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

Guion di Procida, being found familiarly conuersing with a young Damosell, which he loued; and had beene giuen (formerly) to Frederigo, King of Sicilie: was bound to a stake, to be consumed with fire. From which danger (neuer∣thelesse) he escaped, being knowne by Don Rogiero de Oria, Lord Admirall of Sicilie, and afterward married the Damosell.

The sixth Nouell.

Wherein is manifested, that loue can leade a man into numberlesse perils: out of which he escapeth with no meane difficulty.

[illustration]

THe Nouell of Madam Neiphila being ended, which proued very pleasing to the Ladies: the Queene commanded Madam Pampinea, that shee should prepare to take her turne next, whereto willingly obey∣ing, thus shee began. Many and mighty (Gracious Ladies) are the pre∣uailing powers of loue, conducting amorous soules into infinite trauels, with inconueniences no way auoidable, and not easily to be foreseene, or preuented. As partly already hath beene obserued, by diuers of our for∣mer

Nouels related, and some (no doubt) to ensue hereafter; for one of them (comming now to my memory) I shall acquaint you withall, in so good tearmes as I can.

Ischia is an Iland very neere to Naples, wherein (not long since) liued a faire and louely Gentlewoman, named Restituta, Daughter to a Gentle∣man of the same Isle, whose name was Marino Bolgaro. A proper youth called Guion, dwelling also in a neere neighbouring Isle, called Procida, did loue her as dearely as his owne life, and she was as intimately affected towards him. Now because the sight of her was his onely comfort, as oc∣casion gaue him leaue; he resorted to Ischia very often in the day time, and as often also in the night season, when any Barque passed from Procida to Ischia; if to see nothing else, yet to behold the walles that enclosed his Mi∣stresse thus.

While this loue continued in equall feruency, it chanced vpon a faire Summers day, that Restituta walked alone vpon the Sea-shoare, going from Rocke to Rocke, hauing a naked knife in her hand, wherewith shee opened such Oysters as shee found among the stones, seeking for small pearles enclosed in their shelles. Her walke was very solitary and shady, with a faire Spring or well adioyning to it, and thither (at that very instant time) certaine Sicilian young Gentlemen, which came from Naples, had made their retreate. They perceiuing the Gentlewoman to be very beau∣tifull (shee as yet not hauing any sight of them) and in such a silent place alone by her selfe: concluded together, to make a purchase of her, and carry her thence away with them; as indeed they did, notwithstanding all her out-cryes and exclaimes, bearing her perforce aboard their Barque.

Setting sayle thence, they arriued in Calabria, and then there grew a great contention betweene them, to which of them this booty of beauty should belong; because each of them pleaded a title to her. But when they could not grow to any agreement, but doubted greater disaster would en∣sue thereon, by breaking their former league of friendship: by an equall conformity in consent, they resolued, to bestow her as a rich present, on Frederigo King of Sicilie, who was then young & iouiall, and could not be pleased with a better gift; wherefore, they were no sooner landed at Paler∣mo, but they did according as they had determined. The King did com∣mend her beauty extraordinarily, and liked her farre beyond all his other Loues: but, being at that time empaired in his health, and his body much distempered by ill dyet; he gaue command, that vntill he should be in more able disposition, shee must be kept in a goodly house of his owne, erected in a beautifull Garden, called the Cube, where shee was attended in most pompeous manner.

Now grew the noyse and rumor great in Ischia, about this rape or stea∣ling away of Restituta; but the chiefest greeuance of all, was, that it could not be knowne how, by whom, or by what meanes. But Guion di Procida, whom this iniury concerned much more then any other; stood not in ex∣pectation of better tydings from Ischia, but hearing what course the Barke had taken, made ready another, to follow after with all possible speede.

Flying thus on the winged minds through the Seas, euen from Minerua, vnto the Scalea in Calabria, searching for his lost Loue in euery angle: at length it was tolde him at the Scale•• that shee was carried away by cer∣taine Sicillian Marriners, to Palermo, whither Guion set sayle immedi∣ately.

