The Decameron of Giovanni Boccaccio
[Footnote 87: _i.e._ to be hanged or, in the equivalent English idiom,
to dance upon nothing.]
THE THIRD STORY
[Day the Second]
THREE YOUNG MEN SQUANDER THEIR SUBSTANCE AND BECOME POOR;
BUT A NEPHEW OF THEIRS, RETURNING HOME IN DESPERATION,
FALLETH IN WITH AN ABBOT AND FINDETH HIM TO BE THE KING'S
DAUGHTER OF ENGLAND, WHO TAKETH HIM TO HUSBAND AND MAKETH
GOOD ALL HIS UNCLES' LOSSES, RESTORING THEM TO GOOD ESTATE
The adventures of Rinaldo d'Asti were hearkened with admiration and
his devoutness commended by the ladies, who returned thanks to God and
St. Julian for that they had succoured him in his utmost need. Nor yet
(though this was said half aside) was the lady reputed foolish, who
had known how to take the good God had sent her in her own house. But,
whilst they discoursed, laughing in their sleeves, of the pleasant
night she had had, Pampinea, seeing herself beside Filostrato and
deeming, as indeed it befell, that the next turn would rest with her,
began to collect her thoughts and take counsel with herself what she
should say; after which, having received the queen's commandment, she
proceeded to speak thus, no less resolutely than blithely, "Noble
ladies, the more it is discoursed of the doings of Fortune, the more,
to whoso is fain to consider her dealings aright, remaineth to be said
thereof; and at this none should marvel, an he consider advisedly that
all the things, which we foolishly style ours, are in her hands and
are consequently, according to her hidden ordinance, transmuted by her
without cease from one to another and back again, without any method
known unto us. Wherefore, albeit this truth is conclusively
demonstrated in everything and all day long and hath already been
shown forth in divers of the foregoing stories, nevertheless, since it
is our queen's pleasure that we discourse upon this theme, I will, not
belike without profit for the listeners, add to the stories aforesaid
one of my own, which methinketh should please.
There was once in our city a gentleman, by name Messer Tedaldo, who,
as some will have it, was of the Lamberti family, albeit others avouch
that he was of the Agolanti, arguing more, belike, from the craft
after followed by his sons,[88] which was like unto that which the
Agolanti have ever practised and yet practise, than from aught else.
But, leaving be of which of these two houses he was, I say that he
was, in his time, a very rich gentleman and had three sons, whereof
the eldest was named Lamberto, the second Tedaldo and the third
Agolante, all handsome and sprightly youths, the eldest of whom had
not reached his eighteenth year when it befell that the aforesaid
Messer Tedaldo died very rich and left all his possessions, both
moveable and immoveable, to them, as his legitimate heirs. The young
men, seeing themselves left very rich both in lands and monies, began
to spend without check or reserve or other governance than that of
their own pleasure, keeping a vast household and many and goodly
horses and dogs and hawks, still holding open house and giving
largesse and making tilts and tournaments and doing not only that
which pertaineth unto men of condition, but all, to boot, that it
occurred to their youthful appetite to will.
[Footnote 88: _i.e._ usury? See post. One of the commentators
ridiculously suggests that they were needlemakers, from _ago_, a
needle.]
They had not long led this manner of life before the treasure left by
their father melted away and their revenues alone sufficing not unto
their current expenses, they proceeded to sell and mortgage their
estates, and selling one to-day and another to-morrow, they found
themselves well nigh to nought, without perceiving it, and poverty
opened their eyes, which wealth had kept closed. Whereupon Lamberto,
one day, calling the other two, reminded them how great had been their
father's magnificence and how great their own and setting before them
what wealth had been theirs and the poverty to which they were come
through their inordinate expenditure, exhorted them, as best he knew,
ere their distress should become more apparent, to sell what little
was left them and get them gone, together with himself. They did as he
counselled them and departing Florence, without leavetaking or
ceremony, stayed not till they came to England, where, taking a little
house in London and spending very little, they addressed themselves
with the utmost diligence to lend money at usance. In this fortune was
so favourable to them that in a few years they amassed a vast sum of
money, wherewith, returning to Florence, one after another, they
bought back great part of their estates and purchased others to boot
and took unto themselves wives.
Nevertheless, they still continued to lend money in England and sent
thither, to look to their affairs, a young man, a nephew of theirs,
Alessandro by name, whilst themselves all three at Florence, for all
they were become fathers of families, forgetting to what a pass
inordinate expenditure had aforetime brought them, began to spend more
extravagantly than ever and were high in credit with all the
merchants, who trusted them for any sum of money, however great. The
monies remitted them by Alessandro, who had fallen to lending to the
barons upon their castles and other their possessions, which brought
him great profit, helped them for some years to support these
expenses; but, presently, what while the three brothers spent thus
freely and lacking money, borrowed, still reckoning with all assurance
upon England, it chanced that, contrary to all expectation, there
broke out war in England between the king and his son, through which
the whole island was divided into two parties, some holding with the
one and some with the other; and by reason thereof all the barons'
castles were taken from Alessandro nor was there any other source of
revenue that answered him aught. Hoping that from day to day peace
should be made between father and son and consequently everything
restored to him, both interest and capital, Alessandro departed not
the island and the three brothers in Florence no wise abated their
extravagant expenditure, borrowing more and more every day. But, when,
after several years, no effect was seen to follow upon their
expectation, the three brothers not only lost their credit, but, their
creditors seeking to be paid their due, they were suddenly arrested
and their possessions sufficing not unto payment, they abode in
prison for the residue, whilst their wives and little ones betook
themselves, some into the country, some hither and some thither, in
very ill plight, unknowing what to expect but misery for the rest of
their lives.
