THE FOURTH STORY
[Day the Tenth]
MESSER GENTILE DE' CARISENDI, COMING FROM MODONA, TAKETH FORTH OF THE SEPULCHRE A LADY WHOM HE LOVETH AND WHO HATH BEEN BURIED FOR DEAD. THE LADY, RESTORED TO LIFE, BEARETH A MALE CHILD AND MESSER GENTILE RESTORETH HER AND HER SON TO NICCOLUCCIO CACCIANIMICO, HER HUSBAND
It seemed to all a marvellous thing that a man should be lavish of hisown blood and they declared Nathan's liberality to have verilytranscended that of the King of Spain and the Abbot of Cluny. But,after enough to one and the other effect had been said thereof, theking, looking towards Lauretta, signed to her that he would have hertell, whereupon she straightway began, "Young ladies, magnificent andgoodly are the things that have been recounted, nor meseemeth is thereaught left unto us who have yet to tell, wherethrough we may range astory-telling, so throughly have they all[447] been occupied with theloftiness of the magnificences related, except we have recourse to theaffairs of love, which latter afford a great abundance of matter fordiscourse on every subject; wherefore, at once on this account and forthat the theme is one to which our age must needs especially inclineus, it pleaseth me to relate to you an act of magnanimity done by alover, which, all things considered, will peradventure appear to younowise inferior to any of those already set forth, if it be true thattreasures are lavished, enmities forgotten and life itself, nay, whatis far more, honour and renown, exposed to a thousand perils, so wemay avail to possess the thing beloved.
[Footnote 447: _i.e._ all sections of the given theme.]
There was, then, in Bologna, a very noble city of Lombardy, agentleman very notable for virtue and nobility of blood, called MesserGentile Carisendi, who, being young, became enamoured of a noble ladycalled Madam Catalina, the wife of one Niccoluccio Caccianimico; andfor that he was ill repaid of his love by the lady, being namedprovost of Modona, he betook himself thither, as in despair of her.Meanwhile, Niccoluccio being absent from Bologna and the lady having,for that she was with child, gone to abide at a country house she hadmaybe three miles distant from the city, she was suddenly seized witha grievous fit of sickness,[448] which overcame her with such violencethat it extinguished in her all sign of life, so that she was evenadjudged dead of divers physicians; and for that her nearest kinswomendeclared themselves to have had it from herself that she had not beenso long pregnant that the child could be fully formed, without givingthemselves farther concern, they buried her, such as she was, aftermuch lamentation, in one of the vaults of a neighbouring church.
[Footnote 448: Lit. accident (_accidente_).]
The thing was forthright signified by a friend of his to MesserGentile, who, poor as he had still been of her favour, grieved soretherefor and ultimately said in himself, 'Harkye, Madam Catalina, thouart dead, thou of whom, what while thou livedst, I could never availto have so much as a look; wherefore, now thou canst not defendthyself, needs must I take of thee a kiss or two, all dead as thouart.' This said, he took order so his going should be secret and itbeing presently night, he mounted to horse with one of his servantsand rode, without halting, till he came whereas the lady was buriedand opened the sepulchre with all despatch. Then, entering therein, helaid himself beside her and putting his face to hers, kissed her againand again with many tears. But presently,--as we see men's appetitesnever abide content within any limit, but still desire farther, andespecially those of lovers,--having bethought himself to tarry thereno longer, he said, 'Marry, now that I am here, why should I not touchher somedele on the breast? I may never touch her more, nor have Iever yet done so.' Accordingly, overcome with this desire, he put hishand into her bosom and holding it there awhile, himseemed he felt herheart beat somewhat. Thereupon, putting aside all fear, he sought morediligently and found that she was certainly not dead, scant and feebleas he deemed the life [that lingered in her;] wherefore, with the helpof his servant, he brought her forth of the tomb, as softliest hemight, and setting her before him on his horse, carried her privily tohis house in Bologna.
There was his mother, a worthy and discreet gentlewoman, and she,after she had heard everything at large from her son, moved tocompassion, quietly addressed herself by means of hot baths and greatfires to recall the strayed life to the lady, who, coming presently toherself, heaved a great sigh and said, 'Ah me, where am I?' To whichthe good lady replied, 'Be of good comfort; thou art in safety.' MadamCatalina, collecting herself, looked about her and knew not arightwhere she was; but, seeing Messer Gentile before her, she was filledwith wonderment and besought his mother to tell her how she camethither; whereupon Messer Gentile related to her everything in order.At this she was sore afflicted, but presently rendered him such thanksas she might and after conjured him, by the love he had erst borne herand of his courtesy, that she might not in his house suffer at hishands aught that should be anywise contrary to her honour and that ofher husband and that, as soon as the day should be come, he wouldsuffer her return to her own house. 'Madam,' answered Messer Gentile,'whatsoever may have been my desire of time past, I purpose not,either at this present or ever henceforth, (since God hath vouchsafedme this grace that He hath restored you to me from death to life, andthat by means of the love I have hitherto borne you,) to use youeither here or elsewhere otherwise than as a dear sister; but this myservice that I have done you to-night meriteth some recompense;wherefore I would have you deny me not a favour that I shall ask you.'
