The Decameron (Day 1 to Day 5)

by Giovanni Boccaccio

  Theodoro _falling in love with_ Violenta, _the Daughter to his Master,named_ Amarigo, _and shee conceiving with childe by him; was condemnedto be hanged. As they were leading him to the Gallowes, beating andmisusing him all the way: he happened to be knowne by his owne Father,whereupon hee was released, and afterward enjoyed_ Violenta _inmarriage._

  The seventh Novell.

  _Wherein is declared, the sundry travelse and perillous accidents,occasioned by those two powerfull Commanders, Love and Fortune, theinsulting Tyrants over humaine life._

  Greatly were the Ladies minds perplexed, when they heard, that the twopoore Lovers were in danger to be burned: but hearing afterward oftheir happy deliverance, for which they were as joyfull againe; uponthe concluding of the Novell, the Queene looked on Madam _Lauretta_,enjoyning her to tell the next Tale, which willingly she undertooke todoe, and thus began.

  Faire Ladies, at such time as the good King _William_ reigned in_Sicily_, there lived within the same Dominions a young Gentleman,named _Signior Amarigo_, Abbot of _Trapani_, who (among his otherworldly blessings, commonly termed the goods of Fortune) was notunfurnished of children; and therefore having neede of servants, hemade his provision of them as best he might. At that time, certaineGallies of _Geneway_ Pyrates comming from the Easterne parts, whichcoasting along _Armenia_, had taken divers children; he bought someof them, thinking that they were Turkes. They all resembling clownishPeazants, yet there was one among them, who seemed to be of moretractable and gentle nature, yea, and of a more affable countenancethen any of the rest, being named, _Theodoro_: who growing on inyeeres, (albeit he lived in the condition of a servant) was educatedamong _Amarigoes_ Children, and as enstructed rather by nature, thenaccident, his conditions were very much commended, as also the featureof his body, which proved so highly pleasing to his Master _Amarigo_,that he made him a free man, and imagining him to be a Turke, causedhim to be baptized, and named _Pedro_, creating him superintendent ofall his affaires, and reposing his chiefest trust in him.

  As the other Children of _Signior Amarigo_ grew in yeeres andstature, so did a Daughter of his, named _Violenta_, a very goodlyand beautifull Damosell, somewhat over-long kept from marriage by herFathers covetousnesse, and casting an eye of good liking on poore_Pedro_. Now, albeit shee loved him very dearely, and all his behaviourwas most pleasing to her, yet maiden modesty forbad her to reveale it,till Love (too long concealed) must needes disclose itselfe. Which_Pedro_ at the length tooke notice of, and grew so forward towardsher in equality of affection, as the very sight of her was his onelyhappinesse. Yet very fearefull he was, least it should be noted, eitherby any of the House, or the Maiden her selfe: who yet well observed it,and to her no meane contentment, as it appeared no lesse (on the otherside) to honest _Pedro_.

  While thus they loved together meerely in dumbe shewes, not daringto speake to each other, (though nothing more desired) to find someease in this their oppressing passions: Fortune, even as if sheepittied their so long languishing, enstructed them how to find outa way, whereby they might both better releeve themselves. _SigniorAmarigo_, about some two or three miles distance from _Trapani_,had a Countrey-House or Farme, whereto his Wife, with her Daughterand some other women, used oftentimes to make their resort, as itwere in sportfull recreation; _Pedro_ alwayes being diligent to manthem thither. One time among the rest, it came to passe, as often itfalleth out in the Summer season, that the faire Skie became suddenlyover-clouded, even as they were returning home towards _Trapani_,threatning a storme of raine to overtake them, except they made thespeedier haste.

  _Pedro_, who was young, and likewise _Violenta_, went farre morelightly then her Mother and her company, as much perhaps provokedby love, as feare of the sudden raine falling, and paced on so fastbefore them, that they were wholly out of sight. After many flashesof lightning, and a few dreadfull clappes of thunder, there fellsuch a tempestuous shower of hayle, as compelled the Mother and hertraine to shelter themselves in a poore Countrey-mans Cottage. _Pedro_and _Violenta_, having no other refuge, ranne likewise into a pooreSheepe-coate, so over ruined, as it was in danger to fall on theirheads; for no body dwelt in it, neither stood any other house neere it,and it was scarcely any shelter for them, howbeit, necessity enforcethto make shift with the meanest. The storme encreasing more & more,and they coveting to avoide it so well as they could; sighes and driehemmes were often inter-vented, as dumbly (before) they were wont todoe, when willingly they could affoord another kind of speaking.

