 Day one the fifth story of the Decameron. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Gesine The Decameron by Giovanni Boccaccio translated by J. M. Rigg Day one the fifth story The Marchioness of Monferrato by a banquet of hens seasoned with wit checks the mad passion of the King of France. The story told by Dioneo evoked at first some qualms of shame in the minds of the ladies as was apparent by the modest blush that tinged their faces. Then exchanging lenses and scarce able to refrain their mirth, they listened to it with half-suppressed smiles. On its conclusion they bestowed upon Dioneo a few words of gentle reprehension with intent to admonish him that such stories were not to be told among ladies. The Queen's interned to Fiametta, who was seated on the grass at her side, and bade her fellow suit, and Fiametta with a gay and gracious mean thus began. The line upon which our storytelling proceeds to wit, to show the virtue that resides in apt and ready repartees, pleases me well. And as in affairs of love men and women are in diverse case, for to aspire to the love of a woman of higher lineage than his own is wisdom in man, whereas a woman's good sense is then most conspicuous when she knows how to preserve herself from becoming enamoured of a man, her superior in rank. I am minded, Fiamma ladies, to show you by the story which I am now to tell how by deed and word a gentle woman both defended herself against attack and weaned her suitor from his love. The Marquis of Montferrato, a paladin of distinguished prowess, was gone overseas as gonfalonier of the church in a general array of the Christian forces. Whose merits being canvassed as the court of Philippe de Bourgne, in the eve of his departure from France on the same service, a knight observed that there was not under the stars a couple comparable to the Marquis and his lady, in that while the Marquis was a paragon of the nightly virtues, his lady for beauty and honour was without a peer among all the other ladies of the world. These words made so deep an impression on the mind of the King of France, that, though he had never seen the lady, he fell ardently in love with her, and being to join the Armada resolved that his court of embarkation should be no other than Genoa. In order that, travelling thither by land, he might find a decent pretext for visiting the Martianess, with whom in the absence of the Marquis he trusted to have the success which he desired. Nor did he fail to put his design in execution. Having sent his many army on before, he took the road himself with a small company of gentlemen, and as they approached the territory of the Marquis, he dispatched a courier to the Martianess a day in advance, to let her know that he expected to breakfast with her the next morning. The lady, who knew her part and played it well, replied graciously that he would be indeed welcome, and that his presence would be the greatest of all favours. She then began to commune with herself what this might import, that so great a King should come to visit her in her husband's absence, nor was she so deluded as not to surmise that it was the fame of her beauty that drew him thither. Nevertheless she made ready to do him honour in a manner befitting her high degree, summoning to her presence such of the retainers as remained in the castle, and giving all needful directions with their advice, except that the order of the banquet and the choice of the dishes she reserved entirely to herself. Then having caused all the hens that could be found in the countryside to be brought with all speed into the castle, she bade her cooks furnish forth the royal table with diverse dishes made exclusively of such fair. The King arrived on the appointed day, and was received by the lady with great and ceremonious cheer. Fair and noble and gracious seemed she in the eyes of the King beyond all that he had conceived from the night's words, so that he was lost in admiration and inly extolled her to the skies, his passion being the more inflamed in proportion as he found the lady surpassed the idea which he had formed of her. A suite of rooms furnished with all the appointments befitting the reception of so great a King was placed at his disposal, and after a little rest, breakfast time being come, he and the machinese took their places at the same table, while his suite were honourably entertained at other boards according to their several qualities. Many courses were served with no lack of excellent and rare wines whereby the King was mightily pleased, as also by the extraordinary beauty of the machinese on whom his eye from time to time rested. However, as course followed course the King observed with some surprise that though the dishes were diverse, yet they were all but variations of one and the same fair to it the pull it. Besides which he knew that the domain was one which could not but afford plenty of diverse sorts of game, and by forewarning the lady of his approach he had allowed time for hunting, yet for all his surprise he would not broach the question more directly with her than by a reference to her hens. So, turning to her with a smile, he said, Madam, do hens grow in this country without so much as a single cock? The machinese who perfectly apprehended the drift of the question saw in it an opportunity sent her by God of evincing her virtuous resolution. So, casting a haughty glance upon the King, she answered thus, Sire, no, but the women, though they may differ somewhat from others in dress and rank, are yet of the same nature here as elsewhere. The significance of the banquet of pullets was made manifest to the King by these words as also the virtue which they veiled. He perceived that on a lady of such a temper words would be wasted and that force was out of the question. Wherefore, yielding to the dictates of prudence and honour, he was now as prompt to quench as he had been inconsiderate in conceiving his unfortunate passion for the lady, and fearing her answers he refrained from further jesting with her, and dismissing his hopes, devoted himself to his breakfast, which done he disarmed suspicion of the dishonourable purpose of his visit by an early departure and thanking her for the honour she had conferred upon him and commending her to God, took the road to Genoa. End of Day One The Fifth Story Day One The Sixth Story of the Decameron This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Anna Simon. The Decameron by Giovanni Boccaccio Translated by J.M. Rigg Day One The Sixth Story A worthy man by an apt saying puts to shame the wicked hypocrisy of the religious. When all had commanded the virtue of the Marchioness and the spirited reproof, which she administered to the king of France, Emilia, who sat next to Fiametta, obeyed the queen's behest and with a good courage thus began. My story is also of a reproof, but of one administered by a worthy man who lived the secular life to a greedy religious by a jive as merry as admirable. Know then, dear ladies, that there was in our city not long ago a friar miner, an inquisitor in matters of heresy who, albeit he strove might and main to pass himself off as a holy man and tenderly solicitous for the integrity of the Christian faith as they all do, yet he had as keen a cent for a full purse as for a deficiency of faith. Now it's so chance'd that his zeal was rewarded by the discovery of a good man far better furnished with money than with cents and an unguarded moment, not from defect of faith but rather perhaps from excess of hilarity, being heated with wine had happened to say to his boon companions that he had a wine good enough for Christ himself to drink, which, being reported to the inquisitor, he, knowing the man to be possessed of larger states and a well-lined purse, said to work in hot haste, come, ladies, at Fustibus, to bring all the rigor of the law upon him, designing thereby not to lighten the load of his victim's misbelief, but to increase the weight of his own purse by the Florence which he might, as he did, receive from him. So he cited him to his presence and asked him whether what was alleged against him were true. The good man answered in the affirmative and told him how it had happened. Then, said our most holy and devout inquisitor of St. John Goldenbeard, then has thou made Christ a wine-bibber and a lover of rare vintages, as if he were a sod, a topper, and a tavern-haunter, even as one of you, and thinks thou now by a few words of apology to pass his off as a light matter. It is no such thing as thou supposest. Thou hast deserved the fire, and we should but do our duty that we inflict it upon thee. With these and alike words implenty he abraded him, bending on him meanwhile a countenance has turned as if Epicurus had stood before him denying the immortality of the soul. In short, he so terrified him that the good man was feigned to employ certain intermediaries to anoint his palms with the liberal allowance of St. John Goldenmouth's grease, an excellent remedy for the disease of aphorists which spreads like pestilence among the clergy and notably among the friar's minors who dare not touch a coin that he might deal gently with him, and great being the virtue of this land, albeit no mention is made thereof by Galen in any part of his medicines. It had so gracious an effect that the threatened fire gave place to a cross which he was to wear as if he were bound for the empires overseas, and to make the ensign more handsome the inquisitor ordered that it should be yellow upon a black ground. Besides which, after pocketing the coin, he kept him dangling about him for some days, bidding him by way of penance here mass every morning at Santa and afterwards weighed upon him at the breakfast hour after which he was free to do as he pleased for the rest of the day. All which he most carefully observed and so it fell out that one of these mornings there were chanted at the mass at which he assisted the following words of the Gospel. You shall receive a hundred fold and shall possess eternal life. With these words deeply graven in his memory he presented himself as he was bidden before the inquisitor where he said taking his breakfast and being asked whether he had heard mass that morning he promptly answered, Yes, sir. And being further asked, Here is thou old therein as to which thou art in doubt or has thou any question to propound? The good man responded, Nay, indeed, doubt have I none of old that I heard but rather assured faith in the verity of all. One thing, however, I heard which caused me to commiserate you and the rest of you friars very heartily in regard of the evil plight in which you must find yourselves in the other world. And what, said the inquisitor, was the passage that so moved thee to commiserate us? Sir, rejoined the good man. It was that passage in the Gospel which says you shall receive a hundred fold. You heard it right, said the inquisitor, but why did the passage so affect you? Sir, replied the good man, I will tell you. Since I have been in attendance here I have seen a crowd of poor folk receive a daily dull, now of one, now of two, huge terrenes of swill, being the refuse from your table and then of the brothers of this convent, whereof if you are to receive a hundred fold in the other world you'll have so much that it will go hard but you are all drowned therein. This raised a general laugh among those who sat at the inquisitor's table, where at the inquisitor, feeling that their gluttony and hypocrisy had received a home thrust, was very wroth, and but that what he had already done had not escaped Sanger would have instituted fresh proceedings against him in revenge for the pleasantry with which he had rebuked the baseness of himself and his brother Friars. So in impotent wrath he bade him go about his business and show himself there no more. End of day one, the sixth story. Day one, the seventh story of the Decameron. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. The Decameron by Giovanni Boccaccio, translated by J. M. Rigg. Day one, the seventh story. Bergamino, with the story of Purmasso and the Abbot of Clooney, finally censures a sudden access of everus in Monsieur Cane de la Scala. Emilia's charming manner and her story drew laughter and commendation from the Queen and all the company, who were much tickled by her new type of crusader. When the laughter had subsided and all there against silent, Filostrato, on whom the narration now fell, began on this wise. A fine thing it is, noble ladies, to hit a fixed mark. But if, on the sudden appearance of some strange object, it be forthwith hit by the bowman, it is little short of a miracle. The corrupt and filthy life of the clergy offers, on many sides, a fixed mark of iniquity, at which, whoever is so minded, may let fly with little doubt that they will reach it, the winged words of reproof and reprehension. Wherefore, though the worthy man did well to censure in the person of the inquisitor, the pretended charity of the friars who are poor, what they ought rather to give to the pigs or throw away. Higher indeed is the praise which I accord of him, of whom, taking my cue from the last story, I mean to speak, seeing that by a clever apologue he rebuked a sudden and unwanted access of avarice in Mesurcane de la Scala, conveying in a figure what he had at heart to say, touching Mesurcane and himself, which apologue is to follow. Far and wide, almost to the ends of the earth, is born the most illustrious renown of Mesurcane de la Scala. In many ways the favored child of fortune, allured almost without a pier among the notables and magnificoes of Italy, since the time of the Emperor Frederick II. Now, Mesurcane, being minded to hold high festival at Verona, whereof fame should speak marvelous things and many folk from diverse parts, of which the greater number were gestures of every order, being already arrived. Mesurcane did suddenly, for some cause or another, abandon his design and dismiss them with a partial recompense. One only, Bergamino by name, a speaker ready and polished in a degree credible only to such as heard him, remained, having received no recompense or conge, still shareishing the hopes that this omission might turn out to his advantage. But Mesurcane was possessed with the idea that whatever he might give Bergamino would be far more completely thrown away than if he had tossed it into the fire, so never a word of the sort said he or sent he to him. A few days thus passed, and then Bergamino seeing that he was in no demand or request for ought that belonged to his office, and being also at heavy charges at services and servants, fell into a sort of melancholy. But he still waited a while, not deeming it expedient to leave. He had brought with him three rich and goodly robes, given him by other lords that he might make a brave show at the festival, and when his host began to press for payment, he gave him one of the robes. Afterwards, there being still much outstanding against him, he must needs, if he would tarry longer at the third-robe. After which he began to live on the third, being minded to remain there, as long as it would hold out, in expectation of better luck, and then to take his departure. Now, while he was thus living on the third robe, it chanced that Mr. Cane encountered him one day as he sat at breakfast, with a very melancholy visage, which Mr. Cane, observing said, rather to tease him than expecting to solicit from him his retort, what ails thee, Bergamino, that thou art so melancholy? Let me know the reason why. Whereupon Bergamino, without a moment's reflection, told the following story, which could not have fitted his own case more exactly, if it had been long premeditated. My lord, you must know that Primaso was a grammarian of great eminence, and excellent and quick beyond all others waxed so notable and famous that, albeit he was not everywhere known by sight, yet there were scarce any that did not at least know by name and report who Primaso was. Now, it so happened that, being once at Paris in straightened circumstances, as was his lot to be most of his time by reason that virtue is little appreciated by the powerful, he heard speak of the abbot of Clooney, who, except the pope, in regard to his vast revenues, that the Church of God can show and marvelous and magnificent things were told him of the perpetual court which the abbot kept, and how, wherever he was, he denied not to any that came there either meat or drink, so only that he preferred his request while the abbot was at table. Which, when Primaso heard, he determined to go and see for himself what magnificent state this abbot would seek delight in observing the ways of powerful and lordly men. Wherefore, he asked how far from Paris was the abbot then sojourning. He was informed that the abbot was then, at one of his places, distance, perhaps six miles, which Primaso concluded he could reach in time for breakfast if he started early in the morning. When he had learned the way, he found that no one else was traveling by it, in fearing easy for him to get food. He determined to obviate so disagreeable contingency by taking with him three loaves of bread. As for drink, water, though not much to his taste, was, he supposed, to be found everywhere. So, having disposed the loaves in the fold of his tunic, he took the road and made such progress that he reached the abbot's place of sojourn before the breakfast hour. Having entered, he made the circuit of the vast array of tables, and the vast kitchen, well appointed with all things, needful for the preparation and service of the breakfast, and saying to himself, in very truth, this man is even such a magnifico as he was reported to be. While his attention was us occupied, the abbot's seneshaw, in now being breakfast time, gave order to serve water for the hands, which being washened, they sat them on the table. Now it so happened that primaso was placed immediately in front of the door by which the abbot must pass from his chamber into the hall, in which, according to rule of his court, neither wine nor bread nor ought else drinkable or eatable was ever set on the tables before he made his appearance and was seated. The seneshaw, therefore, having set the tables, sent word to the abbot that all was now ready, and they waited only his pleasure. The door of his chamber was thrown open, and he took a step or two forward, towards the hall, gazing straight in front of him as he went. Thus it fell out that the first man on whom he set eyes was primaso, who was in very sorry trim. The abbot, who knew him not by sight, no sooner saw him, then, surprised by a churlish mood to which he had hitherto been an entire stranger, he said to himself, so it is such as this man that he was in hospitality. And, going back into the chamber, he bade, locked the door, and asked of his attendants whether the vile fellow that sat at table directly opposite the door was known to any of them. Who, one in all, answered in the negative. Primaso waited a little, but he was not used to fast, and his journey had wedded his appetite. So, as the abbot did not return, he drew out one of the loaves which he had brought with him after a while bade one of his servants to go see whether primaso were gone. The servant returned with the answer, no, sir, and what is more, he is eating a loaf of bread which he seems to have brought with him. Be it so, then, said the abbot, who was vexed that he had not gone of his own accord, but was not disposed to turn him out. Let him eat his own bread, if he have any, for he shall have none of ours today. The second loaf began as the abbot did not make his appearance to eat the second, which was likewise reported to the abbot, who had again sent to see if he were gone. Finally, as the abbot still delayed his coming, primaso, having finished the second loaf, began upon the third, whereof once more word was carried to the abbot, who now began to commune with himself and said, Alas, my soul, what unwanted mood what scorn, and of whom? I have given my hospitality, now for many a year, to whoso craved it without looking to see whether he were gentle or churl, poor or rich, merchant or cheat, and my eyes have seen it squandered on vile fellows without number, and not of that which I feel towards this man ever entered my mind. Maturedly it cannot be, he is a man of no consequence, who is the occasion of this access of avarice in me. Though he seemed to me a vile fellow, he must be some great man that my mind is thus obstinately adverse to do him honor. Of which musings the upshot was that he sent to inquire who the vile fellow was, and learning that he was primaso, come to see if what he had heard of his magnificent state were true, he was stricken with shame, having heard of old primaso's fame, and knowing him to be a great man. Wherefore, being zealous to make him the amend, he studied to do him honor, and after breakfast that his guard might accord with his native dignity, he called him to be nobly arrayed, and, setting him upon a palfery and filling his purse, left it to his own choice whether to go or stay. So primaso, with a full heart, thanked him for his courtesy, in terms, the ampolist that he could command, and, having left Paris afoot, returned fither on horseback. Mr. Cane was shrewd enough to apprehend Bergamino's meaning, perfectly well without a gloss, and said with a smile, Bergamino, thy parable is apt, and declares to me very plainly thy losses, my avarice, and what thou desirest of me, and, in good sooth, this excess of avarice, of which thou art the occasion, is the first I have experienced, but I will expel the intruder with the baton, which thou thyself hath furnished. So he paid Bergamino's reckoning, wedded him nobly in one of his own robes, gave him money and a palfry, and left it for the time in his discretion, whether to go or to stay. End of Day One, the Seventh Story. Day One, the Eighth Story of the Decameron. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Philip Pergevins. The Decameron, by Giovanni Boccaccio, translated by G. M. Rig. Day One, the Eighth Story. Guglielmo Borsiere, by a nitritut, shot Plissensio's avarice in Messer Hermino de Grimaldi. Next Filostrato must sit at Laureta, who, when the praises bestowed on Bergamino's address had ceased, knowing that it was now her turn to speak, waited not for the word of command, but with the charming graciousness thus begun. The last novel, dear Gossips, prompts me to relate how a worthy man, likewise a jester, reprehended not without success the greed of a very wealthy merchant, and though the burden of my story is not unlike the last, yet, perchance, it may not on that account be the less appreciated by you, because it has a happy termination. So then, that in Genoa there dwelt long ago a gentleman who was known as Messer Hermino de Grimaldi, and whose wealth, both in lands and money, was generally supposed to be far in excess of that of any other burger then in Italy, and as in wealth he was without a rival in Italy, so in meanness and avarice there was not any in the entire world, however richly endowed with those qualities, whom he did not immeasurably surpass, in so much as that not only did he keep a tight grip upon his purse when honour was to be done to another, but in his personal expenditure even upon things meet and proper, contrary to the general custom of the Genoese whose won't is to array themselves nobly, he was extremely penurious, as also in his outlay upon his table. Wherefore, not without just cause, folk had dropped his surname de Grimaldi, and called him instead While thus by thrift his wealth waxed greater and greater, it's so chance that they came to Genoa a gesture of good parts, a man debonair and ready of speech, his name Guglielmo Borsiere, whose like is not to be found today when gestures, to great reproach be it spoken of those that claim the name and reputation of gentlemen are rather to be called asses being without courtly breeding and formed after the coarse pattern of the basest of churls and whereas in the days of which I speak they made it their business they spared no pains to compose quarrels to allay heart-burnings between gentlemen or arranged marriages or leagues of amity ministering meanwhile relief to jaded minds and solace to courts by the sprightly sallies of their wit and with keen sarcasm like fathers censuring churlish manners being also satisfied with very trifling girdens nowadays all their care is to spend their time in scandal mongering, in sowing discord in saying and what is worse in doing in the presence of company things churlish and flegicious in bringing accusations true or false of wicked shameful or flegicious conduct against one another and in drawing gentlemen into base and nefarious practices by sinister and insidious arts and by these wretched and depraved lords he is held most dear and best rewarded whose words and deeds are the most atrocious to the great reproach and scandal of the world of today whereby it is abundantly manifest that virtue has departed from the earth leaving a degenerate generation to wallow in the lowest depths of vice but reverting to the point at which I started where from under stress of just indignation I have deviated somewhat further than I intended I say that the said Guglielmo was had in honour and was well received by all the gentlemen of Genoa and tarrying some days in the city heard much of the meanness and avarice of Messer Hermino and was curious to see him now Messer Hermino had heard that this Guglielmo bossiere was a man of good parts and notwithstanding his avarice having in him some sparks of good breeding received him with words of hearty greeting and a gladsome mean and conversed freely with him and of diverse matters and so conversing took him with other Genoese that were of his company to a new and very beautiful house which he had built and after showing him over the whole of it said to him now Messer Guglielmo you have seen and heard many things could suggest to me something the like of which has not hitherto been seen which I might have painted here in the saloon of this house to which ill judged question Guglielmo replied sir it would not I think be in my power to suggest anything the like of which has never been seen unless it were a sneeze or something similar but if it so please you I have something to suggest which I think would be seen pretty what may that be said Messer Emino not expecting to get the answer which he got for Guglielmo replied forthwith paint courtesy here which Messer Emino had no sooner heard than he was so stricken with shame that his disposition underwent a complete change and he said Messer Guglielmo I will see to it that courtesy is here painted in such wise that neither you nor anyone else shall ever again have reason to tell me that I have not seen or known that virtue and hence forward so enduring was the change wrought by Guglielmo's words there was not in January while he lived any gentleman so liberal and so gracious and so lavish of honour both to strangers and to fellow citizens as Messer Emino End of day one the eighth story Day one the ninth story of the Decameron this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org The Decameron by Giovanni Boccaccio translated by J.M. Rigg Day one the ninth story the censure of a Gascon lady converts the king of Cyprus from a churlish to an honourable temper except Elisa none now remained to answer the call of the queen and she without waiting for it with gladsome alacrity thus begun we thank you damsels how often it has happened that men who have been obdurate with censures and chastisements have been reclaimed by some unpremeditated casual word this is plainly manifest by the story told by Laureta and by mine which will be of the briefest I mean further to illustrate it seeing that good stories being always pleasurable are worth listening to with attention no matter by whom they may be told to us then in the time of the first king of Cyprus after the conquest made of the holy land by Godfrey the bouillon that a lady of Gascony made a pilgrimage to the holy sepulcher and on her way home having landed at Cyprus met with brutal outrage at the hands of certain ruffians brokenhearted and disconsolate she determined to make her complaint to the king but she was told that it would be all in vain because so spiritless and fenéin was he that he not only neglected to avenge a fronts put upon others but endured with a reprehensible tameness those that were offered to himself in so much that whoso had any ill humor to vent took occasion to vex or mortify him the lady hearing this report despaired of redress and by way of alleviation of her grief determined to make the king sensible of his baseness so in tears she presented herself before him and said sire it is not to seek redress of the wrong done me that I come before you but only that so please you I may learn of you is that you suffer patiently the wrongs which as I understand are done you that thus schooled by you in patience I may endure my own which God knows I would gladly where it possible transfer to you seeing that you are so well fitted to bear them these words aroused the hitherto sluggish and apathetic king of his sleep he redressed the ladies wrong and having thus made a beginning thence forth meet it out the most rigorous justice to all than in any wise offended against the majesty of his crown end of day one the ninth story day one the tenth story of the Decameron this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Miet the Decameron by Giovanni Boccaccio translated by J.M. Rigg day one the tenth story Alberto da Bologna honorably puts to shame a lady who sought occasion to put him to shame and that he was in love with her after Alyssa had done it only remade for the queen to conclude the day storytelling and thus with manner the pioneer did she begin as stars in the serene expanse of heaven as in springtime flowers in the green pastures so honorable damsels in the hour of rare and excellent converse is wit with its bright salles which being brief are much more proper for ladies and for men seeing that prolixity of speech when brevity is possible is much less allowable to them albeit shame be to us all and all our generation few ladies or none are left today who understand ought that is witily said or understanding are able to answer it for the place of those graces of the spirit which distinguished the ladies of the past has now been usurped by adornments of the person and she who's dress is most richly and variously and curiously died accounts herself more worthy to be hard in honor forgetting that were one but so to array him and us would carry a far greater load of finery than any of them for all that be not a wit the more deserving of honor I blush to say this for in centering others I condemn myself tricked out, bedecked beddisoned thus we are either silent and impassive as statues are if we answer ought that is said to us much better were it we had held our peace and we may believe for sooth our failure to acquit ourselves and converse with our equals of either sex does but proceed from guilelessness dignifying stupidity by the name of modesty as if no lady could be modest and converse with other folk than her maid or laundress or