Francesco Fortarigo, played away all that he had at Buonconuento, and likewise the money of Francesco Aniolliero, being his Master. Then running after him in his shirt, and auouching that hee had robbed him: he caused him to be taken by Pezants of the Country, clothed himselfe in his Masters wearing garments, and (mounted on his horse) rode thence to Sienna, leauing Aniolliero in his shirt, and walked bare-footed.
The fourth Nouell.
Seruing as an admonition to all men, for taking Gamesters and Drun∣kards into their seruice.
THe ridiculous words giuen by Calandrino to his Wife, all all the whole company hartily laughed at: but Philostra∣tus ceassing, Madame Neiphila (as it pleased the Queene to appoint) began to speake thus. Vertuous Ladies, if it were not more hard and vneasie for men, to make good their vnderstanding and vertue, then apparant publicarion of their disgrace and folly; many would not labour in vaine, to curbe in their idle speeches with a bridle, as you haue manifestly obserued by the weake wit of Calandrino. Who needed no such fantastick circumstance, to cure the strange disease, which he imagined (by sottish perswasions) to haue: had hee not been so lauish of his tongue, and accused his Wife of ouer-mastering him. Which maketh me remember a No∣uell, quite contrary to this last related, namely, how one man may Page [unnumbered] striue to surmount another in malice; yet he to sustaine the greater harme, that had (at the first) the most aduantage of his enemy, as I will presently declare vnto you.
There dwelt in Sienna, and not many yeeres since, two young men of equall age, both of them bearing the name of Francesco: but the one was descended of the Aniollieri, and the other likewise of the Fortarigi; so that they were commonly called Aniolliero, and Fortarigo, both Gentlemen, and well deriued. Now, although in many other matters, their complexions did differ very much: Yet notwithstanding, they varied not in one bad qualitie, namely too great neglect of their Fathers, which caused their more frequent conuersation, as very familiar and respectiue friends. But Aniollie∣ro (being a very goodly and faire conditioned young Gentleman) apparently perceiuing, that he could not maintaine himselfe at Si∣enna, in such estate as he liked, and vpon the pension allowed him by his Father, hearing also, that at the Marquisate of Ancona, there li∣ued the Popes Legate, a worthy Cardinall, his much indeared good Lord and friend: he intended to goe visite him, as hoping to aduance his fortunes by him.
Hauing acquainted his Father with this determination, he con∣cluded with him, to haue that from him in a moment which might supply his wants for many moneths, because he would be clothed gallantly, and mounted honourably. And seeking for a seruant necessary to attend on him, it chanced that Fortarigo hearing there∣of, came presently to Aniolliero, intreating him in the best manner he could, to let him waite on him as his seruing man, promising both dutiful and diligent attendance: yet not to demaund any other wages, but onely payment of his ordinary expences. Aniolliero made him answere, that he durst not giue him entertainment, not in regard of his insufficiency, and vnaptnesse for seruice: but be∣cause he was a great Gamester, and diuers times would be beastly drunke? whereto Fortarigo replyed that hee would refraine from both those foule vices, and addict all his endeauor wholly to please him, without iust taxation of any grosse errour; making such so∣lemne vowes and protestations beside, as conquered Aniolliero, and won his consent.
Being entred vpon his iourney, and arriuing in a morning at Buonconuento, there Aniolliero determined to dine, and afterward, finding the heate to be vnfit for trauaile; he caused a bed to be pre∣pared, wherein being laid to rest by the helpe of Fortarigo, he gaue him charge, that after the heates violence was ouerpast, hee should not faile to call and awake him. While Aniolliero slept thus in his bed, Fortarigo, neuer remembring his solemne vowes and pro∣mises: Page 118 went to the Tauerne, where hauing drunke indifferently, and finding company fit for the purpose, he fell to play at the dice with them. In a very short while, he had not onely lost his money, but all the cloathes on his backe likewise, and coueting to recouer his losses againe; naked in his shirt, he went to Aniollieros Chamber, where finding him yet soundly sleeping, he tooke all the money he had in his purse, and then returned backe to play, speeding in the same manner as hee did before, not hauing one poore penny left him.
Aniolliero chancing to awake,, arose and made him ready, with∣out any seruant to helpe him; then calling for Fortarigo, and not hearing any tydings of him: he began immediately to imagine, that he was become drunke, and so had falne asleepe in one place or other, as very often he was wont to doe. Wherefore, determi∣ning so to leaue him, he caused the male and Saddle to be set on his horse, & so to furnish himselfe with a more honest seruant at Cor∣signano.
But when hee came to pay his hoste, hee found not any penny left him: whereupon (as well he might) he grew greatly offended, and raised much trouble in the house, charged the hoasts people to haue robde him, and threatening to haue them sent as prisoners to Sienna. Suddenly entred Fortarigo in his shirt, with intent to haue stolne Aniollieroes garments, as formerly hee did the money out of his purse, and seeing him ready to mount on horsebacke, hee saide.
How now Aniolliero? What shall we goe away so soone? I pray you Sir tarry a little while, for an honest man is comming hither, who hath my Doublet engaged for eight and thirty shil∣lings; and I am sure that he will restore it me back for fiue and thir∣ty, if I could presently pay him downe the money.