  At last _Pedro_ tooke heart, and saide: I would this shower would nevercease, that I might be alwayes where I am. The like could I wish,answered _Violenta_, so we were in a better place of safety. Thesewishes drew on other gentle language, with modest kisses and embraces,the onely ease to poore Lovers soules; so that the raine ceased not,till they had taken order for their oftner conversing, and absoluteplighting of their faithes together. By this time the storme wasfairely over-blowne, and they attending on the way, till the Motherand the rest were come, with whom they returned to _Trapani_, where bywise and provident meanes, they often conferred in private together,and enjoyed the benefit of their amorous desires; yet free from any illsurmise or suspition.

  But, as Lovers felicities are sildome permanent, without oneencountring crosse or other: so these stolne pleasures of _Pedro_ and_Violenta_, met with as sowre a sauce in the farewell. For, shee provedto be conceived with childe, then which could befall them no heavieraffliction, and _Pedro_ fearing to loose his life therefore, determinedimmediate flight, and revealed his purpose to _Violenta_. Which whenshe heard, she told him plainly, that if he fled, forth-with shee wouldkill her selfe. Alas deare Love (quoth _Pedro_) with what reason canyou wish my tarrying here? This conception of yours, doth discover ouroffence, which a Fathers pity may easily pardon in you: but I beinghis servant and vassall, shall be punished both for your sinne andmine, because he will have no mercy on me. Content thy selfe _Pedro_,replyed _Violenta_, I will take such order for mine owne offence, bythe discreete counsell of my loving Mother, that no blame shall any waybe laide on thee, or so much as a surmise, except thou wilt fondlybetray thy selfe. If you can doe so, answered _Pedro_, and constantlymaintaine your promise; I will not depart, but see that you prove to beso good as your word.

  _Violenta_, who had concealed her amisse so long as shee could, and sawno other remedy, but now at last it must needes be discovered; wentprivately to her Mother, and (in teares) revealed her infirmity, humblycraving her pardon, and furtherance in hiding it from her Father. TheMother being extraordinarily displeased, chiding her with many sharpeand angry speeches, would needes know with whom shee had thus offended.The Daughter (to keepe _Pedro_ from any detection) forged a Tale ofher owne braine, farre from any truth indeede, which her Mother verilybeleeving, and willing to preserve her Daughter from shame, as also thefierce anger of her Husband, he being a man of very implacable nature:conveyed her to the Countrey-Farme, whither _Signior Amarigo_ sildomeor never resorted, intending (under the shadow of sicknesse) to let herlie in there, without the least suspition of any in _Trapani_.

  Sinne and shame can never be so closely carried, or clouded with thegreatest cunning; but truth hath a loop-light whereby to discover it,even when it supposeth it selfe in the surest safety. For, on thevery day of her deliverance, at such time as the Mother, and somefew friends (sworne to secrecy) were about the businesse: _SigniorAmarigo_, having beene in company of other Gentlemen, to flye hisHawke at the River, upon a sudden, (but very unfortunately, albeithe was alone by himselfe) stept into his Farme house, even to thenext roome where the women were, and heard the new-borne Babe to cry,whereat marvelling not a little, he called for his Wife, to know whatyoung childe cryed in his House. The Mother, amazed at his so strangecomming thither, which never before he had used to doe, and pittyingthe wofull distresse of her Daughter, which now could be no longercovered, revealed what happened to _Violenta_. But he, being nothing sorash in beliefe, as his Wife was, made answere, that it was impossiblefor his Daughter to
be conceived with childe, because he never observedthe least signe of love in her to any man whatsoever, and therefore hewould be satisfied in the truth, as shee expected any favour from him,for elsee there was no other way but death.

