THE SIXTH STORY
[Day the Third]
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
Elisa having no more to say, the queen, after commending the sagacityof Il Zima, bade Fiammetta proceed with a story, who answered, allsmilingly, "Willingly, Madam," and began thus: "It behoveth somedeleto depart our city (which, like as it aboundeth in all things else, isfruitful in instances of every subject) and as Elisa hath done, torecount somewhat of the things that have befallen in other parts ofthe world; wherefore, passing over to Naples, I shall tell how one ofthose she-saints, who feign themselves so shy of love, was by theingenuity of a lover of hers brought to taste the fruits of love, ereshe had known its flowers; the which will at once teach youcircumspection in the things that may hap and afford you diversion ofthose already befallen.
In Naples, a very ancient city and as delightful as any in Italy ormaybe more so, there was once a young man, illustrious for nobility ofblood and noted for his much wealth, whose name was RicciardoMinutolo. Albeit he had to wife a very fair and lovesome young lady,he fell in love with one who, according to general opinion, faroverpassed in beauty all the other ladies of Naples. Her name wasCatella and she was the wife of another young gentleman of likecondition, hight Filippello Fighinolfi, whom, like a very virtuouswoman as she was, she loved and cherished over all. Ricciardo, then,loving this Catella and doing all those things whereby the love andfavour of a lady are commonly to be won, yet for all that availing notto compass aught of his desire, was like to despair; and unknowing orunable to rid him of his passion, he neither knew how to die nor didit profit him to live.
Abiding in this mind, it befell that he was one day urgently exhortedby certain ladies of his kinsfolk to renounce this passion of his,seeing he did but weary himself in vain, for that Catella had noneother good than Filippello, of whom she lived in such jealousy thatshe fancied every bird that flew through the air would take him fromher. Ricciardo, hearing of Catella's jealousy, forthright bethoughthimself how he might compass his wishes and accordingly proceeded tofeign himself in despair of her love and to have therefore set hismind upon another lady, for whose love he began to make a show ofjousting and tourneying and doing all those things which he had beenused to do for Catella; nor did he do this long before well nigh allthe Neapolitans, and among the rest the lady herself, were persuadedthat he no longer loved Catella, but was ardently enamoured of thissecond lady; and on this wise he persisted until it was so firmlybelieved not only of others, but of Catella herself, that the latterlaid aside a certain reserve with which she was wont to entreat him,by reason of the love he bore her, and coming and going, saluted himfamiliarly, neighbourwise, as she did others.
It presently befell that, the weather being warm, many companies ofladies and gentlemen went, according to the usance of the Neapolitans,to divert themselves on the banks of the sea and there to dine andsup, and Ricciardo, knowing Catella to be gone thither with hercompany, betook himself to the same place with his friends and wasreceived into Catella's party of ladies, after allowing himself to bemuch pressed, as if he had no great mind to abide there. The ladiesand Catella fell to rallying him upon his new love, and he, feigninghimself sore inflamed therewith, gave them the more occasion fordiscourse. Presently, one lady going hither and thither, as commonlyhappeneth in such places, and Catella being left with a few whereasRicciardo was, the latter cast at her a hint of a certain amour ofFilippello her husband, whereupon she fell into a sudden passion ofjealousy and began to be inwardly all afire with impatience to knowwhat he meant. At last, having contained herself awhile and beingunable to hold out longer, she besought Ricciardo, for that lady'ssake whom he most loved, to be pleased to make her clear[175] of thatwhich he had said of Filippello; whereupon quoth he, 'You conjure meby such a person that I dare not deny aught you ask me; wherefore I amready to tell it you, so but you promise me that you will never say aword thereof either to him or to any other, save whenas you shall byexperience 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.'
[Footnote 175: Or, in modern parlance, to enlighten her.]