bakehouse woman which if nature had intended as we feigned she did she would have set other limits to our guilelessness true it is that in this as in other matters time and place and person are to be regarded because it sometimes happens that a lady or gentleman thinking by some sally of wit to put another to shame has rather been put to shame by that other having failed duly to estimate their relative powers wherefore that you may be on your guard against such error and further that in you not be exemplified the common proverb to wit that women do ever and on all occasions choose the worst I trust that this last of today's stories which falls to me to tell may serve you as a lesson that as you are distinguished from others by nobility of nature so you may also show yourselves separate from them by excellence of manners there lived not many years ago perhaps yet lives in Bologna a very great physician so great that the fame of his skill was noised abroad almost the entire world now master Alberto such was his name was of so noble a temper that being now nigh upon seventy years of age and all but devoid of natural heat of body he was yet receptive of the flames of love and having at an assembly seen a very beautiful widow lady Madonna as some say and being charmed with her beyond measure was notwithstanding his age no less ardently enamoured than a young man in so much that he was not well able to sleep at night unless during the day he had seen the fair ladies lovely and delicate features wherefore he began to frequent the vicinity of her house passing to and fro in front of it now on foot now on horseback as occasion best served which she and many other ladies perceiving made merry together more than once to see a man of his years and discretion in love as if they deemed that this most delightful love would only fit for empty headed youths and could not in men be either harboured or engendered Master Alberto thus continuing to haunt the front of the house it so happened that one feast day the lady with other ladies was seated before her door and Master Alberto's approach being thus observed by them for some time before he arrived they complotted to receive him and shoe him honour and then to rally him on his love and so they did rising with one accord to receive him bidding him welcome and ushering him into a cool courtyard where they regalled him with the finest wines and confets which done in a tone of refined and sprightly banter they asked him how it was that came about that he was enamoured of this fair lady seeing that she was beloved of many a fine gentleman of youth and spirit Master Alberto being thus courteously assailed put a blithe face on it and answered Madam, my love for you need surprise none that his conversant was such matters and least of all you that are worthy of it and though old men of course have lost the strength which love demands for its full fruition yet are they not therefore without the good intent and just appreciation of what besiems the accepted lover but indeed understand it far better than young men by reason that they have more experience my hope in thus old aspiring to love you loved by so many young men is founded on what I have frequently observed of ladies' ways at lunch when they trifle with the lupin and the leek in the leek no part is good but the head is at any rate not so bad as the rest and indeed not unpalatable you however for the most part following a depraved taste hold it in your hand and munch the leaves which are not only of no account but actually distasteful how am I to know madam that in your selection of lovers you are not equally eccentric in which case I should be the man of your choice and the rest will be cast aside where to the gentle lady somewhat shame-stricken as were also her fair friends thus made answer Master Alberto our presumption has received from you a most just and no less courteous reproof but your love is dear to me as should ever be that of a wise and worthy man and therefore saving my honour I am yours entirely and devotedly at your pleasure and command this speech brought Master Alberto to his feet and the others also rising he thanked the lady for her courtesy bared her again and smiling adieu and so left the house thus the lady not considering on whom she exercised her wit thinking to conquer was conquered herself against which mishap you if you are discreet will ever be most strictly on your guard end of day one the tenth story recording by Miet at Miet's bedtime story podcast day one the conclusion of the Decameron this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org the Decameron by Giovanni Boccaccio translated by A.M. Rigg translated by M. Rigg day one the conclusion as the young ladies and the three young men finished their storytelling the sun was westering and the heat of the day in great measure abated which their queen observing debonderly thus she spoke now dear Gossips my day of sovereignty draws to a close and note remains for me to do but to give you a new queen by whom on the morrow our common life may be ordered as she may deem best in a course of seemingly pleasure and though there seems to be still more interval between day and night yet as who though does not in some degree anticipate the course of time cannot well provide for the future and in order that what the new queen shall decide to be Miet for the morrow may be made ready beforehand I decree that from this time forth the days begin at this hour and so in reverence submission to him in whom is the life of all beings for our comfort and solace we commit the governance of our realm for the morrow and the hands of Queen Philomena most discreet of themselves so saying she arose took the laurel rest from her brow and with the gesture of reverence set it on the brow of Philomena whom she then and after her all the other ladies and the young men saluted as queen doing her due and graceful homage Queen Philomena modestly blushed a little to find herself thus invested with the sovereignty but being put on her metal by Pampiniya's recent admonitions she was minded not to seem awkward and soon recovered her composure she then began by confirming all the appointments made by Pampiniya and making all needful arrangements for the following morning and evening which they were to pass where they then were where upon she thus spoke dearest Goseps though, thanks rather to Pampiniya's courtesies and to merit of mine I am made queen of you all yet I am not on that account minded to have respect merely to my own judgment in the governance of our life but to unite your wisdom with mine and that you may understand what I think of doing and by consequence may be able to amplify or curtail it at your pleasure I will in few words make known to you my purpose the course observed by Pampiniya today if I have judged a right seems to be alike commendable and electable until by lapse of time or for some other cause it grew tedious a purpose not to alter it so when we have arranged for what we have already taken in hand we will go hence and enjoy a short walk at sundown we will sub in the cool and we will then sing a few songs and otherwise divert ourselves until it is time to go to sleep tomorrow we will rise in the cool of the morning and after enjoying another walk at his or her sweet will we will return as today and in due time break our fast dance, sleep and having reason we will her assume our storytelling wherein missings pleasure and profit unite in superabundant measure true it is that Pampiniya by reason of her late election to the sovereignty neglected one matter which I mean to introduce to wit the circumscription of our storytelling and its preassignment that each may be able to premediate some apt story bearing upon the theme and seeing that from the beginning of the world fortune has made man the sport of diverse accidents and so it will continue until the end the theme so please you shall in each case be the same to wit the fortune of such as after diverse adventures have at last attained a goal of unexpected felicity the ladies and the young men alike commended the rules as laid down and agreed to follow it do you know however when the rest had done speaking said madame as all the rest have said so say I briefly that the rule prescribed by you is commendable and electable but of your special grace I crave a favor which I trust may be granted and continued to me so long as our company shall endure which favor is this that I be not bound by the assigned theme if I am not so minded but that I have lived to choose such topic as best shall please me and lest any suppose that I crave this grace as one that has not stories ready to hand I am henceforth content that mine be always the last the queen knowing him to be a merry and facetious fellow and feeling sure that he only craved this favor in order that if the company were jaded he might have an opportunity to recreate them by some amusing story gladly with the consent of the rest granted his petition she then rose and attended by the rest sauntered towards the stream which issuing clear as crystal from a neighboring hill precipitated itself into a wolly shaded by trees closed set amid living rock and fresh green herbage bare of food and arm they entered the stream and rowing hither and thither amused themselves in diverse ways till in due time they returned to their palace and gaily subbed supper ended the queen sent for instruments of music and Beyed Laurette lead a dance while Emilia was to sing a song accompanied by Dioneo on the lute accordingly Laurette led a dance while Emilia with passion sang the following song I find such blannishment of sight and sense that arrow my heart should know another amorousness nor need I fear less the fair thing retreat when feign I am my solace to renew rather I know twill me advance to meet to pleasure me and show so sweet of you that speech or thought of none it semblance true paint or conceive may ever unless he burn with even such amorousness thereon as more intent I gaze fire waxes within me hourly more and more myself I yield thereto myself entire and foretaste have of what it had in store and hope of greater joyance than before nay such as nere none new for nere was felt such amorousness this ballad to which all hurtily responded albeit its words furnished much matter of thought to some was followed by some other dances and part of the brief night being thus spent the queen