按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
hartely for the givers sake。 As for Calandrino； he liked his dyet
drinke excellently well； quaffing a large Glassefull off three
mornings together： afterward Master Doctor and the rest came to see
him； and having felt his pulse； the Phisition said。 Calandrino； thou
art now as sound in health； as any man in all Florence can be： thou
needest not to keepe within doores any longer； but walke abroad
boldly； for all is well and the childe gone。
Calandrino arose like a joyfull man； and walked daily through the
streets； in the performance of such affaires as belonged to him： and
every acquaintance he met withall； he told the condition of his sudden
sickenesse； and what a rare cure Master Doctor Simon had wrought on
him； delivering him （in three dayes space） of a childe； and without
the feeling of any paine。 Bruno； Buffalmaco； and Nello； were not a
little jocond； for meeting so well with covetous Calandrino： but how
the Wife liked the folly of her Husband； I leave to the judgement of
all good Women。
THE NINTH DAY； THE FOURTH NOVELL
SERVING AS AN ADMONITION TO ALL MEN； FOR TAKING GAMESTERS
AND DRUNKARDS INTO THEIR SERVICE
Francesco Fortarigo； played away all that he had at Buonconvento；
and likewise the money of Francesco Aniolliero； being his Master。 Then
running after him in his shirt； and avouching 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； leaving Aniolliero in his shirt； and walked
barefooted。
The ridiculous words given by Calandrino to his Wife； all the
whole company hartily laughed at： but a Philostratus ceassing；
Madame Neiphila （as it pleased the Queene to appoint） began to
speake thus。 Vertuous Ladies； if it were not more hard and uneasie for
men； to make good their understanding and vertue； then apparant
publication of their disgrace and folly； many would not labour in
vaine； to curbe in their idle speeches with a bridle； as you have
manifestly observed by the weake wit of Calandrino。 Who needed no such
fantastick circumstance； to cure the strange disease； which he
imagined （by sottish perswasions） to have： had hee not been so
lavish of his tongue； and accused his Wife of overmastering him。 Which
maketh me remember a Novell； quite contrary to this last related；
namely； how one man may strive to surmount another in malice； yet he
to sustaine the greater harme； that had （at the first） the most
advantage of his enemy； as I will presently declare unto 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 derived。 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
conversation； as very familiar and respective friends。 But
Aniolliero （being a very goodly and faire conditioned young Gentleman）
apparently perceiving； that he could not maintaine himselfe at Sienna；
in such estate as he liked； and upon the pension allowed him by his
Father； hearing also； that at the Marquisate of Ancona； there lived
the Popes Legate； a worthy Cardinall； his much indeared good Lord
and friend： he intended to goe visite him； as hoping to advance his
fortunes by him。
Having acquainted his Father with this determination； he concluded
with him； to have that from him in a moment which might supply his
wants because he would be clothed gallantly； and mounted honourably。
And seeking for a servant necessary to attend on him； it chanced
that Fortarigo hearing thereof； came presently to Aniolliero；
intreating him in the best manner he could； to let him waite on him as
his serving man； promising both dutiful and diligent attendance： yet
not to deaund any other wages； but onely payment of his ordinary
expences。 Aniolliero made him answere； that he durst not give him
entertainment； not in regard of his insufficiency； and unaptnesse
for service： but because he was a great Gamester； and divers times
would be beastly drunke？ whereto Fortarigo replyed that hee would
refraine from both those foule vices； and addict all his endeavor
wholly to please him； without just taxation of any grosse errour；
making such solemne vowes and protestations beside； as conquered
Aniolliero； and won his consent。
Being entred upon his journey； and arriving in a morning at
Buonconvento； there Aniolliero determined to dine； and afterward；
finding the heate to be unfit for travaile； he caused a bed to be
prepared； wherein being laid to rest by the helpe of Fortarigo； he
gave him charge； that after the heates violence was overpast； hee
should not faile to call and awake him。 While Aniolliero slept thus in
his bed； Fortarigo； never remembring his solemne vowes and promises：
went to the Taverne； where having 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 coveting to recover his losses
againe； naked in his shirt； he went to Aniollieroes 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 having one poore penny left him。
Aniolliero chancing to awake； arose and made him ready； without
any servant 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； determining so to leave
him； he caused the male and Saddle to be set on his horse； and so to
furnish himselfe with a more honest servant at Corsignano。
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 have robde
him； and threatening to have them sent as prisoners to Sienna。
Suddenly entred Fortarigo in his shirt； with intent to have 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 shillings； and I am
sure that he will restore it me back for five and thirty； 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 mooved； very angerly reprooved Fortarigo； and；
but for feare of the Law； would have offered him outrage； thretning to
have him hangd by the neck； or else condemned to the Gallies belonging
to Florence； and so mounted on his horse。 Fortarigo making shew to the
standers by； as if Aniolliero menaced some other body； and not him；
said。 Come Aniolliero； I pray thee let us leave this frivilous
prating； for （indeede） it is not worth a Button； and minde a matter of
more importance： my Doublet will bee had againe for five and thirty
shillings； if the money may bee tendered downe at this very instant；
whereas if we deferre it till to morrow； perhaps hee will then have
the whole eight and thirty which he lent me； and he doth me this
pleasure； because 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 saved。
Aniolliero hearing him speake in such confused manner； and
perceiving also； that they which stood gazing by； beleeved （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 have I to doe with thy Doublet？ I would thou wert hangd； not only
for playing away my money； but also by delaying thus my journey； and
yet boldly thou standest out…facing mee； as if I were no better then
thy fellow。 Fortarigo held on still his former behaviour； without
using any respect or reverence to Aniolliero； as if all the
accusations did not concerne him； but saying； Why should wee not
take the advantage of three shillings profit？ Thinkest thou； that I am
not able to doe as much for thee？ why； lay out so much money for my
sake； and make no more haste then needs we must； because we have
day…light enough to bring us （before night） to Torreniero。 Come；
draw thy purse； and pay the money； for upon 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 leave it； where it
now lyeth pawn