NOVEL IV.
Ricciardo Manardi is found by Lizio along with his daughter, whom he marries, and they become reconciled.
Eliza was listening to the commendations which her novel had excited, when the queen laid the next charge on Filostrato, who smiled, and began in this manner: - I have been so often lashed by you for giving a harsh and melancholy subject, that, by way of recompense, I think myself obliged to say something which will make you laugh: I shall therefore relate a love affair, which, after being attended with nothing worse than a few sighs and a short fright, mingled with some shame, was brought to a happy ending; and all this shall be told in the compass of a very short novel.
Not long since there lived in Romagna a worthy and accomplished knight, named Lizio da Valbona, who had, in his old age, by his lady, Madam Giacomina, a daughter, the most beautiful young lady in all the country. Being their only child, they were extremely tender and careful of her, thinking through her to make some grand alliance. Now there was a young gentleman, of a very agreeable person, one of the Manardi, of Brettinoro, Ricciardo by name, who used to come much to their house. Lizio and his lady were under no further apprehensions from him than they would have been from their own son; but often seeing their daughter, and being charmed with her person and behaviour, he fell secretly in love, which, she perceiving, soon delighted him exceedingly, by returning his affection. He was often desirous of speaking to her, yet could never dare to do it; till, at length, he had one day opportunity, and enough courage, to say, "Pray, Caterina, let me not die for love.” She instantly replied, "Would to Heaven you would show me the Ijke mercy! "Overjoyed by this encouragement, he rejoined, "I shall study your will and pleasure in everything; do you find a way to make us happy together."
"You see, Ricciardo, how I am watched," she answered, "and, therefore, I am unable to contrive the means for your coming to me; but if you can think of any method to do it,without bringing disgrace upon me, tell me, and I shall be very glad." After mature consideration, " My dearest Caterina," he said, "I see no other way, but for you to get leave to sleep in the gallery, which looks towards the garden, and if I knew when that happened, I would certainly contrive to get to you, however great the height from the ground." "If you have the courage to come," she replied, "I think I can manage so as to sleep there." He promised to do so, and for the present they parted.
The following day, it being about the end of May, Caterina complained grievously to her mother, that the heat had been so excessive the night before, that she could not get a wink of sleep. "Why daughter," said the mother, "you talk of heat, I do not find the weather so sultry." - "Madam, there is some difference between old people and young." - "That may be; but can I change the seasons? You must bear with the time of year as it is: another night it may be more temperate, and then you will sleep better." - "I wish it might," said Caterina, "but the nights are not used to grow cooler, the more the summer advances." - "Then," said the mother, "what would you have me do for you?” She replied, "If you and my father please, I would gladly lie in the gallery adjoining your room, which looks towards the garden; there I shall have plenty of fresh air, and hear the nightingale, and it will be much more pleasant than lying in your chamber." - "Well, my dear," said the old lady, "I will speak to your father about it, and we will do as he thinks best." Accordingly she mentioned the matter to Lizio, who being old, was apt to be a little testy, and he said, "What nightingale is this she talks of? I shall make her sleep to the singing of a cricket." Caterina hearing this, kept awake the next night, more through vexation than heat, and was not only restless herself, but kept her mother also from sleeping. The next morning the old lady complained to her husband, saying, "You shew very little regard for your daughter; what does her lying in the gallery signify to you? She did not rest at all last night for the heat. And as to her fancy about the nightingale, she is young, let her have her way." "Then make her a bed there," he replied, "if you will, and let her hear the nightingale." A bed, therefore, was ordered to be set up for her, which she gave Ricciardo to understand, by a concerted signal, and he at once knew what part he had to act. When she was gone to bed, Lizio locked the door that opened out of his chamber into the gallery, and then went to rest himself.
As soon as everything was still, Ricciardo got upon the wall, by help of a scaling ladder; then laying hold of the joinings of another wall, he climbed at last (not without great difficulty, as well as danger had he fallen) to the gallery, where the lady had long been expecting him, and welcomed him with the greatest delight imaginable. They passed a delicious night, and the nightingale sang ever so many times. Heated at last by the weather and their sport, they fell asleep without any covering over them, Caterina having her right arm under her lover's neck, and holding in her left hand what modesty forbids me to name before ladies. The night being short, and further spent than they supposed, they lay fast asleep in that way till daylight, when Messer Lizio got out of bed. As soon as he rose, he began to think of his daughter, and, opening the door softly, he said, "Let us see how the nightingale has made Caterina sleep." Going then into the gallery, and drawing the curtains, he found Ricciardo and her asleep together: upon this he stepped back, and woke up his wife, saying, "Up with you! Make haste! Come, and see how fond your daughter is of the nightingale. She has caught it and has it fast in her hand, I tell you." Dressing herself as fast as she could, she followed her husband, and seeing the pair together in that manner, was going to give Ricciardo all the hard words she could think of; but Lizio said, "Hush! not a word, I charge you; make no noise about it; as he has now got her, he shall keep her: he is of a good family, as well as rich, so we cannot have a better son-in-law. If he means to go off in a whole skin, he shall marry her before I part with him; and so he'll find he has put the nightingale in his own cage, and not another's." The wife on this was a little comforted, and the more so as she saw that her daughter had passed a pleasant night, slept very sound, and had caught the nightingale; so she held her peace.
Soon after this debate, Ricciardo chanced to wake, and seeing it broad day-light, was frightened out of his wits, and waking Caterina, he said, "Alas! my life, what shall we do? the day-light has surprised me here with you?" At these words Lizio stepped from behind the curtain, and said, "We shall do well enough." Ricciardo's heart was in his mouth at seeing him, and sitting up in bed, he said, "For Heaven's sake, sir, forgive me; I confess that I deserve to die; therefore, you may do with me as you please: yet, if it be possible, I pray you to spare my life." Lizio replied, "Ricciardo, my friendship for you did not deserve such a return as I have met with: but since it is so, you have only one way whereby you may save your life and my honour, that is to marry her; either do that, or else make your peace with Heaven, for here you shall die." Meanwhile, Caterina let go the nightingale, and, covering herself up, began to cry and sob, beseeching her father to forgive Ricciardo, and Ricciardo to do what her father required. There was no need of many words: the fear of death, as well as his love for Caterina, soon made Ricciardo come to a decision, and he told Lizio that he was ready to comply. Lizio then took his wife's ring, and caused him instantly to espouse Caterina, which being done, he desired the new married couple to take their own time for rising, as they probably had need of repose. The nightingale had sung six times in the night, but they had two more ditties before they got up. That morning Lizio and his son-in-law had some farther discourse together, and everything being settled to the satisfaction of all parties, the marriage was some days afterwards celebrated in the most public manner with great demonstrations of joy. Ricciardo took his wife home, and they lived together, from that time, in all peace and comfort, and went nightingale catching by day and by night as often as they had a mind.
[The characters in this tale are mentioned by Dante, in his "Purgatory." A spirit, complaining of the degeneracy of the Italians, exclaims:
" Ov'è 'l buon Lizio e Arrego Manardi!" - c. 14.
This demonstrates the existence of these persons, whence Manni, in his "Commentary” infers, according to his usual process of reasoning that the incident related by Boccaccio must have actually occurred. In fact, however, it is derived from one of the ancient Armorican tales of Marie, entitled "Lai de Laustri," which, in the Breton language, signified nightingale. The only modern imitation of this tale is, "Le Rossignol," usually published in the Contes et Nouvelles of La Fontaine, but of which there is some reason to believe he was not the author.]
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usignuolo, rusignuolo in the Italian original.
Che rusignuolo è questo a che ella vuol dormire?
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