone for thine own good.'</p> + +<p>Andreuccio, terrified at the fellow's voice and aspect and moved by +the exhortations of the neighbours, who seemed to him to speak out of +charity, set out to return to his inn, in the direction of the quarter +whence he had followed the maid, without knowing whither to go, +despairing of his money and woebegone as ever man was. Being loathsome +to himself, for the stench that came from him, and thinking to repair +to the sea to wash himself, he turned to the left and followed a +street called Ruga Catalana,<a name="FNanchor_101_101" id="FNanchor_101_101"></a><a href="#Footnote_101_101" class="fnanchor">[101]</a> that led towards the upper part of +the city. Presently, he espied two men coming towards him with a +lantern and fearing they might be officers of the watch or other +ill-disposed folk, he stealthily took refuge, to avoid them, in a +hovel, that he saw hard by. But they, as of malice aforethought, made +straight for the same place and entering in, began to examine certain +irons which one of them laid from off his shoulder, discoursing +various things thereof the while.</p> + +<p>Presently, 'What meaneth this?' quoth one. 'I smell the worst stench +meseemeth I ever smelt.' So saying, he raised the lantern and seeing +the wretched Andreuccio, enquired, in amazement. 'Who is there?' +Andreuccio made no answer, but they came up to him with the light and +asked him what he did there in such a pickle; whereupon he related to +them all that had befallen him, and they, conceiving where this might +have happened, said, one to the other, 'Verily, this must have been +in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73"></a></span> the house of Scarabone Buttafuocco.' Then, turning to him, 'Good +man,' quoth one, 'albeit thou hast lost thy money, thou hast much +reason to praise God that this mischance betided thee, so that thou +fellest nor couldst after avail to enter the house again; for, hadst +thou not fallen, thou mayst be assured that, when once thou wast +fallen asleep, thou hadst been knocked on the head and hadst lost thy +life as well as thy money. But what booteth it now to repine? Thou +mayst as well look to have the stars out of the sky as to recover a +farthing of thy money; nay, thou art like to be murdered, should +yonder fellow hear that thou makest any words thereof.' Then they +consulted together awhile and presently said to him, 'Look you, we are +moved to pity for thee; wherefore, an thou wilt join with us in +somewhat we go about to do, it seemeth to us certain that there will +fall to thee for thy share much more than the value of that which thou +hast lost.' Whereupon Andreuccio, in his desperation, answered that he +was ready.</p> + +<p>Now there had been that day buried an archbishop of Naples, by name +Messer Filippo Minutolo, and he had been interred in his richest +ornaments and with a ruby on his finger worth more than five hundred +florins of gold. Him they were minded to despoil and this their intent +they discovered to Andreuccio, who, more covetous than well-advised, +set out with them for the cathedral. As they went, Andreuccio still +stinking amain, one of the thieves said, 'Can we not find means for +this fellow to wash himself a little, be it where it may, so he may +not stink so terribly?' 'Ay can we,' answered the other. 'We are here +near a well, where there useth to be a rope and pulley and a great +bucket; let us go thither and we will wash him in a trice.' +Accordingly they made for the well in question and found the rope +there, but the bucket had been taken away; wherefore they took counsel +together to tie him to the rope and let him down into the well, so he +might wash himself there, charging him shake the rope as soon as he +was clean, and they would pull him up.</p> + +<p>Hardly had they let him down when, as chance would have it, certain of +the watch, being athirst for the heat and with running after some +rogue or another, came to the well to drink, and the two rogues, +setting eyes on them, made off incontinent, before the officers saw +them. Presently, Andreuccio, having washed himself at the bottom of +the well, shook the rope, and the thirsty officers, laying by their +targets and arms and surcoats, began to haul upon the rope, thinking +the bucket full of water at the other end. As soon as Andreuccio found +himself near the top, he let go the rope and laid hold of the marge +with both hands; which when the officers saw, overcome with sudden +affright, they dropped the rope, without saying a word, and took to +their heels as quickliest they might. At this Andreuccio marvelled +sore, and but that he had fast hold of the marge, would have fallen to +the bottom, to his no little hurt or maybe death. However, he made his +way out and finding the arms, which he knew were none of his +companions' bringing, he was yet more amazed; but, knowing not what to +make of it and misdoubting [some snare], he determined to begone +without touching aught and accordingly made off he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74"></a></span> knew not whither, +bewailing his ill-luck.</p> + +<p>As he went, he met his two comrades, who came to draw him forth of the +well; and when they saw him, they marvelled exceedingly and asked him +who had drawn him up. Andreuccio replied that he knew not and told +them orderly how it had happened and what he had found by the +wellside, whereupon the others, perceiving how the case stood, told +him, laughing, why they had fled and who these were that had pulled +him up. Then, without farther parley, it being now middle night, they +repaired to the cathedral and making their way thereinto lightly +enough, went straight to the archbishop's tomb, which was of marble +and very large. With their irons they raised the lid, which was very +heavy, and propped it up so as a man might enter; which being done, +quoth one, 'Who shall go in?' 'Not I,' answered the other. 'Nor I,' +rejoined his fellow; 'let Andreuccio enter.' 'That will I not,' said +the latter; whereupon the two rogues turned upon him and said, 'How! +Thou wilt not? Cock's faith, an thou enter not, we will clout thee +over the costard with one of these iron bars till thou fall dead.'</p> + +<p>Andreuccio, affrighted, crept into the tomb, saying in himself the +while, 'These fellows will have me go in here so they may cheat me, +for that, when I shall have given them everything, they will begone +about their business, whilst I am labouring to win out of the tomb, +and I shall abide empty-handed.' Accordingly, he determined to make +sure of his share beforehand; wherefore, as soon as he came to the +bottom, calling to mind the precious ring whereof he had heard them +speak, he drew it from the archbishop's finger and set it on his own. +Then he passed them the crozier and mitre and gloves and stripping the +dead man to his shirt, gave them everything, saying that there was +nothing more. The others declared that the ring must be there and bade +him seek everywhere; but he replied that he found it not and making a +show of seeking it, kept them in play awhile. At last, the two rogues, +who were no less wily than himself, bidding him seek well the while, +took occasion to pull away the prop that held up the lid and made off, +leaving him shut in the tomb.</p> + +<p>What became of Andreuccio, when he found himself in this plight, you +may all imagine for yourselves. He strove again and again to heave up +the lid with his head and shoulders, but only wearied himself in vain; +wherefore, overcome with chagrin and despair, he fell down in a swoon +upon the archbishop's dead body; and whoso saw him there had hardly +known which was the deader, the prelate or he. Presently, coming to +himself, he fell into a passion of weeping, seeing he must there +without fail come to one of two ends, to wit, either he must, if none +came thither to open the tomb again, die of hunger and stench, among +the worms of the dead body, or, if any came and found him there, he +would certainly be hanged for a thief.</p> + +<p>As he abode in this mind, exceeding woebegone, he heard folk stirring +in the Church and many persons speaking and presently perceived that +they came to do that which he and his comrades had already done; +whereat fear redoubled upon him. But, after the newcomers had forced +open the tomb and propped up the lid, they fell into dispute of who<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75"></a></span> +should go in, and none was willing to do it. However, after long +parley, a priest said, 'What fear ye? Think you he will eat you? The +dead eat not men. I will go in myself.' So saying, he set his breast +to the marge of the tomb and turning his head outward, put in his +legs, thinking to let himself drop. Andreuccio, seeing this, started +up and catching the priest by one of his legs, made a show of offering +to pull him down into the tomb. The other, feeling this, gave a +terrible screech and flung precipitately out of the tomb; whereupon +all the others fled in terror, as they were pursued by an hundred +thousand devils, leaving the tomb open.</p> + +<p>Andreuccio, seeing this, scrambled hastily out of the tomb, rejoiced +beyond all hope, and made off out of the church by the way he had +entered in. The day now drawing near, he fared on at a venture, with +the ring on his finger, till he came to the sea-shore and thence made +his way back to his inn, where he found his comrades and the host, who +had been in concern for him all that night. He told them what had +betided him and themseemed, by the host's counsel, that he were best +depart Naples incontinent. Accordingly, he set out forthright and +returned to Perugia, having invested his money in a ring, whereas he +came to buy horses."</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="THE_SIXTH_STORY2" id="THE_SIXTH_STORY2"></a>THE SIXTH STORY</h2> + +<div class="sidenote">Day the Second</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="hang">MADAM BERITOLA, HAVING LOST HER TWO SONS, IS FOUND ON A +DESERT ISLAND WITH TWO KIDS AND GOETH THENCE INTO LUNIGIANA, +WHERE ONE OF HER SONS, TAKING SERVICE WITH THE LORD OF THE +COUNTRY, LIETH WITH HIS DAUGHTER AND IS CAST INTO PRISON. +SICILY AFTER REBELLING AGAINST KING CHARLES AND THE YOUTH +BEING RECOGNIZED BY HIS MOTHER, HE ESPOUSETH HIS LORD'S +DAUGHTER, AND HIS BROTHER BEING LIKEWISE FOUND, THEY ARE ALL +THREE RESTORED TO HIGH ESTATE</p></div> + + +<p><br /><span class="smcap">Ladies</span> and young men alike laughed heartily at Andreuccio's +adventures, as related by Fiammetta, and Emilia, seeing the story +ended, began, by the queen's commandment, to speak thus: "Grievous +things and woeful are the various shifts of Fortune, whereof,—for +that, whenassoever it is discoursed of them, it is an awakenment for +our minds, which lightly fall asleep under her +blandishments,—methinketh it should never be irksome either to the +happy or the unhappy to hear tell, inasmuch as it rendereth the former +wary and consoleth the latter. Wherefore, albeit great things have +already been recounted upon this subject, I purpose to tell you +thereanent a story no less true than pitiful, whereof, for all it had +a joyful ending, so great and so longsome was the bitterness that I +can scarce believe it to have been assuaged by any subsequent +gladness.</p> + +<p>You must know, dearest ladies, that, after the death of the Emperor +Frederick the Second, Manfred was crowned King of Sicily, in very high +estate with whom was a gentleman of Naples called<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76"></a></span> Arrighetto Capece, +who had to wife a fair and noble lady, also of Naples, by name Madam +Beritola Caracciola. The said Arrighetto, who had the governance of +the island in his hands, hearing that King Charles the First<a name="FNanchor_102_102" id="FNanchor_102_102"></a><a href="#Footnote_102_102" class="fnanchor">[102]</a> had +overcome and slain Manfred at Benevento and that all the realm had +revolted to him and having scant assurance of the short-lived fidelity +of the Sicilians, prepared for flight, misliking to become a subject +of his lord's enemy; but, his intent being known of the Sicilians, he +and many other friends and servants of King Manfred were suddenly made +prisoners and delivered to King Charles, together with possession of +the island.</p> + +<p>Madam Beritola, in this grievous change of affairs, knowing not what +was come of Arrighetto and sore adread of that which had befallen, +abandoned all her possessions for fear of shame and poor and pregnant +as she was, embarked, with a son of hers and maybe eight years of age, +Giusfredi by name, in a little boat and fled to Lipari, where she gave +birth to another male child, whom she named Scacciato,<a name="FNanchor_103_103" id="FNanchor_103_103"></a><a href="#Footnote_103_103" class="fnanchor">[103]</a> and +getting her a nurse, took ship with all three to return to her +kinsfolk at Naples. But it befell otherwise than as she purposed; for +that the ship, which should have gone to Naples, was carried by stress +of wind to the island of Ponza,<a name="FNanchor_104_104" id="FNanchor_104_104"></a><a href="#Footnote_104_104" class="fnanchor">[104]</a> where they entered a little bight +of the sea and there awaited an occasion for continuing their voyage. +Madam Beritola, going up, like the rest, into the island and finding a +remote and solitary place, addressed herself to make moan for her +Arrighetto, all alone there.</p> + +<p>This being her daily usance, it chanced one day that, as she was +occupied in bewailing herself, there came up a pirate galley, +unobserved of any, sailor or other, and taking them all at unawares, +made off with her prize. Madam Beritola, having made an end of her +diurnal lamentation, returned to the sea-shore, as she was used to do, +to visit her children, but found none there; whereat she first +marvelled and after, suddenly misdoubting her of that which had +happened, cast her eyes out to sea and saw the galley at no great +distance, towing the little ship after it; whereby she knew but too +well that she had lost her children, as well as her husband, and +seeing herself there poor and desolate and forsaken, unknowing where +she should ever again find any of them, she fell down aswoon upon the +strand, calling upon her husband and her children. There was none +there to recall her distracted spirits with cold water or other +remedy, wherefore they might at their leisure go wandering whither it +pleased them; but, after awhile, the lost senses returning to her +wretched body, in company with tears and lamentations, she called long +upon her children and went a great while seeking them in every cavern. +At last, finding all her labour in vain and seeing the night coming +on, she began, hoping and knowing not what, to be careful for herself +and departing the sea-shore, returned to the cavern where she was wont +to weep and bemoan herself.</p> + +<p>She passed the night in great fear<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77"></a></span> and inexpressible dolour and the +new day being come and the hour of tierce past, she was fain, +constrained by hunger, for that she had not supped overnight, to +browse upon herbs; and having fed as best she might, she gave herself, +weeping, to various thoughts of her future life. Pondering thus, she +saw a she-goat enter a cavern hard by and presently issue thence and +betake herself into the wood; whereupon she arose and entering whereas +the goat had come forth, found there two little kidlings, born belike +that same day, which seemed to her the quaintest and prettiest things +in the world. Her milk being yet undried from her recent delivery, she +tenderly took up the kids and set them to her breast. They refused not +the service, but sucked her as if she had been their dam and +thenceforth made no distinction between the one and the other. +Wherefore, herseeming she had found some company in that desert place, +and growing no less familiar with the old goat than with her little +ones, she resigned herself to live and die there and abode eating of +herbs and drinking water and weeping as often as she remembered her of +her husband and children and of her past life.</p> + +<p>The gentle lady, thus grown a wild creature, abiding on this wise, it +befell, after some months, that there came on like wise to the place +whither she had aforetime been driven by stress of weather, a little +vessel from Pisa and there abode some days. On broad this bark was a +gentleman named Currado [of the family] of the Marquises of Malespina, +who, with his wife, a lady of worth and piety, was on his return home +from a pilgrimage to all the holy places that be in the kingdom of +Apulia. To pass away the time, Currado set out one day, with his lady +and certain of his servants and his dogs, to go about the island, and +not far from Madam Beritola's place of harbourage, the dogs started +the two kids, which were now grown pretty big, as they went grazing. +The latter, chased by the dogs, fled to no other place but into the +cavern where was Madam Beritola, who, seeing this, started to her feet +and catching up a staff, beat off the dogs. Currado and his wife, who +came after them, seeing the lady, who was grown swart and lean and +hairy, marvelled, and she yet more at them. But after Currado had, at +her instance, called off his dogs, they prevailed with her, by dint of +much entreaty, to tell them who she was and what she did there; +whereupon she fully discovered to them her whole condition and all +that had befallen her, together with her firm resolution [to abide +alone in the island].</p> + +<p>Currado, who had know Arrighetto Capece very well, hearing this, wept +for pity, and did his utmost to divert her with words from so +barbarous a purpose, offering to carry her back to her own house or to +keep her with himself, holding her in such honour as his sister, until +God should send her happier fortune. The lady not yielding to these +proffers, Currado left his wife with her, bidding the latter cause +bring thither to eat and clothe the lady, who was all in rags, with +some of her own apparel, and charging her contrive, by whatsoever +means, to bring her away with her. Accordingly, the gentle lady, being +left with Madam Beritola, after condoling with her amain of her +misfortunes, sent for raiment and victual and prevailed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78"></a></span> on her, with +all the pains in the world, to don the one and eat the other.</p> + +<p>Ultimately, after many prayers, Madam Beritola protesting that she +would never consent to go whereas she might be known, she persuaded +her to go with her into Lunigiana, together with the two kids and +their dam, which latter were meantime returned and had greeted her +with the utmost fondness, to the no small wonderment of the +gentlewoman. Accordingly, as soon as fair weather was come, Madam +Beritola embarked with Currado and his lady in their vessel, carrying +with her the two kids and the she-goat (on whose account, her name +being everywhere unknown, she was styled Cavriuola<a name="FNanchor_105_105" id="FNanchor_105_105"></a><a href="#Footnote_105_105" class="fnanchor">[105]</a>) and setting +sail with a fair wind, came speedily to the mouth of the Magra,<a name="FNanchor_106_106" id="FNanchor_106_106"></a><a href="#Footnote_106_106" class="fnanchor">[106]</a> +where they landed and went up to Currado's castle. There Madam +Beritola abode, in a widow's habit, about the person of Currado's +lady, as one of her waiting-women, humble, modest and obedient, still +cherishing her kids and letting nourish them.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, the corsairs, who had taken the ship wherein Madam Beritola +came to Ponza, but had left herself, as being unseen of them, betook +themselves with all the other folk to Genoa, where, the booty coming +to be shared among the owners of the galley, it chanced that the nurse +and the two children fell, amongst other things, to the lot of a +certain Messer Guasparrino d'Oria,<a name="FNanchor_107_107" id="FNanchor_107_107"></a><a href="#Footnote_107_107" class="fnanchor">[107]</a> who sent them all three to his +mansion, to be there employed as slaves about the service of the +house. The nurse, afflicted beyond measure at the loss of her mistress +and at the wretched condition where into she found herself and the two +children fallen, wept long and sore; but, for that, albeit a poor +woman, she was discreet and well-advised, when she saw that tears +availed nothing and that she was become a slave together with them, +she first comforted herself as best she might and after, considering +whither they were come, she bethought herself that, should the two +children be known, they might lightly chance to suffer hindrance; +wherefore, hoping withal that, sooner or later fortune might change +and they, an they lived, regain their lost estate, she resolved to +discover to no one who they were, until she should see occasion +therefor, and told all who asked her thereof that they were her sons. +The elder she named, not Giusfredi, but Giannotto di Procida (the name +of the younger she cared not to change), and explained to him, with +the utmost diligence, why she had changed his name, showing him in +what peril he might be, an he were known. This she set out to him not +once, but many and many a time, and the boy, who was quick of wit, +punctually obeyed the enjoinment of his discreet nurse.</p> + +<p>Accordingly, the two boys and their nurse abode patiently in Messer +Guasparrino's house several years, ill-clad and worse shod and +employed about the meanest offices. But Giannotto, who was now sixteen +years of age, and had more spirit than pertained to a slave, scorning +the baseness of a menial condition, embarked on board certain galleys +bound for Alexandria and taking leave of Messer Guasparrino's service, +journeyed to divers parts, without any<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79"></a></span> wise availing to advance +himself. At last some three or four years after his departure from +Genoa, being grown a handsome youth and tall of his person and hearing +that his father, whom he thought dead, was yet alive, but was kept by +King Charles in prison and duresse, he went wandering at a venture, +well nigh despairing of fortune, till he came to Lunigiana and there, +as chance would have it, took service with Currado Malespina, whom he +served with great aptitude and acceptance. And albeit he now and again +saw his mother, who was with Currado's lady, he never recognized her +nor she him, so much had time changed the one and the other from that +which they were used to be, whenas they last set eyes on each other.</p> + +<p>Giannotto being, then, in Currado's service, it befell that a daughter +of the latter, by name Spina, being left the widow of one Niccolo da +Grignano, returned to her father's house and being very fair and +agreeable and a girl of little more than sixteen years of age, chanced +to cast eyes on Giannotto and he on her, and they became passionately +enamoured of each other. Their love was not long without effect and +lasted several months ere any was ware thereof. Wherefore, taking +overmuch assurance, they began to order themselves with less +discretion than behoveth unto matters of this kind, and one day, as +they went, the young lady and Giannotto together, through a fair and +thickset wood, they pushed on among the trees, leaving the rest of the +company behind. Presently, themseeming they had far foregone the +others, they laid themselves down to rest in a pleasant place, full of +grass and flowers and shut in with trees, and there fell to taking +amorous delight one of the other.</p> + +<p>In this occupation, the greatness of their delight making the time +seem brief to them, albeit they had been there a great while, they +were surprised, first by the girl's mother and after by Currado, who, +chagrined beyond measure at this sight, without saying aught of the +cause, had them both seized by three of his serving-men and carried in +bonds to a castle of his and went off, boiling with rage and despite +and resolved to put them both to a shameful death. The girl's mother, +although sore incensed and holding her daughter worthy of the severest +punishment for her default, having by certain words of Currado +apprehended his intent towards the culprits and unable to brook this, +hastened after her enraged husband and began to beseech him that it +would please him not run madly to make himself in his old age the +murderer of his own daughter and to soil his hands with the blood of +one of his servants, but to find other means of satisfying his wrath, +such as to clap them in prison and there let them pine and bewail the +fault committed. With these and many other words the pious lady so +wrought upon him that she turned his mind from putting them to death +and he bade imprison them, each in a place apart, where they should be +well guarded and kept with scant victual and much unease, till such +time as he should determine farther of them. As he bade, so was it +done, and what their life was in duresse and continual tears and in +fasts longer than might have behoved unto them, each may picture to +himself.</p> + +<p>What while Giannotto and Spina abode in this doleful case and had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80"></a></span> +therein already abidden a year's space, unremembered of Currado, it +came to pass that King Pedro of Arragon, by the procurement of Messer +Gian di Procida, raised the island of Sicily against King Charles and +took it from him, whereat Currado, being a Ghibelline,<a name="FNanchor_108_108" id="FNanchor_108_108"></a><a href="#Footnote_108_108" class="fnanchor">[108]</a> rejoiced +exceedingly, Giannotto, hearing of this from one of those who had him +in guard, heaved a great sigh and said, 'Ah, woe is me! These fourteen +years have I gone ranging beggarlike about the world, looking for +nought other than this, which, now that it is come, so I may never +again hope for weal, hath found me in a prison whence I have no hope +ever to come forth, save dead.' 'How so?' asked the gaoler. 'What doth +that concern thee which great kings do to one another? What hast thou +to do in Sicily?' Quoth Giannotto, 'My heart is like to burst when I +remember me of that which my father erst had to do there, whom, albeit +I was but a little child, when I fled thence, yet do I mind me to have +been lord thereof, in the lifetime of King Manfred.' 'And who was thy +father?' asked the gaoler. 'My father's name,' answered Giannotto, 'I +may now safely make known, since I find myself in the peril whereof I +was in fear, an I discovered it. He was and is yet, an he live, called +Arrighetto Capece, and my name is, not Giannotto, but Giusfredi, and I +doubt not a jot, an I were quit of this prison, but I might yet, by +returning to Sicily, have very high place there.'</p> + +<p>The honest man, without asking farther, reported Giannotto's words, as +first he had occasion, to Currado, who, hearing this,—albeit he +feigned to the gaoler to make light of it,—betook himself to Madam +Beritola and courteously asked her if she had had by Arrighetto a son +named Giusfredi. The lady answered, weeping, that, if the elder of her +two sons were alive, he would so be called and would be two-and-twenty +years old. Currado, hearing this, concluded that this must be he and +bethought himself that, were it so, he might at once do a great mercy +and take away his own and his daughter's shame by giving her to +Giannotto to wife; wherefore, sending privily for the latter, he +particularly examined him touching all his past life and finding, by +very manifest tokens, that he was indeed Giusfredi, son of Arrighetto +Capece, he said to him, 'Giannotto, thou knowest what and how great is +the wrong thou hast done me in the person of my daughter, whereas, I +having ever well and friendly entreated thee, it behoved thee, as a +servant should, still to study and do for my honour and interest; and +many there be who, hadst thou used them like as thou hast used me, +would have put thee to a shameful death, the which my clemency brooked +not. Now, if it be as thou tellest me, to wit, that thou art the son +of a man of condition and of a noble lady, I purpose, an thou<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81"></a></span> thyself +be willing, to put an end to thy tribulations and relieving thee from +the misery and duresse wherein thou abidest, to reinstate at once +thine honour and mine own in their due stead. As thou knowest, Spina, +whom thou hast, though after a fashion misbeseeming both thyself and +her, taken with love-liking, is a widow and her dowry is both great +and good; as for her manners and her father and mother, thou knowest +them, and of thy present state I say nothing. Wherefore, an thou will, +I purpose that, whereas she hath unlawfully been thy mistress, she +shall now lawfully become thy wife and that thou shalt abide here with +me and with her, as my very son, so long as it shall please thee.'</p> + +<p>Now prison had mortified Giannotto's flesh, but had nothing abated the +generous spirit, which he derived from his noble birth, nor yet the +entire affection he bore his mistress; and albeit he ardently desired +that which Currado proffered him and saw himself in the latter's +power, yet no whit did he dissemble of that which the greatness of his +soul prompted him to say; wherefore he answered, 'Currado, neither +lust of lordship nor greed of gain nor other cause whatever hath ever +made me lay snares, traitor-wise, for thy life or thy good. I loved +and love thy daughter and still shall love her, for that I hold her +worthy of my love, and if I dealt with her less than honourably, in +the opinion of the vulgar, my sin was one which still goeth hand in +hand with youth and which an you would do away, it behoveth you first +do away with youth. Moreover, it is an offence which, would the old +but remember them of having been young and measure the defaults of +others by their own and their own by those of others, would show less +grievous than thou and many others make it; and as a friend, and not +as an enemy, I committed it. This that thou profferest me I have still +desired and had I thought it should be vouchsafed me, I had long since +sought it; and so much the dearer will it now be to me, as my hope +thereof was less. If, then, thou have not that intent which thy words +denote, feed me not with vain hope; but restore me to prison and there +torment me as thou wilt, for, so long as I love Spina, even so, for +the love of her, shall I still love thee, whatsoever thou dost with +me, and have thee in reverence.'</p> + +<p>Currado, hearing this, marvelled and held him great of soul and his +love fervent and tendered him therefore the dearer; wherefore, rising +to his feet, he embraced him and kissed him and without more delay +bade privily bring Spina thither. Accordingly, the lady—who was grown +lean and pale and weakly in prison and showed well nigh another than +she was wont to be, as on like wise Giannotto another man—being come, +the two lovers in Currado's presence with one consent contracted +marriage according to our usance. Then, after some days, during which +he had let furnish the newly-married pair with all that was necessary +or agreeable to them, he deemed it time to gladden their mothers with +the good news and accordingly calling his lady and Cavriuola, he said +to the latter, 'What would you say, madam, an I should cause you have +again your elder son as the husband of one of my daughters?' Whereto +she answered, 'Of that I can say to you no otherwhat than that, could +I be more beholden to you than I am, I should be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82"></a></span> so much the more so +as you would have restored to me that which is dearer to me than mine +own self; and restoring it to me on such wise as you say, you would in +some measure re-awaken in me my lost hope.' With this, she held her +peace, weeping, and Currado said to his lady, 'And thou, mistress, how +wouldst thou take it, were I to present thee with such a son-in-law?' +The lady replied, 'Even a common churl, so he pleased you, would +please me, let alone one of these,<a name="FNanchor_109_109" id="FNanchor_109_109"></a><a href="#Footnote_109_109" class="fnanchor">[109]</a> who are men of gentle birth.' +'Then,' said Currado, 'I hope, ere many days, to make you happy women +in this.'</p> + +<p>Accordingly, seeing the two young folk now restored to their former +cheer, he clad them sumptuously and said to Giusfredi, 'Were it not +dear to thee, over and above thy present joyance, an thou sawest thy +mother here?' Whereto he answered, 'I dare not flatter myself that the +chagrin of her unhappy chances can have left her so long alive; but, +were it indeed so, it were dear to me above all, more by token that +methinketh I might yet, by her counsel, avail to recover great part of +my estate in Sicily.' Thereupon Currado sent for both the ladies, who +came and made much of the newly-wedded wife, no little wondering what +happy inspiration it could have been that prompted Currado to such +exceeding complaisance as he had shown in joining Giannotto with her +in marriage. Madam Beritola, by reason of the words she had heard from +Currado, began to consider Giannotto and some remembrance of the +boyish lineaments of her son's countenance being by occult virtue +awakened in her, without awaiting farther explanation, she ran, +open-armed, to cast herself upon his neck, nor did overabounding +emotion and maternal joy suffer her to say a word; nay, they so locked +up all her senses that she fell into her son's arms, as if dead.</p> + +<p>The latter, albeit he was sore amazed, remembering to have many times +before seen her in that same castle and never recognized her, +nevertheless knew incontinent the maternal odour and blaming himself +for his past heedlessness, received her, weeping, in his arms and +kissed her tenderly. After awhile, Madam Beritola, being +affectionately tended by Currado's lady and Spina and plied both with +cold water and other remedies, recalled her strayed senses and +embracing her son anew, full of maternal tenderness, with many tears +and many tender words, kissed him a thousand times, whilst he all +reverently beheld and entreated her. After these joyful and honourable +greetings had been thrice or four times repeated, to the no small +contentment of the bystanders, and they had related unto each other +all that had befallen them, Currado now, to the exceeding satisfaction +of all, signified to his friends the new alliance made by him and gave +ordinance for a goodly and magnificent entertainment.</p> + +<p>Then said Giusfredi to him, 'Currado, you have made me glad of many +things and have long honourably entertained my mother; and now, that +no whit may remain undone of that which it is in your power to do, I +pray you gladden my mother and bride-feast and myself with the +presence of my brother, whom Messer Guasparrino d'Oria holdeth in +servitude in his house and whom, as I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83"></a></span> have already told you, he took +with me in one of his cruises. Moreover, I would have you send into +Sicily one who shall thoroughly inform himself of the state and +condition of the country and study to learn what is come of +Arrighetto, my father, an he be alive or dead, and if he be alive, in +what estate; of all which having fully certified himself, let him +return to us.' Giusfredi's request was pleasing to Currado, and +without any delay he despatched very discreet persons both to Genoa +and to Sicily.</p> + +<p>He who went to Genoa there sought out Messer Guasparrino and instantly +besought him, on Currado's part, to send him Scacciato and his nurse, +orderly recounting to him all his lord's dealings with Giusfredi and +his mother. Messer Guasparrino marvelled exceedingly to hear this and +said, 'True is it I would do all I may to pleasure Currado, and I +have, indeed, these fourteen years had in my house the boy thou +seekest and one his mother, both of whom I will gladly send him; but +do thou bid him, on my part, beware of lending overmuch credence to +the fables of Giannotto, who nowadays styleth himself Giusfredi, for +that he is a far greater knave than he deemeth.' So saying, he caused +honourably entertain the gentleman and sending privily for the nurse, +questioned her shrewdly touching the matter. Now she had heard of the +Sicilian revolt and understood Arrighetto to be alive, wherefore, +casting off her former fears, she told him everything in order and +showed him the reasons that had moved her to do as she had done.</p> + +<p>Messer Guasparrino, finding her tale to accord perfectly with that of +Currado's messenger, began to give credit to the latter's words and +having by one means and another, like a very astute man as he was, +made enquiry of the matter and happening hourly upon things that gave +him more and more assurance of the fact, took shame to himself of his +mean usage of the lad, in amends whereof, knowing what Arrighetto had +been and was, he gave him to wife a fair young daughter of his, eleven +years of age, with a great dowry. Then, after making a great +bride-feast thereon, he embarked with the boy and girl and Currado's +messenger and the nurse in a well-armed galliot and betook himself to +Lerici, where he was received by Currado and went up, with all his +company, to one of the latter's castles, not far removed thence, where +there was a great banquet toward.</p> + +<p>The mother's joy at seeing her son again and that of the two brothers +in each other and of all three in the faithful nurse, the honour done +of all to Messer Guasparrino and his daughter and of him to all and +the rejoicing of all together with Currado and his lady and children +and friends, no words might avail to express; wherefore, ladies, I +leave it to you to imagine. Thereunto,<a name="FNanchor_110_110" id="FNanchor_110_110"></a><a href="#Footnote_110_110" class="fnanchor">[110]</a> that it might be complete, +it pleased God the Most High, a most abundant giver, whenas He +beginneth, to add the glad news of the life and well-being of +Arrighetto Capece; for that, the feast being at its height and the +guests, both ladies and men, yet at table for the first service, there +came he who had been sent into Sicily and amongst other things, +reported of Arrighetto that he, being kept in captivity by King +Charles, whenas the revolt<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84"></a></span> against the latter broke out in the land, +the folk ran in a fury to the prison and slaying his guards, delivered +himself and as a capital enemy of King Charles, made him their captain +and followed him to expel and slay the French: wherefore he was become +in especial favour with King Pedro,<a name="FNanchor_111_111" id="FNanchor_111_111"></a><a href="#Footnote_111_111" class="fnanchor">[111]</a> who had reinstated him in all +his honours and possessions, and was now in great good case. The +messenger added that he had received himself with the utmost honour +and had rejoiced with inexpressible joy in the recovery of his wife +and son, of whom he had heard nothing since his capture; moreover, he +had sent a brigantine for them, with divers gentlemen aboard, who came +after him.</p> + +<p>The messenger was received and hearkened with great gladness and +rejoicing, whilst Currado, with certain of his friends, set out +incontinent to meet the gentlemen who came for Madam Beritola and +Giusfredi and welcoming them joyously, introduced them into his +banquet, which was not yet half ended. There both the lady and +Giusfredi, no less than all the others, beheld them with such joyance +that never was heard the like; and the gentlemen, ere they sat down to +meat, saluted Currado and his lady on the part of Arrighetto, thanking +them, as best they knew and might, for the honour done both to his +wife and his son and offering himself to their pleasure,<a name="FNanchor_112_112" id="FNanchor_112_112"></a><a href="#Footnote_112_112" class="fnanchor">[112]</a> in all +that lay in his power. Then, turning to Messer Guasparrino, whose +kindness was unlooked for, they avouched themselves most certain that, +whenas that which he had done for Scacciato should be known of +Arrighetto, the like thanks and yet greater would be rendered him.</p> + +<p>Thereafter they banqueted right joyously with the new-made bridegrooms +at the bride-feast of the two newly-wedded wives; nor that day alone +did Currado entertain his son-in-law and other his kinsmen and +friends, but many others. As soon as the rejoicings were somewhat +abated, it appearing to Madam Beritola and to Giusfredi and the others +that it was time to depart, they took leave with many tears of Currado +and his lady and Messer Guasparrino and embarked on board the +brigantine, carrying Spina with them; then, setting sail with a fair +wind, they came speedily to Sicily, where all alike, both sons and +daughters-in-law, were received by Arrighetto in Palermo with such +rejoicing as might never be told; and there it is believed that they +all lived happily a great while after, in love and thankfulness to God +the Most High, as mindful of the benefits received."</p> + + + +<hr /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85"></a></span></p> +<h2><a name="THE_SEVENTH_STORY2" id="THE_SEVENTH_STORY2"></a>THE SEVENTH STORY</h2> + +<div class="sidenote">Day the Second</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="hang">THE SOLDAN OF BABYLON SENDETH A DAUGHTER OF HIS TO BE +MARRIED TO THE KING OF ALGARVE, AND SHE, BY DIVERS CHANCES, +IN THE SPACE OF FOUR YEARS COMETH TO THE HANDS OF NINE MEN +IN VARIOUS PLACES. ULTIMATELY, BEING RESTORED TO HER FATHER +FOR A MAID, SHE GOETH TO THE KING OF ALGARVE TO WIFE, AS +FIRST SHE DID</p></div> + + +<p><br /><span class="smcap">Had</span> Emilia's story been much longer protracted, it is like the +compassion had by the young ladies on the misfortunes of Madam +Beritola would have brought them to tears; but, an end being now made +thereof, it pleased the queen that Pamfilo should follow on with his +story, and accordingly he, who was very obedient, began thus, "Uneath, +charming ladies, is it for us to know that which is meet for us, for +that, as may oftentimes have been seen, many, imagining that, were +they but rich, they might avail to live without care and secure, have +not only with prayers sought riches of God, but have diligently +studied to acquire them, grudging no toil and no peril in the quest, +and who,—whereas, before they became enriched, they loved their +lives,—once having gotten their desire, have found folk to slay them, +for greed of so ample an inheritance. Others of low estate, having, +through a thousand perilous battles and the blood of their brethren +and their friends, mounted to the summit of kingdoms, thinking in the +royal estate to enjoy supreme felicity, without the innumerable cares +and alarms whereof they see and feel it full, have learned, at the +cost of their lives, that poison is drunken at royal tables in cups of +gold. Many there be who have with most ardent appetite desired bodily +strength and beauty and divers personal adornments and perceived not +that they had desired ill till they found these very gifts a cause to +them of death or dolorous life. In fine, not to speak particularly of +all the objects of human desire, I dare say that there is not one +which can, with entire assurance, be chosen by mortal men as secure +from the vicissitudes of fortune; wherefore, an we would do aright, +needs must we resign ourselves to take and possess that which is +appointed us of Him who alone knoweth that which behoveth unto us and +is able to give it to us. But for that, whereas men sin in desiring +various things, you, gracious ladies, sin, above all, in one, to wit, +in wishing to be fair,—insomuch that, not content with the charms +vouchsafed you by nature, you still with marvellous art study to +augment them,—it pleaseth me to recount to you how ill-fortunedly +fair was a Saracen lady, whom it befell, for her beauty, to be in some +four years' space nine times wedded anew.</p> + +<p>It is now a pretty while since there was a certain Soldan of +Babylon,<a name="FNanchor_113_113" id="FNanchor_113_113"></a><a href="#Footnote_113_113" class="fnanchor">[113]</a> by name Berminedab, to whom in his day many things +happened in accordance<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86"></a></span> with his pleasure.<a name="FNanchor_114_114" id="FNanchor_114_114"></a><a href="#Footnote_114_114" class="fnanchor">[114]</a> Amongst many other +children, both male and female, he had a daughter called Alatiel, who, +by report of all who saw her, was the fairest woman to be seen in the +world in those days, and having, in a great defeat he had inflicted +upon a vast multitude of Arabs who were come upon him, been +wonder-well seconded by the King of Algarve,<a name="FNanchor_115_115" id="FNanchor_115_115"></a><a href="#Footnote_115_115" class="fnanchor">[115]</a> had, at his request, +given her to him to wife, of especial favour; wherefore, embarking her +aboard a ship well armed and equipped, with an honourable company of +men and ladies and store of rich and sumptuous gear and furniture, he +despatched her to him, commending her to God.</p> + +<p>The sailors, seeing the weather favourable, gave their sails to the +wind and departing the port of Alexandria, fared on prosperously many +days, and having now passed Sardinia, deemed themselves near the end +of their voyage, when there arose one day of a sudden divers contrary +winds, which, being each beyond measure boisterous, so harassed the +ship, wherein was the lady, and the sailors, that the latter more than +once gave themselves over for lost. However, like valiant men, using +every art and means in their power, they rode it out two days, though +buffeted by a terrible sea; but, at nightfall of the third day, the +tempest abating not, nay, waxing momently, they felt the ship open, +being then not far off Majorca, but knowing not where they were +neither availing to apprehend it either by nautical reckoning or by +sight, for that the sky was altogether obscured by clouds and dark +night; wherefore, seeing no other way of escape and having each +himself in mind and not others, they lowered a shallop into the water, +into which the officers cast themselves, choosing rather to trust +themselves thereto than to the leaking ship. The rest of the men in +the ship crowded after them into the boat, albeit those who had first +embarked therein opposed it, knife in hand,—and thinking thus to flee +from death, ran straight into it, for that the boat, availing not, for +the intemperance of the weather, to hold so many, foundered and they +perished one and all.</p> + +<p>As for the ship, being driven by a furious wind and running very +swiftly, albeit it was now well nigh water-logged, (none being left on +board save the princess and her women, who all, overcome by the +tempestuous sea and by fear, lay about the decks as they were dead,) +it stranded upon a beach of the island of Majorca and such and so +great was the shock that it well nigh buried itself in the sand some +stone's cast from the shore, where it abode the night, beaten by the +waves, nor might the wind avail to stir it more. Broad day came and +the tempest somewhat<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87"></a></span> abating, the princess, who was half dead, raised +her head and weak as she was, fell to calling now one, now another of +her household, but to no purpose, for that those she called were too +far distant. Finding herself unanswered of any and seeing no one, she +marvelled exceedingly and began to be sore afraid; then, rising up, as +best she might, she saw the ladies who were in her company and the +other women lying all about and trying now one and now another, found +few who gave any signs of life, the most of them being dead what with +sore travail of the stomach and what with affright; wherefore fear +redoubled upon her.</p> + +<p>Nevertheless, necessity constraining her, for that she saw herself +alone there and had neither knowledge nor inkling where she was, she +so goaded those who were yet alive that she made them arise and +finding them unknowing whither the men were gone and seeing the ship +stranded and full of water, she fell to weeping piteously, together +with them. It was noon ere they saw any about the shore or elsewhere, +whom they might move to pity and succour them; but about that hour +there passed by a gentleman, by name Pericone da Visalgo, returning by +chance from a place of his, with sundry of his servants on horseback. +He saw the ship and forthright conceiving what it was, bade one of the +servants board it without delay and tell him what he found there. The +man, though with difficulty, made his way on board and found the young +lady, with what little company she had, crouched, all adread, under +the heel of the bowsprit. When they saw him, they besought him, +weeping, of mercy again and again; but, perceiving that he understood +them not nor they him, they made shift to make known to him their +misadventure by signs.</p> + +<p>The servant having examined everything as best he might, reported to +Pericone that which was on board; whereupon the latter promptly caused +to bring the ladies ashore, together with the most precious things +that were in the ship and might be gotten, and carried them off to a +castle of his, where, the women being refreshed with food and rest, he +perceived, from the richness of her apparel, that the lady whom he had +found must needs be some great gentlewoman, and of this he was +speedily certified by the honour that he saw the others do her and her +alone; and although she was pale and sore disordered of her person, +for the fatigues of the voyage, her features seemed to him exceeding +fair; wherefore he forthright took counsel with himself, an she had no +husband, to seek to have her to wife, and if he might not have her in +marriage, to make shift to have her favours.</p> + +<p>He was a man of commanding presence and exceeding robust and having +for some days let tend the lady excellently well and she being thereby +altogether restored, he saw her lovely past all conception and was +grieved beyond measure that he could not understand her nor she him +and so he might not learn who she was. Nevertheless, being +inordinately inflamed by her charms, he studied, with pleasing and +amorous gestures, to engage her to do his pleasure without contention; +but to no avail; she altogether rejected his advances and so much the +more waxed Pericone's ardour. The lady, seeing this and having now +abidden there some days, perceived, by the usances of the folk, that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88"></a></span> +she was among Christians and in a country where, even if she could, it +had little profited her to make herself known and foresaw that, in the +end, either perforce or for love, needs must she resign herself to do +Pericone's pleasure, but resolved nevertheless by dint of magnanimity +to override the wretchedness of her fortune; wherefore she commanded +her women, of whom but three were left her, that they should never +discover to any who she was, except they found themselves whereas they +might look for manifest furtherance in the regaining of their liberty, +and urgently exhorted them, moreover, to preserve their chastity, +avouching herself determined that none, save her husband, should ever +enjoy her. They commended her for this and promised to observe her +commandment to the best of their power.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile Pericone, waxing daily more inflamed, insomuch as he saw the +thing desired so near and yet so straitly denied, and seeing that his +blandishments availed him nothing, resolved to employ craft and +artifice, reserving force unto the last. Wherefore, having observed +bytimes that wine was pleasing to the lady, as being unused to drink +thereof, for that her law forbade it, he bethought himself that he +might avail to take her with this, as with a minister of enus. +Accordingly, feigning to reck no more of that whereof she showed +herself so chary, he made one night by way of special festival a +goodly supper, whereto he bade the lady, and therein, the repast being +gladdened with many things, he took order with him who served her that +he should give her to drink of various wines mingled. The cupbearer +did his bidding punctually and she, being nowise on her guard against +this and allured by the pleasantness of the drink, took more thereof +than consisted with her modesty; whereupon, forgetting all her past +troubles, she waxed merry and seeing some women dance after the +fashion of Majorca, herself danced in the Alexandrian manner.</p> + +<p>Pericone, seeing this, deemed himself on the high road to that which +he desired and continuing the supper with great plenty of meats and +wines, protracted it far into the night. Ultimately, the guests having +departed, he entered with the lady alone into her chamber, where she, +more heated with wine than restrained by modesty, without any reserve +of shamefastness, undid herself in his presence, as he had been one of +her women, and betook herself to bed. Pericone was not slow to follow +her, but, putting out all the lights, promptly hid himself beside her +and catching her in his arms, proceeded, without any gainsayal on her +part, amorously to solace himself with her; which when once she had +felt,—having never theretofore known with what manner horn men +butt,—as if repenting her of not having yielded to Pericone's +solicitations, thenceforth, without waiting to be bidden to such +agreeable nights, she oftentimes invited herself thereto, not by +words, which she knew not how to make understood, but by deeds.</p> + +<p>But, in the midst of this great pleasance of Pericone and herself, +fortune, not content with having reduced her from a king's bride to be +the mistress of a country gentleman, had foreordained unto her a more +barbarous alliance. Pericone had a brother by name Marato,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89"></a></span> +five-and-twenty years of age and fair and fresh as a rose, who saw her +and she pleased him mightily. Himseemed, moreover, according to that +which he could apprehend from her gestures, that he was very well seen +of her and conceiving that nought hindered him of that which he craved +of her save the strait watch kept on her by Pericone, he fell into a +barbarous thought, whereon the nefarious effect followed without +delay.</p> + +<p>There was then, by chance, in the harbour of the city a vessel laden +with merchandise and bound for Chiarenza<a name="FNanchor_116_116" id="FNanchor_116_116"></a><a href="#Footnote_116_116" class="fnanchor">[116]</a> in Roumelia; whereof two +young Genoese were masters, who had already hoisted sail to depart as +soon as the wind should be fair. Marato, having agreed with them, took +order how he should on the ensuing night be received aboard their ship +with the lady; and this done, as soon as it was dark, having inwardly +determined what he should do, he secretly betook himself, with certain +of his trustiest friends, whom he had enlisted for the purpose, to the +house of Pericone, who nowise mistrusted him. There he hid himself, +according to the ordinance appointed between them, and after a part of +the night had passed, he admitted his companions and repaired with +them to the chamber where Pericone lay with the lady. Having opened +the door, they slew Pericone, as he slept, and took the lady, who was +now awake and in tears, threatening her with death, if she made any +outcry; after which they made off, unobserved, with great part of +Pericone's most precious things and betook themselves in haste to the +sea-shore, where Marato and the lady embarked without delay on board +the ship, whilst his companions returned whence they came.</p> + +<p>The sailors, having a fair wind and a fresh, made sail and set out on +their voyage, whilst the princess sore and bitterly bewailed both her +former and that her second misadventure; but Marato, with that Saint +Waxeth-in-hand, which God hath given us [men,] proceeded to comfort +her after such a fashion that she soon grew familiar with him and +forgetting Pericone, began to feel at her ease, when fortune, as if +not content with the past tribulations wherewith it had visited her, +prepared her a new affliction; for that, she being, as we have already +more than once said, exceeding fair of favour and of very engaging +manners, the two young men, the masters of the ship, became so +passionately enamoured of her that, forgetting all else, they studied +only to serve and pleasure her, being still on their guard lest Marato +should get wind of the cause. Each becoming aware of the other's +passion, they privily took counsel together thereof, and agreed to +join in getting the lady for themselves and enjoy her in common, as if +love should suffer this, as do merchandise and gain.</p> + +<p>Seeing her straitly guarded by Marato and being thereby hindered of +their purpose, one day, as the ship fared on at full speed under sail +and Marato stood at the poop, looking out on the sea and nowise on his +guard against them, they went of one accord and laying hold of him +suddenly from behind, cast him into the sea, nor was it till they had +sailed more than a mile farther that any per<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90"></a></span>ceived Marato to be +fallen overboard. Alatiel, hearing this and seeing no possible way of +recovering him, began anew to make moan for herself; whereupon the two +lovers came incontinent to her succour and with soft words and very +good promises, whereof she understood but little, studied to soothe +and console the lady, who lamented not so much her lost husband as her +own ill fortune. After holding much discourse with her at one time and +another, themseeming after awhile they had well nigh comforted her, +they came to words with one another which should first take her to lie +with him. Each would fain be the first and being unable to come to any +accord upon this, they first with words began a sore and hot dispute +and thereby kindled into rage, they clapped hands to their knives and +falling furiously on one another, before those on board could part +them, dealt each other several blows, whereof one incontinent fell +dead, whilst the other abode on life, though grievously wounded in +many places.</p> + +<p>This new mishap was sore unpleasing to the lady, who saw herself +alone, without aid or counsel of any, and feared lest the anger of the +two masters' kinsfolk and friends should revert upon herself; but the +prayers of the wounded man and their speedy arrival at Chiarenza +delivered her from danger of death. There she went ashore with the +wounded man and took up her abode with him in an inn, where the report +of her great beauty soon spread through the city and came to the ears +of the Prince of the Morea, who was then at Chiarenza and was fain to +see her. Having gotten sight of her and himseeming she was fairer than +report gave out, he straightway became so sore enamoured of her that +he could think of nothing else and hearing how she came thither, +doubted not to be able to get her for himself. As he cast about for a +means of effecting his purpose, the wounded man's kinsfolk got wind of +his desire and without awaiting more, sent her to him forthright, +which was mighty agreeable to the prince and to the lady also, for +that herseemed she was quit of a great peril. The prince, seeing her +graced, over and above her beauty, with royal manners and unable +otherwise to learn who she was, concluded her to be some noble lady, +wherefore he redoubled in his love for her and holding her in +exceeding honour, entreated her not as a mistress, but as his very +wife.</p> + +<p>The lady, accordingly, having regard to her past troubles and +herseeming she was well enough bestowed, was altogether comforted and +waxing blithe again, her beauties flourished on such wise that it +seemed all Roumelia could talk of nothing else. The report of her +loveliness reaching the Duke of Athens, who was young and handsome and +doughty of his person and a friend and kinsman of the prince, he was +taken with a desire to see her and making a show of paying him a +visit, as he was wont bytimes to do, repaired, with a fair and +worshipful company, to Chiarenza, where he was honourably received and +sumptuously entertained. Some days after, the two kinsmen coming to +discourse together of the lady's charms, the duke asked if she were +indeed so admirable a creature as was reported; to which the prince +answered, 'Much more so; but thereof I will have not my words, but +thine own eyes certify thee.' Accordingly, at the duke's<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91"></a></span> +solicitation, they betook themselves together to the princess's +lodging, who, having had notice of their coming, received them very +courteously and with a cheerful favour, and they seated her between +them, but might not have the pleasure of conversing with her, for that +she understood little or nothing of their language; wherefore each +contented himself with gazing upon her, as upon a marvel, and +especially the duke, who could scarce bring himself to believe that +she was a mortal creature and thinking to satisfy his desire with her +sight, heedless of the amorous poison he drank in at his eyes, +beholding her, he miserably ensnared himself, becoming most ardently +enamoured of her.</p> + +<p>After he had departed her presence with the prince and had leisure to +bethink himself, he esteemed his kinsman happy beyond all others in +having so fair a creature at his pleasure, and after many and various +thoughts, his unruly passion weighing more with him than his honour, +he resolved, come thereof what might, to do his utmost endeavour to +despoil the prince of that felicity and bless himself therewith. +Accordingly, being minded to make a quick despatch of the matter and +setting aside all reason and all equity, he turned his every thought +to the devising of means for the attainment of his wishes, and one +day, in accordance with the nefarious ordinance taken by him with a +privy chamberlain of the prince's, by name Ciuriaci, he let make ready +in secret his horses and baggage for a sudden departure.</p> + +<p>The night come, he was, with a companion, both armed, stealthily +introduced by the aforesaid Ciuriaci into the prince's chamber and saw +the latter (the lady being asleep) standing, all naked for the great +heat, at a window overlooking the sea-shore, to take a little breeze +that came from that quarter; whereupon, having beforehand informed his +companion of that which he had to do, he went softly up to the window +and striking the prince with a knife, stabbed him, through and through +the small of his back; then, taking him up in haste, he cast him forth +of the window. The palace stood over against the sea and was very +lofty and the window in question looked upon certain houses that had +been undermined by the beating of the waves and where seldom or never +any came; wherefore it happened, as the duke had foreseen, that the +fall of the prince's body was not nor might be heard of any. The +duke's companion, seeing this done, pulled out a halter he had brought +with him to that end and making a show of caressing Ciuriaci, cast it +adroitly about his neck and drew it so that he could make no outcry; +then, the duke coming up, they strangled him and cast him whereas they +had cast the prince.</p> + +<p>This done and they being manifestly certified that they had been +unheard of the lady or of any other, the duke took a light in his hand +and carrying it to the bedside, softly uncovered the princess, who +slept fast. He considered her from head to foot and mightily commended +her; for, if she was to his liking, being clothed, she pleased him, +naked, beyond all compare. Wherefore, fired with hotter desire and +unawed by his new-committed crime, he couched himself by her side, +with hands yet bloody, and lay with her, all sleepy-eyed as she was +and thinking him to be the prince. After he had abidden<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92"></a></span> with her +awhile in the utmost pleasure, he arose and summoning certain of his +companions, caused take up the lady on such wise that she could make +no outcry and carry her forth by a privy door, whereat he had entered; +then, setting her on horseback, he took to the road with all his men, +as softliest he might, and returned to his own dominions. However (for +that he had a wife) he carried the lady, who was the most distressful +of women, not to Athens, but to a very goodly place he had by the sea, +a little without the city, and there entertained her in secret, +causing honourably furnish her with all that was needful.</p> + +<p>The prince's courtiers on the morrow awaited his rising till none, +when, hearing nothing, they opened the chamber-doors, which were but +closed, and finding no one, concluded that he was gone somewhither +privily, to pass some days there at his ease with his fair lady, and +gave themselves no farther concern. Things being thus, it chanced next +day that an idiot, entering the ruins where lay the bodies of the +prince and Ciuriaci, dragged the latter forth by the halter and went +haling him after him. The body was, with no little wonderment, +recognized by many, who, coaxing the idiot to bring them to the place +whence he had dragged it, there, to the exceeding grief of the whole +city, found the prince's corpse and gave it honourable burial. Then, +enquiring for the authors of so heinous a crime and finding that the +Duke of Athens was no longer there, but had departed by stealth, they +concluded, even as was the case, that it must be he who had done this +and carried off the lady; whereupon they straightway substituted a +brother of the dead man to their prince and incited him with all their +might to vengeance. The new prince, being presently certified by +various other circumstances that it was as they had surmised, summoned +his friends and kinsmen and servants from divers parts and promptly +levying a great and goodly and powerful army, set out to make war upon +the Duke of Athens.</p> + +<p>The latter, hearing of this, on like wise mustered all his forces for +his own defence, and to his aid came many lords, amongst whom the +Emperor of Constantinople sent Constantine his son and Manual his +nephew, with a great and goodly following. The two princes were +honourably received by the duke and yet more so by the duchess, for +that she was their sister,<a name="FNanchor_117_117" id="FNanchor_117_117"></a><a href="#Footnote_117_117" class="fnanchor">[117]</a> and matters drawing thus daily nearer +unto war, taking her occasion, she sent for them both one day to her +chamber and there, with tears galore and many words, related to them +the whole story, acquainting them with the causes of the war. +Moreover, she discovered to them the affront done her by the duke in +the matter of the woman whom it was believed he privily entertained, +and complaining sore thereof, besought them to apply to the matter +such remedy as best they might, for the honour of the duke and her own +solacement.</p> + +<p>The young men already knew all the facts as it had been; wherefore, +without enquiring farther, they comforted the duchess, as best they +might, and filled her with good hope. Then, having learned from her +where the lady abode, they took their leave and having<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93"></a></span> a mind to see +the latter, for that they had oftentimes heard her commended for +marvellous beauty, they besought the duke to show her to them. He, +unmindful of that which had befallen the Prince of the Morea for +having shown her to himself, promised to do this and accordingly next +morning, having let prepare a magnificent collation in a very goodly +garden that pertained to the lady's place of abode, he carried them +and a few others thither to eat with her. Constantine, sitting with +Alatiel, fell a-gazing upon her, full of wonderment, avouching in +himself that he had never seen aught so lovely and that certes the +duke must needs be held excused, ay, and whatsoever other, to have so +fair a creature, should do treason or other foul thing, and looking on +her again and again and each time admiring her more, it betided him no +otherwise than it had betided the duke; wherefore, taking his leave, +enamoured of her, he abandoned all thought of the war and occupied +himself with considering how he might take her from the duke, +carefully concealing his passion the while from every one.</p> + +<p>Whilst he yet burnt in this fire, the time came to go out against the +new prince, who now drew near to the duke's territories; wherefore the +latter and Constantine and all the others, sallied forth of Athens +according to the given ordinance and betook themselves to the defence +of certain frontiers, so the prince might not avail to advance +farther. When they had lain there some days, Constantine having his +mind and thought still intent upon the lady and conceiving that, now +the duke was no longer near her, he might very well avail to +accomplish his pleasure, feigned himself sore indisposed of his +person, to have an occasion of returning to Athens; wherefore, with +the duke's leave, committing his whole power to Manuel, he returned to +Athens to his sister, and there, after some days, putting her upon +talk of the affront which herseemed she suffered from the duke by +reason of the lady whom he entertained, he told her that, an it liked +her, he would soon ease her thereof by causing take the lady from +whereas she was and carry her off. The duchess, conceiving that he did +this of regard for herself and not for love of the lady, answered that +it liked her exceeding well so but it might be done on such wise that +the duke should never know that she had been party thereto, which +Constantine fully promised her, and thereupon she consented that he +should do as seemed best to him.</p> + +<p>Constantine, accordingly, let secretly equip a light vessel and sent +it one evening to the neighbourhood of the garden where the lady +abode; then, having taught certain of his men who were on board what +they had to do, he repaired with others to the lady's pavilion, where +he was cheerfully received by those in her service and indeed by the +lady herself, who, at his instance, betook herself with him to the +garden, attended by her servitors and his companions. There, making as +he would speak with her on the duke's part, he went with her alone +towards a gate, which gave upon the sea and had already been opened by +one of his men, and calling the bark thither with the given signal, he +caused suddenly seize the lady and carry her aboard; then, turning to +her people, he said to them, 'Let none stir or utter a word, an he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94"></a></span> +would not die; for that I purpose not to rob the duke of his wench, +but to do away the affront which he putteth upon my sister.'</p> + +<p>To this none dared make answer; whereupon Constantine, embarking with +his people and seating himself by the side of the weeping lady, bade +thrust the oars into the water and make off. Accordingly, they put out +to sea and not hieing, but flying,<a name="FNanchor_118_118" id="FNanchor_118_118"></a><a href="#Footnote_118_118" class="fnanchor">[118]</a> came, after a little after +daybreak on the morrow, to Egina, where they landed and took rest, +whilst Constantine solaced himself awhile with the lady, who bemoaned +her ill-fated beauty. Thence, going aboard the bark again, they made +their way, in a few days, to Chios, where it pleased Constantine to +take up his sojourn, as in a place of safety, for fear of his father's +resentment and lest the stolen lady should be taken from him. There +the fair lady bewailed her ill fate some days, but, being presently +comforted by Constantine, she began, as she had done otherwhiles, to +take her pleasure of that which fortune had foreordained to her.</p> + +<p>Things being at this pass, Osbech, King of the Turks, who abode in +continual war with the Emperor, came by chance to Smyrna, where +hearing how Constantine abode in Chios, without any precaution, +leading a wanton life with a mistress of his, whom he had stolen away, +he repaired thither one night with some light-armed ships and entering +the city by stealth with some of his people, took many in their beds, +ere they knew of the enemy's coming. Some, who, taking the alert, had +run to arms, he slew and having burnt the whole place, carried the +booty and captives on board the ships and returned to Smyrna. When +they arrived there, Osbech, who was a young man, passing his prisoners +in review, found the fair lady among them and knowing her for her who +had been taken with Constantine asleep in bed, was mightily rejoiced +at sight of her. Accordingly, he made her his wife without delay, and +celebrating the nuptials forthright, lay with her some months in all +joyance.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, the Emperor, who had, before these things came to pass, +been in treaty with Bassano, King of Cappadocia, to the end that he +should come down upon Osbech from one side with his power, whilst +himself assailed him on the other, but had not yet been able to come +to a full accord with him, for that he was unwilling to grant certain +things which Bassano demanded and which he deemed unreasonable, +hearing what had betided his son and chagrined beyond measure thereat, +without hesitating farther, did that which the King of Cappadocia +asked and pressed him as most he might to fall upon Osbech, whilst +himself made ready to come down upon him from another quarter. Osbech, +hearing this, assembled his army, ere he should be straitened between +two such puissant princes, and marched against Bassano, leaving his +fair lady at Smyrna, in charge of a trusty servant and friend of his. +After some time he encountered the King of Cappadocia and giving him +battle, was slain in the mellay and his army discomfited and +dispersed; whereupon Bassano advanced in triumph towards Smyrna, +unopposed, and all the folk submitted to him by the way, as to a +conqueror.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, Osbech's servant, Anti<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95"></a></span>ochus by name, in whose charge the +lady had been left, seeing her so fair, forgot his plighted faith to +his friend and master and became enamoured of her, for all he was a +man in years. Urged by love and knowing her tongue (the which was +mighty agreeable to her, as well as it might be to one whom it had +behoved for some years live as she were deaf and dumb, for that she +understood none neither was understanded of any) he began, in a few +days, to be so familiar with her that, ere long, having no regard to +their lord and master who was absent in the field, they passed from +friendly commerce to amorous privacy, taking marvellous pleasure one +of the other between the sheets. When they heard that Osbech was +defeated and slain and that Bassano came carrying all before him, they +took counsel together not to await him there and laying hands on great +part of the things of most price that were there pertaining to Osbech, +gat them privily to Rhodes, where they had not long abidden ere +Antiochus sickened unto death.</p> + +<p>As chance would have it, there was then in lodging with him a merchant +of Cyprus, who was much loved of him and his fast friend, and +Antiochus, feeling himself draw to his end, bethought himself to leave +him both his possessions and his beloved lady; wherefore, being now +nigh upon death, he called them both to him and bespoke them thus, 'I +feel myself, without a doubt, passing away, which grieveth me, for +that never had I such delight in life as I presently have. Of one +thing, indeed, I die most content, in that, since I must e'en die, I +see myself die in the arms of those twain whom I love over all others +that be in the world, to wit, in thine, dearest friend, and in those +of this lady, whom I have loved more than mine own self, since first I +knew her. True, it grieveth me to feel that, when I am dead, she will +abide here a stranger, without aid or counsel; and it were yet more +grievous to me, did I not know thee here, who wilt, I trust, have that +same care of her, for the love of me, which thou wouldst have had of +myself. Wherefore, I entreat thee, as most I may, if it come to pass +that I die, that thou take my goods and her into thy charge and do +with them and her that which thou deemest may be for the solacement of +my soul. And thou, dearest lady, I prithee forget me not after my +death, so I may vaunt me, in the other world, of being beloved here +below of the fairest lady ever nature formed; of which two things an +you will give me entire assurance, I shall depart without misgiving +and comforted.'</p> + +<p>The merchant his friend and the lady, hearing these words, wept, and +when he had made an end of his speech, they comforted him and promised +him upon their troth to do that which he asked, if it came to pass +that he died. He tarried not long, but presently departed this life +and was honourably interred of them. A few days after, the merchant +having despatched all his business in Rhodes and purposing to return +to Cyprus on board a Catalan carrack that was there, asked the fair +lady what she had a mind to do, for that it behoved him return to +Cyprus. She answered that, an it pleased him, she would gladly go with +him, hoping for Antiochus his love to be of him entreated and regarded +as a sister. The merchant replied that he was content to do her every +pleas<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96"></a></span>ure, and the better to defend her from any affront that might be +offered her, ere they came to Cyprus, he avouched that she was his +wife. Accordingly, they embarked on board the ship and were given a +little cabin on the poop, where, that the fact might not belie his +words, he lay with her in one very small bed. Whereby there came about +that which was not intended of the one or the other of them at +departing Rhodes, to wit, that—darkness and commodity and the heat of +the bed, matters of no small potency, inciting them,—drawn by equal +appetite and forgetting both the friendship and the love of Antiochus +dead, they fell to dallying with each other and before they reached +Baffa, whence the Cypriot came, they had clapped up an alliance +together.</p> + +<p>At Baffa she abode some time with the merchant till, as chance would +have it, there came thither, for his occasions, a gentleman by name +Antigonus, great of years and greater yet of wit, but little of +wealth, for that, intermeddling in the affairs of the King of Cyprus, +fortune had in many things been contrary to him. Chancing one day to +pass by the house where the fair lady dwelt with the merchant, who was +then gone with his merchandise into Armenia, he espied her at a window +and seeing her very beautiful, fell to gazing fixedly upon her and +presently began to recollect that he must have seen her otherwhere, +but where he could on no wise call to mind. As for the lady, who had +long been the sport of fortune, but the term of whose ills was now +drawing near, she no sooner set eyes on Antigonus than she remembered +to have seen him at Alexandria in no mean station in her father's +service; wherefore, conceiving a sudden hope of yet by his aid +regaining her royal estate, and knowing her merchant to be abroad, she +let call him to her as quickliest she might and asked him, blushing, +an he were not, as she supposed, Antigonus of Famagosta. He answered +that he was and added, 'Madam, meseemeth I know you, but on no wise +can I remember me where I have seen you; wherefore I pray you, an it +mislike you not, put me in mind who you are.'</p> + +<p>The lady hearing that it was indeed he, to his great amazement, cast +her arms about his neck, weeping sore, and presently asked him if he +had never seen her in Alexandria. Antigonus, hearing this, incontinent +knew her for the Soldan's daughter Alatiel, who was thought to have +perished at sea, and would fain have paid her the homage due to her +quality; but she would on no wise suffer it and besought him to sit +with her awhile. Accordingly, seating himself beside her, he asked her +respectfully how and when and whence she came thither, seeing that it +was had for certain, through all the land of Egypt, that she had been +drowned at sea years agone. 'Would God,' replied she, 'it had been so, +rather than that I should have had the life I have had; and I doubt +not but my father would wish the like, if ever he came to know it.'</p> + +<p>So saying, she fell anew to weeping wonder-sore; whereupon quoth +Antigonus to her, 'Madam, despair not ere it behove you; but, an it +please you, relate to me your adventures and what manner of life yours +hath been; it may be the matter hath gone on such wise that, with +God's aid, we may avail to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97"></a></span> find an effectual remedy.' 'Antigonus,' +answered the fair lady, 'when I beheld thee, meseemed I saw my father, +and moved by that love and tenderness, which I am bounden to bear him, +I discovered myself to thee, having it in my power to conceal myself +from thee, and few persons could it have befallen me to look upon in +whom I could have been so well-pleased as I am to have seen and known +thee before any other; wherefore that which in my ill fortune I have +still kept hidden, to thee, as to a father, I will discover. If, after +thou hast heard it, thou see any means of restoring me to my pristine +estate, prithee use it; but, if thou see none, I beseech thee never +tell any that thou hast seen me or heard aught of me.'</p> + +<p>This said, she recounted to him, still weeping, that which had +befallen her from the time of her shipwreck on Majorca up to that +moment; whereupon he fell a-weeping for pity and after considering +awhile, 'Madam,' said he, 'since in your misfortunes it hath been +hidden who you are, I will, without fail, restore you, dearer than +ever, to your father and after to the King of Algarve to wife.' Being +questioned of her of the means, he showed her orderly that which was +to do, and lest any hindrance should betide through delay, he +presently returned to Famagosta and going in to the king, said to him, +'My lord, an it like you, you have it in your power at once to do +yourself exceeding honour and me, who am poor through you, a great +service, at no great cost of yours.' The king asked how and Antigonus +replied, 'There is come to Baffa the Soldan's fair young daughter, who +hath so long been reputed drowned and who, to save her honour, hath +long suffered very great unease and is presently in poor case and +would fain return to her father. An it pleased you send her to him +under my guard, it would be much to your honour and to my weal, nor do +I believe that such a service would ever be forgotten of the Soldan.'</p> + +<p>The king, moved by a royal generosity of mind, answered forthright +that he would well and sending for Alatiel, brought her with all +honour and worship to Famagosta, where she was received by himself and +the queen with inexpressible rejoicing and entertained with +magnificent hospitality. Being presently questioned of the king and +queen of her adventures, she answered according to the instructions +given her by Antigonus and related everything;<a name="FNanchor_119_119" id="FNanchor_119_119"></a><a href="#Footnote_119_119" class="fnanchor">[119]</a> and a few days +after, at her request, the king sent her, under the governance of +Antigonus, with a goodly and worshipful company of men and women, back +to the Soldan, of whom let none ask if she was received with +rejoicing, as also was Antigonus and all her company.</p> + +<p>As soon as she was somewhat rested, the Soldan desired to know how it +chanced that she was yet alive and where she had so long abidden, +without having ever let him know aught of her condition; whereupon the +lady, who had kept Antigonus his instructions perfectly in mind, +bespoke him thus, 'Father mine, belike the twentieth day after my +departure from you, our ship, having sprung a leak in a terrible +storm, struck in the night upon certain coasts<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98"></a></span> yonder in the +West,<a name="FNanchor_120_120" id="FNanchor_120_120"></a><a href="#Footnote_120_120" class="fnanchor">[120]</a> near a place called Aguamorta, and what became of the men +who were aboard I know not nor could ever learn; this much only do I +remember that, the day come and I arisen as it were from death to +life, the shattered vessel was espied of the country people, who ran +from all the parts around to plunder it. I and two of my women were +first set ashore and the latter were incontinent seized by certain of +the young men, who fled with them, one this way and the other that, +and what came of them I never knew.</p> + +<p>As for myself, I was taken, despite my resistance, by two young men, +and haled along by the hair, weeping sore the while; but, as they +crossed over a road, to enter a great wood, there passed by four men +on horseback, whom when my ravishers saw, they loosed me forthwith and +took to flight. The new comers, who seemed to me persons of great +authority, seeing this, ran where I was and asked me many questions; +whereto I answered much, but neither understood nor was understanded +of them. However, after long consultation they set me on one of their +horses and carried me to a convent of women vowed to religion, +according to their law, where, whatever they said, I was of all the +ladies kindly received and still entreated with honour, and there with +great devotion I joined them in serving Saint Waxeth-in-Deepdene, a +saint for whom the women of that country have a vast regard.</p> + +<p>After I had abidden with them awhile and learned somewhat of their +language, they questioned me of who I was and fearing, an I told the +truth, to be expelled from amongst them, as an enemy of their faith, I +answered that I was the daughter of a great gentleman of Cyprus, who +was sending me to be married in Crete, when, as ill-luck would have +it, we had run thither and suffered shipwreck. Moreover, many a time +and in many things I observed their customs, for fear of worse, and +being asked by the chief of the ladies, her whom they call abbess, if +I wished to return thence to Cyprus, I answered that I desired nothing +so much; but she, tender of my honour, would never consent to trust me +to any person who was bound for Cyprus, till some two months agone, +when there came thither certain gentlemen of France with their ladies. +One of the latter being a kinswoman of the abbess and she hearing that +they were bound for Jerusalem, to visit the Sepulchre where He whom +they hold God was buried, after He had been slain by the Jews, she +commended me to their care and besought them to deliver me to my +father in Cyprus.</p> + +<p>With what honour these gentlemen entreated me and how cheerfully they +received me together with their ladies, it were a long story to tell; +suffice it to say that we took ship and came, after some days, to +Baffa, where finding myself arrived and knowing none in the place, I +knew not what to say to the gentlemen, who would fain have delivered +me to my father, according to that which had been enjoined them of the +reverend lady; but God, taking pity belike on my affliction, brought +me Antigonus upon the beach what time we disembarked at Baffa, whom I +straightway hailed and in our tongue, so<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99"></a></span> as not to be understood of +the gentlemen and their ladies, bade him receive me as a daughter. He +promptly apprehended me and receiving me with a great show of joy, +entertained the gentlemen and their ladies with such honour as his +poverty permitted and carried me to the King of Cyprus, who received +me with such hospitality and hath sent me back to you [with such +courtesy] as might never be told of me. If aught remain to be said, +let Antigonus, who hath ofttimes heard from me these adventures, +recount it.'</p> + +<p>Accordingly Antigonus, turning to the Soldan, said, 'My lord, even as +she hath many a time told me and as the gentlemen and ladies, with +whom she came, said to me, so hath she recounted unto you. Only one +part hath she forborne to tell you, the which methinketh she left +unsaid for that it beseemeth her not to tell it, to wit, how much the +gentlemen and ladies, with whom she came, said of the chaste and +modest life which she led with the religious ladies and of her virtue +and commendable manners and the tears and lamentations of her +companions, both men and women, when, having restored her to me, they +took leave of her. Of which things were I fain to tell in full that +which they said to me, not only this present day, but the ensuing +night would not suffice unto us; be it enough to say only that +(according to that which their words attested and that also which I +have been able to see thereof,) you may vaunt yourself of having the +fairest daughter and the chastest and most virtuous of any prince that +nowadays weareth a crown.'</p> + +<p>The Soldan was beyond measure rejoiced at these things and besought +God again and again to vouchsafe him of His grace the power of +worthily requiting all who had succoured his daughter and especially +the King of Cyprus, by whom she had been sent back to him with honour. +After some days, having caused prepare great gifts for Antigonus, he +gave him leave to return to Cyprus and rendered, both by letters and +by special ambassadors, the utmost thanks to the king for that which +he had done with his daughter. Then desiring that that which was begun +should have effect, to wit, that she should be the wife of the King of +Algarve, he acquainted the latter with the whole matter and wrote to +him to boot, that, an it pleased him have her, he should send for her. +The King of Algarve was mightily rejoiced at this news and sending for +her in state, received her joyfully; and she, who had lain with eight +men belike ten thousand times, was put to bed to him for a maid and +making him believe that she was so, lived happily with him as his +queen awhile after; wherefore it was said, 'Lips for kissing forfeit +no favour; nay, they renew as the moon doth ever.'"</p> + + + +<hr /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100"></a></span></p> +<h2><a name="THE_EIGHTH_STORY2" id="THE_EIGHTH_STORY2"></a>THE EIGHTH STORY</h2> + +<div class="sidenote">Day the Second</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="hang">THE COUNT OF ANTWERP, BEING FALSELY ACCUSED, GOETH INTO +EXILE AND LEAVETH HIS TWO CHILDREN IN DIFFERENT PLACES IN +ENGLAND, WHITHER, AFTER AWHILE, RETURNING IN DISGUISE AND +FINDING THEM IN GOOD CASE, HE TAKETH SERVICE AS A HORSEBOY +IN THE SERVICE OF THE KING OF FRANCE AND BEING APPROVED +INNOCENT, IS RESTORED TO HIS FORMER ESTATE</p></div> + + +<p><br /><span class="smcap">The</span> ladies sighed amain over the fortunes of the fair Saracen; but who +knoweth what gave rise to those sighs? Maybe there were some of them +who sighed no less for envy of such frequent nuptials than for pity of +Alatiel. But, leaving that be for the present, after they had laughed +at Pamfilo's last words, the queen, seeing his story ended, turned to +Elisa and bade her follow on with one of hers. Elisa cheerfully obeyed +and began as follows: "A most ample field is that wherein we go to-day +a-ranging, nor is there any of us but could lightly enough run, not +one, but half a score courses there, so abounding hath Fortune made it +in her strange and grievous chances; wherefore, to come to tell of one +of these latter, which are innumerable, I say that:</p> + +<p>When the Roman Empire was transferred from the French to the +Germans,<a name="FNanchor_121_121" id="FNanchor_121_121"></a><a href="#Footnote_121_121" class="fnanchor">[121]</a> there arose between the one and the other nation an +exceeding great enmity and a grievous and continual war, by reason +whereof, as well for the defence of their own country as for the +offence of that of others, the King of France and a son of his, with +all the power of their realm and of such friends and kinsfolk as they +could command, levied a mighty army to go forth upon the foe; and ere +they proceeded thereunto,—not to leave the realm without +governance,—knowing Gautier, Count of Antwerp,<a name="FNanchor_122_122" id="FNanchor_122_122"></a><a href="#Footnote_122_122" class="fnanchor">[122]</a> for a noble and +discreet gentleman and their very faithful friend and servant, and for +that (albeit he was well versed in the art of war) he seemed to them +more apt unto things delicate than unto martial toils, they left him +vicar general in their stead over all the governance of the realm of +France and went on their way. Gautier accordingly addressed himself +with both order and discretion to the office committed unto him, still +conferring of everything with the queen and her daughter-in-law, whom, +for all they were left under his custody and jurisdiction, he honoured +none the less as his liege ladies and mistresses.</p> + +<p>Now this Gautier was exceedingly<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101"></a></span> goodly of his body, being maybe +forty years old and as agreeable and well-mannered a gentleman as +might be; and withal, he was the sprightliest and daintiest cavalier +known in those days and he who went most adorned of his person. His +countess was dead, leaving him two little children, a boy and a girl, +without more, and it befell that, the King of France and his son being +at the war aforesaid and Gautier using much at the court of the +aforesaid ladies and speaking often with them of the affairs of the +kingdom, the wife of the king's son cast her eyes on him and +considering his person and his manners with very great affection, was +secretly fired with a fervent love for him. Feeling herself young and +lusty and knowing him wifeless, she doubted not but her desire might +lightly be accomplished unto her and thinking nought hindered her +thereof but shamefastness, she bethought herself altogether to put +that away and discover to him her passion. Accordingly, being one day +alone and it seeming to her time, she sent for him into her chamber, +as though she would discourse with him of other matters.</p> + +<p>The count, whose thought was far from that of the lady, betook himself +to her without any delay and at her bidding, seated himself by her +side on a couch; then, they being alone together, he twice asked her +the occasion for which she had caused him come thither; but she made +him no reply. At last, urged by love and grown all vermeil for shame, +well nigh in tears and all trembling, with broken speech she thus +began to say: 'Dearest and sweet friend and my lord, you may easily as +a man of understanding apprehend how great is the frailty both of men +and of women, and that more, for divers reasons, in one than in +another; wherefore, at the hands of a just judge, the same sin in +diverse kinds of qualities of persons should not in equity receive one +same punishment. And who is there will deny that a poor man or a poor +woman, whom it behoveth gain with their toil that which is needful for +their livelihood, would, an they were stricken with Love's smart and +followed after him, be far more blameworthy than a lady who is rich +and idle and to whom nothing is lacking that can flatter her desires? +Certes, I believe, no one. For which reason methinketh the things +aforesaid [to wit, wealth and leisure and luxurious living] should +furnish forth a very great measure of excuse on behalf of her who +possesseth them, if, peradventure, she suffer herself lapse into +loving, and the having made choice of a lover of worth and discretion +should stand for the rest,<a name="FNanchor_123_123" id="FNanchor_123_123"></a><a href="#Footnote_123_123" class="fnanchor">[123]</a> if she who loveth hath done that. +These circumstances being both, to my seeming, in myself (beside +several others which should move me to love, such as my youth and the +absence of my husband), it behoveth now that they rise up in my behalf +for the defence of my ardent love in your sight, wherein if they avail +that which they should avail in the eyes of men of understanding, I +pray you afford me counsel and succour in that which I shall ask of +you. True is it, that availing not, for the absence of my husband, to +withstand the pricks of the flesh nor the might of love-liking, the +which are of such potency that they have erst many a time overcome and +yet all days long overcome the strong<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102"></a></span>est men, to say nothing of weak +women,—and enjoying the commodities and the leisures wherein you see +me, I have suffered myself lapse into ensuing Love his pleasures and +becoming enamoured; the which,—albeit, were it known, I acknowledge +it would not be seemly, yet,—being and abiding hidden, I hold<a name="FNanchor_124_124" id="FNanchor_124_124"></a><a href="#Footnote_124_124" class="fnanchor">[124]</a> +well nigh nothing unseemly; more by token that Love hath been insomuch +gracious to me that not only hath he not bereft me of due discernment +in the choice of a lover, but hath lent me great plenty thereof<a name="FNanchor_125_125" id="FNanchor_125_125"></a><a href="#Footnote_125_125" class="fnanchor">[125]</a> +to that end, showing me yourself worthy to be loved of a lady such as +I,—you whom, if my fancy beguile me not, I hold the goodliest, the +most agreeable, the sprightliest and the most accomplished cavalier +that may be found in all the realm of France; and even as I may say +that I find myself without a husband, so likewise are you without a +wife. Wherefore, I pray you, by the great love which I bear you, that +you deny me not your love in return, but have compassion on my youth, +the which, in very deed, consumeth for you, as ice before the fire.'</p> + +<p>With these words her tears welled up in such abundance that, albeit +she would fain have proffered him yet other prayers, she had no power +to speak farther, but, bowing her face, as if overcome, she let +herself fall, weeping, her head on the count's bosom. The latter, who +was a very loyal gentleman, began with the gravest reproofs to rebuke +so fond a passion and to repel the princess, who would fain have cast +herself on his neck, avouching to her with oaths that he had liefer be +torn limb from limb than consent unto such an offence against his +lord's honour, whether in himself or in another. The lady, hearing +this, forthright forgot her love and kindling into a furious rage, +said, 'Felon knight that you are, shall I be this wise flouted by you +of my desire? Now God forbid, since you would have me die, but I have +you put to death or driven from the world!' So saying, she set her +hands to her tresses and altogether disordered and tore them; then, +rending her raiment at the breast, she fell to crying aloud and +saying, 'Help! Help! The Count of Antwerp would do me violence.' The +count, seeing this, misdoubting far more the courtiers' envy than his +own conscience and fearful lest, by reason of this same envy, more +credence should be given to the lady's malice than to his own +innocence, started up and departing the chamber and the palace as +quickliest he might, fled to his own house, where, without taking +other counsel, he set his children on horseback and mounting himself +to horse, made off with them, as most he might, towards Calais.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, many ran to the princess's clamour and seeing her in that +plight and hearing [her account of] the cause of her outcry, not only +gave credence to her words, but added<a name="FNanchor_126_126" id="FNanchor_126_126"></a><a href="#Footnote_126_126" class="fnanchor">[126]</a> that the count's gallant +bearing and debonair address had long been used by him to win to that +end. Accordingly, they ran in a fury to his houses to arrest him, but +finding him not, first plundered them all and after razed them to the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103"></a></span> +foundations. The news, in its perverted shape, came presently to the +army to the king and his son, who, sore incensed, doomed Gautier and +his descendants to perpetual banishment, promising very great guerdons +to whoso should deliver him to them alive or dead.</p> + +<p>The count, woeful for that by his flight he had, innocent as he was, +approved himself guilty, having, without making himself known or being +recognized, reached Calais with his children, passed hastily over into +England and betook himself in mean apparel to London, wherein ere he +entered, with many words he lessoned his two little children, and +especially in two things; first, that they should brook with patience +the poor estate, whereunto, without their fault, fortune had brought +them, together with himself,—and after, that with all wariness they +should keep themselves from ever discovering unto any whence or whose +children they were, as they held life dear. The boy, Louis by name, +who was some nine and the girl, who was called Violante and was some +seven years old, both, as far as their tender age comported, very well +apprehended their father's lessons and showed it thereafter by deed. +That this might be the better done,<a name="FNanchor_127_127" id="FNanchor_127_127"></a><a href="#Footnote_127_127" class="fnanchor">[127]</a> he deemed it well to change +their names; wherefore he named the boy Perrot and the girl Jeannette +and all three, entering London, meanly clad, addressed themselves to +go about asking alms, like as we see yonder French vagabonds do.</p> + +<p>They being on this account one morning at a church door, it chanced +that a certain great lady, the wife of one of the king's marshals of +England, coming forth of the church, saw the count and his two little +ones asking alms and questioned him whence he was and if the children +were his, to which he replied that he was from Picardy and that, by +reason of the misfeasance of a rakehelly elder son of his, it had +behoved him depart the country with these two, who were his. The lady, +who was pitiful, cast her eyes on the girl and being much taken with +her, for that she was handsome, well-mannered and engaging, said, +'Honest man, an thou be content to leave thy daughter with me, I will +willingly take her, for that she hath a good favour, and if she prove +an honest woman, I will in due time marry her on such wise that she +shall fare well.' This offer was very pleasing to the count, who +promptly answered, 'Yes,' and with tears gave up the girl to the lady, +urgently commending her to her care.</p> + +<p>Having thus disposed of his daughter, well knowing to whom, he +resolved to abide there no longer and accordingly, begging his way +across the island, came, not without sore fatigue, as one who was +unused to go afoot, into Wales. Here dwelt another of the king's +marshals, who held great state and entertained a numerous household, +and to his court both the count and his son whiles much resorted to +get food. Certain sons of the said marshal and other gentlemen's +children being there engaged in such boyish exercises as running and +leaping, Perrot began to mingle with them and to do as dextrously as +any of the rest, or more so, each feat that was practised among them. +The marshal, chancing whiles to see this<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104"></a></span> and being much taken with +the manners and fashion of the boy, asked who he was and was told that +he was the son of a poor man who came there bytimes for alms; +whereupon he caused require him of the count, and the latter, who +indeed besought God of nought else, freely resigned the boy to him, +grievous as it was to him to be parted from him. Having thus provided +his son and daughter, he determined to abide no longer in England and +passing over into Ireland, made his way, as best he might, to +Stamford, where he took service with a knight belonging to an earl of +the country, doing all such things as pertain unto a lackey or a +horseboy, and there, without being known of any, he abode a great +while in unease and travail galore.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile Violante, called Jeannette, went waxing with the gentlewoman +in London in years and person and beauty and was in such favour both +with the lady and her husband and with every other of the house and +whoso else knew her, that it was a marvellous thing to see; nor was +there any who noted her manners and fashions but avouched her worthy +of every greatest good and honour. Wherefore the noble lady who had +received her from her father, without having ever availed to learn who +he was, otherwise than as she had heard from himself, was purposed to +marry her honourably according to that condition whereof she deemed +her. But God, who is a just observer of folk's deserts, knowing her to +be of noble birth and to bear, without fault, the penalty of another's +sin, ordained otherwise, and fain must we believe that He of His +benignity permitted that which came to pass to the end that the gentle +damsel might not fall into the hands of a man of low estate.</p> + +<p>The noble lady with whom Jeannette dwelt had of her husband one only +son, whom both she and his father loved with an exceeding love, both +for that he was their child and that he deserved it by reason of his +worth and virtues. He, being some six years older than Jeannette and +seeing her exceeding fair and graceful, became so sore enamoured of +her that he saw nought beyond her; yet, for that he deemed her to be +of mean extraction, not only dared he not demand her of his father and +mother to wife, but, fearing to be blamed for having set himself to +love unworthily, he held his love, as most he might, hidden; wherefore +it tormented him far more than if he had discovered it; and thus it +came to pass that, for excess of chagrin, he fell sick and that +grievously. Divers physicians were called in to medicine him, who, +having noted one and another symptom of his case and being +nevertheless unable to discover what ailed him, all with one accord +despaired of his recovery; whereat the young man's father and mother +suffered dolour and melancholy so great that greater might not be +brooked, and many a time, with piteous prayers, they questioned him of +the cause of his malady, whereto or sighs he gave for answer or +replied that he felt himself all wasting away.</p> + +<p>It chanced one day that, what while a doctor, young enough, but +exceedingly deeply versed in science, sat by him and held him by the +arm in that part where leaches use to seek the pulse, Jeannette, who, +of regard for his mother, tended him solicitously, entered, on some +occasion or another, the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105"></a></span> chamber where the young man lay. When the +latter saw her, without word said or gesture made, he felt the amorous +ardour redouble in his heart, wherefore his pulse began to beat +stronglier than of wont; the which the leach incontinent noted and +marvelling, abode still to see how long this should last. As soon as +Jeannette left the chamber, the beating abated, wherefore it seemed to +the physician he had gotten impartment of the cause of the young man's +ailment, and after waiting awhile, he let call Jeannette to him, as he +would question her of somewhat, still holding the sick man by the arm. +She came to him incontinent and no sooner did she enter than the +beating of the youth's pulse returned and she being gone again, +ceased. Thereupon, it seeming to the physician that he had full enough +assurance, he rose and taking the young man's father and mother apart, +said to them, 'The healing of your son is not in the succour of +physicians, but abideth in the hands of Jeannette, whom, as I have by +sure signs manifestly recognized, the young man ardently loveth, +albeit, for all I can see, she is unaware thereof. You know now what +you have to do, if his life be dear to you.'</p> + +<p>The gentleman and his lady, hearing this, were well pleased, inasmuch +as some means was found for his recoverance, albeit it irked them sore +that the means in question should be that whereof they misdoubted +them, to wit, that they should give Jeannette to their son to wife. +Accordingly, the physician being gone, they went into the sick man and +the lady bespoke him thus: 'Son mine, I could never have believed that +thou wouldst keep from me any desire of thine, especially seeing +thyself pine away for lack thereof; for that thou shouldst have been +and shouldst be assured that there is nought I can for thy +contentment, were it even less than seemly, which I would not do as +for myself. But, since thou hast e'en done this, God the Lord hath +been more pitiful over thee than thou thyself and that thou mayst not +die of this sickness, hath shown me the cause of thine ill, which is +no otherwhat than excess of love for some damsel or other, whoever she +may be; and this, indeed, thou needest not have thought shame to +discover, for that thine age requireth it, and wert thou not +enamoured, I should hold thee of very little account. Wherefore, my +son, dissemble not with me, but in all security discover to me thine +every desire and put away from thee the melancholy and the +thought-taking which be upon thee and from which proceedeth this thy +sickness and take comfort and be assured that there is nothing of that +which thou mayst impose on me for thy satisfaction but I will do it to +the best of my power, as she who loveth thee more than her life. +Banish shamefastness and fearfulness and tell me if I can do aught to +further thy passion; and if thou find me not diligent therein or if I +bring it not to effect for thee, account me the cruellest mother that +ever bore son.'</p> + +<p>The young man, hearing his mother's words, was at first abashed, but +presently, bethinking himself that none was better able than she to +satisfy his wishes, he put away shamefastness and said thus to her: +'Madam, nothing hath wrought so effectually with me to keep my love +hidden as my having noted of most folk that, once they are grown in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106"></a></span> +years, they choose not to remember them of having themselves been +young. But, since in this I find you reasonable, not only will I not +deny that to be true which you say you have observed, but I will, to +boot, discover to you of whom [I am enamoured], on condition that you +will, to the best of your power, give effect to your promise; and thus +may you have me whole again.' Whereto the lady (trusting overmuch in +that which was not to come to pass for her on such wise as she deemed +in herself) answered freely that he might in all assurance discover to +her his every desire, for that she would without any delay address +herself to contrive that he should have his pleasure. 'Madam,' then +said the youth, 'the exceeding beauty and commendable fashions of our +Jeannette and my unableness to make her even sensible, still less to +move her to pity, of my love and the having never dared to discover it +unto any have brought me whereas you see me; and if that which you +have promised me come not, one way or another, to pass, you may be +assured that my life will be brief.'</p> + +<p>The lady, to whom it appeared more a time for comfort than for +reproof, said, smilingly, 'Alack, my son, hast thou then for this +suffered thyself to languish thus? Take comfort and leave me do, once +thou shalt be recovered.' The youth, full of good hope, in a very +short time showed signs of great amendment, whereas the lady, being +much rejoiced, began to cast about how she might perform that which +she had promised him. Accordingly, calling Jeannette to her one day, +she asked her very civilly, as by way of a jest, if she had a lover; +whereupon she waxed all red and answered, 'Madam, it concerneth not +neither were it seemly in a poor damsel like myself, banished from +house and home and abiding in others' service, to think of love.' +Quoth the lady, 'An you have no lover, we mean to give you one, in +whom you may rejoice and live merry and have more delight of your +beauty, for it behoveth not that so handsome a girl as you are abide +without a lover.' To this Jeannette made answer, 'Madam, you took me +from my father's poverty and have reared me as a daughter, wherefore +it behoveth me to do your every pleasure; but in this I will nowise +comply with you, and therein methinketh I do well. If it please you +give me a husband, him do I purpose to love, but none other; for that, +since of the inheritance of my ancestors nought is left me save only +honour, this latter I mean to keep and preserve as long as life shall +endure to me.'</p> + +<p>This speech seemed to the lady very contrary to that whereto she +thought to come for the keeping of her promise to her son,—albeit, +like a discreet woman as she was, she inwardly much commended the +damsel therefor,—and she said, 'How now, Jeannette? If our lord the +king, who is a young cavalier, as thou art a very fair damsel, would +fain have some easance of thy love, wouldst thou deny it to him?' +Whereto she answered forthright, 'The king might do me violence, but +of my consent he should never avail to have aught of me save what was +honourable.' The lady, seeing how she was minded, left parleying with +her and bethought herself to put her to the proof; wherefore she told +her son that, whenas he should be recovered, she would contrive to +get<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107"></a></span> her alone with him in a chamber, so he might make shift to have +his pleasure of her, saying that it appeared to her unseemly that she +should, procuress-wise, plead for her son and solicit her own maid.</p> + +<p>With this the young man was nowise content and presently waxed +grievously worse, which when his mother saw, she opened her mind to +Jeannette, but, finding her more constant than ever, recounted what +she had done to her husband, and he and she resolved of one accord, +grievous though it seemed to them, to give her to him to wife, +choosing rather to have their son alive with a wife unsorted to his +quality than dead without any; and so, after much parley, they did; +whereat Jeannette was exceeding content and with a devout heart +rendered thanks to God, who had not forgotten her; but for all that +she never avouched herself other than the daughter of a Picard. As for +the young man, he presently recovered and celebrating his nuptials, +the gladdest man alive, proceeded to lead a merry life with his bride.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, Perrot, who had been left in Wales with the King of +England's marshal, waxed likewise in favour with his lord and grew up +very goodly of his person and doughty as any man in the island, +insomuch that neither in tourneying nor jousting nor in any other act +of arms was there any in the land who could cope with him; wherefore +he was everywhere known and famous under the name of Perrot the +Picard. And even as God had not forgotten his sister, so on like wise +He showed that He had him also in mind; for that a pestilential +sickness, being come into those parts, carried off well nigh half the +people thereof, besides that most part of those who survived fled for +fear into other lands; wherefore the whole country appeared desert. In +this mortality, the marshal his lord and his lady and only son, +together with many others, brothers and nephews and kinsmen, all died, +nor was any left of all his house save a daughter, just husband-ripe, +and Perrot, with sundry other serving folk. The pestilence being +somewhat abated, the young lady, with the approof and by the counsel +of some few gentlemen of the country<a name="FNanchor_128_128" id="FNanchor_128_128"></a><a href="#Footnote_128_128" class="fnanchor">[128]</a> left alive, took Perrot, for +that he was a man of worth and prowess, to husband and made him lord +of all that had fallen to her by inheritance; nor was it long ere the +King of England, hearing the marshal to be dead and knowing the worth +of Perrot the Picard, substituted him in the dead man's room and made +him his marshal. This, in brief, is what came of the two innocent +children of the Count of Antwerp, left by him for lost.</p> + +<p>Eighteen years were now passed since the count's flight from Paris, +when, as he abode in Ireland, having suffered many things in a very +sorry way of life, there took him a desire to learn, as he might, what +was come of his children. Wherefore, seeing himself altogether changed +of favour from that which he was wont to be and feeling himself, for +long exercise, grown more robust of his person than he had been when +young and abiding in ease and idlesse, he took leave of him with whom +he had so long abidden and came, poor<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108"></a></span> and ill enough in case, to +England. Thence he betook himself whereas he had left Perrot and found +him a marshal and a great lord and saw him robust and goodly of +person; the which was mighty pleasing unto him, but he would not make +himself known to him till he should have learned how it was with +Jeannette. Accordingly, he set out and stayed not till he came to +London, where, cautiously enquiring of the lady with whom he had left +his daughter and of her condition, he found Jeannette married to her +son, which greatly rejoiced him and he counted all his past adversity +a little thing, since he had found his children again alive and in +good case.</p> + +<p>Then, desirous of seeing Jeannette, he began beggarwise, to haunt the +neighbourhood of her house, where one day Jamy Lamiens, (for so was +Jeannette's husband called,) espying him and having compassion on him, +for that he saw him old and poor, bade one of his servants bring him +in and give him to eat for the love of God, which the man readily did. +Now Jeannette had had several children by Jamy, whereof the eldest was +no more than eight years old, and they were the handsomest and +sprightliest children in the world. When they saw the count eat, they +came one and all about him and began to caress him, as if, moved by +some occult virtue, they divined him to be their grandfather. He, +knowing them for his grandchildren, fell to fondling and making much +of them, wherefore the children would not leave him, albeit he who had +charge of their governance called them. Jeannette, hearing this, +issued forth of a chamber therenigh and coming whereas the count was, +chid them amain and threatened to beat them, an they did not what +their governor willed. The children began to weep and say that they +would fain abide with that honest man, who loved them better than +their governor, whereat both the lady and the count laughed. Now the +latter had risen, nowise as a father, but as a poor man, to do honour +to his daughter, as to a mistress, and seeing her, felt a marvellous +pleasure at his heart. But she nor then nor after knew him any whit, +for that he was beyond measure changed from what he was used to be, +being grown old and hoar and bearded and lean and swart, and appeared +altogether another man than the count.</p> + +<p>The lady then, seeing that the children were unwilling to leave him +and wept, when she would have them go away, bade their governor let +them be awhile and the children thus being with the good man, it +chanced that Jamy's father returned and heard from their governor what +had passed, whereupon quoth the marshal, who held Jeannette in +despite, 'Let them be, God give them ill-luck! They do but hark back +to that whence they sprang. They come by their mother of a vagabond +and therefore it is no wonder if they are fain to herd with +vagabonds.' The count heard these words and was mightily chagrined +thereat; nevertheless, he shrugged his shoulders and put up with the +affront, even as he had put up with many others. Jamy, hearing how the +children had welcomed the honest man, to wit, the count, albeit it +misliked him, nevertheless so loved them that, rather than see them +weep, he commanded that, if the good man chose to abide there in any +capacity, he should<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109"></a></span> be received into his service. The count answered +that he would gladly abide there, but he knew not to do aught other +than tend horses, whereto he had been used all his lifetime. A horse +was accordingly assigned to him and when he had cared for it, he +busied himself with making sport for the children.</p> + +<p>Whilst fortune handled the Count of Antwerp and his children on such +wise as hath been set out, it befell that the King of France, after +many truces made with the Germans, died and his son, whose wife was +she through whom the count had been banished, was crowned in his +place; and no sooner was the current truce expired than he again began +a very fierce war. To his aid the King of England, as a new-made +kinsman, despatched much people, under the commandment of Perrot his +marshal and Jamy Lamiens, son of the other marshal, and with them went +the good man, to wit, the count, who, without being recognized of any, +abode a pretty while with the army in the guise of a horseboy, and +there, like a man of mettle as he was, wrought good galore, more than +was required of him, both with counsels and with deeds.</p> + +<p>During the war, it came to pass that the Queen of France fell +grievously sick and feeling herself nigh unto death, contrite for all +her sins, confessed herself unto the Archbishop of Rouen, who was held +of all a very holy and good man. Amongst her other sins, she related +to him that which the Count of Antwerp had most wrongfully suffered +through her; nor was she content to tell it to him alone, nay, but +before many other men of worth she recounted all as it had passed, +beseeching them so to do with the king that the count, an he were on +life, or, if not, one of his children, should be restored to his +estate; after which she lingered not long, but, departing this life, +was honourably buried. Her confession, being reported to the king, +moved him, after he had heaved divers sighs of regret for the wrong +done to the nobleman, to let cry throughout all the army and in many +other parts, that whoso should give him news of the Count of Antwerp +or of either of his children should for each be wonder-well guerdoned +of him, for that he held him, upon the queen's confession, innocent of +that for which he had gone into exile and was minded to restore him to +his first estate and more.</p> + +<p>The count, in his guise of a horseboy, hearing this and being assured +that it was the truth,<a name="FNanchor_129_129" id="FNanchor_129_129"></a><a href="#Footnote_129_129" class="fnanchor">[129]</a> betook himself forthright to Jamy Lamiens +and prayed him go with him to Perrot, for that he had a mind to +discover to them that which the king went seeking. All three being +then met together, quoth the count to Perrot, who had it already in +mind to discover himself, 'Perrot, Jamy here hath thy sister to wife +nor ever had any dowry with her; wherefore, that thy sister may not go +undowered, I purpose that he and none other shall, by making thee +known as the son of the Count of Antwerp, have this great reward that +the king promiseth for thee and for Violante, thy sister and his wife, +and myself, who am the Count of Antwerp and your father.' Perrot, +hearing this and looking steadfastly upon him, presently knew him and +cast himself, weeping, at his feet and embraced him, saying, 'Father +mine, you are dearly<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110"></a></span> welcome.' Jamy, hearing first what the count +said and after seeing what Perrot did, was overcome at once with such +wonderment and such gladness that he scarce knew what he should do. +However, after awhile, giving credence to the former's speech and sore +ashamed for the injurious words he had whiles used to the +hostler-count, he let himself fall, weeping, at his feet and humbly +besought him pardon of every past affront, the which the count, having +raised him to his feet, graciously accorded him.</p> + +<p>Then, after they had all three discoursed awhile of each one's various +adventures and wept and rejoiced together amain, Perrot and Jamy would +have reclad the count, who would on nowise suffer it, but willed that +Jamy, having first assured himself of the promised guerdon, should, +the more to shame the king, present him to the latter in that his then +plight and in his groom's habit. Accordingly, Jamy, followed by the +count and Perrot, presented himself before the king, and offered, +provided he would guerdon him according to the proclamation made, to +produce to him the count and his children. The king promptly let bring +for all three a guerdon marvellous in Jamy's eyes and commanded that +he should be free to carry it off, whenas he should in very deed +produce the count and his children, as he promised. Jamy, then, +turning himself about and putting forward the count his horseboy and +Perrot, said, 'My lord, here be the father and the son; the daughter, +who is my wife and who is not here, with God's aid you shall soon +see.'</p> + +<p>The king, hearing this, looked at the count and albeit he was sore +changed from that which he was used to be, yet, after he had awhile +considered him, he knew him and well nigh with tears in his eyes +raised him—for that he was on his knees before him—to his feet and +kissed and embraced him. Perrot, also, he graciously received and +commanded that the count should incontinent be furnished anew with +clothes and servants and horses and harness, according as his quality +required, which was straightway done. Moreover, he entreated Jamy with +exceeding honour and would fain know every particular of his<a name="FNanchor_130_130" id="FNanchor_130_130"></a><a href="#Footnote_130_130" class="fnanchor">[130]</a> past +adventures. Then, Jamy being about to receive the magnificent guerdons +appointed him for having discovered the count and his children, the +former said to him, 'Take these of the munificence of our lord the +king and remember to tell thy father that thy children, his +grandchildren and mine, are not by their mother born of a vagabond.' +Jamy, accordingly, took the gifts and sent for his wife and mother to +Paris, whither came also Perrot's wife; and there they all +foregathered in the utmost joyance with the count, whom the king had +reinstated in all his good and made greater than he ever was. Then +all, with Gautier's leave, returned to their several homes and he +until his death abode in Paris more worshipfully than ever."</p> + + + +<hr /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111"></a></span></p> +<h2><a name="THE_NINTH_STORY2" id="THE_NINTH_STORY2"></a>THE NINTH STORY</h2> + +<div class="sidenote">Day the Second</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="hang">BERNABO OF GENOA, DUPED BY AMBROGIUOLO, LOSETH HIS GOOD AND +COMMANDETH THAT HIS INNOCENT WIFE BE PUT TO DEATH. SHE +ESCAPETH AND SERVETH THE SOLDAN IN A MAN'S HABIT. HERE SHE +LIGHTETH UPON THE DECEIVER OF HER HUSBAND AND BRINGETH THE +LATTER TO ALEXANDRIA, WHERE, HER TRADUCER BEING PUNISHED, +SHE RESUMETH WOMAN'S APPAREL AND RETURNETH TO GENOA WITH HER +HUSBAND, RICH</p></div> + + +<p><br /><span class="smcap">Elisa</span> having furnished her due with her pitiful story, Filomena the +queen, who was tall and goodly of person and smiling and agreeable of +aspect beyond any other of her sex, collecting herself, said, "Needs +must the covenant with Dioneo be observed, wherefore, there remaining +none other to tell than he and I, I will tell my story first, and he, +for that he asked it as a favour, shall be the last to speak." So +saying, she began thus, "There is a proverb oftentimes cited among the +common folk to the effect that the deceiver abideth<a name="FNanchor_131_131" id="FNanchor_131_131"></a><a href="#Footnote_131_131" class="fnanchor">[131]</a> at the feet +of the deceived; the which meseemeth may by no reasoning be shown to +be true, an it approve not itself by actual occurrences. Wherefore, +whilst ensuing the appointed theme, it hath occurred to me, dearest +ladies, to show you, at the same time, that this is true, even as it +is said; nor should it mislike you to hear it, so you may know how to +keep yourselves from deceivers.</p> + +<p>There were once at Paris in an inn certain very considerable Italian +merchants, who were come thither, according to their usance, some on +one occasion and some on another, and having one evening among others +supped all together merrily, they fell to devising of divers matters, +and passing from one discourse to another, they came at last to speak +of their wives, whom they had left at home, and one said jestingly, 'I +know not how mine doth; but this I know well, that, whenas there +cometh to my hand here any lass that pleaseth me, I leave on one side +the love I bear my wife and take of the other such pleasure as I may.' +'And I,' quoth another, 'do likewise, for that if I believe that my +wife pusheth her fortunes [in my absence,] she doth it, and if I +believe it not, still she doth it; wherefore tit for tat be it; an ass +still getteth as good as he giveth.'<a name="FNanchor_132_132" id="FNanchor_132_132"></a><a href="#Footnote_132_132" class="fnanchor">[132]</a> A third, following on, came +well nigh to the same conclusion, and in brief all seemed agreed upon +this point, that the wives they left behind had no mind to lose time +in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112"></a></span> their husbands' absence. One only, who hight Bernabo Lomellini of +Genoa, maintained the contrary, avouching that he, by special grace of +God, had a lady to wife who was belike the most accomplished woman of +all Italy in all those qualities which a lady, nay, even (in great +part) in those which a knight or an esquire, should have; for that she +was fair of favour and yet in her first youth and adroit and robust of +her person; nor was there aught that pertaineth unto a woman, such as +works of broidery in silk and the like, but she did it better than any +other of her sex. Moreover, said he, there was no sewer, or in other +words, no serving-man, alive who served better or more deftly at a +nobleman's table than did she, for that she was very well bred and +exceeding wise and discreet. He after went on to extol her as knowing +better how to ride a horse and fly a hawk, to read and write and cast +a reckoning than if she were a merchant; and thence, after many other +commendations, coming to that whereof it had been discoursed among +them, he avouched with an oath that there could be found no honester +nor chaster woman than she; wherefore he firmly believed that, should +he abide half a score years, or even always, from home, she would +never incline to the least levity with another man. Among the +merchants who discoursed thus was a young man called Ambrogiuolo of +Piacenza, who fell to making the greatest mock in the world of this +last commendation bestowed by Bernabo upon his wife and asked him +scoffingly if the emperor had granted him that privilege over and +above all other men. Bernabo, some little nettled, replied that not +the emperor, but God, who could somewhat more than the emperor, had +vouchsafed him the favour in question. Whereupon quoth Ambrogiuolo, +'Bernabo, I doubt not a whit but that thou thinkest to say sooth; but +meseemeth thou hast paid little regard to the nature of things; for +that, hadst thou taken heed thereunto, I deem thee not so dull of wit +but thou wouldst have noted therein certain matters which had made +thee speak more circumspectly on this subject. And that thou mayst not +think that we, who have spoken much at large of our wives, believe +that we have wives other or otherwise made than thine, but mayst see +that we spoke thus, moved by natural perception, I will e'en reason +with thee a little on this matter. I have always understood man to be +the noblest animal created of God among mortals, and after him, woman; +but man, as is commonly believed and as is seen by works, is the more +perfect and having more perfection, must without fail have more of +firmness and constancy, for that women universally are more +changeable; the reason whereof might be shown by many natural +arguments, which for the present I purpose to leave be. If then man be +of more stability and yet cannot keep himself, let alone from +complying with a woman who soliciteth him, but even from desiring one +who pleaseth him, nay more, from doing what he can, so he may avail to +be with her,—and if this betide him not once a month, but a thousand +times a day,—what canst thou expect a woman, naturally unstable, to +avail against the prayers, the blandishments, the gifts and a thousand +other means which an adroit man, who loveth her, will use? Thinkest +thou<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113"></a></span> she can hold out? Certes, how much soever thou mayst affirm it, +I believe not that thou believest it; and thou thyself sayst that thy +wife is a woman and that she is of flesh and blood, as are other +women. If this be so, those same desires must be hers and the same +powers that are in other women to resist these natural appetites; +wherefore, however honest she be, it is possible she may do that which +other women do; and nothing that is possible she be so peremptorily +denied nor the contrary thereof affirmed with such rigour as thou +dost.' To which Bernabo made answer, saying, 'I am a merchant, and not +a philosopher, and as a merchant I will answer; and I say that I +acknowledge that what thou sayst may happen to foolish women in whom +there is no shame; but those who are discreet are so careful of their +honour that for the guarding thereof they become stronger than men, +who reck not of this; and of those thus fashioned is my wife.' +'Indeed,' rejoined Ambrogiuolo, 'if, for every time they occupy +themselves with toys of this kind, there sprouted from their foreheads +a horn to bear witness of that which they have done, there be few, I +believe, who would incline thereto; but, far from the horn sprouting, +there appeareth neither trace nor token thereof in those who are +discreet, and shame and soil of honour consist not but in things +discovered; wherefore, whenas they may secretly, they do it, or, if +they forebear, it is for stupidity. And have thou this for certain +that she alone is chaste, who hath either never been solicited of any +or who, having herself solicited, hath not been hearkened. And +although I know by natural and true reasons that it is e'en as I say, +yet should I not speak thereof with so full an assurance, had I not +many a time and with many women made essay thereof. And this I tell +thee, that, were I near this most sanctified wife of thine, I warrant +me I would in brief space of time bring her to that which I have +already gotten of other women.' Whereupon quoth Bernabo, 'Disputing +with words might be prolonged without end; thou wouldst say and I +should say, and in the end it would all amount to nothing. But, since +thou wilt have it that all women are so compliant and that thine +address is such, I am content, so I may certify thee of my wife's +honesty, to have my head cut off, and thou canst anywise avail to +bring her to do thy pleasure in aught of the kind; and if thou fail +thereof, I will have thee lose no otherwhat than a thousand gold +florins.' 'Bernabo,' replied Ambrogiuolo, who was now grown heated +over the dispute, 'I know not what I should do with thy blood, if I +won the wager; but, an thou have a mind to see proof of that which I +have advanced, do thou stake five thousand gold florins of thy monies, +which should be less dear to thee than thy head, against a thousand of +mine, and whereas thou settest no limit [of time,] I will e'en bind +myself to go to Genoa and within three months from the day of my +departure hence to have done my will of thy wife and to bring back +with me, in proof thereof, sundry of her most precious things and such +and so many tokens that thou shalt thyself confess it to be truth, so +verily thou wilt pledge me thy faith not to come to Genoa within that +term nor write her aught of the matter.' Bernabo said that it liked +him well and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114"></a></span> albeit the other merchants endeavoured to hinder the +affair, foreseeing that sore mischief might come thereof, the two +merchants' minds were so inflamed that, in despite of the rest, they +bound themselves one to other by express writings under their hands. +This done, Bernabo abode behind, whilst Ambrogiuolo, as quickliest he +might, betook himself to Genoa. There he abode some days and informing +himself with the utmost precaution of the name of the street where the +lady dwelt and of her manner of life, understood of her that and more +than that which he had heard of her from Bernabo, wherefore himseemed +he was come on a fool's errand. However, he presently clapped up an +acquaintance with a poor woman, who was much about the house and whose +great well-wisher the lady was, and availing not to induce her to +aught else, he debauched her with money and prevailed with her to +bring him, in a chest wroughten after a fashion of his own, not only +into the house, but into the gentlewoman's very bedchamber, where, +according to the ordinance given her of him, the good woman commended +it to her care for some days, as if she had a mind to go somewhither. +The chest, then being left in the chamber and the night come, +Ambrogiuolo, what time he judged the lady to be asleep, opened the +chest with certain engines of his and came softly out into the +chamber, where there was a light burning, with whose aid he proceeded +to observe the ordinance of the place, the paintings and every other +notable thing that was therein and fixed them in his memory. Then, +drawing near the bed and perceiving that the lady and a little girl, +who was with her, were fast asleep, he softly altogether uncovered the +former and found that she was as fair, naked, as clad, but saw no sign +about her that he might carry away, save one, to wit, a mole which she +had under the left pap and about which were sundry little hairs as red +as gold. This noted he covered her softly up again, albeit, seeing her +so fair, he was tempted to adventure his life and lay himself by her +side; however, for that he had heard her to be so obdurate and +uncomplying in matters of this kind, he hazarded not himself, but, +abiding at his leisure in the chamber the most part of the night, took +from one of her coffers a purse and a night-rail, together with sundry +rings and girdles, and laying them all in his chest, returned thither +himself and shut himself up therein as before; and on this wise he did +two nights, without the lady being ware of aught. On the third day the +good woman came back for the chest, according to the given ordinance, +and carried it off whence she had taken it, whereupon Ambrogiuolo came +out and having rewarded her according to promise, returned, as +quickliest he might, with the things aforesaid, to Paris, where he +arrived before the term appointed. There he summoned the merchants who +had been present at the dispute and the laying of the wager and +declared, in Bernabo's presence, that he had won the wager laid +between them, for that he had accomplished that whereof he had vaunted +himself; and to prove this to be true, he first described the fashion +of the chamber and the paintings thereof and after showed the things +he had brought with him thence, avouching that he had them of herself. +Bernabo confessed the chamber to be as he had said and owned, +moreover, that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115"></a></span> he recognized the things in question as being in truth +his wife's; but said that he might have learned from one of the +servants of the house the fashion of the chamber and have gotten the +things in like manner; wherefore, an he had nought else to say, +himseemed not that this should suffice to prove him to have won. +Whereupon quoth Ambrogiuolo, 'In sooth this should suffice, but, since +thou wilt have me say more, I will say it. I tell thee that Madam +Ginevra thy wife hath under her left pap a pretty big mole, about +which are maybe half a dozen little hairs as red as gold.' When +Bernabo heard this, it was as if he had gotten a knife-thrust in the +heart, such anguish did he feel, and though he had said not a word, +his countenance, being all changed, gave very manifest token that what +Ambrogiuolo said was true. Then, after awhile, 'Gentlemen,' quoth he, +'that which Ambrogiuolo saith is true; wherefore, he having won, let +him come whenassoever it pleaseth him and he shall be paid.' +Accordingly, on the ensuing day Ambrogiuolo was paid in full and +Bernabo, departing Paris, betook himself to Genoa with fell intent +against the lady. When he drew near the city, he would not enter +therein, but lighted down a good score miles away at a country house +of his and despatched one of his servants, in whom he much trusted, to +Genoa with two horses and letters under his hand, advising his wife +that he had returned and bidding her come to him; and he privily +charged the man, whenas he should be with the lady in such place as +should seem best to him, to put her to death without pity and return +to him. The servant accordingly repaired to Genoa and delivering the +letters and doing his errand, was received with great rejoicing by the +lady, who on the morrow took horse with him and set out for their +country house. As they fared on together, discoursing of one thing and +another, they came to a very deep and lonely valley, beset with high +rocks and trees, which seeming to the servant a place wherein he +might, with assurance for himself, do his lord's commandment, he +pulled out his knife and taking the lady by the arm, said, 'Madam, +commend your soul to God, for needs must you die, without faring +farther.' The lady, seeing the knife and hearing these words, was all +dismayed and said, 'Mercy, for God's sake! Ere thou slay me, tell me +wherein I have offended thee, that thou wouldst put me to death.' +'Madam,' answered the man, 'me you have nowise offended; but wherein +you have offended your husband I know not, save that he hath commanded +me slay you by the way, without having any pity upon you, threatening +me, an I did it not, to have me hanged by the neck. You know well how +much I am beholden to him and how I may not gainsay him in aught that +he may impose upon me; God knoweth it irketh me for you, but I can no +otherwise.' Whereupon quoth the lady, weeping, 'Alack, for God's sake, +consent not to become the murderer of one who hath never wronged thee, +to serve another! God who knoweth all knoweth that I never did aught +for which I should receive such a recompense from my husband. But let +that be; thou mayst, an thou wilt, at once content God and thy master +and me, on this wise; to wit, that thou take these my clothes and give +me but thy doublet and a hood<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116"></a></span> and with the former return to my lord +and thine and tell him that thou hast slain me; and I swear to thee, +by that life which thou wilt have bestowed on me, that I will remove +hence and get me gone into a country whence never shall any news of me +win either to him or to thee or into these parts.' The servant, who +was loath to slay her, was lightly moved to compassion; wherefore he +took her clothes and give her a sorry doublet of his and a hood, +leaving her sundry monies she had with her. Then praying her depart +the country, he left her in the valley and afoot and betook himself to +his master, to whom he avouched that not only was his commandment +accomplished, but that he had left the lady's dead body among a pack +of wolves, and Bernabo presently returned to Genoa, where the thing +becoming known, he was much blamed. As for the lady, she abode alone +and disconsolate till nightfall, when she disguised herself as most +she might and repaired to a village hard by, where, having gotten from +an old woman that which she needed, she fitted the doublet to her +shape and shortening it, made a pair of linen breeches of her shift; +then, having cut her hair and altogether transformed herself in the +guise of a sailor, she betook herself to the sea-shore, where, as +chance would have it, she found a Catalan gentleman, by name Senor +Encararch, who had landed at Alba from a ship he had in the offing, to +refresh himself at a spring there. With him she entered into parley +and engaging with him as a servant, embarked on board the ship, under +the name of Sicurano da Finale. There, being furnished by the +gentleman with better clothes, she proceeded to serve him so well and +so aptly that she became in the utmost favour with him. No great while +after it befell that the Catalan made a voyage to Alexandria with a +lading of his and carrying thither certain peregrine falcons for the +Soldan, presented them to him. The Soldan, having once and again +entertained him at meat and noting with approof the fashions of +Sicurano, who still went serving him, begged him<a name="FNanchor_133_133" id="FNanchor_133_133"></a><a href="#Footnote_133_133" class="fnanchor">[133]</a> of his master, +who yielded him to him, although it irked him to do it, and Sicurano, +in a little while, by his good behaviour, gained the love and favour +of the Soldan, even as he had gained that of the Catalan. Wherefore, +in process of time, it befell that,—the time coming for a great +assemblage, in the guise of a fair, of merchants, both Christian and +Saracen, which was wont at a certain season of the year to be held in +Acre, a town under the seignory of the Soldan, and to which, in order +that the merchants and their merchandise might rest secure, the latter +was still used to despatch, besides other his officers, some one of +his chief men, with troops, to look to the guard,—he bethought +himself to send Sicurano, who was by this well versed in the language +of the country, on this service; and so he did. Sicurano accordingly +came to Acre as governor and captain of the guard of the merchants and +their merchandise and there well and diligently doing that which +pertained to his office and going round looking about him, saw many +merchants there, Sicilians and Pisans<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117"></a></span> and Genoese and Venetians and +other Italians, with whom he was fain to make acquaintance, in +remembrance of his country. It befell, one time amongst others, that, +having lighted down at the shop of certain Venetian merchants, he +espied among other trinkets, a purse and a girdle, which he +straightway knew for having been his and marvelled thereat; but, +without making any sign, he carelessly asked to whom they pertained +and if they were for sale. Now Ambrogiuolo of Piacenza was come +thither with much merchandise on board a Venetian ship and hearing the +captain of the guard ask whose the trinkets were, came forward and +said, laughing, 'Sir, the things are mine and I do not sell them; but, +if they please you, I will gladly give them to you.' Sicurano, seeing +him laugh, misdoubted he had recognized him by some gesture of his; +but yet, keeping a steady countenance, he said, 'Belike thou laughest +to see me, a soldier, go questioning of these women's toys?' 'Sir,' +answered Ambrogiuolo, 'I laugh not at that; nay, but at the way I came +by them.' 'Marry, then,' said Sicurano, 'an it be not unspeakable, +tell me how thou gottest them, so God give thee good luck.' Quoth +Ambrogiuolo, 'Sir, a gentlewoman of Genoa, hight Madam Ginevra, wife +of Bernabo Lomellini, gave me these things, with certain others, one +night that I lay with her, and prayed me keep them for the love of +her. Now I laugh for that I mind me of the simplicity of Bernabo, who +was fool enough to lay five thousand florins to one that I would not +bring his wife to do my pleasure; the which I did and won the wager; +whereupon he, who should rather have punished himself for his +stupidity than her for doing that which all women do, returned from +Paris to Genoa and there, by what I have since heard, caused her put +to death.' Sicurano, hearing this, understood forthwith what was the +cause of Bernabo's anger against his wife<a name="FNanchor_134_134" id="FNanchor_134_134"></a><a href="#Footnote_134_134" class="fnanchor">[134]</a> and manifestly +perceiving this fellow to have been the occasion of all her ills, +determined not to let him go unpunished therefor. Accordingly he +feigned to be greatly diverted with the story and artfully clapped up +a strait acquaintance with him, insomuch that, the fair being ended, +Ambrogiuolo, at his instance, accompanied him, with all his good, to +Alexandria. Here Sicurano let build him a warehouse and lodged in his +hands store of his own monies; and Ambrogiuolo, foreseeing great +advantage to himself, willingly took up his abode there. Meanwhile, +Sicurano, careful to make Bernabo clear of his<a name="FNanchor_135_135" id="FNanchor_135_135"></a><a href="#Footnote_135_135" class="fnanchor">[135]</a> innocence, rested +not till, by means of certain great Genoese merchants who were then in +Alexandria, he had, on some plausible occasion of his<a name="FNanchor_136_136" id="FNanchor_136_136"></a><a href="#Footnote_136_136" class="fnanchor">[136]</a> own +devising, caused him come thither, where finding him in poor enough +case, he had him privily entertained by a friend of his<a name="FNanchor_137_137" id="FNanchor_137_137"></a><a href="#Footnote_137_137" class="fnanchor">[137]</a> against +it should seem to him<a name="FNanchor_138_138" id="FNanchor_138_138"></a><a href="#Footnote_138_138" class="fnanchor">[138]</a> time to do that which he purposed. Now he +had already made Ambrogiuolo recount his story before the Soldan for +the latter's diversion; but<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118"></a></span> seeing Bernabo there and thinking there +was no need to use farther delay in the matter, he took occasion to +procure the Soldan to have Ambrogiuolo and Bernabo brought before him +and in the latter's presence, to extort from the former, by dint of +severity, an it might not easily be done [by other means,] the truth +of that whereof he vaunted himself concerning Bernabo's wife. +Accordingly, they both being come, the Soldan, in the presence of +many, with a stern countenance commanded Ambrogiuolo to tell the truth +how he had won of Bernabo the five thousand gold florins; and Sicurano +himself, in whom he most trusted, with a yet angrier aspect, +threatened him with the most grievous torments, an he told it not; +whereupon Ambrogiuolo, affrighted on one side and another and in a +measure constrained, in the presence of Bernabo and many others, +plainly related everything, even as it passed, expecting no worse +punishment therefor than the restitution of the five thousand gold +florins and of the stolen trinkets. He having spoken, Sicurano, as he +were the Soldan's minister in the matter, turned to Bernabo and said +to him, 'And thou, what didst thou to thy lady for this lie?' Whereto +Bernabo replied, 'Overcome with wrath for the loss of my money and +with resentment for the shame which meseemed I had gotten from my +wife, I caused a servant of mine put her to death, and according to +that which he reported to me, she was straightway devoured by a +multitude of wolves,' These things said in the presence of the Soldan +and all heard and apprehended of him, albeit he knew not yet to what +end Sicurano, who had sought and ordered this, would fain come, the +latter said to him, 'My lord, you may very clearly see how much reason +yonder poor lady had to vaunt herself of her gallant and her husband, +for that the former at once bereaved her of honour, marring her fair +fame with lies, and despoiled her husband, whilst the latter more +credulous of others' falsehoods than of the truth which he might by +long experience have known, caused her to be slain and eaten of +wolves; and moreover, such is the goodwill and the love borne her by +the one and the other that, having long abidden with her, neither of +them knoweth her. But that you may the better apprehend that which +each of these hath deserved, I will,—so but you vouchsafe me, of +special favour to punish the deceiver and pardon the dupe,—e'en cause +her come hither into your and their presence.' The Soldan, disposed in +the matter altogether to comply with Sicurano's wishes, answered that +he would well and bade him produce the lady; whereat Bernabo marvelled +exceedingly, for that he firmly believed her to be dead, whilst +Ambrogiuolo, now divining his danger, began to be in fear of worse +than paying of monies and knew not whether more to hope or to fear +from the coming of the lady, but awaited her appearance with the +utmost amazement. The Soldan, then, having accorded Sicurano his wish, +the latter threw himself, weeping, on his knees before him and putting +off, as it were at one and the same time, his manly voice and +masculine demeanour, said, 'My lord, I am the wretched misfortunate +Ginevra, who have these six years gone wandering in man's disguise +about the world, having been foully and wickedly aspersed by this +traitor Am<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119"></a></span>brogiuolo and given by yonder cruel and unjust man to one +of his servants to be slain and eaten of wolves.' Then, tearing open +the fore part of her clothes and showing her breast, she discovered +herself to the Soldan and all else who were present and after, turning +to Ambrogiuolo, indignantly demanded of him when he had ever lain with +her, according as he had aforetime boasted; but he, now knowing her +and fallen well nigh dumb for shame, said nothing. The Soldan, who had +always held her a man, seeing and hearing this, fell into such a +wonderment that he more than once misdoubted that which he saw and +heard to be rather a dream than true. However, after his amazement had +abated, apprehending the truth of the matter, he lauded to the utmost +the life and fashions of Ginevra, till then called Sicurano, and +extolled her constancy and virtue; and letting bring her very +sumptuous woman's apparel and women to attend her, he pardoned +Bernabo, in accordance with her request, the death he had merited, +whilst the latter, recognizing her, cast himself at her feet, weeping +and craving forgiveness, which she, ill worthy as he was thereof, +graciously accorded him and raising him to his feet, embraced him +tenderly, as her husband. Then the Soldan commanded that Ambrogiuolo +should incontinent be bound to a stake and smeared with honey and +exposed to the sun in some high place of the city, nor should ever be +loosed thence till such time as he should fall of himself; and so was +it done. After this he commanded that all that had belonged to him +should be given to the lady, the which was not so little but that it +outvalued ten thousand doubloons. Moreover, he let make a very goodly +banquet, wherein he entertained Bernabo with honour, as Madam +Ginevra's husband, and herself as a very valiant lady and gave her, in +jewels and vessels of gold and silver and monies, that which amounted +to better<a name="FNanchor_139_139" id="FNanchor_139_139"></a><a href="#Footnote_139_139" class="fnanchor">[139]</a> than other ten thousand doubloons. Then, the banquet +over, he caused equip them a ship and gave them leave to return at +their pleasure to Genoa, whither accordingly they returned with great +joyance and exceeding rich; and there they were received with the +utmost honour, especially Madam Ginevra, who was of all believed to be +dead and who, while she lived, was still reputed of great worth and +virtue. As for Ambrogiuolo, being that same day bounded to the stake +and anointed with honey, he was, to his exceeding torment, not only +slain, but devoured, of the flies and wasps and gadflies, wherewith +that country aboundeth, even to the bones, which latter, waxed white +and hanging by the sinews, being left unremoved, long bore witness of +his villainy to all who saw them. And on this wise did the deceiver +abide at the feet of the deceived."</p> + + + +<hr /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120"></a></span></p> +<h2><a name="THE_TENTH_STORY2" id="THE_TENTH_STORY2"></a>THE TENTH STORY</h2> + +<div class="sidenote">Day the Second</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="hang">PAGANINO OF MONACO STEALETH AWAY THE WIFE OF MESSER +RICCIARDO DI CHINZICA, WHO, LEARNING WHERE SHE IS, GOETH +THITHER AND MAKING FRIENDS WITH PAGANINO, DEMANDETH HER +AGAIN OF HIM. THE LATTER CONCEDETH HER TO HIM, AN SHE WILL; +BUT SHE REFUSETH TO RETURN WITH HIM AND MESSER RICCIARDO +DYING, SHE BECOMETH THE WIFE OF PAGANINO</p></div> + + +<p><br /><span class="smcap">Each</span> of the honourable company highly commended for goodly the story +told by their queen, especially Dioneo, with whom alone for that +present day it now rested to tell, and who, after many praises +bestowed upon the preceding tale, said, "Fair ladies, one part of the +queen's story hath caused me change counsel of telling you one that +was in my mind, and determine to tell you another,—and that is the +stupidity of Bernabo (albeit good betided him thereof) and of all +others who give themselves to believe that which he made a show of +believing and who, to wit, whilst going about the world, diverting +themselves now with this woman and now with that, imagine that the +ladies left at home abide with their hands in their girdles, as if we +knew not, we who are born and reared among the latter, unto what they +are fain. In telling you this story, I shall at once show you how +great is the folly of these folk and how greater yet is that of those +who, deeming themselves more potent than nature herself, think by dint +of sophistical inventions<a name="FNanchor_140_140" id="FNanchor_140_140"></a><a href="#Footnote_140_140" class="fnanchor">[140]</a> to avail unto that which is beyond +their power and study to bring others to that which they themselves +are, whenas the complexion of those on whom they practise brooketh it +not.</p> + +<p>There was, then, in Pisa a judge, by name Messer Ricciardo di +Chinzica, more gifted with wit than with bodily strength, who, +thinking belike to satisfy a wife by the same means which served him +to despatch his studies and being very rich, sought with no little +diligence to have a fair and young lady to wife; whereas, had he but +known to counsel himself as he counselled others, he should have +shunned both the one and the other. The thing came to pass according +to his wish, for Messer Lotto Gualandi gave him to wife a daughter of +his, Bartolomea by name, one of the fairest and handsomest young +ladies of Pisa, albeit there be few there that are not very lizards to +look upon. The judge accordingly brought her home with the utmost pomp +and having held a magnificent wedding, made shift the first night to +hand her one venue for the consummation of the marriage, but came +within an ace of making a stalemate of it, whereafter, lean and dry +and scant of wind as he was, it behoved him on the morrow bring +himself back to life with malmsey and restorative confections and +other remedies. Thenceforward, being now a better judge of his own +powers than he was, he fell to teaching his wife a calendar fit for +children learning to read and belike made afore<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121"></a></span>time at Ravenna,<a name="FNanchor_141_141" id="FNanchor_141_141"></a><a href="#Footnote_141_141" class="fnanchor">[141]</a> +for that, according to what he feigned to her, there was no day in the +year but was sacred not to one saint only, but to many, in reverence +of whom he showed by divers reasons that man and wife should abstain +from carnal conversation; and to these be added, to boot, fast days +and Emberdays and the vigils of the Apostles and of a thousand other +saints and Fridays and Saturdays and Lord's Day and all Lent and +certain seasons of the moon and store of other exceptions, conceiving +belike that it behoved to keep holiday with women in bed like as he +did bytimes whilst pleading in the courts of civil law. This fashion +(to the no small chagrin of the lady, whom he handled maybe once a +month, and hardly that) he followed a great while, still keeping +strait watch over her, lest peradventure some other should teach her +to know working-days, even as he had taught her holidays. Things +standing thus, it chanced that, the heat being great and Messer +Ricciardo having a mind to go a-pleasuring to a very fair country-seat +he had, near Monte Nero, and there abide some days to take the air, he +betook himself thither, carrying with him his fair lady. There +sojourning, to give her some diversion, he caused one day fish and +they went out to sea in two boats, he in one with the fishermen, and +she in another with other ladies. The sport luring them on, they +drifted some miles out to sea, well nigh without perceiving it, and +whilst they were intent upon their diversion, there came up of a +sudden a galliot belonging to Paganino da Mare, a famous corsair of +those days. The latter, espying the boats, made for them, nor could +they flee so fast but he overtook that in which were the women and +seeing therein the judge's fair lady, he carried her aboard the +galliot, in full sight of Messer Ricciardo, who was now come to land, +and made off without recking of aught else. When my lord judge, who +was so jealous that he misdoubted of the very air, saw this, it +booteth not to ask if he was chagrined; and in vain, both at Pisa and +otherwhere, did he complain of the villainy of the corsairs, for that +he knew not who had taken his wife from him nor whither he had carried +her. As for Paganino, finding her so fair, he deemed himself in luck +and having no wife, resolved to keep her for himself. Accordingly, +seeing her weeping sore, he studied to comfort her with soft words +till nightfall, when, his calendar having dropped from his girdle and +saints' days and holidays gone clean out of his head, he fell to +comforting her with deeds, himseeming that words had availed little by +day; and after such a fashion did he console her that, ere they came +to Monaco, the judge and his ordinances had altogether escaped her +mind and she began to lead the merriest of lives with Paganino. The +latter carried her to Monaco and there, over and above the +consolations with which he plied her night and day, he entreated her +honourably as his wife. After awhile it came to Messer Ricciardo's +ears where his wife was and he, being possessed with the most ardent +desire to have her again and bethinking himself that none other might +thoroughly suffice<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122"></a></span> to do what was needful to that end, resolved to go +thither himself, determined to spend any quantity of money for her +ransom. Accordingly he set out by sea and coming to Monaco, there both +saw and was seen of the lady, who told it to Paganino that same +evening and acquainted him with her intent. Next morning Messer +Ricciardo, seeing Paganino, accosted him and quickly clapped up a +great familiarity and friendship with him, whilst the other feigned +not to know him and waited to see at what he aimed. Accordingly, +whenas it seemed to him time, Messer Ricciardo discovered to him, as +best and most civilly he knew, the occasion of his coming and prayed +him take what he pleased and restore him the lady. To which Paganino +made answer with a cheerful countenance, 'Sir, you are welcome, and to +answer you briefly, I say thus; it is true I have a young lady in my +house, if she be your wife or another's I know not, for that I know +you not nor indeed her, save in so much as she hath abidden awhile +with me. If you be, as you say, her husband, I will, since you seem to +me a civil gentleman, carry you to her and I am assured that she will +know you right well. If she say it is as you avouch and be willing to +go with you, you shall, for the sake of your civility, give me what +you yourself will to her ransom; but, an it be not so, you would do +ill to seek to take her from me, for that I am a young man and can +entertain a woman as well as another, and especially such an one as +she, who is the most pleasing I ever saw.' Quoth Messer Ricciardo, +'For certain she is my wife, an thou bring me where she is, thou shalt +soon see it; for she will incontinent throw herself on my neck; +wherefore I ask no better than that it be as thou proposest.' 'Then,' +said Paganino, 'let us be going.' Accordingly they betook themselves +to the corsair's house, where he brought the judge into a saloon of +his and let call the lady, who issued forth of a chamber, all dressed +and tired, and came whereas they were, but accosted Messer Ricciardo +no otherwise than as she would any other stranger who might have come +home with Paganino. The judge, who looked to have been received by her +with the utmost joy, marvelled sore at this and fell a-saying in +himself, 'Belike the chagrin and long grief I have suffered, since I +lost her, have so changed me that she knoweth me not.' Wherefore he +said to her, 'Wife, it hath cost me dear to carry thee a-fishing, for +that never was grief felt like that which I have suffered since I lost +thee, and now meseemeth thou knowest me not, so distantly dost thou +greet me. Seest thou not that I am thine own Messer Ricciardo, come +hither to pay that which this gentleman, in whose house we are, shall +require to thy ransom and to carry thee away? And he, of his favour, +restoreth thee to me for what I will.' The lady turned to him and +said, smiling somewhat, 'Speak you to me, sir? Look you mistake me +not, for, for my part, I mind me not ever to have seen you.' Quoth +Ricciardo, 'Look what thou sayest; consider me well; an thou wilt but +recollect thyself, thou wilt see that I am thine own Ricciardo di +Chinzica.' 'Sir,' answered the lady, 'you will pardon me; belike it is +not so seemly a thing as you imagine for me to look much on you. +Nevertheless I have seen enough of you to know that I never before set +eyes on you.' Ricciardo,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123"></a></span> concluding that she did this for fear of +Paganino and chose not to confess to knowing him in the latter's +presence, besought him of his favour that he might speak with her in a +room alone. Paganino replied that he would well, so but he would not +kiss her against her will, and bade the lady go with him into a +chamber and there hear what he had to say and answer him as it should +please her. Accordingly the lady and Messer Ricciardo went into a room +apart and as soon as they were seated, the latter began to say, +'Alack, heart of my body, sweet my soul and my hope, knowest thou not +thy Ricciardo, who loveth thee more than himself? How can this be? Am +I so changed? Prithee, fair mine eye, do but look on me a little.' The +lady began to laugh and without letting him say more, replied, 'You +may be assured that I am not so scatterbrained but that I know well +enough you are Messer Ricciardo di Chinzica, my husband; but, what +time I was with you, you showed that you knew me very ill, for that +you should have had the sense to see that I was young and lusty and +gamesome and should consequently have known that which behoveth unto +young ladies, over and above clothes and meat, albeit for +shamefastness they name it not; the which how you performed, you know. +If the study of the laws was more agreeable to you than your wife, you +should not have taken her, albeit it never appeared to me that you +were a judge; nay, you seemed to me rather a common crier of saints' +days and sacraments and fasts and vigils, so well you knew them. And I +tell you this, that, had you suffered the husbandmen who till your +lands keep as many holidays as you allowed him who had the tilling of +my poor little field, you would never have reaped the least grain of +corn. However, as God, having compassion on my youth, hath willed it, +I have happened on yonder man, with whom I abide in this chamber, +wherein it is unknown what manner of thing is a holiday (I speak of +those holidays which you, more assiduous in the service of God than in +that of the ladies, did so diligently celebrate) nor ever yet entered +in at this door Saturday nor Friday nor vigil nor Emberday nor Lent, +that is so long; nay, here swink we day and night and thump our wool; +and this very night after matinsong, I know right well how the thing +went, once he was up. Wherefore I mean to abide with him and work; +whilst I am young, and leave saints' days and jubilees and fasts for +my keeping when I am old; so get you gone about your business as +quickliest you may, good luck go with you, and keep as many holidays +as you please, without me.' Messer Ricciardo, hearing these words, was +distressed beyond endurance and said, whenas he saw she had made an +end of speaking. 'Alack, sweet my soul, what is this thou sayest? Hast +thou no regard for thy kinsfolk's honour and thine own? Wilt thou +rather abide here for this man's whore and in mortal sin than at Pisa +as my wife? He, when he is weary of thee, will turn thee away to thine +own exceeding reproach, whilst I will still hold thee dear and still +(e'en though I willed it not) thou shalt be mistress of my house. Wilt +thou for the sake of a lewd and disorderly appetite, forsake thine +honour and me, who love thee more than my life? For God's sake, dear +my hope, speak no<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124"></a></span> more thus, but consent to come with me; henceforth, +since I know thy desire, I will enforce myself [to content it;] +wherefore, sweet my treasure, change counsel and come away with me, +who have never known weal since thou wast taken from me.' Whereto +answered the lady, 'I have no mind that any, now that it availeth not, +should be more tender of my honour than I myself; would my kinsfolk +had had regard thereto, whenas they gave me to you! But, as they had +then no care for my honour, I am under no present concern to be +careful of theirs; and if I am herein <i>mortar</i><a name="FNanchor_142_142" id="FNanchor_142_142"></a><a href="#Footnote_142_142" class="fnanchor">[142]</a> sin, I shall abide +though it be in pestle<a href="#Footnote_142_142" class="fnanchor">[142]</a> sin. And let me tell you that here +meseemeth I am Paganino's wife, whereas at Pisa meseemed I was your +whore, seeing that there, by season of the moon and quadratures of +geometry, needs must be planets concur to couple betwixt you and me, +whereas here Paganino holdeth me all night in his arms and straineth +me and biteth me, and how he serveth me, let God tell you for me. You +say forsooth you will enforce yourself; to what? To do it in three +casts and cause it stand by dint of cudgelling? I warrant me you are +grown a doughty cavalier since I saw you last! Begone and enforce +yourself to live, for methinketh indeed you do but sojourn here below +upon sufferance, so peaked and scant o' wind you show to me. And yet +more I tell you, that, should he leave me (albeit meseemeth he is +nowise inclined thereto, so I choose to stay,) I purpose not therefor +ever to return to you, of whom squeeze you as I might, there were no +making a porringer of sauce; for that I abode with you once to my +grievous hurt and loss, wherefore in such a case I should seek my +vantage elsewhere. Nay, once again I tell you, here be neither saints' +days nor vigils; wherefore here I mean to abide; so get you gone in +God's name as quickliest you may, or I will cry out that you would +fain force me.' Messer Ricciardo, seeing himself in ill case and now +recognizing his folly in taking a young wife, whenas he was himself +forspent, went forth the chamber tristful and woebegone, and bespoke +Paganino with many words, that skilled not a jot. Ultimately, leaving +the lady, he returned to Pisa, without having accomplished aught, and +there for chagrin fell into such dotage that, as he went about Pisa, +to whoso greeted him or asked him of anywhat, he answered nought but +'The ill hole<a name="FNanchor_143_143" id="FNanchor_143_143"></a><a href="#Footnote_143_143" class="fnanchor">[143]</a> will have no holidays;'<a name="FNanchor_144_144" id="FNanchor_144_144"></a><a href="#Footnote_144_144" class="fnanchor">[144]</a> and there, no great +while after, he died. Paganino, hearing this and knowing the love the +lady bore himself, espoused her to his lawful wife and thereafter, +without ever observing saints' day or vigil or keeping Lent, they +wrought what while their legs would carry them and led a jolly life of +it. Wherefore, dear my ladies, meseemeth Bernabo, in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125"></a></span> his dispute with +Ambrogiuolo, rode the she-goat down the steep."<a name="FNanchor_145_145" id="FNanchor_145_145"></a><a href="#Footnote_145_145" class="fnanchor">[145]</a></p> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p>This story gave such occasion for laughter to all the company that +there was none whose jaws ached not therefor, and all the ladies +avouched with one accord that Dioneo spoke sooth and that Bernabo had +been an ass. But, after the story was ended and the laughter abated, +the queen, observing that the hour was now late and that all had told +and seeing that the end of her seignory was come, according to the +ordinance commenced, took the wreath from her own head and set it on +that of Neifile, saying, with a blithe aspect, "Henceforth, companion +dear, be thine the governance of this little people"; and reseated +herself. Neifile blushed a little at the honour received and became in +countenance like as showeth a new-blown rose of April or of May in the +breaking of the day, with lovesome eyes some little downcast, +sparkling no otherwise than the morning-star. But, after the courteous +murmur of the bystanders, whereby they gladsomely approved their +goodwill towards the new-made queen, had abated and she had taken +heart again, she seated herself somewhat higher than of wont and said, +"Since I am to be your queen, I will, departing not from the manner +holden of those who have foregone me and whose governance you have by +your obedience commended, make manifest to you in few words my +opinion, which, an it be approved by your counsel, we will ensue. +To-morrow, as you know, is Friday and the next day is Saturday, days +which, by reason of the viands that are used therein,<a name="FNanchor_146_146" id="FNanchor_146_146"></a><a href="#Footnote_146_146" class="fnanchor">[146]</a> are +somewhat irksome to most folk, more by token that Friday, considering +that He who died for our life on that day suffered passion, is worthy +of reverence; wherefore I hold it a just thing and a seemly that, in +honour of the Divinity, we apply ourselves rather to orisons than to +story-telling. As for Saturday, it is the usance of ladies on that day +to wash their heads and do away all dust and all uncleanliness +befallen them for the labours of the past week; and many, likewise, +use, in reverence of the Virgin Mother of the Son of God, to fast and +rest from all manner of work in honour of the ensuing Sunday. +Wherefore, we being unable fully to ensue the order of living taken by +us, on like wise methinketh we were well to rest from story-telling on +that day also; after which, for that we shall then have sojourned here +four days, I hold it opportune, an we would give no occasion for +newcomers to intrude upon us, that we remove hence and get us gone +elsewhither; where I have already considered and provided. There when +we shall be assembled together on Sunday, after sleeping,—we having +to-day had leisure enough for discoursing at large,<a name="FNanchor_147_147" id="FNanchor_147_147"></a><a href="#Footnote_147_147" class="fnanchor">[147]</a>—I have +bethought myself,—at once that you may have more time to consider and +because it will be yet goodlier that the license of our story-telling +be somewhat straitened<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126"></a></span> and that we devise of one of the many fashions +of fortune,—that our discourse shall be OF SUCH AS HAVE, BY DINT OF +DILIGENCE,<a name="FNanchor_148_148" id="FNanchor_148_148"></a><a href="#Footnote_148_148" class="fnanchor">[148]</a> ACQUIRED SOME MUCH DESIRED THING OR RECOVERED SOME +LOST GOOD. Whereupon let each think to tell somewhat that may be +useful or at least entertaining to the company, saving always Dioneo +his privilege." All commended the speech and disposition of the queen +and ordained that it should be as she had said. Then, calling for her +seneschal, she particularly instructed him where he should set the +tables that evening and after of what he should do during all the time +of her seignory; 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:</p> + +<p class="cpoem"> +What lady aye should sing, and if not I,<br /> +Who'm blest with all for which a maid can sigh?<br /> +Come then, O Love, thou source of all my weal,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">All hope and every issue glad and bright</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Sing ye awhile yfere</span><br /> +Of sighs nor bitter pains I erst did feel,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">That now but sweeten to me thy delight,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Nay, but of that fire clear,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Wherein I, burning, live in joy and cheer,</span><br /> +And as my God, thy name do magnify.<br /> +<br /> +Thou settest, Love, before these eyes of mine<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Whenas thy fire I entered the first day,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">A youngling so beseen</span><br /> +With valour, worth and loveliness divine,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">That never might one find a goodlier, nay,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Nor yet his match, I ween.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">So sore I burnt for him I still must e'en</span><br /> +Sing, blithe, of him with thee, my lord most high.<br /> +<br /> +And that in him which crowneth my liesse<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Is that I please him, as he pleaseth me,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Thanks to Love debonair;</span><br /> +Thus in this world my wish I do possess<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">And in the next I trust at peace to be,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Through that fast faith I bear</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">To him; sure God, who seeth this, will ne'er</span><br /> +The kingdom of His bliss to us deny.<br /> +</p> + +<p>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.</p> + + +<p class="center"><br /> +<b>HERE ENDETH THE SECOND DAY<br /> +OF THE DECAMERON</b> +</p> + + + +<hr class="long" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127"></a></span></p> +<h1><a name="Day_the_Third" id="Day_the_Third"></a><i>Day the Third</i></h1> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="hang"><span class="lgsmcap">Here Beginneth the Third Day of the Decameron wherein Under +the Governance of Neifile Is Discoursed of Such as Have by +Dint of Diligence Acquired Some Much Desired Thing or +Recovered Some Lost Good</span></p></div> + + +<p><br /><span class="smcap">The</span> dawn from vermeil began to grow orange-tawny, at the approach of +the sun, when on the Sunday the queen arose and caused all her company +rise also. The seneschal had a great while before despatched to the +place whither they were to go store of things needful and folk who +should there make ready that which behoved, and seeing the queen now +on the way, straightway let load everything else, as if the camp were +raised thence, and with the household stuff and such of the servants +as remained set out in rear of the ladies and gentlemen. The queen, +then, with slow step, accompanied and followed by her ladies and the +three young men and guided by the song of some score nightingales and +other birds, took her way westward, by a little-used footpath, full of +green herbs and flowers, which latter now all began to open for the +coming sun, and chatting, jesting and laughing with her company, +brought them a while before half tierce,<a name="FNanchor_149_149" id="FNanchor_149_149"></a><a href="#Footnote_149_149" class="fnanchor">[149]</a> without having gone over +two thousand paces, to a very fair and rich palace, somewhat upraised +above the plain upon a little knoll. Here they entered and having gone +all about and viewed the great saloons and the quaint and elegant +chambers all throughly furnished with that which pertaineth thereunto, +they mightily commended the place and accounted its lord magnificent. +Then, going below and seeing the very spacious and cheerful court +thereof, the cellars full of choicest wines and the very cool water +that welled there in great abundance, they praised it yet more. +Thence, as if desirous of repose, they betook themselves to sit in a +gallery which commanded all the courtyard and was all full of flowers, +such as the season afforded, and leafage, whereupon there came the +careful seneschal and entertained and refreshed them with costliest +confections and wines of choice. Thereafter, letting open to them a +garden, all walled about, which coasted the palace, they entered +therein and it seeming to them, at their entering, altogether<a name="FNanchor_150_150" id="FNanchor_150_150"></a><a href="#Footnote_150_150" class="fnanchor">[150]</a> +wonder-goodly, they addressed themselves more intently to view the +particulars thereof. It had about it and athwart the middle very +spacious alleys, all straight as arrows and embowered with trellises +of vines, which made great show of bearing abundance of grapes that +year and being then all in blossom, yielded so rare a savour about the +garden, that, as it blent with the fragrance of many another +sweet-smelling plant that there gave scent, themseemed they were among +all the spiceries that ever grew<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128"></a></span> in the Orient. The sides of these +alleys were all in a manner walled about with roses, red and white, +and jessamine, wherefore not only of a morning, but what while the sun +was highest, one might go all about, untouched thereby, neath +odoriferous and delightsome shade. What and how many and how orderly +disposed were the plants that grew in that place, it were tedious to +recount; suffice it that there is none goodly of those which may brook +our air but was there in abundance. Amiddleward the garden (what was +not less, but yet more commendable than aught else there) was a plat +of very fine grass, so green that it seemed well nigh black, enamelled +all with belike a thousand kinds of flowers and closed about with the +greenest and lustiest of orange and citron trees, the which, bearing +at once old fruits and new and flowers, not only afforded the eyes a +pleasant shade, but were no less grateful to the smell. Midmost the +grass-plat was a fountain of the whitest marble, enchased with +wonder-goodly sculptures, and thence,—whether I know not from a +natural or an artificial source,—there sprang, by a figure that stood +on a column in its midst, so great a jet of water and so high towards +the sky, whence not without a delectable sound it fell back into the +wonder-limpid fount, that a mill might have wrought with less; the +which after (I mean the water which overflowed the full basin) issued +forth of the lawn by a hidden way, and coming to light therewithout, +encompassed it all about by very goodly and curiously wroughten +channels. Thence by like channels it ran through well nigh every part +of the pleasance and was gathered again at the last in a place whereby +it had issue from the fair garden and whence it descended, in the +clearest of streams, towards the plain; but, ere it won thither, it +turned two mills with exceeding power and to the no small vantage of +the lord. The sight of this garden and its fair ordinance and the +plants and the fountain, with the rivulets proceeding therefrom, so +pleased the ladies and the three young men that they all of one accord +avouched that, an Paradise might be created upon earth, they could not +avail to conceive what form, other than that of this garden, might be +given it nor what farther beauty might possibly be added thereunto. +However, as they went most gladsomely thereabout, weaving them the +goodliest garlands of the various leafage of the trees and hearkening +the while to the carols of belike a score of different kinds of birds, +that sang as if in rivalry one of other, they became aware of a +delectable beauty, which, wonderstricken as they were with the other +charms of the place, they had not yet noted; to wit, they found the +garden full of maybe an hundred kinds of goodly creatures, and one +showing them to other, they saw on one side rabbits issue, on another +hares run; here lay kids and there fawns went grazing, and there was +many another kind of harmless animal, each going about his pastime at +his pleasure, as if tame; the which added unto them a yet greater +pleasure than the others. After they had gone about their fill, +viewing now this thing and now that, the queen let set the tables +around the fair fountain and at her commandment, having first sung +half a dozen canzonets and danced sundry dances, they sat down<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129"></a></span> to +meat. There, being right well and orderly served, after a very fair +and sumptuous and tranquil fashion, with goodly and delicate viands, +they waxed yet blither and arising thence, gave themselves anew to +music-making and singing and dancing till it seemed good to the queen +that those whom it pleased should betake themselves to sleep. +Accordingly some went thither, whilst others, overcome with the beauty +of the place, willed not to leave it, but, abiding there, addressed +themselves, some to reading romances and some to playing chess or +tables, whilst the others slept. But presently, the hour of none being +past and the sleepers having arisen and refreshed their faces with +cold water, they came all, at the queen's commandment, to the lawn +hard by the fountain and there seating themselves, after the wonted +fashion, waited to fall to story-telling upon the subject proposed by +her. The first upon whom she laid this charge was Filostrato, who +began on this wise:</p> + + +<hr class="short" /> +<h2><br /><a name="THE_FIRST_STORY3" id="THE_FIRST_STORY3"></a>THE FIRST STORY</h2> + +<div class="sidenote">Day the Third</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="hang">MASETTO OF LAMPORECCHIO FEIGNETH HIMSELF DUMB AND BECOMETH +GARDENER TO A CONVENT OF WOMEN, WHO ALL FLOCK TO LIE WITH +HIM</p></div> + + +<p><br /><span class="smcap">"Fairest</span> ladies, there be many men and women foolish enough to believe +that, whenas the white fillet is bound about a girl's head and the +black cowl clapped upon her back, she is no longer a woman and is no +longer sensible of feminine appetites, as if the making her a nun had +changed her to stone; and if perchance they hear aught contrary to +this their belief, they are as much incensed as if a very great and +heinous misdeed had been committed against nature, considering not +neither having regard to themselves, whom full license to do that +which they will availeth not to sate, nor yet to the much potency of +idlesse and thought-taking.<a name="FNanchor_151_151" id="FNanchor_151_151"></a><a href="#Footnote_151_151" class="fnanchor">[151]</a> On like wise there are but too many +who believe that spade and mattock and coarse victuals and hard living +do altogether purge away carnal appetites from the tillers of the +earth and render them exceeding dull of wit and judgment. But how much +all who believe thus are deluded, I purpose, since the queen hath +commanded it to me, to make plain to you in a little story, without +departing from the theme by her appointed.</p> + +<p>There was (and is yet) in these our parts a convent of women, very +famous for sanctity (the which, that I may not anywise abate its +repute, I will not name), wherein no great while agone, there being +then no more than eight nuns and an abbess, all young, in the nunnery, +a poor silly dolt of a fellow was gardener of a very goodly garden of +theirs, who, being miscontent with his wage, settled his accounts with +the ladies' bailiff and returned to Lamporec<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130"></a></span>chio, whence he came. +There, amongst others who welcomed him home, was a young labouring +man, stout and robust and (for a countryman) a well-favoured fellow, +by name of Masetto, who asked him where he had been so long. The good +man, whose name was Nuto, told him, whereupon Masetto asked him in +what he had served the convent, and he, 'I tended a great and goodly +garden of theirs, and moreover I went while to the coppice for faggots +and drew water and did other such small matters of service; but the +nuns gave me so little wage that I could scare find me in shoon +withal. Besides, they are all young and methinketh they are possessed +of the devil, for there was no doing anything to their liking; nay, +when I was at work whiles in the hortyard,<a name="FNanchor_152_152" id="FNanchor_152_152"></a><a href="#Footnote_152_152" class="fnanchor">[152]</a> quoth one, "Set this +here," and another, "Set that here," and a third snatched the spade +from my hand, saying, "That is naught"; brief, they gave me so much +vexation that I would leave work be and begone out of the hortyard; +insomuch that, what with one thing and what with another, I would +abide there no longer and took myself off. When I came away, their +bailiff besought me, an I could lay my hand on any one apt unto that +service, to send the man to him, and I promised it him; but may God +make him sound of the loins as he whom I shall get him, else will I +send him none at all!' Masetto, hearing this, was taken with so great +a desire to be with these nuns that he was all consumed therewith, +judging from Nuto's words that he might avail to compass somewhat of +that which he desired. However, foreseeing that he would fail of his +purpose, if he discovered aught thereof to Nuto, he said to the +latter, 'Egad, thou didst well to come away. How is a man to live with +women? He were better abide with devils. Six times out of seven they +know not what they would have themselves.' But, after they had made an +end of their talk, Masetto began to cast about what means he should +take to be with them and feeling himself well able to do the offices +of which Nuto had spoken, he had no fear of being refused on that +head, but misdoubted him he might not be received, for that he was +young and well-looked. Wherefore, after pondering many things in +himself, he bethought himself thus: 'The place is far hence and none +knoweth me there, an I can but make a show of being dumb, I shall for +certain be received there.' Having fixed upon this device, he set out +with an axe he had about his neck, without telling any whither he was +bound, and betook himself, in the guise of a beggarman, to the +convent, where being come, he entered in and as luck would have it, +found the bailiff in the courtyard. Him he accosted with signs such as +dumb folk use and made a show of asking food of him for the love of +God and that in return he would, an it were needed, cleave wood for +him. The bailiff willingly gave him to eat and after set before him +divers logs that Nuto had not availed to cleave, but of all which +Masetto, who was very strong, made a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131"></a></span> speedy despatch. By and by, the +bailiff, having occasion to go to the coppice, carried him thither and +put him to cutting faggots; after which, setting the ass before him, +he gave him to understand by signs that he was to bring them home. +This he did very well; wherefore the bailiff kept him there some days, +so he might have him do certain things for which he had occasion. One +day it chanced that the abbess saw him and asked the bailiff who he +was. 'Madam,' answered he, 'this is a poor deaf and dumb man, who came +hither the other day to ask an alms; so I took him in out of charity +and have made him do sundry things of which we had need. If he knew +how to till the hortyard and chose to abide with us, I believe we +should get good service of him; for that we lack such an one and he is +strong and we could make what we would of him; more by token that you +would have no occasion to fear his playing the fool with yonder lasses +of yours.' 'I' faith,' rejoined the abbess, 'thou sayst sooth. Learn +if he knoweth how to till and study to keep him here; give him a pair +of shoes and some old hood or other and make much of him, caress him, +give him plenty to eat.' Which the bailiff promised to do. Masetto was +not so far distant but he heard all this, making a show the while of +sweeping the courtyard, and said merrily in himself, 'An you put me +therein, I will till you your hortyard as it was never tilled yet.' +Accordingly, the bailiff, seeing that he knew right well how to work, +asked him by signs if he had a mind to abide there and he replied on +like wise that he would do whatsoever he wished; whereupon the bailiff +engaged him and charged him till the hortyard, showing him what he was +to do; after which he went about other business of the convent and +left him. Presently, as Masetto went working one day after another, +the nuns fell to plaguing him and making mock of him, as ofttimes it +betideth that folk do with mutes, and bespoke him the naughtiest words +in the world, thinking he understood them not; whereof the abbess, +mayhap supposing him to be tailless as well as tongueless, recked +little or nothing. It chanced one day, however, that, as he rested +himself after a hard morning's work, two young nuns, who went about +the garden,<a name="FNanchor_153_153" id="FNanchor_153_153"></a><a href="#Footnote_153_153" class="fnanchor">[153]</a> drew near the place where he lay and fell to looking +upon him, whilst he made a show of sleeping. Presently quoth one who +was somewhat the bolder of the twain to the other, 'If I thought thou +wouldst keep my counsel, I would tell thee a thought which I have once +and again had and which might perchance profit thee also.' 'Speak in +all assurance,' answered the other, 'for certes I will never tell it +to any.' Then said the forward wench, 'I know not if thou have ever +considered how straitly we are kept and how no man dare ever enter +here, save the bailiff, who is old, and yonder dumb fellow; and I have +again and again heard ladies, who come to visit us, say that all other +delights in the world are but toys in comparison with that which a +woman enjoyeth, whenas she hath to do with a man. Wherefore I have +often had it in mind to make trial with this mute, since with others I +may not, if it be so. And indeed he is the best in the world to that +end, for that, e'en if he would, he could not nor might tell it<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132"></a></span> +again. Thou seest he is a poor silly lout of a lad, who hath overgrown +his wit, and I would fain hear how thou deemest of the thing.' +'Alack!' rejoined the other, 'what is this thou sayest? Knowest thou +not that we have promised our virginity to God?' 'Oh, as for that,' +answered the first, 'how many things are promised Him all day long, +whereof not one is fulfilled unto Him! An we have promised it Him, let +Him find Himself another or others to perform it to Him.' 'Or if,' +went on her fellow, 'we should prove with child, how would it go +then?' Quoth the other, 'Thou beginnest to take thought unto ill ere +it cometh; when that betideth, then will we look to it; there will be +a thousand ways for us of doing so that it shall never be known, +provided we ourselves tell it not.' The other, hearing this and having +now a greater itch than her companion to prove what manner beast a man +was, said, 'Well, then, how shall we do?' Quoth the first, 'Thou seest +it is nigh upon none and methinketh the sisters are all asleep, save +only ourselves; let us look about the hortyard if there be any there, +and if there be none, what have we to do but to take him by the hand +and carry him into yonder hut, whereas he harboureth against the rain, +and there let one of us abide with him, whilst the other keepeth +watch? He is so simple that he will do whatever we will.' Masetto +heard all this talk and disposed to compliance, waited but to be taken +by one of the nuns. The latter having looked well all about and +satisfied themselves that they could be seen from nowhere, she who had +broached the matter came up to Masetto and aroused him, whereupon he +rose incontinent to his feet. The nun took him coaxingly by the hand +and led him, grinning like an idiot, to the hut, where, without +overmuch pressing, he did what she would. Then, like a loyal comrade, +having had her will, she gave place to her fellow, and Masetto, still +feigning himself a simpleton, did their pleasure. Before they departed +thence, each of the girls must needs once more prove how the mute +could horse it, and after devising with each other, they agreed that +the thing was as delectable as they had heard, nay, more so. +Accordingly, watching their opportunity, they went oftentimes at +fitting seasons to divert themselves with the mute, till one day it +chanced that one of their sisters, espying them in the act from the +lattice of her cell, showed it to other twain. At first they talked of +denouncing the culprits to the abbess, but, after, changing counsel +and coming to an accord with the first two, they became sharers with +them in Masetto's services, and to them the other three nuns were at +divers times and by divers chances added as associates. Ultimately, +the abbess, who had not yet gotten wind of these doings, walking one +day alone in the garden, the heat being great, found Masetto (who had +enough of a little fatigue by day, because of overmuch posting it by +night) stretched out asleep under the shade of an almond-tree, and the +wind lifting the forepart of his clothes, all abode discovered. The +lady, beholding this and seeing herself alone, fell into that same +appetite which had gotten hold of her nuns, and arousing Masetto, +carried him to her chamber, where, to the no small miscontent of the +others, who complained loudly that the gardener came<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133"></a></span> not to till the +hortyard, she kept him several days, proving and reproving that +delight which she had erst been wont to blame in others. At last she +sent him back to his own lodging, but was fain to have him often again +and as, moreover, she required of him more than her share, Masetto, +unable to satisfy so many, bethought himself that his playing the mute +might, an it endured longer, result in his exceeding great hurt. +Wherefore, being one night with the abbess, he gave loose to<a name="FNanchor_154_154" id="FNanchor_154_154"></a><a href="#Footnote_154_154" class="fnanchor">[154]</a> his +tongue and bespoke her thus: 'Madam, I have heard say that one cock +sufficeth unto half a score hens, but that half a score men can ill or +hardly satisfy one woman; whereas needs must I serve nine, and to this +I can no wise endure; nay, for that which I have done up to now, I am +come to such a pass that I can do neither little nor much; wherefore +do ye either let me go in God's name or find a remedy for the matter.' +The abbess, hearing him speak whom she held dumb, was all amazed and +said, 'What is this? Methought thou wast dumb.' 'Madam,' answered +Masetto, 'I was indeed dumb, not by nature, but by reason of a malady +which bereft me of speech, and only this very night for the first time +do I feel it restored to me, wherefore I praise God as most I may.' +The lady believed this and asked him what he meant by saying that he +had to serve nine. Masetto told her how the case stood, whereby she +perceived that she had no nun but was far wiser than herself; but, +like a discreet woman as she was, she resolved to take counsel with +her nuns to find some means of arranging the matter, without letting +Masetto go, so the convent might not be defamed by him. Accordingly, +having openly confessed to one another that which had been secretly +done of each, they all of one accord, with Masetto's consent, so +ordered it that the people round about believed speech to have been +restored to him, after he had long been mute, through their prayers +and by the merits of the saint in whose name the convent was +intituled, and their bailiff being lately dead, they made Masetto +bailiff in his stead and apportioned his toils on such wise that he +could endure them. Thereafter, albeit he began upon them monikins +galore, the thing was so discreetly ordered that nothing took vent +thereof till after the death of the abbess, when Masetto began to grow +old and had a mind to return home rich. The thing becoming known, +enabled him lightly to accomplish his desire, and thus Masetto, having +by his foresight contrived to employ his youth to good purpose, +returned in his old age, rich and a father, without being at the pains +or expense of rearing children, to the place whence he had set out +with an axe about his neck, avouching that thus did Christ entreat +whoso set horns to his cap."</p> + + + +<hr /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134"></a></span></p> +<h2><a name="THE_SECOND_STORY3" id="THE_SECOND_STORY3"></a>THE SECOND STORY</h2> + +<div class="sidenote">Day the Third</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="hang">A HORSEKEEPER LIETH WITH THE WIFE OF KING AGILULF, WHO, +BECOMING AWARE THEREOF, WITHOUT WORD SAID, FINDETH HIM OUT +AND POLLETH HIM; BUT THE POLLED MAN POLLETH ALL HIS FELLOWS +ON LIKE WISE AND SO ESCAPETH ILL HAP</p></div> + + +<p><br /><span class="smcap">The</span> end of Filostrato's story, whereat whiles the ladies had some +little blushed and other whiles laughed, being come, it pleased the +queen that Pampinea should follow on with a story, and she +accordingly, beginning with a smiling countenance, said, "Some are so +little discreet in seeking at all hazards to show that they know and +apprehend that which it concerneth them not to know, that whiles, +rebuking to this end unperceived defects in others, they think to +lessen their own shame, whereas they do infinitely augment it; and +that this is so I purpose, lovesome ladies, to prove to you by the +contrary thereof, showing you the astuteness of one who, in the +judgment of a king of worth and valour, was held belike of less +account than Masetto himself.</p> + +<p>Agilulf, King of the Lombards, as his predecessors had done, fixed the +seat of his kingship at Pavia, a city of Lombardy, and took to wife +Theodolinda<a name="FNanchor_155_155" id="FNanchor_155_155"></a><a href="#Footnote_155_155" class="fnanchor">[155]</a> the widow of Autari, likewise King of the Lombards, a +very fair lady and exceeding discreet and virtuous, but ill fortuned +in a lover.<a name="FNanchor_156_156" id="FNanchor_156_156"></a><a href="#Footnote_156_156" class="fnanchor">[156]</a> The affairs of the Lombards having, thanks to the +valour and judgment of King Agilulf, been for some time prosperous and +in quiet, it befell that one of the said queen's horse-keepers, a man +of very low condition, in respect of birth, but otherwise of worth far +above so mean a station, and comely of person and tall as he were the +king, became beyond measure enamoured of his mistress. His mean estate +hindered him not from being sensible that this love of his was out of +all reason, wherefore, like a discreet man as he was, he discovered it +unto none, nor dared he make it known to her even with his eyes. But, +albeit he lived without any hope of ever winning her favour, yet +inwardly he gloried in that he had bestowed his thoughts in such high +place, and being all aflame with amorous fire, he studied, beyond +every other of his fellows, to do whatsoever he deemed might pleasure +the queen; whereby it befell that, whenas she had occasion to ride +abroad, she liefer mounted the palfrey of which he had charge than any +other; and when this happened, he reckoned it a passing great favour +to himself nor ever stirred from her stirrup, accounting himself happy +what time he might but touch her clothes. But, as often enough we see +it happen that, even as hope groweth less, so love waxeth greater, so +did it betide this poor groom, insomuch that sore uneath it was to him +to avail to brook his great desire, keeping it, as he did, hidden and +being upheld by no hope; and many a time, unable to rid<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135"></a></span> himself of +that his love, he determined in himself to die. And considering +inwardly of the manner, he resolved to seek his death on such wise +that it should be manifest he died for the love he bore the queen, to +which end he bethought himself to try his fortune in an enterprise of +such a sort as should afford him a chance of having or all or part of +his desire. He set not himself to seek to say aught to the queen nor +to make her sensible of his love by letters, knowing he should speak +and write in vain, but chose rather to essay an he might by practice +avail to lie with her; nor was there any other shift for it but to +find a means how he might, in the person of the king, who, he knew, +lay not with her continually, contrive to make his way to her and +enter her bedchamber. Accordingly, that he might see on what wise and +in what habit the king went, whenas he visited her, he hid himself +several times by night in a great saloon of the palace, which lay +between the king's bedchamber and that of the queen, and one night, +amongst others, he saw the king come forth of his chamber, wrapped in +a great mantle, with a lighted taper in one hand and a little wand in +the other, and making for the queen's chamber, strike once or twice +upon the door with the wand, without saying aught, whereupon it was +incontinent opened to him and the taper taken from his hand. Noting +this and having seen the king return after the same fashion, he +bethought himself to do likewise. Accordingly, finding means to have a +cloak like that which he had seen the king wear, together with a taper +and a wand, and having first well washed himself in a bagnio, lest +haply the smell of the muck should offend the queen or cause her smoke +the cheat, he hid himself in the great saloon, as of wont. Whenas he +knew that all were asleep and it seemed to him time either to give +effect to his desire or to make his way by high emprise<a name="FNanchor_157_157" id="FNanchor_157_157"></a><a href="#Footnote_157_157" class="fnanchor">[157]</a> to the +wished-for death, he struck a light with a flint and steel he had +brought with him and kindling the taper, wrapped himself fast in the +mantle, then, going up to the chamber-door, smote twice upon it with +the wand. The door was opened by a bedchamber-woman, all sleepy-eyed, +who took the light and covered it; whereupon, without saying aught, he +passed within the curtain, put off his mantle and entered the bed +where the queen slept. Then, taking her desirefully in his arms and +feigning himself troubled (for that he knew the king's wont to be +that, whenas he was troubled, he cared not to hear aught), without +speaking or being spoken to, he several times carnally knew the queen; +after which, grievous as it seemed to him to depart, yet, fearing lest +his too long stay should be the occasion of turning the gotten delight +into dolour, he arose and taking up the mantle and the light, +withdrew, without word said, and returned, as quickliest he might, to +his own bed. He could scarce yet have been therein when the king arose +and repaired to the queen's chamber, whereat she marvelled +exceedingly; and as he entered the bed and greeted her blithely, she +took courage by his cheerfulness and said, 'O my lord, what new +fashion is this of to-night? You left me but now, after having taken +pleasure of me beyond your wont, and do you return so soon? Have a +care<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136"></a></span> what you do.' The king, hearing these words, at once concluded +that the queen had been deceived by likeness of manners and person, +but, like a wise man, bethought himself forthright, seeing that +neither she nor any else had perceived the cheat, not to make her +aware thereof; which many simpletons would not have done, but would +have said, 'I have not been here, I. Who is it hath been here? How did +it happen? Who came hither?' Whence many things might have arisen, +whereby he would needlessly have afflicted the lady and given her +ground for desiring another time that which she had already tasted; +more by token that, an he kept silence of the matter, no shame might +revert to him, whereas, by speaking, he would have brought dishonour +upon himself. The king, then, more troubled at heart than in looks or +speech, answered, saying, 'Wife, seem I not to you man enough to have +been here a first time and to come yet again after that?' 