10-2, Ghino di Tacco takes the Abbot of Cligni prisoner

NOVEL II. 

Ghino di Tacco takes the Abbot of Cligni prisoner, cures him of a pain in his stomach, and then sets him at liberty. The abbot returns to the court of Rome, and through his mediation Ghino is reconciled with Pope Boniface, and made prior of a hospital. 

Alfonso's magnificence having been much applauded, the king, who seemed more particularly pleased with it, laid his next commands upon Eliza, and she immediately said: - For a king to be munificent, and to give proofs of it to a person that had served him, must be allowed to be great and commendable. But what will you say to the wonderful generosity of a clergyman, towards one too that was his enemy; can anything be objected to that? Nothing surely can be said less than this; that if the one was a virtue in a king, the other in a churchman was a perfect prodigy; inasmuch as they are for the most part more sordid than even women, and avowed enemies to every kind of generosity. And although it is natural to desire revenge, they, notwithstanding their preaching up patience, and recommending the forgiveness of injuries to others, pursue it with more rancour than other people. This thing, therefore (I mean the generosity of a certain prelate), will be made appear in the following story. 

Ghino di Tacco was a man famous for his bold and insolent robberies, who being banished from Siena, and at utter enmity with the counts di Santa Fiore, caused the town of Radicofani to rebel against the Church, and lived there, whilst his gang robbed all who passed that way. Now, when Boniface the Eighth was pope, there came to court the abbot of Cligni, reputed to be one of the richest prelates in the world, and having impaired his stomach with high living, he was advised by his physicians to go to the baths of Siena, as a certain cure. Having leave from the pope, the abbot set out with a goodly train of coaches, carriages, horses, and servants, paying no respect to the rumours concerning this robber. Ghino was apprised of his coming, and took his measures accordingly; when, without the loss of a man, he inclosed the abbot and his whole retinue in a narrow defile, whence it was impossible for them to escape. This being done he sent one of his principal fellows to the abbot, with his service, requesting he would do him the favour to alight, and visit him at his castle. The abbot replied, with a great deal of passion, that he had nothing to do with Ghino, but that his resolution was to go on, and he would see who dared stop him. "My lord," quoth the man, with a great deal of humility, "you are now in a place where all excommunications are kicked out of doors, so please to oblige my master in this thing; it will be your best way." 

Whilst they were talking together, the place was soon surrounded with highwaymen, and the abbot, seeing himself a prisoner, went with a great deal of ill-will with the fellow to the castle, followed by his whole retinue, where he dismounted, and was lodged, by Ghino's appointment, in a poor, dark little room, whilst every other person was well accommodated according to his respective station, and the carriages and all the horses taken exact care of. This being done, Ghino went to the abbot, and said, "My lord, Ghino, whose guest you are, requests" the favour of you to let him know whither you are going, and upon what account?" The abbot was wise enough to lay all his haughtiness aside for the present, and satisfied him with regard to both. Ghino went away on hearing this; and having made up his mind that he would cure his lordship without a bath, he ordered a great fire to be kept constantly in his room, coming to him no more till next morning, when he brought him two slices of toasted bread, in a fine napkin, and a large glass of his own rich white wine, saying to him, "My lord, when Ghino was young he studied physic, and he declares that the very best medicine fora pain in the stomach is what he has now provided for you, of which these things are to be the beginning. Then take them, and have a good heart." The abbot, whose hunger was much greater than was his will to joke, ate the bread, though with a great deal of indignation, and drank the glass of wine, after which he began to talk a little arrogantly, asking many questions, and demanding more particularly to see this Ghino. But Ghino passed over part of what he said as vain, and the rest he answered very courteously, declaring that Ghino meant to make him a visit very soon, and then left him. The abbot saw him no more till next morning, when he brought him as much bread and wine as before, and in the same manner. And thus he continued doing many days, till he found the abbot had eaten some dried beans, which he had left purposely in the chamber, when he inquired of him, as from Ghino, how he found his stomach? The abbot replied, "I should be well enough if I were out of this man's clutches. There is nothing I want now so much as to eat, for his medicines have had such an effect upon me, that I am ready to die with hunger." 

Ghino, then, having furnished a room with the abbot's own goods, and provided an elegant entertainment, to which many people of the town were invited, as well as the abbot's own domestics, went the next morning to him, and said, "My lord, now you find yourself recovered, it is time for you to quit this infirmary." So he took him by the hand, and leading him into the chamber, left him there with his own people. Whilst Ghino was away giving orders about the feast, the abbot gave his people an account of the life he had led in that place, they on the other hand declaring that they had been used by Ghino with all possible respect. When the time came, they sat down, and were nobly entertained, but still without Ghino's making himself known. After the abbot had been treated for some days in that manner, Ghino had all the goods and furniture brought into a large room, and the horses were likewise led into a courtyard which was under it. Then he inquired how his lordship now found himself, and whether he was yet able to ride. The abbot made answer, that he was strong enough, and his stomach perfectly well, and that he only wanted to be quit of this man. Ghino then brought him into the room where all his goods were, and leading him also to the window, that he might take a view of his horses, he said, "My lord, you must understand it was no evil disposition, but his being driven a poor exile from his own house, and persecuted by many enemies, that forced Ghino di Tacco, whom you see before you, to be a robber upon the highways, and an enemy to the court of Rome. You seem, however, to be a person of honour; since, therefore, I have cured you of your weakness of stomach, I do not mean to treat you as I would do another person that should fall into my hands, that is, to take what I please; but I would have you consider my necessity, and then give me what you will yourself Here is all that belongs to you; the horses you may see out of the window: take either part or the whole, just as you are disposed, and go or stay, as is most agreeable to you." 

