 Day 4, the 9th 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 4, the 9th story. Sior Guillaume de Roussillon slays his wife's paramour, Sior Guillaume de Capistang, and gives her his heart to eat. She, coming to wit thereof, throws herself from a high window to the ground and dies, and is buried with her lover. Naveless story, which had not failed to move the gossips, to no little pity. Being ended, none now remained to speak but the king, and do now whose privilege the king was minded not to enfrench. Therefore he thus began. I propose, compassionate my ladies, to tell you a story, which, seeing that you so commiserate ill-starred loves, may claim no less a share of your pity than the last. Inso much as they were greater folks of whom I shall speak, and that which befell them was more direful. You are to know then, as the Provencells relate, that there was in Provence two noble knights, each having castles and vassals under him. The one, Sior Guillaume de Roussillon, and the other, Sior Guillaume de Capistang. And being both most dowdy warriors, they were his brothers, and went ever together, and bearing the same device to tournament or joust, or other passages of arms. And albeit each dwelt in his own castle, and the castles were good ten miles apart, and nevertheless came to pass that, Sior Guillaume de Roussillon, having a most lovely lady, and amorous with all, to wife. Sior Guillaume de Capistang, for all they were such friends and comrades, became inordinately enamored of the lady, who by this, that, and the other sign that he gave, discovered his passion. And knowing him for the most complete night, was flattered, and returned it. In so much, that she yearned, and burned for him, above all else in the world, and waited only till he should make his suit to her. As before long he did, and so they met from time to time, and great was their love. Which intercourse they ordered, was so little discretion, that was discovered by the husband, who was very rough. In so much, that the great love which he bore to Capistang, was changed into mortal enmity. And, dissembling it better, than the lovers their love, he made his mind up to kill Capistang. Now it came to pass that, while Roussillon was in this frame, a great tourney was proclaimed in France. Whereof Roussillon sent forth word to Capistang, and bade him to his castle. So he reminded to come, that there they might discuss whether, or know, to go to the tourney, and how. Capistang was overjoyed, and made answer that he would come to sup with him the next day without fail. Which message being delivered, Roussillon wist, that the time was come to slay Capistang. So next day he armed himself, and attended by a few servants took horse, and about a mile from his castle lay an ambush in a wood through which Capistang must needs pass. He waited for some time. Then he saw Capistang approach, unarmed, with two servants behind, also unarmed. For he was without thought of peril on Roussillon's part. So Capistang came onto the place of Roussillon's choice. And then, fail and vengeful, Roussillon left forth, lance in hand, and fell upon him, exclaiming, Thou art a dead man! In the words when no sooner spoken, than the lance was through Capistang's breast. Powerless, either to defend himself, or even utter a cry, Capistang fell to the ground, and soon expired. His servants waited, not to see who had done the deed, but turned their horse's heads and fled with all speed to their lord's castle. Roussillon dismounted, and opened Capistang's breast with a knife, and took out the heart with his own hands, wrapped it up in a bandarole, and gave it to one of his servants to carry. He then, bade none make bold to breathe a word of the affair, mounted his horse and rode back, to his not knight, to his castle. The lady, who had been told that Capistang was to come to supper that evening, was all impatient till he should come, and was greatly surprised to see her husband arrive without him. Wherefore, how is this my lord, said she, why Terri's Capistang? Madam, answered her husband, I have tidings from him that he cannot be here until tomorrow, whereas the lady was somewhat disconcerted. Having dismounted, Roussillon called the cook, and said to him, Here is a boar's heart, take it, and make thereof the daintiest and most delicious dish thou canest, and when I am set at table serve it in a silver pourager. So the cook took the heart, and expended all his skill and pains upon it, mincing it, and mixing with it plenty of good seasoning, and made thereof an excellent ragout. And in due time, Sillor Gallium and his lady set them down to table. The meat was served, but Sillor Gallium is minding grossed with his crime eight-butt little. The cook set the ragout before him, but he, feigning that he cared to eat no more that evening, had it passed on to the lady, and highly commended it. The lady, nothing loath, took some of it, and found it so good that she ended by eating the whole. Whereupon, Madam, quoth the night, how liked you this dish? In good faith, my lord, replied the lady, not a little. So help me God, returned the night, I dare to be sworn you did, to his no wonder that you should enjoy that dead which you living enjoyed more than all else in the world. For a while the lady was silent. Then, how say you, said she, what is it you have caused me to eat? That which you have eaten, replied the night, was in good soothe the heart of Sillor Gallium de Cabastang, whom you, disloyal woman, that you are, did so much love. For assurance, whereof I tell you that, but a short while before I came back, I plucked it from his breast with my own hands. It boots not to ask if the lady was sorrow-stricken to receive such tidings of her best beloved. But after a while she said, it was the deed of a disloyal and recreate night, for if I, unconstrained by him, made him lord of my love, and thereby did you wrong, it was I, not he, who should have borne the penalty. But God forbid that fair, of such high excellence as the heart of a night, so true and courteous as Sillor Gallium de Cabastang, be followed by alt else. So saying, she started to her feet, and stepping back to a window that was behind her, without a moment's hesitation, let herself drop backwards therein. The window was at a great height from the ground, so the lady was not only killed by the fall, but almost reduced to atoms. Stunned and conscious-stricken by the spectacle, and fearing the vengeance of the country folk, and the counter-provence, Sillor Gallium had his horses saddled and rode away. On the morrow the whole countryside knew how the affair had come about. Wherefore, folk from both of the castles took the two bodies, and bore them with grief and lamentation exceeding great, to the church and the ladies' castle, and laid them in the same tomb, and caused verses to be inscribed thereof, signifying who they were that were therein turned, in the manner and occasion of their death. End of Day 4, the Ninth Story Day 4, the Tenth Story of the Decameron This is of LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For further information or to volunteer, please go to LibriVox.org Reading by Andy Minter The Decameron by Giovanni Boccaccio Translated by J. M. Rigg Day 4, the Tenth Story The wife of a leech, deeming her lover, who has taken an opiate to be dead, puts him in the chest, which, with him therein, two users carry off to their house. He comes to himself, and is taken for a thief. But the lady's maid, giving the scenery to understand that she had put him in the chest, which the user has stole, he escapes the gallows, and the user's are melted in monies for the theft of the chest. Now that the king had told his tale, it only remained for Dioneo to do his part, which he witting, and being there to be bitten by the king, thus begun. So have I, to say nought of you, my ladies, being of iron and heart, to hear the woeful histories of ill-starred love, in so much that I have desired of all things that they might have an end. Wherefore, now that, thank God, ended they are, unless I were minded, which God forbid, to add to such pernicious stuff a supplement of the like-evil quality, no such dollarous theme do I purpose to ensue, but to make a fresh start with somewhat of a better and more cheerful sort, which, perchance, may serve to suggest to-morrow's argument. You ought to know, then, fairest my damsels, that it is not long since they had dwelt at Salerno a leech most eminent in surgery. His name, Master Matzeo della Montagna, who, in his extreme old age, took to a wife a fair damsel of the same city, whom he kept in nobler and richer array of dresses and jewels, and all other finaries that the sex affects, than any other lady in Salerno. How be it, she was not too warm most of her time, being ill-covered a bed by the doctor, who gave her to understand, even as Messer Ricciardo de Cinzica, of whom we spoke a while since, taught his lady the feasts, that for once a man lay with a woman, he needed, I know not how many days, to recover, and the like-nonsense, whereby she lived as ill-content as might be, and lacking neither sense nor spirit, she determined to economise at home, and taking to the street to live at other's expense. So, having passed in review Diver's young men, she at last found one that was to her mind, on whom she set all her heart and hopes of happiness, which the gallant perceiving was mightily flattered, and in like manner gave her all his love. Rogiero da Gheroli, such was the gallant's name, was of noble birth, but of life and conversation so evil and reprehensible, that Kinsman or friend, he had none left that wished him well, or cared to see him, and also Lerno knew him for a common thief and rogue of the vilest character. Whereof the lady took little heed, having a mind to him for another reason, and so with the help of her maid, she arranged a meeting with him. But after they had solaced themselves a while, the lady began to censure his past life, and to implore him for love of her to depart from such evil ways, and to afford him the means there, too, she from time to time furnished him with money. While thus, with all discretion, they continued there into course, it chanced that a man whole of one of his legs was placed under the leeches' care. The leech saw what was amiss with him, and told his Kinsfolk that unless a gangrene bone that he had in his leg were taken out, he must die, or have the whole leg amputated, that if the bone were removed he might recover, but that otherwise he would not answer for his life. Whereupon the relatives assented that the bone should be removed, and left the patient in the hands of the leech, who, deeming that by reason of the pain it was not possible for him to endure the treatment without an opiate, caused to be distilled in the morning a certain water of his own concoction, whereby the patient, drinking it, might be ensured sleep during such time as he deemed the operation which he meant to perform about vespers would occupy. In the meantime he had the water brought into his house, and set it in the window of his room, telling no one what it was. But when the vespers' hour was come, and the leech was about to visit his patient, a messenger arrived from some very great friends of his at Amalfi, bearing tidings of a great riot there had been there, in which not a few had been wounded, and bidding him on no account to omit to hide him thither forthwith. Wherefore the leech put off the treatment of the leg to the morrow, and took boat to Amalfi, and the lady, knowing that he would not return home that night, did as she was want in such a case. To wit brought Ruggieri in privily, and locked him in her chamber until certain other folk that were in the house had gone to sleep. Ruggieri then, being thus in