'Ay, my +lord,' answered she. 'Nevertheless, I beseech you have regard to your +health.' Quoth Agilulf, 'And it pleaseth me to follow your counsel, +wherefore for the nonce I will get me gone again, without giving you +more annoy.' This said, taking up his mantle, he departed the chamber, +with a heart full of wrath and despite for the affront that he saw had +been done him, and bethought himself quietly to seek to discover the +culprit, concluding that he must be of the household and could not, +whoever he might be, have issued forth of the palace. Accordingly, +taking a very small light in a little lantern, he betook himself to a +very long gallery that was over the stables of his palace and where +all his household slept in different beds, and judging that, whoever +he might be that had done what the queen said, his pulse and the +beating of his heart for the swink endured could not yet have had time +to abate, he silently, beginning at one end of the gallery, fell to +feeling each one's breast, to know if his heart beat high. Although +every other slept fast, he who had been with the queen was not yet +asleep, but, seeing the king come and guessing what he went seeking, +fell into such a fright that to the beating of the heart caused by the +late-had fatigue, fear added yet a greater and he doubted not but the +king, if he became aware of this, would put him to death without +delay, and many things passed through his thought that he should do. +However, seeing him all unarmed, he resolved to feign sleep and await +what he should do. Agilulf, then, having examined many and found none +whom he judged to be he of whom he was in quest, came presently to the +horsekeeper and feeling his heart beat high, said in himself, 'This is +the man.' Nevertheless, an he would have nought be known of that which +he purposed to do, he did nought to him but poll, with a pair of +scissors he had brought with him, somewhat on one side of his hair, +which they then wore very long, so by that token he might know him +again on the morrow; and this done, he withdrew and returned to his +own chamber. The culprit, who had felt all this, like a shrewd fellow +as he was, understood plainly enough why he had been thus marked; +wherefore he arose without delay and finding a pair of shears, whereof +it chanced there were several about the stables for the service of the +horses, went softly up to all who lay in the gallery and clipped each +one's<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137"></a></span> hair on like wise over the ear; which having done without being +observed, he returned to sleep. When the king arose in the morning, he +commanded that all his household should present themselves before him, +or ever the palace-doors were opened; and it was done as he said. +Then, as they all stood before him with uncovered heads, he began to +look that he might know him whom he had polled; but, seeing the most +part of them with their hair clipped after one and the same fashion, +he marvelled and said in himself, 'He whom I seek, for all he may be +of mean estate, showeth right well he is of no mean wit.' Then, seeing +that he could not, without making a stir, avail to have him whom he +sought, and having no mind to incur a great shame for the sake of a +paltry revenge, it pleased him with one sole word to admonish the +culprit and show him that he was ware of the matter; wherefore, +turning to all who were present, he said, 'Let him who did it do it no +more and get you gone in peace.' Another would have been for giving +them the strappado, for torturing, examining and questioning, and +doing this, would have published that which every one should go about +to conceal; and having thus discovered himself, though he should have +taken entire revenge for the affront suffered, his shame had not been +minished, nay, were rather much enhanced therefor and his lady's +honour sullied. Those who heard the king's words marvelled and long +debated amongst themselves what he meant by this speech; but none +understood it, save he whom it concerned, and he, like a wise man, +never, during Agilulf's lifetime, discovered the matter nor ever again +committed his life to the hazard of such a venture."</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="THE_THIRD_STORY3" id="THE_THIRD_STORY3"></a>THE THIRD STORY</h2> + +<div class="sidenote">Day the Third</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="hang">UNDER COLOUR OF CONFESSION AND OF EXCEEDING NICENESS OF +CONSCIENCE, A LADY, BEING ENAMOURED OF A YOUNG MAN, BRINGETH +A GRAVE FRIAR, WITHOUT HIS MISDOUBTING HIM THEREOF, TO +AFFORD A MEANS OF GIVING ENTIRE EFFECT TO HER PLEASURE</p></div> + + +<p><br /><span class="smcap">Pampinea</span> being now silent and the daring and subtlety of the +horsekeeper having been extolled by several of the company, as also +the king's good sense, the queen, turning to Filomena, charged her +follow on; whereupon she blithely began to speak thus, "I purpose to +recount to you a cheat which was in very deed put by a fair lady upon +a grave friar and which should be so much the more pleasing to every +layman as these [—friars, to wit—], albeit for the most part very +dull fools and men of strange manners and usances, hold themselves to +be in everything both better worth and wiser than others, whereas they +are of far less account than the rest of mankind, being men who, +lacking, of the meanness of their spirit, the ability to provide +themselves, take refuge, like swine, whereas they may have what to +eat. And this story, charming ladies, I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138"></a></span> shall tell you, not only for +the ensuing of the order imposed, but to give you to know withal that +even the clergy, to whom we women, beyond measure credulous as we are, +yield overmuch faith, can be and are whiles adroitly befooled, and +that not by men only, but even by certain of our own sex.</p> + +<p>In our city, the which is fuller of cozenage than of love or faith, +there was, not many years agone, a gentlewoman adorned with beauty and +charms and as richly endowed by nature as any of her sex with engaging +manners and loftiness of spirit and subtle wit, whose name albeit I +know, I purpose not to discover it, no, nor any other that pertaineth +unto the present story, for that there be folk yet alive who would +take it in despite, whereas it should be passed over with a laugh. +This lady, then, seeing herself, though of high lineage, married to a +wool-monger and unable, for that he was a craftsman, to put off the +haughtiness of her spirit, whereby she deemed no man of mean +condition, how rich soever he might be, worthy of a gentlewoman and +seeing him moreover, for all his wealth, to be apt unto nothing of +more moment than to lay a warp for a piece of motley or let weave a +cloth or chaffer with a spinster anent her yarn, resolved on no wise +to admit of his embraces, save in so far as she might not deny him, +but to seek, for her own satisfaction, to find some one who should be +worthier of her favours than the wool-monger appeared to her to be, +and accordingly fell so fervently in love with a man of very good +quality and middle age, that, whenas she saw him not by day, she could +not pass the ensuing night without unease. The gentleman, perceiving +not how the case stood, took no heed of her, and she, being very +circumspect, dared not make the matter known to him by sending of +women nor by letter, fearing the possible perils that might betide. +However, observing that he companied much with a churchman, who, +albeit a dull lump of a fellow, was nevertheless, for that he was a +man of very devout life, reputed of well nigh all a most worthy friar, +she bethought herself that this latter would make an excellent +go-between herself and her lover and having considered what means she +should use, she repaired, at a fitting season, to the church where he +abode, and letting call him to her, told him that, an he pleased, she +would fain confess herself to him. The friar seeing her and judging +her to be a woman of condition, willingly gave ear to her, and she, +after confession, said to him, 'Father mine, it behoveth me have +recourse to you for aid and counsel anent that which you shall hear. I +know, as having myself told you, that you know my kinsfolk and my +husband, who loveth me more than his life, nor is there aught I desire +but I have it of him incontinent, he being a very rich man and one who +can well afford it; wherefore I love him more than mine own self and +should I but think, let alone do, aught that might be contrary to his +honour and pleasure, there were no woman more wicked or more deserving +of the fire than I. Now one, whose name in truth I know not, but who +is, meseemeth, a man of condition, and is, if I mistake not, much in +your company,—a well-favoured man and tall of his person and clad in +very decent sad-coloured raiment,—unaware belike of the constancy of +my purpose,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139"></a></span> appeareth to have laid siege to me, nor can I show myself +at door or window nor go without the house, but he incontinent +presenteth himself before me, and I marvel that he is not here now; +whereat I am sore concerned, for that such fashions as these often +bring virtuous women into reproach, without their fault. I have whiles +had it in mind to have him told of this by my brothers; but then I +have bethought me that men oftentimes do messages on such wise that +ill answers ensue, which give rise to words and from words they come +to deeds; wherefore, lest mischief spring therefrom and scandal, I +have kept silence of the matter and have determined to discover it to +yourself rather than to another, at once because meseemeth you are his +friend and for that it beseemeth you to rebuke not only friends, but +strangers, of such things. I beseech you, therefore, for the one God's +sake, that you rebuke him of this and pray him leave these his +fashions. There be women enough, who incline belike to these toys and +would take pleasure in being dogged and courted by him, whereas to me, +who have no manner of mind to such matters, it is a very grievous +annoy.' So saying, she bowed her head as she would weep. The holy +friar understood incontinent of whom she spoke and firmly believing +what she said to be true, greatly commended her righteous intent and +promised her to do on such wise that she should have no farther annoy +from the person in question; and knowing her to be very rich, he +commended to her works of charity and almsdeeds, recounting to her his +own need. Quoth the lady, 'I beseech you thereof for God's sake, and +should he deny, prithee scruple not to tell him that it was I who told +you this and complained to you thereof.' Then, having made her +confession and gotten her penance, recalling the friar's exhortations +to works of almsgiving, she stealthily filled his hand with money, +praying him to say masses for the souls of her dead kinsfolk; after +which she rose from his feet and taking leave of him, returned home. +Not long after up came the gentleman, according to his wont, and after +they had talked awhile of one thing and another, the friar, drawing +his friend aside, very civilly rebuked him of the manner in which, as +he believed, he pursued and spied upon the lady aforesaid, according +to that which she had given him to understand. The other marvelled, as +well he might, having never set eyes upon her and being used very +rarely to pass before her house, and would have excused himself; but +the friar suffered him not to speak, saying, 'Now make no show of +wonderment nor waste words in denying it, for it will avail thee +nothing; I learnt not these matters from the neighbours; nay, she +herself told them to me, complaining sore of thee. And besides that +such toys beseem not a man of thine age, I may tell thee this much of +her, that if ever I saw a woman averse to these follies, it is she; +wherefore, for thine own credit and her comfort, I prithee desist +therefrom and let her be in peace.' The gentleman, quicker of wit than +the friar, was not slow to apprehend the lady's device and feigning to +be somewhat abashed, promised to meddle no more with her +thenceforward; then, taking leave of the friar, he betook himself to +the house of the lady, who still abode await at a little<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140"></a></span> window, so +she might see him, should he pass that way. When she saw him come, she +showed herself so rejoiced and so gracious to him, that he might very +well understand that he had gathered the truth from the friar's words, +and thenceforward, under colour of other business, he began with the +utmost precaution to pass continually through the street, to his own +pleasure and to the exceeding delight and solace of the lady. After +awhile, perceiving that she pleased him even as he pleased her and +wishful to inflame him yet more and to certify him of the love she +bore him, she betook herself again, choosing her time and place, to +the holy friar and seating herself at his feet in the church, fell +a-weeping. The friar, seeing this, asked her affectionately what was +to do with her anew. 'Alack, father mine,' answered she, 'that which +aileth me is none other than yonder God-accursed friend of yours, of +whom I complained to you the other day, for that methinketh he was +born for my especial torment and to make me do a thing, such that I +should never be glad again nor ever after dare to seat myself at your +feet.' 'How?' cried the friar. 'Hath he not given over annoying thee?' +'No, indeed,' answered she; 'nay, since I complained to you of him, as +if of despite, maybe taking it ill that I should have done so, for +every once he used to pass before my house, I verily believe he hath +passed seven times. And would to God he were content with passing and +spying upon me! Nay, he is grown so bold and so malapert that but +yesterday he despatched a woman to me at home with his idle tales and +toys and sent me a purse and a girdle, as if I had not purses and +girdles galore; the which I took and take so ill that I believe, but +for my having regard to the sin of it and after for the love of you, I +had played the devil. However, I contained myself and would not do or +say aught whereof I should not first have let you know. Nay, I had +already returned the purse and the girdle to the baggage who brought +them, that she might carry them back to him, and had given her a rough +dismissal, but after, fearing she might keep them for herself and tell +him that I had accepted them, as I hear women of her fashion do +whiles, I called her back and took them, full of despite, from her +hands and have brought them to you, so you may return them to him and +tell him I want none of his trash, for that, thanks to God and my +husband, I have purses and girdles enough to smother him withal. +Moreover, if hereafter he desist not from this, I tell you, as a +father, you must excuse me, but I will tell it, come what may, to my +husband and my brothers; for I had far liefer he should brook an +affront, if needs he must, than that I should suffer blame for him; +wherefore let him look to himself.' So saying, still weeping sore, she +pulled out from under her surcoat a very handsome and rich purse and a +quaint and costly girdle and threw them into the lap of the friar, +who, fully crediting that which she told him and incensed beyond +measure, took them and said to her, 'Daughter, I marvel not that thou +art provoked at these doings, nor can I blame thee therefor; but I +much commend thee for following my counsel in the matter. I rebuked +him the other day and he hath ill performed that which he promised me; +wherefore, as well for that as for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141"></a></span> this that he hath newly done, I +mean to warm his ears<a name="FNanchor_158_158" id="FNanchor_158_158"></a><a href="#Footnote_158_158" class="fnanchor">[158]</a> for him after such a fashion that +methinketh he will give thee no farther concern; but do thou, God's +benison on thee, suffer not thyself to be so overcome with anger that +thou tell it to any of thy folk, for that overmuch harm might ensue +thereof unto him. Neither fear thou lest this blame anywise ensue to +thee, for I shall still, before both God and men, be a most constant +witness to thy virtue.' The lady made believe to be somewhat comforted +and leaving that talk, said, as one who knew his greed and that of his +fellow-churchmen, 'Sir, these some nights past there have appeared to +me sundry of my kinsfolk, who ask nought but almsdeeds, and meseemeth +they are indeed in exceeding great torment, especially my mother, who +appeareth to me in such ill case and affliction that it is pity to +behold. Methinketh she suffereth exceeding distress to see me in this +tribulation with yonder enemy of God; wherefore I would have you say +me forty masses of Saint Gregory for her and their souls, together +with certain of your own prayers, so God may deliver them from that +penitential fire.' So saying, she put a florin into his hand, which +the holy father blithely received and confirming her devoutness with +fair words and store of pious instances, gave her his benison and let +her go. The lady being gone, the friar, never thinking how he was +gulled, sent for his friend, who, coming and finding him troubled, at +once divined that he was to have news of the lady and awaited what the +friar should say. The latter repeated that which he had before said to +him and bespeaking him anew angrily and reproachfully, rebuked him +severely of that which, according to the lady's report, he had done. +The gentleman, not yet perceiving the friar's drift, faintly enough +denied having sent her the purse and the girdle, so as not to +undeceive the friar, in case the lady should have given him to believe +that he had done this; whereat the good man was sore incensed and +said, 'How canst thou deny it, wicked man that thou art? See, here +they are, for she herself brought them to me, weeping; look if thou +knowest them.' The gentleman feigned to be sore abashed and answered, +'Yes, I do indeed know them and I confess to you that I did ill; but I +swear to you, since I see her thus disposed, that you shall never more +hear a word of this.' Brief, after many words, the numskull of a friar +gave his friend the purse and the girdle and dismissed him, after +rating him amain and beseeching him occupy himself no more with these +follies, the which he promised him. The gentleman, overjoyed both at +the assurance that himseemed he had of the lady's love and at the +goodly gift, was no sooner quit of the friar than he betook himself to +a place where he made shift to let his mistress see that he had the +one and the other thing; whereat she was mightily rejoiced, more by +token that herseemed her device went from good to better. She now +awaited nought but her husband's going abroad to give completion to +the work, and it befell not long after that it behoved him repair to +Genoa on some occasion or other. No sooner had he mounted to horse in +the morning and gone his way, than the lady betook herself to the holy +man and after many<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142"></a></span> lamentations, said to him, weeping, 'Father mine, +I tell you now plainly that I can brook no more; but, for that I +promised you the other day to do nought, without first telling you, I +am come to excuse myself to you; and that you may believe I have good +reason both to weep and to complain, I will tell you what your friend, +or rather devil incarnate, did to me this very morning, a little +before matins. I know not what ill chance gave him to know that my +husband was to go to Genoa yestermorn; algates, this morning, at the +time I tell you, he came into a garden of mine and climbing up by a +tree to the window of my bedchamber, which giveth upon the garden, had +already opened the lattice and was for entering, when I of a sudden +awoke and starting up, offered to cry out, nay, would assuredly have +cried out, but that he, who was not yet within, besought me of mercy +in God's name and yours, telling me who he was; which when I heard, I +held my peace for the love of you and naked as I was born, ran and +shut the window in his face; whereupon I suppose he took himself off +(ill-luck go with him!), for I heard no more of him. Look you now if +this be a goodly thing and to be endured. For my part I mean to bear +with him no more; nay, I have already forborne him overmuch for the +love of you.' The friar, hearing this, was the wrathfullest man alive +and knew not what to say, except to ask again and again if she had +well certified herself that it was indeed he and not another; to which +she answered, 'Praised be God! As if I did not yet know him from +another! I tell you it was himself, and although he should deny it, +credit him not.' Then said the friar, 'Daughter, there is nothing to +be said for it but that this was exceeding effrontery and a thing +exceeding ill done, and in sending him off, as thou didst, thou didst +that which it behoved thee to do. But I beseech thee, since God hath +preserved thee from shame, that, like as thou hast twice followed my +counsel, even so do thou yet this once; to wit, without complaining to +any kinsman of thine, leave it to me to see an I can bridle yonder +devil broke loose, whom I believed a saint. If I can make shift to +turn him from this lewdness, well and good; if not, I give thee leave +henceforth to do with him that which thy soul shall judge best, and my +benison go with thee.' 'Well, then,' answered the lady, 'for this once +I will well not to vex or disobey you; but look you do on such wise +that he be ware of annoying me again, for I promise you I will never +again return to you for this cause.' Thereupon, without saying more, +she took leave of the friar and went away, as if in anger. Hardly was +she out of the church when up came the gentleman and was called by the +friar, who, taking him apart, gave him the soundest rating ever man +had, calling him disloyal and forsworn and traitor. The other, who had +already twice had occasion to know to what the monk's reprimands +amounted, abode expectant and studied with embarrassed answers to make +him speak out, saying, at the first, 'Why all this passion, Sir? Have +I crucified Christ?' Whereupon, 'Mark this shameless fellow!' cried +the friar. 'Hear what he saith! He speaketh as if a year or two were +passed and he had for lapse of time forgotten his misdeeds and his +lewdness! Hath it<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143"></a></span> then escaped thy mind between this and matinsong +that thou hast outraged some one this very morning? Where wast thou +this morning a little before day?' 'I know not,' answered the +gentleman; 'but wherever it was, the news thereof hath reached you +mighty early.' Quoth the friar, 'Certes, the news hath reached me. +Doubtless thou supposedst because her husband was abroad, that needs +must the gentlewoman receive thee incontinent in her arms. A fine +thing, indeed! Here's a pretty fellow! Here's an honourable man! He's +grown a nighthawk, a garden-breaker, a tree-climber! Thinkest thou by +importunity to overcome this lady's chastity, that thou climbest up to +her windows anights by the trees? There is nought in the world so +displeasing to her as thou; yet must thou e'en go essaying it again +and again. Truly, thou hast profited finely by my admonitions, let +alone that she hath shown thee her aversion in many ways. But this I +have to say to thee; she hath up to now, not for any love she beareth +thee, but at my instant entreaty, kept silence of that which thou hast +done; but she will do so no more; I have given her leave to do what +seemeth good to her, an thou annoy her again in aught. What wilt thou +do, an she tell her brothers?' The gentleman having now gathered +enough of that which it concerned him to know, appeased the friar, as +best he knew and might, with many and ample promises, and taking leave +of him, waited till matinsong<a name="FNanchor_159_159" id="FNanchor_159_159"></a><a href="#Footnote_159_159" class="fnanchor">[159]</a> of the ensuing night, when he made +his way into the garden and climbed up by the tree to the window. He +found the lattice open and entering the chamber as quickliest he +might, threw himself into the arms of his fair mistress, who, having +awaited him with the utmost impatience, received him joyfully, saying, +'Gramercy to my lord the friar for that he so well taught thee the way +hither!' Then, taking their pleasure one of the other, they solaced +themselves together with great delight, devising and laughing amain +anent the simplicity of the dolt of a friar and gibing at wool-hanks +and teasels and carding-combs. Moreover, having taken order for their +future converse, they did on such wise that, without having to resort +anew to my lord the friar, they foregathered in equal joyance many +another night, to the like whereof I pray God, of His holy mercy, +speedily to conduct me and all Christian souls who have a mind +thereto."</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="THE_FOURTH_STORY3" id="THE_FOURTH_STORY3"></a>THE FOURTH STORY</h2> + +<div class="sidenote">Day the Third</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="hang">DOM FELICE TEACHETH FRA PUCCIO HOW HE MAY BECOME BEATIFIED +BY PERFORMING A CERTAIN PENANCE OF HIS FASHION, WHICH THE +OTHER DOTH, AND DOM FELICE MEANWHILE LEADETH A MERRY LIFE OF +IT WITH THE GOOD MAN'S WIFE</p></div> + + +<p><br /><span class="smcap">Filomena</span>, having made an end of her story, was silent and Dioneo +having with dulcet speech mightily commended the lady's shrewdness and +eke the prayer with which Filomena had concluded, the queen turned +with a smile to Pamfilo and said, "Come, Pamfilo, continue our +diversion with<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144"></a></span> some pleasant trifle." Pamfilo promptly answered that +he would well and began thus: "Madam, there are many persons who, what +while they study to enter Paradise, unwittingly send others thither; +the which happened, no great while since, to a neighbour of ours, as +you shall hear.</p> + +<p>According to that which I have heard tell, there abode near San +Pancrazio an honest man and a rich, called Puccio di Rinieri, who, +devoting himself in his latter days altogether to religious practices, +became a tertiary<a name="FNanchor_160_160" id="FNanchor_160_160"></a><a href="#Footnote_160_160" class="fnanchor">[160]</a> of the order of St. Francis, whence he was +styled Fra Puccio, and ensuing this his devout life, much frequented +the church, for that he had no family other than a wife and one maid +and consequently, it behoved him not apply himself to any craft. Being +an ignorant, clod-pated fellow, he said his paternosters, went to +preachments and attended mass, nor ever failed to be at the Lauds +chanted by the seculars,<a name="FNanchor_161_161" id="FNanchor_161_161"></a><a href="#Footnote_161_161" class="fnanchor">[161]</a> and fasted and mortified himself; nay, +it was buzzed about that he was of the Flagellants.<a name="FNanchor_162_162" id="FNanchor_162_162"></a><a href="#Footnote_162_162" class="fnanchor">[162]</a> His wife, +whose name was Mistress Isabetta,<a name="FNanchor_163_163" id="FNanchor_163_163"></a><a href="#Footnote_163_163" class="fnanchor">[163]</a> a woman, yet young, of +eight-and-twenty to thirty years of age, fresh and fair and plump as a +lady-apple, kept, by reason of the piety and belike of the age of her +husband, much longer and more frequent fasts than she could have +wished, and when she would have slept or maybe frolicked with him, he +recounted to her the life of Christ and the preachments of Fra +Nastagio or the Complaint of Mary Magdalene or the like. Meantime +there returned home from Paris a monk hight Dom<a name="FNanchor_164_164" id="FNanchor_164_164"></a><a href="#Footnote_164_164" class="fnanchor">[164]</a> Felice, +Conventual<a name="FNanchor_165_165" id="FNanchor_165_165"></a><a href="#Footnote_165_165" class="fnanchor">[165]</a> of San Pancrazio, who was young and comely enough of +person, keen of wit and a profound scholar, and with him Fra Puccio +contracted a strait friendship. And for that this Dom Felice right +well resolved him his every doubt and knowing his pious turn of mind, +made him a show of exceeding devoutness, Fra Puccio fell to carrying +him home bytimes and giving him to dine and sup, as the occasion +offered; and the lady also, for her husband's sake, became familiar +with him and willingly did him honour. The monk, then, continuing to +frequent Fra Puccio's house and seeing the latter's wife so fresh and +plump, guessed what should be the thing whereof she suf<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145"></a></span>fered the most +default and bethought himself, an he might, to go about to furnish her +withal himself, and so spare Fra Puccio fatigue. Accordingly, craftily +casting his eyes on her, at one time and another, he made shift to +kindle in her breast that same desire which he had himself, which when +he saw, he bespoke her of his wishes as first occasion betided him. +But, albeit he found her well disposed to give effect to the work, he +could find no means thereunto, for that she would on nowise trust +herself to be with him in any place in the world save her own house, +and there it might not be, seeing that Fra Puccio never went without +the town. At this the monk was sore chagrined; but, after much +consideration, he hit upon a device whereby he might avail to +foregather with the lady in her own house, without suspect, for all +Fra Puccio should be at home. Accordingly, the latter coming one day +to visit him, he bespoke him thus, 'I have many a time understood, Fra +Puccio, that all thy desire is to become a saint and to this end +meseemeth thou goest about by a long road, whereas there is another +and a very short one, which the Pope and the other great prelates, who +know and practise it, will not have made known, for that the clergy, +who for the most part live by alms, would incontinent be undone, +inasmuch as the laity would no longer trouble themselves to propitiate +them with alms or otherwhat. But, for that thou art my friend and hast +very honourably entertained me, I would teach it thee, so I were +assured thou wouldst practise it and wouldst not discover it to any +living soul.' Fra Puccio, eager to know the thing, began straightway +to entreat him with the utmost instancy that he would teach it him and +then to swear that never, save in so far as it should please him, +would he tell it to any, engaging, an if it were such as he might +avail to follow, to address himself thereunto. Whereupon quoth the +monk, 'Since thou promisest me this, I will e'en discover it to thee. +Thou must know that the doctors of the church hold that it behoveth +whoso would become blessed to perform the penance which thou shalt +hear; but understand me aright; I do not say that, after the penance, +thou wilt not be a sinner like as thou presently art; but this will +betide, that the sins which thou hast committed up to the time of the +penance will all by virtue thereof be purged and pardoned unto thee, +and those which thou shalt commit thereafterward will not be written +to thy prejudice, but will pass away with the holy water, as venial +sins do now. It behoveth a man, then, in the first place, whenas he +cometh to begin the penance, to confess himself with the utmost +diligence of his sins, and after this he must keep a fast and a very +strict abstinence for the space of forty days, during which time +thou<a name="FNanchor_166_166" id="FNanchor_166_166"></a><a href="#Footnote_166_166" class="fnanchor">[166]</a> must abstain from touching, not to say other women, but even +thine own wife. Moreover, thou must have in thine own house some place +whence thou mayst see the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146"></a></span> sky by night, whither thou must betake +thyself towards the hour of complines,<a name="FNanchor_167_167" id="FNanchor_167_167"></a><a href="#Footnote_167_167" class="fnanchor">[167]</a> and there thou must have a +wide plank set up, on such wise that, standing upright, thou mayst +lean thy loins against it and keeping thy feet on the ground, stretch +out thine arms, crucifix fashion. An thou wouldst rest them upon some +peg or other, thou mayst do it, and on this wise thou must abide +gazing upon the sky, without budging a jot, till matins. Wert thou a +scholar, thou wouldst do well to repeat certain orisons I would give +thee; but, as thou art it not, thou must say three hundred +Paternosters and as many Ave Marys, in honour of the Trinity, and +looking upon heaven, still have in remembrance that God is the Creator +of heaven and earth and the passion of Christ, abiding on such wise as +He abode on the cross. When the bell ringeth to matins, thou mayst, an +thou wilt, go and cast thyself, clad as thou art, on thy bed and +sleep, and after, in the forenoon, betake thyself to church and there +hear at least three masses and repeat fifty Paternosters and as many +Aves; after which thou shalt with a single heart do all and sundry +thine occasions, if thou have any to do, and dine and at evensong be +in church again and there say certain orisons which I will give thee +by writ and without which it cannot be done. Then, towards complines, +do thou return to the fashion aforesaid, and thus doing, even as I +have myself done aforetime, I doubt not but, ere thou come to the end +of the penance, thou wilt, (provided thou shalt have performed it with +devoutness and compunction,) feel somewhat marvellous of eternal +beatitude.' Quoth Fra Puccio, 'This is no very burdensome matter, nor +yet overlong, and may very well be done; wherefore I purpose in God's +name to begin on Sunday.' Then, taking leave of him and returning +home, he related everything in due order to his wife, having the +other's permission therefor. The lady understood very well what the +monk meant by bidding him stand fast without stirring till matins; +wherefore, the device seeming to her excellent, she replied that she +was well pleased therewith and with every other good work that he did +for the health of his soul and that, so God might make the penance +profitable to him, she would e'en fast with him, but do no more. They +being thus of accord and Sunday come, Fra Puccio began his penance and +my lord monk, having agreed with the lady, came most evenings to sup +with her, bringing with him store of good things to eat and drink, and +after lay with her till matinsong, when he arose and took himself off, +whilst Fra Puccio returned to bed. Now the place which Fra Puccio had +chosen for his penance adjoined the chamber where the lady lay and was +parted therefrom but by a very slight wall, wherefore, Master Monk +wantoning it one night overfreely with the lady and she with him, it +seemed to Fra Puccio that he felt a shaking of the floor of the house. +Accordingly, having by this said an hundred of his Paternosters, he +made a stop there and without moving, called to his wife to know what +she did. The lady, who was of a waggish turn and was then belike +astride of San Benedetto his beast or that of San Giovanni Gualberto, +answered, 'I' faith, husband mine, I toss<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147"></a></span> as most I may.' 'How?' +quoth Fra Puccio. 'Thou tossest? What meaneth this tossing?' The lady, +laughing, for that she was a frolicsome dame and doubtless had cause +to laugh, answered merrily; 'How? You know not what it meaneth? Why, I +have heard you say a thousand times, "Who suppeth not by night must +toss till morning light."' Fra Puccio doubted not but that the fasting +was the cause of her unableness to sleep and it was for this she +tossed thus about the bed; wherefore, in the simplicity of his heart, +'Wife,' said he, 'I told thee not to fast; but, since thou wouldst +e'en do it, think not of that, but address thyself to rest; thou +givest such vaults about the bed that thou makest all in the place +shake.' 'Have no care for that,' answered the lady; 'I know what I am +about; do you but well, you, and I will do as well as I may.' Fra +Puccio, accordingly, held his peace and betook himself anew to his +Paternosters; and after that night my lord monk and the lady let make +a bed in another part of the house, wherein they abode in the utmost +joyance what while Fra Puccio's penance lasted. At one and the same +hour the monk took himself off and the lady returned to her own bed, +whereto a little after came Fra Puccio from his penance; and on this +wise the latter continued to do penance, whilst his wife did her +delight with the monk, to whom quoth she merrily, now and again, 'Thou +hast put Fra Puccio upon performing a penance, whereby we have gotten +Paradise.' Indeed, the lady, finding herself in good case, took such a +liking to the monk's fare, having been long kept on low diet by her +husband, that, whenas Fra Puccio's penance was accomplished, she still +found means to feed her fill with him elsewhere and using discretion, +long took her pleasure thereof. Thus, then, that my last words may not +be out of accord with my first, it came to pass that, whereas Fra +Puccio, by doing penance, thought to win Paradise for himself, he put +therein the monk, who had shown him the speedy way thither, and his +wife, who lived with him in great lack of that whereof Dom Felice, +like a charitable man as he was, vouchsafed her great plenty."</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="THE_FIFTH_STORY3" id="THE_FIFTH_STORY3"></a>THE FIFTH STORY</h2> + +<div class="sidenote">Day the Third</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="hang">RICCIARDO, SURNAMED IL ZIMA, GIVETH MESSER FRANCESCO +VERGELLESI A PALFREY OF HIS AND HATH THEREFOR HIS LEAVE TO +SPEAK WITH HIS WIFE. SHE KEEPING SILENCE, HE IN HER PERSON +REPLIETH UNTO HIMSELF, AND THE EFFECT AFTER ENSUETH IN +ACCORDANCE WITH HIS ANSWER</p></div> + + +<p><br /><span class="smcap">Pamfilo</span> having made an end, not without laughter on the part of the +ladies, of the story of Fra Puccio, the queen with a commanding air +bade Elisa follow on. She, rather tartly than otherwise, not out of +malice, but of old habit, began to speak thus, "Many folk, knowing +much, imagine that others know nothing, and so ofttimes, what while +they think to overreach<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148"></a></span> others, find, after the event, that they +themselves have been outwitted of them; wherefore I hold his folly +great who setteth himself without occasion to test the strength of +another's wit. But, for that maybe all are not of my opinion, it +pleaseth me, whilst following on the given order of the discourse, to +relate to you that which befell a Pistolese gentleman<a name="FNanchor_168_168" id="FNanchor_168_168"></a><a href="#Footnote_168_168" class="fnanchor">[168]</a> by reason +thereof.</p> + +<p>There was in Pistoia a gentleman of the Vergellesi family, by name +Messer Francesco, a man of great wealth and understanding and well +advised in all else, but covetous beyond measure. Being made provost +of Milan, he had furnished himself with everything necessary for his +honourable going thither, except only with a palfrey handsome enough +for him, and finding none to his liking, he abode in concern thereof. +Now there was then in the same town a young man called Ricciardo, of +little family, but very rich, who still went so quaintly clad and so +brave of his person that he was commonly known as Il Zima,<a name="FNanchor_169_169" id="FNanchor_169_169"></a><a href="#Footnote_169_169" class="fnanchor">[169]</a> and he +had long in vain loved and courted Messer Francesco's wife, who was +exceeding fair and very virtuous. Now he had one of the handsomest +palfreys in all Tuscany and set great store by it for its beauty and +it being public to every one that he was enamoured of Messer +Francesco's wife, there were those who told the latter that, should he +ask it, he might have the horse for the love Il Zima bore his lady. +Accordingly, moved by covetise, Messer Francesco let call Il Zima to +him and sought of him his palfrey by way of sale, so he should proffer +it to him as a gift. The other, hearing this, was well pleased and +made answer to him, saying, "Sir, though you gave me all you have in +the world, you might not avail to have my palfrey by way of sale, but +by way of gift you may have it, whenas it pleaseth you, on condition +that, ere you take it, I may have leave to speak some words with your +lady in your presence, but so far removed from every one that I may be +heard of none other than herself.' The gentleman, urged by avarice and +looking to outwit the other, answered that it liked him well and [that +he might speak with her] as much as he would; then, leaving him in the +saloon of his palace, he betook himself to the lady's chamber and +telling her how easily he might acquire the palfrey, bade her come +hearken to Il Zima, but charged her take good care to answer neither +little or much to aught that he should say. To this the lady much +demurred, but, it behoving her ensue her husband's pleasure, she +promised to do his bidding and followed him to the saloon, to hear +what Il Zima should say. The latter, having renewed his covenant with +the gentleman, seated himself with the lady in a part of the saloon at +a great distance from every one and began to say thus, 'Noble lady, +meseemeth certain that you have too much wit not to have long since +perceived how great a love I have been brought to bear you by your +beauty, which far transcendeth that of any woman whom methinketh I +ever beheld, to say nothing of the engaging manners and the peerless +virtues which be in you and which might well avail to take the +loftiest spirits of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149"></a></span> mankind; wherefore it were needless to declare to +you in words that this [my love] is the greatest and most fervent that +ever man bore woman; and thus, without fail, will I do<a name="FNanchor_170_170" id="FNanchor_170_170"></a><a href="#Footnote_170_170" class="fnanchor">[170]</a> so long as +my wretched life shall sustain these limbs, nay, longer; for that, if +in the other world folk love as they do here below, I shall love you +to all eternity. Wherefore you may rest assured that you have nothing, +be it much or little worth, that you may hold so wholly yours and +whereon you may in every wise so surely reckon as myself, such as I +am, and that likewise which is mine. And that of this you may take +assurance by very certain argument, I tell you that I should count +myself more graced, did you command me somewhat that I might do and +that would pleasure you, than if, I commanding, all the world should +promptliest obey me. Since, then, I am yours, even as you have heard, +it is not without reason that I dare to offer up my prayers to your +nobility, wherefrom alone can all peace, all health and all well-being +derive for me, and no otherwhence; yea, as the humblest of your +servants, I beseech you, dear my good and only hope of my soul, which, +midmost the fire of love, feedeth upon its hope in you,—that your +benignity may be so great and your past rigour shown unto me, who am +yours, on such wise be mollified that I, recomforted by your kindness, +may say that, like as by your beauty I was stricken with love, even so +by your pity have I life, which latter, an your haughty soul incline +not to my prayers, will without fail come to nought and I shall perish +and you may be said to be my murderer. Letting be that my death will +do you no honour, I doubt not eke but that, conscience bytimes +pricking you therefor, you will regret having wrought it<a name="FNanchor_171_171" id="FNanchor_171_171"></a><a href="#Footnote_171_171" class="fnanchor">[171]</a> and +whiles, better disposed, will say in yourself, "Alack, how ill I did +not to have compassion upon my poor Zima!" and this repentance, being +of no avail, will cause you the great annoy. Wherefore, so this may +not betide, now that you have it in your power to succour me, bethink +yourself and ere I die, be moved to pity on me, for that with you +alone it resteth to make me the happiest or the most miserable man +alive. I trust your courtesy will be such that you will not suffer me +to receive death in guerdon of such and so great a love, but will with +a glad response and full of favour quicken my fainting spirits, which +flutter, all dismayed, in your presence.' Therewith he held his peace +and heaving the deepest of sighs, followed up with sundry tears, +proceeded to await the lady's answer. The latter,—whom the long court +he had paid her, the joustings held and the serenades given in her +honour and other like things done of him for the love of her had not +availed to move,—was moved by the passionate speech of this most +ardent lover and began to be sensible of that which she had never yet +felt, to wit, what manner of thing love was; and albeit, in ensuance +of the commandment laid upon her by her husband, she kept silence, she +could not<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150"></a></span> withal hinder sundry gentle sighs from discovering that +which, in answer to Il Zima, she would gladly have made manifest. Il +Zima, having waited awhile and seeing that no response ensued, was +wondered and presently began to divine the husband's device; but yet, +looking her in the face and observing certain flashes of her eyes +towards him now and again and noting, moreover, the sighs which she +suffered not to escape her bosom with all her strength, conceived +fresh hope and heartened thereby, took new counsel<a name="FNanchor_172_172" id="FNanchor_172_172"></a><a href="#Footnote_172_172" class="fnanchor">[172]</a> and proceeded +to answer himself after the following fashion, she hearkening the +while: 'Zima mine, this long time, in good sooth, have I perceived thy +love for me to be most great and perfect, and now by thy words I know +it yet better and am well pleased therewith, as indeed I should be. +Algates, an I have seemed to thee harsh and cruel, I will not have +thee believe that I have at heart been that which I have shown myself +in countenance; nay, I have ever loved thee and held thee dear above +all other men; but thus hath it behoved me do, both for fear of others +and for the preserving of my fair fame. But now is the time at hand +when I may show thee clearly that I love thee and guerdon thee of the +love that thou hast borne and bearest me. Take comfort, therefore, and +be of good hope, for that a few days hence Messer Francesco is to go +to Milan for provost, as indeed thou knowest, who hast for the love of +me given him thy goodly palfrey; and whenas he shall be gone, I +promise thee by my troth and of the true love I bear thee, that, +before many days, thou shalt without fail foregather with me and we +will give gladsome and entire accomplishment to our love. And that I +may not have to bespeak thee otherwhiles of the matter, I tell thee +presently that, whenas thou shalt see two napkins displayed at the +window of my chamber, which giveth upon our garden, do thou that same +evening at nightfall make shift to come to me by the garden door, +taking good care that thou be not seen. Thou wilt find me awaiting +thee and we will all night long have delight and pleasance one of +another, to our hearts' content.' Having thus spoken for the lady, he +began again to speak in his own person and rejoined on this wise, +'Dearest lady, my every sense is so transported with excessive joy for +your gracious reply that I can scarce avail to make response, much +less to render you due thanks; nay, could I e'en speak as I desire, +there is no term so long that it might suffice me fully to thank you +as I would fain do and as it behoveth me; wherefore I leave it to your +discreet consideration to imagine that which, for all my will, I am +unable to express in words. This much only I tell you that I will +without fail bethink myself to do as you have charged me, and being +then, peradventure, better certified of so great a grace as that which +you have vouchsafed me, I will, as best I may, study to render you the +utmost thanks in my power. For the nonce there abideth no more to say; +wherefore, dearest lady mine, God give you that gladness and that weal +which you most<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151"></a></span> desire, and so to Him I commend you.' For all this the +lady said not a word; whereupon Il Zima arose and turned towards the +husband, who, seeing him risen, came up to him and said, laughing 'How +deemest thou? Have I well performed my promise to thee?' 'Nay, sir' +answered Il Zima; 'for you promised to let me speak with your lady and +you have caused me speak with a marble statue.' These words were +mighty pleasing to the husband, who, for all he had a good opinion of +the lady, conceived of her a yet better and said, 'Now is thy palfrey +fairly mine.' 'Ay is it, sir,' replied Il Zima, 'but, had I thought to +reap of this favour received of you such fruit as I have gotten, I had +given you the palfrey, without asking it<a name="FNanchor_173_173" id="FNanchor_173_173"></a><a href="#Footnote_173_173" class="fnanchor">[173]</a> of you; and would God I +had done it, for that now you have bought the palfrey and I have not +sold it.' The other laughed at this and being now provided with a +palfrey, set out upon his way a few days after and betook himself to +Milan, to enter upon the Provostship. The lady, left free in her +house, called to mind Il Zima's words and the love he bore her and the +palfrey given for her sake and seeing him pass often by the house, +said in herself, 'What do I? Why waste I my youth? Yonder man is gone +to Milan and will not return these six months. When will he ever +render me them<a name="FNanchor_174_174" id="FNanchor_174_174"></a><a href="#Footnote_174_174" class="fnanchor">[174]</a> again? When I am old? Moreover, when shall I ever +find such a lover as Il Zima? I am alone and have no one to fear. I +know not why I should not take this good opportunity what while I may; +I shall not always have such leisure as I presently have. None will +know the thing, and even were it to be known, it is better to do and +repent, than to abstain and repent.' Having thus taken counsel with +herself, she one day set two napkins in the garden window, even as Il +Zima had said, which when he saw, he was greatly rejoiced and no +sooner was the night come than he betook himself, secretly and alone, +to the gate of the lady's garden and finding it open, passed on to +another door that opened into the house, where he found his mistress +awaiting him. She, seeing him come, started up to meet him and +received him with the utmost joy, whilst he clipped and kissed her an +hundred thousand times and followed her up the stair to her chamber, +where, getting them to bed without a moment's delay, they knew the +utmost term of amorous delight. Nor was this first time the last, for +that, what while the gentleman abode at Milan and even after his +coming back, Il Zima returned thither many another time, to the +exceeding satisfaction of both parties."</p> + + + +<hr /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152"></a></span></p> +<h2><a name="THE_SIXTH_STORY3" id="THE_SIXTH_STORY3"></a>THE SIXTH STORY</h2> + +<div class="sidenote">Day the Third</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="hang">RICCIARDO MINUTOLO, BEING ENAMOURED OF THE WIFE OF +FILIPPELLO FIGHINOLFI AND KNOWING HER JEALOUSY OF HER +HUSBAND, CONTRIVETH, BY REPRESENTING THAT FILIPPELLO WAS ON +THE ENSUING DAY TO BE WITH HIS OWN WIFE IN A BAGNIO, TO +BRING HER TO THE LATTER PLACE, WHERE, THINKING TO BE WITH +HER HUSBAND, SHE FINDETH THAT SHE HATH ABIDDEN WITH +RICCIARDO</p></div> + + +<p><br /><span class="smcap">Elisa</span> having no more to say, the queen, after commending the sagacity +of Il Zima, bade Fiammetta proceed with a story, who answered, all +smilingly, "Willingly, Madam," and began thus: "It behoveth somedele +to depart our city (which, like as it aboundeth in all things else, is +fruitful in instances of every subject) and as Elisa hath done, to +recount somewhat of the things that have befallen in other parts of +the world; wherefore, passing over to Naples, I shall tell how one of +those she-saints, who feign themselves so shy of love, was by the +ingenuity of a lover of hers brought to taste the fruits of love, ere +she had known its flowers; the which will at once teach you +circumspection in the things that may hap and afford you diversion of +those already befallen.</p> + +<p>In Naples, a very ancient city and as delightful as any in Italy or +maybe more so, there was once a young man, illustrious for nobility of +blood and noted for his much wealth, whose name was Ricciardo +Minutolo. Albeit he had to wife a very fair and lovesome young lady, +he fell in love with one who, according to general opinion, far +overpassed in beauty all the other ladies of Naples. Her name was +Catella and she was the wife of another young gentleman of like +condition, hight Filippello Fighinolfi, whom, like a very virtuous +woman as she was, she loved and cherished over all. Ricciardo, then, +loving this Catella and doing all those things whereby the love and +favour of a lady are commonly to be won, yet for all that availing not +to compass aught of his desire, was like to despair; and unknowing or +unable to rid him of his passion, he neither knew how to die nor did +it profit him to live.</p> + +<p>Abiding in this mind, it befell that he was one day urgently exhorted +by certain ladies of his kinsfolk to renounce this passion of his, +seeing he did but weary himself in vain, for that Catella had none +other good than Filippello, of whom she lived in such jealousy that +she fancied every bird that flew through the air would take him from +her. Ricciardo, hearing of Catella's jealousy, forthright bethought +himself how he might compass his wishes and accordingly proceeded to +feign himself in despair of her love and to have therefore set his +mind upon another lady, for whose love he began to make a show of +jousting and tourneying and doing all those things which he had been +used to do for Catella; nor did he do this long before well nigh all +the Neapolitans, and among the rest the lady herself, were persuaded +that he no longer loved Catella, but was ardently enamoured of this +second lady; and on this wise he persisted until it was so firmly +believed not only of others, but of Catella herself, that the latter +laid aside a certain reserve with which she<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153"></a></span> was wont to entreat him, +by reason of the love he bore her, and coming and going, saluted him +familiarly, neighbourwise, as she did others.</p> + +<p>It presently befell that, the weather being warm, many companies of +ladies and gentlemen went, according to the usance of the Neapolitans, +to divert themselves on the banks of the sea and there to dine and +sup, and Ricciardo, knowing Catella to be gone thither with her +company, betook himself to the same place with his friends and was +received into Catella's party of ladies, after allowing himself to be +much pressed, as if he had no great mind to abide there. The ladies +and Catella fell to rallying him upon his new love, and he, feigning +himself sore inflamed therewith, gave them the more occasion for +discourse. Presently, one lady going hither and thither, as commonly +happeneth in such places, and Catella being left with a few whereas +Ricciardo was, the latter cast at her a hint of a certain amour of +Filippello her husband, whereupon she fell into a sudden passion of +jealousy and began to be inwardly all afire with impatience to know +what he meant. At last, having contained herself awhile and being +unable to hold out longer, she besought Ricciardo, for that lady's +sake whom he most loved, to be pleased to make her clear<a name="FNanchor_175_175" id="FNanchor_175_175"></a><a href="#Footnote_175_175" class="fnanchor">[175]</a> of that +which he had said of Filippello; whereupon quoth he, 'You conjure me +by such a person that I dare not deny aught you ask me; wherefore I am +ready to tell it you, so but you promise me that you will never say a +word thereof either to him or to any other, save whenas you shall by +experience have seen that which I shall tell you to be true; for that, +when you please, I will teach you how you may see it.'</p> + +<p>The lady consented to that which he asked and swore to him never to +repeat that which he should tell her, believing it the more to be +true. Then, withdrawing apart with her, so they might not be overheard +of any, he proceeded to say thus: 'Madam, an I loved you as once I +loved, I should not dare tell you aught which I thought might vex you; +but, since that love is passed away, I shall be less chary of +discovering to you the whole truth. I know not if Filippello have ever +taken umbrage at the love I bore you or have believed that I was ever +loved of you. Be this as it may, he hath never personally shown me +aught thereof; but now, having peradventure awaited a time whenas he +deemed I should be less suspicious, it seemeth he would fain do unto +me that which I misdoubt me he feareth I have done unto him, to wit, +[he seeketh] to have my wife at his pleasure. As I find, he hath for +some little time past secretly solicited her with sundry messages, all +of which I have known from herself, and she hath made answer thereunto +according as I have enjoined her. This very day, however, ere I came +hither, I found in the house, in close conference with my wife, a +woman whom I set down incontinent for that which she was, wherefore I +called my wife and asked her what the woman wanted. Quoth she, "She is +the agent of Filippello, with whom thou hast saddled me, by dint of +making me answer him and give him hopes, and she saith that he will +e'en know once for all what I mean to do and that, an I will, he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154"></a></span> +would contrive for me to be privily at a bagnio in this city; nay, of +this he prayeth and importuneth me; and hadst thou not, I know not +why, caused me keep this traffic with him, I would have rid myself of +him after such a fashion that he should never more have looked whereas +I might be." Thereupon meseemed this was going too far and that it was +no longer to be borne; and I bethought myself to tell it to you, so +you might know how he requiteth that entire fidelity of yours, whereby +aforetime I was nigh upon death. And so you shall not believe this +that I tell you to be words and fables, but may, whenas you have a +mind thereto, openly both see and touch it, I caused my wife make this +answer to her who awaited it, that she was ready to be at the bagnio +in question to-morrow at none, whenas the folk sleep; with which the +woman took leave of her, very well pleased. Now methinketh not you +believe that I will send my wife thither; but, were I in your place, I +would contrive that he should find me there in the room of her he +thinketh to meet, and whenas I had abidden with him awhile, I would +give him to know with whom he had been and render him such honour +thereof as should beseem him; by which means methinketh you would do +him such a shame that the affront he would fain put upon yourself and +upon me would at one blow be avenged.'</p> + +<p>Catella, hearing this, without anywise considering who it was that +said it to her or suspecting his design, forthright, after the wont of +jealous folk, gave credence to his words and fell a-fitting to his +story certain things that had already befallen; then, fired with +sudden anger, she answered that she would certainly do as he +counselled,—it was no such great matter,—and that assuredly, if +Filippello came thither, she would do him such a shame that it should +still recur to his mind, as often as he saw a woman. Ricciardo, well +pleased at this and himseeming his device was a good one and in a fair +way of success, confirmed her in her purpose with many other words and +strengthened her belief in his story, praying her, natheless, never to +say that she had heard it from him, the which she promised him on her +troth.</p> + +<p>Next morning, Ricciardo betook himself to a good woman, who kept the +bagnio he had named to Catella, and telling her what he purposed to +do, prayed her to further him therein as most she might. The good +woman, who was much beholden to him, answered that she would well and +agreed with him what she should do and say. Now in the house where the +bagnio was she had a very dark chamber, for that no window gave +thereon by which the light might enter. This chamber she made ready +and spread a bed there, as best she might, wherein Ricciardo, as soon +as he had dined, laid himself and proceeded to await Catella. The +latter, having heard Ricciardo's words and giving more credence +thereto than behoved her, returned in the evening, full of despite, to +her house, whither Filippello also returned and being by chance full +of other thought, maybe did not show her his usual fondness. When she +saw this, her suspicions rose yet higher and she said in herself, +'Forsooth, his mind is occupied with yonder lady with whom he thinketh +to take his pleasure to-morrow; but of a surety this shall not come to +pass.' An in this thought she<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155"></a></span> abode well nigh all that night, +considering how she should bespeak him, whenas she should be with him +[in the bagnio].</p> + +<p>What more [need I say?] The hour of none come, she took her +waiting-woman and without anywise changing counsel, repaired to the +bagnio that Ricciardo had named to her, and there finding the good +woman, asked her if Filippello had been there that day, whereupon +quoth the other, who had been duly lessoned by Ricciardo, 'Are you the +lady that should come to speak with him?' 'Ay am I,' answered Catella. +'Then,' said the woman, 'get you in to him.' Catella, who went seeking +that which she would fain not have found, caused herself to be brought +to the chamber where Ricciardo was and entering with covered head, +locked herself in. Ricciardo, seeing her enter, rose joyfully to his +feet and catching her in his arms, said softly, 'Welcome, my soul!' +Whilst she, the better to feign herself other than she was, clipped +him and kissed him and made much of him, without saying a word, +fearing to be known of him if she should speak. The chamber was very +dark, wherewith each of them was well pleased, nor for long abiding +there did the eyes recover more power. Ricciardo carried her to the +bed and there, without speaking, lest their voices should betray them, +they abode a long while, to the greater delight and pleasance of the +one party than the other.</p> + +<p>But presently, it seeming to Catella time to vent the resentment she +felt, she began, all afire with rage and despite, to speak thus, +'Alas, how wretched is women's lot and how ill bestowed the love that +many of them bear their husbands! I, unhappy that I am, these eight +years have I loved thee more than my life, and thou, as I have felt, +art all afire and all consumed with love of a strange woman, wicked +and perverse man that thou art! Now with whom thinkest thou to have +been? Thou hast been with her whom thou hast too long beguiled with +thy false blandishments, making a show of love to her and being +enamoured elsewhere. I am Catella, not Ricciardo's wife, disloyal +traitor that thou art! Hearken if thou know my voice; it is indeed I; +and it seemeth to me a thousand years till we be in the light, so I +may shame thee as thou deservest, scurvy discredited cur that thou +art! Alack, woe is me! To whom have I borne so much love these many +years? To this disloyal dog, who, thinking to have a strange woman in +his arms, hath lavished on me more caresses and more fondnesses in +this little while I have been here with him than in all the rest of +the time I have been his. Thou hast been brisk enough to-day, renegade +cur that thou art, that usest at home to show thyself so feeble and +forspent and impotent; but, praised be God, thou hast tilled thine own +field and not, as thou thoughtest, that of another. No wonder thou +camest not anigh me yesternight; thou lookedst to discharge thee of +thy lading elsewhere and wouldst fain come fresh to the battle; but, +thanks to God and my own foresight, the stream hath e'en run in its +due channel. Why answerest thou not, wicked man? Why sayst thou not +somewhat? Art thou grown dumb, hearing me? Cock's faith, I know not +what hindereth me from thrusting my hands into thine eyes and tearing +them out for thee. Thou thoughtest to do this treason very secretly; +but, perdie,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156"></a></span> one knoweth as much as another; thou hast not availed to +compass thine end; I have had better beagles at thy heels than thou +thoughtest.'</p> + +<p>Ricciardo inwardly rejoiced at these words and without making any +reply, clipped her and kissed her and fondled her more than ever; +whereupon quoth she, following on her speech, 'Ay, thou thinkest to +cajole me with thy feigned caresses, fashious dog that thou art, and +to appease and console me; but thou art mistaken; I shall never be +comforted for this till I have put thee to shame therefor in the +presence of all our friends and kinsmen and neighbours. Am I not as +fair as Ricciardo's wife, thou villain? Am I not as good a +gentlewoman? Why dost thou not answer, thou sorry dog? What hath she +more than I? Keep thy distance; touch me not; thou hast done enough +feats of arms for to-day. Now thou knowest who I am, I am well assured +that all thou couldst do would be perforce; but, so God grant me +grace, I will yet cause thee suffer want thereof, and I know not what +hindereth me from sending for Ricciardo, who hath loved me more than +himself and could never boast that I once even looked at him; nor know +I what harm it were to do it. Thou thoughtest to have his wife here +and it is as if thou hadst had her, inasmuch as it is none of thy +fault that the thing hath miscarried; wherefore, were I to have +himself, thou couldst not with reason blame me.'</p> + +<p>Brief, many were the lady's words and sore her complaining. However, +at last, Ricciardo, bethinking himself that, an he let her go in that +belief, much ill might ensue thereof, determined to discover himself +and undeceive her; wherefore, catching her in his arms and holding her +fast, so she might not get away, he said, 'Sweet my soul, be not +angered; that which I could not have of you by simply loving you, Love +hath taught me to obtain by practice; and I am your Ricciardo.' +Catella, hearing this and knowing him by the voice, would have thrown +herself incontinent out of bed, but could not; whereupon she offered +to cry out; but Ricciardo stopped her mouth with one hand and said, +'Madam, this that hath been may henceforth on nowise be undone, though +you should cry all the days of your life; and if you cry out or cause +this ever anywise to be known of any one, two things will come +thereof; the one (which should no little concern you) will be that +your honour and fair fame will be marred, for that, albeit you may +avouch that I brought you hither by practice, I shall say that it is +not true, nay, that I caused you come hither for monies and gifts that +I promised you, whereof for that I gave you not so largely as you +hoped, you waxed angry and made all this talk and this outcry; and you +know that folk are more apt to credit ill than good, wherefore I shall +more readily be believed than you. Secondly, there will ensue thereof +a mortal enmity between your husband and myself, and it may as well +happen that I shall kill him as he me, in which case you are never +after like to be happy or content. Wherefore, heart of my body, go not +about at once to dishonour yourself and to cast your husband and +myself into strife and peril. You are not the first woman, nor will +you be the last, who hath been deceived, nor have I in this practised +upon you to bereave you of your own, but for the exceeding<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157"></a></span> love that +I bear you and am minded ever to bear you and to be your most humble +servant. And although it is long since I and all that I possess or can +or am worth have been yours and at your service, henceforward I +purpose that they shall be more than ever so. Now, you are well +advised in other things and so I am certain you will be in this.'</p> + +<p>Catella, what while Ricciardo spoke thus, wept sore, but, albeit she +was sore provoked and complained grievously, nevertheless, her reason +allowed so much force to his true words that she knew it to be +possible that it should happen as he said; wherefore quoth she, +'Ricciardo, I know not how God will vouchsafe me strength to suffer +the affront and the cheat thou hast put upon me; I will well to make +no outcry here whither my simplicity and overmuch jealousy have +brought me; but of this be assured that I shall never be content till +one way or another I see myself avenged of this thou hast done to me. +Wherefore, leave me, hold me no longer; thou hast had that which thou +desiredst and hast tumbled me to thy heart's content; it is time to +leave me; let me go, I prithee.'</p> + +<p>Ricciardo, seeing her mind yet overmuch disordered, had laid it to +heart never to leave her till he had gotten his pardon of her; +wherefore, studying with the softest words to appease her, he so +bespoke and so entreated and so conjured her that she was prevailed +upon to make peace with him, and of like accord they abode together a +great while thereafter in the utmost delight. Moreover, Catella, +having thus learned how much more savoury were the lover's kisses than +those of the husband and her former rigour being changed into kind +love-liking for Ricciardo, from that day forth she loved him very +tenderly and thereafter, ordering themselves with the utmost +discretion, they many a time had joyance of their loves. God grant us +to enjoy ours!"</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="THE_SEVENTH_STORY3" id="THE_SEVENTH_STORY3"></a>THE SEVENTH STORY</h2> + +<div class="sidenote">Day the Third</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="hang">TEDALDO ELISEI, HAVING FALLEN OUT WITH HIS MISTRESS, +DEPARTETH FLORENCE AND RETURNING THITHER, AFTER AWHILE, IN A +PILGRIM'S FAVOUR, SPEAKETH WITH THE LADY AND MAKETH HER +COGNISANT OF HER ERROR; AFTER WHICH HE DELIVERETH HER +HUSBAND, WHO HAD BEEN CONVICTED OF MURDERING HIM, FROM DEATH +AND RECONCILING HIM WITH HIS BRETHREN, THENCEFORWARD +DISCREETLY ENJOYETH HIMSELF WITH HIS MISTRESS</p></div> + + +<p><br /><span class="smcap">Fiammetta</span> being now silent, commended of all, the queen, to lose no +time, forthright committed the burden of discourse to Emilia, who +began thus: "It pleaseth me to return to our city, whence it pleased +the last two speakers to depart, and to show you how a townsman of +ours regained his lost mistress.</p> + +<p>There was, then, in Florence a noble youth, whose name was Tedaldo +Elisei and who, being beyond measure enam<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158"></a></span>oured of a lady called Madam +Ermellina, the wife of one Aldobrandino Palermini, deserved for his +praiseworthy fashions, to enjoy his desire. However, Fortune, the +enemy of the happy, denied him this solace, for that, whatever might +have been the cause, the lady, after complying awhile with Tedaldo's +wishes, suddenly altogether withdrew her good graces from him and not +only refused to hearken to any message of his, but would on no wise +see him; wherefore he fell into a dire and cruel melancholy; but his +love for her had been so hidden that none guessed it to be the cause +of his chagrin. After he had in divers ways studied amain to recover +the love himseemed he had lost without his fault and finding all his +labour vain, he resolved to withdraw from the world, that he might not +afford her who was the cause of his ill the pleasure of seeing him +pine away; wherefore, without saying aught to friend or kinsman, save +to a comrade of his, who knew all, he took such monies as he might +avail to have and departing secretly, came to Ancona, where, under the +name of Filippo di Sanlodeccio, he made acquaintance with a rich +merchant and taking service with him, accompanied him to Cyprus on +board a ship of his.</p> + +<p>His manners and behaviour so pleased the merchant that he not only +assigned him a good wage, but made him in part his associate and put +into his hands a great part of his affairs, which he ordered so well +and so diligently that in a few years he himself became a rich and +famous and considerable merchant; and albeit, in the midst of these +his dealings, he oft remembered him of his cruel mistress and was +grievously tormented of love and yearned sore to look on her again, +such was his constancy that seven years long he got the better of the +battle. But, chancing one day to hear sing in Cyprus a song that +himself had made aforetime and wherein was recounted the love he bore +his mistress and she him and the pleasure he had of her, and thinking +it could not be she had forgotten him, he flamed up into such a +passion of desire to see her again that, unable to endure longer, he +resolved to return to Florence.</p> + +<p>Accordingly, having set all his affairs in order, he betook himself +with one only servant to Ancona and transporting all his good thither, +despatched it to Florence to a friend of the Anconese his partner, +whilst he himself, in the disguise of a pilgrim returning from the +Holy Sepulchre, followed secretly after with his servant and coming to +Florence, put up at a little hostelry kept by two brothers, in the +neighbourhood of his mistress's house, whereto he repaired first of +all, to see her, an he might. However, he found the windows and doors +and all else closed, wherefore his heart misgave him she was dead or +had removed thence and he betook himself, in great concern, to the +house of his brethren, before which he saw four of the latter clad all +in black. At this he marvelled exceedingly and knowing himself so +changed both in habit and person from that which he was used to be, +whenas he departed thence, that he might not lightly be recognized, he +boldly accosted a cordwainer hard by and asked him why they were clad +in black; whereto he answered, 'Yonder men are clad in black for that +it is not yet a fortnight since a brother of theirs, who had not been +here this great while,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159"></a></span> was murdered, and I understand they have +proved to the court that one Aldobrandino Palermini, who is in prison, +slew him, for that he was a well-wisher of his wife and had returned +hither unknown to be with her.'</p> + +<p>Tedaldo marvelled exceedingly that any one should so resemble him as +to be taken for him and was grieved for Aldobrandino's ill fortune. +Then, having learned that the lady was alive and well and it being now +night, he returned, full of various thoughts, to the inn and having +supped with his servant, was put to sleep well nigh at the top of the +house. There, what with the many thoughts that stirred him and the +badness of the bed and peradventure also by reason of the supper, +which had been meagre, half the night passed whilst he had not yet +been able to fall asleep; wherefore, being awake, himseemed about +midnight he heard folk come down into the house from the roof, and +after through the chinks of the chamber-door he saw a light come up +thither. Thereupon he stole softly to the door and putting his eye to +the chink, fell a-spying what this might mean and saw a comely enough +lass who held the light, whilst three men, who had come down from the +roof, made towards her; and after some greetings had passed between +them, one of them said to the girl, 'Henceforth, praised be God, we +may abide secure, since we know now for certain that the death of +Tedaldo Elisei hath been proved by his brethren against Aldobrandino +Palermini, who hath confessed thereto, and judgment is now recorded; +nevertheless, it behoveth to keep strict silence, for that, should it +ever become known that it was we [who slew him], we shall be in the +same danger as is Aldobrandino.' Having thus bespoken the woman, who +showed herself much rejoiced thereat, they left her and going below, +betook themselves to bed.</p> + +<p>Tedaldo, hearing this, fell a-considering how many and how great are +the errors which may befall the minds of men, bethinking him first of +his brothers who had bewept and buried a stranger in his stead and +after of the innocent man accused on false suspicion and brought by +untrue witness to the point of death, no less than of the blind +severity of laws and rulers, who ofttimes, under cover of diligent +investigation of the truth, cause, by their cruelties, prove that +which is false and style themselves ministers of justice and of God, +whereas indeed they are executors of iniquity and of the devil; after +which he turned his thought to the deliverance of Aldobrandino and +determined in himself what he should do. Accordingly, arising in the +morning, he left his servant at the inn and betook himself alone, +whenas it seemed to him time, to the house of his mistress, where, +chancing to find the door open, he entered in and saw the lady seated, +all full of tears and bitterness of soul, in a little ground floor +room that was there.</p> + +<p>At this sight he was like to weep for compassion of her and drawing +near to her, said, 'Madam, afflict not yourself; your peace is at +hand.' The lady, hearing this, lifted her eyes and said, weeping, +'Good man, thou seemest to me a stranger pilgrim; what knowest thou of +my peace or of my affliction?' 'Madam,' answered Tedaldo, 'I am of +Constantinople and am but now come hither, being sent of God to turn +your<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160"></a></span> tears into laughter and to deliver your husband from death.' +Quoth she, 'An thou be of Constantinople and newly come hither, how +knowest thou who I am or who is my husband?' Thereupon, the pilgrim +beginning from the beginning, recounted to her the whole history of +Aldobrandino's troubles and told her who she was and how long she had +been married and other things which he very well knew of her affairs; +whereat she marvelled exceedingly and holding him for a prophet, fell +on her knees at his feet, beseeching him for God's sake, an he were +come for Aldobrandino's salvation, to despatch, for that the time was +short.</p> + +<p>The pilgrim, feigning himself a very holy man, said, 'Madam, arise and +weep not, but hearken well to that which I shall say to you and take +good care never to tell it to any. According to that which God hath +revealed unto me, the tribulation wherein you now are hath betided you +because of a sin committed by you aforetime, which God the Lord hath +chosen in part to purge with this present annoy and will have +altogether amended of you; else will you fall into far greater +affliction.' 'Sir,' answered the lady, 'I have many sins and know not +which one, more than another, God the Lord would have me amend; +wherefore, an you know it, tell me and I will do what I may to amend +it.' 'Madam,' rejoined the pilgrim, 'I know well enough what it is, +nor do I question you thereof the better to know it, but to the intent +that, telling it yourself, you may have the more remorse thereof. But +let us come to the fact; tell me, do you remember, ever to have had a +lover?'</p> + +<p>The lady, hearing this, heaved a deep sigh and marvelled sore, +supposing none had ever known it, albeit, in the days when he was +slain who had been buried for Tedaldo, there had been some whispering +thereof, for certain words not very discreetly used by Tedaldo's +confidant, who knew it; then answered, 'I see that God discovereth +unto you all men's secrets, wherefore I am resolved not to hide mine +own from you. True it is that in my youth I loved over all the +ill-fortuned youth whose death is laid to my husband's charge, which +death I have bewept as sore as it was grievous to me, for that, albeit +I showed myself harsh and cruel to him before his departure, yet +neither his long absence nor his unhappy death hath availed to tear +him from my heart.' Quoth the pilgrim, 'The hapless youth who is dead +you never loved, but Tedaldo Elisei ay.<a name="FNanchor_176_176" id="FNanchor_176_176"></a><a href="#Footnote_176_176" class="fnanchor">[176]</a> But tell me, what was the +occasion of your falling out with him? Did he ever give you any +offence?' 'Certes, no,' replied she; 'he never offended against me; +the cause of the breach was the prate of an accursed friar, to whom I +once confessed me and who, when I told him of the love I bore Tedaldo +and the privacy I had with him, made such a racket about my ears that +I tremble yet to think of it, telling me that, an I desisted not +therefrom, I should go in the devil's mouth to the deepest deep of +hell and there be cast into everlasting fire; whereupon there entered +into me such a fear that I altogether determined to forswear all +further converse with him, and that I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161"></a></span> might have no occasion +therefor, I would no longer receive his letters or messages; albeit I +believe, had he persevered awhile, instead of getting him gone (as I +presume) in despair, that, seeing him, as I did, waste away like snow +in the sun, my harsh resolve would have yielded, for that I had no +greater desire in the world.'</p> + +<p>'Madam,' rejoined the pilgrim, 'it is this sin alone that now +afflicteth you. I know for certain that Tedaldo did you no manner of +violence; whenas you fell in love with him, you did it of your own +free will, for that he pleased you; and as you yourself would have it, +he came to you and enjoyed your privacy, wherein both with words and +deeds you showed him such complaisance that, if he loved you before, +you caused his love redouble a thousandfold. And this being so (as I +know it was) what cause should have availed to move you so harshly to +withdraw yourself from him? These things should be pondered awhile +beforehand and if you think you may presently have cause to repent +thereof, as of ill doing, you ought not to do them. You might, at your +pleasure, have ordained of him, as of that which belonged to you, that +he should no longer be yours; but to go about to deprive him of +yourself, you who were his, was a theft and an unseemly thing, whenas +it was not his will. Now you must know that I am a friar and am +therefore well acquainted with all their usances; and if I speak +somewhat at large of them for your profit, it is not forbidden me, as +it were to another; nay, and it pleaseth me to speak of them, so you +may henceforward know them better than you appear to have done in the +past.</p> + +<p>Friars of old were very pious and worthy men, but those who nowadays +style themselves friars and would be held such have nothing of the +monk but the gown; nor is this latter even that of a true friar, for +that,—whereas of the founders of the monastic orders they<a name="FNanchor_177_177" id="FNanchor_177_177"></a><a href="#Footnote_177_177" class="fnanchor">[177]</a> were +ordained strait and poor and of coarse stuff and demonstrative<a name="FNanchor_178_178" id="FNanchor_178_178"></a><a href="#Footnote_178_178" class="fnanchor">[178]</a> of +the spirit of the wearers, who testified that they held things +temporal in contempt whenas they wrapped their bodies in so mean a +habit,—those of our time have them made full and double and glossy +and of the finest cloth and have brought them to a quaint pontifical +cut, insomuch that they think it no shame to flaunt it withal +peacock-wise, in the churches and public places, even as do the laity +with their apparel; and like as with the sweep-net the fisher goeth +about to take many fishes in the river at one cast, even so these, +wrapping themselves about with the amplest of skirts, study to +entangle therein great store of prudish maids and widows and many +other silly women and men, and this is their chief concern over any +other exercise; wherefore, to speak more plainly, they have not the +friar's gown, but only the colours thereof.</p> + +<p>Moreover, whereas the ancients<a name="FNanchor_179_179" id="FNanchor_179_179"></a><a href="#Footnote_179_179" class="fnanchor">[179]</a> desired the salvation of mankind, +those of our day covet women and riches and turn their every thought +to terrifying the minds of the foolish with clamours<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162"></a></span> and +depicturements<a name="FNanchor_180_180" id="FNanchor_180_180"></a><a href="#Footnote_180_180" class="fnanchor">[180]</a> and to making believe that sins may be purged with +almsdeeds and masses, to the intent that unto themselves (who, of +poltroonery, not of devoutness, and that they may not suffer +fatigue,<a name="FNanchor_181_181" id="FNanchor_181_181"></a><a href="#Footnote_181_181" class="fnanchor">[181]</a> have, as a last resort, turned friars) one may bring +bread, another send wine and a third give them a dole of money for the +souls of their departed friends. Certes, it is true that almsdeeds and +prayers purge away sins; but, if those who give alms knew on what +manner folks they bestow them, they would or keep them for themselves +or cast them before as many hogs. And for that these<a name="FNanchor_182_182" id="FNanchor_182_182"></a><a href="#Footnote_182_182" class="fnanchor">[182]</a> know that, +the fewer the possessors of a great treasure, the more they live at +ease, every one of them studieth with clamours and bugbears to detach +others from that whereof he would fain abide sole possessor. They +decry lust in men, in order that, they who are chidden desisting from +women, the latter may be left to the chiders; they condemn usury and +unjust gains, to the intent that, it being entrusted to them to make +restitution thereof, they may, with that which they declare must bring +to perdition him who hath it, make wide their gowns and purchase +bishopricks and other great benefices.</p> + +<p>And when they are taken to task of these and many other unseemly +things that they do, they think that to answer, "Do as we say and not +as we do," is a sufficient discharge of every grave burden, as if it +were possible for the sheep to be more constant and stouter to resist +temptation<a name="FNanchor_183_183" id="FNanchor_183_183"></a><a href="#Footnote_183_183" class="fnanchor">[183]</a> than the shepherds. And how many there be of those to +whom they make such a reply who apprehend it not after the +fashion<a name="FNanchor_184_184" id="FNanchor_184_184"></a><a href="#Footnote_184_184" class="fnanchor">[184]</a> in which they say it, the most part of them know. The +monks of our day would have you do as they say, to wit, fill their +purses with money, trust your secrets to them, observe chastity, +practise patience and forgiveness of injuries and keep yourselves from +evil speaking,—all things good, seemly and righteous; but why would +they have this? So they may do that, which if the laity did, +themselves could not do. Who knoweth not that without money idleness +may not endure? An thou expend thy monies in thy pleasures, the friar +will not be able to idle it in the monastery; an thou follow after +women, there will be no room for him, and except thou be patient or a +forgiver of injuries, he will not dare to come to thy house to corrupt +thy family. But why should I hark back after every particular? They +condemn themselves in the eyes of the understanding as often as they +make this excuse. An they believe not themselves able to abstain and +lead a devout life, why do they not rather abide at home? Or, if they +will e'en give themselves unto this,<a name="FNanchor_185_185" id="FNanchor_185_185"></a><a href="#Footnote_185_185" class="fnanchor">[185]</a> why do they not ensue that +other holy saying<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163"></a></span> of the Gospel, "Christ began to do and to +teach?"<a name="FNanchor_186_186" id="FNanchor_186_186"></a><a href="#Footnote_186_186" class="fnanchor">[186]</a> Let them first do and after teach others. I have in my +time seen a thousand of them wooers, lovers and haunters, not of lay +women alone, but of nuns; ay, and of those that make the greatest +outcry in the pulpit. Shall we, then, follow after these who are thus +fashioned? Whoso doth it doth that which he will, but God knoweth if +he do wisely.</p> + +<p>But, granted even we are to allow that which the friar who chid you +said to you, to wit, that it is a grievous sin to break the marriage +vow, is it not a far greater sin to rob a man and a greater yet to +slay him or drive him into exile, to wander miserably about the world? +Every one must allow this. For a woman to have converse with a man is +a sin of nature; but to rob him or slay him or drive him into exile +proceedeth from malignity of mind. That you robbed Tedaldo I have +already shown you, in despoiling him of yourself, who had become his +of your spontaneous will, and I say also that, so far as in you lay, +you slew him, for that it was none of your fault,—showing yourself, +as you did, hourly more cruel,—that he slew not himself with his own +hand; and the law willeth that whoso is the cause of the ill that is +done be held alike guilty with him who doth it. And that you were the +cause of his exile and of his going wandering seven years about the +world cannot be denied. So that in whichever one of these three things +aforesaid you have committed a far greater sin than in your converse +with him.</p> + +<p>But, let us see; maybe Tedaldo deserved this usage? Certes, he did +not; you yourself have already confessed it, more by token that I know +he loveth<a name="FNanchor_187_187" id="FNanchor_187_187"></a><a href="#Footnote_187_187" class="fnanchor">[187]</a> you more than himself. No woman was ever so honoured, +so exalted, so magnified over every other of her sex as were you by +him, whenas he found himself where he might fairly speak of you, +without engendering suspicion. His every good, his every honour, his +every liberty were all committed by him into your hands. Was he not +noble and young? Was he not handsome among all his townsmen? Was he +not accomplished in such things as pertain unto young men? Was he not +loved, cherished and well seen of every one? You will not say nay to +this either. Then how, at the bidding of a scurvy, envious numskull of +a friar, could you take such a cruel resolve against him? I know not +what error is that of women who eschew men and hold them in little +esteem, whenas, considering what themselves are and what and how great +is the nobility, beyond every other animal, given of God to man, they +should rather glory whenas they are loved of any and prize him over +all and study with all diligence to please him, so he may never desist +from loving them. This how you did,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164"></a></span> moved by the prate of a friar, +who must for certain have been some broth-swilling pasty-gorger, you +yourself know; and most like he had a mind to put himself in the place +whence he studied to expel others.</p> + +<p>This, then, is the sin that Divine justice, the which with a just +balance bringeth all its operations to effect, hath willed not to +leave unpunished; and even as you without reason studied to withdraw +yourself from Tedaldo, so on like wise hath your husband been and is +yet, without reason, in peril for Tedaldo, and you in tribulation. +Wherefrom an you would be delivered, that which it behoveth you to +promise, and yet more to do, is this; that, should it ever chance that +Tedaldo return hither from his long banishment, you will render him +again your favour, your love, your goodwill and your privacy and +reinstate him in that condition wherein he was, ere you foolishly +hearkened to yonder crack-brained friar.'</p> + +<p>The pilgrim having thus made an end of his discourse, the lady, who +had hearkened thereto with the utmost attention, for that his +arguments appeared to her most true and that, hearing him say, she +accounted herself of a certainty afflicted for the sin of which he +spoke, said, 'Friend of God, I know full well that the things you +allege are true, and in great part by your showing do I perceive what +manner of folk are these friars, whom till now I have held all saints. +Moreover, I acknowledge my default without doubt to have been great in +that which I wrought against Tedaldo; and an I might, I would gladly +amend it on such wise as you have said; but how may this be done? +Tedaldo can never more return hither; he is dead; wherefore I know not +why it should behove me promise that which may not be performed.' +'Madam,' replied the pilgrim, 'according to that which God hath +revealed unto me, Tedaldo is nowise dead, but alive and well and in +good case, so but he had your favour.' Quoth the lady, 'Look what you +say; I saw him dead before my door of several knife-thrusts and had +him in these arms and bathed his dead face with many tears, the which +it may be gave occasion for that which hath been spoken thereof +unseemly.' 'Madam,' replied the pilgrim, 'whatever you may say, I +certify you that Tedaldo is alive, and if you will e'en promise me +that [which I ask,] with intent to fulfil your promise, I hope you +shall soon see him.' Quoth she, 'That do I promise and will gladly +perform; nor could aught betide that would afford me such content as +to see my husband free and unharmed and Tedaldo alive.'</p> + +<p>Thereupon it seemed to Tedaldo time to discover himself and to comfort +the lady with more certain hope of her husband, and accordingly he +said, 'Madam, in order that I may comfort you for your husband, it +behoveth me reveal to you a secret, which look you discover not unto +any, as you value your life.' Now they were in a very retired place +and alone, the lady having conceived the utmost confidence of the +sanctity which herseemed was in the pilgrim; wherefore Tedaldo, +pulling out a ring, which she had given him the last night he had been +with her and which he had kept with the utmost diligence, and showing +it to her, said, 'Madam, know you this?' As soon as she saw it, she +recognized it and answered, 'Ay, sir; I gave it to Tedaldo aforetime.' +Whereupon the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165"></a></span> pilgrim, rising to his feet, hastily cast off his +palmer's gown and hat and speaking Florence-fashion, said, 'And know +you me?'</p> + +<p>When the lady saw this, she knew him to be Tedaldo and was all aghast, +fearing him as one feareth the dead, an they be seen after death to go +as if alive; wherefore she made not towards him to welcome him as +Tedaldo returned from Cyprus, but would have fled from him in +affright, as he were Tedaldo come back from the tomb. Whereupon, +'Madam,' quoth he, 'fear not; I am your Tedaldo, alive and well, and +have never died nor been slain, whatsoever you and my brothers may +believe.' The lady, somewhat reassured and knowing his voice, +considered him awhile longer and avouched in herself that he was +certainly Tedaldo; wherefore she threw herself, weeping, on his neck +and kissed him, saying, 'Welcome back, sweet my Tedaldo.'</p> + +<p>Tedaldo, having kissed and embraced her, said, 'Madam, it is no time +now for closer greetings; I must e'en go take order that Aldobrandino +may be restored to you safe and sound; whereof I hope that, ere +to-morrow come eventide, you shall hear news that will please you; +nay, if, as I expect, I have good news of his safety, I trust this +night to be able to come to you and report them to you at more leisure +than I can at this present.' Then, donning his gown and hat again, he +kissed the lady once more and bidding her be of good hope, took leave +of her and repaired whereas Aldobrandino lay in prison, occupied more +with fear of imminent death than with hopes of deliverance to come. +Tedaldo, with the gaoler's consent, went in to him, in the guise of a +ghostly comforter, and seating himself by his side, said to him, +'Aldobrandino, I am a friend of thine, sent thee for thy deliverance +by God, who hath taken pity on thee because of thine innocence; +wherefore, if, in reverence to Him, thou wilt grant me a little boon +that I shall ask of thee, thou shalt without fail, ere to-morrow be +night, whereas thou lookest for sentence of death, hear that of thine +acquittance.'</p> + +<p>'Honest man,' replied the prisoner, 'since thou art solicitous of my +deliverance, albeit I know thee not nor mind me ever to have seen +thee, needs must thou be a friend, as thou sayst. In truth, the sin, +for which they say I am to be doomed to death, I never committed; +though others enough have I committed aforetime, which, it may be, +have brought me to this pass. But this I say to thee, of reverence to +God; an He presently have compassion on me, I will not only promise, +but gladly do any thing, however great, to say nothing of a little +one; wherefore ask that which pleaseth thee, for without fail, if it +come to pass that I escape with life, I will punctually perform it.' +Then said the pilgrim, 'What I would have of thee is that thou pardon +Tedaldo's four brothers the having brought thee to this pass, +believing thee guilty of their brother's death, and have them again +for brethren and for friends, whenas they crave thee pardon thereof.' +Whereto quoth Aldobrandino, 'None knoweth but he who hath suffered the +affront how sweet a thing is vengeance and with what ardour it is +desired; nevertheless, so God may apply Himself to my deliverance, I +will freely pardon them; nay, I pardon them now, and if I come off +hence alive and escape, I will<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166"></a></span> in this hold such course as shall be +to thy liking.'</p> + +<p>This pleased the pilgrim and without concerning himself to say more to +him, he exhorted him to be of good heart, for that, ere the ensuing +day came to an end, he should without fail hear very certain news of +his safety. Then, taking leave of him, he repaired to the Seignory and +said privily to a gentleman who was in session there, 'My lord, every +one should gladly labour to bring to light the truth of things, and +especially those who hold such a room as this of yours, to the end +that those may not suffer the penalty who have not committed the crime +and that the guilty may be punished; that which may be brought about, +to your honour and the bane of those who have merited it, I am come +hither to you. As you know, you have rigorously proceeded against +Aldobrandino Palermini and thinking you have found for truth that it +was he who slew Tedaldo Elisei, are minded to condemn him; but this is +most certainly false, as I doubt not to show you, ere midnight betide, +by giving into your hands the murderers of the young man in question.'</p> + +<p>The worthy gentleman, who was in concern for Aldobrandino, willingly +gave ear to the pilgrim's words and having conferred at large with him +upon the matter, on his information, took the two innkeeper brothers +and their servant, without resistance, in their first sleep. He would +have put them to the question, to discover how the case stood; but +they brooked it not and each first for himself, and after all +together, openly confessed that it was they who had slain Tedaldo +Elisei, knowing him not. Being questioned of the case, they said [that +it was] for that he had given the wife of one of them sore annoy, what +while they were abroad, and would fain have enforced her to do his +will.</p> + +<p>The pilgrim, having heard this, with the magistrate's consent took his +leave and repairing privily to the house of Madam Ermellina, found her +alone and awaiting him, (all else in the house being gone to sleep,) +alike desirous of having good news of her husband and of fully +reconciling herself with her Tedaldo. He accosted her with a joyful +countenance and said, 'Dearest lady mine, be of good cheer, for +to-morrow thou shalt certainly have thine Aldobrandino here again safe +and sound'; and to give her more entire assurance thereof, he fully +recounted to her that which he had done. Whereupon she, glad as ever +woman was of two so sudden and so happy chances, to wit, the having +her lover alive again, whom she verily believed to have bewept dead, +and the seeing Aldobrandino free from peril, whose death she looked +ere many days to have to mourn, affectionately embraced and kissed +Tedaldo; then, getting them to bed together, with one accord they made +a glad and gracious peace, taking delight and joyance one of the +other. Whenas the day drew near, Tedaldo arose, after showing the lady +that which he purposed to do and praying her anew to keep it a close +secret, and went forth, even in his pilgrim's habit, to attend, whenas +it should be time, to Aldobrandino's affairs. The day come, it +appearing to the Seignory that they had full information of the +matter, they straightway discharged Aldobrandino and a few days after +let<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167"></a></span> strike off the murderers' heads whereas they had committed the +crime.</p> + +<p>Aldobrandino being now, to the great joy of himself and his wife and +of all his friends and kinsfolk, free and manifestly acknowledging +that he owed his deliverance to the good offices of the pilgrim, +carried the latter to his house for such time as it pleased him to +sojourn in the city; and there they could not sate themselves of doing +him honour and worship, especially the lady, who knew with whom she +had to do. After awhile, deeming it time to bring his brothers to an +accord with Aldobrandino and knowing that they were not only put to +shame by the latter's acquittance, but went armed for fear [of his +resentment,] he demanded of his host the fulfilment of his promise. +Aldobrandino freely answered that he was ready, whereupon the pilgrim +caused him prepare against the morrow a goodly banquet, whereat he +told him he would have him and his kinsmen and kinswomen entertain the +four brothers and their ladies, adding that he himself would go +incontinent and bid the latter on his part to peace and his banquet. +Aldobrandino consenting to all that liked the pilgrim, the latter +forthright betook himself to the four brothers and plying them with +store of such words as behoved unto the matter, in fine, with +irrepugnable arguments, brought them easily enough to consent to +regain Aldobrandino's friendship by asking pardon; which done, he +invited them and their ladies to dinner with Aldobrandino next +morning, and they, being certified of his good faith, frankly accepted +the invitation.</p> + +<p>Accordingly, on the morrow, towards dinner-time, Tedaldo's four +brothers, clad all in black as they were, came, with sundry of their +friends, to the house of Aldobrandino, who stayed for them, and there, +in the presence of all who had been bidden of him to bear them +company, cast down their arms and committed themselves to his mercy, +craving forgiveness of that which they had wrought against him. +Aldobrandino, weeping, received them affectionately, and kissing them +all on the mouth, despatched the matter in a few words, remitting unto +them every injury received. After them came their wives and sisters, +clad all in sad-coloured raiment, and were graciously received by +Madam Ermellina and the other ladies. Then were all, ladies and men +alike, magnificently entertained at the banquet, nor was there aught +in the entertainment other than commendable, except it were the +taciturnity occasioned by the yet fresh sorrow expressed in the sombre +raiment of Tedaldo's kinsfolk. Now on this account the pilgrim's +device of the banquet had been blamed of some and he had observed it; +wherefore, the time being come to do away with the constraint +aforesaid, he rose to his feet, according as he had foreordained in +himself, what while the rest still ate of the fruits, and said, +'Nothing hath lacked to this entertainment that should make it joyful, +save only Tedaldo himself; whom (since having had him continually with +you, you have not known him) I will e'en discover to you.'</p> + +<p>So saying, he cast off his palmer's gown and all other his pilgrim's +weeds and abiding in a jerkin of green sendal, was with no little +amazement, long eyed and considered of all, ere any would venture to +believe it was indeed he. Tedaldo, seeing this, recounted<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168"></a></span> many +particulars of the relations and things betided between them, as well +as of his own adventures; whereupon his brethren and the other +gentlemen present ran all to embrace him, with eyes full of joyful +tears, as after did the ladies on like wise, as well strangers as +kinswomen, except only Madam Ermellina. Which Aldobrandino seeing, +'What is this, Ermellina?' quoth he. 'Why dost thou not welcome +Tedaldo, as do the other ladies?' Whereto she answered, in the hearing +of all, 'There is none who had more gladly welcomed and would yet +welcome him than myself, who am more beholden to him than any other +woman, seeing that by his means I have gotten thee again; but the +unseemly words spoken in the days when we mourned him whom we deemed +Tedaldo made me refrain therefrom.' Quoth her husband, 'Go to; +thinkest thou I believe in the howlers?<a name="FNanchor_188_188" id="FNanchor_188_188"></a><a href="#Footnote_188_188" class="fnanchor">[188]</a> He hath right well shown +their prate to be false by procuring my deliverance; more by token +that I never believed it. Quick, rise and go and embrace him.'</p> + +<p>The lady, who desired nothing better, was not slow to obey her husband +in this and accordingly, arising, embraced Tedaldo, as the other +ladies had done, and gave him joyous welcome. This liberality of +Aldobrandino was mighty pleasing to Tedaldo's brothers and to every +man and woman there, and thereby all suspect<a name="FNanchor_189_189" id="FNanchor_189_189"></a><a href="#Footnote_189_189" class="fnanchor">[189]</a> that had been +aroused in the minds of some by the words aforesaid was done away. +Then, every one having given Tedaldo joy, he with his own hands rent +the black clothes on his brothers' backs and the sad-coloured on those +of his sisters and kinswomen and would have them send after other +apparel, which whenas they had donned, they gave themselves to singing +and dancing and other diversions galore; wherefore the banquet, which +had had a silent beginning had a loud-resounding ending. Thereafter, +with the utmost mirth, they one and all repaired, even as they were, +to Tedaldo's house, where they supped that night, and on this wise +they continued to feast several days longer.</p> + +<p>The Florentines awhile regarded Tedaldo with amazement, as a man risen +from the dead; nay, in many an one's mind, and even in that of his +brethren, there abode a certain faint doubt an he were indeed himself +and they did not yet thoroughly believe it, nor belike had they +believed it for a long time to come but for a chance which made them +clear who the murdered man was which was on this wise. There passed +one day before their house certain footmen<a name="FNanchor_190_190" id="FNanchor_190_190"></a><a href="#Footnote_190_190" class="fnanchor">[190]</a> of Lunigiana, who, +seeing Tedaldo, made towards him and said, 'Give you good day, +Faziuolo.' Whereto Tedaldo in his brothers' presence answered, 'You +mistake me.' The others, hearing him speak, were abashed and cried him +pardon, saying, 'Forsooth you resemble, more than ever we saw one man +favour another, a comrade of ours called Faziuolo of Pontremoli, who +came hither some fortnight or more agone, nor<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169"></a></span> could we ever since +learn what is come of him. Indeed, we marvelled at the dress, for that +he was a soldier, even as we are.' Tedaldo's elder brother, hearing +this, came forward and enquired how this Faziuolo had been clad. They +told him and it was found to have been punctually as they said; +wherefore, what with these and what with other tokens, it was known +for certain that he who had been slain was Faziuolo and not Tedaldo, +and all doubt of the latter<a name="FNanchor_191_191" id="FNanchor_191_191"></a><a href="#Footnote_191_191" class="fnanchor">[191]</a> accordingly departed [the minds of] +his brothers and of every other. Tedaldo, then, being returned very +rich, persevered in his love and the lady falling out with him no +more, they long, discreetly dealing, had enjoyment of their love. God +grant us to enjoy ours!"</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="THE_EIGHTH_STORY3" id="THE_EIGHTH_STORY3"></a>THE EIGHTH STORY</h2> + +<div class="sidenote">Day the Third</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="hang">FERONDO, HAVING SWALLOWED A CERTAIN POWDER, IS ENTOMBED FOR +DEAD AND BEING TAKEN FORTH OF THE SEPULCHRE BY THE ABBOT, +WHO ENJOYETH HIS WIFE THE WHILE, IS PUT IN PRISON AND GIVEN +TO BELIEVE THAT HE IS IN PURGATORY; AFTER WHICH, BEING +RAISED UP AGAIN, HE REARETH FOR HIS OWN A CHILD BEGOTTEN OF +THE ABBOT ON HIS WIFE</p></div> + + +<p><br /><span class="smcap">The</span> end being come of Emilia's long story,—which had not withal for +its length been unpleasing to any of the company, nay, but was held of +all the ladies to have been briefly narrated, having regard to the +number and diversity of the incidents therein recounted,—the queen, +having with a mere sign intimated her pleasure to Lauretta, gave her +occasion to begin thus: "Dearest ladies, there occurreth to me to tell +you a true story which hath much more semblance of falsehood than of +that which it indeed is and which hath been recalled to my mind by +hearing one to have been bewept and buried for another. I purpose +then, to tell you how a live man was entombed for dead and how after +he and many other folk believed himself to have come forth of the +sepulchre as one raised from the dead, by reason whereof he<a name="FNanchor_192_192" id="FNanchor_192_192"></a><a href="#Footnote_192_192" class="fnanchor">[192]</a> was +adored as a saint who should rather have been condemned as a criminal.</p> + +<p>There was, then, and yet is, in Tuscany, an abbey situate, like as we +see many thereof, in a place not overmuch frequented of men, whereof a +monk was made abbot, who was a very holy man in everything, save in +the matter of women, and in this he contrived to do so warily that +well nigh none, not to say knew, but even suspected him thereof, for +that he was holden exceeding godly and just in everything. It chanced +that a very wealthy farmer, by name Ferondo, contracted a great +intimacy with him, a heavy, clodpate fellow and dull-witted beyond +measure, whose commerce pleased the abbot but<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170"></a></span> for that his simplicity +whiles afforded him some diversion, and in the course of their +acquaintance, the latter perceived that Ferondo had a very handsome +woman to wife, of whom he became so passionately enamoured that he +thought of nothing else day or night; but, hearing that, simple and +shallow-witted as Ferondo was in everything else, he was shrewd enough +in the matter of loving and guarding his wife, he well nigh despaired +of her.</p> + +<p>However, like a very adroit man as he was, he wrought on such wise +with Ferondo that he came whiles, with his wife, to take his pleasance +in the abbey-garden, and there he very demurely entertained them with +discourse of the beatitude of the life eternal and of the pious works +of many men and women of times past, insomuch that the lady was taken +with a desire to confess herself to him and asked and had Ferondo's +leave thereof. Accordingly, to the abbot's exceeding pleasure, she +came to confess to him and seating herself at his feet, before she +proceeded to say otherwhat, began thus: 'Sir, if God had given me a +right husband or had given me none, it would belike be easy to me, +with the help of your exhortations, to enter upon the road which you +say leadeth folk unto life eternal; but I, having regard to what +Ferondo is and to his witlessness, may style myself a widow, and yet I +am married, inasmuch as, he living, I can have no other husband; and +dolt as he is, he is without any cause, so out of all measure jealous +of me that by reason thereof I cannot live with him otherwise than in +tribulation and misery; wherefore, ere I come to other confession, I +humbly beseech you, as most I may, that it may please you give me some +counsel concerning this, for that, an the occasion of my well-doing +begin not therefrom, confession or other good work will profit me +little.'</p> + +<p>This speech gave the abbot great satisfaction and himseemed fortune +had opened him the way to his chief desire; wherefore, 'Daughter,' +quoth he, 'I can well believe that it must be a sore annoy for a fair +and dainty dame such as you are to have a blockhead to husband, but a +much greater meseemeth to have a jealous man; wherefore, you having +both the one and the other, I can lightly credit that which you avouch +of your tribulation. But for this, speaking briefly, I see neither +counsel nor remedy save one, the which is that Ferondo be cured of +this jealousy. The medicine that will cure him I know very well how to +make, provided you have the heart to keep secret that which I shall +tell you.' 'Father mine,' answered the lady, 'have no fear of that, +for I would liefer suffer death than tell any that which you bid me +not repeat; but how may this be done?' Quoth the abbot, 'An we would +have him cured, it behoveth of necessity that he go to purgatory.' +'But how,' asked she, 'can he go thither alive?' 'Needs must he die,' +replied the abbot, 'and so go thither; and whenas he shall have +suffered such penance as shall suffice to purge him of his jealousy, +we will pray God, with certain orisons that he restore him to this +life, and He will do it.' 'Then,' said the lady, 'I am to become a +widow?' 'Ay,' answered the abbot, 'for a certain time, wherein you +must look well you suffer not yourself to be married again, for that +God would take it in ill part, and whenas Ferondo re<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171"></a></span>turned hither, it +would behove you return to him and he would then be more jealous than +ever.' Quoth she, 'Provided he be but cured of this calamity, so it +may not behove me abide in prison all my life, I am content; do as it +pleaseth you.' 'And I will do it,'<a name="FNanchor_193_193" id="FNanchor_193_193"></a><a href="#Footnote_193_193" class="fnanchor">[193]</a> rejoined he; 'but what guerdon +am I to have of you for such a service?' 'Father,' answered the lady, +'you shall have whatsoever pleaseth you, so but it be in my power; but +what can the like of me that may befit such a man as yourself?' +'Madam,' replied the abbot 'you can do no less for me than that which +I undertake to do for you; for that, like as I am disposed to do that +which is to be your weal and your solacement, even so can you do that +which will be the saving and assainment of my life.' Quoth she, 'An it +be so, I am ready.' 'Then,' said the abbot, 'you must give me your +love and vouchsafe me satisfaction of yourself, for whom I am all +afire with love and languishment.'</p> + +<p>The lady, hearing this, was all aghast and answered, 'Alack, father +mine, what is this you ask? Methought you were a saint. Doth it beseem +holy men to require women, who come to them for counsel, of such +things?' 'Fair my soul,' rejoined the abbot, 'marvel not, for that +sanctity nowise abateth by this, seeing it hath its seat in the soul +and that which I ask of you is a sin of the body. But, be that as it +may, your ravishing beauty hath had such might that love constraineth +me to do thus; and I tell you that you may glory in your charms over +all other women, considering that they please holy men, who are used +to look upon the beauties of heaven. Moreover, abbot though I be, I am +a man like another and am, as you see, not yet old. Nor should this +that I ask be grievous to you to do; nay, you should rather desire it, +for that, what while Ferondo sojourneth in purgatory, I will bear you +company by night and render you that solacement which he should give +you; nor shall any ever come to know of this, for that every one +believeth of me that, and more than that, which you but now believed +of me. Reject not the grace that God sendeth you, for there be women +enough who covet that which you may have and shall have, if, like a +wise woman, you hearken to my counsel. Moreover, I have fair and +precious jewels, which I purpose shall belong to none other than +yourself. Do, then, for me, sweet my hope, that which I willingly do +for you.'</p> + +<p>The lady hung her head, knowing not how to deny him, whilst herseemed +it were ill done to grant him what he asked; but the abbot, seeing +that she hearkened and hesitated to reply and himseeming he had +already half converted her, followed up his first words with many +others and stayed not till he had persuaded her that she would do well +to comply with him. Accordingly, she said, blushing, that she was +ready to do his every commandment, but might not avail thereto till +such time as Ferondo should be gone to purgatory; whereupon quoth the +abbot, exceeding well pleased, 'And we will make shift to send him +thither incontinent; do you but contrive that he come hither to-morrow +or next day to sojourn with me.' So saying, he privily put a very<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172"></a></span> +handsome ring into her hand and dismissed her. The lady rejoiced at +the gift and looking to have others, rejoined her companions, to whom +she fell to relating marvellous things of the abbot's sanctity, and +presently returned home with them.</p> + +<p>A few days after Ferondo repaired to the abbey, whom, whenas the abbot +saw, he cast about to send him to purgatory. Accordingly, he sought +out a powder of marvellous virtue, which he had gotten in the parts of +the Levant of a great prince who avouched it to be that which was wont +to be used of the Old Man of the Mountain,<a name="FNanchor_194_194" id="FNanchor_194_194"></a><a href="#Footnote_194_194" class="fnanchor">[194]</a> whenas he would fain +send any one, sleeping, into his paradise or bring him forth thereof, +and that, according as more or less thereof was given, without doing +any hurt, it made him who took it sleep more or less [time] on such +wise that, whilst its virtue lasted, none would say he had life in +him. Of this he took as much as might suffice to make a man sleep +three days and putting it in a beaker of wine, that was not yet well +cleared, gave it to Ferondo to drink in his cell, without the latter +suspecting aught; after which he carried him into the cloister and +there with some of his monks fell to making sport of him and his +dunceries; nor was it long before, the powder working, Ferondo was +taken with so sudden and overpowering a drowsiness, that he slumbered +as yet he stood afoot and presently fell down fast asleep.</p> + +<p>The abbot made a show of being concerned at this accident and letting +untruss him, caused fetch cold water and cast it in his face and essay +many other remedies of his fashion, as if he would recall the strayed +life and senses from [the oppression of] some fumosity of the stomach +or what not like affection that had usurped them. The monks, seeing +that for all this he came not to himself and feeling his pulse, but +finding no sign of life in him, all held it for certain that he was +dead. Accordingly, they sent to tell his wife and his kinsfolk, who +all came thither forthright, and the lady having bewept him awhile +with her kinswomen, the abbot caused lay him, clad as he was, in a +tomb; whilst the lady returned to her house and giving out that she +meant never to part from a little son, whom she had had by her +husband, abode at home and occupied herself with the governance of the +child and of the wealth which had been Ferondo's. Meanwhile, the abbot +arose stealthily in the night and with the aid of a Bolognese monk, in +whom he much trusted and who was that day come thither from Bologna, +took up Ferondo out of the tomb and carried him into a vault, in which +there was no light to be seen and which had been made for prison of +such of the monks as should make default in aught. There they pulled +off his garments and clothing him monk-fashion, laid him on a truss of +straw and there left him against he should recover his senses, whilst +the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173"></a></span> Bolognese monk, having been instructed by the abbot of that which +he had to do, without any else knowing aught thereof, proceeded to +await his coming to himself.</p> + +<p>On the morrow, the abbot, accompanied by sundry of his monks, betook +himself, by way of visitation, to the house of the lady, whom he found +clad in black and in great tribulation, and having comforted her +awhile, he softly required her of her promise. The lady, finding +herself free and unhindered of Ferondo or any other and seeing on his +finger another fine ring, replied that she was ready and appointed him +to come to her that same night. Accordingly, night come, the abbot, +disguised in Ferondo's clothes and accompanied by the monk his +confidant, repaired thither and lay with her in the utmost delight and +pleasance till the morning, when he returned to the abbey. After this +he very often made the same journey on a like errand and being whiles +encountered, coming or going, of one or another of the villagers, it +was believed he was Ferondo who went about those parts, doing penance; +by reason whereof many strange stories were after bruited about among +the simple countryfolk, and this was more than once reported to +Ferondo's wife, who well knew what it was.</p> + +<p>As for Ferondo, when he recovered his senses and found himself he knew +not where, the Bolognese monk came in to him with a horrible noise and +laying hold of him, gave him a sound drubbing with a rod he had in his +hand. Ferondo, weeping and crying out, did nought but ask, 'Where am +I?' To which the monk answered, 'Thou art in purgatory.' 'How?' cried +Ferondo. 'Am I then dead?' 'Ay, certes,' replied the other; whereupon +Ferondo fell to bemoaning himself and his wife and child, saying the +oddest things in the world. Presently the monk brought him somewhat of +meat and drink, which Ferondo seeing, 'What!' cried he. 'Do the dead +eat?' 'Ay do they,' answered the monk. 'This that I bring thee is what +the woman, thy wife that was, sent this morning to the church to let +say masses for thy soul, and God the Lord willeth that it be made over +to thee.' Quoth Ferondo, 'God grant her a good year! I still cherished +her ere I died, insomuch that I held her all night in mine arms and +did nought but kiss her, and t' other thing also I did, when I had a +mind thereto.' Then, being very sharp-set, he fell to eating and +drinking and himseeming the wine was not overgood, 'Lord confound +her!' quoth he. 'Why did not she give the priest wine of the cask +against the wall?'</p> + +<p>After he had eaten, the monk laid hold of him anew and gave him +another sound beating with the same rod; whereat Ferondo roared out +lustily and said, 'Alack, why dost thou this to me?' Quoth the monk, +'Because thus hath God the Lord ordained that it be done unto thee +twice every day.' 'And for what cause?' asked Ferondo. 'Because,' +answered the monk, 'thou wast jealous, having the best woman in the +country to wife.' 'Alas!' said Ferondo. 'Thou sayst sooth, ay, and the +kindest creature; she was sweeter than syrup; but I knew not that God +the Lord held it for ill that a man should be jealous; else had I not +been so.' Quoth the monk, 'Thou shouldst have bethought thyself of +that, whenas thou wast there<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174"></a></span> below,<a name="FNanchor_195_195" id="FNanchor_195_195"></a><a href="#Footnote_195_195" class="fnanchor">[195]</a> and have amended thee +thereof; and should it betide that thou ever return thither, look thou +so have in mind that which I do unto thee at this present that thou be +nevermore jealous.' 'What?' said Ferondo. 'Do the dead ever return +thither?' 'Ay,' answered the monk; 'whom God willeth.' 'Marry,' cried +Ferondo, 'and I ever return thither, I will be the best husband in the +world; I will never beat her nor give her an ill word, except it be +anent the wine she sent hither this morning and for that she sent no +candles, so it behoved me to eat in the dark.' 'Nay,' said the monk, +'she sent candles enough, but they were all burnt for the masses.' +'True,' rejoined Ferondo; 'and assuredly, an I return thither, I will +let her do what she will. But tell me, who art thou that usest me +thus?' Quoth the monk, 'I also am dead. I was of Sardinia and for that +aforetime I much commended a master of mine of being jealous, I have +been doomed of God to this punishment, that I must give thee to eat +and drink and beat thee thus, till such time as God shall ordain +otherwhat of thee and of me.' Then said Ferondo, 'Is there none here +other than we twain?' 'Ay,' answered the monk, 'there be folk by the +thousands; but thou canst neither see nor hear them, nor they thee.' +Quoth Ferondo, 'And how far are we from our own countries?' 'Ecod,' +replied the other, 'we are distant thence more miles than we can well +cack at a bout.' 'Faith,' rejoined the farmer, 'that is far enough; +meseemeth we must be out of the world, an it be so much as all that.'</p> + +<p>In such and the like discourse was Ferondo entertained half a score +months with eating and drinking and beating, what while the abbot +assiduously visited the fair lady, without miscarriage, and gave +himself the goodliest time in the world with her. At last, as ill-luck +would have it, the lady found herself with child and straightway +acquainted the abbot therewith, wherefore it seemed well to them both +that Ferondo should without delay be recalled from purgatory to life +and return to her, so she might avouch herself with child by him. +Accordingly, the abbot that same night caused call to Ferondo in +prison with a counterfeit voice, saying, 'Ferondo, take comfort, for +it is God's pleasure that thou return to the world, where thou shalt +have a son by thy wife, whom look thou name Benedict, for that by the +prayers of thy holy abbot and of thy wife and for the love of St. +Benedict He doth thee this favour.' Ferondo, hearing this, was +exceedingly rejoiced and said, 'It liketh me well, Lord grant a good +year to Seignior God Almighty and to the abbot and St. Benedict and my +cheesy<a name="FNanchor_196_196" id="FNanchor_196_196"></a><a href="#Footnote_196_196" class="fnanchor">[196]</a> sweet honey wife.' The abbot let give him, in the wine +that he sent him, so much of the powder aforesaid as should cause him +sleep maybe four hours and with the aid of his monk, having put his +own clothes on him, restored him<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175"></a></span> privily to the tomb wherein he had +been buried.</p> + +<p>Next morning, at break of day, Ferondo came to himself and espying +light,—a thing which he had not seen for good ten months,—through +some crevice of the tomb, doubted not but he was alive again. +Accordingly, he fell to bawling out, 'Open to me! Open to me!' and +heaving so lustily at the lid of the tomb with his head that he +stirred it, for that it was eath to move, and had begun to move it +away, when the monks, having now made an end of saying matins, ran +thither and knew Ferondo's voice and saw him in act to come forth of +the sepulchre; whereupon, all aghast for the strangeness of the case, +they took to their heels and ran to the abbot, who made a show of +rising from prayer and said, 'My sons, have no fear; take the cross +and the holy water and follow after me, so we may see that which God +willeth to show forth to us of His might'; and as he said, so he did.</p> + +<p>Now Ferondo was come forth of the sepulchre all pale, as well might he +be who had so long abidden without seeing the sky. As soon as he saw +the abbot, he ran to cast himself at his feet and said, 'Father mine, +according to that which hath been revealed to me, your prayers and +those of St. Benedict and my wife have delivered me from the pains of +purgatory and restored me to life, wherefore I pray God to give you a +good year and good calends now and always.' Quoth the abbot, 'Praised +be God His might! Go, my son, since He hath sent thee back hither; +comfort thy wife, who hath been still in tears, since thou departedst +this life, and henceforth be a friend and servant of God.' 'Sir,' +replied Ferondo, 'so hath it indeed been said to me; only leave me do; +for, as soon as I find her, I shall buss her, such goodwill do I bear +her.'</p> + +<p>The abbot, left alone with his monks, made a great show of wonderment +at this miracle and caused devoutly sing Miserere therefor. As for +Ferondo, he returned to his village, where all who saw him fled, as +men use to do from things frightful; but he called them back and +avouched himself to be raised up again. His wife on like wise feigned +to be adread of him; but, after the folk were somewhat reassured anent +him and saw that he was indeed alive, they questioned him of many +things, and he, as it were he had returned wise, made answer to all +and gave them news of the souls of their kinsfolk, making up, of his +own motion, the finest fables in the world of the affairs of purgatory +and recounting in full assembly the revelation made him by the mouth +of the Rangel Bragiel<a name="FNanchor_197_197" id="FNanchor_197_197"></a><a href="#Footnote_197_197" class="fnanchor">[197]</a> ere he was raised up again. Then, returning +to his house and entering again into possession of his goods, he got +his wife, as he thought, with child, and by chance it befell that, in +due time,—to the thinking of the fools who believe that women go just +nine months with child,—the lady gave birth to a boy, who was called +Benedict Ferondi.<a name="FNanchor_198_198" id="FNanchor_198_198"></a><a href="#Footnote_198_198" class="fnanchor">[198]</a></p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176"></a></span></p><p>Ferondo's return and his talk, well nigh every one believing him to +have risen from the dead, added infinitely to the renown of the +abbot's sanctity, and he himself, as if cured of his jealousy by the +many beatings he had received therefor, thenceforward, according to +the promise made by the abbot to the lady, was no more jealous; +whereat she was well pleased and lived honestly with him, as of her +wont, save indeed that, whenas she conveniently might, she willingly +foregathered with the holy abbot, who had so well and diligently +served her in her greatest needs."</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="THE_NINTH_STORY3" id="THE_NINTH_STORY3"></a>THE NINTH STORY</h2> + +<div class="sidenote">Day the Third</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="hang">GILLETTE DE NARBONNE RECOVERETH THE KING OF FRANCE OF A +FISTULA AND DEMANDETH FOR HER HUSBAND BERTRAND DE +ROUSSILLON, WHO MARRIETH HER AGAINST HIS WILL AND BETAKETH +HIM FOR DESPITE TO FLORENCE, WHERE, HE PAYING COURT TO A +YOUNG LADY, GILLETTE, IN THE PERSON OF THE LATTER, LIETH +WITH HIM AND HATH BY HIM TWO SONS; WHEREFORE AFTER, HOLDING +HER DEAR, HE ENTERTAINETH HER FOR HIS WIFE</p></div> + + +<p><br /><span class="smcap">Lauretta's</span> story being now ended, it rested but with the queen to +tell, an she would not infringe upon Dioneo's privilege; wherefore, +without waiting to be solicited by her companions, she began all +blithesomely to speak thus: "Who shall tell a story that may appear +goodly, now we have heard that of Lauretta? Certes, it was well for us +that hers was not the first, for that few of the others would have +pleased after it, as I misdoubt me<a name="FNanchor_199_199" id="FNanchor_199_199"></a><a href="#Footnote_199_199" class="fnanchor">[199]</a> will betide of those which are +yet to tell this day. Natheless, be that as it may, I will e'en +recount to you that which occurreth to me upon the proposed theme.</p> + +<p>There was in the kingdom of France a gentleman called Isnard, Count of +Roussillon, who, for that he was scant of health, still entertained +about his person a physician, by name Master Gerard de Narbonne. The +said count had one little son, and no more, hight Bertrand, who was +exceeding handsome and agreeable, and with him other children of his +own age were brought up. Among these latter was a daughter of the +aforesaid physician, by name Gillette, who vowed to the said Bertrand +an infinite love and fervent more than pertained unto her tender +years. The count dying and leaving his son in the hands of the king, +it behoved him betake himself to Paris, whereof the damsel abode sore +disconsolate, and her own father dying no great while after, she would +fain, an she might have had a seemly occasion, have gone to Paris to +see Bertrand: but, being<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177"></a></span> straitly guarded, for that she was left rich +and alone, she saw no honourable way thereto; and being now of age for +a husband and having never been able to forget Bertrand, she had, +without reason assigned, refused many to whom her kinsfolk would have +married her.</p> + +<p>Now it befell that, what while she burned more than ever for love of +Bertrand, for that she heard he was grown a very goodly gentleman, +news came to her how the King of France, by an imposthume which he had +had in his breast and which had been ill tended, had gotten a fistula, +which occasioned him the utmost anguish and annoy, nor had he yet been +able to find a physician who might avail to recover him thereof, +albeit many had essayed it, but all had aggravated the ill; wherefore +the king, despairing of cure, would have no more counsel nor aid of +any. Hereof the young lady was beyond measure content and bethought +herself that not only would this furnish her with a legitimate +occasion of going to Paris, but that, should the king's ailment be +such as she believed, she might lightly avail to have Bertrand to +husband. Accordingly, having aforetime learned many things of her +father, she made a powder of certain simples useful for such an +infirmity as she conceived the king's to be and taking horse, repaired +to Paris.</p> + +<p>Before aught else she studied to see Bertrand and next, presenting +herself before the king, she prayed him of his favour to show her his +ailment. The king, seeing her a fair and engaging damsel, knew not how +to deny her and showed her that which ailed him. Whenas she saw it, +she was certified incontinent that she could heal it and accordingly +said, 'My lord, an it please you, I hope in God to make you whole of +this your infirmity in eight days' time, without annoy or fatigue on +your part.' The king scoffed in himself at her words, saying, 'That +which the best physicians in the world have availed not neither known +to do, how shall a young woman know?' Accordingly, he thanked her for +her good will and answered that he was resolved no more to follow the +counsel of physicians. Whereupon quoth the damsel, 'My lord, you make +light of my skill, for that I am young and a woman; but I would have +you bear in mind that I medicine not of mine own science, but with the +aid of God and the science of Master Gerard de Narbonne, who was my +father and a famous physician whilst he lived.'</p> + +<p>The king, hearing this, said in himself, 'It may be this woman is sent +me of God; why should I not make proof of her knowledge, since she +saith she will, without annoy of mine, cure me in little time?' +Accordingly, being resolved to essay her, he said, 'Damsel, and if you +cure us not, after causing us break our resolution, what will you have +ensue to you therefor?' 'My lord,' answered she, 'set a guard upon me +and if I cure you not within eight days, let burn me alive; but, if I +cure you, what reward shall I have?' Quoth the king, 'You seem as yet +unhusbanded; if you do this, we will marry you well and worshipfully.' +'My lord,' replied the young lady, 'I am well pleased that you should +marry me, but I will have a husband such as I shall ask of you, +excepting always any one of your sons or of the royal house.' He +readily promised her that which she sought,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178"></a></span> whereupon she began her +cure and in brief, before the term limited, she brought him back to +health.</p> + +<p>The king, feeling himself healed, said, 'Damsel, you have well earned +your husband'; whereto she answered, 'Then, my lord, I have earned +Bertrand de Roussillon, whom I began to love even in the days of my +childhood and have ever since loved over all.' The king deemed it a +grave matter to give him to her; nevertheless, having promised her and +unwilling to fail of his faith, he let call the count to himself and +bespoke him thus: 'Bertrand, you are now of age and accomplished [in +all that behoveth unto man's estate];<a name="FNanchor_200_200" id="FNanchor_200_200"></a><a href="#Footnote_200_200" class="fnanchor">[200]</a> wherefore it is our +pleasure that you return to govern your county and carry with you a +damsel, whom we have given you to wife.' 'And who is the damsel, my +lord?' asked Bertrand; to which the king answered, 'It is she who hath +with her medicines restored to us our health.'</p> + +<p>Bertrand, who had seen and recognized Gillette, knowing her (albeit +she seemed to him very fair) to be of no such lineage as sorted with +his quality, said all disdainfully, 'My lord, will you then marry me +to a she-leach? Now God forbid I should ever take such an one to +wife!' 'Then,' said the king, 'will you have us fail of our faith, the +which, to have our health again, we pledged to the damsel, who in +guerdon thereof demanded you to husband?' 'My lord,' answered +Bertrand, 'you may, an you will, take from me whatsoever I possess or, +as your liegeman, bestow me upon whoso pleaseth you; but of this I +certify you, that I will never be a consenting party unto such a +marriage.' 'Nay,' rejoined the king, 'but you shall, for that the +damsel is fair and wise and loveth you dear; wherefore we doubt not +but you will have a far happier life with her than with a lady of +higher lineage.' Bertrand held his peace and the king let make great +preparations for the celebration of the marriage.</p> + +<p>The appointed day being come, Bertrand, sore against his will, in the +presence of the king, espoused the damsel, who loved him more than +herself. This done, having already determined in himself what he +should do, he sought leave of the king to depart, saying he would fain +return to his county and there consummate the marriage; then, taking +horse, he repaired not thither, but betook himself into Tuscany, +where, hearing that the Florentines were at war with those of Sienna, +he determined to join himself to the former, by whom he was joyfully +received and made captain over a certain number of men-at-arms; and +there, being well provided<a name="FNanchor_201_201" id="FNanchor_201_201"></a><a href="#Footnote_201_201" class="fnanchor">[201]</a> of them, he abode a pretty while in +their service.</p> + +<p>The newly-made wife, ill content with such a lot, but hoping by her +fair dealing to recall him to his county, betook herself to +Roussillon, where she was received of all as their liege lady. There, +finding everything waste and disordered for the long time that the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179"></a></span> +land had been without a lord, with great diligence and solicitude, +like a discreet lady as she was, she set all in order again, whereof +the count's vassals were mightily content and held her exceeding dear, +vowing her a great love and blaming the count sore for that he +accepted not of her. The lady, having thoroughly ordered the county, +notified the count thereof by two knights, whom she despatched to him, +praying him that, an it were on her account he forbore to come to his +county, he should signify it to her and she, to pleasure him, would +depart thence; but he answered them very harshly, saying, 'For that, +let her do her pleasure; I, for my part, will return thither to abide +with her, whenas she shall have this my ring on her finger and in her +arms a son by me begotten.' Now the ring in question he held very dear +and never parted with it, by reason of a certain virtue which it had +been given him to understand that it had.</p> + +<p>The knights understood the hardship of the condition implied in these +two well nigh impossible requirements, but, seeing that they might not +by their words avail to move him from his purpose, they returned to +the lady and reported to her his reply; whereat she was sore afflicted +and determined, after long consideration, to seek to learn if and +where the two things aforesaid might be compassed, to the intent that +she might, in consequence, have her husband again. Accordingly, having +bethought herself what she should do, she assembled certain of the +best and chiefest men of the county and with plaintive speech very +orderly recounted to them that which she had already done for love of +the count and showed them what had ensued thereof, adding that it was +not her intent that, through her sojourn there, the count should abide +in perpetual exile; nay, rather she purposed to spend the rest of her +life in pilgrimages and works of mercy and charity for her soul's +health; wherefore she prayed them take the ward and governance of the +county and notify the count that she had left him free and vacant +possession and had departed the country, intending nevermore to return +to Roussillon. Many were the tears shed by the good folk, whilst she +spoke, and many the prayers addressed to her that it would please her +change counsel and abide there; but they availed nought. Then, +commending them to God, she set out upon her way, without telling any +whither she was bound, well furnished with monies and jewels of price +and accompanied by a cousin of hers and a chamberwoman, all in +pilgrims' habits, and stayed not till she came to Florence, where, +chancing upon a little inn, kept by a decent widow woman, she there +took up her abode and lived quietly, after the fashion of a poor +pilgrim, impatient to hear news of her lord.</p> + +<p>It befell, then, that on the morrow of her arrival she saw Bertrand +pass before her lodging, a-horseback with his company, and albeit she +knew him full well, natheless she asked the good woman of the inn who +he was. The hostess answered, 'That is a stranger gentleman, who +calleth himself Count Bertrand, a pleasant man and a courteous and +much loved in this city; and he is the most enamoured man in the world +of a she-neighbour of ours, who is a gentlewoman, but poor. Sooth to +say, she is a very virtuous damsel and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180"></a></span> abideth, being yet unmarried +for poverty, with her mother, a very good and discreet lady, but for +whom, maybe, she had already done the count's pleasure.' The countess +took good note of what she heard and having more closely enquired into +every particular and apprehended all aright, determined in herself how +she should do.</p> + +<p>Accordingly, having learned the house and name of the lady whose +daughter the count loved, she one day repaired privily thither in her +pilgrim's habit and finding the mother and daughter in very poor case, +saluted them and told the former that, an it pleased her, she would +fain speak with her alone. The gentlewoman, rising, replied that she +was ready to hearken to her and accordingly carried her into a chamber +of hers, where they seated themselves and the countess began thus, +'Madam, meseemeth you are of the enemies of Fortune, even as I am; +but, an you will, belike you may be able to relieve both yourself and +me.' The lady answered that she desired nothing better than to relieve +herself by any honest means; and the countess went on, 'Needs must you +pledge me your faith, whereto an I commit myself and you deceive me, +you will mar your own affairs and mine.' 'Tell me anything you will in +all assurance,' replied the gentlewoman; 'for never shall you find +yourself deceived of me.'</p> + +<p>Thereupon the countess, beginning with her first enamourment, +recounted to her who she was and all that had betided her to that day +after such a fashion that the gentlewoman, putting faith in her words +and having, indeed, already in part heard her story from others, began +to have compassion of her. The countess, having related her +adventures, went on to say, 'You have now, amongst my other troubles, +heard what are the two things which it behoveth me have, an I would +have my husband, and to which I know none who can help me, save only +yourself, if that be true which I hear, to wit, that the count my +husband is passionately enamoured of your daughter.' 'Madam,' answered +the gentlewoman, 'if the count love my daughter I know not; indeed he +maketh a great show thereof. But, an it be so, what can I do in this +that you desire?' 'Madam,' rejoined the countess, 'I will tell you; +but first I will e'en show you what I purpose shall ensue thereof to +you, an you serve me. I see your daughter fair and of age for a +husband and according to what I have heard, meseemeth I understand the +lack of good to marry her withal it is that causeth you keep her at +home. Now I purpose, in requital of the service you shall do me, to +give her forthright of mine own monies such a dowry as you yourself +shall deem necessary to marry her honorably.'</p> + +<p>The mother, being needy, was pleased with the offer; algates, having +the spirit of a gentlewoman, she said, 'Madam, tell me what I can do +for you; if it consist with my honour, I will willingly do it, and you +shall after do that which shall please you.' Then said the countess, +'It behoveth me that you let tell the count my husband by some one in +whom you trust, that your daughter is ready to do his every pleasure, +so she may but be certified that he loveth her as he pretendeth, the +which she will never believe, except he send her the ring which he +carrieth on his finger and by which she hath heard he setteth such<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181"></a></span> +store. An he send you the ring, you must give it to me and after send +to him to say that your daughter is ready do his pleasure; then bring +him hither in secret and privily put me to bed to him in the stead of +your daughter. It may be God will vouchsafe me to conceive and on this +wise, having his ring on my finger and a child in mine arms of him +begotten, I shall presently regain him and abide with him, as a wife +should abide with her husband, and you will have been the cause +thereof.'</p> + +<p>This seemed a grave matter to the gentlewoman, who feared lest blame +should haply ensue thereof to her daughter; nevertheless, bethinking +her it were honourably done to help the poor lady recover her husband +and that she went about to do this to a worthy end and trusting in the +good and honest intention of the countess, she not only promised her +to do it, but, before many days, dealing with prudence and secrecy, in +accordance with the latter's instructions, she both got the ring +(albeit this seemed somewhat grievous to the count) and adroitly put +her to bed with her husband, in the place of her own daughter. In +these first embracements, most ardently sought of the count, the lady, +by God's pleasure, became with child of two sons, as her delivery in +due time made manifest. Nor once only, but many times, did the +gentlewoman gratify the countess with her husband's embraces, +contriving so secretly that never was a word known of the matter, +whilst the count still believed himself to have been, not with his +wife, but with her whom he loved; and whenas he came to take leave of +a morning, he gave her, at one time and another, divers goodly and +precious jewels, which the countess laid up with all diligence.</p> + +<p>Then, feeling herself with child and unwilling to burden the +gentlewoman farther with such an office, she said to her, 'Madam, +thanks to God and you, I have gotten that which I desired, wherefore +it is time that I do that which shall content you and after get me +gone hence.' The gentlewoman answered that, if she had gotten that +which contented her, she was well pleased, but that she had not done +this of any hope of reward, nay, for that herseemed it behoved her to +do it, an she would do well. 'Madam,' rejoined the countess, 'that +which you say liketh me well and so on my part I purpose not to give +you that which you shall ask of me by way of reward, but to do well, +for that meseemeth behoveful so to do.' The gentlewoman, then, +constrained by necessity, with the utmost shamefastness, asked her an +hundred pounds to marry her daughter withal; but the countess, seeing +her confusion and hearing her modest demand, gave her five hundred and +so many rare and precious jewels as were worth maybe as much more. +With this the gentlewoman was far more than satisfied and rendered the +countess the best thanks in her power; whereupon the latter, taking +leave of her, returned to the inn, whilst the other, to deprive +Bertrand of all farther occasion of coming or sending to her house, +removed with her daughter into the country to the house of one of her +kinsfolk, and he, being a little after recalled by his vassals and +hearing that the countess had departed the country, returned to his +own house.</p> + +<p>The countess, hearing that he had de<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182"></a></span>parted Florence and returned to +his county, was mightily rejoiced and abode at Florence till her time +came to be delivered, when she gave birth to two male children, most +like their father, and let rear them with all diligence. Whenas it +seemed to her time, she set out and came, without being known of any, +to Montpellier, where having rested some days and made enquiry of the +count and where he was, she learned that he was to hold a great +entertainment of knights and ladies at Roussillon on All Saints' Day +and betook herself thither, still in her pilgrim's habit that she was +wont to wear. Finding the knights and ladies assembled in the count's +palace and about to sit down to table, she went up, with her children +in her arms and without changing her dress, into the banqueting hall +and making her way between man and man whereas she saw the count, cast +herself at his feet and said, weeping, 'I am thine unhappy wife, who, +to let thee return and abide in thy house, have long gone wandering +miserably about the world. I conjure thee, in the name of God, to +accomplish unto me thy promise upon the condition appointed me by the +two knights I sent thee; for, behold, here in mine arms is not only +one son of thine, but two, and here is thy ring. It is time, then, +that I be received of thee as a wife, according to thy promise.'</p> + +<p>The count, hearing this, was all confounded and recognized the ring +and the children also, so like were they to him; but yet he said, 'How +can this have come to pass?' The countess, then, to his exceeding +wonderment and that of all others who were present, orderly recounted +that which had passed and how it had happened; whereupon the count, +feeling that she spoke sooth and seeing her constancy and wit and +moreover two such goodly children, as well for the observance of his +promise as to pleasure all his liegemen and the ladies, who all +besought him thenceforth to receive and honour her as his lawful wife, +put off his obstinate despite and raising the countess to her feet, +embraced her and kissing her, acknowledged her for his lawful wife and +those for his children. Then, letting clothe her in apparel such as +beseemed her quality, to the exceeding joyance of as many as were +there and of all other his vassals who heard the news, he held high +festival, not only all that day, but sundry others, and from that day +forth still honoured her as his bride and his wife and loved and +tendered her over all."</p> + +<hr /> + +<h2><a name="THE_TENTH_STORY3" id="THE_TENTH_STORY3"></a>THE TENTH STORY</h2> + +<div class="sidenote">Day the Third</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="hang">ALIBECH, TURNING HERMIT, IS TAUGHT BY RUSTICO, A MONK, TO +PUT THE DEVIL IN HELL, AND BEING AFTER BROUGHT AWAY THENCE, +BECOMETH NEERBALE HIS WIFE</p></div> + +<p><br /><span class="smcap">Dioneo</span>, who had diligently hearkened to the queen's story, seeing that +it was ended and that it rested with him alone to tell, without +awaiting commandment, smilingly began to speak as follows: "Charming +ladies, maybe you have never heard tell how one putteth the devil in +hell; wherefore,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183"></a></span> without much departing from the tenor of that +whereof you have discoursed all this day, I will e'en tell it you. +Belike, having learned it, you may catch the spirit<a name="FNanchor_202_202" id="FNanchor_202_202"></a><a href="#Footnote_202_202" class="fnanchor">[202]</a> thereof and +come to know that, albeit Love sojourneth liefer in jocund palaces and +luxurious chambers than in the hovels of the poor, yet none the less +doth he whiles make his power felt midmost thick forests and rugged +mountains and in desert caverns; whereby it may be understood that all +things are subject to his puissance.</p> + +<p>To come, then, to the fact, I say that in the city of Capsa in Barbary +there was aforetime a very rich man, who, among his other children, +had a fair and winsome young daughter, by name Alibech. She, not being +a Christian and hearing many Christians who abode in the town mightily +extol the Christian faith and the service of God, one day questioned +one of them in what manner one might avail to serve God with the least +hindrance. The other answered that they best served God who most +strictly eschewed the things of the world, as those did who had +betaken them into the solitudes of the deserts of Thebais. The girl, +who was maybe fourteen years old and very simple, moved by no ordered +desire, but by some childish fancy, set off next morning by stealth +and all alone, to go to the desert of Thebais, without letting any +know her intent. After some days, her desire persisting, she won, with +no little toil, to the deserts in question and seeing a hut afar off, +went thither and found at the door a holy man, who marvelled to see +her there and asked her what she sought. She replied that, being +inspired of God, she went seeking to enter into His service and was +now in quest of one who should teach her how it behoved to serve Him.</p> + +<p>The worthy man, seeing her young and very fair and fearing lest, an he +entertained her, the devil should beguile him, commended her pious +intent and giving her somewhat to eat of roots of herbs and wild +apples and dates and to drink of water, said to her, 'Daughter mine, +not far hence is a holy man, who is a much better master than I of +that which thou goest seeking; do thou betake thyself to him'; and put +her in the way. However, when she reached the man in question, she had +of him the same answer and faring farther, came to the cell of a young +hermit, a very devout and good man, whose name was Rustico and to whom +she made the same request as she had done to the others. He, having a +mind to make a trial of his own constancy, sent her not away, as the +others had done, but received her into his cell, and the night being +come, he made her a little bed of palm-fronds and bade her lie down to +rest thereon. This done, temptations tarried not to give battle to his +powers of resistance and he, finding himself grossly deceived by these +latter, turned tail, without awaiting many assaults, and confessed +himself beaten; then, laying aside devout thoughts and orisons and +mortifications, he fell to revolving in his memory the youth and +beauty of the damsel and bethinking himself what course he should take +with her, so as to win to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184"></a></span> that which he desired of her, without her +taking him for a debauched fellow.</p> + +<p>Accordingly, having sounded her with sundry questions, he found that +she had never known man and was in truth as simple as she seemed; +wherefore he bethought him how, under colour of the service of God, he +might bring her to his pleasures. In the first place, he showeth her +with many words how great an enemy the devil was of God the Lord and +after gave her to understand that the most acceptable service that +could be rendered to God was to put back the devil into hell, whereto +he had condemned him. The girl asked him how this might be done; and +he, 'Thou shalt soon know that; do thou but as thou shalt see me do.' +So saying, he proceeded to put off the few garments he had and abode +stark naked, as likewise did the girl, whereupon he fell on his knees, +as he would pray, and caused her abide over against himself.<a name="FNanchor_203_203" id="FNanchor_203_203"></a><a href="#Footnote_203_203" class="fnanchor">[203]</a></p> + +<p> +E cosí stando, essendo Rustico, piú che mai, nel suo disidero acceso, per lo +vederla cosí bella, venue la resurrezion della carne; la quale riguardando +Alibech, e maravigliatasti, disse: Rustico, quella che cosa è, che io ti +veggio, che cosí si pigne in fuori, e non l' ho io? O figliuola mia, disse +Rustico, questo è il diavolo, di che io t'ho parlato, e vedi tu ora: egli mi dà +grandissima molestia, tanta, che io appena la posso sofferire. Allora disse la +giovane. O lodato sia Iddio, ché io veggio, che io sto meglio, che non stai tu, +ché io non ho cotesto diavolo io. Disse Rustico, tu di vero; ma tu hai un' +altra cosa, che non l'ho io, et haila in iscambio di questo. Disse Alibech: O +che? A cui Rustico disse: Hai l'inferno; e dicoti, che io mi credo, che Dio +t'abbia qui mandata per la salute dell' anima mia; perciòche, se questo diavolo +pur mi darà questa noia, ove tu cogli aver di me tanta pietà, e sofferire, che +io in inferno il rimetta; tu mi darai grandissima consolazione, et a Dio farai +grandissimo piacere, e servigio; se tu per quello fare in queste parti venuta +se; che tu di. La giovane di buona fede rispose O padre mio, poscia che io ho +l'inferno, sia pure quando vi piacerà mettervi il diavolo. Disse allora +Rustico: Figliuola mia benedetta sia tu: andiamo dunque, e rimettiamlovi sí, +che egli poscia mi lasci stare. E cosí detto, menate la giovane sopra uno de' +loro letticelli, le 'nsegnò, come star si dovesse a dover incarcerare quel +maladetto da Dio. La giovane, che mai piú non aveva in inferno messo diavolo +alcuno, per la prima volta sentí un poco di noia; perché ella disse a Rustico. +</p> + +<p> +Per certo, padre mio, mala cosa dee essere questo diavolo, e veramente nimico +di Iddio ché ancora all'inferno, non che altrui duole quando, egli v'è dentro +rimesso. Disse Rustico: Figliuola, egli non averrà sempre cosí: e per fare, che +questo non avvenisse, da sei volte anziche di su il letticel si movesero, ve 'l +rimisero; tantoche per quella volta gli trasser sí la superbia del capo, che +egli si stette volentieri in pace. Ma ritornatagli poi nel seguente tempo piú +volte, e la giovane ubbidente sempre a trargliela si disponesse, avvenne, che +il giuoco le cominciò a piacere; e cominciò a dire a Rustico. Ben veggio, che +il ver dicevano que valenti uomini in Capsa, che il servire a Dio era cosí +dolce cosa, e per certo io non mi ricordo, che mai alcuna altra ne facessi, che +di tanto diletto, e piacere mi fosse, quanto è il rimettere il diavolo in +inferno; e perciò giudico ogn' altra persona, che ad altro che a servire a Dio +attende, essere una bestia. Per la qual cosa essa spesse volte andava a +Rustico, e gli diceva. Padre mio, io son qui venuta per servire a Dio, e non +per istare oziosa; andiamo a rimittere il diavolo in inferno. La qual cosa +faccendo, diceva ella alcuna volta. Rustico, io non so perché il diavolo si +fugga di ninferno, ché s' egli vi stesse cosí volentiere, come l'inferno il +riceve, e tiene; agli non sene uscirebbe mai. Cosí adunque invitando spesso la +giovane Rustico, et al servigio di Dio confortandolo, se la bambagia del +farsetto tratta gli avea, che egli a talora sentiva freddo, che un' altro +sarebbe sudato; e perciò egli incominciò a dire alla giovane, che il diavolo +non era da gastigare, né da rimettere in inferno, se non quando egli per +superbia levasse il capo; e noi, per la grazia, di Dio, l'abbiamo sí sgannato, +che egla priega Iddio di starsi in pace: e cosí alquanto impose di silenzio +alla giovane. La qual, poiche vide che Rustico non la richiedeva a dovere il +diavolo rimittere in inferno, gli disse un giorno. Rustico, se il diavolo tuo è +gastigato, e piú non ti dà noia me il mio ninferno non lascia stare: perché tu +farai bene, che tu col tuo diavolo aiuti ad attutare la rabbia al mio inferno; +come io col mio ninferno ho ajutato a trarre la superbia al tuo diavolo. +</p> + +<div class="notes"> +<p> +<i>Transcriber's Note:</i> The following is a 1886 translation of this passage +by John Payne, printed for the Villon Society by private subscription and for +private circulation only: +</p> + +<p> +Matters standing thus and Rustico being more than ever inflamed in his desires +to see her so fair, there came the resurrection of the flesh, which Alibech +observing and marvelling, 'Rustico,' quoth she, 'what is that I see on thee +which thrusteth forth thus and which I have not?' 'Faith, daughter mine,' +answered he, 'this is the devil whereof I bespoke thee; and see now, he giveth +me such sore annoy that I can scarce put up with it.' Then said the girl, 'Now +praised be God! I see I fare better than thou, in that I have none of yonder +devil.' 'True,' rejoined Rustico; 'but thou hast otherwhat that I have not, and +thou hast it instead of this.' 'What is that?' asked Alibech; and he, 'Thou +hast hell, and I tell thee methinketh God hath sent thee hither for my soul's +health, for that, whenas this devil doth me this annoy, an it please thee have +so much compassion on me as to suffer me put him back into hell, thou wilt give +me the utmost solacement and wilt do God a very great pleasure and service, so +indeed thou be come into these parts to do as thou sayst.' +</p> + +<p> +The girl answered in good faith, 'Marry, father mine, since I have hell, be it +whensoever it pleaseth thee;' whereupon quoth Rustico, 'Daughter, blessed be +thou; let us go then and put him back there, so he may after leave me in +peace.' So saying, he laid her on one of their little beds and taught her how +she should do to imprison that accursed one of God. The girl, who had never yet +put any devil in hell, for the first time felt some little pain; wherefore she +said to Rustico, 'Certes, father mine, this same devil must be an ill thing and +an enemy in very deed of God, for that it irketh hell itself, let be otherwhat, +when he is put back therein.' 'Daughter,' answered Rustico, 'it will not always +happen thus;' and to the end that this should not happen, six times, or ever +they stirred from the bed, they put him in hell again, insomuch that for the +nonce they so took the conceit out of his head that he willingly abode at +peace. But, it returning to him again and again the ensuing days and the +obedient girl still lending herself to take it out of him, it befell that the +sport began to please her and she said to Rustico, 'I see now that those good +people in Capsa spoke sooth, when they avouched that it was so sweet a thing to +serve God; for, certes, I remember me not to have ever done aught that afforded +me such pleasance and delight as putting the devil in hell; wherefore +methinketh that whoso applieth himself unto aught other than God His service is +a fool.' +</p> + +<p> +Accordingly, she came ofttimes to Rustico and said to him, 'Father mine, I came +here to serve God and not to abide idle; let us go put the devil in hell.' +Which doing, she said whiles, 'Rustico, I know not why the devil fleeth away +from hell; for, an he abode there as willingly as hell receiveth him and +holdeth him, he would never come forth therefrom.' The girl, then, on this wise +often inviting Rustico and exhorting him to the service of God, so took the +bombast out of his doublet that he felt cold what time another had sweated; +wherefore he fell to telling her that the devil was not to be chastised nor put +into hell, save whenas he should lift up his head for pride; 'and we,' added +he, 'by God's grace, have so baffled him that he prayeth our Lord to suffer him +abide in peace;' and on this wise he for awhile imposed silence on her. +However, when she saw that he required her not of putting the devil in hell, +she said to him one day, 'Rustico, an thy devil be chastened and give thee no +more annoy, my hell letteth me not be; wherefore thou wilt do well to aid me +with thy devil in abating the raging of my hell, even as with my hell I have +helped thee take the conceit out of thy devil.' +</p> +</div> + +<p>Rustico, who lived on roots and water, could ill avail to answer her +calls and told her that it would need overmany devils to appease hell, +but he would do what he might thereof. Accordingly he satisfied her +bytimes, but so seldom it was but casting a bean into the lion's +mouth; whereas the girl, herseeming she served not God as diligently +as she would fain have done, murmured somewhat. But, whilst this +debate was toward between Rustico his devil and Alibech her hell, for +overmuch desire on the one part and lack of power on the other, it +befell that a fire broke out in Capsa and burnt Alibech's father in +his own house, with as many children and other family as he had; by +reason whereof she abode heir to all his good. Thereupon, a young man +called Neerbale, who had spent all his substance in gallantry, hearing +that she was alive, set out in search of her and finding her, before +the court<a name="FNanchor_204_204" id="FNanchor_204_204"></a><a href="#Footnote_204_204" class="fnanchor">[204]</a> had laid hands upon her father's estate, as that of a +man dying without heir, to Rustico's great satisfaction, but against +her own will, brought her back to Capsa, where he took her to wife and +succeeded, in her right, to the ample inheritance of her father.</p> + +<p>There, being asked by the women at what she served God in the desert, +she answered (Neerbale having not yet lain with her) that she served +Him at putting the devil in hell and that Neerbale had done a grievous +sin in that he had taken her from such service. The ladies asked, 'How +putteth one the devil in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186"></a></span> hell?' And the girl, what with words and +what with gestures, expounded it to them; whereat they set up so great +a laughing that they laugh yet and said, 'Give yourself no concern, my +child; nay, for that is done here also and Neerbale will serve our +Lord full well with thee at this.' Thereafter, telling it from one to +another throughout the city, they brought it to a common saying there +that the most acceptable service one could render to God was to put +the devil in hell, which byword, having passed the sea hither, is yet +current here. Wherefore do all you young ladies, who have need of +God's grace, learn to put the devil in hell, for that this is highly +acceptable to Him and pleasing to both parties and much good may grow +and ensue thereof."</p> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p>A thousand times or more had Dioneo's story moved the modest ladies to +laughter, so quaint and comical did his words appear to them; then, +whenas he had made an end thereof, the queen, knowing the term of her +sovranty to be come, lifted the laurel from her head and set it +merrily on that of Filostrato, saying: "We shall presently see if the +wolf will know how to govern the ewes better than the ewes have +governed the wolves." Filostrato, hearing this, said, laughing, "An I +were hearkened to, the wolves had taught the ewes to put the devil in +hell, no worse than Rustico taught Alibech; wherefore do ye not style +us wolven, since you yourselves have not been ewen. Algates, I will +govern the kingdom committed to me to the best of my power." "Harkye, +Filostrato," rejoined Neifile, "in seeking to teach us, you might have +chanced to learn sense, even as did Masetto of Lamporecchio of the +nuns, and find your tongue what time your bones should have learnt to +whistle without a master."</p> + +<p>Filostrato, finding that he still got a Roland for his Oliver,<a name="FNanchor_205_205" id="FNanchor_205_205"></a><a href="#Footnote_205_205" class="fnanchor">[205]</a> +gave over pleasantry and addressed himself to the governance of the +kingdom committed to him. Wherefore, letting call the seneschal, he +was fain to know at what point things stood all and after discreetly +ordained that which he judged would be well and would content the +company for such time as his seignory should endure. Then, turning to +the ladies, "Lovesome ladies," quoth he, "since I knew good from evil, +I have, for my ill fortune, been still subject unto Love for the +charms of one or other of you; nor hath humility neither obedience, +no, nor the assiduous ensuing him in all his usances, in so far as it +hath been known of me, availed me but that first I have been abandoned +for another and after have still gone from bad to worse; and so I +believe I shall fare unto my death; wherefore it pleaseth me that it +be discoursed to-morrow of none other matter than that which is most +conformable to mine own case, to wit, OF THOSE WHOSE LOVES HAVE HAD +UNHAPPY ENDING, for that I in the long run look for a most unhappy +[issue to mine own]; nor was the name by which you call me conferred +on me for otherwhat<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187"></a></span> by such an one who knew well what it meant."<a name="FNanchor_206_206" id="FNanchor_206_206"></a><a href="#Footnote_206_206" class="fnanchor">[206]</a> +So saying, he rose to his feet and dismissed every one until +supper-time.</p> + +<p>The garden was so goodly and so delightsome that there was none who +elected to go forth thereof, in the hope of finding more pleasance +elsewhere. Nay, the sun, now grown mild, making it nowise irksome to +give chase to the fawns and kids and rabbits and other beasts which +were thereabout and which, as they sat, had come maybe an hundred +times to disturb them by skipping through their midst, some addressed +themselves to pursue them. Dioneo and Fiammetta fell to singing of +Messer Guglielmo and the Lady of Vergiu,<a name="FNanchor_207_207" id="FNanchor_207_207"></a><a href="#Footnote_207_207" class="fnanchor">[207]</a> whilst Filomena and +Pamfilo sat down to chess; and so, some doing one thing and some +another, the time passed on such wise that the hour of supper came +well nigh unlooked for; whereupon, the tables being set round about +the fair fountain, they supped there in the evening with the utmost +delight.</p> + +<p>As soon as the tables were taken away, Filostrato, not to depart from +the course holden of those who had been queens before him, commanded +Lauretta to lead up a dance and sing a song. "My lord," answered she, +"I know none of other folk's songs, nor have I in mind any of mine own +which should best beseem so joyous a company; but, an you choose one +of those which I have, I will willingly sing it." Quote the king, +"Nothing of thine can be other than goodly and pleasing; wherefore +sing us such as thou hast." Lauretta, then, with a sweet voice enough, +but in a somewhat plaintive style, began thus, the other ladies +answering:</p> + +<p class="cpoem"> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">No maid disconsolate</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Hath cause as I, alack!</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Who sigh for love in vain, to mourn her fate.</span><br /> +<br /> +He who moves heaven and all the stars in air<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Made me for His delight</span><br /> +Lovesome and sprightly, kind and debonair,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">E'en here below to give each lofty spright</span><br /> +Some inkling of that fair<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">That still in heaven abideth in His sight;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">But erring men's unright,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Ill knowing me, my worth</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">Accepted not, nay, with dispraise did bate.</span><br /> +<br /> +Erst was there one who held me dear and fain<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Took me, a youngling maid,</span><br /> +Into his arms and thought and heart and brain,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Caught fire at my sweet eyes; yea time, unstayed</span><br /> +Of aught, that flits amain<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">And lightly, all to wooing me he laid.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">I, courteous, nought gainsaid</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">And held<a name="FNanchor_208_208" id="FNanchor_208_208"></a><a href="#Footnote_208_208" class="fnanchor">[208]</a> him worthy me;</span><br /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188"></a></span><span style="margin-left: 3em;">But now, woe's me, of him I'm desolate.</span><br /> +<br /> +Then unto me there did himself present<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">A youngling proud and haught,</span><br /> +Renowning him for valorous and gent;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">He took and holds me and with erring thought<a name="FNanchor_209_209" id="FNanchor_209_209"></a><a href="#Footnote_209_209" class="fnanchor">[209]</a></span><br /> +To jealousy is bent;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Whence I, alack! nigh to despair am wrought,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">As knowing myself,—brought</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Into this world for good</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">Of many an one,—engrossed of one sole mate.</span><br /> +<br /> +The luckless hour I curse, in very deed,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">When I, alas! said yea,</span><br /> +Vesture to change,—so fair in that dusk wede<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">I was and glad, whereas in this more gay</span><br /> +A weary life I lead,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Far less than erst held honest, welaway!</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Ah, dolorous bridal day,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Would God I had been dead</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">Or e'er I proved thee in such ill estate!</span><br /> +<br /> +O lover dear, with whom well pleased was I<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Whilere past all that be,—</span><br /> +Who now before Him sittest in the sky<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Who fashioned us,—have pity upon me</span><br /> +Who cannot, though I die,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Forget thee for another; cause me see</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">The flame that kindled thee</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">For me lives yet unquenched</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">And my recall up thither<a name="FNanchor_210_210" id="FNanchor_210_210"></a><a href="#Footnote_210_210" class="fnanchor">[210]</a> impetrate.</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>Here Lauretta made an end of her song, wherein, albeit attentively +followed of all, she was diversely apprehended of divers persons, and +there were those who would e'en understand, Milan-fashion, that a good +hog was better than a handsome wench;<a name="FNanchor_211_211" id="FNanchor_211_211"></a><a href="#Footnote_211_211" class="fnanchor">[211]</a> but others were of a +loftier and better and truer apprehension, whereof it booteth not to +tell at this present. Thereafter the king let kindle store of +flambeaux upon the grass and among the flowers and caused sing divers +other songs, until every star began to decline, that was above the +horizon, when, deeming it time for sleep, he bade all with a good +night betake themselves to their chambers.</p> + + +<p class="center"><br /> +<b>HERE ENDETH THE THIRD DAY<br /> +OF THE DECAMERON</b> +</p> + + + +<hr class="long" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189"></a></span></p> +<h1><a name="Day_the_Fourth" id="Day_the_Fourth"></a><i>Day the Fourth</i></h1> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="hang"><span class="lgsmcap">Here Beginneth the Fourth Day of the Decameron Wherein Under +the Governance of Filostrato Is Discoursed of Those Whose +Loves Have Had Unhappy Endings</span></p></div> + + +<p><br /><span class="smcap">Dearest</span> ladies, as well by words of wise men heard as by things many a +time both seen and read of myself, I had conceived that the boisterous +and burning blast of envy was apt to smite none but lofty towers or +the highest summits of the trees; but I find myself mistaken in my +conceit, for that, fleeing, as I have still studied to flee, from the +cruel onslaught of that raging wind, I have striven to go, not only in +the plains, but in the very deepest of the valleys, as many manifestly +enough appear to whoso considereth these present stories, the which +have been written by me, not only in vulgar Florentine and in prose +and without [author's] name, but eke in as humble and sober a style as +might be. Yet for all this have I not availed to escape being cruelly +shaken, nay, well nigh uprooted, of the aforesaid wind and all torn of +the fangs of envy; wherefore I can very manifestly understand that to +be true which the wise use to say, to wit, that misery alone in things +present is without envy.<a name="FNanchor_212_212" id="FNanchor_212_212"></a><a href="#Footnote_212_212" class="fnanchor">[212]</a></p> + +<p>There are then, discreet ladies, some who, reading these stories, have +said that you please me overmuch and that it is not a seemly thing +that I should take so much delight in pleasuring and solacing you; and +some have said yet worse of commending you as I do. Others, making a +show of wishing to speak more maturely, have said that it sorteth ill +with mine age henceforth to follow after things of this kind, to wit, +to discourse of women or to study to please them. And many, feigning +themselves mighty tender of my repute, avouch that I should do more +wisely to abide with the Muses on Parnassus than to busy myself among +you with these toys. Again, there be some who, speaking more +despitefully than advisedly, have said that I should do more +discreetly to consider whence I might get me bread than to go peddling +after these baubles, feeding upon wind; and certain others, in +disparagement of my pains, study to prove the things recounted by me +to have been otherwise than as I present them to you.</p> + +<p>With such, then, and so many blusterings,<a name="FNanchor_213_213" id="FNanchor_213_213"></a><a href="#Footnote_213_213" class="fnanchor">[213]</a> such atrocious +backbitings, such needle-pricks, noble ladies, am I, what while I +battle in your service, baffled and buffeted and transfixed even to +the quick. The which things, God knoweth, I hear and apprehend with an +untroubled mind; and albeit my defence in this pertaineth altogether +unto you, natheless, I purpose not to spare mine own pains; nay, +without answering so much [at large] as it might behove, I mean to rid +mine ears of them with<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190"></a></span> some slight rejoinder, and that without delay; +for that if even now, I being not yet come to<a name="FNanchor_214_214" id="FNanchor_214_214"></a><a href="#Footnote_214_214" class="fnanchor">[214]</a> the third part of +my travail, they<a name="FNanchor_215_215" id="FNanchor_215_215"></a><a href="#Footnote_215_215" class="fnanchor">[215]</a> are many and presume amain, I opine that, ere I +come to the end thereof, they may, having had no rebuff at the first, +on such wise be multiplied that with whatsoever little pains of theirs +they might overthrow me, nor might your powers, great though they be, +avail to withstand this.</p> + +<p>But, ere I come to make answer to any of them, it pleaseth me, in mine +own defence, to relate, not an entire story,—lest it should seem I +would fain mingle mine own stories with those of so commendable a +company as that which I have presented to you,—but a part of +one,—that so its very default [of completeness] may attest that it is +none of those,—and accordingly, speaking to my assailants, I say that +in our city, a good while agone, there was a townsman, by name Filippo +Balducci, a man of mean enough extraction, but rich and well addressed +and versed in such matters as his condition comported. He had a wife, +whom he loved with an exceeding love, as she him, and they lived a +peaceful life together, studying nothing so much as wholly to please +one another. In course of time it came to pass, as it cometh to pass +of all, that the good lady departed this life and left Filippo nought +of herself but one only son, begotten of him and maybe two years old. +Filippo for the death of his lady abode as disconsolate as ever man +might, having lost a beloved one, and seeing himself left alone and +forlorn of that company which most he loved, he resolved to be no more +of the world, but to give himself altogether to the service of God and +do the like with his little son. Wherefore, bestowing all his good for +the love of God,<a name="FNanchor_216_216" id="FNanchor_216_216"></a><a href="#Footnote_216_216" class="fnanchor">[216]</a> he repaired without delay to the top of Mount +Asinajo, where he took up his abode with his son in a little hut and +there living with him upon alms, in the practice of fasts and prayers, +straitly guarded himself from discoursing whereas the boy was, of any +temporal thing, neither suffered him see aught thereof, lest this +should divert him from the service aforesaid, but still bespoke him of +the glories of life eternal and of God and the saints, teaching him +nought but pious orisons; and in this way of life he kept him many +years, never suffering him go forth of the hermitage nor showing him +aught other than himself.</p> + +<p>Now the good man was used to come whiles into Florence, where being +succoured, according to his occasions, of the friends of God, he +returned to his hut, and it chanced one day that, his son being now +eighteen years old and Filippo an old man, the lad asked him whither +he went. Filippo told him and the boy said, "Father mine, you are now +an old man and can ill endure fatigue; why do you not whiles carry me +to Florence and bring me to know the friends and devotees of God and +yourself, to the end that I, who am young and better able to toil than +you, may after, whenas it pleaseth you, go to Florence for our +occasions, whilst you abide here?" The worthy man, considering that +his son was now grown to man's estate and thinking him so in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191"></a></span>ured to +the service of God that the things of this world might thenceforth +uneath allure him to themselves, said in himself, "The lad saith +well"; and accordingly, having occasion to go thither, he carried him +with him. There the youth, seeing the palaces, the houses, the +churches and all the other things whereof one seeth all the city full, +began, as one who had never to his recollection beheld the like, to +marvel amain and questioned his father of many things what they were +and how they were called. Filippo told him and he, hearing him, abode +content and questioned of somewhat else.</p> + +<p>As they went thus, the son asking and the father answering, they +encountered by chance a company of pretty and well-dressed young +women, coming from a wedding, whom as soon as the young man saw, he +asked his father what manner of things these were. "My son," answered +Filippo, "cast your eyes on the ground and look not at them, for that +they are an ill thing." Quoth the son, "And how are they called?" The +father, not to awaken in the lad's mind a carnal appetite less than +useful, would not name them by the proper name, to wit, women, but +said, "They are called green geese." Whereupon, marvellous to relate, +he who have never seen a woman and who recked not of palaces nor oxen +nor horses nor asses nor monies nor of aught else he had seen, said +suddenly, "Father mine, I prithee get me one of these green geese." +"Alack, my son," replied the father, "hold they peace; I tell thee +they are an ill thing." "How!" asked the youth. "Are ill things then +made after this fashion?" and Filippo answered, "Ay." Then said the +son, "I know not what you would say nor why these are an ill thing; +for my part, meseemeth I never yet saw aught goodly or pleasing as are +these. They are fairer than the painted angels you have shown me +whiles. For God's sake, an you reck of me, contrive that we may carry +one of yonder green geese back with us up yonder, and I will give it +to eat." "Nay," answered the father, "I will not: thou knowest not +whereon they feed." And he understood incontinent that nature was +stronger than his wit and repented him of having brought the youth to +Florence. But I will have it suffice me to have told this much of the +present story and return to those for whose behoof I have related it.</p> + +<p>Some, then, of my censurers say that I do ill, young ladies, in +studying overmuch to please you and that you please me overmuch. Which +things I do most openly confess, to wit, that you please me and that I +study to please you, and I ask them if they marvel +thereat,—considering (let be the having known the dulcet kisses and +amorous embracements and delightsome couplings that are of you, most +sweet ladies, often gotten) only my having seen and still seeing your +dainty manners and lovesome beauty and sprightly grace and above all +your womanly courtesy,—whenas he who had been reared and bred on a +wild and solitary mountain and within the bounds of a little cell, +without other company than his father, no sooner set eyes on you than +you alone were desired of him, you alone sought, you alone followed +with the eagerness of passion. Will they, then, blame me, back bite +me, rend me with<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192"></a></span> their tongues if I, whose body Heaven created all +apt to love you, I, who from my childhood vowed my soul to you, +feeling the potency of the light of your eyes and the sweetness of +your honeyed words and the flame enkindled by your piteous sighs,—if, +I say, you please me or if I study to please you, seeing that you over +all else pleased a hermitling, a lad without understanding, nay, +rather, a wild animal? Certes, it is only those, who, having neither +sense nor cognizance of the pleasures and potency of natural +affection, love you not nor desire to be loved of you, that chide me +thus; and of these I reck little.</p> + +<p>As for those who go railing anent mine age, it would seem they know +ill that, for all the leek hath a white head, the tail thereof is +green. But to these, laying aside pleasantry, I answer that never, no, +not to the extreme limit of my life, shall I repute it to myself for +shame to seek to please those whom Guido Cavalcanti and Dante +Alighieri, when already stricken in years, and Messer Cino da Pistoja, +when a very old man, held in honour and whose approof was dear to +them. And were it not to depart from the wonted usance of discourse, I +would cite history in support and show it to be all full of stories of +ancient and noble men who in their ripest years have still above all +studied to please the ladies, the which an they know not, let them go +learn. That I should abide with the Muses on Parnassus, I confess to +be good counsel; but, since we can neither abide for ever with the +Muses, nor they with us, it is nothing blameworthy if, whenas it +chanceth a man is parted from them, he take delight in seeing that +which is like unto them. The muses are women, and albeit women may not +avail to match with them, yet at first sight they have a semblance of +them; insomuch that, an they pleased me not for aught else, for this +they should please me; more by token that women have aforetime been to +me the occasion of composing a thousand verses, whereas the Muses +never were to me the occasion of making any. They aided me, indeed, +and showed me how to compose the verses in question; and peradventure, +in the writing of these present things, all lowly though they be, they +have come whiles to abide with me, in token maybe and honour of the +likeness that women bear to them; wherefore, in inditing these toys, I +stray not so far from Mount Parnassus nor from the Muses as many +belike conceive.</p> + +<p>But what shall we say to those who have such compassion on my hunger +that they counsel me provide myself bread? Certes, I know not, save +that, whenas I seek to imagine in myself what would be their answer, +an I should of necessity beseech them thereof, to wit, of bread, +methinketh they would reply, "Go seek it among thy fables." Indeed, +aforetime poets have found more thereof among their fables than many a +rich man among his treasures, and many, following after their fables, +have caused their age to flourish; whereas, on the contrary, many, in +seeking to have more bread than they needed, have perished miserably. +What more [shall I say?] Let them drive me forth, whenas I ask it of +them, not that, Godamercy, I have yet need thereof; and even should +need betide, I know with the Apostle Paul both how to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193"></a></span> abound and +suffer need;<a name="FNanchor_217_217" id="FNanchor_217_217"></a><a href="#Footnote_217_217" class="fnanchor">[217]</a> wherefore let none be more careful of me than I am +of myself. For those who say that these things have not been such as I +have here set them down, I would fain have them produce the originals, +and an these latter accord not with that of which I write, I will +confess their objection for just and will study to amend myself; but +till otherwhat than words appeareth, I will leave them to their +opinion and follow mine own, saying of them that which they say of me.</p> + +<p>Wherefore, deeming that for the nonce I have answered enough, I say +that, armed, as I hope to be, with God's aid and yours, gentlest +ladies, and with fair patience, I will fare on with this that I have +begun, turning my back to the wind aforesaid and letting it blow, for +that I see not that aught can betide me other than that which betideth +thin dust, the which a whirlwind, whenas it bloweth, either stirreth +not from the earth, or, an it stir it, carrieth it aloft and leaveth +it oftentimes upon the heads of men and upon the crowns of kings and +emperors, nay, bytimes upon high palaces and lofty towers, whence an +it fall, it cannot go lower than the place wherefrom it was uplifted. +And if ever with all my might I vowed myself to seek to please you in +aught, now more than ever shall I address myself thereto; for that I +know none can with reason say otherwhat than that I and others who +love you do according to nature, whose laws to seek to gainstand +demandeth overgreat strength, and oftentimes not only in vain, but to +the exceeding hurt of whoso striveth to that end, is this strength +employed. Such strength I confess I have not nor ever desired in this +to have; and an I had it, I had liefer lend it to others than use it +for myself. Wherefore, let the carpers be silent and an they avail not +to warm themselves, let them live star-stricken<a name="FNanchor_218_218" id="FNanchor_218_218"></a><a href="#Footnote_218_218" class="fnanchor">[218]</a> and abiding in +their delights—or rather their corrupt appetites,—leave me to abide +in mine for this brief life that is appointed me. But now, fair +ladies, for that we have strayed enough, needs must we return whence +we set out and ensue the ordinance commenced.</p> + +<p>The sun had already banished every star from the sky and had driven +from the earth the humid vapours of the night, when Filostrato, +arising, caused all his company arise and with them betook himself to +the fair garden, where they all proceeded to disport themselves, and +the eating-hour come, they dined whereas they had supped on the +foregoing evening. Then, after having slept, what time the sun was at +its highest, they seated themselves, after the wonted fashion, hard by +the fair fountain, and Filostrato bade Fiammetta give beginning to the +story-telling; whereupon, without awaiting further commandment, she +began with womanly grace as follows:</p> + + + +<hr class="short" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194"></a></span></p> +<h2><a name="THE_FIRST_STORY4" id="THE_FIRST_STORY4"></a>THE FIRST STORY</h2> + +<div class="sidenote">Day the Fourth</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="hang">TANCRED, PRINCE OF SALERNO, SLAYETH HIS DAUGHTER'S LOVER AND +SENDETH HER HIS HEART IN A BOWL OF GOLD; WHEREUPON, POURING +POISONED WATER OVER IT, SHE DRINKETH THEREOF AND DIETH</p></div> + + +<p><br /><span class="smcap">"Our</span> king hath this day appointed us a woeful subject of discourse, +considering that, whereas we came hither to make merry, needs must we +tell of others' tears, the which may not be recounted without moving +both those who tell and those who hearken to compassion thereof. He +hath mayhap done this somedele to temper the mirth of the foregoing +days; but, whatsoever may have moved him thereto, since it pertaineth +not to me to change his pleasure, I will relate a piteous chance, nay, +an ill-fortuned and a worthy of your tears.</p> + +<p>Tancred, Lord of Salerno, was a humane prince and benign enough of +nature, (had he not in his old age imbrued his hands in lover's +blood,) who in all the course of his life had but one daughter, and +happier had he been if he had none. She was of him as tenderly loved +as ever daughter of father, and knowing not, by reason of this his +tender love for her, how to part with her, he married her not till she +had long overpassed the age when she should have had a husband. At +last, he gave her to wife to a son of the Duke of Capua, with whom +having abidden a little while, she was left a widow and returned to +her father. Now she was most fair of form and favour, as ever was +woman, and young and sprightly and learned perchance more than is +required of a lady. Abiding, then, with her father in all ease and +luxury, like a great lady as she was, and seeing that, for the love he +bore her, he recked little of marrying her again, nor did it seem to +her a seemly thing to require him thereof, she bethought herself to +seek, an it might be, to get her privily a worthy lover. She saw men +galore, gentle and simple, frequent her father's court, and +considering the manners and fashions of many, a young serving-man of +her father's, Guiscardo by name, a man of humble enough extraction, +but nobler of worth and manners than whatsoever other, pleased her +over all and of him, seeing him often, she became in secret ardently +enamoured, approving more and more his fashions every hour; whilst the +young man, who was no dullard, perceiving her liking for him, received +her into his heart, on such wise that his mind was thereby diverted +from well nigh everything other than the love of her.</p> + +<p>Each, then, thus secretly tendering the other, the young lady, who +desired nothing so much as to foregather with him, but had no mind to +make any one a confidant of her passion, bethought herself of a rare +device to apprize him of the means; to wit, she wrote him a letter, +wherein she showed him how he should do to foregather with her on the +ensuing day, and placing it in the hollow of a cane, gave the letter +jestingly to Guiscardo, saying, 'Make thee a bellows thereof for thy +serving-maid, wherewith she may blow up the fire to-night.' Guiscardo +took the cane and bethinking himself that she would not<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195"></a></span> have given it +him nor spoken thus, without some cause, took his leave and returned +therewith to his lodging. There he examined the cane and seeing it to +be cleft, opened it and found therein the letter, which having read +and well apprehended that which he had to do, he was the joyfullest +man alive and set about taking order how he might go to her, according +to the fashion appointed him of her.</p> + +<p>There was, beside the prince's palace, a grotto hewn out of the rock +and made in days long agone, and to this grotto some little light was +given by a tunnel<a name="FNanchor_219_219" id="FNanchor_219_219"></a><a href="#Footnote_219_219" class="fnanchor">[219]</a> by art wrought in the mountain, which latter, +for that the grotto was abandoned, was well nigh blocked at its mouth +with briers and weeds that had overgrown it. Into this grotto one +might go by a privy stair which was in one of the ground floor rooms +of the lady's apartment in the palace and which was shut in by a very +strong door. This stair was so out of all folk's minds, for that it +had been unused from time immemorial, that well nigh none remembered +it to be there; but Love, to whose eyes there is nothing so secret but +it winneth, had recalled it to the memory of the enamoured lady, who, +that none should get wind of the matter, had laboured sore many days +with such tools as she might command, ere she could make shift to open +the door; then, going down alone thereby into the grotto and seeing +the tunnel, she sent to bid Guiscardo study to come to her thereby and +acquainted him with the height which herseemed should be from the +mouth thereof to the ground.</p> + +<p>To this end Guiscardo promptly made ready a rope with certain knots +and loops, whereby he might avail to descend and ascend, and donning a +leathern suit, that might defend him from the briers, he on the +ensuing night repaired, without letting any know aught of the matter, +to the mouth of the tunnel. There making one end of the rope fast to a +stout tree-stump that had grown up in the mouth, he let himself down +thereby into the grotto and there awaited the lady, who, on the +morrow, feigning a desire to sleep, dismissed her women and shut +herself up alone in her chamber; then, opening the privy door, she +descended into the grotto, where she found Guiscardo. They greeted one +another with marvellous joy and betook themselves to her chamber, +where they abode great part of the day in the utmost delight; and +after they had taken order together for the discreet conduct of their +loves, so they might abide secret, Guiscardo returned to the grotto, +whilst she shut the privy door and went forth to her women. The night +come, Guiscardo climbed up by his rope to the mouth of the tunnel and +issuing forth whence he had entered in, returned to his lodging; and +having learned this road, he in process of time returned many times +thereafter.</p> + +<p>But fortune, jealous of so long and so great a delight, with a woeful +chance changed the gladness of the two lovers into mourning and +sorrow; and it befell on this wise. Tancred was wont to come bytimes +all alone into his daughter's chamber and there abide with her and +converse awhile and after go away. Accordingly, one day, after dinner, +he came thither, what time the lady (whose name was Ghismonda) was in +a garden of hers with all her women, and willing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196"></a></span> not to take her from +her diversion, he entered her chamber, without being seen or heard of +any. Finding the windows closed and the curtains let down over the +bed, he sat down in a corner on a hassock at the bedfoot and leant his +head against the bed; then, drawing the curtain over himself, as if he +had studied to hide himself there, he fell asleep. As he slept thus, +Ghismonda, who, as ill chance would have it, had appointed her lover +to come thither that day, softly entered the chamber, leaving her +women in the garden, and having shut herself in, without perceiving +that there was some one there, opened the secret door to Guiscardo, +who awaited her. They straightway betook themselves to bed, as of +their wont, and what while they sported and solaced themselves +together, it befell that Tancred awoke and heard and saw that which +Guiscardo and his daughter did; whereat beyond measure grieved, at +first he would have cried out at them, but after bethought himself to +keep silence and abide, an he might, hidden, so with more secrecy and +less shame to himself he might avail to do that which had already +occurred to his mind.</p> + +<p>The two lovers abode a great while together, according to their +usance, without observing Tancred, and coming down from the bed, +whenas it seemed to them time, Guiscardo returned to the grotto and +she departed the chamber; whereupon Tancred, for all he was an old +man, let himself down into the garden by a window and returned, unseen +of any, to his own chamber, sorrowful unto death. That same night, at +the time of the first sleep, Guiscardo, by his orders, was seized by +two men, as he came forth of the tunnel, and carried secretly, trussed +as he was in his suit of leather, to Tancred, who, whenas he saw him, +said, well nigh weeping, 'Guiscardo, my kindness to thee merited not +the outrage and the shame thou hast done me in mine own flesh and +blood, as I have this day seen with my very eyes.' Whereto Guiscardo +answered nothing but this, 'Love can far more than either you or I.' +Tancred then commanded that he should be kept secretly under guard and +in one of the chambers of the palace, and so was it done.</p> + +<p>On the morrow, having meanwhile revolved in himself many and divers +devices, he betook himself, after eating, as of his wont, to his +daughter's chamber and sending for the lady, who as yet knew nothing +of these things, shut himself up with her and proceeded, with tears in +his eyes, to bespeak her thus: 'Ghismonda, meseemed I knew thy virtue +and thine honesty, nor might it ever have occurred to my mind, though +it were told me, had I not seen it with mine own eyes, that thou +wouldst, even so much as in thought, have abandoned thyself to any +man, except he were thy husband; wherefore in this scant remnant of +life that my eld reserveth unto me, I shall still abide sorrowful, +remembering me of this. Would God, an thou must needs stoop to such +wantonness, thou hadst taken a man sortable to thy quality! But, +amongst so many who frequent my court, thou hast chosen Guiscardo, a +youth of the meanest condition, reared in our court, well nigh of +charity, from a little child up to this day; wherefore thou hast put +me in sore travail of mind, for that I know not what course to take +with thee. With Guiscardo, whom I caused take<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197"></a></span> yesternight, as he +issued forth of the tunnel and have in ward, I am already resolved how +to deal; but with thee God knoweth I know not what to do. On one side +love draweth me, which I still borne thee more than father ever bore +daughter, and on the other most just despite, conceived for thine +exceeding folly; the one would have me pardon thee, the other would +have me, against my nature, deal harshly by thee. But ere I come to a +decision, I would fain hear what thou hast to say to this.' So saying, +he bowed his head and wept sore as would a beaten child.