During the speeches, an other entred among them, who assured Aniolliero, that Fortarigo was the Thiefe which robde him of his money, shewing him also how much hee had lost at the Dice: Wherewith Aniolliero being much mooued, very angerly reproo∣ued Fortarigo, and, but for feare of the Law, would haue offered him outrage, thretning to haue him hangd by the neck, or else con∣demned to the Gallies belonging to Florence, and so mounted on his horse. Fortarigo making shew to the standers by, as if Aniollie∣ro menaced some other body, and not him, said. Come Aniolliero, I pray thee let vs leaue this friuilous prating, for (indeede) it is not worth a Button, and minde a matter of more importance: my Doublet will bee had againe for fiue and thirty shillings, if the money may bee tendered downe at this very instant, whereas if we Page [unnumbered] deferre it till to morrow, perhaps hee will then haue the whole eight and thirty which he lent me, and he doth me this pleasure, be∣cause I am ready (at another time) to affoord him the like courtesie; why then should we loose three shillings, when they may so easily be saued.
Aniolliero hearing him speake in such confused manner, and per∣ceiuing also, that they which stood gazing by, beleeued (as by their lookes appeared) that Fortarigo had not played away his Masters mony at the Dice, but rather that he had some stocke of Fortarigoes in his custody; angerly answered, Thou sawcy companion, what haue I to doe with thy Doublet? I would thou wert hangd, not on∣ly for playing away my money, but also by delaying thus my iour∣ney, and yet boldly thou standest out-facing mee, as if I were no better then thy fellow. Fortarigo held on still his former behaui∣our, without vsing any respect or reuerence to Aniolliero, as if all the accusations did not concerne him, but saying, Why should wee not take the aduantage of three shillings profit? Thinkest thou, that I am not able to doe as much for thee? why, lay out so much mo∣ney for my sake, and make no more haste then needs we must, be∣cause we haue day-light enough to bring vs (before night) to Torre∣niero. Come, draw thy purse, and pay the money, for vpon mine honest word, I may enquire throughout all Sienna, and yet not find such another Doublet as this of mine is. To say then, that I should leaue it, where it now lyeth pawned, and for eight and thirty shil∣lings, when it is richly more worth then fifty, I am sure to suffer a double endammagement thereby.
You may well imagine, that Aniolliero was now enraged beyond all patience, to see himselfe both robde of his money, and ouer∣borne with presumptuous language: wherefore, without making any more replications, he gaue the spurre to his horse, and rode a∣way towards Torreniero. Now fell Fortarigo into a more knauish intention against Aniolliero, and being very speedy in running, fol∣lowed apace after him in his shirt, crying out still aloude to him all the way, to let him haue his Doublet againe. Aniolliero riding on very fast, to free his eares from this idle importunity, it fortuned that Fortarigo espied diuers countrey Pezants, laboring in the fields about their businesse, and by whom Aniolliero (of necessity) must passe: To them he cryed out so loude as he could; Stay the Thiefe, Stop the Thiefe, he rides away so fast, hauing robde me.
They being prouided, some with Prongges, Pitchforkes and Spades, and others with the like weapons fit for Husbandry, stept into the way before Aniolliero: and beleeuing vndoubtedly, that he had robde the man which pursued him in his shirt, stayed and Page 119 apprehended him. Whatsoeuer Aniolliero could doe or say, pre∣uailed not any thing with the vnmannerly Clownes, but when For∣tarigo was arriued among them, he braued Aniolliero most impu∣dently, saying.
What reason haue I to spoyle thy life (thou traiterous Villaine) to rob that spoyle thy Master thus on the high way? Then turning to the Countrey Boores: How much deare friends (quoth he) am I beholding to you for this vnexpected kindnesse? You behold in what manner he left me in my Lodging, hauing first playd away all my money at the Dice, and then deceiuing me of my horse and gar∣ments also: but had not you (by great good lucke) thus holpe mee to stay him; a poore Gentleman had bin vndone for euer, and I should neuer haue found him againe.
Aniolliero auouched the truth of his wrong receiued, but the base peazants, giuing credite onely to Fortarigoes lying exclamations: tooke him from his horse, despoyled him of all his wearing appar∣rell, euen to the very Bootes from off his Legges: suffered him to ride away from him in that manner, and Aniolliero left so in his shirt, to dance a bare-foote Galliard after him, either towards Sien∣na, or any place else.
Thus Aniolliero, purposing to visite his Cousin the Cardinal like a Gallant, and at the Marquisate of Ancona, returned backe poorly in his shirt vnto Buonconuento, and durst not (for shame) repaire to Sienna. In the end, he borrowed money on the other horse which Fortarigo rode on, and remained there in the Inne, whence riding to Corsignano, where he had diuers Kinsmen and Friends, he conti∣nued there so long with them, till he was better furnished from his Father.
Thus you may perceiue, that the cunning Villanies of Fortarigo, hindred the honest intended enterprise of Aniolliero, howbeit in fit time and place, nothing afterward was left vnpunished.
