putting on his Garments, tooke the dead body upon his shoulders, and
carried it to the Mothers doore, where he left it, and afterward
returned to his owne house againe.
When day light was come, and the dead body found lying in the Porch,
it moved very much greefe and amazement, considering, he had bin seene
the day before, in perfect health to outward appearance. Nor neede
we to urge any question of his Mothers sorrow upon this strange
accident, who, causing his body to be carefully searched, without
any blow, bruise, wound, or hurt uppon it, the Physitians could not
give any other opinion, but that some inward conceyte of greefe had
caused his death, as it did indeed, and no way otherwise. To the
cheefe Church was the dead body carried, to be generally seene of
all the people, his Mother and Friends weeping heavily by it, as
many more did the like beside, because he was beloved of every one. In
which time of universall mourning, the honest man (in whose house he
dyed) spake thus to his wife: Disguise thy selfe in some decent
manner, and go to the Church, where (as I heare) they have laide the
body of Jeronimo. Crowde in amongest the Women, as I will do the
like amongst the men, to heare what opinion passeth of his death,
and whether we shall be scandalized thereby, or no.
Silvestra, who was now become full of pitty too late, quickely
condiscended, as desiring to see him dead, whom sometime she dearly
affected in life. And being come to the Church, it is a matter to be
admired, if advisedly we consider on the powerfull working of love;
for the heart of this woman, which the prosperous fortune of
Jeronimo could not pierce, now in his wofull death split in sunder;
and the ancient sparks of love so long concealed in the embers,
brake foorth into a furious flame; and being violently surprized
with extraordinary compassion, no sooner did she come neere to the
dead body, where many stood weeping round about it; but strangely
shrieking out aloud, she fell downe upon it: and even as extreamity of
greefe finished his life, so did it hers in the same manner. For she
moved neither hand nor foot, because her vitall powers had quite
forsaken her. The women labouring to comfort her by all best meanes
they could devise; did not take any knowledge of her, by reason of her
disguised garments: but finding her dead indeed, and knowing her
also to be Silvestra, being overcome with unspeakable compassion,
and danted with no meane admiration, they stood strangely gazing
each upon other.
Wonderfull crowds of people were then in the Church; and this
accident being now noysed among the men, at length it came to her
Husbands understanding, whose greefe was so great, as it exceeded
all capacity of expression. Afterward he declared what had hapned in
his house the precedent night, according as his wife had truly related
to him, with all the speeches, which passed between Silvestra and
Jeronimo; by which discourse, they generally conceived, the certaine
occasion of both their sodaine deaths, which moved them to great
compassion. Then taking the yong womans body, and ordering it as a
coarse ought to be: they layed it on the same Biere by the yong man,
and when they had sufficiently sorrowed for their disastrous
fortune, they gave them honourable buriall both in. one grave. So,
this poore couple, whom love (in life) could not joyne together, death
did unite in an inseparable conjunction.
THE FOURTH DAY, THE NINTH NOVELL
WHEREBY APPEARETH, WHAT ILL SUCCESSE ATTENDETH ON THEM,
THAT LOVE CONTRARY TO REASON: IN OFFERING INJURIE BOTH TO
FRIENDSHIP AND MARRIAGE TOGETHER
Messer Guiglielmo of Rossiglione having slaine Messer Guiglielmo
Guardastagno, whom hee imagined to love his wife, gave her his heart
to eate. Which she knowing afterward, threw her selfe out of an high
window to the ground; and being dead, was then buried with her friend.
When the Novell of Madam Neiphila was ended, which occasioned much
compassion in the whole assembly; the King who wold not infringe the
priviledge granted to Dioneus, no more remaining to speake but they
two, began thus. I call to minde (gentle Ladies) a Novell, which
(seeing we are so farre entred into the lamentable accidents of
successelesse love), will urge you unto as much commisseration, as
that so lately reported to you. And so much the rather, because the
person of whom we are to speake, were of respective quality; which
approveth the accident to be more cruell, then those whereof we have
formerly discoursed.
According as the people of Provence do report, there dwelt
sometime in that jurisdiction, two noble Knights, each well
possessed of Castles and followers; the one being named Messer
Guiglielmo de Rossiglione, and the other Messer Guiglielmo
Guardastagno. Now, in regard that they were both valiant Gentlemen,
and singularly expert in actions of Armes; they loved together the
more mutually, and held it as a kinde of custome to be seene in all
Tiltes and Tournaments, or any other exercises of Armes, going
commonly alike in their wearing garments. And although their Castles
stood about five miles distant each from other, yet were they dayly
conversant together, as very loving and intimate friends. The one of
them, I meane Messer Guiglielmo de Rossilione, had to wife a very
gallant beautifull Lady, of whom Messer Guardastagno (forgetting the
lawes of respect and loyall friendship) became overfondly enamoured,
expressing the same by such outward meanes, that the Lady her selfe
tooke knowledge thereof, and not with any dislike, as it seemed, but
rather lovingly entertained; yet she grew not so forgetfull of her
honour and estimation, as the other did of faith to his friend.
With such indiscretion was this idle love carried, that whether it
sorted to effect, or no, I know not: but the husband perceived some
such maner of behaviour, as he could not easily digest, nor thought it
fitting to endure. Whereuppon, the league of friendly amity so long
continued, began to faile in very strange fashion, and became
converted into deadly hatred: which yet he very cunningly concealed,
bearing an outward shew of constant friendship still, but (in his
heart) he had vowed the death of Guardastagno. Nothing wanted, but
by what meanes it might best be effected, which fell out to be in this
manner. A publicke joust or Tourney, was proclaimed by sound of
Trumpet throughout all France, wherewith immediately, Messer
Guiglielmo Rossiglione acquainted Messer Guardastagno, entreating
him that they might further conferre theron together, and for that
purpose to come and visit him, if he intended to have any hand in
the businesse. Guardastagno being exceeding glad of this accident,
which gave him liberty to see his Mistresse, sent answer backe by
the messenger, that on the morrow at night, he would come and sup with
Rossiglione; who upon this reply, projected to himselfe in what
maner to kill him.
On the morrow, after dinner, arming himselfe, and two more of his
servants with him, such as he had solemnly sworne to secrecy, he
mounted on horsebacke, and rode on about a mile from his owne
Castle, where he lay closely ambushed in a Wood, through which
Guardastagno must needs passe. After he had stayed there some two
houres space and more, he espyed him come riding with two of his
attendants, all of them being unarmed, as no way distrusting any
such intended treason. So soone as he was come to the place, where
he had resolved to do the deed; hee rushed forth of the ambush, and
having a sharpe Lance readily charged in his rest, ran mainly at
him, saying: False villaine, thou art dead. Guardastagno, having
nothing wherewith to defend himselfe, nor his servants able to give
him any succour; being pierced quite through the body with the
Lance, downe he fell dead to the ground, and his men (fearing the like
misfortune to befall them) gallopped mainely backe againe to their
Lords Castle, not knowing them who had thus murthered their Master, by
reason of their armed disguises, which in those martiall times were
usually worne.
Messer Guiglielmo Rossiglione, alighting from his horse, and
having a keene knife ready drawne in his hand; opened therewith the
brest of dead Guardastagno, and taking foorth his heart with his
owne hands, wrapped it in the Bandelote belonging to his Lance,
commanding one of his men to the charge thereof, and never to disclose
the deed. So, mounting on horse-backe againe, and darke night
drawing on apace, he returned home to his Castle. The Lady, who had
heard before of Guardastagnoes intent, to suppe there that night,
and (perhaps) being earnestly desirous to see him; marvailing at his
so long tarrying, saide to her husband: Beleeve me Sir (quoth she)
me thinkes it is somewhat strange, that Messer Guiglielmo Guardastagno
delayes his comming so long, he never used to do so till now. I
received tidings from him wife (saide he) that he cannot be here
till to morrow. Whereat the Lady appearing to be displeased, concealed
it to herselfe, and used no more words.
