9-4, Fortarrigo, Buonconvento, Angiolieri

NOVEL IV. 

Fortarrigo played away all that he had at Buonconvento, as also the money of Angiolieri, who was his master; then running away in his shirt, and pretending that the other had robbed him, he caused him to be seized by the country people, when he put on his clothes, and rode away upon his horse, leaving him there in his shirt. 

Calandrino's simplicity had occasioned a good deal of diversion; when Neifile, as it was the queen's pleasure, began in this manner: - If it were not more difficult for people to show their worth and good sense, than their bad dispositions and folly, they would not need to lay their tongues under such severe restraint, as many are forced to do. Now I mean to tell a story quite contrary to the last; namely, how the knavery of one man overreached the understanding of another, to the great detriment and derision of the person so outwitted. 

There dwelt, not long since, at Siena, two young men of equal years, named Angiolieri and Fortarrigo, who, though they differed much in other respects, resembled each other in their disobedience to their fathers, by which means they became inseparable friends. Angiolieri, who was an accomplished gentleman, found that he could not subsist very well in Siena upon his father's allowance, and hearing that a certain cardinal was come to Ancona, as the pope's legate, who had showed a particular regard for him, he resolved to go thither, in hopes of bettering his condition. So making his mind known to his father, he got half a year's stipend before-hand, in order to furnish himself with clothes and horses for his more creditable appearance. As he was in want of a servant, Fortarrigo, who had notice of it, came and requested the favour that he would take him along with him in that capacity, offering to be his valet, footman, and everything else, without a farthing of wages more than his expenses. This the other refused, not that he thought him unfit for his service, but because he knew him to be a gamester, and one that would frequently get drunk. Fortarrigo assured him he would be constantly on his guard with respect to both, confirming it with many oaths, and begging so hard besides, that at last his request was granted. 

Accordingly they set out upon their journey, and rode as far as Buonconvento, where they stopped to dine; and after dinner, as it was very hot weather, Angiolieri ordered a bed to be prepared, when he made his man undress him, and went to sleep, ordering him to call him up exactly as the clock struck nine. Whilst he was asleep, then, Fortarrigo went to the tavern, and, after drinking pretty heartily, began to play with some people there, who soon won what little money he had, and also the clothes off his back. Being very desirous of retrieving what he had lost, he went, stripped as he was, to Angiolieri's bed-side, and finding him fast asleep, took all the money out of his pocket, and, returning to play, lost it, as he had done the rest. As soon as Angiolieri awoke, he rose and dressed himself, inquiring for Fortarrigo, who, not being to be found, he supposed he was gone somewhere or other to sleep, as he was used to do; therefore he determined to leave him there, ordering the saddle and portmanteau to be put upon his own horse, intending to provide himself with another servant at Corsignano. Then putting his hand into his pocket, to pay his landlord, he found he had no money, upon which he made a great uproar, declaring that he had been robbed, and threatening to have them all sent prisoners to Siena; when, behold, Fortarrigo came running up in his shirt, with a design of stealing his master's clothes, as well as his money, and seeing him about to ride away, he said, "What is the meaning of this, sir? Why should we go so soon? Do stay a little. A man has got my coat in pawn for eight and thirty shillings, and I dare say he will let us have it for five and thirty to be paid down." But as he was saying this, a person came and told Angiolieri, that Fortarrigo was a thief, as appeared from the quantity of money he had lost; upon which Angiolieri was in a most violent passion, threatening to have him hanged up and gibbeted; saying this, he mounted his horse. "But," said Fortarrigo, as if he had been no way concerned, "pray, sir, leave off this idle talk, and let us have regard to the main point; we may have this coat now for five and thirty shillings, but if we stay till tomorrow, the person who lent me the money may expect eight and thirty for it. Why then should we lose these three shillings."

Angiolieri was out of all patience, hearing this from him; and seeing the surprise of the people all round him, who manifestly believed, not that Fortarrigo had gamed away his money, but rather that he had some of Fortarrigo's money in keeping, he said, “Plague take thee and thy coat! Is it not enough to have robbed me, but thou must insult me into the bargain, and stop my going away?'still Fortarrigo continued, as if he had not been the person spoken to, "Consider these three shillings. Do you think I shall never pay you again? If you have any regard for me, pray do. Why need you be in such a hurry? We shall be in time enough at Torrenieri. Then open your purse. I may go to every shop in Siena, and not get such another coat. And to tell me that I must leave it for eight and thirty shillings, when it is worth more than forty, is doing me a double injury." 

Angiolieri, vexed to the last degree at seeing himself robbed, and then kept in talk in that manner, turned his horse, and rode towards Torrenieri. Fortarrigo, who had still a more knavish design, ran after him for two miles together, begging for his coat; and as the other was going to push on, in order to get rid of his noise, Fortarrigo happened to see some labourers by the road where Angiolieri was to pass, and called out to them, “stop thief;" so they took their forks and spades, and seized Angiolieri, imagining that he had robbed the other, who was pursuing him in that manner. It was in vain that Angiolieri offered to tell them how the case really was; for in the meantime, Fortarrigo come up, and said, with an angry countenance, "I have a good mind to knock your brains out, you rascal! to ride away with what belongs to me;" and turning to the people, he added,. "You see, gentlemen, in what a plight he left me yonder at the inn, having first gamed away all that he had of his own. I may well say that it is you I am obliged to for getting back my horse and my clothes, and I shall always acknowledge it." 

Angiolieri then told them a very different story, but they had no regard to what he said. So Fortarrigo dismounted him, with their assistance, stripped him of his clothes, which he put on himself, and got upon his horse, leaving him there in his shirt, and barefoot. Then he returned to Siena, giving it out everywhere that he had won Angiolieri's horse and clothes at play; whilst Angiolieri thinking to have visited the cardinal in a sumptuous manner, returned poor and naked to Buonconvento, and was so ashamed of himself, that he would not go back to Siena, but procuring some money upon the horse that Fortarrigo had ridden on, he clothed himself and went to his relations at Corsignano, where he stayed till he received a supply from his father. Thus Angiolieri's good design was entirely frustrated by the other's subtle villany, which yet in due time and place met with its deserved punishment.