The Decameron (Day 1 to Day 5)
Page 3
_The Table._
The Epistle Dedicatory.
The Authors Prologue, to the Lords, Ladies, and Gentlewomen.
The First Day, Governed by Madam Pampinea.
1. Novell.
_Messire Chappelet du Prat, by making afalse confession, beguiled an holy religiousman, and after dyed. And having duringhis life time, bene a very bad man, at his deathwas reputed to be a Saint, and called S. Chappelet._
2. Novell.
_Abraham a Jew, beeing admonished or advisedby a friend of his, named Jehannot de Chevigny,travailed from Paris unto Rome: And beholdingthere, the wicked behaviour of men in theChurch, returned to Paris againe, where (neverthelesse)he became a Christian._
3. Novell.
_Melchisedech a Jewe, by recounting a tale ofthree Rings, to the great Soldan, named Saladine,prevented a great danger which was preparedfor him._
4. Novell.
_A monke having committed an offence, deservingto be very greevously punished; freed himselfefrom the paine to be inflicted on him, by wittily reprehendinghis Abbot, with the very same fault._
5. Novell.
_Lady Marquesse of Montferrat, with a Banketof Hens, and divers other gracious speeches beside,repressed the fond love of the King of France._
6. Novell.
_An honest plaine meaning man (simply & conscionably)reprehended the malignity, hypocrisie,and misdemeanour of many religious persons._
7. Novell.
_Bergamino, by telling a Tale of a skilfull man,named Primasso, and of an Abbot of Clugni;honestly checked a new kinde of covetousnesse, inMaster Can de la Scala._
8. Novell.
_Guillaume Boursieur, with a few quaint & familiarwords, checkt the miserable covetousnessof Signior Herminio de Grimaldi._
9. Novell.
_How the King of Cyprus was wittily reprehended,by the words of a Gentlewoman of Gascoignie,and became vertuously altered from hisvicious disposition._
10. Novell.
_Master Albert of Bullen, honestly made a Ladyto blush, that thought to have done as muchto him, because she perceived him to be amorouslyaffected towardes her._
The second Day, governed byMadam Philomena.
1. Novell.
_Martellino counterfetting to bee lame of hismembers, caused himselfe to bee set on thebody of Saint Arriguo, where hee madeshew of his sodaine recovery: but when his dissimulationwas discovered, he was well beaten, beingafterward taken prisoner, and in great dangerof being hanged and strangled by the necke, andyet escaped in the end._
2. Novell.
_Rinaldo de Este, after he was robbed by theevesarrived at Chasteau Guillaume, where he wasfriendly lodged by a faire Widow, and recompencedlikewise for all his losses; returning afterwardsafe and well home unto his owne house._
3. Novell.
_Of three yong Gentlemen, being Brethren, andhaving spent all their Landes and possessionsvainly, became poore. A Nephew of theirs (fallingalmost into as desperate a condition) becameacquainted with an Abbot, whom hee afterwardfound to be the King of Englands Daughter, andmade him her Husband in marriage, recompencingall his Unckles losses, and seating them againin good estate._
4. Novell.
_Landolpho Ruffolo, falling into poverty, becamea Pirate on the Seas, and beeing taken by theGenewayes, hardly escaped drowning: Which yet(neverthelesse) he did, upon a little chest or cofferfull of very rich Jewels, beeing carried thereon toCorfu, where he was well entertained by a goodwoman: and afterward, returned richly home tohis owne house._
5. Novell.
_Andrea de Piero, travelling from Perouse untoNaples to buy Horses, was (in the space of onenight) surprized by three admirable accidents,out of all which he fortunately escaped, and witha rich Ring, returned home to his owne house._
6. Novell.
_Madame Beritola Caracalla, was found in anIsland with two Goates, having lost her twosons, and thence travailed into Lunigiana: whereone of her Sonnes became servant to the Lord thereof,and was found some-what over-familiar withhis Maisters daughter, who therefore caused himto be imprisoned. Afterward, when the Country ofSicily rebelled against King Charles, the aforesaidSonne chanced to be known by his Mother, & wasmarried to his Masters daughter. And his brotherbeing found likewise, they both returned to greatestate and credite._
7. Novell.
_The Soldane of Babylon sent one of his Daughters,to be joyned in marriage with the King ofCholcos; who by divers accidents (in the space offoure yeares) happened into the custodie of ninemen, and in sundry places. At length, being restoredback to her Father, she went to the said kingof Cholcos, as a Maide, and as at first she was intendedto be his Wife._
