perceive thee to be: I would undergo far greater injuries, then
those which I have received at thy hands. Accursed be cruell
destiny, that forced thee to so base a kind of life, and did not
blesse thee with a fairer fortune. After he had thus spoken, he left
there the greater part of all his goods, and returned backe againe
to Rome, with few horses, and a meaner traine.
During these passed accidents, the Pope had received intelligence of
the Lord Abbots surprizall, which was not a little displeasing to him:
but when he saw him returned, he demaunded, what benefit he received
at the Bathes? Whereto the Abbot, merrily smyling, thus replyed.
Holy Father, I met with a most skilfull Physitian neerer hand, whose
experience is beyond the power of the Bathes, for by him I am very
perfectly cured: and so discoursed all at large. The Pope laughing
heartely, and the Abbot continuing on still his report; moved with
an high and magnificent courage, he demaunded one gracious favour of
the Pope: who imagining that he would request a matter of greater
moment, then he did, freely offered to grant, whatsoever he desired.
Holy Father, answered the Lord Abbot, all the humble suit which I
make to you, is, that you would be pleased to receive into your
grace and favor, Ghinotto di Tacco my Physitian, because among all the
vertuous men, deserving to have especial account made of them I
never met with any equall to him both in honour and honesty.
Whatsoever injury he did to me, I impute it as a greater in-fortune,
then any way he deserveth to be charged withall. Which wretched
condition of his, if you were pleased to alter, and bestow on him some
better meanes of maintenance, to live like a worthy man, as he is no
lesse: I make no doubt, but (in very short time) hee will appeare as
pleasing to your holinesse, as (in my best judgement) I thinke him
to be.
The Pope, who was of a magnanimious spirit, and one that highly
affected men of vertue, hearing the commendable motion made by the
Abbot; returned answere, that he was as willing to grant it, as the
other desired it, sending Letters of safe conduct for his comming
thither. Ghinotto receiving such assurance from the Court of Rome,
came thither immediatly, to the great joy of the Lord Abbot: and the
Pope finding him to be a man of valor and worth, upon
reconciliation, remitted all former errors, creating him knight, and
Lord Prior of the very chiefest Hospitall in Rome. In which Office
he lived long time after, as a loyall servant to the Church, and an
honest thankefull friend to the Lord Abbot of Clugny.
THE TENTH DAY, THE THIRD NOVELL
SHEWING IN AN EXCELLENT AND LIVELY DEMONSTRATION, THAT ANY
ESPECIALL HONOURABLE VERTUE, PERSEVERING AND DWELLING IN A
TRULY NOBLE SOULE, CANNOT BE VIOLENCED OR CONFOUNDED, BY THE
MOST POLITICKE ATTEMPTES OF MALICE AND ENVY
Mithridanes envying the life and liberality of Nathan, and
travelling thither, with a setled resolution to kill him: chaunceth to
conferre with Nathan unknowne. And being instructed by him, in what
manner he might best performe the bloody deede, according as hee
gave direction, hee meeteth with him in a small Thicket or Woode,
where knowing him to be the same man, that taught him how to take away
his life: Confounded with shame, hee acknowledgeth his horrible
intention, and becommeth his loyall friend.
It appeared to the whole assembly, that they had heard a matter of
mervaile, for a Lord Abbot to performe any magnificent action: but
their admiration ceasing in silence, the King commanded Philostratus
to follow next, who forthwith thus began.
Honourable Ladies, the bounty and magnificense of Alphonso King of
Spaine, was great and that done by the Lord great in Abbot of
Clugny, a thing (perhaps) never heard of in any other. But it will
seeme no lesse mervailous to you, when you heare, how one man, in
expression of great liberality to another man, that earnestly
desired to kill him; should bee secretly disposed to give him his
life, which had bin lost, if the other would have taken it, as I
purpose to acquaint you withall, in a short Novell.
