THE THIRD STORY
[Day the Second]
THREE YOUNG MEN SQUANDER THEIR SUBSTANCE AND BECOME POOR; BUT A NEPHEW OF THEIRS, RETURNING HOME IN DESPERATION, FALLETH IN WITH AN ABBOT AND FINDETH HIM TO BE THE KING'S DAUGHTER OF ENGLAND, WHO TAKETH HIM TO HUSBAND AND MAKETH GOOD ALL HIS UNCLES' LOSSES, RESTORING THEM TO GOOD ESTATE
The adventures of Rinaldo d'Asti were hearkened with admiration andhis devoutness commended by the ladies, who returned thanks to God andSt. Julian for that they had succoured him in his utmost need. Nor yet(though this was said half aside) was the lady reputed foolish, whohad known how to take the good God had sent her in her own house. But,whilst they discoursed, laughing in their sleeves, of the pleasantnight she had had, Pampinea, seeing herself beside Filostrato anddeeming, as indeed it befell, that the next turn would rest with her,began to collect her thoughts and take counsel with herself what sheshould say; after which, having received the queen's commandment, sheproceeded to speak thus, no less resolutely than blithely, "Nobleladies, the more it is discoursed of the doings of Fortune, the more,to whoso is fain to consider her dealings aright, remaineth to be saidthereof; and at this none should marvel, an he consider advisedly thatall the things, which we foolishly style ours, are in her hands andare consequently, according to her hidden ordinance, transmuted by herwithout cease from one to another and back again, without any methodknown unto us. Wherefore, albeit this truth is conclusivelydemonstrated in everything and all day long and hath already beenshown forth in divers of the foregoing stories, nevertheless, since itis our queen's pleasure that we discourse upon this theme, I will, notbelike without profit for the listeners, add to the stories aforesaidone of my own, which methinketh should please.
There was once in our city a gentleman, by name Messer Tedaldo, who,as some will have it, was of the Lamberti family, albeit others avouchthat he was of the Agolanti, arguing more, belike, from the craftafter followed by his sons,[88] which was like unto that which theAgolanti have ever practised and yet practise, than from aught else.But, leaving be of which of these two houses he was, I say that hewas, in his time, a very rich gentleman and had three sons, whereofthe eldest was named Lamberto, the second Tedaldo and the thirdAgolante, all handsome and sprightly youths, the eldest of whom hadnot reached his eighteenth year when it befell that the aforesaidMesser Tedaldo died very rich and left all his possessions, bothmoveable and immoveable, to them, as his legitimate heirs. The youngmen, seeing themselves left very rich both in lands and monies, beganto spend without check or reserve or other governance than that oftheir own pleasure, keeping a vast household and many and goodlyhorses and dogs and hawks, still holding open house and givinglargesse and making tilts and tournaments and doing not only thatwhich pertaineth unto men of condition, but all, to boot, that itoccurred to their youthful appetite to will.
[Footnote 88: _i.e._ usury? See post. One of the commentatorsridiculously suggests that they were needlemakers, from _ago_, aneedle.]
They had not long led this manner of life before the treasure left bytheir father melted away and their revenues alone sufficing not untotheir current expenses, they proceeded to sell and mortgage theirestates, and selling one to-day and another to-morrow, they foundthemselves well nigh to nought, without perceiving it, and povertyopened their eyes, which wealth had kept closed. Whereupon Lamberto,one day, calling the other two, reminded them how great had been theirfather's magnificence and how great their own and setting before themwhat wealth had been theirs and the poverty to which they were comethrough their inordinate expenditure, exhorted them, as best he knew,ere their distress should become more apparent, to sell what littlewas left them and get them gone, together with himself. They did as hecounselled them and departing Florence, without leavetaking orceremony, stayed not till they came to England, where, taking a littlehouse in London and spending very little, they addressed themselveswith the utmost diligence to lend money at usance. In this fortune wasso favourable to them that in a few years they amassed a vast sum ofmoney, wherewith, returning to Florence, one after another, theybought back great part of their estates and purchased others to bootand took unto themselves wives.
