time please and serve God in the highest measure; to which end, as
thou sayest, thou art come hither."
All unsuspecting, the girl answered. him: "My father, since I have
this Hell, let the thing be done when thou desirest it."
Then Rustico said: "Bless thee, my dear daughter; let us go at
once and put him in his place, that I may be at peace."
So saying, he laid her on one of their rough beds, and set about
showing her how to shut the accursed one in his prison. The girl,
who until then had no experience of putting devils in Hell, felt
some pain at this first trial of it; which made her say to Rustico:
"Father, this Devil must indeed be wicked, and in very sooth an
enemy of God, for he hurts Hell itself, let alone other things, when
he is put back in it."
"My daughter," said Rustico, "it will not always be so." And to make
sure of it, before either of them moved from the bed they put him in
six times, after which the Devil hung his head and was glad to let
them be.
But in the succeeding days he rose up many times; and the girl,
always disposing herself to subdue him, began to take pleasure in
the exercise, and to say such things as: "I see now the truth of
what the good folk in Capsa told me, that serving God is a delight;
for I never remember doing anything that gave me as much joy and
pleasure as this putting the Devil in Hell. So I think the people
who spend their time otherwise than in serving God must be very
foolish."
Often she would come to Rustico and say: "Father, I came hither to
serve God, not to stand idle. Let us go put the Devil in Hell." And
once, when it had been done, she asked: "Rustico, why does he want
to get out of Hell? If only he would stay there as willingly as Hell
takes him in and holds him, he would never want to come out at all."
By thus constantly egging him on and exhorting him to God's service
the girl so preyed upon Rustico that he shivered with cold when
another man would have sweated. He had perforce to tell her that it
was not just to punish the Devil by putting him in Hell save when he
had lifted his head in pride; and that by God's mercy they had so
chastened him that he only implored Heaven to be left in peace. Thus
for a time he silenced her.
But she, finding that Rustico did not call on her to put the Devil
in Hell, said one day: "Even though your Devil is punished and no
longer troubles you, my Hell gives me no peace. You will do a
charity if with your Devil you will quiet the raging of my Hell, as
with my Hell I tamed the pride of your Devil To these demands
Rustico on a diet of herbs and water could ill respond; and he told
her that to appease Hell would need too many devils, none the less
he would do all that in him lay. At times he could satisfy her, but so
seldom that it was like feeding an elephant with peas. Therefore the
girl thought she was not serving God as well as she would like, and
she grumbled most of the time.
Whilst things stood thus amiss between Rustico's Devil and Alibech's
Hell, for overmuch eagerness of the one part and too little
performance of the other, a fire broke out in Capsa and burned the
father of Alibech with his children and every one of his kin, so
that Alibech became the sole heiress to his goods. Whereupon a certain
Neerbale, a young man who had wasted his patrimony in high living,
sought for Alibech in the belief that she was alive, and succeeded
in finding her before the Court had declared her father's goods
forfeit as being without an owner. Much to the relief of Rustico and
against the girl's will, Neerbale brought her back to Capsa and
married her, so becoming entitled in her right to a large fortune.
One day, when as yet Neerbale had not lain with her, some of her
women asked how she had served God in the desert. She replied that she
had served Him by putting the Devil in Hell, and that Neerbale had
committed a grievous sin in taking her from such pious work. Then they
asked: "How is the Devil put in Hell?" To which the girl answered with
words and gestures showing how it had been done. The women laughed
so heartily that they have not done laughing yet, and said to her:
"Grieve not, my child; that is done as well here. Neerbale will
serve God right well with thee in this way."
As one repeated the words to another throughout the town, it
became a familiar saying that the most acceptable of all services to
God is to put the Devil in Hell. The saying has crossed the sea and
become current among us, as it still is.
Wherefore, young ladies, I beseech you if you would deserve Heaven's
grace, lend yourselves to the putting of the Devil in Hell; for it
is a thing beloved of God, pleasing to the participants, and one
from which much good comes and ensues.
