THE TENTH DAY. NOVEL I. Knight, Alfonso king of Spain

THE TENTH DAY. 

Now began certain little clouds, that were in the west, to blush with a vermilion tint, whilst those in the east grew bright at their extremities, like burnished gold, owing to the sunbeams approaching near, and glancing upon them, when Pamfilo arose, and assembled all his company. After concluding whither they were to go, he led the way with an easy pace, attended by Filomena and Fiammetta, the rest all following at a distance, talking of many things relating to their future conduct, and, taking a considerable circuit, they returned, as the sun grew warm, to the palace. There, having plunged their glasses in the clear current, they quaffed their morning draughts, and went amidst the shady walks of the garden, to amuse themselves till dinner. After dining and sleeping as usual, they met where the king appointed, when he laid his first commands on Neifile, who began very pleasantly in this manner: 

NOVEL I. 

A certain knight in the service of the king of Spain thinks himself not sufficiently rewarded. The king gives a remarkable proof that this was not his fault so much as the knight's ill-fortune, and afterwards nobly requites him. 

Behold it, ladies, as a singular favour, that the king has appointed me to speak first on so noble a subject as that of magnanimity, which, as the sun is the glory of heaven, is the ornament and lustre of every other virtue. I shall relate, therefore, a pleasant novel enough, in my opinion, and which can be no other than useful. 

Know, then, that amongst other worthy knights of our city was one Ruggieri de' Figiovanni, whose worth and valour made him equal at least to the best, and who, finding, according to the dispositions of his countrymen, that he had no opportunity of showing his courage at home, resolved to go into the service of Alfonso, king of Spain, the most celebrated prince of his time. So he went, attended with an honourable train, and was most graciously received by the king, to whom he soon made his merit known, as well by his gallant way of life, as his glorious feats of arms. Continuing some time there, and having particular regard to every action of the king's, he found that he gave away castles, cities, and baronies, sometimes to one, and sometimes to another, without the least judgment, and where there was no show of merit in the case, and that he came in for no part himself. Therefore, being sensible of his own worth, and fearful lest his character should suffer by such an oversight, he took the resolution to depart, desiring the king's leave, which was granted him. His majesty also made him a present of a fine mule, which was very acceptable, on account of the long journey he had to perform. After this, the king instructed one of his servants to contrive to fall in with the knight upon the road, but in such a manner that the latter should have no suspicion who sent him, when he was to note what he should say concerning the king, in order to carry a full account back, and the next morning he was to command Ruggieri's return with him to the king. Accordingly, the servant waited for the knight's departure, and soon joined him, giving him to understand that he was going towards Italy. Thus. they rode on, chatting together, the knight mounted upon the mule which the king had given him; and it being now about three o'clock, he said, "We should do well to give our beasts a little rest." This being agreed on, they put them up in a stable, when they all staled except the mule. Going on afterwards, the servant attentive all the time to the knight's words, they came to a river, where, as they watered all their beasts, the mule chanced to stale in the river. When the knight saw this, he said, "Plague on thee, for an ill-conditioned beast; thou art just like thy master that gave thee to me." The servant took particular notice of this, and though he had picked up many things upon the road, there was no other but what redounded to the king's credit; so the next morning, as soon as they had mounted their horses, and were setting out for Italy, he delivered the king's mandate, upon which the knight immediately turned back. The king being informed what Ruggieri had said concerning the mule, had him brought before him, and receiving him with a cheerful countenance, asked why the mule and he were compared to each other. Ruggieri very frankly replied, "It is, my lord, because you give where you ought not, and where you ought, there you give nothing; just as the mule would not stale where she should, but did it where she should not." "Believe me. Signor Ruggieri," replied the king, "if I have not given to you as I have done to divers others, who are no way your equals, this happened not because I have not known you to be a valiant knight, and deserving of all I could do for you, but it was entirely your ill fortune, as I will soon convince you." - "My lord," answered the knight, "I do not complain because I have yet received nothing from your majesty, out of any desire of becoming richer, but only for that you have in no wise borne testimony to my merits; and, though I hold your excuse to be good, I should yet be glad to see what you promise to show me, notwithstanding I want no such proof." 