Nevertheless, they still continued to lend money in England and sentthither, to look to their affairs, a young man, a nephew of theirs,Alessandro by name, whilst themselves all three at Florence, for allthey were become fathers of families, forgetting to what a passinordinate expenditure had aforetime brought them, began to spend moreextravagantly than ever and were high in credit with all themerchants, who trusted them for any sum of money, however great. Themonies remitted them by Alessandro, who had fallen to lending to thebarons upon their castles and other their possessions, which broughthim great profit, helped them for some years to support theseexpenses; but, presently, what while the three brothers spent thusfreely and lacking money, borrowed, still reckoning with all assuranceupon England, it chanced that, contrary to all expectation, therebroke out war in England between the king and his son, through whichthe whole island was divided into two parties, some holding with theone and some with the other; and by reason thereof all the barons'castles were taken from Alessandro nor was there any other source ofrevenue that answered him aught. Hoping that from day to day peaceshould be made between father and son and consequently everythingrestored to him, both interest and capital, Alessandro departed notthe island and the three brothers in Florence no wise abated theirextravagant expenditure, borrowing more and more every day. But, when,after several years, no effect was seen to follow upon theirexpectation, the three brothers not only lost their credit, but, theircreditors seeking to be paid their due, they were suddenly arrestedand their possessions sufficing not unto payment, they abode inprison for the residue, whilst their wives and little ones betookthemselves, some into the country, some hither and some thither, invery ill plight, unknowing what to expect but misery for the rest oftheir lives.
Meanwhile, Alessandro, after waiting several years in England forpeace, seeing that it came not and himseeming that not only was histarrying there in vain, but that he went in danger of his life,determined to return to Italy. Accordingly, he set out all alone andas chance would have it, coming out of Bruges, he saw an abbot ofwhite friars likewise issuing thence, accompanied by many monks andwith a numerous household and a great baggage-train in his van. Afterhim came two old knights, kinsmen of the King, whom Alessandroaccosted as acquaintances and was gladly admitted into their company.As he journeyed with them, he asked them softly who were the monksthat rode in front with so great a train and whither they were bound;and one of them answered, 'He who rideth yonder is a young gentlemanof our kindred, who hath been newly elected abbot of one of the mostconsiderable abbeys of England, and for that he is younger than issuffered by the laws for such a dignity, we go with him to Rome toobtain of the Holy Father that he dispense him of his defect ofovermuch youthfulness and confirm him in the dignity aforesaid; butthis must not be spoken of with any.'
The new abbot, faring on thus, now in advance of his retinue and nowin their rear, as daily we see it happen with noblemen on a journey,chanced by the way to see near him Alessandro, who was a young manexceedingly goodly of person and favour, well-bred, agreeable and fairof fashion as any might be, and who at first sight pleased himmarvellously, as nought had ever done, and calling him to his side,fell a-discoursing pleasantly with him, asking him who he was andwhence he came and whither he was bound; whereupon Alessandro franklydiscovered to him his whole case and satisfied his questions, offeringhimself to his service in what little he might. The abbot, hearing hisgoodly and well-ordered speech, took more particular note of hismanners and inwardly judging him to be a man of gentle breeding, forall his business had been mean, grew yet more enamoured of hispleasantness and full of compassion for his mishaps, comforted him onvery friendly wise, bidding him be of good hope, for that, an he werea man of worth, God would yet replace him in that estate whencefortune had cast him down, nay, in a yet higher. Moreover, he prayedhim
, since he was bound for Tuscany, that it would please him bear himcompany, inasmuch as himself was likewise on the way thitherward;whereupon Alessandro returned him thanks for his encouragement anddeclared himself ready to his every commandment.