A thousand times and more were the chaste ladies moved to laughter
by Dioneus's novel, so much were his phrases to their liking. And
the Queen perceiving that as his tale was ended, her office had
expired, took the crown of laurel from her head and graciously
placed it on the head of Philostratus, saying: "Now we shall see
whether the wolf will rule the sheep better than the sheep ruled the
wolves." At this Philostratus laughed, and retorted: "If I had my way,
the wolves would have taught the sheep to put the Devil in Hell, no
less well than Rustico taught Alibech. Since we did not, call us not
wolves, for ye were no sheep. Howbeit, I will reign as best I may,
seeing ye have laid the trust on me."
Neiphila cried out: "Mark this, Philostratus; in trying to teach
us you might have had such a lesson as Masetto di Lamporechio had of
the nuns, and recovered your speech just as your bare bones had
learned to whistle without a master." Finding himself thus evenly
matched, Philostratus ceased his pleasantries; and beginning to
consider on the charge committed to his care, called the Master of the
houshold, to know in what estate all matters were, because where any
defect appeared, every thing might be the sooner remedied, for the
better satisfaction of the company, during the time of his
authority. Then returning backe to the assembly, thus he began. Lovely
Ladies, I would have you to know, that since the time of ability in
me, to distinguish betweene good and evill, I have alwayes bene
subject (perhaps by the meanes of some beauty heere among us) to the
proud and imperious dominion of love, with expression of all duty,
humility, and most intimate desire to please yet all hath prooved to
no purpose, but still I have bin rejected for some other, whereby my
condition hath falne from ill to worse, and so still it is likely,
even to the houre: of my death. In which respect, it best pleaseth me,
that our conferences to morrow, shall extend to no other argument, bit
only such cases as are most conformable to my calamity, namely of
such, whose love hath had unhappy ending, because I await no other
issue of mine; nor willingly would I be called by any other name,
but only, the miserable and unfortunate Lover.
Having thus spoken, he arose againe; granting leave to the rest,
to recreate themselves till supper time. The Garden was very faire and
spacious, affoording, large limits for their severall walkes; the
Sun being already so low descended, that it could not be offensive
to any one, the Connies, Kids, and young Hindes skipping every where
about them, to their no meane, pleasure and contentment, Dioneus and
Fiammetta, sate singing together, of Messire Guiglielmo, and the
Lady of Vertur. Philomena and Pamphilus playing at the Chesse, all
sporting themselves as best they pleased. But the houre of Supper
being come, and the Tables covered about the faire fountaine, they
sate downe and supt in most loving manner. Then Philostratus, not to
swerve from the course which had beene observed by the Queenes
before him, so soone as the Tables were taken away, gave commaund that
Madam Lauretta should beginne the dance, and likewise to sing a
Song. My gracious Lord (quoth she) I can skill of no other Songs,
but onely a peece of mine owne, which I have already learned by heart,
and may well beseeme this assembly: if you please to allow of that,
I am ready to performe it with all obedience. Lady, replyed the
King, you your selfe being so faire and lovely, so needs must be
whatsoever commeth from you, therefore let us heare such as you
have. Madam Lauretta, giving enstruction to the Chorus prepared, and
began in this manner.
THE SONG
No soule so comfortlesse,
Hath more cause to expresse,
Like woe and heavinesse,
As I poore amorous Maide.
He that did forme the Heavens and every Starre,
Made me as best him pleased,
Lovely and gracious, no Element at jarre,
Or else in gentle breasts to moove sterne Warre,
But to have strifes appeased
Where Beauties eye should make the deepest scarre.
And yet when all things are confest,
Never was any soule distrest,
Like my poore amorous Maide.
No soule so comfortlesse, etc.
There was a time, when once I was held deare,
Blest were those happy dayes:
Numberlesse Love suites whispred in mine eare,
All of faire hope, but none of desperate feare;
And all sung Beauties praise.
Why should blacke cloudes obscure so bright a cleare?
And why should others swimme in joy,
And no heart drowned in annoy,
Like mine poore amorous Maide?
No soule so comfortlesse, etc.