The king then led him into a great hall, where, as he had before given orders, stood two large coffers. Then said the king, in the presence of many of his lords, "sir Knight, in one of these coffers is my imperial crown, sceptre, globe, with all the best jewels that I have; the other is filled only with earth. Choose then which you will, and it shall be yours: so you will see whether it is I that am ungrateful to your merit, or whether it is your ill fortune." Ruggieri, seeing it was the king's pleasure, made choice of one of the coffers, which the king ordered to be opened, and it was found full of earth; upon which the king laughed, and said, "You see now, sir, that what I said of your fortune is true; but most assuredly your valour deserves that I interpose in the case. I know very well that you have no desire to become a Spaniard, for which reason I would give you neither castle nor city; but this chest, which your ill fortune deprived you of, I will shall be yours, in despite of her. Take it home with you, that you may value yourself upon your virtue amongst your neighbours and friends, by this testimony of my bounty." 

The knight received it, and, after returning his majesty the thanks that were due for such a present, departed joyfully therewith to his native country. 

[The rudiments of this story may be traced back as far as to the romance of "Josaphat and Barlaam."]

//

LXII

Perg. n°1 fol. 16. 27 ene. 1150.

In nomine Sancte et individue Trinitatis: Hec est vera pax et firma convenientia ac perpetua concordia que ex consultu sume divinitatis ad honorem Dei et totius christianitatis est facta et corroborata inter illustrem Ildefonsum imperatorem lspanie et filium ejus regem Sancium et venerabilem Raimundum comitem barchinonensium que ita se habet. In primis omnes querimonias et omnes clamores ac omnes offensas quas inter se quolibet modo usque hodie habuerunt per bonam fidem sine malo ingenio sibi indulgent et perdonant. Concordati quidem sunt et faciunt placitum de omni honore illo et tota terra illa scilicet civitatibus castellis villis montibus et planis desertis et populatis que omnia rex Garsias die illo quo mortuus est tenebat et possidebat. Hec autem convenientia finis et concordia talis est ut predictus imperator habeat ex prenominata terra Maragno et totam aliam terram quam Ildefonsus rex avus illius illo die quo obiit ultra Iberum ex parte Pampilone tenebat. Predictus vero comes barchinonensis habeat de cetera terra quam predictus rex Garsias tenebat totam illam terram integriter que regno aragonensi pertinet aliam quoque terram Pampilone pro qua rex Sancius et rex Petrus Ildefonso regi legionensi hominium fecerunt predictus imperator et prenominatus comes habeant equaliter per medium et pro illa medietate quam prenominatus comes habebit faciat idem comes predicto imperatori Ildefonso tale hominium quale rex Sancius et rex Petrus Ildefonso regi avo predicti imperatoris Ildefonsi fecerunt. In illa medietate imperatoris sit Estella. In medietate vero comitis sit Erunnia civitas sed cum ipsi venerint ad divisionem utraque scilicet Stella et Erunnia in divisione illa suum obtineant valorem. Civitatem vero Tutele cum suis pertinentiis et castella illa cum suis pertinentiis que quondam rex Garsias vel homo per eum tenebat que sunt citra Iberum versus Montem-gaudii habeant similiter per medium et dividant equaliter exceptis illis castellis que comitis fuerunt. Preterea predictus imperator et prenominatus comes se invicem conveniunt et faciunt placitum et concordiam de terra Ispanie quammodo sarraceni tenent ut comes habeat civitatem Valenciam cum omni terra illa que durat a flumine Xuchari usque ad terminum regni Tortose et habeat similiter civitatem Deniam cum omnibus suis pertinentiis et cum omni illo dominio quod tempore sarracenorum ipsi