[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.]
Mithridanes, having received this information and Nathan having taken
leave of him, privily let his companions, who had, like himself, taken
up their sojourn in the palace, know where they should look for him on
the morrow; and the new day came, Nathan, whose intent was nowise at
variance with the counsel he had given Mithridanes nor was anywise
changed, betook himself alone to the coppice, there to die. Meanwhile,
Mithridanes arose and taking his bow and his sword, for other arms he
had not, mounted to horse and made for the coppice, where he saw
Nathan from afar go walking all alone. Being resolved, ere he attacked
him, to seek to see him and hear him speak, he ran towards him and
seizing him by the fillet he had about his head, said, 'Old man, thou
art dead.' Whereto Nathan answered no otherwhat than, 'Then have I
merited it.' Mithridanes, hearing his voice and looking him in the
face, knew him forthright for him who had so lovingly received him
and familiarly companied with him and faithfully counselled him;
whereupon his fury incontinent subsided and his rage was changed into
shame. Accordingly, casting away the sword, which he had already
pulled out to smite him, and lighting down from his horse, he ran,
weeping, to throw himself at Nathan's feet and said to him, 'Now,
dearest father, do I manifestly recognize your liberality, considering
with what secrecy you are come hither to give me your life, whereof,
without any reason, I showed myself desirous, and that to yourself;
but God, more careful of mine honour than I myself, hath, in the
extremest hour of need, opened the eyes of my understanding, which
vile envy had closed. Wherefore, the readier you have been to comply
with me, so much the more do I confess myself beholden to do penance
for my default. Take, then, of me the vengeance which you deem
conformable to my sin.'
Nathan raised Mithridanes to his feet and tenderly embraced and kissed
him, saying, 'My son, it needeth not that thou shouldst ask nor that I
should grant forgiveness of thine emprise, whatever thou choosest to
style it, whether wicked or otherwise; for that thou pursuedst it, not
of hatred, but to win to be held better. Live, then, secure from me
and be assured that there is no man alive who loveth thee as I do,
having regard to the loftiness of thy soul, which hath given itself,
not to the amassing of monies, as do the covetous, but to the
expenditure of those that have been amassed. Neither be thou ashamed
of having sought to slay me, so though mightest become famous, nor
think that I marvel thereat. The greatest emperors and the most
illustrious kings have, with well nigh none other art than that of
slaying, not one man, as thou wouldst have done, but an infinite
multitude of men, and burning countries and razing cities, enlarged
their realms and consequently their fame; wherefore, an thou wouldst,
to make thyself more famous, have slain me only, thou diddest no new
nor extraordinary thing, but one much used.'
Mithridanes, without holding himself excused of his perverse design,
commended the honourable excuse found by Nathan and came, in course of
converse with him, to say that he marvelled beyond measure how he
could have brought himself to meet his death and have gone so far as
even to give him means and counsel to that end; whereto quoth Nathan,
'Mithridanes, I would not have thee marvel at my resolution nor at the
counsel I gave thee, for that, since I have been mine own master and
have addressed myself to do that same thing which thou hast undertaken
to do, there came never any to my house but I contented him, so far as
in me lay, of that which was required of me by him. Thou camest
hither, desirous of my life; wherefore, learning that thou soughtest
it, I straightway determined to give it thee, so thou mightest not be
the only one to depart hence without his wish; and in order that thou
mightest have thy desire, I gave thee such counsel as I thought apt to
enable thee to have my life and not lose thine own; and therefore I
tell thee once more and pray thee, an it please thee, take it and
satisfy thyself thereof. I know not how I may better bestow it. These
fourscore years have I occupied it and used it about my pleasures and
my diversions, and I know that in the course of nature, according as
it fareth with other men and with things in general, it can now be
left me but a little while longer; wherefore I hold it far better to
bestow it by way of gift, like as I have still given and expended my
[other] treasures, than to seek to keep it until such times as it
shall be taken from me by nature against my will. To give an hundred
years is no great boon; how much less, then, is it to give the six or
eight I have yet to abide here? Take it, then, an it like thee.
Prithee, then, take it, an thou have a mind thereto; for that never
yet, what while I have lived here, have I found any who hath desired
it, nor know I when I may find any such, an thou, who demandest it,
take it not. And even should I chance to find any one, I know that,
the longer I keep it, the less worth will it be; therefore, ere it wax
sorrier, take it, I beseech thee.'
Mithridanes was sore abashed and replied, 'God forbid I should, let
alone take and sever from you a thing of such price as your life, but
even desire to do so, as but late I did,--your life, whose years far
from seeking to lessen, I would willingly add thereto of mine own!'
Whereto Nathan straightway rejoined, 'And art thou indeed willing, it
being in thy power to do it, to add of thy years unto mine and in so
doing, to cause me do for thee that which I never yet did for any man,
to wit, take of thy good, I who never yet took aught of others?' 'Ay
am I,' answered Mithridanes in haste. 'Then,' said Nathan, 'thou must
do as I shall bid thee. Thou shalt take up thine abode, young as thou
art, here in my house and bear the name of Nathan, whilst I will
betake myself to thy house and let still call myself Mithridanes.'
Quoth Mithridanes, 'An I knew how to do as well as you have done and
do, I would, without hesitation, take that which you proffer me; but,
since meseemeth very certain that my actions would be a diminishment
of Nathan's fame and as I purpose not to mar in another that which I
know not how to order in myself, I will not take it.' These and many
other courteous discourses having passed between them, they returned,
at Nathan's instance, to the latter's palace, where he entertained
Mithridanes with the utmost honour sundry days, heartening him in his
great and noble purpose with all manner of wit and wisdom. Then,
Mithridanes desiring to return to his own house with his company, he
dismissed him, having throughly given him to know that he might never
avail to outdo him in liberality."