[Day the First]
MASTER ALBERTO OF BOLOGNA CIVILLY PUTTETH A LADY TO THE
BLUSH WHO THOUGHT TO HAVE SHAMED HIM OF BEING ENAMOURED OF
HER
Elisa being now silent, the last burden of the story-telling rested
with the queen, who, with womanly grace beginning to speak, said,
"Noble damsels, like as in the lucid nights the stars are the ornament
of the sky and as in Spring-time the flowers of the green meadows,
even so are commendable manners and pleasing discourse adorned by
witty sallies, which latter, for that they are brief, are yet more
beseeming to women than to men, inasmuch as much and long speech,
whenas it may be dispensed with, is straitlier forbidden unto women
than to men, albeit nowadays there are few or no women left who
understand a sprightly saying or, if they understand it, know how to
answer it, to the general shame be it said of ourselves and of all
women alive. For that virtue,[69] which was erst in the minds of the
women of times past, those of our day have diverted to the adornment
of the body, and she on whose back are to be seen the most motley
garments and the most gaudily laced and garded and garnished with the
greatest plenty of fringes and purflings and broidery deemeth herself
worthy to be held of far more account than her fellows and to be
honoured above them, considering not that, were it a question of who
should load her back and shoulders with bravery, an ass would carry
much more thereof than any of them nor would therefore be honoured for
more than an ass.
[Footnote 69: _Virtù_, in the old Roman sense of strength, vigour,
energy.]
I blush to avow it, for that I cannot say aught against other women
but I say it against myself; these women that are so laced and purfled
and painted and parti-coloured abide either mute and senseless, like
marble statues, or, an they be questioned, answer after such a fashion
that it were far better to have kept silence. And they would have you
believe that their unableness to converse among ladies and men of
parts proceedeth from purity of mind, and to their witlessness they
give the name of modesty, as if forsooth no woman were modest but she
who talketh with her chamberwoman or her laundress or her bake-wench;
the which had Nature willed, as they would have it believed, she had
assuredly limited unto them their prattle on other wise. It is true
that in this, as in other things, it behoveth to have regard to time
and place and with whom one talketh; for that it chanceth bytimes that
women or men, thinking with some pleasantry or other to put another to
the blush and not having well measured their own powers with those of
the latter, find that confusion, which they thought to cast upon
another, recoil upon themselves. Wherefore, so you may know how to
keep yourselves and that, to boot, you may not serve as a text for the
proverb which is current everywhere, to wit, that women in everything
still take the worst, I would have you learn a lesson from the last of
to-day's stories, which falleth to me to tell, to the intent that,
even as you are by nobility of mind distinguished from other women, so
likewise you may show yourselves no less removed from them by
excellence of manners.
It is not many years since there lived (and belike yet liveth) at
Bologna a very great and famous physician, known by manifest renown to
well nigh all the world. His name was Master Alberto and such was the
vivacity of his spirit that, albeit he was an old man of hard upon
seventy years of age and well nigh all natural heat had departed his
body, he scrupled not to expose himself to the flames of love; for
that, having seen at an entertainment a very beautiful widow lady,
called, as some say, Madam Malgherida[70] de' Ghisolieri, and being
vastly taken with her, he received into his mature bosom, no otherwise
than if he had been a young gallant, the amorous fire, insomuch that
himseemed he rested not well by night, except the day foregone he had
looked upon the delicate and lovesome countenance of the fair lady.
Wherefore he fell to passing continually before her house, now afoot
and now on horseback, as the occasion served him, insomuch that she
and many other ladies got wind of the cause of his constant passings
to and fro and oftentimes made merry among themselves to see a man
thus ripe of years and wit in love, as if they deemed that that most
pleasant passion of love took root and flourished only in the silly
minds of the young and not otherwhere.
[Footnote 70: Old form of Margherita.]
