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

Messer Guiglielmo of Rossiglione hauing slaine Messer Guiglielmo Guar∣dastagno, whom hee imagined to loue his wife, gaue her his heart to eate. Which she knowing afterward, threw her selfe out of an high window to the ground; and being dead, was then buried with her friend.

The ninth Nouell.

Whereby appeareth, what ill successe attendeth on them, that loue contrarie to reason: in offering iniurie both to friendship and marriage together.

[illustration]

WHen the Nouell of Madam Neiphila was ended, which occasio∣ned much compassion in the whole assembly; the King who wold not infringe the priuiledge graunted to Dioneus, no more remaining to speake but they two, began thus. I call to minde (gentle Ladies) a No∣uell, which (seeing we are so farre entred into the lamentable accidents of

successelesse loue, will vrge you vnto as much commisseration, as that so lately reported to you. And so much the rather, because the persons of whom we are to speake, were of respectiue quality; which approueth the accident to bee more cruell, then those whereof wee haue formerly dis∣coursed.

According as the people of Prouence do report, there dwelt sometime in that iurisdiction, two noble Knights, each well possessed of Castles & followers; the one beeing named Messer Guiglielmo de Rossiglione, and the other Messer Guiglielmo Guardastagno. Now, in regard that they wer both valiant Gentlemen, and singularly expert in actions of Armes; they loued together the more mutually, and held it as a kinde of custom, to be seene in all Tiltes and Tournaments, or any other exercises of Armes, going commonly alike in their wearing garments. And although their Castles stood about fiue miles distant each from other, yet were they dayly con∣uersant together, as very louing and intimate friends. The one of them, I meane Messer Guiglielmo de Rossiglione, had to wife a very gallant beauti∣full Lady, of whom Messer Guardastagno (forgetting the lawes of respect and loyall friendshippe) became ouer-fondly enamoured, expressing the same by such outward meanes, that the Lady her selfe tooke knowledge thereof, and not with any dislike, as it seemed, but rather louingly enter∣tained; yet she grew not so forgetfull of her honour and estimation, as the other did of faith to his friend.

With such indiscretion was this idle loue carried, that whether it sor∣ted to effect, or no, I know not: but the husband receiued some such ma∣ner of behauiour, as hee could not easily digest, nor thought it fitting to endure. Whereuppon, the league of friendly amity so long continued, began to faile in very strange fashion, and became conuerted into deadly hatred: which yet hee very cunningly concealed, bearing an outwarde shew of constant friendshippe still, but (in his heart) hee had vowed the death of Guardastagno. Nothing wanted, but by what meanes it might best be effected, which fell out to bee in this manner. A publicke lust or Tourney, was proclaimed by sound of Trumpet throughout all France, wherewith immediately, Messer Guiglielmo Rossiglione acquainted Messer Guardastagno, entreating him that they might further conferre theron to∣gether, and for that purpose to come and visit him, if he intended to haue any hand in the businesse. Guardastagno being exceeding gladde of this accident, which gaue him liberty to see his Mistresse; sent answer backe by the messenger, that on the morrow at night, he would come and sup with Rossiglione; who vpon this reply, proiected to himselfe in what ma∣ner to kill him.

On the morrow, after dinner, arming himselfe, and two more of his seruants with him, such as he had solemnly sworne to secrecy, hee moun∣ted on horseback, and rode on about a mile from his owne Castle, where he lay closely ambushed in a Wood, through which Guardastagno must needs passe. After he had stayed there some two houres space and more, he espyed him come riding with two of his attendants, all of them being

vnarmed, as no way distrusting any such intended treason. So soone as he was come to the place, where he had resolued to do the deed; hee ru∣shed forth of the ambush, and hauing a sharpe Lance readily charged in his rest, ran mainly at him, saying: False villaine, thou art dead. Guarda∣stagno, hauing nothing wherewith to defend himselfe, nor his seruants a∣ble to giue him any succour; being pierced quite through the body with the Lance, downe hee fell dead to the ground, and his men (fearing the like misfortune to befall them) gallopped mainely backe againe to their Lords Castle, not knowing them who had thus murthered their Master, by reason of their armed disguises, which in those martiall times were v∣sually worne.

Messer Guiglielmo Rossiglione, alighting from his horse, and hauing a keene knife ready drawne in his hand; opened therewith the brest of dead Guardastagno, and taking foorth his heart with his owne hands, wrapped it in the Banderole belonging to his Lance, commanding one of his men to the charge thereof, and neuer to disclose the deed. So, mounting on horse-backe againe, and darke night drawing on apace, he returned home to his Castle. The Lady, who had heard before of Guardastagnoes intent, to suppe there that night, and (perhaps) being earnestly desirous to see him; meruailing at his so long tarrying, saide to her husband. Beleeue me Sir (quoth she) me thinkes it is somewhat strange, that Messer Guigli∣elmo Guardastagno delayes his comming so long, he neuer vsed to do so til now. I receiued tidings from him wife (said he) that he cannot be heere till to morrow. Whereat the Lady appearing to bee displeased, concea∣led it to her selfe, and vsed no more words.

