giuoca a ogni sua cosa e i denari di ; e in camiscia correndogli dietro e dicendo che rubato l’avea, il fa pigliare a’ villani e i panni di lui si veste e monta sopra il pallafreno, e lui, venendosene, lascia in camiscia.
[Author]Con grandissime risa di tutta la brigata erano state ascoltate le parole da dette della sua moglie; ma tacendosi , , sí come la volle, incominciò.
[Neifile]Valorose donne, se egli non fosse piú malagevole agli uomini il mostrare altrui il senno e la virtú loro, che sia la sciocchezza e ‘l vizio, invano si faticherebber molti in por freno alle lor parole: e questo v’ha assai manifestato la stoltizia di , al quale di niuna necessità era, a voler guerire del male che la sua simplicità gli faceva accredere che egli avesse, i segreti diletti della sua donna in pubblico adimostrare. La qual cosa una a sé contraria nella mente me n’ha recata: cioè come la malizia d’uno il senno soperchiasse d’un altro con grave danno e scorno del soperchiato: il che mi piace di raccontarvi.
Erano, non sono molti anni passati, in due già per età compiuti uomini, ciascuno chiamato Cecco, ma l’uno di , e l’altro di . Li quali, quantunque in molte altre cose male insieme di costumi si convenissero, in uno, cioè che ammenduni li lor padri odiavano, tanto si convenivano, che amici n’erano divenuti e ispesso n’usavano insieme. Ma parendo all’ , il quale e bello e costumato uomo era, mal dimorare in della provesione che dal padre donata gli era, sentendo nella esser per legato del Papa venuto un cardinale che molto suo signore era, si dispose a volersene andare a lui, credendone la sua condizion migliorare. E fatto questo al padre sentire, con lui ordinò d’avere ad una ora ciò che in sei mesi gli dovesse dare, acciò che vestir si potesse e fornir di cavalcatura e andare orrevole.
E cercando d’alcuno, il qual seco menar potesse al suo servigio, venne questa cosa sentita al : il qual di presente fu all’ e cominciò, come il meglio seppe, a pregarlo che seco il dovesse menare, e che egli voleva essere e fante e famiglio e ogni cosa e senza alcun salario sopra le spese. Al quale l’ rispose che menar nol voleva, non perché egli nol conoscesse bene ad ogni servigio sufficiente, ma per ciò che egli giucava e oltre a ciò s’innebbriava alcuna volta; a che il rispose che dell’uno e dell’altro senza dubbio si guarderebbe, e con molti saramenti gliele affermò, tanti prieghi sopraggiugnendo, che l’, sí come vinto, disse che era contento.
Ed entrati una mattina in cammino amenduni a desinar n’andarono a : dove avendo l’ desinato e essendo il caldo grande, fatto acconciare un letto nell’albergo e spogliatosi, dal aiutato s’andò a dormire e dissegli che come nona sonasse il chiamasse. Il , dormendo l’, se n’andò in su la taverna, e quivi, alquanto avendo bevuto, cominciò con alcuni a giucare, li quali, in poca d’ora alcuni denari che egli avea avendogli vinti, similmente quanti panni egli aveva in dosso gli vinsero: onde egli, disideroso di riscuotersi, cosí in camiscia come era, se n’andò là dove dormiva l’, e vedendol dormir forte, di borsa gli trasse quanti denari egli avea, e al giuoco tornatosi cosí gli perdé come gli altri.
L’ destatosi si levò e vestissi e domandò del : il quale non trovandosi, avvisò l’ lui in alcuno luogo ebbro dormirsi, sí come altra volta era usato di fare; per che, diliberatosi di lasciarlo stare, fatta mettere la sella e la valigia ad un suo pallafreno, avvisando di fornirsi d’altro famigliare a , volendo per andarsene l’oste pagare, non si trovò denaio: di che il romor fu grande e tutta la casa dell’oste fu in turbazione, dicendo l’ che egli là entro era stato rubato e minacciando egli di farnegli tutti presi andare a . E ecco venire in camiscia il , il quale per torre i panni, come fatto aveva i denari, veniva: e veggendo l’ in concio di cavalcar, disse: Che è questo, ? vogliancene noi andare ancora? Deh aspettati un poco: egli dee venire qui testeso uno che ha pegno il mio farsetto per trentotto soldi: son certo che egli cel renderà per trentacinque, pagandol testé.
