Collected Works of Giovanni Boccaccio

by Giovanni Boccaccio

  Consult Cappelletti, L., La novella di Cisti fornaio, in Cronaca minima (Livorno, 1887, 28 August).

  NOVEL III

  By Lauretta

  Madonna Nonna de’ Pulci, by a sharp repartee, silences the Bishop of Florence for an unseemly piece of raillery.

  NOVEL IV

  By Neifile

  Chichibio, cook to Currado Gianfiliazzi, by a prompt rejoinder which he makes to his master, turns his wrath into laughter, and escapes the punishment with which he had threatened him.

  Appeared in Tarlton’s News out of Purgatorie (1590), No. 4.

  NOVEL V

  By Pamfilo

  Forese da Rabatta and Giotto the painter, coming from Mugello, jest at the meanness of each other’s appearance.

  NOVEL VI

  By Fiammetta

  Michele Scalza proves to certain young gentlemen how that the family of the Baronci is the most ancient of any in the world, and of Maremma, and wins a supper by it.

  NOVEL VII

  By Filostrato

  Madonna Filippa being found by her husband with a lover, is accused and tried for it, but saves herself by her witty reply, and has the law moderated for the future.

  NOVEL VIII

  By Emilia

  Fresco recommends his niece not to look at herself again in a mirror since, as she had averred, looking at ugly people was disagreeable to her.

  NOVEL IX

  By Elisa

  Guido Cavalcanti reproves in polite terms certain Florentine knights who had taken him unawares.

  Consult Cappelletti, L., La novella di Guido Cavalcanti, in Propugnatore, vol. x (1677).

  NOVEL X

  By Dioneo

  Friar Cipolla promises some country people to show them a feather from the wing of the Angel Gabriel, instead of which he finds only some coals, which he tells them are the same that roasted St. Laurence.

  Appeared in Tarlton’s News out of Purgatorie (ca. 1576), No. 5.

  THE SEVENTH DAY

  Dioneo King

  Subject. — Of the tricks which either for love or for their deliverance from peril ladies have heretofore played their husbands, and whether they were by the said husbands detected or no.

  NOVEL I

  By Emilia

  Gianni Lotteringhi hears at night a knocking at his door, and wakes his wife. The latter makes him believe it is a spirit. They both go to conjure it away with a prayer, and the noise ceases.

  Appeared in The Cobler of Caunterburie, No. 2.

  NOVEL II

  By Filostrato

  Peronella, hearing her husband enter, conceals her lover in a lie tub, which tub the husband had just sold. She tells him that she had also sold it to a person who was then in it, to see if it was sound. Hereupon the man jumps out, makes the husband clean it for him, he caressing the wife meanwhile, and carries it home.

  Consult De Maria, U., op. cit., supra.

  NOVEL III

  By Elisa

  Friar Rinaldo is in bed with the wife of a neighbour. The husband finding him in the bedroom of his wife, both make him believe that they are busy about a charm to cure their child of the worms.

  Against the Friars.

  NOVEL IV

  By Lauretta

  Tofano shuts his wife one night out of doors, and she, not being able to persuade him to let her in, pretends to throw herself into a well, and drops a big stone in; he runs thither in a fright; she slips into the house, and, locking him out, abuses him well.

  Appeared in Westward for Smelts, by Kind Kit of Kingston (1620), No. 3.

  Consult Marcocchia, G., Una novella indiana nel Boccaccio e nel Molière (Spalatro, 1905).

  NOVEL V

  By Fiammetta

  A jealous man confesses his wife under a priest’s habit, who tells him that she is visited every night by a friar; and, whilst he is watching the door, she lets her lover in at the house-top.

  Cf. Thomas Twine’s Schoolmaster (1576).

  NOVEL VI

  By Pampinea

  Isabella, being in company with her gallant, called Leonetto, and being visited at the same time by one Lambertuccio, her husband returns, when she sends Lambertuccio away with a drawn sword in his hand, whilst the husband escorts Leonetto safely to his own house.

  Appeared in Tarlton’s News out of Purgatorie (1590), No. 7.

  Consult Paris, G., Le lai de l’épervier, in Romania (1878).