the chamber, awaiting the lady, and having, whether it was, that he had a fatiguing day or eaten something salt, or perchance that, to us, his habit of body, a mighty thirst, glancing at the window, caught sight of the bottle containing the water which the leech had prepared for the patient, and taking it to be drinking water, set it to his lips, and drank it all, and in no long time fell into a deep sleep. So soon as she was able, the lady hide her to the room, and there, finding Ruggieri asleep, touched him, and softly told him to get up, for no purpose, however, he neither answered, nor stirred a limb. Wherefore, the lady, rather losing patience, applied somewhat more force, and gave him a push, saying, Get up, sleepyhead! If thou hadst a mind to sleep, thou shouldst have gone home, and not have come hither. Thus pushed, Ruggieri fell down from a box on which he lay, and falling showed no more sign of animation than if he had been corpse. The lady, now somewhat alarmed, assayed to lift him, and shook him roughly, and took him by the nose, and pulled him by the beard, again to no purpose. He had tethered his ass to a stout pin, so the lady began to fear he must be dead. However, she went on to pinch him shrewdly, and singe him with the flame of a candle, but when these methods also failed, she, being for all she was a leech's wife, no leech herself, believed for sure that he was dead, and as there was nought in the world that she loved so much, it boots not to ask if she were so distressed. Wherefore, silently, for she dead not only meant to loud, she began to weep over him, and bewail such a misadventure. But after a while, fearing lest her loss should not be without sequel of shame, she bethought her that she must contrive without delay to get the body out of the house, and standing in need of another's advice, she quietly summoned her maid, showed her the mishap that had befallen her, and craved her counsel. Where at the maid marvelled not a little, and she too felt a pulling rogeri this way and that, and pinching him, and, as she found no sign of life in him, concurred with her mistress that he was verily dead, and advised her to remove him from the house. And where, said the lady, shall we put him, that to-morrow, when he is discovered, it be not suspected that twas hence he was carried. Madam! answered the maid, late last evening I marked in front of our neighbour the carpenter's shop a chest, not too large, which, if he have not put it back in the house, will come in very handy for our purpose, for we will put him inside, and give him two or three cuts with a knife, and so leave him. When he is found, I know not why it should be thought that twas from this house rather than from any other that he was put there. Nay, as he was an evil livert, it would be more likely, supposed, that as he hide him on some evil errand, some enemy slew him, and then put him in the chest. The lady said that there was nought in the world she might so ill-broke as that regiieri should receive any wound, but with that exception she approved her maid's proposal, and sent her to see if the chest was still where she had seen it. The maid, returning, reported that it was, and being young and strong, got regiieri's help upon her shoulders, and so the lady, going before, to a spy if any folk came that way, and the maid following, they came to the chest, and having laid regiieri therein, closed it, and left him there. Now, a few days before, two young men, that were usurers, had taken up their quarters in a house a little further on. They had seen the chest during the day, and being short of furniture, and having a mind to make great gain of expenditure, they had resolved that if it was still there at night they would take it home with them. So at midnight, forth they hide them, and finding the chest were at no pains to examine it closely, but forthwith, though it seemed somewhat heavy, bore it off to their house, and set it down beside a room in which their women slept, and without being at pains to adjust it too securely, they left it there for the time, and went to bed. Regiieri, having had a long sleep and digested the draught, and exhausted its efficacy, awoke, but albeit his slumber was broken, and his senses had recovered their powers, yet his brain remained in the sort of torpor which kept him bemused for some days, and when he opened his eyes, and saw nothing, and stretched his hands hither and dither, and found himself in the chest, it was with difficulty that he collected his thoughts. How is this? He said to himself, Where am I? Do I sleep or wake? I remember coming this evening to my lady's chamber, and now it seems I am in a chest. What means it? Can the leech have returned? Or some what else have happened that caused the lady, while I slept, to hide me here? That was it, I suppose, without a doubt it must have been so, and having come to this conclusion he composed himself to listen, if happily he might hear something, and with some motilities in the chest, which was not too large, and the side on which he lay painting him, he must need turn over to the other, and did so with such a droidness that, bringing his loins smartly against one of the sides of the chest, which was set on an uneven floor, he caused it to tilt and then fall, and such was the noise it made as it fell, that the women that slept there awoke, albeit for fear they kept silence. Rugieri was not a little disconcerted by the fall, but finding that there by the chest was come open he judged that, happen what might, he would be better out of it than in it, and not knowing where he was, and being otherwise at his wit's end he began to grope about the house, if happily he might find a stair or door, whereby he might take himself off. Hearing him thus groping his way, the alarmed women gave tongue with, Who is there? Rugieri, not knowing the voice, made no answer. Wherefore the women fell to calling the two young men, who, having had a long day, were fast asleep, and heard naught of what went on, which served to increase the fright of the women, who rose and got them to diver's windows and raised the cry, Take thief! take thief! At which summons there came running from diver's quarters not a few of the neighbours, who got into the house by the roof or otherwise as each best might. Likewise the young men, aroused by the din, got up, and Rugieri, being now all but beside himself for sheer amazement, and not knowing wither to turn him to escape them, they took him and delivered him to the officers of the governor of the city, who, hearing the uproar, had hasted to the spot. And so he was brought before the governor, who, knowing him to be held of all the most hour and evil doer, put him forthwith to the torture, and upon his confessing that he had entered the house of the usurers with intent to rob, was minded to make short work of it and have him hanged by the neck. In the morning, to as brooted throughout all Solerno, that Rugieri had been taken a thieving in the house of the usurers, whereat the lady and her maid were all amazement and bewilderment, in so much that they were within an ace of persuading themselves that what they had done the night before they had not done, but had only dreamt it. Besides which, the peril in which Rugieri stood, caused the lady such anxiety as brought her to the verge of madness. Shortly after half-tears, the leech, being returned from Amalfi, had minded now to treat his patient, called for his water, and finding the bottle empty made a great commotion, protesting that nought in his house could be left alone. The lady, having other cause of annoy, lost temper and said, What would you say, master, of an important matter when you raise such a din because a bottle of water has been upset? Is there never another to be found in the world? Madam, replied the leech, Thou takest this to have been mere water! It was no such thing, but an artificial water of a soporiferous virtue. And he told her for what purpose he had made it. Which the lady no sooner heard than, guessing that Rugieri had drunk it, and so had seemed to them to be dead, she said, Master, we know it not. Wherefore make you another? And so the leech, seeing there was no help for it, had another maid. Not long after the maid, who by the lady's command had gone to find out what folk said of Rugieri, returned, saying, Madam, of Rugieri they say nought but evil. Nor by what I have been able to discover has he friend or kinsman that has or will come to his aid. And is held for certain that tomorrow the static will have him hanged, besides which I have to tell you, which will surprise you, for me thinks I have found out how he came into the world. And so the leech, he thinks I have found out how he came into the usurus house. List, then, how it was. You know the carpenter in front of whose shop stood the chest we put Rugieri in. He had today the most violent altercation in the world, with one to whom it would seem the chest belongs, by whom he was required to make good the value of the chest. To which he made answer that he had not sold it, but that it had been stolen from him in the night. Not so, said the other, thou sold it to the two usurers as they themselves told me last night when I saw it at their house at the time Rugieri was taken. They lie, replied the carpenter, I never sold it to them, but they must have stolen it from me last night. Go we to them. So with one accord off they went to the usurer's house, and I came back here. And so you see I make out that it was on such wise that Rugieri was brought when he was found. But how he came to life again I am at a loss to conjecture. The lady now understood exactly how things were, and accordingly told the maid what she had learnt from the leech, and besought her to aid her to get Rugieri off, for so she might, if she would, and at the same time preserve her honour. Madam, said the maid, do which show me how and glad I shall be to do just as you wish. Whereupon the lady, to whom necessity taught invention, formed her of the moment, and expounded it in detail to the maid, who, as the first step, hide her to the leech, and weeping thus addressed him, Sir, it behoves me to ask your pardon of a great wrong that I have done you. And what may that be? inquired the leech. Sir, said the maid, who ceased not to weep, you know what manner of man is Rugieri didierily. Now he took a fancy to me, and partly for fear, partly for love, I this year agreed to be his mistress, and knowing yes to Eve that you were from home, he coaxed me into bringing him into your house to sleep with me in my room. Now he was a thirst, and I, having no mind to be seen by your lady who was in the hall, and knowing not whether I might sooner betake me for wine or water, bethought me that I had seen a bottle of water in your room, and ran and fetched it, and gave it to him to drink, and then put this whence I had taken it, touching which I find that you have made a great stir in the house. Darily I confess that I did wrong, but who is there that does not wrong sometimes? Sorry indeed am I to have so done, but it is not for such a cause and that which ensued thereon that Rugieri should lose his life. Wherefore I do most earnestly beseech you, pardon me, and suffer me to go help him as best I may be able. I do not know what to do with the bars at what he heard. The leech replied in a bantering tone, thy pardon, thou hast by thy known deed. For where as thou didst last night think to have with thee a gallant that would thoroughly dust thy pellets for thee, he was but a sleepyhead. Wherefore get thee gone, and do what thou mayest for the deliverance of thy lover, and for the future look thou bring him not into the house, he had come off well in the first brush, hide her with all speed to the prison