if I finde it otherwise, expect such a sound payment, as thy knavery
justly deserveth, to make thee remember it all thy life time. The
contention ceassing for the night season, Messer Currado, who though
he had slept well, remained still discontented in his minde: arose
in the morning by breake of day, and puffing and blowing angerly,
called for his horses, commanding Chichibio to mount on one of them;
so riding on towards the River, where (earely every morning) he had
seene plenty of Cranes, he sayde to his man; We shall see anon
Sirra, whether thou or I lyed yesternight.
Chichibio perceiving, that his Masters anger was not (as yet)
asswaged, and now it stood him upon, to make good his lye; not knowing
how he should do it, rode after his Master, fearfully trembling all
the way. Gladly he would have made an escape, but hee could not by any
possible meanes, and on every side he looked about him, now before,
and after behinde, to espy any Cranes standing on both their legges,
which would have bin an ominous sight to him. But being come neere
to the River, he chanced to see (before any of the rest) upon the
banke thereof, about a dozen Cranes in number, each of them standing
but upon one legge, as they use to do when they are sleeping.
Whereupon, shewing them quickly to Messer Currado, he said. Now Sir
your selfe may see, whether I told you true yesternight, or no: I am
sure a Crane hath but one thigh, and one leg, as all here present
are apparant witnesses, and I have bin as good as my promise.
Messer Currado looking on the Cranes, and well understanding the
knavery of his man, replyed: Stay but a little while sirra, and I will
shew thee, that a Crane hath two thighes, and two legges. Then
riding somwhat neerer to them, he cryed out aloud, Shough, shough,
which caused them to set downe their other legs, and all fled away,
after they had made a few paces against the winde for their
mounting. So going unto Chichibio, he said: How now you lying Knave,
hath a Crane two legs, or no? Chichibio being well-neere at his wits
end, not knowing now what answer hee should make; but even as it
came sodainly into his minde, said: Sir, I perceive you are in the
right, and if you would have done as much yesternight, and had cryed
Shough, as here you did: questionlesse, the Crane would then have
set down the other legge, as these heere did: but if (as they) she had
fled away too, by that meanes you might have lost your Supper.
This sodaine and unexpected witty answere, comming from such a
logger-headed Lout, and so seasonably for his owne safety: was so
pleasing to Messer Currado, that he fell into a hearty laughter, and
forgetting all anger, saide. Chichibio, thou hast quit thy selfe well,
and to my contentment: albeit I advise thee, to teach mee no more such
trickes heereafter. Thus Chichibio, by his sodaine and merry answer,
escaped a sound beating, which (otherwise) his master had inflicted on
him.
THE SIXT DAY, THE FIFT NOVELL
WHEREBY MAY BEE OBSERVED, THAT SUCH AS WILL SPEAKE CONTEMPTIBLY OF
OTHERS, OUGHT (FIRST OF ALL) TO LOOKE
RESPECTIVELY ON THEIR OWNE IMPERFECTIONS
Messer Forese da Rabatte, and Maister Giotto, a Painter by his
profession, comming together from Mugello, scornfully reprehended
one another for their deformity of body.
So soone as Madame Neiphila sate silent (the Ladies having greatly
commended the pleasant answer of Chichibio) Pamphilus, by command from
the Queene, spake in this manner. Woorthy Ladies, it commeth to
passe oftentimes, that like as Fortune is observed divers wayes, to
hide under vile and contemptible Arts, the most great and
unvalewable treasures of vertue (as, not long since, was well
discoursed unto us by Madame Pampinea:) so in like manner hath
appeared; that Nature hath infused very singular spirits into most
mishapen and deformed bodies of men. As hath beene noted in two of our
owne Citizens, of whom I purpose to speake in fewe words. The one of
them was named Messer Forese de Rabatta, a man of little and low
person, but yet deformed in body, with a flat face, like a Terrier
or Beagle, as if no comparison (almost) could bee made more ugly.
But notwithstanding all this deformity, he was so singularly
experienced in the Lawes, that all men held him beyond any equall,
or rather reputed him as a Treasury of civill knowledge.
The other man, being named Giotto, had a spirit of so great
excellency, as there was not any particular thing in Nature, the
Mother and Worke-mistresse of all, by continuall motion of the
heavens; but hee by his pen and pensell could perfectly portrait;
shaping them all so truly alike and resemblable, that they were
taken for the reall matters indeede; and, whether they were present or
no, there was hardly any possibility of their distinguishing. So
that many times it happened, that by the variable devises he made, the
visible sence of men became deceived, in crediting those things to
be naturall, which were but meerly painted. By which meanes, hee
reduced that singular Art to light, which long time before had lyen
buried, under the grosse error of some; who, in the mysterie of
painting, delighted more to content the ignorant, then to please the
judicious understanding of the wise, he justly deserving thereby, to
be tearmed one of the Florentines most glorious lights. And so much
the rather, because he performed all his actions, in the true and
lowly spirit of humility: for while he lived, and was a Master in
his Art, above all other Painters: yet he refused any such title,
which shined the more majestically- in him, as appeared by such, who
knew Much lesse then he, or his Schollers either: yet his knowledge
was extreamly coveted among them.
Now, notwithstanding all this admirable excellency in him: he was
not (thereby) a jot the handsommer man (either in person or
countenance) then was our fore-named Lawyer Messer Forese, and
therefore my Novell concerneth them both. Understand then (faire
Assemblie) that the possessions and inheritances of Messer Forese
and Giotto, lay in Mugello; wherefore, when Holy-dayes were celebrated
by Order of Court, and in the Sommer time, upon the admittance of so
apt a vacation; Forese rode thither upon a very unsightly jade, such
as a man can sildome meet with worse. The like did Giotto the Painter,
as ill fitted every way as the other; and having dispatched their
busines there, they both returned backe towards Florence, neither of
them being able to boast, which was the best mounted.
Riding on a faire and softly pace, because their Horses could goe no
faster: and they being well entred into yeeres, it fortuned (as
oftentimes the like befalleth in Sommer) that a sodaine showre of
raine overtooke them; for avoyding whereof, they made all possible
haste to a poore Countreymans Cottage, familiarly knowne to them both.
Having continued there an indifferent while, and raine unlikely to
cease: to prevent allfurther protraction of time, and to arriveat
Florence in due season; they borrowed two old cloakes of the poore
man, of over-worn and ragged Country gray, as also two hoodes of the
like Complexion, (because the poore man had no better) which did
more mishape them, then their owne ugly deformity, and made them
notoriously flouted and scorned, by all that met or over-tooke them.
After they had ridden some distance of ground, much moyled and
bemyred with their shuffling jades, flinging the dirt every way
about them, that well they might be termed two filthy companions:
the raine gave over, and the evening looking somewhat cleare, they
began to confer familiarly together. Messer Forese, riding a lofty
French trot, everie step being ready to hoise him out of his saddle,
hearing Giottos discreete answers to every ydle question he made
(for indeede he was a very elegant speaker) began to peruse and
surveigh him, even from the foote to the head, as we use to say. And
perceiving him to be so greatly deformed, as no man could be worse, in
his opinion: without any consideration of his owne mishaping as bad,
or rather more unsightly then hee; in a scoffing laughing humour,
hee saide. Giotto, doest thou imagine, that a stranger, who had
never seene thee before, and should now happen into our companie,
would beleeve thee to bee the best Painter in the world, as indeede
thou art? Presently Giotto (without any further meditation) returned
him this answere. Signior Forese, I think he might then beleeve it,
when (beholding you) hee could imagine that you had learned your
A. B. C. Which when Forese heard, he knew his owne error, and saw his
payment returned in such Coine, as he sold his Wares for.
THE SIXT DAY, THE SIXTH NOVEL
Michiele Scalza proves to some young men that the family of the
Baronchi was the most noble in the world, for which he gets a good
supper.
Michiele Scalza, a young Florentine, had so facetious and productive
a genius that the principal youth of Florence took a great deal of
pleasure in and thought it an honour to enjoy his company. Being one
day at Mont Ughi with many gentlemen, the discussion happened to run
upon the antiquity and nobility of the Florentine families. Some
gave the preference to that of the Uberti, others to that of the
Lamberti, everyone speaking, as people ordinarily do, according to
their different humours and interests.