  NOVEL VII

  By Filomena

  Lodovico being in love with Beatrice, she sends her husband into the garden, disguised like herself, so that her lover may be with her in the meantime; and he afterwards goes into the garden and beats the husband.

  Appeared in The Hundred Mery Talys (1526), No. 2.

  Consult Schofield, W. H., The source and history of the seventh novel of the seventh day in the Decameron, in Studies and Notes in Philology and Literature, vol. ii (Boston, 1893).

  NOVEL VIII

  By Neifile

  A woman, who had a very jealous husband, tied a thread to her great toe, by which she informed her lover whether he should come or not. The husband found it out, and whilst he was pursuing the lover, she put her maid in her place. He takes her to be his wife, beats her, cuts off her hair, and fetches his wife’s relations, who find nothing of what he had told them, and load him with reproaches.

  Appeared in the Cobler of Caunterburie.

  NOVEL IX

  By Pamfilo

  Lydia, the wife of Nicostratus, being in love with Pyrrhus, did three things which he had enjoined her, to convince him of her affection. She afterwards used some familiarities with him before her husband’s face, making him believe that what he had seen was not real.

  NOVEL X

  By Dioneo

  Two inhabitants of Siena love the same woman, one of whom was godfather to her son. This man dies, and returns, according to his promise, to his friend, and gives him an account of what is done in the other world.

  THE EIGHTH DAY

  Lauretta Queen

  Subject of Tales. — Those tricks that daily woman plays man, or man woman or one man another.

  NOVEL I

  By Neifile

  Gulfardo obtains from the wife of Guasparruolo a favour by giving her a sum of money. He borrows the money from her husband. He afterwards tells Guasparruolo, in her presence, that he had paid it to her, which she acknowledges to be true.

  This is Chaucer’s Shipmanne’s Tale or Story of Don John.

  NOVEL II

  By Pamfilo

  The priest of Varlungo receives favours from a woman of his parish, and leaves his cloak in pawn. He afterwards borrows a mortar of her, which he returns, and demands his cloak, which he says he left only as a token. She mutinies, but is forced by her husband to send it.

  Against the clergy.

  Consult Tribolati, F., La Belcolore: diporto letterario sulla novella VII della giornata VIII del Decameron, in Borghini, vol. iii (1865).

  NOVEL III

  By Elisa

  Calandrino, Bruno, and Buffalmacco go to Mugnone, to look for the Heliotrope; and Calandrino returns laden with stones, supposing that he has found it. Upon this his wife scolds him, and he beats her for it; and then tells his companions what they knew better than himself.

  NOVEL IV

  By Emilia

  The rector of Fiesole is in love with a lady who has no liking for him, and he, thinking that he is in bed with her, is all the time with her maid, and her brothers bring the bishop thither to witness it.

  Against the clergy.

  Appeared in the Nachgeahunt of Whetsone (1583).

  NOVEL V

  By Filostrato

  Three young sparks play a trick with a judge, whilst he is sitting upon the bench hearing causes.

  NOVEL VI

  By Filomena

  Bruno and Buffalmacco steal a pig from Calandrino, and make a charm to find out the thief, with pills made of ginger and some sack; giving him, at the same time, pills made of aloes; ther
eby they make it appear that he had furtively sold the pig, and they make him pay handsomely, for fear they should tell his wife.

  Consult Giannini, A., Una fonte di una novella del B., in Fanfulla della Domenica, August 27, 1905. Drescher, K., Zu Boccaccios Novelle Dekam, viii, 6, in Studien zur vergleichende Litteraturgeschichte, vi (1906), fasc. 3.

  NOVEL VII

  By Pampinea

  A scholar loves a widow lady, Helena, who, being enamoured of another, makes him wait a whole night for her in the snow. The scholar, in order to be revenged, finds means in his turn to make the lady stand quite naked at the top of a tower for a night and a day, in the middle of July, exposed to flies, insects, and the sun.

  Appeared in Painter’s Palace of Pleasure, ii, 31 (1567).

  NOVEL VIII

  By Fiammetta

  Two married men constantly meet together, when one of them sleeps with the wife of the other; which, that other discovering, agrees with the wife of the traitor to close him up in a chest, on which they together take their amusement.

  Consult Tribolati, F., Commento sulla novella VIII della giornata VIII del Decameron, in Poliziano, vol. i (1892), No. 5.