where Rugieri lay, and by her cajolaries prevailed upon the waters to let her speak with him, and having told him how he must answer the static, if he would get off she succeeded in obtaining pre-audience of the static, who, seeing that the baggage was lusty and metalsome, was minded before he heard her to grapple her with the hawk, to which the seminary would secure her a better hearing. When she had undergone the operation and was risen, sir, said she, you have here Rugieri di Gheroli, apprehended on a charge of theft, which charges false. Whereupon she told him the whole story from beginning to end, how she, being Rugieri's mistress, had brought him into the leeches house, and had given him the opiate, not knowing it for long, had put him in the chest. And then, recounting what she had heard past between the carpenter and the owner of the chest, she showed him how Rugieri came into the house of the usurers. Seeing that it was easy enough to find out whether the story were true, the static began by questioning the leech as to the water, and found that it was as she had said. He then summoned the carpenter, the owner of the chest, and the man had stolen the chest during the night, and brought it into their house. Finally he sent for Rugieri, and asked him where he had lodged that night. To which Rugieri answered that where he had lodged he knew not, but he well remembered going to pass the night, with master Matzeo's maid, in whose room he had drunk some water by reason of a great thirst that he had. But what happened to him afterwards, except that when he was in the house of the usurers, he knew not. All which matters the static heard with great interest, and caused the maid and Rugieri and the carpenter and the usurers to rehearse them several times. In the end, seeing that Rugieri was innocent, he released him, and moated the usurers in fifteen ounces for the theft of the chest. How glad Rugieri was thus to escape it boots not to ask, and so many a time did they laugh and make merry together over the affair. She and he and the dear maid that had proposed to give him a taste of the knife, and remaining constant in their love they had ever better and better solace thereof. The like whereof befalls me, sans the being put in the chest. End of Day Four The Tenth Story Day Four 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 Egem Brigh Day the Fourth The Conclusion Hearts are as the gentle ladies had been made by the preceding stories. This lost of the O'Neill provoked such merriment, more especially the passage about the static on the hook, that they lacked not relief of the pitchous moon engendered by the others. But the king observing that the sun was now taking a yellowish tinge and that the end of his sovereignty was come in terms most courtly made his excuse to the fair ladies that he had made so direful a theme as lovers in felicity the topic of their discourse after which he rose took the laurel breast from his head and while the ladies watched the sea to whom he would give it set it graciously upon the blond head of Fiametta saying Herewith I crown thee as deeming that though better than any other will know how to make tomorrow console our fair companions for the rude trials of today. Fiametta whose wavy dresses fell in a flood of gold over her white and delicate shoulders whose softly rounded face was all radiant with the very tints of the white lily blended with the red of the rose who carried two eyes in her head that matched those of the peregrine falcon while her tiny sweet mouth shewed a pair of lips that shown as rubies replied with a smile and gladly take as the rest filestrato and that they understand what zoo has done it is my present will and pleasure that each make ready to discourse tomorrow or good fortune befalling lovers after diverse, direful or disastrous adventures. The seam propounded was approved by all whereupon the queen called the seneschal and having made with him all the meet arrangements rose and gaily dismissed all the company until the supper hour wherefore some straying about the garden the beauties of which were not such as soon to fall others bending their steps towards the mills that were grinding without each as in where it seemed best they took meanwhile their several pleasures the supper hour come they all gathered in their wanted order by the fair fountain and in the gaze of spirits and well served they subbed then rising they adverse as was their want to dance and song and while filomena led the dance filestrato said the queen being minded to fellow in the footsteps of our predecessors and that as by their so by our command a song be sung and while waiting that their songs are even as their stories to the end that no day but this be waxed with thy misfortunes we ordain that they'll give as one of them whichever they may prefer we'll start our answer that he would gladly do so and without delay began to sing on this wise full well my tears attest O traitor love with what just caused the heart with which thou once hath broken faith doth smart love when thou first didst in my heart enshrine her for whom I still sigh alas in vain a damsel so complete thou didst me show that light as air I counted every pain wherewith be hest of thine condemned my soul to pine ah but I gravely aired the witch to know too late alas doth but enhance my woe the cheat I knew not air she did leave me she she in whom alone my hopes were placed for it was when I did most flatter myself with hope and proudly boast myself her vassal lolliest and most graced nor thought love might be grieve nor dreamty air might grieve it was then I found that she and others worth into her heart had taken and cast me forth a plant of pain alas my heart did bear what time my hapless self cast forth I knew and there doth remain and day and hour I curse and curse again when first that front of love shone on my view that front so queenly fair and bright beyond compare wherefore at once my faith my hope, my fire, my soul doth imprecate air she expire my lord thou knowest how comfortless my woe thou love my lord whom thus I supplicate with many a piteous groan telling thee how I anguish sore I groan yearning for death my pain to mitigate come death and with one below cut short my spand and so with my cursed life me of my frenzy ease for wheresoever I go twill sure decrease save death no way of comfort doth remain no anodyne beside for this sore smart the boon then love bestow imprecently by death anol my woe and from this abject life release my heart since for me joy is tain and every solace dain my prayer to grant and let my death the cheer complete that she now hath of her new fair song it may be that no one shall thee learn nor do I care for none I so well as I may chant thee so this one behest I lay upon thee go hi thee to love and him in secret tell how I my life do spurn my bitter life and yearn that to a better harbourage he bring me of all might and grace that owe him king full well my tears attest Philostratus move in its course for made abundantly manifest the thoughts of this song and perchance they had been made still more so by the looks of a lady that was amongst the dancers had not the shades of night which had now overtaken them concealed the plush that suffused her face other songs followed until the hour for slumber arrived whereupon at the behest of the queen all the ladies thought there several chambers end of the conclusion day the fifth the introduction of city camera this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org city camera by Giovanni Boccaccio translated by Emreak day the fifth the introduction and thus here the fourth day of the Decameron beginning the fifth in which under the rule of Fiametta discourse is had of good fortune befalling lovers after diverse direful or disastrous adventures all the east was white nor any part of our hemisphere unillumined by the rising beams when the caroling of the birds that in a gay chorus saluted the dawn among the bath induced Fiametta to rise and rose the other ladies and the three gallants with whom adown the hill and about the dewing meads of the broad champagne she sauntered talking gaily of diverse matters until the sun had attained some height then feeling his rays grow somewhat scorching they retraced their steps and returned to the villa where having repaired their slight fatigue with excellent vines and confets they took their pastime in the pleasant garden until the breakfast hour when all things being made ready by the discreet seneschal they, after singing a stampita and a baladette or two gaily at the queen's behest sat them down to eat meadly ordered and gladsome with the meal which done heedful of their rule of dancing they trod a few short measures with accompaniment of music and song thereupon being all dismissed by the queen until after the siesta some heed them to rest while others tarried taking their pleasure in the fair garden but shortly after noon all at the queen's behest reassembled according to their want by the fountain and the queen having seated herself on her throne glanced towards Panfilo and bade him with a smile off with the stories of good fortune where two Panfilo gladly asserted himself and thus began end of introduction of the day five day five the first 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 Eugene Smith the Decameron by Giovanni Boccaccio translated by J.M. Rigg day five the first story Cimón by Loving waxes wise wins his wife Iphigenia by capture on the high seas and is imprisoned at Rhodes he is delivered by Lycemicus and the twain capture Cassandra and recapture Iphigenia in the hour of their marriage they flee with their ladies to Crete and having their married them are brought back to their homes many stories sweet my ladies occur to me as meet for me to tell by way of ushering in a day so joyous as this will be of which one does most commend itself to my mind because not only has it one of those happy endings of which today we are in quest but to enable you to understand how holy, how mighty and how salutary are the forces of love which not a few wouldn't not what they say do most unjustly reprobate and reviled which if I earn not should to you for that I take you to be enamored be indeed welcome as we have read in the ancient histories of the Cypriots there was in the island of Cyprus a very great noble named Aristippus a man rich in all worldly goods beyond all other of his countrymen and who might have deemed himself incomparably blessed but for a single sore affliction that fortune had allotted him which was that among his sons he had won the best ron and handsomest of them all that was well nigh a hopeless imbecile his true name was Galesis but as neither his tutors pains nor his father's coaxing or chastisement nor any other method had availed to imbue him with any tincture of letters or matters but he still remained gruff and savage of voice that in his bearing like her to a beast all as in derision were want to call him cimmon which in their language signifies the same as bestione brute in ours the father grieved beyond measure to see his sons life thus blighted and having abandoned all hope of his recovery nor caring to have the cause of his mortification ever before his eyes, bad him be taken to the farm with his husband then to cimmon the change was very welcome because the manners and habits of the uncouth hines were more to his taste than those of the citizens so to the farm cimmon hide him and to dress himself to the work thereof and being thus employed he chanced one afternoon as he passed staff on shoulder from one domain to another to enter a plantation of which for beauty there was not in those parts and which was then, for towards the month of May a mass of greenery and as he traversed it he came as