The abbot, in whose breast new feelings had been aroused by the sightof Alessandro, continuing his journey, it chanced that, after somedays, they came to a village not overwell furnished with hostelries,and the abbot having a mind to pass the night there, Alessandro causedhim alight at the house of an innkeeper, who was his familiaracquaintance, and let prepare him his sleeping-chamber in the leastincommodious place of the house; and being now, like an expert man ashe was, grown well nigh a master of the household to the abbot, helodged all his company, as best he might, about the village, some hereand some there. After the abbot had supped, the night being now welladvanced and every one gone to bed, Alessandro asked the host where hehimself could lie; whereto he answered, 'In truth, I know not; thouseest that every place is full and I and my household must needs sleepupon the benches. Algates, in the abbot's chamber there be certaingrain-sacks, whereto I can bring thee and spread thee thereon somesmall matter of bed, and there, an it please thee, thou shalt lie thisnight, as best thou mayst.' Quoth Alessandro, 'How shall I go into theabbot's chamber, seeing thou knowest it is little and of itsstraitness none of his monks might lie there? Had I bethought me ofthis, ere the curtains were drawn, I would have let his monks lie onthe grain-sacks and have lodged myself where they sleep.' 'Nay,'answered the host, 'the case standeth thus;[89] but, an thou wilt,thou mayst lie whereas I tell thee with all the ease in the world. Theabbot is asleep and his curtains are drawn; I will quickly lay thee apallet-bed there, and do thou sleep on it.' Alessandro, seeing thatthis might be done without giving the abbot any annoy, consentedthereto and settled himself on the grain-sacks as softliest he might.
[Footnote 89: _i.e._ the thing is done and cannot be undone; there isno help for it.]
The abbot, who slept not, nay, whose thoughts were ardently occupiedwith his new desires, heard what passed between Alessandro and thehost and noted where the former laid himself to sleep, and wellpleased with this, began to say in himself, 'God hath sent an occasionunto my desires; an I take it not, it may be long ere the like recurto me.' Accordingly, being altogether resolved to take the opportunityand himseeming all was quiet in the inn, he called to Alessandro in alow voice and bade him come couch with him. Alessandro, after manyexcuses, put off his clothes and laid himself beside the abbot, whoput his hand on his breast and fell to touching him no otherwise thanamorous damsels use to do with their lovers; whereat Alessandromarvelled exceedingly and misdoubted him the abbot was moved byunnatural love to handle him on that wise; but the latter promptlydivined his suspicions, whether of presumption or through some gestureof his, and smiled; then, suddenly putting off a shirt that he wore,he took Alessandro's hand and laying it on his own breast, said,'Alessandro, put away thy foolish thought and searching here, knowthat which I conceal.'
Alessandro accordingly put his hand to the abbot's bosom and foundthere two little breasts, round and firm and delicate, no otherwisethan as they were of ivory, whereby perceiving that the supposedprelate was a woman, without awaiting farther bidding, he straightwaytook her in his arms and would have kissed her; but she said to him,'Ere thou draw nearer to me, hearken to that which I have to say tothee. As thou mayst see, I am a woman and not a man, and having lefthome a maid, I was on my way to the Pope, that he might marry me. Beit thy good fortune or my mishap, no sooner did I see thee the otherday than love so fired me for thee, that never yet was woman who soloved man. Wherefore, I am resolved to take thee, before any other, tohusband; but, an thou wilt not have me to wife, begone henceforthright and return to thy place.'
Alessandro, albeit he knew her not, having regard to her company andretinue, judged her to be of necessity noble and rich and saw that shewas very fair; wherefore, without overlong thought, he replied that,if this pleased her, it was mighty agreeable to him. Accordingly,sitting up with him in bed, she put a ring into his hand and made himespouse her[90] before a picture wherein our Lord was portrayed, afterwhich they embraced each other and solaced themselves with amorousdalliance, to the exceeding pleasure of both parties, for so much asremained of the night.
[Footnote 90: _i.e._ make her a solemn promise of marriage, formallyplight her his troth. The ceremony of betrothal was formerly (andstill is in certain countries) the most essential part of the marriagerite.]