When Scalza heard what they all had to say, he smiling cried: "You
are none of you in the right. I will maintain the family of the
Baronchi to be the most ancient and noble not only in Florence but
also in the whole world. All philosophers and such as can be
supposed to know that family,. I'm confident, are of my opinion; and
that you may not mistake my meaning I must tell you I mean the
Baronchi our neighbours, who dwell near Santa Maria Maggiore." They
all presently fell a-laughing, and asked him whether he took them
for people of the other world that they should not know the Baronchi
as well as he. "Gentlemen," says Scalza, "I am so far from taking
you for people of the other world that I will lay any one of you a
good supper enough for six on what I affirm, and be judged by whom you
please."
The wager was laid, and they all agreed to leave the decision to
Pietro di Florentino, who was then present. Everyone expected Scalza
would lose, and began to laugh at him beforehand. He that was to
determine the matter, being very judicious, first heard the reasons of
the opposite party, and then asked Scalza how he could prove his
assertion.
"I will prove it so sufficiently," says he, that you shall all be
thoroughly convinced. Gentlemen," says he, "by how much a family is
most ancient by so much it is most noble. The family of the Baronchi
is the most ancient in Florence, ergo it is the most noble. I have
nothing, then, to prove but the antiquity of the Baronchi. This will
appear in that Prometheus made them at the time that he first began to
learn to paint, and made others after he was master of his art. To
convince you of this, do but examine the figures of the one and the
other: you'll find art and proportion in the composition of the one,
whereas the others are but rough-drawn and imperfect. Among the
Baronchi you'll meet with one with a long narrow face, another with
a prodigiously broad one; one is flat-nosed, another has a nose that
measures an ell; one has a long chin and jaws like an ass, another has
his short and flat, and is monkey-faced. Nay, there are some of them
that have but one eye either larger or lower than the others have.
In a word, their faces for all the world resemble such as children
make when they first begin to draw. Prometheus, you will allow, must
be no great master when he made these figures, as I told you before;
and consequently they must be more noble as they are more ancient."
So diverting an argument made them all to laugh heartily. The
representation he gave of the Baronchi was so ust and natural that
they all agreed he had won: and nothing was heard for a full quarter
of an hour but "Scalza has won!" and "The Baronchi are the most
ancient and noble family in all Florence!"
THE SIXT DAY, THE SEVENTH NOVELL
WHEREIN IS DECLARED, OF WHAT WORTH IT IS TO CONFESSE
TRUETH, WITH A FACETIOUS AND WITTY EXCUSE
Madam Philippa, being accused by her Husband Rinaldo de Pugliese,
because he tooke her in Adulterie, with a yong Gentleman named
Lazarino de Guazzagliotri: caused her to bee cited before the Judge.
From whom she delivered her selfe, by a sodaine, witty, and pleasant
answer, and moderated a severe strict Statute, formerly made against
women.
After that Madame Fiammetta had given over speaking, and all the
Auditory had sufficiently applauded the Schollers honest revenge,
the Queene enjoyned Philostratus, to proceede on next with his Novell,
which caused him to begin thus. Beleeve me Ladies, it is an
excellent and most commendable thing, to speak well, and to all
purposes: but I hold it a matter of much greater worth, to know how to
do it, and when necessity doth most require it. Which a Gentlewoman
(of whom I am now to speake) was so well enstructed in, as not onely
it yeelded the hearers mirthfull contentment, but likewise delivered
her from the danger of death, as (in few words) you shal heare
related.
In the Citie of Pirato, there was an Edict or Statute, no lesse
blameworthy (to speake uprightly) then most severe and cruell, which
(without making any distinction) gave strict command; That everie
Woman should be burned with fire, who husband found her in the acte of
Adultery, with any secret or familiar friend, as one deserving to
bee thus abandoned, like such as prostituted their bodies to publike
sale or hire. During the continuance of this sharpe Edict, it fortuned
that a Gentlewoman, who was named Phillippa, was found in her
Chamber one night, in the armes of a yong Gentleman of the same
City, named Lazarino de Guazzagliotri, and by her owne husband,