Most certaine it is, at least, if Faith may bee given to the
report of certaine Genewayes, and other men resorting to those
remote parts, that in the Country of Cathaya, there lived somtime a
Gentleman, rich beyond comparison, and named Nathan. He having his
living adjoyning to a great common rode-way, whereby men travayled
from the East to the West (as they did the like from the West unto the
East, as having no other means of passage) and being of a bountifull
and chearfull disposition, which he was willing to make knowen by
experience: he summoned together many Master Masons and Carpenters,
and there erected (in a short time) one of the greatest, goodliest,
and most beautifull houses (in manner of a Princes Pallace) that
ever was seene in all those quarters.
With movables and all kinde of furnishment, befitting a house of
such outward apparance, hee caused it to be plentifully stored onely
to receive, entertaine, and honor all Gentlemen or other Travailers
whatsoever, as had occasion to passe that way, being not unprovided
also of such a number of servants, as might continuallie give
attendance on all commers and goers. Two and fifty severall gates,
standing alway wide open, and over each of them in great golden
carracters was written, Welcome, welcome, and gave free admission to
all commers whatsoever.
In this honourable order (observed as his estated custom) he
persevered so long a while, as not onely the East parts, but also
those in the west, were every where acquainted with his fame and
renown. Being already well stept into yeares, but yet not wearie
(therefore) of his great charge and liberality: it fortuned, that
the rumor of his noble Hospitality, came to the eare of another
gallant Gentleman, named Mithridanes, living in a Countrey not farre
off from the other.
This Gentleman, knowing himselfe no lesse wealthy then Nathan, and
enviously repining at his vertue and liberality, determined in his
mind, to dim and obscure the others bright splendor, by making
himselfe farre more famous. And having built a Palace answerable to
that of Nathans, with like windings of gates, and welcom inscriptions;
he beganne to extend immeasurable courtesies, unto all such as were
disposed to visite him: so that (in a short while) hee grew very
famous in infinite places. It chanced on a day, as Mithridanes sate
all alone within the goodly Court of his Pallace: a poore woman entred
at one of the gates, craving an almes of him, which she had; and
returned in againe at a second gate, comming also to him, and had a
second almes; continuing so still a dozen times; but at the thirteenth
returning, Mithridanes saide to her: Good Woman, you goe and come very
often, and still you are served with almes. When the old Woman heard
these words, she said. O the liberality of Nathan! How honourable
and wonderfull is that? I have past through two and thirty gates of
his Palace, even such as are here, and at every one I receyved an
almes, without any knowledgement taken of me, either by him, or any of
his followers: and heere I have past but through thirteene gates,
and am there both acknowledged and taken. Farewell to this house,
for I never meane to visit it any more; with which words shee departed
thence, and never after came thither againe.
When Mithridanes had a while pondered on her speeches, hee waxed
much discontented, as taking the words of the olde woman, to extoll
the renowne of Nathan, and darken or ecclipse his glorie, whereupon he
said to himselfe. Wretched man as I am, when shall I attaine to the
height of liberality, and performe such wonders, as Nathan doth? In
seeking to surmount him, I cannot come neere him in the very
meanest. Undoubtedly, I spend all my endeavour but in vaine, except
I rid the world of him, which (seeing his age will not make an end
of him) I must needs do with my own hands. In which furious and bloody
determination (without revealing his intent to any one) he mounted
on horse-backe, with few attendants in his company, and after three
dayes journey, arrived where Nathan dwelt. He gave order to his men,
to make no shew of beeing his servants, or any way to acknowledge him:
but to provide them selves of convenient lodgings, untill they heard
other tydings from him.
About Evening, and (in this manner) alone by himselfe, neere to
the Palace of Nathan, he met him solitarily walking, not in pompous
apparrell, whereby to bee distinguished from a meaner man: and,
because he knew him not, neyther had heard any relation of his
description, he demanded of him, if he knew where Nathan then was?
Nathan, with a chearfull countenance, thus replyed. Faire Syr, there
is no man in these parts, that knoweth better how to shew you Nathan
then I do; and therefore, if you be so pleased, I will bring you to
him. Mithridanes said, therein he should do him a great kindnesse:
albeit (if it were possible) he would bee neyther knowne nor seene
of Nathan. And that (quoth he) can I also do sufficiently for you,
seeing it is your will to have it so, if you will goe along with me.
