THE TENTH STORY
[Day the Third]
ALIBECH, TURNING HERMIT, IS TAUGHT BY RUSTICO, A MONK, TO PUT THE DEVIL IN HELL, AND BEING AFTER BROUGHT AWAY THENCE, BECOMETH NEERBALE HIS WIFE
Dioneo, who had diligently hearkened to the queen's story, seeing thatit was ended and that it rested with him alone to tell, withoutawaiting commandment, smilingly began to speak as follows: "Charmingladies, maybe you have never heard tell how one putteth the devil inhell; wherefore, without much departing from the tenor of thatwhereof you have discoursed all this day, I will e'en tell it you.Belike, having learned it, you may catch the spirit[202] thereof andcome to know that, albeit Love sojourneth liefer in jocund palaces andluxurious chambers than in the hovels of the poor, yet none the lessdoth he whiles make his power felt midmost thick forests and ruggedmountains and in desert caverns; whereby it may be understood that allthings are subject to his puissance.
[Footnote 202: _Guadagnare l'anima_, lit. gain the soul (syn. pith,kernel, substance). This passage is ambiguous and should perhaps berendered "catch the knack or trick" or "acquire the wish."]
To come, then, to the fact, I say that in the city of Capsa in Barbarythere was aforetime a very rich man, who, among his other children,had a fair and winsome young daughter, by name Alibech. She, not beinga Christian and hearing many Christians who abode in the town mightilyextol the Christian faith and the service of God, one day questionedone of them in what manner one might avail to serve God with the leasthindrance. The other answered that they best served God who moststrictly eschewed the things of the world, as those did who hadbetaken them into the solitudes of the deserts of Thebais. The girl,who was maybe fourteen years old and very simple, moved by no ordereddesire, but by some childish fancy, set off next morning by stealthand all alone, to go to the desert of Thebais, without letting anyknow her intent. After some days, her desire persisting, she won, withno little toil, to the deserts in question and seeing a hut afar off,went thither and found at the door a holy man, who marvelled to seeher there and asked her what she sought. She replied that, beinginspired of God, she went seeking to enter into His service and wasnow in quest of one who should teach her how it behoved to serve Him.
The worthy man, seeing her young and very fair and fearing lest, an heentertained her, the devil should beguile him, commended her piousintent and giving her somewhat to eat of roots of herbs and wildapples and dates and to drink of water, said to her, 'Daughter mine,not far hence is a holy man, who is a much better master than I ofthat which thou goest seeking; do thou betake thyself to him'; and puther in the way. However, when she reached the man in question, she hadof him the same answer and faring farther, came to the cell of a younghermit, a very devout and good man, whose name was Rustico and to whomshe made the same request as she had done to the others. He, having amind to make a trial of his own constancy, sent her not away, as theothers had done, but received her into his cell, and the night beingcome, he made her a little bed of palm-fronds and bade her lie down torest thereon. This done, temptations tarried not to give battle to hispowers of resistance and he, finding himself grossly deceived by theselatter, turned tail, without awaiting many assaults, and confessedhimself beaten; then, laying aside devout thoughts and orisons andmortifications, he fell to revolving in his memory the youth andbeauty of the damsel and bethinking himself what course he should takewith her, so as to win to that which he desired of her, without hertaking him for a debauched fellow.
Accordingly, having sounded her with sundry questions, he found thatshe had never known man and was in truth as simple as she seemed;wherefore he bethought him how, under colour of the service of God, hemight bring her to his pleasures. In the first place, he showeth herwith many words how great an enemy the devil was of God the Lord andafter gave her to understand that the most acceptable service thatcould be rendered to God was to put back the devil into hell, wheretohe had condemned him. The girl asked him how this might be done; andhe, 'Thou shalt soon know that; do thou but as thou shalt see me do.'So saying, he proceeded to put off the few garments he had and abodestark naked, as likewise did the girl, whereupon he fell on his knees,as he would pray, and caused her abide over against himself.[203]
[Footnote 203: The translators regret that the disuse into which magichas fallen, makes it impossible to render the technicalities of thatmysterious art into tolerable English; they have therefore found itnecessary to insert several passages in the original Italian.]