  NOVEL IX

  By Lauretta

  Messer Simone, a doctor, having been conducted during the night to a certain place by Buffalmacco to make part of a company of rovers, is thrown by Buffalmacco into a filthy ditch and left there.

  NOVEL X

  By Dioneo

  A Sicilian girl, by a ruse, cheats a merchant out of the money he has made at Palermo; afterwards he returns, pretending to have a larger stock of goods than before, borrows a large sum of money from her, and leaves her in security nothing but water and tow.

  Vidal Bev, Boccacce et les docks et warrants, in Bulletin de l’institut Égyptien (1883).

  THE NINTH DAY

  Emilia Queen

  Subject. — Various.

  NOVEL I

  By Filomena

  Madonna Francesca, beloved by a certain Rinuccio and a certain Alessandro, and not loving either of them, got rid of them cleverly, by making one of them enter a tomb as if he were dead, and sending the other to fetch him out, so that neither of them could accomplish their purpose.

  NOVEL II

  By Elisa

  An abbess going in haste, and in the dark, to surprise one of her nuns, instead of her veil puts on the priest’s breeches. The lady accused makes a just remark upon this, and so escapes.

  Against the Nuns.

  Appeared in Thomas Twyne’s Schoolmaster (1576), and William Warner’s Albion’s England (1586-1592).

  NOVEL III

  By Filostrato

  Messer Simone, at the instigation of Bruno, Buffalmacco, and Nello, makes Calandrino believe that he is with child. The last-named, in return for food and money, obtains a medicine from them, and is cured without being delivered.

  NOVEL IV

  By Neifile

  Cecco Fortarrigo loses at play all the money he had of his own, as well as that of Cecco Angiulieri, his master; then he runs away in his shirt, and pretending that the other had robbed him, he has him taken hold of by the peasants; after which he put on his clothes, and rode away on the other’s horse, leaving him in his shirt.

  NOVEL V

  By Fiammetta

  Calandrino is in love with a young girl; Bruno makes a written talisman for him, and tells him that as soon as he touches her she will follow him; Calandrino having got this from him, his wife surprises him and makes a great scene.

  NOVEL VI

  By Pamfilo

  Two young gentlemen lodge at an inn. The one lies with the landlord’s daughter, the other with his wife. He who has lain with the daughter gets into the father’s bed afterwards, and tells him all about it, thinking it was his friend. A great noise is made in consequence. The landlord’s wife, having gone into her daughter’s bed, arranges everything in a few words.

  Cf. A Right Pleasaunt Historie of the Mylner of Abingdon.

  Consult Varnhagen, H., Die Erzählung von der Wiege, in Englische Studien, vol. ix (1886), fasc. 2.

  NOVEL VII

  By Pampinea

  Talano of Molese dreams that his wife has her throat and face torn by a wolf. He warns her, but she refuses to follow his advice, the result being that what he had dreamed really happened.

  NOVEL VIII

  By Lauretta

  Biondello jests at Ciacco’s expense by giving him a bad dinner, after which Ciacco revenges himself by causing Biondello to be beaten.

  NOVEL IX

  By Emilia

  Two young men ask advice from Solomon, the one in order to know how he can be loved, the other how he may correct his bad-tempered wife. He tells the first to love, and the other to go to the Geese’s Bridge.

  Consult Imbriani, V., I consigli di Salamone, in Rivista Europea, n.s., vol. xxiii (1882), p. 37 et seq. Burdach, K., Zum Ursprung der Salomo Sage, in Arch. für das Studium der neueren Sprachen und Litteraturen, cviii (1902), fasc. 1 and 3.

  NOVEL X

  By Dioneo

  Dom Gianni, at the request of his friend Pietro, works an enchantment so as to change the latter into a mare. When he got as far as to attach the tail, Pietro, saying that he didn’t want any tail, spoils the whole operation.

  Against the monks.

  THE TENTH DAY

  Pamfilo King

  Subject. — Of such as in matters of love or otherwise have done something with liberality or magnificence.

  NOVEL I

  By Neifile

  A certain knight in the service of the king of Spain thinks that he is not sufficiently rewarded. The king gives a remarkable proof that this was not his fault so much as the knight’s bad luck, and afterwards nobly requites him.