What while he continued to pass back and forth, it chanced one holiday
that, the lady being seated with many others before her door and
espying Master Alberto making towards them from afar, they one and
all took counsel together to entertain him and do him honour and after
to rally him on that his passion. Accordingly, they all rose to
receive him and inviting him [to enter,] carried him into a shady
courtyard, whither they let bring the choicest of wines and sweetmeats
and presently enquired of him, in very civil and pleasant terms, how
it might be that he was fallen enamoured of that fair lady, knowing
her to be loved of many handsome, young and sprightly gentlemen. The
physician, finding himself thus courteously attacked, put on a blithe
countenance and answered, 'Madam, that I love should be no marvel to
any understanding person, and especially that I love yourself, for
that you deserve it; and albeit old men are by operation of nature
bereft of the vigour that behoveth unto amorous exercises, yet not for
all that are they bereft of the will nor of the wit to apprehend that
which is worthy to be loved; nay, this latter is naturally the better
valued of them, inasmuch as they have more knowledge and experience
than the young. As for the hope that moveth me, who am an old man, to
love you who are courted of many young gallants, it is on this wise: I
have been many a time where I have seen ladies lunch and eat lupins
and leeks. Now, although in the leek no part is good, yet is the
head[71] thereof less hurtful and more agreeable to the taste; but you
ladies, moved by a perverse appetite, commonly hold the head in your
hand and munch the leaves, which are not only naught, but of an ill
savour. How know I, madam, but you do the like in the election of your
lovers? In which case, I should be the one chosen of you and the
others would be turned away.'
[Footnote 71: _i.e._ the base or eatable part of the stem.]
The gentlewoman and her companions were somewhat abashed and said,
'Doctor, you have right well and courteously chastised our
presumptuous emprise; algates, your love is dear to me, as should be
that of a man of worth and learning; wherefore, you may in all
assurance command me, as your creature, of your every pleasure, saving
only mine honour.' The physician, rising with his companions, thanked
the lady and taking leave of her with laughter and merriment, departed
thence. Thus the lady, looking not whom she rallied and thinking to
discomfit another, was herself discomfited; wherefrom, an you be wise,
you will diligently guard yourselves."
* * * * *
The sun had begun to decline towards the evening, and the heat was in
great part abated, when the stories of the young ladies and of the
three young men came to an end; whereupon quoth the queen
blithesomely, "Henceforth, dear companions, there remaineth nought
more to do in the matter of my governance for the present day, save to
give you a new queen, who shall, according to her judgment, order her
life and ours, for that[72] which is to come, unto honest pleasance.
And albeit the day may be held to endure from now until nightfall,
yet,--for that whoso taketh not somewhat of time in advance cannot,
meseemeth, so well provide for the future and in order that what the
new queen shall deem needful for the morrow may be prepared,--methinketh
the ensuing days should commence at this hour. Wherefore, in reverence
of Him unto whom all things live and for our own solacement, Filomena,
a right discreet damsel, shall, as queen, govern our kingdom for the
coming day." So saying, she rose to her feet and putting off the
laurel-wreath, set it reverently on the head of Filomena, whom first
herself and after all the other ladies and the young men likewise
saluted as queen, cheerfully submitting themselves to her governance.
[Footnote 72: _i.e._ that day.]
Filomena blushed somewhat to find herself invested with the queendom,
but, calling to mind the words a little before spoken by
Pampinea,[73]--in order that she might not appear witless, she resumed
her assurance and in the first place confirmed all the offices given
by Pampinea; then, having declared that they should abide whereas they
were, she appointed that which was to do against the ensuing morning,
as well as for that night's supper, and after proceeded to speak thus:
[Footnote 73: See ante, p. 8.]
"Dearest companions, albeit Pampinea, more of her courtesy than for
any worth of mine, hath made me queen of you all, I am not therefore
disposed to follow my judgment alone in the manner of our living, but
yours together with mine; and that you may know that which meseemeth
is to do and consequently at your pleasure add thereto or abate
thereof, I purpose briefly to declare it to you.
If I have well noted the course this day held by Pampinea, meseemeth I
have found it alike praiseworthy and delectable; wherefore till such
time as, for overlong continuance or other reason, it grow irksome to
us, I judge it not to be changed. Order, then, being taken for [the
continuance of] that which we have already begun to do, we will,
arising hence, go awhile a-pleasuring, and whenas the sun shall be for
going under, we will sup in the cool of the evening, and after sundry
canzonets and other pastimes, we shall do well to betake ourselves to
sleep. To-morrow, rising in the cool of the morning, we will on like
wise go somewhither a-pleasuring, as shall be most agreeable to every
one; and as we have done to-day, we will at the due hour come back to
eat; after which we will dance and when we arise from sleep, as to-day
we have done, we will return hither to our story-telling, wherein
meseemeth a very great measure to consist alike of pleasance and of
profit. Moreover, that which Pampinea had indeed no opportunity of
doing, by reason of her late election to the governance, I purpose now
to enter upon, to wit, to limit within some bound that whereof we are
to tell and to declare it[74] to you beforehand, so each of you may
have leisure to think of some goodly story to relate upon the theme
proposed, the which, an it please you, shall be on this wise; namely,
seeing that since the beginning of the world men have been and will
be, until the end thereof, bandied about by various shifts of fortune,
each shall be holden to tell OF THOSE WHO AFTER BEING BAFFLED BY
DIVERS CHANCES HAVE WON AT LAST TO A JOYFUL ISSUE BEYOND THEIR HOPE."