fortune was pleased to guide him to a meadow, girt in with trees exceeding tall and having in one of its corners a fountain most fair and cool beside which he aspired a most beautiful girl lying asleep on the green grass only in a vest of such fine stuff that it scarce in any measure veiled the whiteness of her flesh and below the waist not but an apron most white and fine of texture and likewise at her feet there slept two women and a man her slaves no sooner did cimmon catch sight of her then as if he had never before seen form of woman he stopped short and leaning on his cudgel regarded her intently saying never a word and lost in admiration and in his rude soul which despite a thousand lessons had hitherto remained impervious to every delight that belongs to urbane life he felt the awakening of an idea that bad his gross and coarse mind acknowledged that this girl was the fairest creature that had ever been seen by mortal eye and there upon he began to distinguish her several parts praising her hair which showed to him as gold her brow her nose and mouth her throat and arms and above all her bosom which was as yet but in bud and as he gazed he changed of a sudden from a husband man into a judge of beauty and desired of all things to see her eyes which the weight of her deep slumber worked close shut and many a time he would feign have awakened her that he might see them but so much fairer seen she to him than any other woman that he had seen that he doubted she must be a goddess and he was not so devoid of sense but that he deemed things divine more worthy of reverence than things mundane he forbore and waited until she should wake of her own accord and he found the delay over long yet enthralled by so unwanted a delight he knew not how to be going however after he had tarried a long while it so befell that if it did not have such was the girl's name her slave still sleeping awoke and raised her head and opened her eyes and seeing chimo standing before her leaning on his staff was not a little surprised and said chimo what seekest thou in this wood at this hour for chimo she knew well as indeed did almost all in the countryside by reason the like of his uncouth appearance as of the rank and wealth of his father to if a genia's question he answered never a word but as soon as her eyes were open not could he do but intently regard them for it seemed to him that a soft influence emanated from them which filled his soul with a delight that he had never before known which the girl marking began to misdoubt that by so fixed a scrutiny his boorish temper might be prompted to some act that should cause her dishonor wherefore she roused her women and got up saying keep thy distance chimo in God's name where to chimo made answer I will come with thee and I'll be at the girl refused his escort being still in fear of him she could not get quit of him but he attended her home after which he hide him straight to his father's house and announced that he was minded on no account to go back to the farm which intelligence was far from welcome to his father and kinsmen but nevertheless they suffered him to stay and waited to see what might be the reason of his change of mind so chimo whose heart close to all teaching love's shaft sped by the beauty of f'jinaya penetrated did now graduate in wisdom with such celerity as to astonish his father and kinsmen and all that knew him he began by requesting his father to let him go clad in the like apparel and with in all respects like personal equipment as his brothers which his father very gladly did mixing thus with the gallants and becoming familiar with the manners proper to gentlemen and especially to lovers he very soon to the exceeding great wonder of all not only acquired the rudiments of letters but wax most eminent among the philosophic wits after which for no other cause than the love he bore to f'jinaya he not only modulated his rough and boorish voice to a degree of smoothness suitable to urbane life but made himself accomplished in singing and music in writing also and in all matters belonging to war as well by sea as by land he waxed most expert and hearty and in some that I go not about to enumerate each of his virtues in detail he had not completed the fourth year from the stay of his first becoming enamored before he was grown the most gallant and courteous and the most perfect in particular accomplishments of the young cavaliers that were in the island of Cyprus what then gracious ladies are we to say of chimon verily not else but that the high faculties with which heaven had endowed his noble soul invidious fortune had bound with the strongest of chords and circumscribed within a very narrow region of his heart all which chords love more potent than fortune burst and break in pieces and then with the might wherewith he wakens dormant powers he brought them forth and the cruel obfuscation in which they lay into clear light plainly showing thereby once he may withdraw and wither he may guide by his beams the souls that are subject to his sway now albeit by his love for ifigenaya chimon was betrayed as young lovers very frequently are into some peccadillos yet Aristipus reflecting that it had turned him from a booby into a man not only bore patiently with him but exhorted him with all his heart to continue steadfast in his love and chimon who still refused to be called Galesis because it was as chimon that ifigenaya had first addressed him being desirous to accomplish his desire by honorable means did many a time urge his suit upon her father gypsius that he would give her him to wife where too gypsius always made the same answer to wit that he had promised her to passimondas a young rhodian noble and was not minded to break faith with him however the time appointed for ifigenaya's wedding being come and the bride room having sent for her chimon said to himself tis now for me to show thee ifigenaya how great is my love for thee tis by thee that I am grown a man nor doubt I if I shall have thee that I shall wax more glorious than a god and verily thee I will have or die having so said he privily enlisted in his cause certain young nobles that were his friends and secretly fitted out a ship with all equipment meet for combat and put to sea on the lookout for the ship that was to bear ifigenaya to Rhodes and her husband and at length when her father had done lavishing honors upon her husband's friends ifigenaya embarked and the mariners shaping their course for Rhodes put to sea chimon was on the alert and overhauled them the very next day and standing on his ship's prow shouted a maine to those that were aboard ifigenaya's ship bring two strike sails or look to be conquered and sunk in the sea then seeing that the enemy had gotten their arms above deck and were making ready to make a fight of it he followed up his words by casting a grapnel upon the poop of the rodians for making great way and having thus made their poop fast to his prow he sprang fierce as a lion reckless whether he were followed or no on to the rodians ship making as it were no account of them and animated by love hurled himself sword in hand with prodigious force among the enemy and cutting and thrusting right and left slaughtered them like sheep much that the rodians marking the fury of his onset threw down their arms and as with one voice did all acknowledge themselves his prisoners to whom chimon gallants was neither lust or beauty nor enmity to you that caused me to put out from Cyprus to attack you here with force of arms on the high seas moved was I there too by that which to gain is to me a matter great indeed which peaceably to yield me is to you but a slight matter for it is even Iphigenia whom more than ought else I love whom as I might not have her of her father in peaceable and friendly sort love has constrained me to take from you in this high-handed fashion and by force of arms to whom I mean to be even such as would have been your goodness wherefore give her to me and go your way in God's grace go with you yielding rather to force than prompted by generosity the rodians surrendered Iphigenia all tears to chimon who marking her tears said to her grieve not noble lady thy chimon am I who by my long love have established a far better service by the faith that was plighted to him so saying he said her aboard his ship whether he followed her touching not that belong to the rodians and suffering them to go their way to have gotten so dear a prize made him the happiest man in the world but for a time was all he could do to assuage her grief then after taking counsel with his comrades he deemed not to return to Cyprus for the present and so by common consent they shaped their course for Crete where most of them and especially chimon had alliances of old or recent date and friends not a few whereby they deemed that they might tarry with Iphigenia insecurity but fortune and an accorded chimon so gladsome a capture of the lady suddenly proved fickle and converted the boundless joy of the enamored gallant into woeful and bitter lamentation it was not yet full four hours since chimon had parted from the rodians when with the approach of night that night from which chimon hoped such joyance as he had never known came weather most turbulent and tempestuous which wrapped the heavens in cloud and swept the sea with scathing blasts whereby it was not possible for any to see how the ship was to be worked or steered or to steady himself so as to do any duty upon her deck where at what grief was chimons it boots not to ask indeed it seemed to him that the gods had granted his heart's desire only that it might be harder for him to die which had else been to him but a light matter not less downcast where his comrades but most of all Iphigenia who weeping bitterly and shuddering at every wave that struck the ship did cruelly curse chimons love and censure his rashness avering that this tempest was come upon them for no other cause than that the gods had decreed that as it was in despite of their will that he purposed to espouse her he should be frustrated of his presumptuous intent and having lived to see her expire should then himself meet the woeful death while thus and yet more bitterly they bewailed them and the mariners were at their wits end as the gale grew hourly more violent nor knew they nor might conjecture whither they went they drew nigh the island of Rhodes albeit the Rhodes it was they whisked not and set themselves as best and most skillfully they might to run the ship aground as fortune favoured them bringing them into a little bay where shortly before them was arrived the Rhodian ship that chimon had let go nor were they sooner aware that twas Rhodes they had made than day broke and the sky thus brightening a little they saw that they were about a bow shot from the ship that they had released on the preceding day where upon chimon vexed beyond measure bad make every effort to win out of the bay and let fortune carry them whither she would for nowhere might they be in worse plight than there so might and main they strove to bring the ship out but all in vain the violence of the gale thwarted them to such purpose as not only to reclude their passage out of the bay but to drive them willing kneeling ashore whither no sooner were they come than they were recognized by the Rhodian mariners who had already landed of whom one ran with all speed to a farm hard by whither the Rhodian gallants were gone and told them that fortune had brought chimon and if a geniah aboard their ship into the same bay to which she had guided them where at the gallants were overjoyed and taking with them not a few of the farm servants hide them in hot haste to the shore where chimon and his men being already landed with intent to take refuge in a neighboring