sarraceni habeant. Tali pacto ut habeat predictas civitates prelibatus comes per jamdictum imperatorem per tale hominium quale rex Sancius et rex Petrus Ildefonso regi avo predicti imperatoris Ildefonsi fecerunt pro Pampilona. Item predictus imperator donat jamdicto comiti et modis omnibus concedit civitatem Murciam et totum regnum ejusdem excepto castro de Lorcha et castro de Bera cum omnibus eorum terminis tali convenientia ut predictus imperator adjuvet prelibatum comitem per bonam fidem sine fraude predictam civitatem Murciam et totum regnum ejusdem adquirere et lucrari et adquisitam et lucratam teneat eam et habeat predictus comes per prenominatum imperatorem eo modo quod habet per eum civitatem Cesaraugustam et regnum ejus. Si vero imperator propter infirmitatem aut justum et cognitum impedimentum in quo nullus dolus interesset predictum comitem adjuvare non posset nullum ex hoc imperator paciatur incomodum sed de quantocumque comes adquirere poterit de Murcia et ejus regno ita habeat per imperatorem sicut habet Cesaraugustam et regnum ejus. Sed si imperator predicto comiti eandem civitatem et regnum ejus adquirere et lucrari sine dolo non adjuvaret aut adjuvare nollet et ipse comes eandem civitatem et regnum ejus vel aliquid de eis quoquomodo adquirere poterit quicquid inde adquisierit habeat per jamdictum imperatorem eo modo quo habet Valenciam. De duabus partibus Pampilone quas comes in prima convenientia quam cum imperatore contraxerat accepturus erat quas modo in hac convenientia quam invicem faciunt predicto imperatori comes ad medietatem reducit accipit imperator comitem in suo bono causimento quod comiti sit congruum. Ego sepedictus imperator et filius meus rex Sancius preterea convenimus tibi predicto comiti ut a primo festo Sancti Michaelis in antea fideles adjutores erimus tibi per bonam fidem sine engan de omni supradicta terra quam rex Garsias quondam tenebat ad adquirendam et lucrandam quam nos suprascripto partituri convenimus et quantumcumque interim nos vel aliqui per nos de supradicta terra adquisiverimus et lucrati fuerimus et ab ipso termino in antea quocumque modo lucrari poterimus et adquirere fideles tibi erimus et equaliter dividemus tecum per medium. Hec omnia supradicta per fidem sine engan tibi attendere et adimplere convenimus nisi infirmitas vel justum et cognitum impedimentum intervenerit. Et ego Raimundus comes barchinonensis vobis imperatori et filio vestro regi Sancio simili modo attendere et adimplere convenio. Item ego Raimundus comes convenio tibi regi Sancio ut omnem honorem tam Ispanie quam christianorum quem per patrem vestrum imperatorem teneo vel in antea per convenientias que inter me et ipsum sunt habere spero si prenominatus pater vester obiret ita per vos accipiam sicut habeo per patrem vestrum et illud hominium et easdem convenientias quas illi exinde feci vobis faciam sine engan et si quod absit vos mori contigeret fratri vestro regi Ferrando similiter attendere et adimplere promitto eo quod ipse in eisdem convenientiis michi staret. Et ego imperator tibi comiti convenio quod ab hac prima festivitate Sancti Michaelis in antea quantumcumque cognoveris et volueris tam per tuum profectum quam per nostrum predictus filius meus rex Sancius filiam Garsie tenebit. Deinde vero quandocumque volueris et me comonueris per te vel tuos nuncios statim sine aliquo interdictu eandem filiam Garsie filius meus rex Sancius penitus dimittet et a se separabit nunquam eam amplius quolibet modo recuperaturus. Ego autem rex Sancius vobis Raimundo comiti barchinonensi sicut pater meus vobis convenit ita ego per omnia adimplere convenio scilicet quod predictam filiam Garsie dimittam et a me separabo nec in perpetuum eam recuperabo nec aliquo modo eam michi associabo quando vos volueritis et me per vos aut per vestros nuncios