NOVEL III.
Three young gentlemen squander their fortunes, and a nephew of theirs returning home in as desperate a condition, falls in company with an Abbot, whom he afterwards finds to be the King of England's daughter. She marries him, and makes good his uncles´ losses, reinstating them in their former prosperity.
The ladies listened with great admiration to the adventures of Rinaldo d'Asti, and commended his devotion, giving thanks to God and St. Julian who had succoured him in his great necessity. Nor did they blame the lady (though they did not care to speak out) for having had the wit to take the good that heaven had sent her. Whilst the rest were pleasantly engaged in talking over the agreeable night which Rinaldo must have had, Pampinea, finding that she was to speak next, after considering a little what she was to say, and receiving the queen's command, began at last in this manner:
The more we talk of the freaks of fortune, the more, to such as consider them attentively, there remains to be said on the subject. At this none need wonder, who consider that all things, which we foolishly call our own, are in her power; and that she blindly wills them from one to another incessantly, and without any rule or method that can be discovered by us. Though this is a truth evinced every day and in everything, and though it has been already illustrated in some of the previous tales, nevertheless, as the queen is pleased that this should be our present subject, I shall add a story to what has been said already, which I think you will not dislike.
There dwelt, formerly, in our city, a knight named Tebaldo, who, as some report, was of the family of the Lamberti; though others say he belonged to the Agolanti: but, be that as it may, he was the most wealthy knight of his times, and had three sons; the eldest was called Lamberto, the second Tebaldo, and the third Agolante; all handsome young gallants; though the eldest was not above eighteen when their father died, leaving them in possession of his vast wealth. Finding themselves so rich, and having nobody to control them, they began to spend apace, by keeping vast numbers of servants, and fine horses, and dogs, and hawks, with open house for all comers, making continual tilts and tournaments, and sparing no diversions that belong to gentlemen; indulging themselves besides in every youthful lust and passion. They had not led this life long, before their riches began to waste, and their rents not being sufficient to defray their current expenses, they mortgaged and sold first one estate, and then another; so that they saw themselves coming to nothing, and then poverty opened their eyes, which had hitherto been kept shut. One day, therefore, Lamberto called his two brothers together, and set forth to them the great repute in which their father had lived, the wealth he had left them, and how much they were now impoverished, through their inordinate expenses; advising them, in the best manner he was able, that, before matters grew worse, they should sell the little that was left, and retire from that quarter.
His advice was followed, and, without taking any leave, or making the least stir, they left Florence, and set sail directly for England. Coming to London, they took a little house, and lived as frugally as possible, letting out money at interest. And fortune was so kind to them, that in a few years they got a great deal of money: by which means, it happened, that first one, and then another, returned to Florence, where they recovered back a great part of their estates, purchased others, and got married; and keeping on their banking trade still in England, they sent a nephew thither, whose name was Alessandro, to manage their business. The three brothers, therefore continued at Florence; and forgetting to what misery they had been reduced by their former extravagance, and notwithstanding they all had families, they began to spend immoderately, having large credit from the merchants. Their expenses were also supported for some years by returns from Alessandro, who had let out money to the barons upon their castles and other estates, which turned to good account.
Whilst the three brothers continued spending in this manner, and borrowing whenever they stood in need, placing their whole dependence upon returns from England, a war broke out there, contrary to every one's expectation, between the king and his son; which divided the whole kingdom, some taking part with one, and some with the other. The consequence was that all the barons" castles were taken out of Alessandro 's hands, and nothing now was left him that turned to any profit: but living in hopes of peace every day, and then that he should have both principal and interest, Alessandro still continued in the kingdom, whilst the three brethren at Florence abated nothing of their extravagance, but continued borrowing more daily. But, when year after year passed away without any money coming, as was expected, they lost all their credit, and people being desirous of getting what was their due, their effects were seized, which not being found sufficient, they were thrown into prison for the remainder, and their wives and children dispersed up and down the country, in a most distressed condition, with no prospect but of misery for the rest of their lives.