proclaimed the first day ended and bathed light the torches that all might go to rest until the following morning and so seeking their several chambers to rest they went end of day one conclusion day second introduction of the day camera this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org the Decameron by Giovanni Boccaccio translated by H.M. Rigg day the second introduction end of here the first day of the Decameron begins the second in which under the rule of Filomena the discourse of the fortunes of such as after diverse misadventures have at last attained a goal of unexpected felicity the sun was already trailing the new day in his wake of light and the birds blightly chanting their lairs among the green boss carried the tidings to the ear when was one accord all the ladies and the three young men arose and entered the gardens where for no little time they found their delight in out the devi meads straying hither and thither cooling flowers and weaving them into fair garlands the day passed like its predecessor they breakfasted in the shade and danced and slept until noon when they rose and at their queen's behest assembled in the cool meadow and sat them down in a circle about her fair and very debonair she shrewd crowned with her laurel wreath she scanned the company and then bathed Neyfile shew others away with a story Neyfile made no excuse and Gaely says began end of day two introduction the Decameran by Giovanni Boccaccio translated by J. M. Rigg day two the first story Martellino pretends to be a paralytic and makes it appear as if he were cured by being placed upon the body of St. Arrigo his trick is detected he is beaten and arrested and is in peril of hanging but finally escapes often has it happened dearest ladies that one who has studied to raise a laugh at other's expense especially in regard of things worthy to be had in reverence has found the laugh turn against himself and sometimes to his loss as in obedience to the queen's command and by way of introducing our theme I am about to show you by the narrative of an adventure which befell one of our own citizens and after a course of evil fortune an entirely unexpected and very felicitous issue not long ago there was at Treviso a German named Arrigo a poor man who got his living as a common hired porter but though of so humble a condition was respected by all being accounted not only an honest but a most holy man in so much that whether truly or falsely I know not I affirm that on his decease all the bells of the cathedral of Treviso began to toll of their own accord which being accounted a miracle this Arrigo was generally reputed a saint and all the people of the city gathered before the house where his body lay and bore it with a saint's honors into the cathedral and brought thither the halt and paralytic and blind and others afflicted with disease as hoping that by contact with this holy body they would all be healed the people thus tumultuously thronging the church it so chance that there arrived in Treviso three of our own citizens of whom one was named Stecchi another Martellino and the third Marchese all three being men whose habit it was to frequent the courts of the nobles afford spectators amusement by assuming disguises and personating other men being entire strangers to the place and seeing everybody running to and fro they were much astonished and having learned the why and wherefore were curious to go see what was to be seen so at the inn where they put up Marchese began we would feign go see this saint but for my part I know not how we are to reach the spot for I hear the piazza is full of Germans and other armed men posted there by the lord who rules here to prevent an uproar and moreover the church so far as one may learn is so full of folk that scarce another soul may enter it whereupon Martellino who was bent on seeing what was to be seen said let not this deter us I will assuredly find a way of getting to the saint's body how rejoined Marchese I will tell you replied Martellino I will counterfeit a paralytic and thou wilt support me on one side and sticky on the other as if I were not able to go alone and so you will enter the church making it appear as if you were leading me up to the body of the saint that he may heal me and all that see will make way and give us free passage Marchese and Stecchi approved the plan so all three forthwith left the inn and repaired to a lonely place where Martellino distorted his hands, his fingers his arms, his legs and also his mouth and eyes and his entire face in a manner horrible to contemplate so that no stranger that saw him could have doubted his impotent and paralysed in every part of his body in this guise Marchese and Stecchi laid hold of him and led him towards the church assuming a most piteous air and humbly beseeching everybody for God's sake to make way for them their request was readily granted and in short observed by all and crying out at almost every step make way, make way they reached the place where Saint Arrigo's body was laid whereupon some gentleman who stood by hoisted Martellino onto the saint's body that thereby he might receive the boon of health there he lay still for a while the eyes of all in the church being riveted upon him in expectation of the result then being a very practised performer he stretched first one of his fingers next to hand afterwards an arm and so forth making as if he gradually recovered the use of all his natural powers which the people observing raised such a clamour in honour of Saint Arrigo that even thunder would have been inaudible now it chanced that hard-byes stood of who knew Martellino well though he had failed to recognise him when in such strange guise he was led into the church but now seeing him resume his natural shape the Florentine recognised him and at once said with a laugh God's curse upon him who that saw him come but would have believed that he was really paralysed these words were overheard by some of the Trevesans who began forthwith to question the Florentine how? said they was he then not paralysed no by God returned the Florentine he has always been as straight as any of us he has merely shown you that he knows better than any man alive how to play this trick of putting on any counterfeit semblance that he chooses there upon the Trevesans without further parley made a rush clearing the way and crying out as they went seized this traitor who mocks at God and his saints who being no paralytic has come hither in the guise of a paralytic to deride our patron saint and us so saying they laid hands on him dragged him down from where he stood seized him by the hair back and felt a beating and kicking him so that it seemed to him as if all the world were upon him he cried out pity for God's sake and defended himself as best he could all in vain however the press became thicker and thicker moment by moment which Stecchi and Marchese observing began to say one to the other that was a bad business yet being apprehensive on their own account they did not venture to come to his assistance but cried out with the rest that he ought to die at the same time however casting about how they might find the means to rescue him from the hands of the people who would certainly have killed him but for a diversion which Marchese hastily affected the entire posse of the signary being just outside he ran off at full speed to the Podesta's lieutenant and said to him help for God's sake there is a villain here that has cut my purse with full a hundred florins of gold in it prithee have him arrested that I may have my own again where upon twelve sergeants or more ran forthwith to the place where the hapless Martellino was being carded without a comb and forcing their way with the utmost difficulty through the throng he had killed him all bruised and battered from their hands and led him to the palace wither he was followed by many who resenting what he had done and hearing that he was arrested as a cut purse and lacking better pretext for harassing him began one and all to charge him with having cut their purses all which the deputy of the Podesta had no sooner heard than being a harsh man the way took Martellino aside and began to examine him Martellino answered his questions in a bantering tone making light of the arrest where at the deputy losing patience had him bound to the Strapado and caused him to receive a few hints of the cord with intent to extort from him a confession of his guilt by way of preliminary to hanging him taken down from the Strapado and questioned by the deputy if what his accusers said were true Martellino, as nothing was to be gained by denial answered my lord I am ready to confess the truth let but my accusers say each of them when and where I cut his purse and I will tell you what I have and what I have not done so be it said the deputy two of them to be summoned whereupon Martellino being charged with having cut this that or the other man's purse eight six or four days ago while others avert that he had cut their purse is that very day answered thus my lord these men lie in the throat and for token that I speak true I tell you that so far from having been here to make out it is but very lately that I came into these parts where I never was before and no sooner was I come than as my ill luck would have it I went to see the body of this saint and so have been carded as you see and that what I say is true his lordship's attendant of arrivals and his book and also my host may certify wherefore if you find that even so it is as I say harken not to these wicked men and spare me the torture and death which they would have you inflict in this posture of affairs Marquesi and Stackey learning that the Podesta's deputy was dealing rigorously with Martellino and had already put him to the Strapado grew mightily alarmed we have made a mess of it they said to themselves we have only taken him out of the frying pan had tossed him into the fire so, hurrying hither and thither with the utmost zeal they made diligent search until they found their host and told him how matters stood the host had his laugh over the affair and then brought them to one Sandro Agalanti who dwelt in Treviso and had great interest with the lord of the place the host laid the whole matter before Sandro and backed by Marquesi and Stackey besought him to undertake Martellino's cause Sandro, after many a hearty laugh hide him to the lord who at