The decameron containing an hundred pleasant nouels. Wittily discoursed, betweene seauen honourable ladies, and three noble gentlemen.

Chichibio, the Cooke to Messer Currado Gianfiliazzi, by a sodaine plea∣sant answer which he made to his Master; conuerted his anger into laugh∣ter, and thereby escaped the punishment, that Messer meant to impose on him.

The Fourth Nouell.

Whereby plainly appeareth, that a sodaine witty and merry answer, doth often∣times appease the furious choller of an angry man.

MAdam Lauretta sitting silent, and the answer of Lady Non∣na hauing past with generall applause: the Queene com∣manded Madame Neiphila to follow next in order; who in∣stantly thus began. Although a ready wit (faire Ladies) doth many times affoord worthy and commendable spee∣ches, according to the accidents happening to the speaker: yet notwith∣standing, Fortune (being a ready helper diuers wayes to the timorous) doth often tippe the tongue with such a present reply, as the partie to

speake, had not so much leysure as to thinke on, not yet to inuent; as I purpose to let you perceiue, by a prety short Nouell.

[illustration]

Messer Currado Gianfiliazzi (as most of you haue both seene and kno∣wen) liuing alwayes in our Citie, in the estate of a Noble Citizen, bee∣ing a man bountifull, magnificent, and within the degree of Knight∣hoode: continually kept both Hawkes and Hounds, taking no meane delight in such pleasures as they yeelded, neglecting (for them) farre more serious imployments, wherewith our present subiect presumeth not to meddle. Vpon a day, hauing kilde with his Faulcon a Crane, neere to a Village called Peretola, and finding her to be both young and fat, he sent it to his Cooke, a Venetian borne, and named Chichibio, with command to haue it prepared for his supper. Chichibio, who resembled no other, then (as he was indeede) a plaine, simple, honest mery fellow, hauing drest the Crane as it ought to bee, put it on the spit, and laide it to the fire.

When it was well neere fully roasted, and gaue forth a very delicate pleasing sauour; it fortuned that a young Woman dwelling not far off, named Brunetta, and of whom Chichibio was somewhat enamored, en∣tred into the Kitchin, and feeling the excellent smell of the Crane, to please her beyond all sauours, that euer she had felt before: she entrea∣ted Chichibio verie earnestly, that hee would bestow a legge thereof o•• her. Whereto Chichibio (like a pleasant companion, and euermore de∣lighting in singing) sung her this answer.

My Brunetta, faire and feata, Why should you say so?

The meate of my Master, Allowes you for no Taster, Go from the Kitchin go.

Many other speeches past betweene them in a short while, but in the end, Chichibio, because hee would not haue his Mistresse Brunetta angrie with him; cut away one of the Cranes legges from the spit, and gaue it to her to eate. Afterward, when the Fowle was serued vp to the Ta∣ble before Messer Carrado, who had inuited certain strangers his friends to sup with him, wondering not a little, he called for Chichibio his Cook; demanding what was become of the Cranes other legge? Whereto the Venetian (being a lyar by Nature) sodainely answered: Sir, Cranes haue no more but one legge each Bird. Messer Currado, growing verie angry, replyed. Wilt thou tell me, that a Crane hath no more but one legge? Did I neuer see a Crane before this? Chichibio pe••sisting reso∣lutely in his deniall, saide. Beleeue me Sir, I haue told you nothing but the truth, and when you please, I wil make good my wordes, by such Fowles as are liuing.

Messer Currado, in kinde loue to the strangers that hee had inuited to supper, gaue ouer any further contestation; onely he said. Seeing thou assurest me, to let me see thy affirmation for truth, by other of the same Fowles liuing (a thing which as yet I neuer saw, or heard of) I am con∣tent to make proofe thereof to morrow morning, till then I shall rest sa∣tisfied: but, vpon my word, if I finde it otherwise, expect such a sound payment, as thy knauery iustly deserueth, to make thee remember it all thy life time. The contention ceassing for the night season, Messer Cur∣rado, who though he had slept well, remained still discontented in his minde: arose in the morning by breake of day, and puffing & blowing angerly, called for his horses, commanding Chichibio to mount on one of them; so riding on towards the Riuer, where (earely euery morning) he had s••ene plenty of Cranes, he sayde to his man; We shall see anon Sirra, whether thou or I lyed yesternight.

Chichibio perceiuing, that his Masters anger was not (as yet) asswaged, and now it stood him vpon, to make good his lye; not knowing how he should do it, rode after his Master, fearfully trembling all the way. Glad∣ly he would haue made an escape, but hee could not by any possible meanes, and on euery side he looked about him, now before, and after behinde, to espy any Cranes standing on both their legges, which would haue bin an ominous sight to him. But being come neere to the Riuer, he chanced to see (before any of the rest) vpon the banke thereof, about a dozen Cranes in number, each of them standing but vpon one legge, as they vse to do when they are sleeping. Whereupon, shewing them quickly to Messer Currado, he said. Now Sir your selfe may see, whe∣ther I told you true yesternight, or no: I am sure a Crane hath but one thigh, and one leg, as all here present are apparant witnesses, and I haue bin as good as my promise.

Messer Currado looking on the Cranes, and well vnderstanding the knauery of his man, replyed: Stay but a little while sirra, & I will shew thee, that a Crane hath two thighes, and two legges. Then riding som∣what neerer to them, he cryed out aloud, Shough, shough, which cau∣sed them to set downe their other legs, and all fled away, after they had made a few paces against the winde for their mounting. So going vnto Chichibio, he said: How now you lying Knaue, hath a Crane two legs, or no? Chichibio being well-neere at his wits end, not knowing now what answer hee should make; but euen as it came sodainly into his minde, said: Sir, I perceiue you are in the right, and if you would haue done as much yesternight, and had cryed Shough, as here you did: que∣stionlesse, the Crane would then haue set down the other legge, as these heere did: but if (as they) she had fled away too, by that meanes you might haue lost your Supper.

This sodaine and vnexpected witty answere, comming from such a logger-headed Lout, and so seasonably for his owne safety: was so plea∣sing to Messer Currado, that he fell into a hearty laughter, and forget∣ting all anger, saide. Chichibio, thou hast quit thy selfe well, and to my contentment: albeit I aduise thee, to teach mee no more such trickes heereafter. Thus Chichibio, by his sodaine and merry answer, escaped a sound beating, which (otherwise) his master had inflicted on him.