The Decameron of Giovanni Boccaccio
that you seem to me a worthy gentleman, I purpose not, now that I have
cured you of your stomach-complaint, to use you as I would another,
from whom, he being in my hands as you are, I would take for myself
such part of his goods as seemed well to me; nay, it is my intent that
you, having regard to my need, shall appoint to me such part of your
good as you yourself will. It is all here before you in its entirety
and your horses you may from this window see in the courtyard; take,
therefore, both part and all, as it pleaseth you, and from this time
forth be it at your pleasure to go or to stay.'
The abbot marvelled to hear such generous words from a highway-robber
and was exceeding well pleased therewith, insomuch that, his anger and
despite being of a sudden fallen, nay, changed into goodwill, he
became Ghino's hearty friend and ran to embrace him, saying, 'I vow to
God that, to gain the friendship of a man such as I presently judge
thee to be, I would gladly consent to suffer a far greater affront
than that which meseemed but now thou hadst done me. Accursed be
fortune that constrained thee to so damnable a trade!' Then, letting
take of his many goods but a very few necessary things, and the like
of his horses, he left all the rest to Ghino and returned to Rome. The
pope had had news of the taking of the abbot and albeit it had given
him sore concern, he asked him, when he saw him, how the baths had
profited him; whereto he replied, smiling, 'Holy Father, I found a
worthy physician nearer than at the baths, who hath excellently well
cured me'; and told him how, whereat the pope laughed, and the abbot,
following on his speech and moved by a magnanimous spirit, craved a
boon of him. The pope, thinking he would demand otherwhat, freely
offered to do that which he should ask; and the abbot said, 'Holy
Father, that which I mean to ask of you is that you restore your
favour to Ghino di Tacco, my physician, for that, of all the men of
worth and high account whom I ever knew, he is certes one of the most
deserving; and for this ill that he doth, I hold it much more
fortune's fault than his; the which[442] if you change by bestowing on
him somewhat whereby he may live according to his condition, I doubt
not anywise but you will, in brief space of time, deem of him even as
I do.' The pope, who was great of soul and a lover of men of worth,
hearing this, replied that he would gladly do it, an Ghino were indeed
of such account as the abbot avouched, and bade the latter cause him
come thither in all security. Accordingly, Ghino, at the abbot's
instance, came to court, upon that assurance, nor had he been long
about the pope's person ere the latter reputed him a man of worth and
taking him into favour, bestowed on him a grand priory of those of the
Hospitallers, having first let make him a knight of that order; which
office he held whilst he lived, still approving himself a loyal friend
and servant of Holy Church and of the Abbot of Cluny."
[Footnote 442: _i.e._ fortune.]
THE THIRD STORY
[Day the Tenth]
MITHRIDANES, ENVYING NATHAN HIS HOSPITALITY AND GENEROSITY
AND GOING TO KILL HIM, FALLETH IN WITH HIMSELF, WITHOUT
KNOWING HIM, AND IS BY HIM INSTRUCTED OF THE COURSE HE SHALL
TAKE TO ACCOMPLISH HIS PURPOSE; BY MEANS WHEREOF HE FINDETH
HIM, AS HE HIMSELF HAD ORDERED IT, IN A COPPICE AND
RECOGNIZING HIM, IS ASHAMED AND BECOMETH HIS FRIEND
Themseemed all they had heard what was like unto a miracle, to wit,
that a churchman should have wrought anywhat magnificently; but, as
soon as the ladies had left discoursing thereof, the king bade
Filostrato proceed, who forthright began, "Noble ladies, great was the
magnificence of the King of Spain and that of the Abbot of Cluny a
thing belike never yet heard of; but maybe it will seem to you no less
marvellous a thing to hear how a man, that he might do generosity to
another who thirsted for his blood, nay, for the very breath of his
nostrils, privily bethought himself to give them to him, ay, and would
have done it, had the other willed to take them, even as I purpose to
show you in a little story of mine.
It is a very certain thing (if credit may be given to the report of
divers Genoese and others who have been in those countries) that there
was aforetime in the parts of Cattajo[443] a man of noble lineage and
rich beyond compare, called Nathan, who, having an estate adjoining a
highway whereby as of necessity passed all who sought to go from the
Ponant to the Levant or from the Levant to the Ponant, and being a man
of great and generous soul and desirous that it should be known by his
works, assembled a great multitude of artificers and let build there,
in a little space of time, one of the fairest and greatest and richest
palaces that had ever been seen, the which he caused excellently well
furnished with all that was apt unto the reception and entertainment
of gentlemen. Then, having a great and goodly household, he there
received and honourably entertained, with joyance and good cheer,
whosoever came and went; and in this praiseworthy usance he persevered
insomuch that not only the Levant, but well nigh all the Ponant, knew
him by report. He was already full of years nor was therefore grown
weary of the practice of hospitality, when it chanced that his fame
reached the ears of a young man of a country not far from his own, by
name Mithridanes, who, knowing himself no less rich than Nathan and
waxing envious of his renown and his virtues, bethought himself to
eclipse or shadow them with greater liberality. Accordingly, letting
build a palace like unto that of Nathan, he proceeded to do the most
unbounded courtesies[444] that ever any did whosoever came or went
about those parts, and in a short time he became without doubt very
famous.