When the day came, after they had taken order together concerningtheir affairs, Alessandro arose and departed the chamber by the way hehad entered, without any knowing where he had passed the night. Then,glad beyond measure, he took to the road again with the abbot and hiscompany and came after many days to Rome. There they abode some days,after which the abbot, with the two knights and Alessandro and nomore, went in to the Pope and having done him due reverence, bespokehim thus, 'Holy Father, as you should know better than any other,whoso is minded to live well and honestly should, inasmuch as he may,eschew every occasion that may lead him to do otherwise; the whichthat I, who would fain live honestly, may throughly do, having fledprivily with a great part of the treasures of the King of England myfather, (who would have given me to wife to the King of Scotland, avery old prince, I being, as you see, a young maid), I set out,habited as you see me, to come hither, so your Holiness might marryme. Nor was it so much the age of the King of Scotland that made meflee as the fear, if I were married to him, lest I should, for thefrailty of my youth, be led to do aught that might be contrary to theDivine laws and the honour of the royal blood of my father. As I came,thus disposed, God, who alone knoweth aright that which behoveth untoevery one, set before mine eyes (as I believe, of His mercy) him whomit pleased Him should be my husband, to wit, this young man,' showingAlessandro, 'whom you see here beside me and whose fashions and desertare worthy of however great a lady, although belike the nobility ofhis blood is not so illustrious as the blood-royal. Him, then, have Itaken and him I desire, nor will I ever have any other than he,however it may seem to my father or to other folk. Thus, the principaloccasion of my coming is done away; but it pleased me to make an endof my journey, at once that I might visit the holy and reverentialplaces, whereof this city is full, and your Holiness and that throughyou I might make manifest, in your presence and consequently in thatof the rest of mankind, the marriage contracted between Alessandroand myself in the presence of God alone. Wherefore I humbly pray youthat this which hath pleased God and me may find favour with you andthat you will vouchsafe us your benison, in order that with this, aswith more assurance of His approof whose Vicar you are, we may liveand ultimately die together.'
Alessandro marvelled to hear that the damsel was the King's daughterof England and was inwardly filled with exceeding great gladness; butthe two knights marvelled yet more and were so incensed, that, hadthey been otherwhere than in the Pope's presence, they had doneAlessandro a mischief and belike the lady also. The Pope also, on hispart, marvelled exceedingly both at the habit of the lady and at herchoice; but, seeing that there was no going back on that which wasdone, he consented to satisfy her of her prayer. Accordingly, havingfirst appeased the two knights, whom he knew to be angered, and madethem well at one again with the lady and Alessandro, he took order forthat which was to do, and the day appointed by him being come, beforeall the cardinals and many other men of great worship, come, at hisbidding, to a magnificent bride-feast prepared by him, he produced thelady, royally apparelled, who showed so fair and so agreeable that shewas worthily commended of all, and on like wise Alessandro splendidlyattired, in bearing and appearance no whit like a youth who had lentat usury, but rather one of royal blood, and now much honoured of thetwo knights. There he caused solemnly celebrate the marriage afreshand after goodly and magnificent nuptials made, he dismissed them withhis benison.
It pleased Alessandro, and likewise the lady, departing Rome, tobetake themselves to Florence, whither report had already carried the
news. There they were received by the townsfolk with the utmost honourand the lady caused liberate the three brothers, having first paidevery man [his due]. Moreover, she reinstated them and their ladies intheir possessions and with every one's goodwill, because of this, sheand her husband departed Florence, carrying Agolante with them, andcoming to Paris, were honourably entertained by the King. Thence thetwo knights passed into England and so wrought with the King that thelatter restored to his daughter his good graces and with exceedinggreat rejoicing received her and his son-in-law, whom he a littleafter made a knight with the utmost honour and gave him the Earldom ofCornwall. In this capacity he approved himself a man of such parts andmade shift to do on such wise that he reconciled the son with hisfather, whereof there ensued great good to the island, and thereby hegained the love and favour of all the people of the country.
Moreover, Agolante thoroughly recovered all that was there due to himand his brethren and returned to Florence, rich beyond measure, havingfirst been knighted by Count Alessandro. The latter lived long andgloriously with his lady, and according as some avouch, what with hiswit and valour and the aid of his father-in-law, he after conqueredScotland and was crowned King thereof."