</p> + +<p>Ghismonda, hearing her father's words and seeing that not only was her +secret love discovered, but Guiscardo taken, felt an inexpressible +chagrin and came many a time near upon showing it with outcry and +tears, as women mostly do; nevertheless, her haughty soul +overmastering that weakness, with marvellous fortitude she composed +her countenance and rather than proffer any prayer for herself, +determined inwardly to abide no more on life, doubting not but her +Guiscardo was already dead. Wherefore, not as a woman rebuked and +woeful for her default, but as one undaunted and valiant, with dry +eyes and face open and nowise troubled, she thus bespoke her father: +'Tancred, I purpose neither to deny nor to entreat, for that the one +would profit me nothing nor would I have the other avail me; more by +token that I am nowise minded to seek to render thy mansuetude and +thine affection favourable to me, but rather, confessing the truth, +first with true arguments to vindicate mine honour and after with +deeds right resolutely to ensue the greatness of my soul. True is it I +have loved and love Guiscardo, and what while I live, which will be +little, I shall love him, nor, if folk live after death, shall I ever +leave loving him; but unto this it was not so much my feminine frailty +that moved me as thy little solicitude to remarry me and his own +worth.</p> + +<p>It should have been manifest to thee, Tancred, being as thou art flesh +and blood, that thou hadst begotten a daughter of flesh and blood and +not of iron or stone; and thou shouldst have remembered and should +still remember, for all thou art old, what and what like are the laws +of youth and with what potency they work; nor, albeit thou, being a +man, hast in thy best years exercised thyself in part in arms, +shouldst thou the less know what ease and leisure and luxury can do in +the old, to say nothing of the young. I am, then, as being of thee +begotten, of flesh and blood and have lived so little that I am yet +young and (for the one and the other reason) full of carnal desire, +whereunto the having aforetime, by reason of marriage, known what +pleasure it is to give accomplishment to such desire hath added +marvellous strength. Unable, therefore, to withstand the strength of +my desires, I addressed myself, being young and a woman, to ensue that +whereto they prompted me and became enamoured. And certes in this I +set my every faculty to the endeavouring that, so far as in me lay, no +shame should ensue either to thee or to me through this to which +natural frailty moved me. To this end compassionate Love and favouring +Fortune found and showed me a very occult way, whereby, unknown of +any, I won to my desire, and this, whoever it be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198"></a></span> discovered it to +thee or howsoever thou knowest it, I nowise deny.</p> + +<p>Guiscardo I took not at hazard, as many women do; nay, of deliberate +counsel I chose him before every other and with advisement prepense +drew him to me<a name="FNanchor_220_220" id="FNanchor_220_220"></a><a href="#Footnote_220_220" class="fnanchor">[220]</a> and by dint of perseverance and discretion on my +part and on his, I have long had enjoyment of my desire. Whereof it +seemeth that thou, ensuing rather vulgar prejudice than truth, +reproachest me with more bitterness than of having sinned by way of +love, saying (as if thou shouldst not have been chagrined, had I +chosen therefor a man of gentle birth,) that I have committed myself +with a man of mean condition. Wherein thou seest not that thou blamest +not my default, but that of fortune, which too often advanceth the +unworthy to high estate, leaving the worthiest alow.</p> + +<p>But now let us leave this and look somewhat to the first principles of +things, whereby thou wilt see that we all get our flesh from one same +stock and that all souls were by one same Creator created with equal +faculties, equal powers and equal virtues. Worth it was that first +distinguished between us, who were all and still are born equal; +wherefore those who had and used the greatest sum thereof were called +noble and the rest abode not noble. And albeit contrary usance hath +since obscured this primary law, yet is it nowise done away nor +blotted out from nature and good manners; wherefore he who doth +worthily manifestly showeth himself a gentleman, and if any call him +otherwise, not he who is called, but he who calleth committeth +default. Look among all thy gentlemen and examine into their worth, +their usances and their manners, and on the other hand consider those +of Guiscardo; if thou wilt consent to judge without animosity, thou +wilt say that he is most noble and that these thy nobles are all +churls. With regard to his worth and virtue, I trusted not to the +judgment of any other, but to that of thy words and of mine own eyes. +Who ever so commended him as thou didst in all those praiseworthy +things wherefor a man of worth should be commended? And certes not +without reason; for, if mine eyes deceived me not, there was no praise +given him of thee which I saw him not justify by deeds, and that more +admirably than thy words availed to express; and even had I suffered +any deceit in this, it is by thyself I should have been deceived. An, +then, thou say that I have committed myself with a man of mean +condition, thou sayst not sooth; but shouldst thou say with a poor +man, it might peradventure be conceded thee, to thy shame who hast so +ill known to put a servant of thine and a man of worth in good case; +yet poverty bereaveth not any of gentilesse; nay, rather, wealth it is +that doth this. Many kings, many great princes were once poor and many +who delve and tend sheep were once very rich.</p> + +<p>The last doubt that thou broachest, to wit, what thou shouldst do with +me, drive it away altogether; an thou in thine extreme old age be +disposed to do that which thou usedst not, being young, namely, to +deal cruelly, wreak thy cruelty upon me, who am minded to proffer no +prayer unto thee, as being<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199"></a></span> the prime cause of this sin, if sin it be; +for of this I certify thee, that whatsoever thou hast done or shalt do +with Guiscardo, an thou do not the like with me, mine own hands shall +do it. Now begone; go shed tears with women and waxing cruel, slay him +and me with one same blow, an it seem to thee we have deserved it.'</p> + +<p>The prince knew the greatness of his daughter's soul, but +notwithstanding believed her not altogether so firmly resolved as she +said unto that which her words gave out. Wherefore, taking leave of +her and having laid aside all intent of using rigour against her +person, he thought to cool her fervent love with other's suffering and +accordingly bade Guiscardo's two guardians strangle him without noise +that same night and taking out his heart, bring it to him. They did +even as it was commanded them, and on the morrow the prince let bring +a great and goodly bowl of gold and setting therein Guiscardo's heart, +despatched it to his daughter by the hands of a very privy servant of +his, bidding him say, whenas he gave it her, 'Thy father sendeth thee +this, to solace thee of the thing thou most lovest, even as thou hast +solaced him of that which he loved most.'</p> + +<p>Now Ghismonda, unmoved from her stern purpose, had, after her father's +departure, let bring poisonous herbs and roots and distilled and +reduced them in water, so she might have it at hand, an that she +feared should come to pass. The serving-man coming to her with the +prince's present and message, she took the cup with a steadfast +countenance and uncovered it. Whenas she saw the heart and +apprehended the words of the message, she was throughly certified that +this was Guiscardo's heart and turning her eyes upon the messenger, +said to him, 'No sepulchre less of worth than one of gold had beseemed +a heart such as this; and in this my father hath done discreetly.' So +saying, she set the heart to her lips and kissing it, said, 'Still in +everything and even to this extreme limit of my life have I found my +father's love most tender towards me; but now more than ever; +wherefore do than render him on my part for so great a gift the last +thanks I shall ever have to give him.'</p> + +<p>Then, bending down over the cup, which she held fast, she said, +looking upon the heart, 'Alack, sweetest harbourage of all my +pleasures, accursed be his cruelty who maketh me now to see thee with +the eyes of the body! Enough was it for me at all hours to behold thee +with those of the mind. Thou hast finished thy course and hast +acquitted thyself on such wise as was vouchsafed thee of fortune; thou +art come to the end whereunto each runneth; thou hast left the toils +and miseries of the world, and of thy very enemy thou hast that +sepulchre which thy worth hath merited. There lacked nought to thee to +make thy funeral rites complete save her tears whom in life thou so +lovedst, the which that thou mightest have, God put it into the heart +of my unnatural father to send thee to me and I will give them to +thee, albeit I had purposed to die with dry eyes and visage undismayed +of aught; and having given them to thee, I will without delay so do +that my soul, thou working it,<a name="FNanchor_221_221" id="FNanchor_221_221"></a><a href="#Footnote_221_221" class="fnanchor">[221]</a><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200"></a></span> shall rejoin that soul which thou +erst so dearly guardedst. And in what company could I betake me more +contentedly or with better assurance to the regions unknown than with +it?<a name="FNanchor_222_222" id="FNanchor_222_222"></a><a href="#Footnote_222_222" class="fnanchor">[222]</a> Certain am I that it abideth yet herewithin<a name="FNanchor_223_223" id="FNanchor_223_223"></a><a href="#Footnote_223_223" class="fnanchor">[223]</a> and vieweth +the seats of its delights and mine and as that which I am assured +still loveth me, awaiteth my soul, whereof it is over all beloved.'</p> + +<p>So saying, no otherwise than as she had a fountain of water in her +head, bowing herself over the bowl, without making any womanly outcry, +she began, lamenting, to shed so many and such tears that they were a +marvel to behold, kissing the dead heart the while an infinite number +of times. Her women, who stood about her, understood not what this +heart was nor what her words meant, but, overcome with compassion, +wept all and in vain questioned her affectionately of the cause of her +lament and studied yet more, as best they knew and might, to comfort +her. The lady, having wept as much as herseemed fit, raised her head +and drying her eyes, said, 'O much-loved heart, I have accomplished +mine every office towards thee, nor is there left me aught else to do +save to come with my soul and bear thine company.' So saying, she +called for the vial wherein was the water she had made the day before +and poured the latter into the bowl where was the heart bathed with so +many of her tears; then, setting her mouth thereto without any fear, +she drank it all off and having drunken, mounted, with the cup in her +hand, upon the bed, where composing her body as most decently she +might, she pressed her dead lover's heart to her own and without +saying aught, awaited death.</p> + +<p>Her women, seeing and hearing all this, albeit they knew not what +water this was she had drunken, had sent to tell Tancred everything, +and he, fearing that which came to pass, came quickly down into his +daughter's chamber, where he arrived what time she laid herself on her +bed and addressed himself too late to comfort her with soft words; +but, seeing the extremity wherein she was, he fell a-weeping +grievously; whereupon quoth the lady to him, 'Tancred, keep these +tears against a less desired fate than this of mine and give them not +to me, who desire them not. Who ever saw any, other than thou, lament +for that which he himself hath willed? Nevertheless, if aught yet live +in thee of the love which once thou borest me, vouchsafe me for a last +boon that, since it was not thy pleasure that I should privily and in +secret live with Guiscardo, my body may openly abide with his, +whereassoever thou hast caused cast him dead.' The agony of his grief +suffered not the prince to reply; whereupon the young lady, feeling +herself come to her end, strained the dead heart to her breast and +said, 'Abide ye with God, for I go hence.' Then, closing her eyes and +losing every sense, she departed this life of woe. Such, then, as you +have heard, was the sorrowful ending of the loves of Guiscardo and +Ghismonda, whose bodies Tancred, after much lamentation, too late +repenting him of his cruelty, caused honourably bury in one same +sepulchre, amid the general mourning of all the people of Salerno."</p> + + + +<hr /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201"></a></span></p> +<h2><a name="THE_SECOND_STORY4" id="THE_SECOND_STORY4"></a>THE SECOND STORY</h2> + +<div class="sidenote">Day the Fourth</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="hang">FRA ALBERTO GIVETH A LADY TO BELIEVE THAT THE ANGEL GABRIEL +IS ENAMOURED OF HER AND IN HIS SHAPE LIETH WITH HER SUNDRY +TIMES; AFTER WHICH, FOR FEAR OF HER KINSMEN, HE CASTETH +HIMSELF FORTH OF HER WINDOW INTO THE CANAL AND TAKETH REFUGE +IN THE HOUSE OF A POOR MAN, WHO ON THE MORROW CARRIETH HIM, +IN THE GUISE OF A WILD MAN OF THE WOODS, TO THE PIAZZA, +WHERE, BEING RECOGNIZED, HE IS TAKEN BY HIS BRETHREN AND PUT +IN PRISON</p></div> + + +<p><br /><span class="smcap">The</span> story told by Fiammetta had more than once brought the tears to +the eyes of the ladies her companions; but, it being now finished, the +king with a stern countenance said, "My life would seem to me a little +price to give for half the delight that Guiscardo had with Ghismonda, +nor should any of you ladies marvel thereat, seeing that every hour of +my life I suffer a thousand deaths, nor for all that is a single +particle of delight vouchsafed me. But, leaving be my affairs for the +present, it is my pleasure that Pampinea follow on the order of the +discourse with some story of woeful chances and fortunes in part like +to mine own; which if she ensue like as Fiammetta hath begun, I shall +doubtless begin to feel some dew fallen upon my fire." Pampinea, +hearing the order laid upon her, more by her affection apprehended the +mind of the ladies her companions than that of Filostrato by his +words,<a name="FNanchor_224_224" id="FNanchor_224_224"></a><a href="#Footnote_224_224" class="fnanchor">[224]</a> wherefore, being more disposed to give them some diversion +than to content the king, farther than in the mere letter of his +commandment, she bethought herself to tell a story, that should, +without departing from the proposed theme, give occasion for laughter, +and accordingly began as follows:</p> + +<p>"The vulgar have a proverb to the effect that he who is naught and is +held good may do ill and it is not believed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202"></a></span> of him; the which +affordeth me ample matter for discourse upon that which hath been +proposed to me and at the same time to show what and how great is the +hypocrisy of the clergy, who, with garments long and wide and faces +paled by art and voices humble and meek to solicit the folk, but +exceeding loud and fierce to rebuke in others their own vices, pretend +that themselves by taking and others by giving to them come to +salvation, and to boot, not as men who have, like ourselves, to +purchase paradise, but as in a manner they were possessors and lords +thereof, assign unto each who dieth, according to the sum of the +monies left them by him, a more or less excellent place there, +studying thus to deceive first themselves, an they believe as they +say, and after those who put faith for that matter in their words. +Anent whom, were it permitted me to discover as much as it behoved, I +would quickly make clear to many simple folk that which they keep +hidden under those huge wide gowns of theirs. But would God it might +betide them all of their cozening tricks, as it betided a certain +minor friar, and he no youngling, but held one of the first +casuists<a name="FNanchor_225_225" id="FNanchor_225_225"></a><a href="#Footnote_225_225" class="fnanchor">[225]</a> in Venice; of whom it especially pleaseth me to tell +you, so as peradventure somewhat to cheer your hearts, that are full +of compassion for the death of Ghismonda, with laughter and pleasance.</p> + +<p>There was, then, noble ladies, in Imola, a man of wicked and corrupt +life, who was called Berto della Massa and whose lewd fashions, being +well known of the Imolese, had brought him into such ill savour with +them that there was none in the town who would credit him, even when +he said sooth; wherefore, seeing that his shifts might no longer stand +him in stead there, he removed in desperation to Venice, the +receptacle of every kind of trash, thinking to find there new means of +carrying on his wicked practices. There, as if conscience-stricken for +the evil deeds done by him in the past, feigning himself overcome with +the utmost humility and waxing devouter than any man alive, he went +and turned Minor Friar and styled himself Fra Alberta da Imola; in +which habit he proceeded to lead, to all appearance, a very austere +life, greatly commending abstinence and mortification and never eating +flesh nor drinking wine, whenas he had not thereof that which was to +his liking. In short, scarce was any ware of him when from a thief, a +pimp, a forger, a manslayer, he suddenly became a great preacher, +without having for all that forsworn the vices aforesaid, whenas he +might secretly put them in practice. Moreover, becoming a priest, he +would still, whenas he celebrated mass at the altar, an he were seen +of many, beweep our Saviour's passion, as one whom tears cost little, +whenas he willed it. Brief, what with his preachings and his tears, he +contrived on such wise to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203"></a></span> inveigle the Venetians that he was trustee +and depository of well nigh every will made in the town and guardian +of folk's monies, besides being confessor and counsellor of the most +part of the men and women of the place; and doing thus, from wolf he +was become shepherd and the fame of his sanctity was far greater in +those parts than ever was that of St. Francis at Assisi.</p> + +<p>It chanced one day that a vain simple young lady, by name Madam +Lisetta da Ca<a name="FNanchor_226_226" id="FNanchor_226_226"></a><a href="#Footnote_226_226" class="fnanchor">[226]</a> Quirino, wife of a great merchant who was gone with +the galleys into Flanders, came with other ladies to confess to this +same holy friar, at whose feet kneeling and having, like a true +daughter of Venice as she was (where the women are all +feather-brained), told him part of her affairs, she was asked of him +if she had a lover. Whereto she answered, with an offended air, 'Good +lack, sir friar, have you no eyes in your head? Seem my charms to you +such as those of yonder others? I might have lovers and to spare, an I +would; but my beauties are not for this one nor that. How many women +do you see whose charms are such as mine, who would be fair in +Paradise?' Brief, she said so many things of this beauty of hers that +it was a weariness to hear. Fra Alberto incontinent perceived that she +savoured of folly and himseeming she was a fit soil for his tools, he +fell suddenly and beyond measure in love with her; but, reserving +blandishments for a more convenient season, he proceeded, for the +nonce, so he might show himself a holy man, to rebuke her and tell her +that this was vainglory and so forth. The lady told him he was an ass +and knew not what one beauty was more than another, whereupon he, +unwilling to vex her overmuch, took her confession and let her go away +with the others.</p> + +<p>He let some days pass, then, taking with him a trusty companion of +his, he repaired to Madam Lisetta's house and withdrawing with her +into a room apart, where none might see him, he fell on his knees +before her and said, 'Madam, I pray you for God's sake pardon me that +which I said to you last Sunday, whenas you bespoke me of your beauty, +for that the following night I was so cruelly chastised there that I +have not since been able to rise from my bed till to-day.' Quoth +Mistress Featherbrain, 'And who chastised you thus?' 'I will tell +you,' replied the monk. 'Being that night at my orisons, as I still +use to be, I saw of a sudden a great light in my cell and ere I could +turn me to see what it might be, I beheld over against me a very fair +youth with a stout cudgel in his hand, who took me by the gown and +dragging me to my feet, gave me such a drubbing that he broke every +bone in my body. I asked him why he used me thus and he answered, "For +that thou presumedst to-day, to disparage the celestial charms of +Madam Lisetta, whom I love over all things, save only God." "Who, +then, are you?" asked I; and he replied that he was the angel Gabriel. +"O my lord," said I, "I pray you pardon me"; and he, "So be it; I +pardon thee on condition that thou go to her, as first thou mayst, and +get her pardon; but if she pardons thee not, I will return to thee and +give thee<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204"></a></span> such a bout of it that I will make thee a woeful man for +all the time thou shalt live here below." That which he said to me +after I dare not tell you, except you first pardon me.'</p> + +<p>My Lady Addlepate, who was somewhat scant of wit, was overjoyed to +hear this, taking it all for gospel, and said, after a little, 'I told +you, Fra Alberto, that my charms were celestial, but, so God be mine +aid, it irketh me for you and I will pardon you forthright, so you may +come to no more harm, provided you tell me truly that which the angel +said to you after.' 'Madam,' replied Fra Alberto, 'since you pardon +me, I will gladly tell it you; but I must warn you of one thing, to +wit, that whatever I tell you, you must have a care not to repeat it +to any one alive, an you would not mar your affairs, for that you are +the luckiest lady in the world. The angel Gabriel bade me tell you +that you pleased him so much that he had many a time come to pass the +night with you, but that he feared to affright you. Now he sendeth to +tell you by me that he hath a mind to come to you one night and abide +awhile with you and (for that he is an angel and that, if he came in +angel-form, you might not avail to touch him,) he purposeth, for your +delectation, to come in guise of a man, wherefore he biddeth you send +to tell him when you would have him come and in whose form, and he +will come hither; whereof you may hold yourself blest over any other +lady alive.'</p> + +<p>My Lady Conceit answered that it liked her well that the angel Gabriel +loved her, seeing she loved him well nor ever failed to light a candle +of a groat before him, whereas she saw him depictured, and that what +time soever he chose to come to her, he should be dearly welcome and +would find her all alone in her chamber, but on this condition, that +he should not leave her for the Virgin Mary, whose great well-wisher +it was said he was, as indeed appeareth, inasmuch as in every place +where she saw him [limned], he was on his knees before her. Moreover, +she said it must rest with him to come in whatsoever form he pleased, +so but she was not affrighted.</p> + +<p>Then said Fra Alberto, 'Madam, you speak sagely and I will without +fail take order with him of that which you tell me. But you may do me +a great favour, which will cost you nothing; it is this, that you will +him come with this my body. And I will tell you in what you will do me +a favour; you must know that he will take my soul forth of my body and +put it in Paradise, whilst he himself will enter into me; and what +while he abideth with you, so long will my soul abide in Paradise.' +'With all my heart,' answered Dame Littlewit. 'I will well that you +have this consolation, in requital of the buffets he gave you on my +account.' Then said Fra Alberto, 'Look that he find the door of your +house open to-night, so he may come in thereat, for that, coming in +human form, as he will, he might not enter save by the door.' The lady +replied that it should be done, whereupon the monk took his leave and +she abode in such a transport of exultation that her breech touched +not her shift and herseemed a thousand years till the angel Gabriel +should come to her.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, Fra Alberto, bethinking him that it behoved him play the +cav<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205"></a></span>alier, not the angel, that night proceeded to fortify himself with +confections and other good things, so he might not lightly be +unhorsed; then, getting leave, as soon as it was night, he repaired +with one of his comrades to the house of a woman, a friend of his, +whence he was used whiles to take his start what time he went to +course the fillies; and thence, whenas it seemed to him time, having +disguised himself, he betook him to the lady's house. There he tricked +himself out as an angel with the trappings he had brought with him and +going up, entered the chamber of the lady, who, seeing this creature +all in white, fell on her knees before him. The angel blessed her and +raising her to her feet, signed to her to go to bed, which she, +studious to obey, promptly did, and the angel after lay down with his +devotee. Now Fra Alberto was a personable man of his body and a lusty +and excellent well set up on his legs; wherefore, finding himself in +bed with Madam Lisetta, who was young and dainty, he showed himself +another guess bedfellow than her husband and many a time that night +took flight without wings, whereof she avowed herself exceeding +content; and eke he told her many things of the glories of heaven. +Then, the day drawing near, after taking order for his return, he made +off with his trappings and returned to his comrade, whom the good +woman of the house had meanwhile borne amicable company, lest he +should get a fright, lying alone.</p> + +<p>As for the lady, no sooner had she dined than, taking her +waiting-woman with her, she betook herself to Fra Alberto and gave him +news of the angel Gabriel, telling him that which she had heard from +him of the glories of life eternal and how he was made and adding to +boot, marvellous stories of her own invention. 'Madam,' said he, 'I +know not how you fared with him; I only know that yesternight, whenas +he came to me and I did your message to him, he suddenly transported +my soul amongst such a multitude of roses and other flowers that never +was the like thereof seen here below, and I abode in one of the most +delightsome places that was aye until the morning; but what became of +my body meanwhile I know not.' 'Do I not tell you?' answered the lady. +'Your body lay all night in mine arms with the angel Gabriel. If you +believe me not, look under your left pap, whereas I gave the angel +such a kiss that the marks of it will stay by you for some days to +come.' Quoth the friar, 'Say you so? Then will I do to-day a thing I +have not done this great while; I will strip myself, to see if you +tell truth.' Then, after much prating, the lady returned home and Fra +Alberto paid her many visits in angel-form, without suffering any +hindrance.</p> + +<p>However, it chanced one day that Madam Lisetta, being in dispute with +a gossip of hers upon the question of female charms, to set her own +above all others, said, like a woman who had little wit in her noddle, +'An you but knew whom my beauty pleaseth, in truth you would hold your +peace of other women.' The other, longing to hear, said, as one who +knew her well, 'Madam, maybe you say sooth; but knowing not who this +may be, one cannot turn about so lightly.' Thereupon quoth Lisetta, +who was eath enough to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206"></a></span> draw, 'Gossip, it must go no farther; but he I +mean is the angel Gabriel, who loveth me more than himself, as the +fairest lady (for that which he telleth me) who is in the world or the +Maremma.'<a name="FNanchor_227_227" id="FNanchor_227_227"></a><a href="#Footnote_227_227" class="fnanchor">[227]</a> The other had a mind to laugh, but contained herself, +so she might make Lisetta speak farther, and said, 'Faith, madam, an +the angel Gabriel be your lover and tell you this, needs must it be +so; but methought not the angels did these things.' 'Gossip,' answered +the lady, 'you are mistaken; zounds, he doth what you wot of better +than my husband and telleth me they do it also up yonder; but, for +that I seem to him fairer than any she in heaven, he hath fallen in +love with me and cometh full oft to lie with me; seestow now?'<a name="FNanchor_228_228" id="FNanchor_228_228"></a><a href="#Footnote_228_228" class="fnanchor">[228]</a></p> + +<p>The gossip, to whom it seemed a thousand years till she should be +whereas she might repeat these things, took her leave of Madam Lisetta +and foregathering at an entertainment with a great company of ladies, +orderly recounted to them the whole story. They told it again to their +husbands and other ladies, and these to yet others, and so in less +than two days Venice was all full of it. Among others to whose ears +the thing came were Lisetta's brothers-in-law, who, without saying +aught to her, bethought themselves to find the angel in question and +see if he knew how to fly, and to this end they lay several nights in +wait for him. As chance would have it, some inkling of the matter<a name="FNanchor_229_229" id="FNanchor_229_229"></a><a href="#Footnote_229_229" class="fnanchor">[229]</a> +came to the ears of Fra Alberto, who accordingly repaired one night to +the lady's house, to reprove her, but hardly had he put off his +clothes ere her brothers-in-law, who had seen him come, were at the +door of her chamber to open it.</p> + +<p>Fra Alberto, hearing this and guessing what was to do, started up and +having no other resource, opened a window, which gave upon the Grand +Canal, and cast himself thence into the water. The canal was deep +there and he could swim well, so that he did himself no hurt, but made +his way to the opposite bank and hastily entering a house that stood +open there, besought a poor man, whom he found within, to save his +life for the love of God, telling him a tale of his own fashion, to +explain how he came there at that hour and naked. The good man was +moved to pity and it behoving him to go do his occasions, he put him +in his own bed and bade him abide there against his return; then, +locking him in, he went about his affairs. Meanwhile, the lady's +brothers-in-law entered her chamber and found that the angel Gabriel +had flown, leaving his wings there; whereupon, seeing themselves +baffled, they gave her all manner hard words and ultimately made off +to their own house with the angel's trappings, leaving her +disconsolate.</p> + +<p>Broad day come, the good man with whom Fra Alberto had taken refuge, +being on the Rialto, heard how the angel Gabriel had gone that night +to lie with Madam Lisetta and being surprised by her kinsmen, had cast +himself for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207"></a></span> fear into the canal, nor was it known what was come of +him, and concluded forthright that this was he whom he had at home. +Accordingly, he returned thither and recognizing the monk, found means +after much parley, to make him fetch him fifty ducats, an he would not +have him give him up to the lady's kinsmen. Having gotten the money +and Fra Alberto offering to depart thence, the good man said to him, +'There is no way of escape for you, an it be not one that I will tell +you. We hold to-day a festival, wherein one bringeth a man clad +bear-fashion and another one accoutred as a wild man of the woods and +what not else, some one thing and some another, and there is a hunt +held in St. Mark's Place, which finished, the festival is at an end +and after each goeth whither it pleaseth him with him whom he hath +brought. An you will have me lead you thither, after one or other of +these fashions, I can after carry you whither you please, ere it be +spied out that you are here; else I know not how you are to get away, +without being recognized, for the lady's kinsmen, concluding that you +must be somewhere hereabout, have set a watch for you on all sides.'</p> + +<p>Hard as it seemed to Fra Alberto to go on such wise, nevertheless, of +the fear he had of the lady's kinsmen, he resigned himself thereto and +told his host whither he would be carried, leaving the manner to him. +Accordingly, the other, having smeared him all over with honey and +covered him with down, clapped a chain about his neck and a mask on +his face; then giving him a great staff in on hand and in the other +two great dogs which he had fetched from the shambles he despatched +one to the Rialto to make public proclamation that whoso would see the +angel Gabriel should repair to St. Mark's Place; and this was Venetian +loyalty! This done, after a while, he brought him forth and setting +him before himself, went holding him by the chain behind, to the no +small clamour of the folk, who said all, 'What be this? What be +this?'<a name="FNanchor_230_230" id="FNanchor_230_230"></a><a href="#Footnote_230_230" class="fnanchor">[230]</a> till he came to the place, where, what with those who had +followed after them and those who, hearing the proclamation, were come +thither from the Rialto, were folk without end. There he tied his wild +man to a column in a raised and high place, making a show of awaiting +the hunt, whilst the flies and gads gave the monk exceeding annoy, for +that he was besmeared with honey. But, when he saw the place well +filled, making as he would unchain his wild man, he pulled off Fra +Alberto's mask and said, 'Gentlemen, since the bear cometh not and +there is no hunt toward, I purpose, so you may not be come in vain, +that you shall see the angel Gabriel, who cometh down from heaven to +earth anights, to comfort the Venetian ladies.'</p> + +<p>No sooner was the mask off than Fra Alberto was incontinent recognized +of all, who raised a general outcry against him, giving him the +scurviest words and the soundest rating was ever given a canting +knave; moreover, they cast in his face, one this kind of filth and +another that, and so they baited him a great while, till the news came +by chance to his brethren, whereupon half a dozen of them sallied +forth and coming thither, unchained him and threw a gown over him; +then, with a general<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208"></a></span> hue and cry behind them, they carried him off to +the convent, where it is believed he died in prison, after a wretched +life. Thus then did this fellow, held good and doing ill, without it +being believed, dare to feign himself the angel Gabriel, and after +being turned into a wild man of the woods and put to shame, as he +deserved, bewailed, when too late, the sins he had committed. God +grant it happen thus to all other knaves of his fashion!"</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="THE_THIRD_STORY4" id="THE_THIRD_STORY4"></a>THE THIRD STORY</h2> + +<div class="sidenote">Day the Fourth</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="hang">THREE YOUNG MEN LOVE THREE SISTERS AND FLEE WITH THEM INTO +CRETE, WHERE THE ELDEST SISTER FOR JEALOUSY SLAYETH HER +LOVER. THE SECOND, YIELDING HERSELF TO THE DUKE OF CRETE, +SAVETH HER SISTER FROM DEATH, WHEREUPON HER OWN LOVER +SLAYETH HER AND FLEETH WITH THE ELDEST SISTER. MEANWHILE THE +THIRD LOVER AND THE YOUNGEST SISTER ARE ACCUSED OF THE NEW +MURDER AND BEING TAKEN, CONFESS IT; THEN, FOR FEAR OF DEATH, +THEY CORRUPT THEIR KEEPERS WITH MONEY AND FLEE TO RHODES, +WHERE THEY DIE IN POVERTY</p></div> + + +<p><br /><span class="smcap">Filostrato</span>, having heard the end of Pampinea's story, bethought +himself awhile and presently, turning to her, said, "There was some +little that was good and that pleased me in the ending of your story; +but there was overmuch before that which gave occasion for laughter +and which I would not have had there." Then, turning to Lauretta, +"Lady," said he, "ensue you with a better, and it may be." Quoth she, +laughing, "You are too cruel towards lovers, an you desire of them +only an ill end;<a name="FNanchor_231_231" id="FNanchor_231_231"></a><a href="#Footnote_231_231" class="fnanchor">[231]</a> but, to obey you, I will tell a story of three +who all ended equally ill, having had scant enjoyment of their loves." +So saying, she began thus: "Young ladies, as you should manifestly +know, every vice may turn to the grievous hurt of whoso practiseth it, +and often of other folk also; but of all others that which with the +slackest rein carrieth us away to our peril, meseemeth is anger, which +is none otherwhat than a sudden and unconsidered emotion, aroused by +an affront suffered, and which, banishing all reason and overclouding +the eyes of the understanding with darkness, kindleth the soul to the +hottest fury. And although this often cometh to pass in men and more +in one than in another, yet hath it been seen aforetime to work +greater mischiefs in women, for that it is lightlier enkindled in +these latter and burneth in them with a fiercer flame and urgeth them +with less restraint. Nor is this to be marvelled at, for that, an we +choose to consider, we may see that fire, of its nature, catcheth +quicklier to light and delicate things than to those which are denser +and more ponderous; and we women, indeed,—let men not take it +ill,—are more delicately fashioned than they and far more mobile. +Wherefore, see<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209"></a></span>ing that we are naturally inclined thereunto<a name="FNanchor_232_232" id="FNanchor_232_232"></a><a href="#Footnote_232_232" class="fnanchor">[232]</a> and +considering after how our mansuetude and our loving kindness are of +repose and pleasance to the men with whom we have to do and how big +with harm and peril are anger and fury, I purpose, to the intent that +we may with a more steadfast, mind keep ourselves from these latter, +to show you by my story how the loves of three young men and as many +ladies came, as I said before, to an ill end, becoming through the ire +of one of the latter, from happy most unhappy.</p> + +<p>Marseilles is, as you know, a very ancient and noble city, situate in +Provence on the sea-shore, and was once more abounding in rich and +great merchants than it is nowadays. Among the latter was one called +Narnald Cluada, a man of mean extraction, but of renowned good faith +and a loyal merchant, rich beyond measure in lands and monies, who had +by a wife of his several children, whereof the three eldest were +daughters. Two of these latter, born at a birth, were fifteen and the +third fourteen years old, nor was aught awaited by their kinsfolk to +marry them but the return of Narnald, who was gone into Spain with his +merchandise. The names of the two elder were the one Ninetta and the +other Maddalena and the third called Bertella. Of Ninetta a young man +of gentle birth, though poor, called Restagnone, was enamoured as much +as man might be, and she of him, and they had contrived to do on such +wise that, without any knowing it, they had enjoyment of their loves.</p> + +<p>They had already a pretty while enjoyed this satisfaction when it +chanced that two young companions, named the one Folco and the other +Ughetto, whose fathers were dead, leaving them very rich, fell in +love, the one with Maddalena and the other with Bertella. Restagnone, +noting this (it having been shown him of Ninetta), bethought himself +that he might make shift to supply his own lack by means of the +newcomers' love. Accordingly, he clapped up an acquaintance with them, +so that now one, now the other of them accompanied him to visit their +mistresses and his; and when himseemed he was grown privy enough with +them and much their friend, he called them one day into his house and +said to them, 'Dearest youths, our commerce should have certified you +how great is the love I bear you and that I would do for you that +which I would do for myself; and for that I love you greatly, I +purpose to discover to you that which hath occurred to my mind, and +you and I together will after take such counsel thereof as shall seem +to you best. You, an your words lie not and for that to boot which +meseemeth I have apprehended by your deeds, both daily and nightly, +burn with an exceeding passion for the two young ladies beloved of +you, as do I for the third their sister; and to this ardour, an you +will consent thereunto,<a name="FNanchor_233_233" id="FNanchor_233_233"></a><a href="#Footnote_233_233" class="fnanchor">[233]</a> my heart giveth me to find a very sweet +and pleasing remedy, the which is as follows. You are both very rich, +which I am not; now, if you will agree to bring your riches into a +common stock, making me a third sharer with you therein, and determine +in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210"></a></span> which part of the world we shall go lead a merry life with our +mistresses, my heart warranteth me I can without fail so do that the +three sisters, with a great part of their father's good, will go with, +us whithersoever we shall please, and there, each with his wench, like +three brothers, we may live the happiest lives of any men in the +world. It resteth with you now to determine whether you will go about +to solace yourself in this or leave it be.'</p> + +<p>The two young men, who were beyond measure inflamed, hearing that they +were to have their lasses, were not long in making up their minds, but +answered that, so this<a name="FNanchor_234_234" id="FNanchor_234_234"></a><a href="#Footnote_234_234" class="fnanchor">[234]</a> should ensue, they were ready to do as he +said. Restagnone, having gotten this answer from the young men, found +means a few days after to foregather with Ninetta, to whom he could +not come without great unease, and after he had abidden with her +awhile, he told her what he had proposed to the others and with many +arguments studied to commend the emprise to her. This was little +uneath to him, seeing that she was yet more desirous than himself to +be with him without suspect; wherefore she answered him frankly that +it liked her well and that her sisters would do whatever she wished, +especially in this, and bade him make ready everything needful +therefor as quickliest he might. Restagnone accordingly returned to +the two young men, who still importuned him amain to do that whereof +he had bespoken them, and told them that, so far as concerned their +mistresses, the matter was settled. Then, having determined among +themselves to go to Crete, they sold certain lands they had, under +colour of meaning to go a-trading with the price, and having made +money of all their other goods, bought a light brigantine and secretly +equipped it to the utmost advantage.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, Ninetta, who well enough knew her sisters' mind, with soft +words inflamed them with such a liking for the venture that themseemed +they might not live to see the thing accomplished. Accordingly, the +night come when they were to go aboard the brigantine, the three +sisters opened a great coffer of their father's and taking thence a +vast quantity of money and jewels, stole out of the house, according +to the given order. They found their gallants awaiting them and going +straightway all aboard the brigantine, they thrust the oars into the +water and put out to sea nor rested till they came, on the following +evening, to Genoa, where the new lovers for the first time took ease +and joyance of their loves. There having refreshed themselves with +that whereof they had need, they set out again and sailing from port +to port, came, ere it was the eighth day, without any hindrance, to +Crete, where they bought great and goodly estates near Candia and made +them very handsome and delightsome dwelling-houses thereon. Here they +fell to living like lords and passed their days in banquets and +joyance and merrymaking, the happiest men in the world, they and their +mistresses, with great plenty of servants and hounds and hawks and +horses.</p> + +<p>Abiding on this wise, it befell (even as we see it happen all day long +that, how much soever things may please,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211"></a></span> they grow irksome, an one +have overgreat plenty thereof) that Restagnone, who had much loved +Ninetta, being now able to have her at his every pleasure, without let +or hindrance, began to weary of her, and consequently his love for her +began to wane. Having seen at entertainment a damsel of the country, a +fair and noble young lady, who pleased him exceedingly, he fell to +courting her with all his might, giving marvellous entertainments in +her honor and plying her with all manner gallantries; which Ninetta +coming to know, she fell into such a jealousy that he could not go a +step but she heard of it and after harassed both him and herself with +words and reproaches on account thereof. But, like as overabundance of +aught begetteth weariness, even so doth the denial of a thing desired +redouble the appetite; accordingly, Ninetta's reproaches did but fan +the flame of Restagnone's new love and in process of time it came to +pass that, whether he had the favours of the lady he loved or not, +Ninetta held it for certain, whoever it was reported it to her; +wherefore she fell into such a passion of grief and thence passed into +such a fit of rage and despite that the love which she bore Restagnone +was changed to bitter hatred, and blinded by her wrath, she bethought +herself to avenge, by his death, the affront which herseemed she had +received.</p> + +<p>Accordingly, betaking herself to an old Greek woman, a past mistress +in the art of compounding poisons, she induced her with gifts and +promises to make her a death-dealing water, which she, without +considering farther, gave Restagnone one evening to drink he being +heated and misdoubting him not thereof; and such was the potency of +the poison that, ere morning came, it had slain him. Folco and Ughetto +and their mistresses, hearing of his death and knowing not of what +poison he had died,<a name="FNanchor_235_235" id="FNanchor_235_235"></a><a href="#Footnote_235_235" class="fnanchor">[235]</a> bewept him bitterly, together with Ninetta, +and caused bury him honourably. But not many days after it chanced +that the old woman, who had compounded the poisoned water for Ninetta, +was taken for some other misdeed and being put to the torture, +confessed to this amongst her other crimes, fully declaring that which +had betided by reason thereof; whereupon the Duke of Crete, without +saying aught of the matter, beset Folco's palace by surprise one night +and without any noise or gainsayal, carried off Ninetta prisoner, from +whom, without putting her to the torture, he readily got what he would +know of the death of Restagnone.</p> + +<p>Folco and Ughetto (and from them their ladies) had privy notice from +the duke why Ninetta had been taken, the which was exceeding grievous +to them and they used their every endeavour to save her from the fire, +whereto they doubted not she would be condemned, as indeed she richly +deserved; but all seemed vain, for that the duke abode firm in willing +to do justice upon her. However, Maddalena, who was a beautiful young +woman and had long been courted by the duke, but had never yet +consented to do aught that might pleasure him, thinking that, by +complying with his wishes, she might avail to save her sister from the +fire, signified to him<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212"></a></span> by a trusty messenger that she was at his +commandment in everything, provided two things should ensue thereof, +to wit, that she should have her sister again safe and sound and that +the thing should be secret. Her message pleased the duke, and after +long debate with himself if he should do as she proposed, he +ultimately agreed thereto and said that he was ready. Accordingly, one +night, having, with the lady's consent, caused detain Folco and +Ughetto, as he would fain examine them of the matter, he went secretly +to couch with Maddalena and having first made a show of putting +Ninetta in a sack and of purposing to let sink her that night in the +sea, he carried her with him to her sister, to whom on the morrow he +delivered her at parting, in payment of the night he had passed with +her, praying her that this,<a name="FNanchor_236_236" id="FNanchor_236_236"></a><a href="#Footnote_236_236" class="fnanchor">[236]</a> which had been the first of their +loves, might not be the last and charging her send the guilty lady +away, lest blame betide himself and it behove him anew proceed against +her with rigour.</p> + +<p>Next morning, Folco and Ughetto, having heard that Ninetta had been +sacked overnight and believing it, were released and returned home to +comfort their mistresses for the death of their sister. However, for +all Maddalena could do to hide her, Folco soon became aware of +Ninetta's presence in the palace, whereat he marvelled exceedingly and +suddenly waxing suspicious,—for that he had heard of the duke's +passion for Maddalena,—asked the latter how her sister came to be +there. Maddalena began a long story, which she had devised to account +to him therefor, but was little believed of her lover, who was shrewd +and constrained her to confess the truth, which, after long parley, +she told him. Folco, overcome with chagrin and inflamed with rage, +pulled out a sword and slew her, whilst she in vain besought mercy; +then, fearing the wrath and justice of the duke, he left her dead in +the chamber and repairing whereas Ninetta was, said to her, with a +feigned air of cheerfulness, 'Quick, let us begone whither it hath +been appointed of thy sister that I shall carry thee, so thou mayst +not fall again into the hands of the duke.' Ninetta, believing this +and eager, in her fearfulness, to begone, set out with Folco, it being +now night, without seeking to take leave of her sister; whereupon he +and she, with such monies (which were but few) as he could lay hands +on, betook themselves to the sea-shore and embarked on board a vessel; +nor was it ever known whither they went.</p> + +<p>On the morrow, Maddalena being found murdered, there were some who, of +the envy and hatred they bore to Ughetto, forthright gave notice +thereof to the duke, whereupon the latter, who loved Maddalena +exceedingly, ran furiously to the house and seizing Ughetto and his +lady, who as yet knew nothing of the matter,—to wit, of the departure +of Folco and Ninetta,—constrained them to confess themselves guilty, +together with Folco, of his mistress's death. They, apprehending with +reason death in consequence of this confession, with great pains +corrupted those who had them in keeping, giving them a certain sum of +money, which they kept hidden in their house against urgent<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213"></a></span> +occasions, and embarking with their guards, without having leisure to +take any of their goods, fled by night to Rhodes, where they lived no +great while after in poverty and distress. To such a pass, then, did +Restagnone's mad love and Ninetta's rage bring themselves and others."</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="THE_FOURTH_STORY4" id="THE_FOURTH_STORY4"></a>THE FOURTH STORY</h2> + +<div class="sidenote">Day the Fourth</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="hang">GERBINO, AGAINST THE PLIGHTED FAITH OF HIS GRANDFATHER, KING +GUGLIELMO OF SICILY, ATTACKETH A SHIP OF THE KING OF TUNIS, +TO CARRY OFF A DAUGHTER OF HIS, WHO BEING PUT TO DEATH OF +THOSE ON BOARD, HE SLAYETH THESE LATTER AND IS AFTER HIMSELF +BEHEADED</p></div> + + +<p><br /><span class="smcap">Lauretta</span>, having made an end of her story, was silent, whilst the +company bewailed the illhap of the lovers, some blaming Ninetta's +anger and one saying one thing and another another, till presently the +king, raising his head, as if aroused from deep thought, signed to +Elisa to follow on; whereupon she began modestly, "Charming ladies, +there are many who believe that Love launcheth his shafts only when +enkindled of the eyes and make mock of those who hold that one may +fall in love by hearsay; but that these are mistaken will very +manifestly appear in a story that I purpose to relate, wherein you +will see that report not only wrought this, without the lovers having +ever set eyes on each other, but it will be made manifest to you that +it brought both the one and the other to a miserable death.</p> + +<p>Guglielmo, the Second, King of Sicily, had (as the Sicilians pretend) +two children, a son called Ruggieri and a daughter called Costanza. +The former, dying before his father, left a son named Gerbino, who was +diligently reared by his grandfather and became a very goodly youth +and a renowned for prowess and courtesy. Nor did his fame abide +confined within the limits of Sicily, but, resounding in various parts +of the world, was nowhere more glorious than in Barbary, which in +those days was tributary to the King of Sicily. Amongst the rest to +whose ears came the magnificent fame of Gerbino's valour and courtesy +was a daughter of the King of Tunis, who, according to the report of +all who had seen her, was one of the fairest creatures ever fashioned +by nature and the best bred and of a noble and great soul. She, +delighting to hear tell of men of valour, with such goodwill received +the tales recounted by one and another of the deeds valiantly done of +Gerbino and they so pleased her that, picturing to herself the +prince's fashion, she became ardently enamoured of him and discoursed +more willingly of him than of any other and hearkened to whoso spoke +of him.</p> + +<p>On the other hand, the great renown of her beauty and worth had won to +Sicily, as elsewhither, and not without great delight nor in vain had +it reached the ears of Gerbino; nay, it had inflamed him with love of +her, no less<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214"></a></span> than that which she herself had conceived for him. +Wherefore, desiring beyond measure to see her, against he should find +a colourable occasion of having his grandfather's leave to go to +Tunis, he charged his every friend who went thither to make known to +her, as best he might, his secret and great love and bring him news of +her. This was very dexterously done by one of them, who, under +pretence of carrying her women's trinkets to view, as do merchants, +throughly discovered Gerbino's passion to her and avouched the prince +and all that was his to be at her commandment. The princess received +the messenger and the message with a glad flavour and answering that +she burnt with like love for the prince, sent him one of her most +precious jewels in token thereof. This Gerbino received with the +utmost joy wherewith one can receive whatsoever precious thing and +wrote to her once and again by the same messenger, sending her the +most costly gifts and holding certain treaties<a name="FNanchor_237_237" id="FNanchor_237_237"></a><a href="#Footnote_237_237" class="fnanchor">[237]</a> with her, whereby +they should have seen and touched one another, had fortune but allowed +it.</p> + +<p>But, things going thus and somewhat farther than was expedient, the +young lady on the one hand and Gerbino on the other burning with +desire, it befell that the King of Tunis gave her in marriage to the +King of Granada, whereat she was beyond measure chagrined, bethinking +herself that not only should she be separated from her lover by long +distance, but was like to be altogether parted from him; and had she +seen a means thereto, she would gladly, so this might not betide, have +fled from her father and betaken herself to Gerbino. Gerbino, in like +manner, hearing of this marriage, was beyond measure sorrowful +therefor and often bethought himself to take her by force, if it +should chance that she went to her husband by sea. The King of Tunis, +getting some inkling of Gerbino's love and purpose and fearing his +valour and prowess, sent to King Guglielmo, whenas the time came for +despatching her to Granada, advising him of that which he was minded +to do and that, having assurance from him that he should not be +hindered therein by Gerbino or others, he purposed to do it. The King +of Sicily, who was an old man and had heard nothing of Gerbino's +passion and consequently suspected not that it was for this that such +an assurance was demanded, freely granted it and in token thereof, +sent the King of Tunis a glove of his. The latter, having gotten the +desired assurance, caused equip a very great and goodly ship in the +port of Carthage and furnish it with what was needful for those who +were to sail therein and having fitted and adorned it for the sending +of his daughter into Granada, awaited nought but weather.</p> + +<p>The young lady, who saw and knew all this, despatched one of her +servants secretly to Palermo, bidding him salute the gallant Gerbino +on her part and tell him that she was to sail in a few days for +Granada, wherefore it would now appear if he were as valiant a man as +was said and if he loved her as much as he had sundry times declared +to her. Her messenger did his errand excellent well and returned to +Tunis, whilst Gerbino, hearing this and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215"></a></span> knowing that his grandfather +had given the King of Tunis assurance, knew not what to do. However, +urged by love and that he might not appear a craven, he betook himself +to Messina, where he hastily armed two light galleys and manning them +with men of approved valour, set sail with them for the coast of +Sardinia, looking for the lady's ship to pass there. Nor was he far +out in his reckoning, for he had been there but a few days when the +ship hove in sight with a light wind not far from the place where he +lay expecting it.</p> + +<p>Gerbino, seeing this, said to his companions, 'Gentlemen, an you be +the men of mettle I take you for, methinketh there is none of you but +hath either felt or feeleth love, without which, as I take it, no +mortal can have aught of valour or worth in himself; and if you have +been or are enamoured, it will be an easy thing to you to understand +my desire. I love and love hath moved me to give you this present +pains; and she whom I love is in the ship which you see becalmed +yonder and which, beside that thing which I most desire, is full of +very great riches. These latter, an ye be men of valour, we may with +little difficulty acquire, fighting manfully; of which victory I +desire nothing to my share save one sole lady, for whose love I have +taken up arms; everything else shall freely be yours. Come, then, and +let us right boldly assail the ship; God is favourable to our emprise +and holdeth it here fast, without vouchsafing it a breeze.'</p> + +<p>The gallant Gerbino had no need of many words, for that the Messinese, +who were with him being eager for plunder, were already disposed to do +that unto which he exhorted them. Wherefore, making a great outcry, at +the end of his speech, that it should be so, they sounded the trumpets +and catching up their arms, thrust the oars into the water and made +for the Tunis ship. They who were aboard this latter, seeing the +galleys coming afar off and being unable to flee,<a name="FNanchor_238_238" id="FNanchor_238_238"></a><a href="#Footnote_238_238" class="fnanchor">[238]</a> made ready for +defence. The gallant Gerbino accosting the ship, let command that the +masters thereof should be sent on board the galleys, an they had no +mind to fight; but the Saracens, having certified themselves who they +were and what they sought, declared themselves attacked of them +against the faith plighted them by King Guglielmo; in token whereof +they showed the latter's glove, and altogether refused to surrender +themselves, save for stress of battle, or to give them aught that was +in the ship.</p> + +<p>Gerbino, who saw the lady upon the poop, far fairer than he had +pictured her to himself, and was more inflamed than ever, replied to +the showing of the glove that there were no falcons there at that +present and consequently there needed no gloves; wherefore, an they +chose not to give up the lady, they must prepare to receive battle. +Accordingly, without further parley, they fell to casting shafts and +stones at one another, and on this wise they fought a great while, +with loss on either side. At last, Gerbino, seeing that he did little +to the purpose, took a little vessel he had brought with him out of +Sardinia and setting fire therein, thrust it with both the galleys +aboard the ship. The Saracens, seeing this and knowing that they must +of necessity surrender<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216"></a></span> or die, fetched the king's daughter, who wept +below, on deck and brought her to the ship's prow; then, calling +Gerbino, they butchered her before his eyes, what while she called for +mercy and succour, and cast her into the sea, saying, 'Take her; we +give her to thee, such as we may and such as thine unfaith hath +merited.'</p> + +<p>Gerbino, seeing their barbarous deed, caused lay himself alongside the +ship and recking not of shaft or stone, boarded it, as if courting +death, in spite of those who were therein; then,—even as a hungry +lion, coming among a herd of oxen, slaughtereth now this, now that, +and with teeth and claws sateth rather his fury than his +hunger,—sword in hand, hewing now at one, now at another, he cruelly +slew many of the Saracens; after which, the fire now waxing in the +enkindled ship, he caused the sailors fetch thereout what they might, +in payment of their pains, and descended thence, having gotten but a +sorry victory over his adversaries. Then, letting take up the fair +lady's body from the sea, long and with many tears he bewept it and +steering for Sicily, buried it honourably in Ustica, a little island +over against Trapani; after which he returned home, the woefullest man +alive.</p> + +<p>The King of Tunis, hearing the heavy news, sent his ambassadors, clad +all in black, to King Guglielmo, complaining of the ill observance of +the faith which he had plighted him. They recounted to him how the +thing had passed, whereat King Guglielmo was sore incensed and seeing +no way to deny them the justice they sought, caused take Gerbino; then +himself,—albeit there was none of his barons but strove with prayers +to move him from his purpose,—condemned him to death and let strike +off his head in his presence, choosing rather to abide without +posterity than to be held a faithless king. Thus, then, as I have told +you, did these two lovers within a few days<a name="FNanchor_239_239" id="FNanchor_239_239"></a><a href="#Footnote_239_239" class="fnanchor">[239]</a> die miserably a +violent death, without having tasted any fruit of their loves."</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="THE_FIFTH_STORY4" id="THE_FIFTH_STORY4"></a>THE FIFTH STORY</h2> + +<div class="sidenote">Day the Fourth</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="hang">LISABETTA'S<a name="FNanchor_240_240" id="FNanchor_240_240"></a><a href="#Footnote_240_240" class="fnanchor">[240]</a> BROTHERS SLAY HER LOVER, WHO APPEARETH TO +HER IN A DREAM AND SHOWETH HER WHERE HE IS BURIED, WHEREUPON +SHE PRIVILY DISINTERRETH HIS HEAD AND SETTETH IT IN A POT OF +BASIL. THEREOVER MAKING MOAN A GREAT WHILE EVERY DAY, HER +BROTHERS TAKE IT FROM HER AND SHE FOR GRIEF DIETH A LITTLE +THEREAFTERWARD</p></div> + + +<p><br /><span class="smcap">Elisa's</span> tale being ended and somedele commended of the king, Filomena +was bidden to discourse, who, full of compassion for the wretched +Gerbino and his mistress, after a piteous sigh, began thus: "My story, +gracious ladies, will not treat of folk of so high condi<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217"></a></span>tion as were +those of whom Elisa hath told, yet peradventure it will be no less +pitiful; and what brought me in mind of it was the mention, a little +before, of Messina, where the case befell.</p> + +<p>There were then in Messina three young brothers, merchants and left +very rich by their father, who was a man of San Gimignano, and they +had an only sister, Lisabetta by name, a right fair and well-mannered +maiden, whom, whatever might have been the reason thereof, they had +not yet married. Now these brothers had in one of their warehouses a +youth of Pisa, called Lorenzo, who did and ordered all their affairs +and was very comely and agreeable of person; wherefore, Lisabetta +looking sundry times upon him, it befell that he began strangely to +please her; of which Lorenzo taking note at one time and another, he +in like manner, leaving his other loves, began to turn his thoughts to +her; and so went the affair, that, each being alike pleasing to the +other, it was no great while before, taking assurance, they did that +which each of them most desired.</p> + +<p>Continuing on this wise and enjoying great pleasure and delight one of +the other, they knew not how to do so secretly but that, one night, +Lisabetta, going whereas Lorenzo lay, was, unknown to herself, seen of +the eldest of her brothers, who, being a prudent youth, for all the +annoy it gave him to know this thing, being yet moved by more +honourable counsel, abode without sign or word till the morning, +revolving in himself various things anent the matter. The day being +come, he recounted to his brothers that which he had seen the past +night of Lisabetta and Lorenzo, and after long advisement with them, +determined (so that neither to them nor to their sister should any +reproach ensue thereof) to pass the thing over in silence and feign to +have seen and known nothing thereof till such time as, without hurt or +unease to themselves, they might avail to do away this shame from +their sight, ere it should go farther. In this mind abiding and +devising and laughing with Lorenzo as was their wont, it befell that +one day, feigning to go forth the city, all three, a-pleasuring, they +carried him with them to a very lonely and remote place; and there, +the occasion offering, they slew him, whilst he was off his guard, and +buried him on such wise that none had knowledge of it; then, returning +to Messina, they gave out that they had despatched him somewhither for +their occasions, the which was the lightlier credited that they were +often used to send him abroad about their business.</p> + +<p>Lorenzo returning not and Lisabetta often and instantly questioning +her brothers of him, as one to whom the long delay was grievous, it +befell one day, as she very urgently enquired of him, that one of them +said to her, 'What meaneth this? What hast thou to do often of him? An +thou question of him with Lorenzo, that thou askest thus<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218"></a></span> more, we +will make thee such answer as thou deservest.' Wherefore the girl, sad +and grieving and fearful she knew not of what, abode without more +asking; yet many a time anights she piteously called him and prayed +him come to her, and whiles with many tears she complained of his long +tarrying; and thus, without a moment's gladness, she abode expecting +him alway, till one night, having sore lamented Lorenzo for that he +returned not and being at last fallen asleep, weeping, he appeared to +her in a dream, pale and all disordered, with clothes all rent and +mouldered, and herseemed he bespoke her thus: 'Harkye, Lisabetta; thou +dost nought but call upon me, grieving for my long delay and cruelly +impeaching me with thy tears. Know, therefore, that I may never more +return to thee, for that, the last day thou sawest me, thy brothers +slew me.' Then, having discovered to her the place where they had +buried him, he charged her no more call him nor expect him and +disappeared; whereupon she awoke and giving faith to the vision, wept +bitterly.</p> + +<p>In the morning, being risen and daring not say aught to her brothers, +she determined to go to the place appointed and see if the thing were +true, as it had appeared to her in the dream. Accordingly, having +leave to go somedele without the city for her disport, she betook +herself thither,<a name="FNanchor_241_241" id="FNanchor_241_241"></a><a href="#Footnote_241_241" class="fnanchor">[241]</a> as quickliest she might, in company of one who +had been with them<a name="FNanchor_242_242" id="FNanchor_242_242"></a><a href="#Footnote_242_242" class="fnanchor">[242]</a> otherwhiles and knew all her affairs; and +there, clearing away the dead leaves from the place, she dug whereas +herseemed the earth was less hard. She had not dug long before she +found the body of her unhappy lover, yet nothing changed nor rotted, +and thence knew manifestly that her vision was true, wherefore she was +the most distressful of women; yet, knowing that this was no place for +lament, she would fain, an she but might, have borne away the whole +body, to give it fitter burial; but, seeing that this might not be, +she with a knife did off<a name="FNanchor_243_243" id="FNanchor_243_243"></a><a href="#Footnote_243_243" class="fnanchor">[243]</a> the head from the body, as best she +could, and wrapping it in a napkin, laid it in her maid's lap. Then, +casting back the earth over the trunk, she departed thence, without +being seen of any, and returned home, where, shutting herself in her +chamber with her lover's head, she bewept it long and bitterly, +insomuch that she bathed it all with her tears, and kissed it a +thousand times in every part. Then, taking a great and goodly pot, of +those wherein they plant marjoram or sweet basil, she set the head +therein, folded in a fair linen cloth, and covered it with earth, in +which she planted sundry heads of right fair basil of Salerno; nor did +she ever water these with other water than that of her tears or rose +or orange-flower water. Moreover she took wont to sit still near the +pot and to gaze amorously upon it with all her desire, as upon that +which held her Lorenzo hid; and after she had a great while looked +thereon, she would bend over it and fall to weeping so sore and so +long that her tears bathed all the basil, which, by dint of long and +assiduous<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219"></a></span> tending, as well as by reason of the fatness of the earth, +proceeding from the rotting head that was therein, waxed passing fair +and very sweet of savour.</p> + +<p>The damsel, doing without cease after this wise, was sundry times seen +of her neighbours, who to her brothers, marvelling at her waste beauty +and that her eyes seemed to have fled forth her head [for weeping], +related this, saying, 'We have noted that she doth every day after +such a fashion.' The brothers, hearing and seeing this and having once +and again reproved her therefor, but without avail, let secretly carry +away from her the pot, which she, missing, with the utmost instance +many a time required, and for that it was not restored to her, stinted +not to weep and lament till she fell sick; nor in her sickness did she +ask aught other than the pot of basil. The young men marvelled greatly +at this continual asking and bethought them therefor to see what was +in this pot. Accordingly, turning out the earth, they found the cloth +and therein the head, not yet so rotted but they might know it, by the +curled hair, to be that of Lorenzo. At this they were mightily amazed +and feared lest the thing should get wind; wherefore, burying the +head, without word said, they privily departed Messina, having taken +order how they should withdraw thence, and betook themselves to +Naples. The damsel, ceasing never from lamenting and still demanding +her pot, died, weeping; and so her ill-fortuned love had end. But, +after a while the thing being grown manifest unto many, there was one +who made thereon the song that is yet sung, to wit:</p> + +<p class="cpoems"> +Alack! ah, who can the ill Christian be,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">That stole my pot away?" etc.<a name="FNanchor_244_244" id="FNanchor_244_244"></a><a href="#Footnote_244_244" class="fnanchor">[244]</a></span><br /> +</p> + + + +<hr /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220"></a></span></p> +<h2><a name="THE_SIXTH_STORY4" id="THE_SIXTH_STORY4"></a>THE SIXTH STORY</h2> + +<div class="sidenote">Day the Fourth</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="hang">ANDREVUOLA LOVETH GABRIOTTO AND RECOUNTETH TO HIM A DREAM +SHE HATH HAD, WHEREUPON HE TELLETH HER ONE OF HIS OWN AND +PRESENTLY DIETH SUDDENLY IN HER ARMS. WHAT WHILE SHE AND A +WAITING WOMAN OF HERS BEAR HIM TO HIS OWN HOUSE, THEY ARE +TAKEN BY THE OFFICERS OF JUSTICE AND CARRIED BEFORE THE +PROVOST, TO WHOM SHE DISCOVERETH HOW THE CASE STANDETH. THE +PROVOST WOULD FAIN FORCE HER, BUT SHE SUFFERETH IT NOT AND +HER FATHER, COMING TO HEAR OF THE MATTER, PROCURETH HER TO +BE SET AT LIBERTY, SHE BEING FOUND INNOCENT; WHEREUPON, +ALTOGETHER REFUSING TO ABIDE LONGER IN THE WORLD, SHE +BECOMETH A NUN</p></div> + + +<p><br /><span class="smcap">Filomela's</span> story was very welcome to the ladies, for that they had +many a time heard sing this song, yet could never, for asking, learn +the occasion of its making. But the king, having heard the end +thereof, charged Pamfilo follow on the ordinance; whereupon quoth he, +"The dream in the foregoing story giveth me occasion to recount one +wherein is made mention of two dreams, which were of a thing to come, +even as the former was of a thing [already] betided, and scarce were +they finished telling by those who had dreamt them than the +accomplishment followed of both. You must know, then, lovesome ladies, +that it is an affection common to all alive to see various things in +sleep, whereof,—albeit to the sleeper, what while he sleepeth, they +all appear most true and he, awakened, accounteth some true, others +probable and yet others out of all likelihood,—many are natheless +found to be come<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221"></a></span> to pass. By reason whereof many lend to every dream +as much belief as they would to things they should see, waking, and +for their proper dreams they sorrow or rejoice, according as by these +they hope or fear. And contrariwise, there are those who believe none +thereof, save after they find themselves fallen into the peril +foreshown. Of these,<a name="FNanchor_245_247" id="FNanchor_245_247"></a><a href="#Footnote_245_247" class="fnanchor">[245]</a> I approve neither the one nor other, for +that dreams are neither always true nor always false. That they are +not all true, each one of us must often enough have had occasion to +know; and that they are not all false hath been already shown in +Filomena her story, and I also purpose, as I said before, to show it +in mine. Wherefore I am of opinion that, in the matter of living and +doing virtuously, one should have no fear of any dream contrary +thereto nor forego good intentions by reason thereof; as for perverse +and wicked things, on the other hand, however favourable dreams may +appear thereto and how much soever they may hearten him who seeth them +with propitious auguries, none of them should be credited, whilst full +faith should be accorded unto all that tend to the contrary.<a name="FNanchor_246_248" id="FNanchor_246_248"></a><a href="#Footnote_246_248" class="fnanchor">[246]</a> But +to come to the story.</p> + +<p>There was once in the city of Brescia a gentleman called Messer Negro +da Ponte Carraro, who amongst sundry other children had a daughter +named Andrevuola, young and unmarried and very fair. It chanced she +fell in love with a neighbour of hers, Gabriotto by name, a man of +mean condition, but full laudable fashions and comely and pleasant of +his person, and by the means and with the aid of the serving-maid of +the house, she so wrought that not only did Gabriotto know himself +beloved of her, but was many and many a time brought, to the delight +of both parties, into a goodly garden of her father's. And in order +that no cause, other than death, should ever avail to sever those +their delightsome loves, they became in secret husband and wife, and +so stealthily continuing their foregatherings, it befell that the +young lady, being one night asleep, dreamt that she was in her garden +with Gabriotto and held him in her arms, to the exceeding pleasure of +each; but, as they abode thus, herseemed she saw come forth of his +body something dark and frightful, the form whereof she could not +discern; the which took Gabriotto and tearing him in her despite with +marvellous might from her embrace, made off with him underground, nor +ever more might she avail to see either the one or the other.</p> + +<p>At this she fell into an inexpressible passion of grief, whereby she +awoke, and albeit, awaking, she was rejoiced to find that it was not +as she had dreamed, nevertheless fear entered into her by reason of +the dream she had seen. Wherefore, Gabriotto presently desiring to +visit her that next night, she studied as most she might to prevent +his coming; however, seeing his desire and so he might not misdoubt +him of otherwhat, she received him in the garden and having gathered +great store of roses, white and red (for that it was the season), she +went to sit with him at the foot of a very goodly and clear fountain +that was there. After they had taken great and long delight together, +Gabriotto asked her why she would have<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222"></a></span> forbidden his coming that +night; whereupon she told him, recounting to him the dream she had +seen the foregoing night and the fear she had gotten therefrom.</p> + +<p>He, hearing this, laughed it to scorn and said that it was great folly +to put any faith in dreams, for that they arose of excess of food or +lack thereof and were daily seen to be all vain, adding, 'Were I +minded to follow after dreams, I had not come hither, not so much on +account of this of thine as of one I myself dreamt last night; which +was that meseemed I was in a fair and delightsome wood, wherein I went +hunting and had taken the fairest and loveliest hind was ever seen; +for methought she was whiter than snow and was in brief space become +so familiar with me that she never left me a moment. Moreover, +meseemed I held her so dear that, so she might not depart from me, I +had put a collar of gold about her neck and held her in hand with a +golden chain. After this medreamed that, once upon a time, what while +this hind lay couched with its head in my bosom,<a name="FNanchor_247_249" id="FNanchor_247_249"></a><a href="#Footnote_247_249" class="fnanchor">[247]</a> there issued I +know not whence a greyhound bitch as black as coal, anhungred and +passing gruesome of aspect, and made towards me. Methought I offered +it no resistance, wherefore meseemed it thrust its muzzle into my +breast on the left side and gnawed thereat till it won to my heart, +which methought it tore from me, to carry it away. Therewith I felt +such a pain that my sleep was broken and awaking, I straightway +clapped my hand to my side, to see if I had aught there; but, finding +nothing amiss with me, I made mock of myself for having sought. But, +after all, what booteth this dream?<a name="FNanchor_248_250" id="FNanchor_248_250"></a><a href="#Footnote_248_250" class="fnanchor">[248]</a> I have dreamed many such and +far more frightful, nor hath aught in the world befallen me by reason +thereof; wherefore let it pass and let us think to give ourselves a +good time.'</p> + +<p>The young lady, already sore adread for her own dream, hearing this, +waxed yet more so, but hid her fear, as most she might, not to be the +occasion of any unease to Gabriotto. Nevertheless, what while she +solaced herself with him, clipping and kissing him again and again and +being of him clipped and kissed, she many a time eyed him in the face +more than of her wont, misdoubting she knew not what, and whiles she +looked about the garden, and she should see aught of black come +anywhence. Presently, as they abode thus, Gabriotto heaved a great +sigh and embracing her said, 'Alas, my soul, help me, for I die!' So +saying, he fell to the ground upon the grass of the lawn. The young +lady, seeing this, drew him up into her lap and said, well nigh +weeping, 'Alack, sweet my lord, what aileth thee?' He answered not, +but, panting sore and sweating all over, no great while after departed +this life.</p> + +<p>How grievous, how dolorous was this to the young lady, who loved him +more than her life, each one of you may conceive for herself. She +bewept him sore and many a time called him in vain; but after she had +handled him in every part of his body and found him cold in all, +perceiving that he was altogether dead and knowing not what to do or +to say, she went, all tearful as she was and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223"></a></span> full of anguish, to call +her maid, who was privy to their loves, and discovered to her misery +and her grief. Then, after they had awhile made woeful lamentation +over Gabriotto's dead face, the young lady said to the maid, 'Since +God hath bereft me of him I love, I purpose to abide no longer on +life; but, ere I go about to slay myself, I would fain take fitting +means to preserve my honour and the secret of the love that hath been +between us twain and that the body, wherefrom the gracious spirit is +departed, may be buried.'</p> + +<p>'Daughter mine,' answered the maid, 'talk not of seeking to slay +thyself, for that, if thou have lost him in this world, by slaying +thyself thou wouldst lose him in the world to come also, since thou +wouldst go to hell, whither I am assured his soul hath not gone; for +he was a virtuous youth. It were better far to comfort thyself and +think of succouring his soul with prayers and other good works, so +haply he have need thereof for any sin committed. The means of burying +him are here at hand in this garden and none will ever know of the +matter, for none knoweth that he ever came hither. Or, an thou wilt +not have it so, let us put him forth of the garden and leave him be; +he will be found to-morrow morning and carried to his house, where his +kinsfolk will have him buried.' The young lady, albeit she was full of +bitter sorrow and wept without ceasing, yet gave ear to her maid's +counsels and consenting not to the first part thereof, made answer to +the second, saying, 'God forbid that I should suffer so dear a youth +and one so beloved of me and my husband to be buried after the fashion +of a dog or left to lie in the street! He hath had my tears and +inasmuch as I may, he shall have those of his kinsfolk, and I have +already bethought me of that which we have to do to that end.'</p> + +<p>Therewith she despatched her maid for a piece of cloth of silk, which +she had in a coffer of hers, and spreading it on the earth, laid +Gabriotto's body thereon, with his head upon a pillow. Then with many +tears she closed his eyes and mouth and weaving him a chaplet of +roses, covered him with all they had gathered, he and she; after which +she said to the maid, 'It is but a little way hence to his house; +wherefore we will carry him thither, thou and I, even as we have +arrayed him, and lay him before the door. It will not be long ere it +be day and he will be taken up; and although this may be no +consolation to his friends, yet to me, in whose arms he died, it will +be a pleasure.' So saying, once more with most abundant tears she cast +herself upon his face and wept a great while. Then, being urged by her +maid to despatch, for that the day was at hand, she rose to her feet +and drawing from her finger the ring wherewith Gabriotto had espoused +her, she set it on his and said, weeping, 'Dear my lord, if thy soul +now seeth my tears or if any sense or cognizance abide in the body, +after the departure thereof, benignly receive her last gift, whom, +living, thou lovedst so well.' This said, she fell down upon him in a +swoon, but, presently coming to herself and rising, she took up, +together with her maid, the cloth whereon the body lay and going forth +the garden therewith, made for his house.</p> + +<p>As they went, they were discovered and taken with the dead body by +the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224"></a></span> officers of the provostry, who chanced to be abroad at that hour +about some other matter. Andrevuola, more desirous of death than of +life, recognizing the officers, said frankly, 'I know who you are and +that it would avail me nothing to seek to flee; I am ready to go with +you before the Seignory and there declare how the case standeth; but +let none of you dare to touch me, provided I am obedient to you, or to +remove aught from this body, an he would not be accused of me.' +Accordingly, without being touched of any, she repaired, with +Gabriotto's body, to the palace, where the Provost, hearing what was +to do, arose and sending for her into his chamber, proceeded to +enquire of this that had happened. To this end he caused divers +physicians look if the dead man had been done to death with poison or +otherwise, who all affirmed that it was not so, but that some +imposthume had burst near the heart, the which had suffocated him. The +magistrate hearing this and feeling her to be guilty in [but] a small +matter, studied to make a show of giving her that which he could not +sell her and told her that, an she would consent to his pleasures, he +would release her; but, these words availing not, he offered, out of +all seemliness, to use force. However, Andrevuola, fired with disdain +and waxed strong [for indignation], defended herself manfully, +rebutting him with proud and scornful words.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, broad day come and these things being recounted to Messer +Negro, he betook himself, sorrowful unto death, to the palace, in +company with many of his friends, and being there acquainted by the +Provost with the whole matter, demanded resentfully<a name="FNanchor_249_251" id="FNanchor_249_251"></a><a href="#Footnote_249_251" class="fnanchor">[249]</a> that his +daughter should be restored to him. The Provost, choosing rather to +accuse himself of the violence he would have done her than to be +accused of her, first extolled the damsel and her constancy and in +proof thereof, proceeded to tell that which he had done; by reason +whereof, seeing her of so excellent a firmness, he had vowed her an +exceeding love and would gladly, an it were agreeable to him, who was +her father, and to herself, espouse her for his lady, notwithstanding +she had had a husband of mean condition. Whilst they yet talked, +Andrevuola presented herself and weeping, cast herself before her +father and said, 'Father mine, methinketh there is no need that I +recount to you the story of my boldness and my illhap, for I am +assured that you have heard and know it; wherefore, as most I may, I +humbly ask pardon of you for my default, to wit, the having without +your knowledge taken him who most pleased me to husband. And this boon +I ask of you, not for that my life may be spared me, but to die your +daughter and not your enemy.' So saying, she fell weeping at his feet.</p> + +<p>Messer Negro, who was an old man and kindly and affectionate of his +nature, hearing these words, began to weep and with tears in his eyes +raised his daughter tenderly to her feet and said, 'Daughter mine, it +had better pleased me that thou shouldst have had such a husband as, +according to my thinking, behoved unto thee; and that thou shouldst +have taken such an one as was pleasing unto thee had also been +pleas<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225"></a></span>ing to me; but that thou shouldst have concealed him, of thy +little confidence in me, grieveth me, and so much the more as I see +thee to have lost him, ere I knew it. However, since the case is so, +that which had he lived, I had gladly done him, to content thee, to +wit, honour, as to my son-in-law, be it done him, now he is dead.' +Then, turning to his sons and his kinsfolk, he commanded that great +and honourable obsequies should be prepared for Gabriotto.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, the kinsmen and kinswomen of the young man, hearing the +news, had flocked thither, and with them well nigh all the men and +women in the city. Therewith, the body, being laid out amiddleward the +courtyard upon Andrevuola's silken cloth and strewn, with all her +roses, was there not only bewept by her and his kinsfolk, but publicly +mourned by well nigh all the ladies of the city and by many men, and +being brought forth of the courtyard of the Seignory, not as that of a +plebeian, but as that of a nobleman, it was with the utmost honour +borne to the sepulchre upon the shoulders of the most noble citizens. +Some days thereafterward, the Provost ensuing that which he had +demanded, Messer Negro propounded it to his daughter, who would hear +nought thereof, but, her father being willing to comply with her in +this, she and her maid made themselves nuns in a convent very famous +for sanctity and there lived honourably a great while after."</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="THE_SEVENTH_STORY4" id="THE_SEVENTH_STORY4"></a>THE SEVENTH STORY</h2> + +<div class="sidenote">Day the Fourth</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="hang">SIMONA LOVETH PASQUINO AND THEY BEING TOGETHER IN A GARDEN, +THE LATTER RUBBETH A LEAF OF SAGE AGAINST HIS TEETH AND +DIETH. SHE, BEING TAKEN AND THINKING TO SHOW THE JUDGE HOW +HER LOVER DIED, RUBBETH ONE OF THE SAME LEAVES AGAINST HER +TEETH AND DIETH ON LIKE WISE</p></div> + + +<p><br /><span class="smcap">Pamfilo</span> having delivered himself of his story, the king, showing no +compassion for Andrevuola, looked at Emilia and signed to her that it +was his pleasure she should with a story follow on those who had +already told; whereupon she, without delay, began as follows: "Dear +companions, the story told by Pamfilo putteth me in mind to tell you +one in nothing like unto his save that like as Andrevuola lost her +beloved in a garden, even so did she of whom I have to tell, and being +taken in like manner as was Andrevuola, freed herself from the court, +not by dint of fortitude nor constancy, but by an unlooked-for death. +And as hath otherwhile been said amongst us, albeit Love liefer +inhabiteth the houses of the great, yet not therefor doth he decline +the empery of those of the poor; nay, whiles in these latter he so +manifesteth his power that he maketh himself feared, as a most +puissant seignior, of the richer sort. This, if not in all, yet in +great part, will appear from my story, with which it pleaseth me to +re-enter our own city, wherefrom this day,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226"></a></span> discoursing diversely of +divers things and ranging over various parts of the world, we have so +far departed.</p> + +<p>There was, then, no great while ago, in Florence a damsel very +handsome and agreeable, according to her condition, who was the +daughter of a poor father and was called Simona; and although it +behoved her with her own hands earn the bread she would eat and +sustain her life by spinning wool, she was not therefor of so poor a +spirit but that she dared to admit into her heart Love, which,—by +means of the pleasing words and fashions of a youth of no greater +account than herself, who went giving wool to spin for a master of +his, a wool-monger,—had long made a show of wishing to enter there. +Having, then, received Him into her bosom with the pleasing aspect of +the youth who loved her whose name was Pasquino, she heaved a thousand +sighs, hotter than fire, at every hank of yarn she wound about the +spindle, bethinking her of him who had given it her to spin and +ardently desiring, but venturing not to do more. He, on his side, +grown exceeding anxious that his master's wool should be well spun, +overlooked Simona's spinning more diligently than that of any other, +as if the yarn spun by her alone and none other were to furnish forth +the whole cloth; wherefore, the one soliciting and the other +delighting to be solicited, it befell that, he growing bolder than of +his wont and she laying aside much of the timidity and shamefastness +she was used to feel, they gave themselves up with a common accord to +mutual pleasures, which were so pleasing to both that not only did +neither wait to be bidden thereto of the other, but each forewent +other in the matter of invitation.</p> + +<p>Ensuing this their delight from day to day and waxing ever more +enkindled for continuance, it chanced one day that Pasquino told +Simona he would fain have her find means to come to a garden, whither +he wished to carry her so they might there foregather more at their +ease and with less suspect. Simona answered that she would well and +accordingly on Sunday, after eating, giving her father to believe that +she meant to go a-pardoning to San Gallo,<a name="FNanchor_250_252" id="FNanchor_250_252"></a><a href="#Footnote_250_252" class="fnanchor">[250]</a> she betook herself, +with a friend of hers, called Lagina, to the garden appointed her of +Pasquino. There she found him with a comrade of his, whose name was +Puccino, but who was commonly called Stramba,<a name="FNanchor_251_253" id="FNanchor_251_253"></a><a href="#Footnote_251_253" class="fnanchor">[251]</a> and an amorous +acquaintance being quickly clapped up between the latter and Lagina, +Simona and her lover withdrew to one part of the garden, to do their +pleasure, leaving Stramba and Lagina in another.</p> + +<p>Now in that part of the garden, whither Pasquino and Simona had +betaken themselves, was a very great and goodly bush of sage, at the +foot whereof they sat down and solaced themselves together a great +while, holding much discourse of a collation they purposed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227"></a></span> to make +there at their leisure. Presently, Pasquino turned to the great +sage-bush and plucking a leaf thereof, began to rub his teeth and gums +withal, avouching that sage cleaned them excellent well of aught that +might be left thereon after eating. After he had thus rubbed them +awhile, he returned to the subject of the collation, of which he had +already spoken, nor had he long pursued his discourse when he began +altogether to change countenance and well nigh immediately after lost +sight and speech, and in a little while he died. Simona, seeing this, +fell to weeping and crying out and called Stramba and Lagina, who ran +thither in haste and seeing Pasquino not only dead, but already grown +all swollen and full of dark spots about his face and body, Stramba +cried out of a sudden, 'Ah, wicked woman! Thou hast poisoned him.' +Making a great outcry, he was heard of many who dwelt near the garden +and who, running to the clamour, found Pasquino dead and swollen.</p> + +<p>Hearing Stramba lamenting and accusing Simona of having poisoned him +of her malice, whilst she, for dolour of the sudden mishap that had +carried off her lover, knew not how to excuse herself, being as it +were beside herself, they all concluded that it was as he said; and +accordingly she was taken and carried off, still weeping sore, to the +Provost's palace, where, at the instance of Stramba and other two +comrades of Pasquino, by name Atticciato and Malagevole, who had come +up meanwhile, a judge addressed himself without delay to examine her +of the fact and being unable to discover that she had done malice in +the matter or was anywise guilty, he bethought himself, in her +presence, to view the dead body and the place and manner of the +mishap, as recounted to him by her, for that he apprehended it not +very well by her words.</p> + +<p>Accordingly, he let bring her, without any stir, whereas Pasquino's +body lay yet, swollen as it were a tun, and himself following her +thither, marvelled at the dead man and asked her how it had been; +whereupon, going up to the sage-bush, she recounted to him all the +foregoing story and to give him more fully to understand how the thing +had befallen, she did even as Pasquino had done and rubbed one of the +sage-leaves against her teeth. Then,—whilst her words were, in the +judge's presence, flouted by Stramba and Atticciato and the other +friends and comrades of Pasquino as frivolous and vain and they all +denounced her wickedness with the more instance, demanding nothing +less than that the fire should be the punishment of such +perversity,—the wretched girl, who abode all confounded for dolour of +her lost lover and fear of the punishment demanded by Stramba fell, +for having rubbed the sage against her teeth, into that same +mischance, whereinto her lover had fallen [and dropped dead], to the +no small wonderment of as many as were present. O happy souls, to whom +it fell in one same day to terminate at once your fervent love and +your mortal life! Happier yet, an ye went together to one same place! +And most happy, if folk love in the other life and ye love there as +you loved here below! But happiest beyond compare,—at least in our +judgment who abide after her on life,—was Simona's soul, whose +innocence fortune suffered<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228"></a></span> not to fall under the testimony of Stramba +and Atticciato and Malagevole, wool-carders belike or men of yet +meaner condition, finding her a more honourable way, with a death like +unto that of her lover, to deliver herself from their calumnies and to +follow the soul, so dearly loved of her, of her Pasquino.</p> + +<p>The judge, in a manner astonied, as were likewise as many as were +there, at this mischance and unknowing what to say, abode long silent; +then, recollecting himself, he said, 'It seemeth this sage is +poisonous, the which is not wont to happen of sage. But, so it may not +avail to offend on this wise against any other, be it cut down even to +the roots and cast into the fire.' This the keeper of the garden +proceeded to do in the judge's presence, and no sooner had he levelled +the great bush with the ground than the cause of the death of the two +unfortunate lovers appeared; for thereunder was a toad of marvellous +bigness, by whose pestiferous breath they concluded the sage to have +become venomous. None daring approach the beast, they made a great +hedge of brushwood about it and there burnt it, together with the +sage. So ended the judge's inquest upon the death of the unfortunate +Pasquino, who, together with his Simona, all swollen as they were, was +buried by Stramba and Atticciato and Guccio Imbratta and Malagevole in +the church of St. Paul, whereof it chanced they were parishioners."</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="THE_EIGHTH_STORY4" id="THE_EIGHTH_STORY4"></a>THE EIGHTH STORY</h2> + +<div class="sidenote">Day the Fourth</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="hang">GIROLAMO LOVETH SALVESTRA AND BEING CONSTRAINED BY HIS +MOTHER'S PRAYERS TO GO TO PARIS, RETURNETH AND FINDETH HIS +MISTRESS MARRIED; WHEREUPON HE ENTERETH HER HOUSE BY STEALTH +AND DIETH BY HER SIDE; AND HE BEING CARRIED TO A CHURCH, +SALVESTRA DIETH BESIDE HIM</p></div> + + +<p><br /><span class="smcap">Emilia's</span> story come to an end, Neifile, by the king's commandment, +began thus: "There are some, noble ladies, who believe themselves to +know more than other folk, albeit, to my thinking, they know less, and +who, by reason thereof, presume to oppose their judgment not only to +the counsels of men, but even to set it up against the very nature of +things; of which presumption very grave ills have befallen aforetime, +nor ever was any good known to come thereof. And for that of all +natural things love is that which least brooketh contrary counsel or +opposition and whose nature is such that it may lightlier consume of +itself than be done away by advisement, it hath come to my mind to +narrate to you a story of a lady, who, seeking to be wiser than +pertained unto her and than she was, nay, than the matter comported in +which she studied to show her wit, thought to tear out from an +enamoured heart a love which had belike been set there of the stars, +and so doing, succeeded in expelling at once love and life from her +son's body.</p> + +<p>There was, then, in our city, according to that which the ancients +relate, a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229"></a></span> very great and rich merchant, whose name was Lionardo +Sighieri and who had by his wife a son called Girolamo, after whose +birth, having duly set his affairs in order, he departed this life. +The guardians of the boy, together with his mother, well and loyally +ordered his affairs, and he, growing up with his neighbour's children, +became familiar with a girl of his own age, the daughter of the +tailor, more than with any other of the quarter. As he waxed in age, +use turned to love so great and so ardent that he was never easy save +what time he saw her, and certes she loved him no less than she was +loved of him. The boy's mother, observing this, many a time chid and +rebuked him therefor and after, Girolamo availing not to desist +therefrom, complained thereof to his guardians, saying to them, as if +she thought, thanks to her son's great wealth, to make an orange-tree +of a bramble, 'This boy of ours, albeit he is yet scarce fourteen +years old, is so enamoured of the daughter of a tailor our neighbour, +by name Salvestra, that, except we remove her from his sight, he will +peradventure one day take her to wife, without any one's knowledge, +and I shall never after be glad; or else he will pine away from her, +if he see her married to another; wherefore meseemeth, to avoid this, +you were best send him somewhither far from here, about the business +of the warehouse; for that, he being removed from seeing her, she will +pass out of his mind and we may after avail to give him some well-born +damsel to wife.'</p> + +<p>The guardians answered that the lady said well and that they would do +this to the best of their power; wherefore, calling the boy into the +warehouse, one of them began very lovingly to bespeak him thus, 'My +son, thou art now somewhat waxen in years and it were well that thou +shouldst begin to look for thyself to thine affairs; wherefore it +would much content us that thou shouldst go sojourn awhile at Paris, +where thou wilt see how great part of thy wealth is employed, more by +token that thou wilt there become far better bred and mannered and +more of worth than thou couldst here, seeing the lords and barons and +gentlemen who are there in plenty and learning their usances; after +which thou mayst return hither.' The youth hearkened diligently and +answered curtly that he was nowise disposed to do this, for that he +believed himself able to fare as well at Florence as another. The +worthy men, hearing this, essayed him again with sundry discourse, +but, failing to get other answer of him, told his mother, who, sore +provoked thereat, gave him a sound rating, not because of his +unwillingness to go to Paris, but of his enamourment; after which, she +fell to cajoling him with fair words, coaxing him and praying him +softly be pleased to do what his guardians wished; brief, she +contrived to bespeak him to such purpose that he consented to go to +France and there abide a year and no more.</p> + +<p>Accordingly, ardently enamoured as he was, he betook himself to Paris +and there, being still put off from one day to another, he was kept +two years; at the end of which time, returning, more in love than +ever, he found his Salvestra married to an honest youth, a tent maker. +At this he was beyond measure woebegone; but, seeing no help for it, +he studied to console himself therefor and having spied out where she +dwelt,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230"></a></span> began, after the wont of young men in love, to pass before +her, expecting she should no more have forgotten him than he her. But +the case was otherwise; she had no more remembrance of him than if she +had never seen him; or, if indeed she remembered aught of him, she +feigned the contrary; and of this, in a very brief space of time, +Girolamo became aware, to his no small chagrin. Nevertheless, he did +all he might to bring himself to her mind; but, himseeming he wrought +nothing, he resolved to speak with her, face to face, though he should +die for it.</p> + +<p>Accordingly, having learned from a neighbour how her house stood, one +evening that she and her husband were gone to keep wake with their +neighbours, he entered therein by stealth and hiding himself behind +certain tent cloths that were spread there, waited till, the twain +having returned and gotten them to bed, he knew her husband to be +asleep; whereupon he came whereas he had seen Salvestra lay herself +and putting his hand upon her breast, said softly, 'Sleepest thou yet, +O my soul?' The girl, who was awake, would have cried out; but he said +hastily, 'For God's sake, cry not, for I am thy Girolamo.' She, +hearing this, said, all trembling, 'Alack, for God's sake, Girolamo, +get thee gone; the time is past when it was not forbidden unto our +childishness to be lovers. I am, as thou seest, married and it +beseemeth me no more to have regard to any man other than my husband; +wherefore I beseech thee, by God the Only, to begone, for that, if my +husband heard thee, even should no other harm ensue thereof, yet would +it follow that I might never more avail to live with him in peace or +quiet, whereas now I am beloved of him and abide with him in weal and +in tranquility.'</p> + +<p>The youth, hearing these words, was grievously endoloured and recalled +to her the time past and his love no whit grown less for absence, +mingling many prayers and many great promises, but obtained nothing; +wherefore, desiring to die, he prayed her at last that, in requital of +so much love, she would suffer him couch by her side, so he might warm +himself somewhat, for that he was grown chilled, awaiting her, +promising her that he would neither say aught to her nor touch her and +would get him gone, so soon as he should be a little warmed. +Salvestra, having some little compassion of him, granted him this he +asked, upon the conditions aforesaid, and he accordingly lay down +beside her, without touching her. Then, collecting into one thought +the long love he had borne her and her present cruelty and his lost +hope, he resolved to live no longer; wherefore, straitening in himself +his vital spirits,<a name="FNanchor_252_254" id="FNanchor_252_254"></a><a href="#Footnote_252_254" class="fnanchor">[252]</a> he clenched his hands and died by her side, +without word or motion.</p> + +<p>After a while the young woman, marvelling at his continence and +fearing lest her husband should awake, began to say, 'Alack, Girolamo, +why dost thou not get thee gone?' Hearing no answer, she concluded +that he had fallen asleep and putting out her hand to awaken him, +found him cold to the touch as ice, whereat she marvelled sore; then, +nudging him more sharply and finding that he stirred not, she felt him +again and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231"></a></span> knew that he was dead; whereat she was beyond measure +woebegone and abode a great while, unknowing what she should do. At +last she bethought herself to try, in the person of another, what her +husband should say was to do [in such a case]; wherefore, awakening +him, she told him, as having happened to another, that which had +presently betided herself and after asked him what counsel she should +take thereof,<a name="FNanchor_253_255" id="FNanchor_253_255"></a><a href="#Footnote_253_255" class="fnanchor">[253]</a> if it should happen to herself. The good man +replied that himseemed the dead man should be quietly carried to his +house and there left, without bearing any ill will thereof to the +woman, who, it appeared to him, had nowise done amiss. Then said +Salvestra, 'And so it behoveth us do'; and taking his hand, made him +touch the dead youth; whereupon, all confounded, he arose, without +entering into farther parley with his wife, and kindled a light; then, +clothing the dead body in its own garments, he took it, without any +delay, on his shoulders and carried it, his innocence aiding him, to +the door of Girolamo's house, where he set it down and left it.</p> + +<p>When the day came and Girolamo was found dead before his own door, +great was outcry, especially on the part of his mother, and the +physicians having examined him and searched his body everywhere, but +finding no wound nor bruise whatsoever on him, it was generally +concluded that he had died of grief, as was indeed the case. Then was +the body carried into a church and the sad mother, repairing thither +with many other ladies, kinswomen and neighbours, began to weep +without stint and make sore moan over him, according to our usance. +What while the lamentation was at it highest, the good man, in whose +house he had died, said to Salvestra, 'Harkye, put some mantlet or +other on thy head and get thee to the church whither Girolamo hath +been carried and mingle with the women and hearken to that which is +discoursed of the matter; and I will do the like among the men, so we +may hear if aught be said against us.' The thing pleased the girl, who +was too late grown pitiful and would fain look upon him, dead, whom, +living, she had not willed to pleasure with one poor kiss, and she +went thither. A marvellous thing it is to think how uneath to search +out are the ways of love! That heart, which Girolamo's fair fortune +had not availed to open, his illhap opened and the old flames reviving +all therein, whenas she saw the dead face it<a name="FNanchor_254_256" id="FNanchor_254_256"></a><a href="#Footnote_254_256" class="fnanchor">[254]</a> melted of a sudden +into such compassion that she pressed between the women, veiled as she +was in the mantlet, and stayed not till she won to the body, and +there, giving a terrible great shriek, she cast herself, face +downward, on the dead youth, whom she bathed not with many tears, for +that no sooner did she touch him than grief bereaved her of life, even +as it had bereft him.</p> + +<p>The women would have comforted her and bidden her arise, not yet +knowing her; but after they had bespoken her awhile in vain, they +sought to lift her and finding her motionless, raised her up and knew +her at once for Sal<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232"></a></span>vestra and for dead; whereupon all who were there, +overcome with double pity, set up a yet greater clamour of +lamentation. The news soon spread abroad among the men without the +church and came presently to the ears of her husband, who was amongst +them and who, without lending ear to consolation or comfort from any, +wept a great while; after which he recounted to many of those who were +there the story of that which had befallen that night between the dead +youth and his wife; and so was the cause of each one's death made +everywhere manifest, the which was grievous unto all. Then, taking up +the dead girl and decking her, as they use to deck the dead, they laid +her beside Girolamo on the same bier and there long bewept her; after +which the twain were buried in one same tomb, and so these, whom love +had not availed to conjoin on life, death conjoined with an +inseparable union."</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="THE_NINTH_STORY4" id="THE_NINTH_STORY4"></a>THE NINTH STORY</h2> + +<div class="sidenote">Day the Fourth</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="hang">SIR GUILLAUME DE ROUSSILLON GIVETH HIS WIFE TO EAT THE HEART +OF SIR GUILLAUME DE GUARDESTAING BY HIM SLAIN AND LOVED OF +HER, WHICH SHE AFTER COMING TO KNOW, CASTETH HERSELF FROM A +HIGH CASEMENT TO THE GROUND AND DYING, IS BURIED WITH HER +LOVER</p></div> + + +<p><br /><span class="smcap">Neifile</span> having made an end of her story, which had awakened no little +compassion in all the ladies her companions, the king, who purposed +not to infringe Dioneo his privilege, there being none else to tell +but they twain, began, "Gentle ladies, since you have such compassion +upon ill-fortuned loves, it hath occurred to me to tell you a story +whereof it will behove you have no less pity than of the last, for +that those to whom that which I shall tell happened were persons of +more account than those of whom it hath been spoken and yet more cruel +was the mishap that befell them.</p> + +<p>You must know, then, that according to that which the Provençals +relate, there were aforetime in Provence two noble knights, each of +whom had castles and vassals under him, called the one Sir Guillaume +de Roussillon and the other Sir Guillaume de Guardestaing, and for +that they were both men of great prowess in arms, they loved each +other with an exceeding love and were wont to go still together and +clad in the same colours to every tournament or jousting or other act +of arms. Although they abode each in his own castle and were distant, +one from other, a good half score miles, yet it came to pass that, Sir +Guillaume de Roussillon having a very fair and lovesome lady to wife, +Sir Guillaume de Guardestaing, notwithstanding the friendship and +fellowship that was between them, become beyond measure enamoured of +her and so wrought, now with one means and now with another, that the +lady became aware of his passion and knowing him for a very valiant +knight, it pleased her and she began to return his love, insomuch that +she desired and tendered<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233"></a></span> nothing more than him nor awaited otherwhat +than to be solicited of him; the which was not long in coming to pass +and they foregathered once and again.</p> + +<p>Loving each other amain and conversing together less discreetly than +behoved, it befell that the husband became aware of their familiarity +and was mightily incensed thereat, insomuch that the great love he +bore to Guardestaing was turned into mortal hatred; but this he knew +better to keep hidden than the two lovers had known to conceal their +love and was fully resolved in himself to kill him. Roussillon being +in this mind, it befell that a great tourneying was proclaimed in +France, the which he forthright signified to Guardestaing and sent to +bid him come to him, an it pleased him, so they might take counsel +together if and how they should go thither; whereto the other very +joyously answered that he would without fail come to sup with him on +the ensuing day. Roussillon, hearing this, thought the time come +whenas he might avail to kill him and accordingly on the morrow he +armed himself and mounting to horse with a servant of his, lay at +ambush, maybe a mile from his castle, in a wood whereas Guardestaing +must pass.</p> + +<p>There after he had awaited him a good while, he saw him come, unarmed +and followed by two servants in like case, as one who apprehends +nothing from him; and when he saw him come whereas he would have him, +he rushed out upon him, lance in hand, full of rage and malice, +crying, 'Traitor, thou art dead!' And to say thus and to plunge the +lance into his breast were one and the same thing. Guardestaing, +without being able to make any defence or even to say a word, fell +from his horse, transfixed of the lance, and a little after died, +whilst his servants, without waiting to learn who had done this, +turned their horses' heads and fled as quickliest they might, towards +their lord's castle. Roussillon dismounted and opening the dead man's +breast with a knife, with his own hands tore out his heart, which he +let wrap in the pennon of a lance and gave to one of his men to carry. +Then, commanding that none should dare make words of the matter, he +remounted, it being now night, and returned to his castle.</p> + +<p>The lady, who had heard that Guardestaing was to be there that evening +to supper and looked for him with the utmost impatience, seeing him +not come, marvelled sore and said to her husband, 'How is it, sir, +that Guardestaing is not come?' 'Wife,' answered he, 'I have had +[word] from him that he cannot be here till to-morrow'; whereat the +lady abode somewhat troubled. Roussillon then dismounted and calling +the cook, said to him, 'Take this wild boar's heart and look thou make +a dainty dish thereof, the best and most delectable to eat that thou +knowest, and when I am at table, send it to me in a silver porringer.' +The cook accordingly took the heart and putting all his art thereto +and all his diligence, minced it and seasoning it with store of rich +spices, made of it a very dainty ragout.</p> + +<p>When it was time, Sir Guillaume sat down to table with his wife and +the viands came; but he ate little, being hindered in thought for the +ill deed he had committed. Presently the cook sent him the ragout, +which he caused<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234"></a></span> set before the lady, feigning himself disordered<a name="FNanchor_255_257" id="FNanchor_255_257"></a><a href="#Footnote_255_257" class="fnanchor">[255]</a> +that evening and commending the dish to her amain. The lady, who was +nowise squeamish, tasted thereof and finding it good, ate it all; +which when the knight saw, he said to her, 'Wife, how deem you of this +dish?' 'In good sooth, my lord,' answered she, 'it liketh me +exceedingly.' Whereupon, 'So God be mine aid,' quoth Roussillon; 'I do +indeed believe it you, nor do I marvel if that please you, dead, +which, alive, pleased you more than aught else.' The lady, hearing +this, hesitated awhile, then said, 'How? What have you made me eat?' +'This that you have eaten,' answered the knight, 'was in very truth +the heart of Sir Guillaume de Guardestaing, whom you, disloyal wife as +you are, so loved; and know for certain that it is his very heart, for +that I tore it from his breast with these hands a little before my +return.'</p> + +<p>It needeth not to ask if the lady were woebegone, hearing this of him +whom she loved more than aught else; and after awhile she said, 'You +have done the deed of a disloyal and base knight, as you are; for, if +I, unenforced of him, made him lord of my love and therein offended +against you, not he, but I should have borne the penalty thereof. But +God forfend that ever other victual should follow upon such noble meat +the heart of so valiant and so courteous a gentleman as was Sir +Guillaume de Guardestaing!' Then, rising to her feet, without any +manner of hesitation, she let herself fall backward through a window +which was behind her and which was exceeding high above the ground; +wherefore, as she fell, she was not only killed, but well nigh broken +in pieces.</p> + +<p>Sir Guillaume, seeing this, was sore dismayed and himseemed he had +done ill; wherefore, being adread of the country people and of the +Count of Provence, he let saddle his horses and made off. On the +morrow it was known all over the country how the thing had passed; +whereupon the two bodies were, with the utmost grief and lamentation, +taken up by Guardestaing's people and those of the lady and laid in +one same sepulchre in the chapel of the latter's own castle; and +thereover were verses written, signifying who these were that were +buried therewithin and the manner and occasion of their death."<a name="FNanchor_256_258" id="FNanchor_256_258"></a><a href="#Footnote_256_258" class="fnanchor">[256]</a></p> + + + +<hr /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235"></a></span></p> +<h2><a name="THE_TENTH_STORY4" id="THE_TENTH_STORY4"></a>THE TENTH STORY</h2> + +<div class="sidenote">Day the Fourth</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="hang">A PHYSICIAN'S WIFE PUTTETH HER LOVER FOR DEAD IN A CHEST, +WHICH TWO USURERS CARRY OFF TO THEIR OWN HOUSE, GALLANT AND +ALL. THE LATTER, WHO IS BUT DRUGGED, COMETH PRESENTLY TO +HIMSELF AND BEING DISCOVERED, IS TAKEN FOR A THIEF; BUT THE +LADY'S MAID AVOUCHETH TO THE SEIGNORY THAT SHE HERSELF HAD +PUT HIM INTO THE CHEST STOLEN BY THE TWO USURERS, WHEREBY HE +ESCAPETH THE GALLOWS AND THE THIEVES ARE AMERCED IN CERTAIN +MONIES</p></div> + + +<p><br /><span class="smcap">Filostrato</span> having made an end of his telling, it rested only with +Dioneo to accomplish his task, who, knowing this and it being +presently commanded him of the king, began as follows: 'The sorrows +that have been this day related of ill fortuned loves have saddened +not only your eyes and hearts, ladies, but mine also; wherefore I have +ardently longed for an end to be made thereof. Now that, praised be +God, they are finished (except I should choose to make an ill addition +to such sorry ware, from which God keep me!), I will, without farther +ensuing so dolorous a theme, begin with something blither and better, +thereby perchance affording a good argument for that which is to be +related on the ensuing day.</p> + +<p>You must know, then, fairest lasses, that there was in Salerno, no +great while since, a very famous doctor in surgery, by name Master +Mazzeo della Montagna, who, being already come to extreme old age, +took to wife a fair and gentle damsel of his city and kept better +furnished with sumptuous and rich apparel and jewels and all that can +pleasure a lady than any woman of the place. True it is she went +a-cold most of her time, being kept of her husband ill covered abed; +for, like as Messer Ricardo di Chinzica (of whom we already told) +taught his wife to observe saints' days and holidays, even so the +doctor pretended to her that once lying with a woman necessitated I +know not how many days' study to recruit the strength and the like +toys; whereof she abode exceeding ill content and like a discreet and +high-spirited woman as she was, bethought herself, so she might the +better husband the household good, to betake herself to the highway +and seek to spend others' gear. To this end, considering divers young +men, at last she found one to her mind and on him she set all her +hope; whereof he becoming aware and she pleasing him mightily, he in +like manner turned all his love upon her.</p> + +<p>The spark in question was called Ruggieri da Jeroli, a man of noble +birth, but of lewd life and blameworthy carriage, insomuch that he had +left himself neither friend nor kinsman who wished him well or cared +to see him and was defamed throughout all Salerno for thefts and other +knaveries of the vilest; but of this the lady recked little, he +pleasing her for otherwhat, and with the aid of a maid of hers, she +wrought on such wise that they came together. After they had taken +some delight, the lady proceeded to blame his past way of life and to +pray him, for the love of her, to desist from these ill fashions; and +to give him the means of doing this,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236"></a></span> she fell to succouring him, now +with one sum of money and now with another. On this wise they abode +together, using the utmost discretion, till it befell that a sick man +was put into the doctor's hands, who had a gangrened leg, and Master +Mazzeo, having examined the case, told the patient's kinsfolk that, +except a decayed bone he had in his leg were taken out, needs must he +have the whole limb cut off or die, and that, by taking out the bone, +he might recover, but that he would not undertake him otherwise than +for a dead man; to which those to whom the sick man pertained agreed +and gave the latter into his hands for such. The doctor, judging that +the patient might not brook the pain nor would suffer himself to be +operated, without an opiate, and having appointed to set about the +matter at evensong, let that morning distil a certain water of his +composition, which being drunken by the sick man, should make him +sleep so long as he deemed necessary for the performing of the +operation upon him, and fetching it home, set it in his chamber, +without telling any what it was.</p> + +<p>The hour of vespers come and the doctor being about to go to the +patient in question, there came to him a messenger from certain very +great friends of his at Malfi, charging him fail not for anything to +repair thither incontinent, for that there had been a great fray +there, in which many had been wounded. Master Mazzeo accordingly put +off the tending of the leg until the ensuing morning and going aboard +a boat, went off to Malfi, whereupon his wife, knowing that he would +not return home that night, let fetch Ruggieri, as of her wont, and +bringing him into her chamber, locked him therewithin, against certain +other persons of the house should be gone to sleep. Ruggieri, then, +abiding in the chamber, awaiting his mistress, and being,—whether for +fatigue endured that day or salt meat that he had eaten or maybe for +usance,—sore, athirst, caught sight of the flagon of water, which the +doctor had prepared for the sick man and which stood in the window, +and deeming it drinking water, set it to his mouth and drank it all +off; nor was it long ere a great drowsiness took him and he fell +asleep.</p> + +<p>The lady came to the chamber as first she might and finding Ruggieri +asleep, nudged him and bade him in a low voice arise, but to no +effect, for he replied not neither stirred anywhit; whereat she was +somewhat vexed and nudged him more sharply, saying, 'Get up, slugabed! +An thou hadst a mind to sleep, thou shouldst have betaken thee to +thine own house and not come hither.' Ruggieri, being thus pushed, +fell to the ground from a chest whereon he lay and gave no more sign +of life than a dead body; whereupon the lady, now somewhat alarmed, +began to seek to raise him up and to shake him more roughly, tweaking +him by the nose and plucking him by the beard, but all in vain; he had +tied his ass to a fast picket.<a name="FNanchor_257_259" id="FNanchor_257_259"></a><a href="#Footnote_257_259" class="fnanchor">[257]</a> At this she began to fear lest he +were dead; nevertheless she proceeded to pinch him sharply and burn +his flesh with a lighted taper, but all to no purpose; wherefore, +being no doctress, for all her husband was a physician, she doubted +not but he was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237"></a></span> dead in very deed. Loving him over all else as she +did, it needeth no asking if she were woebegone for this and daring +not make any outcry, she silently fell a-weeping over him and +bewailing so sore a mishap.</p> + +<p>After awhile, fearing to add shame to her loss, she bethought herself +that it behoved her without delay find a means of carrying the dead +man forth of the house and knowing not how to contrive this, she +softly called her maid and discovering to her her misadventure sought +counsel of her. The maid marvelled exceedingly and herself pulled and +pinched Ruggieri, but, finding him without sense or motion, agreed +with her mistress that he was certainly dead and counselled her put +him forth of the house. Quoth the lady, 'And where can we put him, so +it may not be suspected, whenas he shall be seen to-morrow morning, +that he hath been brought out hence?' 'Madam,' answered the maid, 'I +saw, this evening at nightfall, over against the shop of our neighbour +yonder the carpenter, a chest not overbig, the which, an the owner +have not taken it in again, will come very apt for our affair; for +that we can lay him therein, after giving him two or three slashes +with a knife, and leave him be. I know no reason why whoso findeth him +should suppose him to have been put there from this house rather than +otherwhence; nay, it will liefer be believed, seeing he was a young +man of lewd life, that he hath been slain by some enemy of his, whilst +going about to do some mischief or other, and after clapped in the +chest.'</p> + +<p>The maid's counsel pleased the lady, save that she would not hear of +giving him any wound, saying that for naught in the world would her +heart suffer her to do that. Accordingly she sent her to see if the +chest were yet whereas she had noted it and she presently returned and +said, 'Ay.' Then, being young and lusty, with the aid of her mistress, +she took Ruggieri on her shoulders and carrying him out,—whilst the +lady forewent her, to look if any came,—clapped him into the chest +and shutting down the lid, left him there. Now it chanced that, a day +or two before, two young men, who lent at usance, had taken up their +abode in a house a little farther and lacking household gear, but +having a mind to gain much and spend little, had that day espied the +chest in question and had plotted together, if it should abide there +the night, to carry it off to their own house. Accordingly, midnight +come, they sallied forth and finding the chest still there, without +looking farther, they hastily carried it off, for all it seemed to +them somewhat heavy, to their own house, where they set it down beside +a chamber in which their wives slept and there leaving it, without +concerning themselves for the nonce to settle it overnicely, betook +them to bed.</p> + +<p>Presently, the morning drawing near, Ruggieri, who had slept a great +while, having by this time digested the sleeping draught and exhausted +its effects, awoke and albeit his sleep was broken and his senses in +some measure restored, there abode yet a dizziness in his brain, which +held him stupefied, not that night only, but some days after. Opening +his eyes and seeing nothing, he put out his hands hither and thither +and finding himself in the chest, bethought himself and said, 'What is +this? Where am I? Am I asleep or awake? Algates<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238"></a></span> I mind me that I came +this evening into my mistress's chamber and now meseemeth I am in a +chest. What meaneth this? Can the physician have returned or other +accident befallen, by reason whereof the lady hath hidden me here, I +being asleep? Methinketh it must have been thus; assuredly it was so.' +Accordingly, he addressed himself to abide quiet and hearken if he +could hear aught and after he had abidden thus a great while, being +somewhat ill at ease in the chest, which was small, and the side +whereon he lay irking him, he would have turned over to the other and +wrought so dexterously that, thrusting his loins against one of the +sides of the chest, which had not been set on a level place, he caused +it first to incline to one side and after topple over. In falling, it +made a great noise, whereat the women who slept therenigh awoke and +being affrighted, were silent for fear. Ruggieri was sore alarmed at +the fall of the chest, but, finding that it had opened in the fall, +chose rather, if aught else should betide, to be out of it than to +abide therewithin. Accordingly, he came forth and what with knowing +not where he was and what with one thing and another, he fell to +groping about the house, so haply he should find a stair or a door, +whereby he might get him gone.</p> + +<p>The women, hearing this, began to say, 'Who is there?' But Ruggieri, +knowing not the voice, answered not; whereupon they proceeded to call +the two young men, who, for that they had overwatched themselves, +slept fast and heard nothing of all this. Thereupon the women, waxing +more fearful, arose and betaking themselves to the windows, fell +a-crying, 'Thieves! Thieves!' At this sundry of the neighbours ran up +and made their way, some by the roof and some by one part and some by +another, into the house; and the young men also, awaking for the +noise, arose and seized Ruggieri, who finding himself there, was in a +manner beside himself for wonderment and saw no way of escape. Then +they gave him into the hands of the officers of the governor of the +city, who had now run thither at the noise and carried him before +their chief. The latter, for that he was held of all a very sorry +fellow, straightway put him to the question and he confessed to having +entered the usurers' house to steal; whereupon the governor thought to +let string him up by the neck without delay.</p> + +<p>The news was all over Salerno by the morning that Ruggieri had been +taken in the act of robbing the money-lenders' house, which the lady +and her maid hearing, they were filled with such strange and exceeding +wonderment that they were like to persuade themselves that they had +not done, but had only dreamed of doing, that which they had done +overnight; whilst the lady, to boot, was so concerned at the news of +the danger wherein Ruggieri was that she was like to go mad. Soon +after half tierce<a name="FNanchor_258_260" id="FNanchor_258_260"></a><a href="#Footnote_258_260" class="fnanchor">[258]</a> the physician, having returned from Malfi and +wishing to medicine his patient, called for his prepared water and +finding the flagon empty, made a great outcry, saying that nothing +could abide as it was in his house. The lady, who was troubled with +another great chagrin, answered angrily, saying 'What wouldst thou +say, doctor, of grave matter, whenas thou makest such<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239"></a></span> an outcry anent +a flagonlet of water overset? Is there no more water to be found in +the world?' 'Wife,' rejoined the physician, 'thou thinkest this was +common water; it was not so; nay, it was a water prepared to cause +sleep'; and told her for what occasion he had made it. When she heard +this, she understood forthright that Ruggieri had drunken the opiate +and had therefore appeared to them dead and said to her husband, +'Doctor, we knew it not; wherefore do you make yourself some more'; +and the physician, accordingly, seeing he might not do otherwise, let +make thereof anew.</p> + +<p>A little after, the maid, who had gone by her mistress's commandment +to learn what should be reported of Ruggieri, returned and said to +her, 'Madam, every one missaith of Ruggieri; nor, for aught I could +hear, is there friend or kinsman who hath risen up or thinketh to rise +up to assist him, and it is held certain that the prefect of police +will have him hanged to-morrow. Moreover, I have a strange thing to +tell you, to wit, meseemeth I have discovered how he came into the +money-lenders' house, and hear how. You know the carpenter overagainst +whose shop was the chest wherein we laid him; he was but now at the +hottest words in the world with one to whom it seemeth the chest +belonged; for the latter demanded of him the price of his chest, and +the carpenter replied that he had not sold it, but that it had that +night been stolen from him. Whereto, "Not so," quoth the other, "nay, +thou soldest it to the two young men, the money-lenders yonder, as +they told me yesternight, when I saw it in their house what time +Ruggieri was taken." "They lie," answered the carpenter. "I never sold +it to them; but they stole it from me yesternight. Let us go to them." +So they went off with one accord to the money-lenders' house, and I +came back hither. On this wise, as you may see, I conclude that +Ruggieri was transported whereas he was found; but how he came to life +again I cannot divine.'</p> + +<p>The lady now understood very well how the case stood and telling the +maid what she had heard from the physician, besought her help to save +Ruggieri, for that she might, an she would, at once save him and +preserve her honour. Quoth she, 'Madam, teach me how, and I will +gladly do anything.' Whereupon the lady, whose wits were sharpened by +the urgency of the case, having promptly bethought herself of that +which was to do, particularly acquainted the maid therewith, who first +betook herself to the physician and weeping, began to say to him, +'Sir, it behoveth me ask you pardon of a great fault, which I have +committed against you.' 'In what?' asked the doctor, and she, never +giving over weeping, answered, 'Sir, you know what manner young man is +Ruggieri da Jeroli. He took a liking to me awhile agone and partly for +fear and partly for love, needs must I become his mistress. +Yesternight, knowing that you were abroad, he cajoled me on such wise +that I brought him into your house to lie with me in my chamber, and +he being athirst and I having no whither more quickly to resort for +water or wine, unwilling as I was that your lady, who was in the +saloon, should see me, I remembered me to have seen a flagon of water +in your chamber. Accordingly, I ran for it and giving him the water to +drink, replaced the flagon whence I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240"></a></span> had taken it, whereof I find you +have made a great outcry in the house. And certes I confess I did ill; +but who is there doth not ill bytimes? Indeed, I am exceeding grieved +to have done it, not so much for the thing itself as for that which +hath ensued of it and by reason whereof Ruggieri is like to lose his +life. Wherefore I pray you, as most I may, pardon me and give me leave +to go succour Ruggieri inasmuch as I can.' The physician, hearing +this, for all he was angry, answered jestingly, 'Thou hast given +thyself thine own penance therefor, seeing that, whereas thou +thoughtest yesternight to have a lusty young fellow who would shake +thy skincoats well for thee, thou hadst a sluggard; wherefore go and +endeavour for the deliverance of thy lover; but henceforth look thou +bring him not into the house again, or I will pay thee for this time +and that together.'</p> + +<p>The maid, thinking she had fared well for the first venue, betook +herself, as quickliest she might, to the prison, where Ruggieri lay +and coaxed the gaoler to let her speak with the prisoner, whom after +she had instructed what answers he should make to the prefect of +police, an he would fain escape, she contrived to gain admission to +the magistrate himself. The latter, for that she was young and buxom, +would fain, ere he would hearken to her, cast his grapnel aboard the +good wench, whereof she, to be the better heard, was no whit chary; +then, having quitted herself of the grinding due,<a name="FNanchor_259_261" id="FNanchor_259_261"></a><a href="#Footnote_259_261" class="fnanchor">[259]</a> 'Sir,' said +she, 'you have here Ruggieri da Jeroli taken for a thief; but the +truth is not so.' Then, beginning from the beginning, she told him the +whole story; how she, being his mistress, had brought him into the +physician's house and had given him the drugged water to drink, +unknowing what it was, and how she had put him for dead into the +chest; after which she told him the talk she had heard between the +master carpenter and the owner of the chest, showing him thereby how +Ruggieri had come into the money-lenders' house.</p> + +<p>The magistrate, seeing it an easy thing to come at the truth of the +matter, first questioned the physician if it were true of the water +and found that it was as she had said; whereupon he let summon the +carpenter and him to whom the chest belonged and the two money-lenders +and after much parley, found that the latter had stolen the chest +overnight and put it in their house. Ultimately he sent for Ruggieri +and questioned him where he had lain that night, whereto he replied +that where he had lain he knew not; he remembered indeed having gone +to pass the night with Master Mazzeo's maid, in whose chamber he had +drunken water for a sore thirst he had; but what became of him after +he knew not, save that, when he awoke, he found himself in the +money-lenders' house in a chest. The prefect, hearing these things and +taking great pleasure therein, caused the maid and Ruggieri and the +carpenter and the money-lenders repeat their story again and again; +and in the end, seeing Ruggieri to be innocent, he released him and +amerced the money-lenders in half a score ounces for that they had +stolen the chest. How welcome this was to Ruggieri, none need ask, and +it was beyond measure pleasing to his mis<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241"></a></span>tress, who together with her +lover and the precious maid, who had proposed to give him the slashes +with the knife, many a time after laughed and made merry of the +matter, still continuing their loves and their disport from good to +better; the which I would well might so betide myself, save always the +being put in the chest."</p> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p>If the former stories had saddened the hearts of the lovesome ladies, +this last one of Dioneo's made them laugh heartily, especially when he +spoke of the prefect casting his grapnel aboard the maid, that they +were able thus to recover themselves of the melancholy caused by the +others. But the king, seeing that the sun began to grow yellow and +that the term of his seignory was come, with very courteous speech +excused himself to the fair ladies for that which he had done, to wit, +that he had caused discourse of so sorrowful a matter as that of +lovers' infelicity; which done, he rose to his feet and taking from +his head the laurel wreath, whilst the ladies waited to see on whom he +should bestow it, set it daintily on Fiammetta's fair head, saying, "I +make over this crown to thee, as to her who will, better than any +other, know how with to-morrow's pleasance to console these ladies our +companions of to-day's woefulness."</p> + +<p>Fiammetta, whose locks were curled and long and golden and fell over +her white and delicate shoulders and whose soft-rounded face was all +resplendent with white lilies and vermeil roses commingled, with two +eyes in her head as they were those of a peregrine falcon and a dainty +little mouth, the lips whereof seemed twin rubies, answered, smiling, +"And I, Filostrato, I take it willingly, and that thou mayst be the +better cognizant of that which thou hast done, I presently will and +command that each prepare to discourse to-morrow of THAT WHICH HATH +HAPPILY BETIDED LOVERS AFTER SUNDRY CRUEL AND MISFORTUNATE +ADVENTURES." Her proposition<a name="FNanchor_260_262" id="FNanchor_260_262"></a><a href="#Footnote_260_262" class="fnanchor">[260]</a> was pleasing unto all and she, after +summoning the seneschal and taking counsel with him of things needful, +arising from session, blithely dismissed all the company until +supper-time. Accordingly, they all proceeded, according to their +various appetites, to take their several pleasures, some wandering +about the garden, whose beauties were not such as might lightly tire, +and other some betaking themselves towards the mills which wrought +therewithout, whilst the rest fared some hither and some thither, +until the hour of supper, which being come, they all foregathered, as +of their wont, anigh the fair fountain and there supped with exceeding +pleasance and well served. Presently, arising thence, they addressed +themselves, as of their wont, to dancing and singing, and Filomena +leading off the dance, the queen said, "Filostrato, I purpose not to +depart from the usance of those who have foregone me in the sovranty, +but, like as they have done, so I intend that a song be sung at my +commandment; and as I am assured that thy songs are even such as are +thy stories, it is our pleasure that, so no more days than this be +troubled with thine ill fortunes, thou sing such one thereof as most +pleaseth thee." Filostrato replied that he would well and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242"></a></span> forthright +proceeded to sing on this wise:</p> + +<p class="cpoem"> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Weeping, I demonstrate</span><br /> +How sore with reason doth my heart complain<br /> +Of love betrayed and plighted faith in vain.<br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Love, whenas first there was of thee imprest</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Thereon<a name="FNanchor_261_263" id="FNanchor_261_263"></a><a href="#Footnote_261_263" class="fnanchor">[261]</a> her image for whose sake I sigh,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">Sans hope of succour aye,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">So full of virtue didst thou her pourtray,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">That every torment light accounted I</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">That through thee to my breast</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Grown full of drear unrest</span><br /> +And dole, might come; but now, alack! I'm fain<br /> +To own my error, not withouten pain.<br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Yea, of the cheat first was I made aware,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Seeing myself of her forsaken sheer,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">In whom I hoped alone;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">For, when I deemed myself most fairly grown</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Into her favour and her servant dear,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Without her thought or care</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Of my to-come despair,</span><br /> +I found she had another's merit ta'en<br /> +To heart and put me from her with disdain.<br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Whenas I knew me banished from my stead,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Straight in my heart a dolorous plaint there grew,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">That yet therein hath power,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">And oft I curse the day and eke the hour</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">When first her lovesome visage met my view,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Graced with high goodlihead;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">And more enamouréd</span><br /> +Than eye, my soul keeps up its dying strain,<br /> +Faith, ardour, hope, blaspheming still amain.<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">How void my misery is of all relief</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Thou mayst e'en feel, so sore I call thee, sire,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">With voice all full of woe;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">Ay, and I tell thee that it irks me so</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">That death for lesser torment I desire.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Come, death, then; shear the sheaf</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Of this my life of grief</span><br /> +And with thy stroke my madness eke assain;<br /> +Go where I may, less dire will be my bane.<br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">No other way than death is left my spright,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Ay, and none other solace for my dole;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">Then give it<a name="FNanchor_262_264" id="FNanchor_262_264"></a><a href="#Footnote_262_264" class="fnanchor">[262]</a> me straightway,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">Love; put an end withal to my dismay:</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Ah, do it; since fate's spite</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Hath robbed me of delight;</span><br /> +Gladden thou her, lord, with my death, love-slain,<br /> +As thou hast cheered her with another swain.<br /> +<br /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243"></a></span><span style="margin-left: 1em;">My song, though none to learn thee lend an ear,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">I reck the less thereof, indeed, that none</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">Could sing thee even as I;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">One only charge I give thee, ere I die,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">That thou find Love and unto him alone</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Show fully how undear</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">This bitter life and drear</span><br /> +Is to me, craving of his might he deign<br /> +Some better harbourage I may attain.<br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Weeping I demonstrate</span><br /> +How sore with reason doth my heart complain<br /> +Of love betrayed and plighted faith in vain.<br /> +</p> + +<p>The words of this song clearly enough discovered the state of +Filostrato's mind and the cause thereof, the which belike the +countenance of a certain lady who was in the dance had yet plainlier +declared, had not the shades of the now fallen night hidden the +blushes that rose to her face. But, when he had made an end of his +song, many others were sung, till such time as the hour of sleep +arrived, whereupon, at the queen's commandment, each of the ladies +withdrew to her chamber.</p> + + +<p class="center"><br /> +<b>HERE ENDETH THE FOURTH DAY<br /> +OF THE DECAMERON</b> +</p> + + + +<hr class="long" /> +<h1><a name="Day_the_Fifth" id="Day_the_Fifth"></a><i>Day the Fifth</i></h1> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="hang"><span class="lgsmcap">Here Beginneth the Fifth Day of the Decameron Wherein Under +the Governance of Fiammetta Is Discoursed of That Which Hath +Happily Betided Lovers After Sundry Cruel and Misfortunate +Adventures</span></p></div> + + +<p><br /><span class="smcap">The</span> East was already all white and the rays of the rising sun had made +it light through all our hemisphere, when Fiammetta, allured by the +sweet song of the birds that blithely chanted the first hour of the +day upon the branches, arose and let call all the other ladies and the +three young men; then, with leisured pace descending into the fields, +she went a-pleasuring with her company about the ample plain upon the +dewy grasses, discoursing with them of one thing and another, until +the sun was somewhat risen, when, feeling that its rays began to grow +hot, she turned their steps to their abiding-place. There, with +excellent wines and confections, she let restore the light fatigue had +and they disported themselves in the delightsome garden until the +eating hour, which being come and everything made ready by the +discreet seneschal, they sat blithely down to meat, such being the +queen's pleasure, after they had sung sundry roundelays and a ballad +or two. Having dined orderly<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244"></a></span> and with mirth, not unmindful of their +wonted usance of dancing, they danced sundry short dances to the sound +of songs and tabrets, after which the queen dismissed them all until +the hour of slumber should be past. Accordingly, some betook +themselves to sleep, whilst others addressed themselves anew to their +diversion about the fair garden; but all, according to the wonted +fashion, assembled together again, a little after none, near the fair +fountain, whereas it pleased the queen. Then she, having seated +herself in the chief room, looked towards Pamfilo and smilingly +charged him make a beginning with the fair-fortuned stories; whereto +he willingly addressed himself and spoke as follows:</p> + + + +<hr class="short" /> +<h2><br /><a name="THE_FIRST_STORY5" id="THE_FIRST_STORY5"></a>THE FIRST STORY</h2> + +<div class="sidenote">Day the Fifth</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="hang">CIMON, LOVING, WAXETH WISE AND CARRIETH OFF TO SEA IPHIGENIA +HIS MISTRESS. BEING CAST INTO PRISON AT RHODES, HE IS +DELIVERED THENCE BY LYSIMACHUS AND IN CONCERT WITH HIM +CARRIETH OFF IPHIGENIA AND CASSANDRA ON THEIR WEDDING-DAY, +WITH WHOM THE TWAIN FLEE INTO CRETE, WHERE THE TWO LADIES +BECOME THEIR WIVES AND WHENCE THEY ARE PRESENTLY ALL FOUR +RECALLED HOME</p></div> + + +<p><br /><span class="smcap">"Many</span> stories, delightsome ladies, apt to give beginning to so glad a +day as this will be, offer themselves unto me to be related; whereof +one is the most pleasing to my mind, for that thereby, beside the +happy issue which is to mark this day's discourses, you may understand +how holy, how puissant and how full of all good is the power of Love, +which many, unknowing what they say, condemn and vilify with great +unright; and this, an I err not, must needs be exceeding pleasing to +you, for that I believe you all to be in love.</p> + +<p>There was, then, in the island of Cyprus, (as we have read aforetime +in the ancient histories of the Cypriots,) a very noble gentleman, by +name Aristippus, who was rich beyond any other of the country in all +temporal things and might have held himself the happiest man alive, +had not fortune made him woeful in one only thing, to wit, that +amongst his other children he had a son who overpassed all the other +youths of his age in stature and goodliness of body, but was a +hopeless dullard and well nigh an idiot. His true name was Galesus, +but for that neither by toil of teacher nor blandishment nor beating +of his father nor study nor endeavour of whatsoever other had it been +found possible to put into his head any inkling of letters or good +breeding and that he had a rough voice and an uncouth and manners more +befitting a beast than a man, he was of well nigh all by way of +mockery called Cimon, which in their tongue signified as much as brute +beast in ours. His father brooked his wastrel life with the most +grievous concern and having presently given over all hope of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245"></a></span> him, he +bade him begone to his country house<a name="FNanchor_263_265" id="FNanchor_263_265"></a><a href="#Footnote_263_265" class="fnanchor">[263]</a> and there abide with his +husbandmen, so he might not still have before him the cause of his +chagrin; the which was very agreeable to Cimon, for that the manners +and usages of clowns and churls were much more to his liking than +those of the townsfolk.</p> + +<p>Cimon, then, betaking himself to the country and there employing +himself in the things that pertained thereto, it chanced one day, +awhile after noon, as he passed from one farm to another, with his +staff on his shoulder, that he entered a very fair coppice which was +in those parts and which was then all in leaf, for that it was the +month of May. Passing therethrough, he happened (even as his fortune +guided him thither) upon a little mead compassed about with very high +trees, in one corner whereof was a very clear and cool spring, beside +which he saw a very fair damsel asleep upon the green grass, with so +thin a garment upon her body that it hid well nigh nothing of her +snowy flesh. She was covered only from the waist down with a very +white and light coverlet; and at her feet slept on like wise two women +and a man, her servants. When Cimon espied the young lady, he halted +and leaning upon his staff, fell, without saying a word, to gazing +most intently upon her with the utmost admiration, no otherwise than +as he had never yet seen a woman's form, whilst in his rude breast, +wherein for a thousand lessonings no least impression of civil +pleasance had availed to penetrate, he felt a thought awaken which +intimated to his gross and material spirit that this maiden was the +fairest thing that had been ever seen of any living soul. Thence he +proceeded to consider her various parts,—commending her hair, which +he accounted of gold, her brow, her nose, her mouth, her throat and +her arms, and above all her breast, as yet but little upraised,—and +grown of a sudden from a churl a judge of beauty, he ardently desired +in himself to see the eyes, which, weighed down with deep sleep, she +kept closed. To this end, he had it several times in mind to awaken +her; but, for that she seemed to him beyond measure fairer than the +other women aforetime seen of him, he misdoubted him she must be some +goddess. Now he had wit enough to account things divine worthy of more +reverence than those mundane; wherefore he forbore, waiting for her to +awake of herself; and albeit the delay seemed overlong to him, yet, +taken as he was with an unwonted pleasure, he knew not how to tear +himself away.</p> + +<p>It befell, then, that, after a long while, the damsel, whose name was +Iphigenia, came to herself, before any of her people, and opening her +eyes, saw Cimon (who, what for his fashion and uncouthness and his +father's wealth and nobility, was known in a manner to every one in +the country) standing before her, leant on his staff, marvelled +exceedingly and said, 'Cimon, what goest thou seeking in this wood at +this hour?' He made her no answer, but, seeing her eyes open, began to +look steadfastly upon them, himseeming there proceeded thence a +sweetness which fulfilled him with a pleasure such as he had never +before felt. The young lady, seeing this, began to misdoubt her lest +his so fixed looking upon her should<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246"></a></span> move his rusticity to somewhat +that might turn to her shame; wherefore, calling her women, she rose +up, saying, 'Cimon, abide with God.' To which he replied, 'I will +begone with thee'; and albeit the young lady, who was still in fear of +him, would have declined his company, she could not win to rid herself +of him till he had accompanied her to her own house.</p> + +<p>Thence he repaired to his father's house [in the city,] and declared +to him that he would on no wise consent to return to the country; the +which was irksome enough to Aristippus and his kinsfolk; nevertheless +they let him be, awaiting to see what might be the cause of his change +of mind. Love's arrow having, then, through Iphigenia's beauty, +penetrated into Cimon's heart, whereinto no teaching had ever availed +to win an entrance, in a very brief time, proceeding from one idea to +another, he made his father marvel and all his kinsfolk and every +other that knew him. In the first place he besought his father that he +would cause him go bedecked with clothes and every other thing, even +as his brothers, the which Aristippus right gladly did. Then, +consorting with young men of condition and learning the fashions and +carriage that behoved unto gentlemen and especially unto lovers, he +first, to the utmost wonderment of every one, in a very brief space of +time, not only learned the first [elements of] letters, but became +very eminent among the students of philosophy, and after (the love +which he bore Iphigenia being the cause of all this) he not only +reduced his rude and rustical manner of speech to seemliness and +civility, but became a past master of song and sound<a name="FNanchor_264_266" id="FNanchor_264_266"></a><a href="#Footnote_264_266" class="fnanchor">[264]</a> and +exceeding expert and doughty in riding and martial exercises, both by +land and by sea. In short, not to go recounting every particular of +his merits, the fourth year was not accomplished from the day of his +first falling in love, ere he was grown the sprightliest and most +accomplished gentleman of all the young men in the island of Cyprus, +ay, and the best endowed with every particular excellence. What, then, +charming ladies, shall we say of Cimon? Certes, none other thing than +that the lofty virtues implanted by heaven in his generous soul had +been bounden with exceeding strong bonds of jealous fortune and shut +in some straitest corner of his heart, all which bonds Love, as a +mightier than fortune, broke and burst in sunder and in its quality of +awakener and quickener of drowsed and sluggish wits, urged forth into +broad daylight the virtues aforesaid, which had till then been +overdarkened with a barbarous obscurity, thus manifestly discovering +from how mean a room it can avail to uplift those souls that are +subject unto it and to what an eminence it can conduct them with its +beams.</p> + +<p>Although Cimon, loving Iphigenia as he did, might exceed in certain +things, as young men in love very often do, nevertheless Aristippus, +considering that Love had turned him from a dunce into a man, not only +patiently bore with the extravagances into which it might whiles lead +him, but encouraged him to ensue its every pleasure. But Cimon, (who +refused to be called Galesus, remembering that Iphigenia<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247"></a></span> had called +him by the former name,) seeking to put an honourable term to his +desire, once and again caused essay Cipseus, Iphigenia's father, so he +should give him his daughter to wife; but Cipseus still answered that +he had promised her to Pasimondas, a young nobleman of Rhodes, to whom +he had no mind to fail of his word. The time coming the covenanted +nuptials of Iphigenia and the bridegroom having sent for her, Cimon +said to himself, 'Now, O Iphigenia, is the time to prove how much thou +are beloved of me. By thee am I become a man and so I may but have +thee, I doubt not to become more glorious than any god; and for +certain I will or have thee or die.'</p> + +<p>Accordingly, having secretly recruited certain young noblemen who were +his friends and let privily equip a ship with everything apt for naval +battle, he put out to sea and awaited the vessel wherein Iphigenia was +to be transported to her husband in Rhodes. The bride, after much +honour done of her father to the bridegroom's friends, took ship with +the latter, who turned their prow towards Rhodes and departed. On the +following day, Cimon, who slept not, came out upon them with his ship +and cried out, in a loud voice, from the prow, to those who were on +board Iphigenia's vessel, saying, 'Stay, strike your sails or look to +be beaten and sunken in the sea.' Cimon's adversaries had gotten up +their arms on deck and made ready to defend themselves; whereupon he, +after speaking the words aforesaid, took a grappling-iron and casting +it upon the poop of the Rhodians, who were making off at the top of +their speed, made it fast by main force to the prow of his own ship. +Then, bold as a lion, he leapt on board their ship, without waiting +for any to follow him, as if he held them all for nought, and Love +spurring him, he fell upon his enemies with marvellous might, cutlass +in hand, striking now this one and now that and hewing them down like +sheep.</p> + +<p>The Rhodians, seeing this, cast down their arms and all as with one +voice confessed themselves prisoners; whereupon quoth Cimon to them, +'Young men, it was neither lust of rapine nor hate that I had against +you made me depart Cyprus to assail you, arms in hand, in mid sea. +That which moved me thereunto was the desire of a thing which to have +gotten is a very grave matter to me and to you a very light one to +yield me in peace; it is, to wit, Iphigenia, whom I loved over all +else and whom, availing not to have of her father on friendly and +peaceful wise, Love hath constrained me to win from you as an enemy +and by force of arms. Wherefor I mean to be to her that which your +friend Pasimondas should have been. Give her to me, then, and begone +and God's grace go with you.'</p> + +<p>The Rhodians, more by force constrained than of freewill, surrendered +Iphigenia, weeping, to Cimon, who, seeing her in tears, said to her, +'Noble Lady, be not disconsolate; I am thy Cimon, who by long love +have far better deserved to have thee than Pasimondas by plighted +faith.' Thereupon he caused carry her aboard his own ship and +returning to his companions, let the Rhodians go, without touching +aught else of theirs. Then, glad beyond any man alive to have gotten +so dear<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248"></a></span> a prey, after devoting some time to comforting the weeping +lady, he took counsel with his comrades not to return to Cyprus at +that present; wherefore, of one accord, they turned the ship's head +towards Crete, where well nigh every one, and especially Cimon, had +kinsfolk, old and new, and friends in plenty and where they doubted +not to be in safety with Iphigenia. But fortune the unstable, which +had cheerfully enough vouchsafed unto Cimon the acquisition of the +lady, suddenly changed the inexpressible joyance of the enamoured +youth into sad and bitter mourning; for it was not four full told +hours since he had left the Rhodians when the night (which Cimon +looked to be more delightsome than any he had ever known) came on and +with it a very troublous and tempestuous shift of weather, which +filled all the sky with clouds and the sea with ravening winds, by +reason whereof none could see what to do or whither to steer, nor +could any even keep the deck to do any office.</p> + +<p>How sore concerned was Cimon for this it needeth not to ask; himseemed +the gods had vouchsafed him his desire but to make death the more +grievous to him, whereof, without that, he had before recked little. +His comrades lamented on like wise, but Iphigenia bewailed herself +over all, weeping sore and fearing every stroke of the waves; and in +her chagrin she bitterly cursed Cimon's love and blamed his +presumption, avouching that the tempest had arisen for none other +thing but that the gods chose not that he, who would fain against +their will have her to wife, should avail to enjoy his presumptuous +desire, but, seeing her first die, should after himself perish +miserably.</p> + +<p>Amidst such lamentations and others yet more grievous, the wind waxing +hourly fiercer and the seamen knowing not what to do, they came, +without witting whither they went or availing to change their course, +near to the island of Rhodes, and unknowing that it was Rhodes, they +used their every endeavour to get to land thereon, an it were +possible, for the saving of their lives. In this fortune was +favourable to them and brought them into a little bight of the sea, +where the Rhodians whom Cimon had let go had a little before arrived +with their ship; nor did they perceive that they had struck the island +of Rhodes till the dawn broke and made the sky somewhat clearer, when +they found themselves maybe a bowshot distant from the ship left of +them the day before. At this Cimon was beyond measure chagrined and +fearing lest that should betide them which did in very deed ensue, +bade use every endeavour to issue thence and let fortune after carry +them whither it should please her, for that they could be nowhere in +worse case than there. Accordingly, they made the utmost efforts to +put to sea, but in vain; for the wind blew so mightily against them +that not only could they not avail to issue from the little harbour, +but whether they would or no, it drove them ashore.</p> + +<p>No sooner were they come thither than they were recognized by the +Rhodian sailors, who had landed from their ship, and one of them ran +nimbly to a village hard by, whither the young Rhodian gentlemen had +betaken themselves, and told the latter that, as luck<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249"></a></span> would have +it,<a name="FNanchor_265_267" id="FNanchor_265_267"></a><a href="#Footnote_265_267" class="fnanchor">[265]</a> Cimon and Iphigenia were come thither aboard their ship, +driven, like themselves, by stress of weather. They, hearing this, +were greatly rejoiced and repairing in all haste to the sea-shore, +with a number of the villagers, took Cimon, together with Iphigenia +and all his company, who had now landed and taken counsel together to +flee into some neighbouring wood, and carried them to the village. The +news coming to Pasimondas, he made his complaint to the senate of the +island and according as he had ordered it with them, Lysimachus, in +whom the chief magistracy of the Rhodians was for that year vested, +coming thither from the city with a great company of men-at-arms, +haled Cimon and all his men to prison. On such wise did the wretched +and lovelorn Cimon lose his Iphigenia, scantwhile before won of him, +without having taken of her more than a kiss or two; whilst she +herself was received by many noble ladies of Rhodes and comforted as +well for the chagrin had of her seizure as for the fatigue suffered by +reason of the troubled sea; and with them she abode against the day +appointed for her nuptials.</p> + +<p>As for Cimon and his companions, their lives were granted them, in +consideration of the liberty given by them to the young Rhodians the +day before,—albeit Pasimondas used his utmost endeavour to procure +them to be put to death,—and they were condemned to perpetual prison, +wherein, as may well be believed, they abode woebegone and without +hope of any relief. However, whilst Pasimondas, as most he might, +hastened the preparations for his coming nuptials, fortune, as if +repenting her of the sudden injury done to Cimon, brought about a new +circumstance for his deliverance, the which was on this wise. +Pasimondas had a brother called Ormisdas, less in years, but not in +merit, than himself, who had been long in treaty for the hand of a +fair and noble damsel of the city, by name Cassandra, whom Lysimachus +ardently loved, and the match had sundry times been broken off by +divers untoward accidents. Now Pasimondas, being about to celebrate +his own nuptials with the utmost splendour, bethought himself that it +were excellently well done if he could procure Ormisdas likewise to +take wife on the same occasion, not to resort afresh to expense and +festival making. Accordingly, he took up again the parleys with +Cassandra's parents and brought them to a successful issue; wherefore +he and his brother agreed, in concert with them, that Ormisdas should +take Cassandra to wife on the same day whenas himself took Iphigenia.</p> + +<p>Lysimachus hearing this, it was beyond measure displeasing to him, for +that he saw himself bereaved of the hope which he cherished, that, an +Ormisdas took her not, he should certainly have her. However, like a +wise man, he kept his chagrin hidden and fell to considering on what +wise he might avail to hinder this having effect, but could see no way +possible save the carrying her off. This seemed easy to him to compass +for the office which he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250"></a></span> held, but he accounted the deed far more +dishonourable than if he had not held the office in question. +Ultimately, however, after long deliberation, honour gave place to +love and he determined, come what might of it, to carry off Cassandra. +Then, bethinking himself of the company he must have and the course he +must hold to do this, he remembered him of Cimon, whom he had in +prison with his comrades, and concluded that he might have no better +or trustier companion than Cimon in this affair.</p> + +<p>Accordingly, that same night he had him privily into his chamber and +proceeded to bespeak him on this wise: 'Cimon, like as the gods are +very excellent and bountiful givers of things to men, even so are they +most sagacious provers of their virtues, and those, whom they find +resolute and constant under all circumstances, they hold deserving, as +the most worthy, of the highest recompenses. They have been minded to +have more certain proof of thy worth than could be shown by thee +within the limits of thy father's house, whom I know to be abundantly +endowed with riches; wherefore, first, with the poignant instigations +of love they brought thee from a senseless animal to be a man, and +after with foul fortune and at this present with prison dour, they +would fain try if thy spirit change not from that which it was, whenas +thou wast scantwhile glad of the gotten prize. If that<a name="FNanchor_266_268" id="FNanchor_266_268"></a><a href="#Footnote_266_268" class="fnanchor">[266]</a> be the +same as it was erst, they never yet vouchsafed thee aught so gladsome +as that which they are presently prepared to bestow on thee and which, +so thou mayst recover thy wonted powers and resume thy whilom spirit, +I purpose to discover to thee.</p> + +<p>Pasimondas, rejoicing in thy misadventure and a diligent promoter of +thy death, bestirreth himself as most he may to celebrate his nuptials +with thine Iphigenia, so therein he may enjoy the prize which fortune +first blithely conceded thee and after, growing troubled, took from +thee of a sudden. How much this must grieve thee, an thou love as I +believe, I know by myself, to whom Ormisdas his brother prepareth in +one same day to do a like injury in the person of Cassandra, whom I +love over all else. To escape so great an unright and annoy of +fortune, I see no way left open of her to us, save the valour of our +souls and the might of our right hands, wherein it behoveth us take +our swords and make us a way to the carrying off of our two +mistresses, thee for the second and me for the first time. If, then, +it be dear to thee to have again—I will not say thy liberty, whereof +methinketh thou reckest little without thy lady, but—thy mistress, +the gods have put her in thy hands, an thou be willing to second me in +my emprize.'</p> + +<p>All Cimon's lost spirit was requickened in him by these words and he +replied, without overmuch consideration, 'Lysimachus, thou canst have +no stouter or trustier comrade than myself in such an enterprise, an +that be to ensue thereof for me which thou avouchest; wherefore do +thou command me that which thou deemest should be done of me, and thou +shalt find thyself wonder-puissantly seconded.' Then said Lysimachus, +'On the third day from this the new-married wives will for the first +time enter their husbands' houses,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251"></a></span> whereinto thou with thy companions +armed and I with certain of my friends, in whom I put great trust, +will make our way towards nightfall and snatching up our mistresses +out of the midst of the guests, will carry them off to a ship, which I +have caused secretly equip, slaying whosoever shall presume to offer +opposition.' The devise pleased Cimon and he abode quiet in prison +until the appointed time.</p> + +<p>The wedding-day being come, great and magnificent was the pomp of the +festival and every part of the two brothers' house was full of mirth +and merrymaking; whereupon Lysimachus, having made ready everything +needful, divided Cimon and his companions, together with his own +friends, all armed under their clothes, into three parties and having +first kindled them to his purpose with many words, secretly despatched +one party to the harbour, so none might hinder their going aboard the +ship, whenas need should be. Then, coming with the other twain, whenas +it seemed to him time, to Pasimondas his house, he left one party of +them at the door, so as none might shut them up therewithin or forbid +them the issue, and with Cimon and the rest went up by the stairs. +Coming to the saloon where the new-wedded brides were seated orderly +at meat with many other ladies, they rushed in upon them and +overthrowing the tables, took each his mistress and putting them in +the hands of their comrades, bade straightway carry them to the ship +that was in waiting. The brides fell a-weeping and shrieking, as did +likewise the other ladies and the servants, and the whole house was of +a sudden full of clamour and lamentation.</p> + +<p>Cimon and Lysimachus and their companions, drawing their swords, made +for the stairs, without any opposition, all giving way to them, and as +they descended, Pasimondas presented himself before them, with a great +cudgel in his hand, being drawn thither by the outcry; but Cimon dealt +him a swashing blow on the head and cleaving it sheer in sunder, laid +him dead at his feet. The wretched Ormisdas, running to his brother's +aid, was on like wise slain by one of Cimon's strokes, and divers +others who sought to draw nigh them were in like manner wounded and +beaten off by the companions of the latter and Lysimachus, who, +leaving the house full of blood and clamour and weeping and woe, drew +together and made their way to the ship with their prizes, unhindered +of any. Here they embarked with their mistresses and all their +companions, the shore being now full of armed folk come to the rescue +of the ladies, and thrusting the oars into the water, made off, +rejoicing, about their business. Coming presently to Crete, they were +there joyfully received by many, both friends and kinsfolk, and +espousing their mistresses with great pomp, gave themselves up to the +glad enjoyment of their purchase. Loud and long were the clamours and +differences in Cyprus and in Rhodes by reason of their doings; but, +ultimately, their friends and kinsfolk, interposing in one and the +other place, found means so to adjust matters that, after some exile, +Cimon joyfully returned to Cyprus with Iphigenia, whilst Lysimachus on +like wise returned to Rhodes with Cassandra, and each lived long and +happily with his mistress in his own country."</p> + + + +<hr /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252"></a></span></p> +<h2><a name="THE_SECOND_STORY5" id="THE_SECOND_STORY5"></a>THE SECOND STORY</h2> + +<div class="sidenote">Day the Fifth</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="hang">COSTANZA LOVETH MARTUCCIO GOMITO AND HEARING THAT HE IS +DEAD, EMBARKETH FOR DESPAIR ALONE IN A BOAT, WHICH IS +CARRIED BY THE WIND TO SUSA. FINDING HER LOVER ALIVE AT +TUNIS, SHE DISCOVERETH HERSELF TO HIM AND HE, BEING GREAT IN +FAVOUR WITH THE KING FOR COUNSELS GIVEN, ESPOUSETH HER AND +RETURNETH RICH WITH HER TO LIPARI</p></div> + + +<p><br /><span class="smcap">The</span> queen, seeing Pamfilo's story at an end, after she had much +commended it, enjoined Emilia to follow on, telling another, and she +accordingly began thus: "Every one must naturally delight in those +things wherein he seeth rewards ensue according to the +affections;<a name="FNanchor_267_269" id="FNanchor_267_269"></a><a href="#Footnote_267_269" class="fnanchor">[267]</a> and for that love in the long run deserveth rather +happiness than affliction, I shall, intreating of the present theme, +obey the queen with much greater pleasure to myself than I did the +king in that of yesterday.</p> + +<p>You must know, then, dainty dames, that near unto Sicily is an islet +called Lipari, wherein, no great while agone, was a very fair damsel +called Costanza, born of a very considerable family there. It chanced +that a young man of the same island, called Martuccio Gomito, who was +very agreeable and well bred and of approved worth<a name="FNanchor_268_270" id="FNanchor_268_270"></a><a href="#Footnote_268_270" class="fnanchor">[268]</a> in his +craft,<a name="FNanchor_269_271" id="FNanchor_269_271"></a><a href="#Footnote_269_271" class="fnanchor">[269]</a> fell in love with her; and she in like manner so burned +for him that she was never easy save whenas she saw him. Martuccio, +wishing to have her to wife, caused demand her of her father, who +answered that he was poor and that therefore he would not give her to +him. The young man, enraged to see himself rejected for poverty, in +concert with certain of his friends and kinsmen, equipped a light ship +and swore never to return to Lipari, except rich. Accordingly, he +departed thence and turning corsair, fell to cruising off the coast of +Barbary and plundering all who were weaker than himself; wherein +fortune was favourable enough to him, had he known how to set bounds +to his wishes; but, it sufficing him not to have waxed very rich, he +and his comrades, in a brief space of time, it befell that, whilst +they sought to grow overrich, he was, after a long defence, taken and +plundered with all his companions by certain ships of the Saracens, +who, after scuttling the vessel and sacking the greater part of the +crew, carried Martuccio to Tunis, where he was put in prison and long +kept in misery.</p> + +<p>The news was brought to Lipari, not<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253"></a></span> by one or by two, but by many and +divers persons, that he and all on board the bark had been drowned; +whereupon the girl, who had been beyond measure woebegone for her +lover's departure, hearing that he was dead with the others, wept sore +and resolved in herself to live no longer; but, her heart suffering +her not to slay herself by violence, she determined to give a new +occasion<a name="FNanchor_270_272" id="FNanchor_270_272"></a><a href="#Footnote_270_272" class="fnanchor">[270]</a> to her death.<a name="FNanchor_271_273" id="FNanchor_271_273"></a><a href="#Footnote_271_273" class="fnanchor">[271]</a> Accordingly, she issued secretly +forth of her father's house one night and betaking herself to the +harbour, happened upon a fishing smack, a little aloof from the other +ships, which, for that its owners had but then landed therefrom, she +found furnished with mast and sail and oars. In this she hastily +embarked and rowed herself out to sea; then, being somewhat skilled in +the mariner's art, as the women of that island mostly are, she made +sail and casting the oars and rudder adrift, committed herself +altogether to the mercy of the waves, conceiving that it must needs +happen that the wind would either overturn a boat without lading or +steersman or drive it upon some rock and break it up, whereby she +could not, even if she would, escape, but must of necessity be +drowned. Accordingly, wrapping her head in a mantle, she laid herself, +weeping, in the bottom of the boat.</p> + +<p>But it befell altogether otherwise than as she conceived, for that, +the wind being northerly and very light and there being well nigh no +sea, the boat rode it out in safety and brought her on the morrow, +about vespers, to a beach near a town called Susa, a good hundred +miles beyond Tunis. The girl, who, for aught that might happen, had +never lifted nor meant to lift her head, felt nothing of being ashore +more than at sea;<a name="FNanchor_272_274" id="FNanchor_272_274"></a><a href="#Footnote_272_274" class="fnanchor">[272]</a> but, as chance would have it, there was on the +beach, whenas the bark struck upon it, a poor woman in act to take up +from the sun the nets of the fishermen her masters, who, seeing the +bark, marvelled how it should be left to strike full sail upon the +land. Thinking that the fishermen aboard were asleep, she went up to +the bark and seeing none therein but the damsel aforesaid, who slept +fast, called her many times and having at last aroused her and knowing +her by her habit for a Christian, asked her in Latin how she came +there in that bark all alone. The girl, hearing her speak Latin, +misdoubted her a shift of wind must have driven her back to Lipari and +starting suddenly to her feet, looked about her, but knew not the +country, and seeing herself on land, asked the good woman where she +was; to which she answered, 'Daughter mine, thou art near unto Susa in +Barbary.' The girl, hearing this, was woeful for that God had not +chosen to vouchsafe her the death she sought, and being in fear of +shame and knowing not what to do, she seated herself at the foot of +her bark and fell a-weeping.</p> + +<p>The good woman, seeing this, took pity upon her and brought her, by +dint of entreaty, into a little hut of hers and there so humoured her +that she<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254"></a></span> told her how she came thither; whereupon, seeing that she +was fasting, she set before her her own dry bread and somewhat of fish +and water and so besought her that she ate a little. Costanza after +asked her who she was that she spoke Latin thus; to which she answered +that she was from Trapani and was called Carapresa and served certain +Christian fishermen there. The girl, hearing the name of Carapresa, +albeit she was exceeding woebegone and knew not what reason moved her +thereunto, took it unto herself for a good augury to have heard this +name<a name="FNanchor_273_275" id="FNanchor_273_275"></a><a href="#Footnote_273_275" class="fnanchor">[273]</a> and began to hope, without knowing what, and somewhat to +abate of her wish to die. Then, without discovering who or whence she +was, she earnestly besought the good woman to have pity, for the love +of God, on her youth and give her some counsel how she might escape +any affront being offered her.</p> + +<p>Carapresa, like a good woman as she was, hearing this, left her in her +hut, whilst she hastily gathered up her nets; then, returning to her, +she wrapped her from head to foot in her own mantle and carried her to +Susa, where she said to her, 'Costanza, I will bring thee into the +house of a very good Saracen lady, whom I serve oftentimes in her +occasions and who is old and pitiful. I will commend thee to her as +most I may and I am very certain that she will gladly receive thee and +use thee as a daughter; and do thou, abiding with her, study thine +utmost, in serving her, to gain her favour, against God send thee +better fortune.' And as she said, so she did. The lady, who was well +stricken in years, hearing the woman's story, looked the girl in the +face and fell a-weeping; then taking her by the hand, she kissed her +on the forehead and carried her into her house, where she and sundry +other women abode, without any man, and wrought all with their hands +at various crafts, doing divers works of silk and palm-fibre and +leather. Costanza soon learned to do some of these and falling to +working with the rest, became in such favour with the lady and the +others that it was a marvellous thing; nor was it long before, with +their teaching, she learnt their language.</p> + +<p>What while she abode thus at Susa, being now mourned at home for lost +and dead, it befell that, one Mariabdela<a name="FNanchor_274_276" id="FNanchor_274_276"></a><a href="#Footnote_274_276" class="fnanchor">[274]</a> being King of Tunis, a +certain youth of great family and much puissance in Granada, avouching +that that kingdom belonged to himself, levied a great multitude of +folk and came upon King Mariabdela, to oust him from the kingship. +This came to the ears of Martuccio Gomito in prison and he knowing the +Barbary language excellent well and hearing that the king was making +great efforts for his defence, said to one of those who had him and +his fellows in keeping, 'An I might have speech of the king, my heart +assureth me that I could give him a counsel, by which he should gain +this his war.' The keeper reported these words to his chief, and he +carried them incontinent to the king, who bade fetch Martuccio and +asked him what might be his counsel; whereto he made answer on this<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255"></a></span> +wise, 'My lord, if, what time I have otherwhiles frequented these your +dominions, I have noted aright the order you keep in your battles, +meseemeth you wage them more with archers than with aught else; +wherefore, if a means could be found whereby your adversary's bowmen +should lack of arrows, whilst your own had abundance thereof, +methinketh your battle would be won.' 'Without doubt,' answered the +king, 'and this might be compassed, I should deem myself assured of +victory.' Whereupon, 'My lord,' quoth Martuccio, 'an you will, this +may very well be done, and you shall hear how. You must let make +strings for your archers' bows much thinner than those which are +everywhere commonly used and after let make arrows, the notches +whereof shall not serve but for these thin strings. This must be so +secretly done that your adversary should know nought thereof; else +would he find a remedy therefor; and the reason for which I counsel +you thus is this. After your enemy's archers and your own shall have +shot all their arrows, you know that, the battle lasting, it will +behove your foes to gather up the arrows shot by your men and the +latter in like manner to gather theirs; but the enemy will not be able +to make use of your arrows, by reason of the strait notches which will +not take their thick strings, whereas the contrary will betide your +men of the enemy's arrows, for that the thin strings will excellently +well take the wide-notched arrows; and so your men will have abundance +of ammunition, whilst the others will suffer default thereof.'</p> + +<p>The king, who was a wise prince, was pleased with Martuccio's counsel +and punctually following it, found himself thereby to have won his +war. Wherefore Martuccio became in high favour with him and rose in +consequence to great and rich estate. The report of these things +spread over the land and it came presently to Costanza's ears that +Martuccio Gomito, whom she had long deemed dead, was alive, whereupon +the love of him, that was now grown cool in her heart, broke out of a +sudden into fresh flame and waxed greater than ever, whilst dead hope +revived in her. Therewithal she altogether discovered her every +adventure to the good lady, with whom she dwelt, and told her that she +would fain go to Tunis, so she might satisfy her eyes of that whereof +her ears had made them desireful, through the reports received. The +old lady greatly commended her purpose and taking ship with her, +carried her, as if she had been her mother, to Tunis, where they were +honourably entertained in the house of a kinswoman of hers. There she +despatched Carapresa, who had come with them, to see what she could +learn of Martuccio, and she, finding him alive and in great estate and +reporting this to the old gentlewoman, it pleased the latter to will +to be she who should signify unto Martuccio that his Costanza was come +thither to him; wherefore, betaking herself one day whereas he was, +she said to him, 'Martuccio, there is come to my house a servant of +thine from Lipari, who would fain speak with thee privily there; +wherefore, not to trust to others, I have myself, at his desire, come +to give thee notice thereof.' He thanked her and followed her to her +house, where when Costanza saw him, she was like to die of gladness +and unable to contain<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256"></a></span> herself, ran straightway with open arms to +throw herself on his neck; then, embracing him, without availing to +say aught, she fell a-weeping tenderly, both for compassion of their +past ill fortunes and for present gladness.</p> + +<p>Martuccio, seeing his mistress, abode awhile dumb for amazement, then +said sighing, 'O my Costanza, art thou then yet alive? It is long +since I heard that thou wast lost; nor in our country was aught known +of thee.' So saying, he embraced her, weeping, and kissed her +tenderly. Costanza then related to him all that had befallen her and +the honourable treatment which she had received from the gentlewoman +with whom she dwelt; and Martuccio, after much discourse, taking leave +of her, repaired to the king his master and told him all, to wit, his +own adventures and those of the damsel, adding that, with his leave, +he meant to take her to wife, according to our law. The king marvelled +at these things and sending for the damsel and hearing from her that +it was even as Martuccio had avouched, said to her, 'Then hast thou +right well earned him to husband.' Then, letting bring very great and +magnificent gifts, he gave part thereof to her and part to Martuccio, +granting them leave to do one with the other that which was most +pleasing unto each of them; whereupon Martuccio, having entreated the +gentlewoman who had harboured Costanza with the utmost honour and +thanked her for that which she had done to serve her and bestowed on +her such gifts as sorted with her quality, commended her to God and +took leave of her, he and his mistress, not without many tears from +the latter. Then, with the king's leave, they embarked with Carapresa +on board a little ship and returned with a fair wind to Lipari, where +so great was the rejoicing that it might never be told. There +Martuccio took Costanza to wife and held great and goodly nuptials; +after which they long in peace and repose had enjoyment of their +loves."</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="THE_THIRD_STORY5" id="THE_THIRD_STORY5"></a>THE THIRD STORY</h2> + +<div class="sidenote">Day the Fifth</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="hang">PIETRO BOCCAMAZZA, FLEEING WITH AGNOLELLA, FALLETH AMONG +THIEVES; THE GIRL ESCAPETH THROUGH A WOOD AND IS LED [BY +FORTUNE] TO A CASTLE, WHILST PIETRO IS TAKEN BY THE THIEVES, +BUT PRESENTLY, ESCAPING FROM THEIR HANDS, WINNETH, AFTER +DIVERS ADVENTURES, TO THE CASTLE WHERE HIS MISTRESS IS AND +ESPOUSING HER, RETURNETH WITH HER TO ROME</p></div> + + +<p><br /><span class="smcap">There</span> was none among all the company but commended Emilia's story, +which the queen seeing to be finished, turned to Elisa and bade her +follow on. Accordingly, studious to obey, she began: "There occurreth +to my mind, charming ladies, an ill night passed by a pair of +indiscreet young lovers; but, for that many happy days ensued thereon, +it pleaseth me to tell the story, as one that conformeth to our +proposition.</p> + +<p>There was, a little while agone, at<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_257" id="Page_257"></a></span> Rome,—once the head, as it is +nowadays the tail of the world,<a name="FNanchor_275_277" id="FNanchor_275_277"></a><a href="#Footnote_275_277" class="fnanchor">[275]</a>—a youth, called Pietro +Boccamazza, of a very worshipful family among those of the city, who +fell in love with a very fair and lovesome damsel called Agnolella, +the daughter of one Gigliuozzo Saullo, a plebeian, but very dear to +the Romans, and loving her, he contrived so to do that the girl began +to love him no less than he loved her; whereupon, constrained by +fervent love and himseeming he might no longer brook the cruel pain +that the desire he had of her gave him, he demanded her in marriage; +which no sooner did his kinsfolk know than they all repaired to him +and chid him sore for that which he would have done; and on the other +hand they gave Gigliuozzo to understand that he should make no account +of Pietro's words, for that, an he did this, they would never have him +for friend or kinsman. Pietro seeing that way barred whereby alone he +deemed he might avail to win to his desire, was like to die of +chagrin, and had Gigliuozzo consented, he would have taken his +daughter to wife, in despite of all his kindred. However, he +determined, an it liked the girl, to contrive to give effect to their +wishes, and having assured himself, by means of an intermediary, that +this was agreeable to her, he agreed with her that she should flee +with him from Rome.</p> + +<p>Accordingly, having taken order for this, Pietro arose very early one +morning and taking horse with the damsel, set out for Anagni, where he +had certain friends in whom he trusted greatly. They had no leisure to +make a wedding of it, for that they feared to be followed, but rode +on, devising of their love and now and again kissing one another. It +chanced that, when they came mayhap eight miles from Rome, the way not +being overwell known to Pietro, they took a path to the left, whereas +they should have kept to the right; and scarce had they ridden more +than two miles farther when they found themselves near a little +castle, wherefrom, as soon as they were seen, there issued suddenly a +dozen footmen. The girl, espying these, whenas they were already close +upon them, cried out, saying, 'Pietro, let us begone, for we are +attacked'; then, turning her rouncey's head, as best she knew, towards +a great wood hard by, she clapped her spurs fast to his flank and held +on to the saddlebow, whereupon the nag, feeling himself goaded, bore +her into the wood at a gallop.</p> + +<p>Pietro, who went gazing more at her face than at the road, not having +become so quickly aware as she of the new comers, was overtaken and +seized by them, whilst he still looked, without yet perceiving them, +to see whence they should come. They made him alight from his hackney +and enquired who he was, which he having told, they proceeded to take +counsel together and said, 'This fellow is of the friends of our +enemies; what else should we do but take from him these clothes and +this<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_258" id="Page_258"></a></span> nag and string him up to one of yonder oaks, to spite the +Orsini?' They all fell in with this counsel and bade Pietro put off +his clothes, which as he was in act to do, foreboding him by this of +the ill fate which awaited him, it chanced that an ambush of good +five-and-twenty footmen started suddenly out upon the others, crying, +'Kill! Kill!' The rogues, taken by surprise, let Pietro be and turned +to stand upon their defence, but, seeing themselves greatly +outnumbered by their assailants, betook themselves to flight, whilst +the others pursued them.</p> + +<p>Pietro, seeing this, hurriedly caught up his gear and springing on his +hackney, addressed himself, as best he might, to flee by the way he +had seen his mistress take; but finding her not and seeing neither +road nor footpath in the wood neither perceiving any horse's hoof +marks, he was the woefullest man alive; and as soon as himseemed he +was safe and out of reach of those who had taken him, as well as of +the others by whom they had been assailed, he began to drive hither +and thither about the wood, weeping and calling; but none answered him +and he dared not turn back and knew not where he might come, an he +went forward, more by token that he was in fear of the wild beasts +that use to harbour in the woods, at once for himself and for his +mistress, whom he looked momently to see strangled of some bear or +some wolf. On this wise, then, did the unlucky Pietro range all day +about the wood, crying and calling, whiles going backward, when as he +thought to go forward, until, what with shouting and weeping and fear +and long fasting, he was so spent that he could no more and seeing the +night come and knowing not what other course to take, he dismounted +from his hackney and tied the latter to a great oak, into which he +climbed, so he might not be devoured of the wild beasts in the night. +A little after the moon rose and the night being very clear and +bright, he abode there on wake, sighing and weeping and cursing his +ill luck, for that he durst not go to sleep, lest he should fall, +albeit, had he had more commodity thereof, grief and the concern in +which he was for his mistress would not have suffered him to sleep.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, the damsel, fleeing, as we have before said, and knowing +not whither to betake herself, save whereas it seemed good to her +hackney to carry her, fared on so far into the wood that she could not +see where she had entered, and went wandering all day about that +desert place, no otherwise than as Pietro had done, now pausing [to +hearken] and now going on, weeping the while and calling and making +moan of her illhap. At last, seeing that Pietro came not and it being +now eventide, she happened on a little path, into which her hackney +turned, and following it, after she had ridden some two or more miles +she saw a little house afar off. Thither she made her way as +quickliest she might and found there a good man sore stricken in years +and a woman, his wife alike old, who, seeing her alone, said to her, +'Daughter, what dost thou alone at this hour in these parts?' The +damsel replied, weeping, that she had lost her company in the wood and +enquired how near she was to Anagni. 'Daughter mine,' answered the +good man, 'this is not the way to go to Anagni; it is more than a +dozen miles hence.' Quoth the girl, 'And how far is it hence to any<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_259" id="Page_259"></a></span> +habitations where I may have a lodging for the night?' To which the +good man answered, 'There is none anywhere so near that thou mayst +come thither by daylight.' Then said the damsel, 'Since I can go no +otherwhere, will it please you harbour me here to-night for the love +of God?' 'Young lady,' replied the old man, 'thou art very welcome to +abide with us this night; algates, we must warn you that there are +many ill companies, both of friends and of foes that come and go about +these parts both by day and by night, who many a time do us sore annoy +and great mischief; and if, by ill chance, thou being here, there come +any of them and seeing thee, fair and young as thou art, should offer +to do thee affront and shame, we could not avail to succour thee +therefrom. We deem it well to apprise thee of this, so that, an it +betide, thou mayst not be able to complain of us.'</p> + +<p>The girl, seeing that it was late, albeit the old man's words +affrighted her, said, 'An it please God, He will keep both you and me +from that annoy; and even if it befall me, it were a much less evil to +be maltreated of men than to be mangled of the wild beasts in the +woods.' So saying, she alighted from the rouncey and entered the poor +man's house, where she supped with him on such poor fare as they had +and after, all clad as she was, cast herself, together with them, on a +little bed of theirs. She gave not over sighing and bewailing her own +mishap and that of Pietro all night, knowing not if she might hope +other than ill of him; and when it drew near unto morning, she heard a +great trampling of folk approaching, whereupon she arose and betaking +herself to a great courtyard, that lay behind the little house, saw in +a corner a great heap of hay, in which she hid herself, so she might +not be so quickly found, if those folk should come thither. Hardly had +she made an end of hiding herself when these, who were a great company +of ill knaves, came to the door of the little house and causing open +to them, entered and found Agnolella's hackney yet all saddled and +bridled; whereupon they asked who was there and the good man, not +seeing the girl, answered, 'None is here save ourselves; but this +rouncey, from whomsoever it may have escaped, came hither yestereve +and we brought it into the house, lest the wolves should eat it.' +'Then,' said the captain of the troop, 'since it hath none other +master, it is fair prize for us.'</p> + +<p>Thereupon they all dispersed about the little house and some went into +the courtyard, where, laying down their lances and targets, it chanced +that one of them, knowing not what else to do, cast his lance into the +hay and came very near to slay the hidden girl and she to discover +herself, for that the lance passed so close to her left breast that +the steel tore a part of her dress, wherefore she was like to utter a +great cry, fearing to be wounded; but, remembering where she was, she +abode still, all fear-stricken. Presently, the rogues, having dressed +the kids and other meat they had with them and eaten and drunken, went +off, some hither and some thither, about their affairs, and carried +with them the girl's hackney. When they had gone some distance, the +good man asked his wife, 'What befell of our young woman, who came +thither yestereve? I have seen nothing of her since we arose.' The +good wife replied that she knew not and went looking for her,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_260" id="Page_260"></a></span> +whereupon the girl, hearing that the rogues were gone, came forth of +the hay, to the no small contentment of her host, who, rejoiced to see +that she had not fallen into their hands, said to her, it now growing +day, 'Now that the day cometh, we will, an it please thee, accompany +thee to a castle five miles hence, where thou wilt be in safety; but +needs must thou go afoot, for yonder ill folk, that now departed +hence, have carried off thy rouncey.' The girl concerned herself +little about the nag, but besought them for God's sake to bring her to +the castle in question, whereupon they set out and came thither about +half tierce.</p> + +<p>Now this castle belonged to one of the Orsini family, by name Lionello +di Campodifiore, and there by chance was his wife, a very pious and +good lady, who, seeing the girl, knew her forthright and received her +with joy and would fain know orderly how she came thither. Agnolella +told her all and the lady, who knew Pietro on like wise, as being a +friend of her husband's, was grieved for the ill chance that had +betided and hearing where he had been taken, doubted not but he was +dead; wherefore she said to Agnolella, 'Since thou knowest not what is +come of Pietro, thou shalt abide here till such time as I shall have a +commodity to send thee safe to Rome.'</p> + +<p>Meanwhile Pietro abode, as woebegone as could be, in the oak, and +towards the season of the first sleep, he saw a good score of wolves +appear, which came all about his hackney, as soon as they saw him. The +horse, scenting them, tugged at his bridle, till he broke it, and +would have fled, but being surrounded and unable to escape, he +defended himself a great while with his teeth and his hoofs. At last, +however, he was brought down and strangled and quickly disembowelled +by the wolves, which took all their fill of his flesh and having +devoured him, made off, without leaving aught but the bones, whereat +Pietro, to whom it seemed he had in the rouncey a companion and a +support in his troubles, was sore dismayed and misdoubted he should +never avail to win forth of the wood. However, towards daybreak, being +perished with cold in the oak and looking still all about him, he +caught sight of a great fire before him, mayhap a mile off, wherefore, +as soon as it was grown broad day, he came down from the oak, not +without fear, and making for the fire, fared on till he came to the +place, where he found shepherds eating and making merry about it, by +whom he was received for compassion.</p> + +<p>After he had eaten and warmed himself, he acquainted them with his +misadventure and telling them how he came thither alone, asked them if +there was in those parts a village or castle, to which he might betake +himself. The shepherds answered that some three miles thence there was +a castle belonging to Lionello di Campodifiore, whose lady was +presently there; whereat Pietro was much rejoiced and besought them +that one of them should accompany him to the castle, which two of them +readily did. There he found some who knew him and was in act to +enquire for a means of having search made about the forest for the +damsel, when he was bidden to the lady's presence and incontinent +repaired to her. Never was joy like unto his, when he saw Agnolella +with her,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_261" id="Page_261"></a></span> and he was all consumed with desire to embrace her, but +forbore of respect for the lady, and if he was glad, the girl's joy +was no less great. The gentle lady, having welcomed him and made much +of him and heard from him what had betided him, chid him amain of that +which he would have done against the will of his kinsfolk; but, seeing +that he was e'en resolved upon this and that it was agreeable to the +girl also, she said in herself, 'Why do I weary myself in vain? These +two love and know each other and both are friends of my husband. Their +desire is an honourable one and meseemeth it is pleasing to God, since +the one of them hath scaped the gibbet and the other the lance-thrust +and both the wild beasts of the wood; wherefore be it as they will.' +Then, turning to the lovers, she said to them, 'If you have it still +at heart to be man and wife, it is my pleasure also; be it so, and let +the nuptials be celebrated here at Lionello's expense. I will engage +after to make peace between you and your families.' Accordingly, they +were married then and there, to the great contentment of Pietro and +the yet greater satisfaction of Agnolella, and the gentle lady made +them honourable nuptials, in so far as might be in the mountains. +There, with the utmost delight, they enjoyed the first-fruits of their +love and a few days after, they took horse with the lady and returned, +under good escort, to Rome, where she found Pietro's kinsfolk sore +incensed at that which he had done, but contrived to make his peace +with them, and he lived with his Agnolella in all peace and pleasance +to a good old age."