E duranti ancora le parole, sopravvenne uno il quale fece certo l’ il essere stato colui che i suoi denar gli aveva tolti col mostrargli la quantità di quegli che egli aveva perduti. Per la qual cosa l’ turbatissimo disse al una grandissima villania, e se piú d’altrui che di Dio temuto non avesse, gliele avrebbe fatta: e, minacciandolo di farlo impiccar per la gola o fargli dar bando delle forche di , montò a cavallo.
Il , non come se l’ a lui ma ad un altro dicesse, diceva: Deh! , in buonora lasciamo stare ora costette parole che non montan cavelle; intendiamo a questo: noi il riavrem per trentacinque soldi, ricogliendol testé, ché, indugiandosi pure di qui a domane, non ne vorrà meno di trentotto come egli me ne prestò; e fammene questo piacere perché io gli misi a suo senno. Deh, perché non ci miglioriam noi questi tre soldi?
L’, udendol cosí parlare, si disperava e massimamente veggendosi guatare a quegli che v’eran da torno, li quali parea che credessono non che il i denari dello avesse giucati, ma che l’ ancora avesse de’ suoi; e dicevagli: Che ho io a fare di tuo farsetto, che appiccato sia tu per la gola? che non solamente m’hai rubato e giucato il mio, ma sopra ciò hai impedita la mia andata, e anche ti fai beffe di me.
Il stava pur fermo come se a lui non dicesse, e diceva: Deh, perché non mi vuoi tu migliorar qui tre soldi? non credi tu che io te li possa ancor servire? Deh, fallo, se ti cal di me! perché hai tu questa fretta? Noi giugnerem bene ancora stasera a . Fa truova la borsa: sappi che io potrei cercar tutta e non ve ne troverei uno che cosí mi stesse ben come questo: e a dire che io il lasciassi a costui per trentotto soldi! Egli vale ancor quaranta o piú, sí che tu mi piggiorresti in due modi.
L’, da gravissimo dolor punto veggendosi rubare da costui e ora tenersi a parole, senza piú rispondergli, voltata la testa del pallafreno prese il cammin verso . Al quale il , in una sottil malizia entrato, cosí in camiscia cominciò a trottar dietro; e essendo già ben due miglia andato pur del farsetto pregando, andandone l’ forte per levarsi quella seccaggine dagli orecchi, venner veduti al lavoratori in un campo vicino alla strada dinanzi all’; a’ quali il , gridando forte, incominciò a dire: Pigliatel, pigliatelo. Per che essi chi con vanga e chi con marra nella strada paratisi dinanzi all’, avvisando che rubato avesse colui che in camincia dietro gli venia gridando, il ritennero e presono: al quale, per dir loro chi egli fosse e come il fatto stesse, poco giovava.
Ma il , giunto là, con un mal viso disse: Io non so come io non t’uccido, ladro disleale, che ti fuggivi col mio!; e a’ villani rivolto disse: Vedete, signori, come egli m’aveva, nascostamente partendosi, avendo prima ogni sua cosa giucata, lasciato nello albergo in arnese, avendo ben prima ogni sua cosa giudicata! Ben posso dire che per Dio e per voi io abbia questo cotanto racquistato, di che io sempre vi sarò tenuto.
L’ diceva egli altressí, ma le sue parole non erano ascoltate. Il con l’aiuto de’ villani il mise in terra del pallafreno, e spogliatolo, de’ suoi panni si rivestí, e a caval montato, lasciato l’ in camiscia e scalzo, a se ne tornò, per tutto dicendo sé il pallafreno e’ panni aver vinto all’. L’, che ricco si credeva andare al cardinal nella , povero e in camiscia si tornò a , né per vergogna a qui tempi ardí di tornare a , ma statigli panni prestati, in sul ronzino che cavalcava il se n’andò a’ suoi parenti a , co’ quali si stette tanto che da capo dal padre fu sovenuto. E cosí la malizia del turbò il buono avviso dell’, quantunque da lui non fosse a luogo e a tempo lasciata impunita.