E cosi stando, essendo Rustico, piu che mai, nel suo disidero acceso,per lo vederla cosi bella, venue la resurrezion della carne; la qualeriguardando Alibech, e maravigliatasti, disse: Rustico, quella checosa e, che io ti veggio, che cosi si pigne in fuori, e non l' ho io?O figliuola mia, disse Rustico, questo e il diavolo, di che io t'hoparlato, e vedi tu ora: egli mi da grandissima molestia, tanta, che ioappena la posso sofferire. Allora disse la giovane. O lodato siaIddio, che io veggio, che io sto meglio, che non stai tu, che io nonho cotesto diavolo io. Disse Rustico, tu di vero; ma tu hai un' altracosa, che non l'ho io, et haila in iscambio di questo. Disse Alibech:O che? A cui Rustico disse: Hai l'inferno; e dicoti, che io mi credo,che Dio t'abbia qui mandata per la salute dell' anima mia; percioche,se questo diavolo pur mi dara questa noia, ove tu cogli aver di metanta pieta, e sofferire, che io in inferno il rimetta; tu mi daraigrandissima consolazione, et a Dio farai grandissimo piacere, eservigio; se tu per quello fare in queste parti venuta se; che tu di.La giovane di buona fede rispose O padre mio, poscia che io hol'inferno, sia pure quando vi piacera mettervi il diavolo. Disseallora Rustico: Figliuola mia benedetta sia tu: andiamo dunque, erimettiamlovi si, che egli poscia mi lasci stare. E cosi detto, menatela giovane sopra uno de' loro letticelli, le 'nsegno, come star sidovesse a dover incarcerare quel maladetto da Dio. La giovane, che maipiu non aveva in inferno messo diavolo alcuno, per la prima voltasenti un poco di noia; perche ella disse a Rustico.
Per certo, padre mio, mala cosa dee essere questo diavolo, e veramentenimico di Iddio che ancora all'inferno, non che altrui duole quando,egli v'e dentro rimesso. Disse Rustico: Figliuola, egli non averrasempre cosi: e per fare, che questo non avvenisse, da sei volteanziche di su il letticel si movesero, ve 'l rimisero; tantoche perquella volta gli trasser si la superbia del capo, che egli si stettevolentieri in pace. Ma ritornatagli poi nel seguente tempo piu volte,e la giovane ubbidente sempre a trargliela si disponesse, avvenne,che il giuoco le comincio a piacere; e comincio a dire a Rustico. Benveggio, che il ver dicevano que valenti uomini in Capsa, che ilservire a Dio era cosi dolce cosa, e per certo io non mi ricordo, chemai alcuna altra ne facessi, che di tanto diletto, e piacere mi fosse,quanto e il rimettere il diavolo in inferno; e percio giudico ogn'altra persona, che ad altro che a servire a Dio attende, essere unabestia. Per la qual cosa essa spesse volte andava a Rustico, e glidiceva. Padre mio, io son qui venuta per servire a Dio, e non peristare oziosa; andiamo a rimittere il diavolo in inferno. La qual cosafaccendo, diceva ella alcuna volta. Rustico, io non so perche ildiavolo si fugga di ninferno, che s' egli vi stesse cosi volentiere,come l'inferno il riceve, e tiene; agli non sene uscirebbe mai. Cosiadunque invitando spesso la giovane Rustico, et al servigio di Dioconfortandolo, se la bambagia del farsetto tratta gli avea, che egli atalora sentiva freddo, che un' altro sarebbe sudato; e percio egliincomincio a dire alla giovane, che il diavolo non era da gastigare,ne da rimettere in inferno, se non quando egli per superbia levasse ilcapo; e noi, per la grazia, di Dio, l'abbiamo si sgannato, che eglapriega Iddio di starsi in pace: e cosi alquanto impose di silenzioalla giovane. La qual, poiche vide che Rustico non la richiedeva adovere il diavolo rimittere in inferno, gli disse un giorno. Rustico,se il diavolo tuo e gastigato, e piu non ti da noia me il mio ninfernonon lascia stare: perche tu farai bene, che tu col tuo diavolo aiutiad attutare la rabbia al mio inferno; come io col mio ninferno hoajutato a trarre la superbia al tuo diavolo.