After some diligent search made there, he vnderstood, that she was de∣liuered to the King, and he had giuen strict command, for keeping her in his place of pleasure; called the Cube: which newes were not a little gree∣uous to him, for now he was almost quite out of hope, not onely of euer enioying her, but also of seeing her. Neuerthelesse, Loue would not let him vtterly despaire, whereupon he sent away his Barque, and perceiuing himselfe to be vnk owne of any; he continued for some time in Palermo, walking many times by that goodly place of pleasure. It chanced on a day, that keeping his walke as he vsed to doe, Fortune was so fauourable to him, as to let him haue a sight of her at her window; from whence also she had a full view of him, to their exceeding comfort and contentment. And Guion obseruing, that the Cube was seated in a place of small resort; approached so neere as possibly he durst, to haue some conference with Restituta.

As Loue sets a keene edge on the dullest spirit, and (by a small aduan∣tage) makes a man the more aduenturous: so this little time of vnseene talke, inspired him with courage, and her with witty aduice, by what meanes his accesse might be much neerer to her, and their communicati∣on concealed from any discouery, the scituation of the place, and benefit of time duly considered. Night must be the cloud to their amorous con∣clusion, and therefore, so much thereof being spent, as was thought con∣uenient, he returned thither againe, prouided of such grappling-yrons, as is required when men will clamber, made fast vnto his hands and knees; by their helpe he attained to the top of the wall, whence discending downe into the Garden, there he found the maine yard of a ship, whereof before shee had giuen him instruction, and rearing it vp against her cham∣ber window, made that his meanes for ascending thereto, shee hauing left it open for his easier entrance.

You cannot denie (faire Ladies) but here was a very hopefull begin∣ning, and likely to haue as happy an ending, were it not true Loues fatall misery, euen in the very height of promised assurance, to be thwarted by vnkind preuention, and in such manner as I will tell you. This night, in∣tended for our Louers meeting, proued disastrous and dreadfull to them both: for the King, who at the first sight of Restituta, was highly pleased with her excelling beauty; gaue order to his Eunuches and other women, that a costly bathe should be prepared for her, and therein to let her weare away that night, because the next day he intended to visit her. Restituta being royally conducted from her Chamber to the Bathe, attended on with Torch-light, as if shee had been a Queene: none remained there be∣hind, but such women as waited on her, and the Guards without, which watched the Chamber.

No sooner was poore Guian aloft at the window, calling softly to his Mistresse, as if she had beene there; but he was ouer-heard by the women in the darke, and immediately apprehended by the Guard, who forthwith brought him before the Lord Marshall, where being examined, and he a∣uouching, that Restituta was his elected wife, and for her he had presumed in that manner; closely was he kept in prison till the next morning. When he came into the Kings presence, and there boldly iustified the goodnesse of his cause: Restituta likewise was sent for, who no sooner saw her deare Loue Guian, but shee ran and caught him fast about the necke, kissing him in teares, and greeuing not a little at his hard fortune. Hereat the King grew exceedingly enraged, loathing and hating her now, much more then formerly he did affect her, and hauing himselfe seene, by what strange meanes he did climbe ouer the wall, and then mounted to her Chamber window; he was extreamely impatient, and could not otherwise be per∣swaded, but that their meetings thus had beene very many.

Forthwith he sentenced them both with death, commanding, that they should be conueyed thence to Palermo, and there (being stript starke naked) be bound to a stake backe to backe, and so to stand the full space of nine houres, to see if any could take knowledge, of whence, or what they were; then afterward, to be consumed with fire. The sentence of death, did not so much daunt or dismay the poore Louers, as the vnciuill and vnsightly manner, which (in feare of the Kings wrathfull displeasure) no man durst presume to contradict. Wherefore, as he had commanded, so were they carried thence to Palermo, and bound naked to a stake in the open Market place, and (before their eyes) the fire and wood brought, which was to consume them, according to the houre as the King had appointed. You need not make any question, what an huge concourse of people were soone assembled together, to behold such a sad and wofull spectacle, euen the whole City of Palermo, both men and women. The men were stricken with admiration, beholding the vnequalled beauty of faire Restituta, & the selfe same passion possessed the women, seeing Guian to be such a goodly and compleat young man: but the poore infortunate Louers themselues, they stood with their lookes deiected to the ground, being much pittied of all, but no way to be holpen or rescued by any, a∣waiting when the happy houre would come, to finish both their shame and liues together.

