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

Madam Francesca, a Widdow of Pistoya, being affected by two Flo∣rentine Gentlemen, the one named Rinuccio Palermini, and the o∣ther Alessandro Chiarmontesi, and she bearing no good will to ey∣ther of them; ingeniously freed her selfe from both their importu∣nate suites. One of them she caused to lye as dead in a graue, and the other to fetch him from thence: so neither of them accomplishing what they were enioyned, fayled of obtaining his hoped expectati∣on.

The First Nouell.

Approuing, that chaste and honest Women, ought rather to deny im∣portunate suiters, by subtile and ingenious meanes, then fall into the danger of scandall and slander.

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MAdame, it can no way discontent mee (see∣ing it is your most gracious pleasure) that I should haue the honour, to breake the first staffe of freedome in this faire company (ac∣cording to the iniunction of your Maiesty) for liberty of our own best liking argumēts: wherein I dismay not (if I can speake well e∣nough) but to please you all as well, as any other that is to follow me. Nor am I so obliuious (worthy Ladies) but full well I remember, that many times hath bene related in our

passed demonstrations, how mighty and variable the powers of loue are: and yet I cannot be perswaded, that they haue all bene so sufficiently spoken of, but something may bee further added, and the bottome of them neuer diued into, although we should sit ar∣guing a whole yeare together. And because it hath beene alreadie approued, that Louers haue bene led into diuers accidents, not one∣ly ineuitable dangers of death, but also haue entred into the verie houses of the dead, thence to conuey their amorous friends: I pur∣pose to acquaint you with a Nouell, beside them which haue bene discoursed; whereby you may not onely comprehend the power of Loue, but also the wisedome vsed by an honest Gentlewoman, to rid her selfe of two importunate suiters, who loued her against her owne liking, yet neither of them knowing the others affection.

In the City of Pistoya, there dwelt sometime a beautifull Gentle∣woman, being a Widdow, whom two of our Florentines (the one named Rinuccio Palermini, and the other Alessandro Chiarmontesi, hauing withdrawne themselues to Pistoya) desperately affected, the one ignorant of the others intention, but each carrying his case closely, as hoping to be possessed of her. This Gentlewoman, na∣med Madame Francesca de Lazzari, being often solicited by their messages, and troublesomely pestered with their importunities: at last (lesse aduisedly then she intended) shee granted admittance to heare either of them speake. Which she repenting, and coueting to be rid of them both, a matter not easie to be done: she wittily deui∣sed the onely meanes, namely, to moue such a motion to them, as neither would willingly vndertake, yet within the compasse of pos∣sibility; but they failing in the performance, shee might haue the more honest occasion, to bee free from all further mollestation by them, and her politike intention was thus proiected.

On the same day, when she deuised this peece of seruice, a man was buried in Pistoya, and in the Church-yard belonging vnto the gray Friars, who being descended of good and worthie parentage: yet himselfe was very infamous, and reputed to be the vilest man li∣uing, not onely there in Pistoya, but throughout the whole World beside. Moreouer, while he liued, he had such a strange mishapen body, and his face so vgly deformed, that such as knew him not, would stand gastly affrighted at the first sight of him. In regarde whereof, shee considered with her selfe, that the foule deformitie of this loathed fellow, would greatly auayle in her determination, and consulting with her Chamber-maid, thus she spake.

Thou knowest (my most true and faithfull seruant) what trou∣ble and affliction of minde I suffer dayly, by the messages and Letters of the two Florentines, Rinuccio and Alessandro, how hate-their

importunity is to me, as being vtterly vnwilling to hear them speake, or yeeld to any thing which they desire. Wherefore, to free myselfe from them both together, I haue deuised (in regard of their great and liberall offers) to make trial of them in such a matter, as I am assured they will neuer performe.

It is not vnknowne to thee, that in the Church-yard of the Gray Friars, and this instant morning, Scannadio (for so was the vgly fellow named) was buried; of whom, when he was liuing, as also now being dead, both men, women, and children, doe yet stand in feare, so gastly and dreadfull alwayes was his personall appearance to them. Wherefore, first of all go thou to Alessandro, and say to him thus. My Mistris Francesca hath sent me to you, to tell you, that now the time is come, wherein you may deserue to enioy her loue, and gaine the possession of her person, if you will accomplish such a motion as she maketh to you. For some especiall occasion, wherewith hereafter you shall bee better acquainted, a neere Kins∣man of hers, must needs haue the body of Scannadio (who was bu∣ried this morning) brought to her house. And she, being as much affraid of him now he is dead, as when he was liuing, by no meanes would haue his body brought thither.