Rossiglione leauing his Lady, went into the Kitchin, where calling for the Cooke, he deliuered him the heart, saying: Take this heart of a wilde Boare, which it was my good happe to kill this day, and dresse it in the daintiest manner thou canst deuise to doe; which being so done, when I am set at the Table, send it to me in a siluer dish, with sauce beseeming so dainty a morsell. The Cooke tooke the heart, beleeuing it to be no o∣therwise, then as his Lord had saide: and vsing his vtmost skill in dressing it, did diuide it into artificiall small slices, and made it most pleasing to be tasted. When supper time was come, Rossiglione sate downe at the table with his Lady: but hee had little or no appetite at all to eate, the wicked deed which he had done so perplexed his soule, and made him to sit very strangely musing. At length, the Cook brought in the dainty dish, which he himselfe setting before his wife, began to finde fault with his own lack of stomack, yet prouoked her with many faire speeches, to tast the Cooks cunning in so rare a dish.

The Lady hauing a good appetite indeede, when she had first tasted it, fed afterward so heartily thereon, that shee left very little, or none at all remaining. When he perceyued that all was eaten, he said vnto her: Tel me Madam, how you do like this delicate kinde of meat? In good faith Sir (quoth she) in all my life I was neuer better pleased. Now trust mee Madam, answered the Knight, I doe verily beleeue you, nor do I greatly

wonder thereat, if you like that dead, which you loued so dearly being a∣liue. When she heard these words, a long while she sate silent, but after∣ward saide. I pray you tell mee Sir, what meate was this which you haue made me to eate? Muse no longer (said he) for therein I will quickly re∣solue thee. Thou hast eaten the heart of Messer Guiglielmo Guardastagno, whose loue was so deare and precious to thee, thou false, perfidious, and disloyall Lady: I pluckt it out of his vile body with mine owne hands, and made my Cooke to dresse it for thy diet.

Poor Lady, how strangely was her soule afflicted, hearing these harsh and vnpleasing speeches? Teares flowed aboundantly from her faire eies, and like tempestuous windes embowelled in the earth, so did vehement sighes breake mainly from her heart, and after a tedious time of silence, she spake in this manner. My Lord and husband, you haue done a most disloyall and damnable deede, misguided by your owne wicked iealous opinion, and not by any iust cause giuen you, to murther so worthie and Noble a Gentleman. I protest vnto you vppon my soule, which I wish to bee confounded in eternall perdition, if euer I were vnchaste to your bedde, or allowed him any other fauour, but what might well become so honourable a friend. And seeing my bodie hath bene made the recepta∣cle for so precious a kinde of foode, as the heart of so valiant and courte∣ous a Knight, such as was the Noble Guardastagno; neuer shall any other foode heereafter, haue entertainment there, or my selfe liue the Wife to so bloody a husband.

So starting vppe from the Table, and stepping vnto a great gazing Windowe, the Casement whereof standing wide open behinde her: violently shee leaped out thereat, which beeing an huge heighth in di∣stance from the ground, the fall did not onely kill her, but also shiuered her bodie into many peeces. Which Rossiglione perceyuing, hee stoode like a bodie without a soule, confounded with the killing of so deare a friend, losse of a chaste and honourable wife, and all through his owne o∣unr-credulous conceit.

Vppon further conference with his priuate thoughtes, and remorse∣full acknowledgement of his heinous offence, which repentance (too late) gaue him eyes now to see, though rashnesse before would not per∣mit him to consider; these two extreamities inlarged his dulled vnder∣standing. First, he grew fearfull of the friends and followers to murdered Guardastagno, as also the whole Countrey of Prouence, in regarde of the peoples generall loue vnto him; which being two maine and important motiues, both to the detestation of so horrid an acte, and immediate se∣uere reuenge to succeed thereon: hee made such prouision as best hee could, and as so sodaine a warning would giue leaue, hee fled away se∣cretly in the night season.

These vnpleasing newes were soone spread abroad the next mor∣ning, not only of the vnfortunate accidents, but also of Rossiglions flight; in regard wherof, the dead bodyes being found, and brought together, as well by the people belonging to Guardastagno, as them that attended

on the Lady: they were layed in the Chappell of Rossigliones Castell; where, after so much lamentation for so great a misfortune to befal them, they were honourably enterred in one faire Tombe, with excellent Ver∣ses engrauen thereon, expressing both their noble degree, and by what vnhappy meanes, they chanced to haue buriall there.