Well may I curse that sad and dismall day,
When in unkinde exchange;
Another Beauty did my hopes betray,
And stole my dearest Love from me away:
Which I thought very strange,
Considering vowes were past, and what else may
Assure a loyall Maidens trust.
Never was Lover so unjust,
Like mine poore amorous Maide.
No soule so comfortlesse, etc.
Come then kinde Death, and finish all my woes,
Thy helpe is now the best.
Come lovely Nymphes, lend hands mine eyes to close,
And let him wander wheresoere he goes,
Vaunting of mine unrest;
Beguiling others by his treacherous showes.
Grave on my Monument,
No true love was worse spent,
Then mine poore amorous Maide.
No soule so comfortlesse, etc.
So did Madam Lauretta finish her Song, which being well observed
of them all, was understood by some in divers kinds: some alluding
it one way, and others according to their owne apprehensions, but
all consenting that both it was an excellent Ditty, well devised,
and most sweetly sung. Afterward, lighted Torches being brought,
because the Stars had already richly spangled all the heavens, and the
fit houre of rest approaching: the King commanded them all to their
Chambers, where we meane to leave them untill the next morning.
THE FOURTH DAY
WHEREIN ALL THE SEVERALL DESCOURSES, ARE UNDER THE GOVERNMENT OF
HONOURABLE PHILSTRATUS: AND CONCERNING SUCH
PERSONS, WHOSE LOVES HAVE HAD SUCCESSELESSE ENDING
Most worthy Ladies, I have alwayes heard, as well by the sayings
of the judecious, as also by mine owne observation and reading, that
the impetuous and violent windes of envy, do sildome blow turbulently,
but on the highest Towers and tops of the trees most eminently
advanced. Yet (in mine opinion) I have found my selfe much deceived;
because, by striving with my very uttermost endeavour, to shunne the
outrage of those implacable winds; I have laboured to go, not onely by
plaine and even pathes but likewise through the deepest vallies. As
very easily may be seene and observed in the reading of these few
small Novels, which I have written not only in our vulgar Florentine
prose, without any ambitious title: but also in a most humble stile,
so low and gentle as possibly I could. And although I have bene rudely
shaken, yea, almost halfe unrooted, by the extreame agitation of those
blustering winds, and torne in peeces by that base back-biter, Envy:
yet have I not (for all that) discontinued, or broken any part of mine
intended enterprize. Wherefore, I can sufficiently witnesse (by mine
owne comprehension) the saying so much observed by the wise, to be
most true: That nothing is without Envy in this world, but misery
onely.
But what shall I say to them, who take so great compassion on my
povertie, as they advise me to get some thing, whereon to make my
living? Assuredly, I know not what to say in this case, except by
due consideration made with my selfe, how they would answer me, if
necessitie should drive me to crave kindnesse of them;
questionlesse, they would then say: Goe, seeke comfort among thy
fables and follies.
But now it is time (bright beauties) to returne whence we parted,
and to follow our former order begun, because it may seeme we have
wandered too farre. By this time the Sun had chased the Starre-light
from the heavens, and the shadie moisture from the ground, when
Philostratus the King being risen, all the company arose likewise.
When being come into the goodly Garden, they spent the time in
varietie of sports, dining where they had supt the night before. And
after that the Sunne was at his highest, and they had refreshed
their spirits with a little slumbering, they sate downe (according
to custome) about the faire Fountaine. And then the King commanded
Madam Fiammettal that she should give beginning to the dayes Novels:
when she, without any longer delaying, began:
THE FOURTH DAY, THE FIRST NOVELL
WHEREIN IS DECLARED THE POWER OF LOVE, AND THEIR CRUILTY JUSTLY
REPREHENDED, WHO IMAGE TO MAKE THE VIGOUR THEREOF
CEASE, BY ABUSING OR KILLING ONE OF THE LOVERS
Tancrede, Prince of Salerne, caused the amorous friend of his
daughter to bee slaine, and sent her his heart in a cup of Gold: which
afterwards she steeped in an impoysoned water, and then drinking it,
