NOVEL X.
Two inhabitants of Siena love the same woman, one of whom was god-father to her son. This man dies, and returns, according to his promise, to his friend, and gives him an account of what is done in the other world.
There was only the king now left to speak; who, after quieting the ladies, who were under some concern for the cutting down of the pear-tree, began as follows: - It is a plain case, that every just prince ought himself to be tied down by the laws of his own making; and that if he acts otherwise, he should be punished as a private person: now I am forced to fall under this very censure; for, yesterday, I gave you a subject for this day's discourse, with no design of making use of my privilege, but to conform with the rest and speak to it myself. Whereas, besides having the very story taken from me which I meant to have given, there has been such a variety of incidents told, and well told, to the same effect, that I can think of nothing myself worth troubling you with, after them. Therefore, as I am under the necessity of transgressing against my own law, I submit to any punishment you shall please to inflict upon me. So, having recourse to my privilege at last, I shall relate a short novel; which, though it contains some things which are not to be credited, may not be disagreeable for you to hear.
There were, some time since, two young men of Siena, the one named Tingoccio Mini, and the other Meuccio di Tura, who dwelt in the Porta Solaia, and were very intimate. They used, therefore, to go to church together, when, hearing much of the pleasures and pains of a future state, and being desirous of knowing something more certain on that head, they promised each other, that whichever died first should return, if it were possible, to inform his friend. In the meantime, they happened both to fall in love with the lady of Ambruogio Anselmini. Great as their friendship was, they kept this from each other, though for different reasons. Tingoccio had been godfather to one of the lady's children; and being in a measure ashamed of such gallantry, he concealed it from his friend. On the other hand, Meuccio kept his love a secret, because he knew the other liked her as well as himself. At length Tingoccio, as he had more opportunities than his friend, happened to succeed. This was a great mortification to Meuccio, who still lived in hopes of gaining his point some time or other, and affected, therefore, to know nothing of the matter, lest Tingoccio should thwart his designs.
Some time after this, Tingoccio was taken ill, and died: and the third night afterwards, he came into Meuccio's chamber, when he was fast asleep, and called aloud to him.
- Meuccio awoke, and said, "What art thou?" He replied, "I am thy friend Tingoccio, who am come, according to our agreement, to bring thee tidings of the other world." Meuccio was a good deal frightened at this, but taking courage at last, he said, "Thou art welcome." And then he asked him whether he was a lost person? Tingoccio made answer, "Those things only are lost which cannot be found; and if that was the case, how should I be here?" - "I mean not so," quoth Meuccio; "but what I ask is, whether you be one of the damned?" - "Not so," said he; "but yet I suffer great pains for some sins which I committed." He then inquired what punishment was inflicted for every single sin, and Tingoccio resolved him fully in each particular. Meuccio asked then if he could do him any service here, and Tingoccio answered, "Yes; namely, by saying prayers and masses, and giving alms: for those things are of great benefit to the deceased." This Meuccio promised to do; and as the ghost was offering to depart, he raised himself up, and said, "I remember, my friend, that you had an affair with your god-son's mother: pray what is done to you upon that account?" "O, brother," he replied, "when I first arrived in the other world, I met with a ghost who seemed to have all my sins by heart, and who ordered me to go into a certain place, where I was to do penance for them, and where I found a great many people who were sent thither upon the same score. And being among them, and calling to mind that particular crime you now mention, for which I expected some very great punishment, I was all over in a tremble, although in the midst of a great fire. When one that stood by me said, "Pray, what hast thou done more than any one else, that thou quakest to this degree in so hot a place?" - " Alas! " I replied, "I had to do with my godson's mother." - "Go, thou fool," said he, " is there any relationship in that, to make the crime worse?" This gave me some comfort." And now, it being near daybreak, he said to his friend, "Farewell, for I can stay no longer with you;" and so vanished out of the room. Thus Meuccio was convinced, that that sort of kindred was of no consequence; and thenceforth he was less scrupulous than he used to be in such cases.
The west wind began now to breathe, as the sun grew near his setting; when the king, having concluded his novel, arose, and taking the crown from his own head, placed it upon Lauretta's, saying, "Madam, I crown you with your own crown, as queen of this company; do you, as such, command what you think will be most agreeable to us all." Lauretta, being now queen, sent to the master of the household, and ordered him to have the cloth laid in the pleasant valley sooner than usual, that they might return afterwards with more ease to the palace. Then directing what she would farther have done, she turned to the company, and said, "It was Dioneo's will, yesterday, that our novels should be concerning the devices and tricks which women put upon their husbands; and was it not that you would think I had malice in my heart, my subject for tomorrow should be the manner of men's imposing upon their wives. But, setting this aside, let every one think of the stratagems which are daily practised by women against the men, or by the men against the women; or, lastly, by one man against another; and this, I think, will afford as agreeable matter for discourse as what we have had today." Then she gave them their liberty till supper-time. The company then arose, and whilst some went to wash their feet in the cool stream, others took a walk upon the green turf, under the cover of the spreading trees, and Dioneo and Fiammetta sat singing together the song of Palamon and Arcite. Thus all were agreeably employed till supper; when the tables being set forth by the side of the basin, they sat down to the music of a thousand birds, and their faces fanned all the time with cool refreshing breezes, coming from the little hills around them, they supped with the utmost mirth and satisfaction. Taking a walk afterwards round the valley, before the sun was quite set, they began their march back to the palace, talking all the way of a thousand different things, which had either occurred in this day's discourse, or the preceding, and arrived there as it grew dark. Refreshing themselves, after their walk, with wine and sweetmeats, they indulged in a dance by the side of the fountain; sometimes, for variety, to the sound of Tindaro's bagpipes, and sometimes to other more musical instruments. At length they called upon Filomena for a song, who thus obeyed:
SONG.
Such my desire to meet my love,
That I with eager transport fly:
But why your long unkind delay?
Tell me, my swain, O tell me why?
The joys I from your converse feel
No pow'r of language can express;
Whilst your commanding smiles and voice
Conspire with mutual aid to bless.
Say, then, my life! when shall I meet,
And former vows of love renew?
Soon come the time, be long your stay;
For all my wishes point to you;
I'll hold you fast, when fortune thus
Auspicious crowns my fond desires;
Then naste, fly quick to my embrace;
That pleasing hope my song inspires.
This song made them all conclude that Filomena was subject to the little god; and, by her manner of expressing herself, her passion seemed to be in a fair and prosperous way: but when it was ended, the queen, remembering that the next day was a fast, said, "Gentlemen and ladies, I must let you know, that tomorrow being Friday, it is to be observed as holy; for you may remember, that when Neifile was queen, we waved our diversions on that day, and so we did on Saturday. Therefore I think it proper to follow so laudable an example, and to dedicate those two days to our devotions." This was agreeable to the whole company; and a good part of the night being now spent, she dismissed them, and they retired to their respective chambers.