wood they took them all with if a geniah and brought them to the farm whence pursuant to an order of the senate of roads to which so soon as he received the news pass him on this made his complaint chimon and his men were all marched off to prison by Lycemicus chief magistrate of the Rhodians of that year who came down from the city for the purpose with an exceeding great company of men at arms on such wise did our hapless and enamored chimon lose his so lately one if a geniah before he had had of her more than a kiss or two if a geniah was entertained and comforted of the annoy occasioned as well by her recent capture as by fury of the sea by not a few noble ladies with whom she tarried until the day appointed for her marriage in recompense of the release of the Rhodian gallants on the preceding day the lives of chimon and his men were spared not withstanding that passimondas pressed might and main for their execution and instead they were condemned to perpetual imprisonment wherein as may be supposed they abode in dolerous plight and despaired of ever again knowing happiness however it so befell that passimondas accelerating his nuptials to the best of his power fortune as if repenting her that in her haste she had done chimon so evil a turn did now by a fresh disposition of events compass his deliverance passimondas had a brother by name or missed us his equal in all respects save in years who had longed in contract to marry Cassandra a fair and noble damsel of roads of whom Lycemicus was in the last degree enamored but owing to diverse accidents the marriage had been from time to time put off now passimondas being about to celebrate his nuptials with exceeding great pomp bethaw him that he could do no better than to avoid a repetition of the pomp and expense arrange, if so he might that his brother should be wedded on the same day with himself so having consulted anew with Cassandra's kinsfolk and come to an understanding with him he and his brother and they conferred together and agreed that on the same day that passimondas married Iphigenia or missed us should marry Cassandra by Simacus getting wind of this arrangement was mortified beyond measure seeing himself thereby deprived of the hope which he cherished of marrying Cassandra himself if or missed us should not forestall him but like a wise man he concealed his chagrin and cast about how he might frustrate the arrangement to which end he saw no other possible means but to carry Cassandra off it did not escape him that the office which he held would render this easily feasible but he deemed it all the more dishonorable than if he had not held the office but in short after much pondering honor yielded place to love and he made up his mind that come what might he would carry Cassandra off then as he took thought what company he should take with him and how he should go about the affair he remembered cimmon whom he had in prison with his men and it agreed to him to possibly have a better or more trusty associate in such an enterprise than cimmon wherefore the same night he caused cimmon to be brought privily to him in his own room and thus addressed him cimmon as the gods are most generous and liberal to bestow their gifts on men so are they also most sagacious to try their virtue and those whom they find to be firm and steadfast in all circumstances they honor as the most worthy with the highest rewards they had been minded to be certified of thy worth by better proofs than thou couldst afford them as long as thy life was bounded by thy father's house amid the superabundant wealth which I know him to possess wherefore in the first place they so wrought upon thee with the shrewd incitements of love that from an insensate brute as I have heard thou grewest to be a man hence when it has been and is their intent to try whether evil fortune and harsh imprisonment may avail to change thee from the temper that was thine when for a short while thou hadst joy and so the prize thou hadst won and so thou proved the same that thou wasst then they have in store for thee a boon incomparably greater than off that they vouched safely before what that boon is to the end thou mayest recover heart and thy wanted energy I will now explain to thee Tasimondas exultant in thy misfortune and eager to compass thy death hastens to the best of his power his nuptials with thy effigyonia that so may he enjoy the prize that fortune erst while smiling gave thee and forthwith frowning reft from thee where at how sore must be thy grief if rightly I gauge thy love I know by my own case seeing that his brother Hormizdas addresses himself to do me on the same day a like wrong in regard of Cassandra whom I love more than ought else in the world nor see I that fortune has left us any way of escape from this her unjust and cruel spite save what we may make for ourselves by a resolved spirit and the might of our right hands may then the sword and therewith make we each prize in his lady thou for the second, I for the first time for so thou value the recovery I say not of thy liberty for without thy lady I doubt thou it's told at cheap but of thy lady the gods have placed it in thine own hands if thou art but minded to join me in my enterprise these words restored to Tasimond all that he had lost in hope nor pondered he long before he replied Lycemicus comrade stouter or more staunch than I thou mightest not have in such an enterprise if such indeed is be as thou sayest wherefore lay upon me such behest as thou shall deem meet and thou shalt marvel to witness the vigor of my performance whereupon Lycemicus on the third day from now quoth he their husband's houses will be newly entered by the brides and on the same day and even we too will enter them in arms thou with thy men and I with some of mine in whom I place great trust and forcing our way among the guests and slaughtering all that dare to oppose us will bear the ladies off to his ship which I have had privily got ready Chimon approved the plan and kept quiet in prison until the appointed time which being come the nuptials were celebrated with great pomp and magnificence that filled the houses of the two brothers with festal cheer then Lycemicus having made ready all things meet and fired Chimon and his men and his own friends for the enterprise by a long harangue disposed them in due time all bearing arms under their cloaks in three companies and having privily dispatched one company to the port that when the time should come to embark he might meet with no let he marched with the other two companies to the house of Pazimondus posted the one company at the gate that being entered they might not be shut in or debar their egress and with the other company and Chimon ascended the stairs and gained the saloon where the brides and not a few other ladies were set at several tables to sup and meet order whereupon in they rushed and overthrew the tables and seized each his own lady and placed them in charge of their men whom they bad bear them off forthwith to the ship that lay ready to receive them whereupon the brides and the other ladies and the servants with one accord felleth sobbing and shrieking in so much that a confused din and lamentation filled the whole place Chimon, Lycemicus and their band nonewithstanding but all giving way before them gained the stairs which they were already descending when they encountered Pazimondus who carrying a great staff in his hand was making in the direction of the noise but one doubty stroke of Chimon's sword sufficed to cleave his skull in twain and lay him dead at Chimon's feet the mother's stroke disposed of hapless poor Mizzus as he came running to his brother's aid some others who ventured to approach them were wounded and beaten off by the red new so forth of the house that reeked with blood and resounded with tumult and lamentation and woe sped Chimon and Lycemicus with all their company and without any let in close order with their fair booty in their midst they drew good their retreat to the ship whereon with the ladies they wanted all embarked for the shore was now full of armed men come to rescue the ladies and the oarsmen giving way put to sea elate arrived at Crete they met with a hearty welcome on the part of their many friends and kinsfolk and having married their ladies they made greatly merry and had gladsome joyance and occasioned both in Cyprus and in Rhodes no small stirrer and commotion which lasted for a long while but in the end by the good offices of their friends and kinsfolk in both islands to a so ordered as that after a certain term of exile Chimon returned with Hiveginia to Cyprus and in life manner Lycemicus returned with Cassandra to Rhodes and long and blithely thereafter lived they each well contented with his own wife in his own land end of Day 5 the first story Day 5 the second 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 the second story Gostanza loves Martuccio Gomito and hearing that he is dead gives way to despair and hives her alone aboard a boat which is wafted by the wind to Susa she finds him alive in Tunis and makes herself known to him who, having by his counsel gained high plays in the king's favor, marries her and returns with her wealthy Tullipari Pamphylos story being ended the queen after commanding it not a little called for one to follow from Emilia whose us began meet and write it is that one should rejoice when events so full out that passion meets with its due reward and as love merits in a long run rather joy than suffering far gladlier obey I the queens than I did the king's behest and address myself to our present theme you are to know then, dainty ladies that not far from Sicily there is an islet called Lepari in which, no great while ago a dwelt damsel, Gostanza by name fair as fair could be and of one of the most honorable families in the island and one Mortucio Comito who was also of the island a young man most gallant and courteous and worthy for his condition became and a mord of Gostanza who in like manner grew so a fire for him that he was ever ill at ease except she saw him Matuccio, craving her to wife asked her of her father Matuccio being poor he was not minded to give her to him mortified to be thus rejected by reason of poverty Matuccio took an oath in presence of some of his friends and kinsfolk that Leparo should know him no more until he was wealthy so away he sailed and took to scouring the seas as a rover on the coast of Barbary praying upon all whose force matched not his own in which way of life he found fortune favourable enough had he but known to rest and be thankful but was not enough that he and his comrades in no long time waxed very wealthy their covetousness was inordinate and while they sought to gratify it they chanced in an encounter with certain Saracen ships to be taken after a long defence and they spoiled and most part of them thrown into the sea by their captors who after sinking his ship took Matuccio with them to Tunis and clapped him in prison and there kept him a long time meanwhile not by one or two but by diverse and not a few persons tidings reached Leparo that all that were with Matuccio aboard his boat had perished in the sea the damsel whose grieve on Matuccio's departure had known no bounds now hearing that he was dead with the rest wept a great while and made up her mind to have done with life but lacking the resolution to lay violent hands upon herself she bethought her how she might devote herself by some novel expedient so one night she stole out of her father's house and hide her to the port and there by chance she found lying a little apart from the other craft a fishing boat which as the owner said but just quitted her was still equipped with mast and sails and oars aboard which boat she forthwith got and being like most