[Footnote 443: _Cattajo._ This word is usually translated Cathay,
_i.e._ China; but _semble_ Boccaccio meant rather the Dalmatian
province of Cattaro, which would better answer the description in the
text, Nathan's estate being described as adjoining a highway leading
from the Ponant (or Western shores of the Mediterranean) to the Levant
(or Eastern shores), _e.g._ the road from Cattaro on the Adriatic to
Salonica on the Ægean. Cathay (China) seems, from the circumstances of
the case, out of the question, as is also the Italian town called
Cattaio, near Padua.]
[Footnote 444: _i.e._ to show the most extravagant hospitality.]
It chanced one day that, as he abode all alone in the midcourt of his
palace, there came in, by one of the gates, a poor woman, who sought
of him an alms and had it; then, coming in again to him by the second,
she had of him another alms, and so on for twelve times in succession;
but, whenas she returned for the thirteenth time, he said to her,
'Good woman, thou art very diligent in this thine asking,' and
natheless gave her an alms. The old crone, hearing these words,
exclaimed, 'O liberality of Nathan, how marvellous art thou! For that,
entering in by each of the two-and-thirty gates which his palace hath,
and asking of him an alms, never, for all that he showed, was I
recognized of him, and still I had it; whilst here, having as yet come
in but at thirteen gates, I have been both recognized and chidden.' So
saying, she went her ways and returned thither no more. Mithridanes,
hearing the old woman's words, flamed up into a furious rage, as he
who held that which he heard of Nathan's fame a diminishment of his
own, and fell to saying, 'Alack, woe is me! When shall I attain to
Nathan's liberality in great things, let alone overpass it, as I seek
to do, seeing that I cannot approach him in the smallest? Verily, I
weary myself in vain, an I remove him not from the earth; wherefore,
since eld carrieth him not off, needs must I with mine own hands do it
without delay.'
Accordingly, rising upon that motion, he took horse with a small
company, without communicating his design to any, and came after three
days whereas Nathan abode. He arrived there at eventide and bidding
his followers make a show of not being with him and provide themselves
with lodging, against they should hear farther from him, abode alone
at no great distance from the fair palace, where he found Nathan all
unattended, as he went walking for his diversion, without any pomp of
apparel, and knowing him not, asked him if he could inform him where
Nathan dwelt. 'My son,' answered the latter cheerfully, 'there is none
in these parts who is better able than I to show thee that; wherefore,
whenas it pleaseth thee, I will carry thee thither.' Mithridanes
rejoined that this would be very acceptable to him, but that, an it
might be, he would fain be neither seen nor known of Nathan; and the
latter said, 'That also will I do, since it pleaseth thee.'
Mithridanes accordingly dismounted and repaired to the goodly palace,
in company with Nathan, who quickly engaged him in most pleasant
discourse. There he caused one of his servants take the young man's
horse and putting his mouth to his ear, charged him take order with
all those of the house, so none should tell the youth that he was
Nathan; and so was it done. Moreover, he lodged him in a very goodly
chamber, where none saw him, save those whom he had deputed to this
service, and let entertain him with the utmost honour, himself bearing
him company.
After Mithridanes had abidden with him awhile on this wise, he asked
him (albeit he held him in reverence as a father) who he was; to which
Nathan answered, 'I am an unworthy servant of Nathan, who have grown
old with him from my childhood, nor hath he ever advanced me to
otherwhat than that which thou seest me; wherefore, albeit every one
else is mighty well pleased with him, I for my part have little cause
to thank him.' These words afforded Mithridanes some hope of availing
with more certitude and more safety to give effect to his perverse
design, and Nathan very courteously asking him who he was and what
occasion brought him into those parts and proffering him his advice
and assistance insomuch as lay in his power, he hesitated awhile to
reply, but, presently, resolving to trust himself to him, he with a
long circuit of words[445] required him first of secrecy and after of
aid and counsel and entirely discovered to him who he was and
wherefore and on what motion he came. Nathan, hearing his discourse
and his cruel design, was inwardly all disordered; but nevertheless,
without much hesitation, he answered him with an undaunted mind and a
firm countenance, saying, 'Mithridanes, thy father was a noble man and
thou showest thyself minded not to degenerate from him, in having
entered upon so high an emprise as this thou hast undertaken, to wit,
to be liberal unto all; and greatly do I commend the jealousy thou
bearest unto Nathan's virtues, for that, were there many such,[446]
the world, that is most wretched, would soon become good. The design
that thou hast discovered to me I will without fail keep secret; but
for the accomplishment thereof I can rather give thee useful counsel
than great help; the which is this. Thou mayst from here see a
coppice, maybe half a mile hence, wherein Nathan well nigh every
morning walketh all alone, taking his pleasure there a pretty long
while; and there it will be a light matter to thee to find him and do
thy will of him. If thou slay him, thou must, so thou mayst return
home without hindrance, get thee gone, not by that way thou camest,
but by that which thou wilt see issue forth of the coppice on the left
hand, for that, albeit it is somewhat wilder, it is nearer to thy
country and safer for thee.'
[Footnote 445: Or as we should say, "After much beating about the
bush."]
[Footnote 446: _i.e._ jealousies.]