The Decameron (Day 1 to Day 5)

by Giovanni Boccaccio

  _A Querry of the Stable, belonging to_ Agilulffo; _King of theLombards, found the meanes of accesse to the Queenes bed, without anyknowledge or consent in her. This being secretly discovered by theKing, and the party knowne, he gave him a marke, by shearing the haireof his head. Whereupon, he that was so shorne, sheared likewise theheads of all his fellowes in the lodging, and so escaped the punishmentintended towards him._

  The second Novell.

  _Wherein is signified, the providence of a wise man, when he shallhave reason to use revenge. And the cunning craft of another, when heecompasseth meanes to defend himselfe from perill._

  When the Novell of _Philostratus_ was concluded, which made some ofthe Ladies blush, and the rest to smile: it pleased the Queene, thatMadam _Pampinea_ should follow next, to second the other gone before;when she, smiling on the whole assembly, began thus. There are somemen so shallow of capacity, that they will (neverthelesse) make shewof knowing and understanding such things, as neither they are able todoe, nor appertaine to them: whereby they will sometimes reprehendother mens errors, and such faults as they have unwillingly committed,thinking thereby to hide their owne shame, when they make it much moreapparant and manifest. For proofe whereof, faire company, in a contrarykinde I will shew you the subtill cunning of one, who (perhaps) mightbe reputed of lesse reckoning then _Massetto_; and yet hee went beyonda King, that thought himselfe to be a much wiser man.

  _Agilulffo_, King of _Lombardie_, according as his Predecessourshad done before him, made the principall seate of his Kingdome, inthe Citie of _Pavia_, having embraced in mariage, _Tendelinga_, thelate left widdow of _Vetario_, who likewise had beene King of the_Lombards_; a most beautifull, wise and vertuous Lady, but madeunfortunate by a mischance. The occurrences and estate of the wholeRealme, being in an honourable, quiet and well setled condition, bythe discreete care and providence of the King; a Querrie appertainingto the Queenes Stable of Horse, being a man but of meane and lowequality, though comely of person, and of equall stature to the King;became immeasurably amorous of the Queene. And because his base andservile condition, had endued him with so much understanding, as toknow infallibly, that his affection was mounted, beyond the compasse ofconveniencie; wisely hee concealed it to himselfe, not acquainting anyone therewith, or daring so much, as to discover it either by lookes,or any other affectionate behaviour.

  And although hee lived utterly hopelesse, of ever attaining to hishearts desires; yet notwithstanding, hee proudly gloried, that his lovehad soared so high a pitch, as to be enamoured of a Queene. And dayly,as the fury of his flame encreased; so his cariage was farre above hisfellowes and companions, in the performing of all such serviceableduties, as any way he imagined might content the Queene. Whereonensued, that whensoever shee roade abroad to take the ayre, shee usedoftner to mount on the Horse, which this Querrie brought when sheemade her choise, then any of the other that were led by his fellowes.And this did he esteeme as no meane happinesse to him, to order thestirrope for her mounting, and therefore gave dayly his due attendance:so that, to touch the Stirrope, but (much more) to put her foote intoit, or touch any part of her garments, he thought it the onely heavenon earth.

  But, as we see it oftentimes come to passe, that by how much the lowerhope declineth, so much the higher love ascendeth; even so fel it outwith this poore Querry; for, most irkesome was it to him, to endure theheavy waight of his continuall oppressions, not having any hope at allof the very least mitigation. And being utterly unable to relinquishhis love divers times he resolved on some desperate conclusion, whichmight yet give the world an evident testimony, that he dyed for thelove he bare to the Queene. And upon this determination, hee groundedthe successe of his future fortune, to dye in compassing some partof his desire, without either speaking to the Queene, or sending anymissive of his love; for to speake or write, were meerely in vaine,and drew on a worser consequence then death, which he could bestow onhimselfe more easily, and when he listed.

  No other course now beleagers his braines, but onely for secret accesseto the Queenes bed, and how he might get entrance into her Chamber,under colour of the King, who (as he knew very well) slept manie nightstogether from the Queene. Wherefore, to see in what manner, & what theusuall habit was of the King, when he came to keepe companie with hisQueene: he hid himselfe divers nights in a Gallery, which was betweeneboth their lodging Chambers. At length, he saw the King come forth ofhis Chamber, himselfe all alone, with a faire night-mantle wrapt abouthim, carrying a lighted Taper in the one hand, and a small white Wandin the other, so went he on to the Queenes lodging; and knocking at thedoore once or twice with the wand, and not using any word, the dooreopened, the light was left without, and he entered the Chamber, wherehe stayed not long, before his returning backe againe, which likewisevery diligently he observed.

  So familiar was he in the Wardrobe, by often fetching and returningthe King and Queenes furnitures; that the fellowe to the same Mantle,which the King wore when he went to the Queene, very secretly heconveighed away thence with him, being provided of a Light, and theverie like Wand. Now bestowes he costly bathings on his body, that theleast sent of the Stable might not be felt about him; and finding atime sutable to his desire, when he knew the King to be at rest in hisowne Lodging, and all elsee sleeping in their beds; closely he stealsinto the Gallery, where alighting his Taper, with Tinder purposelybrought thither, the Mantle folded about him, and the Wand in his hand,valiantly he adventures upon his lives perill. Twice hee knockt softlyat the doore, which a wayting woman immediately opened, and receyvingthe Light, went forth into the Gallery, while the supposed King, wasconversing with the Queene.