Cecco, son of Messer Fortarrigo, loses his all at play at Buonconvento, besides the money of Cecco, son of Messer Angiulieri; whom, running after him in his shirt and crying out that he has robbed him, he causes to be taken by peasants: he then puts on his clothes, mounts his palfrey, and leaves him to follow in his shirt.
[Author]All the company laughed beyond measure to hear what Calandrino said touching his wife: but, when Filostrato had done, Neifile, being bidden by the queen, thus began:
[Neifile]Noble ladies, were it not more difficult for men to evince their good sense and virtue than their folly and their vice, many would labour in vain to set bounds to their flow of words: whereof you have had a most conspicuous example in poor blundering Calandrino, who, for the better cure of that with which in his simplicity he supposed himself to be afflicted, had no sort of need to discover in public his wife’s secret pleasures. Which affair has brought to my mind one that fell out contrariwise, inasmuch as the guile of one discomfited the good sense of another to the grievous loss and shame of the discomfited: the manner whereof I am minded to relate to you.
‘Tis not many years since there were in Siena two young men, both of age, and both alike named Cecco, the one being son of Messer Angiulieri, the other of Messer Fortarrigo. Who, albeit in many other respects their dispositions accorded ill, agreed so well in one, to wit, that they both hated their fathers, that they became friends, and kept much together. Now Angiulieri, being a pretty fellow, and well-mannered, could not brook to live at Siena on the allowance made him by his father, and learning that there was come into the March of Ancona, as legate of the Pope, a cardinal, to whom he was much bounden, resolved to resort to him there, thinking thereby to improve his circumstances. So, having acquainted his father with his purpose, he prevailed upon him to give him there and then all that he would have given him during the next six months, that he might have the wherewith to furnish himself with apparel and a good mount, so as to travel in a becoming manner. And as he was looking out for some one to attend him as his servant, Fortarrigo, hearing of it, came presently to him and besought him with all earnestness to take him with him as his groom, or servant, or what he would, and he would be satisfied with his keep, without any salary whatsoever. Whereto Angiulieri made answer that he was not disposed to take him, not but that he well knew that he was competent for any service that might be required of him, but because he was given to play, and therewithal would at times get drunk. Fortarrigo assured him with many an oath that he would be on his guard to commit neither fault, and added thereto such instant entreaties, that Angiulieri was, as it were, vanquished, and consented. So one morning they took the road for Buonconvento, being minded there to breakfast. Now when Angiulieri had breakfasted, as ’twas a very hot day, he had a bed made in the inn, and having undressed with Fortarrigo’s help, he composed himself to sleep, telling Fortarrigo to call him on the stroke of none. Angiulieri thus sleeping, Fortarrigo repaired to the tavern, where, having slaked his thirst, he sate down to a game with some that were there, who speedily won from him all his money, and thereafter in like manner all the clothes he had on his back: wherefore he, being anxious to retrieve his losses, went, stripped as he was to his shirt, to the room where lay Angiulieri; and seeing that he was sound asleep, he took from his purse all the money that he had, and so went back to the gaming-table, and staked it, and lost it all, as he had his own.
By and by Angiulieri awoke, and got up, and dressed, and called for Fortarrigo; and as Fortarrigo answered not, he supposed that he must have had too much to drink, and be sleeping it off somewhere, as was his wont. He accordingly determined to leave him alone; and doubting not to find a better servant at Corsignano, he let saddle his palfrey and attach the valise; but when, being about to depart, he would have paid the host, never a coin could he come by. Whereat there was no small stir, so that all the inn was in an uproar, Angiulieri averring that he had been robbed in the house, and threatening to have them all arrested and taken to Siena; when, lo, who should make his appearance but Fortarrigo in his shirt, intent now to steal the clothes, as he had stolen the moneys, of Angiulieri? And marking that Angiulieri was accoutred for the road: How is this, Angiulieri? quoth he. Are we to start so soon? Nay, but wait a little. One will be here presently that has my doublet in pawn for thirty-eight soldi; I doubt not he will return it me for thirty-five soldi, if I pay money down. And while they were yet talking, in came one that made it plain to Angiulieri that ’twas Fortarrigo that had robbed him of his money, for he told him the amount that Fortarrigo had lost. Whereat Angiulieri, in a towering passion, rated Fortarrigo right soundly, and, but that he stood more in fear of man than of God, would have suited action to word; and so, threatening to have him hanged by the neck and proclaimed an outlaw at the gallows-tree of Siena, he mounted his horse.