of the women of the island not altogether without nautical skill she rode some distance out to sea and then hoisted sail and cast away oars and tiller and let the boat drift deeming that a boat without lading or steersmen would certainly be either capsized by the wind or dashed against some rock and broken in pieces so that escape she could not even if she would but must perforce drown and so her head wrapped in a mantle she stretched herself weeping on the floor of the boat but it fell out quite otherwise than she had conjectured for the wind being from the north and very equable with next to no sea the boat kept an even keel and next day about Vespers bore her to land hard by a city called Sousa full a hundred miles beyond Tunis to the damsel it was all one whether she were at sea or ashore for since she had been aboard she had never once raised nor come what might meant she ever to raise her head now it's so chance that when the boat grounded there wasn't ashore a poor woman that was in the employ of some fisherman whose nets were taking out of the sunlight seeing the boat on the full sail she marveled how it should be suffered to drive ashore and conjectured that the fisherman on board were asleep so to the boat she hide her and finding therein only the damsel fast asleep she called her many times and at length awakened her and perceiving by her dress that she was a Christian she asked her in Latin how it was that she was considered all alone in the boat hearing the Latin speech and carried her back to La Paris so up she started gazed about her and finding herself ashore and the aspect of the country strange asked the good woman where she was to which the good woman made answer my daughter thou art hard by Sousa and Barbary whereupon the damsel sorrowful that God had not seen fit to accord her the boon of death apprehensive of dishonour and at her wits and set herself down at the foot of her boat and burst into tears which the good woman saw not without pity and persuaded her to come with her into her hut and thereby coaxing drew from her how she was come thither and knowing that she could not but be fasting she sat before her her own coarse bread and some fish and water and prevailed upon her to eat a little Gostanza thereupon asked her who she was that thus spoke Latin where to she answered that her name was Carpresa and that she was from Trapani and left some Christian fisherman to the damsel sad indeed though she was this name Carpresa wherefore she knew not seemed to be of happy augury so that she began to take hope she knew not why and to grow somewhat less feign of death wherefore without disclosing who or whence she was she earnestly besought the good woman for the love of God to have pity on her youth and advise her how best to avoid insult whereupon Carpresa good woman that she was left her in her hut, while with all speed she picked up her nets and on her return she wrapped her in her own mantle and led her to Susa arrived there she sat to her Gostanza I shall bring thee to the house of an excellent Saracen lady for whom I frequently do bits of work as she has occasion she is an old lady and compassionate I will commend thee to her care as best I may and I doubt not she'll right gladly receive thee and entreat thee as our daughter and thou would serve her and while thou art with her do all thou canst to gain her favor until such time as God may send thee better fortune and as she said so she did the old lady listened and then gazing steadfastly in the damsel's face shed tears and taking her hand kissed her for it and led her into the house where she and some other women dwelled quite by themselves doing diverse kinds of handy work and silk and palm leaves and leather and a few days acquired some skill and thenceforth wrought together with them and rose wondrous high in the favor and good graces of all the ladies who soon told her their language now while the damsel mourned at home as lost and dead dwelled thus at Susa it so befell that Maryabdela being then king of Tunis a young chieftain in Granada of great power and back by mighty allies gave out that the realm of Tunis belonged to him and having gathered a vast army made a descent upon Tunis with intent to expel the king from the realm Matuccio Gomito who knew the language of Barbary well heard that hiding's in prison and learning that the king of Tunis was mustering a mighty host for the defense of his kingdom said to one of the warders that were in charge of him and his comrades if I might have speech of the king I'm confident that the advice that I should give him would secure him the victory the warder repeated these words to his chief who forthwith carried them to the king wherefore by the king's command Matuccio was brought before him and being asked by him what the advice of which had spoken might be answered on this wise Sire even old days when I was want to visit this country of yours I'd surely observe the manner in which you order your battle may think you place your main reliance upon archers and therefore if you could contrive that your enemy supply of arrows should give out in your own continued plentiful I apprehend that you would win the battle I indeed, replied the king I make no doubt that could I but accomplish that I should conquer Nay, but Sire returned Matuccio you may do it if you will listen and I will tell you how you must fit the bows of your archers with strings much finer than those that are in common use and match them with arrows the notches of which will not emit any but these fine strings and this you must do so secretly that your enemy may not know it else you will find means to be even with you which cancel I give you for the following reason when your and your enemy's archers have expanded all their arrows you would that the enemy will fault picking up the arrows that your man have shot during the battle and your man will do the like by the enemy's arrows but the enemy will not be able to make use of your man's arrows by reason that their fine notches will not suffice to emit the stout strings whereas your man will be in the contrary case in regard to the enemy's arrows for the fine string will very well receive the large notched arrow and so your man will have an abundant supply of arrows while the enemy will be at a loss for them the king who lacked not sagacity appreciated Martuccio's advice and gave full effect to it whereby he came out of the war a conqueror and Martuccio being raised to the chief place in his favor waxed rich and powerful which matters being brooded throughout the country it came to the ears of Gostanza that Martuccio Gomito whom she had long supposed to be dead was alive whereby her love for him some embers of which still lurked in her heart burst forth again in sudden flame and gathered strength and revived her dead hope wherefore she frankly told all her case to the good lady with whom she dwelt saying that she would feign go to Tunis that her eyes might have assurance of that which the report received by her ears had made them yearn to see the lady fell heartily in with the girl's desire and as if she'd been her mother embarked with her for Tunis where on their arrival they were honorably received in the house of one of her kin's women Carpese who had attended her being sent to discover what she might touching Martuccio brought back word that he was alive and high in honor and place the gentle woman was minded that none but herself should apprise Martuccio the arrival of his Gostanza wherefore she hid her one day to Martuccio and said there's come to my house a servant of thine from La Pari who would feign speak with thee here privily and for that he would not have me trust another I'm come hither myself to deliver his message Martuccio thanked her and forthwith hide him with her to her house where no sooner did the girl see him than she all but died for joy and carried away by her feelings fell upon his neck with open arms and embraced him and what would sorrow of his past woes and her present happiness said never word but softly wept Martuccio regarded her for a while in silent wonder then heaving a sigh he said thou lifts then my Gostanza long since I heard that thou was lost nor was odd known of thee at home which said he tenderly and with tears embraced her Gostanza told him all her adventures and how honorably she had been entreated by the gentle woman with whom she had and so long time they conversed and then Martuccio parted from her and hide him back to his lord the king and told him all to wit his own adventures and those of the girl adding that with his leave he was minded to marry her according to our law which matters the king found passing strange and having called the girl to him and learn from her that was even as Martuccio had said well indeed Kwathi has thou won thy husband then caused he gifts most ample and excellent to be brought forth part of which he gave to Gostanza and part of Martuccio leaving them entirely into their own devices in regard of one another then Martuccio in terms most honorable bade farewell to the old lady with whom Gostanza had dwelt thanking her for the service she'd rendered to Gostanza and giving her presents suited to her condition and commanding her to God while Gostanza shed many a tear which by leave of the king they went aboard a light-bark taking with them Carpeza and sped by a prosperous breeze arrived at Lepari where they were received with such cheer as to a vain to attempt to describe there when Martuccio and Gostanza wedded with all pomp and splendor and there a long time in easeful peace they had joins of their love End of Day 5 The Second Story Day 5 The Third 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 5 The Third Story Pietro Boccamazza runs away with Agnolalla and encounters a gang of robbers The girl takes refuge in a wood and is guided to a castle Pietro is taken but escapes out of the hands of the robbers and after some adventures arrives at the castle where Agnolalla is marries her and returns with her to Rome Ended Emilia's story which none of the company spared to command the queen turning to Elisa bade her fellow suit and she, with glad obedience thus began This is a story sweet ladies of a woeful night passed by two indiscreet young lovers that I have in mind but as the Ronin suit not a few days of joy this not in apposite to our argument and shall be narrated This is no long time since at Rome right now the tale was of your the head of the world There dwelt a young man Pietro Boccamazza by name a sign of one of the most illustrious of the Roman houses who became enamored of a damsel exceeding fair and amorous with all Her name, Agnolalla the daughter of one Giliuzzo Saulo but in high repute among the Romans thus did Pietro lack the address to inspire in Agnolalla a love as ardent as his own wherefore over mastered by his passion and minded no longer to endure the sore suffering that it caused him he asked her in marriage whereof his king's folk were no sooner apprised than with one accord they came to him and strongly urged him to desist from his purpose also gave Giliuzzo Saulo to understand that he were best to pay no sort of heed to Pietro's words for that if he so did they would never acknowledge him as friend or relative thus to see himself the bard of the one way by which he deemed he might attain to his desire Pietro was ready to die for grief and all his king's folk not pretending he would have married Giliuzzo's daughter had but the father consented wherefore at length he made up his mind that if the girl were willing not should stand in the way and having through a common friend sounded the damsel and found her apt he brought her to consent to elope with him from Rome the affair being arranged Pietro and she took horse and sallied