[Day the Tenth]
A KNIGHT IN THE KING'S SERVICE OF SPAIN THINKING HIMSELF ILL
GUERDONED, THE KING BY VERY CERTAIN PROOF SHOWETH HIM THAT
THIS IS NOT HIS FAULT, BUT THAT OF HIS OWN PERVERSE FORTUNE,
AND AFTER LARGESSETH HIM MAGNIFICENTLY
"Needs, honourable ladies, must I repute it a singular favour to
myself that our king hath preferred me unto such an honour as it is to
be the first to tell of magnificence, the which, even as the sun is
the glory and adornment of all the heaven, is the light and lustre of
every other virtue. I will, therefore, tell you a little story
thereof, quaint and pleasant enough to my thinking, which to recall
can certes be none other than useful.
You must know, then, that, among the other gallant gentlemen who have
from time immemorial graced our city, there was one (and maybe the
most of worth) by name Messer Ruggieri de' Figiovanni, who, being both
rich and high-spirited and seeing that, in view of the way of living
and of the usages of Tuscany, he might, if he tarried there, avail to
display little or nothing of his merit, resolved to seek service
awhile with Alfonso, King of Spain, the renown of whose valiance
transcended that of every other prince of his time; wherefore he
betook himself, very honourably furnished with arms and horses and
followers, to Alfonso in Spain and was by him graciously received.
Accordingly, he took up his abode there and living splendidly and
doing marvellous deeds of arms, he very soon made himself known for a
man of worth and valour.
When he had sojourned there a pretty while and had taken particular
note of the king's fashions, himseemed he bestowed castles and cities
and baronies now upon one and now upon another with little enough
discretion, as giving them to those who were unworthy thereof, and for
that to him, who held himself for that which he was, nothing was
given, he conceived that his repute would be much abated by reason
thereof; wherefore he determined to depart and craved leave of the
king. The latter granted him the leave he sought and gave him one of
the best and finest mules that ever was ridden, the which, for the
long journey he had to make, was very acceptable to Messer Ruggieri.
Moreover, he charged a discreet servant of his that he should study,
by such means as seemed to him best, to ride with Messer Ruggieri on
such wise that he should not appear to have been sent by the king, and
note everything he should say of him, so as he might avail to repeat
it to him, and that on the ensuing morning he should command him
return to the court. Accordingly, the servant, lying in wait for
Messer Ruggieri's departure, accosted him, as he came forth the city,
and very aptly joined company with him, giving him to understand that
he also was bound for Italy. Messer Ruggieri, then, fared on, riding
the mule given him by the king and devising of one thing and another
with the latter's servant, till hard upon tierce, when he said,
'Methinketh it were well done to let our beasts stale.' Accordingly,
they put them up in a stable and they all staled, except the mule;
then they rode on again, whilst the squire still took note of the
gentleman's words, and came presently to a river, where, as they
watered their cattle, the mule staled in the stream; which Messer
Ruggieri seeing, 'Marry,' quoth he, 'God confound thee, beast, for
that thou art made after the same fashion as the prince who gave thee
to me!' The squire noted these words and albeit he took store of many
others, as he journeyed with him all that day, he heard him say nought
else but what was to the highest praise of the king.
Next morning, they being mounted and Ruggieri offering to ride towards
Tuscany, the squire imparted to him the king's commandment, whereupon
he incontinent turned back. When he arrived at court, the king,
learning what he had said of the mule, let call him to himself and
receiving him with a cheerful favour, asked him why he had likened him
to his mule, or rather why he had likened the mule to him. 'My lord,'
replied Ruggieri frankly, 'I likened her to you for that, like as you
give whereas it behoveth not and give not whereas it behoveth, even so
she staled not whereas it behoved, but staled whereas it behoved not.'
Then said the king, 'Messer Ruggieri, if I have not given to you, as I
have given unto many who are of no account in comparison with you, it
happened not because I knew you not for a most valiant cavalier and
worthy of every great gift; nay, but it is your fortune, which hath
not suffered me guerdon you according to your deserts, that hath
sinned in this, and not I; and that I may say sooth I will manifestly
prove to you.' 'My lord,' replied Ruggieri, 'I was not chagrined
because I have gotten no largesse of you, for that I desire not to be
richer than I am, but because you have on no wise borne witness to my
merit. Natheless, I hold your excuse for good and honourable and am
ready to see that which it shall please you show me, albeit I believe
you without proof.' The king then carried him into a great hall of
his, where, as he had ordered it beforehand, were two great locked
coffers, and said to him, in presence of many, 'Messer Ruggieri, in
one of these coffers is my crown, the royal sceptre and the orb,
together with many goodly girdles and ouches and rings of mine, and in
fine every precious jewel I have; and the other is full of earth.
Take, then, one and be that which you shall take yours; and you may
thus see whether of the twain hath been ungrateful to your worth,
myself of your ill fortune.'
Messer Ruggieri, seeing that it was the king's pleasure, took one of
the coffers, which, being opened by Alfonso's commandment, was found
to be that which was full of earth; whereupon quoth the king,
laughing, 'Now can you see, Messer Ruggieri, that this that I tell you
of your fortune is true; but certes your worth meriteth that I should
oppose myself to her might. I know you have no mind to turn Spaniard
and therefore I will bestow upon you neither castle nor city in these
parts; but this coffer, of which fortune deprived you, I will in her
despite shall be yours, so you may carry it off to your own country
and justly glorify yourself of your worth in the sight of your
countrymen by the witness of my gifts.' Messer Ruggieri accordingly
took the coffer and having rendered the king those thanks which sorted
with such a gift, joyfully returned therewith to Tuscany."