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was also an high mountaine wholly made of Parmezane； grated Cheese；
whereon dwelt people； who did nothing else but make Mocharones and
Ravivolies； boyling them with broth of Capons； and afterward hurled
them all about； to whosoever can or will catch them。 Neere to this
mountaine runneth a faire River； the whole streame being pure white
Bastard； none such was ever sold for any money； and without one drop
of water in it。
Now trust me Sir； （said Calandrino） that is an excellent Countrey to
dwell in： but I pray you tell me Sir； what do they with the Capons
after they have boyld them？ The Baschanes （quoth Maso） eate them
all。 Have you Sir； said Calandrino； at any time beene in that
Countrey？ How？ answered Maso； doe you demaund if have beene there？ Yes
man； above a thousand times； at the least。 How farre Sir； I pray you
（quoth Calandrino） is that worthy Countrey； from this our City？ In
troth； replyed Maso； the miles are hardly to be numbred； for the
most part of them； we travell when we are nightly in our beddes； and
if a man dreame right； he may be there upon a sudden。
Surely Sir； said Calandrino； it is further hence； then to Abruzzi？
Yes questionlesse； replyed Maso； but； to a willing minde； no travell
seemeth tedious。
Calandrino well noting； that Maso delivered all these speeches； with
a stedfast countenance； no signe of smyling； or any gesture to urge
the least mislike： he gave such credit to them； as to any matter of
apparent and manifest truth； and upon this assured confidence； he
said。
Beleeve me Sir； the journey is over…farre for mee to undertake；
but if it were neerer； I could affoord to goe in your Company； onely
to see how they make these Macherones； and to fill my belly with them。
But now wee are in talke Sir； I pray you pardon mee to aske； whether
any such precious stones； as you spake off； are to be found in that
Countrey； or no？ Yes indeed； replyed Maso； there are two kinds of them
to be found in those Territories； both being of very great vertue。 One
kind； are gritty stones； of Settignano； and of Montisca； by vertue
of which places； when any Mill…stones or Grind…stones are to bee made；
they knede the sand as they use to doe meale； and so make them of what
bignesse they please。 In which respect； they have a common saying
there： that Nature maketh common stones； but Montisca Mill…stones。
Such plenty are there of these Mill…stones； so slenderly here esteemed
among us； as Emeralds are with them； whereof they have whole
mountaines； farre greater then our Montemorello； which shine most
gloriously at midnight。 And how meanly soever we account of their
Mill…stones； yet there they drill them； and enchase them in Rings；
which afterward they send to the great Soldane； and have whatsoever
they will demaund for them。
The other kinde is a most precious Stone indeede； which our best
Lapidaries call the Helitropium； the vertue whereof is so admirable；
as whosoever beareth it about him； so long as he keepeth it； it is
impossible for any eye to discerne him； because he walketh meerely
invisible。 O Lord Sir （quoth Calandrino） those stones are of rare
vertue indeede： but where else may a man finde that Helitropium？
Whereto Maso thus answered： That Countrey onely doth not containe
the Helitropium； for they be many times found upon our plaine of
Mugnone。 Of what bignesse Sir （quoth Calandrino） is the Stone； and
what coulour？ The Helitropium； answered Maso； is not alwayes of one
quality； because some are bigge； and others lesse； but all are of
one coulour； namely blacke。
Calandrino committing all these things to respective memory； and
pretending to be called thence by some other especiall affaires；
departed from Maso； concluding resolvedly with himselfe； to finde this
precious stone； if possibly hee could： yet intending to doe nothing；
untill hee had acquainted Bruno and Buffalmaco therewith； whom he
loved dearly： he went in all hast to seeke them； because； （without any
longer trifling the time） they three might bee the first men； that
should find out this precious stone； spending almost the whole morning
before they were all three met together。 For they were painting at the
Monastery of the Sisters of Faenza； where they had very serious
imployment； and followed their businesse diligently： where having
found them； and saluting them in such kinde manner； as continually
he used to doe； thus he began。
Loving friends； if you were pleased to follow mine advise； wee three
will quickely be the richest men in Florence； because； by
information from a Gentleman （well deserving to be credited） on the