  Alas good Queene, heere is sinne committed, without any guiltie thoughtin thee, as (within a while after) it plainely appeared. For, theQuerry having compassed what he most coveted, and fearing to forfeitehis life by delay, when his amorous desire was indifferently satisfied:returned backe as he came, the sleepy waiting woman not so much aslooking on him, but rather glad, that she might get her to rest againe.Scarcely was the Querrie stept into his bed, unheard or discerned byany of his fellowes, divers of them lodging both in that and the nextChamber: but it pleased the King to visite the Queene, according to hiswonted manner, to the no little mervaile of the drowsie wayting woman,who was never twice troubled in a night before. The King being in bed,whereas alwayes till then, his resort to the Queene, was altogether insadnesse and melancholly, both comming and departing without speakingone word: now his Majestie was become more pleasantly disposed, whereatthe Queene began not a little to mervaile. Now trust mee Sir, quothshee, this hath been a long wished, and now most welcome alteration,vouchsafing twice in a night to visite me, and both within the compasseof one houre; for it cannot be much more, since your being here, andnow comming againe.

  The King hearing these words, sodainly presumed, that by somecounterfeit person or other, the Queene had been this night beguiled:wherefore (very advisedly) hee considered, that in regard the partywas unknowne to her, and all the women about her; to make no outwardappearance of knowing it, but rather concealed it to himselfe. Farrefrom the indiscretion of some hare-braind men, who presently wouldhave answered and sworne; I came not hither this night, till now.Whereupon many dangers might ensue, to the dishonour and prejudice ofthe Queene; beside, hir error being discovered to hir, might afterwardbe an occasion, to urge a wandring in her appetite, and to covet afterchange againe. But by this silence, no shame redounded to him or her,whereas prating, must needes be the publisher of open infamie: yet washee much vexed in his minde, which neither by lookes or words hee woulddiscover, but pleasantly said to the Queene. Why Madame, although I wasonce heere before to night, I hope you mislike not my second seeingyou, nor if I should please to come againe. No truely Sir, quoth she,I only desire you to have care of your health. Well, said the King,I will follow your counsaile, and now returne to mine owne lodgingagaine, committing my Queene to her good rest.

  His blood boyling with rage and distemper, by such a monstrous injurieoff
ered him; he wrapt his night-mantle about him, and leaving hisChamber, imagining, that whatsoever he was, needes he must be one ofhis owne house: he tooke a light in his hand, and convayed it intoa little Lanthorne, purposing to be resolved in his suspition. Noguests or strangers were now in his Court, but onely such as belongedto his houshold, who lodged altogether about the Escurie and Stables,being there appointed to divers beds. Now, this was his conceite, thatwhosoever had beene so lately familiar with the Queene, his heart andpulse could (as yet) be hardly at rest, but rather would be troubledwith apparant agitation, as discovering the guilt of so great anoffender. Many Chambers had hee passed thorow, where all were soundlysleeping, and yet he felt both their brests and pulses.

  At last he came to the lodging of the man indeede, that had soimpudently usurped his place, who could not as yet sleepe, for joy ofhis atchieved adventure. When he espied the King come in, knowing wellthe occasion of his search, he began to waxe very doubtfull, so thathis heart and pulse beating extremely, he felt a further addition offeare, as being confidently perswaded, that there was now no other waybut death, especially if the King discovered his agony. And althoughmany considerations were in his braine, yet because he saw that theKing was unarmed, his best refuge was, to make shew of sleepe, inexpectation what the King intended to doe. Among them all he hadsought, yet could not find any likelihood, whereby to gather a groundedprobability; untill he came to this Querry, whose heart and pulseslaboured so sternely, that he said to himselfe; yea mary, this is theman that did the deede.

  Neverthelesse, purposing to make no apparance of his further intention,he did nothing elsee to him, but drawing foorth a paire of sheares,which purposely he brought thither with him, he clipped away a part ofhis lockes, which (in those times) they used to weare very long, to theend that he might the better know him the next morning, and so returnedbacke to his lodging againe. The Querry, who partly saw, but felt whatwas done to him; perceived plainely (being a subtill ingenious fellow)for what intent he was thus marked. Wherefore, without any longerdallying, up he rose, and taking a paire of sheares, wherewith theyused to trim their Horses; softly he went from bed to bed, where theyall lay yet soundly sleeping, and clipt away each mans locke from hisright eare, in the selfe same manner as the King had done his, andbeing not perceived by any one of them, quietly he laide him downeagaine.

  In the morning, when the King was risen, he gave command that beforethe Pallace gates were opened, all his whole Family should come beforehim, as instantly his will was fulfilled. Standing all uncovered inhis presence, he began to consider with himselfe, which of them wasthe man that he had marked. And seeing the most part of them to havetheir lockes cut, all after one and the selfe same manner; marvailinggreatly, he saide to himselfe. The man whom I seeke for, though he bebut of meane and base condition, yet it plainely appeareth, that he isof no deject or common understanding. And seeing, that without furtherclamour and noyse, he could not find out the party he looked for; heconcluded, not to win eternall shame, by compassing a poore revenge:but rather (by way of admonition) to let the offender know in a word,that he was both noted and observed. So turning to them all, he saide;He that hath done it, let him be silent, and doe so no more, and nowdepart about your businesse.

  Some other turbulent spirited man, no imprisonments, tortures,examinations, and interrogatories, could have served his turne;by which course of proceeding, he makes the shame to be publikelyknowne, which reason requireth to keepe concealed. But admit thatcondigne vengeance were taken, it diminisheth not one title of theshame, neither qualifieth the peoples bad affections, who will lashout as liberally in scandall, and upon the very least babling rumor.Such therefore as heard the Kings words, few though they were, yettruly wise; marvelled much at them, and by long examinations amongthemselves, questioned, but came far short of his meaning; the manonely excepted, whom indeede they concerned, and by whom they werenever discovered, so long as the King lived, neither did he dare at anytime after, to hazard his life in the like action, under the frownes orfavour of Fortune.