8. Novell.
_Count D'Angiers being falsely accused, was banishedout of France, and left his two childrenin England in divers places. Returning afterward(unknowne) thorough Scotland, hee found themadvanced unto great dignity: Then, repairing inthe habit of a Servitor, into the King of Frauncehis army, and his innocency made publikely knowen,he was reseated in his former honourable degree._
9. Novell.
_Bernardo, a Merchant of Geneway, being deceivedby another Merchant, named Ambrosio,lost a great part of his goods: and commanding hisinnocent wife to be murthered, she escaped, and inthe habit of a man, became servant to the Soldan.The deceiver being found at last, she compassed suchmeans, that her husband Bernardo came into Alexandria,and there after due punishment inflictedon the false deceiver, she resumed the garmentsagaine of a woman, and returned home with herHusband to Geneway._
10. Novell.
_Pagamino da Monaco, a roving Pyrate on theseas, caried away the faire Wife of SignieurRicciardo di Chinzica, who understanding whereshee was, went thither; and falling into friendshipwith Pagamino, demanded his wife of him; wheretohe yeelded, provided, that she would willingly goaway with him: shee denied to part thence withher husband, and Signior Ricciardo dying, shee becamethe wife of Pagamino._
The third day, governed by Madame_Neiphila_.
1. Novell.
_Massetto di Lamporechio, by counterfettinghimselfe dumbe, became a Gardiner in aMonastery of Nuns, where he had familiarconversation with them all._
2. Novell.
_A querry of the stable belonging to Agilulffo, K.of the Lombards, found the meanes of accesseto the Queenes bedde, without any knowledge orconsent in her. This beeing secretly discovered bythe King, and the party knowne, hee gave him amarke, by shearing the hair of his head. Whereuppon,hee that was so shorne sheared likewise theheads of all his fellowes in the lodging and so escapedthe punishment intended towards him._
3. Novell.
_Under colour of confession and of a most pure conscience,a faire yong Gentlewoman, being amorouslyaffected to an honest man; induced a devoutand solemne religious Friar, to advise her in themeanes (without his suspition or perceiving) how toenjoy the benefit of her friend, and bring her desiresto their full effect._
4. Novell.
_A yong scholler named Felice, enstructed Pucciodi Rinieri, how to become rich in a very shorttime. While Puccio made experience of the instructionstaught him; Felice obtained the favour ofhis daughter._
5. Novell.
_Ricciardo, surnamed the Magnifico, gave a horseto signior Francesco Vergellisi, upon condition;that by his leave and license, he might speak to hiswife in his presence, which he did, and she not returninghim any answer, made answer to himselfon her behalfe, and according to his answer, so theeffect followed._
6. Novell.
_Ricciardo Minutolo fel in love with the Wife ofPhilippello Fighinolfi, and knowing her to beevery jealous of her husband, gave her to understand,that he was greatly enamored of his Wife,and had appointed to meete her privatly in a bathinghouse, on the next day following: where sheehoping to take him tardy with his close compactedMistresse, found her selfe to be deceived by the saidRicciardo._
7. Novell.
_Thebaldo Elisei, having received an unkinde repulseby his beloved, departed from Florence, &returning thither againe (a
long while after) inthe habit of a pilgrime, hee spake with her, andmade his wrongs knowne unto her. Hee deliveredher husband from the danger of death, because itwas proved that he had slaine Thebaldo, he madepeace with his brethren, and in the end, wisely enjoyedhis hearts desire._
8. Novell.
_Ferando, by drinking a certaine kind of pouder,was buried for dead & by the Abbot who wasenamored of his wife, was taken out of his grave,and put into a darke prison, where they made himbeleeve that he was in purgatory: afterward whentime came that he should be raised to life againe,he was made to keepe a childe, which the Abbothad got by his wife._
9. Novell.
_Juliet of Narbona, cured the King of France of adangerous Fistula: in recompence whereof, she requestedto enjoy as her husband in mariage, Bertrandthe Count of Roussillion. He having mariedher against his wil, as utterly despising her, wentto Florence, where he made love to a yong Gentlewoman.Juliet, by a queint and cunning policy,compassed the meanes (insted of his chosen friend)to lye with her owne husband, by whom shee hadtwo sonnes; which being afterward made knowneunto the Count, hee accepted her into his favour againe,and loved her as his loyall and honourablewife._
10. Novell.
_The wonderfull and chaste resolved continencieof faire Serictha, daughter to Siwalde King ofDenmarke, who beeing sought and sued unto bymany worthy persons, that did affect her dearely,would not looke any man in the face, untill suchtime as she was maried._
The Fourth Day, governed byPhilostratus.