forth for Anani where Pietro had certain friends in whom he placed much trust and as they rode time not serving for full joints of their love for they feared pursuit they held converse thereof and from time to time exchanged a kiss now it so befell that the way being none too well known to Pietro when perhaps eight miles from Rome they should have turned to the right and took instead a leftward road whereon when they had ridden but little more than two miles they found themselves close to a petty castle when so soon as they were observed there issued some dozen men at arms and as they drew near the damsel spying them gave a cry and said we are attacked Pietro let us flee and guiding her nag as best she knew towards a great forest on his sides and so holding on by the saddle-bow was borne by the goaded creature into the forest at a gallop Pietro who had been too engrossed with her face to give do he to the way and thus had not been aware as soon as she of the approach of the men at arms was still looking about to see whence they were coming when they came upon him and took him prisoner and forced him to dismount then they asked who he was and when he told them they conferred among themselves saying this is one of the friends of our enemies what else can we do but relieve him of his nag and of his clothes and hanging on one of these oaks and scorn of the Orsini to which proposal all agreeing they bade Pietro strip himself but while already divining his fate he was so doing an ambush gate of full five arms fell suddenly upon them crying death death thus surprised they let Pietro go and stood on the defensive but seeing that the enemy greatly outnumber them they took to their heels the others giving chase where upon Pietro hastedly resumed his clothes mounted his nag and fled with all speed in the direction which he had seen the damsel take finding no road or path through the forest nor discerning any trace of a horse's hooves he was for that he found not the damsel albeit he deemed himself safe out of the clutches of his captors and their assailants the most wretched men alive and fell a weeping and wandering hither and thither about the forest uttering Agnolela's name none answered but turned back so on he went not knowing whether he went besides which he was in mortal dread of the wild beasts that infest the forest as well on account of himself as of the damsel whom momently he seemed to see throttled by some bear or wolf thus did our unfortunate Pietro spend the whole day wandering about the forest making it to resound with his cries of Agnolela's name and harking at times back when he thought to go forward until it last what with his cries and his tears and his fears and his long fasting he was so spent that he could go no further to us then nightfall and as he knew not what else to do he dismounted at the foot of an immense oak and having thithered his nag to the trunk climbed up into the branches lest he should be devoured by the wild beasts during the night. Shortly afterwards the moon rose with a very clear sky and Pietro who dared not sleep lest he should fall and indeed had he been secure from that risk his misery and his anxiety on account of the damsel would not have suffered him to sleep kept watch sighing and weeping and cursing his evil luck. Now the damsel who as we said before had fled she knew not wither allowing her nag to carry her wither so ever he would strayed so far into the forest that she lost sight of the place where she had entered it and spent the whole day just as Pietro had done wandering about the wilderness pausing from time to time and weeping and uttering his name and bewailing her evil fortune. At last seeing that was now the vesper hour and Pietro came not she struck into a path which the nag followed until after riding some two miles she spied at some distance a cottage for which she made with all speed and found there a good man, well stricken in years with his wife who was likewise aged. Seeing her ride up alone they said Daughter, wherefore rideest thou thus alone at this hour in these parts? Weeping the damsel made answer that she had lost her companion in the forest and asked how far might Anani be from there? My daughter returned the good man this is not the road to Anani it is more than twelve miles away and how far off inquired the damsel are the nearest houses in which one might find lodging for the night there are none so near replied the good man that thou canst reach them today. Then so please you damsel since go else with her I cannot for God's sake let me pass the night here with you. Where to the good man made answer? Damsel, welcome art thou to tarry the night with us, but still thou art to know that these parts are infested both by day and by night by bands which be they friends or be they foes are alike ill to meet with and not seldom do much despite and mischief, and if by misadventure one of these bands should visit us while thou word here and marking thy youth and beauty should do the despite and dishonour, we should be unable to afford thee any succour. This we would have thee know that if it should so come to pass, thou mayst not have cause to reproach us. The damsel heard not the old man's word dismay, but seeing that the hour was now late she answered, God if he be so pleased will save both you and me from such molestation, and if not, it is a much lesser evil to be maltreated by men than to be torn in pieces by the wild beasts in the forest. So saying she dismounted and entered the cottage where having subbed with the poor man and his wife on such humble fare as they had she laid herself in her clothes beside them in their bed. She slept not, however, for her own evil plight and that of Pietro for whom she knew not how to augure ought but evil kept her sighing and weeping all night long, and towards Matanz she heard a great noise as of men that marched. So up she got and heed her into a large courtyard of the cottage, and part of which was covered with a great heap of hay, which she is spying hid herself therein that if the man came there they might not so readily find her. Scarce had she done so than the man who proved to be a strong company of marauders where at the door of the cottage, which they forced open, and having entered and found the damsel's nag still saddled, they asked who was there. The damsel being out of sight the good man answered, there is none here but my wife and I, but this snag which has given some one the slip found his way hither last night and we house them lest he should be devoured by the wolves. So said the chief of the band, as he has no owner he will come in very handy for us. Whereupon in several parties they ransacked the cottage from top to bottom, and one party went out into the courtyard where as they threw aside their lances and targets, it so befell that one of them not knowing where else to bestow his lands tossed it into the hay, and was within an ace of killing the damsel that lay hid there, as likewise she of betraying her whereabouts for the lands all but grazing her left breast in so that the head tore her apparel she doubted she was wounded and had given a great shriek, but that remembering where she was she refrained for fear. By and by the company cooked them a breakfast of kids and other meat and having eaten and drunken dispersed in diverse directions as their affairs required taking the girls' nag with them and when they were gotten some little way off the good man asked his wife what became of the damsel are a guest of last night that I have not seen her since we rose the good woman answered that she knew not where the damsel was and went to look for her the damsel discovering that the man were gone came forth of the hay, and the good man seeing her was overjoyed that she had not falling into the hands of the ruffians, and as the day was breaking set to her now that the day is at hand we will so it like thee escort thee to a castle some five miles hence where thou wilt be in safety but thou must needs go afoot because these villains that are but just gone have taken thy nag with them. The damsel resigning himself to her laws besought them for God's sake to take her to the castle whereupon they set forth and arrived there about half tears. Now the castle belonged to one of the Orsini Lielo di Campo di Fiori by name, whose wife as it chanced was there a most kindly and good woman she was and recognizing the damsel as soon as she saw her gave her a hearty welcome and would feign have from her a particular account of how she came there. So the damsel told her the whole story the lady to whom Pietro was also known as being a friend of her husband was distressed to hear of his misadventure and being told where he was taken gave him up for dead. So she said to the damsel since so it is that thou knowest not how Pietro has fared thou shalt stay here with me until such time as I may have opportunity to send thee safely back to Rome. Meanwhile Pietro perched on his oak in as woeful applied as might be had despied when he should have been in his first sleep a full score of wolves that as they prowled caught sight of the nag and straight way were upon him on all sides. The horse as soon as he was aware of their approach strained on their reins till they snapped and tried to make good his escape. But being hemmed in was to bay and made a long fight of it with his teeth and hooves. But in the end they bore him down and throttled him and forthwith eviscerated him and the whole pack falling upon him devoured him to the bone before they had done with him. Where had Pietro who felt that in the nag he had lost a companion and a comfort in his travail was sorely dismayed and began to think that he should be out of the forest. But towards dawn he purged there in the oak almost dead with cold looking around him as he frequently did aspied about a mile of a huge fire wherefore as soon as it was broad day he got down not without rapidation from the oak and bent his steps towards the fire and being come to it he found gathered about it a company of shepherds meeting and making merry who took pity on him and made him welcome. And when he had broken his fast and warmed himself he told them the mishap that had befallen him and how it was that he was come there alone and ask them if there was a farm or castle in those parts whether he might be take him. The shepherds said that about three miles away there was a castle belonging to Lielo di Campo di Fiore and the lady was then tarrying. Pietro much comforted requested to be guided thither by some of their company whereupon two of them right gladly escorted him. So Pietro arrived at the castle where he found some that knew him and while he was endeavouring to set on foot a search for the damsel in the forest the lady summoned him to her presence and he forthwith obeying and seeing Agnolela with her was the happiest ever was. He yearned till he all but swooned to go and embrace her but refrained for bashfulness in the lady's presence. And overjoyed as he was the joy of the damsel was no less. The lady received him with great cheer and though when she had heard the story of his adventures from his own lips she chide him not a little for having said at not the wishes of his kingsfolk yet seeing that he was still the same mine and that the damsel was also constant she said to herself. To what purpose give I myself all this trouble? They love one another, they know one another, they love with equal ardour, their love is honourable and I doubt not is well pleasing to God. Seeing that the one has escaped the gallows and the other the lands and both the boiled beasts. Wherefore be it as they would have it. Then turning to them she said as your will to be joined in wedlog as man and wife mine jumps with it. Here shall your