Dismounting from his horse, he walked on with Nathan, diversly
discoursing, untill they came to the Pallace, where one of the
servants taking Mithridanes his horse, Nathan rounded the fellow in
the eare, that he should give warning to al. throughout the House, for
revealing to the Gentleman, that he was Nathan; as accordingly it
was performed. No sooner were they within the Pallace, but he
conducted Mithridanes into a goodly chamber, wher none (as yet) had
seene him, but such as were appointed to attend on him reverently;
yea, and he did himselfe greatly honor him, as being loth to leave his
company.
While thus Mithridanes conversed with him, he desired to know
(albeit he respected him much for his yeares) what he was. Introth
sir, answered Nathan, I am one of the meanest servants to Nathan,
and from my child-hood, have made my selfe thus olde in his service:
yet never hath he bestowed any other advancement on mee, then as you
now see; in which respect, howsoever other men may commend him, yet
I have no reason at all to do it. These Words, gave some hope to
Mithridanes, that with a little more counsell, he might securely put
in execution his wicked determination. Nathan likewise demaunded of
him (but in very humble manner) of whence, and what he was, as also
the businesse inviting him thither: offering him his utmost aide and
counsell, in what soever consisted in his power.
Mithridanes sat an indifferent while meditating with his thoghts
before ie would returne any answer: but at the last, concluding to
repose confidence in him (in regard of his pretended discontentment)
with many circumstantial perswasions, first for fidelity, next for
constancie, and lastly for counsell and assistance, he declared to him
truly what he was, the cause of his comming thither, and the reason
urging him thereto. Nathan hearing these words, and the detestable
deliberation of Mithridanes, became quite changed in himself: yet
wisely making no outward appearance thereof, with a bold courage and
setled countenance, thus he replyed.
Mithridanes, thy Father was a Noble Gentleman, and (in vertuous
qualities) inferiour to none, from whom (as now I see) thou desirest
not to degenerate, having undertaken so bold and high an enterprise, I
meane, in being liberall and bountifull to all men. I do greatly
commend the envy which thou bearest to the vertue of Nathan: because
if there were many more such men, the world that is now wretched and
miserable, would become good and conformable. As for the determination
which thou hast disclosed to mee, I have sealed it up secretly in my
soule: wherein I can better give thee counsell, then any especiall
helpe or furtherance: and the course which I would have thee to
observe, followeth thus in few words.
This window, which we now looke forth at, sheweth thee a smal wood
or thicket of trees, being litle more then the quarter of a miles
distance hence; whereto Nathan usually walketh every morning, and
there continueth time long enough: there maist thou very easily meet
him, and do whatsoever thou intendest to him. If thou kilst him,
because thou maist with safety returne home unto thine owne abiding,
take not the same way which guided thee thither, but another, lying on
the left hand, and directing speedily out of the wood, as being not so
much haunted as the other, but rather free from all resort, and surest
for visiting thine owne countrey, after such a dismall deed is done.
When Mithridanes had receyved this instruction, and Nathan was
departed from him; hee secretly gave intelligence to his men, (who
likewise were lodged, as welcom strangers, in the same house) at
what place they should stay for him the next morning. Night being
passed over, and Nathan risen, his heart altred not a jot from his
counsel given to Mithridanes, much lesse changed from anie part
thereof: but all alone by himselfe, walked on to the wood, the place
appointed for his death. Mithridanes also being risen, taking his
Bow and Sword (for other weapons had he none) mounted on horsbacke,
and so came to the wood, where (somewhat farre off) hee espyed
Nathan walking, and no creature with him. Dismounting from his
horse, he had resolved (before he would kill him) not onely to see,
but also to heare him speake: so stepping roughly to him, and taking
hold of the bonnet on his head, his face being then turned from him,
he sayde. Old man, thou must dye. Whereunto Nathan made no other
answer, but thus: Why then (belike) I have deserved it.
When Mithridanes heard him speake, and looked advisedly on his face,
he knew him immediately to be the same man, that had entertained him
so lovingly, conversed with him so familiarly, and counselled him so
faithfully: all which overcomming his former fury, his harsh nature
became meerly confounded with shame: So throwing downe his drawne
