Bito was a Florentine and a fine courtier, and dwelt at San Giorgio
beyond the city. There was also an old man called Ser Frulli, who had a
farm over at San Giorgio which was very pleasant, so that he lived
there almost the whole year with his family, and every morning he sent
his servant to sell fruit and vegetables at the market by the bridge.
And he was so miserly and suspicious that he made up the bundles of the
vegetables, and counted them over to the servant, and then counted over
all that she brought back.
His especial warning to her was not to loiter in San Giorgio, because
there were women thieves there.
One morning the servant passed with her basketful of cabbages. Bito,
who had thought the thing out beforehand, had put on his finest fur
coat. And sitting by the bench outside, he called the serving-maid who
went over to him unthinkingly, and many women had called her even
before this, but she had not wished to go to them.
Good woman, he said: how do you sell these cabbages? Two for a danaio
[159]. Surely that is cheap. But I tell you, said Bito, there are only
myself and my servant in the house, for all my family are in the town;
and two bunches are too much. Moreover, I like them fresh.
At this time, there were in use in Florence the medaglie, two of which
were worth a danaio. Bito said: you pass by every morning; give me a
bunch now and give me a danaio, and take this medaglia, and to-morrow
morning when you return, you can give me the other bunch. It seemed to
the woman that what he said was right, and so she did as he asked.
[160] Then she went off to sell the rest of her vegetables at the price
which her master had fixed. She returned home and gave Messer Frulli
the money. He, counting it over several times, found it a danaio short.
And he told the servant. She replied: it cannot be so.
Then the master, getting angry with her, asked her if she had not
dallied at San Giorgio. She sought to deny the fact, but he plied her
so with questions, that she admitted: yes, I stopped for a fine
gentleman, who paid me properly. And I must tell you that I have still
to give him a bunch of cabbages. [161] Messer Frulli replied: so you
are now a danaio out.
He thought over the matter, and perceived the trick, and spoke very
roughly to the servant, and asked where the man lived exactly.
And she told him.
He perceived then it was Bito, who had already played some tricks on
him.
Burning with rage, he got up early next morning, and put a rusty sword
under his coat, and came to the head of the bridge, and there found
Bito sitting in company of many excellent folk. He drew out the sword,
and would have wounded his man, if some one had not held him by the
arm. The people were amazed, wondering what was the matter, and Bito
was mightily afraid. But then remembering what had happened, he began
to smile.
The folk who were standing around Messer Frulli asked him what it was
all about. He told them breathlessly as best he could. Bito ordered the
people to stand back (for he said), I want to come to an explanation
with you. Let us have no more words about it. Give me back my danaio
and keep your medaglia. And keep the cabbage with God’s curse on it.
Messer Frulli said: it pleases me well so. And if you had said this
before, all this would not have happened.
And not perceiving the trick, he gave him a danaio and took a medaglia,
and went away content.
There was great laughter thereat.