</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="THE_FOURTH_STORY5" id="THE_FOURTH_STORY5"></a>THE FOURTH STORY</h2> + +<div class="sidenote">Day the Fifth</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="hang">RICCIARDO MANARDI, BEING FOUND BY MESSER LIZIO DA VALBONA +WITH HIS DAUGHTER, ESPOUSETH HER AND ABIDETH IN PEACE WITH +HER FATHER</p></div> + + +<p><br /><span class="smcap">Elisa</span> holding her peace and hearkening to the praises bestowed by the +ladies her companions upon her story, the Queen charged Filostrato +tell one of his own, whereupon he began, laughing, "I have been so +often rated by so many of you ladies for having imposed on you matter +for woeful discourse and such as tended to make you weep, that +methinketh I am beholden, an I would in some measure requite you that +annoy, to relate somewhat whereby I may make you laugh a little; and I +mean therefore to tell you, in a very short story, of a love that, +after no worse hindrance than sundry sighs and a brief fright, mingled +with shame, came to a happy issue.</p> + +<p>It is, then, noble ladies, no great while ago since there lived in +Romagna a gentleman of great worth and good breeding, called Messer +Lizio da Valbona, to whom, well nigh in his old age, it chanced there +was born of his wife, Madam Giacomina by name, a daughter, who grew up +fair and agreeable beyond any other of the country; and for that she +was the only child that remained to her father and mother, they loved +and tendered her exceeding dear and guarded her with marvellous +dili<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_262" id="Page_262"></a></span>gence, looking to make some great alliance by her. Now there was +a young man of the Manardi of Brettinoro, comely and lusty of his +person, by name Ricciardo, who much frequented Messer Lizio's house +and conversed amain with him and of whom the latter and his lady took +no more account than they would have taken of a son of theirs. Now, +this Ricciardo, looking once and again upon the young lady and seeing +her very fair and sprightly and commendable of manners and fashions, +fell desperately in love with her, but was very careful to keep his +love secret. The damsel presently became aware thereof and without +anywise seeking to shun the stroke, began on like wise to love him; +whereat Ricciardo was mightily rejoiced. He had many a time a mind to +speak to her, but kept silence of misdoubtance; however, one day, +taking courage and opportunity, he said to her, 'I prithee, Caterina, +cause me not die of love.' To which she straightway made answer, +'Would God thou wouldst not cause <i>me</i> die!'</p> + +<p>This answer added much courage and pleasure to Ricciardo and he said +to her, 'Never shall aught that may be agreeable to thee miscarry<a name="FNanchor_276_278" id="FNanchor_276_278"></a><a href="#Footnote_276_278" class="fnanchor">[276]</a> +for me; but it resteth with thee to find a means of saving thy life +and mine.' 'Ricciardo,' answered she, 'thou seest how straitly I am +guarded; wherefore, for my part, I cannot see how thou mayst avail to +come at me; but, if thou canst see aught that I may do without shame +to myself, tell it me and I will do it.' Ricciardo, having bethought +himself of sundry things, answered promptly, 'My sweet Caterina, I can +see no way, except that thou lie or make shift to come upon the +gallery that adjoineth thy father's garden, where an I knew that thou +wouldst be anights, I would without fail contrive to come to thee, how +high soever it may be.' 'If thou have the heart to come thither,' +rejoined Caterina, 'methinketh I can well enough win to be there.' +Ricciardo assented and they kissed each other once only in haste and +went their ways.</p> + +<p>Next day, it being then near the end of May, the girl began to +complain before her mother that she had not been able to sleep that +night for the excessive heat. Quoth the lady, 'Of what heat dost thou +speak, daughter? Nay, it was nowise hot.' 'Mother mine,' answered +Caterina, 'you should say "To my seeming," and belike you would say +sooth; but you should consider how much hotter are young girls than +ladies in years.' 'Daughter mine,' rejoined the lady, 'that is true; +but I cannot make it cold and hot at my pleasure, as belike thou +wouldst have me do. We must put up with the weather, such as the +seasons make it; maybe this next night will be cooler and thou wilt +sleep better.' 'God grant it may be so!' cried Caterina. 'But it is +not usual for the nights to go cooling, as it groweth towards summer.' +'Then what wouldst thou have done?' asked the mother; and she +answered, 'An it please my father and you, I would fain have a little +bed made in the gallery, that is beside his chamber and over his +garden, and there sleep. There I should hear the nightingale sing and +having a cooler place to lie in, I should fare much better than in +your chamber.' Quoth the mother, 'Daugh<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_263" id="Page_263"></a></span>ter, comfort thyself; I will +tell thy father, and as he will, so will we do.'</p> + +<p>Messer Lizio hearing all this from his wife, said, for that he was an +old man and maybe therefore somewhat cross-grained, 'What nightingale +is this to whose song she would sleep? I will yet make her sleep to +the chirp of the crickets.' Caterina, coming to know this, more of +despite than for the heat, not only slept not that night, but suffered +not her mother to sleep, still complaining of the great heat. +Accordingly, next morning, the latter repaired to her husband and said +to him, 'Sir, you have little tenderness for yonder girl; what +mattereth it to you if she lie in the gallery? She could get no rest +all night for the heat. Besides, can you wonder at her having a mind +to hear the nightingale sing, seeing she is but a child? Young folk +are curious of things like themselves. Messer Lizio, hearing this, +said, 'Go to, make her a bed there, such as you think fit, and bind it +about with some curtain or other, and there let her lie and hear the +nightingale sing to her heart's content.'</p> + +<p>The girl, learning this, straightway let make a bed in the gallery and +meaning to lie there that same night, watched till she saw Ricciardo +and made him a signal appointed between them, by which he understood +what was to be done. Messer Lizio, hearing the girl gone to bed, +locked a door that led from his chamber into the gallery and betook +himself likewise to sleep. As for Ricciardo, as soon as he heard all +quiet on every hand, he mounted a wall, with the aid of a ladder, and +thence, laying hold of certain toothings of another wall, he made his +way, with great toil and danger, if he had fallen, up to the gallery, +where he was quietly received by the girl with the utmost joy. Then, +after many kisses, they went to bed together and took delight and +pleasure one of another well nigh all that night, making the +nightingale sing many a time. The nights being short and the delight +great and it being now, though they thought it not, near day, they +fell asleep without any covering, so overheated were they what with +the weather and what with their sport, Caterina having her right arm +entwined about Ricciardo's neck and holding him with the left hand by +that thing which you ladies think most shame to name among men.</p> + +<p>As they slept on this wise, without awaking, the day came on and +Messer Lizio arose and remembering him that his daughter lay in the +gallery, opened the door softly, saying in himself, 'Let us see how +the nightingale hath made Caterina sleep this night.' Then, going in, +he softly lifted up the serge, wherewith the bed was curtained about, +and saw his daughter and Ricciardo lying asleep, naked and uncovered, +embraced as it hath before been set out; whereupon, having recognized +Ricciardo, he went out again and repairing to his wife's chamber, +called to her, saying, 'Quick, wife, get thee up and come see, for +that thy daughter hath been so curious of the nightingale that she +hath e'en taken it and hath it in hand.' 'How can that be?' quoth she; +and he answered, 'Thou shalt see it, an thou come quickly.' +Accordingly, she made haste to dress herself and quietly followed her +husband to the bed, where, the curtain being drawn, Madam Giacomina +might plainly see how her daughter had taken and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_264" id="Page_264"></a></span> held the +nightingale, which she had so longed to hear sing; whereat the lady, +holding herself sore deceived of Ricciardo, would have cried out and +railed at him; but Messer Lizio said to her, 'Wife, as thou holdest my +love dear, look thou say not a word, for, verily, since she hath +gotten it, it shall be hers. Ricciardo is young and rich and gently +born; he cannot make us other than a good son-in-law. An he would part +from me on good terms, needs must he first marry her, so it will be +found that he hath put the nightingale in his own cage and not in that +of another.'</p> + +<p>The lady was comforted to see that her husband was not angered at the +matter and considering that her daughter had passed a good night and +rested well and had caught the nightingale, to boot, she held her +tongue. Nor had they abidden long after these words when Ricciardo +awoke and seeing that it was broad day, gave himself over for lost and +called Caterina, saying, 'Alack, my soul, how shall we do, for the day +is come and hath caught me here?' Whereupon Messer Lizio came forward +and lifting the curtain, answered, 'We shall do well.' When Ricciardo +saw him, himseemed the heart was torn out of his body and sitting up +in bed, he said, 'My lord, I crave your pardon for God's sake. I +acknowledged to have deserved death, as a disloyal and wicked man; +wherefore do you with me as best pleaseth you; but, I prithee, an it +may be, have mercy on my life and let me not die.' 'Ricciardo,' +answered Messer Lizio, 'the love that I bore thee and the faith I had +in thee merited not this return; yet, since thus it is and youth hath +carried thee away into such a fault, do thou, to save thyself from +death and me from shame, take Caterina to thy lawful wife, so that, +like as this night she hath been thine, she may e'en be thine so long +as she shall live. On this wise thou mayst gain my pardon and thine +own safety; but, an thou choose not to do this, commend thy soul to +God.'</p> + +<p>Whilst these words were saying, Caterina let go the nightingale and +covering herself, fell to weeping sore and beseeching her father to +pardon Ricciardo, whilst on the other hand she entreated her lover to +do as Messer Lizio wished, so they might long pass such nights +together in security. But there needed not overmany prayers, for that, +on the one hand, shame of the fault committed and desire to make +amends for it, and on the other, the fear of death and the wish to +escape,—to say nothing of his ardent love and longing to possess the +thing beloved,—made Ricciardo freely and without hesitation avouch +himself ready to do that which pleased Messer Lizio; whereupon the +latter borrowed of Madam Giacomina one of her rings and there, without +budging, Ricciardo in their presence took Caterina to his wife. This +done, Messer Lizio and his lady departed, saying, 'Now rest +yourselves, for belike you have more need thereof than of rising.' +They being gone, the young folk clipped each other anew and not having +run more than half a dozen courses overnight, they ran other twain ere +they arose and so made an end of the first day's tilting. Then they +arose and Ricciardo having had more orderly conference with Messer +Lizio, a few days after, as it beseemed, he married the damsel<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_265" id="Page_265"></a></span> over +again, in the presence of their friends and kinsfolk, and brought her +with great pomp to his own house. There he held goodly and honourable +nuptials and after went long nightingale-fowling with her to his +heart's content, in peace and solace, both by night and by day."</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="THE_FIFTH_STORY5" id="THE_FIFTH_STORY5"></a>THE FIFTH STORY</h2> + +<div class="sidenote">Day the Fifth</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="hang">GUIDOTTO DA CREMONA LEAVETH TO GIACOMINO DA PAVIA A DAUGHTER +OF HIS AND DIETH. GIANNOLE DI SEVERINO AND MINGHINO DI +MINGOLE FALL IN LOVE WITH THE GIRL AT FAENZA AND COME TO +BLOWS ON HER ACCOUNT. ULTIMATELY SHE IS PROVED TO BE +GIANNOLE'S SISTER AND IS GIVEN TO MINGHINO TO WIFE</p></div> + + +<p><br /><span class="smcap">All</span> the ladies, hearkening to the story of the nightingale, had +laughed so much that, though Filostrato had made an end of telling, +they could not yet give over laughing. But, after they had laughed +awhile, the queen said to Filostrato, "Assuredly, if thou afflictedest +us ladies yesterday, thou hast so tickled us to-day that none of us +can deservedly complain of thee." Then, addressing herself to Neifile, +she charged her tell, and she blithely began to speak thus: "Since +Filostrato, discoursing, hath entered into Romagna, it pleaseth me on +like wise to go ranging awhile therein with mine own story.</p> + +<p>I say, then, that there dwelt once in the city of Fano two Lombards, +whereof the one was called Guidotto da Cremona and the other Giacomino +da Pavia, both men advanced in years, who had in their youth been well +nigh always soldiers and engaged in deeds of arms. Guidotto, being at +the point of death and having nor son nor other kinsmen nor friend in +whom he trusted more than in Giacomino, left him a little daughter he +had, of maybe ten years of age, and all that he possessed in the +world, and after having bespoken him at length of his affairs, he +died. In those days it befell that the city of Faenza, which had been +long in war and ill case, was restored to somewhat better estate and +permission to sojourn there was freely conceded to all who had a mind +to return thither; wherefore Giacomino, who had abidden there +otherwhile and had a liking for the place, returned thither with all +his good and carried with him the girl left him by Guidotto, whom he +loved and entreated as his own child.</p> + +<p>The latter grew up and became as fair a damsel as any in the city, ay, +and as virtuous and well bred as she was fair; wherefore she began to +be courted of many, but especially two very agreeable young men of +equal worth and condition vowed her a very great love, insomuch that +for jealousy they came to hold each other in hate out of measure. They +were called, the one Giannole di Severino and the other Minghino di +Mingole; nor was there either of them but would gladly have taken the +young lady, who was now fifteen years old, to wife, had it been +suffered of his kinsfolk; wherefore, seeing her denied<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_266" id="Page_266"></a></span> to them on +honourable wise, each cast about to get her for himself as best he +might. Now Giacomino had in his house an old serving-wench and a +serving-man, Crivello by name, a very merry and obliging person, with +whom Giannole clapped up a great acquaintance and to whom, whenas +himseemed time, he discovered his passion, praying him to be +favourable to him in his endeavour to obtain his desire and promising +him great things an he did this; whereto quoth Crivello, 'Look you, I +can do nought for thee in this matter other than that, when next +Giacomino goeth abroad to supper, I will bring thee whereas she may +be; for that, an I offered to say a word to her in thy favour, she +would never stop to listen to me. If this like thee, I promise it to +thee and will do it; and do thou after, an thou know how, that which +thou deemest shall best serve thy purpose.' Giannole answered that he +desired nothing more and they abode on this understanding. Meanwhile +Minghino, on his part, had suborned the maidservant and so wrought +with her that she had several times carried messages to the girl and +had well night inflamed her with love of him; besides which she had +promised him to bring him in company with her, so soon as Giacomino +should chance to go abroad of an evening for whatever cause.</p> + +<p>Not long after this it chanced that, by Crivello's contrivance, +Giacomino went to sup with a friend of his, whereupon Crivello gave +Giannole to know thereof and appointed with him that, whenas he made a +certain signal, he should come and would find the door open. The maid, +on her side, knowing nothing of all this, let Minghino know that +Giacomino was to sup abroad and bade him abide near the house, so +that, whenas he saw a signal which she should make he might come and +enter therein. The evening come, the two lovers, knowing nothing of +each other's designs, but each misdoubting of his rival, came, with +sundry companions armed, to enter into possession. Minghino, with his +troop took up his quarters in the house of a friend of his, a +neighbour of the young lady's; whilst Giannole and his friends +stationed themselves at a little distance from the house. Meanwhile, +Crivello and the maid, Giacomino being gone, studied each to send the +other away. Quoth he to her, 'Why dost thou not get thee to bed? Why +goest thou still wandering about the house?' 'And thou,' retorted she, +'why goest thou not for thy master? What awaitest thou here, now that +thou hast supped?' And so neither could make other avoid the place; +but Crivello, seeing the hour come that he had appointed with Giannole +said in himself, 'What reck I of her? An she abide not quiet, she is +like to smart for it.'</p> + +<p>Accordingly, giving the appointed signal, he went to open the door, +whereupon Giannole, coming up in haste with two companions, entered +and finding the young lady in the saloon, laid hands on her to carry +her off. The girl began to struggle and make a great outcry, as +likewise did the maid, which Minghino hearing, he ran thither with his +companions and seeing the young lady being presently dragged out at +the door, they pulled out their swords and cried all, 'Ho, traitors, +ye are dead men! The thing shall not go thus. What is this violence?' +So saying, they fell to hewing at them, whilst the neighbors, issu<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_267" id="Page_267"></a></span>ing +forth at the clamour with lights and arms, began to blame Giannole's +behaviour and to second Minghino; wherefore, after long contention, +the latter rescued the young lady from his rival and restored her to +Giacomino's house. But, before the fray was over, up came the +town-captain's officers and arrested many of them; and amongst the +rest Minghino and Giannole and Crivello were taken and carried off to +prison. After matters were grown quiet again, Giacomino returned home +and was sore chagrined at that which had happened; but, enquiring how +it had come about and finding that the girl was nowise at fault, he +was somewhat appeased and determined in himself to marry her as +quickliest he might, so the like should not again betide.</p> + +<p>Next morning, the kinsfolk of the two young men, hearing the truth of +the case and knowing the ill that might ensue thereof for the +imprisoned youths, should Giacomino choose to do that which he +reasonably might, repaired to him and prayed him with soft words to +have regard, not so much to the affront which he had suffered from the +little sense of the young men as to the love and goodwill which they +believed he bore to themselves who thus besought him, submitting +themselves and the young men who had done the mischief to any amends +it should please him take. Giacomino, who had in his time seen many +things and was a man of sense, answered briefly, 'Gentlemen, were I in +mine own country, as I am in yours, I hold myself so much your friend +that neither in this nor in otherwhat would I do aught save insomuch +as it should please you; besides, I am the more bounden to comply with +your wishes in this matter, inasmuch as you have therein offended +against yourselves, for that the girl in question is not, as belike +many suppose, of Cremona nor of Pavia; nay, she is a Faentine,<a name="FNanchor_277_279" id="FNanchor_277_279"></a><a href="#Footnote_277_279" class="fnanchor">[277]</a> +albeit neither I nor she nor he of whom I had her might ever learn +whose daughter she was; wherefore, concerning that whereof you pray +me, so much shall be done by me as you yourselves shall enjoin me.'</p> + +<p>The gentlemen, hearing this, marvelled and returning thanks to +Giacomino for his gracious answer, prayed him that it would please him +tell them how she came to his hands and how he knew her to be a +Faentine; whereto quoth he, 'Guidotto da Cremona, who was my friend +and comrade, told me, on his deathbed, that, when this city was taken +by the Emperor Frederick and everything given up to pillage, he +entered with his companions into a house and found it full of booty, +but deserted by its inhabitants, save only this girl, who was then +some two years old or thereabouts and who, seeing him mount the +stairs, called him "father"; whereupon, taking compassion upon her, he +carried her off with him to Fano, together with all that was in the +house, and dying there, left her to me with what he had, charging me +marry her in due time and give her to her dowry that which had been +hers. Since she hath come to marriageable age, I have not yet found an +occasion of marrying her to my liking, though I would gladly do it, +rather than that another mischance like that of yesternight should +betide me on her account.'</p> + +<p>Now among the others there was a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_268" id="Page_268"></a></span> certain Guiglielmino da Medicina, +who had been with Guidotto in that affair<a name="FNanchor_278_280" id="FNanchor_278_280"></a><a href="#Footnote_278_280" class="fnanchor">[278]</a> and knew very well +whose house it was that he had plundered, and he, seeing the person in +question<a name="FNanchor_279_281" id="FNanchor_279_281"></a><a href="#Footnote_279_281" class="fnanchor">[279]</a> there among the rest, accosted him, saying, +'Bernabuccio, hearest thou what Giacomino saith?' 'Ay do I,' answered +Bernabuccio, 'and I was presently in thought thereof, more by token +that I mind me to have lost a little daughter of the age whereof +Giacomino speaketh in those very troubles.' Quoth Guiglielmino, 'This +is she for certain, for that I was once in company with Guidotto, when +I heard him tell where he had done the plundering and knew it to be +thy house that he had sacked; wherefore do thou bethink thee if thou +mayst credibly recognize her by any token and let make search +therefor; for thou wilt assuredly find that she is thy daughter.'</p> + +<p>Accordingly, Bernabuccio bethought himself and remembered that she +should have a little cross-shaped scar over her left ear, proceeding +from a tumour, which he had caused cut for her no great while before +that occurrence; whereupon, without further delay, he accosted +Giacomino, who was still there, and besought him to carry him to his +house and let him see the damsel. To this he readily consented and +carrying him thither, let bring the girl before him. When Bernabuccio +set eyes on her, himseemed he saw the very face of her mother, who was +yet a handsome lady; nevertheless, not contenting himself with this, +he told Giacomino that he would fain of his favour have leave to raise +her hair a little above her left ear, to which the other consented. +Accordingly, going up to the girl, who stood shamefast, he lifted up +her hair with his right hand and found the cross; whereupon, knowing +her to be indeed his daughter, he fell to weeping tenderly and +embracing her, notwithstanding her resistance; then, turning to +Giacomino, 'Brother mine,' quoth he, 'this is my daughter; it was my +house Guidotto plundered and this girl was, in the sudden alarm, +forgotten there of my wife and her mother; and until now we believed +that she had perished with the house, which was burned me that same +day.'</p> + +<p>The girl, hearing this, and seeing him to be a man in years, gave +credence to his words and submitting herself to his embraces, as moved +by some occult instinct, fell a-weeping tenderly with him. Bernabuccio +presently sent for her mother and other her kinswomen and for her +sisters and brothers and presented her to them all, recounting the +matter to them; then, after a thousand embraces, he carried her home +to his house with the utmost rejoicing, to the great satisfaction of +Giacomino. The town-captain, who was a man of worth, learning this and +knowing that Giannole, whom he had in prison, was Bernabuccio's son +and therefore the lady's own brother, determined indulgently to +overpass the offence committed by him and released with him Minghino +and Crivello and the others who were implicated in the affair. +Moreover, he interceded with Bernabuccio and Giacomino concerning +these matters and making peace be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_269" id="Page_269"></a></span>tween the two young men, gave the +girl, whose name was Agnesa, to Minghino to wife, to the great +contentment of all their kinsfolk; whereupon Minghino, mightily +rejoiced, made a great and goodly wedding and carrying her home, lived +with her many years after in peace and weal."</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="THE_SIXTH_STORY5" id="THE_SIXTH_STORY5"></a>THE SIXTH STORY</h2> + +<div class="sidenote">Day the Fifth</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="hang">GIANNI DI PROCIDA BEING FOUND WITH A YOUNG LADY, WHOM HE +LOVED AND WHO HAD BEEN GIVEN TO KING FREDERICK OF SICILY, IS +BOUND WITH HER TO A STAKE TO BE BURNT; BUT, BEING RECOGNIZED +BY RUGGIERI DELL' ORIA, ESCAPETH AND BECOMETH HER HUSBAND</p></div> + + +<p><br /><span class="smcap">Neifile's</span> story, which had much pleased the ladies, being ended, the +queen bade Pampinea address herself to tell another, and she +accordingly, raising her bright face, began: "Exceeding great, +charming ladies, is the might of Love and exposeth lovers to sore +travails, ay, and to excessive and unforeseen perils, as may be +gathered from many a thing that hath been related both to-day and +otherwhiles; nevertheless, it pleaseth me yet again to demonstrate it +to you with a story of an enamoured youth.</p> + +<p>Ischia is an island very near Naples, and therein, among others, was +once a very fair and sprightly damsel, by name Restituta, who was the +daughter of a gentleman of the island called Marino Bolgaro and whom a +youth named Gianni, a native of a little island near Ischia, called +Procida, loved more than his life, as she on like wise loved him. Not +only did he come by day from Procida to see her, but oftentimes +anights, not finding a boat, he had swum from Procida to Ischia, at +the least to look upon the walls of her house, an he might no +otherwise. During the continuance of this so ardent love, it befell +that the girl, being all alone one summer day on the sea-shore, +chanced, as she went from rock to rock, loosening shell-fish from the +stones with a knife, upon a place hidden among the cliffs, where, at +once for shade and for the commodity of a spring of very cool water +that was there, certain young men of Sicily, coming from Naples, had +taken up their quarters with a pinnace they had. They, seeing that she +was alone and very handsome and was yet unaware of them, took counsel +together to seize her and carry her off and put their resolve into +execution. Accordingly, they took her, for all she made a great +outcry, and carrying her aboard the pinnace, made the best of their +way to Calabria, where they fell to disputing of whose she should be. +Brief, each would fain have her; wherefore, being unable to agree +among themselves and fearing to come to worse and to mar their affairs +for her, they took counsel together to present her to Frederick, King +of Sicily, who was then a young man and delighted in such toys. +Accordingly, coming to Palermo, they made gift of the damsel to the +king, who, seeing her to be fair, held her<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_270" id="Page_270"></a></span> dear; but, for that he was +presently somewhat infirm of his person, he commanded that, against he +should be stronger, she should be lodged in a very goodly pavilion, +belonging to a garden of his he called La Cuba, and there tended; and +so it was done.</p> + +<p>Great was the outcry in Ischia for the ravishment of the damsel and +what most chagrined them was that they could not learn who they were +that had carried her off; but Gianni, whom the thing concerned more +than any other, not looking to get any news of this in Ischia and +learning in what direction the ravishers had gone, equipped another +pinnace and embarking therein, as quickliest as he might, scoured all +the coast from La Minerva to La Scalea in Calabria, enquiring +everywhere for news of the girl. Being told at La Scalea that she had +been carried off to Palermo by some Sicilian sailors, he betook +himself thither, as quickliest he might, and there, after much search, +finding that she had been presented to the king and was by him kept +under ward at La Cuba, he was sore chagrined and lost well nigh all +hope, not only of ever having her again, but even of seeing her. +Nevertheless, detained by love, having sent away his pinnace and +seeing that he was known of none there, he abode behind and passing +often by La Cuba, he chanced one day to catch sight of her at a window +and she saw him, to the great contentment of them both.</p> + +<p>Gianni, seeing the place lonely, approached as most he might and +bespeaking her, was instructed by her how he must do, an he would +thereafterward have further speech of her. He then took leave of her, +having first particularly examined the ordinance of the place in every +part, and waited till a good part of the night was past, when he +returned thither and clambering up in places where a woodpecker had +scarce found a foothold, he made his way into the garden. There he +found a long pole and setting it against the window which his mistress +had shown him, climbed up thereby lightly enough. The damsel, +herseeming she had already lost her honour, for the preservation +whereof she had in times past been somewhat coy to him, thinking that +she could give herself to none more worthily than to him and doubting +not to be able to induce him to carry her off, had resolved in herself +to comply with him in every his desire; wherefore she had left the +window open, so he might enter forthright. Accordingly, Gianni, +finding it open, softly made his way into the chamber and laid himself +beside the girl, who slept not and who, before they came to otherwhat, +discovered to him all her intent, instantly beseeching him to take her +thence and carry her away. Gianni answered that nothing could be so +pleasing to him as this and promised that he would without fail, as +soon as he should have taken his leave of her, put the matter in train +on such wise that he might carry her away with him, the first time he +returned thither. Then, embracing each other with exceeding pleasure, +they took that delight beyond which Love can afford no greater, and +after reiterating it again and again, they fell asleep, without +perceiving it, in each other's arms.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, the king, who had at first sight been greatly taken with +the damsel,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_271" id="Page_271"></a></span> calling her to mind and feeling himself well of body, +determined, albeit it was nigh upon day, to go and abide with her +awhile. Accordingly, he betook himself privily to La Cuba with certain +of his servants and entering the pavilion, caused softly open the +chamber wherein he knew the girl slept. Then, with a great lighted +flambeau before him, he entered therein and looking upon the bed, saw +her and Gianni lying asleep and naked in each other's arms; whereas he +was of a sudden furiously incensed and flamed up into such a passion +of wrath that it lacked of little but he had, without saying a word, +slain them both then and there with a dagger he had by his side. +However, esteeming it a very base thing of any man, much more a king, +to slay two naked folk in their sleep, he contained himself and +determined to put them to death in public and by fire; wherefore, +turning to one only companion he had with him, he said to him, 'How +deemest thou of this vile woman, on whom I had set my hope?' And after +he asked him if he knew the young man who had dared enter his house to +do him such an affront and such an outrage; but he answered that he +remembered not ever to have seen him. The king then departed the +chamber, full of rage, and commanded that the two lovers should be +taken and bound, naked as they were, and that, as soon as it was broad +day, they should be carried to Palermo and there bound to a stake, +back to back, in the public place, where they should be kept till the +hour of tierce, so they might be seen of all, and after burnt, even as +they had deserved; and this said, he returned to his palace at +Palermo, exceeding wroth.</p> + +<p>The king gone, there fell many upon the two lovers and not only +awakened them, but forthright without any pity took them and bound +them; which when they saw, it may lightly be conceived if they were +woeful and feared for their lives and wept and made moan. According to +the king's commandment, they were carried to Palermo and bound to a +stake in the public place, whilst the faggots and the fire were made +ready before their eyes, to burn them at the hour appointed. Thither +straightway flocked all the townsfolk, both men and women, to see the +two lovers; the men all pressed to look upon the damsel and like as +they praised her for fair and well made in every part of her body, +even so, on the other hand, the women, who all ran to gaze upon the +young man, supremely commended him for handsome and well shapen. But +the wretched lovers, both sore ashamed, stood with bowed heads and +bewailed their sorry fortune, hourly expecting the cruel death by +fire.</p> + +<p>Whilst they were thus kept against the appointed hour, the default of +them committed, being bruited about everywhere, came to the ears of +Ruggieri dell' Oria, a man of inestimable worth and then the king's +admiral, whereupon he repaired to the place where they were bound and +considering first the girl, commended her amain for beauty, then, +turning to look upon the young man, knew him without much difficulty +and drawing nearer to him, asked him if he were not Gianni di Procida. +The youth, raising his eyes and recognizing the admiral, answered, 'My +lord, I was indeed he of whom you ask; but I am about to be no more.' +The admiral then asked him what had brought him<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_272" id="Page_272"></a></span> to that pass, and he +answered, 'Love and the king's anger.' The admiral caused him tell his +story more at large and having heard everything from him as it had +happened, was about to depart, when Gianni called him back and said to +him, 'For God's sake, my lord, an it may be, get me one favour of him +who maketh me to abide thus.' 'What is that?' asked Ruggieri; and +Gianni said, 'I see I must die, and that speedily, and I ask, +therefore, by way of favour,—as I am bound with my back to this +damsel, whom I have loved more than my life, even as she hath loved +me, and she with her back to me,—that we may be turned about with our +faces one to the other, so that, dying, I may look upon her face and +get me gone, comforted.' 'With all my heart,' answered Ruggieri, +laughing; 'I will do on such wise that thou shalt yet see her till +thou grow weary of her sight.'</p> + +<p>Then, taking leave of him, he charged those who were appointed to +carry the sentence into execution that they should proceed no farther +therein, without other commandment of the king, and straightway betook +himself to the latter, to whom, albeit he saw him sore incensed, he +spared not to speak his mind, saying, 'King, in what have the two +young folk offended against thee, whom thou hast commanded to be +burned yonder in the public place?' The king told him and Ruggieri +went on, 'The offence committed by them deserveth it indeed, but not +from thee; for, like as defaults merit punishment, even so do good +offices merit recompense, let alone grace and clemency. Knowest thou +who these are thou wouldst have burnt?' The king answered no, and +Ruggieri continued, 'Then I will have thee know them, so thou mayst +see how discreetly<a name="FNanchor_280_282" id="FNanchor_280_282"></a><a href="#Footnote_280_282" class="fnanchor">[280]</a> thou sufferest thyself to be carried away by +the transports of passion. The young man is the son of Landolfo di +Procida, own brother to Messer Gian di Procida,<a name="FNanchor_281_283" id="FNanchor_281_283"></a><a href="#Footnote_281_283" class="fnanchor">[281]</a> by whose means +thou art king and lord of this island, and the damsel is the daughter +of Marino Bolgaro, to whose influence thou owest it that thine +officers have not been driven forth of Ischia. Moreover, they are +lovers who have long loved one another and constrained of love, rather +than of will to do despite to thine authority, have done this sin, if +that can be called sin which young folk do for love. Wherefore, then, +wilt thou put them to death, whenas thou shouldst rather honour them +with the greatest favours and boons at thy commandment?'</p> + +<p>The king, hearing this and certifying himself that Ruggieri spoke +sooth, not only forbore from proceeding to do worse, but repented him +of that which he had done, wherefore he commanded incontinent that the +two lovers should be loosed from the stake and brought before him; +which was forthright done.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_273" id="Page_273"></a></span> Therewith, having fully acquainted himself +with their case, he concluded that it behoved him requite them the +injury he had done them with gifts and honour; wherefore he let clothe +them anew on sumptuous wise and finding them of one accord, caused +Gianni to take the damsel to wife. Then, making them magnificent +presents, he sent them back, rejoicing, to their own country, where +they were received with the utmost joyance and delight."</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="THE_SEVENTH_STORY5" id="THE_SEVENTH_STORY5"></a>THE SEVENTH STORY</h2> + +<div class="sidenote">Day the Fifth</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="hang">TEODORO, BEING ENAMOURED OF VIOLANTE, DAUGHTER OF MESSER +AMERIGO HIS LORD, GETTETH HER WITH CHILD AND IS CONDEMNED TO +BE HANGED; BUT, BEING RECOGNIZED AND DELIVERED BY HIS +FATHER, AS THEY ARE LEADING HIM TO THE GALLOWS, SCOURGING +HIM THE WHILE, HE TAKETH VIOLANTE TO WIFE</p></div> + + +<p><br /><span class="smcap">The</span> ladies, who abode all fearful in suspense to know if the lovers +should be burnt, hearing of their escape, praised God and were glad; +whereupon the queen, seeing that Pampinea had made an end of her +story, imposed on Lauretta the charge of following on, who blithely +proceeded to say: "Fairest ladies, in the days when good King +William<a name="FNanchor_282_284" id="FNanchor_282_284"></a><a href="#Footnote_282_284" class="fnanchor">[282]</a> ruled over Sicily, there was in that island a gentleman +hight Messer Amerigo Abate of Trapani, who, among other worldly goods, +was very well furnished with children; wherefore, having occasion for +servants and there coming thither from the Levant certain galleys of +Genoese corsairs, who had, in their cruises off the coast of Armenia, +taken many boys, he bought some of these latter, deeming them Turks, +and amongst them one, Teodoro by name, of nobler mien and better +bearing than the rest, who seemed all mere shepherds. Teodoro, +although entreated as a slave, was brought up in the house with Messer +Amerigo's children and conforming more to his own nature than to the +accidents of fortune, approved himself so accomplished and well-bred +and so commended himself to Messer Amerigo that he set him free and +still believing him to be a Turk, caused baptize him and call him +Pietro and made him chief over all his affairs, trusting greatly in +him.</p> + +<p>As Messer Amerigo's children grew up, there grew up with them a +daughter of his, called Violante, a fair and dainty damsel, who, her +father tarrying overmuch to marry her, became by chance enamoured of +Pietro and loving him and holding his manners and fashions in great +esteem, was yet ashamed to discover this to him. But Love spared her +that pains, for that Pietro, having once and again looked upon her by +stealth, had become so passionately enamoured of her that he never +knew ease save whenas he saw her; but he was sore<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_274" id="Page_274"></a></span> afraid lest any +should become aware thereof, himseeming that in this he did other than +well. The young lady, who took pleasure in looking upon him, soon +perceived this and to give him more assurance, showed herself +exceeding well pleased therewith, as indeed she was. On this wise they +abode a great while, daring not to say aught to one another, much as +each desired it; but, whilst both, alike enamoured, languished +enkindled in the flames of love, fortune, as if it had determined of +will aforethought that this should be, furnished them with an occasion +of doing away the timorousness that baulked them.</p> + +<p>Messer Amerigo had, about a mile from Trapani, a very goodly +place,<a name="FNanchor_283_285" id="FNanchor_283_285"></a><a href="#Footnote_283_285" class="fnanchor">[283]</a> to which his lady was wont ofttimes to resort by way of +pastime with her daughter and other women and ladies. Thither +accordingly they betook themselves one day of great heat, carrying +Pietro with them, and there abiding, it befell, as whiles we see it +happen in summer time, that the sky became of a sudden overcast with +dark clouds, wherefore the lady set out with her company to return to +Trapani, so they might not be there overtaken of the foul weather, and +fared on as fast as they might. But Pietro and Violante, being young, +outwent her mother and the rest by a great way, urged belike, no less +by love than by fear of the weather, and they being already so far in +advance that they were hardly to be seen, it chanced that, of a +sudden, after many thunderclaps, a very heavy and thick shower of hail +began to fall, wherefrom the lady and her company fled into the house +of a husbandman.</p> + +<p>Pietro and the young lady, having no readier shelter, took refuge in a +little old hut, well nigh all in ruins, wherein none dwelt, and there +huddled together under a small piece of roof, that yet remained whole. +The scantness of the cover constrained them to press close one to +other, and this touching was the means of somewhat emboldening their +minds to discover the amorous desires that consumed them both; and +Pietro first began to say, 'Would God this hail might never give over, +so but I might abide as I am!' 'Indeed,' answered the girl, 'that were +dear to me also.' From these words they came to taking each other by +the hands and pressing them and from that to clipping and after to +kissing, it hailing still the while; and in short, not to recount +every particular, the weather mended not before they had known the +utmost delights of love and had taken order to have their pleasure +secretly one of the other. The storm ended, they fared on to the gate +of the city, which was near at hand, and there awaiting the lady, +returned home with her.</p> + +<p>Thereafter, with very discreet and secret ordinance, they foregathered +again and again in the same place, to the great contentment of them +both, and the work went on so briskly that the young lady became with +child, which was sore unwelcome both to the one and the other; +wherefore she used many arts to rid herself, contrary to the course of +nature, of her burden, but could nowise avail to accomplish it. +Therewithal, Pietro, fearing for his life, bethought himself to flee +and told her, to which she answered, 'An thou de<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_275" id="Page_275"></a></span>part, I will without +fail kill myself.' Whereupon quoth Pietro, who loved her exceedingly, +'Lady mine, how wilt thou have me abide here? Thy pregnancy will +discover our default and it will lightly be pardoned unto thee; but I, +poor wretch, it will be must needs bear the penalty of thy sin and +mine own.' 'Pietro,' replied she, 'my sin must indeed be discovered; +but be assured that thine will never be known, an thou tell not +thyself.' Then said he, 'Since thou promisest me this, I will remain; +but look thou keep thy promise to me.'</p> + +<p>After awhile, the young lady, who had as most she might, concealed her +being with child, seeing that, for the waxing of her body, she might +no longer dissemble it, one day discovered her case to her mother, +beseeching her with many tears to save her; whereupon the lady, beyond +measure woeful, gave her hard words galore and would know of her how +the thing had come about. Violante, in order that no harm might come +to Pietro, told her a story of her own devising, disguising the truth +in other forms. The lady believed it and to conceal her daughter's +default, sent her away to a country house of theirs. There, the time +of her delivery coming and the girl crying out, as women use to do, +what while her mother never dreamed that Messer Amerigo, who was well +nigh never wont to do so, should come thither, it chanced that he +passed, on his return from hawking, by the chamber where his daughter +lay and marvelling at the outcry she made, suddenly entered the +chamber and demanded what was to do. The lady, seeing her husband come +unawares, started up all woebegone and told him that which had +befallen the girl. But he, less easy of belief than his wife had been, +declared that it could not be true that she knew not by whom she was +with child and would altogether know who he was, adding that, by +confessing it, she might regain his favour; else must she make ready +to die without mercy.</p> + +<p>The lady did her utmost to persuade her husband to abide content with +that which she had said; but to no purpose. He flew out into a passion +and running, with his naked sword in his hand, at his daughter, who, +what while her mother held her father in parley, had given birth to a +male child, said, 'Either do thou discover by whom the child was +begotten, or thou shalt die without delay.' The girl, fearing death, +broke her promise to Pietro and discovered all that had passed between +him and her; which when the gentleman heard, he fell into a fury of +anger and hardly withheld himself from slaying her.</p> + +<p>However, after he had said to her that which his rage dictated to him, +he took horse again and returning to Trapani, recounted the affront +that Pietro had done him to a certain Messer Currado, who was captain +there for the king. The latter caused forthright seize Pietro, who was +off his guard, and put him to the torture, whereupon he confessed all +and being a few days after sentenced by the captain to be flogged +through the city and after strung up by the neck, Messer Amerigo +(whose wrath had not been done away by the having brought Pietro to +death,) in order that one and the same hour should rid the earth of +the two lovers and their child, put poison in a hanap with wine and +delivering it, together with a naked poniard, to a serving-man of his, +said<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_276" id="Page_276"></a></span> to him, 'Carry these two things to Violante and bid her, on my +part, forthright take which she will of these two deaths, poison or +steel; else will I have her burned alive, even as she hath deserved, +in the presence of as many townsfolk as be here. This done, thou shalt +take the child, a few days agone born of her, and dash its head +against the wall and after cast it to the dogs to eat.' This barbarous +sentence passed by the cruel father upon his daughter and his +grandchild, the servant, who was more disposed to ill than to good, +went off upon his errand.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, Pietro, as he was carried to the gallows by the officers, +being scourged of them the while, passed, according as it pleased +those who led the company, before a hostelry wherein were three +noblemen of Armenia, who had been sent by the king of that country +ambassadors to Rome, to treat with the Pope of certain matters of +great moment, concerning a crusade that was about to be undertaken, +and who had lighted down there to take some days' rest and +refreshment. They had been much honoured by the noblemen of Trapani +and especially by Messer Amerigo, and hearing those pass who led +Pietro, they came to a window to see. Now Pietro was all naked to the +waist, with his hands bounden behind his back, and one of the three +ambassadors, a man of great age and authority, named Fineo, espied on +his breast a great vermeil spot, not painted, but naturally imprinted +on his skin, after the fashion of what women here call <i>roses</i>. Seeing +this, there suddenly recurred to his memory a son of his who had been +carried off by corsairs fifteen years agone upon the coast of Lazistan +and of whom he had never since been able to learn any news; and +considering the age of the poor wretch who was scourged, he bethought +himself that, if his son were alive, he must be of such an age as +Pietro appeared to him. Wherefore he began to suspect by that token +that it must be he and bethought himself that, were he indeed his son, +he should still remember him of his name and that of his father and of +the Armenian tongue. Accordingly, as he drew near, he called out, +saying, 'Ho, Teodoro!' Pietro, hearing this, straightway lifted up his +head and Fineo, speaking in Armenian, said to him, 'What countryman +art thou and whose son?' The sergeants who had him in charge halted +with him, of respect for the nobleman, so that Pietro answered, +saying, 'I was of Armenia and son to one Fineo and was brought hither, +as a little child, by I know not what folk.'</p> + +<p>Fineo, hearing this, knew him for certain to be the son whom he had +lost, wherefore he came down, weeping, with his companions, and ran to +embrace him among all the sergeants; then, casting over his shoulders +a mantle of the richest silk, which he had on his own back, he +besought the officer who was escorting him to execution to be pleased +to wait there till such time as commandment should come to him to +carry the prisoner back; to which he answered that he would well. Now +Fineo had already learned the reason for which Pietro was being led to +death, report having noised it abroad everywhere; wherefore he +straightway betook himself, with his companions and their retinue, to +Messer Currado and bespoke him thus: 'Sir, he whom you have doomed to +die, as a slave, is a free man<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_277" id="Page_277"></a></span> and my son and is ready to take to +wife her whom it is said he hath bereft of her maidenhead; wherefore +may it please you to defer the execution till such time as it may be +learned if she will have him to husband, so, in case she be willing, +you may not be found to have done contrary to the law.' Messer +Currado, hearing that the condemned man was Fineo's son, marvelled and +confessing that which the latter said to be true, was somewhat ashamed +of the unright of fortune and straightway caused carry Pietro home; +then, sending for Messer Amerigo, he acquainted him with these things.</p> + +<p>Messer Amerigo, who by this believed his daughter and grandson to be +dead, was the woefullest man in the world for that which he had done, +seeing that all might very well have been set right, so but Violante +were yet alive. Nevertheless, he despatched a runner whereas his +daughter was, to the intent that, in case his commandment had not been +done, it should not be carried into effect. The messenger found the +servant sent by Messer Amerigo rating the lady, before whom he had +laid the poniard and the poison, for that she made not her election as +speedily [as he desired], and would have constrained her to take the +one or the other. But, hearing his lord's commandment, he let her be +and returning to Messer Amerigo, told him how the case stood, to the +great satisfaction of the latter, who, betaking himself whereas Fineo +was, excused himself, well nigh with tears, as best he knew, of that +which had passed, craving pardon therefor and evouching that, an +Teodoro would have his daughter to wife, he was exceeding well pleased +to give her to him. Fineo gladly received his excuses and answered, +'It is my intent that my son shall take your daughter to wife; and if +he will not, let the sentence passed upon him take its course.'</p> + +<p>Accordingly, being thus agreed, they both repaired whereas Teodoro +abode yet all fearful of death, albeit he was rejoiced to have found +his father again, and questioned him of his mind concerning this +thing. When he heard that, an he would, he might have Violante to +wife, such was his joy that himseemed he had won from hell to heaven +at one bound, and he answered that this would be to him the utmost of +favours, so but it pleased both of them. Thereupon they sent to know +the mind of the young lady, who, whereas she abode in expectation of +death, the woefullest woman alive, hearing that which had betided and +was like to betide Teodoro, after much parley, began to lend some +faith to their words and taking a little comfort, answered that, were +she to ensue her own wishes in the matter, no greater happiness could +betide her than to be the wife of Teodoro; algates, she would do that +which her father should command her.</p> + +<p>Accordingly, all parties being of accord, the two lovers were married +with the utmost magnificence, to the exceeding satisfaction of all the +townsfolk; and the young lady, heartening herself and letting rear her +little son, became ere long fairer than ever. Then, being risen from +childbed, she went out to meet Fineo, whose return was expected from +Rome, and paid him reverence as to a father; whereupon he, exceeding +well pleased to have so fair a daughter-in-law, caused celebrate their +nuptials<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_278" id="Page_278"></a></span> with the utmost pomp and rejoicing and receiving her as a +daughter, ever after held her such. And after some days, taking ship +with his son and her and his little grandson, he carried them with him +into Lazistan, where the two lovers abode in peace and happiness, so +long as life endured unto them."</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="THE_EIGHTH_STORY5" id="THE_EIGHTH_STORY5"></a>THE EIGHTH STORY</h2> + +<div class="sidenote">Day the Fifth</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="hang">NASTAGIO DEGLI ONESTI, FALLING IN LOVE WITH A LADY OF THE +TRAVERSARI FAMILY, SPENDETH HIS SUBSTANCE WITHOUT BEING +BELOVED IN RETURN, AND BETAKING HIMSELF, AT THE INSTANCE OF +HIS KINSFOLK, TO CHIASSI, HE THERE SEETH A HORSEMAN GIVE +CHASE TO A DAMSEL AND SLAY HER AND CAUSE HER BE DEVOURED OF +TWO DOGS. THEREWITHAL HE BIDDETH HIS KINSFOLK AND THE LADY +WHOM HE LOVETH TO A DINNER, WHERE HIS MISTRESS SEETH THE +SAME DAMSEL TORN IN PIECES AND FEARING A LIKE FATE, TAKETH +NASTAGIO TO HUSBAND</p></div> + + +<p><br /><span class="smcap">No sooner</span> was Lauretta silent than Filomena, by the queen's +commandment, began thus: "Lovesome ladies, even as pity is in us +commended, so also is cruelty rigorously avenged by Divine justice; +the which that I may prove to you and so engage you altogether to +purge yourselves therefrom, it pleaseth me tell you a story no less +pitiful than delectable.</p> + +<p>In Ravenna, a very ancient city of Romagna, there were aforetime many +noblemen and gentlemen, and amongst the rest a young man called +Nastagio degli Onesti, who had, by the death of his father and an +uncle of his, been left rich beyond all estimation and who, as it +happeneth often with young men, being without a wife, fell in love +with a daughter of Messer Paolo Traversari, a young lady of much +greater family than his own, hoping by his fashions to bring her to +love him in return. But these, though great and goodly and +commendable, not only profited him nothing; nay, it seemed they did +him harm, so cruel and obdurate and intractable did the beloved damsel +show herself to him, being grown belike, whether for her singular +beauty or the nobility of her birth, so proud and disdainful that +neither he nor aught that pleased him pleased her. This was so +grievous to Nastagio to bear that many a time, for chagrin, being +weary of complaining, he had it in his thought to kill himself, but +held his hand therefrom; and again and again he took it to heart to +let her be altogether or have her, an he might, in hatred, even as she +had him. But in vain did he take such a resolve, for that, the more +hope failed him, the more it seemed his love redoubled. Accordingly, +he persisted both in loving and in spending without stint or measure, +till it seemed to certain of his friends and kinsfolk that he was like +to consume both himself and his substance; wherefore they besought him +again and again and counselled him depart Ravenna and go sojourn +awhile in some other place, for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_279" id="Page_279"></a></span> that, so doing, he would abate both +his passion and his expenditure. Nastagio long made light of this +counsel, but, at last, being importuned of them and able no longer to +say no, he promised to do as they would have him and let make great +preparations, as he would go into France or Spain or some other far +place. Then, taking horse in company with many of his friends, he rode +out of Ravenna and betook himself to a place called Chiassi, some +three miles from the city, where, sending for tents and pavilions, he +told those who had accompanied him thither that he meant to abide and +that they might return to Ravenna. Accordingly, having encamped there, +he proceeded to lead the goodliest and most magnificent life that was +aye, inviting now these, now those others, to supper and to dinner, as +he was used.</p> + +<p>It chanced one day, he being come thus well nigh to the beginning of +May and the weather being very fair, that, having entered into thought +of his cruel mistress, he bade all his servants leave him to himself, +so he might muse more at his leisure, and wandered on, step by step, +lost in melancholy thought, till he came [unwillingly] into the +pine-wood. The fifth hour of the day was well nigh past and he had +gone a good half mile into the wood, remembering him neither of eating +nor of aught else, when himseemed of a sudden he heard a terrible +great wailing and loud cries uttered by a woman; whereupon, his dulcet +meditation being broken, he raised his head to see what was to do and +marvelled to find himself among the pines; then, looking before him, +he saw a very fair damsel come running, naked through a thicket all +thronged with underwood and briers, towards the place where he was, +weeping and crying sore for mercy and all dishevelled and torn by the +bushes and the brambles. At her heels ran two huge and fierce +mastiffs, which followed hard upon her and ofttimes bit her cruelly, +whenas they overtook her; and after them he saw come riding upon a +black courser a knight arrayed in sad-coloured armour, with a very +wrathful aspect and a tuck in his hand, threatening her with death in +foul and fearsome words.</p> + +<p>This sight filled Nastagio's mind at once with terror and amazement +and after stirred him to compassion of the ill-fortuned lady, +wherefrom arose a desire to deliver her, an but he might, from such +anguish and death. Finding himself without arms, he ran to take the +branch of a tree for a club, armed wherewith, he advanced to meet the +dogs and the knight. When the latter saw this, he cried out to him +from afar off, saying, 'Nastagio, meddle not; suffer the dogs and +myself to do that which this wicked woman hath merited.' As he spoke, +the dogs, laying fast hold of the damsel by the flanks, brought her to +a stand and the knight, coming up, lighted down from his horse; +whereupon Nastagio drew near unto him and said, 'I know not who thou +mayst be, that knowest me so well; but this much I say to see that it +is a great felony for an armed knight to seek to slay a naked woman +and to set the dogs on her, as she were a wild beast; certes, I will +defend her as most I may.'</p> + +<p>'Nastagio,' answered the knight, 'I was of one same city with thyself +and thou wast yet a little child when I, who hight Messer Guido degli +Anastagi, was yet more passionately enamoured of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_280" id="Page_280"></a></span> this woman than thou +art presently of yonder one of the Traversari and my ill fortune for +her hard-heartedness and barbarity came to such a pass that one day I +slew myself in despair with this tuck thou seest in my hand and was +doomed to eternal punishment. Nor was it long ere she, who was beyond +measure rejoiced at my death, died also and for the sin of her cruelty +and of the delight had of her in my torments (whereof she repented her +not, as one who thought not to have sinned therein, but rather to have +merited reward,) was and is on like wise condemned to the pains of +hell. Wherein no sooner was she descended than it was decreed unto her +and to me, for penance thereof,<a name="FNanchor_284_286" id="FNanchor_284_286"></a><a href="#Footnote_284_286" class="fnanchor">[284]</a> that she should flee before me +and that I, who once loved her so dear, should pursue her, not as a +beloved mistress, but as a mortal enemy, and that, as often as I +overtook her, I should slay her with this tuck, wherewith I slew +myself, and ripping open her loins, tear from her body, as thou shalt +presently see, that hard and cold heart, wherein nor love nor pity +might ever avail to enter, together with the other entrails, and give +them to the dogs to eat. Nor is it a great while after ere, as God's +justice and puissance will it, she riseth up again, as she had not +been dead, and beginneth anew her woeful flight, whilst the dogs and I +again pursue her. And every Friday it betideth that I come up with her +here at this hour and wreak on her the slaughter that thou shalt see; +and think not that we rest the other days; nay, I overtake her in +other places, wherein she thought and wrought cruelly against me. +Thus, being as thou seest, from her lover grown her foe, it behoveth +me pursue her on this wise as many years as she was cruel to me +months. Wherefore leave me to carry the justice of God into effect and +seek not to oppose that which thou mayst not avail to hinder.'</p> + +<p>Nastagio, hearing these words, drew back, grown all adread, with not +an hair on his body but stood on end, and looking upon the wretched +damsel, began fearfully to await that which the knight should do. The +latter, having made an end of his discourse, ran, tuck in hand, as he +were a ravening dog, at the damsel, who, fallen on her knees and held +fast by the two mastiffs, cried him mercy, and smiting her with all +his might amiddleward the breast, pierced her through and through. No +sooner had she received this stroke than she fell grovelling on the +ground, still weeping and crying out; whereupon the knight, clapping +his hand to his hunting-knife, ripped open her loins and tearing forth +her heart and all that was thereabout, cast them to the two mastiffs, +who devoured them incontinent, as being sore anhungred. Nor was it +long ere, as if none of these things had been, the damsel of a sudden +rose to her feet and began to flee towards the sea, with the dogs +after her, still rending her; and in a little while they had gone so +far that Nastagio could see them no more. The latter, seeing these +things, abode a great while between pity and fear, and presently it +occurred to his mind that this might much avail him, seeing that it +befell every Friday; wherefore, marking the place, he returned to his +servants and after, whenas it seemed to him fit, he sent for sundry<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_281" id="Page_281"></a></span> +of his kinsmen and friends and said to them, 'You have long urged me +leave loving this mine enemy and put an end to my expenditure, and I +am ready to do it, provided you will obtain me a favour; the which is +this, that on the coming Friday you make shift to have Messer Paolo +Traversari and his wife and daughter and all their kinswomen and what +other ladies soever it shall please you here to dinner with me. That +for which I wish this, you shall see then.' This seemed to them a +little thing enough to do, wherefore, returning to Ravenna, they in +due time invited those whom Nastagio would have to dine with him, and +albeit it was no easy matter to bring thither the young lady whom he +loved, natheless she went with the other ladies. Meanwhile, Nastagio +let make ready a magnificent banquet and caused set the tables under +the pines round about the place where he had witnessed the slaughter +of the cruel lady.</p> + +<p>The time come, he seated the gentlemen and the ladies at table and so +ordered it that his mistress should be placed right over against the +spot where the thing should befall. Accordingly, hardly was the last +dish come when the despairful outcry of the hunted damsel began to be +heard of all, whereat each of the company marvelled and enquired what +was to do, but none could say; whereupon all started to their feet and +looking what this might be, they saw the woeful damsel and the knight +and the dogs; nor was it long ere they were all there among them. +Great was the clamor against both dogs and knight, and many rushed +forward to succour the damsel; but the knight, bespeaking them as he +had bespoken Nastagio, not only made them draw back, but filled them +all with terror and amazement. Then did he as he had done before, +whereat all the ladies that were there (and there were many present +who had been kinswomen both to the woeful damsel and to the knight and +who remembered them both of his love and of his death) wept as +piteously as if they had seen this done to themselves.</p> + +<p>The thing carried to its end and the damsel and the knight gone, the +adventure set those who had seen it upon many and various discourses; +but of those who were the most affrighted was the cruel damsel beloved +of Nastagio, who had distinctly seen and heard the whole matter and +understood that these things concerned her more than any other who was +there, remembering her of the cruelty she had still used towards +Nastagio; wherefore herseemed she fled already before her enraged +lover and had the mastiffs at her heels. Such was the terror awakened +in her thereby that,—so this might not betide her,—no sooner did she +find an opportunity (which was afforded her that same evening) than, +turning her hatred into love, she despatched to Nastagio a trusty +chamberwoman of hers, who besought him that it should please him to go +to her, for that she was ready to do all that should be his pleasure. +He answered that this was exceeding agreeable to him, but that, so it +pleased her, he desired to have his pleasure of her with honour, to +wit, by taking her to wife. The damsel, who knew that it rested with +none other than herself that she had not been his wife, made answer to +him that it liked her well; then, playing the messenger herself, she +told<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_282" id="Page_282"></a></span> her father and mother that she was content to be Nastagio's +wife, whereat they were mightily rejoiced, and he, espousing her on +the ensuing Sunday and celebrating his nuptials, lived with her long +and happily. Nor was this affright the cause of that good only; nay, +all the ladies of Ravenna became so fearful by reason thereof, that +ever after they were much more amenable than they had before been to +the desires of the men."</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="THE_NINTH_STORY5" id="THE_NINTH_STORY5"></a>THE NINTH STORY</h2> + +<div class="sidenote">Day the Fifth</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="hang">FEDERIGO DEGLI ALBERIGHI LOVETH AND IS NOT LOVED. HE WASTETH +HIS SUBSTANCE IN PRODIGAL HOSPITALITY TILL THERE IS LEFT HIM +BUT ONE SOLE FALCON, WHICH, HAVING NOUGHT ELSE, HE GIVETH +HIS MISTRESS TO EAT, ON HER COMING TO HIS HOUSE; AND SHE, +LEARNING THIS, CHANGETH HER MIND AND TAKING HIM TO HUSBAND, +MAKETH HIM RICH AGAIN</p></div> + + +<p><br /><span class="smcap">Filomena</span> having ceased speaking, the queen, seeing that none remained +to tell save only herself and Dioneo, whose privilege entitled him to +speak last, said, with blithe aspect, "It pertaineth now to me to tell +and I, dearest ladies, will willingly do it, relating a story like in +part to the foregoing, to the intent that not only may you know how +much the love of you<a name="FNanchor_285_287" id="FNanchor_285_287"></a><a href="#Footnote_285_287" class="fnanchor">[285]</a> can avail in gentle hearts, but that you may +learn to be yourselves, whenas it behoveth, bestowers of your +guerdons, without always suffering fortune to be your guide, which +most times, as it chanceth, giveth not discreetly, but out of all +measure.</p> + +<p>You must know, then, that Coppo di Borghese Domenichi, who was of our +days and maybe is yet a man of great worship and authority in our city +and illustrious and worthy of eternal renown, much more for his +fashions and his merit than for the nobility of his blood, being grown +full of years, delighted oftentimes to discourse with his neighbours +and others of things past, the which he knew how to do better and more +orderly and with more memory and elegance of speech than any other +man. Amongst other fine things of his, he was used to tell that there +was once in Florence a young man called Federigo, son of Messer +Filippo Alberighi and renowned for deeds of arms and courtesy over +every other bachelor in Tuscany, who, as betideth most gentlemen, +became enamoured of a gentlewoman named Madam Giovanna, in her day +held one of the fairest and sprightliest ladies that were in Florence; +and to win her love, he held jousts and tourneyings and made +entertainments and gave gifts and spent his substance without any +stint; but she, being no less virtuous than fair, recked nought of +these things done for her nor of him who did them. Federigo spending +thus far beyond his means and gaining nought, his wealth, as lightly +happeneth, in course of time came to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_283" id="Page_283"></a></span> an end and he abode poor, nor +was aught left him but a poor little farm, on whose returns he lived +very meagrely, and to boot a falcon he had, one of the best in the +world. Wherefore, being more in love than ever and himseeming he might +no longer make such a figure in the city as he would fain do, he took +up his abode at Campi, where his farm was, and there bore his poverty +with patience, hawking whenas he might and asking of no one.</p> + +<p>Federigo being thus come to extremity, it befell one day that Madam +Giovanna's husband fell sick and seeing himself nigh upon death, made +his will, wherein, being very rich, he left a son of his, now well +grown, his heir, after which, having much loved Madam Giovanna, he +substituted her to his heir, in case his son should die without lawful +issue, and died. Madam Giovanna, being thus left a widow, betook +herself that summer, as is the usance of our ladies, into the country +with her son to an estate of hers very near that of Federigo; +wherefore it befell that the lad made acquaintance with the latter and +began to take delight in hawks and hounds, and having many a time seen +his falcon flown and being strangely taken therewith, longed sore to +have it, but dared not ask it of him, seeing it so dear to him. The +thing standing thus, it came to pass that the lad fell sick, whereat +his mother was sore concerned, as one who had none but him and loved +him with all her might, and abode about him all day, comforting him +without cease; and many a time she asked him if there were aught he +desired, beseeching him tell it her, for an it might be gotten, she +would contrive that he should have it. The lad, having heard these +offers many times repeated, said, 'Mother mine, an you could procure +me to have Federigo's falcon, methinketh I should soon be whole.'</p> + +<p>The lady hearing this, bethought herself awhile and began to consider +how she should do. She knew that Federigo had long loved her and had +never gotten of her so much as a glance of the eye; wherefore quoth +she in herself, 'How shall I send or go to him to seek of him this +falcon, which is, by all I hear, the best that ever flew and which, to +boot, maintaineth him in the world? And how can I be so graceless as +to offer to take this from a gentleman who hath none other pleasure +left?' Perplexed with this thought and knowing not what to say, for +all she was very certain of getting the bird, if she asked for it, she +made no reply to her son, but abode silent. However, at last, the love +of her son so got the better of her that she resolved in herself to +satisfy him, come what might, and not to send, but to go herself for +the falcon and fetch it to him. Accordingly she said to him, 'My son, +take comfort and bethink thyself to grow well again, for I promise +thee that the first thing I do to-morrow morning I will go for it and +fetch it to thee.' The boy was rejoiced at this and showed some +amendment that same day.</p> + +<p>Next morning, the lady, taking another lady to bear her company, +repaired, by way of diversion, to Federigo's little house and enquired +for the latter, who, for that it was no weather for hawking nor had +been for some days past, was then in a garden he had, overlooking the +doing of certain little matters of his, and hearing that Madam<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_284" id="Page_284"></a></span> +Giovanna asked for him at the door, ran thither, rejoicing and +marvelling exceedingly. She, seeing him come, rose and going with +womanly graciousness to meet him, answered his respectful salutation +with 'Give you good day, Federigo!' then went on to say, 'I am come to +make thee amends for that which thou hast suffered through me, in +loving me more than should have behooved thee; and the amends in +question is this that I purpose to dine with thee this morning +familiarly, I and this lady my companion.' 'Madam,' answered Federigo +humbly, 'I remember me not to have ever received any ill at your +hands, but on the contrary so much good that, if ever I was worth +aught, it came about through your worth and the love I bore you; and +assuredly, albeit you have come to a poor host, this your gracious +visit is far more precious to me than it would be an it were given me +to spend over again as much as that which I have spent aforetime.' So +saying, he shamefastly received her into his house and thence brought +her into his garden, where, having none else to bear her company, he +said to her, 'Madam, since there is none else here, this good woman, +wife of yonder husbandman, will bear you company, whilst I go see the +table laid.'</p> + +<p>Never till that moment, extreme as was his poverty, had he been so +dolorously sensible of the straits to which he had brought himself for +the lack of those riches he had spent on such disorderly wise. But +that morning, finding he had nothing wherewithal he might honourably +entertain the lady, for love of whom he had aforetime entertained folk +without number, he was made perforce aware of his default and ran +hither and thither, perplexed beyond measure, like a man beside +himself, inwardly cursing his ill fortune, but found neither money nor +aught he might pawn. It was now growing late and he having a great +desire to entertain the gentle lady with somewhat, yet choosing not to +have recourse to his own labourer, much less any one else, his eye +fell on his good falcon, which he saw on his perch in his little +saloon; whereupon, having no other resource, he took the bird and +finding him fat, deemed him a dish worthy of such a lady. Accordingly, +without more ado, he wrung the hawk's neck and hastily caused a little +maid of his pluck it and truss it and after put it on the spit and +roast it diligently. Then, the table laid and covered with very white +cloths, whereof he had yet some store, he returned with a blithe +countenance to the lady in the garden and told her that dinner was +ready, such as it was in his power to provide. Accordingly, the lady +and her friend, arising, betook themselves to table and in company +with Federigo, who served them with the utmost diligence, ate the good +falcon, unknowing what they did.</p> + +<p>Presently, after they had risen from table and had abidden with him +awhile in cheerful discourse, the lady, thinking it time to tell that +wherefor she was come, turned to Federigo and courteously bespoke him, +saying, 'Federigo, I doubt not a jot but that, when thou hearest that +which is the especial occasion of my coming hither, thou wilt marvel +at my presumption, remembering thee of thy past life and of my virtue, +which latter belike thou reputedst cruelty and hardness of heart;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_285" id="Page_285"></a></span> +but, if thou hadst or hadst had children, by whom thou mightest know +how potent is the love one beareth them, meseemeth certain that thou +wouldst in part hold me excused. But, although thou hast none, I, who +have one child, cannot therefore escape the common laws to which other +mothers are subject and whose enforcements it behoveth me ensue, need +must I, against my will and contrary to all right and seemliness, ask +of thee a boon, which I know is supremely dear to thee (and that with +good reason, for that thy sorry fortune hath left thee none other +delight, none other diversion, none other solace), to wit, thy falcon, +whereof my boy is so sore enamoured that, an I carry it not to him, I +fear me his present disorder will be so aggravated that there may +presently ensue thereof somewhat whereby I shall lose him. Wherefore I +conjure thee,—not by the love thou bearest me and whereto thou art +nowise beholden, but by thine own nobility, which in doing courtesy +hath approved itself greater than in any other,—that it please thee +give it to me, so by the gift I may say I have kept my son alive and +thus made him for ever thy debtor.'</p> + +<p>Federigo, hearing what the lady asked and knowing that he could not +oblige her, for that he had given her the falcon to eat, fell +a-weeping in her presence, ere he could answer a word. The lady at +first believed that his tears arose from grief at having to part from +his good falcon and was like to say that she would not have it. +However, she contained herself and awaited what Federigo should reply, +who, after weeping awhile, made answer thus: 'Madam, since it pleased +God that I should set my love on you, I have in many things reputed +fortune contrary to me and have complained of her; but all the ill +turns she hath done me have been a light matter in comparison with +that which she doth me at this present and for which I can never more +be reconciled to her, considering that you are come hither to my poor +house, whereas you deigned not to come what while I was rich, and seek +of me a little boon, the which she hath so wrought that I cannot grant +you; and why this cannot be I will tell you briefly. When I heard that +you, of your favour, were minded to dine with me, I deemed it a light +thing and a seemly, having regard to your worth and the nobility of +your station, to honour you, as far as in me lay, with some choicer +victual than that which is commonly set before other folk; wherefore, +remembering me of the falcon which you ask of me and of his +excellence, I judged him a dish worthy of you. This very morning, +then, you have had him roasted upon the trencher, and indeed I had +accounted him excellently well bestowed; but now, seeing that you +would fain have had him on other wise, it is so great a grief to me +that I cannot oblige you therein that methinketh I shall never forgive +myself therefor.' So saying, in witness of this, he let cast before +her the falcon's feathers and feet and beak.</p> + +<p>The lady, seeing and hearing this, first blamed him for having, to +give a woman to eat, slain such a falcon, and after inwardly much +commended the greatness of his soul, which poverty had not availed nor +might anywise avail to abate. Then, being put out of all hope of +having the falcon and fallen therefore in doubt of her son's recovery, +she<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_286" id="Page_286"></a></span> took her leave and returned, all disconsolate, to the latter, +who, before many days had passed, whether for chagrin that he could +not have the bird or for that his disorder was e'en fated to bring him +to that pass, departed this life, to the inexpressible grief of his +mother. After she had abidden awhile full of tears and affliction, +being left very rich and yet young, she was more than once urged by +her brothers to marry again, and albeit she would fain not have done +so, yet, finding herself importuned and calling to mind Federigo's +worth and his last magnificence, to wit, the having slain such a +falcon for her entertainment, she said to them, 'I would gladly, an it +liked you, abide as I am; but, since it is your pleasure that I take a +[second] husband, certes I will never take any other, an I have not +Federigo degli Alberighi.' Whereupon her brothers, making mock of her, +said 'Silly woman that thou art, what is this thou sayest? How canst +thou choose him, seeing he hath nothing in the world?' 'Brothers +mine,' answered she, 'I know very well that it is as you say; but I +would liefer have a man that lacketh of riches than riches that lack +of a man.' Her brethren, hearing her mind and knowing Federigo for a +man of great merit, poor though he was, gave her, with all her wealth, +to him, even as she would; and he, seeing himself married to a lady of +such worth and one whom he had loved so dear and exceeding rich, to +boot, became a better husband of his substance and ended his days with +her in joy and solace."</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="THE_TENTH_STORY5" id="THE_TENTH_STORY5"></a>THE TENTH STORY</h2> + +<div class="sidenote">Day the Fifth</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="hang">PIETRO DI VINCIOLO GOETH TO SUP ABROAD, WHEREUPON HIS WIFE +LETTETH FETCH HER A YOUTH TO KEEP HER COMPANY, AND HER +HUSBAND RETURNING, UNLOOKED FOR, SHE HIDETH HER GALLANT +UNDER A HEN-COOP. PIETRO TELLETH HER HOW THERE HAD BEEN +FOUND IN THE HOUSE OF ONE ARCOLANO, WITH WHOM HE WAS TO HAVE +SUPPED, A YOUNG MAN BROUGHT IN BY HIS WIFE, AND SHE BLAMETH +THE LATTER. PRESENTLY, AN ASS, BY MISCHANCE, SETTETH FOOT ON +THE FINGERS OF HIM WHO IS UNDER THE COOP AND HE ROARETH OUT, +WHEREUPON PIETRO RUNNETH THITHER AND ESPYING HIM, +DISCOVERETH HIS WIFE'S UNFAITH, BUT ULTIMATELY COMETH TO AN +ACCORD WITH HER FOR HIS OWN LEWD ENDS</p></div> + + +<p><br /><span class="smcap">The</span> queen's story come to an end and all having praised God for that +He had rewarded Federigo according to his desert, Dioneo, who never +waited for commandment, began on this wise: "I know not whether to say +if it be a casual vice, grown up in mankind through perversity of +manners and usances, or a defect inherent in our nature, that we laugh +rather at things ill than at good works, especially when they concern +us not. Wherefore, seeing that the pains I have otherwhiles taken and +am now about to take aim at none other end than to rid you of +melancholy and afford you occasion for laughter<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_287" id="Page_287"></a></span> and +merriment,—albeit the matter of my present story may be in part not +altogether seemly, nevertheless, lovesome lasses, for that it may +afford diversion, I will e'en tell it you, and do you, hearkening +thereunto, as you are wont to do, whenas you enter into gardens, +where, putting out your dainty hands, you cull the roses and leave the +thorns be. On this wise must you do with my story, leaving the naughty +man of whom I shall tell you to his infamy and ill-luck go with him, +what while you laugh merrily at the amorous devices of his wife, +having compassion, whenas need is, of the mischances of others.</p> + +<p>There was, then, in Perugia, no great while agone, a rich man called +Pietro di Vinciolo, who, belike more to beguile others and to abate +the general suspect in which he was had of all the Perugians, than for +any desire of his own, took him a wife, and fortune in this was so far +conformable to his inclination that the wife he took was a thickset, +red-haired, hot-complexioned wench, who would liefer have had two +husbands than one, whereas she happened upon one who had a mind far +more disposed to otherwhat than to her. Becoming, in process of time, +aware of this and seeing herself fair and fresh and feeling herself +buxom and lusty, she began by being sore incensed thereat and came +once and again to unseemly words thereof with her husband, with whom +she was well nigh always at variance. Then, seeing that this might +result rather in her own exhaustion than in the amendment of her +husband's depravity, she said in herself, 'Yonder caitiff forsaketh me +to go of his ribaldries on pattens through the dry, and I will study +to carry others on shipboard through the wet. I took him to husband +and brought him a fine great dowry, knowing him to be a man and +supposing him desireful of that whereunto men are and should be fain; +and had I not believed that he would play the part of a man, I had +never taken him. He knew that I was a woman; why, then, did he take me +to wife, if women were not to his mind? This is not to be suffered. +Were I minded to renounce the world, I should have made myself a nun; +but, if, choosing to live in the world, as I do, I look for delight or +pleasure from yonder fellow, I may belike grow old, expecting in vain, +and whenas I shall be old, I shall in vain repent and bemoan myself of +having wasted my youth, which latter he himself is a very good teacher +and demonstrator how I should solace, showing me by example how I +should delect myself with that wherein he delighteth, more by token +that this were commendable in me, whereas in him it is exceeding +blameworthy, seeing that I should offend against the laws alone, +whereas he offendeth against both law and nature.'</p> + +<p>Accordingly, the good lady, having thus bethought herself and belike +more than once, to give effect privily to these considerations, +clapped up an acquaintance with an old woman who showed like Saint +Verdiana, that giveth the serpents to eat, and still went to every +pardoning, beads in hand, nor ever talked of aught but the lives of +the Holy Fathers or of the wounds of St. Francis and was of well nigh +all reputed a saint, and whenas it seemed to her time, frankly +discovered to her her intent. 'Daughter mine,' replied the beldam, +'God who knoweth all knoweth<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_288" id="Page_288"></a></span> that thou wilt do exceeding well, and if +for nought else, yet shouldst thou do it, thou and every other young +woman, not to lose the time of your youth, for that to whoso hath +understanding, there is no grief like that of having lost one's time. +And what a devil are we women good for, once we are old, save to keep +the ashes about the fire-pot? If none else knoweth it and can bear +witness thereof, that do and can I; for, now that I am old, I +recognize without avail, but not without very sore and bitter remorse +of mind, the time that I let slip, and albeit I lost it not altogether +(for that I would not have thee deem me a ninny), still I did not what +I might have done; whereof whenas I remember me, seeing myself +fashioned as thou seest me at this present, so that thou wouldst find +none to give me fire to my tinder,<a name="FNanchor_286_288" id="FNanchor_286_288"></a><a href="#Footnote_286_288" class="fnanchor">[286]</a> God knoweth what chagrin I +feel. With men it is not so; they are born apt for a thousand things, +not for this alone, and most part of them are of much more account old +than young; but women are born into the world for nothing but to do +this and bear children, and it is for this that they are prized; the +which, if from nought else, thou mayst apprehend from this, that we +women are still ready for the sport; more by token that one woman +would tire out many men at the game, whereas many men cannot tire one +woman; and for that we are born unto this, I tell thee again that thou +wilt do exceeding well to return thy husband a loaf for his bannock, +so thy soul may have no cause to reproach thy flesh in thine old age. +Each one hath of this world just so much as he taketh to himself +thereof, and especially is this the case with women, whom it behoveth, +much more than men, make use of their time, whilst they have it; for +thou mayst see how, when we grow old, nor husband nor other will look +at us; nay, they send us off to the kitchen to tell tales to the cat +and count the pots and pans; and what is worse, they tag rhymes on us +and say,</p> + +<p class="cpoems"> +"Tidbits for wenches young;<br /> +Gags<a name="FNanchor_287_289" id="FNanchor_287_289"></a><a href="#Footnote_287_289" class="fnanchor">[287]</a> for the old wife's tongue."<br /> +</p> + +<p>And many another thing to the like purpose. And that I may hold thee +no longer in parley, I tell thee in fine that thou couldst not have +discovered thy mind to any one in the world who can be more useful to +thee than I, for that there is no man so high and mighty but I dare +tell him what behoveth, nor any so dour or churlish but I know how to +supple him aright and bring him to what I will. Wherefore do thou but +show me who pleaseth thee and after leave me do; but one thing I +commend to thee, daughter mine, and that is, that thou be mindful of +me, for that I am a poor body and would have thee henceforth a sharer +in all my pardonings and in all the paternosters I shall say, so God +may make them light and candles for thy dead.'<a name="FNanchor_288_290" id="FNanchor_288_290"></a><a href="#Footnote_288_290" class="fnanchor">[288]</a></p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_289" id="Page_289"></a></span></p> +<p>With this she made an end of her discourse, and the young lady came to +an understanding with her that, whenas she chanced to spy a certain +young spark who passed often through that quarter and whose every +feature she set out to her, she should know what she had to do; then, +giving her a piece of salt meat, she dismissed her with God's +blessing; nor had many days passed ere the old woman brought her him +of whom she had bespoken her privily into her chamber, and a little +while after, another and another, according as they chanced to take +the lady's fancy, who stinted not to indulge herself in this as often +as occasion offered, though still fearful of her husband. It chanced +one evening that, her husband being to sup abroad with a friend of +his, Ercolano by name, she charged the old woman bring her a youth, +who was one of the goodliest and most agreeable of all Perugia, which +she promptly did; but hardly had the lady seated herself at table to +sup with her gallant, when, behold, Pietro called out at the door to +have it opened to him. She, hearing this, gave herself up for lost, +but yet desiring, an she might, to conceal the youth and not having +the presence of mind to send him away or hide him elsewhere, made him +take refuge under a hen-coop, that was in a shed adjoining the chamber +where they were at supper, and cast over him the sacking of a +pallet-bed that she had that day let empty.</p> + +<p>This done, she made haste to open to her husband, to whom quoth she, +as soon as he entered the house, 'You have very soon despatched this +supper of yours!' 'We have not so much as tasted it,' replied he; and +she said, 'How was that?' Quoth he, 'I will tell thee. Scarce were we +seated at table, Ercolano and his wife and I, when we heard some one +sneeze hard by, whereof we took no note the first time nor the second; +but, he who sneezed sneezing yet a third time and a fourth and a fifth +and many other times, it made us all marvel; whereupon Ercolano, who +was somewhat vexed with his wife for that she had kept us a great +while standing at the door, without opening to us, said, as if in a +rage, "What meaneth this? Who is it sneezeth thus?" And rising from +table, made for a stair that stood near at hand and under which, hard +by the stairfoot, was a closure of planks, wherein to bestow all +manner things, as we see those do every day who set their houses in +order. Himseeming it was from this that came the noise of sneezing, he +opened a little door that was therein and no sooner had he done this +than there issued forth thereof the frightfullest stench of sulphur +that might be. Somewhat of this smell had already reached us and we +complaining thereof, the lady had said, "It is because I was but now +in act to bleach my veils with sulphur and after set the pan, over +which I had spread them to catch the fumes, under the stair, so that +it yet smoketh thereof."</p> + +<p>As soon as the smoke was somewhat spent, Ercolano looked into the +cupboard and there espied him who had sneezed and who was yet in act +to sneeze, for that the fumes of the sulphur constrained him thereto, +and indeed they had by this time so straitened his breast that, had he +abidden a while longer, he had never sneezed nor done aught else +again. Ercolano, seeing him, cried out, "Now, wife, I see why,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_290" id="Page_290"></a></span> whenas +we came hither awhile ago, we were kept so long at the door, without +its being opened to us; but may I never again have aught that shall +please me, an I pay thee not for this!" The lady, hearing this and +seeing that her sin was discovered, stayed not to make any excuse, but +started up from table and made off I know not whither. Ercolano, +without remarking his wife's flight, again and again bade him who +sneezed come forth; but the latter, who was now at the last gasp, +offered not to stir, for all that he could say; whereupon, taking him +by one foot, he haled him forth of his hiding-place and ran for a +knife to kill him; but I, fearing the police on mine own account, +arose and suffered him not to slay him or do him any hurt; nay, crying +out and defending him, I gave the alarm to certain of the neighbours, +who ran thither and taking the now half-dead youth, carried him forth +the house I know not whither. Wherefore, our supper being disturbed by +these things, I have not only not despatched it, nay, I have, as I +said, not even tasted it.'</p> + +<p>The lady, hearing this, knew that there were other women as wise as +herself, albeit illhap bytimes betided some of them thereof, and would +fain have defended Ercolano's wife with words; but herseeming that, by +blaming others' defaults, she might make freer way for her own, she +began to say, 'Here be fine doings! A holy and virtuous lady indeed +she must be! She, to whom, as I am an honest woman, I would have +confessed myself, so spiritually minded meseemed she was! And the +worst of it is that she, being presently an old woman, setteth a +mighty fine example to the young. Accursed by the hour she came into +the world and she also, who suffereth herself to live, perfidious and +vile woman that she must be, the general reproach and shame of all the +ladies of this city, who, casting to the winds her honour and the +faith plighted to her husband and the world's esteem, is not ashamed +to dishonour him, and herself with him, for another man, him who is +such a man and so worshipful a citizen and who used her so well! So +God save me, there should be no mercy had of such women as she; they +should be put to death; they should be cast alive into the fire and +burned to ashes.' Then, bethinking her of her gallant, whom she had +hard by under the coop, she began to exhort Pietro to betake himself +to bed, for that it was time; but he, having more mind to eat than to +sleep, enquired if there was aught for supper. 'Supper, quotha!' +answered the lady. 'Truly, we are much used to get supper, whenas thou +art abroad! A fine thing, indeed! Dost thou take me for Ercolano's +wife? Alack, why dost thou not go to sleep for to-night? How far +better thou wilt do!' Now it chanced that, certain husbandmen of +Pietro's being come that evening with sundry matters from the farm and +having put up their asses, without watering them, in a little stable +adjoining the shed, one of the latter, being sore athirst, slipped his +head out of the halter and making his way out of the stable, went +smelling to everything, so haply he might find some water, and going +thus, he came presently full on the hen-coop, under which was the +young man. The latter having, for that it behoved him abide on all +fours, put out the fingers of one hand on the ground beyond the coop, +such was his luck, or rather<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_291" id="Page_291"></a></span> let us say, his ill luck, that the ass +set his hoof on them, whereupon the youth, feeling an exceeding great +pain, set up a terrible outcry. Pietro, hearing this, marvelled and +perceived that the noise came from within the house; wherefore he went +out into the shed and hearing the other still clamouring, for that the +ass had not lifted up his hoof from his fingers, but still trod hard +upon them, said, 'Who is there?' Then, running to the hen-coop, he +raised it and espied the young man, who, beside the pain he suffered +from his fingers that were crushed by the ass's hoof, was all +a-trembling for fear lest Pietro should do him a mischief.</p> + +<p>The latter, knowing him for one whom he had long pursued for his lewd +ends, asked him what he did there, whereto he answered him nothing, +but prayed him for the love of God do him no harm. Quoth Pietro, +'Arise and fear not that I will do thee any hurt; but tell me how thou +comest here and for what purpose.' The youth told him all, whereupon +Pietro, no less rejoiced to have found him than his wife was woeful, +taking him by the hand, carried him into the chamber, where the lady +awaited him with the greatest affright in the world, and seating +himself overagainst her, said, 'But now thou cursedst Ercolano's wife +and avouchedst that she should be burnt and that she was the disgrace +of all you women; why didst thou not speak of thyself? Or, an thou +choosedst not to speak of thyself, how could thy conscience suffer +thee to speak thus of her, knowing thyself to have done even as did +she? Certes, none other thing moved thee thereunto save that you women +are all made thus and look to cover your own doings with others' +defaults; would fire might come from heaven to burn you all up, +perverse generation that you are!'</p> + +<p>The lady, seeing that, in the first heat of the discovery, he had done +her no harm other than in words and herseeming she saw that he was all +agog with joy for that he held so goodly a stripling by the hand, took +heart and said, 'Of this much, indeed, I am mighty well assured, that +thou wouldst have fire come from heaven to burn us women all up, +being, as thou art, as fain to us as a dog to cudgels; but, by Christ +His cross, thou shalt not get thy wish. However, I would fain have a +little discourse with thee, so I may know of what thou complainest. +Certes, it were a fine thing an thou shouldst seek to even me with +Ercolano's wife, who is a beat-breast, a smell-sin,<a name="FNanchor_289_291" id="FNanchor_289_291"></a><a href="#Footnote_289_291" class="fnanchor">[289]</a> and hath of +her husband what she will and is of him held dear as a wife should be, +the which is not the case with me. For, grant that I am well clad and +shod of thee, thou knowest but too well how I fare for the rest and +how long it is since thou hast lain with me; and I had liefer go +barefoot and rags to my back and be well used of thee abed than have +all these things, being used as I am of thee. For understand plainly, +Pietro; I am a woman like other women and have a mind unto that which +other women desire; so that, an I procure me thereof, not having it +from thee, thou hast no call to missay of me therefor; at the least, I +do thee this much honour that I have not to do with horseboys and +scald-heads.'</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_292" id="Page_292"></a></span></p> +<p>Pietro perceived that words were not like to fail her for all that +night; wherefore, as one who recked little of her, 'Wife,' said he, +'no more for the present; I will content thee aright of this matter; +but thou wilt do us a great courtesy to let us have somewhat to sup +withal, for that meseemeth this lad, like myself, hath not yet +supped.' 'Certes, no,' answered the lady, 'he hath not yet supped; for +we were sitting down to table, when thou camest in thine ill hour.' +'Go, then,' rejoined Pietro, 'contrive that we may sup, and after I +will order this matter on such wise that thou shalt have no cause to +complain.' The lady, finding that her husband was satisfied, arose and +caused straightway reset the table; then, letting bring the supper she +had prepared, she supped merrily in company with her caitiff of a +husband and the young man. After supper, what Pietro devised for the +satisfaction of all three hath escaped my mind; but this much I know +that on the following morning the youth was escorted back to the +public place, not altogether certain which he had the more been that +night, wife or husband. Wherefore, dear my ladies, this will I say to +you, 'Whoso doth it to you, do you it to him'; and if you cannot +presently, keep it in mind till such time as you can, so he may get as +good as he giveth."</p> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p>Dioneo having made an end of his story, which had been less laughed at +by the ladies [than usual], more for shamefastness than for the little +delight they took therein, the queen, seeing the end of her sovranty +come, rose to her feet and putting off the laurel crown, set it +blithely on Elisa's head, saying, "With you, madam, henceforth it +resteth to command." Elisa, accepting the honour, did even as it had +been done before her, in that, having first, to the satisfaction of +the company, taken order with the seneschal for that whereof there was +need for the time of her governance, she said, "We have many a time +heard how, by dint of smart sayings and ready repartees and prompt +advisements, many have availed with an apt retort<a name="FNanchor_290_292" id="FNanchor_290_292"></a><a href="#Footnote_290_292" class="fnanchor">[290]</a> to take the +edge off other folks' teeth or to fend off imminent perils; and, for +that the matter is goodly and may be useful,<a name="FNanchor_291_293" id="FNanchor_291_293"></a><a href="#Footnote_291_293" class="fnanchor">[291]</a> I will that +to-morrow, with God's aid, it be discoursed within these terms, to +wit, OF WHOSO, BEING ASSAILED WITH SOME JIBING SPEECH, HATH VINDICATED +HIMSELF OR HATH WITH SOME READY REPLY OR ADVISEMENT ESCAPED LOSS, +PERIL OR SHAME."</p> + +<p>This was much commended of all, whereupon the queen, rising to her +feet, dismissed them all until supper time. The honourable company, +seeing her risen, stood up all and each, according to the wonted +fashion, applied himself to that which was most agreeable to him. But, +the crickets having now given over singing, the queen let call every +one and they betook themselves to supper, which being despatched with +merry cheer, they all gave themselves to singing and making music, and +Emilia<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_293" id="Page_293"></a></span> having, at the queen's commandment, set up a dance, Dioneo was +bidden sing a song, whereupon he straightway struck up with "Mistress +Aldruda, come lift up your fud-a, for I bring you, I bring you, good +tidings." Whereat all the ladies fell a-laughing and especially the +queen, who bade him leave that and sing another. Quoth Dioneo, "Madam, +had I a tabret, I would sing 'Come truss your coats, I prithee, +Mistress Burdock,' or 'Under the olive the grass is'; or will you have +me say 'The waves of the sea do great evil to me'? But I have no +tabret, so look which you will of these others. Will it please you +have 'Come forth unto us, so it may be cut down, like a May in the +midst of the meadows'?" "Nay," answered the queen; "give us another." +"Then," said Dioneo, "shall I sing, 'Mistress Simona, embarrel, +embarrel! It is not the month of October'?" Quoth the queen, laughing, +"Ill luck to thee, sing us a goodly one, an thou wilt, for we will +none of these." "Nay, madam," rejoined Dioneo, "fash not yourself; but +which then like you better? I know more than a thousand. Will you have +'This my shell an I prick it not well,' or 'Fair and softly, husband +mine' or 'I'll buy me a cock, a cock of an hundred pounds +sterling'?"<a name="FNanchor_292_294" id="FNanchor_292_294"></a><a href="#Footnote_292_294" class="fnanchor">[292]</a> Therewithal the queen, somewhat provoked, though all +the other ladies laughed, said, "Dioneo, leave jesting and sing us a +goodly one; else shalt thou prove how I can be angry." Hearing this, +he gave over his quips and cranks and forthright fell a-singing after +this fashion:</p> + +<p class="cpoem"> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">O Love, the amorous light</span><br /> +That beameth from yon fair one's lovely eyes<br /> +Hath made me thine and hers in servant-guise.<br /> +<br /> +The splendour of her lovely eyes, it wrought<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">That first thy flames were kindled in my breast,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Passing thereto through mine;</span><br /> +Yea, and thy virtue first unto my thought<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Her visage fair it was made manifest,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Which picturing, I twine</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">And lay before her shrine</span><br /> +All virtues, that to her I sacrifice,<br /> +Become the new occasion of my sighs.<br /> +<br /> +Thus, dear my lord, thy vassal am I grown<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">And of thy might obediently await</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Grace for my lowliness;</span><br /> +Yet wot I not if wholly there be known<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">The high desire that in my breast thou'st set</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">And my sheer faith, no less,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Of her who doth possess</span><br /> +My heart so that from none beneath the skies,<br /> +Save her alone, peace would I take or prize.<br /> +<br /> +Wherefore I pray thee, sweet my lord and sire,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Discover it to her and cause her taste</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Some scantling of thy heat</span><br /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_294" id="Page_294"></a></span>To-me-ward,—for thou seest that in the fire,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Loving, I languish and for torment waste</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">By inches at her feet,—</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">And eke in season meet</span><br /> +Commend me to her favour on such wise<br /> +As I would plead for thee, should need arise.<a name="FNanchor_293_295" id="FNanchor_293_295"></a><a href="#Footnote_293_295" class="fnanchor">[293]</a><br /> +</p> + +<p>Dioneo, by his silence, showing that his song was ended, the queen let +sing many others, having natheless much commended his. Then, somedele +of the night being spent and the queen feeling the heat of the day to +be now overcome of the coolness of the night, she bade each at his +pleasure betake himself to rest against the ensuing day.</p> + + +<p class="center"><br /> +<b>HERE ENDETH THE FIFTH DAY<br /> +OF THE DECAMERON</b> +</p> + + + +<hr class="long" /> +<h1><a name="Day_the_Sixth" id="Day_the_Sixth"></a><i>Day the Sixth</i></h1> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="hang"><span class="lgsmcap">Here Beginneth the Sixth Day of the Decameron Wherein Under +the Governance of Elisa Is Discoursed of Whoso Being +Assailed With Some Jibing Speech Hath Vindicated Himself or +Hath With Some Ready Reply or Advisement Escaped Loss, Peril +or Shame</span></p></div> + + +<p><br /><span class="smcap">The</span> moon, being now in the middest heaven, had lost its radiance and +every part of our world was bright with the new coming light, when, +the queen arising and letting call her company, they all with slow +step fared forth and rambled over the dewy grass to a little distance +from the fair hill, holding various discourse of one thing and another +and debating of the more or less goodliness of the stories told, what +while they renewed their laughter at the various adventures related +therein, till such time as the sun mounting high and beginning to wax +hot, it seemed well to them all to turn homeward. Wherefore, reversing +their steps, they returned to the palace and there, by the queen's +commandment, the tables being already laid and everything strewn with +sweet-scented herbs and fair flowers, they addressed themselves to +eat, ere the heat should grow greater. This being joyously +accomplished, ere they did otherwhat, they sang divers goodly and +pleasant canzonets, after which some went to sleep, whilst some sat +down to play at chess and other some at tables and Dioneo fell to +singing, in concert with Lauretta, of Troilus and Cressida. Then, the +hour come for their reassembling after the wonted fashion,<a name="FNanchor_294_296" id="FNanchor_294_296"></a><a href="#Footnote_294_296" class="fnanchor">[294]</a> they +all, being summoned on the part of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_295" id="Page_295"></a></span> queen, seated themselves, as +of their usance, about the fountain; but, as she was about to call for +the first story, there befell a thing that had not yet befallen there, +to wit, that a great clamour was heard by her and by all, made by the +wenches and serving-men in the kitchen.</p> + +<p>The seneschal, being called and questioned who it was that cried thus +and what might be the occasion of the turmoil, answered that the +clamour was between Licisca and Tindaro, but that he knew not the +cause thereof, being but then come thither to make them bide quiet, +whenas he had been summoned on her part. The queen bade him +incontinent fetch thither the two offenders and they being come, +enquired what was the cause of their clamour; whereto Tindaro offering +to reply, Licisca, who was well in years and somewhat overmasterful, +being heated with the outcry she had made, turned to him with an angry +air and said, "Mark this brute of a man who dareth to speak before me, +whereas I am! Let me speak." Then, turning again to the queen, +"Madam," quoth she, "this fellow would teach me, forsooth, to know +Sicofante's wife and neither more nor less than as if I had not been +familiar with her, would fain give me to believe that, the first night +her husband lay with her, Squire Maul<a name="FNanchor_295_297" id="FNanchor_295_297"></a><a href="#Footnote_295_297" class="fnanchor">[295]</a> made his entry into Black +Hill<a name="FNanchor_296_298" id="FNanchor_296_298"></a><a href="#Footnote_296_298" class="fnanchor">[296]</a> by force and with effusion of blood; and I say that it is +not true; nay, he entered there in peace and to the great contentment +of those within. Marry, this fellow is simple enough to believe +wenches to be such ninnies that they stand to lose their time, abiding +the commodity of their fathers and brothers, who six times out of +seven tarry three or four years more than they should to marry them. +Well would they fare, forsooth, were they to wait so long! By Christ +His faith (and I should know what I say, when I swear thus) I have not +a single gossip who went a maid to her husband; and as for the wives, +I know full well how many and what tricks they play their husbands; +and this blockhead would teach me to know women, as if I had been born +yesterday."</p> + +<p>What while Licisca spoke, the ladies kept up such a laughing that you +might have drawn all their teeth; and the queen imposed silence upon +her a good half dozen times, but to no purpose; she stinted not till +she had said her say. When she had at last made an end of her talk, +the queen turned to Dioneo and said, laughing, "Dioneo, this is a +matter for thy jurisdiction; wherefore, when we shall have made an end +of our stories, thou shalt proceed to give final judgment thereon." +Whereto he answered promptly, "Madam, the judgment is already given, +without hearing more of the matter; and I say that Licisca is in the +right and opine that it is even as she saith and that Tindaro is an +ass." Licisca, hearing this, fell a-laughing and turning to Tindaro, +said, "I told thee so; begone and God go with thee; thinkest thou thou +knowest better than I, thou whose eyes are not yet dry?<a name="FNanchor_297_299" id="FNanchor_297_299"></a><a href="#Footnote_297_299" class="fnanchor">[297]</a> Gramercy, +I have not lived here below for nothing, no, not I!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_296" id="Page_296"></a></span> And had not the +queen with an angry air imposed silence on her and sent her and +Tindaro away, bidding her make no more words or clamour, an she would +not be flogged, they had had nought to do all that day but attend to +her. When they were gone, the queen called on Filomena to make a +beginning with the day's stories and she blithely began thus:</p> + + + +<hr class="short" /> +<h2><br /><a name="THE_FIRST_STORY6" id="THE_FIRST_STORY6"></a>THE FIRST STORY</h2> + +<div class="sidenote">Day the Sixth</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="hang">A GENTLEMAN ENGAGETH TO MADAM ORETTA TO CARRY HER +A-HORSEBACK WITH A STORY, BUT, TELLING IT DISORDERLY, IS +PRAYED BY HER TO SET HER DOWN AGAIN</p></div> + + +<p><br /><span class="smcap">"Young</span> ladies, like as stars, in the clear nights, are the ornaments +of the heavens and the flowers and the leaf-clad shrubs, in the +Spring, of the green fields and the hillsides, even so are +praiseworthy manners and goodly discourse adorned by sprightly +sallies, the which, for that they are brief, beseem women yet better +than men, inasmuch as much speaking is more forbidden to the former +than to the latter. Yet, true it is, whatever the cause, whether it be +the meanness of our<a name="FNanchor_298_300" id="FNanchor_298_300"></a><a href="#Footnote_298_300" class="fnanchor">[298]</a> understanding or some particular grudge borne +by heaven to our times, that there be nowadays few or no women left +who know how to say a witty word in due season or who, an it be said +to them, know how to apprehend it as it behoveth; the which is a +general reproach to our whole sex. However, for that enough hath been +said aforetime on the subject by Pampinea,<a name="FNanchor_299_301" id="FNanchor_299_301"></a><a href="#Footnote_299_301" class="fnanchor">[299]</a> I purpose to say no +more thereof; but, to give you to understand how much goodliness there +is in witty sayings, when spoken in due season, it pleaseth me to +recount to you the courteous fashion in which a lady imposed silence +upon a gentleman.</p> + +<p>As many of you ladies may either know by sight or have heard tell, +there was not long since in our city a noble and well-bred and +well-spoken gentlewoman, whose worth merited not that her name be left +unsaid. She was called, then, Madam Oretta and was the wife of Messer +Geri Spina. She chanced to be, as we are, in the country, going from +place to place, by way of diversion, with a company of ladies and +gentlemen, whom she had that day entertained to dinner at her house, +and the way being belike somewhat long from the place whence they set +out to that whither they were all purposed to go afoot, one of the +gentlemen said to her, 'Madam Oretta, an you will, I will carry you +a-horseback great part of the way we have to go with one of the finest +stories in the world.' 'Nay, sir,' answered the lady, 'I pray you +instantly thereof; indeed, it will be most agreeable to me.' Master +cavalier, who maybe fared no better, sword at side than tale on +tongue, hearing this, began a story of his, which of itself was in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_297" id="Page_297"></a></span> +truth very goodly; but he, now thrice or four or even half a dozen +times repeating one same word, anon turning back and whiles saying, 'I +said not aright,' and often erring in the names and putting one for +another, marred it cruelly, more by token that he delivered himself +exceedingly ill, having regard to the quality of the persons and the +nature of the incidents of his tale. By reason whereof, Madam Oretta, +hearkening to him, was many a time taken with a sweat and failing of +the heart, as she were sick and near her end, and at last, being +unable to brook the thing any more and seeing the gentleman engaged in +an imbroglio from which he was not like to extricate himself, she said +to him pleasantly, 'Sir, this horse of yours hath too hard a trot; +wherefore I pray you be pleased to set me down.' The gentleman, who, +as it chanced, understood a hint better than he told a story, took the +jest in good part and turning it off with a laugh, fell to discoursing +of other matters and left unfinished the story that he had begun and +conducted so ill."</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="THE_SECOND_STORY6" id="THE_SECOND_STORY6"></a>THE SECOND STORY</h2> + +<div class="sidenote">Day the Sixth</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="hang">CISTI THE BAKER WITH A WORD OF HIS FASHION MAKETH MESSER +GERI SPINA SENSIBLE OF AN INDISCREET REQUEST OF HIS</p></div> + + +<p><br /><span class="smcap">Madam</span> Oretta's saying was greatly commended of all, ladies and men, +and the queen bidding Pampinea follow on, she began thus: "Fair +ladies, I know not of mine own motion to resolve me which is the more +at fault, whether nature in fitting to a noble soul a mean body or +fortune in imposing a mean condition upon a body endowed with a noble +soul, as in one our townsman Cisti and in many another we may have +seen it happen; which Cisti being gifted with a very lofty spirit, +fortune made him a baker. And for this, certes, I should curse both +nature and fortune like, did I not know the one to be most discreet +and the other to have a thousand eyes, albeit fools picture her blind; +and I imagine, therefore, that, being exceeding well-advised, they do +that which is oftentimes done of human beings, who, uncertain of +future events, bury their most precious things, against their +occasions, in the meanest places of their houses, as being the least +suspect, and thence bring them forth in their greatest needs, the mean +place having the while kept them more surely than would the goodly +chamber. And so, meseemeth, do the governors of the world hide +oftentimes their most precious things under the shadow of crafts and +conditions reputed most mean, to the end that, bringing them forth +therefrom in time of need, their lustre may show the brighter. Which +how Cisti the baker made manifest, though in but a trifling matter, +restoring to Messer Geri Spina (whom the story but now told of Madam +Oretta, who was his wife, hath recalled to my memory) the eyes of the +understanding, it pleaseth me to show you in a very short story.</p> + +<p>I must tell you, then, that Pope Boni<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_298" id="Page_298"></a></span>face, with whom Messer Geri +Spina was in very great favour, having despatched to Florence certain +of his gentlemen on an embassy concerning sundry important matters of +his, they lighted down at the house of Messer Geri and he treating the +pope's affairs in company with them, it chanced, whatever might have +been the occasion thereof, that he and they passed well nigh every +morning afoot before Santa Maria Ughi, where Cisti the baker had his +bakehouse and plied his craft in person. Now, albeit fortune had +appointed Cisti a humble enough condition, she had so far at the least +been kind to him therein that he was grown very rich and without ever +choosing to abandon it for any other, lived very splendidly, having, +amongst his other good things, the best wines, white and red, that +were to be found in Florence or in the neighbouring country. Seeing +Messer Geri and the pope's ambassadors pass every morning before his +door and the heat being great, he bethought himself that it were a +great courtesy to give them to drink of his good white wine; but, +having regard to his own condition and that of Messer Geri, he deemed +it not a seemly thing to presume to invite them, but determined to +bear himself on such wise as should lead Messer Geri to invite +himself.</p> + +<p>Accordingly, having still on his body a very white doublet and an +apron fresh from the wash, which bespoke him rather a miller than a +baker, he let set before his door, every morning, towards the time +when he looked for Messer Geri and the ambassadors to pass, a new +tinned pail of fair water and a small pitcher of new Bolognese ware, +full of his good white wine, together with two beakers, which seemed +of silver, so bright they were, and seated himself there, against they +should pass, when, after clearing his throat once or twice, he fell to +drinking of that his wine with such a relish that he had made a dead +man's mouth water for it. Messer Geri, having seen him do thus one and +two mornings, said on the third, 'How now, Cisti? Is it good?' +Whereupon he started to his feet and said, 'Ay is it, Sir; but how +good I cannot give you to understand, except you taste thereof.' +Messer Geri, in whom either the nature of the weather or belike the +relish with which he saw Cisti drink had begotten a thirst, turned to +the ambassadors and said, smiling, 'Gentlemen, we shall do well to +taste this honest man's wine; belike it is such that we shall not +repent thereof.' Accordingly, he made with them towards Cisti, who let +bring a goodly settle out of his bakehouse and praying them sit, said +to their serving-men, who pressed forward to rinse the beakers, 'Stand +back, friends, and leave this office to me, for that I know no less +well how to skink than to wield the baking-peel; and look you not to +taste a drop thereof.' So saying, he with his own hands washed out +four new and goodly beakers and letting bring a little pitcher of his +good wine, busied himself with giving Messer Geri and his companions +to drink, to whom the wine seemed the best they had drunken that great +while; wherefore they commended it greatly, and well nigh every +morning, whilst the ambassadors abode there, Messer Geri went thither +to drink in company with them.</p> + +<p>After awhile, their business being despatched and they about to +depart, Mes<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_299" id="Page_299"></a></span>ser Geri made them a magnificent banquet, whereto he bade +a number of the most worshipful citizens and amongst the rest, Cisti, +who would, however, on no condition go thither; whereupon Messer Geri +bade one of his serving-men go fetch a flask of the baker's wine and +give each guest a half beaker thereof with the first course. The +servant, despiteful most like for that he had never availed to drink +of the wine, took a great flagon, which when Cisti saw, 'My son,' said +he, 'Messer Geri sent thee not to me.' The man avouched again and +again that he had, but, getting none other answer, returned to Messer +Geri and reported it to him. Quoth he, 'Go back to him and tell him +that I do indeed send thee to him; and if he still make thee the same +answer, ask him to whom I send thee, [an it be not to him.]' +Accordingly, the servant went back to the baker and said to him, +'Cisti, for certain Messer Geri sendeth me to thee and none other.' +'For certain, my son,' answered the baker, 'he doth it not.' 'Then,' +said the man, 'to whom doth he send me?' 'To the Arno,' replied Cisti; +which answer when the servant reported to Messer Geri, the eyes of his +understanding were of a sudden opened and he said to the man, 'Let me +see what flask thou carriedst thither.'</p> + +<p>When he saw the great flagon aforesaid, he said, 'Cisti saith sooth,' +and giving the man a sharp reproof, made him take a sortable flask, +which when Cisti saw, 'Now,' quoth he, 'I know full well that he +sendeth thee to me,' and cheerfully filled it unto him. Then, that +same day, he let fill a little cask with the like wine and causing +carry it softly to Messer Geri's house, went presently thither and +finding him there, said to him, 'Sir. I would not have you think that +the great flagon of this morning frightened me; nay, but, meseeming +that which I have of these past days shown you with my little pitchers +had escaped your mind, to wit, that this is no household wine,<a name="FNanchor_300_302" id="FNanchor_300_302"></a><a href="#Footnote_300_302" class="fnanchor">[300]</a> I +wished to recall it to you. But, now, for that I purpose no longer to +be your steward thereof, I have sent it all to you; henceforward do +with it as it pleaseth you.' Messer Geri set great store by Cisti's +present and rendering him such thanks as he deemed sortable, ever +after held him for a man of great worth and for friend."</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="THE_THIRD_STORY6" id="THE_THIRD_STORY6"></a>THE THIRD STORY</h2> + +<div class="sidenote">Day the Sixth</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="hang">MADAM NONNA DE' PULCI, WITH A READY RETORT TO A NOT +ALTOGETHER SEEMLY PLEASANTRY, IMPOSETH SILENCE ON THE BISHOP +OF FLORENCE</p></div> + + +<p><br /><span class="smcap">Pampinea</span> having made an end of her story and both Cisti's reply and +his liberality having been much commended of all, it pleased the queen +that the next story should be told by Lauretta, who blithely began as +follows, "Jocund ladies, first Pampinea and now Filomena have spoken +truly enough touching our little worth and the excellence of pithy +sayings, whereto that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_300" id="Page_300"></a></span> there may be no need now to return, I would +fain remind you, over and above that which hath been said on the +subject, that the nature of smart sayings is such that they should +bite upon the hearer, not as the dog, but as the sheep biteth; for +that, an a trait bit like a dog, it were not a trait, but an affront. +The right mean in this was excellently well hit both by Madam Oretta's +speech and Cisti's reply. It is true that, if a smart thing be said by +way of retort, and the answerer biteth like a dog, having been bitten +on like wise, meseemeth he is not to be blamed as he would have been, +had this not been the case; wherefore it behoveth us look how and with +whom, no less than when and where, we bandy jests; to which +considerations, a prelate of ours, taking too little heed, received at +least as sharp a bite as he thought to give, as I shall show you in a +little story.</p> + +<p>Messer Antonio d'Orso, a learned and worthy prelate, being Bishop of +Florence, there came thither a Catalan gentleman, called Messer Dego +della Ratta, marshal for King Robert, who, being a man of a very fine +person and a great amorist, took a liking to one among other +Florentine ladies, a very fair lady and granddaughter to a brother of +the said bishop, and hearing that her husband, albeit a man of good +family, was very sordid and miserly, agreed with him to give him five +hundred gold florins, so he would suffer him lie a night with his +wife. Accordingly, he let gild so many silver poplins,<a name="FNanchor_301_303" id="FNanchor_301_303"></a><a href="#Footnote_301_303" class="fnanchor">[301]</a> a coin +which was then current, and having lain with the lady, though against +her will, gave them to the husband. The thing after coming to be known +everywhere, the sordid wretch of a husband reaped both loss and scorn, +but the bishop, like a discreet man as he was, affected to know +nothing of the matter. Wherefore, he and the marshal consorting much +together, it chanced, as they rode side by side with each other, one +St. John's Day, viewing the ladies on either side of the way where the +mantle is run for,<a name="FNanchor_302_304" id="FNanchor_302_304"></a><a href="#Footnote_302_304" class="fnanchor">[302]</a> the prelate espied a young lady,—of whom this +present pestilence hath bereft us and whom all you ladies must have +known, Madam Nonna de' Pulci by name, cousin to Messer Alessio +Rinucci, a fresh and fair young woman, both well-spoken and +high-spirited, then not long before married in Porta San Piero,—and +pointed her out to the marshal; then, being near her, he laid his hand +on the latter's shoulder and said to her, 'Nonna, how deemest thou of +this gallant? Thinkest thou thou couldst make a conquest of him?' It +seemed to the lady that those words somewhat trenched upon her honour +and were like to sully it in the eyes of those (and there were many +there) who heard them; wherefore, not thinking to purge away the soil, +but to return blow for blow, she promptly answered, 'Maybe, sir, he +would not make a conquest of me; but, in any case, I should want good +money.' The marshal and the bishop, hearing this, felt themselves +alike touched to the quick by her<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_301" id="Page_301"></a></span> speech, the one as the author of +the cheat put upon the bishop's brother's granddaughter and the other +as having suffered the affront in the person of his kinswoman, and +made off, shamefast and silent, without looking at one another or +saying aught more to her that day. Thus, then, the young lady having +been bitten, it was not forbidden her to bite her biter with a +retort."</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="THE_FOURTH_STORY6" id="THE_FOURTH_STORY6"></a>THE FOURTH STORY</h2> + +<div class="sidenote">Day the Sixth</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="hang">CHICHIBIO, COOK TO CURRADO GIANFIGLIAZZI, WITH A READY WORD +SPOKEN TO SAVE HIMSELF, TURNETH HIS MASTER'S ANGER INTO +LAUGHTER AND ESCAPETH THE PUNISHMENT THREATENED HIM BY THE +LATTER</p></div> + + +<p><br /><span class="smcap">Lauretta</span> being silent and Nonna having been mightily commended of all, +the queen charged Neifile to follow on, and she said, "Although, +lovesome ladies, a ready wit doth often furnish folk with words both +prompt and useful and goodly, according to the circumstances, yet +fortune whiles cometh to the help of the fearful and putteth of a +sudden into their mouths such answers as might never of malice +aforethought be found of the speaker, as I purpose to show you by my +story.</p> + +<p>Currado Gianfigliazzi, as each of you ladies may have both heard and +seen, hath still been a noble citizen of our city, liberal and +magnificent, and leading a knightly life, hath ever, letting be for +the present his weightier doings, taken delight in hawks and hounds. +Having one day with a falcon of his brought down a crane and finding +it young and fat, he sent it to a good cook he had, a Venetian hight +Chichibio, bidding him roast it for supper and dress it well. +Chichibio, who looked the new-caught gull he was, trussed the crane +and setting it to the fire, proceeded to cook it diligently. When it +was all but done and gave out a very savoury smell, it chanced that a +wench of the neighbourhood, Brunetta by name, of whom Chichibio was +sore enamoured, entered the kitchen and smelling the crane and seeing +it, instantly besought him to give her a thigh thereof. He answered +her, singing, and said, 'Thou shalt not have it from me, Mistress +Brunetta, thou shalt not have it from me.' Whereat she, being vexed, +said to him, 'By God His faith, an thou give it me not, thou shalt +never have of me aught that shall pleasure thee.' In brief, many were +the words between them and at last, Chichibio, not to anger his +mistress, cut off one of the thighs of the crane and gave it her.</p> + +<p>The bird being after set before Messer Currado and certain stranger +guests of his, lacking a thigh, and the former marvelling thereat, he +let call Chichibio and asked him what was come of the other thigh; +whereto the liar of a Venetian answered without hesitation, 'Sir, +cranes have but one thigh and one leg.' 'What a devil?' cried Currado +in a rage. 'They have but one thigh and one leg? Have I never seen a +crane before?' 'Sir,' replied Chichibio, 'it is as I tell you, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_302" id="Page_302"></a></span> +whenas it pleaseth you, I will cause you see it in the quick.' +Currado, out of regard for the strangers he had with him, chose not to +make more words of the matter, but said, 'Since thou sayst thou wilt +cause me see it in the quick, a thing I never yet saw or heard tell +of, I desire to see it to-morrow morning, in which case I shall be +content; but I swear to thee, by Christ His body, that, an it be +otherwise, I will have thee served on such wise that thou shalt still +have cause to remember my name to thy sorrow so long as thou livest.' +There was an end of the talk for that night; but, next morning, as +soon as it was day, Currado, whose anger was nothing abated for sleep, +arose, still full of wrath, and bade bring the horses; then, mounting +Chichibio upon a rouncey, he carried him off towards a watercourse, on +whose banks cranes were still to be seen at break of day, saying, 'We +shall soon see who lied yestereve, thou or I.'</p> + +<p>Chichibio, seeing that his master's wrath yet endured and that needs +must be made good his lie and knowing not how he should avail +thereunto, rode after Currado in the greatest fright that might be, +and fain would he have fled, so but he might. But, seeing no way of +escape, he looked now before him and now behind and now on either side +and took all he saw for cranes standing on two feet. Presently, coming +near to the river, he chanced to catch sight, before any other, of a +round dozen of cranes on the bank, all perched on one leg, as they use +to do, when they sleep; whereupon he straightway showed them to +Currado, saying, 'Now, sir, if you look at those that stand yonder, +you may very well see that I told you the truth yesternight, to wit, +that cranes have but one thigh and one leg.' Currado, seeing them, +answered, 'Wait and I will show thee that they have two,' and going +somewhat nearer to them, he cried out, 'Ho! Ho!' At this the cranes, +putting down the other leg, all, after some steps, took to flight; +whereupon Currado said to him, 'How sayst thou now, malapert knave +that thou art? Deemest thou they have two legs?' Chichibio, all +confounded and knowing not whether he stood on his head or his +heels,<a name="FNanchor_303_305" id="FNanchor_303_305"></a><a href="#Footnote_303_305" class="fnanchor">[303]</a> answered, 'Ay, sir; but you did not cry, "Ho! Ho!" to +yesternight's crane; had you cried thus, it would have put out the +other thigh and the other leg, even as did those yonder.' This reply +so tickled Currado that all his wrath was changed into mirth and +laughter and he said, 'Chichibio, thou art in the right; indeed, I +should have done it.' Thus, then, with his prompt and comical answer +did Chichibio avert ill luck and made his peace with his master."</p> + + + +<hr /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_303" id="Page_303"></a></span></p> +<h2><a name="THE_FIFTH_STORY6" id="THE_FIFTH_STORY6"></a>THE FIFTH STORY</h2> + +<div class="sidenote">Day the Sixth</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="hang">MESSER FORESE DA RABATTA AND MASTER GIOTTO THE PAINTER +COMING FROM MUGELLO, EACH JESTINGLY RALLIETH THE OTHER ON +HIS SCURVY FAVOUR</p></div> + + +<p><br /><span class="smcap">Neifile</span> being silent and the ladies having taken much pleasure in +Chichibio's reply, Pamfilo, by the queen's desire, spoke thus: +"Dearest ladies, it chanceth often that, like as fortune whiles hideth +very great treasures of worth and virtue under mean conditions, as +hath been a little before shown by Pampinea, even so, under the +sorriest of human forms are marvellous wits found to have been lodged +by nature; and this very plainly appeared in two townsmen of ours, of +whom I purpose briefly to entertain you. For that the one, who was +called Messer Forese da Rabatta, though little of person and +misshapen, with a flat camoys face, that had been an eyesore on the +shoulders of the foulest cadger in Florence, was yet of such +excellence in the interpretation of the laws, that he was of many men +of worth reputed a very treasury of civil right; whilst the other, +whose name was Giotto, had so excellent a genius that there was +nothing of all which Nature, mother and mover of all things, +presenteth unto us by the ceaseless revolution of the heavens, but he +with pencil and pen and brush depicted it and that so closely that not +like, nay, but rather the thing itself it seemed, insomuch that men's +visual sense is found to have been oftentimes deceived in things of +his fashion, taking that for real which was but depictured. Wherefore, +he having brought back to the light this art, which had for many an +age lain buried under the errors of certain folk who painted more to +divert the eyes of the ignorant than to please the understanding of +the judicious, he may deservedly be styled one of the chief glories of +Florence, the more so that he bore the honours he had gained with the +utmost humility and although, while he lived, chief over all else in +his art, he still refused to be called master, which title, though +rejected by him, shone so much the more gloriously in him as it was +with greater eagerness greedily usurped by those who knew less than +he, or by his disciples. Yet, great as was his skill, he was not +therefore anywise goodlier of person or better favoured than Messer +Forese. But, to come to my story:</p> + +<p>I must tell you that Messer Forese and Giotto had each his country +house at Mugello and the former, having gone to visit his estates, at +that season of the summer when the Courts hold holiday, and returning +thence on a sorry cart-horse, chanced to fall in with the aforesaid +Giotto, who had been on the same errand and was then on his way back +to Florence nowise better equipped than himself in horse and +accoutrements. Accordingly, they joined company and fared on softly, +like old men as they were. Presently, it chanced, as we often see it +happen in summer time, that a sudden shower overtook them, from which, +as quickliest they might, they took shelter in the house of a +husbandman, a friend and acquaintance of both of them. After awhile, +the rain showing no sign of giving over and they wishing to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_304" id="Page_304"></a></span> reach +Florence by daylight, they borrowed of their host two old homespun +cloaks and two hats, rusty with age, for that there were no better to +be had, and set out again upon their way.</p> + +<p>When they had gone awhile and were all drenched and bemired with the +splashing that their hackneys kept up with their hoofs—things which +use not to add worship to any one's looks,—the weather began to clear +a little and the two wayfarers, who had long fared on in silence, fell +to conversing together. Messer Forese, as he rode, hearkening to +Giotto, who was a very fine talker, fell to considering his companion +from head to foot and seeing him everywise so ill accoutred and in +such scurvy case, burst out laughing and without taking any thought to +his own plight, said to him, 'How sayst thou, Giotto? An there +encountered us here a stranger who had never seen thee, thinkest thou +he would believe thee to be, as thou art, the finest painter in the +world?' 'Ay, sir,' answered Giotto forthright, 'methinketh he might +e'en believe it whenas, looking upon you, he should believe that you +knew your A B C.' Messer Forese, hearing this, was sensible of his +error and saw himself paid with money such as the wares he had +sold."<a name="FNanchor_304_306" id="FNanchor_304_306"></a><a href="#Footnote_304_306" class="fnanchor">[304]</a></p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="THE_SIXTH_STORY6" id="THE_SIXTH_STORY6"></a>THE SIXTH STORY</h2> + +<div class="sidenote">Day the Sixth</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="hang">MICHELE SCALZA PROVETH TO CERTAIN YOUNG MEN THAT THE CADGERS +OF FLORENCE ARE THE BEST GENTLEMEN OF THE WORLD OR THE +MAREMMA AND WINNETH A SUPPER</p></div> + + +<p><br /><span class="smcap">The</span> ladies yet laughed at Giotto's prompt retort, when the queen +charged Fiammetta follow on and she proceeded to speak thus: "Young +ladies, the mention by Pamfilo of the cadgers of Florence, whom +peradventure you know not as doth he, hath brought to my mind a story, +wherein, without deviating from our appointed theme, it is +demonstrated how great is their nobility; and it pleaseth me, +therefore, to relate it.</p> + +<p>It is no great while since there was in our city a young man called +Michele Scalza, who was the merriest and most agreeable man in the +world and he had still the rarest stories in hand, wherefore the young +Florentines were exceeding glad to have his company whenas they made a +party of pleasure amongst themselves. It chanced one day, he being +with certain folk at Monte Ughi, that the question was started among +them of who were the best and oldest gentlemen of Florence. Some said +the Uberti, others the Lamberti, and one this family and another that, +according as it occurred to his mind; which Scalza hearing, he fell +a-laughing and said, 'Go to, addlepates that you are! You know not +what you say. The best gentlemen and the oldest, not only of Florence, +but of all the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_305" id="Page_305"></a></span> world or the Maremma,<a name="FNanchor_305_307" id="FNanchor_305_307"></a><a href="#Footnote_305_307" class="fnanchor">[305]</a> are the Cadgers,<a name="FNanchor_306_308" id="FNanchor_306_308"></a><a href="#Footnote_306_308" class="fnanchor">[306]</a> a +matter upon which all the phisopholers and every one who knoweth them, +as I do, are of accord; and lest you should understand it of others, I +speak of the Cadgers your neighbors of Santa Maria Maggiore.'</p> + +<p>When the young men, who looked for him to say otherwhat, heard this, +they all made mock of him and said, 'Thou gullest us, as if we knew +not the Cadgers, even as thou dost.' 'By the Evangels,' replied +Scalza, 'I gull you not; nay, I speak the truth, and if there be any +here who will lay a supper thereon, to be given to the winner and half +a dozen companions of his choosing, I will willingly hold the wager; +and I will do yet more for you, for I will abide by the judgment of +whomsoever you will.' Quoth one of them, called Neri Mannini, 'I am +ready to try to win the supper in question'; whereupon, having agreed +together to take Piero di Fiorentino, in whose house they were, to +judge, they betook themselves to him, followed by all the rest, who +looked to see Scalza lose and to make merry over his discomfiture, and +recounted to him all that had passed. Piero, who was a discreet young +man, having first heard Neri's argument, turned to Scalza and said to +him, 'And thou, how canst thou prove this that thou affirmest?' 'How, +sayest thou?' answered Scalza. 'Nay, I will prove it by such reasoning +that not only thou, but he who denieth it, shall acknowledge that I +speak sooth. You know that, the ancienter men are, the nobler they +are; and so was it said but now among these. Now the Cadgers are more +ancient than any one else, so that they are nobler; and showing you +how they are the most ancient, I shall undoubtedly have won the wager. +You must know, then, that the Cadgers were made by God the Lord in the +days when He first began to learn to draw; but the rest of mankind +were made after He knew how to draw. And to assure yourselves that in +this I say sooth, do but consider the Cadgers in comparison with other +folk; whereas you see all the rest of mankind with faces well composed +and duly proportioned, you may see the Cadgers, this with a visnomy +very long and strait and with a face out of all measure broad; one +hath too long and another too short a nose and a third hath a chin +jutting out and turned upward and huge jawbones that show as they were +those of an ass, whilst some there be who have one eye bigger than the +other and other some who have one set lower than the other, like the +faces that children used to make, whenas they first begin to learn to +draw. Wherefore, as I have already<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_306" id="Page_306"></a></span> said, it is abundantly apparent +that God the Lord made them, what time He was learning to draw; so +that they are more ancient and consequently nobler than the rest of +mankind.' At this, both Piero, who was the judge, and Neri, who had +wagered the supper, and all the rest, hearing Scalza's comical +argument and remembering themselves,<a name="FNanchor_307_309" id="FNanchor_307_309"></a><a href="#Footnote_307_309" class="fnanchor">[307]</a> fell all a-laughing and +affirmed that he was in the right and had won the supper, for that the +Cadgers were assuredly the noblest and most ancient gentlemen that +were to be found not in Florence alone, but in the world or the +Maremma. Wherefore it was very justly said of Pamfilo, seeking to show +the foulness of Messer Forese's visnomy, that it would have showed +notably ugly on one of the Cadgers."</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="THE_SEVENTH_STORY6" id="THE_SEVENTH_STORY6"></a>THE SEVENTH STORY</h2> + +<div class="sidenote">Day the Sixth</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="hang">MADAM FILIPPA, BEING FOUND BY HER HUSBAND WITH A LOVER OF +HERS AND BROUGHT TO JUSTICE, DELIVERETH HERSELF WITH A +PROMPT AND PLEASANT ANSWER AND CAUSETH MODIFY THE STATUTE</p></div> + + +<p><br /><span class="smcap">Fiammetta</span> was now silent and all laughed yet at the novel argument +used by Scalza for the ennoblement over all of the Cadgers, when the +queen enjoined Filostrato to tell and he accordingly began to say, "It +is everywise a fine thing, noble ladies, to know how to speak well, +but I hold it yet goodlier to know how to do it whereas necessity +requireth it, even as a gentlewoman, of whom I purpose to entertain +you, knew well how to do on such wise that not only did she afford her +hearers matter for mirth and laughter, but did herself loose from the +toils of an ignominious death, as you shall presently hear.</p> + +<p>There was, then, aforetime, in the city of Prato, a statute in truth +no less blameworthy than cruel, which, without making any distinction, +ordained that any woman found by her husband in adultery with any her +lover should be burnt, even as she who should be discovered to have +sold her favours for money. What while this statute was in force, it +befell that a noble and beautiful lady, by name Madam Filippa, who was +of a singularly amorous complexion, was one night found by Rinaldo de' +Pugliesi her husband, in her own chamber in the arms of Lazzerino de' +Guazzagliotri, a noble and handsome youth of that city, whom she loved +even as herself. Rinaldo, seeing this, was sore enraged and scarce +contained himself from falling upon them and slaying them; and but +that he feared for himself, an he should ensue the promptings of his +anger, he had certainly done it. However, he forbore from this, but +could not refrain from seeking of the law of Prato that which it was +not permitted him to accomplish with his own hand, to wit, the death +of his wife. Having, therefore, very sufficient evidence to prove the +lady's default, no sooner was the day come than, without taking other +counsel, he lodged<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_307" id="Page_307"></a></span> an accusation against her and caused summon her +before the provost.</p> + +<p>Madam Filippa, being great of heart, as women commonly are who are +verily in love, resolved, although counselled to the contrary by many +of her friends and kinsfolk, to appear, choosing rather, confessing +the truth, to die with an undaunted spirit, than, meanly fleeing, to +live an outlaw in exile and confess herself unworthy of such a lover +as he in whose arms she had been the foregoing night. Wherefore, +presenting herself before the provost, attended by a great company of +men and ladies and exhorted of all to deny the charge, she demanded, +with a firm voice and an assured air, what he would with her. The +magistrate, looking upon her and seeing her very fair and commendable +of carriage and according as her words testified, of a lofty spirit, +began to have compassion of her, fearing lest she should confess +somewhat wherefore it should behoove him, for his own honour's sake, +condemn her to die. However, having no choice but to question her of +that which was laid to her charge, he said to her, 'Madam, as you see, +here is Rinaldo your husband, who complaineth of you, avouching +himself to have found you in adultery with another man and demanding +that I should punish you therefor by putting you to death, according +to the tenor of a statute which here obtaineth; but this I cannot do, +except you confess it; wherefore look well what you answer and tell me +if that be true whereof your husband impeacheth you.'</p> + +<p>The lady, no wise dismayed, replied very cheerfully, 'Sir, true it is +that Rinaldo is my husband and that he found me last night in the arms +of Lazzarino, wherein, for the great and perfect love I bear him, I +have many a time been; nor am I anywise minded to deny this. But, as I +am assured you know, laws should be common to all and made with the +consent of those whom they concern; and this is not the case with this +statute, which is binding only upon us unhappy women, who might far +better than men avail to satisfy many; more by token that, when it was +made, not only did no woman yield consent thereunto, but none of us +was even cited to do so; wherefore it may justly be styled naught. +However, an you choose, to the prejudice of my body and of your own +soul, to be the executor of this unrighteous law, it resteth with you +to do so; but, ere you proceed to adjudge aught, I pray you do me one +slight favour, to wit, that you question my husband if at all times +and as often as it pleased him, without ever saying him nay, I have or +not vouchsafed him entire commodity of myself.'</p> + +<p>Rinaldo, without waiting to be questioned of the provost, straightway +made answer that undoubtedly the lady had, at his every request, +accorded him his every pleasure of herself; whereupon, 'Then, my lord +provost,' straightway rejoined she, 'if he have still taken of me that +which was needful and pleasing to him, what, I ask you, was or am I to +do with that which remaineth over and above his requirements? Should I +cast it to the dogs? Was it not far better to gratify withal a +gentleman who loveth me more than himself, than to leave it waste or +spoil?' Now well nigh all the people of Prato had flocked thither to +the trial of such a matter and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_308" id="Page_308"></a></span> of so fair and famous a lady, and +hearing so comical a question, they all, after much laughter, cried +out as with one voice that she was in the right of it and that she +said well. Moreover, ere they departed thence, at the instance of the +provost, they modified the cruel statute and left it to apply to those +women only who should for money make default to their husbands. +Thereupon Rinaldo, having taken nought but shame by so fond an +emprise, departed the court, and the lady returned in triumph to her +own house, joyful and free and in a manner raised up out of the fire."</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="THE_EIGHTH_STORY6" id="THE_EIGHTH_STORY6"></a>THE EIGHTH STORY</h2> + +<div class="sidenote">Day the Sixth</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="hang">FRESCO EXHORTETH HIS NIECE NOT TO MIRROR HERSELF IN THE +GLASS, IF, AS SHE SAITH, IT IRKETH HER TO SEE DISAGREEABLE +FOLK</p></div> + + +<p><br /><span class="smcap">The</span> story told by Filostrato at first touched the hearts of the +listening ladies with some little shamefastness and they gave token +thereof by a modest redness that appeared upon their faces; but, after +looking one at another, they hearkened thereto, tittering the while +and scarce able to abstain from laughing. As soon as he was come to +the end thereof, the queen turned to Emilia and bade her follow on, +whereupon, sighing no otherwise than as she had been aroused from a +dream, she began, "Lovesome lasses, for that long thought hath held me +far from here, I shall, to obey our queen content myself with +[relating] a story belike much slighter than that which I might have +bethought myself to tell, had my mind been present here, recounting to +you the silly default of a damsel, corrected by an uncle of hers with +a jocular retort, had she been woman enough to have apprehended it.</p> + +<p>A certain Fresco da Celatico, then, had a niece familiarly called +Ciesca,<a name="FNanchor_308_310" id="FNanchor_308_310"></a><a href="#Footnote_308_310" class="fnanchor">[308]</a> who, having a comely face and person (though none of +those angelical beauties that we have often seen aforetime), set so +much store by herself and accounted herself so noble that she had +gotten a habit of carping at both men and women and everything she +saw, without anywise taking thought to herself, who was so much more +fashous, froward and humoursome than any other of her sex that nothing +could be done to her liking. Beside all this, she was so prideful +that, had she been of the blood royal of France, it had been +overweening; and when she went abroad, she gave herself so many airs +that she did nought but make wry faces, as if there came to her a +stench from whomsoever she saw or met. But, letting be many other +vexatious and tiresome fashions of hers, it chanced one day that she +came back to the house, where Fresco was, and seating herself near +him, all full of airs and grimaces, did nothing but puff and blow; +whereupon quoth he, 'What meaneth this, Ciesca, that, to-day being a +holiday, thou comest home so early?' To which she answered, all like +to die away with affectation, 'It is true I have<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_309" id="Page_309"></a></span> come back soon, for +that I believe there were never in this city so many disagreeable and +tiresome people, both men and women, as there are to-day; there +passeth none about the streets but is hateful to me as ill-chance, and +I do not believe there is a woman in the world to whom it is more +irksome to see disagreeable folk than it is to me; wherefore I have +returned thus early, not to see them.' 'My lass,' rejoined Fresco, to +whom his niece's airs and graces were mighty displeasing, 'if +disagreeable folk be so distasteful to thee as thou sayest, never +mirror thyself in the glass, so thou wouldst live merry.' But she, +emptier than a reed, albeit herseemed she was a match for Solomon in +wit, apprehended Fresco's true speech no better than a block; nay, she +said that she chose to mirror herself in the glass like other women; +and so she abode in her folly and therein abideth yet."</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="THE_NINTH_STORY6" id="THE_NINTH_STORY6"></a>THE NINTH STORY</h2> + +<div class="sidenote">Day the Sixth</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="hang">GUIDO CAVALCANTI WITH A PITHY SPEECH COURTEOUSLY FLOUTETH +CERTAIN FLORENTINE GENTLEMEN WHO HAD TAKEN HIM BY SURPRISE</p></div> + + +<p><br /><span class="smcap">The</span> queen, seeing Emilia delivered of her story and that it rested +with none other than herself to tell, saving him who was privileged to +speak last, began thus, "Although, sprightly ladies, you have this day +taken out of my mouth at the least two stories, whereof I had purposed +to relate one, I have yet one left to tell, the end whereof compriseth +a saying of such a fashion that none, peradventure, of such +pertinence, hath yet been cited to us.</p> + +<p>You must know, then, that there were in our city, of times past, many +goodly and commendable usances, whereof none is left there nowadays, +thanks to the avarice that hath waxed therein with wealth and hath +banished them all. Among these there was a custom to the effect that +the gentlemen of the various quarters of Florence assembled together +in divers places about the town and formed themselves into companies +of a certain number, having a care to admit thereinto such only as +might aptly bear the expense, whereof to-day the one and to-morrow the +other, and so all in turn, hold open house, each his day, for the +whole company. At these banquets they often entertained both stranger +gentlemen, whenas there came any thither, and those of the city; and +on like wise, once at the least in the year, they clad themselves +alike and rode in procession through the city on the most notable days +and whiles they held passes of arms, especially on the chief holidays +or whenas some glad news of victory or the like came to the city.</p> + +<p>Amongst these companies was one of Messer Betto Brunelleschi, +whereinto the latter and his companions had studied amain to draw +Guido, son of Messer Cavalcante de' Cavalcanti, and not without cause; +for that, besides being one of the best logicians in the world and an +excellent natural philos<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_310" id="Page_310"></a></span>opher (of which things, indeed, they recked +little), he was very sprightly and well-bred and a mighty well-spoken +man and knew better than any other to do everything that he would and +that pertained unto a gentleman, more by token that he was very rich +and knew wonder-well how to entertain whomsoever he deemed deserving +of honour. But Messer Betto had never been able to win and to have +him, and he and his companions believed that this betided for that +Guido, being whiles engaged in abstract speculations, became much +distraught from mankind; and for that he inclined somewhat to the +opinion of the Epicureans, it was reported among the common folk that +these his speculations consisted only in seeking if it might be +discovered that God was not.</p> + +<p>It chanced one day that Guido set out from Orto San Michele and came +by way of the Corso degli Ademari, the which was oftentimes his road, +to San Giovanni, round about which there were at that present divers +great marble tombs (which are nowadays at Santa Reparata) and many +others. As he was between the columns of porphyry there and the tombs +in question and the door of the church, which was shut, Messer Betto +and his company, coming a-horseback along the Piazza di Santa +Reparata, espied him among the tombs and said, 'Let us go plague him.' +Accordingly, spurring their horses, they charged all down upon him in +sport and coming upon him ere he was aware of them, said to him, +'Guido, thou refusest to be of our company; but, harkye, whenas thou +shalt have found that God is not, what wilt thou have accomplished?' +Guido, seeing himself hemmed in by them, answered promptly, +'Gentlemen, you may say what you will to me in your own house'; then, +laying his hand on one of the great tombs aforesaid and being very +nimble of body, he took a spring and alighting on the other side, made +off, having thus rid himself of them.</p> + +<p>The gentlemen abode looking one upon another and fell a-saying that he +was a crack-brain and that this that he had answered them amounted to +nought seeing that there where they were they had no more to do than +all the other citizens, nor Guido himself less than any of themselves. +But Messer Betto turned to them and said, 'It is you who are the +crackbrains, if you have not apprehended him. He hath courteously and +in a few words given us the sharpest rebuke in the world; for that, an +you consider aright, these tombs are the houses of the dead, seeing +they are laid and abide therein, and these, saith he, are our house, +meaning thus to show us that we and other foolish and unlettered men +are, compared with him and other men of learning, worse than dead +folk; wherefore, being here, we are in our own house.' Thereupon each +understood what Guido had meant to say and was abashed nor ever +plagued him more, but held Messer Betto thenceforward a gentleman of a +subtle wit and an understanding."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_311" id="Page_311"></a></span></p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="THE_TENTH_STORY6" id="THE_TENTH_STORY6"></a>THE TENTH STORY</h2> + +<div class="sidenote">Day the Sixth</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="hang">FRA CIPOLLA PROMISETH CERTAIN COUNTRY FOLK TO SHOW THEM ONE +OF THE ANGEL GABRIEL'S FEATHERS AND FINDING COALS IN PLACE +THEREOF, AVOUCHETH THESE LATTER TO BE OF THOSE WHICH ROASTED +ST. LAWRENCE</p></div> + + +<p><br /><span class="smcap">Each</span> of the company being now quit of his<a name="FNanchor_309_311" id="FNanchor_309_311"></a><a href="#Footnote_309_311" class="fnanchor">[309]</a> story, Dioneo perceived +that it rested with him to tell; whereupon, without awaiting more +formal commandment, he began on this wise, silence having first been +imposed on those who commended Guido's pregnant retort: "Charming +ladies, albeit I am privileged to speak of that which most liketh me, +I purpose not to-day to depart from the matter whereof you have all +very aptly spoken; but, ensuing in your footsteps, I mean to show you +how cunningly a friar of the order of St. Anthony, by name Fra +Cipolla, contrived with a sudden shift to extricate himself from a +snare<a name="FNanchor_310_312" id="FNanchor_310_312"></a><a href="#Footnote_310_312" class="fnanchor">[310]</a> which had been set for him by two young men; nor should it +irk you if, for the complete telling of the story, I enlarge somewhat +in speaking, an you consider the sun, which is yet amiddleward in the +sky.</p> + +<p>Certaldo, as you may have heard, is a burgh of Val d' Elsa situate in +our country, which, small though it be, was once inhabited by +gentlemen and men of substance; and thither, for that he found good +pasture there, one of the friars of the order of St. Anthony was long +used to resort once a year, to get in the alms bestowed by simpletons +upon him and his brethren. His name was Fra Cipolla and he was gladly +seen there, no less belike, for his name's sake<a name="FNanchor_311_313" id="FNanchor_311_313"></a><a href="#Footnote_311_313" class="fnanchor">[311]</a> than for other +reasons, seeing that these parts produce onions that are famous +throughout all Tuscany. This Fra Cipolla was little of person, +red-haired and merry of countenance, the jolliest rascal in the world, +and to boot, for all he was no scholar, he was so fine a talker and so +ready of wit that those who knew him not would not only have esteemed +him a great rhetorician, but had avouched him to be Tully himself or +may be Quintilian; and he was gossip or friend or well-wisher<a name="FNanchor_312_314" id="FNanchor_312_314"></a><a href="#Footnote_312_314" class="fnanchor">[312]</a> to +well nigh every one in the country.</p> + +<p>One August among others he betook himself thither according to his +wont, and on a Sunday morning, all the goodmen and goodwives of the +villages around being come to hear mass at the parish church, he came +forward, whenas it seemed to him time, and said, 'Gentlemen and +ladies, it is, as you know, your usance to send every year to the poor +of our lord Baron St. Anthony of your corn and of your oats, this +little and that much, according to his means and his devoutness, to +the intent that the blessed St. Anthony may keep watch over your<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_312" id="Page_312"></a></span> +beeves and asses and swine and sheep; and besides this, you use to +pay, especially such of you as are inscribed into our company, that +small due which is payable once a year. To collect these I have been +sent by my superior, to wit, my lord abbot; wherefore, with the +blessing of God, you shall, after none, whenas you hear the bells +ring, come hither without the church, where I will make preachment to +you after the wonted fashion and you shall kiss the cross; moreover, +for that I know you all to be great devotees of our lord St. Anthony, +I will, as an especial favour show you a very holy and goodly relic, +which I myself brought aforetime from the holy lands beyond seas; and +that is one of the Angel Gabriel's feathers, which remained in the +Virgin Mary's chamber, whenas he came to announce to her in Nazareth.' +This said, he broke off and went on with his mass.</p> + +<p>Now, when he said this, there were in the church, among many others, +two roguish young fellows, hight one Giovanni del Bragioniera and the +other Biagio Pizzini, who, after laughing with one another awhile over +Fra Cipolla's relic, took counsel together, for all they were great +friends and cronies of his, to play him some trick in the matter of +the feather in question. Accordingly, having learned that he was to +dine that morning with a friend of his in the burgh, they went down +into the street as soon as they knew him to be at table, and betook +themselves to the inn where he had alighted, purposing that Biagio +should hold his servant in parley, whilst Giovanni should search his +baggage for the feather aforesaid, whatever it might be, and carry it +off, to see what he should say to the people of the matter.</p> + +<p>Fra Cipolla had a servant, whom some called Guccio<a name="FNanchor_313_315" id="FNanchor_313_315"></a><a href="#Footnote_313_315" class="fnanchor">[313]</a> Balena,<a name="FNanchor_314_316" id="FNanchor_314_316"></a><a href="#Footnote_314_316" class="fnanchor">[314]</a> +others Guccio Imbratta<a name="FNanchor_315_317" id="FNanchor_315_317"></a><a href="#Footnote_315_317" class="fnanchor">[315]</a> and yet others Guccia Porco<a name="FNanchor_316_318" id="FNanchor_316_318"></a><a href="#Footnote_316_318" class="fnanchor">[316]</a> and who +was such a scurvy knave that Lipo Topo<a name="FNanchor_317_319" id="FNanchor_317_319"></a><a href="#Footnote_317_319" class="fnanchor">[317]</a> never wrought his like, +inasmuch as his master used oftentimes to jest of him with his cronies +and say, 'My servant hath in him nine defaults, such that, were one of +them in Solomon or Aristotle or Seneca, it would suffice to mar all +their worth, all their wit and all their sanctity. Consider, then, +what a man he must be, who hath all nine of them and in whom there is +neither worth nor wit nor sanctity.' Being questioned whiles what were +these nine defaults and having put them into doggerel rhyme, he would +answer, 'I will tell you. He's a liar, a sloven, a slugabed; +disobedient, neglectful, ill bred; o'erweening, foul-spoken, a +dunderhead; beside which he hath divers other peccadilloes, whereof it +booteth not to speak. But what is most laughable of all his fashions +is that, wherever he goeth, he is still for taking a wife and hiring a +house; for, having a big black greasy beard, him-seemeth he is so +exceeding handsome and agreeable that he conceiteth himself all the +women who see him fall in love with him, and if you let him alone, he +would<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_313" id="Page_313"></a></span> run after them all till he lost his girdle.<a name="FNanchor_318_320" id="FNanchor_318_320"></a><a href="#Footnote_318_320" class="fnanchor">[318]</a> Sooth to say, +he is of great assistance to me, for that none can ever seek to speak +with me so secretly but he must needs hear his share; and if it chance +that I be questioned of aught, he is so fearful lest I should not know +how to answer, that he straightway answereth for me both Ay and No, as +he judgeth sortable.'</p> + +<p>Now Fra Cipolla, in leaving him at the inn, had bidden him look well +that none touched his gear, and more particularly his saddle-bags, for +that therein were the sacred things. But Guccio, who was fonder of the +kitchen than the nightingale of the green boughs, especially if he +scented some serving-wench there, and who had seen in that of the inn +a gross fat cookmaid, undersized and ill-made, with a pair of paps +that showed like two manure-baskets and a face like a cadger's, all +sweaty, greasy and smoky, leaving Fra Cipolla's chamber and all his +gear to care for themselves, swooped down upon the kitchen, even as +the vulture swoopeth upon carrion, and seating himself by the fire, +for all it was August, entered into discourse with the wench in +question, whose name was Nuta, telling her that he was by rights a +gentleman and had more than nine millions of florins, beside that +which he had to give others, which was rather more than less, and that +he could do and say God only knew what. Moreover, without regard to +his bonnet, whereon was grease enough to have seasoned the caldron of +Altopascio,<a name="FNanchor_319_321" id="FNanchor_319_321"></a><a href="#Footnote_319_321" class="fnanchor">[319]</a> and his doublet all torn and pieced and enamelled +with filth about the collar and under the armpits, with more spots and +patches of divers colours than ever had Turkey or India stuffs, and +his shoes all broken and hose unsewn, he told her, as he had been the +Sieur de Châtillon,<a name="FNanchor_320_322" id="FNanchor_320_322"></a><a href="#Footnote_320_322" class="fnanchor">[320]</a> that he meant to clothe her and trick her out +anew and deliver her from the wretchedness of abiding with +others,<a name="FNanchor_321_323" id="FNanchor_321_323"></a><a href="#Footnote_321_323" class="fnanchor">[321]</a> and bring her to hope of better fortune, if without any +great wealth in possession, and many other things, which, for all he +delivered them very earnestly, all turned to wind and came to nought, +as did most of his enterprises.</p> + +<p>The two young men, accordingly, found Guccio busy about Nuta, whereat +they were well pleased, for that it spared them half their pains, and +entering Fra Cipolla's chamber, which they found open, the first thing +that came under their examination was the saddle-bags wherein was the +feather. In<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_314" id="Page_314"></a></span> these they found, enveloped in a great taffetas wrapper, +a little casket and opening this latter, discovered therein a parrot's +tail-feather, which they concluded must be that which the friar had +promised to show the people of Certaldo. And certes he might lightly +cause it to be believed in those days, for that the refinements of +Egypt had not yet made their way save into a small part of Tuscany, as +they have since done in very great abundance, to the undoing of all +Italy; and wherever they may have been some little known, in those +parts they were well nigh altogether unknown of the inhabitants; nay +the rude honesty of the ancients yet enduring there, not only had they +never set eyes on a parrot, but were far from having ever heard tell +of such a bird. The young men, then, rejoiced at finding the feather, +laid hands on it and not to leave the casket empty, filled it with +some coals they saw in a corner of the room and shut it again. Then, +putting all things in order as they had found them, they made off in +high glee with the feather, without having been seen, and began to +await what Fra Cipolli should say, when he found the coals in place +thereof.</p> + +<p>The simple men and women who were in the church, hearing that they +were to see the Angel Gabriel's feather after none, returned home, as +soon as mass was over, and neighbor telling it to neighbor and gossip +to gossip, no sooner had they all dined than so many men and women +flocked to the burgh that it would scarce hold them, all looking +eagerly to see the aforesaid feather. Fra Cipolla, having well dined +and after slept awhile, arose a little after none and hearing of the +great multitude of country folk come to see the feather, sent to bid +Guccio Imbratta come thither with the bells and bring his saddle-bags. +Guccio, tearing himself with difficulty away from the kitchen and +Nuta, betook himself with the things required to the appointed place, +whither coming, out of breath, for that the water he had drunken had +made his belly swell amain, he repaired, by his master's commandment, +to the church door and fell to ringing the bells lustily.</p> + +<p>When all the people were assembled there, Fra Cipolla, without +observing that aught of his had been meddled with, began his +preachment and said many words anent his affairs; after which, +thinking to come to the showing of the Angel Gabriel's feather, he +first recited the Confiteor with the utmost solemnity and let kindle a +pair of flambeaux; then, pulling off his bonnet, he delicately +unfolded the taffetas wrapper and brought out the casket. Having first +pronounced certain ejaculations in praise and commendation of the +Angel Gabriel and of his relic, he opened the casket and seeing it +full of coals, suspected not Guccio Balena of having played him this +trick, for that he knew him not to be man enough; nor did he curse him +for having kept ill watch lest others should do it, but silently +cursed himself for having committed to him the care of his gear, +knowing him, as he did, to be negligent, disobedient, careless and +forgetful.</p> + +<p>Nevertheless, without changing colour, he raised his eyes and hands to +heaven and said, so as to be heard of all, 'O God, praised be still +thy puissance!' Then, shutting the casket and turning to the people, +'Gentlemen and ladies,'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_315" id="Page_315"></a></span> quoth he, 'you must know that, whilst I was +yet very young, I was dispatched by my superior to those parts where +the sun riseth and it was expressly commanded me that I should seek +till I found the Privileges of Porcellana, which, though they cost +nothing to seal, are much more useful to others than to us. On this +errand I set out from Venice and passed through Borgo de' Greci,<a name="FNanchor_322_324" id="FNanchor_322_324"></a><a href="#Footnote_322_324" class="fnanchor">[322]</a> +whence, riding through the kingdom of Algarve and Baldacca,<a name="FNanchor_323_325" id="FNanchor_323_325"></a><a href="#Footnote_323_325" class="fnanchor">[323]</a> I +came to Parione,<a name="FNanchor_324_326" id="FNanchor_324_326"></a><a href="#Footnote_324_326" class="fnanchor">[324]</a> and from there, not without thirst, I came after +awhile into Sardinia. But what booteth it to set out to you in detail +all the lands explored by me? Passing the straits of San Giorgio,<a name="FNanchor_325_327" id="FNanchor_325_327"></a><a href="#Footnote_325_327" class="fnanchor">[325]</a> +I came into Truffia<a name="FNanchor_326_328" id="FNanchor_326_328"></a><a href="#Footnote_326_328" class="fnanchor">[326]</a> and Buffia,<a name="FNanchor_327_329" id="FNanchor_327_329"></a><a href="#Footnote_327_329" class="fnanchor">[327]</a> countries much inhabited and +with great populations, and thence into the land of Menzogna,<a name="FNanchor_328_330" id="FNanchor_328_330"></a><a href="#Footnote_328_330" class="fnanchor">[328]</a> +where I found great plenty of our brethren and of friars of other +religious orders, who all went about those parts, shunning unease for +the love of God, recking little of others' travail, whenas they saw +their own advantage to ensue, and spending none other money than such +as was uncoined.<a name="FNanchor_329_331" id="FNanchor_329_331"></a><a href="#Footnote_329_331" class="fnanchor">[329]</a> Thence I passed into the land of the Abruzzi, +where the men and women go in clogs over the mountains, clothing the +swine in their own guts;<a name="FNanchor_330_332" id="FNanchor_330_332"></a><a href="#Footnote_330_332" class="fnanchor">[330]</a> and a little farther I found folk who +carried bread on sticks and wine in bags. From this I came to the +Mountains of the Bachi, where all the waters run down hill; and in +brief, I made my way so far inward that I won at last even to India +Pastinaca,<a name="FNanchor_331_333" id="FNanchor_331_333"></a><a href="#Footnote_331_333" class="fnanchor">[331]</a> where I swear to you, by the habit I wear on my back, +that I saw hedge-bills<a name="FNanchor_332_334" id="FNanchor_332_334"></a><a href="#Footnote_332_334" class="fnanchor">[332]</a> fly, a thing incredible to whoso hath not +seen it. But of this Maso del Saggio will confirm me, whom I found +there a great merchant, cracking walnuts and selling the shells by +retail.</p> + +<p>Being unable to find that which I went seeking, for that thence one +goeth thither by water, I turned back and arrived in those holy +countries, where, in summer-years, cold bread is worth four farthings +a loaf and the hot goeth for nothing. There I found the venerable +father my lord Blamemenot Anitpleaseyou, the very worshipful Patriarch +of Jerusalem, who, for reverence of the habit I have still worn of my +lord Baron St. Anthony, would have me see all the holy relics that he +had about<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_316" id="Page_316"></a></span> him and which were so many that, an I sought to recount +them all to you, I should not come to an end thereof in several miles. +However, not to leave you disconsolate, I will tell you some thereof. +First, he showed me the finger of the Holy Ghost, as whole and sound +as ever it was, and the forelock of the seraph that appeared to St. +Francis and one of the nails of the Cherubim and one of the ribs of +the Verbum Caro<a name="FNanchor_333_335" id="FNanchor_333_335"></a><a href="#Footnote_333_335" class="fnanchor">[333]</a> Get-thee-to-the-windows and some of the vestments +of the Holy Catholic Faith and divers rays of the star that appeared +to the Three Wise Men in the East and a vial of the sweat of St. +Michael, whenas he fought with the devil, and the jawbone of the death +of St. Lazarus and others. And for that I made him a free gift of the +Steeps<a name="FNanchor_334_336" id="FNanchor_334_336"></a><a href="#Footnote_334_336" class="fnanchor">[334]</a> of Monte Morello in the vernacular and of some chapters of +the Caprezio,<a name="FNanchor_335_337" id="FNanchor_335_337"></a><a href="#Footnote_335_337" class="fnanchor">[335]</a> which he had long gone seeking, he made me a sharer +in his holy relics and gave me one of the teeth of the Holy Rood and +somewhat of the sound of the bells of Solomon's Temple in a vial and +the feather of the Angel Gabriel, whereof I have already bespoken you, +and one of the pattens of St. Gherardo da Villa Magna, which not long +since at Florence I gave to Gherardo di Bonsi, who hath a particular +devotion for that saint; and he gave me also of the coals wherewith +the most blessed martyr St. Lawrence was roasted; all which things I +devoutly brought home with me and yet have. True it is that my +superior hath never suffered me to show them till such time as he +should be certified if they were the very things or not. But now that, +by certain miracles performed by them and by letters received from the +patriarch, he hath been made certain of this, he hath granted me leave +to show them; and I, fearing to trust them to others, still carry them +with me.</p> + +<p>Now I carry the Angel Gabriel's feather, so it may not be marred, in +one casket, and the coals wherewith St. Lawrence was roasted in +another, the which are so like one to other, that it hath often +happened to me to take one for the other, and so hath it betided me at +this present, for that, thinking to bring hither the casket wherein +was the feather, I have brought that wherein are the coals. The which +I hold not to have been an error; nay, meseemeth certain that it was +God's will and that He Himself placed the casket with the coals in my +hands, especially now I mind me that the feast of St. Lawrence is but +two days hence; wherefore God, willing that, by showing you the coals +wherewith he was roasted, I should rekindle in your hearts the +devotion it behoveth you have for him, caused me take, not the +feather, as I purposed, but the blessed coals extinguished by the +sweat of that most holy body. So, O my blessed children, put off your +bonnets and draw near devoutly to behold them; but first I would have +you knew that whoso is scored with these coals, in the form of the +sign of the cross, may rest assured, for the whole year to come, that +fire shall not touch him but he shall feel it.'</p> + +<p>Having thus spoken, he opened the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_317" id="Page_317"></a></span> casket, chanting the while a +canticle in praise of St. Lawrence, and showed the coals, which after +the simple multitude had awhile beheld with reverent admiration, they +all crowded about Fra Cipolla and making him better offerings than +they were used, besought him to touch them withal. Accordingly, taking +the coals in hand, he fell to making the biggest crosses for which he +could find room upon their white smocks and doublets and upon the +veils of the women, avouching that how much soever the coals +diminished in making these crosses, they after grew again in the +casket, as he had many a time proved. On this wise he crossed all the +people of Certaldo, to his no small profit, and thus, by his ready wit +and presence of mind, he baffled those who, by taking the feather from +him, had thought to baffle him and who, being present at his +preachment and hearing the rare shift employed by him and from how far +he had taken it and with what words, had so laughed that they thought +to have cracked their jaws. Then, after the common folk had departed, +they went up to him and with all the mirth in the world discovered to +him that which they had done and after restored him his feather, which +next year stood him in as good stead as the coals had done that day."</p> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p>This story afforded unto all the company alike the utmost pleasure and +solace, and it was much laughed of all at Fra Cipolla, and +particularly of his pilgrimage and the relics seen and brought back by +him. The queen, seeing the story and likewise her sovantry at an end, +rose to her feet and put off the crown, which she set laughingly on +Dioneo's head, saying, "It is time, Dioneo, that thou prove awhile +what manner charge it is to have ladies to govern and guide; be thou, +then, king and rule on such wise that, in the end, we may have reason +to give ourselves joy of thy governance." Dioneo took the crown and +answered, laughing, "You may often enough have seen much better kings +than I, I mean chess-kings; but, an you obey me as a king should in +truth be obeyed, I will cause you enjoy that without which assuredly +no entertainment is ever complete in its gladness. But let that talk +be; I will rule as best I know."</p> + +<p>Then, sending for the seneschal, according to the wonted usance, he +orderly enjoined him of that which he should do during the continuance +of his seignory and after said, "Noble ladies, it hath in divers +manners been devised of human industry<a name="FNanchor_336_338" id="FNanchor_336_338"></a><a href="#Footnote_336_338" class="fnanchor">[336]</a> and of the various chances +[of fortune,] insomuch that, had not Dame Licisca come hither a while +agone and found me matter with her prate for our morrow's relations, I +misdoubt me I should have been long at pains to find a subject of +discourse. As you heard, she avouched that she had not a single gossip +who had come to her husband a maid and added that she knew right well +how many and what manner tricks married women yet played their +husbands. But, letting be the first part, which is a childish matter, +methinketh the second should be an agreeable subject for discourse; +wherefore I will and ordain it that, since Licisca hath given us +occasion therefor, it be discoursed to-morrow<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_318" id="Page_318"></a></span> OF THE TRICKS WHICH, OR +FOR LOVE OR FOR THEIR OWN PRESERVATION, WOMEN HAVE HERETOFORE PLAYED +THEIR HUSBANDS, WITH OR WITHOUT THE LATTER'S COGNIZANCE THEREOF."</p> + +<p>It seemed to some of the ladies that to discourse of such a matter +would ill beseem them and they prayed him, therefore, to change the +theme proposed; wherefore answered he, "Ladies, I am no less cognizant +than yourselves of that which I have ordained, and that which you +would fain allege to me availed not to deter me from ordaining it, +considering that the times are such that, provided men and women are +careful to eschew unseemly actions, all liberty of discourse is +permitted. Know you not that, for the malignity of the season, the +judges have forsaken the tribunals, that the laws, as well Divine as +human, are silent and full licence is conceded unto every one for the +preservation of his life? Wherefore, if your modesty allow itself some +little freedom in discourse, not with intent to ensue it with aught of +unseemly in deeds, but to afford yourselves and others diversion, I +see not with what plausible reason any can blame you in the future. +Moreover, your company, from the first day of our assembling until +this present, hath been most decorous, nor, for aught that hath been +said here, doth it appear to me that its honour hath anywise been +sullied. Again, who is there knoweth not your virtue? Which, not to +say mirthful discourse, but even fear of death I do not believe could +avail to shake. And to tell you the truth, whosoever should hear that +you shrank from devising bytimes of these toys would be apt to suspect +that you were guilty in the matter and were therefore unwilling to +discourse thereof. To say nothing of the fine honour you would do me +in that, I having been obedient unto all, you now, having made me your +king, seek to lay down the law to me, and not to discourse of the +subject which I propose. Put off, then, this misdoubtance, apter to +mean minds than to yours, and good luck to you, let each of you +bethink herself of some goodly story to tell." When the ladies heard +this, they said it should be as he pleased; whereupon he gave them all +leave to do their several pleasures until supper-time.</p> + +<p>The sun was yet high, for that the discoursement<a name="FNanchor_337_339" id="FNanchor_337_339"></a><a href="#Footnote_337_339" class="fnanchor">[337]</a> had been brief; +wherefor Dioneo having addressed himself to play at tables with the +other young men, Elisa called the other ladies apart and said to them, +"Since we have been here, I have still wished to carry you to a place +very near at hand, whither methinketh none of you hath ever been and +which is called the Ladies' Valley, but have never yet found an +occasion of bringing you thither unto to-day; wherefore, as the sun is +yet high, I doubt not but, an it please you come thither, you will be +exceeding well pleased to have been there." They answered that they +were ready and calling one of their maids, set out upon their way, +without letting the young men know aught thereof; nor had they gone +much more than a mile, when they came to the Ladies' Valley. They +entered therein by a very strait way, on one side whereof ran a very +clear<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_319" id="Page_319"></a></span> streamlet, and saw it as fair and as delectable, especially at +that season whenas the heat was great, as most might be conceived. +According to that which one of them after told me, the plain that was +in the valley was as round as if it had been traced with the compass, +albeit it seemed the work of nature and not of art, and was in circuit +a little more than half a mile, encompassed about with six little +hills not over-high, on the summit of each of which stood a palace +builded in guise of a goodly castle. The sides of these hills went +sloping gradually downward to the plain on such wise as we see in +amphitheatres, the degrees descend in ordered succession from the +highest to the lowest, still contracting their circuit; and of these +slopes those which looked toward the south were all full of vines and +olives and almonds and cherries and figs and many another kind of +fruit-bearing trees, without a span thereof being wasted; whilst those +which faced the North Star<a name="FNanchor_338_340" id="FNanchor_338_340"></a><a href="#Footnote_338_340" class="fnanchor">[338]</a> were all covered with thickets of +dwarf oaks and ashes and other trees as green and straight as might +be. The middle plain, which had no other inlet than that whereby the +ladies were come thither, was full of firs and cypresses and laurels +and various sorts of pines, as well arrayed and ordered as if the best +artist in that kind had planted them; and between these little or no +sun, even at its highest, made its way to the ground, which was all +one meadow of very fine grass, thick-sown with flowers purpurine and +others. Moreover, that which afforded no less delight than otherwhat +was a little stream, which ran down from a valley that divided two of +the hills aforesaid and falling over cliffs of live rock, made a +murmur very delectable to hear, what while it showed from afar, as it +broke over the stones, like so much quicksilver jetting out, under +pressure of somewhat, into fine spray. As it came down into the little +plain, it was there received into a fair channel and ran very swiftly +into the middest thereof, where it formed a lakelet, such as the +townsfolk made whiles, by way of fishpond, in their gardens, whenas +they have a commodity thereof. This lakelet was no deeper than a man's +stature, breast high, and its waters being exceeding clear and +altogether untroubled with any admixture, it showed its bottom to be +of a very fine gravel, the grains whereof whoso had nought else to do +might, an he would, have availed to number; nor, looking into the +water, was the bottom alone to be seen, nay, but so many fish fleeting +hither and thither that, over and above the pleasure thereof, it was a +marvel to behold; nor was it enclosed with other banks than the very +soil of the meadow, which was the goodlier thereabout in so much as it +received the more of its moisture. The water that abounded over and +above the capacity of the lake was received into another channel, +whereby, issuing forth of the little valley, it ran off into the lower +parts.</p> + +<p>Hither then came the young ladies and after they had gazed all about +and much commended the place, they took counsel together to bathe, for +that the heat was great and that they saw the lakelet before them and +were in no fear of being seen. Accordingly, bidding<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_320" id="Page_320"></a></span> their serving +maid abide over against the way whereby one entered there and look if +any should come and give them notice thereof, they stripped themselves +naked, all seven, and entered the lake, which hid their white bodies +no otherwise than as a thin glass would do with a vermeil rose. Then, +they being therein and no troubling of the water ensuing thereof, they +fell, as best they might, to faring hither and thither in pursuit of +the fish, which had uneath where to hide themselves, and seeking to +take them with the naked hand. After they had abidden awhile in such +joyous pastime and had taken some of the fish, they came forth of the +lakelet and clad themselves anew. Then, unable to commend the place +more than they had already done and themseeming time to turn homeward, +they set out, with soft step, upon their way, discoursing much of the +goodliness of the valley.</p> + +<p>They reached the palace betimes and there found the young men yet at +play where they had left them; to whom quoth Pampinea, laughing. "We +have e'en stolen a march on you to-day." "How?" asked Dioneo. "Do you +begin to do deeds ere you come to say words?"<a name="FNanchor_339_341" id="FNanchor_339_341"></a><a href="#Footnote_339_341" class="fnanchor">[339]</a> "Ay, my lord," +answered she and related to him at large whence they came and how the +place was fashioned and how far distant thence and that which they had +done. The king, hearing tell of the goodliness of the place and +desirous of seeing it, caused straightway order the supper, which +being dispatched to the general satisfaction, the three young men, +leaving the ladies, betook themselves with their servants to the +valley and having viewed it in every part, for that none of them had +ever been there before, extolled it for one of the goodliest things in +the world. Then, for that it grew late, after they had bathed and +donned their clothes, they returned home, where they found the ladies +dancing a round, to the accompaniment of a song sung by Fiammetta.</p> + +<p>The dance ended, they entered with them into a discourse of the +Ladies' Valley and said much in praise and commendation thereof. +Moreover, the king, sending for the seneschal, bade him look that the +dinner be made ready there on the following morning and have sundry +beds carried thither, in case any should have a mind to lie or sleep +there for nooning; after which he let bring lights and wine and +confections and the company having somedele refreshed themselves, he +commanded that all should address themselves to dancing. Then, Pamfilo +having, at his commandment, set up a dance, the king turned to Elisa +and said courteously to her, "Fair damsel, thou has to-day done me the +honour of the crown and I purpose this evening to do thee that of the +song; wherefore look thou sing such an one as most liketh thee." Elisa +answered, smiling, that she would well and with dulcet voice began on +this wise:</p> + +<p class="cpoem"> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Love, from thy clutches could I but win free,</span><br /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_321" id="Page_321"></a></span><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Hardly, methinks, again</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Shall any other hook take hold on me.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">I entered in thy wars a youngling maid,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Thinking thy strife was utmost peace and sweet,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">And all my weapons on the ground I laid,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">As one secure, undoubting of defeat;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">But thou, false tyrant, with rapacious heat,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Didst fall on me amain</span><br /> +With all the grapnels of thine armoury.<br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Then, wound about and fettered with thy chains,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">To him, who for my death in evil hour</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Was born, thou gav'st me, bounden, full of pains</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">And bitter tears; and syne within his power</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">He hath me and his rule's so harsh and dour</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">No sighs can move the swain</span><br /> +Nor all my wasting plaints to set me free.<br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">My prayers, the wild winds bear them all away;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">He hearkeneth unto none and none will hear;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Wherefore each hour my torment waxeth aye;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">I cannot die, albeit life irks me drear.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Ah, Lord, have pity on my heavy cheer;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Do that I seek in vain</span><br /> +And give him bounden in thy chains to me.<br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">An this thou wilt not, at the least undo</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">The bonds erewhen of hope that knitted were;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Alack, O Lord, thereof to thee I sue,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">For, an thou do it, yet to waxen fair</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Again I trust, as was my use whilere,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">And being quit of pain</span><br /> +Myself with white flowers and with red besee.<br /> +</p> + +<p>Elisa ended her song with a very plaintive sigh, and albeit all +marvelled at the words thereof, yet was there none who might conceive +what it was that caused her sing thus. But the king, who was in a +merry mood, calling for Tindaro, bade him bring out his bagpipes, to +the sound whereof he let dance many dances; after which, a great part +of the night being now past, he bade each go sleep.</p> + + +<p class="center"><br /> +<b>HERE ENDETH THE SIXTH DAY<br /> +OF THE DECAMERON</b> +</p> + + + +<hr class="long" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_322" id="Page_322"></a></span></p> +<h1><a name="Day_the_Seventh" id="Day_the_Seventh"></a><i>Day the Seventh</i></h1> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="hang"><span class="lgsmcap">Here Beginneth the Seventh Day of the Decameron Wherein +Under the Governance of Dioneo Is Discoursed of the Tricks +Which or for Love or for Their Own Preservation Women Have +Heretofore Played Their Husbands With or Without the +Latter's Cognizance Thereof</span></p></div> + + +<p><br /><span class="smcap">Every</span> star was already fled from the parts of the East, save only that +which we style Lucifer and which shone yet in the whitening dawn, when +the seneschal, arising, betook himself, with a great baggage-train, to +the Ladies' Valley, there to order everything, according to +commandment had of his lord. The king, whom the noise of the packers +and of the beasts had awakened, tarried not long after his departure +to rise and being risen, caused arouse all the ladies and likewise the +young men; nor had the rays of the sun yet well broken forth, when +they all entered upon the road. Never yet had the nightingales and the +other birds seemed to them to sing so blithely as they did that +morning, what while, accompanied by their carols, they repaired to the +Ladies' Valley, where they were received by many more, which seemed to +them to make merry for their coming. There, going round about the +place and reviewing it all anew, it appeared to them so much fairer +than on the foregoing day as the season of the day was more sorted to +its goodliness. Then, after they had broken their fast with good wine +and confections, not to be behindhand with the birds in the matter of +song, they fell a-singing and the valley with them, still echoing +those same songs which they did sing, whereto all the birds, as if +they would not be outdone, added new and dulcet notes. Presently, the +dinner-hour being come and the tables spread hard by the fair lakelet +under the thickset laurels and other goodly trees, they seated +themselves there, as it pleased the king, and eating, watched the fish +swim in vast shoals about the lake, which gave bytimes occasion for +talk as well as observation. When they had made an end of dining and +the meats and tables were removed, they fell anew to singing more +blithely than ever; after which, beds having been spread in various +places about the little valley and all enclosed about by the discreet +seneschal with curtains and canopies of French serge, whoso would +might with the king's permission, go sleep; whilst those who had no +mind to sleep might at their will take pleasure of their other wonted +pastimes. But, after awhile, all being now arisen and the hour come +when they should assemble together for story-telling, carpets were, at +the king's commandment, spread upon the grass, not far from the place +where they had eaten, and all having seated themselves thereon hard by +the lake, the king bade Emilia begin; whereupon she blithely proceeded +to speak, smiling, thus:</p> + + + +<hr class="short" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_323" id="Page_323"></a></span></p> +<h2><br /><a name="THE_FIRST_STORY7" id="THE_FIRST_STORY7"></a>THE FIRST STORY</h2> + +<div class="sidenote">Day the Seventh</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="hang">GIANNI LOTTERINGHI HEARETH KNOCK AT HIS DOOR BY NIGHT AND +AWAKENETH HIS WIFE, WHO GIVETH HIM TO BELIEVE THAT IT IS A +PHANTOM; WHEREUPON THEY GO TO EXORCISE IT WITH A CERTAIN +ORISON AND THE KNOCKING CEASETH</p></div> + + +<p><br /><span class="smcap">"My Lord</span>, it had been very agreeable to me, were such your pleasure, +that other than I should have given a beginning to so goodly a matter +as is that whereof we are to speak; but, since it pleaseth you that I +give all the other ladies assurance by my example, I will gladly do +it. Moreover, dearest ladies, I will study to tell a thing that may be +useful to you in time to come, for that, if you others are as fearful +as I, and especially of phantoms, (though what manner of thing they +may be God knoweth I know not, nor ever found I any woman who knew it, +albeit all are alike adread of them,) you may, by noting well my +story, learn a holy and goodly orison of great virtue for the +conjuring them away, should they come to you.</p> + +<p>There was once in Florence, in the quarter of San Brancazio, a +wool-comber called Gianni Lotteringhi, a man more fortunate in his +craft than wise in other things, for that, savoring of the simpleton, +he was very often made captain of the Laudsingers<a name="FNanchor_340_342" id="FNanchor_340_342"></a><a href="#Footnote_340_342" class="fnanchor">[340]</a> of Santa Maria +Novella and had the governance of their confraternity, and he many a +time had other little offices of the same kind, upon which he much +valued himself. This betided him for that, being a man of substance, +he gave many a good pittance to the clergy, who, getting of him often, +this a pair of hose, that a gown and another a scapulary, taught him +in return store of goodly orisons and gave him the paternoster in the +vulgar tongue, the Song of Saint Alexis, the Lamentations of Saint +Bernard, the Canticles of Madam Matilda and the like trumpery, all +which he held very dear and kept very diligently for his soul's +health. Now he had a very fair and lovesome lady to wife, by name +Mistress Tessa, who was the daughter of Mannuccio dalla Cuculia and +was exceeding discreet and well advised. She, knowing her husband's +simplicity and being enamoured of Federigo di Neri Pegolotti, a brisk +and handsome youth, and he of her, took order with a serving-maid of +hers that he should come speak with her at a very goodly country house +which her husband had at Camerata, where she sojourned all the summer +and whither Gianni came whiles to sup and sleep, returning in the +morning to his shop and bytimes to his Laudsingers.</p> + +<p>Federigo, who desired this beyond measure, taking his opportunity, +repaired thither on the day appointed him towards vespers and Gianni +not coming thither that evening, supped and lay the night in all ease +and delight with the lady, who, being in his arms, taught him that +night a good half dozen of her husband's lauds. Then, neither she nor +Federigo purposing that this should be the last, as it had been the +first time [of their foregathering], they took order together on this +wise, so it should not be needful to send the maid<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_324" id="Page_324"></a></span> for him each time, +to wit, that every day, as he came and went to and from a place he had +a little farther on, he should keep his eye on a vineyard that +adjoined the house, where he would see an ass's skull set up on one of +the vine poles, which whenas he saw with the muzzle turned towards +Florence, he should without fail and in all assurance betake himself +to her that evening after dark; and if he found the door shut he +should knock softly thrice and she would open to him; but that, whenas +he saw the ass's muzzle turned towards Fiesole, he should not come, +for that Gianni would be there; and doing on this wise, they +foregathered many a time.</p> + +<p>But once, amongst other times, it chanced that, Federigo being one +night to sup with Mistress Tessa and she having let cook two fat +capons, Gianni, who was not expected there that night, came thither +very late, whereat the lady was much chagrined and having supped with +her husband on a piece of salt pork, which she had let boil apart, +caused the maid wrap the two boiled capons in a white napkin and carry +them, together with good store of new-laid eggs and a flask of good +wine, into a garden she had, whither she could go, without passing +through the house, and where she was wont to sup whiles with her +lover, bidding her lay them at the foot of a peach-tree that grew +beside a lawn there. But such was her trouble and annoy that she +remembered not to bid the maid wait till Federigo should come and tell +him that Gianni was there and that he should take the viands from the +garden; wherefore, she and Gianni betaking themselves to bed and the +maid likewise, it was not long before Federigo came to the door and +knocked softly once. The door was so near to the bedchamber that +Gianni heard it incontinent, as also did the lady; but she made a show +of being asleep, so her husband might have no suspicion of her. After +waiting a little, Federigo knocked a second time, whereupon Gianni, +marvelling, nudged his wife somewhat and said, 'Tessa, hearest thou +what I hear? Meseemeth there is a knocking at our door.'</p> + +<p>The lady, who had heard it much better than he, made a show of awaking +and said, 'Eh? How sayst thou?' 'I say,' answered Gianni, 'that +meseemeth there is a knocking at our door.' 'Knocking!' cried she. +'Alack, Gianni mine, knowst thou not what it is? It is a phantom, that +hath these last few nights given me the greatest fright that ever was, +insomuch that, whenas I hear it, I put my head under the clothes and +dare not bring it out again until it is broad day.' Quoth Gianni, 'Go +to, wife; have no fear, if it be so; for I said the <i>Te Lucis</i> and the +<i>Intemerata</i> and such and such other pious orisons, before we lay +down, and crossed the bed from side to side, in the name of the +Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, so that we have no need to fear, +for that, what power soever it have, it cannot avail to harm us.'</p> + +<p>The lady, fearing lest Federigo should perchance suspect otherwhat and +be angered with her, determined at all hazards to arise and let him +know that Gianni was there; wherefore quoth she to her husband, 'That +is all very well; thou sayst thy words, thou; but, for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_325" id="Page_325"></a></span> my part, I +shall never hold myself safe nor secure, except we exorcise it, since +thou art here.' 'And how is it to be exorcised?' asked he; and she, 'I +know full well how to exorcise it; for, the other day, when I went to +the Pardon at Fiesole, a certain anchoress (the very holiest of +creatures, Gianni mine, God only can say how holy she is,) seeing me +thus fearful, taught me a pious and effectual orison and told me that +she had made trial of it several times, ere she became a recluse, and +that it had always availed her. God knoweth I should never have dared +go alone to make proof of it; but, now that thou art here, I would +have us go exorcise the phantom.'</p> + +<p>Gianni answered that he would well and accordingly they both arose and +went softly to the door, without which Federigo, who now began to +misdoubt him of somewhat, was yet in waiting. When they came thither, +the lady said to Gianni, 'Do thou spit, whenas I shall bid thee.' And +he answered, 'Good.' Then she began the conjuration and said, +'Phantom, phantom that goest by night, with tail upright<a name="FNanchor_341_343" id="FNanchor_341_343"></a><a href="#Footnote_341_343" class="fnanchor">[341]</a> thou +cam'st to us; now get thee gone with tail upright. Begone into the +garden to the foot of the great peach tree; there shalt thou find an +anointed twice-anointed one<a name="FNanchor_342_344" id="FNanchor_342_344"></a><a href="#Footnote_342_344" class="fnanchor">[342]</a> and an hundred turds of my sitting +hen;<a name="FNanchor_343_345" id="FNanchor_343_345"></a><a href="#Footnote_343_345" class="fnanchor">[343]</a> set thy mouth to the flagon and get thee gone again and do +thou no hurt to my Gianni nor to me.' Then to her husband, 'Spit, +Gianni,' quoth she, and he spat. Federigo, who heard all this from +without and was now quit of jealousy, had, for all his vexation, so +great a mind to laugh that he was like to burst, and when Gianni spat, +he said under his breath '[Would it were] thy teeth!'</p> + +<p>The lady, having thrice conjured the phantom on this wise, returned to +bed with her husband, whilst Federigo, who had not supped, looking to +sup with her, and had right well apprehended the words of the +conjuration, betook himself to the garden and finding the capons and +wine and eggs at the foot of the great peach-tree, carried them off to +his house and there supped at his ease; and after, when he next +foregathered with the lady, he had a hearty laugh with her anent the +conjuration aforesaid. Some say indeed that the lady had actually +turned the ass's skull towards Fiesole, but that a husbandman, passing +through the vineyard, had given it a blow with a stick and caused it +spin round and it had become turned towards Florence, wherefore +Federigo, thinking himself summoned, had come thither, and that the +lady had made the conjuration on this wise: 'Phantom, phantom, get +thee gone in God's name; for it was not I turned the ass's head; but +another it was, God put him to shame! and I am here with my Gianni in +bed'; whereupon he went away and abode without supper or lodging. But +a neighbour of mine, a very ancient lady, telleth me that, according +to that which she heard, when a child, both the one and the other were +true; but that the latter happened, not to Gianni Lotteringhi, but to +one Gianni di Nello, who abode at Porta San Piero and was no less +exquisite a ninny than the other.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_326" id="Page_326"></a></span> Wherefore, dear my ladies, it +abideth at your election to take whether of the two orisons most +pleaseth you, except you will have both. They have great virtue in +such cases, as you have had proof in the story you have heard; get +them, therefore, by heart and they may yet avail you."</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="THE_SECOND_STORY7" id="THE_SECOND_STORY7"></a>THE SECOND STORY</h2> + +<div class="sidenote">Day the Seventh</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="hang">PERONELLA HIDETH A LOVER OF HERS IN A VAT, UPON HER +HUSBAND'S UNLOOKED FOR RETURN, AND HEARING FROM THE LATTER +THAT HE HATH SOLD THE VAT, AVOUCHETH HERSELF TO HAVE SOLD IT +TO ONE WHO IS PRESENTLY THEREWITHIN, TO SEE IF IT BE SOUND; +WHEREUPON THE GALLANT, JUMPING OUT OF THE VAT, CAUSETH THE +HUSBAND SCRAPE IT OUT FOR HIM AND AFTER CARRY IT HOME TO HIS +HOUSE</p></div> + + +<p><br /><span class="smcap">Emilia's</span> story was received with loud laughter and the conjuration +commended of all as goodly and excellent; and this come to an end, the +king bade Filostrato follow on, who accordingly began, "Dearest +ladies, so many are the tricks that men, and particularly husbands, +play you, that, if some woman chance whiles to put a cheat upon her +husband, you should not only be blithe that this hath happened and +take pleasure in coming to know it or hearing it told of any, but +should yourselves go telling it everywhere, so men may understand +that, if they are knowing, women, on their part, are no less so! the +which cannot be other than useful unto you, for that, when one knoweth +that another is on the alert, he setteth himself not overlightly to +cozen him. Who, then, can doubt but that which we shall say to-day +concerning this matter, coming to be known of men, may be exceeding +effectual in restraining them from cozening you ladies, whenas they +find that you likewise know how to cozen, an you will? I purpose, +therefore, to tell you the trick which, on the spur of the moment, a +young woman, albeit she was of mean condition, played her husband for +her own preservation.</p> + +<p>In Naples no great while agone there was a poor man who took to wife a +fair and lovesome damsel called Peronella, and albeit he with his +craft, which was that of a mason, and she by spinning, earned but a +slender pittance, they ordered their life as best they might. It +chanced one day that a young gallant of the neighbourhood saw this +Peronella and she pleasing him mightily, he fell in love with her and +importuned her one way and another till he became familiar with her +and they took order with each other on this wise, so they might be +together; to wit, seeing that her husband arose every morning betimes +to go to work or to find work, they agreed that the young man should +be whereas he might see him go out, and that, as soon as he was +gone,—the street where she abode, which was called Avorio, being very +solitary,—he should come to her house. On this wise they did many +times; but one<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_327" id="Page_327"></a></span> morning, the good man having gone out and Giannello +Strignario (for so was the lover named) having entered the house and +being with Peronella, it chanced that, after awhile, the husband +returned home, whereas it was his wont to be abroad all day, and +finding the door locked within, knocked and after fell a-saying in +himself, 'O my God, praised be Thou ever! For, though Thou hast made +me poor, at least Thou hast comforted me with a good and honest damsel +to wife. See how she locked the door within as soon as I was gone out, +so none might enter to do her any annoy.'</p> + +<p>Peronella, knowing her husband by his way of knocking, said to her +lover, 'Alack, Giannello mine, I am a dead woman! For here is my +husband, whom God confound, come back and I know not what this +meaneth, for never yet came he back hither at this hour; belike he saw +thee whenas thou enteredst here. But, for the love of God, however the +case may be, get thee into yonder vat, whilst I go open to him, and we +shall see what is the meaning of his returning home so early this +morning.' Accordingly, Giannello betook himself in all haste into the +vat, whilst Peronella, going to the door, opened to her husband and +said to him, with an angry air, 'What is to do now, that thou +returnest home so soon this morning? Meseemeth thou hast a mind to do +nought to-day, that I see thee come back, tools in hand; and if thou +do thus, on what are we to live? Whence shall we get bread? Thinkest +thou I will suffer thee pawn my gown and my other poor clothes? I, who +do nothing but spin day and night, till the flesh is come apart from +my nails, so I may at the least have so much oil as will keep our lamp +burning! Husband, husband, there is not a neighbour's wife of ours but +marvelleth thereat and maketh mock of me for the pains I give myself +and all that I endure; and thou, thou returnest home to me, with thy +hands a-dangle, whenas thou shouldst be at work.'</p> + +<p>So saying, she fell a-weeping and went on to say, 'Alack, woe is me, +unhappy woman that I am! In what an ill hour was I born, at what an +ill moment did I come hither! I who might have had a young man of such +worth and would none of him, so I might come to this fellow here, who +taketh no thought to her whom he hath brought home! Other women give +themselves a good time with their lovers, for there is none [I know] +but hath two and some three, and they enjoy themselves and show their +husbands the moon for the sun. But I, wretch that I am! because I am +good and occupy myself not with such toys, I suffer ill and ill hap. I +know not why I do not take me a lover, as do other women. Understand +well, husband mine, that had I a mind to do ill, I could soon enough +find the wherewithal, for there be store of brisk young fellows who +love me and wish me well and have sent to me, proffering money galore +or dresses and jewels, at my choice; but my heart would never suffer +me to do it, for that I was no mother's daughter of that ilk; and here +thou comest home to me, whenas thou shouldst be at work.'</p> + +<p>'Good lack, wife,' answered the husband, 'fret not thyself, for God's +sake; thou shouldst be assured that I know what manner of woman thou +art, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_328" id="Page_328"></a></span> indeed this morning I have in part had proof thereof. It is +true that I went out to go to work; but it seemeth thou knowest not, +as I myself knew not, that this is the Feast-day of San Galeone and +there is no work doing; that is why I am come back at this hour; but +none the less I have provided and found a means how we shall have +bread for more than a month, for I have sold yonder man thou seest +here with me the vat which, as thou knowest, hath this long while +cumbered the house; and he is to give me five lily-florins<a name="FNanchor_344_346" id="FNanchor_344_346"></a><a href="#Footnote_344_346" class="fnanchor">[344]</a> for +it.' Quoth Peronella, 'So much the more cause have I to complain; +thou, who art a man and goest about and should be versed in the things +of the world, thou hast sold a vat for five florins, whilst I, a poor +silly woman who hath scarce ever been without the door, seeing the +hindrance it gave us in the house, have sold it for seven to an honest +man, who entered it but now, as thou camest back, to see if it were +sound!' When the husband heard this, he was more than satisfied and +said to him who had come for the vat, 'Good man, begone in peace; for +thou hearest that my wife hath sold the vat for seven florins, whereas +thou wast to give me but five for it.' 'Good,' replied the other and +went his way; whereupon quoth Peronella to her husband, 'Since thou +art here, come up and settle with him thyself.' Giannello, who abode +with his ears pricked up to hear if it behoved him fear or be on his +guard against aught, hearing his mistress's words, straightway +scrambled out of the vat and cried out, as if he had heard nothing of +the husband's return, 'Where art thou, good wife?' whereupon the +goodman, coming up, answered, 'Here am I; what wouldst thou have?' +'Who art thou?' asked Giannello. 'I want the woman with whom I made +the bargain for this vat.' Quoth the other, 'You may deal with me in +all assurance, for I am her husband.' Then said Giannello, 'The vat +appeareth to me sound enough; but meseemeth you have kept dregs or the +like therein, for it is all overcrusted with I know not what that is +so hard and dry that I cannot remove aught thereof with my nails; +wherefore I will not take it, except I first see it clean.' 'Nay,' +answered Peronella, 'the bargain shall not fall through for that; my +husband will clean it all out.' 'Ay will I,' rejoined the latter, and +laying down his tools, put off his coat; then, calling for a light and +a scraper, he entered the vat and fell to scraping. Peronella, as if +she had a mind to see what he did, thrust her head and one of her +arms, shoulder and all, in at the mouth of the vat, which was not +overbig, and fell to saying, 'Scrape here' and 'There' and 'There +also' and 'See, here is a little left.'</p> + +<p>Whilst she was thus engaged in directing her husband and showing him +where to scrape, Giannello, who had scarce yet that morning done his +full desire, when they were interrupted by the mason's coming, seeing +that he could not as he would, bethought himself to accomplish it as +he might; wherefore, boarding her, as she held the mouth of the vat +all closed up, on such wise as in the ample plains the unbridled +stallions, afire with love, assail the mares of Parthia, he satisfied<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_329" id="Page_329"></a></span> +his juvenile ardour, the which enterprise was brought to perfection +well nigh at the same moment as the scraping of the vat; whereupon he +dismounted and Peronella withdrawing her head from the mouth of the +vat, the husband came forth thereof. Then said she to her gallant, +'Take this light, good man, and look if it be clean to thy mind.' +Giannello looked in and said that it was well and that he was +satisfied and giving the husband seven florins, caused carry the vat +to his own house."</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="THE_THIRD_STORY7" id="THE_THIRD_STORY7"></a>THE THIRD STORY</h2> + +<div class="sidenote">Day the Seventh</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="hang">FRA RINALDO LIETH WITH HIS GOSSIP AND BEING FOUND OF HER +HUSBAND CLOSETED WITH HER IN HER CHAMBER, THEY GIVE HIM TO +BELIEVE THAT HE WAS IN ACT TO CONJURE WORMS FROM HIS GODSON</p></div> + + +<p><br /><span class="smcap">Filostrato</span> had not known to speak so obscurely of the mares of Parthia +but that the roguish ladies laughed thereat, making believe to laugh +at otherwhat. But, when the king saw that his story was ended, he bade +Elisa tell, who accordingly, with obedient readiness, began, "Charming +ladies, Emilia's conjuration of the phantom hath brought to my memory +the story of another conjuration, which latter, though it be not so +goodly as hers, nevertheless, for that none other bearing upon our +subject occurreth to me at this present, I will proceed to relate.</p> + +<p>You must know that there was once in Siena a very agreeable young man +and of a worshipful family, by name Rinaldo, who was passionately +enamored of a very beautiful lady, a neighbour of his and the wife of +a rich man, and flattered himself that, could he but find means to +speak with her unsuspected, he might avail to have of her all that he +should desire. Seeing none other way and the lady being great with +child, he bethought himself to become her gossip and accordingly, +clapping up an acquaintance with her husband, he offered him, on such +wise as appeared to him most seemly, to be godfather to his child. His +offer was accepted and he being now become Madam Agnesa's gossip and +having a somewhat more colourable excuse for speaking with her, he +took courage and gave her in so many words to know that of his intent +which she had indeed long before gathered from his looks; but little +did this profit him, although the lady was nothing displeased to have +heard him.</p> + +<p>Not long after, whatever might have been the reason, it came to pass +that Rinaldo turned friar and whether or not he found the pasturage to +his liking, he persevered in that way of life; and albeit, in the days +of his becoming a monk, he had for awhile laid on one side the love he +bore his gossip, together with sundry other vanities of his, yet, in +process of time, without quitting the monk's habit, he resumed +them<a name="FNanchor_345_347" id="FNanchor_345_347"></a><a href="#Footnote_345_347" class="fnanchor">[345]</a> and began to delight in making a show and wearing fine +stuffs and be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_330" id="Page_330"></a></span>ing dainty and elegant in all his fashions and making +canzonets and sonnets and ballads and in singing and all manner other +things of the like sort. But what say I of our Fra Rinaldo, of whom we +speak? What monks are there that do not thus? Alack, shame that they +are of the corrupt world, they blush not to appear fat and ruddy in +the face, dainty in their garb and in all that pertaineth unto them, +and strut along, not like doves, but like very turkey-cocks, with +crest erect and breast puffed out; and what is worse (to say nothing +of having their cells full of gallipots crammed with electuaries and +unguents, of boxes full of various confections, of phials and flagons +of distilled waters and oils, of pitchers brimming with Malmsey and +Cyprus and other wines of price, insomuch that they seem to the +beholder not friars' cells, but rather apothecaries' or perfumers' +shops) they think no shame that folk should know them to be gouty, +conceiving that others see not nor know that strict fasting, coarse +viands and spare and sober living make men lean and slender and for +the most part sound of body, and that if indeed some sicken thereof, +at least they sicken not of the gout, whereto it is used to give, for +medicine, chastity and everything else that pertaineth to the natural +way of living of an honest friar. Yet they persuade themselves that +others know not that,—let alone the scant and sober living,—long +vigils, praying and discipline should make men pale and mortified and +that neither St. Dominic nor St. Francis, far from having four gowns +for one, clad themselves in cloth dyed in grain nor in other fine +stuffs, but in garments of coarse wool and undyed, to keep out the +cold and not to make a show. For which things, as well as for the +souls of the simpletons who nourish them, there is need that God +provide.</p> + +<p>Fra Rinaldo, then, having returned to his former appetites, began to +pay frequent visits to his gossip and waxing in assurance, proceeded +to solicit her with more than his former instancy to that which he +desired of her. The good lady, seeing herself hard pressed and Fra +Rinaldo seeming to her belike goodlier than she had thought him +aforetime, being one day sore importuned of him, had recourse to that +argument which all women use who have a mind to yield that which is +asked of them and said, 'How now, Fra Rinaldo? Do monks such things?' +'Madam,' answered he, 'when as I shall have this gown off my +back,—and I can put it off mighty easily,—I shall appear to you a +man fashioned like other men and not a monk.' The lady pulled a demure +face and said, 'Alack, wretched me! You are my gossip; how can I do +this? It were sadly ill, and I have heard many a time that it is a +very great sin; but, certes, were it not for this, I would do that +which you wish.' Quoth Fra Rinaldo, 'You are a simpleton, if you +forbear for this; I do not say that it is not a sin, but God pardoneth +greater than this to whoso repenteth. But tell me, who is more akin to +your child, I who held him at baptism or your husband who begat him?' +'My husband is more akin to him,' answered the lady; whereupon, 'You +say sooth,' rejoined the friar. 'And doth not your husband lie with +you?' 'Ay doth he,' replied she. 'Then,' said Fra Rinaldo, 'I, who am +less akin to your child than is your husband, may<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_331" id="Page_331"></a></span> lie with you even +as doth he.' The lady, who knew no logic and needed little persuasion, +either believed or made a show of believing that the friar spoke the +truth and answered, 'Who might avail to answer your learned words?' +And after, notwithstanding the gossipship, she resigned herself to do +his pleasure; nor did they content themselves with one bout, but +foregathered many and many a time, having the more commodity thereof +under cover of the gossipship, for that there was less suspicion.</p> + +<p>But once, amongst other times, it befell that Fra Rinaldo, coming to +the lady's house and finding none with her but a little maid of hers, +who was very pretty and agreeable, despatched his comrade with the +latter to the pigeon-loft, to teach her her Paternoster, and entered +with the lady, who had her child in her hand, into her bedchamber, +where they locked themselves in and fell to taking their pleasure upon +a daybed that was there. As they were thus engaged, it chanced that +the husband came home and making for the bedchamber-door, unperceived +of any, knocked and called to the lady, who, hearing this, said to the +friar, 'I am a dead woman, for here is my husband, and now he will +certainly perceive what is the reason of our familiarity.' Now Rinaldo +was stripped to his waistcoat, to wit, he had put off his gown and his +scapulary, and hearing this, answered, 'You say sooth; were I but +dressed, there might be some means; but, if you open to him and he +find me thus, there can be no excuse for us.' The lady, seized with a +sudden idea, said, 'Harkye, dress yourself and when you are dressed, +take your godchild in your arms and hearken well to that which I shall +say to him, so your words may after accord with mine, and leave me +do.' Then, to the good man, who had not yet left knocking, 'I come to +thee,' quoth she and rising, opened the chamber-door and said, with a +good countenance, 'Husband mine, I must tell thee that Fra Rinaldo, +our gossip, is come hither and it was God sent him to us; for, certes, +but for his coming, we should to-day have lost our child.'</p> + +<p>The good simple man, hearing this, was like to swoon and said, 'How +so?' 'O husband mine,' answered Agnesa, 'there took him but now of a +sudden a fainting-fit, that methought he was dead, and I knew not what +to do or say; but just then Fra Rinaldo our gossip came in and taking +him in his arms, said, "Gossip, these be worms he hath in his body, +the which draw near to his heart and would infallibly kill him; but +have no fear, for I will conjure them and make them all die; and ere I +go hence, you shall see the child whole again as ever you saw him." +And for that we had need of thee to repeat certain orisons and that +the maid could not find thee, he caused his comrade say them in the +highest room of our house, whilst he and I came hither and locked +ourselves in, so none should hinder us, for that none other than the +child's mother might be present at such an office. Indeed, he hath the +child yet in his arms and methinketh he waiteth but for his comrade to +have made an end of saying the orisons and it will be done, for that +the boy is already altogether restored to himself.' The good simple +man, believing all this, was so straitened with concern for his child +that it never entered his mind to sus<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_332" id="Page_332"></a></span>pect the cheat put upon him by +his wife; but, heaving a great sigh, he said, 'I will go see him.' +'Nay,' answered she, 'thou wouldst mar that which hath been done. +Wait; I will go see an thou mayst come in and call thee.'</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, Fra Rinaldo, who had heard everything and had dressed +himself at his leisure, took the child in his arms and called out, as +soon as he had ordered matters to his mind, saying, 'Harkye, gossip, +hear I not my gossip your husband there?' 'Ay, sir,' answered the +simpleton; whereupon, 'Then,' said the other, 'come hither.' The +cuckold went to him and Fra Rinaldo said to him, 'Take your son by the +grace of God whole and well, whereas I deemed but now you would not +see him alive at vespers; and look you let make a waxen image of his +bigness and set it up, to the praise and glory of God, before the +statue of our lord St. Ambrose, through whose intercession He hath +vouchsafed to restore him unto you.' The child, seeing his father, ran +to him and caressed him, as little children used to do, whilst the +latter, taking him, weeping, in his arms, no otherwise than as he had +brought him forth of the grave, fell to kissing him and returning +thanks to his gossip for that he had made him whole.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, Fra Rinaldo's comrade, who had by this taught the +serving-wench not one, but maybe more than four paternosters, and had +given her a little purse of white thread, which he had from a nun, and +made her his devotee, hearing the cuckold call at his wife's +chamber-door, had softly betaken himself to a place whence he could, +himself unseen, both see and hear what should betide and presently, +seeing that all had passed off well, came down and entering the +chamber, said, 'Fra Rinaldo, I have despatched all four of the orisons +which you bade me say.' 'Brother mine,' answered the friar, 'thou hast +a good wind and hast done well; I, for my part, had said but two +thereof, when my gossip came; but God the Lord, what with thy pains +and mine, hath shown us such favour that the child is healed.' +Therewithal the cuckold let bring good wines and confections and +entertained his gossip and the latter's comrade with that whereof they +had more need than of aught else. Then, attending them to the door, he +commended them to God and letting make the waxen image without delay, +he sent to hang it up with the others<a name="FNanchor_346_348" id="FNanchor_346_348"></a><a href="#Footnote_346_348" class="fnanchor">[346]</a> before the statue of St. +Ambrose, but not that of Milan."<a name="FNanchor_347_349" id="FNanchor_347_349"></a><a href="#Footnote_347_349" class="fnanchor">[347]</a></p> + + + +<hr /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_333" id="Page_333"></a></span></p> +<h2><a name="THE_FOURTH_STORY7" id="THE_FOURTH_STORY7"></a>THE FOURTH STORY</h2> + +<div class="sidenote">Day the Seventh</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="hang">TOFANO ONE NIGHT SHUTTETH HIS WIFE OUT OF DOORS, WHO, +AVAILING NOT TO RE-ENTER BY DINT OF ENTREATIES, FEIGNETH TO +CAST HERSELF INTO A WELL AND CASTETH THEREIN A GREAT STONE. +TOFANO COMETH FORTH OF THE HOUSE AND RUNNETH THITHER, +WHEREUPON SHE SLIPPETH IN AND LOCKING HIM OUT, BAWLETH +REPROACHES AT HIM FROM THE WINDOW</p></div> + + +<p><br /><span class="smcap">The</span> king no sooner perceived Elisa's story to be ended than, turning +without delay to Lauretta, he signified to her his pleasure that she +should tell; whereupon she, without hesitation, began thus, "O Love, +how great and how various is thy might! How many thy resources and thy +devices! What philosopher, what craftsman<a name="FNanchor_348_350" id="FNanchor_348_350"></a><a href="#Footnote_348_350" class="fnanchor">[348]</a> could ever have availed +or might avail to teach those shifts, those feints, those subterfuges +which thou on the spur of the moment suggestest to whoso ensueth in +thy traces! Certes, all others' teaching is halting compared with +thine, as may very well have been apprehended by the devices which +have already been set forth and to which, lovesome ladies, I will add +one practised by a woman of a simple wit enough and such as I know +none but Love could have taught her.</p> + +<p>There was once, then, in Arezzo, a rich man called Tofano and he was +given to wife a very fair lady, by name Madam Ghita, of whom, without +knowing why, he quickly waxed jealous. The lady, becoming aware of +this, was despited thereat and questioned him once and again of the +reason of his jealousy; but he was able to assign her none, save such +as were general and naught; wherefore it occurred to her mind to cause +him die of the disease whereof he stood without reason in fear. +Accordingly, perceiving that a young man, who was much to her taste, +sighed for her, she proceeded discreetly to come to an understanding +with him and things being so far advanced between them that there +lacked but with deeds to give effect to words, she cast about for a +means of bringing this also to pass; wherefore, having already +remarked, amongst her husband's other ill usances, that he delighted +in drinking, she began not only to commend this to him, but would +often artfully incite him thereto. This became so much his wont that, +well nigh whensoever it pleased her, she led him to drink even to +intoxication, and putting him to bed whenas she saw him well drunken, +she a first time foregathered with her lover, with whom many a time +thereafter she continued to do so in all security. Indeed, she grew to +put such trust in her husband's drunkenness that not only did she make +bold to bring her gallant into the house, but went whiles to pass a +great part of the night with him in his own house, which was not very +far distant.</p> + +<p>The enamoured lady continuing on this wise, it befell that the +wretched husband came to perceive that she, whilst encouraging him to +drink, natheless herself drank never; wherefore suspicion took him +that it might be as<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_334" id="Page_334"></a></span> in truth it was, to wit, that she made him +drunken, so she might after do her pleasure what while he slept, and +wishing to make proof of this, an it were so, he one evening, not +having drunken that day, feigned himself, both in words and fashions, +the drunkenest man that was aye. The lady, believing this and judging +that he needed no more drink, put him to bed in all haste and this +done, betook herself, as she was used to do whiles, to the house of +her lover, where she abode till midnight. As for Tofano, no sooner did +he know the lady to have left the house than he straightway arose and +going to the doors, locked them from within; after which he posted +himself at the window, so he might see her return and show her that he +had gotten wind of her fashions; and there he abode till such time as +she came back. The lady, returning home and finding herself locked +out, was beyond measure woeful and began to essay an she might avail +to open the door by force, which, after Tofano had awhile suffered, +'Wife,' quoth he, 'thou weariest thyself in vain, for thou canst +nowise come in here again. Go, get thee back whereas thou hast been +till now and be assured that thou shalt never return thither till such +time as I shall have done thee, in respect of this affair, such honour +as beseemeth thee in the presence of thy kinsfolk and of the +neighbours.'</p> + +<p>The lady fell to beseeching him for the love of God that it would +please him open to her, for that she came not whence he supposed, but +from keeping vigil with a she-neighbour of hers, for that the nights +were long and she could not sleep them all out nor watch at home +alone. However, prayers profited her nought, for that her brute of a +husband was minded to have all the Aretines<a name="FNanchor_349_351" id="FNanchor_349_351"></a><a href="#Footnote_349_351" class="fnanchor">[349]</a> know their shame, +whereas none as yet knew it; wherefore, seeing that prayers availed +her not, she had recourse to threats and said, 'An thou open not to +me, I will make thee the woefullest man alive.' 'And what canst thou +do to me?' asked Tofano, and Mistress Tessa, whose wits Love had +already whetted with his counsels, replied, 'Rather than brook the +shame which thou wouldst wrongfully cause me suffer, I will cast +myself into this well that is herenigh, where when I am found dead, +there is none will believe otherwise than that thou, for very +drunkenness, hast cast me therein; wherefore it will behove thee flee +and lose all thou hast and abide in banishment or have thy head cut +off for my murderer, as thou wilt in truth have been.'</p> + +<p>Tofano was nowise moved by these words from his besotted intent; +wherefore quoth she to him, 'Harkye now, I can no longer brook this +thy fashery, God pardon it thee! Look thou cause lay up<a name="FNanchor_350_352" id="FNanchor_350_352"></a><a href="#Footnote_350_352" class="fnanchor">[350]</a> this +distaff of mine that I leave here.' So saying, the night being so dark +that one might scarce see other by the way, she went up to the well +and taking a great stone that lay thereby, cried out, 'God pardon me!' +and let it drop into the water. The stone, striking the water, made a +very great noise, which when Tofano heard, he verily believed that she +had cast herself in; wherefore, snatching up the bucket and the rope, +he rushed out of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_335" id="Page_335"></a></span> the house and ran to the well to succour her. The +lady, who had hidden herself near the door, no sooner saw him run to +the well than she slipped into the house and locked herself in; then, +getting her to the window, 'You should water your wine, whenas you +drink it,' quoth she, 'and not after and by night.' Tofano, hearing +this, knew himself to have been fooled and returned to the door, but +could get no admission and proceeded to bid her open to him; but she +left speaking softly, as she had done till then, and began, well nigh +at a scream, to say, 'By Christ His Cross, tiresome sot that thou art, +thou shalt not enter here to-night; I cannot brook these thy fashions +any longer; needs must I let every one see what manner of man thou art +and at what hour thou comest home anights.' Tofano, on his side, +flying into a rage, began to rail at her and bawl; whereupon the +neighbours, hearing the clamour, arose, both men and women, and coming +to the windows, asked what was to do. The lady answered, weeping, 'It +is this wretch of a man, who still returneth to me of an evening, +drunken, or falleth asleep about the taverns and after cometh home at +this hour; the which I have long suffered, but, it availing me not and +I being unable to put up with it longer, I have bethought me to shame +him therefor by locking him out of doors, to see and he will mend +himself thereof.'</p> + +<p>Tofano, on the other hand, told them, like an ass as he was, how the +case stood and threatened her sore; but she said to the neighbours, +'Look you now what a man he is! What would you say, were I in the +street, as he is, and he in the house, as am I? By God His faith, I +doubt me you would believe he said sooth. By this you may judge of his +wits; he saith I have done just what methinketh he hath himself done. +He thought to fear me by casting I know not what into the well; but +would God he had cast himself there in good sooth and drowned himself, +so he might have well watered the wine which he hath drunken to +excess.' The neighbours, both men and women, all fell to blaming +Tofano, holding him at fault, and chid him for that which he said +against the lady; and in a short time the report was so noised abroad +from neighbour to neighbour that it reached the ears of the lady's +kinsfolk, who came thither and hearing the thing from one and another +of the neighbours, took Tofano and gave him such a drubbing that they +broke every bone in his body. Then, entering the house, they took the +lady's gear and carried her off home with them, threatening Tofano +with worse. The latter, finding himself in ill case and seeing that +his jealousy had brought him to a sorry pass, for that he still loved +his wife heartily,<a name="FNanchor_351_353" id="FNanchor_351_353"></a><a href="#Footnote_351_353" class="fnanchor">[351]</a> procured certain friends to intercede for him +and so wrought that he made his peace with the lady and had her home +again with him, promising her that he would never be jealous again. +Moreover, he gave her leave to do her every pleasure, provided she +wrought so discreetly that he should know nothing thereof; and on this +wise, like a crack-brained churl as he was, he made peace after +suffering damage. So long live Love and death to war and all its +company!"</p> + + + +<hr /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_336" id="Page_336"></a></span></p> +<h2><a name="THE_FIFTH_STORY7" id="THE_FIFTH_STORY7"></a>THE FIFTH STORY</h2> + +<div class="sidenote">Day the Seventh</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="hang">A JEALOUS HUSBAND, IN THE GUISE OF A PRIEST, CONFESSETH HIS +WIFE, WHO GIVETH HIM TO BELIEVE THAT SHE LOVETH A PRIEST, +WHO COMETH TO HER EVERY NIGHT; AND WHILST THE HUSBAND +SECRETLY KEEPETH WATCH AT THE DOOR FOR THE LATTER, THE LADY +BRINGETH IN A LOVER OF HERS BY THE ROOF AND LIETH WITH HIM</p></div> + + +<p><br /><span class="smcap">Lauretta</span> having made an end of her story and all having commended the +lady for that she had done aright and even as befitted her wretch of a +husband, the king, to lose no time, turned to Fiammetta and +courteously imposed on her the burden of the story-telling; whereupon +she began thus, "Most noble ladies, the foregoing story moveth me to +tell you, on like wise, of a jealous husband, accounting, as I do, all +that their wives do unto such,—particularly whenas they are jealous +without cause,—to be well done and holding that, if the makers of the +laws had considered everything, they should have appointed none other +penalty unto women who offend in this than that which they appoint +unto whoso offendeth against other in self-defence; for that jealous +men are plotters against the lives of young women and most diligent +procurers of their deaths. Wives abide all the week mewed up at home, +occupying themselves with domestic offices and the occasions of their +families and households, and after they would fain, like every one +else, have some solace and some rest on holidays and be at leisure to +take some diversion even as do the tillers of the fields, the artisans +of the towns and the administrators of the laws, according to the +example of God himself, who rested from all His labours the seventh +day, and to the intent of the laws, both human and Divine, which, +looking to the honour of God and the common weal of all, have +distinguished working days from those of repose. But to this jealous +men will on no wise consent; nay, those days which are gladsome for +all other women they make wretcheder and more doleful than the others +to their wives, keeping them yet closelier straitened and confined; +and what a misery and a languishment this is for the poor creatures +those only know who have proved it. Wherefore, to conclude, I say that +what a woman doth to a husband who is jealous without cause should +certes not be condemned, but rather commended.</p> + +<p>There was, then, in Arimino a merchant, very rich both in lands and +monies, who, having to wife a very fair lady, became beyond measure +jealous of her; nor had he other cause for this save that, as he loved +her exceedingly and held her very fair and saw that she studied with +all her might to please him, even so he imagined that every man loved +her and that she appeared fair to all and eke that she studied to +please others as she did himself, which was the reasoning of a man of +nought and one of little sense. Being grown thus jealous, he kept such +strict watch over her and held her in such constraint that belike many +there be of those who are condemned to capital punishment who are less +straitly guarded of their<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_337" id="Page_337"></a></span> gaolers; for, far from being at liberty to +go to weddings or entertainments or to church or indeed anywise to set +foot without the house, she dared not even stand at the window nor +look abroad on any occasion; wherefore her life was most wretched and +she brooked this annoy with the more impatience as she felt herself +the less to blame. Accordingly, seeing herself unjustly suspected of +her husband, she determined, for her own solacement, to find a means +(an she but might) of doing on such wise that he should have reason +for his ill usage of her. And for that she might not station herself +at the window and so had no opportunity of showing herself favourable +to the suit of any one who might take note of her, as he passed along +her street, and pay his court to her,—knowing that in the adjoining +house there was a certain young man both handsome and agreeable,—she +bethought herself to look if there were any hole in the wall that +parted the two houses and therethrough to spy once and again till such +time as she should see the youth aforesaid and find an occasion of +speaking with him and bestowing on him her love, so he would accept +thereof, purposing, if a means could be found, to foregather with him +bytimes and on this wise while away her sorry life till such time as +the demon [of jealousy] should take leave of her husband.</p> + +<p>Accordingly, she went spying about the walls of the house, now in one +part and now in another, whenas her husband was abroad, and happened +at last upon a very privy place where the wall was somewhat opened by +a fissure and looking therethrough, albeit she could ill discover what +was on the other side, algates she perceived that the opening gave +upon a bedchamber there and said in herself, 'Should this be the +chamber of Filippo,' to wit, the youth her neighbour, 'I were half +sped.' Then, causing secretly enquire of this by a maid of hers, who +had pity upon her, she found that the young man did indeed sleep in +that chamber all alone; wherefore, by dint of often visiting the +crevice and dropping pebbles and such small matters, whenas she +perceived him to be there, she wrought on such wise that he came to +the opening, to see what was to do; whereupon she called to him +softly. He, knowing her voice, answered her, and she, profiting by the +occasion, discovered to him in brief all her mind; whereat the youth +was mightily content and made shift to enlarge the hole from his side +on such wise that none could perceive it; and therethrough they many a +time bespoke one another and touched hands, but could go no farther, +for the jealous vigilance of the husband.</p> + +<p>After awhile, the Feast of the Nativity drawing near, the lady told +her husband that, an it pleased him, she would fain go to church on +Christmas morning and confess and take the sacrament, as other +Christians did. Quoth he, 'And what sin hast thou committed that thou +wouldst confess?' 'How?' answered the lady. 'Thinkest thou that I am a +saint, because thou keepest me mewed up? Thou must know well enough +that I commit sins like all others that live in this world; but I will +not tell them to thee, for that thou art not a priest.' The jealous +wretch took suspicion at these words and determined to seek to know +what sins she had committed; wherefore, having<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_338" id="Page_338"></a></span> bethought himself of a +means whereby he might gain his end, he answered that he was content, +but that he would have her go to no other church than their parish +chapel and that thither she must go betimes in the morning and confess +herself either to their chaplain or to such priest as the latter +should appoint her and to none other and presently return home. +Herseemed she half apprehended his meaning; but without saying +otherwhat, she answered that she would do as he said.</p> + +<p>Accordingly, Christmas Day come, the lady arose at daybreak and +attiring herself, repaired to the church appointed her of her husband, +who, on his part, betook himself to the same place and reached it +before her. Having already taken order with the chaplain of that which +he had a mind to do, he hastily donned one of the latter's gowns, with +a great flapped cowl, such as we see priests wear, and drawing the +hood a little over his face, seated himself in the choir. The lady, +entering the chapel, enquired for the chaplain, who came and hearing +from her that she would fain confess, said that he could not hear her, +but would send her one of his brethren. Accordingly, going away, he +sent her the jealous man, in an ill hour for the latter, who came up +with a very grave air, and albeit the day was not over bright and he +had drawn the cowl far over his eyes, knew not so well to disguise +himself but he was readily recognized by the lady, who, seeing this, +said in herself, 'Praised be God! From a jealous man he is turned +priest; but no matter; I will e'en give him what he goeth seeking.'</p> + +<p>Accordingly, feigning not to know him, she seated herself at his feet. +My lord Jealousy had put some pebbles in his mouth, to impede his +speech somewhat, so his wife might not know him by his voice, +himseeming he was in every other particular so thoroughly disguised +that he was nowise fearful of being recognized by her. To come to the +confession, the lady told him, amongst other things, (having first +declared herself to be married,) that she was enamoured of a priest, +who came every night to lie with her. When the jealous man heard this, +himseemed he had gotten a knife-thrust in the heart, and had not +desire constrained him to know more, he had abandoned the confession +and gone away. Standing fast, then, he asked the lady, 'How! Doth not +your husband lie with you?' 'Ay doth he, sir,' replied she. 'How, +then,' asked the jealous man, 'can the priest also lie with you?' +'Sir,' answered she, 'by what art he doth it I know not, but there is +not a door in the house so fast locked but it openeth so soon as he +toucheth it; and he telleth me that, whenas he cometh to the door of +my chamber, before opening it, he pronounceth certain words, by virtue +whereof my husband incontinent falleth asleep, and so soon as he +perceiveth him to be fast, he openeth the door and cometh in and lieth +with me; and this never faileth.' Quoth the mock priest, 'Madam, this +is ill done, and it behoveth you altogether to refrain therefrom.' +'Sir,' answered the lady, 'methinketh I could never do that, for that +I love him too well.' 'Then,' said the other, 'I cannot shrive you.' +Quoth she, 'I am grieved for that; but I came not hither to tell you +lies; an I thought I could do it, I would tell you so.' 'In truth, +madam,' replied the husband, 'I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_339" id="Page_339"></a></span> am concerned for you, for that I see +you lose your soul at this game; but, to do you service, I will well +to take the pains of putting up my special orisons to God in your +name, the which maybe shall profit you, and I will send you bytimes a +little clerk of mine, to whom you shall say if they have profited you +or not; and if they have profited you, we will proceed farther.' +'Sir,' answered the lady, 'whatever you do, send none to me at home, +for, should my husband come to know of it, he is so terribly jealous +that nothing in the world would get it out of his head that your +messenger came hither for nought<a name="FNanchor_352_354" id="FNanchor_352_354"></a><a href="#Footnote_352_354" class="fnanchor">[352]</a> but ill, and I should have no +peace with him this year to come.' Quoth the other, 'Madam, have no +fear of that, for I will certainly contrive it on such wise that you +shall never hear a word of the matter from him.' Then said she, 'So +but you can engage to do that, I am content.' Then, having made her +confession and gotten her penance, she rose to her feet and went off +to hear mass; whilst the jealous man, (ill luck go with him!) +withdrew, bursting with rage, to put off his priest's habit, and +returned home, impatient to find a means of surprising the priest with +his wife, so he might play the one and the other an ill turn.</p> + +<p>Presently the lady came back from church and saw plainly enough from +her husband's looks that she had given him an ill Christmas; albeit he +studied, as most he might, to conceal that which he had done and what +himseemed he had learned. Then, being inwardly resolved to lie in wait +near the street-door that night and watch for the priest's coming, he +said to the lady, 'Needs must I sup and lie abroad to-night, wherefore +look thou lock the street-door fast, as well as that of the midstair +and that of thy chamber, and get thee to bed, whenas it seemeth good +to thee.' The lady answered, 'It is well,' and betaking herself, as +soon as she had leisure, to the hole in the wall, she made the wonted +signal, which when Filippo heard, he came to her forthright. She told +him how she had done that morning and what her husband had said to her +after dinner and added, 'I am certain he will not leave the house, but +will set himself to watch the door; wherefore do thou find means to +come hither to me to-night by the roof, so we may lie together.' The +young man was mightily rejoiced at this and answered, 'Madam, leave me +do.'</p> + +<p>Accordingly, the night come, the jealous man took his arms and hid +himself by stealth in a room on the ground floor, whilst the lady, +whenas it seemed to her time,—having caused lock all the doors and in +particular that of the midstair, so he might not avail to come +up,—summoned the young man, who came to her from his side by a very +privy way. Thereupon they went to bed and gave themselves a good time, +taking their pleasure one of the other till daybreak, when the young +man returned to his own house. Meanwhile, the jealous man stood to his +arms well nigh all night beside the street-door, sorry and supperless +and dying of cold, and waited for the priest to come till near upon +day, when, unable to watch any longer, he returned to the ground floor +room and there fell asleep. To<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_340" id="Page_340"></a></span>wards tierce he awoke and the street +door being now open, he made a show of returning from otherwhere and +went up into his house and dined. A little after, he sent a lad, as he +were the priest's clerkling that had confessed her, to the lady to ask +if she wot of were come thither again. She knew the messenger well +enough and answered that he had not come thither that night and that +if he did thus, he might haply pass out of her mind, albeit she wished +it not. What more should I tell you? The jealous man abode on the +watch night after night, looking to catch the priest at his entering +in, and the lady still had a merry life with her lover the while.</p> + +<p>At length the cuckold, able to contain himself no longer, asked his +wife, with an angry air, what she had said to the priest the morning +she had confessed herself to him. She answered that she would not tell +him, for that it was neither a just thing nor a seemly; whereupon, +'Vile woman that thou art!' cried he. 'In despite of thee I know what +thou saidst to him, and needs must I know the priest of whom thou art +so mightily enamoured and who, by means of his conjurations, lieth +with thee every night; else will I slit thy weasand.' She replied that +it was not true that she was enamoured of any priest. 'How?' cried the +husband, 'Saidst thou not thus and thus to the priest who confessed +thee?' And she, 'Thou couldst not have reported it better, not to say +if he had told it thee, but if thou hadst been present; ay, I did tell +him this.' 'Then,' rejoined the jealous man, 'tell me who is this +priest, and that quickly.'</p> + +<p>The lady fell a-smiling and answered, 'It rejoiceth me mightily to see +a wise man led by the nose by a woman, even as one leadeth a ram by +the horns to the shambles, albeit thou art no longer wise nor hast +been since the hour when, unknowing why, thou sufferedst the malignant +spirit of jealousy to enter thy breast; and the sillier and more +besotted thou art, so much the less is my glory thereof. Deemest thou, +husband mine, I am as blind of the eyes of the body as thou of those +of the mind? Certes, no; I perceived at first sight who was the priest +that confessed me and know that thou wast he; but I had it at heart to +give thee that which thou wentest seeking, and in sooth I have done +it. Wert thou as wise as thou thinkest to be, thou wouldst not have +essayed by this means to learn the secrets of thy good wife, but +wouldst, without taking vain suspicion, have recognized that which she +confessed to thee to be the very truth, without her having sinned in +aught. I told thee that I loved a priest, and wast not thou, whom I am +much to blame to love as I do, become a priest? I told thee that no +door of my house could abide locked, whenas he had a mind to lie with +me; and what door in the house was ever kept against thee, whenas thou +wouldst come whereas I might be? I told thee that the priest lay with +me every night, and when was it that thou layest not with me? And +whenassoever thou sentest thy clerk to me, which was thou knowest, as +often as thou layest from me, I sent thee word that the priest had not +been with me. What other than a crack-brain like thee, who has +suffered thyself to be blinded by thy jealousy, had failed to +understand<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_341" id="Page_341"></a></span> these things? Thou hast abidden in the house, keeping +watch anights, and thoughtest to have given me to believe that thou +wast gone abroad to sup and sleep. Bethink thee henceforth and become +a man again, as thou wast wont to be; and make not thyself a laughing +stock to whoso knoweth thy fashions, as do I, and leave this +unconscionable watching that thou keepest; for I swear to God that, an +the fancy took me to make thee wear the horns, I would engage, haddest +thou an hundred eyes, as thou hast but two, to do my pleasure on such +wise that thou shouldst not be ware thereof.'</p> + +<p>The jealous wretch, who thought to have very adroitly surprised his +wife's secrets, hearing this, avouched himself befooled and without +answering otherwhat, held the lady for virtuous and discreet; and +whenas it behoved him to be jealous, he altogether divested himself of +his jealousy, even as he had put it on, what time he had no need +thereof. Wherefore the discreet lady, being in a manner licensed to do +her pleasures, thenceforward no longer caused her lover to come to her +by the roof, as go the cats, but e'en brought him in at the door, and +dealing advisedly, many a day thereafter gave herself a good time and +led a merry life with him."</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="THE_SIXTH_STORY7" id="THE_SIXTH_STORY7"></a>THE SIXTH STORY</h2> + +<div class="sidenote">Day the Seventh</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="hang">MADAM ISABELLA, BEING IN COMPANY WITH LEONETTO HER LOVER, IS +VISITED BY ONE MESSER LAMBERTUCCIO, OF WHOM SHE IS BELOVED; +HER HUSBAND RETURNING, [UNEXPECTED,] SHE SENDETH +LAMBERTUCCIO FORTH OF THE HOUSE, WHINGER IN HAND, AND THE +HUSBAND AFTER ESCORTETH LEONETTO HOME</p></div> + + +<p><br /><span class="smcap">The</span> company were wonder-well pleased with Fiammetta's story, all +affirming that the lady had done excellently well and as it behoved +unto such a brute of a man, and after it was ended, the king bade +Pampinea follow on, who proceeded to say, "There are many who, +speaking ignorantly, avouch that love bereaveth folk of their senses +and causeth whoso loveth to become witless. Meseemeth this is a +foolish opinion, as hath indeed been well enough shown by the things +already related, and I purpose yet again to demonstrate it.</p> + +<p>In our city, which aboundeth in all good things, there was once a +young lady both gently born and very fair, who was the wife of a very +worthy and notable gentleman; and as it happeneth often that folk +cannot for ever brook one same food, but desire bytimes to vary their +diet, this lady, her husband not altogether satisfying her, became +enamoured of a young man called Leonetto and very well bred and +agreeable, for all he was of no great extraction. He on like wise fell +in love with her, and as you know that seldom doth that which both +parties desire abide without effect, it was no great while before +accomplishment was given to their loves. Now it chanced that, she +being a fair and engaging lady, a gentleman called Messer +Lambertuc<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_342" id="Page_342"></a></span>cio became sore enamoured of her, whom, for that he seemed +to her a disagreeable man and a tiresome, she could not for aught in +the world bring herself to love. However, after soliciting her amain +with messages and it availing him nought, he sent to her threatening +her, for that he was a notable man, to dishonour her, an she did not +his pleasure; wherefore she, fearful and knowing his character, +submitted herself to do his will.</p> + +<p>It chanced one day that the lady, whose name was Madam Isabella, being +gone, as is our custom in summer-time, to abide at a very goodly +estate she had in the country and her husband having ridden +somewhither to pass some days abroad, she sent for Leonetto to come +and be with her, whereat he was mightily rejoiced and betook himself +thither incontinent. Meanwhile Messer Lambertuccio, hearing that her +husband was gone abroad, took horse and repairing, all alone, to her +house, knocked at the door. The lady's waiting-woman, seeing him, came +straight to her mistress, who was closeted with Leonetto, and called +to her, saying, 'Madam, Messer Lambertuccio is below, all alone.' The +lady, hearing this, was the woefullest woman in the world, but, as she +stood in great fear of Messer Lambertuccio, she besought Leonetto not +to take it ill to hide himself awhile behind the curtains of her bed +till such time as the other should be gone. Accordingly, Leonetto, who +feared him no less than did the lady, hid himself there and she bade +the maid go open to Messer Lambertuccio, which being done, he lighted +down in the courtyard and making his palfrey fast to a staple there, +went up into the house. The lady put on a cheerful countenance and +coming to the head of the stair, received him with as good a grace as +she might and asked him what brought him thither; whereupon he caught +her in his arms and clipped her and kissed her, saying, 'My soul, I +understood that your husband was abroad and am come accordingly to be +with you awhile.' After these words, they entered a bedchamber, where +they locked themselves in, and Messer Lambertuccio fell to taking +delight of her.</p> + +<p>As they were thus engaged, it befell, altogether out of the lady's +expectation, that her husband returned, whom when the maid saw near +the house, she ran in haste to the lady's chamber and said, 'Madam, +here is my lord come back; methinketh he is already below in the +courtyard.' When the lady heard this, bethinking her that she had two +men in the house and knowing that there was no hiding Messer +Lambertuccio, by reason of his palfrey which was in the courtyard, she +gave herself up for lost. Nevertheless, taking a sudden resolution, +she sprang hastily down from the bed and said to Messer Lambertuccio, +'Sir, an you wish me anywise well and would save me from death, do +that which I shall bid you. Take your hanger naked in your hand and go +down the stair with an angry air and all disordered and begone, +saying, "I vow to God that I will take him elsewhere." And should my +husband offer to detain you or question you of aught, do you say no +otherwhat than that which I have told you, but take horse and look you +abide not with him on any account.' The gentleman answered that he +would well, and accordingly, drawing his hanger, he did as she had +enjoined<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_343" id="Page_343"></a></span> him, with a face all afire what with the swink he had +furnished and with anger at the husband's return. The latter was by +this dismounted in the courtyard and marvelled to see the palfrey +there; then, offering to go up into the house, he saw Messer +Lambertuccio come down and wondering both at his words and his air, +said, 'What is this, sir?' Messer Lambertuccio putting his foot in the +stirrup and mounting to horse, said nought but, 'Cock's body, I shall +find him again otherwhere,' and made off.</p> + +<p>The gentleman, going up, found his wife at the stairhead, all +disordered and fearful, and said to her, 'What is all this? Whom goeth +Messer Lambertuccio threatening thus in such a fury?' The lady, +withdrawing towards the chamber where Leonetto was, so he might hear +her, answered, 'Sir, never had I the like of this fright. There came +fleeing hither but now a young man, whom I know not, followed by +Messer Lambertuccio, hanger in hand, and finding by chance the door of +this chamber open, said to me, all trembling, "For God's sake, madam, +help me, that I be not slain in your arms." I rose to my feet and was +about to question him who he was and what ailed him, when, behold, in +rushed Messer Lambertuccio, saying, "Where art thou, traitor?" I set +myself before the chamber-door and hindered him from entering; and he +was in so far courteous that, after many words, seeing it pleased me +not that he should enter there, he went his way down, as you have +seen.' Quoth the husband, 'Wife, thou didst well, it were too great a +reproach to us, had a man been slain in our house, and Messer +Lambertuccio did exceeding unmannerly to follow a person who had taken +refuge here.'</p> + +<p>Then he asked where the young man was, and the lady answered, 'Indeed +sir, I know not where he hath hidden himself.' Then said the husband +'Where art thou? Come forth in safety.' Whereupon Leonetto, who had +heard everything, came forth all trembling for fear, (as indeed he had +had a great fright,) of the place where he had hidden himself, and the +gentleman said to him, 'What hast thou to do with Messer +Lambertuccio?' 'Sir,' answered he, 'I have nothing in the world to do +with him, wherefore methinketh assuredly he is either not in his right +wits or he hath mistaken me for another; for that no sooner did he set +eyes on me in the road not far from this house than he forthright +clapped his hand to his hanger and said, "Traitor, thou art a dead +man!" I stayed not to ask why, but took to my heels as best I might +and made my way hither, where, thanks to God and to this gentlewoman, +I have escaped.' Quoth the husband, 'Go to; have no fears; I will +bring thee to thine own house safe and sound, and thou canst after +seek out what thou hast to do with him.' Accordingly, when they had +supped, he mounted him a-horseback and carrying him back to Florence, +left him in his own house. As for Leonetto, that same evening, +according as he had been lessoned of the lady, he privily bespoke +Messer Lambertuccio and took such order with him, albeit there was +much talk of the matter thereafterward, the husband never for all that +became aware of the cheat that had been put on him by his wife."</p> + + + +<hr /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_344" id="Page_344"></a></span></p> +<h2><a name="THE_SEVENTH_STORY7" id="THE_SEVENTH_STORY7"></a>THE SEVENTH STORY</h2> + +<div class="sidenote">Day the Seventh</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="hang">LODOVICO DISCOVERETH TO MADAM BEATRICE THE LOVE HE BEARETH +HER, WHEREUPON SHE SENDETH EGANO HER HUSBAND INTO THE +GARDEN, IN HER OWN FAVOUR, AND LIETH MEANWHILE WITH +LODOVICO, WHO, PRESENTLY ARISING, GOETH AND CUDGELLETH EGANO +IN THE GARDEN</p></div> + + +<p><br /><span class="smcap">Madam Isabella's</span> presence of mind, as related by Pampinea, was held +admirable by all the company; but, whilst they yet marvelled thereat, +Filomena, whom the king had appointed to follow on, said, "Lovesome +ladies, and I mistake not, methinketh I can tell you no less goodly a +story on the same subject, and that forthright.</p> + +<p>You must know, then, that there was once in Paris a Florentine +gentleman, who was for poverty turned merchant and had thriven so well +in commerce that he was grown thereby very rich. He had by his lady +one only son, whom he had named Lodovico, and for that he might +concern himself with his father's nobility and not with trade, he had +willed not to place him in any warehouse, but had sent him to be with +other gentlemen in the service of the King of France, where he learned +store of goodly manners and other fine things. During his sojourn +there, it befell that certain gentlemen, who were returned from +visiting the Holy Sepulchre, coming in upon a conversation between +certain young men, of whom Lodovico was one, and hearing them +discourse among themselves of the fair ladies of France and England +and other parts of the world, one of them began to say that assuredly, +in all the lands he had traversed and for all the ladies he had seen, +he had never beheld the like for beauty of Madam Beatrice, the wife of +Messer Egano de' Gulluzzi of Bologna; to which all his companions, who +had with him seen her at Bologna, agreed.</p> + +<p>Lodovico, who had never yet been enamoured of any woman, hearkening to +this, was fired with such longing to see her that he could hold his +thought to nothing else and being altogether resolved to journey to +Bologna for that purpose and there, if she pleased him, to abide +awhile, he feigned to his father that he had a mind to go visit the +Holy Sepulchre, the which with great difficulty he obtained of him. +Accordingly, taking the name of Anichino, he set out for Bologna, and +on the day following [his arrival,] as fortune would have it, he saw +the lady in question at an entertainment, where she seemed to him +fairer far than he had imagined her; wherefore, falling most ardently +enamoured of her, he resolved never to depart Bologna till he should +have gained her love. Then, devising in himself what course he should +take to this end, he bethought himself, leaving be all other means, +that, an he might but avail to become one of her husband's servants, +whereof he entertained many, he might peradventure compass that which +he desired. Accordingly, having sold his horses and disposed as best +might be of his servants, bidding them make a show of knowing him not, +he entered into discourse with his host and told him that he would +fain engage for a servant with some gentleman of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_345" id="Page_345"></a></span> condition, could +such an one be found. Quoth the host, 'Thou art the right serving-man +to please a gentleman of this city, by name Egano, who keepeth many +and will have them all well looking, as thou art. I will bespeak him +of the matter.' As he said, so he did, and ere he took leave of Egano, +he had brought Anichino to an accord with him, to the exceeding +satisfaction of the latter, who, abiding with Egano and having +abundant opportunity of seeing his lady often, proceeded to serve him +so well and so much to his liking that he set such store by him that +he could do nothing without him and committed to him the governance, +not of himself alone, but of all his affairs.</p> + +<p>It chanced one day that, Egano being gone a-fowling and having left +Anichino at home, Madam Beatrice (who was not yet become aware of his +love for her, albeit, considering him and his fashions, she had +ofttimes much commended him to herself and he pleased her,) fell to +playing chess with him and he, desiring to please her, very adroitly +contrived to let himself be beaten, whereat the lady was marvellously +rejoiced. Presently, all her women having gone away from seeing them +play and left them playing alone, Anichino heaved a great sigh, +whereupon she looked at him and said, 'What aileth thee, Anichino? +Doth it irk thee that I should beat thee?' 'Madam,' answered he, 'a +far greater thing than that was the cause of my sighing.' Quoth the +lady, 'Prithee, as thou wishest me well, tell it me.' When Anichino +heard himself conjured, 'as thou wishest me well,' by her whom he +loved over all else, he heaved a sigh yet heavier than the first; +wherefore the lady besought him anew that it would please him tell her +the cause of his sighing. 'Madam,' replied Anichino, 'I am sore +fearful lest it displease you, if I tell it you, and moreover I +misdoubt me you will tell it again to others.' Whereto rejoined she, +'Certes, it will not displease me, and thou mayst be assured that, +whatsoever thou sayest to me I will never tell to any, save whenas it +shall please thee.' Quoth he, 'Since you promise me this, I will e'en +tell it you.' Then, with tears in his eyes, he told her who he was and +what he had heard of her and when and how he was become enamoured of +her and why he had taken service with her husband and after humbly +besought her that it would please her have compassion on him and +comply with him in that his secret and so fervent desire, and in case +she willed not to do this, that she should suffer him to love her, +leaving him be in that his then present guise.</p> + +<p>O singular blandness of the Bolognese blood! How art thou still to be +commended in such circumstance! Never wast thou desirous of tears or +sighs; still wast thou compliant unto prayers and amenable unto +amorous desires! Had I words worthy to commend thee, my voice should +never weary of singing thy praises. The gentle lady, what while +Anichino spoke, kept her eyes fixed on him and giving full credence to +his words, received, by the prevalence of his prayers, the love of him +with such might into her heart that she also fell a-sighing and +presently answered, 'Sweet my Anichino, be of good courage; neither +presents nor promises nor solicitations of nobleman or gentleman or +other (for I have been and am yet courted of many) have ever availed +to move my heart to love any one of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_346" id="Page_346"></a></span> them; but thou, in this small +space of time that thy words have lasted, hast made me far more thine +than mine own. Methinketh thou hast right well earned my love, +wherefore I give it thee and promise thee that I will cause thee have +enjoyment thereof ere this next night be altogether spent. And that +this may have effect, look thou come to my chamber about midnight. I +will leave the door open; thou knowest which side the bed I lie; do +thou come thither and if I sleep, touch me so I may awake, and I will +ease thee of this so long desire that thou hast had. And that thou +mayst believe this that I say, I will e'en give thee a kiss by way of +arles.' Accordingly, throwing her arms about his neck, she kissed him +amorously and he on like wise kissed her. These things said, he left +her and went to do certain occasions of his, awaiting with the +greatest gladness in the world the coming of the night.</p> + +<p>Presently, Egano returned from fowling and being weary, betook himself +to bed, as soon as he had supper, and after him the lady, who left the +chamber-door open, as she had promised. Thither, at the appointed +hour, came Anichino and softly entering the chamber, shut the door +again from within; then, going up to the bed on the side where the +lady lay, he put his hand to her breast and found her awake. As soon +as she felt him come, she took his hand in both her own and held it +fast; then, turning herself about in the bed, she did on such wise +that Egano, who was asleep, awoke; whereupon quoth she to him, 'I +would not say aught to thee yestereve, for that meseemed thou was +weary; but tell me, Egano, so God save thee, whom holdest thou thy +best and trustiest servant and him who most loveth thee of those whom +thou hast in the house?' 'Wife,' answered Egano, 'what is this whereof +thou askest me? Knowest thou it not? I have not nor had aye any in +whom I so trusted and whom I loved as I love and trust in Anichino. +But why dost thou ask me thereof?'</p> + +<p>Anichino, seeing Egano awake and hearing talk of himself, was sore +afraid lest the lady had a mind to cozen him and offered again and +again to draw his hand away, so he might begone; but she held it so +fast that he could not win free. Then said she to Egano, 'I will tell +thee. I also believed till to-day that he was even such as thou sayest +and that he was more loyal to thee than any other, but he hath +undeceived me; for that, what while thou wentest a-fowling to-day, he +abode here, and whenas it seemed to him time, he was not ashamed to +solicit me to yield myself to his pleasures, and I, so I might make +thee touch and see this thing and that it might not behove me certify +thee thereof with too many proofs, replied that I would well and that +this very night, after midnight, I would go into our garden and there +await him at the foot of the pine. Now for my part I mean not to go +thither; but thou, an thou have a mind to know thy servant's fidelity, +thou mayst lightly do it by donning a gown and a veil of mine and +going down yonder to wait and see if he will come thither, as I am +assured he will.' Egano hearing this, answered, 'Certes, needs must I +go see,' and rising, donned one of the lady's gowns, as best he knew +in the dark; then, covering his head with a veil, he betook himself to +the garden and proceeded to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_347" id="Page_347"></a></span> await Anichino at the foot of the pine.</p> + +<p>As for the lady, as soon as she knew him gone forth of the chamber, +she arose and locked the door from within, whilst Anichino, (who had +had the greatest fright he had ever known and had enforced himself as +most he might to escape from the lady's hands, cursing her and her +love and himself who had trusted in her an hundred thousand times,) +seeing this that she had done in the end, was the joyfullest man that +was aye. Then, she having returned to bed, he, at her bidding, put off +his clothes and coming to bed to her, they took delight and pleasure +together a pretty while; after which, herseeming he should not abide +longer, she caused him arise and dress himself and said to him, +'Sweetheart, do thou take a stout cudgel and get thee to the garden +and there, feigning to have solicited me to try me, rate Egano, as he +were I, and ring me a good peal of bells on his back with the cudgel, +for that thereof will ensue to us marvellous pleasance and delight.' +Anichino accordingly repaired to the garden, with a sallow-stick in +his hand, and Egano, seeing him draw near the pine, rose up and came +to meet him, as he would receive him with the utmost joy; whereupon +quoth Anichino, 'Ah, wicked woman, art thou then come hither, and +thinkest thou I would do my lord such a wrong? A thousand times ill +come to thee!' Then, raising the cudgel, he began to lay on to him.</p> + +<p>Egano, hearing this and seeing the cudgel, took to his heels, without +saying a word, whilst Anichino still followed after him, saying, 'Go +to, God give thee an ill year, vile woman that thou art! I will +certainly tell it to Egano to-morrow morning.' Egano made his way back +to the chamber as quickliest he might, having gotten sundry good +clouts, and being questioned of the lady if Anichino had come to the +garden, 'Would God he had not!' answered he. 'For that, taking me for +thee, he hath cudgelled me to a mummy and given me the soundest rating +that was aye bestowed upon lewd woman. Certes, I marvelled sore at him +that he should have said these words to thee, with intent to do aught +that might be a shame to me; but, for that he saw thee so blithe and +gamesome, he had a mind to try thee.' Then said the lady, 'Praised be +God that he hath tried me with words and thee with deeds! Methinketh +he may say that I suffered his words more patiently than thou his +deeds. But, since he is so loyal to thee, it behoveth thee hold him +dear and do him honour.' 'Certes,' answered Egano, 'thou sayst sooth'; +and reasoning by this, he concluded that he had the truest wife and +the trustiest servant that ever gentleman had; by reason whereof, +albeit both he and the lady made merry more than once with Anichino +over this adventure, the latter and his mistress had leisure enough of +that which belike, but for this, they would not have had, to wit, to +do that which afforded them pleasance and delight, that while it +pleased Anichino abide with Egano in Bologna."</p> + + + +<hr /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_348" id="Page_348"></a></span></p> +<h2><a name="THE_EIGHTH_STORY7" id="THE_EIGHTH_STORY7"></a>THE EIGHTH STORY</h2> + +<div class="sidenote">Day the Seventh</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="hang">A MAN WAXETH JEALOUS OF HIS WIFE, WHO BINDETH A PIECE OF +PACKTHREAD TO HER GREAT TOE ANIGHTS, SO SHE MAY HAVE NOTICE +OF HER LOVER'S COMING. ONE NIGHT HER HUSBAND BECOMETH AWARE +OF THIS DEVICE AND WHAT WHILE HE PURSUETH THE LOVER, THE +LADY PUTTETH ANOTHER WOMAN TO BED IN HER ROOM. THIS LATTER +THE HUSBAND BEATETH AND CUTTETH OFF HER HAIR, THEN FETCHETH +HIS WIFE'S BROTHERS, WHO, FINDING HIS STORY [SEEMINGLY] +UNTRUE, GIVE HIM HARD WORDS</p></div> + + +<p><br /><span class="smcap">It seemed</span> to them all that Madam Beatrice had been extraordinarily +ingenious in cozening her husband and all agreed that Anichino's +fright must have been very great, whenas, being the while held fast by +the lady, he heard her say that he had required her of love. But the +king, seeing Filomena silent, turned to Neifile and said to her, "Do +you tell"; whereupon she, smiling first a little, began, "Fair ladies, +I have a hard task before me if I desire to pleasure you with a goodly +story, as those of you have done, who have already told; but, with +God's aid, I trust to discharge myself thereof well enough.</p> + +<p>You must know, then, that there was once in our city a very rich +merchant called Arriguccio Berlinghieri, who, foolishly thinking, as +merchants yet do every day, to ennoble himself by marriage, took to +wife a young gentlewoman ill sorting with himself, by name Madam +Sismonda, who, for that he, merchant-like, was much abroad and +sojourned little with her, fell in love with a young man called +Ruberto, who had long courted her, and clapped up a lover's privacy +with him. Using belike over-little discretion in her dealings with her +lover, for that they were supremely delightsome to her, it chanced +that, whether Arriguccio scented aught of the matter or how else +soever it happened, the latter became the most jealous man alive and +leaving be his going about and all his other concerns, applied himself +well nigh altogether to the keeping good watch over his wife; nor +would he ever fall asleep, except he first felt her come into the bed; +by reason whereof the lady suffered the utmost chagrin, for that on no +wise might she avail to be with her Ruberto.</p> + +<p>However, after pondering many devices for finding a means to +foregather with him and being to boot continually solicited thereof by +him, it presently occurred to her to do on this wise; to wit, having +many a time observed that Arriguccio tarried long to fall asleep, but +after slept very soundly, she determined to cause Ruberto come about +midnight to the door of the house and to go open to him and abide with +him what while her husband slept fast. And that she might know when he +should be come, she bethought herself to hang a twine out of the +window of her bedchamber, which looked upon the street, on such wise +that none might perceive it, one end whereof should well nigh reach +the ground, whilst she carried the other end along the floor of the +room to the bed and hid it under the clothes, meaning to make it fast +to her great toe, whenas she should be abed. Accordingly, she sent to +acquaint Ruberto<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_349" id="Page_349"></a></span> with this and charged him, when he came, to pull the +twine, whereupon, if her husband slept, she would let it go and come +to open to him; but, if he slept not, she would hold it fast and draw +it to herself, so he should not wait. The device pleased Ruberto and +going thither frequently, he was whiles able to foregather with her +and whiles not.</p> + +<p>On this wise they continued to do till, one night, the lady being +asleep, it chanced that her husband stretched out his foot in bed and +felt the twine, whereupon he put his hand to it and finding it made +fast to his wife's toe, said in himself, 'This should be some trick'; +and presently perceiving that the twine led out of window, he held it +for certain. Accordingly, he cut it softly from the lady's toe and +making it fast to his own, abode on the watch to see what this might +mean. He had not waited long before up came Ruberto and pulled at the +twine, as of his wont; whereupon Arriguccio started up; but, he not +having made the twine well fast to his toe and Ruberto pulling hard, +it came loose in the latter's hand, whereby he understood that he was +to wait and did so. As for Arriguccio, he arose in haste and taking +his arms, ran to the door, to see who this might be and do him a +mischief, for, albeit a merchant, he was a stout fellow and a strong. +When he came to the door, he opened it not softly as the lady was used +to do, which when Ruberto, who was await, observed, he guessed how the +case stood, to wit, that it was Arriguccio who opened the door, and +accordingly made off in haste and the other after him. At last, having +fled a great way and Arriguccio stinting not from following him, +Ruberto, being also armed, drew his sword and turned upon his pursuer, +whereupon they fell to blows, the one attacking and the other +defending himself.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, the lady, awaking, as Arriguccio opened the chamber-door, +and finding the twine cut from her toe, knew incontinent that her +device was discovered, whereupon, perceiving that her husband had run +after her lover, she arose in haste and foreseeing what might happen, +called her maid, who knew all, and conjured her to such purpose that +she prevailed with her to take her own place in the bed, beseeching +her patiently to endure, without discovering herself, whatsoever +buffets Arriguccio might deal her, for that she would requite her +therefor on such wise that she should have no cause to complain; after +which she did out the light that burnt in the chamber and going forth +thereof, hid herself in another part of the house and there began to +await what should betide.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, the people of the quarter, aroused by the noise of the +affray between Arriguccio and Ruberto, arose and fell a-railing at +them; whereupon the husband, fearing to be known, let the youth go, +without having availed to learn who he was or to do him any hurt, and +returned to his house, full of rage and despite. There, coming into +the chamber, he cried out angrily, saying, 'Where art thou, vile +woman? Thou hast done out the light, so I may not find thee; but thou +art mistaken.' Then, coming to the bedside, he seized upon the maid, +thinking to take his wife, and laid on to her so lustily with cuffs +and kicks, as long as he could wag his hands and feet, that he bruised +all<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_350" id="Page_350"></a></span> her face, ending by cutting off her hair, still giving her the +while the hardest words that were ever said to worthless woman. The +maid wept sore, as indeed she had good cause to do, and albeit she +said whiles, 'Alas, mercy, for God's sake!' and 'Oh, no more!' her +voice was so broken with sobs and Arriguccio was so hindered with his +rage that he never discerned it to be that of another woman than his +wife.</p> + +<p>Having, then, as we have said, beaten her to good purpose and cut off +her hair, he said to her, 'Wicked woman that thou art, I mean not to +touch thee otherwise, but shall now go fetch thy brothers and acquaint +them with thy fine doings and after bid them come for thee and deal +with thee as they shall deem may do them honour and carry thee away; +for assuredly in this house thou shalt abide no longer.' So saying, he +departed the chamber and locking the door from without, went away all +alone. As soon as Madam Sismonda, who had heard all, was certified of +her husband's departure, she opened the door and rekindling the light, +found her maid all bruised and weeping sore; whereupon she comforted +her as best she might and carried her back to her own chamber, where +she after caused privily tend her and care for her and so rewarded her +of Arriguccio's own monies that she avouched herself content. No +sooner had she done this than she hastened to make the bed in her own +chamber and all restablished it and set it in such order as if none +had lain there that night; after which she dressed and tired herself, +as if she had not yet gone to bed; then, lighting a lamp, she took her +clothes and seated herself at the stairhead, where she proceeded to +sew and await the issue of the affair.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile Arriguccio betook himself in all haste to the house of his +wife's brothers and there knocked so long and so loudly that he was +heard and it was opened to him. The lady's three brothers and her +mother, hearing that it was Arriguccio, rose all and letting kindle +lights, came to him and asked what he went seeking at that hour and +alone. Whereupon, beginning from the twine he had found tied to wife's +toe, he recounted to them all that he had discovered and done, and to +give them entire proof of the truth of his story, he put into their +hands the hair he thought to have cut from his wife's head, ending by +requiring them to come for her and do with her that which they should +judge pertinent to their honour, for that he meant to keep her no +longer in his house. The lady's brothers, hearing this and holding it +for certain, were sore incensed against her and letting kindle +torches, set out to accompany Arriguccio to his house, meaning to do +her a mischief; which their mother seeing, she followed after them, +weeping and entreating now the one, now the other not to be in such +haste to believe these things of their sister, without seeing or +knowing more of the matter, for that her husband might have been +angered with her for some other cause and have maltreated her and +might now allege this in his own excuse, adding that she marvelled +exceedingly how this [whereof he accused her] could have happened, for +that she knew her daughter well, as having reared her from a little +child, with many other words to the like purpose.</p> + +<p>When they came to Arriguccio's<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_351" id="Page_351"></a></span> house, they entered and proceeded to +mount the stair, whereupon Madam Sismonda, hearing them come, said, +'Who is there?' To which one of her brothers answered, 'Thou shalt +soon know who it is, vile woman that thou art!' 'God aid us!' cried +she. 'What meaneth this?' Then, rising to her feet, 'Brothers mine,' +quoth she, 'you are welcome; but what go you all three seeking at this +hour?' The brothers,—seeing her seated sewing, with no sign of +beating on her face, whereas Arriguccio avouched that he had beaten +her to a mummy,—began to marvel and curbing the violence of their +anger, demanded of her how that had been whereof Arriguccio accused +her, threatening her sore, and she told them not all. Quoth she, 'I +know not what you would have me say nor of what Arriguccio can have +complained to you of me.' Arriguccio, seeing her thus, eyed her as if +he had lost his wits, remembering that he had dealt her belike a +thousand buffets on the face and scratched her and done her all the +ill in the world, and now he beheld her as if nothing of all this had +been.</p> + +<p>Her brothers told her briefly what they had heard from Arriguccio, +twine and beating and all, whereupon she turned to him and said, +'Alack, husband mine, what is this I hear? Why wilt thou make me pass, +to thine own great shame, for an ill woman, where as I am none, and +thyself for a cruel and wicked man, which thou art not? When wast thou +in this house to-night till now, let alone with me? When didst thou +beat me? For my part, I have no remembrance of it.' 'How, vile woman +that thou art!' cried he. 'Did we not go to bed together here? Did I +not return hither, after running after thy lover? Did I not deal thee +a thousand buffets and cut off thy hair?' 'Thou wentest not to bed in +this house to-night,' replied Sismonda. 'But let that pass, for I can +give no proof thereof other than mine own true words, and let us come +to that which thou sayest, to wit, that thou didst beat me and cut off +my hair. Me thou hast never beaten, and do all who are here and thou +thyself take note of me, if I have any mark of beating in any part of +my person. Indeed, I should not counsel thee make so bold as to lay a +hand on me, for, by Christ His Cross, I would mar thy face for thee! +Neither didst thou cut off my hair, for aught that I felt or saw; but +haply thou didst it on such wise that I perceived it not; let me see +if I have it shorn or no.' Then, putting off her veil from her head, +she showed that she had her hair unshorn and whole.</p> + +<p>Her mother and brothers, seeing and hearing all this, turned upon her +husband and said to him, 'What meanest thou, Arriguccio? This is not +that so far which thou camest to tell us thou hadst done, and we know +not how thou wilt make good the rest.' Arriguccio stood as one in a +trance and would have spoken; but, seeing that it was not as he +thought he could show, he dared say nothing; whereupon the lady, +turning to her brothers, said to them, 'Brothers mine, I see he hath +gone seeking to have me do what I have never yet chosen to do, to wit, +that I should acquaint you with his lewdness and his vile fashions, +and I will do it. I firmly believe that this he hath told you hath +verily befallen him and that he hath done as he saith; and you shall +hear how. This worthy man, to whom in an<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_352" id="Page_352"></a></span> ill hour for me you gave me +to wife, who calleth himself a merchant and would be thought a man of +credit, this fellow, forsooth, who should be more temperate than a +monk and chaster than a maid, there be few nights but he goeth +fuddling himself about the taverns, foregathering now with this lewd +woman and now with that and keeping me waiting for him, on such wise +as you find me, half the night and whiles even till morning. I doubt +not but that, having well drunken, he went to bed with some trull of +his and waking, found the twine on her foot and after did all these +his fine feats whereof he telleth, winding up by returning to her and +beating her and cutting off her hair; and not being yet well come to +himself, he fancied (and I doubt not yet fancieth) that he did all +this to me; and if you look him well in the face, you will see he is +yet half fuddled. Algates, whatsoever he may have said of me, I will +not have you take it to yourselves except as a drunken man's talk, and +since I forgive him, do you also pardon him.'</p> + +<p>Her mother, hearing this, began to make an outcry and say, 'By Christ +His Cross, daughter mine, it shall not pass thus! Nay, he should +rather be slain for a thankless, ill-conditioned dog, who was never +worthy to have a girl of thy fashion to wife. Marry, a fine thing, +forsooth! He could have used thee no worse, had he picked thee up out +of the dirt! Devil take him if thou shalt abide at the mercy of the +spite of a paltry little merchant of asses' dung! They come to us out +of their pigstyes in the country, clad in homespun frieze, with their +bag-breeches and pen in arse, and as soon as they have gotten a leash +of groats, they must e'en have the daughters of gentlemen and right +ladies to wife and bear arms and say, "I am of such a family" and +"Those of my house did thus and thus." Would God my sons had followed +my counsel in the matter, for that they might have stablished thee so +worshipfully in the family of the Counts Guidi, with a crust of bread +to thy dowry! But they must needs give thee to this fine jewel of +fellow, who, whereas thou art the best girl in Florence and the +modestest, is not ashamed to knock us up in the middle of the night, +to tell us that thou art a strumpet, as if we knew thee not. But, by +God His faith, an they would be ruled by me, he should get such a +trouncing therefor that he should stink for it!' Then, turning to the +lady's brothers, 'My sons,' said she, 'I told you this could not be. +Have you heard how your fine brother-in-law here entreateth your +sister? Four-farthing<a name="FNanchor_353_355" id="FNanchor_353_355"></a><a href="#Footnote_353_355" class="fnanchor">[353]</a> huckster that he is! Were I in your shoes, +he having said what he hath of her and doing that which he doth, I +would never hold myself content nor appeased till I had rid the earth +of him; and were I a man, as I am a woman, I would trouble none other +than myself to despatch his business. Confound him for a sorry drunken +beast, that hath no shame!'</p> + +<p>The young men, seeing and hearing all this, turned upon Arriguccio and +gave him the soundest rating ever losel got; and ultimately they said +to him. 'We pardon thee this as to a drunken man; but, as thou +tenderest thy life, look henceforward we hear no more<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_353" id="Page_353"></a></span> news of this +kind, for, if aught of the like come ever again to our ears, we will +pay thee at once for this and for that.' So saying, they went their +ways, leaving Arriguccio all aghast, as it were he had taken leave of +his wits, unknowing in himself whether that which he had done had +really been or whether he had dreamed it; wherefore he made no more +words thereof, but left his wife in peace. Thus the lady, by her ready +wit, not only escaped the imminent peril [that threatened her,] but +opened herself a way to do her every pleasure in time to come, without +evermore having any fear of her husband."</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="THE_NINTH_STORY7" id="THE_NINTH_STORY7"></a>THE NINTH STORY</h2> + +<div class="sidenote">Day the Seventh</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="hang">LYDIA, WIFE OF NICOSTRATUS, LOVETH PYRRHUS, WHO, SO HE MAY +BELIEVE IT, REQUIRETH OF HER THREE THINGS, ALL WHICH SHE +DOTH. MOREOVER, SHE SOLACETH HERSELF WITH HIM IN THE +PRESENCE OF NICOSTRATUS AND MAKETH THE LATTER BELIEVE THAT +THAT WHICH HE HATH SEEN IS NOT REAL</p></div> + + +<p><br /><span class="smcap">Neifile's</span> story so pleased the ladies that they could neither give +over to laugh at nor to talk of it, albeit the king, having bidden +Pamfilo tell his story, had several times imposed silence upon them. +However, after they had held their peace, Pamfilo began thus: "I do +not believe, worshipful ladies, that there is anything, how hard and +doubtful soever it be, that whoso loveth passionately will not dare to +do; the which, albeit it hath already been demonstrated in many +stories, methinketh, nevertheless, I shall be able yet more plainly to +show forth to you in one which I purpose to tell you and wherein you +shall hear of a lady, who was in her actions much more favoured of +fortune than well-advised of reason; wherefore I would not counsel any +one to adventure herself in the footsteps of her of whom I am to tell, +for that fortune is not always well disposed nor are all men in the +world equally blind.</p> + +<p>In Argos, city of Achia far more famous for its kings of past time +than great in itself, there was once a nobleman called Nicostratus, to +whom, when already neighbouring on old age, fortune awarded a lady of +great family to wife, whose name was Lydia and who was no less +high-spirited than fair. Nicostratus, like a nobleman and a man of +wealth as he was, kept many servants and hounds and hawks and took the +utmost delight in the chase. Among his other servants he had a young +man called Pyrrhus, who was sprightly and well bred and comely of his +person and adroit in all that he had a mind to do, and him he loved +and trusted over all else. Of this Pyrrhus Lydia became so sore +enamoured that neither by day nor by night could she have her thought +otherwhere than with him; but he, whether it was that he perceived not +her liking for him or that he would none of it, appeared to reck +nothing thereof, by reason whereof the lady suffered intolerable +chagrin in herself and being altogether resolved to give him to know +of her passion, called a chamberwoman of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_354" id="Page_354"></a></span> hers, Lusca by name, in whom +she much trusted, and said to her, 'Lusca, the favours thou hast had +of me should make thee faithful and obedient; wherefore look thou none +ever know that which I shall presently say to thee, save he to whom I +shall charge thee tell it. As thou seest, Lusca, I am a young and +lusty lady, abundantly endowed with all those things which any woman +can desire; in brief, I can complain of but one thing, to wit, that my +husband's years are overmany, an they be measured by mine own, +wherefore I fare but ill in the matter of that thing wherein young +women take most pleasure, and none the less desiring it, as other +women do, I have this long while determined in myself, since fortune +hath been thus little my friend in giving me so old a husband, that I +will not be so much mine own enemy as not to contrive to find means +for my pleasures and my weal; which that I may have as complete in +this as in other things, I have bethought myself to will that our +Pyrrhus, as being worthier thereof than any other, should furnish them +with his embracements; nay, I have vowed him so great a love that I +never feel myself at ease save whenas I see him or think of him, and +except I foregather with him without delay, methinketh I shall +certainly die thereof. Wherefore, if my life be dear to thee, thou +wilt, on such wise as shall seem best to thee, signify to him any love +and beseech him, on my part, to be pleased to come to me, whenas thou +shalt go for him.'</p> + +<p>The chamberwoman replied that she would well and taking Pyrrhus apart, +whenas first it seemed to her time and place, she did her lady's +errand to him as best she knew. Pyrrhus, hearing this, was sore amazed +thereat, as one who had never anywise perceived aught of the matter, +and misdoubted him the lady had let say this to him to try him; +wherefore he answered roughly and hastily, 'Lusca, I cannot believe +that these words come from my lady; wherefore, have a care what thou +sayst; or, if they do indeed come from her, I do not believe that she +caused thee say them with intent, and even if she did so, my lord doth +me more honour than I deserve and I would not for my life do him such +an outrage; wherefore look thou bespeak me no more of such things.' +Lusca, nowise daunted by his austere speech, said to him, 'Pyrrhus, I +will e'en bespeak thee both of this and of everything else wherewithal +my lady shall charge me when and as often as she shall bid me, whether +it cause thee pleasure or annoy; but thou art an ass.' Then, somewhat +despited at his words, she returned to her mistress, who, hearing what +Pyrrhus had said, wished for death, but, some days after, she again +bespoke the chamberwoman of the matter and said to her, 'Lusca, thou +knowest that the oak falleth not for the first stroke; wherefore +meseemeth well that thou return anew to him who so strangely willeth +to abide loyal to my prejudice, and taking a sortable occasion, +throughly discover to him my passion and do thine every endeavour that +the thing may have effect; for that, an it fall through thus, I shall +assuredly die of it. Moreover, he will think to have been befooled, +and whereas we seek to have his love, hate will ensue thereof.'</p> + +<p>The maid comforted her and going in quest of Pyrrhus found him merry +and well-disposed and said to him, 'Pyrrhus I showed thee, a few days +agone, in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_355" id="Page_355"></a></span> what a fire my lady and thine abideth for the love she +beareth thee, and now anew I certify thee thereof, for that, an thou +persist in the rigour thou showedst the other day, thou mayst be +assured that she will not live long; wherefore I prithee be pleased to +satisfy her of her desire, and if thou yet abide fast in thine +obstinacy, whereas I have still accounted thee mighty discreet, I +shall hold thee a blockhead. What can be a greater glory for thee than +that such a lady, so fair and so noble, should love thee over all +else? Besides, how greatly shouldst thou acknowledge thyself beholden +unto Fortune, seeing that she proffereth thee a thing of such worth +and so conformable to the desires of thy youth and to boot, such a +resource for thy necessities! Which of thy peers knowest thou who +fareth better by way of delight than thou mayst fare, an thou be wise? +What other couldst thou find who may fare so well in the matter of +arms and horses and apparel and monies as thou mayst do, so thou wilt +but vouchsafe thy love to this lady? Open, then, thy mind to my words +and return to thy senses; bethink thee that once, and no oftener, it +is wont to betide that fortune cometh unto a man with smiling face and +open arms, who an he know not then to welcome, if after he find +himself poor and beggarly, he hath himself and not her to blame. +Besides, there is no call to use that loyalty between servants and +masters that behoveth between friends and kinsfolk; nay, servants +should use their masters, in so far as they may, like as themselves +are used of them. Thinkest thou, an thou hadst a fair wife or mother +or daughter or sister, who pleased Nicostratus, that he would go +questing after this loyalty that thou wouldst fain observe towards him +in respect of this lady? Thou are a fool, if thou think thus; for thou +mayst hold it for certain that, if blandishments and prayers sufficed +him not, he would not scruple to use force in the matter, whatsoever +thou mightest deem thereof. Let us, then, entreat them and their +affairs even as they entreat us and ours. Profit by the favour of +fortune and drive her not away, but welcome her with open arms and +meet her halfway, for assuredly, and thou do it not, thou wilt yet +(leave alone the death that will without fail ensue thereof to thy +lady) repent thee thereof so many a time thou wilt be fain to die +therefor.'</p> + +<p>Pyrrhus, who had again and again pondered the words that Lusca had +said to him, had determined, and she should return to him, to make her +another guess answer and altogether to submit himself to comply with +the lady's wishes, so but he might be certified that it was not a +trick to try him, and accordingly answered, 'Harkye, Lusca; all that +thou sayst to me I allow to be true; but, on the other hand, I know my +lord for very discreet and well-advised, and as he committeth all his +affairs to my hands, I am sore adread lest Lydia, with his counsel and +by his wish, do this to try me; wherefore, an it please her for mine +assurance do three things that I shall ask, she shall for certain +thereafterward command me nought but I will do it forthright. And the +three things I desire are these: first, that in Nicostratus his +presence she slay his good hawk; secondly, that she send me a lock of +her husband's beard and lastly, one of his best teeth.' These +conditions<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_356" id="Page_356"></a></span> seemed hard unto Lusca and to the lady harder yet; +however, Love, who is an excellent comforter<a name="FNanchor_354_356" id="FNanchor_354_356"></a><a href="#Footnote_354_356" class="fnanchor">[354]</a> and a past master in +shifts and devices, made her resolve to do his pleasure and +accordingly she sent him word by her chamberwoman that she would +punctually do what he required and that quickly, and that over and +above this, for that he deemed Nicostratus so well-advised, she would +solace herself with him in her husband's presence and make the latter +believe that it was not true.</p> + +<p>Pyrrhus, accordingly, began to await what the lady should do, and +Nicostratus having, a few days after, made, as he oftentimes used to +do, a great dinner to certain gentlemen, Madam Lydia, whenas the +tables were cleared away, came forth of her chamber, clad in green +samite and richly bedecked, and entered the saloon where the guests +were. There, in the sight of Pyrrhus and of all the rest, she went up +to the perch, whereon was the hawk that Nicostratus held so dear, and +cast it loose, as she would set it on her hand; then, taking it by the +jesses, she dashed it against the wall and killed it; whereupon +Nicostratus cried out at her, saying, 'Alack, wife, what hast thou +done?' She answered him nothing, but, turning to the gentlemen who had +eaten with him, she said to them, 'Gentlemen, I should ill know how to +avenge myself on a king who did me a despite, an I dared not take my +wreak of a hawk. You must know that this bird hath long robbed me of +all the time which should of men be accorded to the pleasuring of the +ladies; for that no sooner is the day risen than Nicostratus is up and +drest and away he goeth a-horseback, with his hawk on his fist, to the +open plains, to see him fly, whilst I, such as you see me, abide in +bed alone and ill-content; wherefore I have many a time had a mind to +do that which I have now done, nor hath aught hindered me therefrom +but that I waited to do it in the presence of gentlemen who would be +just judges in my quarrel, as methinketh you will be.' The gentlemen, +hearing this and believing her affection for Nicostratus to be no +otherwise than as her words denoted, turned all to the latter, who was +angered, and said, laughing, 'Ecod, how well hath the lady done to +avenge herself of her wrong by the death of the hawk!' Then, with +divers of pleasantries upon the subject (the lady being now gone back +to her chamber), they turned Nicostratus his annoy into laughter; +whilst Pyrrhus, seeing all this, said in himself, 'The lady hath given +a noble beginning to my happy loves; God grant she persevere!'</p> + +<p>Lydia having thus slain the hawk, not many days were passed when, +being in her chamber with Nicostratus, she fell to toying and +frolicking with him, and he, pulling her somedele by the hair, by way +of sport, gave her occasion to accomplish the second thing required of +her by Pyrrhus. Accordingly, taking him of a sudden by a lock of his +beard, she tugged so hard at it, laughing the while, that she plucked +it clean out of his chin; whereof he complaining, 'How now?' quoth +she. 'What aileth thee to pull such a face? Is it because I have +plucked out maybe half a dozen hairs of thy beard? Thou feltest not +that which I suffered, whenas thou pulledst me now by the hair.' On +this wise continu<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_357" id="Page_357"></a></span>ing their disport from one word to another, she +privily kept the lock of hair that she had plucked from his beard and +sent it that same day to her lover.</p> + +<p>Anent the last of the three things required by Pyrrhus she was harder +put to it for a device; nevertheless, being of a surpassing wit and +Love making her yet quicker of invention, she soon bethought herself +what means she should use to give it accomplishment. Nicostratus had +two boys given him of their father, to the intent that, being of +gentle birth, they might learn somewhat of manners and good breeding +in his house, of whom, whenas he was at meat, one carved before him +and the other gave him to drink. Lydia called them both and giving +them to believe that they stank at the mouth, enjoined them that, +whenas they served Nicostratus, they should still hold their heads +backward as most they might nor ever tell this to any. The boys, +believing that which she said, proceeded to do as she had lessoned +them, and she after a while said to her husband one day, 'Hast thou +noted that which yonder boys do, whenas they serve thee?' 'Ay have I,' +replied Nicostratus; 'and indeed I had it in mind to ask them why they +did it.' Quoth the lady, 'Do it not, for I can tell thee the reason; +and I have kept it silent from thee this long while, not to cause thee +annoy; but, now I perceive that others begin to be aware thereof, it +skilleth not to hide it from thee longer. This betideth thee for none +other what than that thou stinkest terribly at the mouth, and I know +not what can be the cause thereof; for that it used not to be thus. +Now this is a very unseemly thing for thee who hast to do with +gentlemen, and needs must we see for a means of curing it.' Whereupon +said he, 'What can this be? Can I have some rotten tooth in my head?' +'Maybe ay,' answered Lydia and carried him to a window, where she made +him open his mouth, and after she had viewed it in every part, 'O +Nicostratus,' cried she, 'how canst thou have put up with it so long? +Thou hast a tooth on this side which meseemth is not only decayed, but +altogether rotten, and assuredly, and thou keep it much longer in thy +mouth, it will mar thee those which be on either side; wherefore I +counsel thee have it drawn, ere the thing go farther.' 'Since it +seemeth good to thee,' answered he, 'I will well; let a surgeon be +sent for without more delay, who shall draw it for me.' 'God forbid,' +rejoined the lady, 'that a surgeon come hither for that! Methinketh it +lieth on such wise that I myself, without any surgeon, can very well +draw it for thee; more by token that these same surgeons are so +barbarous in doing such offices that my heart would on no account +suffer me to see or know thee in the hands of any one of them; for, an +it irk thee overmuch, I will at least loose thee incontinent, which a +surgeon would not do.'</p> + +<p>Accordingly, she let fetch the proper instruments and sent every one +forth of the chamber, except only Lusca; after which, locking herself +in, she made Nicostratus lie down on a table and thrusting the pincers +into his mouth, what while the maid held him fast, she pulled out one +of his teeth by main force, albeit he roared out lustily for the pain. +Then, keeping to herself that which she had drawn, she brought out a +frightfully decayed tooth she had ready in her hand and showed it to +her hus<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_358" id="Page_358"></a></span>band, half dead as he was for pain, saying, 'See what thou +hast had in thy mouth all this while.' Nicostratus believed what she +said and now that the tooth was out, for all he had suffered the most +grievous pain and made sore complaint thereof, him seemed he was +cured; and presently, having comforted himself with one thing and +another and the pain being abated, he went forth of the chamber; +whereupon his wife took the tooth and straightway despatched it to her +gallant, who, being now certified of her love, professed himself ready +to do her every pleasure.</p> + +<p>The lady, albeit every hour seemed to her a thousand till she should +be with him, desiring to give him farther assurance and wishful to +perform that which she had promised him, made a show one day of being +ailing and being visited after dinner by Nicostratus, with no one in +his company but Pyrrhus, she prayed them, by way of allaying her +unease, to help her go into the garden. Accordingly, Nicostratus +taking her on one side and Pyrrhus on the other, they carried her into +the garden and set her down on a grassplot, at the foot of a fine +pear-tree; where, after they had sat awhile, the lady, who had already +given her gallant to know what he had to do, said, 'Pyrrhus, I have a +great desire to eat of yonder pears; do thou climb up and throw us +down some of them.' Pyrrhus straightway climbed up into the tree and +fell to throwing down of the pears, which as he did, he began to say, +'How now, my lord! What is this you do? And you, madam, are you not +ashamed to suffer it in my presence? Think you I am blind? But now you +were sore disordered; how cometh it you have so quickly recovered that +you do such things? An you have a mind unto this, you have store of +goodly chambers; why go you not do it in one of these? It were more +seemly than in my presence.'</p> + +<p>The lady turned to her husband and said, 'What saith Pyrrhus? Doth he +rave?' 'No, madam,' answered the young man, 'I rave not. Think you I +cannot see?' As for Nicostratus, he marvelled sore and said, 'Verily, +Pyrrhus, methinketh thou dreamest.' 'My lord,' replied Pyrrhus, 'I +dream not a jot, neither do you dream; nay, you bestir yourselves on +such wise that were this tree to do likewise, there would not be a +pear left on it.' Quoth the lady, 'What may this be? Can it be that +this he saith appeareth to him to be true? So God save me, and I were +whole as I was aforetime, I would climb up into the tree, to see what +marvels are those which this fellow saith he seeth.' Meanwhile Pyrrhus +from the top of the pear-tree still said the same thing and kept up +the pretence; whereupon Nicostratus bade him come down. Accordingly he +came down and his master said to him, 'Now, what sayst thou thou +sawest?' 'Methinketh,' answered he, 'you take me for a lackwit or a +loggerhead. Since I must needs say it, I saw you a-top of your lady, +and after, as I came down, I saw you arise and seat yourself where you +presently are.' 'Assuredly,' said Nicostratus, 'thou dotest; for we +have not stirred a jot, save as thou seest, since thou climbest up +into the pear-tree.' Whereupon quoth Pyrrhus, 'What booteth it to make +words of the matter? I certainly saw you; and if I did see you, it was +a-top of your own.'</p> + +<p>Nicostratus waxed momently more<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_359" id="Page_359"></a></span> and more astonished, insomuch that he +said, 'Needs must I see if this pear-tree is enchanted and if whoso is +thereon seeth marvels.' Thereupon he climbed up into the tree and no +sooner was he come to the top than the lady and Pyrrhus fell to +solacing themselves together; which when Nicostratus saw, he began to +cry out, saying, 'Ah, vile woman that thou art, what is this thou +dost? And thou, Pyrrhus, in whom I most trusted?' So saying, he +proceeded to descend the tree, whilst the lovers said, 'We are sitting +here'; then, seeing him come down, they reseated themselves whereas he +had left them. As soon as he was down and saw his wife and Pyrrhus +where he had left them, he fell a-railing at them; whereupon quoth +Pyrrhus, 'Now, verily, Nicostratus, I acknowledged that, as you said +before, I must have seen falsely what while I was in the pear-tree, +nor do I know it otherwise than by this, that I see and know yourself +to have seen falsely in the like case. And that I speak the truth +nought else should be needful to certify you but that you have regard +to the circumstances of the case and consider if it be possible that +your lady, who is the most virtuous of women and discreeter than any +other of her sex, could, an she had a mind to outrage you on such +wise, bring herself to do it before your very eyes. I speak not of +myself, who would rather suffer myself to be torn limb-meal than so +much as think of such a thing, much more come to do it in your +presence. Wherefore the fault of this misseeing must needs proceed +from the pear-tree, for that all the world had not made me believe but +that you were in act to have carnal knowledge of your lady here, had I +not heard you say that it appeared to yourself that I did what I know +most certainly I never thought, much less did.'</p> + +<p>Thereupon the lady, feigning to be mightily incensed, rose to her feet +and said, 'Ill luck betide thee, dost thou hold me so little of wit +that, an I had a mind to such filthy fashions as thou wouldst have us +believe thou sawest, I should come to do them before thy very eyes? +Thou mayst be assured of this that, if ever the fancy took me thereof, +I should not come hither; marry, methinketh I should have sense enough +to contrive it in one of our chambers, on such wise and after such a +fashion that it would seem to me an extraordinary thing if ever thou +camest to know of it.' Nicostratus, himseeming that what the lady and +Pyrrhus said was true, to wit, that they would never have ventured +upon such an act there before himself, gave over words and reproaches +and fell to discoursing of the strangeness of the fact and the miracle +of the sight, which was thus changed unto whoso climbed up into the +pear-tree. But his wife, feigning herself chagrined for the ill +thought he had shown of her, said, 'Verily, this pear-tree shall never +again, if I can help it, do me nor any other lady the like of this +shame; wherefore do thou run, Pyrrhus, and fetch a hatchet and at one +stroke avenge both thyself and me by cutting it down; albeit it were +better yet lay it about Nicostratus his cosard, who, without any +consideration, suffered the eyes of his understanding to be so quickly +blinded, whenas, however certain that which thou<a name="FNanchor_355_357" id="FNanchor_355_357"></a><a href="#Footnote_355_357" class="fnanchor">[355]</a> saidst might +seem<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_360" id="Page_360"></a></span> to those<a name="FNanchor_356_358" id="FNanchor_356_358"></a><a href="#Footnote_356_358" class="fnanchor">[356]</a> which thou hast in thy head, thou shouldst for +nought in the world in the judgment of thy mind have believed or +allowed that such a thing could be.'</p> + +<p>Pyrrhus very readily fetched the hatchet and cut down the tree, which +when the lady saw fallen, she said to Nicostratus, 'Since I see the +enemy of mine honour overthrown, my anger is past,' and graciously +forgave her husband, who besought her thereof, charging him that it +should never again happen to him to presume such a thing of her, who +loved him better than herself. Accordingly, the wretched husband, thus +befooled, returned with her and her lover to the palace, where many a +time thereafterward Pyrrhus took delight and pleasance more at ease of +Lydia and she of him. God grant us as much!"</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="THE_TENTH_STORY7" id="THE_TENTH_STORY7"></a>THE TENTH STORY</h2> + +<div class="sidenote">Day the Seventh</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="hang">TWO SIENNESE LOVE A LADY, WHO IS GOSSIP TO ONE OF THEM; THE +LATTER DIETH AND RETURNING TO HIS COMPANION, ACCORDING TO +PROMISE MADE HIM, RELATETH TO HIM HOW FOLK FARE IN THE OTHER +WORLD</p></div> + + +<p><br /><span class="smcap">It now</span> rested only with the king to tell and he accordingly, as soon +as he saw the ladies quieted, who lamented the cutting down of the +unoffending pear-tree, began, "It is a very manifest thing that every +just king should be the first to observe the laws made by him, and an +he do otherwise, he must be adjudged a slave deserving of punishment +and not a king, into which offence and under which reproach I, who am +your king, am in a manner constrained to fall. True it is that +yesterday I laid down the law for to-day's discourses, purposing not +this day to make use of my privilege, but, submitting myself to the +same obligation as you, to discourse of that whereof you have all +discoursed. However, not only hath that story been told which I had +thought to tell, but so many other and far finer things have been said +upon the matter that, for my part, ransack my memory as I will, I can +call nothing to mind and must avouch myself unable to say aught anent +such a subject that may compare with those stories which have already +been told. Wherefore, it behoving me transgress against the law made +by myself, I declare myself in advance ready, as one deserving of +punishment, to submit to any forfeit which may be imposed on me, and +so have recourse to my wonted privilege. Accordingly, dearest ladies, +I say that Elisa's story of Fra Rinaldo and his gossip and eke the +simplicity of the Siennese have such efficacy that they induce me, +letting be the cheats put upon foolish husbands by their wily wives, +to tell you a slight story of them,<a name="FNanchor_357_359" id="FNanchor_357_359"></a><a href="#Footnote_357_359" class="fnanchor">[357]</a> which though it have in it no +little of that which must not be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_361" id="Page_361"></a></span> believed, will natheless in part, at +least, be pleasing to hear.</p> + +<p>There were, then, in Siena two young men of the people, whereof one +was called Tingoccio Mini and the other Meuccio di Tura; they abode at +Porta Salaja and consorted well nigh never save one with the other. To +all appearance they loved each exceedingly and resorting, as men do, +to churches and preachings, they had many a time heard tell of the +happiness and of the misery that are, according to their deserts, +allotted in the next world to the souls of those who die; of which +things desiring to have certain news and finding no way thereto, they +promised one another that whichever of them died first should, an he +might, return to him who abode on life and give him tidings of that +which he would fain know; and this they confirmed with an oath. Having +come to this accord and companying still together, as hath been said, +it chanced that Tingoccio became godfather to a child which one +Ambruogio Anselmini, abiding at Campo Reggi, had had of his wife, +Mistress Mita by name, and from time to time visiting, together with +Meuccio, his gossip who was a very fair and lovesome lady, he became, +notwithstanding the gossipship, enamoured of her. Meuccio, on like +wise, hearing her mightily commended of his friend and being himself +much pleased with her, fell in love with her, and each hid his love +from the other, but not for one same reason. Tingoccio was careful not +to discover it to Meuccio, on account of the naughty deed which +himseemed he did to love his gossip and which he had been ashamed that +any should know. Meuccio, on the other hand, kept himself +therefrom,<a name="FNanchor_358_360" id="FNanchor_358_360"></a><a href="#Footnote_358_360" class="fnanchor">[358]</a> for that he had already perceived that the lady +pleased Tingoccio; whereupon he said in himself, 'If I discover this +to him, he will wax jealous of me and being able, as her gossip, to +bespeak her at his every pleasure, he will, inasmuch as he may, bring +me in ill savour with her, and so I shall never have of her aught that +may please me.'</p> + +<p>Things being at this pass, it befell that Tingoccio, having more +leisure of discovering his every desire to the lady, contrived with +acts and words so to do that he had his will of her, of which Meuccio +soon became aware and albeit it sore misliked him, yet, hoping some +time or other to compass his desire, he feigned ignorance thereof, so +Tingoccio might not have cause or occasion to do him an ill turn or +hinder him in any of his affairs. The two friends loving thus, the one +more happily than the other, it befell that Tingoccio, finding the +soil of his gossip's demesne soft and eath to till, so delved and +laboured there that there overcame him thereof a malady, which after +some days waxed so heavy upon him that, being unable to brook it, he +departed this life. The third day after his death (for that belike he +had not before been able) he came by night, according to the promise +made, into Meuccio's chamber and called the latter, who slept fast. +Meuccio awoke and said, 'Who art thou?' Whereto he answered, 'I am +Tingoccio, who, according to the promise which I made thee, am come +back to thee to give thee news of the other world.'</p> + +<p>Meuccio was somewhat affrighted at<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_362" id="Page_362"></a></span> seeing him; nevertheless, taking +heart, 'Thou art welcome, brother mine,' quoth he, and presently asked +him if he were lost. 'Things are lost that are not to be found,' +replied Tingoccio; 'and how should I be here, if I were lost?' +'Alack,' cried Meuccio, 'I say not so; nay, I ask thee if thou art +among the damned souls in the avenging fire of hell.' Whereto quoth +Tingoccio, 'As for that, no; but I am, notwithstanding, in very +grievous and anguishful torment for the sins committed by me.' Meuccio +then particularly enquired of him what punishments were awarded in the +other world for each of the sins that folk use to commit here below, +and he told him them all. After this Meuccio asked if there were aught +he might do for him in this world, whereto Tingoccio replied that +there was, to wit, that he should let say for him masses and orisons +and do alms in his name, for that these things were mightily +profitable to those who abode yonder. Meuccio said that he would well +and Tingoccio offering to take leave of him, he remembered himself of +the latter's amour with his gossip and raising his head, said, 'Now +that I bethink me, Tingoccio, what punishment is given thee over +yonder anent thy gossip, with whom thou layest, whenas thou wast here +below?' 'Brother mine,' answered Tingoccio, 'whenas I came yonder, +there was one who it seemed knew all my sins by heart and bade me +betake myself to a certain place, where I bemoaned my offences in +exceeding sore punishment and where I found many companions condemned +to the same penance as myself. Being among them and remembering me of +that which I had done whilere with my gossip, I looked for a much +sorer punishment on account thereof than that which had presently been +given me and went all shivering for fear, albeit I was in a great fire +and an exceeding hot; which one who was by my side perceiving, he said +to me, "What aileth thee more than all the others who are here that +thou shiverest, being in the fire?" "Marry," said I, "my friend, I am +sore in fear of the sentence I expect for a grievous sin I wrought +aforetime." The other asked me what sin this was, and I answered, "It +was that I lay with a gossip of mine, and that with such a vengeance +that it cost me my life"; whereupon quoth he, making merry over my +fear, "Go to, fool; have no fear. Here is no manner of account taken +of gossips." Which when I heard, I was altogether reassured.' This +said and the day drawing near, 'Meuccio,' quoth he, 'abide with God, +for I may no longer be with thee,' and was suddenly gone. Meuccio, +hearing that no account was taken of gossips in the world to come, +began to make mock of his own simplicity, for that whiles he had +spared several of them; wherefore, laying by his ignorance, he became +wiser in that respect for the future. Which things if Fra Rinaldo had +known, he had not needed to go a-syllogizing,<a name="FNanchor_359_361" id="FNanchor_359_361"></a><a href="#Footnote_359_361" class="fnanchor">[359]</a> whenas he converted +his good gossip to his pleasure."</p> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p>Zephyr was now arisen, for the sun that drew near unto the setting, +when the king, having made an end of his story and there being none +other left to tell, put off the crown from his own head and set it on +that of Lauretta, say<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_363" id="Page_363"></a></span>ing, "Madam, with yourself<a name="FNanchor_360_362" id="FNanchor_360_362"></a><a href="#Footnote_360_362" class="fnanchor">[360]</a> I crown you +queen of our company; do you then, from this time forth, as sovereign +lady, command that which you may deem shall be for the pleasure and +solacement of all." This said, he reseated himself, whereupon +Lauretta, become queen, let call the seneschal and bade him look that +the tables be set in the pleasant valley somewhat earlier than of +wont, so they might return to the palace at their leisure; after which +she instructed him what he should do what while her sovranty lasted. +Then, turning to the company, she said, "Dioneo willed yesterday that +we should discourse to-day of the tricks that women play their +husbands and but that I am loath to show myself of the tribe of +snappish curs, which are fain incontinent to avenge themselves of any +affront done them, I would say that to-morrow's discourse should be of +the tricks that men play their wives. But, letting that be, I ordain +that each bethink himself to tell OF THE TRICKS THAT ALL DAY LONG +WOMEN PLAY MEN OR MEN WOMEN OR MEN ONE ANOTHER; and I doubt not but +that in this<a name="FNanchor_361_363" id="FNanchor_361_363"></a><a href="#Footnote_361_363" class="fnanchor">[361]</a> there will be no less of pleasant discourse than +there hath been to-day." So saying, she rose to her feet and dismissed +the company till supper-time.</p> + +<p>Accordingly, they all, ladies and men alike, arose and some began to +go barefoot through the clear water, whilst others went a-pleasuring +upon the greensward among the straight and goodly trees. Dioneo and +Fiammetta sang together a great while of Arcite and Palemon, and on +this wise, taking various and divers delights, they passed the time +with the utmost satisfaction until the hour of supper; which being +come, they seated themselves at table beside the lakelet and there, to +the song of a thousand birds, still refreshed by a gentle breeze, that +came from the little hills around, and untroubled of any fly, they +supped in peace and cheer. Then, the tables being removed and the sun +being yet half-vespers<a name="FNanchor_362_364" id="FNanchor_362_364"></a><a href="#Footnote_362_364" class="fnanchor">[362]</a> high, after they had gone awhile round +about the pleasant valley, they wended their way again, even as it +pleased their queen, with slow steps towards their wonted +dwelling-place, and jesting and chattering a thousand things, as well +of those whereof it had been that day discoursed as of others, they +came near upon nightfall to the fair palace, where having with the +coolest of wines and confections done away the fatigues of the little +journey, they presently fell to dancing about the fair fountain, +carolling<a name="FNanchor_363_365" id="FNanchor_363_365"></a><a href="#Footnote_363_365" class="fnanchor">[363]</a> now to the sound of Tindaro's bagpipe and anon to that +of other instruments. But, after awhile, the queen bade Filomena sing +a song, whereupon she began thus:</p> + +<p class="cpoem"> +Alack, my life forlorn!<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Will't ever chance I may once more regain</span><br /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_364" id="Page_364"></a></span>Th' estate whence sorry fortune hath me torn?<br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Certes, I know not, such a wish of fire</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">I carry in my thought</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">To find me where, alas! I was whilere.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">O dear my treasure, thou my sole desire,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">That holdst my heart distraught.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">Tell it me, thou; for whom I know nor dare</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">To ask it otherwhere.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Ah, dear my lord, oh, cause me hope again,</span><br /> +So I may comfort me my spright wayworn.<br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">What was the charm I cannot rightly tell</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">That kindled in me such</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">A flame of love that rest nor day nor night</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">I find; for, by some strong unwonted spell,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Hearing and touch</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">And seeing each new fires in me did light,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">Wherein I burn outright;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Nor other than thyself can soothe my pain</span><br /> +Nor call my senses back, by love o'erborne.<br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">O tell me if and when, then, it shall be</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">That I shall find thee e'er</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">Whereas I kissed those eyes that did me slay.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">O dear my good, my soul, ah, tell it me,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">When thou wilt come back there,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">And saying "Quickly," comfort my dismay</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">Somedele. Short be the stay</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Until thou come, and long mayst thou remain!</span><br /> +I'm so love-struck, I reck not of men's scorn.<br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">If once again I chance to hold thee aye,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">I will not be so fond</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">As erst I was to suffer thee to fly;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Nay, fast I'll hold thee, hap of it what may,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">And having thee in bond,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">Of thy sweet mouth my lust I'll satisfy.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">Now of nought else will I</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Discourse. Quick, to thy bosom come me strain;</span><br /> +The sheer thought bids me sing like lark at morn.<br /> +</p> + +<p>This song caused all the company conclude that a new and pleasing love +held Filomena in bonds, and as by the words it appeared that she had +tasted more thereof than sight alone, she was envied of this by +certain who were there and who held her therefor so much the happier. +But, after her song was ended, the queen, remembering her that the +ensuing day was Friday, thus graciously bespoke all, "You know, noble +ladies and you also, young men, that to-morrow is the day consecrated +to the passion of our Lord, the which, an you remember aright, what +time Neifile was queen, we celebrated devoutly and therein gave pause +to our delightsome discoursements, and on like wise we did with the +following Saturday. Wherefore, being minded to follow the good example +given us by Neifile, I hold it seemly that to-morrow and the next day +we abstain, even as we did a week<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_365" id="Page_365"></a></span> agone, from our pleasant +story-telling, recalling to memory that which on those days befell +whilere for the salvation of our souls." The queen's pious speech was +pleasing unto all and a good part of the night being now past, they +all, dismissed by her, betook them to repose.</p> + + +<p class="center"><br /> +<b>HERE ENDETH THE SEVENTH DAY<br /> +OF THE DECAMERON</b> +</p> + + + +<hr class="long" /> +<h1><a name="Day_the_Eighth" id="Day_the_Eighth"></a><i>Day the Eighth</i></h1> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="hang"><span class="lgsmcap">Here Beginneth the Eighth Day of the Decameron Wherein Under +the Governance of Lauretta Is Discoursed of the Tricks That +All Day Long Women Play Men or Men Women or Men One Another</span></p></div> + + +<p><br /><span class="smcap">Already</span> on the Sunday morning the rays of the rising light appeared on +the summits of the higher mountains and every shadow having departed, +things might manifestly be discerned, when the queen, arising with her +company, went wandering first through the dewy grass and after, +towards half-tierce,<a name="FNanchor_364_366" id="FNanchor_364_366"></a><a href="#Footnote_364_366" class="fnanchor">[364]</a> visiting a little neighboring church, heard +there divine service; then, returning home, they ate with mirth and +joyance and after sang and danced awhile till the queen dismissed +them, so whoso would might go rest himself. But, whenas the sun had +passed the meridian, they all seated themselves, according as it +pleased the queen, near the fair fountain, for the wonted +story-telling, and Neifile, by her commandment, began thus:</p> + + + +<hr class="short" /> +<h2><br /><a name="THE_FIRST_STORY8" id="THE_FIRST_STORY8"></a>THE FIRST STORY</h2> + +<div class="sidenote">Day the Eighth</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="hang">GULFARDO BORROWETH OF GUASPARRUOLO CERTAIN MONIES, FOR WHICH +HE HATH AGREED WITH HIS WIFE THAT HE SHALL LIE WITH HER, AND +ACCORDINGLY GIVETH THEM TO HER; THEN, IN HER PRESENCE, HE +TELLETH GUASPARRUOLO THAT HE GAVE THEM TO HER, AND SHE +CONFESSETH IT TO BE TRUE</p></div> + + +<p><br /><span class="smcap">"Since</span> God hath so ordered it that I am to give a beginning to the +present day's discourses, with my story, I am content, and therefore, +lovesome ladies, seeing that much hath been said of the tricks played +by women upon men, it is my pleasure to relate one played by a man +upon a woman, not that I mean therein to blame that which the man did +or to deny that it served the woman aright, nay, rather to commend the +man and blame the woman and to show that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_366" id="Page_366"></a></span> men also know how to cozen +those who put faith in them, even as themselves are cozened by those +in whom they believe. Indeed, to speak more precisely, that whereof I +have to tell should not be called cozenage; nay, it should rather be +styled a just requital; for that, albeit a woman should still be +virtuous and guard her chastity as her life nor on any account suffer +herself be persuaded to sully it, yet, seeing that, by reason of our +frailty, this is not always possible as fully as should be, I affirm +that she who consenteth to her own dishonour for a price is worthy of +the fire, whereas she who yieldeth for Love's sake, knowing his +exceeding great puissance, meriteth forgiveness from a judge not too +severe, even as, a few days agone, Filostrato showed it to have been +observed towards Madam Filippa at Prato.</p> + +<p>There was, then, aforetime at Milan a German, by name Gulfardo, in the +pay of the state, a stout fellow of his person and very loyal to those +in whose service he engaged himself, which is seldom the case with +Germans; and for that he was a very punctual repayer of such loans as +were made him, he might always find many merchants ready to lend him +any quantity of money at little usance. During his sojourn in Milan, +he set his heart upon a very fair lady called Madam Ambruogia, the +wife of a rich merchant, by name Guasparruolo Cagastraccio, who was +much his acquaintance and friend, and loving her very discreetly, so +that neither her husband nor any other suspected it, he sent one day +to speak with her, praying her that it would please her vouchsafe him +her favours and protesting that he, on his part, was ready to do +whatsoever she should command him. The lady, after many parleys, came +to this conclusion, that she was ready to do that which Gulfardo +wished, provided two things should ensue thereof; one, that this +should never be by him discovered to any and the other, that, as she +had need of two hundred gold florins for some occasion of hers, he, +who was a rich man, should give them to her; after which she would +still be at his service.</p> + +<p>Gulfardo, hearing this and indignant at the sordidness of her whom he +had accounted a lady of worth, was like to exchange his fervent love +for hatred and thinking to cheat her, sent back to her, saying that he +would very willingly do this and all else in his power that might +please her and that therefore she should e'en send him word when she +would have him go to her, for that he would carry her the money, nor +should any ever hear aught of the matter, save a comrade of his in +whom he trusted greatly and who still bore him company in whatsoever +he did. The lady, or rather, I should say, the vile woman, hearing +this, was well pleased and sent to him, saying that Guasparruolo her +husband was to go to Genoa for his occasions a few days hence and that +she would presently let him know of this and send for him. Meanwhile, +Gulfardo, taking his opportunity, repaired to Guasparruolo and said to +him, 'I have present occasion for two hundred gold florins, the which +I would have thee lend me at that same usance whereat thou art wont to +lend me other monies.' The other replied that he would well and +straightway counted out to him the money.</p> + +<p>A few days thereafterward Guasparruolo went to Genoa, even as the +lady<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_367" id="Page_367"></a></span> had said, whereupon she sent to Gulfardo to come to her and +bring the two hundred gold florins. Accordingly, he took his comrade +and repaired to the lady's house, where finding her expecting him, the +first thing he did was to put into her hands the two hundred gold +florins, in his friend's presence, saying to her, 'Madam, take these +monies and give them to your husband, whenas he shall be returned.' +The lady took them, never guessing why he said thus, but supposing +that he did it so his comrade should not perceive that he gave them to +her by way of price, and answered, 'With all my heart; but I would +fain see how many they are.' Accordingly, she turned them out upon the +table and finding them full two hundred, laid them up, mighty content +in herself; then, returning to Gulfardo and carrying him into her +chamber, she satisfied him of her person not that night only, but many +others before her husband returned from Genoa.</p> + +<p>As soon as the latter came back, Gulfardo, having spied out a time +when he was in company with his wife, betook himself to him, together +with his comrade aforesaid, and said to him, in the lady's presence, +'Guasparruolo, I had no occasion for the monies, to wit, the two +hundred gold florins, thou lentest me the other day, for that I could +not compass the business for which I borrowed them. Accordingly, I +brought them presently back to thy lady here and gave them to her; +wherefore look thou cancel my account.' Guasparruolo, turning to his +wife, asked her if she had the monies, and she, seeing the witness +present, knew not how to deny, but said, 'Ay, I had them and had not +yet remembered me to tell thee.' Whereupon quoth Guasparruolo, +'Gulfardo, I am satisfied; get you gone and God go with you: I will +settle your account aright.' Gulfardo gone, the lady, finding herself +cozened, gave her husband the dishonourable price of her baseness; and +on this wise the crafty lover enjoyed his sordid mistress without +cost."</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="THE_SECOND_STORY8" id="THE_SECOND_STORY8"></a>THE SECOND STORY</h2> + +<div class="sidenote">Day the Eighth</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="hang">THE PARISH PRIEST OF VARLUNGO LIETH WITH MISTRESS BELCOLORE +AND LEAVETH HER A CLOAK OF HIS IN PLEDGE; THEN, BORROWING A +MORTAR OF HER, HE SENDETH IT BACK TO HER, DEMANDING IN +RETURN THE CLOAK LEFT BY WAY OF TOKEN, WHICH THE GOOD WOMAN +GRUDGINGLY GIVETH HIM BACK</p></div> + + +<p><br /><span class="smcap">Men</span> and ladies alike commended that which Gulfardo had done to the +sordid Milanese lady, and the queen, turning to Pamfilo, smilingly +charged him follow on; whereupon quoth he, "Fair ladies, it occurreth +to me to tell you a little story against those who continually offend +against us, without being open to retaliation on our part, to wit, the +clergy, who have proclaimed a crusade against our wives and who, +whenas they avail to get one of the latter under them, conceive +themselves to have gained forgiveness of fault and pardon of penalty +no otherwise than as they had brought the Soldan bound from<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_368" id="Page_368"></a></span> +Alexandria to Avignon.<a name="FNanchor_365_367" id="FNanchor_365_367"></a><a href="#Footnote_365_367" class="fnanchor">[365]</a> Whereof the wretched laymen cannot return +them the like, albeit they wreak their ire upon the priests' mothers +and sisters, doxies and daughters, assailing them with no less ardour +than the former do their wives. Wherefore I purpose to recount to you +a village love-affair, more laughable for its conclusion than long in +words, wherefrom you may yet gather, by way of fruit, that priests are +not always to be believed in everything.</p> + +<p>You must know, then, that there was once at Varlungo,—a village very +near here, as each of you ladies either knoweth or may have heard,—a +worthy priest and a lusty of his person in the service of the ladies, +who, albeit he knew not overwell how to read, natheless regaled his +parishioners with store of good and pious saws at the elmfoot on +Sundays and visited their women, whenas they went abroad anywhither, +more diligently than any priest who had been there aforetime, carrying +them fairings and holy water and a stray candle-end or so, whiles even +to their houses. Now it chanced that, among other his she-parishioners +who were most to his liking, one pleased him over all, by name +Mistress Belcolore, the wife of a husbandman who styled himself +Bentivegna del Mazzo, a jolly, buxom country wench, brown-favoured and +tight-made, as apt at turning the mill<a name="FNanchor_366_368" id="FNanchor_366_368"></a><a href="#Footnote_366_368" class="fnanchor">[366]</a> as any woman alive. +Moreover, it was she who knew how to play the tabret and sing 'The +water runneth to the ravine' and lead up the haye and the round, when +need was, with a fine muckender in her hand and a quaint, better than +any woman of her neighbourhood; by reason of which things my lord +priest became so sore enamoured of her that he was like to lose his +wits therefor and would prowl about all day long to get a sight of +her. Whenas he espied her in church of a Sunday morning, he would say +a Kyrie and a Sanctus, studying to show himself a past master in +descant, that it seemed as it were an ass a-braying; whereas, when he +saw her not there, he passed that part of the service over lightly +enough. But yet he made shift to do on such wise that neither +Bentivegna nor any of his neighbours suspected aught; and the better +to gain Mistress Belcolore's goodwill, he made her presents from time +to time, sending her whiles a clove of garlic, which he had the finest +of all the countryside in a garden he tilled with his own hands, and +otherwhiles a punnet of peascods or a bunch of chives or scallions, +and whenas he saw his opportunity, he would ogle her askance and cast +a friendly gibe at her; but she, putting on the prude, made a show of +not observing it and passed on with a demure air; wherefore my lord +priest could not come by his will of her.</p> + +<p>It chanced one day that as he sauntered about the quarter on the +stroke of noon, he encountered Bentivegna del Mazzo, driving an ass +laden with gear, and accosting him, asked whither he went. 'Faith, +sir,' answered the husbandman, 'to tell you the truth, I am going to +town about a business of mine and am carrying these things to Squire +Bonaccorri da Ginestreto, so he may help me in I know not what whereof +the police-court judge hath summoned me by his proctor for a +peremptory attend<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_369" id="Page_369"></a></span>ance.' The priest was rejoiced to hear this and +said, 'Thou dost well, my son; go now with my benison and return +speedily; and shouldst thou chance to see Lapuccio or Naldino, forget +not to bid them bring me those straps they wot of for my flails.' +Bentivegna answered that it should be done and went his way towards +Florence, whereupon the priest bethought himself that now was his time +to go try his luck with Belcolore. Accordingly, he let not the grass +grow under his feet, but set off forthright and stayed not till he +came to her house and entering in, said, 'God send us all well! Who is +within there?' Belcolore, who was gone up into the hay-loft, hearing +him, said, 'Marry, sir, you are welcome; but what do you gadding it +abroad in this heat?' 'So God give me good luck,' answered he, 'I came +to abide with thee awhile, for that I met thy man going to town.'</p> + +<p>Belcolore came down and taking a seat, fell to picking over +cabbage-seed which her husband had threshed out a while before; +whereupon quoth the priest to her, 'Well, Belcolore, wilt thou still +cause me die for thee on this wise?' She laughed and answered, 'What +is it I do to you?' Quoth he, 'Thou dost nought to me, but thou +sufferest me not do to thee that which I would fain do and which God +commandeth.' 'Alack!' cried Belcolore, 'Go to, go to. Do priests do +such things?' 'Ay do we,' replied he, 'as well as other men; and why +not? And I tell thee more, we do far and away better work and knowest +thou why? Because we grind with a full head of water. But in good +sooth it shall be shrewdly to thy profit, an thou wilt but abide quiet +and let me do.' 'And what might this "shrewdly to my profit" be?' +asked she. 'For all you priests are stingier than the devil.' Quoth +he, 'I know not; ask thou. Wilt have a pair of shoes or a head-lace or +a fine stammel waistband or what thou wilt?' 'Pshaw!' cried Belcolore. +'I have enough and to spare of such things; but an you wish me so +well, why do you not render me a service, and I will do what you +will?' Quoth the priest, 'Say what thou wilt have of me, and I will do +it willingly.' Then said she, 'Needs must I go to Florence, come +Saturday, to carry back the wool I have spun and get my spinning-wheel +mended; and an you will lend me five crowns, which I know you have by +you, I can take my watchet gown out of pawn and my Sunday girdle<a name="FNanchor_367_369" id="FNanchor_367_369"></a><a href="#Footnote_367_369" class="fnanchor">[367]</a> +that I brought my husband, for you see I cannot go to church nor to +any decent place, because I have them not; and after I will still do +what you would have me.' 'So God give me a good year,' replied the +priest, 'I have them not about me; but believe me, ere Saturday come, +I will contrive that thou shalt have them, and that very willingly.' +'Ay,' said Belcolore, 'you are all like this, great promisers, and +after perform nothing to any. Think you to do with me as you did with +Biliuzza, who went off with the ghittern-player?<a name="FNanchor_368_370" id="FNanchor_368_370"></a><a href="#Footnote_368_370" class="fnanchor">[368]</a> Cock's faith, +then, you shall not, for that she is turned a common drab only for +that. If you have them not about you, go for them.' 'Alack,' cried the +priest, 'put me not<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_370" id="Page_370"></a></span> upon going all the way home. Thou seest that I +have the luck just now to find thee alone, but maybe, when I return, +there will be some one or other here to hinder us; and I know not when +I shall find so good an opportunity again.' Quoth she, 'It is well; an +you choose to go, go; if not, go without.'</p> + +<p>The priest, seeing that she was not in the humour to do his pleasure +without a <i>salvum me fac</i>, whereas he would fain have done it <i>sine +custodiâ</i>, said, 'Harkye, thou believest not that I will bring thee +the money; but, so thou mayst credit me, I will leave thee this my +blue-cloth cloak.' Belcolore raised her eyes and said, 'Eh what! That +cloak? What is it worth?' 'Worth?' answered the priest. 'I would have +thee know that it is cloth of Douay, nay, Threeay, and there be some +of our folk here who hold it for Fouray.<a name="FNanchor_369_371" id="FNanchor_369_371"></a><a href="#Footnote_369_371" class="fnanchor">[369]</a> It is scarce a fortnight +since it cost me seven crowns of hard money to Lotto the broker, and +according to what Buglietto telleth me (and thou knowest he is a judge +of this kind of cloth), I had it good five shillings overcheap.' +'Indeed!' quoth Belcolore. 'So God be mine aid, I had never thought +it. But give it me first of all.' My lord priest, who had his arbalest +ready cocked, pulled off the cloak and gave it her; and she, after she +had laid it up, said, 'Come, sir, let us go into the barn, for no one +ever cometh there.' And so they did. There the priest gave her the +heartiest busses in the world and making her sib to God Almighty,<a name="FNanchor_370_372" id="FNanchor_370_372"></a><a href="#Footnote_370_372" class="fnanchor">[370]</a> +solaced himself with her a great while; after which he took leave of +her and returned to the parsonage in his cassock, as it were he came +from officiating at a wedding.</p> + +<p>There, bethinking himself that all the candle-ends he got by way of +offertory in all the year were not worth the half of five crowns, +himseemed he had done ill and repenting him of having left the cloak, +he fell to considering how he might have it again without cost. Being +shrewd enough in a small way, he soon hit upon a device and it +succeeded to his wish; for that on the morrow, it being a holiday, he +sent a neighbour's lad of his to Mistress Belcolore's house, with a +message praying her be pleased to lend him her stone mortar, for that +Binguccio dal Poggio and Nuto Buglietti were to dine with him that +morning and he had a mind to make sauce. She sent it to him and +towards dinner-time, the priest, having spied out when Bentivegna and +his wife were at meat together, called his clerk and said to him, +'Carry this mortar back to Belcolore and say to her, 'His reverence +biddeth you gramercy and prayeth you send him back the cloak that the +boy left you by way of token.' The clerk accordingly repaired to her +house and there, finding her at table with Bentivegna, set down the +mortar and did the priest's errand. Belcolore, hearing require the +cloak again, would have answered; but her<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_371" id="Page_371"></a></span> husband said, with an angry +air, 'Takest thou a pledge of his reverence? I vow to Christ, I have a +mind to give thee a good clout over the head! Go, give it quickly back +to him, pox take thee! And in future, let him ask what he will of +ours, (ay, though he should seek our ass,) look that it be not denied +him.' Belcolore rose, grumbling, and pulling the cloak out of the +chest, gave it to the clerk, saying, 'Tell her reverence from me, +Belcolore saith, she voweth to God you shall never again pound sauce +in her mortar; you have done her no such fine honour of this bout.'</p> + +<p>The clerk made off with the cloak and did her message to the priest, +who said, laughing, 'Tell her, when thou seest her, that, an she will +not lend me her mortar, I will not lend her my pestle; and so we shall +be quits.' Bentivegna concluded that his wife had said this, because +he had chidden her, and took no heed thereof; but Belcolore bore the +priest a grudge and held him at arm's length till vintage-time; when, +he having threatened to cause her go into the mouth of Lucifer the +great devil, for very fear she made her peace with him over must and +roast chestnuts and they after made merry together time and again. In +lieu of the five crowns, the priest let put new parchment to her +tabret and string thereto a cast of hawk's bells, and with this she +was fain to be content."</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="THE_THIRD_STORY8" id="THE_THIRD_STORY8"></a>THE THIRD STORY</h2> + +<div class="sidenote">Day the Eighth</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="hang">CALANDRINO, BRUNO AND BUFFALMACCO GO COASTING ALONG THE +MUGNONE IN SEARCH OF THE HELIOTROPE AND CALANDRINO THINKETH +TO HAVE FOUND IT. ACCORDINGLY HE RETURNETH HOME, LADEN WITH +STONES, AND HIS WIFE CHIDETH HIM; WHEREUPON, FLYING OUT INTO +A RAGE, HE BEATETH HER AND RECOUNTETH TO HIS COMPANIONS THAT +WHICH THEY KNOW BETTER THAN HE</p></div> + + +<p><br /><span class="smcap">Pamfilo</span> having made an end of his story, at which the ladies had +laughed so much that they laugh yet, the queen bade Elisa follow on, +who, still laughing, began, "I know not, charming ladies, if with a +little story of mine, no less true than pleasant, I shall succeed in +making you laugh as much as Pamfilo hath done with his; but I will do +my endeavor thereof.</p> + +<p>In our city, then, which hath ever abounded in various fashions and +strange folk, there was once, no great while since, a painter called +Calandrino, a simple-witted man and of strange usances. He companied +most of his time with other two painters, called the one Bruno and the +other Buffalmacco, both very merry men, but otherwise well-advised and +shrewd, who consorted with Calandrino for that they ofttimes had great +diversion of his fashions and his simplicity. There was then also in +Florence a young man of a mighty pleasant humor and marvellously +adroit in all he had a mind to do, astute and plausible, who was +called Maso del Saggio, and who, hearing certain traits of +Calandrino's simplicity, determined to amuse himself at<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_372" id="Page_372"></a></span> his expense +by putting off some cheat on him or causing him believe some strange +thing. He chanced one day to come upon him in the church of San +Giovanni and seeing him intent upon the carved work and paintings of +the pyx, which is upon the altar of the said church and which had then +not long been placed there, he judged the place and time opportune for +carrying his intent into execution. Accordingly, acquainting a friend +of his with that which he purposed to do, they both drew near unto the +place where Calandrino sat alone and feigning not to see him, fell +a-discoursing together of the virtues of divers stones, whereof Maso +spoke as authoritatively as if he had been a great and famous +lapidary.</p> + +<p>Calandrino gave ear to their talk and presently, seeing that it was no +secret, he rose to his feet and joined himself to them, to the no +small satisfaction of Maso, who, pursuing his discourse, was asked by +Calandrino where these wonder-working stones were to be found. Maso +replied that the most of them were found in Berlinzone, a city of the +Basques, in a country called Bengodi,<a name="FNanchor_371_373" id="FNanchor_371_373"></a><a href="#Footnote_371_373" class="fnanchor">[371]</a> where the vines are tied up +with sausages and a goose is to be had for a farthing<a name="FNanchor_372_374" id="FNanchor_372_374"></a><a href="#Footnote_372_374" class="fnanchor">[372]</a> and a +gosling into the bargain, and that there was a mountain all of grated +Parmesan cheese, whereon abode folk who did nothing but make maccaroni +and ravioli<a name="FNanchor_373_375" id="FNanchor_373_375"></a><a href="#Footnote_373_375" class="fnanchor">[373]</a> and cook them in capon-broth, after which they threw +them down thence and whoso got most thereof had most; and that hard by +ran a rivulet of vernage,<a name="FNanchor_374_376" id="FNanchor_374_376"></a><a href="#Footnote_374_376" class="fnanchor">[374]</a> the best ever was drunk, without a drop +of water therein. 'Marry,' cried Calandrino, 'that were a fine +country; but tell me, what is done with the capons that they boil for +broth?' Quoth Maso, 'The Basques eat them all.' Then said Calandrino, +'Wast thou ever there?' 'Was I ever there, quotha!' replied Maso. 'If +I have been there once I have been there a thousand times.' 'And how +many miles is it distant hence?' asked Calandrino; and Maso, 'How +many? a million or more; you might count them all night and not know.' +'Then,' said Calandrino, 'it must be farther off than the Abruzzi?' +'Ay, indeed,' answered Maso; 'it is a trifle farther.'</p> + +<p>Calandrino, like a simpleton as he was, hearing Maso tell all this +with an assured air and without laughing, gave such credence thereto +as can be given to whatsoever verity is most manifest and so, holding +it for truth, said, 'That is overfar for my money; though, were it +nearer, I tell thee aright I would go thither with thee once upon a +time, if but to see the maccaroni come tumbling headlong down and take +my fill thereof. But tell me, God keep thee merry, is there none of +those wonder-working stones to be found in these parts?' 'Ay is +there,' answered Maso; 'there be two kinds of stones of very great +virtue found here; the first are the grits of Settignano and Montisci, +by virtue whereof, when they are wrought into millstones, flour is +made;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_373" id="Page_373"></a></span> wherefore it is said in those parts that grace cometh from God +and millstones from Montisci; but there is such great plenty of these +grits that they are as little prized with us as emeralds with the folk +over yonder, where they have mountains of them bigger than Mount +Morello, which shine in the middle of the night, I warrant thee. And +thou must know that whoso should cause set fine and perfect +millstones, before they are pierced, in rings and carry them to the +Soldan might have for them what he would. The other is what we +lapidaries call Heliotrope, a stone of exceeding great virtue, for +that whoso hath it about him is not seen of any other person whereas +he is not, what while he holdeth it.' Quoth Calandrino, 'These be +indeed great virtues; but where is this second stone found?' To which +Maso replied that it was commonly found in the Mugnone. 'What bigness +is this stone,' asked Calandrino, 'and what is its colour?' Quoth +Maso, 'It is of various sizes, some more and some less; but all are +well nigh black of colour.'</p> + +<p>Calandrino noted all this in himself and feigning to have otherwhat to +do, took leave of Maso, inwardly determined to go seek the stone in +question, but bethought himself not to do it without the knowledge of +Bruno and Buffalmacco, whom he most particularly affected. Accordingly +he addressed himself to seek for them, so they might, without delay +and before any else, set about the search, and spent all the rest of +the morning seeking them. At last, when it was past none, he +remembered him that they were awork in the Ladies' Convent at Faenza +and leaving all his other business, he betook himself thither well +nigh at a run, notwithstanding the great heat. As soon as he saw them, +he called them and bespoke them thus: 'Comrades, an you will hearken +to me, we may become the richest men in all Florence, for that I have +learned from a man worthy of belief that in the Mugnone is to be found +a stone, which whoso carrieth about him is not seen of any; wherefore +meseemeth we were best go thither in quest thereof without delay, ere +any forestall us. We shall certainly find it, for that I know it well, +and when we have gotten it, what have we to do but put it in our poke +and getting us to the moneychangers' tables, which you know stand +still laden with groats and florins, take as much as we will thereof? +None will see us, and so may we grow rich of a sudden, without having +to smear walls all day long, snail-fashion.'</p> + +<p>Bruno and Buffalmacco, hearing this, fell a-laughing in their sleeves +and eyeing each other askance, made a show of exceeding wonderment and +praised Calandrino's counsel, but Bruno asked how the stone in +question was called. Calandrino, who was a clod-pated fellow, had +already forgotten the name, wherefore quoth he, 'What have we to do +with the name, since we know the virtue of the stone? Meseemeth we +were best go about the quest without more ado.' 'Well, then,' said +Bruno, 'how is it fashioned?' 'It is of all fashions,' replied +Calandrino; 'but all are well nigh black; wherefore meseemeth that +what we have to do is to gather up all the black stones we see, till +we happen upon the right. So let us lose no time, but get us gone.' +Quoth Bruno, 'Wait awhile,' and turning to his comrade, said, +'Methinketh<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_374" id="Page_374"></a></span> Calandrino saith well; but meseemeth this is no season +for the search, for that the sun is high and shineth full upon the +Mugnone, where it hath dried all the stones, so that certain of those +that be there appear presently white, which of a morning, ere the sun +have dried them, show black; more by token that, to-day being a +working day, there be many folk, on one occasion or another abroad +along the banks, who, seeing us, may guess what we are about and maybe +do likewise, whereby the stone may come to their hands and we shall +have lost the trot for the amble. Meseemeth (an you be of the same way +of thinking) that this is a business to be undertaken of a morning, +whenas the black may be the better known from the white, and of a +holiday, when there will be none there to see us.'</p> + +<p>Buffalmacco commended Bruno's counsel and Calandrino fell in +therewith; wherefore they agreed to go seek for the stone all three on +the following Sunday morning, and Calandrino besought them over all +else not to say a word of the matter to any one alive, for that it had +been imparted to him in confidence, and after told them that which he +had heard tell of the land of Bengodi, affirming with an oath that it +was as he said. As soon as he had taken his leave, the two others +agreed with each other what they should do in the matter and +Calandrino impatiently awaited the Sunday morning, which being come, +he arose at break of day and called his friends, with whom he sallied +forth of the city by the San Gallo gate and descending into the bed of +the Mugnone, began to go searching down stream for the stone. +Calandrino, as the eagerest of the three, went on before, skipping +nimbly hither and thither, and whenever he espied any black stone, he +pounced upon it and picking it up, thrust it into his bosom. His +comrades followed after him picking up now one stone and now another; +but Calandrino had not gone far before he had his bosom full of +stones; wherefore, gathering up the skirts of his grown, which was not +cut Flanders fashion,<a name="FNanchor_375_377" id="FNanchor_375_377"></a><a href="#Footnote_375_377" class="fnanchor">[375]</a> he tucked them well into his surcingle all +round and made an ample lap thereof. However, it was no great while +ere he had filled it, and making a lap on like wise of his mantle, +soon filled this also with stones. Presently, the two others seeing +that he had gotten his load and that dinner-time drew nigh, quoth +Bruno to Buffalmacco, in accordance with the plan concerted between +them, 'Where is Calandrino?' Buffalmacco, who saw him hard by, turned +about and looking now here and now there, answered, 'I know not; but +he was before us but now.' 'But now, quotha!' cried Bruno. 'I warrant +you he is presently at home at dinner and hath left us to play the +fool here, seeking black stones down the Mugnone.' 'Egad,' rejoined +Buffalmacco 'he hath done well to make mock of us and leave us here, +since we were fools enough to credit him. Marry, who but we had been +simple enough to believe that a stone of such virtue was to be found +in the Mugnone?'</p> + +<p>Calandrino, hearing this, concluded that the heliotrope had fallen +into his hands and that by virtue thereof they saw him not, albeit he +was present with them, and rejoiced beyond measure at such a piece of +good luck, answered<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_375" id="Page_375"></a></span> them not a word, but determined to return; +wherefore, turning back, he set off homeward. Buffalmacco, seeing +this, said to Bruno, 'What shall we do? Why do we not get us gone?' +Whereto Bruno answered, 'Let us begone; but I vow to God that +Calandrino shall never again serve me thus, and were I presently near +him as I have been all the morning, I would give him such a clout on +the shins with this stone that he should have cause to remember this +trick for maybe a month to come.' To say this and to let fly at +Calandrino's shins with the stone were one and the same thing; and the +latter, feeling the pain, lifted up his leg and began to puff and +blow, but yet held his peace and fared on. Presently Buffalmacco took +one of the flints he had picked up and said to Bruno, 'Look at this +fine flint; here should go for Calandrino's loins!' So saying, he let +fly and dealt him a sore rap in the small of the back with the stone. +Brief, on this wise, now with one word and now with another, they went +pelting him up the Mugnone till they came to the San Gallo gate, where +they threw down the stones they had gathered and halted awhile at the +custom house.</p> + +<p>The officers, forewarned by them, feigned not to see Calandrino and +let him pass, laughing heartily at the jest, whilst he, without +stopping, made straight for his house, which was near the Canto alla +Macina, and fortune so far favoured the cheat that none accosted him, +as he came up the stream and after through the city, as, indeed, he +met with few, for that well nigh every one was at dinner. Accordingly, +he reached his house, thus laden, and as chance would have it, his +wife, a fair and virtuous lady, by name Mistress Tessa, was at the +stairhead. Seeing him come and somewhat provoked at his long +tarriance, she began to rail at him, saying, 'Devil take the man! Wilt +thou never think to come home betimes? All the folk have already dined +whenas thou comest back to dinner.' Calandrino, hearing this and +finding that he was seen, was overwhelmed with chagrin and vexation +and cried out, 'Alack, wicked woman that thou art, wast thou there? +Thou hast undone me; but, by God His faith, I will pay thee therefor!' +Therewithal he ran up to a little saloon he had and there disburdened +himself of the mass of stones he had brought home; then, running in a +fury at his wife, he laid hold of her by the hair and throwing her +down at his feet, cuffed and kicked her in every part as long as he +could wag his arms and legs, without leaving a hair on her head or a +bone in her body that was not beaten to a mash, nor did it avail her +aught to cry him mercy with clasped hands.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile Bruno and Buffalmacco, after laughing awhile with the +keepers of the gate, proceeded with slow step to follow Calandrino +afar off and presently coming to the door of his house, heard the +cruel beating he was in act to give his wife; whereupon, making a show +of having but then come back, they called Calandrino, who came to the +window, all asweat and red with anger and vexation, and prayed them +come up to him. Accordingly, they went up, making believe to be +somewhat vexed, and seeing the room full of stones and the lady, all +torn and dishevelled and black and blue in the face for bruises, +weeping piteously in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_376" id="Page_376"></a></span> one corner of the room, whilst Calandrino sat in +another, untrussed and panting like one forspent, eyed them awhile, +then said, 'What is this, Calandrino? Art thou for building, that we +see all these stones here? And Mistress Tessa, what aileth her? It +seemeth thou hast beaten her. What is all this ado?' Calandrino, +outwearied with the weight of the stones and the fury with which he +had beaten his wife, no less than with chagrin for the luck which +himseemed he had lost, could not muster breath to give them aught but +broken words in reply; wherefore, as he delayed to answer, Buffalmacco +went on, 'Harkye, Calandrino, whatever other cause for anger thou +mightest have had, thou shouldst not have fooled us as thou hast done, +in that, after thou hadst carried us off to seek with thee for the +wonder-working stone, thou leftest us in the Mugnone, like a couple of +gulls, and madest off home, without saying so much as God be with you +or devil; the which we take exceeding ill; but assuredly this shall be +the last trick thou shalt ever play us.'</p> + +<p>Therewithal, Calandrino enforcing himself,<a name="FNanchor_376_378" id="FNanchor_376_378"></a><a href="#Footnote_376_378" class="fnanchor">[376]</a> answered, 'Comrades, +be not angered; the case standeth otherwise than as you deem. I +(unlucky wretch that I am!) had found the stone in question, and you +shall hear if I tell truth. When first you questioned one another of +me, I was less than half a score yards distant from you; but, seeing +that you made off and saw me not, I went on before you and came back +hither, still keeping a little in front of you.' Then, beginning from +the beginning, he recounted to them all that they had said and done, +first and last, and showed them how the stones had served his back and +shins; after which, 'And I may tell you,' continued he, 'that, whenas +I entered in at the gate, with all these stones about me which you see +here, there was nothing said to me, albeit you know how vexatious and +tiresome these gatekeepers use to be in wanting to see everything; +more by token that I met by the way several of my friends and gossips, +who are still wont to accost me and invite me to drink; but none of +them said a word to me, no, nor half a word, as those who saw me not. +At last, being come home hither, this accursed devil of a woman +presented herself before me, for that, as you know, women cause +everything lose its virtue, wherefore I, who might else have called +myself the luckiest man in Florence, am become the most unlucky. For +this I have beaten her as long as I could wag my fists and I know not +what hindereth me from slitting her weasand, accursed be the hour when +first I saw her and when she came to me in this house.' Then, flaming +out into fresh anger, he offered to rise and beat her anew.</p> + +<p>Bruno and Buffalmacco, hearing all this, made believe to marvel +exceedingly and often confirmed that which Calandrino said, albeit +they had the while so great a mind to laugh that they were like to +burst; but, seeing him start up in a rage to beat his wife again, they +rose upon him and withheld him, avouching that the lady was nowise at +fault, but that he had only himself to blame for that which had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_377" id="Page_377"></a></span> +happened, since he knew that women caused things to lose their virtue +and had not bidden her beware of appearing before him that day, and +that God had bereft him of foresight to provide against this, either +for that the adventure was not to be his or because he had had it in +mind to cozen his comrades, to whom he should have discovered the +matter, as soon as he perceived that he had found the stone. Brief, +after many words, they made peace, not without much ado, between him +and the woebegone lady and went their ways, leaving him disconsolate, +with the house full of stones."</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="THE_FOURTH_STORY8" id="THE_FOURTH_STORY8"></a>THE FOURTH STORY</h2> + +<div class="sidenote">Day the Eighth</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="hang">THE RECTOR OF FIESOLE LOVETH A WIDOW LADY, BUT IS NOT LOVED +BY HER AND THINKING TO LIE WITH HER, LIETH WITH A +SERVING-WENCH OF HERS, WHILST THE LADY'S BROTHERS CAUSE THE +BISHOP FIND HIM IN THIS CASE</p></div> + + +<p><br /><span class="smcap">Elisa</span> being come to the end of her story, which she had related to the +no small pleasure of all the company, the queen turned to Emilia, and +signified to her her wish that she should follow after with her story, +whereupon she promptly began thus: "I have not forgotten, noble +ladies, that it hath already been shown, in sundry of the foregoing +stories, how much we women are exposed to the importunities of the +priests and friars and clergy of every kind; but, seeing that so much +cannot be said thereof but that yet more will remain to say, I +purpose, to boot, to tell you a story of a rector, who, maugre all the +world, would e'en have a gentlewoman wish him well,<a name="FNanchor_377_379" id="FNanchor_377_379"></a><a href="#Footnote_377_379" class="fnanchor">[377]</a> whether she +would or not; whereupon she, like a very discreet woman as she was, +used him as he deserved.</p> + +<p>As all of you know, Fiesole, whose hill we can see hence, was once a +very great and ancient city, nor, albeit it is nowadays all undone, +hath it ever ceased to be, as it is yet, the seat of a bishop. Near +the cathedral church there a widow lady of noble birth, by name Madam +Piccarda, had an estate, where, for that she was not overwell to do, +she abode the most part of the year in a house of hers that was not +very big, and with her, two brothers of hers, very courteous and +worthy youths. It chanced that, the lady frequenting the cathedral +church and being yet very young and fair and agreeable, the rector of +the church became so sore enamoured of her that he could think of +nothing else, and after awhile, making bold to discover his mind to +her, he prayed her accept of his love and love him as he loved her. +Now he was already old in years, but very young in wit, malapert and +arrogant and presumptuous in the extreme, with manners and fashions +full of conceit and ill grace, and withal so froward and +ill-conditioned that there was none who wished him well; and if any +had scant regard for him, it was the lady in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_378" id="Page_378"></a></span> question, who not only +wished him no whit of good, but hated him worse than the megrims; +wherefore, like a discreet woman as she was, she answered him, 'Sir, +that you love me should be mighty pleasing to me, who am bound to love +you and will gladly do so; but between your love and mine nothing +unseemly should ever befall. You are my spiritual father and a priest +and are presently well stricken in years, all which things should make +you both modest and chaste; whilst I, on the other hand, am no girl, +nor do these amorous toys beseem my present condition, for that I am a +widow and you well know what discretion is required in widows; +wherefore I pray you hold me excused, for that I shall never love you +after the fashion whereof you require me; nor do I wish to be thus +loved of you.'</p> + +<p>The rector could get of her no other answer for that time, but, nowise +daunted or disheartened by the first rebuff, solicited her again and +again with the most overweening importunity, both by letter and +message, nay, even by word of mouth, whenas he saw her come into the +church. Wherefor, herseeming that this was too great and too grievous +an annoy, she cast about to rid herself of him after such a fashion as +he deserved, since she could no otherwise, but would do nought ere she +had taken counsel with her brothers. Accordingly, she acquainted them +with the rector's behaviour towards her and that which she purposed to +do, and having therein full license from them, went a few days after +to the church, as was her wont. As soon as the rector saw her, he came +up to her and with his usual assurance, accosted her familiarly. The +lady received him with a cheerful countenance and withdrawing apart +with him, after he had said many words to her in his wonted style, she +heaved a great sigh and said, 'Sir, I have heard that there is no +fortalice so strong but that, being every day assaulted, it cometh at +last to be taken, and this I can very well see to have happened to +myself; for that you have so closely beset me with soft words and with +one complaisance and another, that you have made me break my resolve, +and I am now disposed, since I please you thus, to consent to be +yours.' 'Gramercy, madam,' answered the rector, overjoyed, 'to tell +you the truth, I have often wondered how you could hold out so long, +considering that never did the like betide me with any woman; nay, I +have said whiles, "Were women of silver, they would not be worth a +farthing, for that not one of them would stand the hammer." But let +that pass for the present. When and where can we be together?' Whereto +quoth the lady, 'Sweet my lord, as for the when, it may be what time +soever most pleaseth us, for that I have no husband to whom it +behoveth me render an account of my nights; but for the where I know +not how to contrive.' 'How?' cried the priest. 'Why, in your house to +be sure.' 'Sir,' answered the lady, 'you know I have two young +brothers, who come and go about the house with their companions day +and night, and my house is not overbig; wherefore it may not be there, +except one chose to abide there mute-fashion, without saying a word or +making the least sound, and be in the dark, after the manner of the +blind. An you be content to do this, it might be, for they meddle not +with<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_379" id="Page_379"></a></span> my bedchamber; but their own is so close to mine that one cannot +whisper the least word, without its being heard.' 'Madam,' answered +the rector, 'this shall not hinder us for a night or two, against I +bethink me where we may foregather more at ease.' Quoth she, 'Sir, let +that rest with you; but of one thing I pray you, that this abide +secret, so no word be ever known thereof.' 'Madam,' replied he, 'have +no fear for that; but, an it may be, make shift that we shall +foregather this evening.' 'With all my heart,' said the lady; and +appointing him how and when he should come, she took leave of him and +returned home.</p> + +<p>Now she had a serving-wench, who was not overyoung, but had the +foulest and worst-favoured visnomy was ever seen; for she had a nose +flattened sore, a mouth all awry, thick lips and great ill-set teeth; +moreover, she inclined to squint, nor was ever without sore eyes, and +had a green and yellow complexion, which gave her the air of having +passed the summer not at Fiesole, but at Sinigaglia.<a name="FNanchor_378_380" id="FNanchor_378_380"></a><a href="#Footnote_378_380" class="fnanchor">[378]</a> Besides all +this, she was hipshot and a thought crooked on the right side. Her +name was Ciuta, but, for that she had such a dog's visnomy of her own, +she was called of every one Ciutazza;<a name="FNanchor_379_381" id="FNanchor_379_381"></a><a href="#Footnote_379_381" class="fnanchor">[379]</a> and for all she was +misshapen of her person, she was not without a spice of roguishness. +The lady called her and said to her, 'Harkye, Ciutazza, an thou wilt +do me a service this night. I will give thee a fine new shift.' +Ciutazza, hearing speak of the shift, answered, 'Madam, so you give me +a shift, I will cast myself into the fire, let alone otherwhat.' +'Well, then,' said her mistress, 'I would have thee lie to-night with +a man in my bed and load him with caresses, but take good care not to +say a word, lest thou be heard by my brothers, who, as thou knowest, +sleep in the next room; and after I will give thee the shift.' Quoth +Ciutazza, 'With all my heart. I will lie with half a dozen men, if +need be, let alone one.' Accordingly, at nightfall, my lord the rector +made his appearance, according to agreement, whilst the two young men, +by the lady's appointment, were in their bedchamber and took good care +to make themselves heard; wherefore he entered the lady's chamber in +silence and darkness and betook himself, as she had bidden him, +straight to the bed, whither on her part came Ciutazza, who had been +well lessoned by the lady of that which she had to do. My lord rector, +thinking he had his mistress beside him, caught Ciutazza in his arms +and fell to kissing her, without saying a word, and she him; whereupon +he proceeded to solace himself with her, taking, as he thought, +possession of the long-desired good.</p> + +<p>The lady, having done this, charged her brothers carry the rest of the +plot into execution, wherefore, stealing softly out of the chamber, +they made for the great square and fortune was more favorable to them +than they themselves asked in that which they had a mind to do, +inasmuch as, the heat being great, the bishop had enquired for the two +young gentlemen, so he might go a-pleasuring to their house and drink +with them. But, seeing them coming, he acquainted them with his wish +and returned with them to their house, where, entering a cool little +courtyard<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_380" id="Page_380"></a></span> of theirs, in which were many flambeaux alight, he drank +with great pleasure of an excellent wine of theirs. When he had +drunken, the young men said to him, 'My lord, since you have done us +so much favour as to deign to visit this our poor house, whereto we +came to invite you, we would have you be pleased to view a small +matter with which we would fain show you.' The bishop answered that he +would well; whereupon one of the young men, taking a lighted flambeau +in his hand, made for the chamber where my lord rector lay with +Ciutazza, followed by the bishop and all the rest. The rector, to +arrive the quicklier at his journey's end, had hastened to take horse +and had already ridden more than three miles before they came thither; +wherefore, being somewhat weary, he had, notwithstanding the heat, +fallen asleep with Ciutazza in his arms. Accordingly, when the young +man entered the chamber, light in hand, and after him the bishop and +all the others, he was shown to the prelate in this plight; whereupon +he awoke and seeing the light and the folk about him, was sore abashed +and hid his head for fear under the bed-clothes. The bishop gave him a +sound rating and made him put out his head and see with whom he had +lain; whereupon the rector, understanding the trick that had been +played him of the lady, what with this and what with the disgrace +himseemed he had gotten, became of a sudden the woefullest man that +was aye. Then, having, by the bishop's commandment, reclad himself, he +was despatched to his house under good guard, to suffer sore penance +for the sin he had committed. The bishop presently enquiring how it +came to pass that he had gone thither to lie with Ciutazza, the young +men orderly related everything to him, which having heard, he greatly +commended both the lady and her brothers for that, without choosing to +imbrue their hands in the blood of a priest, they had entreated him as +he deserved. As for the rector, he caused him bewail his offence forty +days' space; but love and despite made him rue it for more than +nine-and-forty,<a name="FNanchor_380_382" id="FNanchor_380_382"></a><a href="#Footnote_380_382" class="fnanchor">[380]</a> more by token that, for a great while after, he +could never go abroad but the children would point at him and say, +'See, there is he who lay with Ciutazza'; the which was so sore an +annoy to him that he was like to go mad therefor. On such wise did the +worthy lady rid herself of the importunity of the malapert rector and +Ciutazza gained the shift and a merry night."</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="THE_FIFTH_STORY8" id="THE_FIFTH_STORY8"></a>THE FIFTH STORY</h2> + +<div class="sidenote">Day the Eighth</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="hang">THREE YOUNG MEN PULL THE BREECHES OFF A MARCHEGAN JUDGE IN +FLORENCE, WHAT WHILE HE IS ON THE BENCH, ADMINISTERING +JUSTICE</p></div> + + +<p><br /><span class="smcap">Emilia</span> having made an end of her story and the widow lady having been +commended of all, the queen looked to Filostrato and said, "It is now +thy turn to tell." He answered promptly that he was ready and began, +"Delightsome ladies, the mention by Elisa a little before of a certain +young man, to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_381" id="Page_381"></a></span> wit, Maso del Saggio, hath caused me leave a story I +purposed to tell you, so I may relate to you one of him and certain +companions of his, which, if (albeit it is nowise unseemly) it offer +certain expressions which you think shame to use, is natheless so +laughable that I will e'en tell it.</p> + +<p>As you may all have heard, there come oftentimes to our city governors +from the Marches of Ancona, who are commonly mean-spirited folk and so +paltry and sordid of life that their every fashion seemeth nought +other than a lousy cadger's trick; and of this innate paltriness and +avarice, they bring with them judges and notaries, who seem men taken +from the plough-tail or the cobbler's stall rather than from the +schools of law. Now, one of these being come hither for Provost, among +the many judges whom he brought with him was one who styled himself +Messer Niccola da San Lepidio and who had more the air of a tinker +than of aught else, and he was set with other judges to hear criminal +causes. As it oft happeneth that, for all the townsfolk have nought in +the world to do at the courts of law, yet bytimes they go thither, it +befell that Maso del Saggio went thither one morning, in quest of a +friend of his, and chancing to cast his eyes whereas this said Messer +Niccola sat, himseemed that here was a rare outlandish kind of wild +fowl. Accordingly, he went on to examine him from head to foot, and +albeit he saw him with the miniver bonnet on his head all black with +smoke and grease and a paltry inkhorn at his girdle, a gown longer +than his mantle and store of other things all foreign to a man of good +breeding and manners, yet of all these the most notable, to his +thinking, was a pair of breeches, the backside whereof, as the judge +sat, with his clothes standing open in front for straitness, he +perceived came halfway down his legs. Thereupon, without tarrying +longer to look upon him, he left him with whom he went seeking and +beginning a new quest, presently found two comrades of his, called one +Ribi and the other Matteuzzo, men much of the same mad humour as +himself, and said to them, 'As you tender me, come with me to the law +courts, for I wish to show you the rarest scarecrow you ever saw.'</p> + +<p>Accordingly, carrying them to the court house, he showed them the +aforesaid judge and his breeches, whereat they fell a-laughing, as +soon as they caught sight of him afar off; then, drawing nearer to the +platform whereon my lord judge sat, they saw that one might lightly +pass thereunder and that, moreover, the boards under his feet were so +broken that one might with great ease thrust his hand and arm between +them; whereupon quoth Maso to his comrades, 'Needs must we pull him +off those breeches of his altogether, for that it may very well be +done.' Each of the others had already seen how;<a name="FNanchor_381_383" id="FNanchor_381_383"></a><a href="#Footnote_381_383" class="fnanchor">[381]</a> wherefore, having +agreed among themselves what they should say and do, they returned +thither next morning, when, the court being very full of folk, +Matteuzzo, without being seen of any, crept under the bench and posted +himself immediately beneath the judge's feet. Meanwhile, Maso came up +to my lord judge on one side and taking him by the skirt of his gown, +whilst<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_382" id="Page_382"></a></span> Ribi did the like on the other side, began to say, 'My lord, +my lord, I pray you for God's sake, ere yonder scurvy thief on the +other side of you go elsewhere, make him restore me a pair of +saddle-bags whereof he hath saith indeed he did it not; but I saw him, +not a month ago, in act to have them resoled.' Ribi on his side cried +out with all his might, 'Believe him not, my lord; he is an arrant +knave, and for that he knoweth I am come to lay a complaint against +him for a pair of saddle-bags whereof he hath robbed me, he cometh now +with his story of the boothose, which I have had in my house this many +a day. An you believe me not, I can bring you to witness my next-door +neighbor Trecca and Grassa the tripewoman and one who goeth gathering +the sweepings from Santa Masia at Verjaza, who saw him when he came +back from the country.</p> + +<p>Maso on the other hand suffered not Ribi to speak, but bawled his +loudest, whereupon the other but shouted the more. The judge stood up +and leaned towards them, so he might the better apprehend what they +had to say, wherefore Matteuzzo, watching his opportunity, thrust his +hand between the crack of the boards and laying hold of Messer +Niccola's galligaskins by the breech, tugged at them amain. The +breeches came down incontinent, for that the judge was lean and lank +of the crupper; whereupon, feeling this and knowing not what it might +be, he would have sat down again and pulled his skirts forward to +cover himself; but Maso on the one side and Ribi on the other still +held him fast and cried out, 'My lord, you do ill not to do me justice +and to seek to avoid hearing me and get you gone otherwhere; there be +no writs granted in this city for such small matters as this.' So +saying, they held him fast by the clothes on such wise that all who +were in the court perceived that his breeches had been pulled down. +However, Matteuzzo, after he had held them awhile, let them go and +coming forth from under the platform, made off out of the court and +went his way without being seen; whereupon quoth Ribi, himseeming he +had done enough, 'I vow to God I will appeal to the syndicate!' Whilst +Maso, on his part, let go the mantle and said, 'Nay, I will e'en come +hither again and again until such time as I find you not hindered as +you seem to be this morning.' So saying, they both made off as +quickliest they might, each on his own side, whilst my lord judge +pulled up his breeches in every one's presence, as if he were arisen +from sleep; then, perceiving how the case stood, he enquired whither +they were gone who were at difference anent the boothose and the +saddle-bags; but they were not to be found, whereupon he began to +swear by Cock's bowels that need must he know and learn if it were the +wont at Florence to pull down the judges' breeches, whenas they sat on +the judicial bench. The Provost, on his part, hearing of this, made a +great stir; but, his friends having shown him that this had only been +done to give him notice that the Florentines right well understood +how, whereas he should have brought judges, he had brought them sorry +patches, to have them better cheap, he thought it best to hold his +peace, and so the thing went no farther for the nonce."</p> + + + +<hr /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_383" id="Page_383"></a></span></p> +<h2><a name="THE_SIXTH_STORY8" id="THE_SIXTH_STORY8"></a>THE SIXTH STORY</h2> + +<div class="sidenote">Day the Eighth</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="hang">BRUNO AND BUFFALMACCO, HAVING STOLEN A PIG FROM CALANDRINO, +MAKE HIM TRY THE ORDEAL WITH GINGER BOLUSES AND SACK AND +GIVE HIM (INSTEAD OF THE GINGER) TWO DOG-BALLS COMPOUNDED +WITH ALOES, WHEREBY IT APPEARETH THAT HE HIMSELF HATH HAD +THE PIG AND THEY MAKE HIM PAY BLACKMAIL, AN HE WOULD NOT +HAVE THEM TELL HIS WIFE</p></div> + + +<p><br /><span class="smcap">No sooner</span> had Filostrato despatched his story, which had given rise to +many a laugh, than the queen bade Filomena follow on, whereupon she +began: "Gracious ladies, even as Filostrato was led by the mention of +Maso to tell the story which you have just heard from him, so neither +more nor less am I moved by that of Calandrino and his friends to tell +you another of them, which methinketh will please you.</p> + +<p>Who Calandrino, Bruno and Buffalmacco were I need not explain to you, +for that you have already heard it well enough; wherefore, to proceed +with my story, I must tell you that Calandrino owned a little farm at +no great distance from Florence, that he had had to his wife's dowry. +From this farm, amongst other things that he got thence, he had every +year a pig, and it was his wont still to betake himself thither, he +and his wife, and kill the pig and have it salted on the spot. It +chanced one year that, his wife being somewhat ailing, he went himself +to kill the pig, which Bruno and Buffalmacco hearing and knowing that +his wife was not gone to the farm with him, they repaired to a priest, +very great friend of theirs and a neighbor of Calandrino, to sojourn +some days with him. Now Calandrino had that very morning killed the +pig and seeing them with the priest, called to them saying, 'You are +welcome. I would fain have you see what a good husband<a name="FNanchor_382_384" id="FNanchor_382_384"></a><a href="#Footnote_382_384" class="fnanchor">[382]</a> I am.' +Then carrying them into the house, he showed them the pig, which they +seeing to be a very fine one and understanding from Calandrino that he +meant to salt it down for his family, 'Good lack,' quoth Bruno to him, +'what a ninny thou art! Sell it and let us make merry with the price, +and tell thy wife that it hath been stolen from thee.' 'Nay, answered +Calandrino, 'she would never believe it and would drive me out of the +house. Spare your pains, for I will never do it.' And many were the +words, but they availed nothing.</p> + +<p>Calandrino invited them to supper, but with so ill a grace that they +refused to sup there and took their leave of him; whereupon quoth +Bruno and Buffalmacco, 'What sayest thou to stealing yonder pig from +him to-night?' 'Marry,' replied the other, 'how can we do it?' Quoth +Bruno, 'I can see how well enough, an he remove it not from where it +was but now.' 'Then,' rejoined his companion, 'let us do it. Why +should we not? And after we will make merry over it with the parson +here.' The priest answered that he would well, and Bruno said, 'Here +must some little art be used. Thou knowest, Buffalmacco, how +niggardly<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_384" id="Page_384"></a></span> Calandrino is and how gladly he drinketh when others pay; +let us go and carry him to the tavern, where the priest shall make +believe to pay the whole scot in our honor nor suffer him to pay +aught. Calandrino will soon grow fuddled and then we can manage it +lightly enough, for that he is alone in the house.' As he said, so +they did and Calandrino seeing that the priest suffered none to pay, +gave himself up to drinking and took in a good load, albeit it needed +no great matter to make him drunk. It was pretty late at night when +they left the tavern and Calandrino, without troubling himself about +supper, went straight home, where, thinking to have shut the door, he +left it open and betook himself to bed. Buffalmacco and Bruno went off +to sup with the priest and after supper repaired quietly to +Calandrino's house, carrying with them certain implements wherewithal +to break in whereas Bruno had appointed it; but, finding the door +open, they entered and unhooking the pig, carried it off to the +priest's house, where they laid it up and betook themselves to sleep.</p> + +<p>On the morrow, Calandrino, having slept off the fumes of the wine, +arose in the morning and going down, missed his pig and saw the door +open; whereupon he questioned this one and that if they knew who had +taken it and getting no news of it, began to make a great outcry, +saying, 'Woe is me, miserable wretch that I am!' for that the pig had +been stolen from him. As soon as Bruno and Buffalmacco were risen, +they repaired to Calandrino's house, to hear what he would say anent +the pig, and he no sooner saw them than he called out to them, well +nigh weeping, and said, 'Woe's me, comrades mine; my pig hath been +stolen from me!' Whereupon Bruno came up to him and said softly, 'It +is a marvel that thou hast been wise for once.' 'Alack,' replied +Calandrino, 'indeed I say sooth.' 'That's the thing to say,' quoth +Bruno. 'Make a great outcry, so it may well appear that it is e'en as +thou sayst.' Therewithal Calandrino bawled out yet loudlier, saying, +'Cock's body, I tell thee it hath been stolen from me in good +earnest!' 'Good, good,' replied Bruno; 'that's the way to speak; cry +out lustily, make thyself well heard, so it may seem true.' Quoth +Calandrino, 'Thou wouldst make me give my soul to the Fiend! I tell +thee and thou believest me not. May I be strung up by the neck an it +have not been stolen from me!' 'Good lack!' cried Bruno. 'How can that +be? I saw it here but yesterday. Thinkest thou to make me believe that +it hath flown away?' Quoth Calandrino, 'It is as I tell thee.' 'Good +lack,' repeated Bruno, 'can it be?' 'Certes,' replied Calandrino, 'it +is so, more by token that I am undone and know not how I shall return +home. My wife will never believe me; or even if she do, I shall have +no peace with her this year to come.' Quoth Bruno, 'So God save me, +this is ill done, if it be true; but thou knowest, Calandrino, I +lessoned thee yesterday to say thus and I would not have thee at once +cozen thy wife and us.' Therewithal Calandrino fell to crying out and +saying, 'Alack, why will you drive me to desperation and make me +blaspheme God and the Saints? I tell you the pig was stolen from me +yesternight.'</p> + +<p>Then said Buffalmacco, 'If it be so<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_385" id="Page_385"></a></span> indeed, we must cast about for a +means of having it again, an we may contrive it.' 'But what means,' +asked Calandrino, 'can we find?' Quoth Buffalmacco, 'We may be sure +that there hath come none from the Indies to rob thee of thy pig; the +thief must have been some one of thy neighbors. An thou canst make +shift to assemble them, I know how to work the ordeal by bread and +cheese and we will presently see for certain who hath had it.' 'Ay,' +put in Bruno, 'thou wouldst make a fine thing of bread and cheese with +such gentry as we have about here, for one of them I am certain hath +had the pig, and he would smoke the trap and would not come.' 'How, +then, shall we do?' asked Buffalmacco, and Bruno said, 'We must e'en +do it with ginger boluses and good vernage<a name="FNanchor_383_385" id="FNanchor_383_385"></a><a href="#Footnote_383_385" class="fnanchor">[383]</a> and invite them to +drink. They will suspect nothing and come, and the ginger boluses can +be blessed even as the bread and cheese.' Quoth Buffalmacco, 'Indeed, +thou sayst sooth. What sayst thou, Calandrino? Shall's do 't?' 'Nay,' +replied the gull, 'I pray you thereof for the love of God; for, did I +but know who hath had it, I should hold myself half consoled.' 'Marry, +then,' said Bruno, 'I am ready to go to Florence, to oblige thee, for +the things aforesaid, so thou wilt give me the money.' Now Calandrino +had maybe forty shillings, which he gave him, and Bruno accordingly +repaired to Florence to a friend of his, a druggist, of whom he bought +a pound of fine ginger boluses and caused compound a couple of +dogballs with fresh confect of hepatic aloes; after which he let cover +these latter with sugar, like the others, and set thereon a privy mark +by which he might very well know them, so he should not mistake them +nor change them. Then, buying a flask of good vernage, he returned to +Calandrino in the country and said to him, 'Do thou to-morrow morning +invite those whom thou suspectest to drink with thee; it is a holiday +and all will willingly come. Meanwhile, Buffalmacco and I will +to-night make the conjuration over the pills and bring them to thee +to-morrow morning at home; and for the love of thee I will administer +them myself and do and say that which is to be said and done.'</p> + +<p>Calandrino did as he said and assembled on the following morning a +goodly company of such young Florentines as were presently about the +village and of husbandmen; whereupon Bruno and Buffalmacco came with a +box of pills and the flask of wine and made the folk stand in a ring. +Then said Bruno, 'Gentlemen, needs must I tell you the reason +wherefore you are here, so that, if aught betide that please you not, +you may have no cause to complain of me. Calandrino here was robbed +yesternight of a fine pig, nor can he find who hath had it; and for +that none other than some one of us who are here can have stolen it +from him, he proffereth each of you, that he may discover who hath had +it, one of these pills to eat and a draught of wine. Now you must know +that he who hath had the pig will not be able to swallow the pill; +nay, it will seem to him more bitter than poison and he will spit it +out; wherefore, rather than that shame be done him in the presence of +so many, he were better tell it to the parson by way of confession and +I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_386" id="Page_386"></a></span> will proceed no farther with this matter.'</p> + +<p>All who were there declared that they would willingly eat of the +pills, whereupon Bruno ranged them in order and set Calandrino among +them; then, beginning at one end of the line, he proceeded to give +each his bolus, and whenas he came over against Calandrino, he took +one of the dogballs and put it into his hand. Calandrino clapped it +incontinent into his mouth and began to chew it; but no sooner did his +tongue taste the aloes, than he spat it out again, being unable to +brook the bitterness. Meanwhile, each was looking other in the face, +to see who should spit out his bolus, and whilst Bruno, not having +made an end of serving them out, went on to do so, feigning to pay no +heed to Calandrino's doing, he heard say behind him, 'How now, +Calandrino? What meaneth this?' Whereupon he turned suddenly round and +seeing that Calandrino had spat out his bolus, said, 'Stay, maybe +somewhat else hath caused him spit it out. Take another of them.' +Then, taking the other dogball, he thrust it into Calandrino's mouth +and went on to finish giving out the rest. If the first ball seemed +bitter to Calandrino, the second was bitterer yet; but, being ashamed +to spit it out, he kept it awhile in his mouth, chewing it and +shedding tears that seemed hazel-nuts so big they were, till at last, +unable to hold out longer, he cast it forth, like as he had the first. +Meanwhile Buffalmacco and Bruno gave the company to drink, and all, +seeing this, declared that Calandrino had certainly stolen the pig +from himself; nay, there were those there who rated him roundly.</p> + +<p>After they were all gone, and the two rogues left alone with +Calandrino, Buffalmacco said to him, 'I still had it for certain that +it was thou tookst the pig thyself and wouldst fain make us believe +that it had been stolen from thee, to escape giving us one poor while +to drink of the monies thou hadst for it.' Calandrino, who was not yet +quit of the bitter taste of the aloes, began to swear that he had not +had it, and Buffalmacco said, 'But in good earnest, comrade, what +gottest thou for it? Was it six florins?' Calandrino, hearing this, +began to wax desperate, and Bruno said, 'Harkye, Calandrino, there was +such an one in the company that ate and drank with us, who told me +that thou hast a wench over yonder, whom thou keepest for thy pleasure +and to whom thou givest whatsoever thou canst scrape together, and +that he held it for certain that thou hadst sent her the pig. Thou +hast learned of late to play pranks of this kind; thou carriedst us +off t'other day down the Mugnone, picking up black stones, and whenas +thou hadst gotten us aboard ship without biscuit,<a name="FNanchor_384_386" id="FNanchor_384_386"></a><a href="#Footnote_384_386" class="fnanchor">[384]</a> thou madest off +and wouldst after have us believe that thou hadst found the magic +stone; and now on like wise thou thinkest, by dint of oaths, to make +us believe that the pig, which thou hast given away or more like sold, +hath been stolen from thee. But we are used to thy tricks and know +them; thou shalt not avail to play us any more of them, and to be +plain with thee, since we have been at pains to make the conjuration, +we mean that thou shalt give us two pairs of capons;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_387" id="Page_387"></a></span> else will we +tell Mistress Tessa everything.' Calandrino, seeing that he was not +believed and himseeming he had had vexation enough, without having his +wife's scolding into the bargain, gave them two pairs of capons, which +they carried off to Florence, after they had salted the pig, leaving +Calandrino to digest the loss and the flouting as best he might."</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="THE_SEVENTH_STORY8" id="THE_SEVENTH_STORY8"></a>THE SEVENTH STORY</h2> + +<div class="sidenote">Day the Eighth</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="hang">A SCHOLAR LOVETH A WIDOW LADY, WHO, BEING ENAMOURED OF +ANOTHER, CAUSETH HIM SPEND ONE WINTER'S NIGHT IN THE SNOW +AWAITING HER, AND HE AFTER CONTRIVETH, BY HIS SLEIGHT, TO +HAVE HER ABIDE NAKED, ALL ONE MID-JULY DAY, ON THE SUMMIT OF +A TOWER, EXPOSED TO FLIES AND GADS AND SUN</p></div> + + +<p><br /><span class="smcap">The</span> ladies laughed amain at the unhappy Calandrino and would have +laughed yet more, but that it irked them to see him fleeced of the +capons, to boot, by those who had already robbed him of the pig. But, +as soon as the end of the story was come, the queen charged Pampinea +tell hers, and she promptly began thus: "It chanceth oft, dearest +ladies, that craft is put to scorn by craft and it is therefore a sign +of little wit to delight in making mock of others. We have, for +several stories, laughed amain at tricks that have been played upon +folk and whereof no vengeance is recorded to have been taken; but I +purpose now to cause you have some compassion of a just retribution +wreaked upon a townswoman of ours, on whose head her own cheat +recoiled and was retorted well nigh unto death; and the hearing of +this will not be without profit unto you, for that henceforward you +will the better keep yourselves from making mock of others, and in +this you will show great good sense.</p> + +<p>Not many years ago there was in Florence, a young lady, by name Elena, +fair of favour and haughty of humour, of very gentle lineage and +endowed with sufficient abundance of the goods of fortune, who, being +widowed of her husband, chose never to marry again, for that she was +enamoured of a handsome and agreeable youth of her own choice, and +with the aid of a maid of hers, in whom she put great trust, being +quit of every other care, she often with marvellous delight gave +herself a good time with him. In these days it chanced that a young +gentleman of our city, by name Rinieri, having long studied in Paris, +not for the sake of after selling his knowledge by retail, as many do, +but to know the nature of things and their causes, the which +excellently becometh a gentleman, returned thence to Florence and +there lived citizen-fashion, much honoured as well for his nobility as +for his learning. But, as it chanceth often that those, who have the +most experience of things profound, are the soonest snared of love, +even so it befell this Rinieri; for, having one day repaired, by way +of diversion, to an entertainment, there presented herself before his +eyes the aforesaid Elena, clad all in black, as our<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_388" id="Page_388"></a></span> widows go, and +full, to his judgment, of such beauty and pleasantness as himseemed he +had never beheld in any other woman; and in his heart he deemed that +he might call himself blest whom God should vouchsafe to hold her +naked in his arms. Then, furtively considering her once and again and +knowing that great things and precious were not to be acquired without +travail, he altogether determined in himself to devote all his pains +and all his diligence to the pleasing her, to the end that thereby he +might gain her love and so avail to have his fill of her.</p> + +<p>The young lady, (who kept not her eyes fixed upon the nether world, +but, conceiting herself as much and more than as much as she was, +moved them artfully hither and thither, gazing all about, and was +quick to note who delighted to look upon her,) soon became aware of +Rinieri and said, laughing, in herself, 'I have not come hither in +vain to-day; for, an I mistake not, I have caught a woodcock by the +bill.' Accordingly, she fell to ogling him from time to time with the +tail of her eye and studied, inasmuch as she might, to let him see +that she took note of him, thinking that the more men she allured and +ensnared with her charms, so much the more of price would her beauty +be, especially to him on whom she had bestowed it, together with her +love. The learned scholar, laying aside philosophical speculations, +turned all his thoughts to her and thinking to please her, enquired +where she lived and proceeded to pass to and fro before her house, +colouring his comings and goings with various pretexts, whilst the +lady, idly glorying in this, for the reason already set out, made +believe to take great pleasure in seeing him. Accordingly, he found +means to clap up an acquaintance with her maid and discovering to her +his love, prayed her make interest for him with her mistress, so he +might avail to have her favour. The maid promised freely and told the +lady, who hearkened with the heartiest laughter in the world and said, +'Seest thou where yonder man cometh to lose the wit he hath brought +back from Paris? Marry, we will give him that which he goeth seeking. +An he bespeak thee again, do thou tell him that I love him far more +than he loveth me; but that it behoveth me look to mine honour, so I +may hold up my head with the other ladies; whereof and he be as wise +as folk say, he will hold me so much the dearer.' Alack, poor silly +soul, she knew not aright, ladies mine, what it is to try conclusions +with scholars. The maid went in search of Rinieri and finding him, did +that which had been enjoined her of her mistress, whereat he was +overjoyed and proceeded to use more urgent entreaties, writing letters +and sending presents, all of which were accepted, but he got nothing +but vague and general answers; and on this wise she held him in play a +great while.</p> + +<p>At last, to show her lover, to whom she had discovered everything and +who was whiles somewhat vexed with her for this and had conceived some +jealousy of Rinieri, that he did wrong to suspect her thereof, she +despatched to the scholar, now grown very pressing, her maid, who told +him, on her mistress's part, that she had never yet had an opportunity +to do aught that might pleasure him since he had certified her of his +love, but that on the occasion of the festival of the Nativity she +hoped<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_389" id="Page_389"></a></span> to be able to be with him; wherefore, an it liked him, he was +on the evening of the feast to come by night to her courtyard, whither +she would go for him as first she might. At this the scholar was the +gladdest man alive and betook himself at the appointed time to his +mistress's house, where he was carried by the maid into a courtyard +and being there locked in, proceeded to wait the lady's coming. The +latter had that evening sent for her lover and after she had supped +merrily with him, she told him that which she purposed to do that +night, adding, 'And thou mayst see for thyself what and how great is +the love I have borne and bear him of whom thou hast taken a +jealousy.' The lover heard these words with great satisfaction and was +impatient to see by the fact that which the lady gave him to +understand with words.</p> + +<p>It had by chance snowed hard during the day and everything was covered +with snow, wherefore the scholar had not long abidden in the courtyard +before he began to feel colder than he could have wished; but, looking +to recruit himself speedily, he was fain to endure it with patience. +Presently, the lady said to her lover, 'Let us go look from a lattice +what yonder fellow, of whom thou art waxed jealous, doth and hear what +he shall answer the maid, whom I have sent to parley with him.' +Accordingly, they betook themselves to a lattice and thence, seeing, +without being seen, they heard the maid from another lattice bespeak +the scholar and say, 'Rinieri, my lady is the woefullest woman that +was aye, for that there is one of her brothers come hither to-night, +who hath talked much with her and after must needs sup with her, nor +is yet gone away; but methinketh he will soon be gone; wherefore she +hath not been able to come to thee, but will soon come now and prayeth +thee not to take the waiting in ill part.' Rinieri, believing this to +be true, replied, 'Tell my lady to give herself no concern for me till +such time as she can at her commodity come to me, but bid her do this +as quickliest she may.' The maid turned back into the house and betook +herself to bed, whilst the lady said to her gallant, 'Well, how sayst +thou? Thinkest thou that, an I wished him such weal as thou fearest, I +would suffer him stand a-freezing down yonder?' So saying, she betook +herself to bed with her lover, who was now in part satisfied, and +there they abode a great while in joyance and liesse, laughing and +making mock of the wretched scholar, who fared to and fro the while in +the courtyard, making shift to warm himself with exercise, nor had +whereas he might seat himself or shelter from the night-damp. He +cursed her brother's long stay with the lady and took everything he +heard for the opening of a door to him by her, but hoped in vain.</p> + +<p>The lady, having solaced herself with her lover till near upon +midnight, said to him, 'How deemest thou, my soul, of our scholar? +Whether seemeth to thee the greater, his wit or the love I bear him? +Will the cold which I presently cause him suffer do away from thy mind +the doubts which my pleasantries aroused therein the other day?' +Whereto he replied, 'Heart of my body, yes, I know right well that, +like as thou art my good and my peace and my delight and all my hope, +even so am I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_390" id="Page_390"></a></span> thine.' 'Then,' rejoined she, 'kiss me a thousand times, +so I may see if thou say sooth.' Whereupon he clipped her fast in his +arms and kissed her not a thousand, but more than an hundred thousand +times. Then, after they had abidden awhile in such discourse, the lady +said, 'Marry, let us arise a little and go see if the fire is anydele +spent, wherein this my new lover wrote me that he burnt all day long.' +Accordingly, they arose and getting them to the accustomed lattice, +looked out into the courtyard, where they saw the scholar dancing a +right merry jig on the snow, so fast and brisk that never had they +seen the like, to the sound of the chattering of the teeth that he +made for excess of cold; whereupon quoth the lady, 'How sayst thou, +sweet my hope? Seemeth to thee that I know how to make folk jig it +without sound of trump or bagpipe?' Whereto he answered, laughing, 'Ay +dost thou, my chief delight.' Quoth the lady, 'I will that we go down +to the door; thou shalt abide quiet, whilst I bespeak him, and we +shall hear what he will say; belike we shall have no less diversion +thereof than we had from seeing him.'</p> + +<p>Accordingly, they softly opened the chamber and stole down to the +door, where, without opening it anydele, the lady called to the +scholar in a low voice by a little hole that was there. Rinieri +hearing himself called, praised God, taking it oversoon for granted +that he was to be presently admitted, and coming up to the door, said, +'Here am I, madam; open for God's sake, for I die of cold.' 'O ay,' +replied the lady, 'I know thou art a chilly one; is then the cold so +exceeding great, because, forsooth, there is a little snow about? I +wot the nights are much colder in Paris. I cannot open to thee yet, +for that accursed brother of mine, who came to sup with me to-night, +is not yet gone; but he will soon begone and I will come incontinent +to open to thee. I have but now very hardly stolen away from him, that +I might come to exhort thee not to wax weary of waiting.' 'Alack, +madam,' cried the scholar, 'I pray you for God's sake open to me, so I +may abide within under cover, for that this little while past there is +come on the thickest snow in the world and it yet snoweth, and I will +wait for you as long as it shall please you.' 'Woe's me, sweet my +treasure,' replied the lady, 'that cannot I; for this door maketh so +great a noise, whenas it is opened, that it would lightly be heard of +my brother, if I should open to thee; but I will go bid him begone, so +I may after come back and open to thee.' 'Then go quickly,' rejoined +he; 'and I prithee let make a good fire, so I may warm me as soon as I +come in, for that I am grown so cold I can scarce feel myself.' Quoth +the lady, 'That should not be possible, an that be true which thou +hast many a time written me, to wit, that thou burnest for the love of +me. Now, I must go, wait and be of good heart.' Then, with her lover, +who had heard all this with the utmost pleasure, she went back to bed, +and that night they slept little, nay, they spent it well nigh all in +dalliance and delight and in making mock of Rinieri.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, the unhappy scholar (now well nigh grown a stork, so sore +did his teeth chatter,) perceiving at last that he was befooled, +essayed again and again to open the door and sought an he might not +avail to issue<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_391" id="Page_391"></a></span> thence by another way; but, finding no means +thereunto, he fell a-ranging to and fro like a lion, cursing the +foulness of the weather and the lady's malignity and the length of the +night, together with his own credulity; wherefore, being sore despited +against his mistress, the long and ardent love he had borne her was +suddenly changed to fierce and bitter hatred and he revolved in +himself many and various things, so he might find a means of revenge, +the which he now desired far more eagerly than he had before desired +to be with the lady. At last, after much long tarriance, the night +drew near unto day and the dawn began to appear; whereupon the maid, +who had been lessoned by the lady, coming down, opened the courtyard +door and feigning to have compassion of Rinieri, said, 'Bad luck may +he have who came hither yestereve! He hath kept us all night upon +thorns and hath caused thee freeze; but knowest thou what? Bear it +with patience, for that which could not be to-night shall be another +time. Indeed, I know nought could have happened that had been so +displeasing to my lady.'</p> + +<p>The despiteful scholar, like a wise man as he was, who knew that +threats are but arms for the threatened, locked up in his breast that +which untempered will would fain have vented and said in a low voice, +without anywise showing himself vexed, 'In truth I have had the worst +night I ever had; but I have well apprehended that the lady is nowise +to blame for this, inasmuch as she herself of her compassion for me, +came down hither to excuse herself and to hearten me; and as thou +sayest, that which hath not been to-night shall be another time. +Commend me to her and God be with thee.' Therewithal, well nigh stark +with cold, he made his way, as best he might, back to his house, +where, being drowsed to death, he cast himself upon his bed to sleep +and awoke well nigh crippled of his arms and legs; wherefore, sending +for sundry physicians and acquainting them with the cold he had +suffered, he caused take order for his cure. The leaches, plying him +with prompt and very potent remedies, hardly, after some time, availed +to recover him of the shrinking of the sinews and cause them relax; +and but that he was young and that the warm season came on, he had +overmuch to suffer. However, being restored to health and lustihead, +he kept his hate to himself and feigned himself more than ever +enamoured of his widow.</p> + +<p>Now it befell, after a certain space of time, that fortune furnished +him with an occasion of satisfying his desire [for vengeance], for +that the youth beloved of the widow being, without any regard for the +love she bore him, fallen enamoured of another lady, would have nor +little nor much to say to her nor do aught to pleasure her, wherefore +she pined in tears and bitterness. But her maid, who had great +compassion of her, finding no way of rousing her mistress from the +chagrin into which the loss of her lover had cast her and seeing the +scholar pass along the street, after the wonted manner, entered into a +fond conceit, to wit, that the lady's lover might be brought by some +necromantic operation or other to love her as he had been wont to do +and that the scholar should be a past master in this manner of thing, +and told her thought to her mistress. The latter, little wise, without +considering that, had the scholar<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_392" id="Page_392"></a></span> been acquainted with the black art, +he would have practised it for himself, lent her mind to her maid's +words and bade her forthright learn from him if he would do it and +give him all assurance that, in requital thereof, she would do +whatsoever pleased him. The maid did her errand well and diligently, +which when the scholar heard, he was overjoyed and said in himself, +'Praised be Thou, my God! The time is come when with Thine aid I may +avail to make yonder wicked woman pay the penalty of the harm she did +me in requital of the great love I bore her.' Then to the maid, 'Tell +my lady,' quoth he, 'that she need be in no concern for this, for +that, were her lover in the Indies, I would speedily cause him come to +her and crave pardon of that which he hath done to displeasure her; +but the means she must take to this end I purpose to impart to +herself, when and where it shall most please her. So say to her and +hearten her on my part.'</p> + +<p>The maid carried his answer to her mistress and it was agreed that +they should foregather at Santa Lucia del Prato, whither, accordingly, +the lady, and the scholar being come and speaking together alone, she, +remembering her not that she had aforetime brought him well nigh to +death's door, openly discovered to him her case and that which she +desired and besought him to succour her. 'Madam,' answered he, 'it is +true that amongst the other things I learned at Paris was necromancy, +whereof for certain I know that which is extant thereof; but for that +the thing is supremely displeasing unto God, I had sworn never to +practise it either for myself or for others. Nevertheless, the love I +bear you is of such potency that I know not how I may deny you aught +that you would have me do; wherefore, though it should behove me for +this alone go to the devil's stead, I am yet ready to do it, since it +is your pleasure. But I must forewarn you that the thing is more +uneath to do than you perchance imagine, especially whenas a woman +would recall a man to loving her or a man a woman, for that this +cannot be done save by the very person unto whom it pertaineth; and it +behoveth that whoso doth it be of an assured mind, seeing it must be +done anights and in solitary places without company; which things I +know not how you are disposed to do.' The lady, more enamoured than +discreet, replied, 'Love spurreth me on such wise that there is +nothing I would not do to have again him who hath wrongfully forsaken +me. Algates, an it please you, show me in what I must approve myself +assured of mind.' 'Madam,' replied the scholar, who had a patch of ill +hair to his tail,<a name="FNanchor_385_387" id="FNanchor_385_387"></a><a href="#Footnote_385_387" class="fnanchor">[385]</a> 'I must make an image of pewter in his name +whom you desire to get again, which whenas I shall send you, it will +behove you seven times bathe yourself therewith, all naked, in a +running stream, at the hour of the first sleep, what time the moon is +far on the wane. Thereafter, naked as you are, you must get you up +into a tree or to the top of some uninhabited house and turning to the +north, with the image in your hand, seven times running say certain +words which I shall give you written; which when you shall have done, +there will come to you two of the fairest damsels you ever beheld, who +will salute you<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_393" id="Page_393"></a></span> and ask you courteously what you would have done. Do +you well and throughly discover to them your desires and look it +betide you not to name one for another. As soon as you have told them, +they will depart and you may then come down to the place where you +shall have left your clothes and re-clothe yourself and return home; +and for certain, ere it be the middle of the ensuing night, your lover +will come, weeping, to crave you pardon and mercy; and know that from +that time forth he will never again leave you for any other.'</p> + +<p>The lady, hearing all this and lending entire faith thereto, was half +comforted, herseeming she already had her lover again in her arms, and +said, 'Never fear; I will very well do these things, and I have +therefor the finest commodity in the world; for I have, towards the +upper end of the Val d'Arno, a farm, which is very near the +river-bank, and it is now July, so that bathing will be pleasant; more +by token that I mind me there is, not far from the stream, a little +uninhabited tower, save that the shepherds climb up bytimes, by a +ladder of chestnut-wood that is there, to a sollar at the top, to look +for their strayed beasts: otherwise it is a very solitary +out-of-the-way<a name="FNanchor_386_388" id="FNanchor_386_388"></a><a href="#Footnote_386_388" class="fnanchor">[386]</a> place. Thither will I betake myself and there I +hope to do that which you shall enjoin me the best in the world.' The +scholar, who very well knew both the place and the tower mentioned by +the lady, was rejoiced to be certified of her intent and said, 'Madam, +I was never in these part and therefore know neither the farm nor the +tower; but, an it be as you say, nothing in the world can be better. +Wherefore, whenas it shall be time, I will send you the image and the +conjuration; but I pray you instantly, whenas you shall have gotten +your desire and shall know I have served you well, that you be mindful +of me and remember to keep your promise to me.' She answered that she +would without fail do it and taking leave of him, returned to her +house; whilst the scholar, rejoiced for that himseemed his desire was +like to have effect, made an image with certain talismanic characters +of his own devising, and wrote a rigmarole of his fashion, by way of +conjuration; the which, whenas it seemed to him time, he despatched to +the lady and sent to tell her that she must that very night, without +more tarriance, do that which he had enjoined her; after which he +secretly betook himself, with a servant of his, to the house of one of +his friends who abode very near the tower, so he might give effect to +his design.</p> + +<p>The lady, on her part, set out with her maid and repaired to her farm, +where, as soon as the night was come, she made a show of going to bed +and sent the maid away to sleep, but towards the hour of the first +sleep, she issued quietly forth of the house and betook herself to the +bank of the Arno hard by the tower, where, looking first well all +about and seeing nor hearing any, she put off her clothes and hiding +them under a bush, bathed seven times with the image; after which, +naked as she was, she made for the tower, image in hand. The scholar, +who had, at the coming on of the night, hidden himself with his +servant among the willows and other trees near the tower and had +witnessed all this, seeing her, as she passed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_394" id="Page_394"></a></span> thus naked close to +him, overcome the darkness of the night with the whiteness of her body +and after considering her breast and the other parts of her person and +seeing them fair, bethought himself what they should become in a +little while and felt some compassion of her; whilst, on the other +hand, the pricks of the flesh assailed him of a sudden and caused that +stand on end which erst lay prone, inciting him to issue forth of his +ambush and go take her and do his will of her. Between the one and the +other he was like to be overcome; but, calling to mind who he was and +what the injury he had suffered and wherefore and at whose hands and +he being thereby rekindled in despite and compassion and carnal +appetite banished, he abode firm in his purpose and let her go.</p> + +<p>The lady, going up on to the tower and turning to the north, began to +repeat the words given her by the scholar, who, coming quietly into +the tower awhile after, little by little removed the ladder, which led +to the sollar where she was, and after awaited that which she should +do and say. Meanwhile, the lady, having seven times said her +conjuration, began to look for the two damsels and so long was her +waiting (more by token that she felt it cooler than she could have +wished) that she saw the dawn appear; whereupon, woeful that it had +not befallen as the scholar had told her, she said in herself, 'I fear +me yonder man hath had a mind to give me a night such as that which I +gave him; but, an that be his intent, he hath ill known to avenge +himself, for that this night hath not been as long by a third as was +his, forbye that the cold was of anothergates sort.' Then, so the day +might not surprise her there, she proceeded to seek to go down from +the tower, but found the ladder gone; whereupon her courage forsook +her, as it were the world had failed beneath her feet, and she fell +down aswoon upon the platform of the tower. As soon as her sense +returned to her, she fell to weeping piteously and bemoaning herself, +and perceiving but too well that this must have been the scholar's +doing, she went on to blame herself for having affronted others and +after for having overmuch trusted in him whom she had good reason to +believe her enemy; and on this wise she abode a great while. Then, +looking if there were no way of descending and seeing none, she fell +again to her lamentation and gave herself up to bitter thought, saying +in herself, 'Alas, unhappy woman! What will be said of thy brothers +and kinsfolk and neighbours and generally of all the people of +Florence, when it shall be known that thou has been found here naked? +Thy repute, that hath hitherto been so great, will be known to have +been false; and shouldst thou seek to frame lying excuses for thyself, +(if indeed there are any to be found) the accursed scholar, who +knoweth all thine affairs, will not suffer thee lie. Oh wretched +woman, that wilt at one stroke have lost the youth so ill-fatedly +beloved and thine own honour!'</p> + +<p>Therewithal she fell into such a passion of woe that she was like to +cast herself down from the tower to the ground; but, the sun being now +risen and she drawing near to one side of the walls of the tower, to +look if any boy should pass with cattle, whom she might send for her +maid, it chanced that the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_395" id="Page_395"></a></span> scholar, who had slept awhile at the foot +of a bush, awaking, saw her and she him; whereupon quoth he to her, +'Good day, madam; are the damsels come yet?' The lady, seeing and +hearing him, began afresh to weep sore and besought him to come within +the tower, so she might speak with him. In this he was courteous +enough to comply with her and she laying herself prone on the platform +and showing only her head at the opening, said, weeping, 'Assuredly, +Rinieri, if I gave thee an ill night, thou hast well avenged thyself +of me, for that, albeit it is July, I have thought to freeze this +night, naked as I am, more by token that I have so sore bewept both +the trick I put upon thee and mine own folly in believing thee that it +is a wonder I have any eyes left in my head. Wherefore I entreat thee, +not for the love of me, whom thou hast no call to love, but for the +love of thyself, who are a gentleman, that thou be content, for +vengeance of the injury I did thee, with that which thou hast already +done and cause fetch me my clothes and suffer me come down hence, nor +seek to take from me that which thou couldst not after restore me, an +thou wouldst, to wit, my honour; for, if I took from thee the being +with me that night, I can render thee many nights for that one, +whenassoever it liketh thee. Let this, then, suffice and let it +content thee, as a man of honour, to have availed to avenge thyself +and to have caused me confess it. Seek not to use thy strength against +a woman; no glory is it for an eagle to have overcome a dove, +wherefore, for the love of God and thine own honour, have pity on me.'</p> + +<p>The scholar, with stern mind revolving in himself the injury suffered +and seeing her weep and beseech, felt at once both pleasure and annoy; +pleasure in the revenge which he had desired more than aught else, and +annoy he felt, for that his humanity moved him to compassion of the +unhappy woman. However, humanity availing not to overcome the +fierceness of his appetite [for vengeance], 'Madam Elena,' answered +he, 'if my prayers (which, it is true, I knew not to bathe with tears +nor to make honeyed, as thou presently knowest to proffer thine,) had +availed, the night when I was dying of cold in thy snow-filled +courtyard, to procure me to be put of thee but a little under cover, +it were a light matter to me to hearken now unto thine; but, if thou +be presently so much more concerned for thine honour than in the past +and it be grievous to thee to abide up there naked, address these thy +prayers to him in whose arms thou didst not scruple, that night which +thou thyself recallest, to abide naked, hearing me the while go about +thy courtyard, chattering with my teeth and trampling the snow, and +get thee succour of him; cause him fetch thee thy clothes and set thee +the ladder, whereby thou mayest descend, and study to inform him with +tenderness for thine honour, the which thou hast not scrupled both now +and a thousand other times to imperil for him. Why dost thou not call +him to come help thee? To whom pertaineth it more than unto him? Thou +art his; and what should he regard or succour, an he regard not +neither succour thee? Call him, silly woman that thou art, and prove +if the love thou bearest him and thy wits and his together can avail +to deliver thee from my folly, whereof,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_396" id="Page_396"></a></span> dallying with him the while, +thou questionedst aforetime whether himseemed the greater, my folly or +the love thou borest him.<a name="FNanchor_387_389" id="FNanchor_387_389"></a><a href="#Footnote_387_389" class="fnanchor">[387]</a> Thou canst not now be lavish to me of +that which I desire not, nor couldst thou deny it to me, an I desired +it; keep thy nights for thy lover, an it chance that thou come off +hence alive; be they thine and his. I had overmuch of one of them and +it sufficeth me to have been once befooled. Again, using thy craft and +wiliness in speech, thou studiest, by extolling me, to gain my +goodwill and callest me a gentleman and a man of honour, thinking thus +to cajole me into playing the magnanimous and forebearing to punish +thee for thy wickedness; but thy blandishments shall not now darken me +the eyes of the understanding, as did thy disloyal promises whilere. I +know myself, nor did I learn so much of myself what while I sojourned +at Paris as thou taughtest me in one single night of thine. But, +granted I were indeed magnanimous, thou art none of those towards whom +magnanimity should be shown; the issue of punishment, as likewise of +vengeance, in the case of wild beasts such as thou art, behoveth to be +death, whereas for human beings that should suffice whereof thou +speakest. Wherefore, albeit I am no eagle, knowing thee to be no dove, +but a venomous serpent, I mean to pursue thee, as an immemorial enemy, +with every hate and all my might, albeit this that I do to thee can +scarce properly be styled vengeance, but rather chastisement, inasmuch +as vengeance should overpass the offence and this will not attain +thereto; for that, an I sought to avenge myself, considering to what a +pass thou broughtest my soul, thy life, should I take it from thee, +would not suffice me, no, nor the lives of an hundred others such as +thou, since, slaying thee, I should but slay a vile, wicked and +worthless trull of a woman. And what a devil more account (setting +aside this thy scantling of fair favour,<a name="FNanchor_388_390" id="FNanchor_388_390"></a><a href="#Footnote_388_390" class="fnanchor">[388]</a> which a few years will +mar, filling it with wrinkles,) art thou than whatsoever other sorry +serving-drab? Whereas it was no fault of thine that thou failedst of +causing the death of a man of honour, as thou styledst me but now, +whose life may yet in one day be of more service to the world than an +hundred thousand of thy like could be what while the world endureth. I +will teach thee, then, by means of this annoy that thou sufferest, +what it is to flout men of sense, and particularly scholars, and will +give thee cause never more, an thou comest off alive, to fall into +such a folly. But, an thou have so great a wish to descend, why dost +thou not cast thyself down? On this wise, with God's help, thou wilt, +by breaking thy neck, at once deliver thyself from<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_397" id="Page_397"></a></span> the torment, +wherein it seemeth to thee thou art, and make me the joyfullest man in +the world. Now, I have no more to say to thee. I knew to contrive on +such wise that I caused thee go up thither; do thou now contrive to +come down thence, even as thou knewest to befool me.'</p> + +<p>What while the scholar spoke thus, the wretched lady wept without +ceasing and the time lapsed by, the sun still rising high and higher; +but, when she saw that he was silent, she said, 'Alack, cruel man, if +the accursed night was so grievous to thee and if my default seem to +thee so heinous a thing that neither my young beauty nor my bitter +tears and humble prayers may avail to move thee to any pity, at least +let this act of mine alone some little move thee and abate the rigour +of thy rancour, to wit, that I but now trusted in thee and discovered +to thee mine every secret, opening withal to thy desire a way whereby +thou mightest avail to make me cognizant of my sin; more by token +that, except I had trusted in thee, thou hadst had no means of +availing to take of me that vengeance, which thou seemest to have so +ardently desired. For God's sake, leave thine anger and pardon me +henceforth; I am ready, so thou wilt but forgive me and bring me down +hence, altogether to renounce yonder faithless youth and to have thee +alone to lover and lord, albeit thou decriest my beauty, avouching it +short-lived and little worth; natheless, whatever it be, compared with +that of other women, yet this I know, that, if for nought else, it is +to be prized for that it is the desire and pastime and delight of +men's youth, and thou art not old. And albeit I am cruelly entreated +of thee, I cannot believe withal that thou wouldst fain see me die so +unseemly a death as were the casting myself down from this tower, as +in desperation, before thine eyes, wherein, an thou was not a liar as +thou are since become, I was erst so pleasing. Alack, have ruth on me +for God's sake and pity's! The sun beginneth to wax hot, and like as +the overmuch cold irked me this night, even so doth the heat begin to +do me sore annoy.'</p> + +<p>The scholar, who held her in parley for his diversion, answered, +'Madam, thou hast not presently trusted thine honour in my hands for +any love that thou borest me, but to regain him whom thou hast lost, +wherefore it meriteth but greater severity, and if thou think that +this way alone was apt and opportune unto the vengeance desired of me, +thou thinkest foolishly; I had a thousand others; nay, whilst feigning +to love thee, I had spread a thousand snares about thy feet, and it +would not have been long, had this not chanced, ere thou must of +necessity have fallen into one of them, nor couldst thou have fallen +into any but it had caused thee greater torment and shame than this +present, the which I took, not to ease thee, but to be the quicklier +satisfied. And though all else should have failed me, the pen had +still been left me, wherewithal I would have written such and so many +things of thee and after such a fashion that, whenas thou camest (as +thou wouldst have come) to know of them, thou wouldst a thousand times +a day have wished thyself never born. The power of the pen is far +greater than they imagine who have not proved it with experience. I +swear to God (so may He gladden me to the end of this vengeance that I +take of thee, even as<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_398" id="Page_398"></a></span> He hath made me glad thereof in the beginning!) +that I would have written such things of thee, that, being ashamed, +not to say before other folk, but before thine own self, thou shouldst +have put out thine own eyes, not to see thyself in the glass; +wherefore let not the little rivulet twit the sea with having caused +it wax. Of thy love or that thou be mine, I reck not, as I have +already said, a jot; be thou e'en his, an thou may, whose thou wast +erst and whom, as I once hated, so at this present I love, having +regard unto that which he hath wrought towards thee of late. You women +go falling enamoured of young springalds and covet their love, for +that you see them somewhat fresher of colour and blacker of beard and +they go erect and jaunty and dance and joust, all which things they +have had who are somewhat more in years, ay, and these know that which +those have yet to learn. Moreover, you hold them better cavaliers and +deem that they fare more miles in a day than men of riper age. Certes, +I confess that they jumble a wench's furbelows more briskly; but those +more in years, being men of experience, know better where the fleas +stick, and little meat and savoury is far and away rather to be chosen +than much and insipid, more by token that hard trotting undoth and +wearieth folk, how young soever they be, whereas easy going, though +belike it bring one somewhat later to the inn, at the least carrieth +him thither unfatigued. You women perceive not, animals without +understanding that you are, how much ill lieth hid under this +scantling of fair seeming. Young fellows are not content with one +woman; nay, as many as they see, so many do they covet and of so many +themseemeth they are worthy; wherefore their love cannot be stable, +and of this thou mayst presently of thine own experience bear very +true witness. Themseemeth they are worthy to be worshipped and +caressed of their mistresses and they have no greater glory than to +vaunt them of those whom they have had; the which default of theirs +hath aforetime cast many a woman into the arms of the monks, who tell +no tales. Albeit thou sayst that never did any know of thine amours, +save thy maid and myself, thou knowest it ill and believest awry, an +thou think thus. His<a name="FNanchor_389_391" id="FNanchor_389_391"></a><a href="#Footnote_389_391" class="fnanchor">[389]</a> quarter talketh well nigh of nothing else, +and thine likewise; but most times the last to whose ears such things +come is he to whom they pertain. Young men, to boot, despoil you, +whereas it is given you<a name="FNanchor_390_392" id="FNanchor_390_392"></a><a href="#Footnote_390_392" class="fnanchor">[390]</a> of men of riper years. Since, then, thou +hast ill chosen, be thou his to whom thou gavest thyself and leave me, +of whom thou madest mock, to others, for that I have found a mistress +of much more account than thou, who hath been wise enough to know me +better than thou didst. And that thou mayst carry into the other world +greater assurance of the desire of mine eyes than meseemeth thou +gatherest from my words, do but cast thyself down forthright and thy +soul, being, as I doubt not it will be, straightway received into the +arms of the devil, will be able to see if mine eyes be troubled or not +at seeing thee fall headlong. But, as medoubteth thou wilt not consent +to do me so much<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_399" id="Page_399"></a></span> pleasure, I counsel thee, if the sun begin to scorch +thee, remember thee of the cold thou madest me suffer, which an thou +mingle with the heat aforesaid, thou wilt without fail feel the sun +attempered.'</p> + +<p>The disconsolate lady, seeing that the scholar's words tended to a +cruel end, fell again to weeping and said, 'Harkye, since nothing I +can say availeth to move thee to pity of me, let the love move thee, +which thou bearest that lady whom thou hast found wiser than I and of +whom thou sayst thou art beloved, and for the love of her pardon me +and fetch me my clothes, so I may dress myself, and cause me descend +hence.' Therewith the scholar began to laugh and seeing that tierce +was now passed by a good hour, replied, 'Marry, I know not how to say +thee nay, since thou conjurest me by such a lady; tell me where thy +clothes are and I will go for them and help thee come down from up +yonder.' The lady, believing this, was somewhat comforted and showed +him where she had laid her clothes; whereupon he went forth of the +tower and bidding his servant not depart thence, but abide near at +hand and watch as most he might that none should enter there till such +time as he should return, went off to his friend's house, where he +dined at his ease and after, whenas himseemed time, betook himself to +sleep; whilst the lady, left upon the tower, albeit some little +heartened with fond hope, natheless beyond measure woebegone, sat up +and creeping close to that part of the wall where there was a little +shade, fell a-waiting, in company of very bitter thoughts. There she +abode, now hoping and now despairing of the scholar's return with her +clothes, and passing from one thought to another, she presently fell +asleep, as one who was overcome of dolour and who had slept no whit +the past night.</p> + +<p>The sun, which was exceeding hot, being now risen to the meridian, +beat full and straight upon her tender and delicate body and upon her +head, which was all uncovered, with such force that not only did it +burn her flesh, wherever it touched it, but cracked and opened it all +over little by little, and such was the pain of the burning that it +constrained her to awake, albeit she slept fast. Feeling herself on +the roast and moving somewhat, it seemed as if all her scorched skin +cracked and clove asunder for the motion, as we see happen with a +scorched sheepskin, if any stretch it, and to boot her head irked her +so sore that it seemed it would burst, which was no wonder. And the +platform of the tower was so burning hot that she could find no +restingplace there either for her feet or for otherwhat; wherefore, +without standing fast, she still removed now hither and now thither, +weeping. Moreover, there being not a breath of wind, the flies and +gads flocked thither in swarms and settling upon her cracked flesh, +stung her so cruelly that each prick seemed to her a pike-stab; +wherefore she stinted not to fling her hands about, still cursing +herself, her life, her lover and the scholar.</p> + +<p>Being thus by the inexpressible heat of the sun, by the flies and the +gads and likewise by hunger, but much more by thirst, and by a +thousand irksome thoughts, to boot, tortured and stung and pierced to +the quick, she started to her feet and addressed herself to look<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_400" id="Page_400"></a></span> if +she might see or hear any one near at hand, resolved, whatever might +betide thereof, to call him and crave aid. But of this resource also +had her unfriendly fortune deprived her. The husbandmen were all +departed from the fields for the heat, more by token that none had +come that day to work therenigh, they being all engaged in threshing +out their sheaves beside their houses; wherefore she heard nought but +crickets and saw the Arno, which latter sight, provoking in her desire +of its waters, abated not her thirst, but rather increased it. In +several places also she saw thickets and shady places and houses here +and there, which were all alike to her an anguish for desire of them. +What more shall we say of the ill-starred lady? The sun overhead and +the heat of the platform underfoot and the stings of the flies and +gads on every side had so entreated her that, whereas with her +whiteness she had overcome the darkness of the foregoing night, she +was presently grown red as ruddle,<a name="FNanchor_391_393" id="FNanchor_391_393"></a><a href="#Footnote_391_393" class="fnanchor">[391]</a> and all bescabbed as she was +with blood, had seemed to whoso saw her the foulest thing in the +world.</p> + +<p>As she abode on this wise, without aught of hope or counsel,<a name="FNanchor_392_394" id="FNanchor_392_394"></a><a href="#Footnote_392_394" class="fnanchor">[392]</a> +expecting death more than otherwhat, it being now past half none, the +scholar, arising from sleep and remembering him of his mistress, +returned to the tower, to see what was come of her, and sent his +servant, who was yet fasting, to eat. The lady, hearing him, came, all +weak and anguishful as she was for the grievous annoy she had +suffered, overagainst the trap-door and seating herself there, began, +weeping, to say, 'Indeed, Rinieri, thou hast beyond measure avenged +thyself, for, if I made thee freeze in my courtyard by night, thou +hast made me roast, nay burn, on this tower by day and die of hunger +and thirst to boot; wherefore I pray thee by the One only God that +thou come up hither and since my heart suffereth me not give myself +death with mine own hands, give it me thou, for that I desire it more +than aught else, such and so great are the torments I endure. Or, an +thou wilt not do me that favour, let bring me, at the least, a cup of +water, so I may wet my mouth, whereunto my tears suffice not; so sore +is the drouth and the burning that I have therein.'</p> + +<p>The scholar knew her weakness by her voice and eke saw, in part, her +body all burnt up of the sun; wherefore and for her humble prayers +there overcame him a little compassion of her; but none the less he +answered, 'Wicked woman, thou shalt not die by my hands; nay, by thine +own shalt thou die, an thou have a mind thereto; and thou shalt have +of me as much water for the allaying of thy heat as I had fire of thee +for the comforting of my cold. This much I sore regret that, whereas +it behoved me heal the infirmity of my cold with the heat of stinking +dung, that of thy heat will be healed with the coolth of odoriferous +rose-water; and whereas I was like to lose both limbs and life, thou, +flayed by this heat, wilt abide fair none otherwise than doth the +snake, casting its old skin.' 'Alack, wretch that I am,' cried the +lady, 'God give beauties on such wise acquired to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_401" id="Page_401"></a></span> those who wish me +ill! But thou, that are more cruel than any wild beast, how couldst +thou have the heart to torture me after this fashion? What more could +I expect from thee or any other, if I had done all thy kinsfolk to +death with the cruellest torments? Certes, meknoweth not what greater +cruelty could be wreaked upon a traitor who had brought a whole city +to slaughter than that whereto thou hast exposed me in causing me to +be roasted of the sun and devoured of the flies and withal denying me +a cup of water, whenas to murderers condemned of justice is +oftentimes, as they go to their death, given to drink of wine, so but +they ask it. Nay, since I see thee abide firm in thy savage cruelty +and that my sufferance availeth not anywise to move thee, I will +resign myself with patience to receive death, so God, whom I beseech +to look with equitable eyes upon this thy dealing, may have mercy upon +my soul.'</p> + +<p>So saying, she dragged herself painfully to the midward of the +platform, despairing to escape alive from so fierce a heat; and not +once, but a thousand times, over and above her other torments, she +thought to swoon for thirst, still weeping and bemoaning her illhap. +However, it being now vespers and it seeming to the scholar he had +done enough, he caused his servant take up the unhappy lady's clothes +and wrap them in his cloak; then, betaking himself to her house, he +found her maid seated before the door, sad and disconsolate and +unknowing what to do, and said to her, 'Good woman, what is come of +thy mistress?' 'Sir,' replied she, 'I know not. I thought to find her +this morning in the bed whither meseemed I saw her betake herself +yesternight; but I can find her neither there nor otherwhere and know +not what is come of her; wherefore I suffer the utmost concern. But +you, sir, can you not tell me aught of her?' Quoth he, 'Would I had +had thee together with her whereas I have had her, so I might have +punished thee of thy default, like as I have punished her for hers! +But assuredly thou shalt not escape from my hands, ere I have so paid +thee for thy dealings that thou shalt never more make mock of any man, +without remembering thee of me.' Then to his servant, 'Give her the +clothes,' quoth he, 'and bid her go to her mistress, an she will.' The +man did his bidding and gave the clothes to the maid, who, knowing +them and hearing what Rinieri said, was sore afraid lest they should +have slain her mistress and scarce refrained from crying out; then, +the scholar being done, she set out with the clothes for the tower, +weeping the while.</p> + +<p>Now it chanced that one of the lady's husbandmen had that day lost two +of his swine and going in search of them, came, a little after the +scholar's departure, to the tower. As he went spying about everywhere +if he should see his hogs, he heard the piteous lamentation made of +the miserable lady and climbing up as most he might, cried out, 'Who +maketh moan there aloft?' The lady knew her husbandman's voice and +calling him by name, said to him, 'For God's sake, fetch me my maid +and contrive so she may come up hither to me.' Whereupon quoth the +man, recognizing her, 'Alack, madam, who hath brought you up yonder? +Your maid hath gone seeking you all day; but who had ever<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_402" id="Page_402"></a></span> thought you +could be here?' Then, taking the ladder-poles, he set them up in their +place and addressed himself to bind the cross-staves thereto with +withy bands.<a name="FNanchor_393_395" id="FNanchor_393_395"></a><a href="#Footnote_393_395" class="fnanchor">[393]</a> Meanwhile, up came the maid, who no sooner entered +the tower than, unable any longer to hold her tongue, she fell to +crying out, buffeting herself the while with her hands, 'Alack, sweet +my lady, where are you?' The lady, hearing her, answered as loudliest +she might, 'O sister mine, I am here aloft. Weep not, but fetch me my +clothes quickly.' When the maid heard her speak, she was in a manner +all recomforted and with the husbandman's aid, mounting the ladder, +which was now well nigh repaired, reached the sollar, where, whenas +she saw her lady lying naked on the ground, all forspent and wan, more +as she were a half-burnt log than a human being, she thrust her nails +into her own face and fell a-weeping over her, no otherwise than as +she had been dead.</p> + +<p>The lady besought her for God's sake be silent and help her dress +herself, and learning from her that none knew where she had been save +those who had carried her the clothes and the husbandman there +present, was somewhat comforted and prayed them for God's sake never +to say aught of the matter to any one. Then, after much parley, the +husbandman, taking the lady in his arms, for that she could not walk, +brought her safely without the tower; but the unlucky maid, who had +remained behind, descending less circumspectly, made a slip of the +foot and falling from the ladder to the ground, broke her thigh, +whereupon she fell a-roaring for the pain, that it seemed a lion. The +husbandman, setting the lady down on a plot of grass, went to see what +ailed the maid and finding her with her thigh broken, carried her also +to the grass-plat and laid her beside her mistress, who, seeing this +befallen in addition to her other troubles and that she had broken her +thigh by whom she looked to have been succoured more than by any else, +was beyond measure woebegone and fell a-weeping afresh and so +piteously that not only could the husbandman not avail to comfort her, +but himself fell a-weeping like wise. But presently, the sun being now +low, he repaired, at the instance of the disconsolate lady, lest the +night should overtake them there, to his own house, and there called +his wife and two brothers of his, who returned to the tower with a +plank and setting the maid thereon, carried her home, whilst he +himself, having comforted the lady with a little cold water and kind +words, took her up in his arms and brought her to her own chamber.</p> + +<p>His wife gave her a wine-sop to eat and after, undressing her, put her +to bed; and they contrived that night to have her and her maid carried +to Florence. There, the lady, who had shifts and devices great plenty, +framed a story of her fashion, altogether out of conformity with that +which had passed, and gave her brothers and sisters and every one else +to believe that this had befallen herself and her maid by dint<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_403" id="Page_403"></a></span> of +diabolical bewitchments. Physicians were quickly at hand, who, not +without putting her to very great anguish and vexation, recovered the +lady of a sore fever, after she had once and again left her skin +sticking to the sheets, and on like wise healed the maid of her broken +thigh. Wherefore, forgetting her lover, from that time forth she +discreetly forbore both from making mock of others and from loving, +whilst the scholar, hearing that the maid had broken her thigh, held +himself fully avenged and passed on, content, without saying otherwhat +thereof. Thus, then, did it befall the foolish young lady of her +pranks, for that she thought to fool it with a scholar as she would +have done with another, unknowing that scholars,—I will not say all, +but the most part of them,—know where the devil keepeth his tail. +Wherefore, ladies, beware of making mock of folk, and especially of +scholars."</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="THE_EIGHTH_STORY8" id="THE_EIGHTH_STORY8"></a>THE EIGHTH STORY</h2> + +<div class="sidenote">Day the Eighth</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="hang">TWO MEN CONSORTING TOGETHER, ONE LIETH WITH THE WIFE OF HIS +COMRADE, WHO, BECOMING AWARE THEREOF, DOTH WITH HER ON SUCH +WISE THAT THE OTHER IS SHUT UP IN A CHEST, UPON WHICH HE +LIETH WITH HIS WIFE, HE BEING INSIDE THE WHILE</p></div> + + +<p><br /><span class="smcap">Elena's</span> troubles had been irksome and grievous to the ladies to hear; +natheless, for that they deemed them in part justly befallen her, they +passed them over with more moderate compassion, albeit they held the +scholar to have been terribly stern and obdurate, nay, cruel. But, +Pampinea being now come to the end of her story, the queen charged +Fiammetta follow on, who, nothing loath to obey, said, "Charming +ladies, for that meseemeth the severity of the offended scholar hath +somedele distressed you, I deem it well to solace your ruffled spirits +with somewhat more diverting; wherefore I purpose to tell you a little +story of a young man who received an injury in a milder spirit and +avenged it after a more moderate fashion, by which you may understand +that, whenas a man goeth about to avenge an injury suffered, it should +suffice him to give as good as he hath gotten, without seeking to do +hurt overpassing the behoof of the feud.</p> + +<p>You must know, then, that there were once in Siena, as I have +understood aforetime, two young men in easy enough case and of good +city families, whereof one was named Spinelloccio Tanena and the other +Zeppa di Mino, and they were next-door neighbours in Camollia.<a name="FNanchor_394_396" id="FNanchor_394_396"></a><a href="#Footnote_394_396" class="fnanchor">[394]</a> +These two young men still companied together and loved each other, to +all appearance, as they had been brothers, or better; and each of them +had a very fair wife. It chanced that Spinelloccio, by dint of much +frequenting Zeppa's house, both when the latter was at home and when +he was abroad, grew so private with his wife that he ended by lying +with her, and on<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_404" id="Page_404"></a></span> this wise they abode a pretty while, before any +became aware thereof. However, at last, one day, Zeppa being at home, +unknown to his wife, Spinelloccio came to call him and the lady said +that he was abroad; whereupon the other came straightway up into the +house and finding her in the saloon and seeing none else there, he +took her in his arms and fell to kissing her and she him. Zeppa, who +saw this, made no sign, but abode hidden to see in what the game +should result and presently saw his wife and Spinelloccio betake +themselves, thus embraced, to a chamber and there lock themselves in; +whereat he was sore angered. But, knowing that his injury would not +become less for making an outcry nor for otherwhat, nay, that shame +would but wax therefor, he set himself to think what revenge he should +take thereof, so his soul might abide content, without the thing being +known all about, and himseeming, after long consideration, he had +found the means, he abode hidden so long as Spinelloccio remained with +his wife.</p> + +<p>As soon as the other was gone away, he entered the chamber and there +finding the lady, who had not yet made an end of adjusting her +head-veils, which Spinelloccio had plucked down in dallying with her, +said to her, 'Wife, what dost thou?' Quoth she, 'Seest thou not?' And +Zeppa answered, 'Ay, indeed, I have seen more than I could wish.' So +saying, he taxed her with that which had passed and she, in sore +affright, confessed to him, after much parley, that which she could +not aptly deny of her familiarity with Spinelloccio. Then she began to +crave him pardon, weeping, and Zeppa said to her, 'Harkye, wife, thou +hast done ill, and if thou wilt have me pardon it to thee, bethink +thee punctually to do that which I shall enjoin thee, which is this; I +will have thee bid Spinelloccio find an occasion to part company with +me to-morrow morning, towards tierce, and come hither to thee. When he +is here I will come back and so soon as thou hearest me, do thou make +him enter this chest here and lock him therein. Then, when thou shalt +have done this, I will tell thee what else thou shalt do; and have +thou no fear of doing this, for that I promise thee I will do him no +manner of hurt.' The lady, to satisfy him, promised to do his bidding, +and so she did.</p> + +<p>The morrow come and Zeppa and Spinelloccio being together towards +tierce, the latter, who had promised the lady to be with her at that +hour, said to the former, 'I am to dine this morning with a friend, +whom I would not keep waiting for me; wherefore God be with thee.' +Quoth Zeppa, 'It is not dinner-time yet awhile'; but Spinelloccio +answered, 'No matter; I am to speak with him also of an affair of +mine, so that needs must I be there betimes.' Accordingly, taking +leave of him, he fetched a compass and making for Zeppa's house, +entered a chamber with the latter's wife. He had not been there long +ere Zeppa returned, whom when the lady heard, feigning to be mightily +affrighted, she made him take refuge in the chest, as her husband had +bidden her, and locking him therein, went forth of the chamber. Zeppa, +coming up, said, 'Wife, is it dinner-time?' 'Ay,' answered she, +'forthright.' Quoth he, 'Spinelloccio is gone to dine this morning +with a friend of his and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_405" id="Page_405"></a></span> hath left his wife alone; get thee to the +window and call her and bid her come dine with us.' The lady, fearing +for herself and grown therefor mighty obedient, did as he bade her and +Spinelloccio's wife, being much pressed by her and hearing that her +own husband was to dine abroad, came hither.</p> + +<p>Zeppa made much of her and whispering his wife begone into the +kitchen, took her familiarly by the hand and carried her into the +chamber, wherein no sooner were they come than, turning back, he +locked the door within. When the lady saw him do this, she said, +'Alack, Zeppa, what meaneth this? Have you then brought me hither for +this? Is this the love you bear Spinelloccio and the loyal +companionship you practise towards him?' Whereupon quoth Zeppa, +drawing near to the chest wherein was her husband locked up and +holding her fast, 'Madam, ere thou complainest, hearken to that which +I have to say to thee. I have loved and love Spinelloccio as a +brother, and yesterday, albeit he knoweth it not, I found that the +trust I had in him was come to this, that he lieth with my wife even +as with thee. Now, for that I love him, I purpose not to take +vengeance of him, save on such wise as the offence hath been; he hath +had my wife and I mean to have thee. An thou wilt not, needs must I +take him here and for that I mean not to let this affront go +unpunished, I will play him such a turn that neither thou nor he shall +ever again be glad.' The lady, hearing this and believing what Zeppa +said, after many affirmations made her of him, replied, 'Zeppa mine, +since this vengeance is to fall on me, I am content, so but thou wilt +contrive, notwithstanding what we are to do, that I may abide at peace +with thy wife, even as I intend to abide with her, notwithstanding +this that she hath done to me.' 'Assuredly,' rejoined Zeppa, 'I will +do it; and to boot, I will give thee a precious and fine jewel as none +other thou hast.' So saying, he embraced her; then, laying her flat on +the chest, there to his heart's content, he solaced himself with her, +and she with him.</p> + +<p>Spinelloccio, hearing from within the chest all that Zeppa said his +wife's answer and feeling the morrisdance<a name="FNanchor_395_397" id="FNanchor_395_397"></a><a href="#Footnote_395_397" class="fnanchor">[395]</a> that was toward over +his head, was at first so sore despited that himseemed he should die; +and but that he stood in fear of Zeppa, he had rated his wife finely, +shut up as he was. However, bethinking himself that the offence had +begun with him and that Zeppa was in his right to do as he did and had +indeed borne himself towards him humanely and like a comrade, he +presently resolved in himself to be, an he would, more than ever his +friend. Zeppa, having been with the lady so long as it pleased him, +dismounted from the chest, and she asking for the promised jewel, he +opened the chamber-door and called his wife, who said nought else than +'Madam, you have given me a loaf for my bannock'; and this she said +laughing. To her quoth Zeppa, 'Open this chest.' Accordingly she +opened it and therein Zeppa showed the lady her husband, saying, 'Here +is the jewel I promised thee.' It were hard to say which was the more +abashed of the twain, Spinelloccio, seeing Zeppa and knowing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_406" id="Page_406"></a></span> that he +knew what he had done, or his wife, seeing her husband and knowing +that he had both heard and felt that which she had done over his head. +But Spinelloccio, coming forth of the chest, said, without more +parley, 'Zeppa, we are quits; wherefore it is well, as thou saidst but +now to my wife, that we be still friends as we were, and that, since +there is nothing unshared between us two but our wives, we have these +also in common.' Zeppa was content and they all four dined together in +the utmost possible harmony; and thenceforward each of the two ladies +had two husbands and each of the latter two wives, without ever having +any strife or grudge anent the matter."</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="THE_NINTH_STORY8" id="THE_NINTH_STORY8"></a>THE NINTH STORY</h2> + +<div class="sidenote">Day the Eighth</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="hang">MASTER SIMONE THE PHYSICIAN, HAVING BEEN INDUCED BY BRUNO +AND BUFFALMACCO TO REPAIR TO A CERTAIN PLACE BY NIGHT, THERE +TO BE MADE A MEMBER OF A COMPANY THAT GOETH A-ROVING, IS +CAST BY BUFFALMACCO INTO A TRENCH FULL OF ORDURE AND THERE +LEFT</p></div> + + +<p><br /><span class="smcap">After</span> the ladies had chatted awhile over the community of wives +practised by the two Siennese, the queen, with whom alone it rested to +tell, so she would not do Dioneo an unright, began on this wise: +"Right well, lovesome ladies, did Spinelloccio deserve the cheat put +upon him by Zeppa; wherefore meseemeth he is not severely to be blamed +(as Pampinea sought awhile ago to show), who putteth a cheat on those +who go seeking it or deserve it. Now Spinelloccio deserved it, and I +mean to tell you of one who went seeking it for himself. Those who +tricked him, I hold not to be blameworthy, but rather commendable, and +he to whom it was done was a physician, who, having set out for +Bologna a sheepshead, returned to Florence all covered with +miniver.<a name="FNanchor_396_398" id="FNanchor_396_398"></a><a href="#Footnote_396_398" class="fnanchor">[396]</a></p> + +<p>As we see daily, our townsmen return hither from Bologna, this a +judge, that a physician and a third a notary, tricked out with robes +long and large and scarlets and minivers and store of other fine +paraphernalia, and make a mighty brave show, to which how far the +effects conform we may still see all day long. Among the rest a +certain Master Simone da Villa, richer in inherited goods than in +learning, returned hither, no great while since, a doctor of medicine, +according to his own account, clad all in scarlet<a name="FNanchor_397_399" id="FNanchor_397_399"></a><a href="#Footnote_397_399" class="fnanchor">[397]</a> and with a +great miniver hood, and took a house in the street which we call +nowadays the Via del Cocomero. This said Master Simone, being thus +newly returned, as hath been said, had, amongst other his notable +customs, a trick of asking whosoever was with him who was no matter +what man he saw pass in the street, and as if of the doings and +fashions of men he should compound the medicines he gave his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_407" id="Page_407"></a></span> +patients, he took note of all and laid them all up in his memory. +Amongst others on whom it occurred to him more particularly to cast +his eyes were two painters of whom it hath already twice to-day been +discoursed, namely, Bruno and Buffalmacco, who were neighbours of his +and still went in company. Himseeming they recked less of the world +and lived more merrily than other folk, as was indeed the case, he +questioned divers persons of their condition and hearing from all that +they were poor men and painters, he took it into his head that it +might not be they lived so blithely of their poverty, but concluded, +for that he had heard they were shrewd fellows, that they must needs +derive very great profits from some source unknown to the general; +wherefore he was taken with a desire to clap up an acquaintance, an he +might, with them both, or at least with one of them, and succeeded in +making friends with Bruno. The latter, perceiving, after he had been +with him a few times, that the physician was a very jackass, began to +give himself the finest time in the world with him and to be hugely +diverted with his extraordinary humours, whilst Master Simone in like +manner took a marvellous delight in his company.</p> + +<p>After a while, having sundry times bidden him to dinner and thinking +himself entitled in consequence to discourse familiarly with him, he +discovered to him the wonderment that he felt at him and Buffalmacco, +how, being poor men, they lived so merrily, and besought him to +apprise him how they did. Bruno, hearing this talk from the physician +and himseeing the question was one of his wonted witless +impertinences, fell a-laughing in his sleeve, and bethinking himself +to answer him according as his folly deserved, said, 'Doctor, there +are not many whom I would tell how we do; but you I shall not scruple +to tell, for that you are a friend and I know you will not repeat it +to any. It is true we live, my friend and I, as merrily and as well as +it appeareth to you, nay, more so, albeit neither of our craft nor of +revenues we derive from any possessions might we have enough to pay +for the very water we consume. Yet I would not, for all that, have you +think that we go steal; nay, we go a-roving, and thence, without hurt +unto any, we get us all to which we have a mind or for which we have +occasion; hence the merry life you see us lead.'</p> + +<p>The physician, hearing this and believing it, without knowing what it +was, marvelled exceedingly and forthright conceiving an ardent desire +to know what manner of thing this going a-roving might be, besought +him very urgently to tell him, affirming that he would assuredly never +discover it to any. 'Alack, doctor,' cried Bruno, 'what is this you +ask me? This you would know is too great a secret and a thing to undo +me and drive me from the world, nay, to bring me into the mouth of the +Lucifer of San Gallo,<a name="FNanchor_398_400" id="FNanchor_398_400"></a><a href="#Footnote_398_400" class="fnanchor">[398]</a> should any come to know it. But so great is +the love I bear your right worshipful pumpkinheadship of Legnaja<a name="FNanchor_399_401" id="FNanchor_399_401"></a><a href="#Footnote_399_401" class="fnanchor">[399]</a> +and the confidence I have in you that I can<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_408" id="Page_408"></a></span> deny you nothing you +would have; wherefore I will tell it you, on condition that you swear +to me by the cross at Montesone, never, as you have promised, to tell +it to any one.</p> + +<p>The physician declared that he would never repeat what he should tell +him, and Bruno said, 'You must know, then, honey doctor mine, that not +long since there was in this city a great master in necromancy, who +was called Michael Scott, for that he was of Scotland, and who +received the greatest hospitality from many gentlemen, of whom few are +nowadays alive; wherefore, being minded to depart hence, he left them, +at their instant prayers, two of his ablest disciples, whom he +enjoined still to hold themselves in readiness to satisfy every wish +of the gentlemen who had so worshipfully entertained him. These two, +then, freely served the aforesaid gentlemen in certain amours of +theirs and other small matters, and afterward, the city and the usages +of the folk pleasing them, they determined to abide there always. +Accordingly, they contracted great and strait friendship with certain +of the townfolk, regarding not who they were, whether gentle or +simple, rich or poor, but solely if they were men comfortable to their +own usances; and to pleasure these who were thus become their friends, +they founded a company of maybe five-and-twenty men, who should +foregather twice at the least in the month in some place appointed of +them, where being assembled, each should tell them his desire, which +they would forthright accomplish unto him for that night. Buffalmacco +and I, having an especial friendship and intimacy with these two, were +put of them on the roll of the aforesaid company and are still +thereof. And I may tell you that, what time it chanceth that we +assemble together, it is a marvellous thing to see the hangings about +the saloon where we eat and the tables spread on royal wise and the +multitude of noble and goodly servants, as well female as male, at the +pleasure of each one who is of the company, and the basons and ewers +and flagons and goblets and the vessels of gold and silver, wherein we +eat and drink, more by token of the many and various viands that are +set before us, each in its season, according to that which each one +desireth. I could never avail to set out to you what and how many are +the sweet sounds of innumerable instruments and the songs full of +melody that are heard there; nor might I tell you how much wax is +burned at these suppers nor what and how many are the confections that +are consumed there nor how costly are the wines that are drunken. But +I would not have you believe, good saltless pumpkinhead mine, that we +abide there in this habit and with these clothes that you see us wear +every day; nay, there is none of us of so little account but would +seem to you an emperor, so richly are we adorned with vestments of +price and fine things. But, over all the other pleasures that be there +is that of fair ladies, who, so one but will it, are incontinent +brought thither from the four quarters of the world. There might you +see the Sovereign Lady of the Rascal-Roughs, the Queen of the Basques, +the wife of the Soldan, the Empress of the Usbeg Tartars, the +Driggledraggletail of Norroway, the Moll-a-green of Flapdoodleland and +the Madkate of Woolgathergreen. But why need I enumer<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_409" id="Page_409"></a></span>ate them to you? +There be all the queens in the world, even, I may say, to the +Sirreverence of Prester John, who hath his horns amiddleward his arse; +see you now? There, after we have drunken and eaten confections and +walked a dance or two, each lady betaketh herself to her bedchamber +with him at whose instance she hath been brought thither. And you must +know that these bedchambers are a very paradise to behold, so goodly +they are; ay, and they are no less odoriferous than are the +spice-boxes of your shop, whenas you let bray cummin-seed, and therein +are beds that would seem to you goodlier than that of the Doge of +Venice, and in these they betake themselves to rest. Marry, what a +working of the treadles, what a hauling-to of the battens to make the +cloth close, these weaveresses keep up, I will e'en leave you to +imagine; but of those who fare best, to my seeming, are Buffalmacco +and myself, for that he most times letteth come thither the Queen of +France for himself, whilst I send for her of England, the which are +two of the fairest ladies in the world, and we have known so to do +that they have none other eye in their head than us.<a name="FNanchor_400_402" id="FNanchor_400_402"></a><a href="#Footnote_400_402" class="fnanchor">[400]</a> Wherefore +you may judge for yourself if we can and should live and go more +merrily than other men, seeing we have the love of two such queens, +more by token that, whenas we would have a thousand or two thousand +florins of them, we get them not. This, then, we commonly style going +a-roving, for that, like as the rovers take every man's good, even so +do we, save that we are in this much different from them that they +never restore that which they take, whereas we return it again, whenas +we have used it. Now, worthy doctor mine, you have heard what it is we +call going a-roving; but how strictly this requireth to be kept secret +you can see for yourself, and therefore I say no more to you nor pray +you thereof.'</p> + +<p>The physician, whose science reached no farther belike than the curing +children of the scald-head, gave as much credit to Bruno's story as +had been due to the most manifest truth and was inflamed with as great +desire to be received into that company as might be kindled in any for +the most desirable thing in the world; wherefore he made answer to him +that assuredly it was no marvel if they went merry and hardly +constrained himself to defer requesting him to bring him to be there +until such time as, having done him further hospitality, he might with +more confidence proffer his request to him. Accordingly, reserving +this unto a more favourable season, he proceeded to keep straiter +usance with Bruno, having him morning and evening to eat with him and +showing him an inordinate affection; and indeed so great and so +constant was this their commerce that it seemed as if the physician +could not nor knew how to live without the painter. The latter, +finding himself in good case, so he might not appear ungrateful for +the hospitality shown him, had painted Master Simone a picture of Lent +in his saloon, besides an Agnus Dei at the entering in of his chamber +and a chamber-pot over the street-door, so those who had occasion for +his advice might know how to distinguish him<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_410" id="Page_410"></a></span> from the others; and in +a little gallery he had, he had depictured him the battle of the rats +and the cats, which appeared to the physician a very fine thing. +Moreover, he said whiles to him, whenas he had not supper with him +overnight, 'I was at the society yesternight and being a trifle tired +of the Queen of England, I caused fetch me the Dolladoxy of the Grand +Cham of Tartary.' 'What meaneth Dolladoxy?' asked Master Simone. 'I do +not understand these names.' 'Marry, doctor mine,' replied Bruno, 'I +marvel not thereat, for I have right well heard that Porcograsso and +Vannacena<a name="FNanchor_401_403" id="FNanchor_401_403"></a><a href="#Footnote_401_403" class="fnanchor">[401]</a> say nought thereof.' Quoth the physician. 'Thou meanest +Ipocrasso and Avicenna.' 'I' faith,' answered Bruno, 'I know not; I +understand your names as ill as you do mine; but Dolladoxy in the +Grand Cham's lingo meaneth as much as to say Empress in our tongue. +Egad, you would think her a plaguy fine woman! I dare well say she +would make you forget your drugs and your clysters and all your +plasters.'</p> + +<p>On this wise he bespoke him at one time and another, to enkindle him +the more, till one night, what while it chanced my lord doctor held +the light to Bruno, who was in act to paint the battle of the rats and +the cats, the former, himseeming he had now well taken him with his +hospitalities, determined to open his mind to him, and accordingly, +they being alone together, he said to him, 'God knoweth, Bruno, there +is no one alive for whom I would do everything as I would for thee; +indeed, shouldst thou bid me go hence to Peretola, methinketh it would +take little to make me go thither; wherefore I would not have thee +marvel if I require thee of somewhat familiarly and with confidence. +As thou knowest, it is no great while since thou bespokest me of the +fashions of your merry company, wherefore so great a longing hath +taken me to be one of you that never did I desire aught so much. Nor +is this my desire without cause, as thou shalt see, if ever it chance +that I be of your company; for I give thee leave to make mock of me an +I cause not come thither the finest serving-wench thou ever setst eyes +on. I saw her but last year at Cacavincigli and wish her all my +weal;<a name="FNanchor_402_404" id="FNanchor_402_404"></a><a href="#Footnote_402_404" class="fnanchor">[402]</a> and by the body of Christ, I had e'en given her half a +score Bolognese groats, so she would but have consented to me; but she +would not. Wherefore, as most I may, I prithee teach me what I must do +to avail to be of your company and do thou also do and contrive so I +may be thereof. Indeed, you will have in me a good and loyal comrade, +ay, and a worshipful. Thou seest, to begin with, what a fine man I am +and how well I am set up on my legs. Ay, and I have a face as it were +a rose, more by token that I am a doctor of medicine, such as I +believe you have none among you. Moreover, I know many fine things and +goodly canzonets; marry, I will sing you one.' And incontinent he fell +a-singing.</p> + +<p>Bruno had so great a mind to laugh that he was like to burst; however +he contained himself and the physician,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_411" id="Page_411"></a></span> having made an end of his +song, said, 'How deemedst thou thereof?' 'Certes,' answered Bruno, +'there's no Jew's harp but would lose with you, so archigothically do +you caterwarble it.' Quoth Master Simone, 'I tell thee thou wouldst +never have believed it, hadst thou not heard me.' 'Certes,' replied +Bruno, 'you say sooth!' and the physician went on, 'I know store of +others; but let that be for the present. Such as thou seest me, my +father was a gentleman, albeit he abode in the country, and I myself +come by my mother of the Vallecchio family. Moreover, as thou mayst +have seen, I have the finest books and gowns of any physician in +Florence. Cock's faith, I have a gown that stood me, all reckoned, in +nigh upon an hundred pounds of doits, more than half a score years +ago; wherefore I pray thee as most I may, to bring me to be of your +company, and by Cock's faith, an thou do it, thou mayst be as ill as +thou wilt, for I will never take a farthing of thee for my services.'</p> + +<p>Bruno, hearing this and the physician seeming to him a greater +numskull than ever, said, 'Doctor, hold the light a thought more this +way and take patience till I have made these rats their tails, and +after I will answer you.' The tails being finished, Bruno made believe +that the physician's request was exceeding irksome to him and said, +'Doctor mine, these be great things you would do for me and I +acknowledge it; nevertheless, that which you ask of me, little as it +may be for the greatness of your brain, is yet to me a very grave +matter, nor know I any one in the world for whom, it being in my +power, I would do it, an I did it not for you, both because I love you +as it behoveth and on account of your words, which are seasoned with +so much wit that they would draw the straps out of a pair of boots, +much more me from my purpose; for the more I consort with you, the +wiser you appear to me. And I may tell you this, to boot, that, though +I had none other reason, yet do I wish you well, for that I see you +enamoured of so fair a creature as is she of whom you speak. But this +much I will say to you; I have no such power in this matter as you +suppose and cannot therefore do for you that which were behoving; +however, an you will promise me, upon your solemn and surbated<a name="FNanchor_403_405" id="FNanchor_403_405"></a><a href="#Footnote_403_405" class="fnanchor">[403]</a> +faith, to keep it me secret, I will tell you the means you must use +and meseemeth certain that, with such fine books and other gear as you +tell me you have, you will gain your end.'</p> + +<p>Quoth the doctor, 'Say on in all assurance; I see thou art not yet +well acquainted with me and knowest not how I can keep a secret. There +be few things indeed that Messer Guasparruolo da Saliceto did, whenas +he was judge of the Provostry at Forlimpopoli, but he sent to tell me, +for that he found me so good a secret-keeper.<a name="FNanchor_404_406" id="FNanchor_404_406"></a><a href="#Footnote_404_406" class="fnanchor">[404]</a> And wilt thou judge +an I say sooth? I was the first man whom he told that he was to marry +Bergamina: seest thou now?' 'Marry, then,' rejoined Bruno, 'all is +well; if such a man trusted in you, I may well do so. The course you +must take is on this wise. You must know<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_412" id="Page_412"></a></span> that we still have to this +our company a captain and two counsellors, who are changed from six +months to six months, and without fail, at the first of the month, +Buffalmacco will be captain and I shall be counsellor; for so it is +settled. Now whoso is captain can do much by way of procuring +whomsoever he will to be admitted into the company; wherefore +meseemeth you should seek, inasmuch as you may, to gain Buffalmacco's +friendship and do him honour. He is a man, seeing you so wise, to fall +in love with you incontinent, and whenas with your wit and with these +fine things you have you shall have somedele ingratiated yourself with +him, you can make your request to him; he will not know how to say you +nay. I have already bespoken him of you and he wisheth you all the +weal in the world; and whenas you shall have done this, leave me do +with him.' Quoth the physician, 'That which thou counsellest liketh me +well. Indeed, an he be a man who delighteth in men of learning and +talketh but with me a little, I will engage to make him go still +seeking my company, for that, as for wit, I have so much thereof that +I could stock a city withal and yet abide exceeding wise.'</p> + +<p>This being settled, Bruno imparted the whole matter to Buffalmacco, +wherefore it seemed to the latter a thousand years till they should +come to do that which this arch-zany went seeking. The physician, who +longed beyond measure to go a-roving, rested not till he made friends +with Buffalmacco, which he easily succeeded in doing, and therewithal +he fell to giving him, and Bruno with him, the finest suppers and +dinners in the world. The two painters, like the accommodating +gentlemen they were, were nothing loath to engage with him and having +once tasted the excellent wines and fat capons and other good things +galore, with which he plied them, stuck very close to him and ended by +quartering themselves upon him, without awaiting overmuch invitation, +still declaring that they would not do this for another. Presently, +whenas it seemed to him time, the physician made the same request to +Buffalmacco as he had made Bruno aforetime; whereupon Buffalmacco +feigned himself sore chagrined and made a great outcry against Bruno, +saying, 'I vow to the High God of Pasignano that I can scarce withhold +myself from giving thee such a clout over the head as should cause thy +nose drop to thy heels, traitor that thou art; for none other than +thou hath discovered these matters to the doctor.'</p> + +<p>Master Simone did his utmost to excuse Bruno, saying and swearing that +he had learned the thing from another quarter, and after many of his +wise words, he succeeded in pacifying Buffalmacco; whereupon the +latter turned to him and said, 'Doctor mine, it is very evident that +you have been at Bologna and have brought back a close mouth to these +parts; and I tell you moreover that you have not learnt your A B C on +the apple as many blockheads are fain to do; nay, you have learned it +aright on the pumpkin, that is so long;<a name="FNanchor_405_407" id="FNanchor_405_407"></a><a href="#Footnote_405_407" class="fnanchor">[405]</a> and if I mistake not, +you<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_413" id="Page_413"></a></span> were baptized on a Sunday.<a name="FNanchor_406_408" id="FNanchor_406_408"></a><a href="#Footnote_406_408" class="fnanchor">[406]</a> And albeit Bruno hath told me +that you told me that you studied medicine there, meseemeth you +studied rather to learn to catch men, the which you, with your wit and +your fine talk, know better to do than any man I ever set eyes on.' +Here the physician took the words out of his mouth and breaking in, +said to Bruno, 'What a thing it is to talk and consort with learned +men! Who would so have quickly apprehended every particular of my +intelligence as hath this worthy man? Thou didst not half so speedily +become aware of my value as he; but, at the least, that which I told +thee, whenas thou saidst to me that Buffalmacco delighted in learned +men, seemeth it to thee I have done it?' 'Ay hast thou,' replied +Bruno, 'and better.'</p> + +<p>Then said the doctor to Buffalmacco, 'Thou wouldst have told another +tale, hadst thou seen me at Bologna, where there was none, great or +small, doctor or scholar, but wished me all the weal in the world, so +well did I know to content them all with my discourse and my wit. And +what is more, I never said a word there, but I made every one laugh, +so hugely did I please them; and whenas I departed thence, they all +set up the greatest lament in the world and would all have had me +remain there; nay, to such a pass came it for that I should abide +there, that they would have left it to me alone to lecture on medicine +to as many students as were there; but I would not, for that I was +e'en minded to come hither to certain very great heritages which I +have here and which have still been in my family; and so I did.' Quoth +Bruno to Buffalmacco, 'How deemest thou? Thou believedst me not, +whenas I told it thee. By the Evangels, there is not a leach in these +parts who is versed in asses' water to compare with this one, and +assuredly thou wouldst not find another of him from here to Paris +gates. Marry, hold yourself henceforth [if you can,] from doing that +which he will.' Quoth Master Simone, 'Bruno saith sooth; but I am not +understood here. You Florentines are somewhat dull of wit; but I would +have you see me among the doctors, as I am used to be.' 'Verily, +doctor,' said Buffalmacco, 'you are far wiser than I could ever have +believed; wherefore to speak to you as it should be spoken to scholars +such as you are, I tell you, cut-and-slash fashion,<a name="FNanchor_407_409" id="FNanchor_407_409"></a><a href="#Footnote_407_409" class="fnanchor">[407]</a> I will +without fail procure you to be of our company.'</p> + +<p>After this promise the physician redoubled in his hospitalities to the +two rogues, who enjoyed themselves [at his expense,] what while they +crammed him with the greatest extravagances in the world and fooled +him to the top of his bent, promising him to give him to mistress the +Countess of Jakes,<a name="FNanchor_408_410" id="FNanchor_408_410"></a><a href="#Footnote_408_410" class="fnanchor">[408]</a>who<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_414" id="Page_414"></a></span> was the fairest creature to be found in +all the back-settlements of the human generation. The physician +enquired who this countess was, whereto quoth Buffalmacco, 'Good my +seed-pumpkin, she is a very great lady and there be few houses in the +world wherein she hath not some jurisdiction. To say nothing of +others, the Minor Friars themselves render her tribute, to the sound +of kettle-drums.<a name="FNanchor_409_411" id="FNanchor_409_411"></a><a href="#Footnote_409_411" class="fnanchor">[409]</a> And I can assure you that, whenas she goeth +abroad, she maketh herself well felt,<a name="FNanchor_410_412" id="FNanchor_410_412"></a><a href="#Footnote_410_412" class="fnanchor">[410]</a> albeit she abideth for the +most part shut up. Natheless, it is no great while since she passed by +your door, one night that she repaired to the Arno, to wash her feet +and take the air a little; but her most continual abiding-place is in +Draughthouseland.<a name="FNanchor_411_413" id="FNanchor_411_413"></a><a href="#Footnote_411_413" class="fnanchor">[411]</a> There go ofttimes about store of her serjeants, +who all in token of her supremacy, bear the staff and the plummet, and +of her barons many are everywhere to be seen, such as Sirreverence of +the Gate, Goodman Turd, Hardcake,<a name="FNanchor_412_414" id="FNanchor_412_414"></a><a href="#Footnote_412_414" class="fnanchor">[412]</a> Squitterbreech and others, who +methinketh are your familiars, albeit you call them not presently to +mind. In the soft arms, then, of this great lady, leaving be her of +Cacavincigli, we will, an expectation cheat us not, bestow you.'</p> + +<p>The physician, who had been born and bred at Bologna, understood not +their canting terms and accordingly avouched himself well pleased with +the lady in question. Not long after this talk, the painters brought +him news that he was accepted to member of the company and the day +being come before the night appointed for their assembly, he had them +both to dinner. When they had dined, he asked them what means it +behoved him take to come thither; whereupon quoth Buffalmacco, 'Look +you, doctor, it behoveth you have plenty of assurance; for that, an +you be not mighty resolute, you may chance to suffer hindrance and do +us very great hurt; and in what it behoveth you to approve yourself +very stout-hearted you shall hear. You must find means to be this +evening, at the season of the first sleep, on one of the raised tombs +which have been lately made without Santa Maria Novella, with one of +your finest gowns on your back, so you may make an honourable figure +for your first appearance before the company and also because, +according to what was told us (we were not there after) the Countess +is minded, for that you are a man of gentle birth, to make you a +Knight of the Bath at her own proper costs and charges; and there you +must wait till there cometh for you he whom we shall send. And so you +may be apprised of everything, there will come for you a black horned +beast, not overbig, which will go capering about the piazza before you +and making a great whistling and bounding, to terrify you; but, when +he seeth that you are not to be daunted, he will come up to you +quietly. Then do you, without any fear, come down from the tomb and +mount the beast, naming neither God nor the Saints; and as soon as you +are settled on his back, you must cross your hands upon your breast, +in the attitude of obeisance, and touch him no more. He will then set +off softly and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_415" id="Page_415"></a></span> bring you to us; but if you call upon God or the +Saints or show fear, I must tell you that he may chance to cast you +off or strike you into some place where you are like to stink for it; +wherefore, an your heart misgive you and unless you can make sure of +being mighty resolute, come not thither, for you would but do us a +mischief, without doing yourself any good.'<a name="FNanchor_413_415" id="FNanchor_413_415"></a><a href="#Footnote_413_415" class="fnanchor">[413]</a></p> + +<p>Quoth the physician, 'I see you know me not yet; maybe you judge of me +by my gloves and long gown. If you knew what I did aforetimes at +Bologna anights, when I went a-wenching whiles with my comrades, you +would marvel. Cock's faith, there was such and such a night when, one +of them refusing to come with us, (more by token that she was a scurvy +little baggage, no higher than my fist,) I dealt her, to begin with, +good store of cuffs, then, taking her up bodily, I dare say I carried +her a crossbowshot and wrought so that needs must she come with us. +Another time I remember me that, without any other in my company than +a serving-man of mine, I passed yonder alongside the Cemetery of the +Minor Friars, a little after the Ave Maria, albeit there had been a +woman buried there that very day, and felt no whit of fear; wherefore +misdoubt you not of this, for I am but too stout of heart and lusty. +Moreover, I tell you that, to do you credit at my coming thither, I +will don my gown of scarlet, wherein I was admitted doctor, and we +shall see if the company rejoice not at my sight and an I be not made +captain out of hand. You shall e'en see how the thing will go, once I +am there, since, without having yet set eyes on me, this countess hath +fallen so enamoured of me that she is minded to make me a Knight of +the Bath. It may be knighthood will not sit so ill on me nor shall I +be at a loss to carry it off with worship! Marry, only leave me do.' +'You say very well,' answered Buffalmacco; 'but look you leave us not +in the lurch and not come or not be found at the trysting-place, +whenas we shall send for you; and this I say for that the weather is +cold and you gentlemen doctors are very careful of yourselves +thereanent.' 'God forbid!' cried Master Simone. 'I am none of your +chilly ones. I reck not of the cold; seldom or never, whenas I rise of +a night for my bodily occasions, as a man will bytimes, do I put me on +more than my fur gown over my doublet. Wherefore I will certainly be +there.'</p> + +<p>Thereupon they took leave of him and whenas it began to grow towards +night, Master Simone contrived to make some excuse or other to his +wife and secretly got out his fine gown; then, whenas it seemed to him +time, he donned it and betook himself to Santa Maria Novella, where he +mounted one of the aforesaid tombs and huddling himself up on the +marble, for that the cold was great, he proceeded to wait the coming +of the beast. Meanwhile Buffalmacco, who was tall and robust of his +person, made shift to have one of those masks that were wont to be +used for certain games which are not held nowadays, and donning a +black fur pelisse, inside out, arrayed himself therein on such wise +that he seemed a very bear, save that his mask had a devil's<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_416" id="Page_416"></a></span> face and +was horned. Thus accoutred, he betook himself to the new Piazza of +Santa Maria, Bruno following him to see how the thing should go. As +soon as he perceived that the physician was there, he fell a-capering +and caracoling and made a terrible great blustering about the piazza, +whistling and howling and bellowing as he were possessed of the devil. +When Master Simone, who was more fearful than a woman, heard and saw +this, every hair of his body stood on end and he fell a-trembling all +over, and it was now he had liefer been at home than there. +Nevertheless, since he was e'en there, he enforced himself to take +heart, so overcome was he with desire to see the marvels whereof the +painters had told him.</p> + +<p>After Buffalmacco had raged about awhile, as hath been said, he made a +show of growing pacified and coming up to the tomb whereon was the +physician, stood stock-still. Master Simone, who was all a-tremble for +fear, knew not what to do, whether to mount or abide where he was. +However, at last, fearing that the beast should do him a mischief, an +he mounted him not, he did away the first fear with the second and +coming down from the tomb, mounted on his back, saying softly, 'God +aid me!' Then he settled himself as best he might and still trembling +in every limb, crossed his hands upon his breast, as it had been +enjoined him; whereupon Buffalmacco set off at an amble towards Santa +Maria della Scala and going on all fours, brought him hard by the +Nunnery of Ripole. In those days there were dykes in that quarter, +wherein the tillers of the neighbouring lands let empty the jakes, to +manure their fields withal; whereto whenas Buffalmacco came nigh, he +went up to the brink of one of them and taking the opportunity, laid +hold of one of the physician's legs and jerking him off his back, +pitched him clean in, head foremost. Then he fell a-snorting and +snarling and capering and raged about awhile; after which he made off +alongside Santa Maria della Scala till he came to Allhallows Fields. +There he found Bruno, who had taken to flight, for that he was unable +to restrain his laughter; and with him, after they had made merry +together at Master Simone's expense, he addressed himself to see from +afar what the bemoiled physician should do.</p> + +<p>My lord leech, finding himself in that abominable place, struggled to +arise and strove as best he might to win forth thereof; and after +falling in again and again, now here and now there, and swallowing +some drachms of the filth, he at last succeeded in making his way out +of the dyke, in the woefullest of plights, bewrayed from head to foot +and leaving his bonnet behind him. Then, having wiped himself as best +he might with his hands and knowing not what other course to take, he +returned home and knocked till it was opened to him. Hardly was he +entered, stinking as he did, and the door shut again ere up came Bruno +and Buffalmacco, to hear how he should be received of his wife, and +standing hearkening, they heard the lady give him the foulest rating +was ever given poor devil, saying, 'Good lack, what a pickle thou art +in! Thou hast been gallanting it to some other woman and must needs +seek to cut a figure with thy gown of scarlet! What, was not I enough +for thee? Why, man alive, I could suffice to a whole people, let alone +thee. Would God they had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_417" id="Page_417"></a></span> choked thee, like as they cast thee whereas +thou deservedst to be thrown! Here's a fine physician for you, to have +a wife of his own and go a-gadding anights after other folk's +womankind!' And with these and many other words of the same fashion +she gave not over tormenting him till midnight, what while the +physician let wash himself from head to foot.</p> + +<p>Next morning up came Bruno and Buffalmacco, who had painted all their +flesh under their clothes with livid blotches, such as beatings use to +make, and entering the physician's house, found him already arisen. +Accordingly they went in to him and found the whole place full of +stench, for that they had not yet been able so to clean everything +that it should not stink there. Master Simone, seeing them enter, came +to meet them and bade God give them good day; whereto the two rogues, +as they had agreed beforehand, replied with an angry air, saying, +'That say we not to you; nay, rather, we pray God give you so many ill +years that you may die a dog's death, as the most disloyal man and the +vilest traitor alive; for it was no thanks to you that, whereas we +studied to do you pleasure and worship, we were not slain like dogs. +As it is, thanks to your disloyalty, we have gotten so many buffets +this past night that an ass would go to Rome for less, without +reckoning that we have gone in danger of being expelled the company +into which we had taken order for having you received. An you believe +us not, look at our bodies and see how they have fared.' Then, opening +their clothes in front, they showed him, by an uncertain light, their +breasts all painted and covered them up again in haste.</p> + +<p>The physician would have excused himself and told of his mishaps and +how and where he had been cast; but Buffalmacco said, 'Would he had +thrown you off the bridge into the Arno! Why did you call on God and +the Saints? Were you not forewarned of this?' 'By God His faith,' +replied the physician, 'I did it not.' 'How?' cried Buffalmacco. 'You +did not call on them? Egad, you did it again and again; for our +messenger told us that you shook like a reed and knew not where you +were. Marry, for the nonce you have befooled us finely; but never +again shall any one serve us thus, and we will yet do you such honour +thereof as you merit.' The physician fell to craving pardon and +conjuring them for God's sake not to dishonour him and studied to +appease them with the best words he could command. And if aforetime he +had entreated them with honour, from that time forth he honoured them +yet more and made much of them, entertaining them with banquets and +otherwhat, for fear lest they should publish his shame. Thus, then, as +you have heard, is sense taught to whoso hath learned no great store +thereof at Bologna."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_418" id="Page_418"></a></span></p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="THE_TENTH_STORY8" id="THE_TENTH_STORY8"></a>THE TENTH STORY</h2> + +<div class="sidenote">Day the Eighth</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="hang">A CERTAIN WOMAN OF SICILY ARTFULLY DESPOILETH A MERCHANT OF +THAT WHICH HE HAD BROUGHT TO PALERMO; BUT HE, MAKING BELIEVE +TO HAVE RETURNED THITHER WITH MUCH GREATER PLENTY OF +MERCHANDISE THAN BEFORE, BORROWETH MONEY OF HER AND LEAVETH +HER WATER AND TOW IN PAYMENT</p></div> + + +<p><br /><span class="smcap">How</span> much the queen's story in divers places made the ladies laugh, it +needed not to ask; suffice it to say that there was none of them to +whose eyes the tears had not come a dozen times for excess of +laughter: but, after it had an end, Dioneo, knowing that it was come +to his turn to tell, said, "Gracious ladies, it is a manifest thing +that sleights and devices are the more pleasing, the subtler the +trickster who is thereby artfully outwitted. Wherefore, albeit you +have related very fine stories, I mean to tell you one, which should +please you more than any other that hath been told upon the same +subject, inasmuch as she who was cheated was a greater mistress of the +art of cheating others than was any of the men or women who were +cozened by those of whom you have told.</p> + +<p>There used to be, and belike is yet, a custom, in all maritime places +which have a port, that all merchants who come thither with +merchandise, having unloaded it, should carry it all into a warehouse, +which is in many places called a customhouse, kept by the commonality +or by the lord of the place. There they give unto those who are +deputed to that end a note in writing of all their merchandise and the +value thereof, and they thereupon make over to each merchant a +storehouse, wherein he layeth up his goods under lock and key. +Moreover, the said officers enter in the book of the Customs, to each +merchant's credit, all his merchandise, causing themselves after he +paid their dues of the merchants, whether for all his said merchandise +or for such part thereof as he withdraweth from the customhouse. By +this book of the Customs the brokers mostly inform themselves of the +quality and the quantity of the goods that are in bond there and also +who are the merchants that own them; and with these latter, as +occasion serveth them, they treat of exchanges and barters and sales +and other transactions. This usance, amongst many other places, was +current at Palermo in Sicily, where likewise there were and are yet +many women, very fair of their person, but sworn enemies to honesty, +who would be and are by those who know them not held great ladies and +passing virtuous and who, being given not to shave, but altogether to +flay men, no sooner espy a merchant there than they inform themselves +by the book of the Customs of that which he hath there and how much he +can do;<a name="FNanchor_414_416" id="FNanchor_414_416"></a><a href="#Footnote_414_416" class="fnanchor">[414]</a> after which by their lovesome and engaging fashions and +with the most dulcet words, they study to allure the said merchants +and draw them into the snare of their love; and many an one have they +aforetime lured thereinto, from whom they have wiled great part of +their merchandise; nay, many have they despoiled of all, and of these +there be some who have left goods and ship and flesh and bones<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_419" id="Page_419"></a></span> in +their hands, so sweetly hath the barberess known to ply the razor.</p> + +<p>It chanced, not long since, that there came thither, sent by his +masters, one of our young Florentines, by name Niccolo da Cignano, +though more commonly called Salabaetto, with as many woollen cloths, +left on his hands from the Salerno fair, as might be worth some five +hundred gold florins, which having given the customhouse officers the +invoice thereof, he laid up in a magazine and began, without showing +overmuch haste to dispose of them, to go bytimes a-pleasuring about +the city. He being of a fair complexion and yellow-haired and withal +very sprightly and personable, it chanced that one of these same +barberesses, who styled herself Madam Biancofiore, having heard +somewhat of his affairs, cast her eyes on him; which he perceiving and +taking her for some great lady, concluded that he pleased her for his +good looks and bethought himself to order this amour with the utmost +secrecy; wherefore, without saying aught thereof to any, he fell to +passing and repassing before her house. She, noting this, after she +had for some days well enkindled him with her eyes, making believe to +languish for him, privily despatched to him one of her women, who was +a past mistress in the procuring art and who, after much parley, told +him, well nigh with tears in her eyes, that he had so taken her +mistress with his comeliness and his pleasing fashions that she could +find no rest day or night; wherefore, whenas it pleased him, she +desired, more than aught else, to avail to foregather with him privily +in a bagnio; then, pulling a ring from her pouch, she gave it to him +on the part of her mistress. Salabaetto, hearing this, was the +joyfullest man that was aye and taking the ring, rubbed it against his +eyes and kissed it; after which he set it on his finger and replied to +the good woman that, if Madam Biancofiore loved him, she was well +requited it, for that he loved her more than his proper life and was +ready to go whereassoever it should please her and at any hour. The +messenger returned to her mistress with this answer and it was +appointed Salabaetto out of hand at what bagnio he should expect her +on the ensuing day after vespers.</p> + +<p>Accordingly, without saying aught of the matter to any, he punctually +repaired thither at the hour appointed him and found the bagnio taken +by the lady; nor had he waited long ere there came two slave-girls +laden with gear and bearing on their heads, the one a fine large +mattress of cotton wool and the other a great basket full of gear. The +mattress they set on a bedstead in one of the chambers of the bagnio +and spread thereon a pair of very fine sheets, laced with silk, +together with a counterpane of snow-white Cyprus buckram<a name="FNanchor_415_417" id="FNanchor_415_417"></a><a href="#Footnote_415_417" class="fnanchor">[415]</a> and two +pillows wonder-curiously wrought.<a name="FNanchor_416_418" id="FNanchor_416_418"></a><a href="#Footnote_416_418" class="fnanchor">[416]</a> Then, putting off their clothes +they entered the bath and swept it all and washed it excellent well. +Nor was it long ere the lady herself came thither, with other two +slave-girls, and accosted Salabaetto with the utmost joy; then, as +first she had commodity, after she had both clipped and kissed him +amain,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_420" id="Page_420"></a></span> heaving the heaviest sighs in the world, she said to him, 'I +know not who could have brought me to this pass, other than thou; thou +hast kindled a fire in my vitals, little dog of a Tuscan!' Then, at +her instance, they entered the bath, both naked, and with them two of +the slave-girls; and there, without letting any else lay a finger on +him, she with her own hands washed Salabaetto all wonder-well with +musk and clove-scented soap; after which she let herself be washed and +rubbed of the slave-girls. This done, the latter brought two very +white and fine sheets, whence came so great a scent of roses that +everything there seemed roses, in one of which they wrapped Salabaetto +and in the other the lady and taking them in their arms, carried them +both to the bed prepared for them. There, whenas they had left +sweating, the slave-girls did them loose from the sheets wherein they +were wrapped and they abode naked in the others, whilst the girls +brought out of the basket wonder-goodly casting-bottles of silver, +full of sweet waters, rose and jessamine and orange and citron-flower +scented, and sprinkled them all therewith; after which boxes of +succades and wines of great price were produced and they refreshed +themselves awhile.</p> + +<p>It seemed to Salabaetto as he were in Paradise and he cast a thousand +glances at the lady, who was certes very handsome, himseeming each +hour was an hundred years till the slave-girls should begone and he +should find himself in her arms. Presently, at her commandment, the +girls departed the chamber, leaving a flambeau alight there; whereupon +she embraced Salabaetto and he her, and they abode together a great +while, to the exceeding pleasure of the Florentine, to whom it seemed +she was all afire for love of him. Whenas it seemed to her time to +rise, she called the slave-girls and they clad themselves; then they +recruited themselves somedele with a second collation of wine and +sweetmeats and washed their hands and faces with odoriferous waters; +after which, being about to depart, the lady said to Salabaetto, 'So +it be agreeable to thee, it were doing me a very great favour an thou +camest this evening to sup and lie the night with me.' Salabaetto, who +was by this time altogether captivated by her beauty and the artful +pleasantness of her fashions and firmly believed himself to be loved +of her as he were the heart out of her body, replied, 'Madam, your +every pleasure is supremely agreeable to me, wherefore both to-night +and at all times I mean to do that which shall please you and that +which shall be commanded me of you.'</p> + +<p>Accordingly the lady returned to her house, where she caused well +bedeck her bedchamber with her dresses and gear and letting make ready +a splendid supper, awaited Salabaetto, who, as soon as it was grown +somewhat dark, betook himself thither and being received with open +arms, supped with all cheer and commodity of service. Thereafter they +betook themselves into the bedchamber, where he smelt a marvellous +fragrance of aloes-wood and saw the bed very richly adorned with +Cyprian singing-birds<a name="FNanchor_417_419" id="FNanchor_417_419"></a><a href="#Footnote_417_419" class="fnanchor">[417]</a> and store of fine dresses upon<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_421" id="Page_421"></a></span> the pegs, +all which things together and each of itself made him conclude that +this must be some great and rich lady. And although he had heard some +whispers to the contrary anent her manner of life, he would not +anywise believe it; or, if he e'en gave so much credit thereto as to +allow that she might erst have cozened others, for nothing in the +world could he have believed that this might possibly happen to +himself. He lay that night with her in the utmost delight, still +waxing more enamoured, and in the morning she girt him on a quaint and +goodly girdle of silver, with a fine purse thereto, saying, 'Sweet my +Salabaetto, I commend myself to thy remembrance, and like as my person +is at thy pleasure, even so is all that is here and all that dependeth +upon me at thy service and commandment.' Salabaetto, rejoiced, +embraced and kissed her; then, going forth of her house, he betook +himself whereas the other merchants were used to resort.</p> + +<p>On this wise consorting with her at one time and another, without its +costing him aught in the world, and growing every hour more entangled, +it befell that he sold his stuffs for ready money and made a good +profit thereby; of which the lady incontinent heard, not from him, but +from others, and Salabaetto being come one night to visit her, she +fell to prattling and wantoning with him, kissing and clipping him and +feigning herself so enamoured of him that it seemed she must die of +love in his arms. Moreover, she would fain have given him two very +fine hanaps of silver that she had; but he would not take them, for +that he had had of her, at one time and another, what was worth a good +thirty gold florins, without availing to have her take of him so much +as a groat's worth. At last, whenas she had well enkindled him by +showing herself so enamoured and freehanded, one of her slave-girls +called her, as she had ordained beforehand; whereupon she left the +chamber and coming back, after awhile, in tears cast herself face +downward on the bed and fell to making the woefullest lamentation ever +woman made. Salabaetto, marvelling at this, caught her in his arms and +fell a-weeping with her and saying, 'Alack, heart of my body, what +aileth thee thus suddenly? What is the cause of this grief? For God's +sake, tell it me, my soul.' The lady, after letting herself be long +entreated, answered, 'Woe's me, sweet my lord, I know not what to say +or to do; I have but now received letters from Messina and my brother +writeth me that, should I sell or pawn all that is here,<a name="FNanchor_418_420" id="FNanchor_418_420"></a><a href="#Footnote_418_420" class="fnanchor">[418]</a> I must +without fail send him a thousand gold florins within eight days from +this time, else will his head be cut off; and I know not how I shall +do to get this sum so suddenly. Had I but fifteen days' grace, I would +find a means of procuring it from a certain quarter whence I am to +have much more, or I would sell one of our farms; but, as this may not +be, I had liefer be dead than that this ill news should have come to +me.'</p> + +<p>So saying, she made a show of being sore afflicted and stinted not +from weeping; whereupon quoth Salabaetto, whom the flames of love had +bereft of great part of his wonted good sense, so that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_422" id="Page_422"></a></span> he believed +her tears to be true and her words truer yet, 'Madam, I cannot oblige +you with a thousand florins, but five hundred I can very well advance +you, since you believe you will be able to return them to me within a +fortnight from this time; and this is of your good fortune that I +chanced but yesterday to sell my stuffs; for, had it not been so, I +could not have lent you a groat.' 'Alack,' cried the lady, 'hast thou +then been straitened for lack of money? Marry, why didst thou not +require me thereof? Though I have not a thousand, I had an hundred and +even two hundred to give thee. Thou hast deprived me of all heart to +accept of thee the service thou profferest me.' Salabaetto was more +than ever taken with these words and said, 'Madam, I would not have +you refrain on that account, for, had I had such an occasion therefor +as you presently have, I would assuredly have asked you.' 'Alack, +Salabaetto mine,' replied the lady, 'now know I aright that thine is a +true and perfect love for me, since, without waiting to be required, +thou freely succoureth me, in such a strait, with so great a sum of +money. Certes, I was all thine without this, but with this I shall be +far more so; nor shall I ever forget that I owe thee my brother's +life. But God knoweth I take it sore unwillingly, seeing that thou art +a merchant and that with money merchants transact all their affairs; +however, since need constraineth me, and I have certain assurance of +speedily restoring it to thee, I will e'en take it; and for the rest, +an I find no readier means, I will pawn all these my possessions.' So +saying, she let herself fall, weeping, on Salabaetto's neck. He fell +to comforting her and after abiding the night with her, he, next +morning, to approve himself her most liberal servant, without waiting +to be asked by her, carried her five hundred right gold florins, which +she received with tears in her eyes, but laughter in her heart, +Salabaetto contenting himself with her simple promise.</p> + +<p>As soon as the lady had the money, the signs began to change, and +whereas before he had free access to her whenassoever it pleased him, +reasons now began to crop up, whereby it betided him not to win +admission there once out of seven times, nor was he received with the +same countenance nor the same caresses and rejoicings as before. And +the term at which he was to have had his monies again being, not to +say come, but past by a month or two and he requiring them, words were +given him in payment. Thereupon his eyes were opened to the wicked +woman's arts and his own lack of wit, wherefore, feeling that he could +say nought of her beyond that which might please her concerning the +matter, since he had neither script nor other evidence thereof, and +being ashamed to complain to any, as well for that he had been +forewarned thereof as for fear of the scoffs which he might reasonably +expect for his folly, he was beyond measure woeful and inwardly +bewailed his credulity.</p> + +<p>At last, having had divers letters from his masters, requiring him to +change<a name="FNanchor_419_421" id="FNanchor_419_421"></a><a href="#Footnote_419_421" class="fnanchor">[419]</a> the monies in question and remit them to them, he +determined to depart, lest, an he did it not, his default should be +discovered there, and accordingly, going aboard a little ship, he +betook himself, not to Pisa, as he should have<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_423" id="Page_423"></a></span> done, but to Naples. +There at that time was our gossip Pietro dello Canigiano, treasurer to +the Empress of Constantinople, a man of great understanding and subtle +wit and a fast friend of Salabaetto and his family; and to him, as to +a very discreet man, the disconsolate Florentine recounted that which +he had done and the mischance that had befallen him, requiring him of +aid and counsel, so he might contrive to gain his living there, and +avouching his intention nevermore to return to Florence. Canigiano was +concerned for this and said, 'Ill hast thou done and ill hast thou +carried thyself; thou hast disobeyed thy masters and hast, at one +cast, spent a great sum of money in wantonness; but, since it is done, +we must look for otherwhat.'<a name="FNanchor_420_422" id="FNanchor_420_422"></a><a href="#Footnote_420_422" class="fnanchor">[420]</a> Accordingly, like a shrewd man as he +was, he speedily bethought himself what was to be done and told it to +Salabaetto, who was pleased with the device and set about putting it +in execution. He had some money and Canigiano having lent him other +some, he made up a number of bales well packed and corded; then, +buying a score of oil-casks and filling them, he embarked the whole +and returned to Palermo, where, having given the customhouse officers +the bill of lading and the value of the casks and let enter everything +to his account, he laid the whole up in the magazines, saying that he +meant not to touch them till such time as certain other merchandise +which he expected should be come.</p> + +<p>Biancofiore, getting wind of this and hearing that the merchandise he +had presently brought with him was worth good two thousand florins, +without reckoning what he looked for, which was valued at more than +three thousand, bethought herself that she had flown at too small game +and determined to restore him the five hundred florins, so she might +avail to have the greater part of the five thousand. Accordingly, she +sent for him and Salabaetto, grown cunning, went to her; whereupon, +making believe to know nothing of that which he had brought with him, +she received him with a great show of fondness and said to him, +'Harkye, if thou wast vexed with me, for that I repaid thee not thy +monies on the very day....' Salabaetto fell a-laughing and answered; +'In truth, madam, it did somewhat displease me, seeing I would have +torn out my very heart to give it you, an I thought to pleasure you +withal; but I will have you hear how I am vexed with you. Such and so +great is the love I bear you, that I have sold the most part of my +possessions and have presently brought hither merchandise to the value +of more than two thousand florins and expect from the westward as much +more as will be worth over three thousand, with which I mean to stock +me a warehouse in this city and take up my sojourn here, so I may +still be near you, meseeming I fare better of your love than ever +lover of his lady.'</p> + +<p>'Look you, Salabaetto,' answered the lady, 'every commodity of thine +is mighty pleasing to me, as that of him whom I love more than my +life, and it pleaseth me amain that thou art returned hither with +intent to sojourn here, for that I hope yet to have good time galore +with thee; but I would fain excuse myself somedele to thee for that, +whenas thou wast about to depart, thou<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_424" id="Page_424"></a></span> wouldst bytimes have come +hither and couldst not, and whiles thou camest and wast not so gladly +seen as thou wast used to be, more by token that I returned thee not +thy monies at the time promised. Thou must know that I was then in +very great concern and sore affliction, and whoso is in such case, how +much soever he may love another, cannot always show him so cheerful a +countenance or pay him such attention as he might wish. Moreover, thou +must know that it is mighty uneasy for a woman to avail to find a +thousand gold florins; all day long we are put off with lies and that +which is promised us is not performed unto us; wherefore needs must we +in our turn lie unto others. Hence cometh it, and not of my default, +that I gave thee not back thy monies. However, I had them a little +after thy departure, and had I known whither to send them, thou mayst +be assured that I would have remitted them to thee; but, not knowing +this, I kept them for thee.' Then, letting fetch a purse wherein were +the very monies he had brought her, she put it into his hand, saying, +'Count them if there be five hundred.' Never was Salabaetto so glad; +he counted them and finding them five hundred, put them up and said, +'Madam, I am assured that you say sooth; but you have done enough [to +convince me of your love for me,] and I tell you that, for this and +for the love I bear you, you could never require me, for any your +occasion, of whatsoever sum I might command, but I would oblige you +therewith; and whenas I am established here, you may put this to the +proof.'</p> + +<p>Having again on this wise renewed his loves with her in words, he fell +again to using amically with her, whilst she made much of him and +showed him the greatest goodwill and honour in the world, feigning the +utmost love for him. But he, having a mind to return her cheat for +cheat, being one day sent for by her to sup and sleep with her, went +thither so chapfallen and so woebegone that it seemed as he would die. +Biancofiore, embracing him and kissing him, began to question him of +what ailed him to be thus melancholy, and he, after letting himself be +importuned a good while, answered, 'I am a ruined man, for that the +ship, wherein is the merchandise I expected, hath been taken by the +corsairs of Monaco and held to ransom in ten thousand gold florins, +whereof it falleth to me to pay a thousand, and I have not a farthing, +for that the five hundred pieces thou returnedst to me I sent +incontinent to Naples to lay out in cloths to be brought hither; and +should I go about at this present to sell the merchandise I have here, +I should scarce get a penny for two pennyworth, for that it is no time +for selling. Nor am I yet so well known that I could find any here to +help me to this, wherefore I know not what to do or to say; for, if I +send not the monies speedily, the merchandise will be carried off to +Monaco and I shall never again have aught thereof.'</p> + +<p>The lady was mightily concerned at this, fearing to lose him +altogether, and considering how she should do, so he might not go to +Monaco, said, 'God knoweth I am sore concerned for the love of thee; +but what availeth it to afflict oneself thus? If I had the monies, God +knoweth I would lend them to thee incontinent; but I have them not. +True, there is a certain person<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_425" id="Page_425"></a></span> here who obliged me the other day +with the five hundred florins that I lacked; but he will have heavy +usance for his monies; nay, he requireth no less than thirty in the +hundred, and if thou wilt borrow of him, needs must he be made secure +with a good pledge. For my part, I am ready to engage for thee all +these my goods and my person, to boot, for as much as he will lend +thereon; but how wilt thou assure him of the rest?' Salabaetto readily +apprehended the reason that moved her to do him this service and +divined that it was she herself who was to lend him the money; +wherewith he was well pleased and thanking her, answered that he would +not be put off for exorbitant usance, need constraining him. Moreover, +he said that he would give assurance of the merchandise he had in the +customhouse, letting inscribe it to him who should lend him the money; +but that needs must be kept the key of the magazines, as well that he +might be able to show his wares, an it were required of him, as that +nothing might be touched or changed or tampered withal.</p> + +<p>The lady answered that it was well said and that this was good enough +assurance; wherefore, as soon as the day was come, she sent for a +broker, in whom she trusted greatly, and taking order with him of the +matter, gave him a thousand gold florins, which he lent to Salabaetto, +letting inscribe in his own name at the customhouse that which the +latter had there; then, having made their writings and +counter-writings together and being come to an accord,<a name="FNanchor_421_423" id="FNanchor_421_423"></a><a href="#Footnote_421_423" class="fnanchor">[421]</a> they +occupied themselves with their other affairs. Salabaetto, as soonest +he might, embarked, with the fifteen hundred gold florins, on board a +little ship and returned to Pietro dello Canigiano at Naples, whence +he remitted to his masters, who had despatched him with the stuffs, a +good and entire account thereof. Then, having repaid Pietro and every +other to whom he owed aught, he made merry several days with Canigiano +over the cheat he had put upon the Sicilian trickstress; after which, +resolved to be no more a merchant, he betook himself to Ferrara.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, Biancofiore, finding that Salabaetto had left Palermo, +began to marvel and wax misdoubtful and after having awaited him good +two months, seeing that he came not, she caused the broker force open +the magazines. Trying first the casks, which she believed to be filled +with oil, she found them full of seawater, save that there was in each +maybe a runlet of oil at the top near the bunghole. Then, undoing the +bales, she found them all full of tow, with the exception of two, +which were stuffs; and in brief, with all that was there, there was +not more than two hundred florins' worth. Wherefore Biancofiore, +confessing herself outwitted, long lamented the five hundred florins +repaid and yet more the thousand lent, saying often, 'Who with a +Tuscan hath to do, Must nor be blind nor see askew.' On this wise, +having gotten nothing for her pains but loss and scorn, she found, to +her cost, that some folk know as much as others."</p> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p>No sooner had Dioneo made an end of his story than Lauretta, knowing +the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_426" id="Page_426"></a></span> term to be come beyond which she was not to reign and having +commended Canigiano's counsel (which was approved good by its effect) +and Salabaetto's shrewdness (which was no less commendable) in +carrying it into execution, lifted the laurel from her own head and +set it on that of Emilia, saying, with womanly grace, "Madam, I know +not how pleasant a queen we shall have of you; but, at the least, we +shall have a fair one. Look, then, that your actions be conformable to +your beauties." So saying, she returned to her seat, whilst Emilia, a +thought abashed, not so much at being made queen as to see herself +publicly commended of that which women use most to covet, waxed such +in face as are the new-blown roses in the dawning. However, after she +had kept her eyes awhile lowered, till the redness had given place, +she took order with the seneschal of that which concerned the general +entertainment and presently said, "Delightsome ladies, it is common, +after oxen have toiled some part of the day, confined under the yoke, +to see them loosed and eased thereof and freely suffered to go +a-pasturing, where most it liketh them, about the woods; and it is +manifest also that leafy gardens, embowered with various plants, are +not less, but much more fair than groves wherein one seeth only oaks. +Wherefore, seeing how many days we have discoursed, under the +restraint of a fixed law, I opine that, as well unto us as to those +whom need constraineth to labour for their daily bread, it is not only +useful, but necessary, to play the truant awhile and wandering thus +afield, to regain strength to enter anew under the yoke. Wherefore, +for that which is to be related to-morrow, ensuing your delectable +usance of discourse, I purpose not to restrict you to any special +subject, but will have each discourse according as it pleaseth him, +holding it for certain that the variety of the things which will be +said will afford us no less entertainment than to have discoursed of +one alone; and having done thus, whoso shall come after me in the +sovranty may, as stronger than I, avail with greater assurance to +restrict us within the limits of the wonted laws." So saying, she set +every one at liberty till supper-time.</p> + +<p>All commended the queen of that which she had said, holding it sagely +spoken, and rising to their feet, addressed themselves, this to one +kind of diversion and that to another, the ladies to weaving garlands +and to gambolling and the young men to gaming and singing. On this +wise they passed the time until the supper-hour, which being come, +they supped with mirth and good cheer about the fair fountain and +after diverted themselves with singing and dancing according to the +wonted usance. At last, the queen, to ensue the fashion of her +predecessors, commanded Pamfilo to sing a song, notwithstanding those +which sundry of the company had already sung of their freewill; and he +readily began thus:</p> + +<p class="cpoem"> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Such is thy pleasure, Love</span><br /> +And such the allegresse I feel thereby<br /> +That happy, burning in thy fire, am I.<br /> +<br /> +The abounding gladness in my heart that glows,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">For the high joy and dear</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Whereto thou hast me led,</span><br /> +Unable to contain there, overflows<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">And in my face's cheer</span><br /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_427" id="Page_427"></a></span><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Displays my happihead;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">For being enamouréd</span><br /> +In such a worship-worthy place and high<br /> +Makes eath to me the burning I aby.<br /> +<br /> +I cannot with my finger what I feel<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Limn, Love, nor do I know</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">My bliss in song to vent;</span><br /> +Nay, though I knew it, needs must I conceal,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">For, once divulged, I trow</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">'Twould turn to dreariment.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Yet am I so content,</span><br /> +All speech were halt and feeble, did I try<br /> +The least thereof with words to signify.<br /> +<br /> +Who might conceive it that these arms of mine<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Should anywise attain</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Whereas I've held them aye,</span><br /> +Or that my face should reach so fair a shrine<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">As that, of favour fain</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">And grace, I've won to? Nay,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Such fortune ne'er a day</span><br /> +Believed me were; whence all afire am I,<br /> +Hiding the source of my liesse thereby.<br /> +</p> + +<p>This was the end of Pamfilo's song, whereto albeit it had been +completely responded of all, there was none but noted the words +thereof with more attent solicitude than pertained unto him, studying +to divine that which, as he sang, it behoved him to keep hidden from +them; and although sundry went imagining various things, nevertheless +none happened upon the truth of the case.<a name="FNanchor_422_424" id="FNanchor_422_424"></a><a href="#Footnote_422_424" class="fnanchor">[422]</a> But the queen, seeing +that the song was ended and that both young ladies and men would +gladly rest themselves, commanded that all should betake themselves to +bed.</p> + + +<p class="center"><br /> +<b>HERE ENDETH THE EIGHTH DAY<br /> +OF THE DECAMERON</b> +</p> + + + +<hr class="long" /> +<h1><a name="Day_the_Ninth" id="Day_the_Ninth"></a><i>Day the Ninth</i></h1> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="hang"><span class="lgsmcap">Here Beginneth the Ninth Day of the Decameron Wherein Under +the Governance of Emilia Each Discourseth According As It +Pleaseth Him and of That Which Is Most to His Liking</span></p></div> + + +<p><br /><span class="smcap">The</span> light, from whose resplendence the night fleeth, had already +changed all the eighth heaven<a name="FNanchor_423_425" id="FNanchor_423_425"></a><a href="#Footnote_423_425" class="fnanchor">[423]</a> from azure to watchet-colour<a name="FNanchor_424_426" id="FNanchor_424_426"></a><a href="#Footnote_424_426" class="fnanchor">[424]</a> +and the flowerets began<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_428" id="Page_428"></a></span> to lift their heads along the meads, when +Emilia, uprising, let call the ladies her comrades and on like wise +the young men, who, being come, fared forth, ensuing the slow steps of +the queen, and betook themselves to a coppice but little distant from +the palace. Therein entering, they saw the animals, wild goats and +deer and others, as if assured of security from the hunters by reason +of the prevailing pestilence, stand awaiting them no otherwise than as +they were grown without fear or tame, and diverted themselves awhile +with them, drawing near, now to this one and now to that, as if they +would fain lay hands on them, and making them run and skip. But, the +sun now waxing high, they deemed it well to turn back. They were all +garlanded with oak leaves, with their hands full of flowers and +sweet-scented herbs, and whoso encountered them had said no otherwhat +than "Or these shall not be overcome of death or it will slay them +merry." On this wise, then, they fared on, step by step, singing and +chatting and laughing, till they came to the palace, where they found +everything orderly disposed and their servants full of mirth and +joyous cheer. There having rested awhile, they went not to dinner till +half a dozen canzonets, each merrier than other, had been carolled by +the young men and the ladies; then, water being given to their hands, +the seneschal seated them all at table, according to the queen's +pleasure, and the viands being brought, they all ate blithely. Rising +thence, they gave themselves awhile to dancing and music-making, and +after, by the queen's commandment, whoso would betook himself to rest. +But presently, the wonted hour being come, all in the accustomed place +assembled to discourse, whereupon the queen, looking at Filomena, bade +her give commencement to the stories of that day, and she, smiling, +began on this wise:</p> + + + +<hr class="short" /> +<h2><a name="THE_FIRST_STORY9" id="THE_FIRST_STORY9"></a>THE FIRST STORY</h2> + +<div class="sidenote">Day the Ninth</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="hang">MADAM FRANCESCA, BEING COURTED BY ONE RINUCCIO PALERMINI AND +ONE ALESSANDRO CHIARMONTESI AND LOVING NEITHER THE ONE NOR +THE OTHER, ADROITLY RIDDETH HERSELF OF BOTH BY CAUSING ONE +ENTER FOR DEAD INTO A SEPULCHRE AND THE OTHER BRING HIM +FORTH THEREOF FOR DEAD, ON SUCH WISE THAT THEY CANNOT AVAIL +TO ACCOMPLISH THE CONDITION IMPOSED</p></div> + + +<p><br /><span class="smcap">"Since</span> it is your pleasure, madam, I am well pleased to be she who +shall run the first ring in this open and free field of story-telling, +wherein your magnificence hath set us; the which an I do well, I doubt +not but that those who shall come after will do well and better. Many +a time, charming ladies, hath it<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_429" id="Page_429"></a></span> been shown in our discourses what +and how great is the power of love; natheless, for that medeemeth not +it hath been fully spoken thereof (no, nor would be, though we should +speak of nothing else for a year to come,) and that not only doth love +bring lovers into divers dangers of death, but causeth them even to +enter for dead into the abiding-places of the dead, it is my pleasure +to relate to you a story thereof, over and above those which have been +told, whereby not only will you apprehend the puissance of love, but +will know the wit used by a worthy lady in ridding herself of two who +loved her against her will.</p> + +<p>You must know, then, that there was once in the city of Pistoia a very +fair widow lady, of whom two of our townsmen, called the one Rinuccio +Palermini and the other Alessandro Chiarmontesi, there abiding by +reason of banishment from Florence, were, without knowing one of +other, passionately enamoured, having by chance fallen in love with +her and doing privily each his utmost endeavour to win her favour. The +gentlewoman in question, whose name was Madam Francesca de' Lazzari, +being still importuned of the one and the other with messages and +entreaties, to which she had whiles somewhat unwisely given ear, and +desiring, but in vain, discreetly to retract, bethought herself how +she might avail to rid herself of their importunity by requiring them +of a service, which, albeit it was possible, she conceived that +neither of them would render her, to the intent that, they not doing +that which she required, she might have a fair and colourable occasion +of refusing to hearken more to their messages; and the device which +occurred to her was on this wise.</p> + +<p>There had died that very day at Pistoia, one, who, albeit his +ancestors were gentlemen, was reputed the worst man that was, not only +in Pistoia, but in all the world; more by token that he was in his +lifetime so misshapen and of so monstrous a favour that whoso knew him +not, seeing him for the first time, had been affeared of him; and he +had been buried in a tomb without the church of the Minor Friars. This +circumstance she bethought herself would in part be very apt to her +purpose and accordingly she said to a maid of hers, 'Thou knowest the +annoy and the vexation I suffer all day long by the messages of yonder +two Florentines, Rinuccio and Alessandro. Now I am not disposed to +gratify [either of] them with my love, and to rid myself of them, I +have bethought myself, for the great proffers that they make, to seek +to make proof of them in somewhat which I am certain they will not do; +so shall I do away from me this their importunity, and thou shalt see +how. Thou knowest that Scannadio,<a name="FNanchor_425_427" id="FNanchor_425_427"></a><a href="#Footnote_425_427" class="fnanchor">[425]</a> for so was the wicked man +called of whom we have already spoken, 'was this morning buried in the +burial-place of the Minor Brethren, Scannadio, of whom, whenas they +saw him alive, let alone dead, the doughtiest men of this city went in +fear; wherefore go thou privily first to Alessandro and bespeak him, +saying, "Madam Francesca giveth thee to know that now is the time +come<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_430" id="Page_430"></a></span> whenas thou mayst have her love, which thou hast so much +desired, and be with her, an thou wilt, on this wise. This night, for +a reason which thou shalt know after, the body of Scannadio, who was +this morning buried, is to be brought to her house by a kinsman of +hers, and she, being in great fear of him, dead though he be, would +fain not have him there; wherefore she prayeth thee that it please +thee, by way of doing her a great service, go this evening, at the +time of the first sleep, to the tomb wherein he is buried, and donning +the dead man's clothes, abide as thou wert he until such time as they +shall come for thee. Then, without moving or speaking, thou must +suffer thyself be taken up out of the tomb and carried to her house, +where she will receive thee, and thou mayst after abide with her and +depart at thy leisure, leaving to her the care of the rest." An he say +that he will do it, well and good; but, should he refuse, bid him on +my part, never more show himself whereas I may be and look, as he +valueth his life, that he send me no more letters or messages. Then +shalt thou betake thee to Rinuccio Palermini and say to him, "Madam +Francesca saith that she is ready to do thine every pleasure, an thou +wilt render her a great service, to wit, that to-night, towards the +middle hour, thou get thee to the tomb wherein Scannadio was this +morning buried and take him up softly thence and bring him to her at +her house, without saying a word of aught thou mayst hear or feel. +There shalt thou learn what she would with him and have of her thy +pleasure; but, an it please thee not to do this, she chargeth thee +never more send her writ nor message."'</p> + +<p>The maid betook herself to the two lovers and did her errand +punctually to each, saying as it had been enjoined her; whereto each +made answer that, an it pleased her, they would go, not only into a +tomb, but into hell itself. The maid carried their reply to the lady +and she waited to see if they would be mad enough to do it. The night +come, whenas it was the season of the first sleep, Alessandro +Chiarmontesi, having stripped himself to his doublet, went forth of +his house to take Scannadio's place in the tomb; but, by the way, +there came a very frightful thought into his head and he fell a-saying +in himself, 'Good lack, what a fool I am! Whither go I? How know I but +yonder woman's kinsfolk, having maybe perceived that I love her and +believing that which is not, have caused me do this, so they may +slaughter me in yonder tomb? An it should happen thus, I should suffer +for it nor would aught in the world be ever known thereof to their +detriment. Or what know I but maybe some enemy of mine hath procured +me this, whom she belike loveth and seeketh to oblige therein?' Then +said he, 'But, grant that neither of these things be and that her +kinsfolk are e'en for carrying me to her house, I must believe that +they want not Scannadio's body to hold it in their arms or to put it +in hers; nay, it is rather to be conceived that they mean to do it +some mischief, as the body of one who maybe disobliged them in +somewhat aforetime. She saith that I am not to say a word for aught +that I may feel. But, should they put out mine eyes or draw my teeth +or lop off<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_431" id="Page_431"></a></span> my hands or play me any other such trick, how shall I do? +How could I abide quiet? And if I speak, they will know me and mayhap +do me a mischief, or, though they do me no hurt, yet shall I have +accomplished nothing, for that they will not leave me with the lady; +whereupon she will say that I have broken her commandment and will +never do aught to pleasure me.' So saying, he had well nigh returned +home; but, nevertheless, his great love urged him on with counter +arguments of such potency that they brought him to the tomb, which he +opened and entering therein, stripped Scannadio of his clothes; then, +donning them and shutting the tomb upon himself, he laid himself in +the dead man's place. Thereupon he began to call to mind what manner +of man the latter had been and remembering him of all the things +whereof he had aforetime heard tell as having befallen by night, not +to say in the sepulchres of the dead, but even otherwhere, his every +hair began to stand on end and himseemed each moment as if Scannadio +should rise upright and butcher him then and there. However, aided by +his ardent love, he got the better of these and the other fearful +thoughts that beset him and abiding as he were the dead man, he fell +to awaiting that which should betide him.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, Rinuccio, midnight being now at hand, departed his house, +to do that which had been enjoined him of his mistress, and as he +went, he entered into many and various thoughts of the things which +might possibly betide him; as, to wit, that he might fall into the +hands of the police, with Scannadio's body on his shoulders, and be +doomed to the fire as a sorcerer, and that he should, an the thing +came to be known, incur the ill-will of his kinsfolk, and other like +thoughts, whereby he was like to have been deterred. But after, +bethinking himself again, 'Alack,' quoth he, 'shall I deny this +gentlewoman, whom I have so loved and love, the first thing she +requireth of me, especially as I am thereby to gain her favour? God +forbid, though I were certainly to die thereof, but I should set +myself to do that which I have promised!' Accordingly, he went on and +presently coming to the sepulchre, opened it easily; which Alessandro +hearing, abode still, albeit he was in great fear. Rinuccio, entering +in and thinking to take Scannadio's body, laid hold of Alessandro's +feet and drew him forth of the tomb; then, hoisting him on his +shoulders, he made off towards the lady's house.</p> + +<p>Going thus and taking no manner of heed to his burden, he jolted it +many a time now against one corner and now another of certain benches +that were beside the way, more by token that the night was so cloudy +and so dark he could not see whither he went. He was already well nigh +at the door of the gentlewoman, who had posted herself at the window +with her maid, to see if he would bring Alessandro, and was ready +armed with an excuse to send them both away, when it chanced that the +officers of the watch, who were ambushed in the street and abode +silently on the watch to lay hands upon a certain outlaw, hearing the +scuffling that Rinuccio made with his feet, suddenly put out a light, +to see what was to do and whither to go, and rattled their targets and +halberds, crying, 'Who goeth there?' Rinuccio, seeing this and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_432" id="Page_432"></a></span> having +scant time for deliberation, let fall his burden and made off as fast +as his legs would carry him; whereupon Alessandro arose in haste and +made off in his turn, for all he was hampered with the dead man's +clothes, which were very long. The lady, by the light of the lantern +put out by the police, had plainly recognized Rinuccio, with +Alessandro on his shoulders, and perceiving the latter to be clad in +Scannadio's clothes, marvelled amain at the exceeding hardihood of +both; but, for all her wonderment, she laughed heartily to see +Alessandro cast down on the ground and to see him after take to +flight. Then, rejoiced at this accident and praising God that He had +rid her of the annoy of these twain, she turned back into the house +and betook herself to her chamber, avouching to her maid that without +doubt they both loved her greatly, since, as it appeared, they had +done that which she had enjoined them.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile Rinuccio, woeful and cursing his ill fortune, for all that +returned not home, but, as soon as the watch had departed the +neighbourhood, he came back whereas he had dropped Alessandro and +groped about, to see if he could find him again, so he might make an +end of his service; but, finding him not and concluding that the +police had carried him off, he returned to his own house, woebegone, +whilst Alessandro, unknowing what else to do, made off home on like +wise, chagrined at such a misadventure and without having recognized +him who had borne him thither. On the morrow, Scannadio's tomb being +found open and his body not to be seen, for that Alessandro had rolled +it to the bottom of the vault, all Pistoia was busy with various +conjectures anent the matter, and the simpler sort concluded that he +had been carried off by the devils. Nevertheless, each of the two +lovers signified to the lady that which he had done and what had +befallen and excusing himself withal for not having full accomplished +her commandment, claimed her favour and her love; but she, making +believe to credit neither of this, rid herself of them with a curt +response to the effect that she would never consent to do aught for +them, since they had not done that which she had required of them."</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="THE_SECOND_STORY9" id="THE_SECOND_STORY9"></a>THE SECOND STORY</h2> + +<div class="sidenote">Day the Ninth</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="hang">AN ABBESS, ARISING IN HASTE AND IN THE DARK TO FIND ONE OF +HER NUNS, WHO HAD BEEN DENOUNCED TO HER, IN BED WITH HER +LOVER AND THINKING TO COVER HER HEAD WITH HER COIF, DONNETH +INSTEAD THEREOF THE BREECHES OF A PRIEST WHO IS ABED WITH +HER; THE WHICH THE ACCUSED NUN OBSERVING AND MAKING HER +AWARE THEREOF, SHE IS ACQUITTED AND HATH LEISURE TO BE WITH +HER LOVER</p></div> + + +<p><br /><span class="smcap">Filomena</span> was now silent and the lady's address in ridding herself of +those whom she chose not to love having been commended of all, whilst, +on the other hand, the presumptuous hardihood of the two gallants was +held of them to be not love, but madness, the queen said gaily to +Elisa, "Elisa, follow<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_433" id="Page_433"></a></span> on." Accordingly, she promptly began, +"Adroitly, indeed, dearest ladies, did Madam Francesca contrive to rid +herself of her annoy, as hath been told; but a young nun, fortune +aiding her, delivered herself with an apt speech from an imminent +peril. As you know, there be many very dull folk, who set up for +teachers and censors of others, but whom, as you may apprehend from my +story, fortune bytimes deservedly putteth to shame, as befell the +abbess, under whose governance was the nun of whom I have to tell.</p> + +<p>You must know, then, that there was once in Lombardy a convent, very +famous for sanctity and religion, wherein, amongst the other nuns who +were there, was a young lady of noble birth and gifted with marvellous +beauty, who was called Isabetta and who, coming one day to the grate +to speak with a kinsman of hers, fell in love with a handsome young +man who accompanied him. The latter, seeing her very fair and divining +her wishes with his eyes, became on like wise enamoured of her, and +this love they suffered a great while without fruit, to the no small +unease of each. At last, each being solicited by a like desire, the +young man hit upon a means of coming at his nun in all secrecy, and +she consenting thereto, he visited her, not once, but many times, to +the great contentment of both. But, this continuing, it chanced one +night that he was, without the knowledge of himself or his mistress, +seen of one of the ladies of the convent to take leave of Isabetta and +go his ways. The nun communicated her discovery to divers others and +they were minded at first to denounce Isabetta to the abbess, who was +called Madam Usimbalda and who, in the opinion of the nuns and of +whosoever knew her, was a good and pious lady; but, on consideration, +they bethought themselves to seek to have the abbess take her with the +young man, so there might be no room for denial. Accordingly, they +held their peace and kept watch by turns in secret to surprise her.</p> + +<p>Now it chanced that Isabetta, suspecting nothing of this nor being on +her guard, caused her lover come thither one night, which was +forthright known to those who were on the watch for this and who, +whenas it seemed to them time, a good part of the night being spent, +divided themselves into two parties, whereof one abode on guard at the +door of her cell, whilst the other ran to the abbess's chamber and +knocking at the door, till she answered, said to her, 'Up, madam; +arise quickly, for we have discovered that Isabetta hath a young man +in her cell.' Now the abbess was that night in company with a priest, +whom she ofttimes let come to her in a chest; but, hearing the nuns' +outcry and fearing lest, of their overhaste and eagerness, they should +push open the door, she hurriedly arose and dressed herself as best +she might in the dark. Thinking to take certain plaited veils, which +nuns wear on their heads and call a psalter, she caught up by chance +the priest's breeches, and such was her haste that, without remarking +what she did, she threw them over her head, in lieu of the psalter, +and going forth, hurriedly locked the door after her, saying, 'Where +is this accursed one of God?' Then, in company with the others, who +were so ardent and so intent upon having Isabetta taken in default +that they<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_434" id="Page_434"></a></span> noted not that which the abbess had on her head, she came +to the cell-door and breaking it open, with the aid of the others, +entered and found the two lovers abed in each other's arms, who, all +confounded at such a surprise, abode fast, unknowing what to do.</p> + +<p>The young lady was incontinent seized by the other nuns and haled off, +by command of the abbess, to the chapter-house, whilst her gallant +dressed himself and abode await to see what should be the issue of the +adventure, resolved, if any hurt were offered to his mistress, to do a +mischief to as many nuns as he could come at and carry her off. The +abbess, sitting in chapter, proceeded, in the presence of all the +nuns, who had no eyes but for the culprit, to give the latter the +foulest rating that ever woman had, as having by her lewd and filthy +practices (an the thing should come to be known without the walls) +sullied the sanctity, the honour and the fair fame of the convent; and +to this she added very grievous menaces. The young lady, shamefast and +fearful, as feeling herself guilty, knew not what to answer and +keeping silence, possessed the other nuns with compassion for her. +However, after a while, the abbess multiplying words, she chanced to +raise her eyes and espied that which the former had on her head and +the hose-points that hung down therefrom on either side; whereupon, +guessing how the matter stood, she was all reassured and said, 'Madam, +God aid you, tie up your coif and after say what you will to me.'</p> + +<p>The abbess, taking not her meaning, answered, 'What coif, vile woman +that thou art? Hast thou the face to bandy pleasantries at such a +time? Thinkest thou this that thou hast done is a jesting matter?' +'Prithee, madam,' answered Isabetta, 'tie up your coif and after say +what you will to me.' Thereupon many of the nuns raised their eyes to +the abbess's head and she also, putting her hand thereto, perceived, +as did the others, why Isabetta spoke thus; wherefore the abbess, +becoming aware of her own default and perceiving that it was seen of +all, past hope of recoverance, changed her note and proceeding to +speak after a fashion altogether different from her beginning, came to +the conclusion that it is impossible to withstand the pricks of the +flesh, wherefore she said that each should, whenas she might, privily +give herself a good time, even as it had been done until that day. +Accordingly, setting the young lady free, she went back to sleep with +her priest and Isabetta returned to her lover, whom many a time +thereafter she let come thither, in despite of those who envied her, +whilst those of the others who were loverless pushed their fortunes in +secret, as best they knew."</p> + + + +<hr /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_435" id="Page_435"></a></span></p> +<h2><a name="THE_THIRD_STORY9" id="THE_THIRD_STORY9"></a>THE THIRD STORY</h2> + +<div class="sidenote">Day the Ninth</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="hang">MASTER SIMONE, AT THE INSTANCE OF BRUNO AND BUFFALMACCO AND +NELLO, MAKETH CALANDRINO BELIEVE THAT HE IS WITH CHILD; +WHEREFORE HE GIVETH THEM CAPONS AND MONEY FOR MEDICINES AND +RECOVERETH WITHOUT BRINGING FORTH</p></div> + + +<p><br /><span class="smcap">After</span> Elisa had finished her story and all the ladies had returned +thanks to God, who had with a happy issue delivered the young nun from +the claws of her envious companions, the queen bade Filostrato follow +on, and he, without awaiting further commandment, began, "Fairest +ladies, the unmannerly lout of a Marchegan judge, of whom I told you +yesterday, took out of my mouth a story of Calandrino and his +companions, which I was about to relate; and for that, albeit it hath +been much discoursed of him and them, aught that is told of him cannot +do otherwise than add to our merriment, I will e'en tell you that +which I had then in mind.</p> + +<p>It hath already been clearly enough shown who Calandrino was and who +were the others of whom I am to speak in this story, wherefore, +without further preface, I shall tell you that an aunt of his chanced +to die and left him two hundred crowns in small coin; whereupon he +fell a-talking of wishing to buy an estate and entered into treaty +with all the brokers in Florence, as if he had ten thousand gold +florins to expend; but the matter still fell through, when they came +to the price of the estate in question. Bruno and Buffalmacco, knowing +all this, had told him once and again that he were better spend the +money in making merry together with them than go buy land, as if he +had had to make pellets;<a name="FNanchor_426_428" id="FNanchor_426_428"></a><a href="#Footnote_426_428" class="fnanchor">[426]</a> but, far from this, they had never even +availed to bring him to give them once to eat. One day, as they were +complaining of this, there came up a comrade of theirs, a painter by +name Nello, and they all three took counsel together how they might +find a means of greasing their gullets at Calandrino's expense; +wherefore, without more delay, having agreed among themselves of that +which was to do, they watched next morning for his coming forth of his +house, nor had he gone far when Nello accosted him, saying, 'Good-day, +Calandrino.' Calandrino answered God give him good day and good year, +and Nello, halting awhile, fell to looking him in the face; whereupon +Calandrino asked him, 'At what lookest thou?' Quoth the painter, 'Hath +aught ailed thee this night? Meseemeth thou are not thyself this +morning.' Calandrino incontinent began to quake and said, 'Alack, how +so? What deemest thou aileth me?' 'Egad,' answered Nello, 'as for that +I can't say; but thou seemest to me all changed; belike it is +nothing.' So saying, he let him pass, and Calandrino fared on, all +misdoubtful, albeit he felt no whit ailing; but Buffalmacco, who was +not far<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_436" id="Page_436"></a></span> off, seeing him quit of Nello, made for him and saluting him, +enquired if aught ailed him. Quoth Calandrino, 'I know not; nay, Nello +told me but now that I seemed to him all changed. Can it be that aught +aileth me?' 'Ay,' rejoined Buffalmacco, 'there must e'en be something +or other amiss with thee, for thou appearest half dead.'</p> + +<p>By this time it seemed to Calandrino that he had the fevers, when, lo, +up came Bruno and the first thing he said was, 'Calandrino, what +manner of face is this?' Calandrino, hearing them all in the same +tale, held it for certain that he was in an ill way and asked them, +all aghast, 'what shall I do?' Quoth Bruno, 'Methinketh thou wert best +return home and get thee to bed and cover thyself well and send thy +water to Master Simone the doctor, who is, as thou knowest, as our +very creature and will tell thee incontinent what thou must do. We +will go with thee and if it behoveth to do aught, we will do it.' +Accordingly, Nello having joined himself to them, they returned home +with Calandrino, who betook himself, all dejected, into the bedchamber +and said to his wife, 'Come, cover me well, for I feel myself sore +disordered.' Then, laying himself down, he despatched his water by a +little maid to Master Simone, who then kept shop in the Old Market, at +the sign of the Pumpkin, whilst Bruno said to his comrades, 'Abide you +here with him, whilst I go hear what the doctor saith and bring him +hither, if need be.' 'Ay, for God's sake, comrade mine,' cried +Calandrino, 'go thither and bring me back word how the case standeth, +for I feel I know not what within me.'</p> + +<p>Accordingly, Bruno posted off to Master Simone and coming thither +before the girl who brought the water, acquainted him with the case; +wherefore, the maid being come and the physician, having seen the +water, he said to her, 'Begone and bid Calandrino keep himself well +warm, and I will come to him incontinent and tell him that which +aileth him and what he must do.' The maid reported this to her master +nor was it long before the physician and Bruno came, whereupon the +former, seating himself beside Calandrino, fell to feeling his pulse +and presently, the patient's wife being there present, he said, +'Harkye, Calandrino, to speak to thee as a friend, there aileth thee +nought but that thou art with child.' When Calandrino heard this, he +fell a-roaring for dolour and said, 'Woe's me! Tessa, this is thy +doing, for that thou wilt still be uppermost; I told thee how it would +be.' The lady, who was a very modest person, hearing her husband speak +thus, blushed all red for shamefastness and hanging her head, went out +of the room, without answering a word; whilst Calandrino, pursuing his +complaint, said, 'Alack, wretch that I am! How shall I do? How shall I +bring forth this child? Whence shall he issue? I see plainly I am a +dead man, through the mad lust of yonder wife of mine, whom God make +as woeful as I would fain be glad! Were I as well as I am not, I would +arise and deal her so many and such buffets that I would break every +bone in her body; albeit it e'en serveth me right, for that I should +never have suffered her get the upper hand; but, for certain, an I +come off alive this time, she may die of desire ere she do it again.'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_437" id="Page_437"></a></span></p> + +<p>Bruno and Buffalmacco and Nello were like to burst with laughter, +hearing Calandrino's words; however, they contained themselves, but +Doctor Simple-Simon<a name="FNanchor_427_429" id="FNanchor_427_429"></a><a href="#Footnote_427_429" class="fnanchor">[427]</a> laughed so immoderately that you might have +drawn every tooth in his head. Finally, Calandrino commending himself +to the physician and praying him give him aid and counsel in this his +strait, the latter said to him, 'Calandrino, I will not have thee lose +heart; for, praised be God, we have taken the case so betimes that, in +a few days and with a little trouble, I will deliver thee thereof; but +it will cost thee some little expense.' 'Alack, doctor mine,' cried +Calandrino, 'ay, for the love of God, do it! I have here two hundred +crowns, wherewith I was minded to buy me an estate; take them all, if +need be, so I be not brought to bed; for I know not how I should do, +seeing I hear women make such a terrible outcry, whereas they are +about to bear child, for all they have ample commodity therefor, that +methinketh, if I had that pain to suffer, I should die ere I came to +the bringing forth.' Quoth the doctor, 'Have no fear of that; I will +let make thee a certain ptisan of distilled waters, very good and +pleasant to drink, which will in three mornings' time carry off +everything and leave thee sounder than a fish; but look thou be more +discreet for the future and suffer not thyself fall again into these +follies. Now for this water it behoveth us have three pairs of fine +fat capons, and for other things that are required thereanent, do thou +give one of these (thy comrades) five silver crowns, so he may buy +them, and let carry everything to my shop; and to-morrow, in God's +name, I will send thee the distilled water aforesaid, whereof thou +shalt proceed to drink a good beakerful at a time.' 'Doctor mine,' +replied Calandrino, 'I put myself in your hands'; and giving Bruno +five crowns and money for three pairs of capons, he besought him to +oblige him by taking the pains to buy these things.</p> + +<p>The physician then took his leave and letting make a little +clary,<a name="FNanchor_428_430" id="FNanchor_428_430"></a><a href="#Footnote_428_430" class="fnanchor">[428]</a> despatched it to Calandrino, whilst Bruno, buying the +capons and other things necessary for making good cheer, ate them in +company with his comrades and Master Simone. Calandrino drank of his +clary three mornings, after which the doctor came to him, together +with his comrades, and feeling his pulse, said to him, 'Calandrino, +thou art certainly cured; wherefore henceforth thou mayst safely go +about thine every business nor abide longer at home for this.' +Accordingly, Calandrino arose, overjoyed, and went about his +occasions, mightily extolling, as often as he happened to speak with +any one, the fine cure that Master Simone had wrought of him, in that +he had unbegotten him with child in three days' time, without any +pain; whilst Bruno and Buffalmacco and Nello abode well pleased at +having contrived with this device to overreach his niggardliness, +albeit Dame Tessa, smoking the cheat, rated her husband amain +thereanent."</p> + + + +<hr /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_438" id="Page_438"></a></span></p> +<h2><a name="THE_FOURTH_STORY9" id="THE_FOURTH_STORY9"></a>THE FOURTH STORY</h2> + +<div class="sidenote">Day the Ninth</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="hang">CECCO FORTARRIGO GAMETH AWAY AT BUONCONVENTO ALL HIS GOOD +AND THE MONIES OF CECCO ANGIOLIERI [HIS MASTER;] MOREOVER, +RUNNING AFTER THE LATTER, IN HIS SHIRT, AND AVOUCHING THAT +HE HATH ROBBED HIM, HE CAUSETH HIM BE TAKEN OF THE +COUNTRYFOLK; THEN, DONNING ANGIOLIERI'S CLOTHES AND MOUNTING +HIS PALFREY, HE MAKETH OFF AND LEAVETH THE OTHER IN HIS +SHIRT</p></div> + + +<p><br /><span class="smcap">Calandrino's</span> speech concerning his wife had been hearkened of all the +company with the utmost laughter; then, Filostrato being silent, +Neifile, as the queen willed it, began, "Noble ladies, were it not +uneather for men to show forth unto others their wit and their worth +than it is for them to exhibit their folly and their vice, many would +weary themselves in vain to put a bridle on their tongues; and this +hath right well been made manifest to you by the folly of Calandrino, +who had no call, in seeking to be made whole of the ailment in which +his simplicity caused him believe, to publish the privy diversions of +his wife; and this hath brought to my mind somewhat of contrary +purport to itself, to wit, a story of how one man's knavery got the +better of another's wit, to the grievous hurt and confusion of the +over-reached one, the which it pleaseth me to relate to you.</p> + +<p>There were, then, in Siena, not many years ago, two (as far as age +went) full-grown men, each of whom was called Cecco. One was the son +of Messer Angiolieri and the other of Messer Fortarrigo, and albeit in +most other things they sorted ill of fashions one with the other, they +were natheless so far of accord in one particular, to wit, that they +were both hated of their fathers, that they were by reason thereof +grown friends and companied often together. After awhile, Angiolieri, +who was both a handsome man and a well-mannered, himseeming he could +ill live at Siena of the provision assigned him of his father and +hearing that a certain cardinal, a great patron of his, was come into +the Marches of Ancona as the Pope's Legate, determined to betake +himself to him, thinking thus to better his condition. Accordingly, +acquainting his father with his purpose, he took order with him to +have at once that which he was to give him in six months, so he might +clothe and horse himself and make an honourable figure. As he went +seeking some one whom he might carry with him for his service, the +thing came to Fortarrigo's knowledge, whereupon he presently repaired +to Angiolieri and besought him, as best he knew, to carry him with +him, offering himself to be to him lackey and serving-man and all, +without any wage beyond his expenses paid. Angiolieri answered that he +would nowise take him, not but he knew him to be right well sufficient +unto every manner of service, but for that he was a gambler and +bytimes a drunkard, to boot. But the other replied that he would +without fail keep himself from both of these defaults and affirmed it +unto him with oaths galore, adding so many prayers that Angiolieri was +pre<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_439" id="Page_439"></a></span>vailed upon and said that he was content.</p> + +<p>Accordingly, they both set out one morning and went to dine at +Buonconvento, where, after dinner, the heat being great, Angiolieri +let make ready a bed at the inn and undressing himself, with +Fortarrigo's aid, went to sleep, charging the latter call him at the +stroke of none. As soon as his master was asleep, Fortarrigo betook +himself to the tavern and there, after drinking awhile, he fell to +gaming with certain men, who in a trice won of him some money he had +and after, the very clothes he had on his back; whereupon, desirous of +retrieving himself, he repaired, in his shirt as he was, to +Angiolieri's chamber and seeing him fast asleep, took from his purse +what monies he had and returning to play, lost these as he had lost +the others. Presently, Angiolieri awoke and arising, dressed himself +and enquired for Fortarrigo. The latter was not to be found and +Angiolieri, concluding him to be asleep, drunken, somewhere, as was +bytimes his wont, determined to leave him be and get himself another +servant at Corsignano. Accordingly, he caused put his saddle and his +valise on a palfrey he had and thinking to pay the reckoning, so he +might get him gone, found himself without a penny; whereupon great was +the outcry and all the hostelry was in an uproar, Angiolieri declaring +that he had been robbed there and threatening to have the host and all +his household carried prisoners to Siena.</p> + +<p>At this moment up came Fortarrigo in his shirt, thinking to take his +master's clothes, as he had taken his money, and seeing the latter +ready to mount, said, 'What is this, Angiolieri? Must we needs be gone +already? Good lack, wait awhile; there will be one here forthwith who +hath my doublet in pawn for eight-and-thirty shillings; and I am +certain that he will render it up for five-and-thirty, money down.' As +he spoke, there came one who certified Angiolieri that it was +Fortarrigo who had robbed him of his monies, by showing him the sum of +those which the latter had lost at play; wherefore he was sore +incensed and loaded Fortarrigo with reproaches; and had he not feared +others more than he feared God, he had done him a mischief; then, +threatening to have him strung up by the neck or outlawed from Siena, +he mounted to horse. Fortarrigo, as if he spoke not to him, but to +another, said, 'Good lack, Angiolieri, let be for the nonce this talk +that skilleth not a straw, and have regard unto this; by redeeming +it<a name="FNanchor_429_431" id="FNanchor_429_431"></a><a href="#Footnote_429_431" class="fnanchor">[429]</a> forthright, we may have it again for five-and-thirty +shillings; whereas, if we tarry but till to-morrow, he will not take +less than the eight-and-thirty he lent me thereon; and this favour he +doth me for that I staked it after his counsel. Marry, why should we +not better ourselves by these three shillings?'</p> + +<p>Angiolieri, hearing him talk thus, lost all patience (more by token +that he saw himself eyed askance by the bystanders, who manifestly +believed, not that Fortarrigo had gamed away his monies, but that he +had yet monies of Fortarrigo's in hand) and said to him, 'What have I +to do with thy doublet? Mayst thou be strung up by the neck, since not +only hast thou robbed me and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_440" id="Page_440"></a></span> gambled away my money, but hinderest me +to boot in my journey, and now thou makest mock of me.' However, +Fortarrigo still stood to it, as it were not spoken to him and said, +'Ecod, why wilt thou not better me these three shillings? Thinkest +thou I shall not be able to oblige thee therewith another time? +Prithee, do it, an thou have any regard for me. Why all this haste? We +shall yet reach Torrenieri betimes this evening. Come, find the purse; +thou knowest I might ransack all Siena and not find a doublet to suit +me so well as this; and to think I should let yonder fellow have it +for eight-and-thirty shillings! It is worth yet forty shillings or +more, so that thou wouldst worsen me in two ways.'<a name="FNanchor_430_432" id="FNanchor_430_432"></a><a href="#Footnote_430_432" class="fnanchor">[430]</a></p> + +<p>Angiolieri, beyond measure exasperated to see himself first robbed and +now held in parley after this fashion, made him no further answer, +but, turning his palfrey's head, took the road to Torrenieri, whilst +Fortarrigo, bethinking himself of a subtle piece of knavery, proceeded +to trot after him in his shirt good two miles, still requiring him of +his doublet. Presently, Angiolieri pricking on amain, to rid his ears +of the annoy, Fortarrigo espied some husbandmen in a field, adjoining +the highway in advance of him, and cried out to them, saying, 'Stop +him, stop him!' Accordingly, they ran up, some with spades and others +with mattocks, and presenting themselves in the road before +Angiolieri, concluding that he had robbed him who came crying after +him in his shirt, stopped and took him. It availed him little to tell +them who he was and how the case stood, and Fortarrigo, coming up, +said with an angry air, 'I know not what hindereth me from slaying +thee, disloyal thief that thou wast to make off with my gear!' Then, +turning to the countrymen, 'See, gentlemen,' quoth he, 'in what a +plight he left me at the inn, having first gamed away all his own! I +may well say by God and by you have I gotten back this much, and +thereof I shall still be beholden to you.'</p> + +<p>Angiolieri told them his own story, but his words were not heeded; +nay, Fortarrigo, with the aid of the countrymen, pulled him off his +palfrey and stripping him, clad himself in his clothes; then, mounting +to horse, he left him in his shirt and barefoot and returned to Siena, +avouching everywhere that he had won the horse and clothes of +Angiolieri, whilst the latter, who had thought to go, as a rich man, +to the cardinal in the Marches, returned to Buonconvento, poor and in +his shirt, nor dared for shamefastness go straight back to Siena, but, +some clothes being lent him, he mounted the rouncey that Fortarrigo +had ridden and betook himself to his kinsfolk at Corsignano, with whom +he abode till such time as he was furnished anew by his father. On +this wise Fortarrigo's knavery baffled Angiolieri's fair +advisement,<a name="FNanchor_431_433" id="FNanchor_431_433"></a><a href="#Footnote_431_433" class="fnanchor">[431]</a> albeit his villainy was not left by the latter +unpunished in due time and place."</p> + + + +<hr /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_441" id="Page_441"></a></span></p> +<h2><a name="THE_FIFTH_STORY9" id="THE_FIFTH_STORY9"></a>THE FIFTH STORY</h2> + +<div class="sidenote">Day the Ninth</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="hang">CALANDRINO FALLETH IN LOVE WITH A WENCH AND BRUNO WRITETH +HIM A TALISMAN, WHEREWITH WHEN HE TOUCHETH HER, SHE GOETH +WITH HIM; AND HIS WIFE FINDING THEM TOGETHER, THERE BETIDETH +HIM GRIEVOUS TROUBLE AND ANNOY</p></div> + + +<p><br /><span class="smcap">Neifile's</span> short story being finished and the company having passed it +over without overmuch talk or laughter, the queen turned to Fiammetta +and bade her follow on, to which she replied all blithely that she +would well and began, "Gentlest ladies, there is, as methinketh you +may know, nothing, how much soever it may have been talked thereof, +but will still please, provided whoso is minded to speak of it know +duly to choose the time and the place that befit it. Wherefore, having +regard to our intent in being here (for that we are here to make merry +and divert ourselves and not for otherwhat), meseemeth that everything +which may afford mirth and pleasance hath here both due place and due +time; and albeit it may have been a thousand times discoursed thereof, +it should natheless be none the less pleasing, though one speak of it +as much again. Wherefore, notwithstanding it hath been many times +spoken among us of the sayings and doings of Calandrino, I will make +bold, considering, as Filostrato said awhile ago, that these are all +diverting, to tell you yet another story thereof, wherein were I +minded to swerve from the fact, I had very well known to disguise and +recount it under other names; but, for that, in the telling of a +story, to depart from the truth of things betided detracteth greatly +from the listener's pleasure, I will e'en tell it you in its true +shape, moved by the reason aforesaid.</p> + +<p>Niccolo Cornacchini was a townsman of ours and a rich man and had, +among his other possessions, a fine estate at Camerata, whereon he let +build a magnificent mansion and agreed with Bruno and Buffalmacco to +paint it all for him; and they, for that the work was great, joined to +themselves Nello and Calandrino and fell to work. Thither, for that +there was none of the family in the house, although there were one or +two chambers furnished with beds and other things needful and an old +serving-woman abode there, as guardian of the place, a son of the said +Niccolo, by name Filippo, being young and without a wife, was wont +bytimes to bring some wench or other for his diversion and keep her +there a day or two and after send her away. It chanced once, among +other times, that he brought thither one called Niccolosa, whom a lewd +fellow, by name Mangione, kept at his disposal in a house at Camaldoli +and let out on hire. She was a woman of a fine person and well clad +and for her kind well enough mannered and spoken.</p> + +<p>One day at noontide, she having come forth her chamber in a white +petticoat, with her hair twisted about her head, and being in act to +wash her hands and face at a well that was in the courtyard of the +mansion, it chanced that Calandrino came thither for water and saluted +her familiarly.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_442" id="Page_442"></a></span> She returned him his greeting and fell to eying him, +more because he seemed to her an odd sort of fellow than for any fancy +she had for him; whereupon he likewise fell a-considering her and +himseeming she was handsome, he began to find his occasions for +abiding there and returned not to his comrades with the water, but, +knowing her not, dared not say aught to her. She, who had noted his +looking, glanced at him from time to time, to make game of him, +heaving some small matter of sighs the while; wherefore Calandrino +fell suddenly over head and ears in love with her and left not the +courtyard till she was recalled by Filippo into the chamber. +Therewithal he returned to work, but did nought but sigh, which Bruno, +who had still an eye to his doings, for that he took great delight in +his fashions, remarking, 'What a devil aileth thee, friend +Calandrino?' quoth he. 'Thou dost nought but sigh.' 'Comrade,' +answered Calandrino, 'had I but some one to help me, I should fare +well.' 'How so?' enquired Bruno; and Calandrino replied, 'It must not +be told to any; but there is a lass down yonder, fairer than a fairy, +who hath fallen so mightily in love with me that 'twould seem to thee +a grave matter. I noted it but now, whenas I went for the water.' +'Ecod,' cried Bruno, 'look she be not Filippo's wife.' Quoth +Calandrino, 'Methinketh it is she, for that he called her and she went +to him in the chamber; but what of that? In matters of this kind I +would jockey Christ himself, let alone Filippo; and to tell thee the +truth, comrade, she pleaseth me more than I can tell thee.' 'Comrade,' +answered Bruno, 'I will spy thee out who she is, and if she be +Filippo's wife, I will order thine affairs for thee in a brace of +words, for she is a great friend of mine. But how shall we do, so +Buffalmacco may not know? I can never get a word with her, but he is +with me.' Quoth Calandrino, 'Of Buffalmacco I reck not; but we must +beware of Nello, for that he is Tessa's kinsman and would mar us +everything.' And Bruno said, 'True.'</p> + +<p>Now he knew very well who the wench was, for that he had seen her come +and moreover Filippo had told him. Accordingly, Calandrino having left +work awhile and gone to get a sight of her, Bruno told Nello and +Buffalmacco everything and they took order together in secret what +they should do with him in the matter of this his enamourment. When he +came back, Bruno said to him softly, 'Hast seen her?' 'Alack, yes,' +replied Calandrino; 'she hath slain me.' Quoth Bruno, 'I must go see +an it be she I suppose; and if it be so, leave me do.' Accordingly, he +went down into the courtyard and finding Filippo and Niccolosa there, +told them precisely what manner of man Calandrino was and took order +with them of that which each of them should do and say, so they might +divert themselves with the lovesick gull and make merry over his +passion. Then, returning to Calandrino, he said, 'It is indeed she; +wherefore needs must the thing be very discreetly managed, for, should +Filippo get wind of it, all the water in the Arno would not wash us. +But what wouldst thou have me say to her on thy part, if I should +chance to get speech of her?' 'Faith,' answered Calandrino, 'thou +shalt tell her, to begin with, that I will her a thousand measures of +that good stuff that getteth<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_443" id="Page_443"></a></span> with child, and after, that I am her +servant and if she would have aught.... Thou takest me?' 'Ay,' said +Bruno, 'leave me do.'</p> + +<p>Presently, supper-time being come, the painters left work and went +down into the courtyard, where they found Filippo and Niccolosa and +tarried there awhile, to oblige Calandrino. The latter fell to ogling +Niccolosa and making the oddest grimaces in the world, such and so +many that a blind man would have remarked them. She on her side did +everything that she thought apt to inflame him, and Filippo, in +accordance with the instructions he had of Bruno, made believe to talk +with Buffalmacco and the others and to have no heed of this, whilst +taking the utmost diversion in Calandrino's fashions. However, after a +while, to the latter's exceeding chagrin, they took their leave and as +they returned to Florence, Bruno said to Calandrino, 'I can tell thee +thou makest her melt like ice in the sun. Cock's body, wert thou to +fetch thy rebeck and warble thereto some of those amorous ditties of +thine, thou wouldst cause her cast herself out of window to come to +thee.' Quoth Calandrino, 'Deemest thou, gossip? Deemest thou I should +do well to fetch it?' 'Ay, do I,' answered Bruno; and Calandrino went +on, 'Thou wouldst not credit me this morning, whenas I told it thee; +but, for certain, gossip, methinketh I know better than any man alive +to do what I will. Who, other than I, had known to make such a lady so +quickly in love with me? Not your trumpeting young braggarts,<a name="FNanchor_432_434" id="FNanchor_432_434"></a><a href="#Footnote_432_434" class="fnanchor">[432]</a> I +warrant you, who are up and down all day long and could not make +shift, in a thousand years, to get together three handsful of cherry +stones. I would fain have thee see me with the rebeck; 'twould be fine +sport for thee. I will have thee to understand once for all that I am +no dotard, as thou deemest me, and this she hath right well perceived, +she; but I will make her feel it othergates fashion, so once I get my +claw into her back; by the very body of Christ, I will lead her such a +dance that she will run after me, as the madwoman after her child.' +'Ay,' rejoined Bruno, 'I warrant me thou wilt rummage her; methinketh +I see thee, with those teeth of thine that were made for virginal +jacks,<a name="FNanchor_433_435" id="FNanchor_433_435"></a><a href="#Footnote_433_435" class="fnanchor">[433]</a> bite that little vermeil mouth of hers and those her +cheeks, that show like two roses, and after eat her all up.'</p> + +<p>Calandrino, hearing this, fancied himself already at it and went +singing and skipping, so overjoyed that he was like to jump out of his +skin. On the morrow, having brought the rebeck, he, to the great +diversion of all the company, sang sundry songs thereto; and in brief, +he was taken with such an itch for the frequent seeing of her that he +wrought not a whit, but ran a thousand times a day, now to the window, +now to the door and anon into the courtyard, to get a look at her, +whereof she, adroitly<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_444" id="Page_444"></a></span> carrying out Bruno's instructions, afforded him +ample occasion. Bruno, on his side, answered his messages in her name +and bytimes brought him others as from her; and whenas she was not +there, which was mostly the case, he carried him letters from her, +wherein she gave him great hopes of compassing his desire, feigning +herself at home with her kinsfolk, where he might not presently see +her. On this wise, Bruno, with the aid of Buffalmacco, who had a hand +in the matter, kept the game afoot and had the greatest sport in the +world with Calandrino's antics, causing him give them bytimes, as at +his mistress's request, now an ivory comb, now a purse and anon a +knife and such like toys, for which they brought him in return divers +paltry counterfeit rings of no value, with which he was vastly +delighted; and to boot, they had of him, for their pains, store of +dainty collations and other small matters of entertainment, so they +might be diligent about his affairs.</p> + +<p>On this wise they kept him in play good two months, without getting a +step farther, at the end of which time, seeing the work draw to an end +and bethinking himself that, an he brought not his amours to an issue +in the meantime, he might never have another chance thereof, he began +to urge and importune Bruno amain; wherefore, when next the girl came +to the mansion, Bruno, having first taken order with her and Filippo +of what was to be done, said to Calandrino, 'Harkye, gossip, yonder +lady hath promised me a good thousand times to do that which thou +wouldst have and yet doth nought thereof, and meseemeth she leadeth +thee by the nose; wherefore, since she doth it not as she promiseth, +we will an it like thee, make her do it, will she, nill she.' 'Ecod, +ay!' answered Calandrino. 'For the love of God let it be done +speedily.' Quoth Bruno, 'Will thy heart serve thee to touch her with a +script I shall give thee?' 'Ay, sure,' replied Calandrino; and the +other, 'Then do thou make shift to bring me a piece of virgin +parchment and a live bat, together with three grains of frankincense +and a candle that hath been blessed by the priest, and leave me do.' +Accordingly, Calandrino lay in wait all the next night with his +engines to catch a bat and having at last taken one, carried it to +Bruno, with the other things required; whereupon the latter, +withdrawing to a chamber, scribbled divers toys of his fashion upon +the parchment, in characters of his own devising, and brought it to +him, saying, 'Know, Calandrino, that, if thou touch her with this +script, she will incontinent follow thee and do what thou wilt. +Wherefore, if Filippo should go abroad anywhither to-day, do thou +contrive to accost her on some pretext or other and touch her; then +betake thyself to the barn yonder, which is the best place here for +thy purpose, for that no one ever frequenteth there. Thou wilt find +she will come thither, and when she is there, thou knowest well what +thou hast to do.' Calandrino was the joyfullest man alive and took the +script, saying, 'Gossip, leave me do.'</p> + +<p>Now Nello, whom Calandrino mistrusted, had as much diversion of the +matter as the others and bore a hand with them in making sport of him: +wherefore, of accord with Bruno, he betook himself to Florence to +Calandrino's wife and said to her, 'Tessa,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_445" id="Page_445"></a></span> thou knowest what a +beating Calandrino gave thee without cause the day he came back, laden +with stones from the Mugnone; wherefore I mean to have thee avenge +thyself on him; and if thou do it not, hold me no more for kinsman or +for friend. He hath fallen in love with a woman over yonder, and she +is lewd enough to go very often closeting herself with him. A little +while agone, they appointed each other to foregather together this +very day; wherefore I would have thee come thither and lie in wait for +him and chastise him well.' When the lady heard this, it seemed to her +no jesting matter, but, starting to her feet, she fell a-saying, +'Alack, common thief that thou art, is it thus that thou usest me? By +Christ His Cross, it shall not pass thus, but I will pay thee +therefor!' Then, taking her mantle and a little maid to bear her +company, she started off at a good round pace for the mansion, +together with Nello.</p> + +<p>As soon as Bruno saw the latter afar off, he said to Filippo, 'Here +cometh our friend'; whereupon the latter, betaking himself whereas +Calandrino and the others were at work, said, 'Masters, needs must I +go presently to Florence; work with a will.' Then, going away, he hid +himself in a place when he could, without being seen, see what +Calandrino should do. The latter, as soon as he deemed Filippo +somewhat removed, came down into the courtyard and finding Niccolosa +there alone, entered into talk with her, whilst she, who knew well +enough what she had to do, drew near him and entreated him somewhat +more familiarly than of wont. Thereupon he touched her with the script +and no sooner had he done so than he turned, without saying a word, +and made for the barn, whither she followed him. As soon as she was +within, she shut the door and taking him in her arms, threw him down +on the straw that was on the floor; then, mounting astride of him and +holding him with her hands on his shoulders, without letting him draw +near her face, she gazed at him, as he were her utmost desire, and +said, 'O sweet my Calandrino, heart of my body, my soul, my treasure, +my comfort, how long have I desired to have thee and to be able to +hold thee at my wish! Thou hast drawn all the thread out of my shift +with thy gentilesse; thou hast tickled my heart with thy rebeck. Can +it be true that I hold thee?' Calandrino, who could scarce stir, said, +'For God's sake, sweet my soul, let me buss thee.' 'Marry,' answered +she, 'thou art in a mighty hurry. Let me first take my fill of looking +upon thee; let me sate mine eyes with that sweet face of thine.'</p> + +<p>Now Bruno and Buffalmacco were come to join Filippo and all three +heard and saw all this. As Calandrino was now offering to kiss +Niccolosa perforce, up came Nello with Dame Tessa and said, as soon as +he reached the place, 'I vow to God they are together.' Then, coming +up to the door of the barn, the lady, who was all a-fume with rage, +dealt it such a push with her hands that she sent it flying, and +entering, saw Niccolosa astride of Calandrino. The former, seeing the +lady, started up in haste and taking to flight, made off to join +Filippo, whilst Dame Tessa fell tooth and nail upon Calandrino, who +was still on his back, and clawed all his face; then, clutching him<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_446" id="Page_446"></a></span> +by the hair and haling him hither and thither, 'Thou sorry shitten +cur,' quoth she, 'dost thou then use me thus? Besotted dotard that +thou art, accursed be the weal I have willed thee! Marry, seemeth it +to thee thou hast not enough to do at home, that thou must go +wantoning it in other folk's preserves? A fine gallant, i'faith! Dost +thou not know thyself, losel that thou art? Dost thou not know +thyself, good for nought? Wert thou to be squeezed dry, there would +not come as much juice from thee as might suffice for a sauce. Cock's +faith, thou canst not say it was Tessa that was presently in act to +get thee with child, God make her sorry, who ever she is, for a scurvy +trull as she must be to have a mind to so fine a jewel as thou!'</p> + +<p>Calandrino, seeing his wife come, abode neither dead nor alive and had +not the hardihood to make any defence against her; but, rising, all +scratched and flayed and baffled as he was, and picking up his bonnet, +he fell to humbly beseeching her leave crying out, an she would not +have him cut in pieces, for that she who had been with him was the +wife of the master of the house; whereupon quoth she, 'So be it, God +give her an ill year.' At this moment, Bruno and Buffalmacco, having +laughed their fill at all this, in company with Filippo and Niccolosa, +came up, feigning to be attracted by the clamour, and having with no +little ado appeased the lady, counselled Calandrino betake himself to +Florence and return thither no more, lest Filippo should get wind of +the matter and do him a mischief. Accordingly he returned to Florence, +chapfallen and woebegone, all flayed and scratched, and never ventured +to go thither again; but, being plagued and harassed night and day +with his wife's reproaches, he made an end of his fervent love, having +given much cause for laughter to his companions, no less than to +Niccolosa and Filippo."</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="THE_SIXTH_STORY9" id="THE_SIXTH_STORY9"></a>THE SIXTH STORY</h2> + +<div class="sidenote">Day the Ninth</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="hang">TWO YOUNG GENTLEMEN LODGE THE NIGHT WITH AN INNKEEPER, +WHEREOF ONE GOETH TO LIE WITH THE HOST'S DAUGHTER, WHILST +HIS WIFE UNWITTINGLY COUCHETH WITH THE OTHER; AFTER WHICH HE +WHO LAY WITH THE GIRL GETTETH HIM TO BED WITH HER FATHER AND +TELLETH HIM ALL, THINKING TO BESPEAK HIS COMRADE. +THEREWITHAL THEY COME TO WORDS, BUT THE WIFE, PERCEIVING HER +MISTAKE, ENTERETH HER DAUGHTER'S BED AND THENCE WITH CERTAIN +WORDS APPEASETH EVERYTHING</p></div> + + +<p><br /><span class="smcap">Calandrino</span>, who had otherwhiles afforded the company matter for +laughter, made them laugh this time also, and whenas the ladies had +left devising of his fashions, the queen bade Pamfilo tell, whereupon +quoth he, "Laudable ladies, the name of Niccolosa, Calandrino's +mistress, hath brought me back to mind a story of another Niccolosa, +which it pleaseth me to tell you, for that therein you shall see how a +goodwife's ready wit did away a great scandal.</p> + +<p>In the plain of Mugnone there was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_447" id="Page_447"></a></span> not long since a good man who gave +wayfarers to eat and drink for their money, and although he was poor +and had but a small house, he bytimes at a pinch gave, not every one, +but sundry acquaintances, a night's lodging. He had a wife, a very +handsome woman, by whom he had two children, whereof one was a fine +buxom lass of some fifteen or sixteen years of age, who was not yet +married, and the other a little child, not yet a year old, whom his +mother herself suckled. Now a young gentleman of our city, a sprightly +and pleasant youth, who was often in those parts, had cast his eyes on +the girl and loved her ardently; and she, who gloried greatly in being +beloved of a youth of his quality, whilst studying with pleasing +fashions to maintain him in her love, became no less enamoured of him, +and more than once, by mutual accord, this their love had had the +desired effect, but that Pinuccio (for such was the young man's name) +feared to bring reproach upon his mistress and himself. However, his +ardour waxing from day to day, he could no longer master his desire to +foregather with her and bethought himself to find a means of +harbouring with her father, doubting not, from his acquaintance with +the ordinance of the latter's house, but he might in that event +contrive to pass the night in her company, without any being the +wiser; and no sooner had he conceived this design than he proceeded +without delay to carry it into execution.</p> + +<p>Accordingly, in company with a trusty friend of his called Adriano, +who knew his love, he late one evening hired a couple of hackneys and +set thereon two pairs of saddle-bags, filled belike with straw, with +which they set out from Florence and fetching a compass, rode till +they came overagainst the plain of Mugnone, it being by this night; +then, turning about, as they were on their way back from Romagna, they +made for the good man's house and knocked at the door. The host, being +very familiar with both of them, promptly opened the door and Pinuccio +said to him, 'Look you, thou must needs harbour us this night. We +thought to reach Florence before dark, but have not availed to make +such haste but that we find ourselves here, as thou seest at this +hour.' 'Pinuccio,' answered the host, 'thou well knowest how little +commodity I have to lodge such men as you are; however, since the +night hath e'en overtaken you here and there is no time for you to go +otherwhere, I will gladly harbour you as I may.' The two young men +accordingly alighted and entered the inn, where they first eased<a name="FNanchor_434_436" id="FNanchor_434_436"></a><a href="#Footnote_434_436" class="fnanchor">[434]</a> +their hackneys and after supper with the host, having taken good care +to bring provision with them.</p> + +<p>Now the good man had but one very small bedchamber, wherein were three +pallet-beds set as best he knew, two at one end of the room and the +third overagainst them at the other end; nor for all that was there so +much space left that one could go there otherwise than straitly. The +least ill of the three the host let make ready for the two friends and +put them to lie there; then, after a while neither of the gentlemen +being asleep, though both made a show thereof, he caused his daughter +betake<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_448" id="Page_448"></a></span> herself to bed in one of the two others and lay down himself +in the third, with his wife, who set by the bedside the cradle wherein +she had her little son. Things being ordered after this fashion and +Pinuccio having seen everything, after a while, himseeming that every +one was asleep, he arose softly and going to the bed where slept the +girl beloved of him, laid himself beside the latter, by whom, for all +she did it timorously, he was joyfully received, and with her he +proceeded to take of that pleasure which both most desired. Whilst +Pinuccio abode thus with his mistress, it chanced that a cat caused +certain things fall, which the good wife, awaking, heard; whereupon, +fearing lest it were otherwhat, she arose, as she was, in the dark and +betook herself whereas she had heard the noise.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, Adriano, without intent aforethought, arose by chance for +some natural occasion and going to despatch this, came upon the +cradle, whereas it had been set by the good wife, and unable to pass +without moving it, took it up and set it down beside his own bed; +then, having accomplished that for which he had arisen, he returned +and betook himself to bed again, without recking of the cradle. The +good wife, having searched and found the thing which had fallen was +not what she thought, never troubled herself to kindle a light, to see +it, but, chiding the cat, returned to the chamber and groped her way +to the bed where her husband lay. Finding the cradle not there, 'Mercy +o' me!' quoth she in herself. 'See what I was about to do! As I am a +Christian, I had well nigh gone straight to our guest's bed.' Then, +going a little farther and finding the cradle, she entered the bed +whereby it stood and laid herself down beside Adriano, thinking to +couch with her husband. Adriano, who was not yet asleep, feeling this, +received her well and joyously and laying her aboard in a trice, +clapped on all sail, to the no small contentment of the lady.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, Pinuccio, fearing lest sleep should surprise him with his +lass and having taken of her his fill of pleasure, arose from her, to +return to his own bed, to sleep, and finding the cradle in his way, +took the adjoining bed for that of his host; wherefore, going a little +farther, he lay down with the latter, who awoke at his coming. +Pinuccio, deeming himself beside Adriano, said, 'I tell thee there +never was so sweet a creature as is Niccolosa. Cock's body, I have had +with her the rarest sport ever man had with woman, more by token that +I have gone upwards of six times into the country, since I left thee.' +The host, hearing this talk and being not overwell pleased therewith, +said first in himself, 'What a devil doth this fellow here?' Then, +more angered than well-advised, 'Pinuccio,' quoth he, 'this hath been +a great piece of villainy of thine, and I know not why thou shouldst +have used me thus; but, by the body of God, I will pay thee for it!!' +Pinuccio, who was not the wisest lad in the world, seeing his mistake, +addressed not himself to mend it as best he might, but said, 'Of what +wilt thou pay me? What canst thou do to me?' Therewithal the hostess, +who thought herself with her husband, said to Adriano, 'Good lack, +hark to our guests how they are at I know not what words together!' +Quoth Adriano, laughing, 'Leave them do,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_449" id="Page_449"></a></span> God land them in an ill +year! They drank overmuch yesternight.'