During the time of this tragicall expectation, the fame of this publike execution being noysed abroade, calling all people farre and neere to be∣hold it; it came to the eare of Don Rogiero de Oria, a man of much admired valour, and then the Lord high Admirall of Sicily, who came himselfe in person, to the place appointed for their death. First he obserued the May∣den, confessing her (in his soule) to be a beauty beyond all compare. Then looking on the young man, thus he saide within himselfe: If the inward endowments of the mind, doe paralell the outward perfections of body; the World cannot yeeld a more compleate man. Now, as good natures are quickly incited to compassion (especially in cases almost commanding

it) and compassion knocking at the doore of the soule, doth quicken the memory with many passed recordations: so this noble Admirall, aduised∣ly beholding poore condemned Guion, conceiued, that he had somewhat seene him before this instant, and vpon this perswasion (euen as if diuine vertue had tutured his tongue) he saide: Is not thy name Guion di Pro∣cida?

Marke now, how quickly misery can receiue comfort, vpon so poore and silly a question; for Guion began to eleuate his deiected countenance, and looking on the Admirall, returned him this answere. Sir, heretofore I haue been the man which you spake of; but now, both that name and man must die with me. What misfortune (quoth the Admirall) hath thus vn∣kindly crost thee? Loue (answered Guion) and the Kings displeasure. Then the Admirall would needs know the whole history at large, which briefly was related to him, and hauing heard how all had happened; as he was turning his Horse to ride away thence, Guion called to him, saying. Good my Lord, entreate one fauour for me, if possible it may be. What is that? replyed the Admirall. You see Sir (quoth Guion) that I am very shortly to breathe my last; all the grace which I doe most humbly entreate, is, that as I am here with this chaste Virgin, (whom I honour and loue beyond my life) and miserably bound backe to backe: our faces may be turned each to other, to the end, that when the fire shall finish my life, by looking on her, my soule may take her flight in full felicity. The Admirall smy∣ling, saide; I will doe for thee what I can, and (perhaps) thou mayest so long looke on her, as thou wilt be weary, and desire to looke off her.

At his departure, he commanded them that had the charge of this exe∣cution, to proceede no further, vntill they heard more from the King, to whom hee gallopped immediately, and although hee beheld him to be very angerly moued; yet he spared not to speake in this manner. Sir, wher∣in haue those poore young couple offended you, that are so shamefully to be burnt at Palermo? The King told him: whereto the Admirall (pursu∣ing still his purpose) thus replyed. Beleeue me Sir, if true loue be an of∣fence, then theirs may be termed to be one; and albeit it did deserue death, yet farre be it from thee to inflict it on them: for as faults doe iustly re∣quire punishment, so doe good turnes as equally merit grace and requi∣tall. Knowest thou what and who they are, whom thou hast so dishonou∣rably condemned to the fire? Not I, quoth the King. Why then I will tell thee, answered the Admirall, that thou mayest take the better knowledge of them, and forbeare hereafter, to be so ouer-violently transported with anger.

The young Gentleman, is the Sonne to Landolfo di Procida, the onely Brother to Lord Iohn di Procida, by whose meanes thou becamest Lord and King of this Countrey. The faire young Damosell, is the Daughter to Marino Bolgaro, whose power extendeth so farre, as to preserue thy pre∣rogatiue in Ischia, which (but for him) had long since beene out-rooted there. Beside, these two maine motiues, to challenge iustly grace and fa∣uour from thee; they are in the floure and pride of their youth, hauing

long continued in loyall loue together, and compelled by feruency of en∣deared affection, not any wil to displease thy Maiesty: they haue offended (if it may be termed an offence to loue, and in such louely young people as they are.) Canst thou then find in thine heart to let them die, whom thou rather oughtest to honour, and recompence with no meane re∣wards?

When the King had heard this, and beleeued for a certainty, that the Admirall told him nothing but truth: he appointed not onely, that they should proceede no further, but also was exceeding sorrowfull for what he had done, sending presently to haue them released from the Stake, and honourably to be brought before him. Being thus enstructed in their se∣uerall qualities, and standing in duty obliged, to recompence the wrong which he had done, with respectiue honours: he caused them to be cloa∣thed in royall garments, and knowing them to be knit in vnity of soule; the like he did by marrying them sollemnly together, and bestowing ma∣ny rich gifts and presents on them, sent them honourably attented home to Ischia; where they were with much ioy and comfort receiued, and li∣ued long after in great felicity.