commonueritis. Supradicta quoque omnia placita scilicet et convenientias que superius ordinate et scripte sunt convenit predictus imperator jamdicto comiti Raimundo attendere et per omnia adimplere per bonam fidem sine engan unde dat ei suam bonam fidem et suam veram credenciam et recipit eum in illo dominio et hominio quod est inter eos. Simili autem modo Raimundus comes barchinonensis dat imperatoris suam fidem et suam credenciam et ponit istud in eo dominio quod est inter eos. Hoc idem convenit predictus comes jamdicto regi Sancio et dat ei suam fidem et suam credenciam et propter hoc facit ei hominium suis propriis manibus. Simili namque modo rex Sancius convenit predicto comiti barchinonensi et dat ei suam bonam fidem et suam firmam credenciam et propter hoc facit hominium sepe dicto comiti suis propriis manibus quod eo faciunt quod sic faciant et attendant per bonam fidem sine engan sicut superius scriptum est. Preterea ego imperator Ildefonsus et filius meus rex Sancius per predicta placita et convenientias que inter nos et vos superius scripte sunt solvimus tibi et impigneramus illa quatuor castella que per nos tenes nominatim Alagonem Riclam Mariam et Belxid cum omnibus eorum dominationibus et terminis eo modo quod si placita et conveniencias sicut inter nos et vos superius scripte sunt tibi non attenderemus et adimpleremus predicta IIII castella in tuam potestatem incurrerent et per alodium et per hereditatem quod ea te nullo modo repetere possemus nec per hominium nec per aliquas convenientias quas inde nobis fecisses donec plenarie tibi restitueremus per laudamentum et consilium meorum proborum hominum et vestrorum qui inde comune bonum inquirere vellent. Item super hec omnia ego imperator tibi comiti convenio quod sicut erat ordinatum et comprehensum inter nos et vos de honore Pampilone scilicet quod tu haberes inde duas partes et ego tertiam si predictas istas convenientias et placita tibi infringerem et non attenderem illas easdem duas partes habeas in terra illa sine aliquo interdictu mei vel meorum quod ego vel aliquis per me tibi facere posset modo vel omni tempore. Et propter hoc quod nullus inter nos et te aliquod malum verbum pro quo discordia interveniret dicere possit ego imperator et filius meus rex Sancius convenimus tibi predicto comiti quod aliquem hominem de terra tua nec retineamus nec adjuvemus in aliquo contra tuam voluntatem aliquo modo per fidem sine engan. Et ego Raimundus comes simili modo convenio vobis imperatori et filio vestro per fidem sine engan. Hec quidem supradicte convenientie et placita fuerunt confirmata et corroborata in loco qui dicitur Tudilen juxta Aguas-Calidas VI kalendas februarii anno ab incarnatione Domini MCL in presentia nobilium virorum inferius subscriptorum qui predicta omnia suo sacramento confirmaverunt. Juro ego comes Poncius tibi Raimundo comiti barchinonensi quod sicut predicte convenientie et placita inter imperatorem IIdefonsum et filium ejus regem Sancium superius scripta sunt et ordinata sic imperator predictus et filius ejus rex Sancius facient et attendent predicto comiti per omnia per Deum et Sancta quatuor evangelia. Simili modo ego Gonterriz Ferrandus juro et confirmo. Simili modo ego Poncius de Menerba juro et confirmo. Ex parte vero comitis ego Arnallus Mironis comes de Palars juro tibi imperatori et filio vestro regi Sancio quod sicut predicte convenientie et placita inter vos et comitem superius scripta sunt et corroborata sic predictus comes vobis faciet et attendet per omnia per Deum et Sancta quatuor evangelia. Simili modo ego Guillelmus Raimundi Dapifer juro et confirmo. Nos omnes supradicti sumus hujus rei testes et juramus hec omnia per fidem sine engan. Sig+num Raimundi comes. Sig+num imperatoris. Rex Sancius +. Poncius Barchinonensis Ecclesie decanus scripsit hec die et anno quo supra +.