</p> + +<p>The good wife, herseeming she had heard her husband scold and hearing +Adriano speak, incontinent perceived where and with whom she had been; +whereupon, like a wise woman as she was, she arose forthright, without +saying a word, and taking her little son's cradle, carried it at a +guess, for that there was no jot of light to be seen in the chamber, +to the side of the bed where her daughter slept and lay down with the +latter; then, as if she had been aroused by her husband's clamour, she +called him and enquired what was to do between himself and Pinuccio. +He answered, 'Hearest thou not what he saith he hath done this night +unto Niccolosa?' 'Marry,' quoth she, 'he lieth in his throat, for he +was never abed with Niccolosa, seeing that I have lain here all night; +more by token that I have not been able to sleep a wink; and thou art +an ass to believe him. You men drink so much of an evening that you do +nothing but dream all night and fare hither and thither, without +knowing it, and fancy you do wonders. 'Tis a thousand pities you don't +break your necks. But what doth Pinuccio yonder? Why bideth he not in +his own bed?' Adriano, on his part, seeing how adroitly the good wife +went about to cover her own shame and that of her daughter, chimed in +with, 'Pinuccio, I have told thee an hundred times not to go abroad, +for that this thy trick of arising in thy sleep and telling for true +the extravagances thou dreamest will bring thee into trouble some day +or other. Come back here, God give thee an ill night!'</p> + +<p>The host, hearing what his wife and Adriano said, began to believe in +good earnest that Pinuccio was dreaming; and accordingly, taking him +by the shoulders, he fell to shaking and calling him, saying, +'Pinuccio, awake; return to thine own bed.' Pinuccio having +apprehended all that had been said began to wander off into other +extravagances, after the fashion of a man a-dream; whereat the host +set up the heartiest laughter in the world. At last, he made believe +to awake for stress of shaking, and calling to Adriano, said, 'Is it +already day, that thou callest me?' 'Ay,' answered the other, 'come +hither.' Accordingly, Pinuccio, dissembling and making a show of being +sleepy-eyed, arose at last from beside the host and went back to bed +with Adriano. The day come and they being risen, the host fell to +laughing and mocking at Pinuccio and his dreams; and so they passed +from one jest to another, till the young men, having saddled their +rounceys and strapped on their valises and drunken with the host, +remounted to horse and rode away to Florence, no less content with the +manner in which the thing had betided than with the effect itself +thereof. Thereafter Pinuccio found other means of foregathering with +Niccolosa, who vowed to her mother that he had certainly dreamt the +thing; wherefore the goodwife, remembering her of Adriano's +embracements, inwardly avouched herself alone to have waked."</p> + + + +<hr /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_450" id="Page_450"></a></span></p> +<h2><a name="THE_SEVENTH_STORY9" id="THE_SEVENTH_STORY9"></a>THE SEVENTH STORY</h2> + +<div class="sidenote">Day the Ninth</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="hang">TALANO DI MOLESE DREAMETH THAT A WOLF MANGLETH ALL HIS +WIFE'S NECK AND FACE AND BIDDETH HER BEWARE THEREOF; BUT SHE +PAYETH NO HEED TO HIS WARNING AND IT BEFALLETH HER EVEN AS +HE HAD DREAMED</p></div> + + +<p><br /><span class="smcap">Pamfilo's</span> story being ended and the goodwife's presence of mind having +been commended of all, the queen bade Pampinea tell hers and she +thereupon began, "It hath been otherwhile discoursed among us, +charming ladies, of the truths foreshown by dreams, the which many of +our sex scoff at; wherefore, notwithstanding that which hath been said +thereof, I shall not scruple to tell you, in a very few words, that +which no great while ago befell a she-neighbour of mine for not giving +credit to a dream of herself seen by her husband.</p> + +<p>I know not if you were acquainted with Talano di Molese, a very +worshipful man, who took to wife a young lady called Margarita, fair +over all others, but so humoursome, ill-conditioned and froward that +she would do nought of other folk's judgment, nor could others do +aught to her liking; the which, irksome as it was to Talano to endure, +natheless, as he could no otherwise, needs must he put up with. It +chanced one night that, being with this Margarita of his at an estate +he had in the country, himseemed in his sleep he saw his wife go +walking in a very fair wood which they had not far from their house, +and as she went, himseemed there came forth of a thicket a great and +fierce wolf, which sprang straight at her throat and pulling her to +the ground, enforced himself to carry her off, whilst she screamed for +aid; and after, she winning free of his fangs, it seemed he had marred +all her throat and face. Accordingly, when he arose in the morning, he +said to the lady, 'Wife, albeit thy frowardness hath never suffered me +to have a good day with thee, yet it would grieve me should ill betide +thee; wherefore, an thou wilt hearken to my counsel, thou wilt not go +forth the house to-day'; and being asked of her why, he orderly +recounted to her his dream.</p> + +<p>The lady shook her head and said, 'Who willeth thee ill, dreameth thee +ill. Thou feignest thyself mighty careful of me; but thou dreamest of +me that which thou wouldst fain see come to pass; and thou mayst be +assured that I will be careful both to-day and always not to gladden +thee with this or other mischance of mine.' Quoth Talano, 'I knew thou +wouldst say thus; for that such thanks still hath he who combeth a +scald-head; but, believe as thou listeth, I for my part tell it to +thee for good, and once more I counsel thee abide at home to-day or at +least beware of going into our wood.' 'Good,' answered the lady, 'I +will do it'; and after fell a-saying to herself, 'Sawest thou how +artfully yonder man thinketh to have feared me from going to our wood +to-day? Doubtless he hath given some trull or other tryst there and +would not have me find him with her. Marry, it were fine eating for +him with blind folk and I should be a right simpleton an I saw not his +drift and if I believed him! But certes he shall<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_451" id="Page_451"></a></span> not have his will; +nay, though I abide there all day, needs must I see what traffic is +this that he hath in hand to-day.'</p> + +<p>Accordingly, her husband being gone out at one door, she went out at +the other and betook herself as most secretly she might straight to +the wood and hid herself in the thickest part thereof, standing attent +and looking now here and now there, an she should see any one come. As +she abode on this wise, without any thought of danger, behold, there +sallied forth of a thick coppice hard by a terrible great wolf, and +scarce could she say, 'Lord, aid me!' when it flew at her throat and +laying fast hold of her, proceeded to carry her off, as she were a +lambkin. She could neither cry nor aid herself on other wise, so sore +was her gullet straitened; wherefore the wolf, carrying her off, would +assuredly have throttled her, had he not encountered certain +shepherds, who shouted at him and constrained him to loose her. The +shepherds knew her and carried her home, in a piteous plight, where, +after long tending by the physicians, she was healed, yet not so +wholly but she had all her throat and a part of her face marred on +such wise that, whereas before she was fair, she ever after appeared +misfeatured and very foul of favour; wherefore, being ashamed to +appear whereas she might be seen, she many a time bitterly repented +her of her frowardness and her perverse denial to put faith, in a +matter which cost her nothing, in her husband's true dream."</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="THE_EIGHTH_STORY9" id="THE_EIGHTH_STORY9"></a>THE EIGHTH STORY</h2> + +<div class="sidenote">Day the Ninth</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="hang">BIONDELLO CHEATETH CIACCO OF A DINNER, WHEREOF THE OTHER +CRAFTILY AVENGETH HIMSELF, PROCURING HIM TO BE SHAMEFULLY +BEATEN</p></div> + + +<p><br /><span class="smcap">The</span> merry company with one accord avouched that which Talano had seen +in sleep to have been no dream, but a vision, so punctually, without +there failing aught thereof, had it come to pass. But, all being +silent the queen charged Lauretta follow on, who said, "Like as those, +most discreet ladies, who have to-day foregone me in speech, have been +well nigh all moved to discourse by something already said, even so +the stern vengeance wreaked by the scholar, of whom Pampinea told us +yesterday, moveth me to tell of a piece of revenge, which, without +being so barbarous as the former, was nevertheless grievous unto him +who brooked it.</p> + +<p>I must tell you, then, that there was once in Florence a man whom all +called Ciacco,<a name="FNanchor_435_437" id="FNanchor_435_437"></a><a href="#Footnote_435_437" class="fnanchor">[435]</a> as great a glutton as ever lived. His means +sufficing him not to support the expense that his gluttony required +and he being, for the rest, a very well-mannered man and full of +goodly and pleasant sayings, he addressed himself to be, not +altogether a buffoon, but a spunger<a name="FNanchor_436_438" id="FNanchor_436_438"></a><a href="#Footnote_436_438" class="fnanchor">[436]</a> and to company with<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_452" id="Page_452"></a></span> those +who were rich and delighted to eat of good things; and with these he +went often to dine and sup, albeit he was not always bidden. There was +likewise at Florence, in those days, a man called Biondello, a little +dapper fellow of his person, very quaint of his dress and sprucer than +a fly, with his coif on his head and his yellow periwig still drest to +a nicety, without a hair awry, who plied the same trade as Ciacco. +Going one morning in Lent whereas they sell the fish and cheapening +two very fine lampreys for Messer Vieri de' Cerchj, he was seen by +Ciacco, who accosted him and said, 'What meaneth this?' Whereto +Biondello made answer, 'Yestereve there were sent unto Messer Corso +Donati three lampreys, much finer than these, and a sturgeon; to which +sufficing him not for a dinner he is minded to give certain gentlemen, +he would have me buy these other two. Wilt thou not come thither, +thou?' Quoth Ciacco, 'Thou knowest well that I shall be there.'</p> + +<p>. +Accordingly, whenas it seemed to him time, he betook himself to Messer +Corso's house, where he found him with sundry neighbours of his, not +yet gone to dinner, and being asked of him what he went doing, +answered, 'Sir, I am come to dine with you and your company.' Quoth +Messer Corso, 'Thou art welcome; and as it is time, let us to table.' +Thereupon they seated themselves at table and had, to begin with, +chickpease and pickled tunny, and after a dish of fried fish from the +Arno, and no more, Ciacco, perceiving the cheat that Biondello had put +upon him, was inwardly no little angered thereat and resolved to pay +him for it; nor had many days passed ere he again encountered the +other, who had by this time made many folk merry with the trick he had +played him. Biondello, seeing him, saluted him and asked him, +laughing, how he had found Messer Corso's lampreys; to which Ciacco +answered, 'That shalt thou know much better than I, ere eight days be +past.'</p> + +<p>Then, without wasting time over the matter, he took leave of Biondello +and agreeing for a price with a shrewd huckster, carried him near to +the Cavicciuoli Gallery and showing him a gentleman there, called +Messer Filippo Argenti, a big burly rawboned fellow and the most +despiteful, choleric and humoursome man alive, gave him a great glass +flagon and said to him, 'Go to yonder gentleman with this flask in +hand and say to him, "Sir Biondello sendeth me to you and prayeth you +be pleased to rubify him this flask with your good red wine, for that +he would fain make merry somedele with his minions." But take good +care he lay not his hands on thee; else will he give thee an ill +morrow and thou wilt have marred my plans.' 'Have I aught else to +say,' asked the huckster; and Ciacco answered, 'No; do but go and say +this and after come back to me here with the flask and I will pay +thee.' The huckster accordingly set off and did his errand to Messer +Filippo, who, hearing the message and being lightly ruffled, concluded +that Biondello, whom he knew, had a mind to make mock of him, and +waxing all red in the face, said, 'What "rubify me" and what "minions" +be these? God land thee and him an ill year!' Then, starting to his +feet, he put out his hand to lay hold of the huckster; but the latter, +who was on his guard, promptly took to his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_453" id="Page_453"></a></span> heels and returning by +another way to Ciacco, who had seen all that had passed, told him what +Messer Filippo had said to him. Ciacco, well pleased, paid him and +rested not till he found Biondello, to whom quoth he, 'Hast thou been +late at the Cavicciuoli Gallery?' 'Nay,' answered the other. 'Why dost +thou ask me?' 'Because,' replied Ciacco, 'I must tell thee that Messer +Filippo enquireth for thee; I know not what he would have.' 'Good,' +rejoined Biondello; 'I am going that way and will speak with him.' +Accordingly, he made off, and Ciacco followed him, to see how the +thing should pass.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile Messer Filippo, having failed to come at the huckster, abode +sore disordered and was inwardly all a-fume with rage, being unable to +make anything in the world of the huckster's words, if not that +Biondello, at whosesoever instance, was minded to make mock of him. As +he fretted himself thus, up came Biondello, whom no sooner did he espy +than he made for him and dealt him a sore buffet in the face. 'Alack, +sir,' cried Biondello, 'what is this?' Whereupon Messer Filippo, +clutching him by the hair and tearing his coif, cast his bonnet to the +ground and said, laying on to him amain the while, 'Knave that thou +art, thou shalt soon see what it is! What is this thou sendest to say +to me with thy "rubify me" and thy "minions"? Deemest thou me a child, +to be flouted on this wise?' So saying, he battered his whole face +with his fists, which were like very iron, nor left him a hair on his +head unruffled; then, rolling him in the mire, he tore all the clothes +off his back; and to this he applied himself with such a will that +Biondello could not avail to say a word to him nor ask why he served +him thus. He had heard him indeed speak of 'rubify me' and 'minions,' +but knew not what this meant.</p> + +<p>At last, Messer Filippo having beaten him soundly, the bystanders, +whereof many had by this time gathered about them, dragged him, with +the utmost difficulty, out of the other's clutches, all bruised and +battered as he was, and told him why the gentleman had done this, +blaming him for that which he had sent to say to him and telling him +that he should by that time have known Messer Filippo better and that +he was not a man to jest withal. Biondello, all in tears protested his +innocence, declaring that he had never sent to Messer Filippo for +wine, and as soon as he was somewhat recovered, he returned home, sick +and sorry, divining that this must have been Ciacco's doing. When, +after many days, the bruises being gone, he began to go abroad again, +it chanced that Ciacco encountered him and asked him, laughing, +'Harkye, Biondello, how deemest thou of Messer Filippo's wine?' 'Even +as thou of Messer Corso's lampreys,' replied the other; and Ciacco +said, 'The thing resteth with thee henceforth. Whenever thou goest +about to give me to eat as thou didst, I will give thee in return to +drink after t'other day's fashion.' Biondello, knowing full well that +it was easier to wish Ciacco ill than to put it in practise, besought +God of his peace<a name="FNanchor_437_439" id="FNanchor_437_439"></a><a href="#Footnote_437_439" class="fnanchor">[437]</a> and thenceforth was careful to affront him no +more."</p> + + + +<hr /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_454" id="Page_454"></a></span></p> +<h2><a name="THE_NINTH_STORY9" id="THE_NINTH_STORY9"></a>THE NINTH STORY</h2> + +<div class="sidenote">Day the Ninth</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="hang">TWO YOUNG MEN SEEK COUNSEL OF SOLOMON, ONE HOW HE MAY BE +LOVED AND THE OTHER HOW HE MAY AMEND HIS FROWARD WIFE, AND +IN ANSWER HE BIDDETH THE ONE LOVE AND THE OTHER GET HIM TO +GOOSEBRIDGE</p></div> + + +<p><br /><span class="smcap">None</span> other than the queen remaining to tell, so she would maintain +Dioneo his privilege, she, after the ladies had laughed at the unlucky +Biondello, began blithely to speak thus: "Lovesome ladies, if the +ordinance of created things be considered with a whole mind, it will +lightly enough be seen that the general multitude of women are by +nature, by custom and by law subjected unto men and that it behoveth +them order and govern themselves according to the discretion of these +latter; wherefore each woman, who would have quiet and ease and solace +with those men to whom she pertaineth, should be humble, patient and +obedient, besides being virtuous, which latter is the supreme and +especial treasure of every wise woman. Nay, though the laws, which in +all things regard the general weal, and usance or (let us say) custom, +whose puissance is both great and worship-worth, taught us not this, +nature very manifestly showeth it unto us, inasmuch as she hath made +us women tender and delicate of body and timid and fearful of spirit +and hath given us little bodily strength, sweet voices and soft and +graceful movements, all things testifying that we have need of the +governance of others. Now, those who have need to be helped and +governed, all reason requireth that they be obedient and submissive +and reverent to their governors; and whom have we to governors and +helpers, if not men? To men, therefore, it behoveth us submit +ourselves, honouring them supremely; and whoso departeth from this, I +hold her deserving, not only of grave reprehension, but of severe +punishment. To these considerations I was lead, though not for the +first time, by that which Pampinea told us a while ago of Talano's +froward wife, upon whom God sent that chastisement which her husband +had not known to give her; wherefore, as I have already said, all +those women who depart from being loving, compliant and amenable, as +nature, usance and law will it, are, in my judgment, worthy of stern +and severe chastisement. It pleaseth me, therefore, to recount to you +a counsel given by Solomon, as a salutary medicine for curing women +who are thus made of that malady; which counsel let none, who meriteth +not such treatment, repute to have been said for her, albeit men have +a byword which saith, 'Good horse and bad horse both the spur need +still, And women need the stick, both good and ill.' Which words, an +one seek to interpret them by way of pleasantry, all women will +lightly allow to be true; nay, but considering them morally,<a name="FNanchor_438_440" id="FNanchor_438_440"></a><a href="#Footnote_438_440" class="fnanchor">[438]</a> I +say that the same must be conceded of them; for that women are all +naturally unstable and prone [to frailty,] wherefore, to correct the +iniquity of those who allow themselves too far to overpass the limits +appointed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_455" id="Page_455"></a></span> them, there needeth the stick which punisheth them, and to +support the virtue of others who suffer not themselves to transgress, +there needeth the stick which sustaineth and affeareth them. But, to +leave be preaching for the nonce and come to that which I have it in +mind to tell.</p> + +<p>You must know that, the high renown of Solomon's miraculous wisdom +being bruited abroad well nigh throughout the whole world, no less +than the liberality with which he dispensed it unto whoso would fain +be certified thereof by experience, there flocked many to him from +divers parts of the world for counsel in their straitest and most +urgent occasions. Amongst others who thus resorted to him was a young +man, Melisso by name, a gentleman of noble birth and great wealth, who +set out from the city of Lajazzo,<a name="FNanchor_439_441" id="FNanchor_439_441"></a><a href="#Footnote_439_441" class="fnanchor">[439]</a> whence he was and where he +dwelt; and as he journeyed towards Jerusalem, it chanced that, coming +forth of Antioch, he rode for some distance with a young man called +Giosefo, who held the same course as himself. As the custom is of +wayfarers, he entered into discourse with him and having learned from +him what and whence he was, he asked him whither he went and upon what +occasion; to which Giosefo replied that he was on his way to Solomon, +to have counsel of him what course he should take with a wife he had, +the most froward and perverse woman alive, whom neither with prayers +nor with blandishments nor on any other wise could he avail to correct +of her waywardness. Then he in his turn questioned Melisso whence he +was and whither he went and on what errand, and he answered, 'I am of +Lajazzo, and like as thou hast a grievance, even so have I one; I am +young and rich and spend my substance in keeping open house and +entertaining my fellow-townsmen, and yet, strange to say, I cannot for +all that find one who wisheth me well; wherefore I go whither thou +goest, to have counsel how I may win to be beloved.'</p> + +<p>Accordingly, they joined company and journeyed till they came to +Jerusalem, where, by the introduction of one of Solomon's barons, they +were admitted to the presence of the king, to whom Melisso briefly set +forth his occasion. Solomon answered him, 'Love'; and this said, +Melisso was straightway put forth and Giosefo told that for which he +was there. Solomon made him no other answer than 'Get thee to +Goosebridge'; which said, Giosefo was on like wise removed, without +delay, from the king's presence and finding Melisso awaiting him +without, told him that which he had had for answer. Thereupon, +pondering Solomon's words and availing to apprehend therefrom neither +significance nor profit whatsoever for their occasions, they set out +to return home, as deeming themselves flouted. After journeying for +some days, they came to a river, over which was a fine bridge, and a +caravan of pack-mules and sumpter-horses being in act to pass, it +behoved them tarry till such time as these should be crossed over. +Presently, the beasts having well nigh all crossed, it chanced that +one of the mules took umbrage, as oftentimes<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_456" id="Page_456"></a></span> we see them do, and +would by no means pass on; whereupon a muleteer, taking a stick, began +to beat it at first moderately enough to make it go on; but the mule +shied now to this and now to that side of the road and whiles turned +back altogether, but would on no wise pass on; whereupon the man, +incensed beyond measure, fell to dealing it with the stick the +heaviest blows in the world, now on the head, now on the flanks and +anon on the crupper, but all to no purpose.</p> + +<p>Melisso and Giosefo stood watching this and said often to the +muleteer, 'Alack, wretch that thou art, what dost thou? Wilt thou kill +the beast? Why studiest thou not to manage him by fair means and +gentle dealing? He will come quicklier than for cudgeling him as thou +dost.' To which the man answered, 'You know your horses and I know my +mule; leave me do with him.' So saying, he fell again to cudgelling +him and belaboured him to such purpose on one side and on the other, +that the mule passed on and the muleteer won the bout. Then, the two +young men being now about to depart, Giosefo asked a poor man, who sat +at the bridge-head, how the place was called, and he answered, 'Sir, +this is called Goosebridge.' When Giosefo heard this, he straightway +called to mind Solomon's words and said to Melisso, 'Marry, I tell +thee, comrade, that the counsel given me by Solomon may well prove +good and true, for I perceive very plainly that I knew not how to beat +my wife; but this muleteer hath shown me what I have to do.'</p> + +<p>Accordingly, they fared on and came, after some days, to Antioch, +where Giosefo kept Melisso with him, that he might rest himself a day +or two, and being scurvily enough received of his wife, he bade her +prepare supper according as Melisso should ordain; whereof the latter, +seeing that it was his friend's pleasure, acquitted himself in a few +words. The lady, as her usance had been in the past, did not as +Melisso had ordained, but well nigh altogether the contrary; which +Giosefo seeing, he was vexed and said, 'Was it not told thee on what +wise thou shouldst prepare the supper?' The lady, turning round +haughtily, answered, 'What meaneth this? Good lack, why dost thou not +sup, an thou have a mind to sup? An if it were told me otherwise, it +seemed good to me to do thus. If it please thee, so be it; if not, +leave it be.' Melisso marvelled at the lady's answer and blamed her +exceedingly; whilst Giosefo, hearing this, said, 'Wife, thou art still +what thou wast wont to be; but, trust me, I will make thee change thy +fashion.' Then turning to Melisso, 'Friend,' said he, 'we shall soon +see what manner of counsel was Solomon's; but I prithee let it not irk +thee to stand to see it and hold that which I shall do for a sport. +And that thou mayest not hinder me, bethink thee of the answer the +muleteer made us, when we pitied his mule.' Quoth Melisso, 'I am in +thy house, where I purpose not to depart from thy good pleasure.'</p> + +<p>Giosefo then took a round stick, made of a young oak, and repaired a +chamber, whither the lady, having arisen from table for despite, had +betaken herself, grumbling; then, laying hold of her by the hair, he +threw her down at his feet and proceeded to give her a sore beating +with the stick.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_457" id="Page_457"></a></span> The lady at first cried out and after fell to +threats; but, seeing that Giosefo for all that stinted not and being +by this time all bruised, she began to cry him mercy for God's sake +and besought him not to kill her, declaring that she would never more +depart from his pleasure. Nevertheless, he held not his hand; nay, he +continued to baste her more furiously than ever on all her seams, +belabouring her amain now on the ribs, now on the haunches and now +about the shoulder, nor stinted till he was weary and there was not a +place left unbruised on the good lady's back. This done, he returned +to his friend and said to him, 'To-morrow we shall see what will be +the issue of the counsel to go to Goosebridge.' Then, after he had +rested awhile and they had washed their hands, he supped with Melisso +and in due season they betook themselves to bed.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile the wretched lady arose with great pain from the ground and +casting herself on the bed, there rested as best she might until the +morning, when she arose betimes and let ask Giosefo what he would have +dressed for dinner. The latter, making merry over this with Melisso, +appointed it in due course, and after, whenas it was time, returning, +they found everything excellently well done and in accordance with the +ordinance given; wherefore they mightily commended the counsel at +first so ill apprehended of them. After some days, Melisso took leave +of Giosefo and returning to his own house, told one, who was a man of +understanding, the answer he had had from Solomon; whereupon quoth the +other, 'He could have given thee no truer nor better counsel. Thou +knowest thou lovest no one, and the honours and services thou +renderest others, thou dost not for love that thou bearest them, but +for pomp and ostentation. Love, then, as Solomon bade thee, and thou +shalt be loved.' On this wise, then, was the froward wife corrected +and the young man, loving, was beloved."</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="THE_TENTH_STORY9" id="THE_TENTH_STORY9"></a>THE TENTH STORY</h2> + +<div class="sidenote">Day the Ninth</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="hang">DOM GIANNI, AT THE INSTANCE OF HIS GOSSIP PIETRO, PERFORMETH +A CONJURATION FOR THE PURPOSE OF CAUSING THE LATTER'S WIFE +TO BECOME A MARE; BUT, WHENAS HE COMETH TO PUT ON THE TAIL, +PIETRO MARRETH THE WHOLE CONJURATION, SAYING THAT HE WILL +NOT HAVE A TAIL</p></div> + + +<p><br /><span class="smcap">The</span> queen's story made the young men laugh and gave rise to some +murmurs on the part of the ladies; then, as soon as the latter were +quiet, Dioneo began to speak thus, "Sprightly ladies, a black crow +amongst a multitude of white doves addeth more beauty than would a +snow-white swan, and in like manner among many sages one less wise is +not only an augmentation of splendour and goodliness to their +maturity, but eke a source of diversion and solace. Wherefore, you +ladies being all exceeding discreet and modest, I, who savour somewhat +of the scatterbrain, should be dearer to you, causing, as<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_458" id="Page_458"></a></span> I do, your +worth to shine the brightlier for my default, than if with my greater +merit I made this of yours wax dimmer; and consequently, I should have +larger license to show you myself such as I am and should more +patiently be suffered of you, in saying that which I shall say, than +if I were wiser. I will, therefore, tell you a story not overlong, +whereby you may apprehend how diligently it behoveth to observe the +conditions imposed by those who do aught by means of enchantment and +how slight a default thereof sufficeth to mar everything done by the +magician.</p> + +<p>A year or two agone there was at Barletta a priest called Dom Gianni +di Barolo, who, for that he had but a poor cure, took to eking out his +livelihood by hawking merchandise hither and thither about the fairs +of Apulia with a mare of his and buying and selling. In the course of +his travels he contracted a strait friendship with one who styled +himself Pietro da Tresanti and plied the same trade with the aid of an +ass he had. In token of friendship and affection, he called him still +Gossip Pietro, after the Apulian fashion, and whenassoever he visited +Barletta, he carried him to his parsonage and there lodged him with +himself and entertained him to the best of his power. Gossip Pietro, +on his part, albeit he was very poor and had but a sorry little house +at Tresanti, scarce sufficing for himself and a young and buxom wife +he had and his ass, as often as Dom Gianni came to Tresanti, carried +him home with him and entertained him as best he might, in requital of +the hospitality received from him at Barletta. Nevertheless, in the +matter of lodging, having but one sorry little bed, in which he slept +with his handsome wife, he could not entertain him as he would, but, +Dom Gianni's mare being lodged with Pietro's ass in a little stable he +had, needs must the priest himself lie by her side on a truss of +straw.</p> + +<p>The goodwife, knowing the hospitality which the latter did her husband +at Barletta, would more than once, whenas the priest came thither, +have gone to lie with a neighbor of hers, by name Zita Caraprese, +[daughter] of Giudice Leo, so he might sleep in the bed with her +husband, and had many a time proposed it to Dom Gianni, but he would +never hear of it; and once, amongst other times, he said to her, +'Gossip Gemmata, fret not thyself for me; I fare very well, for that, +whenas it pleaseth me, I cause this mare of mine become a handsome +wench and couch with her, and after, when I will, I change her into a +mare again; wherefore I care not to part from her.'</p> + +<p>The young woman marvelled, but believed his tale and told her husband, +saying, 'If he is so much thy friend as thou sayest, why dost thou not +make him teach thee his charm, so thou mayst avail to make of me a +mare and do thine affairs with the ass and the mare? So should we gain +two for one; and when we were back at home, thou couldst make me a +woman again, as I am.' Pietro, who was somewhat dull of wit, believed +what she said and falling in with her counsel, began, as best he knew, +to importune Dom Gianni to teach him the trick. The latter did his +best to cure him of that folly, but availing not thereto, he said, +'Harkye, since you will e'en have it so, we<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_459" id="Page_459"></a></span> will arise to-morrow +morning before day, as of our wont, and I will show you how it is +done. To tell thee the truth, the uneathest part of the matter is the +putting on of the tail, as thou shalt see.'</p> + +<p>Accordingly, whenas it drew near unto day, Goodman Pietro and Gossip +Gemmata, who had scarce slept that night, with such impatience did +they await the accomplishment of the matter, arose and called Dom +Gianni, who, arising in his shirt, betook himself to Pietro's little +chamber and said to him, 'I know none in the world, except you, for +whom I would do this; wherefore since it pleaseth you, I will e'en do +it; but needs must you do as I shall bid you, an you would have the +thing succeed.' They answered that they would do that which he should +say; whereupon, taking the light, he put it into Pietro's hand and +said to him, 'Mark how I shall do and keep well in mind that which I +shall say. Above all, have a care, an thou wouldst not mar everything, +that, whatsoever thou hearest or seest, thou say not a single word, +and pray God that the tail may stick fast.' Pietro took the light, +promising to do exactly as he said, whereupon Dom Gianni let strip +Gemmata naked as she was born and caused her stand on all fours, +mare-fashion, enjoining herself likewise not to utter a word for aught +that should betide. Then, passing his hand over her face and her head, +he proceeded to say, 'Be this a fine mare's head,' and touching her +hair, said, 'Be this a fine mare's mane'; after which he touched her +arms, saying, 'Be these fine mare's legs and feet,' and coming +presently to her breast and finding it round and firm, such an one +awoke that was not called and started up on end,<a name="FNanchor_440_442" id="FNanchor_440_442"></a><a href="#Footnote_440_442" class="fnanchor">[440]</a> whereupon quoth +he, 'Be this a fine mare's chest.' And on like wise he did with her +back and belly and crupper and thighs and legs. Ultimately, nothing +remaining to do but the tail, he pulled up his shirt and taking the +dibble with which he planted men, he thrust it hastily into the furrow +made therefor and said, 'And be this a fine mare's tail.'</p> + +<p>Pietro, who had thitherto watched everything intently, seeing this +last proceeding and himseeming it was ill done, said, 'Ho there, Dom +Gianni, I won't have a tail there, I won't have a tail there!' The +radical moisture, wherewith all plants are made fast, was by this +come, and Dom Gianni drew it forth, saying, 'Alack, gossip Pietro, +what hast thou done? Did I not bid thee say not a word for aught that +thou shouldst see? The mare was all made; but thou hast marred +everything by talking, nor is there any means of doing it over again +henceforth.' Quoth Pietro, 'Marry, I did not want that tail there. Why +did you not say to me, "Make it thou"? More by token that you were for +setting it too low.' 'Because,' answered Dom Gianni, 'thou hadst not +known for the first time to set it on so well as I.' The young woman, +hearing all this, stood up and said to her husband, in all good faith, +'Dolt that thou art, why hast thou marred thine affairs and mine? What +mare sawest thou ever without a tail? So God aid me, thou art poor, +but it would serve thee right, wert thou much poorer.' Then, there +being now, by reason of the words that Pietro had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_460" id="Page_460"></a></span> spoken, no longer +any means of making a mare of the young woman, she donned her clothes, +woebegone and disconsolate, and Pietro, continuing to ply his old +trade with an ass, as he was used, betook himself, in company with Dom +Gianni, to the Bitonto fair, nor ever again required him of such a +service."</p> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p>How much the company laughed at this story, which was better +understood of the ladies than Dioneo willed, let her who shall yet +laugh thereat imagine for herself. But, the day's stories being now +ended and the sun beginning to abate of its heat, the queen, knowing +the end of her seignory to be come, rose to her feet and putting off +the crown, set it on the head of Pamfilo, whom alone it remained to +honour after such a fashion, and said, smiling, "My lord, there +devolveth on thee a great burden, inasmuch as with thee it resteth, +thou being the last, to make amends for my default and that of those +who have foregone me in the dignity which thou presently holdest; +whereof God lend thee grace, even as He hath vouchsafed it unto me to +make thee king." Pamfilo blithely received the honour done him and +answered, "Your merit and that of my other subjects will do on such +wise that I shall be adjudged deserving of commendation, even as the +others have been." Then, having, according to the usance of his +predecessors, taken order with the seneschal of the things that were +needful, he turned to the expectant ladies and said to them, "Lovesome +ladies, it was the pleasure of Emilia, who hath this day been our +queen, to give you, for the purpose of affording some rest to your +powers, license to discourse of that which should most please you; +wherefore, you being now rested, I hold it well to return to the +wonted ordinance, and accordingly I will that each of you bethink +herself to discourse to-morrow of this, to wit, OF WHOSO HATH ANYWISE +WROUGHT GENEROUSLY OR MAGNIFICENTLY IN MATTERS OF LOVE OR OTHERWHAT. +The telling and doing of these things will doubtless fire your +well-disposed minds to do worthily; so will our life, which may not be +other than brief in this mortal body, be made perpetual in laudatory +renown; a thing which all, who serve not the belly only, as do the +beasts, should not only desire, but with all diligence seek and +endeavour after."</p> + +<p>The theme pleased the joyous company, who having all, with the new +king's license, arisen from session, gave themselves to their wonted +diversions, according to that unto which each was most drawn by +desire; and on this wise they did until the hour of supper, whereunto +they came joyously and were served with diligence and fair ordinance. +Supper at an end, they arose to the wonted dances, and after they had +sung a thousand canzonets, more diverting of words than masterly of +music, the king bade Neifile sing one in her own name; whereupon, with +clear and blithesome voice, she cheerfully and without delay began +thus:</p> + +<p class="cpoem"> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">A youngling maid am I and full of glee,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Am fain to carol in the new-blown May,</span><br /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_461" id="Page_461"></a></span><span style="margin-left: 1em;">Love and sweet thoughts-a-mercy, blithe and free.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">I go about the meads, considering</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">The vermeil flowers and golden and the white,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">Roses thorn-set and lilies snowy-bright,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">And one and all I fare a-likening</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Unto his face who hath with love-liking</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Ta'en and will hold me ever, having aye</span><br /> +None other wish than as his pleasures be;<br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Whereof when one I find me that doth show,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">Unto my seeming, likest him, full fain</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">I cull and kiss and talk with it amain</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">And all my heart to it, as best I know,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Discover, with its store of wish and woe,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Then it with others in a wreath I lay,</span><br /> +Bound with my hair so golden-bright of blee.<br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Ay, and that pleasure which the eye doth prove,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">By nature, of the flower's view, like delight</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">Doth give me as I saw the very wight</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Who hath inflamed me of his dulcet love,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">And what its scent thereover and above</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Worketh in me, no words indeed can say;</span><br /> +But sighs thereof bear witness true for me,<br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">The which from out my bosom day nor night</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">Ne'er, as with other ladies, fierce and wild,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">Storm up; nay, thence they issue warm and mild</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">And straight betake them to my loved one's sight,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Who, hearing, moveth of himself, delight</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">To give me; ay, and when I'm like to say</span><br /> +"Ah come, lest I despair," still cometh he.<br /> +</p> + +<p>Neifile's canzonet was much commended both of the king and of the +other ladies; after which, for that a great part of the night was now +spent, the king commanded that all should betake themselves to rest +until the day.</p> + + +<p class="center"><br /> +<b>HERE ENDETH THE NINTH DAY<br /> +OF THE DECAMERON</b> +</p> + + + +<hr class="long" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_462" id="Page_462"></a></span></p> +<h1><a name="Day_the_Tenth" id="Day_the_Tenth"></a><i>Day the Tenth</i></h1> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="hang"><span class="lgsmcap">Here Beginneth the Tenth and Last Day of the Decameron +Wherein Under the Governance of Pamfilo Is Discoursed of +Whoso Hath Anywise Wrought Generously or Magnificently in +Matters of Love or Otherwhat</span></p></div> + + +<p><br /><span class="smcap">Certain</span> cloudlets in the West were yet vermeil, what time those of the +East were already at their marges grown lucent like unto very gold, +when Pamfilo, arising, let call his comrades and the ladies, who being +all come, he took counsel with them of whither they should go for +their diversion and fared forth with slow step, accompanied by +Filomena and Fiammetta, whilst all the others followed after. On this +wise, devising and telling and answering many things of their future +life together, they went a great while a-pleasuring; then, having made +a pretty long circuit and the sun beginning to wax overhot, they +returned to the palace. There they let rinse the beakers in the clear +fountain and whoso would drank somewhat; after which they went +frolicking among the pleasant shades of the garden until the +eating-hour. Then, having eaten and slept, as of their wont, they +assembled whereas it pleased the king and there he called upon Neifile +for the first discourse, who blithely began thus:</p> + + + +<hr class="short" /> +<h2><a name="THE_FIRST_STORY10" id="THE_FIRST_STORY10"></a>THE FIRST STORY</h2> + +<div class="sidenote">Day the Tenth</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="hang">A KNIGHT IN THE KING'S SERVICE OF SPAIN THINKING HIMSELF ILL +GUERDONED, THE KING BY VERY CERTAIN PROOF SHOWETH HIM THAT +THIS IS NOT HIS FAULT, BUT THAT OF HIS OWN PERVERSE FORTUNE, +AND AFTER LARGESSETH HIM MAGNIFICENTLY</p></div> + + +<p><br /><span class="smcap">"Needs</span>, honourable ladies, must I repute it a singular favour to +myself that our king hath preferred me unto such an honour as it is to +be the first to tell of magnificence, the which, even as the sun is +the glory and adornment of all the heaven, is the light and lustre of +every other virtue. I will, therefore, tell you a little story +thereof, quaint and pleasant enough to my thinking, which to recall +can certes be none other than useful.</p> + +<p>You must know, then, that, among the other gallant gentlemen who have +from time immemorial graced our city, there was one (and maybe the +most of worth) by name Messer Ruggieri de' Figiovanni, who, being both +rich and high-spirited and seeing that, in view of the way of living +and of the usages of Tuscany, he might, if he tarried there, avail to +display little or nothing of his merit, resolved to seek service +awhile with Alfonso, King of Spain, the renown of whose valiance +transcended that of every other prince of his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_463" id="Page_463"></a></span> time; wherefore he +betook himself, very honourably furnished with arms and horses and +followers, to Alfonso in Spain and was by him graciously received. +Accordingly, he took up his abode there and living splendidly and +doing marvellous deeds of arms, he very soon made himself known for a +man of worth and valour.</p> + +<p>When he had sojourned there a pretty while and had taken particular +note of the king's fashions, himseemed he bestowed castles and cities +and baronies now upon one and now upon another with little enough +discretion, as giving them to those who were unworthy thereof, and for +that to him, who held himself for that which he was, nothing was +given, he conceived that his repute would be much abated by reason +thereof; wherefore he determined to depart and craved leave of the +king. The latter granted him the leave he sought and gave him one of +the best and finest mules that ever was ridden, the which, for the +long journey he had to make, was very acceptable to Messer Ruggieri. +Moreover, he charged a discreet servant of his that he should study, +by such means as seemed to him best, to ride with Messer Ruggieri on +such wise that he should not appear to have been sent by the king, and +note everything he should say of him, so as he might avail to repeat +it to him, and that on the ensuing morning he should command him +return to the court. Accordingly, the servant, lying in wait for +Messer Ruggieri's departure, accosted him, as he came forth the city, +and very aptly joined company with him, giving him to understand that +he also was bound for Italy. Messer Ruggieri, then, fared on, riding +the mule given him by the king and devising of one thing and another +with the latter's servant, till hard upon tierce, when he said, +'Methinketh it were well done to let our beasts stale.' Accordingly, +they put them up in a stable and they all staled, except the mule; +then they rode on again, whilst the squire still took note of the +gentleman's words, and came presently to a river, where, as they +watered their cattle, the mule staled in the stream; which Messer +Ruggieri seeing, 'Marry,' quoth he, 'God confound thee, beast, for +that thou art made after the same fashion as the prince who gave thee +to me!' The squire noted these words and albeit he took store of many +others, as he journeyed with him all that day, he heard him say nought +else but what was to the highest praise of the king.</p> + +<p>Next morning, they being mounted and Ruggieri offering to ride towards +Tuscany, the squire imparted to him the king's commandment, whereupon +he incontinent turned back. When he arrived at court, the king, +learning what he had said of the mule, let call him to himself and +receiving him with a cheerful favour, asked him why he had likened him +to his mule, or rather why he had likened the mule to him. 'My lord,' +replied Ruggieri frankly, 'I likened her to you for that, like as you +give whereas it behoveth not and give not whereas it behoveth, even so +she staled not whereas it behoved, but staled whereas it behoved not.' +Then said the king, 'Messer Ruggieri, if I have not given to you, as I +have given unto many who are of no account in comparison with you, it +happened not because I knew you not for a most valiant cavalier and +worthy of every great gift;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_464" id="Page_464"></a></span> nay, but it is your fortune, which hath +not suffered me guerdon you according to your deserts, that hath +sinned in this, and not I; and that I may say sooth I will manifestly +prove to you.' 'My lord,' replied Ruggieri, 'I was not chagrined +because I have gotten no largesse of you, for that I desire not to be +richer than I am, but because you have on no wise borne witness to my +merit. Natheless, I hold your excuse for good and honourable and am +ready to see that which it shall please you show me, albeit I believe +you without proof.' The king then carried him into a great hall of +his, where, as he had ordered it beforehand, were two great locked +coffers, and said to him, in presence of many, 'Messer Ruggieri, in +one of these coffers is my crown, the royal sceptre and the orb, +together with many goodly girdles and ouches and rings of mine, and in +fine every precious jewel I have; and the other is full of earth. +Take, then, one and be that which you shall take yours; and you may +thus see whether of the twain hath been ungrateful to your worth, +myself of your ill fortune.'</p> + +<p>Messer Ruggieri, seeing that it was the king's pleasure, took one of +the coffers, which, being opened by Alfonso's commandment, was found +to be that which was full of earth; whereupon quoth the king, +laughing, 'Now can you see, Messer Ruggieri, that this that I tell you +of your fortune is true; but certes your worth meriteth that I should +oppose myself to her might. I know you have no mind to turn Spaniard +and therefore I will bestow upon you neither castle nor city in these +parts; but this coffer, of which fortune deprived you, I will in her +despite shall be yours, so you may carry it off to your own country +and justly glorify yourself of your worth in the sight of your +countrymen by the witness of my gifts.' Messer Ruggieri accordingly +took the coffer and having rendered the king those thanks which sorted +with such a gift, joyfully returned therewith to Tuscany."</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="THE_SECOND_STORY10" id="THE_SECOND_STORY10"></a>THE SECOND STORY</h2> + +<div class="sidenote">Day the Tenth</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="hang">GHINO DI TACCO TAKETH THE ABBOT OF CLUNY AND HAVING CURED +HIM OF THE STOMACH-COMPLAINT, LETTETH HIM GO; WHEREUPON THE +ABBOT, RETURNING TO THE COURT OF ROME, RECONCILETH HIM WITH +POPE BONIFACE AND MAKETH HIM A PRIOR OF THE HOSPITALLERS</p></div> + + +<p><br /><span class="smcap">The</span> magnificence shown by King Alfonso to the Florentine cavalier +having been duly commended, the king, who had been mightily pleased +therewith, enjoined Elisa to follow on, and she straightway began +thus: "Dainty dames, it cannot be denied that for a king to be +munificent and to have shown his munificence to him who had served him +is a great and a praiseworthy thing; but what shall we say if a +churchman be related to have practised marvellous magnanimity towards +one, whom if he had used as an enemy, he had of none been blamed +therefor? Certes, we can say none otherwise than that the king's<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_465" id="Page_465"></a></span> +magnificence was a virtue, whilst that of the churchman was a miracle, +inasmuch as the clergy are all exceeding niggardly, nay, far more so +than women, and sworn enemies of all manner of liberality; and albeit +all men naturally hunger after vengeance for affronts received, we see +churchmen, for all they preach patience and especially commend the +remission of offences, pursue it more eagerly than other folk. This, +then, to wit, how a churchman was magnanimous, you may manifestly +learn from the following story of mine.</p> + +<p>Ghino di Tacco, a man very famous for his cruelty and his robberies, +being expelled <span class="err" title="Transcriber's Note: missing 'from'">Siena</span> and at feud +with the Counts of Santa Fiore, raised Radicofani against the Church +of Rome and taking up his sojourn there, caused his swashbucklers +despoil whosoever passed through the surrounding country. Now, +Boniface the Eighth being pope in Rome, there came to court the Abbot +of Cluny, who is believed to be one of the richest prelates in the +world, and having there marred his stomach, he was advised by the +physicians to repair to the baths of Siena and he would without fail +be cured. Accordingly, having gotten the pope's leave, he set out on +his way thither in great pomp of gear and baggage and horses and +servitors, unrecking of Ghino's [ill] report. The latter, hearing of +his coming, spread his nets and hemmed him and all his household and +gear about in a strait place, without letting a single footboy escape. +This done, he despatched to the abbot one, the most sufficient, of his +men, well accompanied, who in his name very lovingly prayed him be +pleased to light down and sojourn with the aforesaid Ghino in his +castle. The abbot, hearing this, answered furiously that he would +nowise do it, having nought to do with Ghino, but that he would fare +on and would fain see who should forbid his passage. Whereto quoth the +messenger on humble wise, 'Sir, you are come into parts where, barring +God His might, there is nothing to fear for us and where +excommunications and interdicts are all excommunicated; wherefore, may +it please you, you were best comply with Ghino in this.'</p> + +<p>During this parley, the whole place had been encompassed about with +men-at-arms; wherefore the abbot, seeing himself taken with his men, +betook himself, sore against his will, to the castle, in company with +the ambassador, and with him all his household and gear, and alighting +there, was, by Ghino's orders, lodged all alone in a very dark and +mean little chamber in one of the pavilions, whilst every one else was +well enough accommodated, according to his quality, about the castle +and the horses and all the gear put in safety, without aught thereof +being touched. This done, Ghino betook himself to the abbot and said +to him, 'Sir, Ghino, whose guest you are, sendeth to you, praying you +acquaint him whither you are bound and on what occasion.' The abbot, +like a wise man, had by this laid by his pride and told him whither he +went and why. Ghino, hearing this, took his leave and bethought +himself to go about to cure him without baths. Accordingly, he let +keep a great fire still burning in the little room and causing guard +the place well, returned not to the abbot till the following morning, +when he brought him, in a very white napkin, two slices of toasted +bread and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_466" id="Page_466"></a></span> a great beaker of his own Corniglia vernage<a name="FNanchor_441_443" id="FNanchor_441_443"></a><a href="#Footnote_441_443" class="fnanchor">[441]</a> and +bespoke him thus, 'Sir, when Ghino was young, he studied medicine and +saith that he learned there was no better remedy for the +stomach-complaint than that which he purposeth to apply to you and of +which these things that I bring you are the beginning; wherefore do +you take them and refresh yourself.'</p> + +<p>The abbot, whose hunger was greater than his desire to bandy words, +ate the bread and drank the wine, though he did it with an ill will, +and after made many haughty speeches, asking and counselling of many +things and demanding in particular to see Ghino. The latter, hearing +this talk, let part of it pass as idle and answered the rest very +courteously, avouching that Ghino would visit him as quickliest he +might. This said, he took his leave of him and returned not until the +ensuing day, when he brought him as much toasted bread and as much +malmsey; and so he kept him several days, till such time as he +perceived that he had eaten some dried beans, which he had of intent +aforethought brought secretly thither and left there; whereupon he +asked him, on Ghino's part, how he found himself about the stomach. +The abbot answered, 'Meseemeth I should fare well, were I but out of +his hands; and after that, I have no greater desire than to eat, so +well have his remedies cured me.' Thereupon Ghino caused the abbot's +own people array him a goodly chamber with his own gear and let make +ready a magnificent banquet, to which he bade the prelate's whole +household, together with many folk of the burgh. Next morning, he +betook himself to the abbot and said to him, 'Sir, since you feel +yourself well, it is time to leave the infirmary.' Then, taking him by +the hand, he brought him to the chamber prepared for him and leaving +him there in company of his own people, occupied himself with caring +that the banquet should be a magnificent one.</p> + +<p>The abbot solaced himself awhile with his men and told them what his +life had been since his capture, whilst they, on the other hand, +avouched themselves all to have been wonder-well entreated of Ghino. +The eating-hour come, the abbot and the rest were well and orderly +served with goodly viands and fine wines, without Ghino yet letting +himself be known of the prelate; but, after the latter had abidden +some days on this wise, the outlaw, having let bring all his gear into +one saloon and all his horses, down to the sorriest rouncey, into a +courtyard that was under the windows thereof, betook himself to him +and asked him how he did and if he deemed himself strong enough to +take horse. The abbot answered that he was strong enough and quite +recovered of his stomach-complaint and that he should fare perfectly +well, once he should be out of Ghino's hands. Ghino then brought him +into the saloon, wherein was his gear and all his train, and carrying +him to a window, whence he might see all his horses, said, 'My lord +abbot, you must know that it was the being a gentleman and expelled +from his house and poor and having many and puissant enemies, and not +evilness of mind, that brought Ghino di Tacco (who is none other than +myself) to be, for the defence of his life and his nobility, a +highway-robber and an enemy<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_467" id="Page_467"></a></span> of the court of Rome. Nevertheless, for +that you seem to me a worthy gentleman, I purpose not, now that I have +cured you of your stomach-complaint, to use you as I would another, +from whom, he being in my hands as you are, I would take for myself +such part of his goods as seemed well to me; nay, it is my intent that +you, having regard to my need, shall appoint to me such part of your +good as you yourself will. It is all here before you in its entirety +and your horses you may from this window see in the courtyard; take, +therefore, both part and all, as it pleaseth you, and from this time +forth be it at your pleasure to go or to stay.'</p> + +<p>The abbot marvelled to hear such generous words from a highway-robber +and was exceeding well pleased therewith, insomuch that, his anger and +despite being of a sudden fallen, nay, changed into goodwill, he +became Ghino's hearty friend and ran to embrace him, saying, 'I vow to +God that, to gain the friendship of a man such as I presently judge +thee to be, I would gladly consent to suffer a far greater affront +than that which meseemed but now thou hadst done me. Accursed be +fortune that constrained thee to so damnable a trade!' Then, letting +take of his many goods but a very few necessary things, and the like +of his horses, he left all the rest to Ghino and returned to Rome. The +pope had had news of the taking of the abbot and albeit it had given +him sore concern, he asked him, when he saw him, how the baths had +profited him; whereto he replied, smiling, 'Holy Father, I found a +worthy physician nearer than at the baths, who hath excellently well +cured me'; and told him how, whereat the pope laughed, and the abbot, +following on his speech and moved by a magnanimous spirit, craved a +boon of him. The pope, thinking he would demand otherwhat, freely +offered to do that which he should ask; and the abbot said, 'Holy +Father, that which I mean to ask of you is that you restore your +favour to Ghino di Tacco, my physician, for that, of all the men of +worth and high account whom I ever knew, he is certes one of the most +deserving; and for this ill that he doth, I hold it much more +fortune's fault than his; the which<a name="FNanchor_442_444" id="FNanchor_442_444"></a><a href="#Footnote_442_444" class="fnanchor">[442]</a> if you change by bestowing on +him somewhat whereby he may live according to his condition, I doubt +not anywise but you will, in brief space of time, deem of him even as +I do.' The pope, who was great of soul and a lover of men of worth, +hearing this, replied that he would gladly do it, an Ghino were indeed +of such account as the abbot avouched, and bade the latter cause him +come thither in all security. Accordingly, Ghino, at the abbot's +instance, came to court, upon that assurance, nor had he been long +about the pope's person ere the latter reputed him a man of worth and +taking him into favour, bestowed on him a grand priory of those of the +Hospitallers, having first let make him a knight of that order; which +office he held whilst he lived, still approving himself a loyal friend +and servant of Holy Church and of the Abbot of Cluny."</p> + + + + +<hr /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_468" id="Page_468"></a></span></p> +<h2><a name="THE_THIRD_STORY10" id="THE_THIRD_STORY10"></a>THE THIRD STORY</h2> + +<div class="sidenote">Day the Tenth</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="hang">MITHRIDANES, ENVYING NATHAN HIS HOSPITALITY AND GENEROSITY +AND GOING TO KILL HIM, FALLETH IN WITH HIMSELF, WITHOUT +KNOWING HIM, AND IS BY HIM INSTRUCTED OF THE COURSE HE SHALL +TAKE TO ACCOMPLISH HIS PURPOSE; BY MEANS WHEREOF HE FINDETH +HIM, AS HE HIMSELF HAD ORDERED IT, IN A COPPICE AND +RECOGNIZING HIM, IS ASHAMED AND BECOMETH HIS FRIEND</p></div> + + +<p><br /><span class="smcap">Themseemed</span> all they had heard what was like unto a miracle, to wit, +that a churchman should have wrought anywhat magnificently; but, as +soon as the ladies had left discoursing thereof, the king bade +Filostrato proceed, who forthright began, "Noble ladies, great was the +magnificence of the King of Spain and that of the Abbot of Cluny a +thing belike never yet heard of; but maybe it will seem to you no less +marvellous a thing to hear how a man, that he might do generosity to +another who thirsted for his blood, nay, for the very breath of his +nostrils, privily bethought himself to give them to him, ay, and would +have done it, had the other willed to take them, even as I purpose to +show you in a little story of mine.</p> + +<p>It is a very certain thing (if credit may be given to the report of +divers Genoese and others who have been in those countries) that there +was aforetime in the parts of Cattajo<a name="FNanchor_443_445" id="FNanchor_443_445"></a><a href="#Footnote_443_445" class="fnanchor">[443]</a> a man of noble lineage and +rich beyond compare, called Nathan, who, having an estate adjoining a +highway whereby as of necessity passed all who sought to go from the +Ponant to the Levant or from the Levant to the Ponant, and being a man +of great and generous soul and desirous that it should be known by his +works, assembled a great multitude of artificers and let build there, +in a little space of time, one of the fairest and greatest and richest +palaces that had ever been seen, the which he caused excellently well +furnished with all that was apt unto the reception and entertainment +of gentlemen. Then, having a great and goodly household, he there +received and honourably entertained, with joyance and good cheer, +whosoever came and went; and in this praiseworthy usance he persevered +insomuch that not only the Levant, but well nigh all the Ponant, knew +him by report. He was already full of years nor was therefore grown +weary of the practice of hospitality, when it chanced that his fame +reached the ears of a young man of a country not far from his own, by +name Mithridanes, who, knowing himself no less rich than Nathan and +waxing envious of his renown and his virtues, bethought himself to +eclipse<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_469" id="Page_469"></a></span> or shadow them with greater liberality. Accordingly, letting +build a palace like unto that of Nathan, he proceeded to do the most +unbounded courtesies<a name="FNanchor_444_446" id="FNanchor_444_446"></a><a href="#Footnote_444_446" class="fnanchor">[444]</a> that ever any did whosoever came or went +about those parts, and in a short time he became without doubt very +famous.</p> + +<p>It chanced one day that, as he abode all alone in the midcourt of his +palace, there came in, by one of the gates, a poor woman, who sought +of him an alms and had it; then, coming in again to him by the second, +she had of him another alms, and so on for twelve times in succession; +but, whenas she returned for the thirteenth time, he said to her, +'Good woman, thou art very diligent in this thine asking,' and +natheless gave her an alms. The old crone, hearing these words, +exclaimed, 'O liberality of Nathan, how marvellous art thou! For that, +entering in by each of the two-and-thirty gates which his palace hath, +and asking of him an alms, never, for all that he showed, was I +recognized of him, and still I had it; whilst here, having as yet come +in but at thirteen gates, I have been both recognized and chidden.' So +saying, she went her ways and returned thither no more. Mithridanes, +hearing the old woman's words, flamed up into a furious rage, as he +who held that which he heard of Nathan's fame a diminishment of his +own, and fell to saying, 'Alack, woe is me! When shall I attain to +Nathan's liberality in great things, let alone overpass it, as I seek +to do, seeing that I cannot approach him in the smallest? Verily, I +weary myself in vain, an I remove him not from the earth; wherefore, +since eld carrieth him not off, needs must I with mine own hands do it +without delay.'</p> + +<p>Accordingly, rising upon that motion, he took horse with a small +company, without communicating his design to any, and came after three +days whereas Nathan abode. He arrived there at eventide and bidding +his followers make a show of not being with him and provide themselves +with lodging, against they should hear farther from him, abode alone +at no great distance from the fair palace, where he found Nathan all +unattended, as he went walking for his diversion, without any pomp of +apparel, and knowing him not, asked him if he could inform him where +Nathan dwelt. 'My son,' answered the latter cheerfully, 'there is none +in these parts who is better able than I to show thee that; wherefore, +whenas it pleaseth thee, I will carry thee thither.' Mithridanes +rejoined that this would be very acceptable to him, but that, an it +might be, he would fain be neither seen nor known of Nathan; and the +latter said, 'That also will I do, since it pleaseth thee.' +Mithridanes accordingly dismounted and repaired to the goodly palace, +in company with Nathan, who quickly engaged him in most pleasant +discourse. There he caused one of his servants take the young man's +horse and putting his mouth to his ear, charged him take order with +all those of the house, so none should tell the youth that he was +Nathan; and so was it done. Moreover, he lodged him in a very goodly +chamber, where none saw him, save those whom he had deputed to this +service, and let entertain him with the utmost honour, himself bearing +him company.</p> + +<p>After Mithridanes had abidden with<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_470" id="Page_470"></a></span> him awhile on this wise, he asked +him (albeit he held him in reverence as a father) who he was; to which +Nathan answered, 'I am an unworthy servant of Nathan, who have grown +old with him from my childhood, nor hath he ever advanced me to +otherwhat than that which thou seest me; wherefore, albeit every one +else is mighty well pleased with him, I for my part have little cause +to thank him.' These words afforded Mithridanes some hope of availing +with more certitude and more safety to give effect to his perverse +design, and Nathan very courteously asking him who he was and what +occasion brought him into those parts and proffering him his advice +and assistance insomuch as lay in his power, he hesitated awhile to +reply, but, presently, resolving to trust himself to him, he with a +long circuit of words<a name="FNanchor_445_447" id="FNanchor_445_447"></a><a href="#Footnote_445_447" class="fnanchor">[445]</a> required him first of secrecy and after of +aid and counsel and entirely discovered to him who he was and +wherefore and on what motion he came. Nathan, hearing his discourse +and his cruel design, was inwardly all disordered; but nevertheless, +without much hesitation, he answered him with an undaunted mind and a +firm countenance, saying, 'Mithridanes, thy father was a noble man and +thou showest thyself minded not to degenerate from him, in having +entered upon so high an emprise as this thou hast undertaken, to wit, +to be liberal unto all; and greatly do I commend the jealousy thou +bearest unto Nathan's virtues, for that, were there many such,<a name="FNanchor_446_448" id="FNanchor_446_448"></a><a href="#Footnote_446_448" class="fnanchor">[446]</a> +the world, that is most wretched, would soon become good. The design +that thou hast discovered to me I will without fail keep secret; but +for the accomplishment thereof I can rather give thee useful counsel +than great help; the which is this. Thou mayst from here see a +coppice, maybe half a mile hence, wherein Nathan well nigh every +morning walketh all alone, taking his pleasure there a pretty long +while; and there it will be a light matter to thee to find him and do +thy will of him. If thou slay him, thou must, so thou mayst return +home without hindrance, get thee gone, not by that way thou camest, +but by that which thou wilt see issue forth of the coppice on the left +hand, for that, albeit it is somewhat wilder, it is nearer to thy +country and safer for thee.'</p> + +<p>Mithridanes, having received this information and Nathan having taken +leave of him, privily let his companions, who had, like himself, taken +up their sojourn in the palace, know where they should look for him on +the morrow; and the new day came, Nathan, whose intent was nowise at +variance with the counsel he had given Mithridanes nor was anywise +changed, betook himself alone to the coppice, there to die. Meanwhile, +Mithridanes arose and taking his bow and his sword, for other arms he +had not, mounted to horse and made for the coppice, where he saw +Nathan from afar go walking all alone. Being resolved, ere he attacked +him, to seek to see him and hear him speak, he ran towards him and +seizing him by the fillet he had about his head, said, 'Old man, thou +art dead.' Whereto Nathan answered no otherwhat than, 'Then have I +merited it.' Mithridanes, hearing his voice and looking him in the +face, knew him forthright for him who had so lovingly received him +and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_471" id="Page_471"></a></span> familiarly companied with him and faithfully counselled him; +whereupon his fury incontinent subsided and his rage was changed into +shame. Accordingly, casting away the sword, which he had already +pulled out to smite him, and lighting down from his horse, he ran, +weeping, to throw himself at Nathan's feet and said to him, 'Now, +dearest father, do I manifestly recognize your liberality, considering +with what secrecy you are come hither to give me your life, whereof, +without any reason, I showed myself desirous, and that to yourself; +but God, more careful of mine honour than I myself, hath, in the +extremest hour of need, opened the eyes of my understanding, which +vile envy had closed. Wherefore, the readier you have been to comply +with me, so much the more do I confess myself beholden to do penance +for my default. Take, then, of me the vengeance which you deem +conformable to my sin.'</p> + +<p>Nathan raised Mithridanes to his feet and tenderly embraced and kissed +him, saying, 'My son, it needeth not that thou shouldst ask nor that I +should grant forgiveness of thine emprise, whatever thou choosest to +style it, whether wicked or otherwise; for that thou pursuedst it, not +of hatred, but to win to be held better. Live, then, secure from me +and be assured that there is no man alive who loveth thee as I do, +having regard to the loftiness of thy soul, which hath given itself, +not to the amassing of monies, as do the covetous, but to the +expenditure of those that have been amassed. Neither be thou ashamed +of having sought to slay me, so though mightest become famous, nor +think that I marvel thereat. The greatest emperors and the most +illustrious kings have, with well nigh none other art than that of +slaying, not one man, as thou wouldst have done, but an infinite +multitude of men, and burning countries and razing cities, enlarged +their realms and consequently their fame; wherefore, an thou wouldst, +to make thyself more famous, have slain me only, thou diddest no new +nor extraordinary thing, but one much used.'</p> + +<p>Mithridanes, without holding himself excused of his perverse design, +commended the honourable excuse found by Nathan and came, in course of +converse with him, to say that he marvelled beyond measure how he +could have brought himself to meet his death and have gone so far as +even to give him means and counsel to that end; whereto quoth Nathan, +'Mithridanes, I would not have thee marvel at my resolution nor at the +counsel I gave thee, for that, since I have been mine own master and +have addressed myself to do that same thing which thou hast undertaken +to do, there came never any to my house but I contented him, so far as +in me lay, of that which was required of me by him. Thou camest +hither, desirous of my life; wherefore, learning that thou soughtest +it, I straightway determined to give it thee, so thou mightest not be +the only one to depart hence without his wish; and in order that thou +mightest have thy desire, I gave thee such counsel as I thought apt to +enable thee to have my life and not lose thine own; and therefore I +tell thee once more and pray thee, an it please thee, take it and +satisfy thyself thereof. I know not how I may better bestow it. These +fourscore years have I occupied it and used it about my pleasures and +my diversions, and I know that in the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_472" id="Page_472"></a></span> course of nature, according as +it fareth with other men and with things in general, it can now be +left me but a little while longer; wherefore I hold it far better to +bestow it by way of gift, like as I have still given and expended my +[other] treasures, than to seek to keep it until such times as it +shall be taken from me by nature against my will. To give an hundred +years is no great boon; how much less, then, is it to give the six or +eight I have yet to abide here? Take it, then, an it like thee. +Prithee, then, take it, an thou have a mind thereto; for that never +yet, what while I have lived here, have I found any who hath desired +it, nor know I when I may find any such, an thou, who demandest it, +take it not. And even should I chance to find any one, I know that, +the longer I keep it, the less worth will it be; therefore, ere it wax +sorrier, take it, I beseech thee.'</p> + +<p>Mithridanes was sore abashed and replied, 'God forbid I should, let +alone take and sever from you a thing of such price as your life, but +even desire to do so, as but late I did,—your life, whose years far +from seeking to lessen, I would willingly add thereto of mine own!' +Whereto Nathan straightway rejoined, 'And art thou indeed willing, it +being in thy power to do it, to add of thy years unto mine and in so +doing, to cause me do for thee that which I never yet did for any man, +to wit, take of thy good, I who never yet took aught of others?' 'Ay +am I,' answered Mithridanes in haste. 'Then,' said Nathan, 'thou must +do as I shall bid thee. Thou shalt take up thine abode, young as thou +art, here in my house and bear the name of Nathan, whilst I will +betake myself to thy house and let still call myself Mithridanes.' +Quoth Mithridanes, 'An I knew how to do as well as you have done and +do, I would, without hesitation, take that which you proffer me; but, +since meseemeth very certain that my actions would be a diminishment +of Nathan's fame and as I purpose not to mar in another that which I +know not how to order in myself, I will not take it.' These and many +other courteous discourses having passed between them, they returned, +at Nathan's instance, to the latter's palace, where he entertained +Mithridanes with the utmost honour sundry days, heartening him in his +great and noble purpose with all manner of wit and wisdom. Then, +Mithridanes desiring to return to his own house with his company, he +dismissed him, having throughly given him to know that he might never +avail to outdo him in liberality."</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="THE_FOURTH_STORY10" id="THE_FOURTH_STORY10"></a>THE FOURTH STORY</h2> + +<div class="sidenote">Day the Tenth</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="hang">MESSER GENTILE DE' CARISENDI, COMING FROM MODONA, TAKETH +FORTH OF THE SEPULCHRE A LADY WHOM HE LOVETH AND WHO HATH +BEEN BURIED FOR DEAD. THE LADY, RESTORED TO LIFE, BEARETH A +MALE CHILD AND MESSER GENTILE RESTORETH HER AND HER SON TO +NICCOLUCCIO CACCIANIMICO, HER HUSBAND</p></div> + + +<p><br /><span class="smcap">It seemed</span> to all a marvellous thing that a man should be lavish of his +own blood and they declared Nathan's liberality to have verily +transcended that of the King of Spain and the Abbot of Cluny. But, +after enough to one and the other effect had been said thereof, the +king, looking towards Lauretta,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_473" id="Page_473"></a></span> signed to her that he would have her +tell, whereupon she straightway began, "Young ladies, magnificent and +goodly are the things that have been recounted, nor meseemeth is there +aught left unto us who have yet to tell, wherethrough we may range a +story-telling, so throughly have they all<a name="FNanchor_447_449" id="FNanchor_447_449"></a><a href="#Footnote_447_449" class="fnanchor">[447]</a> been occupied with the +loftiness of the magnificences related, except we have recourse to the +affairs of love, which latter afford a great abundance of matter for +discourse on every subject; wherefore, at once on this account and for +that the theme is one to which our age must needs especially incline +us, it pleaseth me to relate to you an act of magnanimity done by a +lover, which, all things considered, will peradventure appear to you +nowise inferior to any of those already set forth, if it be true that +treasures are lavished, enmities forgotten and life itself, nay, what +is far more, honour and renown, exposed to a thousand perils, so we +may avail to possess the thing beloved.</p> + +<p>There was, then, in Bologna, a very noble city of Lombardy, a +gentleman very notable for virtue and nobility of blood, called Messer +Gentile Carisendi, who, being young, became enamoured of a noble lady +called Madam Catalina, the wife of one Niccoluccio Caccianimico; and +for that he was ill repaid of his love by the lady, being named +provost of Modona, he betook himself thither, as in despair of her. +Meanwhile, Niccoluccio being absent from Bologna and the lady having, +for that she was with child, gone to abide at a country house she had +maybe three miles distant from the city, she was suddenly seized with +a grievous fit of sickness,<a name="FNanchor_448_450" id="FNanchor_448_450"></a><a href="#Footnote_448_450" class="fnanchor">[448]</a> which overcame her with such violence +that it extinguished in her all sign of life, so that she was even +adjudged dead of divers physicians; and for that her nearest kinswomen +declared themselves to have had it from herself that she had not been +so long pregnant that the child could be fully formed, without giving +themselves farther concern, they buried her, such as she was, after +much lamentation, in one of the vaults of a neighbouring church.</p> + +<p>The thing was forthright signified by a friend of his to Messer +Gentile, who, poor as he had still been of her favour, grieved sore +therefor and ultimately said in himself, 'Harkye, Madam Catalina, thou +art dead, thou of whom, what while thou livedst, I could never avail +to have so much as a look; wherefore, now thou canst not defend +thyself, needs must I take of thee a kiss or two, all dead as thou +art.' This said, he took order so his going should be secret and it +being presently night, he mounted to horse with one of his servants +and rode, without halting, till he came whereas the lady was buried +and opened the sepulchre with all despatch. Then, entering therein, he +laid himself beside her and putting his face to hers, kissed her again +and again with many tears. But presently,—as we see men's appetites +never abide content within any limit, but still desire farther, and +especially those of lovers,—having bethought himself to tarry there +no longer, he said, 'Marry, now that I am here, why should I not touch +her somedele on the breast? I may never touch her more, nor have I +ever yet done so.'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_474" id="Page_474"></a></span> Accordingly, overcome with this desire, he put his +hand into her bosom and holding it there awhile, himseemed he felt her +heart beat somewhat. Thereupon, putting aside all fear, he sought more +diligently and found that she was certainly not dead, scant and feeble +as he deemed the life [that lingered in her;] wherefore, with the help +of his servant, he brought her forth of the tomb, as softliest he +might, and setting her before him on his horse, carried her privily to +his house in Bologna.</p> + +<p>There was his mother, a worthy and discreet gentlewoman, and she, +after she had heard everything at large from her son, moved to +compassion, quietly addressed herself by means of hot baths and great +fires to recall the strayed life to the lady, who, coming presently to +herself, heaved a great sigh and said, 'Ah me, where am I?' To which +the good lady replied, 'Be of good comfort; thou art in safety.' Madam +Catalina, collecting herself, looked about her and knew not aright +where she was; but, seeing Messer Gentile before her, she was filled +with wonderment and besought his mother to tell her how she came +thither; whereupon Messer Gentile related to her everything in order. +At this she was sore afflicted, but presently rendered him such thanks +as she might and after conjured him, by the love he had erst borne her +and of his courtesy, that she might not in his house suffer at his +hands aught that should be anywise contrary to her honour and that of +her husband and that, as soon as the day should be come, he would +suffer her return to her own house. 'Madam,' answered Messer Gentile, +'whatsoever may have been my desire of time past, I purpose not, +either at this present or ever henceforth, (since God hath vouchsafed +me this grace that He hath restored you to me from death to life, and +that by means of the love I have hitherto borne you,) to use you +either here or elsewhere otherwise than as a dear sister; but this my +service that I have done you to-night meriteth some recompense; +wherefore I would have you deny me not a favour that I shall ask you.'</p> + +<p>The lady very graciously replied that she was ready to do his desire, +so but she might and it were honourable. Then said he, 'Madam, your +kinsfolk and all the Bolognese believe and hold you for certain to be +dead, wherefore there is no one who looketh for you more at home, and +therefore I would have you of your favour be pleased to abide quietly +here with my mother till such time as I shall return from Modona, +which will be soon. And the reason for which I require you of this is +that I purpose to make a dear and solemn present of you to your +husband in the presence of the most notable citizens of this place.' +The lady, confessing herself beholden to the gentleman and that his +request was an honourable one, determined to do as he asked, how much +soever she desired to gladden her kinsfolk of her life,<a name="FNanchor_449_451" id="FNanchor_449_451"></a><a href="#Footnote_449_451" class="fnanchor">[449]</a> and so +she promised it to him upon her faith. Hardly had she made an end of +her reply, when she felt the time of her delivery to be come and not +long after, being lovingly tended of Messer Gentile's mother, she gave +birth to a goodly male child, which manifold redoubled his gladness +and her own. Messer Gentile took order that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_475" id="Page_475"></a></span> all things needful should +be forthcoming and that she should be tended as she were his proper +wife and presently returned in secret to Modona. There, having served +the term of his office and being about to return to Bologna, he took +order for the holding of a great and goodly banquet at his house on +the morning he was to enter the city, and thereto he bade many +gentlemen of the place, amongst whom was Niccoluccio Caccianimico. +Accordingly, when he returned and dismounted, he found them all +awaiting him, as likewise the lady, fairer and sounder than ever, and +her little son in good case, and with inexpressible joy seating his +guests at table, he let serve them magnificently with various meats.</p> + +<p>Whenas the repast was near its end, having first told the lady what he +meant to do and taken order with her of the course that she should +hold, he began to speak thus: 'Gentlemen, I remember to have heard +whiles that there is in Persia a custom and to my thinking a pleasant +one, to wit, that, whenas any is minded supremely to honour a friend +of his, he biddeth him to his house and there showeth him the thing, +be it wife or mistress or daughter or whatsoever else, he holdeth most +dear, avouching that, like as he showeth him this, even so, an he +might, would he yet more willingly show him his very heart; which +custom I purpose to observe in Bologna. You, of your favour, have +honoured my banquet with your presence, and I in turn mean to honour +you, after the Persian fashion, by showing you the most precious thing +I have or may ever have in the world. But, ere I proceed to do this, I +pray you tell me what you deem of a doubt<a name="FNanchor_450_452" id="FNanchor_450_452"></a><a href="#Footnote_450_452" class="fnanchor">[450]</a> which I shall broach to +you and which is this. A certain person hath in his house a very +faithful and good servant, who falleth grievously sick, whereupon the +former, without awaiting the sick man's end, letteth carry him into +the middle street and hath no more heed of him. Cometh a stranger, +who, moved to compassion of the sick man, carrieth him off to his own +house and with great diligence and expense bringeth him again to his +former health. Now I would fain know whether, if he keep him and make +use of his services, his former master can in equity complain of or +blame the second, if, he demanding him again, the latter refuse to +restore him.'</p> + +<p>The gentlemen, after various discourse among themselves, concurring +all in one opinion, committed the response to Niccoluccio +Caccianimico, for that he was a goodly and eloquent speaker; whereupon +the latter, having first commended the Persian usage, declared that he +and all the rest were of opinion that the first master had no longer +any right in his servant, since he had, in such a circumstance, not +only abandoned him, but cast him away, and that, for the kind offices +done him by the second, themseemed the servant was justly become his; +wherefore, in keeping him, he did the first no hurt, no violence, no +unright whatsoever. The other guests at table (and there were men +there of worth and worship) said all of one accord that they held to +that which had been answered by Niccoluccio; and Messer Gentile, well +pleased with this<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_476" id="Page_476"></a></span> response and that Niccoluccio had made it, avouched +himself also to be of the same opinion. Then said he, 'It is now time +that I honour you according to promise,' and calling two of his +servants, despatched them to the lady, whom he had let magnificently +dress and adorn, praying her be pleased to come gladden the company +with her presence. Accordingly, she took her little son, who was very +handsome, in her arms and coming into the banqueting-hall, attended by +two serving-men seated herself, as Messer Gentile willed it, by the +side of a gentleman of high standing. Then said he, 'Gentlemen, this +is the thing which I hold and purpose to hold dearer than any other; +look if it seem to you that I have reason to do so.'</p> + +<p>The guests, having paid her the utmost honour, commending her amain +and declaring to Messer Gentile that he might well hold her dear, fell +to looking upon her; and there were many there who had avouched her to +be herself,<a name="FNanchor_451_453" id="FNanchor_451_453"></a><a href="#Footnote_451_453" class="fnanchor">[451]</a> had they not held her for dead. But Niccoluccio gazed +upon her above all and unable to contain himself, asked her, (Messer +Gentile having withdrawn awhile,) as one who burned to know who she +was, if she were a Bolognese lady or a foreigner. The lady, seeing +herself questioned of her husband, hardly restrained herself from +answering; but yet, to observe the appointed ordinance, she held her +peace. Another asked her if the child was hers and a third if she were +Messer Gentile's wife or anywise akin to him; but she made them no +reply. Presently, Messer Gentile coming up, one of his guests said to +him, 'Sir, this is a fair creature of yours, but she seemeth to us +mute; is she so?' 'Gentlemen,' replied he, 'her not having spoken at +this present is no small proof of her virtue.' And the other said, +'Tell us, then, who she is.' Quoth Messer Gentile, 'That will I +gladly, so but you will promise me that none, for aught that I shall +say, will budge from his place till such time as I shall have made an +end of my story.'</p> + +<p>All promised this and the tables being presently removed, Messer +Gentile, seating himself beside the lady, said, 'Gentlemen, this lady +is that loyal and faithful servant, of whom I questioned you awhile +agone and who, being held little dear of her folk and so, as a thing +without worth and no longer useful, cast out into the midward of the +street, was by me taken up; yea, by my solicitude and of my handiwork +I brought her forth of the jaws of death, and God, having regard to my +good intent, hath caused her, by my means, from a frightful corpse +become thus beautiful. But, that you may more manifestly apprehend how +this betided me, I will briefly declare it to you.' Then, beginning +from his falling enamoured of her, he particularly related to them +that which had passed until that time, to the great wonderment of the +hearers, and added, 'By reason of which things, an you, and especially +Niccoluccio, have not changed counsel since awhile ago, the lady is +fairly mine, nor can any with just title demand her again of me.' To +this none made answer; nay, all awaited that which he should say +farther; whilst Niccoluccio and the lady<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_477" id="Page_477"></a></span> and certain of the others +who were there wept for compassion.<a name="FNanchor_452_454" id="FNanchor_452_454"></a><a href="#Footnote_452_454" class="fnanchor">[452]</a></p> + +<p>Then Messer Gentile, rising to his feet and taking the little child in +his arms and the lady by the hand, made for Niccoluccio and said to +him, 'Rise up, gossip; I do not restore thee thy wife, whom thy +kinsfolk and hers cast away; nay, but I will well bestow on thee this +lady my gossip, with this her little son, who I am assured, was +begotten of thee and whom I held at baptism and named Gentile; and I +pray thee that she be none the less dear to thee for that she hath +abidden near upon three months in my house; for I swear to thee,—by +that God who belike caused me aforetime fall in love with her, to the +intent that my love might be, as in effect it hath been, the occasion +of her deliverance,—that never, whether with father or mother or with +thee, hath she lived more chastely than she hath done with my mother +in my house.' So saying, he turned to the lady and said to her, +'Madam, from this time forth I absolve you of every promise made me +and leave you free [to return] to Niccoluccio.'<a name="FNanchor_453_455" id="FNanchor_453_455"></a><a href="#Footnote_453_455" class="fnanchor">[453]</a> Then, giving the +lady and the child into Niccoluccio's arms, he returned to his seat. +Niccoluccio received them with the utmost eagerness, so much the more +rejoiced as he was the farther removed from hope thereof, and thanked +Messer Gentile, as best he might and knew; whilst the others, who all +wept for compassion, commended the latter amain of this; yea, and he +was commended of whosoever heard it. The lady was received in her +house with marvellous rejoicing and long beheld with amazement by the +Bolognese, as one raised from the dead; whilst Messer Gentile ever +after abode a friend of Niccoluccio and of his kinsfolk and those of +the lady.</p> + +<p>What, then, gentle ladies, will you say [of this case]? Is, think you, +a king's having given away his sceptre and his crown or an abbot's +having, without cost to himself, reconciled an evildoer with the pope +or an old man's having proffered his weasand to the enemy's knife to +be evened with this deed of Messer Gentile, who, being young and +ardent and himseeming he had a just title to that which the +heedlessness of others had cast away and he of his good fortune had +taken up, not only honourably tempered his ardour, but, having in his +possession that which he was still wont with all his thoughts to covet +and to seek to steal away, freely restored it [to its owner]? Certes, +meseemeth none of the magnificences already recounted can compare with +this."</p> + + + +<hr /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_478" id="Page_478"></a></span></p> +<h2><a name="THE_FIFTH_STORY10" id="THE_FIFTH_STORY10"></a>THE FIFTH STORY</h2> + +<div class="sidenote">Day the Tenth</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="hang">MADAM DIANORA REQUIRETH OF MESSER ANSALDO A GARDEN AS FAIR +IN JANUARY AS IN MAY, AND HE BY BINDING HIMSELF [TO PAY A +GREAT SUM OF MONEY] TO A NIGROMANCER, GIVETH IT TO HER. HER +HUSBAND GRANTETH HER LEAVE TO DO MESSER ANSALDO'S PLEASURE, +BUT HE, HEARING OF THE FORMER'S GENEROSITY, ABSOLVETH HER OF +HER PROMISE, WHEREUPON THE NIGROMANCER, IN HIS TURN, +ACQUITTETH MESSER ANSALDO OF HIS BOND, WITHOUT WILLING AUGHT +OF HIS</p></div> + + +<p><br /><span class="smcap">Messer Gentile</span> having by each of the merry company been extolled to +the very skies with the highest praise, the king charged Emilia follow +on, who confidently, as if eager to speak, began as follows: "Dainty +dames, none can with reason deny that Messer Gentile wrought +magnificently; but, if it be sought to say that his magnanimity might +not be overpassed, it will not belike be uneath to show that more is +possible, as I purpose to set out to you in a little story of mine.</p> + +<p>In Friuli, a country, though cold, glad with goodly mountains and +store of rivers and clear springs, is a city called Udine, wherein was +aforetime a fair and noble lady called Madam Dianora, the wife of a +wealthy gentleman named Gilberto, who was very debonair and easy of +composition. The lady's charm procured her to be passionately loved of +a noble and great baron by name Messer Ansaldo Gradense, a man of high +condition and everywhere renowned for prowess and courtesy. He loved +her fervently and did all that lay in his power to be beloved of her, +to which end he frequently solicited her with messages, but wearied +himself in vain. At last, his importunities being irksome to the lady +and she seeing that, for all she denied him everything he sought of +her, he stinted not therefor to love and solicit her, she determined +to seek to rid herself of him by means of an extraordinary and in her +judgment an impossible demand; wherefore she said one day to a woman, +who came often to her on his part, 'Good woman, thou hast many times +avouched to me that Messer Ansaldo loveth me over all things and hast +proffered me marvellous great gifts on his part, which I would have +him keep to himself, seeing that never thereby might I be prevailed +upon to love him or comply with his wishes; but, an I could be +certified that he loveth me in very deed as much as thou sayest, I +might doubtless bring myself to love him and do that which he willeth; +wherefore, an he choose to certify me of this with that which I shall +require of him, I shall be ready to do his commandments.' Quoth the +good woman, 'And what is that, madam, which you would have him do?' +'That which I desire,' replied the lady, 'is this; I will have, for +this coming month of January, a garden, near this city, full of green +grass and flowers and trees in full leaf, no otherwise than as it were +May; the which if he contrive not, let him never more send me thee nor +any other, for that, an he importune me more, so surely as I have +hitherto kept his pursuit hidden from my husband<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_479" id="Page_479"></a></span> and my kinsfolk, I +will study to rid myself of him by complaining to them.'</p> + +<p>The gentleman, hearing the demand and the offer of his mistress, for +all it seemed to him a hard thing and in a manner impossible to do and +he knew it to be required of the lady for none otherwhat than to +bereave him of all hope, determined nevertheless to essay whatsoever +might be done thereof and sent into various parts about the world, +enquiring if there were any to be found who would give him aid and +counsel in the matter. At last, he happened upon one who offered, so +he were well guerdoned, to do the thing by nigromantic art, and having +agreed with him for a great sum of money, he joyfully awaited the +appointed time, which come and the cold being extreme and everything +full of snow and ice, the learned man, the night before the calends of +January, so wrought by his arts in a very goodly meadow adjoining the +city, that it appeared in the morning (according to the testimony of +those who saw it) one of the goodliest gardens was ever seen of any, +with grass and trees and fruits of every kind. Messer Ansaldo, after +viewing this with the utmost gladness, let cull of the finest fruits +and the fairest flowers that were there and caused privily present +them to his mistress, bidding her come and see the garden required by +her, so thereby she might know how he loved her and after, remembering +her of the promise made him and sealed with an oath, bethink herself, +as a loyal lady, to accomplish it to him.</p> + +<p>The lady, seeing the fruits and flowers and having already from many +heard tell of the miraculous garden, began to repent of her promise. +Natheless, curious, for all her repentance, of seeing strange things, +she went with many other ladies of the city to view the garden and +having with no little wonderment commended it amain, returned home, +the woefullest woman alive, bethinking her of that to which she was +bounden thereby. Such was her chagrin that she availed not so well to +dissemble it but needs must it appear, and her husband, perceiving it, +was urgent to know the reason. The lady, for shamefastness, kept +silence thereof a great while; but at last, constrained to speak, she +orderly discovered to him everything; which Gilberto, hearing, was at +the first sore incensed, but presently, considering the purity of the +lady's intent and chasing away anger with better counsel, he said, +'Dianora, it is not the part of a discreet nor of a virtuous woman to +give ear unto any message of this sort nor to compound with any for +her chastity under whatsoever condition. Words received into the heart +by the channel of the ears have more potency than many conceive and +well nigh every thing becometh possible to lovers. Thou didst ill, +then, first to hearken and after to enter into terms of composition; +but, for that I know the purity of thine intent, I will, to absolve +thee of the bond of the promise, concede thee that which peradventure +none other would do, being thereto the more induced by fear of the +nigromancer, whom Messer Ansaldo, an thou cheat him, will maybe cause +make us woeful. I will, then, that thou go to him and study to have +thyself absolved of this thy promise, preserving thy chastity, if thou +mayst anywise contrive it; but, an it may not<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_480" id="Page_480"></a></span> be otherwise, thou +shalt, for this once, yield him thy body, but not thy soul.'</p> + +<p>The lady, hearing her husband's speech, wept and denied herself +willing to receive such a favour from him; but, for all her much +denial, he would e'en have it be so. Accordingly, next morning, at +daybreak, the lady, without overmuch adorning herself, repaired to +Messer Ansaldo's house, with two of her serving-men before and a +chamberwoman after her. Ansaldo, hearing that his mistress was come to +him, marvelled sore and letting call the nigromancer, said to him, 'I +will have thee see what a treasure thy skill hath gotten me.' Then, +going to meet her, he received her with decency and reverence, without +ensuing any disorderly appetite, and they entered all<a name="FNanchor_454_456" id="FNanchor_454_456"></a><a href="#Footnote_454_456" class="fnanchor">[454]</a> into a +goodly chamber, wherein was a great fire. There he caused set her a +seat and said, 'Madam, I prithee, if the long love I have borne you +merit any recompense, let it not irk you to discover to me the true +cause which hath brought you hither at such an hour and in such +company.' The lady, shamefast and well nigh with tears in her eyes, +answered, 'Sir, neither love that I bear you nor plighted faith +bringeth me hither, but the commandment of my husband, who, having +more regard to the travails of your disorderly passion than to his +honour and mine own, hath caused me come hither; and by his behest I +am for this once disposed to do your every pleasure.' If Messer +Ansaldo had marvelled at the sight of the lady, far more did he +marvel, when he heard her words, and moved by Gilberto's generosity, +his heat began to change to compassion and he said, 'God forbid, +madam, an it be as you say, that I should be a marrer of his honour +who hath compassion of my love; wherefore you shall, what while it is +your pleasure to abide here, be no otherwise entreated than as you +were my sister; and whenas it shall be agreeable to you, you are free +to depart, so but you will render your husband, on my part, those +thanks which you shall deem befitting unto courtesy such as his hath +been and have me ever, in time to come, for brother and for servant.'</p> + +<p>The lady, hearing these words, was the joyfullest woman in the world +and answered, saying, 'Nothing, having regard to your fashions, could +ever make me believe that aught should ensue to me of my coming other +than this that I see you do in the matter; whereof I shall still be +beholden to you.' Then, taking leave, she returned, under honourable +escort, to Messer Gilberto and told him that which had passed, of +which there came about a very strait and loyal friendship between him +and Messer Ansaldo. Moreover, the nigromancer, to whom the gentleman +was for giving the promised guerdon, seeing Gilberto's generosity +towards his wife's lover and that of the latter towards the lady, +said, 'God forbid, since I have seen Gilberto liberal of his honour +and you of your love, that I should not on like wise be liberal of my +hire; wherefore, knowing it<a name="FNanchor_455_457" id="FNanchor_455_457"></a><a href="#Footnote_455_457" class="fnanchor">[455]</a> will stand you in good stead, I +intend that it shall be yours.' At this the gentleman was ashamed and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_481" id="Page_481"></a></span> +studied to make him take or all or part; but, seeing that he wearied +himself in vain and it pleasing the nigromancer (who had, after three +days, done away his garden) to depart, he commended him to God and +having extinguished from his heart his lustful love for the lady, he +abode fired with honourable affection for her. How say you now, +lovesome ladies? Shall we prefer [Gentile's resignation of] the in a +manner dead lady and of his love already cooled for hope forspent, +before the generosity of Messer Ansaldo, whose love was more ardent +than ever and who was in a manner fired with new hope, holding in his +hands the prey so long pursued? Meseemeth it were folly to pretend +that this generosity can be evened with that."</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="THE_SIXTH_STORY10" id="THE_SIXTH_STORY10"></a>THE SIXTH STORY</h2> + +<div class="sidenote">Day the Tenth</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="hang">KING CHARLES THE OLD, THE VICTORIOUS, FALLETH ENAMOURED OF A +YOUNG GIRL, BUT AFTER, ASHAMED OF HIS FOND THOUGHT, +HONOURABLY MARRIETH BOTH HER AND HER SISTER</p></div> + + +<p><br /><span class="smcap">It were</span> over longsome fully to recount the various discourse that had +place among the ladies of who used the greatest generosity, Gilberto +or Messer Ansaldo or the nigromancer, in Madam Dianora's affairs; but, +after the king had suffered them debate awhile, he looked at Fiammetta +and bade her, telling a story, put an end to their contention; +whereupon she, without hesitation, began as follows: "Illustrious +ladies, I was ever of opinion that, in companies such as ours, it +should still be discoursed so much at large that the +overstraitness<a name="FNanchor_456_458" id="FNanchor_456_458"></a><a href="#Footnote_456_458" class="fnanchor">[456]</a> of intent of the things said be not unto any +matter for debate, the which is far more sortable among students in +the schools than among us [women,] who scarce suffice unto the distaff +and the spindle. Wherefore, seeing that you are presently at +cross-purposes by reason of the things already said, I, who had in +mind a thing maybe somewhat doubtful [of meaning,] will leave that be +and tell you a story, treating nowise of a man of little account, but +of a valiant king, who therein wrought knightly, in nothing attainting +his honour.</p> + +<p>Each one of you must many a time have heard tell of King Charles the +Old or First, by whose magnanimous emprise, and after by the glorious +victory gained by him over King Manfred, the Ghibellines were expelled +from Florence and the Guelphs returned thither. In consequence of this +a certain gentleman, called Messer Neri degli Uberti, departing the +city with all his household and much monies and being minded to take +refuge no otherwhere than under the hand of King Charles, betook +himself to Castellamare di Stabia.<a name="FNanchor_457_459" id="FNanchor_457_459"></a><a href="#Footnote_457_459" class="fnanchor">[457]</a> There, belike a crossbowshot +removed from the other habitations of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_482" id="Page_482"></a></span> the place, among olive-trees +and walnuts and chestnuts, wherewith the country aboundeth, he bought +him an estate and built thereon a goodly and commodious +dwelling-house, with a delightsome garden thereby, amiddleward which, +having great plenty of running water, he made, after our country +fashion, a goodly and clear fishpond and lightly filled it with good +store of fish. Whilst he concerned himself to make his garden goodlier +every day, it befell that King Charles repaired to Castellamare, to +rest himself awhile in the hot season, and there hearing tell of the +beauty of Messer Neri's garden, he desired to behold it. Hearing, +moreover, to whom it belonged, he bethought himself that, as the +gentleman was of the party adverse to his own, it behoved to deal the +more familiarly with him, and accordingly sent to him to say that he +purposed to sup with him privily in his garden that evening, he and +four companions. This was very agreeable to Messer Neri, and having +made magnificent preparation and taken order with his household of +that which was to do, he received the king in his fair garden as +gladliest he might and knew. The latter, after having viewed and +commended all the garden and Messer Neri's house and washed, seated +himself at one of the tables, which were set beside the fishpond, and +seating Count Guy de Montfort, who was of his company, on one side of +him and Messer Neri on the other, commanded other three, who were come +thither with them, to serve according to the order appointed of his +host. Thereupon there came dainty meats and there were wines of the +best and costliest and the ordinance was exceeding goodly and +praiseworthy, without noise or annoy whatsoever, the which the king +much commended.</p> + +<p>Presently, as he sat blithely at meat, enjoying the solitary place, +there entered the garden two young damsels of maybe fifteen years of +age, with hair like threads of gold, all ringleted and hanging loose, +whereon was a light chaplet of pervinck-blossoms. Their faces bespoke +them rather angels than otherwhat, so delicately fair they were, and +they were clad each upon her skin in a garment of the finest linen and +white as snow, the which from the waist upward was very strait and +thence hung down in ample folds, pavilionwise, to the feet. She who +came first bore on her left shoulder a pair of hand-nets and in her +right hand a long pole, and the other had on her left shoulder a +frying-pan and under the same arm a faggot of wood, whilst in her left +hand she held a trivet and in the other a flask of oil and a lighted +flambeau. The king, seeing them, marvelled and in suspense awaited +what this should mean. The damsels came forward modestly and +blushingly did obeisance to him, then, betaking themselves whereas one +went down into the fishpond, she who bore the frying-pan set it down +and the other things by it and taking the pole that the other carried, +they both entered the water, which came up to their breasts. +Meanwhile, one of Messer Neri's servants deftly kindled fire under the +trivet and setting the pan thereon, poured therein oil and waited for +the damsels to throw him fish. The latter, the one groping with the +pole in those parts whereas she knew the fish lay hid and the other +standing ready with the net, in a short<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_483" id="Page_483"></a></span> space of time took fish +galore, to the exceeding pleasure of the king, who eyed them attently; +then, throwing some thereof to the servant, who put them in the pan, +well nigh alive, they proceeded, as they had been lessoned, to take of +the finest and cast them on the table before the king and his +table-fellows. The fish wriggled about the table, to the marvellous +diversion of the king, who took of them in his turn and sportively +cast them back to the damsels; and on this wise they frolicked awhile, +till such time as the servant had cooked the fish which had been given +him and which, Messer Neri having so ordered it, were now set before +the king, more as a relish than as any very rare and delectable dish.</p> + +<p>The damsels, seeing the fish cooked and having taken enough, came +forth of the water, their thin white garments all clinging to their +skins and hiding well nigh nought of their delicate bodies, and +passing shamefastly before the king, returned to the house. The latter +and the count and the others who served had well considered the +damsels and each inwardly greatly commended them for fair and well +shapen, no less than for agreeable and well mannered. But above all +they pleased the king, who had so intently eyed every part of their +bodies, as they came forth of the water, that, had any then pricked +him, he would not have felt it, and as he called them more +particularly to mind, unknowing who they were, he felt a very fervent +desire awaken in his heart to please them, whereby he right well +perceived himself to be in danger of becoming enamoured, an he took no +heed to himself thereagainst; nor knew he indeed whether of the twain +it was the more pleased him, so like in all things was the one to the +other. After he had abidden awhile in this thought, he turned to +Messer Neri and asked him who were the two damsels, to which the +gentleman answered, 'My lord, these are my daughters born at a birth, +whereof the one is called Ginevra the Fair and the other Isotta the +Blonde.' The king commended them greatly and exhorted him to marry +them, whereof Messer Neri excused himself, for that he was no more +able thereunto. Meanwhile, nothing now remaining to be served of the +supper but the fruits, there came the two damsels in very goodly gowns +of sendal, with two great silver platters in their hands, full of +various fruits, such as the season afforded, and these they set on the +table before the king; which done, they withdrew a little apart and +fell to singing a canzonet, whereof the words began thus:</p> + +<p class="cpoem"> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Whereas I'm come, O Love,</span><br /> +It might not be, indeed, at length recounted, etc.<br /> +</p> + +<p>This song they carolled on such dulcet wise and so delightsomely that +to the king, who beheld and hearkened to them with ravishment, it +seemed as if all the hierarchies of the angels were lighted there to +sing. The song sung, they fell on their knees and respectfully craved +of him leave to depart, who, albeit their departure was grievous to +him, yet with a show of blitheness accorded it to them. The supper +being now at an end, the king remounted to horse with his company and +leaving Messer Neri, returned to the royal lodging, devising of one +thing and an<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_484" id="Page_484"></a></span>other. There, holding his passion hidden, but availing +not, for whatsoever great affair might supervene, to forget the beauty +and grace of Ginevra the Fair, (for love of whom he loved her sister +also, who was like unto her,) he became so fast entangled in the +amorous snares that he could think of well nigh nought else and +feigning other occasions, kept a strait intimacy with Messer Neri and +very often visited his fair garden, to see Ginevra.</p> + +<p>At last, unable to endure longer and bethinking himself, in default of +other means of compassing his desire, to take not one alone, but both +of the damsels from their father, he discovered both his passion and +his intent to Count Guy, who, for that he was an honourable man, said +to him, 'My lord, I marvel greatly at that which you tell me, and that +more than would another, inasmuch as meseemeth I have from your +childhood to this day known your fashions better than any other; +wherefore, meseeming never to have known such a passion in your youth, +wherein Love might lightlier have fixed his talons, and seeing you +presently hard upon old age, it is so new and so strange to me that +you should love by way of enamourment<a name="FNanchor_458_460" id="FNanchor_458_460"></a><a href="#Footnote_458_460" class="fnanchor">[458]</a> that it seemeth to me well +nigh a miracle, and were it my office to reprove you thereof, I know +well that which I should say to you thereanent, having in regard that +you are yet with your harness on your back in a kingdom newly gained, +amidst a people unknown and full of wiles and treasons, and are all +occupied with very grave cares and matters of high moment, nor have +you yet availed to seat yourself [in security;] and yet, among such +and so many affairs, you have made place for the allurements of love. +This is not the fashion of a magnanimous king; nay, but rather that of +a pusillanimous boy. Moreover, what is far worse, you say that you are +resolved to take his two daughters from a gentleman who hath +entertained you in his house beyond his means and who, to do you the +more honour, hath shown you these twain in a manner naked, thereby +attesting how great is the faith he hath in you and that he firmly +believeth you to be a king and not a ravening wolf. Again, hath it so +soon dropped your memory that it was the violences done of Manfred to +women that opened you the entry into this kingdom? What treason was +ever wroughten more deserving of eternal punishment than this would +be, that you should take from him who hospitably entreateth you his +honour and hope and comfort? What would be said of you, an you should +do it? You think, maybe, it were a sufficient excuse to say, "I did it +for that he is a Ghibelline." Is this of the justice of kings, that +they who resort on such wise to their arms should be entreated after +such a fashion, be they who they may? Let me tell you, king, that it +was an exceedingly great glory to you to have overcome Manfred, but a +far greater one it is to overcome one's self; wherefore do you, who +have to correct others, conquer yourself and curb this appetite, nor +offer with such a blot to mar that which you have so gloriously +gained.'</p> + +<p>These words stung the king's conscience to the quick and afflicted him +the more inasmuch as he knew them<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_485" id="Page_485"></a></span> for true; wherefore, after sundry +heavy sighs, he said, 'Certes, Count, I hold every other enemy, +however strong, weak and eath enough to the well-lessoned warrior to +overcome in comparison with his own appetites; natheless, great as is +the travail and inexpressible as is the might it requireth, your words +have so stirred me that needs must I, ere many days be past, cause you +see by deed that, like as I know how to conquer others, even so do I +know how to overcome myself.' Nor had many days passed after this +discourse when the king, having returned to Naples, determined, as +well to deprive himself of occasion to do dishonourably as to requite +the gentleman the hospitality received from him, to go about (grievous +as it was to him to make others possessors of that which he coveted +over all for himself) to marry the two young ladies, and that not as +Messer Neri's daughters, but as his own. Accordingly, with Messer +Neri's accord, he dowered them magnificently and gave Ginevra the Fair +to Messer Maffeo da Palizzi and Isotta the Blonde to Messer Guglielmo +della Magna, both noble cavaliers and great barons, to whom with +inexpressible chagrin consigning them, he betook himself into Apulia, +where with continual fatigues he so mortified the fierceness of his +appetite that, having burst and broken the chains of love, he abode +free of such passion for the rest of his life. There are some belike +who will say that it was a little thing for a king to have married two +young ladies, and that I will allow; but a great and a very great +thing I call it, if we consider that it was a king enamoured who did +this and who married to another her whom he loved, without having +gotten or taking of his love leaf or flower or fruit. On this wise, +then, did this magnanimous king, at once magnificently guerdoning the +noble gentleman, laudably honouring the young ladies whom he loved and +bravely overcoming himself."</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="THE_SEVENTH_STORY10" id="THE_SEVENTH_STORY10"></a>THE SEVENTH STORY</h2> + +<div class="sidenote">Day the Tenth</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="hang">KING PEDRO OF ARRAGON, COMING TO KNOW THE FERVENT LOVE BORNE +HIM BY LISA, COMFORTETH THE LOVE-SICK MAID AND PRESENTLY +MARRIETH HER TO A NOBLE YOUNG GENTLEMAN; THEN, KISSING HER +ON THE BROW, HE EVER AFTER AVOUCHETH HIMSELF HER KNIGHT</p></div> + + +<p><br /><span class="smcap">Fiammetta</span> having made an end of her story and the manful magnanimity of +King Charles having been much commended, albeit there was one lady +there who, being a Ghibelline, was loath to praise him, Pampinea, by +the king's commandment, began thus, "There is no one of understanding, +worshipful ladies, but would say that which you say of good King +Charles, except she bear him ill-will for otherwhat; but, for that +there occurreth to my memory a thing, belike no less commendable than +this, done of one his adversary to one of our Florentine damsels, it +pleaseth me to relate it to you.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_486" id="Page_486"></a></span></p> + +<p>At the time of the expulsion of the French from Sicily, one of our +Florentines was an apothecary at Palermo, a very rich man called +Bernardo Puccini, who had by his wife an only daughter, a very fair +damsel and already apt for marriage. Now King Pedro of Arragon, become +lord of the island, held high festival with his barons at Palermo, +wherein he tilting after the Catalan fashion, it chanced that +Bernardo's daughter, whose name was Lisa, saw him running [at the +ring] from a window where she was with other ladies, and he so +marvellously pleased her that, looking upon him once and again, she +fell passionately in love with him; and the festival ended and she +abiding in her father's house, she could think of nothing but of this +her illustrious and exalted love. And what most irked her in this was +the consciousness of her own mean condition, which scarce suffered her +to cherish any hope of a happy issue; natheless, she could not +therefor bring herself to leave loving the king, albeit, for fear of +greater annoy, she dared not discover her passion. The king had not +perceived this thing and recked not of her, wherefor she suffered +intolerable chagrin, past all that can be imagined. Thus it befell +that, love still waxing in her and melancholy redoubling upon +melancholy, the fair maid, unable to endure more, fell sick and wasted +visibly away from day to day, like snow in the sun. Her father and +mother, sore concerned for this that befell her, studied with +assiduous tenderness to hearten her and succoured her in as much as +might be with physicians and medicines, but it availed nothing, for +that, despairing of her love, she had elected to live no longer.</p> + +<p>It chanced one day that, her father offering to do her every pleasure, +she bethought herself, and she might aptly, to seek, before she died, +to make the king acquainted with her love and her intent, and +accordingly she prayed him bring her Minuccio d'Arezzo. Now this +Minuccio was in those days held a very quaint and subtle singer and +player and was gladly seen of the king; and Bernardo concluded that +Lisa had a mind to hear him sing and play awhile. Accordingly, he sent +to tell him, and Minuccio, who was a man of a debonair humour, +incontinent came to her and having somedele comforted her with kindly +speech, softly played her a fit or two on a viol he had with him and +after sang her sundry songs, the which were fire and flame unto the +damsel's passion, whereas he thought to solace her. Presently she told +him that she would fain speak some words with him alone, wherefore, +all else having withdrawn, she said to him, 'Minuccio, I have chosen +thee to keep me very faithfully a secret of mine, hoping in the first +place that thou wilt never discover it to any one, save to him of whom +I shall tell thee, and after that thou wilt help me in that which +lieth in thy power; and of this I pray thee Thou must know, then, +Minuccio mine, that the day our lord King Pedro held the great +festival in honour of his exaltation to the throne, it befell me, as +he tilted, to espy him at so dour a point<a name="FNanchor_459_461" id="FNanchor_459_461"></a><a href="#Footnote_459_461" class="fnanchor">[459]</a> that for the love of +him there was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_487" id="Page_487"></a></span> kindled in my heart a fire that hath brought me to this +pass wherein thou seest me, and knowing how ill my love beseemeth to a +king, yet availing not, let alone to drive it away, but even to abate +it, and it being beyond measure grievous to me to bear, I have as a +lesser evil elected to die, as I shall do. True it is that I should +begone hence cruelly disconsolate, an he first knew it not; wherefore, +unknowing by whom I could more aptly acquaint him with this my +resolution than by thyself, I desire to commit it to thee and pray +thee that thou refuse not to do it, and whenas thou shalt have done +it, that thou give me to know thereof, so that, dying comforted, I may +be assoiled of these my pains.' And this said, she stinted, weeping.</p> + +<p>Minuccio marvelled at the greatness of the damsel's soul and at her +cruel resolve and was sore concerned for her; then, it suddenly +occurring to his mind how he might honourably oblige her, he said to +her, 'Lisa, I pledge thee my faith, whereof thou mayst live assured +that thou wilt never find thyself deceived, and after, commending thee +of so high an emprise as it is to have set thy mind upon so great a +king, I proffer thee mine aid, by means whereof I hope, an thou wilt +but take comfort, so to do that, ere three days be past, I doubt not +to bring thee news that will be exceeding grateful to thee; and to +lose no time, I mean to go about it forthright.' Lisa, having anew +besought him amain thereof and promised him to take comfort, bade him +God speed; whereupon Minuccio, taking his leave, betook himself to one +Mico da Siena, a mighty good rhymer of those days, and constrained him +with prayers to make the following canzonet:</p> + +<p class="cpoem"> +Bestir thee, Love, and get thee to my Sire<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">And tell him all the torments I aby;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Tell him I'm like to die,</span><br /> +For fearfulness concealing my desire.<br /> +<br /> +Love, with clasped hands I cry thee mercy, so<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Thou mayst betake thee where my lord doth dwell.</span><br /> +Say that I love and long for him, for lo,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">My heart he hath inflamed so sadly well;</span><br /> +Yea, for the fire wherewith I'm all aglow,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">I fear to die nor yet the hour can tell</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">When I shall part from pain so fierce and fell</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">As that which, longing, for his sake I dree</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">In shame and fear; ah me,</span><br /> +For God's sake, cause him know my torment dire.<br /> +<br /> +Since first enamoured, Love, of him I grew,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Thou hast not given me the heart to dare</span><br /> +So much as one poor once my lord unto<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">My love and longing plainly to declare,</span><br /> +My lord who maketh me so sore to rue;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Death, dying thus, were hard to me to bear.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Belike, indeed, for he is debonair,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">'Twould not displease him, did he know what pain</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">I feel and didst thou deign</span><br /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_488" id="Page_488"></a></span>Me daring to make known to him my fire.<br /> +<br /> +Yet, since 'twas not thy pleasure to impart,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Love, such assurance to me that by glance</span><br /> +Or sign or writ I might make known my heart<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Unto my lord, for my deliverance</span><br /> +I prithee, sweet my master, of thine art<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Get thee to him and give him souvenance</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Of that fair day I saw him shield and lance</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Bear with the other knights and looking more,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Enamoured fell so sore</span><br /> +My heart thereof doth perish and expire.<br /> +</p> + +<p>These words Minuccio forthwith set to a soft and plaintive air, such +as the matter thereof required, and on the third day he betook himself +to court, where, King Pedro being yet at meat, he was bidden by him +sing somewhat to his viol. Thereupon he fell to singing the song +aforesaid on such dulcet wise that all who were in the royal hall +appeared men astonied, so still and attent stood they all to hearken, +and the king maybe more than the others. Minuccio having made an end +of his singing, the king enquired whence came this song that himseemed +he had never before heard. 'My lord,' replied the minstrel, 'it is not +yet three days since the words were made and the air.' The king asked +for whom it had been made; and Minuccio answered, 'I dare not discover +it save to you alone.' The king, desirous to hear it, as soon as the +tables were removed, sent for Minuccio into his chamber and the latter +orderly recounted to him all that he had heard from Lisa; wherewith +Don Pedro was exceeding well pleased and much commended the damsel, +avouching himself resolved to have compassion of so worthful a young +lady and bidding him therefore go comfort her on his part and tell her +that he would without fail come to visit her that day towards vespers. +Minuccio, overjoyed to be the bearer of such pleasing news, betook +himself incontinent, viol and all, to the damsel and bespeaking her in +private, recounted to her all that had passed and after sang her the +song to his viol; whereat she was so rejoiced and so content that she +straightway showed manifest signs of great amendment and longingly +awaited the hour of vespers, whenas her lord should come, without any +of the household knowing or guessing how the case stood.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, the king, who was a debonair and generous prince, having +sundry times taken thought to the things heard from Minuccio and very +well knowing the damsel and her beauty, waxed yet more pitiful over +her and mounting to horse towards vespers, under colour of going +abroad for his diversion, betook himself to the apothecary's house, +where, having required a very goodly garden which he had to be opened +to him, he alighted therein and presently asked Bernardo what was come +of his daughter and if he had yet married her. 'My lord,' replied the +apothecary, 'she is not married; nay, she hath been and is yet very +sick; albeit it is true that since none she hath mended marvellously.' +The king readily apprehended what this amendment meant and said, 'In +good sooth, 'twere pity so fair a creature should be yet taken from +the world. We would fain go visit her.' Accordingly, a little after,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_489" id="Page_489"></a></span> +he betook himself with Bernardo and two companions only to her chamber +and going up to the bed where the damsel, somedele upraised,<a name="FNanchor_460_462" id="FNanchor_460_462"></a><a href="#Footnote_460_462" class="fnanchor">[460]</a> +awaited him with impatience, took her by the hand and said to her, +'What meaneth this, my mistress? You are young and should comfort +other women; yet you suffer yourself to be sick. We would beseech you +be pleased, for the love of us, to hearten yourself on such wise that +you may speedily be whole again.' The damsel, feeling herself touched +of his hands whom she loved over all else, albeit she was somewhat +shamefast, felt yet such gladness in her heart as she were in Paradise +and answered him, as best she might, saying, 'My lord, my having +willed to subject my little strength unto very grievous burdens hath +been the cause to me of this mine infirmity, whereof, thanks to your +goodness, you shall soon see me quit.' The king alone understood the +damsel's covert speech and held her momently of more account; nay, +sundry whiles he inwardly cursed fortune, who had made her daughter +unto such a man; then, after he had tarried with her awhile and +comforted her yet more, he took his leave.</p> + +<p>This humanity of the king was greatly commended and attributed for +great honour to the apothecary and his daughter, which latter abode as +well pleased as ever was woman of her lover, and sustained of better +hope, in a few days recovered and became fairer than ever. When she +was whole again, the king, having taken counsel with the queen of what +return he should make her for so much love, mounting one day to horse +with many of his barons, repaired to the apothecary's house and +entering the garden, let call Master Bernardo and his daughter; then, +the queen presently coming thither with many ladies and having +received Lisa among them, they fell to making wonder-merry. After a +while, the king and queen called Lisa to them and the former said to +her, 'Noble damsel, the much love you have borne us hath gotten you a +great honour from us, wherewith we would have you for the love of us +be content; to wit, that, since you are apt for marriage, we would +have you take him to husband whom we shall bestow on you, purposing, +notwithstanding this, to call ourselves still your knight, without +desiring aught from you of so much love but one sole kiss.' The +damsel, grown all vermeil in the face for shamefastness, making the +king's pleasure hers, replied in a low voice on this wise, 'My lord, I +am well assured that, were it known that I had fallen enamoured of +you, most folk would account me mad therefor, thinking belike that I +had forgotten myself and knew not mine own condition nor yet yours; +but God, who alone seeth the hearts of mortals, knoweth that, in that +same hour whenas first you pleased me, I knew you for a king and +myself for the daughter of Bernardo the apothecary and that it ill +beseemed me to address the ardour of my soul unto so high a place. +But, as you know far better than I, none here below falleth in love +according to fitness of election, but according to appetite and +inclination, against which law I once and again strove with all my +might, till, availing no farther, I loved<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_490" id="Page_490"></a></span> and love and shall ever +love you. But, since first I felt myself taken with love of you, I +determined still to make your will mine; wherefore, not only will I +gladly obey you in this matter of taking a husband at your hands and +holding him dear whom it shall please you to bestow on me, since that +will be mine honour and estate, but, should you bid me abide in the +fire, it were a delight to me, an I thought thereby to pleasure you. +To have you, a king, to knight, you know how far it befitteth me, +wherefore to that I make no farther answer; nor shall the kiss be +vouchsafed you, which alone of my love you would have, without leave +of my lady the queen. Natheless, of such graciousness as hath been +yours towards me and that of our lady the queen here God render you +for me both thanks and recompense, for I have not the wherewithal.' +And with that she was silent.</p> + +<p>Her answer much pleased the queen and she seemed to her as discreet as +the king had reported her. Don Pedro then let call the girl's father +and mother and finding that they were well pleased with that which he +purposed to do, summoned a young man, by name Perdicone, who was of +gentle birth, but poor, and giving certain rings into his hand, +married him, nothing loath, to Lisa; which done, he then and there, +over and above many and precious jewels bestowed by the queen and +himself upon the damsel, gave him Ceffalu and Calatabellotta, two very +rich and goodly fiefs, and said to him, 'These we give thee to the +lady's dowry. That which we purpose to do for thyself, thou shalt see +in time to come.' This said, he turned to the damsel and saying, 'Now +will we take that fruit which we are to have of your love,' took her +head in his hands and kissed her on the brow. Perdicone and Lisa's +father and mother, well pleased, (as indeed was she herself,) held +high festival and joyous nuptials; and according as many avouch, the +king very faithfully kept his covenant with the damsel, for that, +whilst she lived, he still styled himself her knight nor ever went +about any deed of arms but he wore none other favour than that which +was sent him of her. It is by doing, then, on this wise that subjects' +hearts are gained, that others are incited to do well and that eternal +renown is acquired; but this is a mark at which few or none nowadays +bend the bow of their understanding, most princes being presently +grown cruel and tyrannical."</p> + + + +<hr /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_491" id="Page_491"></a></span></p> +<h2><a name="THE_EIGHTH_STORY10" id="THE_EIGHTH_STORY10"></a>THE EIGHTH STORY</h2> + +<div class="sidenote">Day the Tenth</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="hang">SOPHRONIA, THINKING TO MARRY GISIPPUS, BECOMETH THE WIFE OF +TITUS QUINTIUS FULVUS AND WITH HIM BETAKETH HERSELF TO ROME, +WHITHER GISIPPUS COMETH IN POOR CASE AND CONCEIVING HIMSELF +SLIGHTED OF TITUS, DECLARETH, SO HE MAY DIE, TO HAVE SLAIN A +MAN. TITUS, RECOGNIZING HIM, TO SAVE HIM, AVOUCHETH HIMSELF +TO HAVE DONE THE DEED, AND THE TRUE MURDERER, SEEING THIS, +DISCOVERETH HIMSELF; WHEREUPON THEY ARE ALL THREE LIBERATED +BY OCTAVIANUS AND TITUS, GIVING GISIPPUS HIS SISTER TO WIFE, +HATH ALL HIS GOOD IN COMMON WITH HIM</p></div> + + +<p><br /><span class="smcap">Pampinea</span> having left speaking and all having commended King Pedro, the +Ghibelline lady more than the rest, Fiammetta, by the king's +commandment, began thus, "Illustrious ladies, who is there knoweth not +that kings, when they will, can do everything great and that it is, to +boot, especially required of them that they be magnificent? Whoso, +then, having the power, doth that which pertaineth unto him, doth +well; but folk should not so much marvel thereat nor exalt him to such +a height with supreme praise as it would behove them do with another, +of whom, for lack of means, less were required. Wherefore, if you with +such words extol the actions of kings and they seem to you fair, I +doubt not anywise but those of our peers, whenas they are like unto or +greater than those of kings, will please you yet more and be yet +highlier commended of you, and I purpose accordingly to recount to +you, in a story, the praiseworthy and magnanimous dealings of two +citizens and friends with each other.</p> + +<p>You must know, then, that at the time when Octavianus Cæsar (not yet +styled Augustus) ruled the Roman empire in the office called +Triumvirate, there was in Rome a gentleman called Publius Quintius +Fulvus,<a name="FNanchor_461_463" id="FNanchor_461_463"></a><a href="#Footnote_461_463" class="fnanchor">[461]</a> who, having a son of marvellous understanding, by name +Titus Quintius Fulvus, sent him to Athens to study philosophy and +commended him as most he might to a nobleman there called Chremes, his +very old friend, by whom Titus was lodged in his own house, in company +of a son of his called Gisippus, and set to study with the latter, +under the governance of a philosopher named Aristippus. The two young +men, coming to consort together, found each other's usances so +conformable that there was born thereof a brotherhood between them and +a friendship so great that it was never sundered by other accident +than death, and neither of them knew weal nor peace save in so much as +they were together. Entering upon their studies and being each alike +endowed with the highest understanding, they ascended with equal step +and marvellous commendation to the glorious altitudes of philosophy; +and in this way of life they continued good three years, to the +exceeding contentment of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_492" id="Page_492"></a></span> Chremes, who in a manner looked upon the one +as no more his son than the other. At the end of this time it befell, +even as it befalleth of all things, that Chremes, now an old man, +departed this life, whereof the two young men suffered a like sorrow, +as for a common father, nor could his friends and kinsfolk discern +which of the twain was the more in need of consolation for that which +had betided them.</p> + +<p>It came to pass, after some months, that the friends and kinsfolk of +Gisippus resorted to him and together with Titus exhorted him to take +a wife, to which he consenting, they found him a young Athenian lady +of marvellous beauty and very noble parentage, whose name was +Sophronia and who was maybe fifteen years old. The term of the future +nuptials drawing nigh, Gisippus one day besought Titus to go visit her +with him, for that he had not yet seen her. Accordingly, they being +come into her house and she seated between the twain, Titus proceeded +to consider her with the utmost attention, as if to judge of the +beauty of his friend's bride, and every part of her pleasing him +beyond measure, what while he inwardly commended her charms to the +utmost, he fell, without showing any sign thereof, as passionately +enamoured of her as ever yet man of woman. After they had been with +her awhile, they took their leave and returned home, where Titus, +betaking himself alone into his chamber, fell a-thinking of the +charming damsel and grew the more enkindled the more he enlarged upon +her in thought; which, perceiving, he fell to saying in himself, after +many ardent sighs, 'Alack, the wretchedness of thy life, Titus! Where +and on what settest thou thy mind and thy love and thy hope? Knowest +thou not that it behoveth thee, as well for the kindness received from +Chremes and his family as for the entire friendship that is between +thee and Gisippus, whose bride she is, to have yonder damsel in such +respect as a sister? Whom, then, lovest thou? Whither lettest thou +thyself be carried away by delusive love, whither by fallacious hope? +Open the eyes of thine understanding and recollect thyself, wretch +that thou art; give place to reason, curb thy carnal appetite, temper +thine unhallowed desires and direct thy thoughts unto otherwhat; +gainstand thy lust in this its beginning and conquer thyself, whilst +it is yet time. This thou wouldst have is unseemly, nay, it is +dishonourable; this thou art minded to ensue it behoveth thee, even +wert thou assured (which thou art not) of obtaining it, to flee from, +an thou have regard unto that which true friendship requireth and that +which thou oughtest. What, then, wilt thou do, Titus? Thou wilt leave +this unseemly love, an thou wouldst do that which behoveth.'</p> + +<p>Then, remembering him of Sophronia and going over to the contrary, he +denounced all that he had said, saying, 'The laws of love are of +greater puissance than any others; they annul even the Divine laws, +let alone those of friendship; how often aforetime hath father loved +daughter, brother sister, stepmother stepson, things more monstrous +than for one friend to love the other's wife, the which hath already a +thousand times befallen! Moreover, I am young and youth is altogether +subject to the laws of Love; wherefor that which pleaseth Him, needs +must it please me. Things honourable pertain<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_493" id="Page_493"></a></span> unto maturer folk; I can +will nought save that which Love willeth. The beauty of yonder damsel +deserveth to be loved of all, and if I love her, who am young, who can +justly blame me therefor? I love her not because she is Gisippus's; +nay, I love her for that I should love her, whosesoever she was. In +this fortune sinneth that hath allotted her to Gisippus my friend, +rather than to another; and if she must be loved, (as she must, and +deservedly, for her beauty,) Gisippus, an he came to know it, should +be better pleased that I should love her, I, than another.' Then, from +that reasoning he reverted again to the contrary, making mock of +himself, and wasted not only that day and the ensuing night in passing +from this to that and back again, but many others, insomuch that, +losing appetite and sleep therefor, he was constrained for weakness to +take to his bed.</p> + +<p>Gisippus, having beheld him several days full of melancholy thought +and seeing him presently sick, was sore concerned and with every art +and all solicitude studied to comfort him, never leaving him and +questioning him often and instantly of the cause of his melancholy and +his sickness. Titus, after having once and again given him idle tales, +which Gisippus knew to be such, by way of answer, finding himself e'en +constrained thereunto, with tears and sighs replied to him on this +wise, 'Gisippus, had it pleased the Gods, death were far more a-gree +to me than to live longer, considering that fortune hath brought me to +a pass whereas it behoved me make proof of my virtue and that I have, +to my exceeding shame, found this latter overcome; but certes I look +thereof to have ere long the reward that befitteth me, to wit, death, +and this will be more pleasing to me than to live in remembrance of my +baseness, which latter, for that I cannot nor should hide aught from +thee, I will, not without sore blushing, discover to thee.' Then, +beginning from the beginning, he discovered to him the cause of his +melancholy and the conflict of his thoughts and ultimately gave him to +know which had gotten the victory and confessed himself perishing for +love of Sophronia, declaring that, knowing how much this misbeseemed +him, he had for penance thereof resolved himself to die, whereof he +trusted speedily to make an end.</p> + +<p>Gisippus, hearing this and seeing his tears, abode awhile irresolute, +as one who, though more moderately, was himself taken with the charms +of the fair damsel, but speedily bethought himself that his friend's +life should be dearer to him than Sophronia. Accordingly, solicited to +tears by those of his friend, he answered him, weeping, 'Titus, wert +thou not in need as thou art of comfort, I should complain of thee to +thyself, as of one who hath transgressed against our friendship in +having so long kept thy most grievous passion hidden from me; since, +albeit it appeared not to thee honourable, nevertheless dishonourable +things should not, more than honourable, be hidden from a friend; for +that a friend, like as he rejoiceth with his friend in honourable +things, even so he studieth to do away the dishonourable from his +friend's mind; but for the present I will refrain therefrom and come +to that which I perceive to be of greater urgency. That thou lovest +Sophronia, who is betrothed to me, I marvel not: nay, I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_494" id="Page_494"></a></span> should +marvel, indeed, if it were not so, knowing her beauty and the nobility +of thy mind, so much the more susceptible of passion as the thing that +pleaseth hath the more excellence. And the more reason thou hast to +love Sophronia, so much the more unjustly dost thou complain of +fortune (albeit thou expressest this not in so many words) in that it +hath awarded her to me, it seeming to thee that thy love for her had +been honourable, were she other than mine; but tell me, if thou be as +well advised as thou usest to be, to whom could fortune have awarded +her, whereof thou shouldst have more cause to render it thanks, than +of having awarded her to me? Whoso else had had her, how honourable +soever thy love had been, had liefer loved her for himself<a name="FNanchor_462_464" id="FNanchor_462_464"></a><a href="#Footnote_462_464" class="fnanchor">[462]</a> than +for thee,<a name="FNanchor_463_465" id="FNanchor_463_465"></a><a href="#Footnote_463_465" class="fnanchor">[463]</a> a thing which thou shouldst not fear<a name="FNanchor_464_466" id="FNanchor_464_466"></a><a href="#Footnote_464_466" class="fnanchor">[464]</a> from me, an +thou hold me a friend such as I am to thee, for that I mind me not, +since we have been friends, to have ever had aught that was not as +much thine as mine. Now, were the matter so far advanced that it might +not be otherwise, I would do with her as I have done with my other +possessions;<a name="FNanchor_465_467" id="FNanchor_465_467"></a><a href="#Footnote_465_467" class="fnanchor">[465]</a> but it is yet at such a point that I can make her +thine alone; and I will do so, for that I know not why my friendship +should be dear to thee, if, in respect of a thing that may honourably +be done, I knew not of a desire of mine to make thine. True it is that +Sophronia is my promised bride and that I loved her much and looked +with great joyance for my nuptials with her; but, since thou, being +far more understanding than I, with more ardour desirest so dear a +thing as she is, live assured that she shall enter my chamber, not as +my wife, but as thine. Wherefore leave thought-taking, put away +melancholy, call back thy lost health and comfort and allegresse and +from this time forth expect with blitheness the reward of thy love, +far worthier than was mine.'</p> + +<p>When Titus heard Gisippus speak thus, the more the flattering hopes +given him of the latter afforded him pleasure, so much the more did +just reason inform him with shame, showing him that, the greater was +Gisippus his liberality, the more unworthy it appeared of himself to +use it; wherefore, without giving over weeping, he with difficulty +replied to him thus, 'Gisippus, thy generous and true friendship very +plainly showeth me that which it pertaineth unto mine to do. God +forfend that her, whom He hath bestowed upon thee as upon the +worthier, I should receive from thee for mine! Had He judged it +fitting that she should be mine, nor thou nor others can believe that +He would ever have bestowed her on thee. Use, therefore, joyfully, +thine election and discreet counsel and His gifts, and leave me to +languish in the tears, which, as to one undeserving of such a +treasure, He hath prepared unto me and which I will either overcome, +and that will be dear to thee, or they will overcome me and I shall be +out of pain.' 'Titus,' rejoined Gisippus, 'an our friendship might +accord me such license that I should enforce thee to ensue a desire of +mine and if it may<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_495" id="Page_495"></a></span> avail to induce thee to do so, it is in this case +that I mean to use it to the utmost, and if thou yield not to my +prayers with a good grace, I will, with such violence as it behoveth +us use for the weal of our friends, procure that Sophronia shall be +thine. I know how great is the might of love and that, not once, but +many a time, it hath brought lovers to a miserable death; nay, unto +this I see thee so near that thou canst neither turn back nor avail to +master thy tears, but, proceeding thus, wouldst pine and die; +whereupon I, without any doubt, should speedily follow after. If, +then, I loved thee not for otherwhat, thy life is dear to me, so I +myself may live. Sophronia, therefore, shall be thine, for that thou +couldst not lightly find another woman who would so please thee, and +as I shall easily turn my love unto another, I shall thus have +contented both thyself and me. I should not, peradventure, be so free +to do this, were wives as scarce and as uneath to find as friends; +however, as I can very easily find me another wife, but not another +friend, I had liefer (I will not say <i>lose</i> her, for that I shall not +lose her, giving her to thee, but shall transfer her to another and a +better self, but) transfer her than lose thee. Wherefore, if my +prayers avail aught with thee, I beseech thee put away from thee this +affliction and comforting at once thyself and me, address thee with +good hope to take that joyance which thy fervent love desireth of the +thing beloved.'</p> + +<p>Although Titus was ashamed to consent to this, namely, that Sophronia +should become his wife, and on this account held out yet awhile, +nevertheless, love on the one hand drawing him and Gisippus his +exhortations on the other urging him, he said, 'Look you, Gisippus, I +know not which I can say I do most, my pleasure or thine, in doing +that whereof thou prayest me and which thou tellest me is so pleasing +to thee, and since thy generosity is such that it overcometh my just +shame, I will e'en do it; but of this thou mayst be assured that I do +it as one who knoweth himself to receive of thee, not only the beloved +lady, but with her his life. The Gods grant, an it be possible, that I +may yet be able to show thee, for thine honour and thy weal, how +grateful to me is that which thou, more pitiful for me than I for +myself, dost for me!' These things said, 'Titus,' quoth Gisippus, 'in +this matter, an we would have it take effect, meseemeth this course is +to be held. As thou knowest, Sophronia, after long treaty between my +kinsfolk and hers, is become my affianced bride; wherefore, should I +now go about to say that I will not have her to wife, a sore scandal +would ensue thereof and I should anger both her kinsfolk and mine own. +Of this, indeed, I should reck nothing, an I saw that she was thereby +to become thine; but I misdoubt me that, an I renounce her at this +point, her kinsfolk will straightway give her to another, who belike +will not be thyself, and so wilt thou have lost that which I shall not +have gained. Wherefore meseemeth well, an thou be content, that I +follow on with that which I have begun and bring her home as mine and +hold the nuptials, and thou mayst after, as we shall know how to +contrive, privily lie with her as with thy wife. Then, in due place +and season, we will make manifest the fact, which, if it<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_496" id="Page_496"></a></span> please them +not, will still be done and they must perforce be content, being +unable to go back upon it.'</p> + +<p>The device pleased Titus; wherefore Gisippus received the lady into +his house, as his, (Titus being by this recovered and in good case,) +and after holding high festival, the night being come, the ladies left +the new-married wife in her husband's bed and went their ways. Now +Titus his chamber adjoined that of Gisippus and one might go from the +one room into the other; wherefore Gisippus, being in his chamber and +having put out all the lights, betook himself stealthily to his friend +and bade him go couch with his mistress. Titus, seeing this, was +overcome with shame and would fain have repented and refused to go; +but Gisippus, who with his whole heart, no less than in words, was +minded to do his friend's pleasure, sent him thither, after long +contention. Whenas he came into the bed, he took the damsel in his +arms and asked her softly, as if in sport, if she chose to be his +wife. She, thinking him to be Gisippus, answered, 'Yes'; whereupon he +set a goodly and rich ring on her finger, saying, 'And I choose to be +thy husband.' Then, the marriage consummated, he took long and amorous +pleasance of her, without her or others anywise perceiving that other +than Gisippus lay with her.</p> + +<p>The marriage of Sophronia and Titus being at this pass, Publius his +father departed this life, wherefore it was written him that he should +without delay return to Rome, to look to his affairs, and he +accordingly took counsel with Gisippus to betake himself thither and +carry Sophronia with him; which might not nor should aptly be done +without discovering to her how the case stood. Accordingly, one day, +calling her into the chamber, they thoroughly discovered to her the +fact and thereof Titus certified her by many particulars of that which +had passed between them twain. Sophronia, after eying the one and the +other somewhat despitefully, fell a-weeping bitterly, complaining of +Gisippus his deceit; then, rather than make any words of this in his +house, she repaired to that of her father and there acquainted him and +her mother with the cheat that had been put upon her and them by +Gisippus, avouching herself to be the wife of Titus and not of +Gisippus, as they believed. This was exceeding grievous to Sophronia's +father, who made long and sore complaint thereof to her kinsfolk and +those of Gisippus, and much and great was the talk and the clamour by +reason thereof. Gisippus was held in despite both by his own kindred +and those of Sophronia and every one declared him worthy not only of +blame, but of severe chastisement; whilst he, on the contrary, +avouched himself to have done an honourable thing and one for which +thanks should be rendered him by Sophronia's kinsfolk, having married +her to a better than himself.</p> + +<p>Titus, on his part, heard and suffered everything with no little annoy +and knowing it to be the usance of the Greeks to press on with +clamours and menaces, till such times as they found who should answer +them, and then to become not only humble, but abject, he bethought +himself that their clamour was no longer to be brooked without reply +and having a Roman spirit and an Athenian wit, he adroitly contrived +to assemble Gisippus his kinsfolk and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_497" id="Page_497"></a></span> those of Sophronia in a temple, +wherein entering, accompanied by Gisippus alone, he thus bespoke the +expectant folk: 'It is the belief of many philosophers that the +actions of mortals are determined and foreordained of the immortal +Gods, wherefore some will have it that all that is or shall ever be +done is of necessity, albeit there be others who attribute this +necessity to that only which is already done. If these opinions be +considered with any diligence, it will very manifestly be seen that to +blame a thing which cannot be undone is to do no otherwhat than to +seek to show oneself wiser than the Gods, who, we must e'en believe, +dispose of and govern us and our affairs with unfailing wisdom and +without any error; wherefore you may very easily see what fond and +brutish overweening it is to presume to find fault with their +operations and eke how many and what chains they merit who suffer +themselves be so far carried away by hardihood as to do this. Of whom, +to my thinking, you are all, if that be true which I understand you +have said and still say for that Sophronia is become my wife, whereas +you had given her to Gisippus, never considering that it was +foreordained from all eternity that she should become not his, but +mine, as by the issue is known at this present. But, for that to speak +of the secret foreordinance and intention of the Gods appeareth unto +many a hard thing and a grievous to apprehend, I am willing to suppose +that they concern not themselves with aught of our affairs and to +condescend to the counsels<a name="FNanchor_466_468" id="FNanchor_466_468"></a><a href="#Footnote_466_468" class="fnanchor">[466]</a> of mankind, in speaking whereof, it +will behove me to do two things, both very contrary to my usances, the +one, somedele to commend myself, and the other, in some measure to +blame or disparage others; but, for that I purpose, neither in the one +nor in the other, to depart from the truth and that the present matter +requireth it, I will e'en do it.</p> + +<p>Your complainings, dictated more by rage than by reason, upbraid, +revile and condemn Gisippus with continual murmurs or rather clamours, +for that, of his counsel, he hath given me to wife her whom you of +yours<a name="FNanchor_467_469" id="FNanchor_467_469"></a><a href="#Footnote_467_469" class="fnanchor">[467]</a> had given him; whereas I hold that he is supremely to be +commended therefor, and that for two reasons, the one, for that he +hath done that which a friend should do, and the other, for that he +hath in this wrought more discreetly than did you. That which the +sacred laws of friendship will that one friend should do for the +other, it is not my intention at this present to expound, being +content to have recalled to you this much only thereof, to wit, that +the bonds of friendship are far more stringent than those of blood or +of kindred, seeing that the friends we have are such as we choose for +ourselves and our kinsfolk such as fortune giveth us; wherefore, if +Gisippus loved my life more than your goodwill, I being his friend, as +I hold myself, none should marvel thereat. But to come to the second +reason, whereanent it more instantly behoveth to show you that he hath +been wiser than yourselves, since meseemeth you reck nothing of the +foreordinance of the Gods and know yet less of the effects of +friendship:—I say, then, that you of your judgment, of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_498" id="Page_498"></a></span> your counsel +and of your deliberation, gave Sophronia to Gisippus, a young man and +a philosopher; Gisippus of his gave her to a young man and a +philosopher; your counsel gave her to an Athenian and that of Gisippus +to a Roman; your counsel gave her to a youth of noble birth and his to +one yet nobler; yours to a rich youth, his to a very rich; yours to a +youth who not only loved her not, but scarce knew her, his to one who +loved her over his every happiness and more than his very life. And to +show you that this I say is true and that Gisippus his action is more +commendable than yours, let us consider it, part by part. That I, like +Gisippus, am a young man and a philosopher, my favour and my studies +may declare, without more discourse thereof. One same age is his and +mine and still with equal step have we proceeded studying. True, he is +an Athenian and I am a Roman. If it be disputed of the glory of our +native cities, I say that I am a citizen of a free city and he of a +tributary one; I am of a city mistress of the whole world and he of a +city obedient unto mine; I am of a city most illustrious in arms, in +empery and in letters, whereas he can only commend his own for +letters. Moreover, albeit you see me here on lowly wise enough a +student, I am not born of the dregs of the Roman populace; my houses +and the public places of Rome are full of antique images of my +ancestors and the Roman annals will be found full of many a triumph +led by the Quintii up to the Roman Capitol; nor is the glory of our +name fallen for age into decay, nay, it presently flourisheth more +splendidly than ever. I speak not, for shamefastness, of my riches, +bearing in mind that honourable poverty hath ever been the ancient and +most ample patrimony of the noble citizens of Rome; but, if this be +condemned of the opinion of the vulgar and treasures commended, I am +abundantly provided with these latter, not as one covetous, but as +beloved of fortune.<a name="FNanchor_468_470" id="FNanchor_468_470"></a><a href="#Footnote_468_470" class="fnanchor">[468]</a> I know very well that it was and should have +been and should be dear unto you to have Gisippus here in Athens to +kinsman; but I ought not for any reason to be less dear to you at +Rome, considering that in me you would have there an excellent host +and an useful and diligent and powerful patron, no less in public +occasions than in matters of private need.</p> + +<p>Who then, letting be wilfulness and considering with reason, will +commend your counsels above those of my Gisippus? Certes, none. +Sophronia, then, is well and duly married to Titus Quintius Fulvus, a +noble, rich and long-descended citizen of Rome and a friend of +Gisippus; wherefore whoso complaineth or maketh moan of this doth not +that which he ought neither knoweth that which he doth. Some perchance +will say that they complain not of Sophronia being the wife of Titus, +but of the manner wherein she became his wife, to wit, in secret and +by stealth, without friend or kinsman knowing aught thereof; but this +is no marvel nor thing that betideth newly. I willingly leave be those +who have aforetime taken husbands against their parents' will and +those who have fled with their<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_499" id="Page_499"></a></span> lovers and have been mistresses before +they were wives and those who have discovered themselves to be married +rather by pregnancy or child-bearing than with the tongue, yet hath +necessity commended it to their kinsfolk; nothing of which hath +happened in Sophronia's case; nay, she hath orderly, discreetly and +honourably been given by Gisippus to Titus. Others will say that he +gave her in marriage to whom it appertained not to do so; but these be +all foolish and womanish complaints and proceed from lack of +advisement. This is not the first time that fortune hath made use of +various means and strange instruments to bring matters to foreordained +issues. What have I to care if it be a cordwainer rather than a +philosopher, that hath, according to his judgment, despatched an +affair of mine, and whether in secret or openly, provided the issue be +good? If the cordwainer be indiscreet, all I have to do is to look +well that he have no more to do with my affairs and thank him for that +which is done. If Gisippus hath married Sophronia well, it is a +superfluous folly to go complaining of the manner and of him. If you +have no confidence in his judgment, look he have no more of your +daughters to marry and thank him for this one.</p> + +<p>Nevertheless I would have you to know that I sought not, either by art +or by fraud, to impose any stain upon the honour and illustriousness +of your blood in the person of Sophronia, and that, albeit I took her +secretly to wife, I came not as a ravisher to rob her of her +maidenhead nor sought, after the manner of an enemy, whilst shunning +your alliance, to have her otherwise than honourably; but, being +ardently enkindled by her lovesome beauty and by her worth and knowing +that, had I sought her with that ordinance which you will maybe say I +should have used, I should not (she being much beloved of you) have +had her, for fear lest I should carry her off to Rome, I used the +occult means that may now be discovered to you and caused Gisippus, in +my person, consent unto that which he himself was not disposed to do. +Moreover, ardently as I loved her, I sought her embraces not as a +lover, but as a husband, nor, as she herself can truly testify, did I +draw near to her till I had first both with the due words and with the +ring espoused her, asking her if she would have me for husband, to +which she answered ay. If it appear to her that she hath been +deceived, it is not I who am to blame therefor, but she, who asked me +not who I was. This, then, is the great misdeed, the grievous crime, +the sore default committed by Gisippus as a friend and by myself as a +lover, to wit, that Sophronia hath secretly become the wife of Titus +Quintius, and this it is for which you defame and menace and plot +against him. What more could you do, had he bestowed her upon a churl, +a losel or a slave? What chains, what prison, what gibbets had +sufficed thereunto?</p> + +<p>But let that be for the present; the time is come which I looked not +for yet, to wit, my father is dead and it behoveth me return to Rome; +wherefore, meaning to carry Sophronia with me, I have discovered to +you that which I should otherwise belike have yet kept hidden from you +and with which, an you be wise, you will cheerfully put up, for that, +had I wished to cheat or<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_500" id="Page_500"></a></span> outrage you, I might have left her to you, +scorned and dishonored; but God forfend that such a baseness should +ever avail to harbour in a Roman breast! She, then, namely Sophronia, +by the consent of the Gods and the operation of the laws of mankind, +no less than by the admirable contrivance of my Gisippus and mine own +amorous astuteness, is become mine, and this it seemeth that you, +holding yourselves belike wiser than the Gods and than the rest of +mankind, brutishly condemn, showing your disapproval in two ways both +exceedingly noyous to myself, first by detaining Sophronia, over whom +you have no right, save in so far as it pleaseth me to allow it, and +secondly, by entreating Gisippus, to whom you are justly beholden, as +an enemy. How foolishly you do in both which things I purpose not at +this present to make farther manifest to you, but will only counsel +you, as a friend, to lay by your despites and altogether leaving your +resentments and the rancours that you have conceived, to restore +Sophronia to me, so I may joyfully depart your kinsman and live your +friend; for of this, whether that which is done please you or please +you not, you may be assured that, if you offer to do otherwise, I will +take Gisippus from you and if I win to Rome, I will without fail, +however ill you may take it, have her again who is justly mine and +ever after showing myself your enemy, will cause you know by +experience that whereof the despite of Roman souls is capable.'</p> + +<p>Titus, having thus spoken, rose to his feet, with a countenance all +disordered for anger, and taking Gisippus by the hand, went forth of +the temple, shaking his head threateningly and showing that he recked +little of as many as were there. The latter, in part reconciled by his +reasonings to the alliance and desirous of his friendship and in part +terrified by his last words, of one accord determined that it was +better to have him for a kinsman, since Gisippus had not willed it, +than to have lost the latter to kinsman and gotten the former for an +enemy. Accordingly, going in quest of Titus, they told him that they +were willing that Sophronia should be his and to have him for a dear +kinsman and Gisippus for a dear friend; then, having mutually done +each other such honours and courtesies as beseem between kinsmen and +friends, they took their leaves and sent Sophronia back to him. She, +like a wise woman, making a virtue of necessity, readily transferred +to Titus the affection she bore Gisippus and repaired with him to +Rome, where she was received with great honour.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, Gisippus abode in Athens, held in little esteem of well +nigh all, and no great while after, through certain intestine +troubles, was, with all those of his house, expelled from Athens, in +poverty and misery, and condemned to perpetual exile. Finding himself +in this case and being grown not only poor, but beggarly, he betook +himself, as least ill he might, to Rome, to essay if Titus should +remember him. There, learning that the latter was alive and high in +favour with all the Romans and enquiring for his dwelling-place, he +stationed himself before the door and there abode till such time as +Titus came, to whom, by reason of the wretched plight wherein he was, +he dared not say a word, but studied to cause himself be seen of him, +so he might<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_501" id="Page_501"></a></span> recognize him and let call him to himself; wherefore +Titus passed on, [without noting him,] and Gisippus, conceiving that +he had seen and shunned him and remembering him of that which himself +had done for him aforetime, departed, despiteful and despairing. It +being by this night and he fasting and penniless, he wandered on, +unknowing whither and more desirous of death than of otherwhat, and +presently happened upon a very desert part of the city, where seeing a +great cavern, he addressed himself to abide the night there and +presently, forspent with long weeping, he fell asleep on the naked +earth and ill in case. To this cavern two, who had gone a-thieving +together that night, came towards morning, with the booty they had +gotten, and falling out over the division, one, who was the stronger, +slew the other and went away. Gisippus had seen and heard this and +himseemed he had found a way to the death so sore desired of him, +without slaying himself; wherefore he abode without stirring, till +such time as the Serjeants of the watch, who had by this gotten wind +of the deed, came thither and laying furious hands of him, carried him +off prisoner. Gisippus, being examined, confessed that he had murdered +the man nor had since availed to depart the cavern; whereupon the +prætor, who was called Marcus Varro, commanded that he should be put +to death upon the cross, as the usance then was.</p> + +<p>Now Titus was by chance come at that juncture to the prætorium and +looking the wretched condemned man in the face and hearing why he had +been doomed to die, suddenly knew him for Gisippus; whereupon, +marvelling at his sorry fortune and how he came to be in Rome and +desiring most ardently to succour him, but seeing no other means of +saving him than to accuse himself and thus excuse him, he thrust +forward in haste and cried out, saying, 'Marcus Varro, call back the +poor man whom thou hast condemned, for that he is innocent. I have +enough offended against the Gods with one crime, in slaying him whom +thine officer found this morning dead, without willing presently to +wrong them with the death of another innocent.' Varro marvelled and it +irked him that all the prætorium should have heard him; but, being +unable, for his own honour's sake, to forbear from doing that which +the laws commanded, he caused bring back Gisippus and in the presence +of Titus said to him, 'How camest thou to be so mad that, without +suffering any torture, thou confessedst to that which thou didst not, +it being a capital matter? Thou declaredst thyself to be he who slew +the man yesternight, and now this man cometh and saith that it was not +thou, but he that slew him.'</p> + +<p>Gisippus looked and seeing that it was Titus, perceived full well that +he did this to save him, as grateful for the service aforetime +received from him; wherefore, weeping for pity, 'Varro,' quoth he, +'indeed it was I slew him and Titus his solicitude for my safety is +now too late.' Titus on the other hand, said, 'Prætor, do as thou +seest, this man is a stranger and was found without arms beside the +murdered man, and thou mayst see that his wretchedness giveth him +occasion to wish to die; wherefore do thou release him and punish me, +who have deserved it.' Varro marvelled at the insistence of these two<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_502" id="Page_502"></a></span> +and beginning now to presume that neither of them might be guilty, was +casting about for a means of acquitting them, when, behold, up came a +youth called Publius Ambustus, a man of notorious ill life and known +to all the Romans for an arrant rogue, who had actually done the +murder and knowing neither of the twain to be guilty of that whereof +each accused himself, such was the pity that overcame his heart for +the innocence of the two friends that, moved by supreme compassion, he +came before Varro and said, 'Prætor, my fates impel me to solve the +grievous contention of these twain and I know not what God within me +spurreth and importuneth me to discover to thee my sin. Know, then, +that neither of these men is guilty of that whereof each accuseth +himself. I am verily he who slew yonder man this morning towards +daybreak and I saw this poor wretch asleep there, what while I was in +act to divide the booty gotten with him whom I slew. There is no need +for me to excuse Titus; his renown is everywhere manifest and every +one knoweth him to be no man of such a condition. Release him, +therefore, and take of me that forfeit which the laws impose on me.'</p> + +<p>By this Octavianus had notice of the matter and causing all three be +brought before him, desired to hear what cause had moved each of them +to seek to be the condemned man. Accordingly, each related his own +story, whereupon Octavianus released the two friends, for that they +were innocent, and pardoned the other for the love of them. Thereupon +Titus took his Gisippus and first reproaching him sore for +lukewarmness<a name="FNanchor_469_471" id="FNanchor_469_471"></a><a href="#Footnote_469_471" class="fnanchor">[469]</a> and diffidence, rejoiced in him with marvellous +great joy and carried him to his house, where Sophronia with tears of +compassion received him as a brother. Then, having awhile recruited +him with rest and refreshment and reclothed him and restored him to +such a habit as sorted with his worth and quality, he first shared all +his treasures and estates in common with him and after gave him to +wife a young sister of his, called Fulvia, saying, 'Gisippus, +henceforth it resteth with thee whether thou wilt abide here with me +or return with everything I have given thee into Achaia.' Gisippus, +constrained on the one hand by his banishment from his native land and +on the other by the love which he justly bore to the cherished +friendship of Titus, consented to become a Roman and accordingly took +up his abode in the city, where he with his Fulvia and Titus with his +Sophronia lived long and happily, still abiding in one house and +waxing more friends (an more they might be) every day.</p> + +<p>A most sacred thing, then, is friendship and worthy not only of +especial reverence, but to be commended with perpetual praise, as the +most discreet mother of magnanimity and honour, the sister of +gratitude and charity and the enemy of hatred and avarice, still, +without waiting to be entreated, ready virtuously to do unto others +that which it would have done to itself. Nowadays its divine effects +are very rarely to be seen in any twain, by the fault and to the shame +of the wretched cupidity of mankind, which, regarding only its<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_503" id="Page_503"></a></span> own +profit, hath relegated it to perpetual exile, beyond the extremest +limits of the earth. What love, what riches, what kinship, what, +except friendship, could have made Gisippus feel in his heart the +ardour, the tears and the sighs of Titus with such efficacy as to +cause him yield up to his friend his betrothed bride, fair and gentle +and beloved of him? What laws, what menaces, what fears could have +enforced the young arms of Gisippus to abstain, in solitary places and +in dark, nay, in his very bed, from the embraces of the fair damsel, +she mayhap bytimes inviting him, had friendship not done it? What +honours, what rewards, what advancements, what, indeed, but +friendship, could have made Gisippus reck not of losing his own +kinsfolk and those of Sophronia nor of the unmannerly clamours of the +populace nor of scoffs and insults, so that he might pleasure his +friend? On the other hand, what, but friendship, could have prompted +Titus, whenas he might fairly have feigned not to see, unhesitatingly +to compass his own death, that he might deliver Gisippus from the +cross to which he had of his own motion procured himself to be +condemned? What else could have made Titus, without the least demur, +so liberal in sharing his most ample patrimony with Gisippus, whom +fortune had bereft of his own? What else could have made him so +forward to vouchsafe his sister to his friend, albeit he saw him very +poor and reduced to the extreme of misery? Let men, then, covet a +multitude of comrades, troops of brethren and children galore and add, +by dint of monies, to the number of their servitors, considering not +that every one of these, who and whatsoever he may be, is more fearful +of every least danger of his own than careful to do away the +great<a name="FNanchor_470_472" id="FNanchor_470_472"></a><a href="#Footnote_470_472" class="fnanchor">[470]</a> from father or brother or master, whereas we see a friend +do altogether the contrary."</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="THE_NINTH_STORY10" id="THE_NINTH_STORY10"></a>THE NINTH STORY</h2> + +<div class="sidenote">Day the Tenth</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="hang">SALADIN, IN THE DISGUISE OF A MERCHANT, IS HONOURABLY +ENTERTAINED BY MESSER TORELLO D'ISTRIA, WHO, PRESENTLY +UNDERTAKING THE [THIRD] CRUSADE, APPOINTETH HIS WIFE A TERM +FOR HER MARRYING AGAIN. HE IS TAKEN [BY THE SARACENS] AND +COMETH, BY HIS SKILL IN TRAINING HAWKS, UNDER THE NOTICE OF +THE SOLDAN, WHO KNOWETH HIM AGAIN AND DISCOVERING HIMSELF TO +HIM, ENTREATETH HIM WITH THE UTMOST HONOUR. THEN, TORELLO +FALLING SICK FOR LANGUISHMENT, HE IS BY MAGICAL ART +TRANSPORTED IN ONE NIGHT [FROM ALEXANDRIA] TO PAVIA, WHERE, +BEING RECOGNIZED BY HIS WIFE AT THE BRIDE-FEAST HELD FOR HER +MARRYING AGAIN, HE RETURNETH WITH HER TO HIS OWN HOUSE</p></div> + + +<p><br /><span class="smcap">Filomena</span> having made an end of her discourse and the magnificent +gratitude of Titus having been of all alike commended, the king, +reserving the last place unto Dioneo, proceeded to speak thus: +"Assuredly, lovesome ladies, Filomena speaketh sooth in that which she +saith of friendship and with reason com<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_504" id="Page_504"></a></span>plaineth, in concluding her +discourse, of its being so little in favour with mankind. If we were +here for the purpose of correcting the defaults of the age or even of +reprehending them, I might ensue her words with a discourse at large +upon the subject; but, for that we aim at otherwhat, it hath occurred +to my mind to set forth to you, in a story belike somewhat overlong, +but withal altogether pleasing, one of the magnificences of Saladin, +to the end that, if, by reason of our defaults, the friendship of any +one may not be throughly acquired, we may, at the least, be led, by +the things which you shall hear in my story, to take delight in doing +service, in the hope that, whenassoever it may be, reward will ensue +to us thereof.</p> + +<p>I must tell you, then, that, according to that which divers folk +affirm, a general crusade was, in the days of the Emperor Frederick +the First, undertaken by the Christians for the recovery of the Holy +Land, whereof Saladin, a very noble and valiant prince, who was then +Soldan of Babylon, having notice awhile beforehand, he bethought +himself to seek in his own person to see the preparations of the +Christian princes for the undertaking in question, so he might the +better avail to provide himself. Accordingly, having ordered all his +affairs in Egypt, he made a show of going a pilgrimage and set out in +the disguise of a merchant, attended by two only of his chiefest and +sagest officers and three serving-men. After he had visited many +Christian countries, it chanced that, as they rode through Lombardy, +thinking to pass beyond the mountains,<a name="FNanchor_471_473" id="FNanchor_471_473"></a><a href="#Footnote_471_473" class="fnanchor">[471]</a> they encountered, about +vespers, on the road from Milan to Pavia, a gentleman of the latter +place, by name Messer Torello d'Istria, who was on his way, with his +servants and dogs and falcons, to sojourn at a goodly country seat he +had upon the Tesino, and no sooner set eyes on Saladin and his company +than he knew them for gentlemen and strangers; wherefore, the Soldan +enquiring of one of his servants how far they were yet distant from +Pavia and if he might win thither in time to enter the city, he +suffered not the man to reply, but himself answered, 'Gentlemen, you +cannot reach Pavia in time to enter therein.' 'Then,' said Saladin, +'may it please you acquaint us (for that we are strangers) where we +may best lodge the night.' Quoth Messer Torello, 'That will I +willingly do. I had it presently in mind to dispatch one of my men +here to the neighborhood of Pavia for somewhat: I will send him with +you and he shall bring you to a place where you may lodge conveniently +enough.' Then, turning to the discreetest of his men he [privily] +enjoined him what he should do and sent him with them, whilst he +himself, making for his country house, let order, as best he might, a +goodly supper and set the tables in the garden; which done, he posted +himself at the door to await his guests.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, the servant, devising with the gentlemen of one thing and +another, led them about by certain by-roads and brought them, without +their suspecting it, to his lord's residence, where, whenas Messer +Torello saw them, he came to meet them afoot and said, smiling, +'Gentlemen, you are very welcome.' Saladin, who was very quick of +appre<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_505" id="Page_505"></a></span>hension, understood that the gentleman had misdoubted him they +would not have accepted his invitation, had he bidden them whenas he +fell in with them, and had, therefore, brought them by practice to his +house, so they might not avail to refuse to pass the night with him, +and accordingly, returning his greeting, he said, 'Sir, an one could +complain of men of courtesy, we might complain of you, for that +(letting be that you have somewhat hindered us from our road) you +have, without our having merited your goodwill otherwise than by a +mere salutation, constrained us to accept of such noble hospitality as +is this of yours.' 'Gentlemen,' answered Messer Torello, who was a +discreet and well-spoken man, 'it is but a sorry hospitality that you +will receive from us, regard had to that which should behove unto you, +an I may judge by that which I apprehend from your carriage and that +of your companions; but in truth you could nowhere out of Pavia have +found any decent place of entertainment; wherefore, let it not irk you +to have gone somedele beside your way, to have a little less unease.' +Meanwhile, his servants came round about the travellers and helping +them to dismount, eased<a name="FNanchor_472_474" id="FNanchor_472_474"></a><a href="#Footnote_472_474" class="fnanchor">[472]</a> their horses.</p> + +<p>Messer Torello then brought the three stranger gentlemen to the +chambers prepared for them, where he let unboot them and refresh them +somewhat with very cool wines and entertained them in agreeable +discourse till such time as they might sup. Saladin and his companions +and servants all knew Latin, wherefore they understood very well and +were understood, and it seemed to each of them that this gentleman was +the most pleasant and well-mannered man they had ever seen, ay, and +the best spoken. It appeared to Messer Torello, on the other hand, +that they were men of magnificent fashions and much more of account +than he had at first conceived, wherefore he was inwardly chagrined +that he could not honour them that evening with companions and with a +more considerable entertainment. But for this he bethought himself to +make them amends on the morrow, and accordingly, having instructed one +of his servants of that which he would have done, he despatched him to +Pavia, which was very near at hand and where no gate was ever locked, +to his lady, who was exceeding discreet and great-hearted. Then, +carrying the gentlemen into the garden, he courteously asked them who +they were, to which Saladin answered, 'We are merchants from Cyprus +and are bound to Paris on our occasions.' 'Would to God,' cried Messer +Torello, 'that this our country produced gentlemen of such a fashion +as I see Cyprus doth merchants!' In these and other discourses they +abode till it was time to sup, whereupon he left it to them to honour +themselves at table,<a name="FNanchor_473_475" id="FNanchor_473_475"></a><a href="#Footnote_473_475" class="fnanchor">[473]</a> and there, for an improvised supper, they +were very well and orderly served; nor had they abidden long after the +tables were removed, when Messer Torello, judging them to be weary, +put them to sleep in very goodly beds and himself a little after in +like manner betook himself to rest.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile the servant sent to Pavia<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_506" id="Page_506"></a></span> did his errand to the lady, who, +with no womanly, but with a royal spirit, let call in haste a great +number of the friends and servants of Messer Torello and made ready +all that behoved unto a magnificent banquet. Moreover, she let bid by +torchlight many of the noblest of the townfolk to the banquet and +bringing out cloths and silks and furs, caused throughly order that +which her husband had sent to bid her do. The day come, Saladin and +his companions arose, whereupon Messer Torello took horse with them +and sending for his falcons, carried them to a neighbouring ford and +there showed them how the latter flew; then, Saladin enquiring for +some one who should bring him to Pavia and to the best inn, his host +said, 'I will be your guide, for that it behoveth me go thither.' The +others, believing this, were content and set out in company with him +for the city, which they reached about tierce and thinking to be on +their way to the best inn, were carried by Messer Torello to his own +house, where a good half-hundred of the most considerable citizens +were already come to receive the stranger gentlemen and were +straightway about their bridles and stirrups. Saladin and his +companions, seeing this, understood but too well what was forward and +said, 'Messer Torello, this is not what we asked of you; you have done +enough for us this past night, ay, and far more than we are worth; +wherefore you might now fitly suffer us fare on our way.' 'Gentlemen,' +replied Messer Torello, 'for my yesternight's dealing with you I am +more indebted to fortune than to you, which took you on the road at an +hour when it behoved you come to my poor house; but of your this +morning's visit I shall be beholden to yourselves, and with me all +these gentlemen who are about you and to whom an it seem to you +courteous to refuse to dine with them, you can do so, if you will.'</p> + +<p>Saladin and his companions, overcome, dismounted and being joyfully +received by the assembled company, were carried to chambers which had +been most sumptuously arrayed for them, where having put off their +travelling gear and somewhat refreshed themselves, they repaired to +the saloon, where the banquet was splendidly prepared. Water having +been given to the hands, they were seated at table with the goodliest +and most orderly observance and magnificently served with many viands, +insomuch that, were the emperor himself come thither, it had been +impossible to do him more honour, and albeit Saladin and his +companions were great lords and used to see very great things, +natheless, they were mightily wondered at this and it seemed to them +of the greatest, having regard to the quality of the gentleman, whom +they knew to be only a citizen and not a lord. Dinner ended and the +tables removed, they conversed awhile of divers things; then, at +Messer Torello's instance, the heat being great, the gentlemen of +Pavia all betook themselves to repose, whilst he himself, abiding +alone with his three guests, carried them into a chamber and (that no +precious thing of his should remain unseen of them) let call thither +his noble lady. Accordingly, the latter, who was very fair and tall of +her person, came in to them, arrayed in rich apparel and flanked by +two little sons of hers, as they were<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_507" id="Page_507"></a></span> two angels, and saluted them +courteously. The strangers, seeing her, rose to their feet and +receiving her with worship, caused her sit among them and made much of +her two fair children. Therewithal she entered into pleasant discourse +with them and presently, Messer Torello having gone out awhile, she +asked them courteously whence they were and whither they went; to +which they made answer even as they had done to her husband; whereupon +quoth she, with a blithe air, 'Then see I that my womanly advisement +will be useful; wherefore I pray you, of your especial favour, refuse +me not neither disdain a slight present, which I shall cause bring +you, but accept it, considering that women, of their little heart, +give little things and regarding more the goodwill of the giver than +the value of the gift.' Then, letting fetch them each two gowns, one +lined with silk and the other with miniver, no wise citizens' clothes +nor merchants, but fit for great lords to wear, and three doublets of +sendal and linen breeches to match, she said, 'Take these; I have clad +my lord in gowns of the like fashion, and the other things, for all +they are little worth, may be acceptable to you, considering that you +are far from your ladies and the length of the way you have travelled +and that which is yet to travel and that merchants are proper men and +nice of their persons.'</p> + +<p>The Saracens marvelled and manifestly perceived that Messer Torello +was minded to leave no particular of hospitality undone them; nay, +seeing the magnificence of the unmerchantlike gowns, they misdoubted +them they had been recognized of him. However, one of them made answer +to the lady, saying, 'Madam, these are very great matters and such as +should not lightly be accepted, an your prayers, to which it is +impossible to say no, constrained us not thereto.' This done and +Messer Torello being now returned, the lady, commending them to God, +took leave of them and let furnish their servants with like things +such as sorted with their condition. Messer Torello with many prayers +prevailed upon them to abide with him all that day; wherefore, after +they had slept awhile, they donned their gowns and rode with him +somedele about the city; then, the supper-hour come, they supped +magnificently with many worshipful companions and in due time betook +themselves to rest. On the morrow they arose with day and found, in +place of their tired hackneys, three stout and good palfreys, and on +likewise fresh and strong horses for their servants, which when +Saladin saw, he turned to his companions and said, 'I vow to God that +never was there a more accomplished gentleman nor a more courteous and +apprehensive than this one, and if the kings of the Christians are +kings of such a fashion as this is a gentleman, the Soldan of Babylon +can never hope to stand against a single one of them, not to speak of +the many whom we see make ready to fall upon him.' Then, knowing that +it were in vain to seek to refuse this new gift, they very courteously +thanked him therefor and mounted to horse.</p> + +<p>Messer Torello, with many companions, brought them a great way without +the city, till, grievous as it was to Saladin to part from him, (so +much was he by this grown enamoured of him,) natheless, need +constraining him to press<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_508" id="Page_508"></a></span> on, he presently besought him to turn back; +whereupon, loath as he was to leave them, 'Gentlemen,' quoth he, +'since it pleaseth you, I will do it; but one thing I will e'en say to +you; I know not who you are nor do I ask to know more thereof than it +pleaseth you to tell me; but, be you who you may, you will never make +me believe that you are merchants, and so I commend you to God.' +Saladin, having by this taken leave of all Messer Torello's +companions, replied to him, saying, 'Sir, we may yet chance to let you +see somewhat of our merchandise, whereby we may confirm your +belief;<a name="FNanchor_474_476" id="FNanchor_474_476"></a><a href="#Footnote_474_476" class="fnanchor">[474]</a> meantime, God be with you.' Thereupon he departed with +his followers, firmly resolved, if life should endure to him and the +war he looked for undo him not, to do Messer Torello no less honour +than that which he had done him, and much did he discourse with his +companions of him and of his lady and all his affairs and fashions and +dealings, mightily commending everything. Then, after he had, with no +little fatigue, visited all the West, he took ship with his companions +and returned to Alexandria, where, being now fully informed, he +addressed himself to his defence. As for Messer Torello, he returned +to Pavia and went long in thought who these might be, but never hit +upon the truth, no, nor came near it.</p> + +<p>The time being now come for the crusade and great preparations made +everywhere, Messer Torello, notwithstanding the tears and entreaties +of his wife, was altogether resolved to go thereon and having made his +every provision and being about to take horse, he said to his lady, +whom he loved over all, 'Wife, as thou seest, I go on this crusade, as +well for the honour of my body as for the health of my soul. I commend +to thee our affairs and our honour, and for that I am certain of the +going, but of the returning, for a thousand chances that may betide, I +have no assurance, I will have thee do me a favour, to wit, that +whatever befall of me, an thou have not certain news of my life, thou +shalt await me a year and a month and a day, ere thou marry again, +beginning from this the day of my departure.' The lady, who wept sore, +answered, 'Messer Torello, I know not how I shall endure the chagrin +wherein you leave me by your departure; but, an my life prove stronger +than my grief and aught befall you, you may live and die assured that +I shall live and die the wife of Messer Torello and of his memory.' +'Wife,' rejoined Messer Torello, 'I am very certain that, inasmuch as +in thee lieth, this that thou promisest me will come to pass; but thou +art a young woman and fair and of high family and thy worth is great +and everywhere known; wherefore I doubt not but many great and noble +gentlemen will, should aught be misdoubted of me,<a name="FNanchor_475_477" id="FNanchor_475_477"></a><a href="#Footnote_475_477" class="fnanchor">[475]</a> demand thee of +thy brethren and kinsfolk; from whose importunities, how much soever +thou mightest wish, thou wilt not be able to defend thyself and it +will behove thee perforce comply with their<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_509" id="Page_509"></a></span> wishes; and this is why I +ask of thee this term and not a greater one.' Quoth the lady, 'I will +do what I may of that which I have told you, and should it +nevertheless behove me to do otherwise, I will assuredly obey you in +this that you enjoin me; but I pray God that He bring nor you nor me +to such an extremity in these days.' This said, she embraced him, +weeping, and drawing a ring from her finger, gave it to him, saying, +'And it chance that I die ere I see you again, remember me when you +look upon this ring.'</p> + +<p>Torello took the ring and mounted to horse; then, bidding all his +people adieu, he set out on his journey and came presently with his +company to Genoa. There he embarked on board a galleon and coming in a +little while to Acre, joined himself to the other army<a name="FNanchor_476_478" id="FNanchor_476_478"></a><a href="#Footnote_476_478" class="fnanchor">[476]</a> of the +Christians, wherein, well nigh out of hand, there began a sore +sickness and mortality. During this, whether by Saladin's skill or of +his good fortune, well nigh all the remnant of the Christians who had +escaped alive were taken by him, without blow stricken, and divided +among many cities and imprisoned. Messer Torello was one of those +taken and was carried prisoner to Alexandria, where, being unknown and +fearing to make himself known, he addressed himself, of necessity +constrained, to the training of hawks, of which he was a great master, +and by this he came under the notice of Saladin, who took him out of +prison and entertained him for his falconer. Messer Torello, who was +called by the Soldan by none other name than the Christian, recognized +him not nor did Saladin recognize him; nay, all his thoughts were in +Pavia and he had more than once essayed to flee, but without avail; +wherefore, certain Genoese coming ambassadors to Saladin, to treat for +the ransom of sundry of their townsmen, and being about to depart, he +bethought himself to write to his lady, giving her to know that he was +alive and would return to her as quickliest he might and bidding her +await him. Accordingly, he wrote letters to this effect and instantly +besought one of the ambassadors, whom he knew, to cause them come to +the hands of the Abbot of San Pietro in Ciel d'Oro, who was his uncle.</p> + +<p>Things being at this pass with him, it befell one day that, as Saladin +was devising with him of his hawks, Messer Torello chanced to smile +and made a motion with his mouth, which the former had much noted, +what while he was in his house at Pavia. This brought the gentleman to +his mind and looking steadfastly upon him, himseemed it was himself; +wherefore, leaving the former discourse, 'Harkye, Christian, said he, +'What countryman art thou of the West?' 'My lord,' replied Torello, 'I +am a Lombard of a city called Pavia, a poor man and of mean +condition.' Saladin, hearing this, was in a manner certified of the +truth of his suspicion and said joyfully in himself, 'God hath +vouchsafed me an opportunity of showing this man how grateful his +courtesy<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_510" id="Page_510"></a></span> was to me.' Accordingly, without saying otherwhat, he let +lay out all his apparel in a chamber and carrying him thither, said to +him, 'Look, Christian, if there be any among these gowns that thou +hast ever seen.' Torello looked and saw those which his lady had given +Saladin; but, natheless, conceiving not that they could possibly be +the same, he answered, 'My lord, I know none of them; albeit, in good +sooth, these twain do favour certain gowns wherewithal I, together +with three merchants who came to my house, was invested aforetime.' +Thereupon Saladin, unable to contain himself farther, embraced him +tenderly, saying, 'You are Messer Torello d'Istria and I am one of the +three merchants to whom your lady gave these gowns; and now is the +time come to certify you what manner merchandise mine is, even as I +told you, at my parting from you, might chance to betide.' Messer +Torello, hearing this, was at once rejoiced and ashamed; rejoiced to +have had such a guest and ashamed for that himseemed he had +entertained him but scurvily. Then said Saladin, 'Messer Torello, +since God hath sent you hither to me, henceforth consider that not I, +but you are master here.' Accordingly, after they had mightily +rejoiced in each other, he clad him in royal apparel and carrying him +into the presence of all his chief barons, commanded, after saying +many things in praise of his worth, that he should of all who held his +favour dear be honoured as himself, which was thenceforward done of +all, but above all of the two gentlemen who had been Saladin's +companions in his house.</p> + +<p>The sudden height of glory to which Messer Torello thus found himself +advanced put his Lombardy affairs somedele out of his mind, more by +token that he had good reason to hope that his letters were by this +come to his uncle's hands. Now there had died and been buried in the +camp or rather in the host, of the Christians, the day they were taken +by Saladin, a Provençal gentleman of little account, by name Messer +Torello de Dignes, by reason whereof, Messer Torello d'Istria being +renowned throughout the army for his magnificence, whosoever heard +say, 'Messer Torello is dead,' believed it of Messer Torello d'Istria, +not of him of Dignes. The hazard of the capture that ensued thereupon +suffered not those who had been thus misled to be undeceived; +wherefore many Italians returned with this news, amongst whom were +some who scrupled not to avouch that they had seen him dead and had +been at the burial. This, coming to be known of his wife and kinsfolk, +was the cause of grievous and inexpressible sorrow, not only to them, +but to all who had known him. It were longsome to set forth what and +how great was the grief and sorrow and lamentation of his lady; but, +after having bemoaned herself some months in continual affliction, +coming to sorrow less and being sought in marriage with the chiefest +men in Lombardy, she began to be presently importuned by her brothers +and other her kinsfolk to marry again. After having again and again +refused with many tears, needs must she at the last consent perforce +to do her kinsfolk's will, on condition that she should abide, without +going to a husband, so long as she had promised Messer Torello.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_511" id="Page_511"></a></span></p> + +<p>The lady's affairs at Pavia being at this pass and there lacking maybe +eight days of the term appointed for her going to her new husband, it +chanced that Messer Torello espied one day in Alexandria one whom he +had seen embark with the Genoese ambassadors on board the galley that +was to carry them back to Genoa, and calling him, asked him what +manner voyage they had had and when they had reached Genoa; whereto +the other replied, 'Sir, the galleon (as I heard in Crete, where I +remained,) made an ill voyage; for that, as she drew near unto Sicily, +there arose a furious northerly wind, which drove her on to the +Barbary quicksands, nor was any one saved; and amongst the rest two +brothers of mine perished there.' Messer Torello, giving credit to his +words, which were indeed but too true, and remembering him that the +term required by him of his wife ended a few days thence, concluded +that nothing could be known at Pavia of his condition and held it for +certain that the lady must have married again; wherefore he fell into +such a chagrin that he lost [sleep and] appetite and taking to his +bed, determined to die. When Saladin, who loved him above all, heard +of this, he came to him and having, by dint of many and urgent +prayers, learned the cause of his grief and his sickness, upbraided +him sore for that he had not before told it to him and after besought +him to be comforted, assuring him that, if he would but take heart, he +would so contrive that he should be in Pavia at the appointed term and +told him how. Messer Torello, putting faith in Saladin's words and +having many a time heard say that this was possible and had indeed +been often enough done, began to take comfort and pressed Saladin to +despatch. The Soldan accordingly charged a nigromancer of his, of +whose skill he had aforetime made proof, to cast about for a means +whereby Messer Torello should be in one night transported upon a bed +to Pavia, to which the magician replied that it should be done, but +that, for the gentleman's own weal, he must put him to sleep.