In which respect, as a Token of your vnfeigned loue to her, and the latest seruice you shall euer do for her: shee earnestly entreateth you, that this night, in the very deadest time thereof, you would go to the graue, where Scannadio lyeth yet vncouered with earth vntill to morrow, and attyring your selfe in his garments, euen as if you were the man himselfe, so to remaine there vntill her kinsman doe come.

Then, without speaking any one word, let him take you foorth of the graue, & bring you thence (insted of Scannadio) to hir house: where she will giue you gentle welcome, and disappoint her Kins∣man in his hope, by making you Lord of her, and all that is hers, as afterward shall plainly appeare. If he say he wil do it, it is as much as I desire: but if hee trifle and make deniall, then boldly tell him, that he must refraine all places wheresoeuer I am, and forbeare to send me any more Letters, or messages.

Hauing done so, then repaire to Rinuccio Palermini, and say. My Mistresse Francesca is ready to make acceptance of your loue; pro∣uided, that you will do one thing for her sake. Namely, this ensuing night, in the midst & stillest season thereof, to go to the graue where Scannadio was this morning buried, & (without making any noise) or speaking one word, whatsoeuer you shall heare or see: to take him forth of the graue, and bring him home to her house, wher you shal know the reason of this strange businesse, and enioy her freely

as your owne for euer. But if he refuse to do it, then I commaund him, neuer hereafter to see me, or moue further suite vnto mee, by any meanes whatsoeuer.

The Chamber-maide went to them both, and deliuered the se∣uerall messag••s from her Mistresse, according as she had giuen her in charge; whereunto each of them answered, that they woulde (for her sake) not onely descend into a Graue, but also into hell, if it were her pleasure.

She returning with this answer vnto her Mistresse, Frances••a re∣mained in expectation, what the issue of these fond attemptes in them, would sort vnto. When night was come, and the middle houre thereof already past, Alessandro Chiarmontesi, hauing put off all other garments to his doublet and hose; departed secretly from his lodging, walking towards the Church-yard, where Scannadio lay in his graue: but by the way as he went, hee became surprized with diuers dreadfull conceites and imaginations, and questioned with himselfe thus.

What a beast am I? What a businesse haue I vndertaken? And whither am I going? What do I know, but that the Kinsman vnto this Woman, perhappes vnderstanding mine affection to her, and crediting some such matter, as is nothing so: hath laide this poli∣ticke traine for me, that he may murther me in the graue? Which (if it should so happen) my life is lost, and yet the occasion neuer knowne whereby it was done. Or what know I, whether some se∣cret enemy of mine (affecting her in like manner, as I do) haue de∣uised this stratagem (out of malice) against mee, to draw my life in danger, and further his owne good Fortune? Then, contrary mo∣tions, ouerswaying these suspitions, he questioned his thoughts in another nature.

Let me (quoth he) admit the case, that none of these surmises are intended, but her Kinsman (by and in this manner deuised) must bring me into her house: I am not therefore perswaded, that he or they do couet, to haue the body of Scannadio, either to carry it thi∣ther, or present it to her, but rather do aime at some other end. May not I coniecture, that my close murthering is purposed, and this way acted, as on him that (in his life time) had offended them? The Maid hath straitly charged me, that whatsoeuer is said or done vn∣to me, I am not to speake a word. What if they pul out mine eies, teare out my teeth, cut off my hands, or do me any other mischiefe: Where am I then? Shall all these extremities barre me of speaking? On the other side, if I speake, then I shall be knowne, and so much the sooner (perhaps) be abused. But admit that I sustaine no iniu∣rie at all, as being guilty of no transgression: yet (perchance) I shall

not be carried to her house, but to some other baser place, and af∣terward she shall reproue me, that I did not accomplish what shee commanded, and so all my labour is vtterly lost.

Perplexed with these various contradicting opinions, he was wil∣ling diuers times to turne home backe againe: yet such was the vio∣lence of his loue, and the power thereof preuailing against all sini∣ster arguments; as he went to the graue, and remouing the boordes couering it, whereinto he entred; and hauing despoiled Scannadio of his garments, cloathed himselfe with them, & so laid him down, hauing first couered the graue againe. Not long had hee tarryed there, but he began to bethinke him, what manner of man Scanna∣dio was, and what strange reports had bene noised of him, not one∣ly for ra••s••cking dead mens graues in the night season, but many o∣ther abhominable Villanies committed by him, which so fearfully assaulted him; that his haire stoode on end, euery member of him quaked, and euery minute he imagined Scannadio rising, with in∣tent to strangle him in the graue. But his feruent affection ouerco∣rning all these idle feares, and lying stone still, as if he had beene the dead man indeede; he remained to see the end of his hope.