Rossiglione leaving his Lady, went into the Kitchin, where calling
for the Cooke, he delivered him the heart, saying: Take this heart
of a wilde Boare, which it was my good happe to kill this day, and
dresse it in the daintiest manner thou canst devise to do; which being
so done, when I am set at the Table, send it to me in a silver dish,
with sauce beseeming so dainty a morsell. The Cooke tooke the heart,
beleeving it to be no otherwise, then as his Lord had saide: and using
his utmost skill in dressing it, did divide it into artificiall
small slices, and made it most pleasing to be tasted. When supper time
was come, Rossiglione sate downe at the table with his Lady: but he
had little or no appetite at all to eate, the wicked deed which he had
done so perplexed his soule, and made him to sit very strangely
musing. At length, the Cooke brought in the dainty dish, which he
himselfe setting before his wife, began to finde fault with his owne
lacke of stomacke, yet provoked her with many faire speeches, to
tast the Cooks cunning in so rare a dish.
The Lady having a good appetite indeede, when she had first tasted
it, fed afterward so heartily thereon, that she left very little, or
none at all remaining. When he perceived that all was eaten, he said
unto her: Tell me Madame, how you do like this delicate kinde of
meate? In good faith Sir (quoth she) in all my life I was never better
pleased. Now trust mee Madame, answered the Knight, I do verily
beleeve you, nor do I greatly wonder thereat, if you like that dead,
which you loved so dearly being alive. When she heard these words, a
long while she sate silert, but afterward saide. I pray you tell me
Sir; what meate was this which you have made me to eate? Muse no
longer (saide he) for therein I will quickly resolve thee. Thou hast
eaten the heart of Messer Guiglielmo Guardastagno, whose love was so
deare and precious to thee, thou false, perfidious, and disloyall
Lady: I pluckt it out of his vile body with mine owne hands, and
made my Cooke to dresse it for thy diet.
Poore Lady, how strangely was her soule afflicted, hearing these
harsh and unpleasing speeches? Teares flowed aboundantly from her
faire eies, and like tempestuous windes embowelled in the earth, so
did vehement sighes breake mainly from her heart, and after a
tedious time of silence, she spake in this manner. My Lord and
husband, you have done a most disloyall and damnable deede,
misguided by your owne wicked jealous opinion, and not by any just
cause given you, to murther so worthy and Noble a Gentleman. I protest
unto you upon my soule, which I wish to be confounded in eternall
perdition, if ever I were unchaste to your bed, or allowed him any
other favour, but what might well become so honourable a friend. And
seeing my body hath bene made the receptacle for so precious a kinde
of foode, as the heart of so valiant and courteous a Knight, such as
was the Noble Guardastagno; never shall any other foode hereafter,
have entertainment there, or my selfe live the Wife to so bloody a
Husband.
So starting up from the Table, and stepping unto a great gazing
Window, the Casement whereof standing wide open behinde her: violently
shee leaped out thereat, which beeing an huge height in distance
from the ground, the fall did not onely kill her, but also shivered
her body into many peeces. Which Rossiglione perceiving, hee stoode
like a body without a soule, confounded with the killing of so deare a
friend, losse of a chaste and honourable wife, and all through his
owne overcredulous conceit.
Upon further conference with his private thoughts, and remorsefull
acknowledgement of his heinous offence, which repentance (too late)
gave him eyes now to see, though rashnesse before would not permit him
to consider; these two extreamities inlarged his dulled understanding.
First, he grew fearfull of the friends and followers to murthered
Guardastagno, as also the whole Country of Provence, in regard of
the peoples generall love unto him; which being two maine and
important motives, both to the detestation of so horrid an act, and
immediate severe revenge to succeede thereon: he made such provision
as best he could, and as so sodaine a warning would give leave, he Red
away secretly in the night season.
These unpleasing newes were soone spread abroad the next morning,
not only of the unfortunate accidents, but also of Rossiglions flight;
in regard whereof, the dead bodyes being found, and brought
together, as well by the people belonging to Guardastagno, as them
that attended on the Lady: they were layed in the Chappell of
Rossigliones Castle; where, after so much lamentation for so great a
misfortune to befall them, they were honourably enterred in one
faire Tombe, with excellent Verses engraven thereon, expressing both
their noble degree, and by what unhappy meanes, they chanced to have
buriall in that very place.
THE FOURTH DAY, THE TENTH NOVELL
WHEREIN IS DECLARED, THAT SOMETIME BY ADVENTUROUS ACCIDENT,