his instance sent for Martellino the messengers found Martellino still in his shirt before the deputy at his wit's end put beside himself with fear because the deputy would hear nothing that he said in his defence indeed the deputy having a spite against Florentines had quite made up his mind to have him hanged he was therefore in the last degree reluctant to surrender him to the lord and only did so upon compulsion brought at length before the lord Martellino detailed to him the whole affair and prayed him as the greatest of favours to let him depart in peace the lord had a hearty laugh over the adventure and bestowed a tunic on each of the three so congratulating themselves on their unexpected deliverance from so great apparel they returned home safe and sound end of day two the first story recording by Ruth Goldin day two the second story of the Decameron this is the LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org the Decameron by Giovanni Boccaccio translated by J.M. Rigg day two the second story Rinaldo De Asti is robbed arrives at Castel Guglielmo and is entertained by a widow lady his property is restored to him and he returns safe and sound the ladies and the young men especially Filostrato laughed inordinately at Ney Filostrato's narrative of Martellino's misadventures then Filostrato who sat next Ney Filé received the Queen's command to follow her fair ladies it is on my mind to tell you a story in which are mingled things sacred and passages of adverse fortune and love which to hear will perchance be not unprofitable more especially to travelers in loves treacherous lands of whom if any fail to say Saint Julian's patronoster it often happens that though he may have a good bed he is ill lodged know then that in the time of the Marquis Azo de Ferrara a merchant Ronaldo De Asti by name having disposed of certain affairs which had brought him to Bologna set his face homeward and having left Ferrara behind him was on his way to Verona when he fell in with some men that looked like merchants but were in truth robbers and men of evil life and condition whose company he imprudently joined writing and conversing with them perceiving that he was a merchant and judging that he must have money about him complotted to rob him on the first opportunity and to obviate suspicion they played the part of worthy and reputable men their discourse of not but what was seemingly and honorable and leal their demeanor at once as respectful and cordial as they could make it so that he deemed himself very lucky to have met them being otherwise alone saved journeying thus they conversed after the desultory manner of travelers of diverse matters till at last they fell a talking of the prayers which men addressed to God and one of the robbers there were three of them said to Ronaldo and you gentle sir what is your wanted orison when you are on your travels Ronaldo answered why to tell the truth I am a man unskilled by my command being one that lives in the good old way and lets two soldy count for 24 deniers nevertheless it has always been my custom in journeying to say of a morning as I leave the inn a paternoster and an ave Maria for the souls of the father and mother of St. Julian after which I pray God and St. Julian to provide me with a good inn for the night and many a time in the course of my life I have met with great perils by the way and evading them all have found comfortable quarters for the night whereby my faith is assured that St. Julian in whose honor I say my paternoster has gotten me this favor of God nor should I look for a prosperous journey and a safer rival by night if I had not said it in the morning then said his interrogator and did you say it this morning where to Ronaldo answered truth did I because the other who by this time knew by what course matters would take to say to himself will prove to have been said at a nick of time for if we do not miscarry I take it that we'll have but a sorry lodging then turning to Ronaldo he said I also have traveled much and never a prayer have I said though I have heard them much commended by many nor has it ever been my lot to find other than good quarters for the night it may be in the evening you will be able to determine which of us has the better lodging you that have said the paternoster or I that have not said it true however that in its stead I am accustomed to say do repusti or intermarata or the de profundis which if what my grandmother used to say is to be believed are of the greatest efficacy so talking of diverse matters and ever on the lookout for time and place suited to their evil purpose they continued their journey till towards evening some distance from Castel Guglielmo as they were about to forward a stream these three ruffians profiting by the lateness of the hour and the loneliness and straightness of the place set upon Ronaldo and robbed him and leaving him afoot and in his shirt said by way of a do go now and see if thy saint Julian will provide thee with good lodging tonight our saint we doubt not will do as much by us and so crossing the stream they went their way Ronaldo's servant coward though he was did nothing to help his master when he saw him attacked but turned his horse's head and was off at a smart pace nor did he draw rain till he was to come to Castel Guglielmo which in now being evening he put up at an inn in his shirt when the night closed in very cold and snowy was at his wits end and shivering so that his teeth chattered in his head began to peer about if happily he might find some shelter for the night that so he might not perish with the cold but seeing none for during a recent war the whole country had been wasted by fire he set off for Castel Guglielmo quickening his pace by reason of the cold whether his servant had taken refuge in Castel Guglielmo or elsewhere he knew not but he thought that could he but enter the town God would surely send him some succor however dark night overtook him while he was still about a mile from the castle so that on his arrival he found the gates already locked and the bridges raised and he could not pass in sick at heart disconsolate and bewailing his evil fortune by himself and at any rate find shelter from the snow by good luck he aspired a house built with a balcony a little above the castle wall under which balcony he proposed to shelter himself until daybreak arrived at the spot he found beneath the balcony a postern which however was locked and having gathered some bits of straw that lay about he placed them in front of the postern and there in sad and sorrowful plight took up his quarters many a piteous appeal to St. Julian whom he reproached for not better rewarding the faith which he reposed in him St. Julian however had not abandoned him and in due time provided him with a good lodging there was in the castle a widow lady of extraordinary beauty nunfarer whom Marquis Azo loved as his own life and kept there for his pleasure she lived in that very same house beneath the balcony of which Ronaldo had posted himself now a chance that that very day the Marquis had come to Castel Guglielmo to pass the night with her and had privately caused a bath to be made ready and a supper suited to his rank in the lady's own house the arrangements were complete and only the Marquis was stayed for when a servant happened to present himself at the castle gate bringing tidings for the Marquis and him suddenly to take horse he therefore sent word to the lady that she must not wait for him the lady somewhat disconsolate found nothing better to do than to get into the bath which had been attended for the Marquis supper and go to bed so into the bath she went the bath was close to the postern on the other side of which hapless Ronaldo had disconsued himself and thus the mournful and quavering music which Ronaldo made as he shuddered and which seemed rather to proceed from a stork's beak than from the mouth of a human being was audible to the lady in the bath she therefore called her maid and said to her go up and look out over the wall and down the postern and mark who was there and what he is and what he does there the maid obeyed and the night being fine had no difficulty in making out Ronaldo as he sat there barefoot as I have said and in his shirt trembling in every limb so she called out to him to know who he was Ronaldo who could scarcely articulate for shivering told as briefly as he could who he was and how and why he had come there which done he began piteously to beseech her not if she could avoid it to leave him there all night to perish of cold the maid went back to her mistress full of pity for Ronaldo and told her all that she had seen and heard the lady felt no less pity for Ronaldo and be thinking her that she had the key of the postern by which the Marquis sometimes entered when he paid her a secret visit she said to the maid go and let him in softly here is this supper and there will be none to eat it we can very well put him up for the night cordially commending her mistress's humanity the maid went and let Ronaldo in brought him to the lady who seeing he was all but dead with cold said to him quick good man get into that bath which is still warm gladly he did so awaiting no second invitation and was so much comforted by its warmth that he seemed to have passed from death to life the lady provided him with a suit of clothes which had been worn by her husband shortly before his death and which when he had had them on looked as if they had been made for him so he recovered heart and while he awaited the lady's commands gave thanks to God and Saint Julian for delivering him from a woeful night and conducting him as it seemed to comfortable quarters the lady, meanwhile, took a little rest after which she had a roaring fire put in one of her large rooms with her presently she came and asked her maid how the good man did the maid replied madam, he has put on the clothes in which he shows to advantage having a handsome person and seeming to be a worthy man and well bred and then said the lady tell him to come hither to the fire and we will sup for I know that he has not supped Renado on entering the room and seeing the lady took her to be of no small consequence he therefore made a low bow and did his utmost to thank her worthy for the service she had rendered him his words pleased her no less than his person which accorded with which the maid had said so she made him heartily welcome