  Consult Chiarini, G., Le fonti del mercanti di Venezia, in Studi Shakespearani (Livorno, 1897).

  NOVEL II

  By Elisa

  Ghino di Tacco makes the abbot of Cligni prisoner, and cures him of a stomach disease; then he gives him his liberty. The abbot, on his return to the Court of Rome, reconciles Ghino to Pope Boniface, and has him made prior of a hospital.

  Consult Hutton, E., In Unknown Tuscany, with notes by W. Heywood (Methuen, 1909), p. 101-11.

  NOVEL III

  By Filostrato

  Mitridanes envies the generosity of Nathan and goes to kill him, when, conversing with him, but not knowing him, and being informed in what manner he may do the deed, he goes to meet him in a wood as Nathan had directed. There he recognises him, is ashamed, and becomes his friend.

  Appeared in Painter’s Palace of Pleasure, ii (1567), No. 18.

  NOVEL IV

  By Lauretta

  Messer Gentile de’ Carisendi, on his return from Modena, takes out of the grave a lady whom he had loved, and whom they had buried for dead. She recovers, and is delivered of a son, which he presents with the lady to her husband, Niccoluccio Caccianimico.

  Appeared in Painter’s Palace of Pleasure, ii (1567), No. 19.

  NOVEL V

  By Emilia

  Madonna Dianora demands from Messer Ansaldo a garden as beautiful in January as in the month of May. Messer Ansaldo, by the help of necromancers, does it. Her husband gives him permission to put himself at the disposal of Messer Ansaldo. He, having heard of her husband’s generosity, relieves her of her promise, and on his side the necromancer, without wishing anything from him holds Messer Ansaldo at quits.

  Appeared in Painter’s Palace of Pleasure, ii (1567), No. 17.

  NOVEL VI

  By Fiammetta

  King Charles the Victorious, when old, becomes enamoured of a young girl; ashamed of his foolish love, he marries her honourably like one of his sisters.

  NOVEL VII

  By Pampinea

  King Pietro, hearing that a lady was love-sick for him, makes her a visit, and marries her to a worthy gentleman; then kissing her forehead, calls himself ever afterwards her knight.

  Consult Cappelletti, L., La Lisa e il re Pi
etro d’ Aragona, in Propugnatore, vol. xi (1879), part ii, p. 108 et seq.

  NOVEL VIII

  By Filomena

  Sophronia, believing herself to be the wife of Gisippus, is really married to Titus Quintius Fulvus, who takes her off to Rome. There Gisippus arrives some time afterwards in great distress, and thinking him despised by Titus, declares himself guilty of a murder, in order to put an end to his life. Titus recollects him, and to save him, accuses himself, which when the murderer sees, he delivers himself up as the guilty person. Finally, they are all set at liberty by Octavius, and Titus marries Gisippus to his sister, and gives him half his estate.

  Appeared in The History of Tytuse and Gesyppus, out of the Latin by William Wallis, (?) and in The Boke of the Governors, by Sir Thomas Elyot, lib. ii, cap. xii (1531).

  Consult Wagner, C. P., The sources of El Cavallero Cifar, in Revue hispanique, vol. x (1903), p. 4 et seq.

  NOVEL IX

  By Pamfilo

  Saladin, disguising himself like a merchant, is generously entertained by Messer Torello, who, going upon an expedition to the Holy Land, allowed his wife a certain time to marry again. In the meantime he is taken prisoner, and being employed to look after the hawks, is recognised by the Soldan, who shows him great respect. Afterwards Torello falls sick, and is conveyed by magic art, in one night, to Pavia, at the very time that his wife was to have been married; when he makes himself known to her, and returns with her home.

  Appeared in Painter’s Palace of Pleasure, vol. ii (1567), No. 20.

  Consult Rajna, P., La leggenda Boccaccesca del Saladino e di messer Torello, in Romania, vol. vi (1877), p. 349 et seq. Landau, M., La novella di messer Torello e le sue attinenze mitiche e leggendarie, in Giornale stor. della Lett. Ital., vol. ii (1883), p. 52 et seq. Ibid., Le tradizioni giudaiche nella novellistica italiana, in Giornale cit., vol. i (1883), p. 535 et seq.