Meanwhile, Alessandro, after waiting several years in England for
peace, seeing that it came not and himseeming that not only was his
tarrying there in vain, but that he went in danger of his life,
determined to return to Italy. Accordingly, he set out all alone and
as chance would have it, coming out of Bruges, he saw an abbot of
white friars likewise issuing thence, accompanied by many monks and
with a numerous household and a great baggage-train in his van. After
him came two old knights, kinsmen of the King, whom Alessandro
accosted as acquaintances and was gladly admitted into their company.
As he journeyed with them, he asked them softly who were the monks
that rode in front with so great a train and whither they were bound;
and one of them answered, 'He who rideth yonder is a young gentleman
of our kindred, who hath been newly elected abbot of one of the most
considerable abbeys of England, and for that he is younger than is
suffered by the laws for such a dignity, we go with him to Rome to
obtain of the Holy Father that he dispense him of his defect of
overmuch youthfulness and confirm him in the dignity aforesaid; but
this must not be spoken of with any.'
The new abbot, faring on thus, now in advance of his retinue and now
in their rear, as daily we see it happen with noblemen on a journey,
chanced by the way to see near him Alessandro, who was a young man
exceedingly goodly of person and favour, well-bred, agreeable and fair
of fashion as any might be, and who at first sight pleased him
marvellously, as nought had ever done, and calling him to his side,
fell a-discoursing pleasantly with him, asking him who he was and
whence he came and whither he was bound; whereupon Alessandro frankly
discovered to him his whole case and satisfied his questions, offering
himself to his service in what little he might. The abbot, hearing his
goodly and well-ordered speech, took more particular note of his
manners and inwardly judging him to be a man of gentle breeding, for
all his business had been mean, grew yet more enamoured of his
pleasantness and full of compassion for his mishaps, comforted him on
very friendly wise, bidding him be of good hope, for that, an he were
a man of worth, God would yet replace him in that estate whence
fortune had cast him down, nay, in a yet higher. Moreover, he prayed
him, since he was bound for Tuscany, that it would please him bear him
company, inasmuch as himself was likewise on the way thitherward;
whereupon Alessandro returned him thanks for his encouragement and
declared himself ready to his every commandment.
The abbot, in whose breast new feelings had been aroused by the sight
of Alessandro, continuing his journey, it chanced that, after some
days, they came to a village not overwell furnished with hostelries,
and the abbot having a mind to pass the night there, Alessandro caused
him alight at the house of an innkeeper, who was his familiar
acquaintance, and let prepare him his sleeping-chamber in the least
incommodious place of the house; and being now, like an expert man as
he was, grown well nigh a master of the household to the abbot, he
lodged all his company, as best he might, about the village, some here
and some there. After the abbot had supped, the night being now well
advanced and every one gone to bed, Alessandro asked the host where he
himself could lie; whereto he answered, 'In truth, I know not; thou
seest that every place is full and I and my household must needs sleep
upon the benches. Algates, in the abbot's chamber there be certain
grain-sacks, whereto I can bring thee and spread thee thereon some
small matter of bed, and there, an it please thee, thou shalt lie this
night, as best thou mayst.' Quoth Alessandro, 'How shall I go into the
abbot's chamber, seeing thou knowest it is little and of its
straitness none of his monks might lie there? Had I bethought me of
this, ere the curtains were drawn, I would have let his monks lie on
the grain-sacks and have lodged myself where they sleep.' 'Nay,'
answered the host, 'the case standeth thus;[89] but, an thou wilt,
thou mayst lie whereas I tell thee with all the ease in the world. The
abbot is asleep and his curtains are drawn; I will quickly lay thee a
pallet-bed there, and do thou sleep on it.' Alessandro, seeing that
this might be done without giving the abbot any annoy, consented
thereto and settled himself on the grain-sacks as softliest he might.
[Footnote 89: _i.e._ the thing is done and cannot be undone; there is
no help for it.]
The abbot, who slept not, nay, whose thoughts were ardently occupied
with his new desires, heard what passed between Alessandro and the
host and noted where the former laid himself to sleep, and well
pleased with this, began to say in himself, 'God hath sent an occasion
unto my desires; an I take it not, it may be long ere the like recur
to me.' Accordingly, being altogether resolved to take the opportunity
and himseeming all was quiet in the inn, he called to Alessandro in a
low voice and bade him come couch with him. Alessandro, after many