On the contrary side, after midnight was past, Rinuccio Palermi∣ni departed from his lodging, to do what hee was enioyned by his hearts Mistresse, and as hee went along, diuers considerations also ran in his minde, concerning occasions possible to happen. As, fal∣ling into the hands of Iustice, with the body of Scannadio vpon his backe, and being condemned for sacriledge, in robbing graues of the dead; either to be burned, or otherwise so punished, as might make him hatefull to his best friends, and meerely a shame to him∣selfe.

Many other the like conceits mollested him, sufficient to alter his former determination: but affection was much more preuayling in him, and made him vse this consultation. How now Rinuccio? Wilt thou dare to deny the first request, being mooued to thee by a Gen∣tlewoman, whom thou dearly louest, and is the onely meanes, whereby to gaine assurance of her gracious fauour? Vndoubtedly, were I sure to die in the attempt, yet I will accomplish my promise. And so he went on with courage to the graue.

Alessandro hearing his arriuall, and also the remouall of the bords, although he was exceedingly affraid; yet he lay quietly stil, and stir∣red not, and Rinuccio beeing in the graue, tooke Alessandro by the feete, haling him forth, and (mounting him vppon his backe) went on thus loden, towards the house of Madam Francesca. As he passed along the streets, vnseene or vnmet by any, Alessandro suffered ma∣ny shrewd rushings and punches, by turnings at the streets corners,

and iolting against bulkes, po••sts, and stalles, which Rinuccio could not auoyd, in regard the night was so wonderfully darke, as hee could not see which way he went.

Being come somewhat neere to the Gentlewomans house, and she standing readie in the Window with her Maide, to see when Rinuccio should arriue there with Alessandro, prouided also of an apt excuse, to send them thence like a couple of Coxcombes; it for∣tuned, that the Watchmen, attending there in the same streete, for the apprehension of a banished man, stolne into the City contrarie to order; hearing the trampling of Rinuccioes feete, directed their course as they heard the noise, hauing their Lanthorne and light closely couered, to see who it should be, and what he intended, and beating their weapons against the ground, demanded, Who goes there? Rinuccio knowing their voyces, and that now was no time for any long deliberation: let fall Alessandro, and ran away as fast as his legs could carry him.

Alessandro being risen againe (although he was cloathed in Scan∣nadioes Garments, which were long and too bigge for him) fledde away also as Rinuccio did. All which Madame Francesca easily dis∣cerned by helpe of the Watchmens Lanthorne, and how Rinuccio carried Alessandro on his backe, beeing attired in the Garments of Scannadio: whereat she meruailed not a litle, as also the great bold∣nesse of them both. But in the midst of her meruailing, she laughed very heartily, when she saw the one let the other fall, and both to runne away so manfully. Which accident pleasing her beyond all comparison, and applauding her good Fortune, to bee so happily deliuered from their daily mollestation: she betooke her selfe to hir Chamber with the Maide, auouching solemnly to her, that (questi∣onlesse) they both affected her dearely, hauing vndertaken such a straunge imposition, and verie neere brought it to a finall conclu∣sion.

Rinuccio, being sadly discontented, and curssing his hard fortune, would not yet returne home to his Lodging: but, when the watch was gone forth of that streete, came backe to the place where he let fall Alessandro, purposing to accomplish the rest of his enterprize. But not finding the body, and remaining fully perswaded, that the Watchmen were possessed thereof; hee went away, greeuing ex∣treamly. And Alessandro, not knowing now what should become of him: confounded with the like griefe and sorrow, that all his hope was thus vtterly ouerthrowne, retired thence vnto his owne house, not knowing who was the Porter which carried him.

The next morning, the graue of Scannadio being found open, & the body not in it, because Alessandro had thrown it into a deep ditch neere adioyning: all the people of Pistoya were possessed with sundry opinions, some of the more foolish sort verily beleeuing, that the diuell had caried away the dead body. Neuerthelesse, each of the Louers, seuerally made knowne to Madam Francesca, what he had done, and how disappointed, either excusing himselfe, that though her command had not bin fully accomplished, yet to con∣tinue her fauour towards him. But she, like a wise and discreet Gen∣tlewoman, seeming not to credit either the one or other: discharged her selfe honestly of them both, with a cutting answere, That shee would neuer (afterward) expect any other seruice from them, be∣cause they had fayled in their first iniunction.