The lady very graciously replied that she was ready to do his desire,so but she might and it were honourable. Then said he, 'Madam, yourkinsfolk and all the Bolognese believe and hold you for certain to bedead, wherefore there is no one who looketh for you more at home, andtherefore I would have you of your favour be pleased to abide quietlyhere with my mother till such time as I shall return from Modona,which will be soon. And the reason for which I require you of this isthat I purpose to make a dear and solemn present of you to yourhusband in the presence of the most notable citizens of this place.'The lady, confessing herself beholden to the gentleman and that hisrequest was an honourable one, determined to do as he asked, how muchsoever she desired to gladden her kinsfolk of her life,[449] and soshe promised it to him upon her faith. Hardly had she made an end ofher reply, when she felt the time of her delivery to be come and notlong after, being lovingly tended of Messer Gentile's mother, she gavebirth to a goodly male child, which manifold redoubled his gladnessand her own. Messer Gentile took order that all things needful shouldbe forthcoming and that she should be tended as she were his properwife and presently returned in secret to Modona. There, having servedthe term of his office and being about to return to Bologna, he tookorder for the holding of a great and goodly banquet at his house onthe morning he was to enter the city, and thereto he bade manygentlemen of the place, amongst whom was Niccoluccio Caccianimico.Accordingly, when he returned and dismounted, he found them allawaiting him, as likewise the lady, fairer and sounder than ever, andher little son in good case, and with inexpressible joy seating hisguests at table, he let serve them magnificently with various meats.
[Footnote 449: _i.e._ with news of her life.]
Whenas the repast was near its end, having first told the lady what hemeant to do and taken order with her of the course that she shouldhold, he began to speak thus: 'Gentlemen, I remember to have heardwhiles that there is in Persia a custom and to my thinking a pleasantone, to wit, that, whenas any is minded supremely to honour a friendof his, he biddeth him to his house and there showeth him the thing,be it wife or mistress or daughter or whatsoever else, he holdeth mostdear, avouching that, like as he showeth him this, even so, an hemight, would he yet more willingly show him his very heart; whichcustom I purpose to observe in Bologna. You, of your favour, havehonoured my banquet with your presence, and I in turn mean to honouryou, after the Persian fashion, by showing you the most precious thingI have or may ever have in the world. But, ere I proceed to do this, Ipray you tell me what you deem of a doubt[450] which I shall broach toyou and which is this. A certain person hath in hi
s house a veryfaithful and good servant, who falleth grievously sick, whereupon theformer, without awaiting the sick man's end, letteth carry him intothe middle street and hath no more heed of him. Cometh a stranger,who, moved to compassion of the sick man, carrieth him off to his ownhouse and with great diligence and expense bringeth him again to hisformer health. Now I would fain know whether, if he keep him and makeuse of his services, his former master can in equity complain of orblame the second, if, he demanding him again, the latter refuse torestore him.'
[Footnote 450: _Dubbio_, _i.e._ a doubtful case or question.]
The gentlemen, after various discourse among themselves, concurringall in one opinion, committed the response to NiccoluccioCaccianimico, for that he was a goodly and eloquent speaker; whereuponthe latter, having first commended the Persian usage, declared that heand all the rest were of opinion that the first master had no longerany right in his servant, since he had, in such a circumstance, notonly abandoned him, but cast him away, and that, for the kind officesdone him by the second, themseemed the servant was justly become his;wherefore, in keeping him, he did the first no hurt, no violence, nounright whatsoever. The other guests at table (and there were menthere of worth and worship) said all of one accord that they held tothat which had been answered by Niccoluccio; and Messer Gentile, wellpleased with this response and that Niccoluccio had made it, avouchedhimself also to be of the same opinion. Then said he, 'It is now timethat I honour you according to promise,' and calling two of hisservants, despatched them to the lady, whom he had let magnificentlydress and adorn, praying her be pleased to come gladden the companywith her presence. Accordingly, she took her little son, who was veryhandsome, in her arms and coming into the banqueting-hall, attended bytwo serving-men seated herself, as Messer Gentile willed it, by theside of a gentleman of high standing. Then said he, 'Gentlemen, thisis the thing which I hold and purpose to hold dearer than any other;look if it seem to you that I have reason to do so.'