[Footnote 74: _i.e._ the terms of the limitation aforesaid.]
Ladies and men alike all commended this ordinance and declared
themselves ready to ensue it. Only Dioneo, the others all being
silent, said, "Madam, as all the rest have said, so say I, to wit that
the ordinance given by you is exceeding pleasant and commendable; but
of especial favour I crave you a boon, which I would have confirmed to
me for such time as our company shall endure, to wit, that I may not
be constrained by this your law to tell a story upon the given theme,
an it like me not, but shall be free to tell that which shall most
please me. And that none may think I seek this favour as one who hath
not stories, in hand, from this time forth I am content to be still
the last to tell."
The queen,--who knew him for a merry man and a gamesome and was well
assured that he asked this but that he might cheer the company with
some laughable story, whenas they should be weary of discoursing,--with
the others' consent, cheerfully accorded him the favour he sought.
Then, arising from session, with slow steps they took their way
towards a rill of very clear water, that ran down from a little hill,
amid great rocks and green herbage, into a valley overshaded with many
trees and there, going about in the water, bare-armed and shoeless,
they fell to taking various diversions among themselves, till
supper-time drew near, when they returned to the palace and there
supped merrily. Supper ended, the queen called for instruments of
music and bade Lauretta lead up a dance, whilst Emilia sang a song, to
the accompaniment of Dioneo's lute. Accordingly, Lauretta promptly set
up a dance and led it off, whilst Emilia amorously warbled the
following song:
I burn for mine own charms with such a fire,
Methinketh that I ne'er
Of other love shall reck or have desire.
Whene'er I mirror me, I see therein[75]
That good which still contenteth heart and spright;
Nor fortune new nor thought of old can win
To dispossess me of such dear delight.
What other object, then, could fill my sight,
Enough of pleasance e'er
To kindle in my breast a new desire?
This good flees not, what time soe'er I'm fain
Afresh to view it for my solacement;
Nay, at my pleasure, ever and again
With such a grace it doth itself present
Speech cannot tell it nor its full intent
Be known of mortal e'er,
Except indeed he burn with like desire.
And I, grown more enamoured every hour,
The straitlier fixed mine eyes upon it be,
Give all myself and yield me to its power,
E'en tasting now of that it promised me,
And greater joyance yet I hope to see,
Of such a strain as ne'er
Was proven here below of love-desire.
[Footnote 75: _i.e._ in the mirrored presentment of her own beauty.]
Lauretta having thus made an end of her ballad,[76]--in the burden of
which all had blithely joined, albeit the words thereof gave some much
matter for thought,--divers other rounds were danced and a part of the
short night being now spent, it pleased the queen to give an end to
the first day; wherefore, letting kindle the flambeaux, she commanded
that all should betake themselves to rest until the ensuing morning,
and all, accordingly, returning to their several chambers, did so.
[Footnote 76: _Ballatella_, lit. little dancing song or song made to
be sung as an accompaniment to a dance (from _ballare_, to dance).
This is the origin of our word ballad.]
HERE ENDETH THE FIRST DAY
OF THE DECAMERON
_Day the Second_
HERE BEGINNETH THE SECOND DAY OF THE DECAMERON WHEREIN UNDER
THE GOVERNANCE OF FILOMENA IS DISCOURSED OF THOSE WHO AFTER
BEING BAFFLED BY DIVERS CHANCES HAVE WON AT LAST TO A JOYFUL
ISSUE BEYOND THEIR HOPE
The sun had already everywhere brought on the new day with its light
and the birds, carolling blithely among the green branches, bore
witness thereof unto the ear with their merry songs, when the ladies
and the three young men, arising all, entered the gardens and pressing
the dewy grass with slow step, went wandering hither and thither,
weaving goodly garlands and disporting themselves, a great while. And
like as they had done the day foregone, even so did they at present;
to wit, having eaten in the cool and danced awhile, they betook them
to repose and arising thence after none, came all, by command of their
queen, into the fresh meadows, where they seated themselves round
about her. Then she, who was fair of favour and exceeding pleasant of
aspect, having sat awhile, crowned with her laurel wreath, and looked
all her company in the face, bade Neifile give beginning to the day's
stories by telling one of her fashion; whereupon the latter, without
making any excuse, blithely began to speak thus: