NOVEL VI.
Ricciardo Minutolo is in love with the wife of Philippello Fighinolfi; and knowing her to be jealous of her husband, makes her believe that the latter was to meet his wife that night at a bagnio. Accordingly she goes thither, and, imagining she was with her husband all the time, finds herself at last with Ricciardo.
Eliza had now concluded her story, and the queen, having commended the beau's ingenuity, laid the next charge upon Fiammetta, who began, with a smile, as follows:
- It may be convenient to quit our own city at present, which, as it abounds in everything, is no less fruitful in examples relating to most subjects, and to recount, as Eliza has done, what has come to pass in other countries. Therefore, passing over to Naples, I shall set forth how one of those sanctified ladies, who seemed averse to all love intrigues, was, by the dexterous management of her lover, brought to taste the fruits of love, before she had known the flower of it; which will both divert you as to what is already past, and caution you, in certain points, for the time to come.
There lived at Naples, one of the most ancient and pleasant cities in all Italy, a young gentleman of great wealth, as well as nobly descended, called Ricciardo Minutolo; who, notwithstanding he had a beautiful lady for his wife, was enamoured of another, who was thought to surpass all the women in Naples. This lady was called Catella, and was the wife of a young gentleman named Philippello Fighinolfi, whom she loved and valued above all things. Now Ricciardo being in love with her, and doing everything which he thought might gain her affections, but to no manner of purpose, fell into despair; and as he was unable to get the ascendency over his passion, he had no pleasure in living, and yet no wish to die. Continuing in this disposition, he was one day advised, by the ladies of his acquaintance, to give over his vain pursuit, seeing that Catella regarded nothing so much as her own husband, of whom she was so jealous, that she was fearful of every bird that flew over his head, lest it might snatch him from her. Ricciardo hearing of this jealous disposition, began now to conceive hopes of success; but pretending to lay all such views aside, he gave it out that he had taken a fancy to another lady, towards whom he practised the same gallantries as he had before offered to Catella; and in a little time it was universally believed, that Catella was no longer the object of his passion, but this second lady; insomuch, that the former began now to put off that reserve which had hitherto appeared in her behaviour, and to treat him with the same openness and affability as her other neighbours.
Now it happened, the season of the year being sultry, that some companies of gentlemen and ladies went to divert themselves on the sea-shore, where they were to dine and sup; and Ricciardo knowing that Catella was gone thither with a party of people, went likewise with a set of his friends, and, after much importunity, as if he had no mind to remain there, he was persuaded to join the company of Catella and her friends. Presently all the ladies, Catella among the rest, began to banter him concerning this new love of his, at which he affected to be so much nettled that they talked all the more upon that subject. At length the members of the party being dispersed up and down, as is usual on such occasions, and Catella remaining only with a few friends where Ricciardo was, he dropped a hint of some intrigue of her husband's, which gave her a violent fit of jealousy, and she burned with impatience to know the truth. In a little time, therefore, she began to entreat Ricciardo, that, for the sake of the lady whom he loved most, he would make that matter clear to her, relating to Philippello.
"You have conjured me," Ricciardo replied, by a person, on whose account I can refuse nothing that is asked me, only you must promise never to speak a word to him, or any other person about it, till you find it really so, which I will shew you how you may be satisfied of, as soon as you please." She was now more strongly possessed of the truth of the matter, and promised to be silent. Taking her then apart, that they might not be overheard, he thus addressed her: "Madam, if I now loved you in the manner I formerly did, I could not endure to tell you what must give you so much uneasiness; but as that is at an end, I shall be less fearful of making a full discovery. I do not know whether your husband was provoked at my loving you; or whether he had any suspicion of my being loved by you: but be this as it may, he has taken an opportunity, when I had the least cause to be jealous, of attempting to do by me, what he might suspect I meant to do by him; namely, to seduce my wife; for which purpose he has tried frequent messages, with which she has constantly made me acquainted, and returned such answers to them as I directed her. This very morning I found a woman in close conference with her, and imagining who she was, I asked my wife what the woman wanted? She told me that she came from Philipello; "who, from such answers,” continued she; "as you have made me send, from time to time, begins to have hopes of prevailing; and he now says, that he wants me to come to a resolution, and that he can so order it, that we may meet privately at a bagnio. He begs and entreats me most earnestly to be there; and were it not that you have made me hold him in suspense with such frivolous answers, I should have dealt with him in such a manner, that he should never have troubled me more.”
I bore all the rest patiently, but now he has proceeded too far, and accordingly I resolved to tell you, that you might see how he has rewarded your most faithful love, for which I was just at death's door; but, lest you should think all this groundless, and that yourself may be an eye witness of it, I ordered my wife to tell the woman that she would meet him there tomorrow at nones, when everybody would be asleep; with which answer the messenger went away well pleased. Now I would not have you suppose that I intend to send her thither, but, were I in your place, I would go instead of her, and after you have been some time together, I would then make a discovery of myself to him; by which means you would shame him from being ever guilty of the like practices hereafter, and at the same time prevent the injury which is designed both to yourself and me."
Catella, without considering who it was that told her this, or what his designs might be, gave credit to it, as jealous people usually do to such stories; and calling to mind other circumstances to confirm it, she said, with a great deal of passion, that she would certainly do so, and that she would so confound him, that he should never more dare to look a woman in the face.
Ricciardo was highly pleased; and now thinking that his scheme was likely to take effect, he confirmed her in that resolution, desiring her, nevertheless, not to mention what she had heard, which she accordingly promised. The next morning, then, he went to the woman who kept the bagnio, which he had mentioned to Catella, and begged her assistance in the affair, which she easily agreed to; and they contrived how it might be best effected. There was a dark room in the house, where she made up a bed, as he had directed her, and as soon as he had dined, he went thither to wait for Catella; whilst she, giving more credit to his words than she ought, returned home full of spleen. Philippello came home likewise, and, as it happened, in a very thoughtful mood, so that perhaps he did not show that fondness towards her that he usually did. This made her suspect him all the more; and she said to herself, "Truly he is taken up with thinking of the lady whom he is to meet tomorrow, but I will prevent it:" and she was considering all night long what she should say to him at their meeting. In a word, at the hour of nones she took a friend with her, and went directly to the bagnio and seeing the good woman, she inquired if Philippello was there. The woman having learned her lesson from Ricciardo, said, "Are you the lady that is to speak to him here?" Catella answered, "I am.” - "Then," said she, "go in there." Catella, who went to seek what she would not willingly have found, entered the room where Ricciardo lay, her face being covered by a veil, and locked the door behind her. Ricciardo, taking her in his arms with transport, whispered, "Welcome, my soul;" whilst she, the better to sustain her assumed character, embraced and kissed him with great demonstrations of good will, but never said a word for fear he should recognise her. The room having no window was extremely dark, which suited both parties very well, nor could they see at all even after they had been there some time. Ricciardo led her to the bed without betraying himself by his speech, and there they remained together for a long time, with more delight to the one than to the other.
At length, when Catella thought it fit time to shew her resentment, she broke out in the following manner: "Miserable lot of women! How ill placed is the love we bear to our husbands! For these eight years have I loved you more than my whole life; whilst you, most wicked man, give yourself up entirely to another woman. Whom do you think you are now with? You are with her, whom you have so often deceived with your false flatteries, pretending affection, when you had placed it elsewhere. Perfidious villain! I am Catella, and not Ricciardo's wife. Do you know my voice or not? I am, I tell you; and I think it long till I bring you into the light, to confound you with shame as you deserve.
Alas! whom have I loved in this manner for so many years! Whom but this wretch, who, supposing himself in bed with another woman, has shewn more fondness than he ever did to me since we were married. Brisk enough you have proved yourself today, you renegade dog, that are so feeble and good for nothing at home. But, thank Heaven, it is in your own vineyard you have been labouring, not in another's, as you fancied. No wonder you did not come near me last night; you wanted to husband your strength that you might display all your prowess in another field. But once more, thank Heaven and my own foresight, the water has run in its regular channel, as it ought. Why do not you answer, you villain? Are you struck dumb with what I have said? I have a good mind to pull your eyes out of your head. You thought it had been all a secret; but you were mistaken." Ricciardo was greatly amused to hear her talk thus, and returned no answer but by his caresses; whilst she, resuming her complaints, exclaimed, "If you think to wheedle me in this manner you are mistaken; I will never rest till I have exposed you to all our neighbours and friends. Am I not as handsome as the wife of Ricciardo? Am I not as good a gentlewoman as she? Hands off; touch me not; you have performed exploits enough for one day. And now that you know who I am, whatever you might do would be all forced; but if I live you shall often be fain to ask, and get No! for your answer. I see no reason why I should not send to Ricciardo, who once loved me passionately, and yet could never boast that I vouchsafed to give him one kind look; and who knows what mischief may then ensue? You thought you had been with his wife all this time, and you are equally guilty as if you really had: therefore, were I to prove criminal with him, you could not blame me."
Her complaints were long and outrageous; till at length he began to think that if she was suffered to depart in this mood, mischief would certainly ensue; therefore he resolved to undeceive her: and holding her so fast in his arms, that she could not get away, he said to her, "My life, do not make yourself uneasy; that which I could not have by dint of love, I have obtained by stratagem; I am your Ricciardo." She hearing this, and knowing his voice, would have leaped out of bed, but could not; and as she was going to cry out, he laid his hand upon her mouth, and said, "Madam, what has been now done cannot be undone were you to cry all your life long; and if it be made public by any means, two things must happen. The first, which is of great concern to you, is, that your honour and good name will be called in question; for though you should allege your being deceived, I will contradict it, and say that you came hither for reward, and because I would not give you as much as you expected, for that reason you made all this disturbance; and you know people are always more ready to believe what is bad, than what is good, of another, on which account my story would find the most credit. In the second place, a mortal enmity must ensue betwixt me and your husband; and things may be carried so far, that he may kill me, or I him, which would give yon great uneasiness: therefore, my dearest life, do not lessen yourself and make mischief between us. You are not the first, nor will be the last, that has been imposed upon. It is not to deprive you of your honour, but it is the abundant regard I have for you that has put me upon using this device: and from this time forth myself, and all I am worth, shall be at your service. As you are discreet then in other things, I hope you will be so in this."
She expressed the utmost grief whilst he was speaking these words; but having listened so far to what he said, as to be convinced that it was reasonable, she replied, "I do not know how God will enable me to bear both the injury and the trick you have put upon me; I will make no noise here, where I have been brought by my own foolishness and over great jealousy; but this you may depend upon, that I shall never be at rest till I see myself revenged one way or other: therefore let me go; you have gained your point, and have done what you pleased; it is time to leave me, leave me then I beseech you." Ricciardo, who saw the anguish of her heart, resolved not to part with her before he made peace; using, therefore, all the kind and tender expressions he could think of to mollify her, he begged and prayed so earnestly that at last he made his peace, and they remained together a long while, with equal good will on both sides, and with great mutual delight. In fine, the lady having experienced how much more racy were the lover's kisses than the husband's, her former cruelty to Ricciardo was changed into the warmest passion. She loved him ever after, and many a time were they happy in each other's arms. Heaven send us all the like good fortune.
[I do not think, says Dunlop ("History of Fiction"), that this story occurs either in the selections of Tableux published by Barbazan, or Le Grand, but I have little doubt that it exists among those which have not been brought to light. The incident has been a favourite one with subsequent novelists. For example, it corresponds with one of the tales of Sacchetti, and with the fourth of the Fourth Decade of Cinthio. It has also been versified by La Fontaine, in his 'Richard Minutolo."