installed him at his ease after her side before the fire and questioned him of the adventure which had brought him thither Renado detailed all the circumstances of which the lady had heard somewhat when Renado's servant made his appearance at the castle she therefore gave entire credence to what he said told him what she knew about his servant and how he might be easily find him on the morrow she then bade set the table which done Renado and she washed their hands to sup tall he was in comely a form and feature debonair and gracious of mean and manner and in his lusty prime the lady had eyed him again and again to her no small satisfaction and her wantonness already being kindled for the marquee who was to have come to light with her she had let Renado take the vacant place in her mind so when supper was done and there arisen from the table she conferred with her maid after the cruel trick played upon her by the marquee if it were not well to take a good gift with fortune had sent her the maid knowing the bent of her mistresses desire left no word unsaid that might encourage her to follow it wherefore the lady turning towards Renado who was standing where she had left him by the fire began thus so Renado why still so pensive for the loss of a horse and a few clothes take heart put a blithe face on you are at home nay more let me tell you that seeing you in those clothes which my late husband used to wear and taking you for him I have felt that not once or twice but perhaps a hundred times this evening a longing to throw my arms round you and kiss you and in faith I had so done but that I feared it might displease you Renado hearing these words and marking the flame which shot from the lady's eyes and being no laggard came forward with open arms and confronted her and said madam I am not unmindful that I must ever acknowledge that to you I owe my life in regard of the peril whence you rescued me if then there be any way in which I may pleasure you truly indeed were I not to devise it so you may even embrace and kiss me to your heart's content to embrace and kiss you with the best of good wills there needed no further parley the lady all aflame with amorous desire forthwith threw herself into his arms and straining him to her bosom with a thousand passionate embraces gave and received a thousand kisses before they sought her chamber there with all speed they went to bed nor did day surprise them until again and again and in full measure they had satisfied their desire with the first streaks of dawn they rose for the lady was minded that none should surmise ought of the affair so having meanly habited Ronaldo and replenished his purse she enjoyed him to keep the secret showed him the way to the castle where he might find his servant and let him out by the same posture by which he had entered gates were opened and Ronaldo passing himself off as a traveller from distant parts entered the castle and found his servant having put on the spare suit which was in his valise he was about to mount the servant's horse when, as if by a miracle they were brought into the castle the three gentlemen of the road who had robbed him the evening before having been taken a little while after for another offence upon their confession the robbers restored to him as were also his clothes and money so that he lost nothing except a pair of garters of which the robbers knew not where they had bestowed them wherefore Ronaldo giving thanks to God and St. Julian mounted his horse and returned home safe and sound and on the morrow the three robbers kicked heels in the wind and of day two the second story day two the third story of the Decameran this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org tonight's recording by Miet the Decameran by Giovanni Boccaccio translated by J. M. Rage day two the third story three young men squander their substance and are reduced to poverty their nephew returning home a desperate man falls in with an abbot in whom he discovers the daughter of the king of England she marries him and he retrieves the losses and re-establishes the fortunes of his uncles the ladies marveled to hear the adventures of Rinaldo d'Asti praised his devotion and gave thanks to God and St. Julian for the soccer lent him in his extreme need though the verdict was hardly outspoken was the lady deemed unwise to take the boon which God has sent her so they tethered and talked of her night of delight while Pompineia being seated by Filostrato and surmising that her turn would as it did come next was lost in meditation on what she was to say rose from her memory by the word of the queen she put on a cheerful courage and thus began noble ladies discourse as we may of fortune's handiwork much still remains to be said if we bot scan events aright nor need we marvel thereat if we but duly consider that all matters which we foolishly call our own are in her hands and therefore subject at her inscrutable will to every variety of chance and change without any order therein by us discernable which is indeed signally manifest everywhere and all day long yet as tears our queens will that we speak thereof perhaps will not be unprofitable to you if notwithstanding it has been the theme of some of the forgoing stories I add to them another which I believe should give you pleasure there was formerly in our city a knight by name Messe Tidaldo of the Lamberti according to some or as others say of the Agulanti family perhaps for no other better reason than that the occupation of his sons was similar to that which always was and is the occupation of the Agulanti however without professing the term and which of the two houses he belonged to I say that he was in his day a very wealthy knight and had three sons the eldest being by name Lamberto the second Tidaldo and the third Agulanti fine spirited young men were they all though the eldest was not yet eighteen years old when their father Messe Tidaldo died very rich leaving to them as his lawful heirs the whole of his property both movable and immovable finding themselves thus possessed of great wealth both in money and in lands and chattels they fell to spending without stint or restraint indulging their every desire maintaining a great establishment and a large and well filled stable besides dogs and hawks keeping their open house scattering largesse jousting and not content with these and the like pastimes proper to their condition indulging every appetite natural to their youth they had not long followed this course of life before the cash left them by their father was exhausted their rents not sufficing to defray their expenditure they began to sell and pledge their property and disposing of it by degrees one item today and another tomorrow they hardly perceived that they were approaching the verge of ruin until poverty opened the eyes which wealth had fast sealed so one day Lamberto called his brothers to him reminded them of the position of wealth and dignity which had been theirs and their fathers before them ensued them the poverty to which their extravagance had reduced them and addued them most earnestly that before their destitution was yet further manifest they should all three sell what little remained to them and depart thence accordingly they did without leave taking or any ceremony they quitted Florence nor did they rest until they had arrived in England and established themselves in a small house in London where by living with extreme parsimony and lending at exorbitant usances they prospered so well that in the course of a few years they amassed a fortune and so one by one they returned to Florence purchased not a few of their former estates besides many others and married the management of their affairs in England where they continued their business as usurers they left to a young nephew Alessandro by name while heedless of the like of the teaching of experience and of marital and parental duty they all three launched out at Florence into more extravagant expenditure than before and contracted debts on all hands and to large amounts this expenditure they were enabled for some years to support by the remittances made by Alessandro to his great profit had lent money to the barons of the security of their castles and rents while the three brothers thus continued to spend freely and went short of money to borrow it never doubting of help from England it so happened that to the surprise of everybody there broke out in England a war between the king and his son by which the whole island was divided into two camps whereby Alessandro lost all his mortgages of the baronial castles and every other source of income whatsoever however in the daily expectation that peace would be concluded between the king and his son Alessandro hoping that in that event all would be restored to him principal and interest tarried in the island and the three brothers at Florence in no degree retrenched their extravagant expenditure but went on borrowing from day to day several years thus past and their hopes being frustrated the three brothers not only lost credit but being pressed by their creditors was suddenly arrested and their property proving deficient were kept in prison for the balance while their wives and little children went into the country parts or elsewhere wretchedly equipped and with no other prospect than to pass the rest of their days in destitution Alessandro meanwhile peace which he had for several years awaited in England did not come and deeming that he would hazard his life to no purpose by tarrying longer in the country made up his mind to return to Italy he travelled at first all together alone but it's so chance that he left bruges at the same time in Abbott habited in white attended by a numerous retinue and proceeded by a goodly baggage train behind the Abbott rode two grey beard knights kinsmen of the king in whom Alessandro recognised acquaintances and making himself known to them was readily received into their company as thus they journeyed together Alessandro softly asked them who the monks were that rode in front with so great a train and wither they were bound the foremost rider replied one of the knights is a young kinsmen of ours the newly elected Abbott of one of the greatest abbeys of England and as he is not of legal age for such a dignity they are going with him to Rome to obtain the holy father's dispensation and his confirmation in the office but this is not a matter for