  The Mother laboured by all meanes shee could devise, to pacifie herHusbands fury, which proved all in vaine; for being thus impatientlyincensed, he drew foorth his Sword, and stepping with it drawne intothe Chamber (where she had been delivered of a goodly Sonne) he saidunto her. Either tell me who is the Father of this Bastard, or thou andit shall perish both together. Poore _Violenta_, lesse respecting herowne life, then she did the childes; forgot her sollemne promise madeto _Pedro_, and discovered all. Which when _Amarigo_ had heard, he grewso desperately enraged, that hardly he could forbeare from killing her.But after he had spoken what his fury enstructed him, hee mounted onHorse-backe againe, ryding backe to _Trapani_, where he disclosed theinjury which _Pedro_ had done him, to a noble Gentleman, named _SigniorConrado_, who was Captaine for the King over the City.

  Before poore _Pedro_ could have any intelligence, or so much assuspected any treachery against him; he was suddenly apprehended, andbeing called in question, stood not on any deniall, but confessedtruly what he had done: whereupon, within some few dayes after, hewas condemned by the Captaine, to be whipt to the place of execution,and afterward to be hanged by the necke. _Signior Amarigo_, becausehe would cut off (at one and the same time) not onely the lives ofthe two poore Lovers, but their childes also; as a franticke man,violently carried from all sense of compassion, even when _Pedro_ wasled and whipt to his death: he mingled strong poyson in a Cup of wine,delivering it to a trusty servant of his owne, and a naked Rapierwithall, speaking to him in this manner. Goe carry these two presentsto my late Daughter _Violenta_, and tell her from me, that in thisinstant houre, two severall kinds of death are offered unto her, andone of them she must make choyce of, either to drinke the poyson, andso die, or to run her body on this Rapiers point, which if she denieto doe, she shall be haled to the publike market place, and presentlybe burned in the sight of her lewd companion, according as shee hathworthily deserved. When thou hast delivered her this message, take herbastard brat, so lately since borne, and dash his braines out againstthe walles, and afterward throw him to my Dogges to feede on.

  When the Father had given this cruell sentence, both against his ownDaughter, and her young Sonne, the servant, readier to doe evill,then any good, went to the place where his Daughter was kept. Poorecondemned _Pedro_, (as you have heard) was ledde whipt to the Jybbet,and passing (as it pleased the Captaines Officers to guide him) by afaire Inne: at the same time were lodged there three chiefe personsof _Armenia_, whom the King of the Countrey had sent to _Rome_, asAmbassadours to the Popes Holinesse, to negociate about an importantbusinesse neerely concerning the King and State. Reposing there forsome few dayes, as being much wearied with their journey, and highlyhonoured by the Gentlemen of _Trapani_, especially _Signior Amarigo_;these Ambassadours standing in their Chamber window, heard the wofulllamentations of _Pedro_ in his passage by.

  _Pedro_ was naked from the middle upward, and his hands bound fastbehind him, but being well observed by one of the Ambassadours, a managed, and of great authority, named _Phineo_: he espied a great redspot uppon his breast, not painted, or procured by his punishment, butnaturally imprinted in the flesh, which women (in these parts) termethe Rose. Uppon the sight hereof, he suddenly remembred a Sonne ofhis owne, which was stolne from him about fifteene yeeres before, byPyrates on the Sea-coast of _Laiazzo_, never hearing any tydings of himafterward. Upon further consideration, and compairing his Sonnes agewith the likelyhood of this poore wretched mans; thus he conferred withhis owne thoughts. If my Sonne (quoth he) be living, his age is equallto this mans time, and by the redde blemish on his brest, it plainelyspeakes him for to be my Sonne.

  Moreover, thus he conceived, that if it were he, he could not butremember his owne name, his Fathers, and the Armenian Language;wherefore, when hee was just opposite before the window, hee calledaloud to him, saying: _Theodoro. Pedro_ hearing the voyce, presentlylisted up his head, and _Phineo_ speaking _Armenian_, saide: Of whenceart thou, and what is thy Fathers name? The Sergeants (in reverence tothe Lord Ambassadour) stayed a while, till _Pedro_ had returned hisanswer, who saide. I am an _Armenian_ borne, Sonne to one _Phineo_,and was brought hither I cannot tell by whom. _Phineo_ hearing this,knew then assuredly, that this was the same Sonne which he had lost;wherefore, the teares standing in his eyes with conceite of joy: downehe descended from the window, and the other Ambassadours with him,running in among the Sergeants to embrace his Sonne, and casting hisowne rich Cloake about his whipt body, entreating them to forbeare andproceed no further, till they heard what command he should returnewithall unto them; which very willingly they promised to doe.