The lady consented to that which he asked and swore to him never torepeat that which he should tell her, believing it the more to betrue. Then, withdrawing apart with her, so they might not be overheardof any, he proceeded to say thus: 'Madam, an I loved you as once Iloved, 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 ofdiscovering to you the whole truth. I know not if Filippello have evertaken umbrage at the love I bore you or have believed that I was everloved of you. Be this as it may, he hath never personally shown meaught thereof; but now, having peradventure awaited a time whenas hedeemed I should be less suspicious, it seemeth he would fain do untome 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 forsome little time past secretly solicited her with sundry messages, allof which I have known from herself, and she hath made answer thereuntoaccording as I have enjoined her. This very day, however, ere I camehither, I found in the house, in close conference with my wife, awoman whom I set down incontinent for that which she was, wherefore Icalled my wife and asked her what the woman wanted. Quoth she, "She isthe agent of Filippello, with whom thou hast saddled me, by dint ofmaking me answer him and give him hopes, and she saith that he wille'en know once for all what I mean to do and that, an I will, hewould contrive for me to be privily at a bagnio in this city; nay, ofthis he prayeth and importuneth me; and hadst thou not, I know notwhy, caused me keep this traffic with him, I would have rid myself ofhim after such a fashion that he should never more have looked whereasI might be." Thereupon meseemed this was going too far and that it wasno longer to be borne; and I bethought myself to tell it to you, soyou might know how he requiteth that entire fidelity of yours, wherebyaforetime I was nigh upon death. And so you shall not believe thisthat I tell you to be words and fables, but may, whenas you have amind thereto, openly both see and touch it, I caused my wife make thisanswer to her who awaited it, that she was ready to be at the bagnioin question to-morrow at none, whenas the folk sleep; with which thewoman took leave of her, very well pleased. Now methinketh not youbelieve that I will send my wife thither; but, were I in your place, Iwould contrive that he should find me there in the room of her hethinketh to meet, and whenas I had abidden with him awhile, I wouldgive him to know with whom he had been and render him such honourthereof as should beseem him; by which means methinketh you would dohim such a shame that the affront he would fain put upon yourself andupon me would at one blow be avenged.'
Catella, hearing this, without anywise considering who it was thatsaid it to her or suspecting his design, forthright, after the wont ofjealous folk, gave credence to his words and fell a-fitting to hisstory certain things that had already befallen; then, fired withsudden anger, she answered that she would certainly do as hecounselled,--it was no such great matter,--and that assuredly, ifFilippello came thither, she would do him such a shame that it shouldstill recur to his mind, as often as he saw a woman. Ricciardo, wellpleased at this and himseeming his device was a good one and in a fairway of success, confirmed her in her purpose with many other words andstrengthened her belief in his story, praying her, natheless, never tosay that she had heard it from him, the which she promised him on hertroth.
Next morning, Ricciardo betook himself to a good woman, who kept thebagnio he had named to Catella, and telling her what he purposed todo, prayed her to further him therein as most she might. The goodwoman, who was much beholden to him, answered that she would well andagreed with him what she should do and say. Now in the house
where thebagnio was she had a very dark chamber, for that no window gavethereon by which the light might enter. This chamber she made readyand spread a bed there, as best she might, wherein Ricciardo, as soonas he had dined, laid himself and proceeded to await Catella. Thelatter, having heard Ricciardo's words and giving more credencethereto than behoved her, returned in the evening, full of despite, toher house, whither Filippello also returned and being by chance fullof other thought, maybe did not show her his usual fondness. When shesaw this, her suspicions rose yet higher and she said in herself,'Forsooth, his mind is occupied with yonder lady with whom he thinkethto take his pleasure to-morrow; but of a surety this shall not come topass.' An in this thought she abode well nigh all that night,considering how she should bespeak him, whenas she should be with him[in the bagnio].
What more [need I say?] The hour of none come, she took herwaiting-woman and without anywise changing counsel, repaired to thebagnio that Ricciardo had named to her, and there finding the goodwoman, asked her if Filippello had been there that day, whereuponquoth the other, who had been duly lessoned by Ricciardo, 'Are you thelady that should come to speak with him?' 'Ay am I,' answered Catella.'Then,' said the woman, 'get you in to him.' Catella, who went seekingthat which she would fain not have found, caused herself to be broughtto the chamber where Ricciardo was and entering with covered head,locked herself in. Ricciardo, seeing her enter, rose joyfully to hisfeet and catching her in his arms, said softly, 'Welcome, my soul!'Whilst she, the better to feign herself other than she was, clippedhim 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 verydark, wherewith each of them was well pleased, nor for long abidingthere did the eyes recover more power. Ricciardo carried her to thebed and there, without speaking, lest their voices should betray them,they abode a long while, to the greater delight and pleasance of theone party than the other.
But presently, it seeming to Catella time to vent the resentment shefelt, she began, all afire with rage and despite, to speak thus,'Alas, how wretched is women's lot and how ill bestowed the love thatmany of them bear their husbands! I, unhappy that I am, these eightyears 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, wickedand perverse man that thou art! Now with whom thinkest thou to havebeen? Thou hast been with her whom thou hast too long beguiled withthy false blandishments, making a show of love to her and beingenamoured elsewhere. I am Catella, not Ricciardo's wife, disloyaltraitor 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 Imay shame thee as thou deservest, scurvy discredited cur that thouart! Alack, woe is me! To whom have I borne so much love these manyyears? To this disloyal dog, who, thinking to have a strange woman inhis arms, hath lavished on me more caresses and more fondnesses inthis little while I have been here with him than in all the rest ofthe time I have been his. Thou hast been brisk enough to-day, renegadecur that thou art, that usest at home to show thyself so feeble andforspent and impotent; but, praised be God, thou hast tilled thine ownfield and not, as thou thoughtest, that of another. No wonder thoucamest not anigh me yesternight; thou lookedst to discharge thee ofthy 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 itsdue channel. Why answerest thou not, wicked man? Why sayst thou notsomewhat? Art thou grown dumb, hearing me? Cock's faith, I know notwhat hindereth me from thrusting my hands into thine eyes and tearingthem out for thee. Thou thoughtest to do this treason very secretly;but, perdie, one knoweth as much as another; thou hast not availed tocompass thine end; I have had better beagles at thy heels than thouthoughtest.'