</p> + +<p>This done, Saladin returned to Messer Torello and finding him +altogether resolved to seek at any hazard to be in Pavia at the term +appointed, if it were possible, and in default thereof, to die, +bespoke him thus; 'Messer Torello, God knoweth that I neither will nor +can anywise blame you if you tenderly love your lady and are fearful +of her becoming another's, for that, of all the women I ever saw, she +it is whose manners, whose fashions and whose demeanour, (leaving be +her beauty, which is but a short-lived flower,) appear to me most +worthy to be commended and held dear. It had been very grateful to me, +since fortune hath sent you hither, that we should have passed +together, as equal masters in the governance of this my realm, such +time as you and I have to live, and if this was not to be vouchsafed +me of God, it being fated that you should take it to heart to seek +either to die or to find yourself in Pavia at the appointed term, I +should above all have desired to know it in time, that I might have +you transported to your house with such honour, such magnificence and +in such company as your worth meriteth. However, since this hath not +been vouchsafed and you desire to be presently there, I will e'en, as +I may, despatch you thither after the fashion<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_512" id="Page_512"></a></span> whereof I have bespoken +you.' 'My lord,' replied Messer Torello, 'your acts, without your +words, have given me sufficient proof of your favour, which I have +never merited in such supreme degree, and of that which you say, +though you had not said it, I shall live and die most assured; but, +since I have taken this resolve, I pray you that that which you tell +me you will do may be done speedily, for that to-morrow is the last +day I am to be looked for.'</p> + +<p>Saladin answered that this should without fail be accomplished and +accordingly, on the morrow, meaning to send him away that same night, +he let make, in a great hall of his palace, a very goodly and rich bed +of mattresses, all, according to their usance, of velvet and cloth of +gold and caused lay thereon a counterpoint curiously wrought in +various figures with great pearls and jewels of great price (the which +here in Italy was after esteemed an inestimable treasure) and two +pillows such as sorted with a bed of that fashion. This done, he bade +invest Messer Torello, who was presently well and strong again, in a +gown of the Saracen fashion, the richest and goodliest thing that had +ever been seen of any, and wind about his head, after their guise, one +of his longest turban-cloths.<a name="FNanchor_477_479" id="FNanchor_477_479"></a><a href="#Footnote_477_479" class="fnanchor">[477]</a> Then, it growing late, he betook +himself with many of his barons to the chamber where Messer Torello +was and seating himself, well nigh weeping, by his side, bespoke him +thus; 'Messer Torello, the hour draweth near that is to sunder me from +you, and since I may not bear you company nor cause you to be +accompanied, by reason of the nature of the journey you have to make, +which suffereth it not, needs must I take leave of you here in this +chamber, to which end I am come hither. Wherefore, ere I commend you +to God, I conjure you, by that love and that friendship that is +between us, that you remember you of me and if it be possible, ere our +times come to an end, that, whenas you have ordered your affairs in +Lombardy, you come at the least once to see me, to the end that, what +while I am cheered by your sight, I may then supply the default which +needs must I presently commit by reason of your haste; and against +that betide, let it not irk you to visit me with letters and require +me of such things as shall please you; for that of a surety I will +more gladly do them for you than for any man alive.'</p> + +<p>As for Messer Torello, he could not contain his tears; wherefore, +being hindered thereby, he answered, in a few words, that it was +impossible his benefits and his nobility should ever escape his mind +and that he would without fail do that which he enjoined him, whenas +occasion should be afforded him; whereupon Saladin, having tenderly +embraced him and kissed him, bade him with many tears God speed and +departed the chamber. The other barons then all took leave of him and +followed the Soldan into the hall where he had caused make ready the +bed. Meanwhile, it waxing late and the nigromant awaiting and pressing +for des<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_513" id="Page_513"></a></span>patch, there came a physician to Messer Torello with a draught +and making him believe that he gave it him to fortify him, caused him +drink it; nor was it long ere he fell asleep and so, by Saladin's +commandment, was carried into the hall and laid upon the bed +aforesaid, whereon the Soldan placed a great and goodly crown of great +price and inscribed it on such wise that it was after manifestly +understood to be sent by him to Messer Torello's lady; after which he +put on Torello's finger a ring, wherein was a carbuncle enchased, so +resplendent that it seemed a lighted flambeau, the value whereof could +scarce be reckoned, and girt him with a sword, whose garniture might +not lightly be appraised. Moreover, he let hang a fermail on his +breast, wherein were pearls whose like were never seen, together with +other precious stones galore, and on his either side he caused set two +great basins of gold, full of doubloons, and many strings of pearls +and rings and girdles and other things, which it were tedious to +recount, round about him. This done, he kissed him once more and bade +the nigromant despatch, whereupon, in his presence, the bed was +incontinent taken away, Messer Torello and all, and Saladin abode +devising of him with his barons.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, Messer Torello had been set down, even as he had requested, +in the church of San Pietro in Ciel d'Oro at Pavia, with all the +jewels and ornaments aforesaid, and yet slept when, matins having +sounded, the sacristan of the church entered, with a light in his +hand, and chancing suddenly to espy the rich bed, not only marvelled, +but, seized with a terrible fright, turned and fled. The abbot and the +monks, seeing him flee, marvelled and questioned him of the cause, +which he told them; whereupon quoth the abbot, 'Marry, thou art no +child nor art thou new to the church that thou shouldst thus lightly +take fright; let us go see who hath played the bugbear with thee.' +Accordingly, kindling several lights, the abbot and all his monks +entered the church and saw that wonder-rich and goodly bed and thereon +the gentleman asleep; and what while, misdoubting and fearful, they +gazed upon the noble jewels, without drawing anywise near to the bed, +it befell that, the virtue of the draught being spent, Messer Torello +awoke and heaved a great sigh, which when the monks saw and heard, +they took to flight, abbot and all, affrighted and crying, 'Lord aid +us!' Messer Torello opened his eyes and looking about him, plainly +perceived himself to be whereas he had asked Saladin to have him +carried, at which he was mightily content. Then, sitting up, he +particularly examined that which he had about him, and for all he had +before known of the magnificence of Saladin, it seemed to him now +greater and he knew it more. Nevertheless, without moving farther, +seeing the monks flee and divining why, he proceeded to call the abbot +by name, praying him be not afraid, for that he was Torello his +nephew. The abbot, hearing this, waxed yet more fearful, as holding +him as dead many months before; but, after awhile, taking assurance by +true arguments and hearing himself called, he made the sign of the +cross and went up to him; whereupon quoth Messer Torello, 'How now, +father mine, of what are you adread? Godamercy,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_514" id="Page_514"></a></span> I am alive and +returned hither from beyond seas.'</p> + +<p>The abbot, for all he had a great beard and was clad after the Saracen +fashion, presently recognized him and altogether reassured, took him +by the hand, saying, 'My son, thou art welcome back.' Then he +continued, 'Thou must not marvel at our affright, for that there is +not a man in these parts but firmly believeth thee to be dead, +insomuch that I must tell thee that Madam Adalieta thy wife, +overmastered by the prayers and threats of her kinsfolk and against +her own will, is married again and is this morning to go to her new +husband; ay, and the bride-feast and all that pertaineth unto the +nuptial festivities is prepared.' Therewithal Messer Torello arose +from off the rich bed and greeting the abbot and the monks with +marvellous joyance, prayed them all to speak with none of that his +return, against he should have despatched an occasion of his; after +which, having caused lay up the costly jewels in safety, he recounted +to his uncle all that had befallen him up to that moment. The abbot +rejoiced in his happy fortunes and together with him, rendered thanks +to God, after which Messer Torello asked him who was his lady's new +husband. The abbot told him and Torello said, 'I have a mind, ere folk +know of my return, to see what manner countenance is that of my wife +in these nuptials; wherefore, albeit it is not the usance of men of +your habit to go to entertainments of this kind, I would have you +contrive, for the love of me, that we may go thither, you and I.' The +abbot replied that he would well and accordingly, as soon as it was +day, he sent to the new bridegroom, saying that he would fain be at +his nuptials with a friend of his, whereto the gentleman answered that +it liked him passing well.</p> + +<p>Accordingly, eating-time come, Messer Torello, clad as he was, +repaired with his uncle to the bridegroom's house, beheld with +wonderment of all who saw him, but recognized of none; and the abbot +told every one that he was a Saracen sent ambassador from the Soldan +to the King of France. He was, therefore, seated at a table right +overagainst his lady, whom he beheld with the utmost pleasure, and +himseemed she was troubled in countenance at these new nuptials. She, +in her turn, looked whiles upon him, but not of any cognizance that +she had of him, for that his great beard and outlandish habit and the +firm assurance she had that he was dead hindered her thereof. +Presently, whenas it seemed to him time to essay if she remembered her +of him, he took the ring she had given him at his parting and calling +a lad who served before her, said to him, 'Say to the bride, on my +part, that it is the usance in my country, whenas any stranger, such +as I am here, eateth at the bride-feast of any new-married lady, like +herself, that she, in token that she holdeth him welcome at her table, +send him the cup, wherein she drinketh, full of wine, whereof after +the stranger hath drunken what he will, the cup being covered again, +the bride drinketh the rest.'</p> + +<p>The page did his errand to the lady, who, like a well-bred and +discreet woman as she was, believing him to be some great gentleman, +commanded, to show him that she had his coming in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_515" id="Page_515"></a></span> gree, that a great +gilded cup, which stood before her, should be washed and filled with +wine and carried to the gentleman; and so it was done. Messer Torello, +taking her ring in his mouth, contrived in drinking to drop it, unseen +of any, into the cup, wherein having left but a little wine, he +covered it again and despatched it to the lady. Madam Adalieta, taking +the cup and uncovering it, that she might accomplish his usance, set +it to her mouth and seeing the ring, considered it awhile, without +saying aught; then, knowing it for that which she had given to Messer +Torello at parting, she took it up and looking fixedly upon him whom +she deemed a stranger, presently recognized him; whereupon, as she +were waxen mad, she overthrew the table she had before her and cried +out, saying, 'It is my lord, it is indeed Messer Torello!' Then, +running to the place where he sat, she cast herself as far forward as +she might, without taking thought to her clothes or to aught that was +on the table, and clipped him close in her arms nor could, for word or +deed of any there, be loosed from his neck till she was bidden of +Messer Torello contain herself somewhat, for that time enough would +yet be afforded her to embrace him. She accordingly having arisen and +the nuptials being by this all troubled, albeit in part more joyous +than ever for the recovery of such a gentleman, every one, at Messer +Torello's request, abode quiet; whereupon he related to them all that +had betided him from the day of his departure up to that moment, +concluding that the gentleman, who, deeming him dead, had taken his +lady to wife, must not hold it ill if he, being alive, took her again +unto himself.</p> + +<p>The bridegroom, though somewhat mortified, answered frankly and as a +friend that it rested with himself to do what most pleased him of his +own. Accordingly, the lady put off the ring and crown had of her new +groom and donned the ring which she had taken from the cup and the +crown sent her by the Soldan; then, issuing forth of the house where +they were, they betook themselves, with all the nuptial train, to +Messer Torello's house and there recomforted his disconsolate friends +and kindred and all the townsfolk, who regarded his return as well +nigh a miracle, with long and joyous festival. As for Messer Torello, +after imparting of his precious jewels to him who had had the expense +of the nuptials, as well as to the abbot and many others, and +signifying his happy repatriation by more than one message to Saladin, +whose friend and servant he still professed himself, he lived many +years thereafterward with his noble lady and thenceforth, used more +hospitality and courtesy than ever. Such then was the issue of the +troubles of Messer Torello and his beloved lady and the recompense of +their cheerful and ready hospitalities, the which many study to +practise, who, albeit they have the wherewithal, do yet so ill +contrive it that they make those on whom they bestow their courtesies +buy them, ere they have done with them, for more than their worth; +wherefore, if no reward ensue to them thereof, neither themselves nor +others should marvel thereat."</p> + + + +<hr /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_516" id="Page_516"></a></span></p> +<h2><a name="THE_TENTH_STORY10" id="THE_TENTH_STORY10"></a>THE TENTH STORY</h2> + +<div class="sidenote">Day the Tenth</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="hang">THE MARQUESS OF SALUZZO, CONSTRAINED BY THE PRAYERS OF HIS +VASSALS TO MARRY, BUT DETERMINED TO DO IT AFTER HIS OWN +FASHION, TAKETH TO WIFE THE DAUGHTER OF A PEASANT AND HATH +OF HER TWO CHILDREN, WHOM HE MAKETH BELIEVE TO HER TO PUT TO +DEATH; AFTER WHICH, FEIGNING TO BE GROWN WEARY OF HER AND TO +HAVE TAKEN ANOTHER WIFE, HE LETTETH BRING HIS OWN DAUGHTER +HOME TO HIS HOUSE, AS SHE WERE HIS NEW BRIDE, AND TURNETH +HIS WIFE AWAY IN HER SHIFT; BUT, FINDING HER PATIENT UNDER +EVERYTHING, HE FETCHETH HER HOME AGAIN, DEARER THAN EVER, +AND SHOWING HER HER CHILDREN GROWN GREAT, HONOURETH AND +LETTETH HONOUR HER AS MARCHIONESS</p></div> + + +<p><br /><span class="smcap">The</span> king's long story being ended and having, to all appearance, much +pleased all, Dioneo said, laughing, "The good man,<a name="FNanchor_478_480" id="FNanchor_478_480"></a><a href="#Footnote_478_480" class="fnanchor">[478]</a> who looked +that night to abase the phantom's tail upright,<a name="FNanchor_479_481" id="FNanchor_479_481"></a><a href="#Footnote_479_481" class="fnanchor">[479]</a> had not given a +brace of farthings of all the praises that you bestow on Messer +Torello." Then, knowing that it rested with him alone to tell, he +proceeded: "Gentle ladies mine, it appeareth to me that this day hath +been given up to Kings and Soldans and the like folk; wherefore, that +I may not remove overfar from you, I purpose to relate to you of a +marquess, not an act of magnificence, but a monstrous folly, which, +albeit good ensued to him thereof in the end, I counsel not any to +imitate, for it was a thousand pities that weal betided him thereof.</p> + +<p>It is now a great while agone since the chief of the house among the +Marquesses of Saluzzo was a youth called Gualtieri, who, having +neither wife nor children, spent his time in nought but hunting and +hawking nor had any thought of taking a wife nor of having children; +wherein he deserved to be reputed very wise. The thing, however, not +pleasing his vassals, they besought him many times to take a wife, so +he might not abide without an heir nor they without a lord, and +offered themselves to find him one of such a fashion and born of such +parents that good hopes might be had of her and he be well content +with her; whereto he answered, 'My friends, you constrain me unto that +which I was altogether resolved never to do, considering how hard a +thing it is to find a wife whose fashions sort well within one's own +humour and how great an abundance there is of the contrary sort and +how dour a life is his who happeneth upon a woman not well suited unto +him. To say that you think, by the manners and fashions of the +parents, to know the daughters, wherefrom you argue to give me a wife +such as will please me, is a folly, since I know not whence you may +avail to know their fathers nor yet the secrets of their mothers; and +even did you know them, daughters are often unlike their parents. +However, since it e'en pleaseth you to bind me in these chains, I am +content to do your desire; but, that I may not<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_517" id="Page_517"></a></span> have occasion to +complain of other than myself, if it prove ill done, I mean to find a +wife for myself, certifying you that, whomsoever I may take me, if she +be not honoured of you as your lady and mistress, you shall prove, to +your cost, how much it irketh me to have at your entreaty taken a wife +against mine own will.'</p> + +<p>The good honest men replied that they were content, so he would but +bring himself to take a wife. Now the fashions of a poor girl, who was +of a village near to his house, had long pleased Gualtieri, and +himseeming she was fair enough, he judged that he might lead a very +comfortable life with her; wherefore, without seeking farther, he +determined to marry her and sending for her father, who was a very +poor man, agreed with him to take her to wife. This done, he assembled +all his friends of the country round and said to them, 'My friends, it +hath pleased and pleaseth you that I should dispose me to take a wife +and I have resigned myself thereto, more to complease you than of any +desire I have for marriage. You know what you promised me, to wit, +that you would be content with and honour as your lady and mistress +her whom I should take, whosoever she might be; wherefore the time is +come when I am to keep my promise to you and when I would have you +keep yours to me. I have found a damsel after mine own heart and +purpose within some few days hence to marry her and bring her home to +my house; wherefore do you bethink yourselves how the bride-feast may +be a goodly one and how you may receive her with honour, on such wise +that I may avouch myself contented of your promise, even as you will +have cause to be of mine.' The good folk all answered joyfully that +this liked them well and that, be she who he would, they would hold +her for lady and mistress and honour her as such in all things; after +which they all addressed themselves to hold fair and high and glad +festival and on like wise did Gualtieri, who let make ready very great +and goodly nuptials and bade thereto many his friends and kinsfolk and +great gentlemen and others of the neighbourhood. Moreover, he let cut +and fashion store of rich and goodly apparel, after the measure of a +damsel who seemed to him like of her person to the young woman he was +purposed to marry, and provided also rings and girdles and a rich and +goodly crown and all that behoveth unto a bride.</p> + +<p>The day come that he had appointed for the nuptials, Gualtieri towards +half tierce mounted to horse, he and all those who were come to do him +honour, and having ordered everything needful. 'Gentlemen,' quoth he, +'it is time to go fetch the bride.' Then, setting out with all his +company, he rode to the village and betaking himself to the house of +the girl's father, found her returning in great haste with water from +the spring, so she might after go with other women to see Gualtieri's +bride come. When the marquess saw her, he called her by name, to wit, +Griselda, and asked her where her father was; to which she answered +bashfully, 'My lord, he is within the house.' Thereupon Gualtieri +dismounted and bidding all await him, entered the poor house alone, +where he found her father, whose name was Giannucolo, and said to him, +'I am come to marry Griselda, but first I would fain know of her +somewhat in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_518" id="Page_518"></a></span> thy presence.' Accordingly, he asked her if, an he took +her to wife, she would still study to please him, nor take umbrage at +aught that he should do or say, and if she would be obedient, and many +other like things, to all of which she answered ay; whereupon +Gualtieri, taking her by the hand, led her forth and in the presence +of all his company and of every one else, let strip her naked. Then, +sending for the garments which he had let make, he caused forthright +clothe and shoe her and would have her set the crown on her hair, all +tumbled as it was; after which, all marvelling at this, he said, +'Gentlemen, this is she who I purpose shall be my wife, an she will +have me to husband.' Then, turning to her, where she stood, all +shamefast and confounded, he said to her, 'Griselda, wilt thou have me +to thy husband?' To which she answered, 'Ay, my lord.' Quoth he, 'And +I will have thee to my wife'; and espoused her in the presence of all. +Then, mounting her on a palfrey, he carried her, honourably +accompanied, to his mansion, where the nuptials were celebrated with +the utmost splendour and rejoicing, no otherwise than as he had taken +to wife the king's daughter of France.</p> + +<p>The young wife seemed to have, together with her clothes, changed her +mind and her manners. She was, as we have already said, goodly of +person and countenance, and even as she was fair, on like wise she +became so engaging, so pleasant and so well-mannered that she seemed +rather to have been the child of some noble gentleman than the +daughter of Giannucolo and a tender of sheep; whereof she made every +one marvel who had known her aforetime. Moreover, she was so obedient +to her husband and so diligent in his service that he accounted +himself the happiest and best contented man in the world; and on like +wise she bore herself with such graciousness and such loving kindness +towards her husband's subjects that there was none of them but loved +and honoured her with his whole heart, praying all for her welfare and +prosperity and advancement; and whereas they were used to say that +Gualtieri had done as one of little wit to take her to wife, they now +with one accord declared that he was the sagest and best-advised man +alive, for that none other than he might ever have availed to know her +high worth, hidden as it was under poor clothes and a rustic habit. +Brief, it was no great while ere she knew so to do that, not only in +her husband's marquisate, but everywhere else, she made folk talk of +her virtues and her well-doing and turned to the contrary whatsoever +had been said against her husband on her account, whenas he married +her.</p> + +<p>She had not long abidden with Gualtieri ere she conceived with child +and in due time bore a daughter, whereat he rejoiced greatly. But, a +little after, a new<a name="FNanchor_480_482" id="FNanchor_480_482"></a><a href="#Footnote_480_482" class="fnanchor">[480]</a> thought having entered his mind, to wit, to +seek, by dint of long tribulation and things unendurable, to make +trial of her patience, he first goaded her with words, feigning +himself troubled and saying that his vassals were exceeding ill +content with her, by reason of her mean extraction, especially since +they saw that she bore children, and that they did nothing but<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_519" id="Page_519"></a></span> +murmur, being sore chagrined for the birth of her daughter. The lady, +hearing this, replied, without anywise changing countenance or showing +the least distemperature, 'My lord, do with me that which thou deemest +will be most for thine honour and solace, for that I shall be content +with all, knowing, as I do, that I am of less account than they<a name="FNanchor_481_483" id="FNanchor_481_483"></a><a href="#Footnote_481_483" class="fnanchor">[481]</a> +and that I was unworthy of this dignity to which thou hast advanced me +of thy courtesy.' This reply was mighty agreeable to Gualtieri, for +that he saw she was not uplifted into aught of pridefulness for any +honour that himself or others had done her; but, a little after, +having in general terms told her that his vassals could not brook this +girl that had been born of her, he sent to her a serving-man of his, +whom he had lessoned and who said to her with a very woeful +countenance, 'Madam, an I would not die, needs must I do that which my +lord commandeth me. He hath bidden me take this your daughter and....' +And said no more. The lady, hearing this and seeing the servant's +aspect and remembering her of her husband's words, concluded that he +had enjoined him put the child to death; whereupon, without changing +countenance, albeit she felt a sore anguish at heart, she straightway +took her from the cradle and having kissed and blessed her, laid her +in the servant's arms, saying, 'Take her and punctually do that which +thy lord hath enjoined thee; but leave her not to be devoured of the +beasts and the birds, except he command it thee.' The servant took the +child and reported that which the lady had said to Gualtieri, who +marvelled at her constancy and despatched him with the child to a +kinswoman of his at Bologna, praying her to bring her up and rear her +diligently, without ever saying whose daughter she was.</p> + +<p>In course of time the lady again conceived and in due season bore a +male child, to her husband's great joy; but, that which he had already +done sufficing him not, he addressed himself to probe her to the quick +with a yet sorer stroke and accordingly said to her one day with a +troubled air, 'Wife, since thou hast borne this male child, I have +nowise been able to live in peace with these my people, so sore do +they murmur that a grandson of Giannucolo should become their lord +after me; wherefore I misdoubt me, an I would not be driven forth of +my domains, it will behove me do in this case that which I did +otherwhen and ultimately put thee away and take another wife.' The +lady gave ear to him with a patient mind nor answered otherwhat then, +'My lord, study to content thyself and to satisfy thy pleasure and +have no thought of me, for that nothing is dear to me save in so much +as I see it please thee.' Not many days after, Gualtieri sent for the +son, even as he had sent for the daughter, and making a like show of +having him put to death, despatched him to Bologna, there to be +brought up, even as he had done with the girl; but the lady made no +other countenance nor other words thereof than she had done of the +girl; whereat Gualtieri marvelled sore and affirmed in himself that no +other woman could have availed to do this that she did; and had he not +seen her tender her children with the utmost fondness,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_520" id="Page_520"></a></span> what while it +pleased him, he had believed that she did this because she recked no +more of them; whereas in effect he knew that she did it of her +discretion. His vassals, believing that he had caused put the children +to death, blamed him sore, accounting him a barbarous man, and had the +utmost compassion of his wife, who never answered otherwhat to the +ladies who condoled with her for her children thus slain, than that +that which pleased him thereof who had begotten them, pleased her +also.</p> + +<p>At last, several years being passed since the birth of the girl, +Gualtieri, deeming it time to make the supreme trial of her endurance, +declared, in the presence of his people, that he could no longer +endure to have Griselda to wife and that he perceived that he had done +ill and boyishly in taking her, wherefore he purposed, as far as in +him lay, to make interest with the Pope to grant him a dispensation, +so he might put her away and take another wife. For this he was +roundly taken to task by many men of worth, but answered them nothing +save that needs must it be so. The lady, hearing these things and +herseeming she must look to return to her father's house and maybe +tend sheep again as she had done aforetime, what while she saw another +woman in possession of him to whom she willed all her weal, sorrowed +sore in herself; but yet, even as she had borne the other affronts of +fortune, so with a firm countenance she addressed herself to bear this +also. Gualtieri no great while after let come to him from Rome +counterfeit letters of dispensation and gave his vassals to believe +that the Pope had thereby licensed him to take another wife and leave +Griselda; then, sending for the latter, he said to her, in presence of +many, 'Wife, by concession made me of the Pope, I am free to take +another wife and put thee away, and accordingly, for that mine +ancestors have been great gentlemen and lords of this country, whilst +thine have still been husbandmen, I mean that thou be no more my wife, +but that thou return to Giannucolo his house with the dowry which thou +broughtest me, and I will after bring hither another wife, for that I +have found one more sorted to myself.'</p> + +<p>The lady, hearing this, contained her tears, contrary to the nature of +woman, though not without great unease, and answered, 'My lord, I ever +knew my mean estate to be nowise sortable with your nobility, and for +that which I have been with you I have still confessed myself indebted +to you and to God, nor have I ever made nor held it mine, as given to +me, but have still accounted it but as a loan. It pleaseth you to +require it again and it must and doth please me to restore it to you. +Here is your ring wherewith you espoused me; take it. You bid me carry +away with me that dowry which I brought hither, which to do you will +need no paymaster and I neither purse nor packhorse, for I have not +forgotten that you had me naked, and if you account it seemly that +this my body, wherein I have carried children begotten of you, be seen +of all, I will begone naked; but I pray you, in requital of my +maidenhead, which I brought hither and bear not hence with me, that it +please you I may carry away at the least one sole shift over and above +my dowry.' Gualtieri, who<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_521" id="Page_521"></a></span> had more mind to weep than to otherwhat, +natheless kept a stern countenance and said, 'So be it; carry away a +shift.' As many as stood around besought him to give her a gown, so +that she who had been thirteen years and more his wife should not be +seen go forth of his house on such mean and shameful wise as it was to +depart in her shift; but their prayers all went for nothing; wherefore +the lady, having commended them to God, went forth his house in her +shift, barefoot and nothing on her head, and returned to her father, +followed by the tears and lamentations of all who saw her. Giannucolo, +who had never been able to believe it true that Gualtieri should +entertain his daughter to wife and went in daily expectation of this +event, had kept her the clothes which she had put off the morning that +Gualtieri had married her and now brought them to her; whereupon she +donned them and addressed herself, as she had been wont to do, to the +little offices of her father's house, enduring the cruel onslaught of +hostile fortune with a stout heart.</p> + +<p>Gualtieri, having done this, gave out to his people that he had chosen +a daughter of one of the Counts of Panago and letting make great +preparations for the nuptials, sent for Griselda to come to him and +said to her, 'I am about to bring home this lady, whom I have newly +taken to wife, and mean, at this her first coming, to do her honour. +Thou knowest I have no women about me who know how to array me the +rooms nor to do a multitude of things that behove unto such a +festival; wherefore do thou, who art better versed than any else in +these household matters, order that which is to do here and let bid +such ladies as it seemeth good to thee and receive them as thou wert +mistress here; then, when the nuptials are ended, thou mayst begone +back to thy house.' Albeit these words were all daggers to Griselda's +heart, who had been unable to lay down the love she bore him as she +had laid down her fair fortune, she replied, 'My lord, I am ready and +willing.' Then, in her coarse homespun clothes, entering the house, +whence she had a little before departed in her shift, she fell to +sweeping and ordering the chambers and letting place hangings and +cover-cloths about the saloons and make ready the viands, putting her +hand to everything, as she were some paltry serving-wench of the +house, nor ever gave over till she had arrayed and ordered everything +as it behoved. Thereafter, having let invite all the ladies of the +country on Gualtieri's part, she awaited the day of the festival, +which being come, with a cheerful countenance and the spirit and +bearing of a lady of high degree, for all she had mean clothes on her +back, she received all the ladies who came thither.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, Gualtieri, who had caused the two children be diligently +reared in Bologna by his kinswoman, (who was married to a gentleman of +the Panago family,) the girl being now twelve years old and the +fairest creature that ever was seen and the boy six, had sent to his +kinsman<a name="FNanchor_482_484" id="FNanchor_482_484"></a><a href="#Footnote_482_484" class="fnanchor">[482]</a> at Bologna, praying him be pleased to come to Saluzzo +with his son and daughter and take order to bring with him a goodly +and honourable company and bidding him tell every<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_522" id="Page_522"></a></span> one that he was +carrying him the young lady to his wife, without otherwise discovering +to any aught of who she was. The gentleman did as the marquess prayed +him and setting out, with the girl and boy and a goodly company of +gentlefolk, after some days' journey, arrived, about dinner-time, at +Saluzzo, where he found all the countryfolk and many others of the +neighbourhood awaiting Gualtieri's new bride. The latter, being +received by the ladies and come into the saloon where the tables were +laid, Griselda came to meet her, clad as she was, and accosted her +blithely, saying, 'Welcome and fair welcome to my lady.' Thereupon the +ladies (who had urgently, but in vain, besought Gualtieri to suffer +Griselda to abide in a chamber or lend her one of the gowns that had +been hers, so that she might not go thus before his guests) were +seated at table and it was proceeded to serve them. The girl was eyed +by every one and all declared that Gualtieri had made a good exchange; +and among the rest Griselda commended her amain, both her and her +young brother.</p> + +<p>Gualtieri perceiving that the strangeness of the case in no wise +changed her and being assured that this proceeded not from lack of +understanding, for that he knew her to be very quick of wit, himseemed +he had now seen fully as much as he desired of his lady's patience and +he judged it time to deliver her from the bitterness which he doubted +not she kept hidden under her constant countenance; wherefore, calling +her to himself, he said to her, smiling, in the presence of every one, +'How deemest thou of our bride?' 'My lord,' answered she, 'I deem +exceeding well of her, and if, as I believe, she is as discreet as she +is fair, I doubt not a whit but you will live the happiest gentleman +in the world with her; but I beseech you, as most I may, that you +inflict not on her those pangs which you inflicted whilere on her who +was sometime yours; for methinketh she might scarce avail to endure +them, both because she is younger and because she hath been delicately +reared, whereas the other had been in continual fatigues from a little +child.' Thereupon, Gualtieri, seeing she firmly believed that the +young lady was to be his wife nor therefore spoke anywise less than +well, seated her by his side and said to her, 'Griselda, it is now +time that thou reap the fruits of thy long patience and that those who +have reputed me cruel and unjust and brutish should know that this +which I have done I wrought to an end aforeseen, willing to teach thee +to be a wife and to show them how to take and use one and at the same +time to beget myself perpetual quiet, what while I had to live with +thee; the which, whenas I came to take a wife, I was sore afraid might +not betide me, and therefore, to make proof thereof, I probed and +afflicted thee after such kind as thou knowest. And meseeming, for +that I have never perceived that either in word or in deed hast thou +departed from my pleasure, that I have of thee that solace which I +desired, I purpose presently to restore thee, at one stroke, that +which I took from thee at many and to requite thee with a supreme +delight the pangs I have inflicted on thee. Wherefore with a joyful +heart take this whom thou deemest my bride and her brother for thy +children and mine; for these be they whom<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_523" id="Page_523"></a></span> thou and many others have +long accounted me to have barbarously let put to death; and I am thy +husband, who loveth thee over all else, believing I may vaunt me that +there is none else who can be so content of his wife as can I.'</p> + +<p>So saying, he embraced her and kissed her; then, rising up, he betook +himself with Griselda, who wept for joy, whereas the daughter, hearing +these things, sat all stupefied, and tenderly embracing her and her +brother, undeceived her and many others who were there. Thereupon the +ladies arose from table, overjoyed, and withdrew with Griselda into a +chamber, where, with happier augury, pulling off her mean attire, they +clad her anew in a magnificent dress of her own and brought her again +to the saloon, as a gentlewoman, which indeed she appeared, even in +rags. There she rejoiced in her children with wonder-great joy, and +all being overjoyed at this happy issue, they redoubled in feasting +and merrymaking and prolonged the festivities several days, accounting +Gualtieri a very wise man, albeit they held the trials which he had +made of his lady overharsh, nay, intolerable; but over all they held +Griselda most sage. The Count of Panago returned, after some days, to +Bologna, and Gualtieri, taking Giannucolo from his labour, placed him +in such estate as befitted his father-in-law, so that he lived in +honour and great solace and so ended his days; whilst he himself, +having nobly married his daughter, lived long and happily with +Griselda, honouring her as most might be. What more can here be said +save that even in poor cottages there rain down divine spirits from +heaven, like as in princely palaces there be those who were worthier +to tend swine than to have lordship over men? Who but Griselda could, +with a countenance, not only dry,<a name="FNanchor_483_485" id="FNanchor_483_485"></a><a href="#Footnote_483_485" class="fnanchor">[483]</a> but cheerful, have endured the +barbarous and unheard proofs made by Gualtieri? Which latter had not +belike been ill requited, had he happened upon one who, when he turned +her out of doors in her shift, had let jumble her furbelows of another +to such purpose that a fine gown had come of it."</p> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p>Dioneo's story being finished and the ladies having discoursed amain +thereof, some inclining to one side and some to another, this blaming +one thing and that commending it, the king, lifting his eyes to heaven +and seeing that the sun was now low and the hour of vespers at hand, +proceeded, without arising from session, to speak thus, "Charming +ladies, as I doubt not you know, the understanding of mortals +consisteth not only in having in memory things past and taking +cognizance of things present; but in knowing, by means of the one and +the other of these, to forecast things future is reputed by men of +mark to consist the greatest wisdom. To-morrow, as you know, it will +be fifteen days since we departed Florence, to take some diversion for +the preservation of our health and of our lives, eschewing the woes +and dolours and miseries which, since this pestilential season began, +are continually to be seen about our city. This, to my judgment, we +have well and honourably done; for that, an I have known to see +aright, albeit merry stories and belike incentive<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_524" id="Page_524"></a></span> to concupiscence +have been told here and we have continually eaten and drunken well and +danced and sung and made music, all things apt to incite weak minds to +things less seemly, I have noted no act, no word, in fine nothing +blameworthy, either on your part or on that of us men; nay, meseemeth +I have seen and felt here a continual decency, an unbroken concord and +a constant fraternal familiarity; the which, at once for your honour +and service and for mine own, is, certes, most pleasing to me. Lest, +however, for overlong usance aught should grow thereof that might +issue in tediousness, and that none may avail to cavil at our overlong +tarriance,—each of us, moreover, having had his or her share of the +honour that yet resideth in myself,—I hold it meet, an it be your +pleasure, that we now return whence we came; more by token that, if +you consider aright, our company, already known to several others of +the neighbourhood, may multiply after a fashion that will deprive us +of our every commodity. Wherefore, if you approve my counsel, I will +retain the crown conferred on me until our departure, which I purpose +shall be to-morrow morning; but, should you determine otherwise, I +have already in mind whom I shall invest withal for the ensuing day."</p> + +<p>Much was the debate between the ladies and the young men; but +ultimately they all took the king's counsel for useful and seemly and +determined to do as he proposed; whereupon, calling the seneschal, he +bespoke him of the manner which he should hold on the ensuing morning +and after, having dismissed the company until supper-time, he rose to +his feet. The ladies and the young men, following his example, gave +themselves, this to one kind of diversion and that to another, no +otherwise than of their wont; and supper-time come, they betook +themselves to table with the utmost pleasure and after fell to singing +and carolling and making music. Presently, Lauretta leading up a +dance, the king bade Fiammetta sing a song, whereupon she very +blithely proceeded to sing thus:</p> + +<p class="cpoem"> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">If love came but withouten jealousy,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">I know no lady born</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">So blithe as I were, whosoe'er she be.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">If gladsome youthfulness</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">In a fair lover might content a maid,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">Virtue and worth discreet,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Valiance or gentilesse,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Wit and sweet speech and fashions all arrayed</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">In pleasantness complete,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">Certes, I'm she for whose behoof these meet</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">In one; for, love-o'erborne,</span><br /> +All these in him who is my hope I see.<br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">But for that I perceive</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">That other women are as wise as I,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">I tremble for affright</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">And tending to believe</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">The worst, in others the desire espy</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">Of him who steals my spright;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">Thus this that is my good and chief delight</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Enforceth me, forlorn,</span><br /> +Sigh sore and live in dole and misery.<br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">If I knew fealty such</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">In him my lord as I know merit there,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">I were not jealous, I;</span><br /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_525" id="Page_525"></a></span><span style="margin-left: 1em;">But here is seen so much</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Lovers to tempt, how true they be soe'er,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">I hold all false; whereby</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">I'm all disconsolate and fain would die,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Of each with doubting torn</span><br /> +Who eyes him, lest she bear him off from me.<br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Be, then, each lady prayed</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">By God that she in this be not intent</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">'Gainst me to do amiss;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">For, sure, if any maid</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Should or with words or becks or blandishment</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">My detriment in this</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">Seek or procure and if I know't, ywis,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Be all my charms forsworn</span><br /> +But I will make her rue it bitterly.<br /> +</p> + +<p>No sooner had Fiammetta made an end of her song than Dioneo, who was +beside her, said, laughing, "Madam, you would do a great courtesy to +let all the ladies know who he is, lest you be ousted of his +possession through ignorance, since you would be so sore incensed +thereat." After this divers other songs were sung and the night being +now well nigh half spent, they all, by the king's commandment, betook +themselves to repose. As the new day appeared, they arose and the +seneschal having already despatched all their gear in advance, they +returned, under the guidance of their discreet king, to Florence, +where the three young men took leave of the seven ladies and leaving +them in Santa Maria Novella, whence they had set out with them, went +about their other pleasures, whilst the ladies, whenas it seemed to +them time, returned to their houses.</p> + + +<p class="center"><br /> +<b>HERE ENDETH THE TENTH AND LAST DAY<br /> +OF THE DECAMERON</b> +</p> + + + +<hr class="long" /> +<h1><a name="Conclusion_of_the_Author" id="Conclusion_of_the_Author"></a><i>Conclusion of the Author</i></h1> + + +<p><br /><span class="smcap">Most</span> noble damsels, for whose solace I have addressed myself to so +long a labour, I have now, methinketh, with the aid of the Divine +favour, (vouchsafed me, as I deem, for your pious prayers and not for +my proper merits,) throughly accomplished that which I engaged, at the +beginning of this present work, to do; wherefore, returning thanks +first to God and after to you, it behoveth to give rest to my pen and +to my tired hand. Which ere I accord them, I purpose briefly to reply, +as to objections tacitly broached, to certain small matters that may +peradventure be alleged by some one of you or by others, since +meseemeth very certain that these stories have no especial privilege +more than other things; nay, I mind me to have shown, at the beginning +of the fourth day, that they have none such. There are, peradventure, +some of you who will say that I have used overmuch license in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_526" id="Page_526"></a></span> +inditing these stories, as well as in making ladies whiles say and +very often hearken to things not very seemly either to be said or +heard of modest women. This I deny, for that there is nothing so +unseemly as to be forbidden unto any one, so but he express it in +seemly terms, as meseemeth indeed I have here very aptly done. But let +us suppose that it is so (for that I mean not to plead with you, who +would overcome me,) I say that many reasons very readily offer +themselves in answer why I have done this. Firstly, if there be aught +thereof<a name="FNanchor_484_486" id="FNanchor_484_486"></a><a href="#Footnote_484_486" class="fnanchor">[484]</a> in any of them, the nature of the stories required it, +the which, an they be considered with the rational eye of a person of +understanding, it will be abundantly manifest that I could not have +otherwise recounted, an I would not altogether disfeature them. And if +perchance there be therein some tittle, some wordlet or two freer, +maybe, than liketh your squeamish hypocritical prudes, who weigh words +rather than deeds and study more to appear, than to be, good, I say +that it should no more be forbidden me to write them than it is +commonly forbidden unto men and women to say all day long <i>hole</i> and +<i>peg</i> and <i>mortar</i> and <i>pestle</i> and <i>sausage</i> and <i>polony</i> and all +manner like things; without reckoning that no less liberty should be +accorded to my pen than is conceded to the brush of the limner, who, +without any (or, at the least, any just) reprehension, maketh—let be +St. Michael smite the serpent with sword or spear and St. George the +dragon, whereas it pleaseth them—but Adam male and Eve female and +affixeth to the cross, whiles with one nail and whiles with two, the +feet of Him Himself who willed for the salvation of the human race to +die upon the rood. Moreover, it is eath enough to see that these +things are spoken, not in the church, of the affairs whereof it +behoveth to speak with a mind and in terms alike of the chastest +(albeit among its histories there are tales enough to be found of +anothergates fashion than those written by me), nor yet in the schools +of philosophy, where decency is no less required than otherwhere, nor +among churchmen or philosophers anywhere, but amidst gardens, in a +place of pleasance and diversion and among men and women, though +young, yet of mature wit and not to be led astray by stories, at a +time when it was not forbidden to the most virtuous to go, for their +own preservation, with their breeches on their heads. Again, such as +they are, these stories, like everything else, can both harm and +profit, according to the disposition of the listener. Who knoweth not +that wine, though, according to Cinciglione and Scolajo<a name="FNanchor_485_487" id="FNanchor_485_487"></a><a href="#Footnote_485_487" class="fnanchor">[485]</a> and many +others, an excellent thing for people in health,<a name="FNanchor_486_488" id="FNanchor_486_488"></a><a href="#Footnote_486_488" class="fnanchor">[486]</a> is hurtful unto +whoso hath the fever? Shall we say, then, because it harmeth the +fevered, that it is naught? Who knoweth not that fire is most useful, +nay, necessary to mortals? Shall we say, because it burneth houses and +villages and cities, that it is naught? Arms on like wise assure the +welfare of those who desire to live in peace and yet oftentimes slay +men, not of any malice of their own, but of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_527" id="Page_527"></a></span> perversity of those +who use them wrongfully. Corrupt mind never understood word healthily, +and even as seemly words profit not depraved minds, so those which are +not altogether seemly avail not to contaminate the well-disposed, any +more than mire can sully the rays of the sun or earthly foulness the +beauties of the sky. What books, what words, what letters are holier, +worthier, more venerable than those of the Divine Scriptures? Yet many +there be, who, interpreting them perversely, have brought themselves +and others to perdition. Everything in itself is good unto somewhat +and ill used, may be in many things harmful; and so say I of my +stories. If any be minded to draw therefrom ill counsel or ill +practice, they will nowise forbid it him, if perchance they have it in +them or be strained and twisted into having it; and who so will have +profit and utility thereof, they will not deny it him, nor will they +be ever styled or accounted other than useful and seemly, if they be +read at those times and to those persons for which and for whom they +have been recounted. Whoso hath to say paternosters or to make tarts +and puddings for her spiritual director, let her leave them be; they +will not run after any to make her read them; albeit your she-saints +themselves now and again say and even do fine things.</p> + +<p>There be some ladies also who will say that there are some stories +here, which had been better away. Granted; but I could not nor should +write aught save those actually related, wherefore those who told them +should have told them goodly and I would have written them goodly. +But, if folk will e'en pretend that I am both the inventor and writer +thereof (which I am not), I say that I should not take shame to myself +that they were not all alike goodly, for that there is no craftsman +living (barring God) who doth everything alike well and completely; +witness Charlemagne, who was the first maker of the Paladins, but knew +not to make so many thereof that he might avail to form an army of +them alone. In the multitude of things, needs must divers qualities +thereof be found. No field was ever so well tilled but therein or +nettles or thistles or somewhat of briers or other weeds might be +found mingled with the better herbs. Besides, having to speak to +simple lasses, such as you are for the most part, it had been folly to +go seeking and wearying myself to find very choice and exquisite +matters, and to use great pains to speak very measuredly. Algates, +whoso goeth reading among these, let him leave those which offend and +read those which divert. They all, not to lead any one into error, +bear branded upon the forefront that which they hold hidden within +their bosoms.</p> + +<p>Again, I doubt not but there be those who will say that some of them +are overlong; to whom I say again that whoso hath overwhat to do doth +folly to read these stories, even though they were brief. And albeit a +great while is passed from the time when I began to write to this +present hour whenas I come to the end of my toils, it hath not +therefor escaped my memory that I proffered this my travail to idle +women and not to others, and unto whoso readeth to pass away the time, +nothing can be overlong, so but it do that for which he useth it. +Things brief are far better suited unto stu<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_528" id="Page_528"></a></span>dents, who study, not to +pass away, but usefully to employ time, than to you ladies, who have +on your hands all the time that you spend not in the pleasures of +love; more by token that, as none of you goeth to Athens or Bologna or +Paris to study, it behoveth to speak to you more at large than to +those who have had their wits whetted by study. Again, I doubt not a +jot but there be yet some of you who will say that the things +aforesaid are full of quips and cranks and quodlibets and that it ill +beseemeth a man of weight and gravity to have written thus. To these I +am bound to render and do render thanks, for that, moved by a virtuous +jealousy, they are so tender of my fame; but to their objection I +reply on this wise; I confess to being a man of weight and to have +been often weighed in my time, wherefore, speaking to those ladies who +have not weighed me, I declare that I am not heavy; nay, I am so light +that I abide like a nutgall in water, and considering that the +preachments made of friars, to rebuke men of their sins, are nowadays +for the most part seen full of quips and cranks and gibes, I conceived +that these latter would not sit amiss in my stories written to ease +women of melancholy. Algates, an they should laugh overmuch on that +account, the Lamentations of Jeremiah, the Passion of our Saviour and +the Complaint of Mary Magdalen will lightly avail to cure them +thereof.</p> + +<p>Again, who can doubt but there will to boot be found some to say that +I have an ill tongue and a venomous, for that I have in sundry places +written the truth anent the friars? To those who shall say thus it +must be forgiven, since it is not credible that they are moved by +other than just cause, for that the friars are a good sort of folk, +who eschew unease for the love of God and who grind with a full head +of water and tell no tales, and but that they all savour somewhat of +the buck-goat, their commerce would be far more agreeable. Natheless, +I confess that the things of this world have no stability and are +still on the change, and so may it have befallen of my tongue, the +which, not to trust to mine own judgment, (which I eschew as most I +may in my affairs,) a she-neighbour of mine told me, not long since, +was the best and sweetest in the world; and in good sooth, were this +the case, there had been few of the foregoing stories to write. But, +for that those who say thus speak despitefully, I will have that which +hath been said suffice them for a reply; wherefore, leaving each of +you henceforth to say and believe as seemeth good to her, it is time +for me to make an end of words, humbly thanking Him who hath, after so +long a labour, brought us with His help to the desired end. And you, +charming ladies, abide you in peace with His favour, remembering you +of me, if perchance it profit any of you aught to have read these +stories.</p> + + +<p class="center"><br /> +<b>HERE ENDETH THE BOOK CALLED DECAMERON<br /> +AND SURNAMED PRINCE GALAHALT</b> +</p> + + + +<hr class="long" /> + +<h2>FOOTNOTES</h2> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_1_1" id="Footnote_1_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_1_1"><span class="label">[1]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> those not in love.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_2_2" id="Footnote_2_2"></a><a href="#FNanchor_2_2"><span class="label">[2]</span></a> Syn. adventures (<i><span lang="it">casi</span></i>).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_3_3" id="Footnote_3_3"></a><a href="#FNanchor_3_3"><span class="label">[3]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> the few pages of which he speaks above.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_4_4" id="Footnote_4_4"></a><a href="#FNanchor_4_4"><span class="label">[4]</span></a> Syn. provisions made or means taken (<i><span lang="it">consigli dati</span></i>). +Boccaccio constantly uses <i><span lang="it">consiglio</span></i> in this latter sense.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_5_5" id="Footnote_5_5"></a><a href="#FNanchor_5_5"><span class="label">[5]</span></a> Syn. help, remedy.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_6_6" id="Footnote_6_6"></a><a href="#FNanchor_6_6"><span class="label">[6]</span></a> <i><span lang="it">Accidente</span></i>, what a modern physician would call +"complication." "Symptom" does not express the whole meaning of the +Italian word.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_7_7" id="Footnote_7_7"></a><a href="#FNanchor_7_7"><span class="label">[7]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> aromatic drugs.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_8_8" id="Footnote_8_8"></a><a href="#FNanchor_8_8"><span class="label">[8]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> gravediggers (<i><span lang="it">becchini</span></i>).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_9_9" id="Footnote_9_9"></a><a href="#FNanchor_9_9"><span class="label">[9]</span></a> Lit. <i>four</i> or six. This is the equivalent Italian +idiom.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_10_10" id="Footnote_10_10"></a><a href="#FNanchor_10_10"><span class="label">[10]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> but few tapers.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_11_11" id="Footnote_11_11"></a><a href="#FNanchor_11_11"><span class="label">[11]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> expectation of gain from acting as tenders of the +sick, gravediggers, etc. The word <i><span lang="it">speranza</span></i> is, however, constantly +used by Dante and his follower Boccaccio in the contrary sense of +"fear," and may be so meant in the present instance.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_12_12" id="Footnote_12_12"></a><a href="#FNanchor_12_12"><span class="label">[12]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> the cross.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_13_13" id="Footnote_13_13"></a><a href="#FNanchor_13_13"><span class="label">[13]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> walled burghs.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_14_14" id="Footnote_14_14"></a><a href="#FNanchor_14_14"><span class="label">[14]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> in miniature.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_15_15" id="Footnote_15_15"></a><a href="#FNanchor_15_15"><span class="label">[15]</span></a> Or character (<i><span lang="it">qualità</span></i>).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_16_16" id="Footnote_16_16"></a><a href="#FNanchor_16_16"><span class="label">[16]</span></a> I know of no explanation of these names by the +commentators, who seem, indeed, after the manner of their kind, to +have generally confined themselves to the elaborate illustration and +elucidation (or rather, alas! too often, obscuration) of passages +already perfectly plain, leaving the difficult passages for the most +part untouched. The following is the best I can make of them. +<i>Pampinea</i> appears to be formed from the Greek <span lang="el" title="Greek: pan">πᾶν</span>, all, and +<span lang="el" title="Greek: pinuô">πινύω</span>, I advise, admonish or inform, and to mean all-advising +or admonishing, which would agree well enough with the character of +Pampinea, who is represented as the eldest and sagest of the female +personages of the Decameron and as taking the lead in everything. +<i>Fiammetta</i> is the name by which Boccaccio designates his mistress, +the Princess Maria of Naples (the lady for whom he cherished "the very +high and noble passion" of which he speaks in his Proem), in his +earlier opuscule, the "<span lang="it">Elégia di Madonna Fiammetta</span>," describing, in +her name, the torments of separation from the beloved. In this work he +speaks of himself under the name of Pamfilo (Gr. <span lang="el" title="Greek: pan">πᾶν</span>, all, +and <span lang="el" title="Greek: phileô">φιλέω</span>, I love, <i>i.e.</i> the all-loving or the passionate +lover), and it is probable, therefore, that under these names he +intended to introduce his royal ladylove and himself in the present +work. <i>Filomena</i> (Italian form of Philomela, a nightingale, Greek +<span lang="el" title="Greek: philos">φίλος</span> loving, +and <span lang="el" title="Greek: melos">μελός</span>, melody, song, <i>i.e.</i> +song-loving) is perhaps so styled for her love of music, and +<i>Emilia's</i> character, as it appears in the course of the work, +justifies the derivation of her name from the Greek <span lang="el" title="Greek: aimylios">αἱμύλιος</span>, +pleasing, engaging in manners and behaviour, cajoling. <i>Lauretta</i> +Boccaccio probably intends us to look upon as a learned lady, if, as +we may suppose, her name is a corruption of <i><span lang="it">laureata</span></i>, +laurel-crowned; whilst <i>Neifile's</i> name (Greek <span lang="el" title="Greek: neios">νεῖος</span> +[<span lang="el" title="Greek: neos">νεός</span>] new, and +<span lang="el" title="Greek: phileô">φιλέω</span>, I love, <i>i.e.</i> novelty-loving) stamps +her as being of a somewhat curious disposition, eager "to tell or to +hear some new thing." The name <i>Elisa</i> is not so easily to be +explained as the others; possibly it was intended by the author as a +reminiscence of Dido, to whom the name (which is by some authorities +explained to mean "Godlike," from a Hebrew root) is said to have been +given "<span lang="la">quòd plurima supra animi muliebris fortitudinem gesserit</span>." It +does not, however, appear that there was in Elisa's character or life +anything to justify the implied comparison.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_17_17" id="Footnote_17_17"></a><a href="#FNanchor_17_17"><span class="label">[17]</span></a> This phrase may also be read "persuading themselves that +that (<i>i.e.</i> their breach of the laws of obedience, etc.) beseemeth +them and is forbidden only to others" (<i><span lang="it">faccendosi a credere che +quello a lor si convenga e non si disdica che all' altre</span></i>); but the +reading in the text appears more in harmony with the general sense and +is indeed indicated by the punctuation of the Giunta Edition of 1527, +which I generally follow in case of doubt.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_18_18" id="Footnote_18_18"></a><a href="#FNanchor_18_18"><span class="label">[18]</span></a> Syn. cooler.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_19_19" id="Footnote_19_19"></a><a href="#FNanchor_19_19"><span class="label">[19]</span></a> See ante, p. <a href='#Page_8'>8</a>, note.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_20_20" id="Footnote_20_20"></a><a href="#FNanchor_20_20"><span class="label">[20]</span></a> <i>Filostrato</i>, Greek <span lang="el" title="Greek: philos">φίλος</span>, loving, and +<span lang="el" title="Greek: stratos">στρατὸς</span>, army, <i>met.</i> strife, war, <i>i.e.</i> one who loves strife. This +name appears to be a reminiscence of Boccaccio's poem (<i><span lang="it">Il +Filostrato</span></i>, well known through its translation by Chaucer and the +Senechal d'Anjou) upon the subject of the loves of Troilus and +Cressida and to be in this instance used by him as a synonym for an +unhappy lover, whom no rebuffs, no treachery can divert from his +ill-starred passion. Such a lover may well be said to be in love with +strife, and that the Filostrato of the Decameron sufficiently answers +to this description we learn later on from his own lips.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_21_21" id="Footnote_21_21"></a><a href="#FNanchor_21_21"><span class="label">[21]</span></a> <i>Dioneo</i>, a name probably coined from the Greek +<span lang="el" title="Greek: Diônê">Διωνη</span>, one of the <i>agnomina</i> of Venus (properly her mother's name) +and intended to denote the amorous temperament of his personage, to +which, indeed, the erotic character of most of the stories told by him +bears sufficient witness.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_22_22" id="Footnote_22_22"></a><a href="#FNanchor_22_22"><span class="label">[22]</span></a> <i><span lang="it">e prima mandato là dove</span></i>, etc. This passage is obscure +and may be read to mean "and having first despatched [a messenger] (or +sent [word]) whereas," etc. I think, however, that <i><span lang="it">mandato</span></i> is a +copyist's error for <i><span lang="it">mandata</span></i>, in which case the meaning would be as +in the text.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_23_23" id="Footnote_23_23"></a><a href="#FNanchor_23_23"><span class="label">[23]</span></a> Or balconies (<i><span lang="it">loggie</span></i>).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_24_24" id="Footnote_24_24"></a><a href="#FNanchor_24_24"><span class="label">[24]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> Nine o'clock a.m. Boccaccio's habit of measuring +time by the canonical hours has been a sore stumbling-block to the +ordinary English and French translator, who is generally terribly at +sea as to his meaning, inclining to render <i>tierce</i> three, <i>sexte</i> six +o'clock and <i>none</i> noon and making shots of the same wild kind at the +other hours. The monasterial rule (which before the general +introduction of clocks was commonly followed by the mediæval public in +the computation of time) divided the twenty-four hours of the day and +night into seven parts (six of three hours each and one of six), the +inception of which was denoted by the sound of the bells that summoned +the clergy to the performance of the seven canonical offices <i>i.e.</i> +<i>Matins</i> at 3 a.m., <i>Prime</i> at 6 a.m., <i>Tierce</i> at 9 a.m., <i>Sexte</i> or +Noonsong at noon, <i>None</i> at 3 p.m., <i>Vespers</i> or Evensong at 6 p.m. +and <i>Complines</i> or Nightsong at 9 p.m., and at the same time served +the laity as a clock.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_25_25" id="Footnote_25_25"></a><a href="#FNanchor_25_25"><span class="label">[25]</span></a> The table of Boccaccio's time was a mere board upon +trestles, which when not in actual use, was stowed away, for room's +sake, against the wall.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_26_26" id="Footnote_26_26"></a><a href="#FNanchor_26_26"><span class="label">[26]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> to take the siesta or midday nap common in hot +countries.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_27_27" id="Footnote_27_27"></a><a href="#FNanchor_27_27"><span class="label">[27]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> three o'clock p.m.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_28_28" id="Footnote_28_28"></a><a href="#FNanchor_28_28"><span class="label">[28]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> backgammon.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_29_29" id="Footnote_29_29"></a><a href="#FNanchor_29_29"><span class="label">[29]</span></a> Or procurators.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_30_30" id="Footnote_30_30"></a><a href="#FNanchor_30_30"><span class="label">[30]</span></a> A Florentine merchant settled in France; he had great +influence over Philippe le Bel and made use of the royal favour to +enrich himself by means of monopolies granted at the expense of his +compatriots.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_31_31" id="Footnote_31_31"></a><a href="#FNanchor_31_31"><span class="label">[31]</span></a> Charles, Comte de Valois et d'Alençon.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_32_32" id="Footnote_32_32"></a><a href="#FNanchor_32_32"><span class="label">[32]</span></a> Philippe le Bel, <span class="smcap">a.d.</span> 1268-1314.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_33_33" id="Footnote_33_33"></a><a href="#FNanchor_33_33"><span class="label">[33]</span></a> The Eighth.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_34_34" id="Footnote_34_34"></a><a href="#FNanchor_34_34"><span class="label">[34]</span></a> Sic. <i><span lang="it">Cepparello</span></i> means a log or stump. Ciapperello is +apparently a dialectic variant of the same word.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_35_35" id="Footnote_35_35"></a><a href="#FNanchor_35_35"><span class="label">[35]</span></a> Diminutive of Cappello. This passage is obscure and most +likely corrupt. Boccaccio probably meant to write "hat" instead of +"chaplet" (<i><span lang="it">ghirlanda</span></i>), as the meaning of <i><span lang="it">cappello</span></i>, chaplet +(diminutive of Old English <i>chapel</i>, a hat,) being the meaning of +<i><span lang="it">ciappelletto</span></i> (properly <i><span lang="it">cappelletto</span></i>).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_36_36" id="Footnote_36_36"></a><a href="#FNanchor_36_36"><span class="label">[36]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> false instruments.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_37_37" id="Footnote_37_37"></a><a href="#FNanchor_37_37"><span class="label">[37]</span></a> A "twopence-coloured" sketch of an impossible villain, +drawn with a crudeness unusual in Boccaccio.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_38_38" id="Footnote_38_38"></a><a href="#FNanchor_38_38"><span class="label">[38]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> if there be such a thing as a holy and worthy +friar.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_39_39" id="Footnote_39_39"></a><a href="#FNanchor_39_39"><span class="label">[39]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> <span lang="la">ex voto</span>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_40_40" id="Footnote_40_40"></a><a href="#FNanchor_40_40"><span class="label">[40]</span></a> It will be noted that this is Boccaccio's third variant +of his hero's name (the others being Ciapperello and Cepparello) and +the edition of 1527 furnishes us with a fourth and a fifth form <i>i.e.</i> +Ciepparello and Ciepperello.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_41_41" id="Footnote_41_41"></a><a href="#FNanchor_41_41"><span class="label">[41]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> a story.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_42_42" id="Footnote_42_42"></a><a href="#FNanchor_42_42"><span class="label">[42]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> of God's benignness.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_43_43" id="Footnote_43_43"></a><a href="#FNanchor_43_43"><span class="label">[43]</span></a> Lit. cardinal brethren (<i><span lang="it">fratelli cardinali</span></i>).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_44_44" id="Footnote_44_44"></a><a href="#FNanchor_44_44"><span class="label">[44]</span></a> Lit. losing (<i><span lang="it">perdendo</span></i>), but this is probably some +copyist's mistake for <i><span lang="it">podendo</span></i>, the old form of <i><span lang="it">potendo</span></i>, availing.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_45_45" id="Footnote_45_45"></a><a href="#FNanchor_45_45"><span class="label">[45]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> stood sponsor for him.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_46_46" id="Footnote_46_46"></a><a href="#FNanchor_46_46"><span class="label">[46]</span></a> Lit. amorous (<i><span lang="it">amorose</span></i>), but Boccaccio frequently uses +<i><span lang="it">amoroso</span></i>, <i><span lang="it">vago</span></i>, and other adjectives, which are now understood in +an active or transitive sense only, in their ancient passive or +intransitive sense of lovesome, desirable, etc.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_47_47" id="Footnote_47_47"></a><a href="#FNanchor_47_47"><span class="label">[47]</span></a> <i><span lang="it">Compagne</span></i>, <i>i.e.</i> she-companions. Filomena is +addressing the female part of the company.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_48_48" id="Footnote_48_48"></a><a href="#FNanchor_48_48"><span class="label">[48]</span></a> Lit. his church (<i><span lang="it">sua chiesa</span></i>); but the context seems to +indicate that the monastery itself is meant.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_49_49" id="Footnote_49_49"></a><a href="#FNanchor_49_49"><span class="label">[49]</span></a> Lit. a pressure or oppression (<i><span lang="it">priemere</span></i>, hod. +<i><span lang="it">premere</span></i>, to press or oppress, indicative used as a noun). The monk +of course refers to the posture in which he had seen the abbot have to +do with the girl, pretending to believe that he placed her on his own +breast (instead of mounting on hers) out of a sentiment of humility +and a desire to mortify his flesh <i><span lang="la">ipsâ in voluptate</span></i>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_50_50" id="Footnote_50_50"></a><a href="#FNanchor_50_50"><span class="label">[50]</span></a> An evident allusion to Boccaccio's passion for the +Princess Maria, <i>i.e.</i> Fiammetta herself.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_51_51" id="Footnote_51_51"></a><a href="#FNanchor_51_51"><span class="label">[51]</span></a> Or standard-bearer.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_52_52" id="Footnote_52_52"></a><a href="#FNanchor_52_52"><span class="label">[52]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> the One-eyed (syn. <span lang="fr">le myope</span>, the short-sighted, +the Italian word [<i><span lang="it">Il Bornio</span></i>] having both meanings), <i>i.e.</i> Philip +II. of France, better known as Philip Augustus.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_53_53" id="Footnote_53_53"></a><a href="#FNanchor_53_53"><span class="label">[53]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> with sword and whips, a technical term of +ecclesiastical procedure, about equivalent to our "with the strong arm +of the law."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_54_54" id="Footnote_54_54"></a><a href="#FNanchor_54_54"><span class="label">[54]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> a lover of money.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_55_55" id="Footnote_55_55"></a><a href="#FNanchor_55_55"><span class="label">[55]</span></a> A notorious drinker of the time.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_56_56" id="Footnote_56_56"></a><a href="#FNanchor_56_56"><span class="label">[56]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> money.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_57_57" id="Footnote_57_57"></a><a href="#FNanchor_57_57"><span class="label">[57]</span></a> "And every one that hath forsaken houses or brethren or +sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands for my name's +sake shall receive an hundredfold and shall inherit everlasting +life."—Matthew xix. 29. Boccaccio has garbled the passage for the +sake of his point.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_58_58" id="Footnote_58_58"></a><a href="#FNanchor_58_58"><span class="label">[58]</span></a> Syn. gluttonous (<i><span lang="it">brodajuola</span></i>).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_59_59" id="Footnote_59_59"></a><a href="#FNanchor_59_59"><span class="label">[59]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> gleemen, minstrels, story-tellers, jugglers and +the like, lit. men of court (<i><span lang="it">uomini di corte</span></i>).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_60_60" id="Footnote_60_60"></a><a href="#FNanchor_60_60"><span class="label">[60]</span></a> <i><span lang="it">Dinne alcuna cosa</span>.</i> If we take the affix <i><span lang="it">ne</span></i> (thereof, +of it), in its other meaning (as dative of <i><span lang="it">noi</span></i>, we), of "to us," +this phrase will read "Tell somewhat thereof," <i>i.e.</i> of the cause of +thy melancholy.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_61_61" id="Footnote_61_61"></a><a href="#FNanchor_61_61"><span class="label">[61]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> Latinist.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_62_62" id="Footnote_62_62"></a><a href="#FNanchor_62_62"><span class="label">[62]</span></a> Lit. was (<i><span lang="it">era</span></i>); but as Boccaccio puts "can" +(<i><span lang="it">possono</span></i>) in the present tense we must either read <i><span lang="it">è</span></i> and <i><span lang="it">possono</span></i> +or <i><span lang="it">era</span></i> and <i><span lang="it">potevano</span></i>. The first reading seems the more probable.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_63_63" id="Footnote_63_63"></a><a href="#FNanchor_63_63"><span class="label">[63]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> have most power or means of requiting it.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_64_64" id="Footnote_64_64"></a><a href="#FNanchor_64_64"><span class="label">[64]</span></a> Fem.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_65_65" id="Footnote_65_65"></a><a href="#FNanchor_65_65"><span class="label">[65]</span></a> <i><span lang="it">Uomo di corte</span>.</i> This word has been another grievous +stumbling block to the French and English translators of Boccaccio, +who render it literally "courtier." The reader need hardly be reminded +that the minstrel of the middle ages was commonly jester, gleeman and +story-teller all in one and in these several capacities was allowed +the utmost license of speech. He was generally attached to the court +of some king or sovereign prince, but, in default of some such +permanent appointment, passed his time in visiting the courts and +mansions of princes and men of wealth and liberty, where his talents +were likely to be appreciated and rewarded; hence the name <i><span lang="it">uomo di +corte</span></i>, "man of court" (not "courtier," which is <i><span lang="it">cortigiano</span></i>).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_66_66" id="Footnote_66_66"></a><a href="#FNanchor_66_66"><span class="label">[66]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> those minstrels.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_67_67" id="Footnote_67_67"></a><a href="#FNanchor_67_67"><span class="label">[67]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> the noblemen their patrons.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_68_68" id="Footnote_68_68"></a><a href="#FNanchor_68_68"><span class="label">[68]</span></a> Syn. penalties, punishments (<i><span lang="it">pene</span></i>).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_69_69" id="Footnote_69_69"></a><a href="#FNanchor_69_69"><span class="label">[69]</span></a> <i><span lang="it">Virtù</span></i>, in the old Roman sense of strength, vigour, +energy.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_70_70" id="Footnote_70_70"></a><a href="#FNanchor_70_70"><span class="label">[70]</span></a> Old form of Margherita.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_71_71" id="Footnote_71_71"></a><a href="#FNanchor_71_71"><span class="label">[71]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> the base or eatable part of the stem.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_72_72" id="Footnote_72_72"></a><a href="#FNanchor_72_72"><span class="label">[72]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> that day.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_73_73" id="Footnote_73_73"></a><a href="#FNanchor_73_73"><span class="label">[73]</span></a> See ante, p. <a href='#Page_8'>8</a>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_74_74" id="Footnote_74_74"></a><a href="#FNanchor_74_74"><span class="label">[74]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> the terms of the limitation aforesaid.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_75_75" id="Footnote_75_75"></a><a href="#FNanchor_75_75"><span class="label">[75]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> in the mirrored presentment of her own beauty.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_76_76" id="Footnote_76_76"></a><a href="#FNanchor_76_76"><span class="label">[76]</span></a> <i><span lang="it">Ballatella</span></i>, lit. little dancing song or song made to +be sung as an accompaniment to a dance (from <i><span lang="it">ballare</span></i>, to dance). +This is the origin of our word ballad.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_77_77" id="Footnote_77_77"></a><a href="#FNanchor_77_77"><span class="label">[77]</span></a> Or pretext (<i><span lang="it">titolo</span></i>).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_78_78" id="Footnote_78_78"></a><a href="#FNanchor_78_78"><span class="label">[78]</span></a> Or "having him punished," lit. "causing give him ill +luck" (<i><span lang="it">fargli dar la mala ventura</span></i>). This passage, like so many +others of the Decameron, is ambiguous and may also be read +"themseeming none other had a juster title to do him an ill turn."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_79_79" id="Footnote_79_79"></a><a href="#FNanchor_79_79"><span class="label">[79]</span></a> Lit. a story striveth in (draweth) me to be told or to +tell itself (<i><span lang="it">a raccontarsi mi tira una novella</span></i>).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_80_80" id="Footnote_80_80"></a><a href="#FNanchor_80_80"><span class="label">[80]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> religious matters (<i><span lang="it">cose cattoliche</span></i>).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_81_81" id="Footnote_81_81"></a><a href="#FNanchor_81_81"><span class="label">[81]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> take things by the first intention, without +seeking to refine upon them, or, in English popular phrase, "I do not +pretend to see farther through a stone wall than my neighbours."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_82_82" id="Footnote_82_82"></a><a href="#FNanchor_82_82"><span class="label">[82]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> the aforesaid orison.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_83_83" id="Footnote_83_83"></a><a href="#FNanchor_83_83"><span class="label">[83]</span></a> Or "'Twill have been opportunely done of thee."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_84_84" id="Footnote_84_84"></a><a href="#FNanchor_84_84"><span class="label">[84]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> our patron saint.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_85_85" id="Footnote_85_85"></a><a href="#FNanchor_85_85"><span class="label">[85]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> whose teeth chattered as it were the clapping of +a stork's beak.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_86_86" id="Footnote_86_86"></a><a href="#FNanchor_86_86"><span class="label">[86]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> after her bath.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_87_87" id="Footnote_87_87"></a><a href="#FNanchor_87_87"><span class="label">[87]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> to be hanged or, in the equivalent English idiom, +to dance upon nothing.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_88_88" id="Footnote_88_88"></a><a href="#FNanchor_88_88"><span class="label">[88]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> usury? See post. One of the commentators +ridiculously suggests that they were needlemakers, from <i><span lang="it">ago</span></i>, a +needle.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_89_89" id="Footnote_89_89"></a><a href="#FNanchor_89_89"><span class="label">[89]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> the thing is done and cannot be undone; there is +no help for it.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_90_90" id="Footnote_90_90"></a><a href="#FNanchor_90_90"><span class="label">[90]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> make her a solemn promise of marriage, formally +plight her his troth. The ceremony of betrothal was formerly (and +still is in certain countries) the most essential part of the marriage +rite.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_91_91" id="Footnote_91_91"></a><a href="#FNanchor_91_91"><span class="label">[91]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> cannot hope to tell a story presenting more +extraordinary shifts from one to the other extreme of human fortune +than that of Pampinea.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_92_92" id="Footnote_92_92"></a><a href="#FNanchor_92_92"><span class="label">[92]</span></a> The Genoese have the reputation in Italy of being +thieves by nature.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_93_93" id="Footnote_93_93"></a><a href="#FNanchor_93_93"><span class="label">[93]</span></a> It seems doubtful whether <i><span lang="it">la reggeva diritta</span></i> should +not rather be rendered "kept it upright." Boccaccio has a knack, very +trying to the translator, of constantly using words in an obscure or +strained sense.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_94_94" id="Footnote_94_94"></a><a href="#FNanchor_94_94"><span class="label">[94]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> for nothing.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_95_95" id="Footnote_95_95"></a><a href="#FNanchor_95_95"><span class="label">[95]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> son of Pietro, as they still say in Lancashire +and other northern provinces, "Tom o' Dick" for "Thomas, son of +Richard," etc.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_96_96" id="Footnote_96_96"></a><a href="#FNanchor_96_96"><span class="label">[96]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> ill hole.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_97_97" id="Footnote_97_97"></a><a href="#FNanchor_97_97"><span class="label">[97]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> a member of the Guelph party, as against the +Ghibellines or partisans of the Pope.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_98_98" id="Footnote_98_98"></a><a href="#FNanchor_98_98"><span class="label">[98]</span></a> Charles d'Anjou, afterwards King of Sicily.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_99_99" id="Footnote_99_99"></a><a href="#FNanchor_99_99"><span class="label">[99]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> Frederick II. of Germany.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_100_100" id="Footnote_100_100"></a><a href="#FNanchor_100_100"><span class="label">[100]</span></a> The reason was that she wished to keep him in play till +late into the night, when all the folk should be asleep and she might +the lightlier deal with him.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_101_101" id="Footnote_101_101"></a><a href="#FNanchor_101_101"><span class="label">[101]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> Catalan Street.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_102_102" id="Footnote_102_102"></a><a href="#FNanchor_102_102"><span class="label">[102]</span></a> Charles d'Anjou.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_103_103" id="Footnote_103_103"></a><a href="#FNanchor_103_103"><span class="label">[103]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> the Banished or the Expelled One.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_104_104" id="Footnote_104_104"></a><a href="#FNanchor_104_104"><span class="label">[104]</span></a> An island in the Gulf of Gaeta, about 70 miles from +Naples. It is now inhabited, but appears in Boccaccio's time to have +been desert.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_105_105" id="Footnote_105_105"></a><a href="#FNanchor_105_105"><span class="label">[105]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> wild she-goat.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_106_106" id="Footnote_106_106"></a><a href="#FNanchor_106_106"><span class="label">[106]</span></a> A river falling into the Gulf of Genoa between Carrara +and Spezzia.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_107_107" id="Footnote_107_107"></a><a href="#FNanchor_107_107"><span class="label">[107]</span></a> More familiar to modern ears as Doria.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_108_108" id="Footnote_108_108"></a><a href="#FNanchor_108_108"><span class="label">[108]</span></a> The Ghibellines were the supporters of the Papal +faction against the Guelphs or adherents of the Emperor Frederick II. +of Germany. The cardinal struggle between the two factions took place +over the succession to the throne of Naples and Sicily, to which the +Pope appointed Charles of Anjou, who overcame and killed the reigning +sovereign Manfred, but was himself, through the machinations of the +Ghibellines, expelled from Sicily by the celebrated popular rising +known as the Sicilian Vespers.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_109_109" id="Footnote_109_109"></a><a href="#FNanchor_109_109"><span class="label">[109]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> Beritola's sons.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_110_110" id="Footnote_110_110"></a><a href="#FNanchor_110_110"><span class="label">[110]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> to which general joy.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_111_111" id="Footnote_111_111"></a><a href="#FNanchor_111_111"><span class="label">[111]</span></a> Pedro of Arragon, son-in-law of Manfred, who, in +consequence of the Sicilian Vespers, succeeded Charles d'Anjou as King +of Sicily.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_112_112" id="Footnote_112_112"></a><a href="#FNanchor_112_112"><span class="label">[112]</span></a> Or (in modern phrase) putting himself at their +disposition.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_113_113" id="Footnote_113_113"></a><a href="#FNanchor_113_113"><span class="label">[113]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> Egypt, Cairo was known in the middle ages by the +name of "Babylon of Egypt." It need hardly be noted that the Babylon +of the Bible was the city of that name on the Euphrates, the ancient +capital of Chaldæa (Irak Babili). The names Beminedab and Alatiel are +purely imaginary.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_114_114" id="Footnote_114_114"></a><a href="#FNanchor_114_114"><span class="label">[114]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> to his wish, to whom fortune was mostly +favourable in his enterprises.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_115_115" id="Footnote_115_115"></a><a href="#FNanchor_115_115"><span class="label">[115]</span></a> <i>Il Garbo</i>, Arabic El Gherb or Gharb, +<span lang="ar" title="Arabic: al gharb"><b>الﻐرب</b></span>, +the West, a name given by the Arabs to several parts of the +Muslim empire, but by which Boccaccio apparently means Algarve, the +southernmost province of Portugal and the last part of that kingdom to +succumb to the wave of Christian reconquest, it having remained in the +hands of the Muslims till the second half of the thirteenth century. +This supposition is confirmed by the course taken by Alatiel's ship, +which would naturally pass Sardinia and the Balearic Islands on its +way from Alexandria to Portugal.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_116_116" id="Footnote_116_116"></a><a href="#FNanchor_116_116"><span class="label">[116]</span></a> The modern Klarentza in the north-west of the Morea, +which latter province formed part of Roumelia under the Turkish +domination.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_117_117" id="Footnote_117_117"></a><a href="#FNanchor_117_117"><span class="label">[117]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> sister to the one and cousin to the other.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_118_118" id="Footnote_118_118"></a><a href="#FNanchor_118_118"><span class="label">[118]</span></a> <i><span lang="it">Non vogando, ma volando</span>.</i></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_119_119" id="Footnote_119_119"></a><a href="#FNanchor_119_119"><span class="label">[119]</span></a> Sic (<i><span lang="it">contò tutto</span></i>); but this is an oversight of the +author's, as it is evident from what follows that she did <i>not</i> relate +everything.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_120_120" id="Footnote_120_120"></a><a href="#FNanchor_120_120"><span class="label">[120]</span></a> Lit. Ponant (<i><span lang="it">Ponente</span></i>), <i>i.e.</i> the Western coasts of +the Mediterranean, as opposed to the Eastern or Levant.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_121_121" id="Footnote_121_121"></a><a href="#FNanchor_121_121"><span class="label">[121]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> <span class="smcap">a.d.</span> 912, when, upon the death of Louis III, the +last prince of the Carlovingian race, Conrad, Duke of Franconia, was +elected Emperor and the Empire, which had till then been hereditary in +the descendants of Charlemagne, became elective and remained +thenceforth in German hands.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_122_122" id="Footnote_122_122"></a><a href="#FNanchor_122_122"><span class="label">[122]</span></a> <i>Anguersa</i>, the old form of <i>Anversa</i>, Antwerp. All +versions that I have seen call Gautier Comte d'<i><span lang="fr">Angers</span></i> or <i><span lang="fr">Angiers</span></i>, +the translators, who forgot or were unaware that Antwerp, as part of +Flanders, was then a fief of the French crown, apparently taking it +for granted that the mention of the latter city was in error and +substituting the name of the ancient capital of Anjou on their own +responsibility.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_123_123" id="Footnote_123_123"></a><a href="#FNanchor_123_123"><span class="label">[123]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> of her excuse.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_124_124" id="Footnote_124_124"></a><a href="#FNanchor_124_124"><span class="label">[124]</span></a> Lit. Thou holdest (or judges); but <i><span lang="it">giudichi</span></i> in the +text is apparently a mistake for <i><span lang="it">giudico</span></i>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_125_125" id="Footnote_125_125"></a><a href="#FNanchor_125_125"><span class="label">[125]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> of discernment.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_126_126" id="Footnote_126_126"></a><a href="#FNanchor_126_126"><span class="label">[126]</span></a> Sic (<i><span lang="it">aggiunsero</span></i>); but <i><span lang="fr">semble</span></i> should mean "believed, +in addition."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_127_127" id="Footnote_127_127"></a><a href="#FNanchor_127_127"><span class="label">[127]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> That the secret might be the better kept.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_128_128" id="Footnote_128_128"></a><a href="#FNanchor_128_128"><span class="label">[128]</span></a> <i><span lang="it">Paesani</span></i>, lit., countrymen; but Boccaccio evidently +uses the word in the sense of "vassals."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_129_129" id="Footnote_129_129"></a><a href="#FNanchor_129_129"><span class="label">[129]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> that it was not a snare.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_130_130" id="Footnote_130_130"></a><a href="#FNanchor_130_130"><span class="label">[130]</span></a> <i><span lang="la">Quære</span></i>, the Count's?</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_131_131" id="Footnote_131_131"></a><a href="#FNanchor_131_131"><span class="label">[131]</span></a> <i><span lang="it">Rimane</span>.</i> The verb <i><span lang="it">rimanere</span></i> is constantly used by the +old Italian writers in the sense of "to become," so that the proverb +cited in the text may be read "The deceiver becometh (<i>i.e.</i> findeth +himself in the end) at the feet (<i>i.e.</i> at the mercy) of the person +deceived."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_132_132" id="Footnote_132_132"></a><a href="#FNanchor_132_132"><span class="label">[132]</span></a> Lit. Whatsoever an ass giveth against a wall, such he +receiveth (<i><span lang="it">Quale asino da in parete, tal riceve</span></i>). I cannot find any +satisfactory explanation of this proverbial saying, which may be +rendered in two ways, according as <i><span lang="it">quale</span></i> and <i><span lang="it">tale</span></i> are taken as +relative to a thing or a person. The probable reference seems to be to +the circumstance of an ass making water against a wall, so that his +urine returns to him.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_133_133" id="Footnote_133_133"></a><a href="#FNanchor_133_133"><span class="label">[133]</span></a> From this point until the final discovery of her true +sex, the heroine is spoken of in the masculine gender, as became her +assumed name and habit.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_134_134" id="Footnote_134_134"></a><a href="#FNanchor_134_134"><span class="label">[134]</span></a> Here Boccaccio uses the feminine pronoun, immediately +afterward resuming the masculine form in speaking of Sicurano.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_135_135" id="Footnote_135_135"></a><a href="#FNanchor_135_135"><span class="label">[135]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> her.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_136_136" id="Footnote_136_136"></a><a href="#FNanchor_136_136"><span class="label">[136]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> her.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_137_137" id="Footnote_137_137"></a><a href="#FNanchor_137_137"><span class="label">[137]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> hers.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_138_138" id="Footnote_138_138"></a><a href="#FNanchor_138_138"><span class="label">[138]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> her.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_139_139" id="Footnote_139_139"></a><a href="#FNanchor_139_139"><span class="label">[139]</span></a> Sic (<i><span lang="it">meglio</span></i>).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_140_140" id="Footnote_140_140"></a><a href="#FNanchor_140_140"><span class="label">[140]</span></a> Lit. fabulous demonstrations (<i><span lang="it">dimostrazioni +favolose</span></i>), casuistical arguments, founded upon premises of their own +invention.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_141_141" id="Footnote_141_141"></a><a href="#FNanchor_141_141"><span class="label">[141]</span></a> According to one of the commentators of the Decameron, +there are as many churches at Ravenna as days in the year and each day +is there celebrated as that of some saint or other.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_142_142" id="Footnote_142_142"></a><a href="#FNanchor_142_142"><span class="label">[142]</span></a> A trifling jingle upon the similarity in sound of the +words <i><span lang="it">mortale</span></i> (mortal), <i><span lang="it">mortaio</span></i> (mortar), <i><span lang="it">pestello</span></i> (pestle), and +<i><span lang="it">pestilente</span></i> (pestilential). The same word-play occurs at least once +more in the Decameron.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_143_143" id="Footnote_143_143"></a><a href="#FNanchor_143_143"><span class="label">[143]</span></a> <i><span lang="it">Il mal foro</span></i>, a woman's commodity (Florio).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_144_144" id="Footnote_144_144"></a><a href="#FNanchor_144_144"><span class="label">[144]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> <i><span lang="la">Cunnus nonvult feriari</span>.</i> Some commentators +propose to read <i><span lang="it">il mal furo</span></i>, the ill thief, supposing Ricciardo to +allude to Paganino, but this seems far-fetched.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_145_145" id="Footnote_145_145"></a><a href="#FNanchor_145_145"><span class="label">[145]</span></a> <i>i.e. <span lang="fr">semble</span></i> ran headlong to destruction. The +commentators explain this proverbial expression by saying that a +she-goat is in any case a hazardous mount, and <i><span lang="la">a fortiori</span></i> when +ridden down a precipice; but this seems a somewhat "sporting" kind of +interpretation.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_146_146" id="Footnote_146_146"></a><a href="#FNanchor_146_146"><span class="label">[146]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> Friday being a fast day and Saturday a <i><span lang="fr">jour +maigre</span></i>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_147_147" id="Footnote_147_147"></a><a href="#FNanchor_147_147"><span class="label">[147]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> generally upon the vicissitudes of Fortune and +not upon any particular feature.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_148_148" id="Footnote_148_148"></a><a href="#FNanchor_148_148"><span class="label">[148]</span></a> <i><span lang="it">Industria</span></i>, syn. address, skilful contrivance.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_149_149" id="Footnote_149_149"></a><a href="#FNanchor_149_149"><span class="label">[149]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> half <i>before</i> (not half <i>after</i>) tierce or 7.30 +a.m. <i>Cf.</i> the equivalent German idiom, <i><span lang="de">halb acht</span></i>, 7.30 (not 8.30) +a.m.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_150_150" id="Footnote_150_150"></a><a href="#FNanchor_150_150"><span class="label">[150]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> as a whole (<i><span lang="it">tutto insieme</span></i>).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_151_151" id="Footnote_151_151"></a><a href="#FNanchor_151_151"><span class="label">[151]</span></a> <i><span lang="it">Sollecitudine</span>.</i> The commentators will have it that +this is an error for <i><span lang="it">solitudine</span></i>, solitude, but I see no necessity +for the substitution, the text being perfectly acceptable as it +stands.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_152_152" id="Footnote_152_152"></a><a href="#FNanchor_152_152"><span class="label">[152]</span></a> Hortyard (<i><span lang="it">orto</span></i>) is the old form of orchard, properly +an enclosed tract of land in which fruit, vegetables and potherbs are +cultivated for use, <i>i.e.</i> the modern kitchen garden and orchard in +one, as distinguished from the pleasaunce or flower garden +(<i><span lang="it">giardino</span></i>).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_153_153" id="Footnote_153_153"></a><a href="#FNanchor_153_153"><span class="label">[153]</span></a> <i><span lang="it">Giardino</span></i>, <i>i.e.</i> flower-garden.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_154_154" id="Footnote_154_154"></a><a href="#FNanchor_154_154"><span class="label">[154]</span></a> Lit. broke the string of.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_155_155" id="Footnote_155_155"></a><a href="#FNanchor_155_155"><span class="label">[155]</span></a> Boccaccio calls her <i>Teudelinga</i>; but I know of no +authority for this form of the name of the famous Longobardian queen.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_156_156" id="Footnote_156_156"></a><a href="#FNanchor_156_156"><span class="label">[156]</span></a> Referring apparently to the adventure related in the +present story.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_157_157" id="Footnote_157_157"></a><a href="#FNanchor_157_157"><span class="label">[157]</span></a> Lit. with high (<i>i.e.</i> worthy) cause +(<i><span lang="it">con alta cagione</span></i>).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_158_158" id="Footnote_158_158"></a><a href="#FNanchor_158_158"><span class="label">[158]</span></a> Lit. (<i><span lang="it">riscaldare gli orecchi</span></i>).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_159_159" id="Footnote_159_159"></a><a href="#FNanchor_159_159"><span class="label">[159]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> three a.m. next morning.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_160_160" id="Footnote_160_160"></a><a href="#FNanchor_160_160"><span class="label">[160]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> a lay brother or affiliate.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_161_161" id="Footnote_161_161"></a><a href="#FNanchor_161_161"><span class="label">[161]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> the canticles of praise chanted by certain lay +confraternities, established for that purpose and answering to our +præ-Reformation Laudsingers.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_162_162" id="Footnote_162_162"></a><a href="#FNanchor_162_162"><span class="label">[162]</span></a> An order of lay penitents, who were wont at certain +times to go masked about the streets, scourging themselves in +expiation of the sins of the people. This expiatory practice was +particularly prevalent in Italy in the middle of the thirteenth +century.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_163_163" id="Footnote_163_163"></a><a href="#FNanchor_163_163"><span class="label">[163]</span></a> Contraction of Elisabetta.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_164_164" id="Footnote_164_164"></a><a href="#FNanchor_164_164"><span class="label">[164]</span></a> <i>Dom</i>, contraction of Dominus (lord), the title +commonly given to the beneficed clergy in the middle ages, answering +to our <i>Sir</i> as used by Shakespeare (<i>e.g.</i> Sir Hugh Evans the Welsh +Parson, Sir Topas the Curate, etc.). The expression survives in the +title <i>Dominie</i> (<i>i.e.</i> Domine, voc. of Dominus) still familiarly +applied to schoolmasters, who were of course originally invariably +clergymen.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_165_165" id="Footnote_165_165"></a><a href="#FNanchor_165_165"><span class="label">[165]</span></a> A Conventual is a member of some monastic order +attached to the regular service of a church, or (as would nowadays be +said) a "beneficed" monk.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_166_166" id="Footnote_166_166"></a><a href="#FNanchor_166_166"><span class="label">[166]</span></a> <i>Sic.</i> This confusion of persons constantly occurs in +Boccaccio, especially in the conversational parts of the Decameron, in +which he makes the freest use of the various forms of enallage and of +other rhetorical figures, such as hyperbaton, synecdoche, etc., to the +no small detriment of his style in the matter of clearness.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_167_167" id="Footnote_167_167"></a><a href="#FNanchor_167_167"><span class="label">[167]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> nine o'clock p.m.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_168_168" id="Footnote_168_168"></a><a href="#FNanchor_168_168"><span class="label">[168]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> a gentleman of Pistoia.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_169_169" id="Footnote_169_169"></a><a href="#FNanchor_169_169"><span class="label">[169]</span></a> Lit. "The summit," or in modern slang "The tiptop," +<i>i.e.</i> the pink of fashion.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_170_170" id="Footnote_170_170"></a><a href="#FNanchor_170_170"><span class="label">[170]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> this love shall I bear you. This is a flagrant +instance of the misuse of ellipsis, which so frequently disfigures +Boccaccio's dialogue.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_171_171" id="Footnote_171_171"></a><a href="#FNanchor_171_171"><span class="label">[171]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> my death.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_172_172" id="Footnote_172_172"></a><a href="#FNanchor_172_172"><span class="label">[172]</span></a> Syn. a rare or strange means (<i><span lang="it">nuovo consiglio</span></i>). The +word <i><span lang="it">nuovo</span></i> is constantly used by Boccaccio in the latter sense, as +is <i><span lang="it">consiglio</span></i> in its remoter signification of means, remedy, etc.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_173_173" id="Footnote_173_173"></a><a href="#FNanchor_173_173"><span class="label">[173]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> the favour.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_174_174" id="Footnote_174_174"></a><a href="#FNanchor_174_174"><span class="label">[174]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> the lost six months.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_175_175" id="Footnote_175_175"></a><a href="#FNanchor_175_175"><span class="label">[175]</span></a> Or, in modern parlance, to enlighten her.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_176_176" id="Footnote_176_176"></a><a href="#FNanchor_176_176"><span class="label">[176]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> It was not the dead man, but Tedaldo Elisei whom +you loved. (<i><span lang="it">Lo sventurato giovane che fu morto non amasti voi mai, ma +Tedaldo Elisei si</span>.</i>)</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_177_177" id="Footnote_177_177"></a><a href="#FNanchor_177_177"><span class="label">[177]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> friars' gowns. Boccaccio constantly uses this +irregular form of enallage, especially in dialogue.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_178_178" id="Footnote_178_178"></a><a href="#FNanchor_178_178"><span class="label">[178]</span></a> Or, as we should nowadays say, "typical."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_179_179" id="Footnote_179_179"></a><a href="#FNanchor_179_179"><span class="label">[179]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> the founders of the monastic orders.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_180_180" id="Footnote_180_180"></a><a href="#FNanchor_180_180"><span class="label">[180]</span></a> Lit. pictures, paintings (<i><span lang="it">dipinture</span></i>), but evidently +here used in a tropical sense, Boccaccio's apparent meaning being that +the hypocritical friars used to terrify their devotees by picturing to +them, in vivid colours, the horrors of the punishment reserved for +sinners.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_181_181" id="Footnote_181_181"></a><a href="#FNanchor_181_181"><span class="label">[181]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> may not have to labour for their living.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_182_182" id="Footnote_182_182"></a><a href="#FNanchor_182_182"><span class="label">[182]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> the false friars.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_183_183" id="Footnote_183_183"></a><a href="#FNanchor_183_183"><span class="label">[183]</span></a> Lit. more of iron (<i><span lang="it">più di ferro</span></i>).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_184_184" id="Footnote_184_184"></a><a href="#FNanchor_184_184"><span class="label">[184]</span></a> Sic (<i><span lang="it">per lo modo</span></i>); but <i><span lang="la">quære</span></i> not rather "in the +sense."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_185_185" id="Footnote_185_185"></a><a href="#FNanchor_185_185"><span class="label">[185]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> if they must enter upon this way of life, to +wit, that of the friar.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_186_186" id="Footnote_186_186"></a><a href="#FNanchor_186_186"><span class="label">[186]</span></a> The reference is apparently to the opening verse of the +Acts of the Apostles, where Luke says, "The former treatise have I +made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began to do and to teach." It +need hardly be remarked that the passage in question does not bear the +interpretation Boccaccio would put upon it.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_187_187" id="Footnote_187_187"></a><a href="#FNanchor_187_187"><span class="label">[187]</span></a> <i>Sic</i>; but the past tense "loved" is probably intended, +as the pretended pilgrim had not yet discovered Tedaldo to be alive.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_188_188" id="Footnote_188_188"></a><a href="#FNanchor_188_188"><span class="label">[188]</span></a> Lit. barkers (<i><span lang="it">abbajatori</span></i>), <i>i.e.</i> slanderers.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_189_189" id="Footnote_189_189"></a><a href="#FNanchor_189_189"><span class="label">[189]</span></a> Lit. despite, rancour (<i><span lang="it">rugginuzza</span></i>), but the phrase +appears to refer to the suspicions excited by the whispers that had +been current, as above mentioned, of the connection between Ermellina +and Tedaldo.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_190_190" id="Footnote_190_190"></a><a href="#FNanchor_190_190"><span class="label">[190]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> foot-soldiers.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_191_191" id="Footnote_191_191"></a><a href="#FNanchor_191_191"><span class="label">[191]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> of his identity.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_192_192" id="Footnote_192_192"></a><a href="#FNanchor_192_192"><span class="label">[192]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> the abbot who played the trick upon Ferondo. See +post.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_193_193" id="Footnote_193_193"></a><a href="#FNanchor_193_193"><span class="label">[193]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> I will cure your husband of his jealousy.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_194_194" id="Footnote_194_194"></a><a href="#FNanchor_194_194"><span class="label">[194]</span></a> The well-known chief of the Assassins (properly +<i><span lang="ar">Heshashin</span></i>, <i>i.e.</i> hashish or hemp eaters). The powder in question is +apparently a preparation of hashish or hemp. Boccaccio seems to have +taken his idea of the Old Man of the Mountain from Marco Polo, whose +travels, published in the early part of the fourteenth century, give a +most romantic account of that chieftain and his followers.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_195_195" id="Footnote_195_195"></a><a href="#FNanchor_195_195"><span class="label">[195]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> in the sublunary world.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_196_196" id="Footnote_196_196"></a><a href="#FNanchor_196_196"><span class="label">[196]</span></a> <i>Sic</i> (<i><span lang="it">casciata</span></i>); meaning that he loves her as well +as he loves cheese, for which it is well known that the lower-class +Italian has a romantic passion. According to Alexandre Dumas, the +Italian loves cheese so well that he has succeeded in introducing it +into everything he eats or drinks, with the one exception of coffee.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_197_197" id="Footnote_197_197"></a><a href="#FNanchor_197_197"><span class="label">[197]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> the Angel Gabriel.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_198_198" id="Footnote_198_198"></a><a href="#FNanchor_198_198"><span class="label">[198]</span></a> The plural of a surname is, in strictness, always used +by the Italians in speaking of a man by his full name, <i><span lang="it">dei</span></i> being +understood between the Christian and surname, as <i><span lang="it">Benedetto</span></i> (<i><span lang="it">dei</span></i>) +<i><span lang="it">Ferondi</span></i>, Benedict of the Ferondos or Ferondo family, whilst, when he +is denominated by the surname alone, it is used in the singular, <i><span lang="it">il</span></i> +(the) being understood, <i>e.g.</i> <span lang="it">(Il) Boccaccio, (Il) Ferondo</span>, <i>i.e.</i> +the particular Boccaccio or Ferondo in question for the nonce.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_199_199" id="Footnote_199_199"></a><a href="#FNanchor_199_199"><span class="label">[199]</span></a> Lit. and so I hope (<i><span lang="it">spero</span></i>), a curious instance of the +ancient Dantesque use of the word <i><span lang="it">spero</span></i>, I hope, in its contrary +sense of fear.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_200_200" id="Footnote_200_200"></a><a href="#FNanchor_200_200"><span class="label">[200]</span></a> <i><span lang="it">Fornito</span></i>, a notable example of what the illustrious +Lewis Carroll Dodgson, Waywode of Wonderland, calls a +"portmanteau-word," a species that abounds in mediæval Italian, for +the confusion of translators.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_201_201" id="Footnote_201_201"></a><a href="#FNanchor_201_201"><span class="label">[201]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> getting good pay and allowances +(<i><span lang="it">avendo buona provisione</span></i>).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_202_202" id="Footnote_202_202"></a><a href="#FNanchor_202_202"><span class="label">[202]</span></a> <i><span lang="it">Guadagnare l'anima</span></i>, lit. gain the soul (syn. pith, +kernel, substance). This passage is ambiguous and should perhaps be +rendered "catch the knack or trick" or "acquire the wish."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_203_203" id="Footnote_203_203"></a><a href="#FNanchor_203_203"><span class="label">[203]</span></a> The translators regret that the disuse into which magic +has fallen, makes it impossible to render the technicalities of that +mysterious art into tolerable English; they have therefore found it +necessary to insert several passages in the original Italian.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_204_204" id="Footnote_204_204"></a><a href="#FNanchor_204_204"><span class="label">[204]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> the government (<i><span lang="it">corte</span></i>).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_205_205" id="Footnote_205_205"></a><a href="#FNanchor_205_205"><span class="label">[205]</span></a> Lit. that scythes were no less plenty that he had +arrows (<i><span lang="it">che falci si trovavano non meno che egli avesse strali</span></i>), a +proverbial expression the exact bearing of which I do not know, but +whose evident sense I have rendered in the equivalent English idiom.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_206_206" id="Footnote_206_206"></a><a href="#FNanchor_206_206"><span class="label">[206]</span></a> Syn. what he said (<i><span lang="it">che si dire</span></i>). See ante, p. <a href='#Page_11'>11</a>, +note.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_207_207" id="Footnote_207_207"></a><a href="#FNanchor_207_207"><span class="label">[207]</span></a> Apparently the well-known fabliau of the Dame de Vergy, +upon which Marguerite d'Angoulême founded the seventieth story of the +Heptameron.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_208_208" id="Footnote_208_208"></a><a href="#FNanchor_208_208"><span class="label">[208]</span></a> Lit. made (<i><span lang="it">Di me il feci digno</span></i>).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_209_209" id="Footnote_209_209"></a><a href="#FNanchor_209_209"><span class="label">[209]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> false suspicion (<i><span lang="it">falso pensiero</span></i>).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_210_210" id="Footnote_210_210"></a><a href="#FNanchor_210_210"><span class="label">[210]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> to heaven (<i><span lang="it">e costa su m'impetra la tornata</span></i>).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_211_211" id="Footnote_211_211"></a><a href="#FNanchor_211_211"><span class="label">[211]</span></a> The pertinence of this allusion, which probably refers +to some current Milanese proverbial saying, the word <i><span lang="it">tosa</span></i>, here used +by Boccaccio for "wench," belonging to the Lombard dialect, is not +very clear. The expression "Milan-fashion" (<i><span lang="it">alla melanese</span></i>) may be +supposed to refer to the proverbial materialism of the people of +Lombardy.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_212_212" id="Footnote_212_212"></a><a href="#FNanchor_212_212"><span class="label">[212]</span></a> Sic (<i><span lang="it">senza invidia</span></i>); but the meaning is that misery +alone is without <i><span lang="fr">enviers</span></i>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_213_213" id="Footnote_213_213"></a><a href="#FNanchor_213_213"><span class="label">[213]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> blasts of calumny.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_214_214" id="Footnote_214_214"></a><a href="#FNanchor_214_214"><span class="label">[214]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> having not yet accomplished.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_215_215" id="Footnote_215_215"></a><a href="#FNanchor_215_215"><span class="label">[215]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> my censors.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_216_216" id="Footnote_216_216"></a><a href="#FNanchor_216_216"><span class="label">[216]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> in alms.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_217_217" id="Footnote_217_217"></a><a href="#FNanchor_217_217"><span class="label">[217]</span></a> "I know both how to be abased and I know how to abound; +everywhere and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be +hungry, both to abound and suffer need."—<i>Philippians</i> iv. 12.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_218_218" id="Footnote_218_218"></a><a href="#FNanchor_218_218"><span class="label">[218]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> benumbed (<i><span lang="it">assiderati</span></i>).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_219_219" id="Footnote_219_219"></a><a href="#FNanchor_219_219"><span class="label">[219]</span></a> Or airshaft (<i><span lang="it">spiraglio</span></i>).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_220_220" id="Footnote_220_220"></a><a href="#FNanchor_220_220"><span class="label">[220]</span></a> Lit. introduced him to me (<i><span lang="it">a me lo 'ntrodussi</span></i>); but +Boccaccio here uses the word <i><span lang="it">introdurre</span></i> in its rarer literal sense +to lead, to draw, to bring in.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_221_221" id="Footnote_221_221"></a><a href="#FNanchor_221_221"><span class="label">[221]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> thou being the means of bringing about the +conjunction (<i><span lang="it">adoperandol tu</span></i>).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_222_222" id="Footnote_222_222"></a><a href="#FNanchor_222_222"><span class="label">[222]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> Guiscardo's soul.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_223_223" id="Footnote_223_223"></a><a href="#FNanchor_223_223"><span class="label">[223]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> in the heart.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_224_224" id="Footnote_224_224"></a><a href="#FNanchor_224_224"><span class="label">[224]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> was more inclined to consider the wishes of the +ladies her companions, which she divined by sympathy, than those of +Filostrato, as shown by his words (<i><span lang="it">più per la sua affezione cognobbe +l'animo delle campagne che quello del re per le sue parole</span></i>). It is +difficult, however, in this instance as in many others, to discover +with certainty Boccaccio's exact meaning, owing to his affectation of +Ciceronian concision and delight in obscure elliptical forms of +construction; whilst his use of words in a remote or unfamiliar sense +and the impossibility of deciding, in certain cases, the person of the +pronouns and adjectives employed tend still farther to darken counsel. +<i>E.g.</i>, if we render <i><span lang="it">affezione</span></i> sentiment, <i><span lang="it">cognobbe</span></i> (as +<i><span lang="it">riconobbe</span></i>) acknowledged, recognized, and read <i><span lang="it">le sue parole</span></i> as +meaning <i>her</i> (instead of <i>his</i>) words, the whole sense of the passage +is changed, and we must read it "more by her sentiment (<i>i.e.</i> by the +tendency and spirit of her story) recognized the inclination of her +companions than that of the king by her [actual] words." I have +commented thus at large on this passage, in order to give my readers +some idea of the difficulties which at every page beset the translator +of the Decameron and which make Boccaccio perhaps the most troublesome +of all authors to render into representative English.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_225_225" id="Footnote_225_225"></a><a href="#FNanchor_225_225"><span class="label">[225]</span></a> Lit. of those who <i>was</i> held of the greatest casuists +(<i><span lang="it">di quelli che de' maggior cassesi era tenuto</span></i>). This is another very +obscure passage. The meaning of the word <i><span lang="it">cassesi</span></i> is unknown and we +can only guess it to be a dialectic (probably Venetian) corruption of +the word <i><span lang="it">casisti</span></i> (casuists). The Giunta edition separates the word +thus, <i><span lang="it">casse si</span></i>, making <i><span lang="it">si</span></i> a mere corroborative prefix to <i><span lang="it">era</span></i>, +but I do not see how the alteration helps us, the word <i><span lang="it">casse</span></i> +(chests, boxes) being apparently meaningless in this connection.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_226_226" id="Footnote_226_226"></a><a href="#FNanchor_226_226"><span class="label">[226]</span></a> Venetian contraction of <i><span lang="it">Casa</span></i>, house. <span lang="it">Da Ca Quirino</span>, +of the Quirino house or family.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_227_227" id="Footnote_227_227"></a><a href="#FNanchor_227_227"><span class="label">[227]</span></a> <i>cf.</i> Artemus Ward's "Natives of the Universe and other +parts."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_228_228" id="Footnote_228_228"></a><a href="#FNanchor_228_228"><span class="label">[228]</span></a> <i><span lang="it">Mo vedi vu</span></i>, Venetian for <i><span lang="it">Or vedi tu</span></i>, now dost thou +see? I have rendered it by the equivalent old English form.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_229_229" id="Footnote_229_229"></a><a href="#FNanchor_229_229"><span class="label">[229]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> not of the trap laid for him by the lady's +brothers-in-law, but of her indiscretion in discovering the secret.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_230_230" id="Footnote_230_230"></a><a href="#FNanchor_230_230"><span class="label">[230]</span></a> <i><span lang="it">Che xe quel</span>?</i> Venetian for <i><span lang="it">che c'e quella cosa</span></i>, What +is this thing?</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_231_231" id="Footnote_231_231"></a><a href="#FNanchor_231_231"><span class="label">[231]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> <i><span lang="fr">semble</span></i> "an you would wish them nought but an +ill end."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_232_232" id="Footnote_232_232"></a><a href="#FNanchor_232_232"><span class="label">[232]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> to anger.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_233_233" id="Footnote_233_233"></a><a href="#FNanchor_233_233"><span class="label">[233]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> to the proposal I have to make.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_234_234" id="Footnote_234_234"></a><a href="#FNanchor_234_234"><span class="label">[234]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> the possession of their mistresses.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_235_235" id="Footnote_235_235"></a><a href="#FNanchor_235_235"><span class="label">[235]</span></a> Sic (<i><span lang="it">di che veleno fosse morto</span></i>), but this is probably +a copyist's error for <i><span lang="it">che di veleno fosse morto</span></i>, <i>i.e.</i> that he had +died of poison.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_236_236" id="Footnote_236_236"></a><a href="#FNanchor_236_236"><span class="label">[236]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> that night.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_237_237" id="Footnote_237_237"></a><a href="#FNanchor_237_237"><span class="label">[237]</span></a> Or, in modern parlance, "laying certain plans."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_238_238" id="Footnote_238_238"></a><a href="#FNanchor_238_238"><span class="label">[238]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> for lack of wind.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_239_239" id="Footnote_239_239"></a><a href="#FNanchor_239_239"><span class="label">[239]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> of each other.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_240_240" id="Footnote_240_240"></a><a href="#FNanchor_240_240"><span class="label">[240]</span></a> This is the proper name of the heroine of the story +immortalized by Keats as "Isabella or the Pot of Basil," and is one of +the many forms of the and name <i>Elisabetta</i> (Elizabeth), <i>Isabetta</i> +and <i>Isabella</i> being others. Some texts of the Decameron call the +heroine <i>Isabetta</i>, but in the heading only, all with which I am +acquainted agreeing in the use of the form <i>Lisabetta</i> in the body of +the story.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_241_241" id="Footnote_241_241"></a><a href="#FNanchor_241_241"><span class="label">[241]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> to the place shown her in the dream.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_242_242" id="Footnote_242_242"></a><a href="#FNanchor_242_242"><span class="label">[242]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> in their service.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_243_243" id="Footnote_243_243"></a><a href="#FNanchor_243_243"><span class="label">[243]</span></a> Lit. unhung (<i><span lang="it">spiccò</span></i>).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_244_244" id="Footnote_244_244"></a><a href="#FNanchor_244_244"><span class="label">[244]</span></a> The following is a translation of the whole of the song +in question, as printed, from a MS. in the Medicean Library, in +Fanfani's edition of the Decameron. +</p> + +<p> +Alack! ah, who can the ill Christian be,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">That stole my pot away,</span><br /> +My pot of basil of Salern, from me?<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">'Twas thriv'n with many a spray</span><br /> +And I with mine own hand did plant the tree,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Even on the festal<a name="FNanchor_A_245" id="FNanchor_A_245"></a><a href="#Footnote_A_245" class="fnanchor">[A]</a> day.</span><br /> +'Tis felony to waste another's ware.<br /> +</p> + +<p> +'Tis felony to waste another's ware;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Yea, and right grievous sin.</span><br /> +And I, poor lass, that sowed myself whilere<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">A pot with flowers therein,</span><br /> +Slept in its shade, so great it was and fair;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">But folk, that envious bin,</span><br /> +Stole it away even from my very door.<br /> +</p> + +<p> +'Twas stolen away even from my very door.<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Full heavy was my cheer,</span><br /> +(Ah, luckless maid, would I had died tofore!)<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Who brought<a name="FNanchor_B_246" id="FNanchor_B_246"></a><a href="#Footnote_B_246" class="fnanchor">[B]</a> it passing dear,</span><br /> +Yet kept ill ward thereon one day of fear.<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">For him I loved so sore,</span><br /> +I planted it with marjoram about.<br /> +</p> + +<p> +I planted it with marjoram about,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">When May was blithe and new;</span><br /> +Yea, thrice I watered it, week in, week out,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">And watched how well it grew:</span><br /> +But now, for sure, away from me 'tis ta'en.<br /> +</p> + +<p> +Ay, now, for sure, away from me 'tis ta'en;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">I may 't no longer hide.</span><br /> +Had I but known (alas, regret is vain!)<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">That which should me betide,</span><br /> +Before my door on guard I would have lain<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">To sleep, my flowers beside.</span><br /> +Yet might the Great God ease me at His will.<br /> +</p> + +<p> +Yea, God Most High might ease me, at His will,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">If but it liked Him well,</span><br /> +Of him who wrought me such unright and ill;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">He into pangs of hell</span><br /> +Cast me who stole my basil-pot, that still<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Was full of such sweet smell,</span><br /> +Its savour did all dole from me away.<br /> +</p> + +<p> +All dole its savour did from me away;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">It was so redolent,</span><br /> +When, with the risen sun, at early day<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">To water it I went,</span><br /> +The folk would marvel all at it and say,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">"Whence comes the sweetest scent?"</span><br /> +And I for love of it shall surely die.<br /> +</p> + +<p> +Yea, I for love of it shall surely die,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">For love and grief and pain.</span><br /> +If one would tell me where it is, I'd buy<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">It willingly again.</span><br /> +Fivescore gold crowns, that in my pouch have I,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">I'd proffer him full fain,</span><br /> +And eke a kiss, if so it liked the swain.<br /> +</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_A_245" id="Footnote_A_245"></a><a href="#FNanchor_A_245"><span class="label">[A]</span></a> <span lang="la">Quære</span>—natal?—perhaps meaning her birthday +(<i><span lang="it">lo giorno della festa</span></i>).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_B_246" id="Footnote_B_246"></a><a href="#FNanchor_B_246"><span class="label">[B]</span></a> Or "purchased" in the old sense of obtained, acquired +(<i><span lang="it">accattai</span></i>).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_245_247" id="Footnote_245_247"></a><a href="#FNanchor_245_247"><span class="label">[245]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> these two classes of folk.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_246_248" id="Footnote_246_248"></a><a href="#FNanchor_246_248"><span class="label">[246]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> to the encouragement of good and virtuous +actions and purposes.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_247_249" id="Footnote_247_249"></a><a href="#FNanchor_247_249"><span class="label">[247]</span></a> Or "lap" (<i><span lang="it">seno</span></i>).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_248_250" id="Footnote_248_250"></a><a href="#FNanchor_248_250"><span class="label">[248]</span></a> Lit. what meaneth this? (<i><span lang="it">che vuol dire questo</span>?</i>)</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_249_251" id="Footnote_249_251"></a><a href="#FNanchor_249_251"><span class="label">[249]</span></a> Lit. complaining, making complaint (<i><span lang="it">dolendosi</span></i>).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_250_252" id="Footnote_250_252"></a><a href="#FNanchor_250_252"><span class="label">[250]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> to attend the ecclesiastical function called a +Pardon, with which word, used in this sense, Meyerbeer's opera of +Dinorah (properly <span lang="fr">Le Pardon de Ploërmel</span>) has familiarized opera-goers. +A Pardon is a sort of minor jubilee of the Roman Catholic Church, held +in honour of some local saint, at which certain indulgences and +remissions of sins (hence the name) are granted to the faithful +attending the services of the occasion.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_251_253" id="Footnote_251_253"></a><a href="#FNanchor_251_253"><span class="label">[251]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> Bandy-legs.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_252_254" id="Footnote_252_254"></a><a href="#FNanchor_252_254"><span class="label">[252]</span></a> <i><span lang="it">Ristretti in sè gli spiriti</span>.</i> An obscure passage; +perhaps "holding his breath" is meant; but in this case we should read +"<i><span lang="it">lo spirito</span></i>" instead of "<i><span lang="it">gli spiriti</span></i>."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_253_255" id="Footnote_253_255"></a><a href="#FNanchor_253_255"><span class="label">[253]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> what course she should take in the matter, +<i><span lang="it">consiglio</span></i> used as before (see notes, pp. <a href='#Page_2'>2</a> and <a href='#Page_150'>150</a>) in this special +sense.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_254_256" id="Footnote_254_256"></a><a href="#FNanchor_254_256"><span class="label">[254]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> her heart.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_255_257" id="Footnote_255_257"></a><a href="#FNanchor_255_257"><span class="label">[255]</span></a> Or surfeited (<i><span lang="it">svogliato</span></i>).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_256_258" id="Footnote_256_258"></a><a href="#FNanchor_256_258"><span class="label">[256]</span></a> This is the well-known story of the Troubadour Guillem +de Cabestanh or Cabestaing, whose name Boccaccio alters to +Guardastagno or Guardestaing.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_257_259" id="Footnote_257_259"></a><a href="#FNanchor_257_259"><span class="label">[257]</span></a> A proverbial way of saying that he was fast asleep.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_258_260" id="Footnote_258_260"></a><a href="#FNanchor_258_260"><span class="label">[258]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> about half-past seven a.m.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_259_261" id="Footnote_259_261"></a><a href="#FNanchor_259_261"><span class="label">[259]</span></a> Or "having risen from the grinding" +(<i><span lang="it">levatasi dal macinio</span></i>).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_260_262" id="Footnote_260_262"></a><a href="#FNanchor_260_262"><span class="label">[260]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> the theme proposed by her.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_261_263" id="Footnote_261_263"></a><a href="#FNanchor_261_263"><span class="label">[261]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> on my heart.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_262_264" id="Footnote_262_264"></a><a href="#FNanchor_262_264"><span class="label">[262]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> death.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_263_265" id="Footnote_263_265"></a><a href="#FNanchor_263_265"><span class="label">[263]</span></a> Or farm (<i>villa</i>).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_264_266" id="Footnote_264_266"></a><a href="#FNanchor_264_266"><span class="label">[264]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> of music, vocal and instrumental.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_265_267" id="Footnote_265_267"></a><a href="#FNanchor_265_267"><span class="label">[265]</span></a> <i><span lang="it">Per fortuna</span>.</i> This may also be rendered "by tempest," +<i><span lang="it">fortuna</span></i> being a name for a squall or hurricane, which Boccaccio uses +elsewhere in the same sense.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_266_268" id="Footnote_266_268"></a><a href="#FNanchor_266_268"><span class="label">[266]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> thy spirit.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_267_269" id="Footnote_267_269"></a><a href="#FNanchor_267_269"><span class="label">[267]</span></a> Syn. inclinations (<i><span lang="it">affezioni</span></i>). This is a somewhat +obscure passage, owing to the vagueness of the word <i><span lang="it">affezioni</span></i> (syn. +<i><span lang="it">affetti</span></i>) in this position, and may be rendered, with about equal +probability, in more than one way.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_268_270" id="Footnote_268_270"></a><a href="#FNanchor_268_270"><span class="label">[268]</span></a> Or "eminent" (<i><span lang="it">valoroso</span></i>), <i>i.e.</i> in modern parlance, +"a man of merit and talent."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_269_271" id="Footnote_269_271"></a><a href="#FNanchor_269_271"><span class="label">[269]</span></a> <i><span lang="it">Valoroso nel suo mestiere</span>.</i> It does not appear that +Martuccio was a craftsman and it is possible, therefore, that +Boccaccio intended the word <i><span lang="it">mestiere</span></i> to be taken in the sense (to me +unknown) of "condition" or "estate," in which case the passage would +read, "a man of worth for (<i>i.e.</i> as far as comported with) his [mean] +estate"; and this seems a probable reading.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_270_272" id="Footnote_270_272"></a><a href="#FNanchor_270_272"><span class="label">[270]</span></a> Lit. necessity (<i><span lang="it">necessità</span></i>).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_271_273" id="Footnote_271_273"></a><a href="#FNanchor_271_273"><span class="label">[271]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> to use a new (or strange) fashion of exposing +herself to an inevitable death (<i><span lang="it">nuova necessità dare alla sua +morte</span></i>).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_272_274" id="Footnote_272_274"></a><a href="#FNanchor_272_274"><span class="label">[272]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> knew not whether she was ashore or afloat, so +absorbed was she in her despair.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_273_275" id="Footnote_273_275"></a><a href="#FNanchor_273_275"><span class="label">[273]</span></a> Or "augured well from the hearing of the name." +<i><span lang="it">Carapresa</span></i> signifies "a dear or precious prize, gain or capture."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_274_276" id="Footnote_274_276"></a><a href="#FNanchor_274_276"><span class="label">[274]</span></a> This name is apparently a distortion of the Arabic +<i><span lang="ar">Amir Abdullah</span></i>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_275_277" id="Footnote_275_277"></a><a href="#FNanchor_275_277"><span class="label">[275]</span></a> Clement V. early in the fourteenth century removed the +Papal See to Avignon, where it continued to be during the reigns of +the five succeeding Popes, Rome being in the meantime abandoned by the +Papal Court, till Gregory XI, in the year 1376 again took up his +residence at the latter city. It is apparently to this circumstance +that Boccaccio alludes in the text.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_276_278" id="Footnote_276_278"></a><a href="#FNanchor_276_278"><span class="label">[276]</span></a> Lit. stand (<i><span lang="it">stare</span></i>), <i>i.e.</i> abide undone.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_277_279" id="Footnote_277_279"></a><a href="#FNanchor_277_279"><span class="label">[277]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> a native of Faenza (<i><span lang="it">Faentina</span></i>).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_278_280" id="Footnote_278_280"></a><a href="#FNanchor_278_280"><span class="label">[278]</span></a> <i><span lang="it">A questo fatto</span></i>, <i>i.e.</i> at the storm of Faenza.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_279_281" id="Footnote_279_281"></a><a href="#FNanchor_279_281"><span class="label">[279]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> the owner of the plundered house.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_280_282" id="Footnote_280_282"></a><a href="#FNanchor_280_282"><span class="label">[280]</span></a> Iron., meaning "with how little discretion."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_281_283" id="Footnote_281_283"></a><a href="#FNanchor_281_283"><span class="label">[281]</span></a> Gianni (Giovanni) di Procida was a Sicilian noble, to +whose efforts in stirring up the island to revolt against Charles of +Anjou was mainly due the popular rising known as the Sicilian Vespers +(<span class="smcap">a.d.</span> 1283) which expelled the French usurper from Sicily and +transferred the crown to the house of Arragon. The Frederick (<span class="smcap">a.d.</span> +1296-1337) named in the text was the fourth prince of the latter +dynasty.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_282_284" id="Footnote_282_284"></a><a href="#FNanchor_282_284"><span class="label">[282]</span></a> William II. (<span class="smcap">a.d.</span> 1166-1189), the last (legitimate) +king of the Norman dynasty in Sicily, called the Good, to distinguish +him from his father, William the Bad.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_283_285" id="Footnote_283_285"></a><a href="#FNanchor_283_285"><span class="label">[283]</span></a> Apparently a pleasure-garden, without a house attached +in which they might have taken shelter from the rain.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_284_286" id="Footnote_284_286"></a><a href="#FNanchor_284_286"><span class="label">[284]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> of her sin.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_285_287" id="Footnote_285_287"></a><a href="#FNanchor_285_287"><span class="label">[285]</span></a> Syn. your charms (<i><span lang="it">la vostra vaghezza</span></i>).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_286_288" id="Footnote_286_288"></a><a href="#FNanchor_286_288"><span class="label">[286]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> she was grown so repulsively ugly in her old +age, that no one cared to do her even so trifling a service as giving +her a spark in tinder to light her fire withal.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_287_289" id="Footnote_287_289"></a><a href="#FNanchor_287_289"><span class="label">[287]</span></a> Or chokebits (<i><span lang="it">stranguglioni</span></i>).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_288_290" id="Footnote_288_290"></a><a href="#FNanchor_288_290"><span class="label">[288]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> that they may serve to purchase remission from +purgatory for the souls of her dead relatives, instead of the burning +of candles and tapers, which is held by the Roman Catholic Church to +have that effect.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_289_291" id="Footnote_289_291"></a><a href="#FNanchor_289_291"><span class="label">[289]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> a hypocritical sham devotee, covering a lewd +life with an appearance of sanctity.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_290_292" id="Footnote_290_292"></a><a href="#FNanchor_290_292"><span class="label">[290]</span></a> Lit. a due or deserved bite (<i><span lang="it">debito morso</span></i>). I mention +this to show the connection with teeth.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_291_293" id="Footnote_291_293"></a><a href="#FNanchor_291_293"><span class="label">[291]</span></a> An ellipsis of a kind common in Boccaccio and indeed in +all the old Italian writers, meaning "it may be useful to enlarge upon +the subject in question."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_292_294" id="Footnote_292_294"></a><a href="#FNanchor_292_294"><span class="label">[292]</span></a> The songs proposed by Dioneo are all apparently of a +light, if not a wanton, character and "not fit to be sung before +ladies."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_293_295" id="Footnote_293_295"></a><a href="#FNanchor_293_295"><span class="label">[293]</span></a> This singularly naïve give-and-take fashion of asking a +favour of a God recalls the old Scotch epitaph cited by Mr. George +Macdonald: +</p> + +<p> +Here lie I Martin Elginbrodde:<br /> +Hae mercy o' my soul, Lord God;<br /> +As I wad do, were I Lord God<br /> +And ye were Martin Elginbrodde.<br /> +</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_294_296" id="Footnote_294_296"></a><a href="#FNanchor_294_296"><span class="label">[294]</span></a> Lit. for their returning to consistory +(<i><span lang="it">del dovere a concistoro tornare</span></i>).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_295_297" id="Footnote_295_297"></a><a href="#FNanchor_295_297"><span class="label">[295]</span></a> <i><span lang="it">Messer Mazza</span></i>, <i>i.e.</i> <span lang="la">veretrum</span>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_296_298" id="Footnote_296_298"></a><a href="#FNanchor_296_298"><span class="label">[296]</span></a> <i><span lang="it">Monte Nero</span></i>, <i>i.e.</i> <span lang="la">vas muliebre</span>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_297_299" id="Footnote_297_299"></a><a href="#FNanchor_297_299"><span class="label">[297]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> who are yet a child, in modern parlance, "Thou +whose lips are yet wet with thy mother's milk."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_298_300" id="Footnote_298_300"></a><a href="#FNanchor_298_300"><span class="label">[298]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> women's.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_299_301" id="Footnote_299_301"></a><a href="#FNanchor_299_301"><span class="label">[299]</span></a> See ante, p. <a href='#Page_43'>43</a>, Introduction to the last story of the +First Day.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_300_302" id="Footnote_300_302"></a><a href="#FNanchor_300_302"><span class="label">[300]</span></a> Lit. Family wine (<i><span lang="it">vin da famiglia</span></i>), <i>i.e.</i> no wine +for servants' or general drinking, but a choice vintage, to be +reserved for special occasions.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_301_303" id="Footnote_301_303"></a><a href="#FNanchor_301_303"><span class="label">[301]</span></a> A silver coin of about the size and value of our silver +penny, which, when gilded, would pass muster well enough for a gold +florin, unless closely examined.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_302_304" id="Footnote_302_304"></a><a href="#FNanchor_302_304"><span class="label">[302]</span></a> <i><span lang="it">Il palio</span></i>, a race anciently run at Florence on St. +John's Day, as that of the Barberi at Rome during the Carnival.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_303_305" id="Footnote_303_305"></a><a href="#FNanchor_303_305"><span class="label">[303]</span></a> Lit. knowing not whence himself came.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_304_306" id="Footnote_304_306"></a><a href="#FNanchor_304_306"><span class="label">[304]</span></a> Or, as we should say, "in his own coin."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_305_307" id="Footnote_305_307"></a><a href="#FNanchor_305_307"><span class="label">[305]</span></a> A commentator notes that the adjunction to the world of +the Maremma (cf. Elijer Goff, "The Irish Question has for some +centuries been enjoyed by <i>the universe and other parts</i>") produces a +risible effect and gives the reader to understand that Scalza broaches +the question only by way of a joke. The same may be said of the +jesting inversion of the word philosophers (phisopholers, <span lang="it">Fisofoli</span>) in +the next line.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_306_308" id="Footnote_306_308"></a><a href="#FNanchor_306_308"><span class="label">[306]</span></a> <i><span lang="it">Baronci</span></i>, the Florentine name for what we should call +professional beggars, "mumpers, chanters and Abrahammen," called +<i><span lang="it">Bari</span></i> and <i><span lang="it">Barocci</span></i> in other parts of Italy. This story has been a +prodigious stumbling-block to former translators, not one of whom +appears to have had the slightest idea of Boccaccio's meaning.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_307_309" id="Footnote_307_309"></a><a href="#FNanchor_307_309"><span class="label">[307]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> of the comical fashion of the Cadgers.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_308_310" id="Footnote_308_310"></a><a href="#FNanchor_308_310"><span class="label">[308]</span></a> An abbreviation of Francesca.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_309_311" id="Footnote_309_311"></a><a href="#FNanchor_309_311"><span class="label">[309]</span></a> "Or her."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_310_312" id="Footnote_310_312"></a><a href="#FNanchor_310_312"><span class="label">[310]</span></a> Lit. to avoid or elude a scorn (<i><span lang="it">fuggire uno scorno</span></i>).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_311_313" id="Footnote_311_313"></a><a href="#FNanchor_311_313"><span class="label">[311]</span></a> <i><span lang="it">Cipolla</span></i> means onion.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_312_314" id="Footnote_312_314"></a><a href="#FNanchor_312_314"><span class="label">[312]</span></a> The term "well-wisher" (<i><span lang="it">benivogliente</span></i>), when +understood in relation to a woman, is generally equivalent (at least +with the older Italian writers) to "lover." See ante, passim.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_313_315" id="Footnote_313_315"></a><a href="#FNanchor_313_315"><span class="label">[313]</span></a> Diminutive of contempt of Arrigo, contracted from +Arriguccio, <i>i.e.</i> mean little Arrigo.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_314_316" id="Footnote_314_316"></a><a href="#FNanchor_314_316"><span class="label">[314]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> Whale.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_315_317" id="Footnote_315_317"></a><a href="#FNanchor_315_317"><span class="label">[315]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> Dirt.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_316_318" id="Footnote_316_318"></a><a href="#FNanchor_316_318"><span class="label">[316]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> Hog.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_317_319" id="Footnote_317_319"></a><a href="#FNanchor_317_319"><span class="label">[317]</span></a> A painter of Boccaccio's time, of whom little or +nothing seems to be known.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_318_320" id="Footnote_318_320"></a><a href="#FNanchor_318_320"><span class="label">[318]</span></a> <i><span lang="it">Perpendo lo coreggia</span>.</i> The exact meaning of this +passage is not clear. The commentators make sundry random shots at it, +but, as usual, only succeed in making confusion worse confounded. It +may perhaps be rendered, "till his wind failed him."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_319_321" id="Footnote_319_321"></a><a href="#FNanchor_319_321"><span class="label">[319]</span></a> Said by the commentators to have been an abbey, where +they made cheese-soup for all comers twice a week; hence "the caldron +of Altopascio" became a proverb; but <i><span lang="la">quære</span></i> is not the name +Altopascio (high feeding) a fancy one?</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_320_322" id="Footnote_320_322"></a><a href="#FNanchor_320_322"><span class="label">[320]</span></a> It does not appear to which member of this great house +Boccaccio here alludes, but the Châtillons were always rich and +magnificent gentlemen, from Gaucher de Châtillon, who followed Philip +Augustus to the third crusade, to the great Admiral de Coligny.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_321_323" id="Footnote_321_323"></a><a href="#FNanchor_321_323"><span class="label">[321]</span></a> Sic (<i><span lang="it">star con altrui</span></i>); but "being in the service of +or dependent upon others" seems to be the probable meaning.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_322_324" id="Footnote_322_324"></a><a href="#FNanchor_322_324"><span class="label">[322]</span></a> Apparently the Neapolitan town of that name.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_323_325" id="Footnote_323_325"></a><a href="#FNanchor_323_325"><span class="label">[323]</span></a> The name of a famous tavern in Florence (<i><span lang="it">Florio</span></i>).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_324_326" id="Footnote_324_326"></a><a href="#FNanchor_324_326"><span class="label">[324]</span></a> <i><span lang="la">Quære</span></i> a place in Florence? One of the commentators, +with characteristic carelessness, states that the places mentioned in +the preachment of Fra Cipolla (an amusing specimen of the +patter-sermon of the mendicant friar of the middle ages, that +ecclesiastical Cheap Jack of his day) are all names of streets or +places of Florence, a statement which, it is evident to the most +cursory reader, is altogether inaccurate.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_325_327" id="Footnote_325_327"></a><a href="#FNanchor_325_327"><span class="label">[325]</span></a> Apparently the island of that name near Venice.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_326_328" id="Footnote_326_328"></a><a href="#FNanchor_326_328"><span class="label">[326]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> Nonsense-land.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_327_329" id="Footnote_327_329"></a><a href="#FNanchor_327_329"><span class="label">[327]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> Land of Tricks or Cozenage.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_328_330" id="Footnote_328_330"></a><a href="#FNanchor_328_330"><span class="label">[328]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> Falsehood, Lie-land.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_329_331" id="Footnote_329_331"></a><a href="#FNanchor_329_331"><span class="label">[329]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> paying their way with fine words, instead of +coin.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_330_332" id="Footnote_330_332"></a><a href="#FNanchor_330_332"><span class="label">[330]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> making sausages of them.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_331_333" id="Footnote_331_333"></a><a href="#FNanchor_331_333"><span class="label">[331]</span></a> <i><span lang="it">Bachi</span></i>, drones or maggots. <i><span lang="it">Pastinaca</span></i> means "parsnip" +and is a meaningless addition of Fra Cipolla's fashion.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_332_334" id="Footnote_332_334"></a><a href="#FNanchor_332_334"><span class="label">[332]</span></a> A play of words upon the primary meaning (winged +things) of the word <i><span lang="it">pennate</span></i>, hedge-bills.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_333_335" id="Footnote_333_335"></a><a href="#FNanchor_333_335"><span class="label">[333]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> The Word [made] flesh. Get-thee-to-the-windows +is only a patter tag.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_334_336" id="Footnote_334_336"></a><a href="#FNanchor_334_336"><span class="label">[334]</span></a> Or Slopes or Coasts (<i><span lang="it">piaggie</span></i>).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_335_337" id="Footnote_335_337"></a><a href="#FNanchor_335_337"><span class="label">[335]</span></a> ?</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_336_338" id="Footnote_336_338"></a><a href="#FNanchor_336_338"><span class="label">[336]</span></a> <i><span lang="it">Industria</span></i> in the old sense of ingenuity, skilful +procurement, etc.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_337_339" id="Footnote_337_339"></a><a href="#FNanchor_337_339"><span class="label">[337]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> the tale-telling.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_338_340" id="Footnote_338_340"></a><a href="#FNanchor_338_340"><span class="label">[338]</span></a> Lit. the northern chariot (<i><span lang="it">carro di tramontana</span></i>); +<i><span lang="la">quære</span></i> the Great Bear?</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_339_341" id="Footnote_339_341"></a><a href="#FNanchor_339_341"><span class="label">[339]</span></a> Alluding to the subject fixed for the next day's +discourse, as who should say, "Have you begun already to play tricks +upon us men in very deed, ere you tell about them in words?"</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_340_342" id="Footnote_340_342"></a><a href="#FNanchor_340_342"><span class="label">[340]</span></a> See p. <a href='#Page_144'>144</a>, note 2.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_341_343" id="Footnote_341_343"></a><a href="#FNanchor_341_343"><span class="label">[341]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> <span lang="la">pene arrecto</span>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_342_344" id="Footnote_342_344"></a><a href="#FNanchor_342_344"><span class="label">[342]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> a fattened capon well larded.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_343_345" id="Footnote_343_345"></a><a href="#FNanchor_343_345"><span class="label">[343]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> eggs.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_344_346" id="Footnote_344_346"></a><a href="#FNanchor_344_346"><span class="label">[344]</span></a> So called from the figure of a lily stamped on the +coin; cf. our rose-nobles.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_345_347" id="Footnote_345_347"></a><a href="#FNanchor_345_347"><span class="label">[345]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> the discarded vanities aforesaid.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_346_348" id="Footnote_346_348"></a><a href="#FNanchor_346_348"><span class="label">[346]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> the other ex votos.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_347_349" id="Footnote_347_349"></a><a href="#FNanchor_347_349"><span class="label">[347]</span></a> There is apparently some satirical allusion here, which +I cannot undertake to explain.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_348_350" id="Footnote_348_350"></a><a href="#FNanchor_348_350"><span class="label">[348]</span></a> Syn. professor of the liberal arts (<i><span lang="it">artista</span></i>).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_349_351" id="Footnote_349_351"></a><a href="#FNanchor_349_351"><span class="label">[349]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> inhabitants of Arezzo.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_350_352" id="Footnote_350_352"></a><a href="#FNanchor_350_352"><span class="label">[350]</span></a> <i><span lang="it">Riporre</span></i>, possibly a mistake for <i><span lang="it">riportare</span></i>, to fetch +back.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_351_353" id="Footnote_351_353"></a><a href="#FNanchor_351_353"><span class="label">[351]</span></a> Lit. wished her all his weal.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_352_354" id="Footnote_352_354"></a><a href="#FNanchor_352_354"><span class="label">[352]</span></a> Boccaccio writes carelessly "for <i>aught</i>" (<i><span lang="it">altro</span></i>), +which makes nonsense of the passage.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_353_355" id="Footnote_353_355"></a><a href="#FNanchor_353_355"><span class="label">[353]</span></a> Or, in modern parlance, "twopennny-halfpenny."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_354_356" id="Footnote_354_356"></a><a href="#FNanchor_354_356"><span class="label">[354]</span></a> Syn. encourager, helper, auxiliary (<i><span lang="it">confortatore</span></i>).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_355_357" id="Footnote_355_357"></a><a href="#FNanchor_355_357"><span class="label">[355]</span></a> This sudden change from the third to the second person, +in speaking of Nicostratus, is a characteristic example of Boccaccio's +constant abuse of the figure enallage in his dialogues.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_356_358" id="Footnote_356_358"></a><a href="#FNanchor_356_358"><span class="label">[356]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> those eyes.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_357_359" id="Footnote_357_359"></a><a href="#FNanchor_357_359"><span class="label">[357]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> the Siennese.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_358_360" id="Footnote_358_360"></a><a href="#FNanchor_358_360"><span class="label">[358]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> from discovering to his friend his liking for +the lady.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_359_361" id="Footnote_359_361"></a><a href="#FNanchor_359_361"><span class="label">[359]</span></a> Or, in modern parlance, logic-chopping +(<i><span lang="it">sillogizzando</span></i>).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_360_362" id="Footnote_360_362"></a><a href="#FNanchor_360_362"><span class="label">[360]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> with that whereof you bear the name, <i>i.e.</i> +laurel (<i><span lang="it">laurea</span></i>).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_361_363" id="Footnote_361_363"></a><a href="#FNanchor_361_363"><span class="label">[361]</span></a> Or "on this subject" (<i><span lang="it">in questo</span></i>).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_362_364" id="Footnote_362_364"></a><a href="#FNanchor_362_364"><span class="label">[362]</span></a> <i><span lang="la">Quære</span></i>, "half-complines," <i>i.e.</i> half-past seven p.m. +"Half-vespers" would be half-past four, which seems too early.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_363_365" id="Footnote_363_365"></a><a href="#FNanchor_363_365"><span class="label">[363]</span></a> <i><span lang="it">Carolando</span></i>, <i>i.e.</i> dancing in a round and singing the +while, the original meaning of our word "carol."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_364_366" id="Footnote_364_366"></a><a href="#FNanchor_364_366"><span class="label">[364]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> half-past seven a.m.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_365_367" id="Footnote_365_367"></a><a href="#FNanchor_365_367"><span class="label">[365]</span></a> Where the papal court then was. See p. <a href='#Page_257'>257</a>, note.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_366_368" id="Footnote_366_368"></a><a href="#FNanchor_366_368"><span class="label">[366]</span></a> Or, as La Fontaine would say, +"<span lang="fr">aussi bien faite pour armer un lit</span>."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_367_369" id="Footnote_367_369"></a><a href="#FNanchor_367_369"><span class="label">[367]</span></a> Or apron.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_368_370" id="Footnote_368_370"></a><a href="#FNanchor_368_370"><span class="label">[368]</span></a> <i><span lang="it">Se n'andò col ceteratojo</span></i>; a proverbial expression of +similar meaning to our "was whistled down the wind," <i>i.e.</i> was +lightly dismissed without provision, like a cast-off hawk.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_369_371" id="Footnote_369_371"></a><a href="#FNanchor_369_371"><span class="label">[369]</span></a> A play of words upon the Italian equivalent of the +French word Douay (<i><span lang="it">Duagio</span>, i.e. Twoay, <span lang="it">Treagio, Quattragio</span></i>) invented +by the roguish priest to impose upon the simple goodwife.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_370_372" id="Footnote_370_372"></a><a href="#FNanchor_370_372"><span class="label">[370]</span></a> Or in modern parlance, "making her a connection by +marriage of etc.," Boccaccio feigning priests to be members of the +Holy Family, by virtue of their office.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_371_373" id="Footnote_371_373"></a><a href="#FNanchor_371_373"><span class="label">[371]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> Good cheer.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_372_374" id="Footnote_372_374"></a><a href="#FNanchor_372_374"><span class="label">[372]</span></a> A play upon the double meaning of <i><span lang="it">a denajo</span></i>, which +signifies also "for money."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_373_375" id="Footnote_373_375"></a><a href="#FNanchor_373_375"><span class="label">[373]</span></a> A kind of rissole made of eggs, sweet herbs and +cheese.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_374_376" id="Footnote_374_376"></a><a href="#FNanchor_374_376"><span class="label">[374]</span></a> <i><span lang="it">Vernaccia</span></i>, a kind of rich white wine like Malmsey.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_375_377" id="Footnote_375_377"></a><a href="#FNanchor_375_377"><span class="label">[375]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> not strait-cut.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_376_378" id="Footnote_376_378"></a><a href="#FNanchor_376_378"><span class="label">[376]</span></a> <i><span lang="it">Sforzandosi</span></i>, <i>i.e.</i> recovering his wind with an +effort.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_377_379" id="Footnote_377_379"></a><a href="#FNanchor_377_379"><span class="label">[377]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> love him, grant him her favours. See ante, +passim.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_378_380" id="Footnote_378_380"></a><a href="#FNanchor_378_380"><span class="label">[378]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> in the malaria district.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_379_381" id="Footnote_379_381"></a><a href="#FNanchor_379_381"><span class="label">[379]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> great ugly Ciuta.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_380_382" id="Footnote_380_382"></a><a href="#FNanchor_380_382"><span class="label">[380]</span></a> <i><span lang="it">Quarantanove</span></i>, a proverbial expression for an +indefinite number.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_381_383" id="Footnote_381_383"></a><a href="#FNanchor_381_383"><span class="label">[381]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> how they might do this.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_382_384" id="Footnote_382_384"></a><a href="#FNanchor_382_384"><span class="label">[382]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> in the old sense of "manager" (<i><span lang="it">massajo</span></i>).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_383_385" id="Footnote_383_385"></a><a href="#FNanchor_383_385"><span class="label">[383]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> white wine, see p. <a href='#Page_372'>372</a>, note.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_384_386" id="Footnote_384_386"></a><a href="#FNanchor_384_386"><span class="label">[384]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> embarked on a bootless quest.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_385_387" id="Footnote_385_387"></a><a href="#FNanchor_385_387"><span class="label">[385]</span></a> A proverbial way of saying that he bore malice and was +vindictive.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_386_388" id="Footnote_386_388"></a><a href="#FNanchor_386_388"><span class="label">[386]</span></a> Lit. out of hand (<i><span lang="it">fuor di mano</span></i>).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_387_389" id="Footnote_387_389"></a><a href="#FNanchor_387_389"><span class="label">[387]</span></a> Boccaccio here misquotes himself. See p. <a href='#Page_389'>389</a>, where the +lady says to her lover, "Whether seemeth to thee the greater, his wit +or the love I bear him?" This is only one of the numberless instances +of negligence and inconsistency which occur in the Decameron and which +make it evident to the student that it must have passed into the hands +of the public without the final revision and correction by the author, +that <i><span lang="la">limæ labor</span></i> without which no book is complete and which is +especially necessary in the case of such a work as the present, where +Boccaccio figures as the virtual creator of Italian prose.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_388_390" id="Footnote_388_390"></a><a href="#FNanchor_388_390"><span class="label">[388]</span></a> Lit. face, aspect (<i><span lang="it">viso</span></i>).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_389_391" id="Footnote_389_391"></a><a href="#FNanchor_389_391"><span class="label">[389]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> thy lover's.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_390_392" id="Footnote_390_392"></a><a href="#FNanchor_390_392"><span class="label">[390]</span></a> <i><span lang="it">V'è donato</span></i>, <i>i.e.</i> young lovers look to receive gifts +of their mistresses, whilst those of more mature age bestow them.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_391_393" id="Footnote_391_393"></a><a href="#FNanchor_391_393"><span class="label">[391]</span></a> Lit. red as rabies (<i><span lang="it">rabbia</span></i>). Some commentators +suppose that Boccaccio meant to write <i>robbia</i>, madder.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_392_394" id="Footnote_392_394"></a><a href="#FNanchor_392_394"><span class="label">[392]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> resource (<i><span lang="it">consiglio</span></i>). See ante, passim.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_393_395" id="Footnote_393_395"></a><a href="#FNanchor_393_395"><span class="label">[393]</span></a> Boccaccio appears to have forgotten to mention that +Rinieri had broken the rounds of the ladder, when he withdrew it (as +stated, p. <a href='#Page_394'>394</a>), apparently to place an additional obstacle in the way +of the lady's escape.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_394_396" id="Footnote_394_396"></a><a href="#FNanchor_394_396"><span class="label">[394]</span></a> <i><span lang="la">Quære</span></i>, the street of that name?</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_395_397" id="Footnote_395_397"></a><a href="#FNanchor_395_397"><span class="label">[395]</span></a> <i><span lang="it">Danza trivigiana</span></i>, lit. Trevisan dance, O.E. the +shaking of the sheets.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_396_398" id="Footnote_396_398"></a><a href="#FNanchor_396_398"><span class="label">[396]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> with the doctor's hood of miniver.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_397_399" id="Footnote_397_399"></a><a href="#FNanchor_397_399"><span class="label">[397]</span></a> The colour of the doctors' robes of that time.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_398_400" id="Footnote_398_400"></a><a href="#FNanchor_398_400"><span class="label">[398]</span></a> The commentators note here that on the church door of +San Gallo was depicted an especially frightful Lucifer, with many +mouths.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_399_401" id="Footnote_399_401"></a><a href="#FNanchor_399_401"><span class="label">[399]</span></a> Legnaja is said to be famous for big pumpkins.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_400_402" id="Footnote_400_402"></a><a href="#FNanchor_400_402"><span class="label">[400]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> they think of and cherish us alone, holding us +as dear as their very eyes.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_401_403" id="Footnote_401_403"></a><a href="#FNanchor_401_403"><span class="label">[401]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> Fat-hog and Get-thee-to-supper, burlesque +perversions of the names Ipocrasso (Hippocrates) and Avicenna.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_402_404" id="Footnote_402_404"></a><a href="#FNanchor_402_404"><span class="label">[402]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> love her beyond anything in the world. For +former instances of this idiomatic expression, see ante, passim.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_403_405" id="Footnote_403_405"></a><a href="#FNanchor_403_405"><span class="label">[403]</span></a> Syn. cauterized (<i><span lang="it">calterita</span></i>), a nonsensical word +employed by Bruno for the purpose of mystifying the credulous +physician.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_404_406" id="Footnote_404_406"></a><a href="#FNanchor_404_406"><span class="label">[404]</span></a> Syn. secretary, confidant (<i><span lang="it">segretaro</span></i>).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_405_407" id="Footnote_405_407"></a><a href="#FNanchor_405_407"><span class="label">[405]</span></a> A play of words upon <i><span lang="it">mela</span></i> (apple) and <i><span lang="it">mellone</span></i> +(pumpkin). <i><span lang="it">Mellone</span></i> is strictly a water-melon; but I have rendered it +"pumpkin," to preserve the English idiom, "pumpkinhead" being our +equivalent for the Italian "melon," used in the sense of dullard, +noodle.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_406_408" id="Footnote_406_408"></a><a href="#FNanchor_406_408"><span class="label">[406]</span></a> According to the commentators, "baptized on a Sunday" +anciently signified a simpleton, because salt (which is constantly +used by the Italian classical writers as a synonym for wit or sense) +was not sold on Sundays.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_407_409" id="Footnote_407_409"></a><a href="#FNanchor_407_409"><span class="label">[407]</span></a> Syn. confusedly (<i><span lang="it">frastagliatamente</span></i>).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_408_410" id="Footnote_408_410"></a><a href="#FNanchor_408_410"><span class="label">[408]</span></a> <i><span lang="it">La Contessa di Civillari</span></i>, <i>i.e.</i> the public sewers. +Civillari, according to the commentators, was the name of an alley in +Florence, where all the ordure and filth of the neighbourhood was +deposited and stored in trenches for manure.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_409_411" id="Footnote_409_411"></a><a href="#FNanchor_409_411"><span class="label">[409]</span></a> <i><span lang="it">Nacchere</span></i>, syn. a loud crack of wind.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_410_412" id="Footnote_410_412"></a><a href="#FNanchor_410_412"><span class="label">[410]</span></a> Syn. smelt (<i><span lang="it">sentito</span></i>).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_411_413" id="Footnote_411_413"></a><a href="#FNanchor_411_413"><span class="label">[411]</span></a> <i><span lang="it">Laterina</span></i>, <i>i.e.</i> Latrina.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_412_414" id="Footnote_412_414"></a><a href="#FNanchor_412_414"><span class="label">[412]</span></a> Lit. Broom-handle (<i><span lang="it">Manico della Scopa</span></i>).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_413_415" id="Footnote_413_415"></a><a href="#FNanchor_413_415"><span class="label">[413]</span></a> Lit. "do <i>yourself</i> a mischief, without doing <i>us</i> any +good"; but the sequel shows that the contrary is meant, as in the +text.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_414_416" id="Footnote_414_416"></a><a href="#FNanchor_414_416"><span class="label">[414]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> what he is worth.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_415_417" id="Footnote_415_417"></a><a href="#FNanchor_415_417"><span class="label">[415]</span></a> <i><span lang="it">Bucherame</span>.</i> The word "buckram" was anciently applied +to the finest linen cloth, as is apparently the case here; see +Ducange, <span lang="la">voce</span> <i><span lang="la">Boquerannus</span></i>, and Florio, <span lang="la">voce</span> <i><span lang="it">Bucherame</span></i>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_416_418" id="Footnote_416_418"></a><a href="#FNanchor_416_418"><span class="label">[416]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> in needlework.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_417_419" id="Footnote_417_419"></a><a href="#FNanchor_417_419"><span class="label">[417]</span></a> "It was the custom in those days to attach to the +bedposts sundry small instruments in the form of birds, which, by +means of certain mechanical devices, gave forth sounds modulated like +the song of actual birds."—<i>Fanfani.</i></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_418_420" id="Footnote_418_420"></a><a href="#FNanchor_418_420"><span class="label">[418]</span></a> Syn. that which belongeth to us (<i><span lang="it">ciò che ci è</span></i>,) <i><span lang="it">ci</span></i>, +as I have before noted, signifying both "here" and "us," dative and +accusative.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_419_421" id="Footnote_419_421"></a><a href="#FNanchor_419_421"><span class="label">[419]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> procure bills of exchange for.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_420_422" id="Footnote_420_422"></a><a href="#FNanchor_420_422"><span class="label">[420]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> we must see what is to be done.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_421_423" id="Footnote_421_423"></a><a href="#FNanchor_421_423"><span class="label">[421]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> having executed and exchanged the necessary +legal documents for the proper carrying out of the transaction and +completed the matter to their mutual satisfaction.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_422_424" id="Footnote_422_424"></a><a href="#FNanchor_422_424"><span class="label">[422]</span></a> The song sung by Pamfilo (under which name, as I have +before pointed out, the author appears to represent himself) +apparently alludes to Boccaccio's amours with the Princess Maria of +Naples (Fiammetta), by whom his passion was returned in kind.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_423_425" id="Footnote_423_425"></a><a href="#FNanchor_423_425"><span class="label">[423]</span></a> According to the Ptolemaic system, the earth is +encompassed by eight celestial zones or heavens; the first or highest, +above which is the empyrean, (otherwise called the ninth heaven,) is +that of the Moon, the second that of Mercury, the third that of Venus, +the fourth that of the Sun, the fifth that of Mars, the sixth that of +Jupiter, the seventh that of Saturn and the eighth or lowest that of +the fixed stars and of the Earth.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_424_426" id="Footnote_424_426"></a><a href="#FNanchor_424_426"><span class="label">[424]</span></a> <i><span lang="it">D'azzurrino in color cilestro</span>.</i> This is one of the +many passages in which Boccaccio has imitated Dante (cf. <span lang="it">Purgatorio</span>, +c. xxvi. II. 4-6, "<span lang="it">... il sole.... Che già, raggiando, tutto +l'occidente Mutava in bianco aspetto di cilestro</span>,") and also one of +the innumerable instances in which former translators (who all agree +in making the advent of the light change the colour of the sky from +azure to a darker colour, instead of, as Boccaccio intended, to +watchet, <i>i.e.</i> a paler or greyish blue,) have misrendered the text, +for sheer ignorance of the author's meaning.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_425_427" id="Footnote_425_427"></a><a href="#FNanchor_425_427"><span class="label">[425]</span></a> <i><span lang="it">Scannadio</span></i> signifies "Murder-God" and was no doubt a +nickname bestowed upon the dead man, on account of his wicked and +reprobate way of life.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_426_428" id="Footnote_426_428"></a><a href="#FNanchor_426_428"><span class="label">[426]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> balls for a pellet bow, usually made out of +clay. Bruno and Buffalmacco were punning upon the double meaning, land +and earth (or clay), of the word <i><span lang="it">terra</span></i>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_427_429" id="Footnote_427_429"></a><a href="#FNanchor_427_429"><span class="label">[427]</span></a> <i><span lang="it">Scimmione</span></i> (lit. ape), a contemptuous distortion of +<i><span lang="it">Simone</span></i>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_428_430" id="Footnote_428_430"></a><a href="#FNanchor_428_430"><span class="label">[428]</span></a> <i><span lang="it">Chiarea</span>.</i> According to the commentators, the +composition of this drink is unknown, but that of clary, a sort of +hippocras or spiced wine <i>clear-strained</i> (whence the name), offers no +difficulty to the student of old English literature.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_429_431" id="Footnote_429_431"></a><a href="#FNanchor_429_431"><span class="label">[429]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> the doublet.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_430_432" id="Footnote_430_432"></a><a href="#FNanchor_430_432"><span class="label">[430]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> do me a double injury.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_431_433" id="Footnote_431_433"></a><a href="#FNanchor_431_433"><span class="label">[431]</span></a> Syn. goodly design of foresight (<i><span lang="it">buono avviso</span></i>).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_432_434" id="Footnote_432_434"></a><a href="#FNanchor_432_434"><span class="label">[432]</span></a> <i><span lang="it">Giovani di tromba marina</span>.</i> The sense seems as above; +the commentators say that <i><span lang="it">giovani di tromba marina</span></i> is a name given +to those youths who go trumpeting about everywhere the favours +accorded them by women; but the <i><span lang="it">tromba marina</span></i> is a <i>stringed</i> (not a +wind) <i>instrument</i>, a sort of primitive violoncello with one string.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_433_435" id="Footnote_433_435"></a><a href="#FNanchor_433_435"><span class="label">[433]</span></a> "Your teeth did dance like virginal jacks."—<i>Ben +Jonson.</i></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_434_436" id="Footnote_434_436"></a><a href="#FNanchor_434_436"><span class="label">[434]</span></a> <i><span lang="it">Adagiarono</span></i>, <i>i.e.</i> unsaddled and stabled and fed +them.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_435_437" id="Footnote_435_437"></a><a href="#FNanchor_435_437"><span class="label">[435]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> hog.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_436_438" id="Footnote_436_438"></a><a href="#FNanchor_436_438"><span class="label">[436]</span></a> Lit. a backbiter (<i><span lang="it">morditore</span></i>).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_437_439" id="Footnote_437_439"></a><a href="#FNanchor_437_439"><span class="label">[437]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> conjured him by God to make peace with him.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_438_440" id="Footnote_438_440"></a><a href="#FNanchor_438_440"><span class="label">[438]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> from a serious or moral point of view.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_439_441" id="Footnote_439_441"></a><a href="#FNanchor_439_441"><span class="label">[439]</span></a> Apparently Laodicea (<i>hod.</i> Eskihissar) in Anatolia, +from which a traveller, taking the direct land route, would +necessarily pass Antioch (<i>hod.</i> Antakhia) on his way to Jerusalem.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_440_442" id="Footnote_440_442"></a><a href="#FNanchor_440_442"><span class="label">[440]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> <span lang="la">arrectus est penis ejus</span>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_441_443" id="Footnote_441_443"></a><a href="#FNanchor_441_443"><span class="label">[441]</span></a> See p. <a href='#Page_372'>372</a>, note.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_442_444" id="Footnote_442_444"></a><a href="#FNanchor_442_444"><span class="label">[442]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> fortune.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_443_445" id="Footnote_443_445"></a><a href="#FNanchor_443_445"><span class="label">[443]</span></a> <i><span lang="it">Cattajo</span>.</i> This word is usually translated Cathay, +<i>i.e.</i> China; but <i><span lang="fr">semble</span></i> Boccaccio meant rather the Dalmatian +province of Cattaro, which would better answer the description in the +text, Nathan's estate being described as adjoining a highway leading +from the Ponant (or Western shores of the Mediterranean) to the Levant +(or Eastern shores), <i>e.g.</i> the road from Cattaro on the Adriatic to +Salonica on the Ægean. Cathay (China) seems, from the circumstances of +the case, out of the question, as is also the Italian town called +Cattaio, near Padua.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_444_446" id="Footnote_444_446"></a><a href="#FNanchor_444_446"><span class="label">[444]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> to show the most extravagant hospitality.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_445_447" id="Footnote_445_447"></a><a href="#FNanchor_445_447"><span class="label">[445]</span></a> Or as we should say, "After much beating about the +bush."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_446_448" id="Footnote_446_448"></a><a href="#FNanchor_446_448"><span class="label">[446]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> jealousies.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_447_449" id="Footnote_447_449"></a><a href="#FNanchor_447_449"><span class="label">[447]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> all sections of the given theme.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_448_450" id="Footnote_448_450"></a><a href="#FNanchor_448_450"><span class="label">[448]</span></a> Lit. accident (<i><span lang="it">accidente</span></i>).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_449_451" id="Footnote_449_451"></a><a href="#FNanchor_449_451"><span class="label">[449]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> with news of her life.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_450_452" id="Footnote_450_452"></a><a href="#FNanchor_450_452"><span class="label">[450]</span></a> <i><span lang="it">Dubbio</span></i>, <i>i.e.</i> a doubtful case or question.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_451_453" id="Footnote_451_453"></a><a href="#FNanchor_451_453"><span class="label">[451]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> who would have recognized her as Madam +Catalina.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_452_454" id="Footnote_452_454"></a><a href="#FNanchor_452_454"><span class="label">[452]</span></a> <i><span lang="it">Compassione</span></i>, <i>i.e.</i> emotion.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_453_455" id="Footnote_453_455"></a><a href="#FNanchor_453_455"><span class="label">[453]</span></a> Lit. I leave you free <i>of</i> Niccoluccio +(<i><span lang="it">libera vi lascio di Niccoluccio</span></i>).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_454_456" id="Footnote_454_456"></a><a href="#FNanchor_454_456"><span class="label">[454]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> Ansaldo, Dianora and the nigromancer.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_455_457" id="Footnote_455_457"></a><a href="#FNanchor_455_457"><span class="label">[455]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> the money promised him by way of recompense.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_456_458" id="Footnote_456_458"></a><a href="#FNanchor_456_458"><span class="label">[456]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i>, nicety, minuteness (<i><span lang="it">strettezza</span></i>).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_457_459" id="Footnote_457_459"></a><a href="#FNanchor_457_459"><span class="label">[457]</span></a> A town on the Bay of Naples, near the ruins of +Pompeii.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_458_460" id="Footnote_458_460"></a><a href="#FNanchor_458_460"><span class="label">[458]</span></a> <i><span lang="it">Per amore amiate</span></i> (Fr. <span lang="fr">aimiez par amour</span>).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_459_461" id="Footnote_459_461"></a><a href="#FNanchor_459_461"><span class="label">[459]</span></a> <i><span lang="it">In si forte punto</span></i>, or, in modern parlance, at so +critical or ill-starred a moment.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_460_462" id="Footnote_460_462"></a><a href="#FNanchor_460_462"><span class="label">[460]</span></a> <i><span lang="it">Sollevata</span></i>, syn. solaced, relieved or (3) agitated, +troubled.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_461_463" id="Footnote_461_463"></a><a href="#FNanchor_461_463"><span class="label">[461]</span></a> Sic, <i>Publio Quinzio Fulvo</i>; but <i><span lang="la">quære</span></i> should it not +rather be <i>Publio Quinto Fulvio</i>, <i>i.e.</i> Publius Quintus Fulvius, a +form of the name which seems more in accordance with the genius of the +Latin language?</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_462_464" id="Footnote_462_464"></a><a href="#FNanchor_462_464"><span class="label">[462]</span></a> Or "his" (<i><span lang="it">a sè</span></i>).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_463_465" id="Footnote_463_465"></a><a href="#FNanchor_463_465"><span class="label">[463]</span></a> Or "thine" (<i><span lang="it">a te</span></i>).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_464_466" id="Footnote_464_466"></a><a href="#FNanchor_464_466"><span class="label">[464]</span></a> Lit. "hope" (<i><span lang="it">sperare</span></i>). See note, p. <a href='#Page_5'>5</a>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_465_467" id="Footnote_465_467"></a><a href="#FNanchor_465_467"><span class="label">[465]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> I would have her in common with thee.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_466_468" id="Footnote_466_468"></a><a href="#FNanchor_466_468"><span class="label">[466]</span></a> Or "arguments" (<i><span lang="it">consigli</span></i>).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_467_469" id="Footnote_467_469"></a><a href="#FNanchor_467_469"><span class="label">[467]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> of your counsel.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_468_470" id="Footnote_468_470"></a><a href="#FNanchor_468_470"><span class="label">[468]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> my riches are not the result of covetous +amassing, but of the favours of fortune.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_469_471" id="Footnote_469_471"></a><a href="#FNanchor_469_471"><span class="label">[469]</span></a> Sic (<i><span lang="it">tiepidezza</span></i>); but <i><span lang="fr">semble</span></i> "timidity" or +"distrustfulness" is meant.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_470_472" id="Footnote_470_472"></a><a href="#FNanchor_470_472"><span class="label">[470]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> perils.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_471_473" id="Footnote_471_473"></a><a href="#FNanchor_471_473"><span class="label">[471]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> to cross the Alps into France.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_472_474" id="Footnote_472_474"></a><a href="#FNanchor_472_474"><span class="label">[472]</span></a> <i><span lang="it">Adagiarono</span></i>; see p. <a href='#Page_447'>447</a>, note.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_473_475" id="Footnote_473_475"></a><a href="#FNanchor_473_475"><span class="label">[473]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> to place themselves according to their several +ranks, which were unknown to Torello.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_474_476" id="Footnote_474_476"></a><a href="#FNanchor_474_476"><span class="label">[474]</span></a> Sic (<i><span lang="it">la vostra credenza raffermeremo</span></i>); but the +meaning is, "whereby we may amend your unbelief and give you cause to +credit our assertion that we are merchants."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_475_477" id="Footnote_475_477"></a><a href="#FNanchor_475_477"><span class="label">[475]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> should any rumour get wind of death.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_476_478" id="Footnote_476_478"></a><a href="#FNanchor_476_478"><span class="label">[476]</span></a> Sic (<i><span lang="it">all' altro esercito</span></i>). The meaning of this does +not appear, as no mention has yet been made of two Christian armies. +Perhaps we should translate "the rest of the army," <i>i.e.</i> such part +of the remnant of the Christian host as fled to Acre and shut +themselves up there after the disastrous day of Hittin (23 June, +1187). Acre fell on the 29th July, 1187.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_477_479" id="Footnote_477_479"></a><a href="#FNanchor_477_479"><span class="label">[477]</span></a> It may be well to remind the European reader that the +turban consists of two parts, <i>i.e.</i> a skull-cap and a linen cloth, +which is wound round it in various folds and shapes, to form the +well-known Eastern head-dress.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_478_480" id="Footnote_478_480"></a><a href="#FNanchor_478_480"><span class="label">[478]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> he who was to have married Madam Adalieta.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_479_481" id="Footnote_479_481"></a><a href="#FNanchor_479_481"><span class="label">[479]</span></a> See p. <a href='#Page_325'>325</a>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_480_482" id="Footnote_480_482"></a><a href="#FNanchor_480_482"><span class="label">[480]</span></a> Or "strange" (<i><span lang="it">nuovo</span></i>); see ante, passim.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_481_483" id="Footnote_481_483"></a><a href="#FNanchor_481_483"><span class="label">[481]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> his vassals.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_482_484" id="Footnote_482_484"></a><a href="#FNanchor_482_484"><span class="label">[482]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> the husband of his kinswoman aforesaid.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_483_485" id="Footnote_483_485"></a><a href="#FNanchor_483_485"><span class="label">[483]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> unwetted with tears.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_484_486" id="Footnote_484_486"></a><a href="#FNanchor_484_486"><span class="label">[484]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> of overmuch licence.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_485_487" id="Footnote_485_487"></a><a href="#FNanchor_485_487"><span class="label">[485]</span></a> Two noted wine-bidders of the time.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_486_488" id="Footnote_486_488"></a><a href="#FNanchor_486_488"><span class="label">[486]</span></a> Lit. living folk (<i><span lang="it">viventi</span></i>).</p></div> + +<div style='display:block; margin-top:4em'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE DECAMERON ***</div> +<div style='text-align:left'> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +Updated editions will replace the previous one—the old editions will +be renamed. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright +law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, +so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United +States without permission and without paying copyright +royalties. 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