The abbot was surprised to hear a highwayman talk in so courteous a manner which did not a little please him; so, turning all his former passion and resentment into kindness and good-will, he ran with a heart full of friendship to embrace him: "I protest solemnly, that to procure the friendship of such a one as I take you to be» I would undergo more than what you have already made me suffer. Cursed be that evil fortune which has thrown you into this way of life! " So taking only a few of his most necessary things, and also of his horses, and leaving all the rest, he came back to Rome. 

The pope had heard of the abbot's being a prisoner, and though he was much concerned at it, yet upon seeing him, he inquired what benefit he had received from the baths? The abbot replied, with a smile, "Holy father, I found a physician much nearer, who has cured me exceedingly well," and he told him the manner of it, which made the pope laugh heartily. Then, going on with his story, and moved by a truly generous spirit, he requested of his holiness one favour. The pope, imagining he would ask something else, freely consented to grant it. Then said the abbot, "Holy father, what I have to ask is, that you would bestow a free pardon on Ghino di Tacco, my doctor, because, of all the people of worth that I ever met with, he certainly is most to be esteemed, and the damage he does is more the fault of fortune than himself. Change but his condition, and give him something to live upon, according to his rank and station, and I dare say you will have the same opinion of him that I have." The pope, being of a noble spirit, and a great encourager of merit, promised to do so, if he was such a person as the abbot reported, and, in the meantime, gave letters of safe conduct for his coming hither. Upon that assurance, Ghino came to court, when the pope was soon convinced of his worth, and reconciled to him, giving him the priory of an hospital, and creating him a knight. And there he continued as a friend and loyal servant to the holy church, and to the abbot of Cligni, as long as he lived. 

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 +.

9-10, Donno Granni, Pietro, mare

NOVEL X. 

Donno Granni undertakes to transform his gossip Pietro's wife into a mare, at his request; but when it comes to putting on the tail, Pietro cries out, and spoils the whole business. 

The queen's novel provoked some murmuring on the part of the ladies, and laughter on that of the gentlemen. When silence was restored Dioneo began thus: - Gracious ladies, one black crow among many white doves will more set off their beauty than the whitest swan could do. In like manner sometimes among many wise persons one of less discretion will serve not only to exalt the splendour of their wisdom but also to afford pleasure and amusement. You are all full of modesty and discretion, and as I am rather scatter-brained, you ought to like me all the better, seeing that I serve as a foil for your perfections; and consequently you ought to allow me more licence than you would to a sager man, to say my say and exhibit myself to you such as I am. I will now give you a novel, not a very long one, from which you may learn how scrupulous one should be in attending to everything directed by a person who undertakes a magic operation, and what a slight fault in that respect may completely spoil the enchantment. 

There was last year at Barletta a priest named Donno Gianni di Barolo. His benefice being too poor to maintain him he took to buying and selling at the fairs of Puglia, and hawking goods about on a mare that belonged to him. In this way he became intimate with one Pietro da Tresanti who carried on the same trade with the help of an ass, and whom he always called gossip Pietro, after the manner of that country, by reason of the close friendship between them. Whenever Pietro came to Barletta he took him to his own house, lodged liim, and treated him to the best he had. Pietro did the same on his side, but he being a very poor man, and having only a little cabin at Tresanti, with barely room enough for himself, his handsome young wife, and his ass, and only one little bed, he could not accommodate his guest as he wished. Donno Gianni was therefore obliged to lie on some straw in a very small stable, alongside his mare and the ass. 

Pietro's wife knowing how well the priest treated her husband at Barletta had many times proposed to go and sleep with her neighbour Gita Carapresa, and give up her own share of the bed to his reverence, but the latter would never consent to this arrangement. One day among others, he said to her, "Don't make yourself uneasy on my account, gossip Gemmata; I am very well off as I am. There's that mare of mine; whenever I have a mind I turn her into a handsome wench, and afterwards make her a mare again; and so you see I can't think of parting from her." Gemmata fully believed this marvellous tale, and imparted it to her husband. "If the priest and you are so thick together as you tell me," said she, "why does not he teach you to transmogrify me into a mare? With the ass and myself you would make more than double the money you do now, and when we came home you could make me a woman again." Gossip Pietro, who was anything but a knowing one, believed the prodigious story as readily as his wife, and thought her advice very good. Without loss of time he set to work with Donno Gianni, and pressed him hard to teach him the secret. The priest did all he could to drive such nonsense out of his gossip's head, but failing in the attempt, said at last, "Well, since you insist on it, we will get up tomorrow before daylight, and I will show you how the thing is done. The worst part of the business is sticking on the tail, as you will see." 