Plaine of Mugnone： there is a precious stone to be found； which
whosoever carrieth it about him； walketh invisible； and is not to be
seene by any one。 Let us three be the first men to goe and finde it；
before any other heare thereof； and goe about it； and assure our
selves that we shall finde it； for I know it （by discription） so soone
as I see it。 And when wee have it； who can hinder us from bearing it
about us？ Then will we goe to the Tables of our Bankers； or money
Changers； which we see daily charged with plenty of gold and silver；
where we may take so much as wee list； for they （nor any） are able
to descrie us。 So； （in short time） shall wee all be wealthy； never
needing to drudge any more； or paint muddy walles； as hitherto we have
done； and； as many of our poore profession are forced to doe。
Bruno and Buffalmaco hearing this； began to smile； and looking
merily each on other； they seemed to wonder thereat； and greatly
commended the counsell of Calandrino。 Buffalmaco demaunding how the
stone was named。 Now it fortuned； that Calandrino （who had but a
grosse and blockish memory） had quite forgot the name of the stone；
and therefore said。 What neede have wee of the name； when we know； and
are assured of the stones vertue？ Let us make no more adoe； but
（setting aside all other businesse） goe seeke where it is to be found。
Well my friend （answered Bruno） you say wee may finde it； but how； and
by what meanes？
There are two sorts of them （quoth Calandrino） some bigge； others
smaller； but all carry a blacke colour： therefore （in mine opinion）
let us gather all such stones as are blacke； so shall we be sure to
finde it among them； without any further losse of time。
Buffalmaco and Bruno； liked and allowed the counsell of
Calandrino； which when they had （by severall commendations） given
him assurance of； Bruno saide。 I doe not thinke it a convenient time
now； for us to go about so weighty a businesse： for the Sun is yet
in the highest degree； and striketh such a heate on the plaine of
Mugnone； as all the stones are extreamly dryed； and the very
blackest will nowe seeme whitest。 But in the morning； after the dew is
falne； and before the Sunne shineth forth； every stone retaineth his
true colour。 Moreover； there be many Labourers now working on the
plaine； about such businesse as they are severally assigned； who
seeing us in so serious a serch： may imagine what we seeke for； and
partake with us in the same inquisition； by which meanes they may
chance to speed before us； and so wee may lose both our trot and
amble。 Wherefore； by my consent； if your opinion jumpe with mine； this
is an enterprize onely to be perfourmed in an early morning； when
the blacke stones are to be distinguisht from the white； and a
Festivall day were the best of all other； for then there will be
none to discover us。
Buffalmaco applauded the advice of Bruno； and Calandrino did no
lesse； concluding all together； that Sunday morning （next ensuing）
should be the time； and then they all three would go see the Stone。
But Calandrino was verie earnest with them； that they shold not
reveale it to any living body； because it was tolde him as an
especiall secret： disclosing further to them； what hee had heard
concerning the Countrey of Bengodi； maintaining （with solemn oaths and
protestations） that every part thereof was true。 Uppon this agreement；
they parted from Calandrino who hardly enjoyed anie rest at all；
either by night or day； so greedie he was to bee possessed of the
stone。 On the Sonday morning； hee called up his Companions before
breake of day； and going forth at S。 Galls Port； they stayed not； till
they came to the plaine of Mugnone； where they searched all about to
finde this strange stone。
Calandrino went stealing before the other two； and verilie perswaded
himselfe； that he was borne to finde the Helitropium； and looking on
every side about him； hee rejected all other Stones but the blacke；
whereof first he filled his bosome； and afterwards； both his
Pockets。 Then he tooke off his large painting Apron； which he fastened
with his girdle in the manner of a sacke； and that he filled full of
stones likewise。 Yet not so satisfied； he spred abroad his Cloake；
which being also full of stones； hee bound it up carefully； for
feare of loosing the very least of them。 All which Buffalmaco and
Bruno well observing （the day growing on； and hardly they could
reach home by dinner time） according as merrily they had concluded；
and pretending not to see Calandrino； albeit he was not farre from
them： What is become of Calandrino？ saide Buffalmaco。 Bruno