1. Novell.
_Tancrede, Prince of Salerne, caused the amorousfriend of his daughter to be slaine, andsent her his heart in a cup of Golde: whichafterward she steeped in an impoysoned water, &then drinking it, so dyed._
2. Novell.
_Friar Albert made a yong Venetian Gentlewomanbeleeve, that God Cupid was falne in lovewith her, and he resorted oftentimes unto her, indisguise of the same God: afterward, being frightedby the Gentlewomans kindred and friends heecast himselfe out of her chamber window, and washidden in a poore mans house. On the day following,in the shape of a wilde or savage man, he wasbrought upon the Rialto of S. Mark, & being therepublikely knowne by the Brethren of his Order, hewas committed to prison._
3. Novell.
_Three yong Gentlemen affecting three Sisters,fled with them into Canaie. The eldest of them(through jealousie) becommeth the death of herLover. The second, by consenting to the Duke ofCanaies request, is the meanes of saving her life.Afterward, her owne friend killeth her, & thenceflyeth away with the elder sister. The third couple,both man and woman are charged with herdeath, and being committed to prison, they confessethe fact: and fearing death, by corruption of moneythey prevaile with their keepers, escaping fromthence to Rhodes, where they died in great poverty._
4. Novell.
_Gerbino, contrarie to the former plighted faithof his Grandfather King Gulielmo, soughtewith a ship at sea belonging to the King of Thunisto take away his daughter, who was then in thesame ship. She being slaine by them that had thepossession of her, he likewise slew them; and afterwardhad his owne head smitten off._
5. Novell.
_The three Brethren to Isabella, slew a Gentlemanthat secretly loved her. His ghost appearedto her in her sleepe, and shewed her in whatplace they had buried his body. She (in silent manner)brought away his head, and putting it into apot of earth, such as Flowers, Basile, or other sweetherbes are usually set in, she watered it (a longwhile) with her teares: whereof her Brethren havingintelligence; soone after she died, with meereconceite of sorrow._
6. Novell.
_A beautifull yong Virgin, named Andreana, becameenamored of a young Gentleman, calledGabriello. In conference together, shee declared adreame of hers to him, and he another of his untoher; whereupon Gabriello fell down sodainly dead.She, and her Chamber-maid were apprehended bythe Officers belonging unto the Seigneury, as theywere carrying Gabriello, to lay them before hisowne doore. The Potestate offering violence to thevirgin, and she resisting him vertuously: it cameto the understanding of her Father, who approvedthe innocence of his daughter, and compassed herdeliverance. But she afterward, being wearie ofall worldly felicities, entred into Religion, & becamea Nun._
7. Novell.
_Faire Simonida affecting Pasquino, and walkingwith him in a pleasant garden, it fortunedthat Pasquino rubbed his teeth with a leaf ofSage, and immediately fell downe dead. Simonidabeing brought before the bench of Justice, andcharged with the death of Pasquino: she rubbedher teeth likewise, with one of the leaves of thesame Sage, as declaring what she saw him do, &thereon she dyed also in the same manner._
8. Novell.
_Jeronimo affecting a yong Mayden named Silvestrawas constrained by the earnest importunityof his Mother, to take a journey to Paris. Athis returne home from thence againe, he found hislove Silvestra maried. By secret meanes he got entranceinto her house and dyed upon the bed lyingby her. Afterward, his body being caried unto theChurch to receive buriall, shee likewise died thereinstantly upon his coarse._
9. Novell.
_Messer Guiglielmo of Rossiglione having slaineMesser Guiglielmo Guardastagno, whom he imaginedto love his wife, gave her his hart to eat.Which she knowing afterward; threw her self outof an high window to the ground: and being dead,was then buried with her friend._
10. Novell.
_A Physitians wife laid a Lover of her maids, supposinghim to be dead, in a chest, by reason thathe had drunke water which usually was given toprocure a sleepy entrancing. Two Lombard Usurers,stealing the chest, in hope of a rich booty, cariedit into their owne house, where afterwardes theman awaking, was apprehended for a Theefe. TheChamber-maid to the Physitians wife, going beforethe bench of Justice, accuseth her self for puttingthe imagined dead body into the chest, wherebyhe escaped hanging: and the Theeves whichstole away the chest, were condemned to pay a verygreat summe of money._
The Fift day, Governed by MadameFiammetta.