  Already, by the generall rumour dispersed abroade, _Phineo_ hadunderstood the occasion, why _Pedro_ was thus punished, and sentencedto be hanged; wherefore, accompanied with his fellow Ambassadours, andall their attending traine, he went to _Signior Conrado_, and spakethus to him. My Lord, he whom you have sent to death as a slave, isa free Gentleman borne, and my Sonne, able to make her amends whomhe hath dishonoured, by taking her in mariage as his lawfull Wife.Let me therefore entreate you, to make stay of the execution, untillit may be knowne, whether she will accept him as her Husband, or no;least (if she be so pleased) you offend directly against your owneLaw. When _Signior Conrado_ heard, that _Pedro_ was Sonne to the LordAmbassadour, he wondered thereat not a little, and being somewhatashamed of his fortunes error, confessed, that the claime of _Phineo_was conformable to Law, and ought not to be denied him; going presentlyto the Councell Chamber, sending for _Signior Amarigo_ immediatelythither, and acquainting him fully with the case.

  _Amarigo_, who beleeved that his Daughter and her Child were alreadydead, was the wofullest man in the World, for his so rash proceeding,knowing very well, that if shee were not dead, the scandall wouldeasily be wipt away with credit. Wherefore he sent in all poasthaste, to the place where his Daughter lay, that if his command werenot already executed, by no meanes to have it done at all. He whowent on this speedy errand, found there _Signior Amarigoes_ servantstanding before _Violenta_, with the Cup of poyson in his one hand,and the drawne Rapier in the other, reproaching herewith very fouleand injurious speeches, because shee had delayed the time so long, andwould not accept the one or other, striving (by violence) to make hertake the one. But hearing his Masters command to the contrary, he lefther, and returned backe to him, certifying him how the case stood.

  Most highly pleased was _Amarigo_ with these glad newes, and goingto the Ambassadour _Phineo_, in teares excused himselfe (so well ashe could) for his severity, and craving pardon; assured him, that if_Theodoro_ would accept his Daughter in mariage, willingly he wouldbestow her on him. _Phineo_ allowed his excuses to be tollerable, andsaide beside; If my Sonne will not mary your Daughter, then let thesentence of death be executed on him. _Amarigo_ and _Phineo_ beingthus accorded, they went to poore _Theodoro_, fearefully looking everyminute when he should die, yet joyfull that he had found his Father,who presently moved the question to him. _Theodoro_ hearing that_Violenta_ should be his Wife, if he would so accept her: was overcomewith such exceeding joy, as if he had leapt out of hell into Paradise;confessing, that no greater felicity could befall him, if _Violenta_her selfe were so well pleased as he.

  The like motion was made to her, to understand her disposition in thiscase, who hearing what good hap had befalne _Theodoro_, and now inlike manner must happen to her: whereas not long before, when two suchviolent deathes were prepared for her, and one of them she must needesembrace, shee accounted her misery beyond all other womens, but sheenow thought her selfe above all in happinesse, if she might be wifeto her beloved _Theodoro_, submitting herselfe wholy to her Fathersdisposing. The mariage being agreed on betweene them, it was celebratedwith great pompe and sollemnity, a generall Feast being made for allthe Citizens, and the young maried couple n
ourished up their sweeteSon, which grew to be a very comely childe.

  After that the Embassie was dispatched at _Rome_, and _Phineo_ (withthe rest) was returned thither againe; _Violenta_ did reverence him asher owne naturall Father, and he was not a little proud of so lovely aDaughter, beginning a fresh feasting againe, and continuing the same awhole moneth together. Within some short while after, a Galley beingfairely furnished for the purpose, _Phineo_, his Sonne, Daughter, andtheir young Son went aboard, sayling away thence to _Laiazzo_, whereafterward they lived long in much tranquility.