common talk now the new Abbott as lords are wont to do when they travel was sometimes in front sometimes in rear of his train and thus it happened that as he passed he set eyes on Alessandro he was still quite young shapely and well favoured and as courteous gracious and debonair as there another the Abbott was marvellously taken with him at first sight having never seen old that pleased him so much called him to his side addressed him graciously and asked who he was whence he came and wither he was bound Alessandro frankly told all about himself and having thus answered the Abbott's questions placed himself at his service as far as his small ability might extend the Abbott was struck by his easy flow of apt speech and observing his bearing more closely he made up his mind that albeit his occupation was base he was nevertheless of gentle blood which added no little to his interest in him and being moved to compassion by his misfortunes he gave him friendly consolation bidding him be of good hope that if he lived a worthy life God would yet see him in a place no less or even more exalted than when fortune had cast him down and prayed him to be of his company as far as Tuscany both were going the same way Alessandro thanked him for his words of comfort and professed himself ready to obey his every command so fared on the Abbott his mind full of new ideas begotten by the sight of Alessandro until some days later they came to a town which was none too well provided with the ins as the Abbott must needs put up there Alessandro who was well acquainted with one of the innkeepers arranged that the Abbott showed a light at his house and procured him the least uncomfortable quarters which it could afford he thus became for the nonce the Abbott's sensual and being very expert for such office managed excellently quartering the retinue and diverse parts of the town so the Abbott subbed and a night being far spent all went to bed except Alessandro who then asked the host where he might find quarters for a night in good sooth I know not replied the host thou seest the deafery place is occupied and that I and my household must lie on the benches however in the Abbott's chamber there are some corn sacks I can shoe thee the way thither and lay a bit of bed upon them and there and it like thee thou mayest pass the night very well how sayest thou asked Alessandro in the Abbott's chamber which thou knowest is small and that there was not room for any of the mocks to sleep there had I understood this when the curtains were drawn I would have quartered his mocks on the corn sacks and slept myself where the mocks sleep it is even so however replied the host and thou canst if thou wilt find excellent quarters there the Abbott's sleeps the curtains are close drawn I will go in softly and lay a small bed there on which thou canst sleep Alessandro satisfied that it might be managed without disturbing the Abbott accepted the offer and made his arrangements for passing the night as quietly as he could the Abbott was not asleep his mind being far too over rocked by certain newly awakened desires he had heard what had passed between Alessandro and the host he had marked the place where Alessandro had lain down and in the great gladness of his heart he had begun thus to commune with himself God has sent me the opportunity of gratifying my desire if I let it pass it will be long before another such opportunity occurs so being minded by no means to let it slip when all was quiet in the end he softly called Alessandro and bade him lie down by his side Alessandro made many excuses but ended by undressing and obeying the Abbott laid a hand on Alessandro's breast and began to caress him just as amorous girls do their lovers were at Alessandro marvelled greatly doubting the Abbott was prompted to such caresses by a shameful love which the Abbott speedily divined or else surmised from some movement on Alessandro's part and laughing threw off a chemise which she had upon her and taking Alessandro's hand laid it on her bosom saying Alessandro, dismiss that foolish thought feel here and learn what I conceal Alessandro obeyed laying a hand upon the Abbott's bosom where he encountered two little teats round, firm and delicate as they had been of ivory whereby he at once knew that it was a woman and without awaiting further encouragement forthwith embraced her and would have kissed her when she said before thou art more familiar with me hearken to what I have to say to thee as thou mist perceive I am no man but a woman Virgin I left my home and was going to the Pope to obtain his sanction for my marriage when as fortune willed whether for thy gain or my loss no sooner had I seen thee the other day than I burned for thee with such a flim of love as never yet had lady for any man wherefore I am minded to have thee for my husband rather than any other so if thou wilt not have me to wife depart at once and return to thy own place albeit he knew not who she was Alessandro by the retinue which attended her conjectured that she must be noble and wealthy and he saw that she was very fair so it was not long before he answered that if such were her pleasure it would be very much to his liking whereupon she sat up set a ring on his finger and espoused him before a tiny picture of our lord after which they embraced and to their no small mutual satisfaction solaced themselves for the rest of the night at daybreak Alessandro rose and by pre-concert with the lady left the chamber as he had entered it so that none knew where he had passed the night then bligh that heart beyond measure he rejoined the abbot and his train and so resuming their journey they after many days arrived at Rome they had not been there more than a few days as when the abbot attended by the two knights and Alessandro waited on the pope whom after making the due obeisance he thus addressed Holy Father as you must know better than any other who so intends to lead a true and honourable life ought as far as may be to shun all occasional error for which cause I having a mind to live honourably did the better to accomplish my purpose assume the habit in which you see me and depart by stealth from the court of my father the king of England who was minded to marry me young as you see me to be to the aged king of Scotland and carrying with me not a little of his treasure set my face hitherward your holiness might bestow me in marriage nor was at the age of the king of Scotland that moved me to flee so much as fear lest the frailty of my youth should were I married to him betray me to commit some breach of divine law and sully the honour of my father's royal blood and as in this frame of mind I journeyed God who knows best wait for everyone did as I believe of his mercy show me him who he is pleased to appoint me for my husband even this young man pointing to Alessandro whom you see by my side who for nobility of nature and bearing as a match for any great lady they're the strain of his blood perhaps be not of royal purity him therefore have I chosen whom will I have and no other no matter what my father or anyone else may think and albeit the main purpose with which I started is fulfilled yet I have thought good to continue my journey that I may visit the holy and venerable places which are bound in this city and your holiness and that so in your presence and by consequence in the presence of others I may renew my marriage vow with Alessandro where I've got alone was witness wherefore I humbly pray you that God's will and mine may be also yours and that you pronounce your penicintheron that they're with having the more firm assurance of the favour of him whose vicar you are we may both live together come die to God's glory and yours Alessandro was filled with wonder and secret delight when he heard that his wife was the daughter of the king of England but greater still was the wonder of the two knights and such their wrath that have they been anywhere else than in the pope's presence they would not have spared to affront Alessandro and perhaps the lady too the pope on his part found mattery enough for wonder as well in the lady's habit as in her choice but knowing that he could not refuse he consented to grant her request he therefore began by smoothing the ruffled tempers of the knights and having reconciled with them the lady and Alessandro proceeded to put matters in train for the marriage when the day appointed was come he gave a great reception at which were assembled all the cardinals and many of the great lords to whom he presented the lady royally robed and looking so fair and so gracious that she won as she deserved the praise of all and likewise Alessandro splendidly arrayed and bearing himself not a wit like the young usurer but rather as one of royal blood for which cause he received due honour from the knights there before the pope himself the marriage vows were sullumly renewed and afterwards the marriage which was accompanied by every circumstance that could add grace and splendour to the ceremony received the sanction of his benediction Alessandro and the lady on leaving Rome saw fit to visit Florence where the fame had already wafted the news so that they were received by the citizens with every token of honour the lady set the three brothers at liberty paying all their creditors and reinstated them with several properties so leaving gracious memories behind them Alessandro and his lady accompanied by Agilante quitted Florence and arriving at Paris were honourably received by the king the two knights went before them to England and by their influence induced the king to restore the lady to his favour and leave her and his son-in-law with every circumstance of joy and honour Alessandro he soon afterwards knighted with unwanted ceremony and bestowed on him the earldom of Cornwall and such was the earl's consequence and influence at court that he restored peace between father and son thereby conferring a great boon on the island gaining the love and esteem of all the people Agilante whom he knighted recovered all the outstanding debts in full and returned to Florence immensely rich the earl passed the rest of his days with his lady and great renown indeed there are those who say not with the help of his father-in-law he effected by his policy and valour the conquest of Scotland and was crowned king of that country end of day two the third story recording by Miet of Miet's bedtime story podcast