Alessandro, after waiting some years, and finding no likelihood of peace in England, but that he continued there to no purpose, and in danger of his life, resolved to return to Italy. He set out all alone; and as he was going out of Bruges, he overtook a young abbot, clothed in white, and attended by a great train of monks, servants, and baggage.
Two aged knights, related to the king, followed the cavalcade. These Alessandro joined; and being known to them, was well received. Travelling in their company, he modestly inquired who those monks were that rode before, with such a retinue, and whither they were going? "He that rides first," replied one of the knights, "is a young gentleman, a relation of ours, who has lately been made abbot of one of the richest abbeys in England; and, because he is younger than is required by the law for such a dignity, we are going to Rome to entreat our holy father to dispense with his want of years: but this is to be a secret." The new abbot riding sometimes before his company, and sometimes behind (as is usual with persons on the road), got sight at last of Alessandro, who was a graceful, well-behaved young gentleman, and was so taken with him at the very first view, that he never saw any one he liked better: and having called him to his side, he inquired who he was, whence he came, and whither he was going? Alessandro answered him very ingenuously, and, at the same time, made him an offer of his little service. The abbot was much pleased with his modest and graceful manner of speaking and behaviour, and especially at findings though his business was mean, that he was a gentleman. And being full of compassion for his losses, he began to comfort him in a friendly manner, bidding him to be of good courage, for if he were a worthy man, God might exalt him to a higher pitch than that from which fortune had cast him down. He desired him, too, as he was going towards Tuscany, to make one in his company, for he himself was likewise travelling thither. Alessandro returned thanks for the encouragement given him, and professed himself entirely at his lordship's service.
The abbot riding on (having got some new fancies in his head since the sight of Alessandro) chanced, after some days' travelling, to come to a country village, which afforded but bad accommodations; and, because the abbot had a mind to halt there, Alessandro made him alight at the house of a person with whom he was acquainted, and provided him a bed in the least incommodious part of the house. Being now become steward of the household, as it were, to the abbot, he disposed of the company in different parts of the town, in the most convenient manner he was able. After the abbot had supped, it being now midnight, and every one gone to rest, Alessandro inquired of the landlord where he was to lie?" In good truth, sir," replied the man, "you see my house is quite full, so that I and my family must be forced to sleep on benches; yet there are some granaries in the abbot's chamber: I can carry a pallet-bed for you thither, and you may rest as well as you can." - "But, landlord," quoth Alessandro, "how can I be in the abbot's chamber, it being so small that there is no room for any of his monks? If I had thought of it before the curtains were drawn, the monks should have lain in the granaries, and I would have gone where the monks are." "The case is this," said the host, "you may lie there, if you please, as well as anywhere in the world: the abbot is asleep, and his curtains drawn; I can convey a little bed thither softly, and you may rest very comfortably." Alessandro, finding that it might be done without disturbing the abbot, consented, and accommodated himself there with as little noise as possible.
The abbot, whom his new desires kept awake, heard what passed between Alessandro and his landlord; and finding that Alessandro was there, he began to reason with himself in this manner: "I have now a fit opportunity to compass my desires; if I let this pass, the like may never offer again." Resolving, therefore, to make use of it, and supposing that all was quiet in the house, he called, with a low voice, "Alessandro!" and bade him come and lie down by him; and Alessandro, after many excuses, undressed, and did as he was desired. The abbot then laid his hand upon the other's breast, as a lover would do; which Alessandro was much surprised at, and began to fear that he had some bad design. As soon as the abbot perceived this, he could not help smiling; and having laid his bosom bare, he took Alessandro's hand and put it upon it, saying, "Be not afraid: convince yourself of what I am." Alessandro laid his hand there, and found two breasts smooth and delicate like polished ivory, which convinced him that it was a woman: and he was going to have been more familiar; when she interrupted him, saying, "Before you come nearer to me, observe what I am going to say: I am a woman, and not a man, as you see, and was now travelling to the pope, for him to dispose of me in marriage: but whether it be your good fortune, or my unhappiness, since I first saw you, the other day, I could not forbear loving you as much as woman ever loved a man; I am therefore determined to marry you in preference to any other person; but if you will not accept of me, go hence at once, and return to the place you came from." Though she was unknown to Alessandro, yet, when he considered the company that was with her, he judged that she must be a lady of distinction, and her person he saw was beautiful; therefore, without much consideration, he declared, that if she was willing, he should be highly pleased. She then rose up in bed, and turning towards a crucifix that stood upon the table, gave a ring into his hand, and made him espouse her; and there, locked in each other's arms, they passed the hours that remained till dawn, in great mutual delight. In the morning, after concerting measures for the continuance of their secret meetings, Alessandro rose and stole out of the room, without any one knowing where he had passed the night.