It was little sleep Pietro and Gemmata got that night, so full were their minds of this grand scheme. Long before dawn they were up and calling to Donno Gianni, who coming to them in his shirt, said to gossip Pietro, "I don't know that man in the world for whom I would do this except yourself; but since you have set your heart on it, I can't refuse you. But you must do exactly as I bid you, if you would have the job complete." They both promised this, whereupon Donno Gianni takes a candle and puts it into Pietro's hand, saying: "Mark well everything I do, and take care to recollect the words I utter; but above all things beware of opening your lips, whatever I say or do, unless you want to spoil the whole thing; only pray inwardly that the tail may be well stuck on." Gossip Pietro took the candle, and vowed that he would observe these instructions. 

Then Donno Gianni made Gemmata strip stark naked, and plant herself on all fours like a mare, cautioning her at the same time not to say a word, happen what might. Then he touched her face and head, saying, "Let this be a fine mare's head;"and in the same way with her hair, "Let this be a fine mare's mane;"and so he went on with her arms and legs, breast, back, belly, and sides. Nothing now remained but to stick on the tail. Donno Gianni posted himself behind Gemmata, holding the tail ready made in one hand, and laying the other on her croupe, he - But hardly had he begun when Pietro, who had hitherto watched all the proceedings with great attention and without a word, not liking this part of the ceremony, cried out, “stop! stop! Donno Gianni, I won't have a tail! I won't have a tail!" - "Oh dear me! gossip Pietro," said the priest, "what have you done? Did not I tell you not to say a word whatever you saw? The mare was all but made, but your talking has undone all, and what is worse, there is no beginning over again." - "It's as well as it is," said Pietro, "I don't choose her to have such a tail as that anyhow. Why did not you tell me to do it myself? Besides you were putting it a deal too low." "Drat the man!" cried the wife, now getting on her legs: "was there ever such a stupid beast, to go and spoil his own luck and mine? Where did you ever see a mare without a tail? There now you will be as poor as a rat all your life, and serve you right, God knows." Pietro's inopportune exclamation having destroyed all possibility of making a mare of her, Gemmata sadly put on her clothes; and gossip Pietro had to continue his old trade with only an ass as before. He went with Donno Gianni to the fair of Bitonto, but never again required such a service at his hands. 

[This story is taken from the Fabliau of the Trouveur Rutebeuf, "De la Demoiselle qui vouloit voler" (Le Grand, iv, 316), in which a clerk, while pretending to add wings and feathers to a lady, that she might fly, acts in a similar manner with the priest of Darletta. It is La Fontaine's "La Jument du compère Pierre." ] 

The novels were now concluded, and the sun began to grow warm, when the queen, knowing that her reign was at an end, arose, and taking the crown from her own head, placed it upon Pamfilo's, who was the only person on whom that honour had not yet been conferred, saying, with a smile, "sir, a very great charge now rests upon you, for, as you are the last, you have to supply my defect, and that of the rest who have been in my place, which I hope you will do." Pamfìlo, pleased with the honour done him, replied, "Your virtue, madam, and that of my other subjects, will cause me to receive praise, as well as the rest that have gone before me." So, after giving the usual orders to the master of the household, he turned to the ladies, and said, "It was Emilia's great prudence yesterday to let us choose our own subjects by way of ease; therefore, being now a little recruited, I will that we return to our old law; and for tomorrow the subject shall be of persons who have done some gallant or generous action, either as to love or anything else. The relation of such stories as these will kindle in our minds a generous desire of doing the like; so that our lives, the continuance of which in these frail bodies can be but short, may be made immortal in an illustrious name; which all persons, not devoted to their lustful appetites, like brute beasts, ought, with their whole study and diligence, to covet and seek." The theme was agreeable to the whole assembly; and with the leave of the new king they parted, and went, as they were severally disposed, to divert themselves till supper, when everything was served up with great elegance and order. Afterwards they danced as usual, singing also a thousand songs, more agreeable indeed as to the words than the music: when the king, at last, ordered Neifile to give one relating more to herself, which she did very agreeably in the following manner: 

SONG. 

Regardful through the meads I stray, 

Where flow'rs their various hues display 

When all that's sweet and pleasing there, 

I to my lover's charms compare. 

I pick out such as fairest seem, 

And laugh and talk as 'twere to him. 

Which, when my am'rous tale is said, 

I weave in chaplets for my head. 

Whilst thus employ'd an equal joy 

I find, as though himself were by: 

How great! no language can reveal, 

'Tis that my sighs alone must tell: 

Which, harshness and distrust apart. 

Breathe warm the dictates of my heart; 

Such as he ever shall approve, 

And meet with equal zeal and love. 

The song was much commended by the king, as well as the whole company: and, a good part of the night being spent, they were ordered to go and repose themselves till the next day.