1. Novell.
_Chynon, by falling in love, became wise, andby force of Armes, winning his faire LadyeIphigenia on the seas, was afterward imprisonedat Rhodes. Being delivered by one name Lysimachuswith him he recovered his Iphigenia againe,and faire Cassandra even in the middest oftheir mariage. They fled with them into Candye,where after they had maried them, they wer calledhome to their owne dwelling._
2. Novell.
_Faire Constance of Liparis, fell in Love withMartuccio Gomito: and hearing that hee wasdead, desperately she entred into a Barke whichbeing transported by the winds to Susa in Barbary,from thence she went to Thunis, where she foundhim to be living. There she made her selfe knowneto him, and he being in great authority, as a privyCounsellor to the King: he maried the saide Constance,and returned richly home to her, to the Islandof Liparis._
3. Novell.
_Pedro Bocamazzo, escaping away with a yongDamosel which he loved, named Angelina, metwith Theeves in his journey. The Damosel flyingfearfully into a Forest, by chaunce commeth to aCastle. Pedro being taken by the theeves, & hapningafterward to escape from them, accidentallycame to the same Castle where Angelina was: &marying her, they then returned home to Rome._
4. Novell.
_Ricciardo Manardy, was found by Messer Lizioda Valbonna, as he sat fast asleep at his daughterschamber window, having his hand fast in hirsand sleeping in the same manner. Whereupon theywere joyned together in mariage, and their longloyall love mutually recompenced._
5. Novell.
_Guidotto of Cremona, departing out of this mortalllife, left a daughter of his with Jacominoof Pavia. Giovanni di Severino, and Menghino daMinghole, fel both in love with the yong Maiden,and fought for her; who being afterward knowneto be the sister to Giovanni, shee was given in mariageto Menghino._
6. Novell.
_Guion di Procida, being found familiarly conversingwith a yong Damosel which he loved,and had bene given formerly to Frederigo King ofSicily: was bound to a stake to bee consumed withfire. From which danger (neverthelesse) hee escaped;being knowne by Don Rogiero de Oria,
LordeAdmirall of Sicily, and afterward marryed theDamosel._
7. Novell.
_Theodoro falling in love with Violenta, thedaughter to his Master, named Amarigo, andshe conceyving with childe by him, was condemnedto be hanged. As they were leading him unto thegallowes, beating and misusing him all the way:hee happened to bee knowne by his owne Father,whereupon he was released, and afterward injoyedViolenta in mariage._
8. Novell.
_Anastasio, a Gentleman of the Family of theHonesti by loving the daughter to Signior PauloTraversario, lavishly wasted a great part ofhis substance, without receiving any love from heragaine. By perswasion of some of his kindred andfriends, he went to a countrey dwelling of his calledChiasso, where hee saw a Knight desperatelypursue a yong Damosell, whom he slew, & afterwardgave her to be devoured by his hounds. Anastasioinvited his friends, and hers also whom he sodearly loved, to take part of a dinner with him,who likewise sawe the same Damosell so torne inpeeces: which his unkind love perceiving, & fearingleast the like ill fortune should happen to her,she accepted Anastasio to bee her husband._
9. Novell.
_Frederigo, of the Alberighi Family, loved aGentlewoman, and was not requited with likelove againe. By bountifull expences, and over liberalinvitations, hee wasted and consumed all hislands and goods, having nothing lefte him, but aHawke or Faulcon. His unkinde Mistresse, happenethto come visit him, and he not having anyother food for her dinner, made a dainty dish ofhis Faulcon for her to feed on. Being conquered bythis his exceeding kinde courtesie, she changed herformer hatred towards him, accepting him as herhusband in marriage, and made him a man ofwealthy possessions._
10. Novell.
_Pedro di Vinciolo, went to sup at a friends housein the City. His wife (in the meane while) hada yong man whom she loved, at supper with her.Pedro returning home upon a sodaine, the youngman was hidden under a Coope for Hens. Pedro,in excuse of his so soone coming home, declareth;how in the house of Herculano (with whome heeshould have supt) a friend of his wives was found,which was the reason of the suppers breaking off.Pedroes wife reproving the error of Herculanoeswife: an Asse (by chance) treades on the youngmans fingers that lay hidden under the Henne-Coope.Upon his crying out, Pedro steppeth thither,sees him, knowes him, and findeth the fallacie ofhis wife: with whom (neverthelesse) he growethto agreement, in regard of some imperfections inhimselfe._
The End of the Table.