nuptials be solemnised and at the yellows charges and for the rest I will see that your peace is made with your kingsfolk. So in the castle the pair were wedded Pietro only less blithe than Agnolella, the lady ordering the nuptials as honourably as might be in her mountain home. And there they had most sweet joyance of the first fruits of their love. So some days they tarried there and then accompanied by the lady with a strong escort they took horse and returned to Rome where, very froth though she found Pietro's kingsfolk for what he had done, the lady re-established solid peace between him and them and so at Rome Pietro and Agnolella lived together to a good old age in great tranquility and happiness. End of Day 5 The Third Story Day 5 The Fourth 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 5 The Fourth Story Ricchiardo Manardi is found by Messer Lysio de Vabona with his daughter whom he marries and remains at peace with her father. In silence Elisa received the praise bestowed on her story by her fair companions and then the queen called for a story from Filostrato who with a laugh began on this wise. Chaitan, have I been so often and by so many of you for the sore burden which I have laid upon you this course harsh and meet for tears that, as some compensation for such annoy, I deem myself bound to tell you somewhat that may cause you to laugh a little. Wherefore my story which will be of the brightest shall be of a love, the course whereof save for size and a brief passage of fear mingled with shame, ran smooth to a happy consummation. Know then noble ladies, tis no long time since Mormagna, a right worthy and courteous knight, Mesur Lizio de Vabona by name who was already verging upon old age when there was born to him of his wife, Madonna Giocomina, a daughter whom as she grow up became the fairest and most debonair of all girls of those parts. And for that she was the only daughter left to him was most dearly loved and cherished by her father and mother who guarded her with the most jealous care thinking to arrange some great match for her. Now, there was frequently in Mesur Lizio's house and much in his company a fine, lusty young man one, Ricciardo de Menardi da Bretinoro whom Mesur Lizio and his wife would as little have thought of mistrusting as if he had been their own son who now and again taking note of the damsel that she was very fair and graceful and in bearing upon her most commendable and of marriageable age fell vehemently in love with her which love he was most very careful to conceal. The damsel detected it however and in like manner plunged headlong into love with him to Ricciardo's no small satisfaction. Again and again he was on the point of speaking to her but refrained for fear. At length however he summoned up his courage and seizing his opportunity and said to her, Not Tarina, I employ thee. Suffer me not to die for love of thee. Where to the damsel forthwith responded Nay, God granted that it be not rather that I die for love of thee. Greatly exhilarated and encouraged Ricciardo made answer to will never be by default of mind that thou lackest ought that may pleasure thee but it rests with thee to find the means to save thy life and mine. Thou seest, Ricciardo, how closely watched I am in so much that I see not how twer possible for thee to come to me but if thou seest ought that I may do without dishonor speak the word and I will do it. Ricciardo was silent for a while pondering many manners then of a sudden he said, Sweet me, Tarina, there is but one way that I can see to wit that thou should asleep either on or where thou mightest have access to the terrace thy father's garden where so I but knew that thou wouldst be there at night, I would not fail contrive to meet thee, albeit tis very high. As for my sleeping there, replied Cattarina, I doubt not that it may be managed if thou art sure that thou canest join me. Ricciardo answered in the affirmative whereupon they exchanged affurative kiss and parted. On the morrow, it being now towards the close of May, the damsel said to her mother that by reason of the excessive heat she had not been able to get any sleep during the night. Daughter, said the lady, what heat was there? Nay, there was no heat at all. Had you said to my thinking, mother, rejoined Cattarina, you would perhaps have said soothe, but you should be think you how much more heat girls have in them than ladies that are advanced in years. True, my daughter returned the lady, but I cannot order that it should be done. We must take the weather as we find it and as the seasons provide it. Per chance tonight it would be cooler and that wilt sleep better. God grant it be so, said Cattarina. But Tis not wanted for the nights to grow cooler as the summer comes on. What then, said the lady, wouldest thou have me do? With your leave, and my father's, answered Cattarina, I should like to have a little bed made up on the terrace by his room and over his garden, where, hearing the nightingale sing in place, I should sleep much better than in your room. Whereupon, daughter, be of good cheer, said the mother, I will speak to thy father, and we will do as he shall decide. And so the lady told Mesur Elysio what had passed between her and the damsel, but he, being old and perhaps for that reason a little morose, said, what nightingale is this to whom's chant she would feign sleep? I will see to it that the Kikalas shall yet lull her to sleep. Which speech, coming to Cattarina's ears, gave such offence that for anger rather than for reason of the heat, she not only slept not herself that night, but suffered not her mother to sleep, keeping up a perpetual complaint of the great heat. Wherefore her mother hide her in the morning to Mesur Elysio and said to him, Sir, you hold your daughter none too dear. What difference can it make to you that she lie on the terrace? She has tossed about all night long by reason of the heat. Besides, can you wonder that she, girl that she is, loves to hear the nightingale sing? Young folk naturally affect their likes. Where to Mesur Elysio made answer? Go, make her a bed there to your liking and set a curtain round it, and let her sleep there and hear the nightingale sing to her heart's content. Which the damsel no sooner learned than she had a bed made there with the intent to sleep there that same night. Wherefore she watched until she saw Ricky Ardo, whom by a concerted sign she gave to understand what he was to do. Mesur Elysio, as soon as he heard the damsel go to bed, locked a door that led from his room to the terrace and went to sleep himself. When all was quiet, Ricky Ardo, with the help of a ladder, got upon a wall and standing thereon laid hold of certain two things of another wall, and not without great exertion and risk had he fallen, clambered up onto the terrace where the damsel received him quietly with the heartiest of cheer. Many a kiss they exchanged, and then got them to bed. Where, well-nigh, all night long they had solace and joyance of one another, and made the nightingale sing not a few times. But, brief being the night, and great their pleasure, towards dawn, albeit they wished it not, they fell asleep. Katrina's right arm encircling Ricky Ardo's neck, while with her left hand she held him by that part of his person which your modesty, my ladies, is most adverse to name in the company of men. So, peacefully they slept, and were still asleep when day broke in Monsieur Lissia Rose, and calling to mind that his daughter slept on the terrace, softly opened the door, saying to himself, let me see what sort of night's rest the nightingale has afforded our Katerina. And, having entered, he gently raised the curtain that screened the bed, and saw Ricky Ardo asleep with her embrace as described, both being quite naked and uncovered. And, having taken note of Ricky Ardo, he went away and hide him to his ladies' room, and called her, saying, up, up, wife, come and see, for thy daughter has fancied the nightingale to such purpose that she has caught him, and holds him in her hand. How can this be, said the lady? Come quickly, and thou shalt see, replied Monsieur Lissia. And so the lady huddled on her clothes, and silently followed Monsieur Lissia, and when they came to the bed and had raised the curtain, Madonna Giacomia saw plainly enough how her daughter had caught, and did hold, the nightingale, whose song she had longed to hear. Where at the lady, deeming that Ricky Ardo had played her a cruel trick, would have cried out and abraded him, but Monsieur Lissia said to her, wife, as thou valuous my love, say not a word, for in good sooth, seeing that she has caught him, he shall be hers. Ricky Ardo is a gentleman and wealthy, and alliance with him cannot but be to our advantage. If he would part from me on good terms, he must first marry her, so that the nightingale shall prove to have been put in his own cage, and not in that of another. Whereby the lady was reassured, seeing that her husband took the affair so quietly, and their daughter had had a good night and was rested and had caught the nightingale. So she kept silence, nor had they longed to wait before Ricky Ardo awoke, and seeing to his broad daylight, and deemed to as much as his life was worth, aroused Caterina, saying, Alas, my soul, what shall we do, now that day has come and surprised me here? Which question Monsieur Lazio answered by coming forward and saying, We shall do well. At sight of him, Ricardio felt, as if his heart were torn out of his body, and sate up in the bed, and cried, My Lord, I cry for mercy for God's sake. I want that my disloyalty and delinquency had merited death, wherefore deal with me even as if it may seem best to you. However, I pray to you, if so it may be to spare my life that I die not. Ricardio replied, Monsieur Lazio, the love I bore thee and the faith I reposed in thee merited a better return. But still, as so it is, and youth has seduced thee into such a transgression, redeem thy life and preserve thy honor by making Cattorina thy lawful spouse. That thine, as she has been for this past night, she may remain for the rest of her life. In this way thou may securest my peace and thy safety. Otherwise, commend thy soul to God. Pending this colloquy, Cattorina let go the nightingale, and having covered herself, began with many a tear to implore her father to forgive Ricardio, and Ricardio to do as Monsieur Lazio required, that thereby they might securely count upon a long continuous of such nights of delight. But there needed not much supplication, for, with what remorse for the wrong done, and the wish to make amends, and the fear of death, and the desire to escape it, and above all his ardent love and the craving to possess his beloved one, Ricardio lost no time in making a frank avowal of his readiness to do as Monsieur Lazio would have him. Wherefore, Monsieur Lazio, having borrowed a ring from Madonna Giacomina, Ricardio did there and then, in their presence, wed Cattorina. Which done, Monsieur Lazio and the lady took their leave, saying, Now rest ye a while, for so perchance for better for you than if ye rose. And so they left the young folks, who forthwith embraced, and not having traveled more than six miles during the night, went two miles further before they rose, and so concluded their first day. When they were arisen, Ricciardo and Monsieur Lazio discussed the matter with more formality, and some days afterwards, Ricardio, as was me, married the damsel Anu in the presence of their friends and kinsfolk, and brought her home with great pomp, and celebrated his nuptials with due dignity and splendor. And so, for many a year thereafter, he lived with her in peace and happiness, and snared the nightingale's day and night to her heart's content. End of Day 5, The Fourth Story