Fortarrigo, making as if ’twas not to him, but to another, that Angiulieri thus spoke, made answer: Come now, Angiulieri, we were best have done with all this idle talk, and consider the matter of substance: we can redeem for thirty-five soldi, if we pay forth-with, but if we wait till to-morrow, we shall not get off with less than thirty-eight, the full amount of the loan; and ’tis because I staked by his advice that he will make me this allowance. Now why should not we save these three soldi? Whereat Angiulieri waxed well-nigh desperate, more particularly that he marked that the bystanders were scanning him suspiciously, as if, so far from understanding that Fortarrigo had staked and lost his, Angiulieri’s money, they gave him credit for still being in funds: so he cried out: What have I to do with thy doublet? ‘Tis high time thou wast hanged by the neck, that, not content with robbing me and gambling away my money, thou must needs also keep me in parley here and make mock of me, when I would fain be gone. Fortarrigo, however, still persisted in making believe that Angiulieri did not mean this for him, and only said: Nay, but why wilt not thou save me these three soldi? Think’st thou I can be of no more use to thee? Prithee, an thou lov’st me, do me this turn. Wherefore in such a hurry? We have time enough to get to Torrenieri this evening. Come now, out with thy purse. Thou knowest I might search Siena through, and not find a doublet that would suit me so well as this: and for all I let him have it for thirty-eight soldi, ’tis worth forty or more; so thou wilt wrong me twice over. Vexed beyond measure that, after robbing him, Fortarrigo should now keep him clavering about the matter, Angiulieri made no answer, but turned his horse’s head, and took the road for Torrenieri. But Fortarrigo with cunning malice trotted after him in his shirt, and ’twas still his doublet, his doublet, that he would have of him: and when they had thus ridden two good miles, and Angiulieri was forcing the pace to get out of earshot of his pestering, Fortarrigo espied some husbandmen in a field beside the road a little ahead of Angiulieri, and fell a shouting to them amain: Take thief! take thief! Whereupon they came up with their spades and their mattocks, and barred Angiulieri’s way, supposing that he must have robbed the man that came shouting after him in his shirt, and stopped him and apprehended him; and little indeed did it avail him to tell them who he was, and how the matter stood. For up came Fortarrigo with a wrathful air, and: I know not, quoth he, why I spare to kill thee on the spot, traitor, thief that thou art, thus to despoil me and give me the slip! And then, turning to the peasants: You see, gentlemen, quoth he, in what a trim he left me in the inn, after gambling away all that he had with him and on him. Well indeed may I say that under God ’tis to you I owe it that I have thus come by my own again: for which cause I shall ever be beholden to you. Angiulieri also had his say; but his words passed unheeded. Fortarrigo with the help of the peasants compelled him to dismount; and having stripped him, donned his clothes, mounted his horse, and leaving him barefoot and in his shirt, rode back to Siena, giving out on all hands that he had won the palfrey and the clothes from Angiulieri. So Angiulieri, having thought to present himself to the cardinal in the March a wealthy man, returned to Buonconvento poor and in his shirt; and being ashamed for the time to shew himself in Siena, pledged the nag that Fortarrigo had ridden for a suit of clothes, and betook him to his kinsfolk at Corsignano, where he tarried, until he received a fresh supply of money from his father. Thus, then, Fortarrigo’s guile disconcerted Angiulieri’s judicious purpose, albeit when time and occasion served, it was not left unrequited.