They proceeded on their route, Alessandro enchanted with the abbot and his company, and after several days' journey they arrived in Rome. Soon afterwards the abbot, with the two knights and Alessandro, was introduced to his holiness, and, after the customary reverences, thus addressed him:
"Holy father, you know better than anybody that they who desire to live honestly and well should avoid, as much as in them lies, all occasions which may lead them to act otherwise. For which reason have I fled, in the garb you behold, with a great part of the treasure of my father, who is King of England, and was about to marry me, young as I am, to the King of Scotland, who is very old, and I am come hither to beg that your holiness would dispose of me in marriage. Nor was it the age of the King of Scotland that made me fly, so much as the fear of doing, through the frailty of my youth, were I married to him, what should be contrary both to the laws of God and to the honour of our royal house. As I was coming with this intention, Providence set before my eyes him whom, in its mercy, it destined I should accept as my husband. It was this young gentleman (here she pointed to Alessandro), whose merit and behaviour make him
worthy of the greatest princess, although his family be less noble. Him have I chosen, nor will I think of any other, however it may seem to my father or any one else. The principal inducement then to this journey is removed: but I chose to proceed, that I might visit the holy places with which this city abounds, and also your holiness, to the end that the contract of marriage, made only in the presence of God, may be declared in yours, and so made public to the world: wherefore I humbly entreat your blessing, to make us more capable of pleasing Him, whose vicar you are, that we may live together to the honour of God and of you, and at length die so."
Great was Alessandro's surprise and joy when he heard that his wife was the King of England's daughter; but the knights were enraged beyond measure, and, had it not been in the pope's presence, they had certainly offered violence to Alessandro, and perhaps to the princess likewise. On the other hand, the pope was in amaze, both at her dress and the choice she had made; but, seeing that what was done could not be undone, he was willing to satisfy her request. Having consoled the two angry and astounded knights, and made peace between them and the lady and Alessandro, he gave orders for what he would have done; and when the appointed day was come, he made the lady appear most royally dressed before all the cardinals, and other great personages, who had been invited to a most magnificent feast, where she appeared so beautiful and courteous, that every one was charmed with her. In like manner was Alessandro richly apparelled; in his aspect and behaviour being more like a prince than a person brought up to trade, and he was much honoured by the two knights. The pope saw the marriage celebrated with all imaginable grandeur; and, after receiving his benediction, the bride and bridegroom took their leave.
Alessandro and his lady were desirous, when they left Rome, of seeing Florence, whither fame had already carried the news of their marriage; and they were received there with the utmost respect. She immediately took the three brothers out of prison, paying all their debts, and settled them and their wives in their former estates. This gained them the goodwill of every one; and departing thence, they took Agolante with them, and came to Paris, where the king received them in a most honourable manner. Thence the two knights went to England, where they prevailed so far with the king that he forgave his daughter, and received them with all possible demonstration of joy, making his son-in-law a knight, and creating him Earl of Cornwall. Alessandro's behaviour and conduct were such, that he accommodated matters between father and son, which was of great service to the kingdom, and gained him the love and esteem of every one. Agolante recovered all that was due to him, and returned to Florence immensely rich, being first knighted by Count Alessandro, who lived happily with his princess; and it is reported that, through his prudence and valour, and the assistance of his father-in-law, he made a conquest of Scotland, and was crowned king of that realm.