The guests, having paid her the utmost honour, commending her amainand declaring to Messer Gentile that he might well hold her dear, fellto looking upon her; and there were many there who had avouched her tobe herself,[451] had they not held her for dead. But Niccoluccio gazedupon her above all and unable to contain himself, asked her, (MesserGentile having withdrawn awhile,) as one who burned to know who shewas, if she were a Bolognese lady or a foreigner. The lady, seeingherself questioned of her husband, hardly restrained herself fromanswering; but yet, to observe the appointed ordinance, she held herpeace. Another asked her if the child was hers and a third if she wereMesser Gentile's wife or anywise akin to him; but she made them noreply. Presently, Messer Gentile coming up, one of his guests said tohim, 'Sir, this is a fair creature of yours, but she seemeth to usmute; is she so?' 'Gentlemen,' replied he, 'her not having spoken atthis present is no small proof of her virtue.' And the other said,'Tell us, then, who she is.' Quoth Messer Gentile, 'That will Igladly, so but you will promise me that none, for aught that I shallsay, will budge from his place till such time as I shall have made anend of my story.'
[Footnote 451: _i.e._ who would have recognized her as MadamCatalina.]
All promised this and the tables being presently removed, MesserGentile, seating himself beside the lady, said, 'Gentlemen, this ladyis that loyal and faithful servant, of whom I questioned you awhileagone and who, being held little dear of her folk and so, as a thingwithout worth and no longer useful, cast out into the midward of thestreet, was by me taken up; yea, by my solicitude and of my handiworkI brought her forth of the jaws of death, and God, having regard to mygood intent, hath caused her, by my means, from a frightful corpsebecome thus beautiful. But, that you may more manifestly apprehend howthis betided me, I will briefly declare it to you.' Then, beginningfrom his falling enamoured of her, he particularly related to themthat which had passed until that time, to the great wonderment of thehearers, and added, 'By reason of which things, an you, and especiallyNiccoluccio, have not changed counsel since awhile ago, the lady isfairly mine, nor can any with just title demand her again of me.' Tothis none made answer; nay, all awaited that which he should sayfarther; whilst Niccoluccio and the lady and certain of the otherswho were there wept for compassion.[452]
[Footnote 452: _Compassione_, _i.e._ emotion.]
Then Messer Gentile, rising to his feet and taking the little child inhis arms and the lady by the hand, made for Niccoluccio and said tohim, 'Rise up, gossip; I do not restore thee thy wife, whom thykinsfolk and hers cast away; nay, but I will well bestow on thee thislady my gossip, with this her little son, who I am assured, wasbegotten of thee and whom I held at baptism and named Gentile; and Ipray thee that she be none the less dear to thee for that she hathabidden near upon three months in my house; for I swear to thee,--bythat God who belike caused me aforetime fall in love with her, to theintent that my love might be, as in effect it hath been, the occasionof her deliverance,--that never, whether with father or mother or withthee, hath she lived more chastely than she hath done with my motherin my house.' So saying, he turned to the lady and said to her,'Madam, from this time forth I absolve you of every promise made meand leave you free [to return] to Niccoluccio.'[453] Then, giving thelady and the child into Niccoluccio's arms, he returned to his seat.Niccoluccio received them with the utmost eagerness, so much the morerejoiced as he was the farther removed from hope thereof, and thankedMesser Gentile, as best he might and knew; whilst the others, who allwept for compassion, commended the latter amain of this; yea, and hewas commended of whosoever heard it. The lady was received in herhouse with marvellous rejoicing and long beheld with amazement by theBolognese, as one raised from the dead; whilst Messer Gentile everafter abode a friend of Niccoluccio and of his kinsfolk and those ofthe lady.
[Footnote 453: Lit. I leave you free _of_ Niccoluccio (_libera vilascio di Niccoluccio_).]
What, then, gentle ladies, will you say [of this case]? Is, think you,a king's having given away his sceptre and his crown or an abbot'shaving, without cost to himself, reconciled an evildoer with the popeor an old man's having proffered his weasand to the enemy's knife tobe evened with this deed of Messer Gentile, who, being young andardent and himseeming he had a just title to that which theheedlessness of others had cast away and he of his good fortune hadtaken up, not only honourably tempered his ardour, but, having in hispossession that which he was still wont with all his thoughts to covetand to seek to steal away, freely restored it [to its owner]? Certes,meseemeth none of the magnificences already recounted can compare withthis."
The Decameron of Giovanni Boccaccio Page 106