Ricciardo inwardly rejoiced at these words and without making anyreply, clipped her and kissed her and fondled her more than ever;whereupon quoth she, following on her speech, 'Ay, thou thinkest tocajole me with thy feigned caresses, fashious dog that thou art, andto appease and console me; but thou art mistaken; I shall never becomforted for this till I have put thee to shame therefor in thepresence of all our friends and kinsmen and neighbours. Am I not asfair as Ricciardo's wife, thou villain? Am I not as good agentlewoman? Why dost thou not answer, thou sorry dog? What hath shemore than I? Keep thy distance; touch me not; thou hast done enoughfeats of arms for to-day. Now thou knowest who I am, I am well assuredthat all thou couldst do would be perforce; but, so God grant megrace, I will yet cause thee suffer want thereof, and I know not whathindereth me from sending for Ricciardo, who hath loved me more thanhimself and could never boast that I once even looked at him; nor knowI what harm it were to do it. Thou thoughtest to have his wife hereand it is as if thou hadst had her, inasmuch as it is none of thyfault that the thing hath miscarried; wherefore, were I to havehimself, thou couldst not with reason blame me.'
Brief, many were the lady's words and sore her complaining. However,at last, Ricciardo, bethinking himself that, an he let her go in thatbelief, much ill might ensue thereof, determined to discover himselfand undeceive her; wherefore, catching her in his arms and holding herfast, so she might not get away, he said, 'Sweet my soul, be notangered; that which I could not have of you by simply loving you, Lovehath taught me to obtain by practice; and I am your Ricciardo.'Catella, hearing this and knowing him by the voice, would have thrownherself incontinent out of bed, but could not; whereupon she offeredto cry out; but Ricciardo stopped her mouth with one hand and said,'Madam, this that hath been may henceforth on nowise be undone, thoughyou should cry all the days of your life; and if you cry out or causethis ever anywise to be known of any one, two things will comethereof; the one (which should no little concern you) will be thatyour honour and fair fame will be marred, for that, albeit you mayavouch that I brought you hither by practice, I shall say that it isnot true, nay, that I caused you come hither for monies and gifts thatI promised you, whereof for that I gave you not so largely as youhoped, you waxed angry and made all this talk and this outcry; and youknow that folk are more apt to credit ill than good, wherefore I shallmore readily be believed than you. Secondly, there will ensue thereofa mortal enmity between your husband and myself, and it may as wellhappen that I shall kill him as he me, in which case you are neverafter like to be happy or content. Wherefore, heart of my body, go notabout at once to dishonour yourself and to cast your husband andmyself into strife and peril. You are not the first woman, nor willyou be the last, who hath been deceived, nor have I in this practisedupon you to bereave you of your own, but for the exceeding love thatI bear you and am minded ever to bear you and to be your most humbleservant. And although it is long since I and all that I possess or canor am worth have been yours and at your service, henceforward Ipurpose that they shall be more than ever so. Now, you are welladvised in other things and so I am certain you will be in this.'
Catella, what while Ricciardo spoke thus, wept sore, but, albeit shewas sore provoked and complained grievously, nevertheless, her reasonallowed so much force to his true words that she knew it to bepossible that it should happen as he said; wherefore quoth she,'Ricciardo, I know not how God will vouchsafe me strength to sufferthe affront and the cheat thou hast put upon me; I will well to makeno outcry here whither my simplicity and overmuch jealousy havebrought me; but of this be assured that I shall never be content tillone 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 thoudesiredst and hast tumbled me to thy heart's content; it is time toleave me; let me go, I prithee.'
Ricciardo, seeing her mind yet overmuch disordered, had laid it toheart never to leave her till he had gotten his pardon of her;wherefore, studying with the softest words to appease her, he sobespoke and so entreated and so conjured her that she was prevailedupon to make peace with him, and of like accord they abode together agreat while thereafter in the utmost delight. Moreover, Catella,having thus learned how much more savoury were the lover's kisses thanthose of the husband and her former
rigour being changed into kindlove-liking for Ricciardo, from that day forth she loved him verytenderly and thereafter, ordering themselves with the utmostdiscretion, they many a time had joyance of their loves. God grant usto enjoy ours!"
The Decameron of Giovanni Boccaccio Page 31