[Transcriber's Note: The following is a 1903 translation of this passage by J.M. Rigg (from Project Gutenbe
rg Etext No. 3726):
Whereupon Rustico, seeing her so fair, felt an accession of desire, and therewith came an insurgence of the flesh, which Alibech marking with surprise, said:--"Rustico, what is this, which I see thee have, that so protrudes, and which I have not?" "Oh! my daughter," said Rustico, "'tis the Devil of whom I have told thee: and, seest thou? he is now tormenting me most grievously, insomuch that I am scarce able to hold out." Then:--"Praise be to God," said the girl, "I see that I am in better case than thou, for no such Devil have I." "Sooth sayst thou," returned Rustico; "but instead of him thou hast somewhat else that I have not." "Oh!" said Alibech, "what may that be?" "Hell," answered Rustico: "and I tell thee, that 'tis my belief that God has sent thee hither for the salvation of my soul; seeing that, if this Devil shall continue to plague me thus, then, so thou wilt have compassion on me and permit me to put him in hell, thou wilt both afford me great and exceeding great solace, and render to God an exceeding most acceptable service, if, as thou sayst, thou art come into these parts for such a purpose." In good faith the girl made answer:--"As I have hell to match your Devil, be it, my father, as and when you will." Whereupon:--"Bless thee, my daughter," said Rustico, "go we then, and put him there, that he leave me henceforth in peace." Which said, he took the girl to one of the beds and taught her the posture in which she must lie in order to incarcerate this spirit accursed of God. The girl, having never before put any devil in hell, felt on this first occasion a twinge of pain: wherefore she said to Rustico:--
"Of a surety, my father, he must be a wicked fellow, this devil, and in very truth a foe to God; for there is sorrow even in hell--not to speak of other places--when he is put there." "Daughter," said Rustico, "'twill not be always so." And for better assurance thereof they put him there six times before they quitted the bed; whereby they so thoroughly abased his pride that he was fain to be quiet. However, the proud fit returning upon him from time to time, and the girl addressing herself always obediently to its reduction, it so befell that she began to find the game agreeable, and would say to Rustico:--"Now see I plainly that 'twas true, what the worthy men said at Capsa, of the service of God being so delightful: indeed I cannot remember that in aught that ever I did I had so much pleasure, so much solace, as in putting the Devil in hell; for which cause I deem it insensate folly on the part of any one to have a care to aught else than the service of God." Wherefore many a time she would come to Rustico, and say to him:--"My father, 'twas to serve God that I came hither, and not to pass my days in idleness: go we then, and put the Devil in hell." And while they did so, she would now and again say:--"I know not, Rustico, why the Devil should escape from hell; were he but as ready to stay there as hell is to receive and retain him, he would never come out of it." So, the girl thus frequently inviting and exhorting Rustico to the service of God, there came at length a time when she had so thoroughly lightened his doublet that he shivered when another would have sweated; wherefore he began to instruct her that the Devil was not to be corrected and put in hell, save when his head was exalted with pride; adding, "and we by God's grace have brought him to so sober a mind that he prays God he may be left in peace;" by which means he for a time kept the girl quiet. But when she saw that Rustico had no more occasion for her to put the Devil in hell, she said to him one day:--"Rustico, if thy Devil is chastened and gives thee no more trouble, my hell, on the other hand, gives me no peace; wherefore, I with my hell have holpen thee to abase the pride of thy Devil, so thou wouldst do well to lend me the aid of thy Devil to allay the fervent heat of my hell."]
Rustico, who lived on roots and water, could ill avail to answer hercalls and told her that it would need overmany devils to appease hell,but he would do what he might thereof. Accordingly he satisfied herbytimes, but so seldom it was but casting a bean into the lion'smouth; whereas the girl, herseeming she served not God as diligentlyas she would fain have done, murmured somewhat. But, whilst thisdebate was toward between Rustico his devil and Alibech her hell, forovermuch desire on the one part and lack of power on the other, itbefell that a fire broke out in Capsa and burnt Alibech's father inhis own house, with as many children and other family as he had; byreason whereof she abode heir to all his good. Thereupon, a young mancalled Neerbale, who had spent all his substance in gallantry, hearingthat she was alive, set out in search of her and finding her, beforethe court[204] had laid hands upon her father's estate, as that of aman dying without heir, to Rustico's great satisfaction, but againsther own will, brought her back to Capsa, where he took her to wife andsucceeded, in her right, to the ample inheritance of her father.
[Footnote 204: _i.e._ the government (_corte_).]
There, being asked by the women at what she served God in the desert,she answered (Neerbale having not yet lain with her) that she servedHim at putting the devil in hell and that Neerbale had done a grievoussin in that he had taken her from such service. The ladies asked, 'Howputteth one the devil in hell?' And the girl, what with words andwhat with gestures, expounded it to them; whereat they set up so greata laughing that they laugh yet and said, 'Give yourself no concern, mychild; nay, for that is done here also and Neerbale will serve ourLord full well with thee at this.' Thereafter, telling it from one toanother throughout the city, they brought it to a common saying therethat the most acceptable service one could render to God was to putthe devil in hell, which byword, having passed the sea hither, is yetcurrent here. Wherefore do all you young ladies, who have need ofGod's grace, learn to put the devil in hell, for that this is highlyacceptable to Him and pleasing to both parties and much good may growand ensue thereof."
* * * * *
A thousand times or more had Dioneo's story moved the modest ladies tolaughter, so quaint and comical did his words appear to them; then,whenas he had made an end thereof, the queen, knowing the term of hersovranty to be come, lifted the laurel from her head and set itmerrily on that of Filostrato, saying: "We shall presently see if thewolf will know how to govern the ewes better than the ewes havegoverned the wolves." Filostrato, hearing this, said, laughing, "An Iwere hearkened to, the wolves had taught the ewes to put the devil inhell, no worse than Rustico taught Alibech; wherefore do ye not styleus wolven, since you yourselves have not been ewen. Algates, I willgovern the kingdom committed to me to the best of my power." "Harkye,Filostrato," rejoined Neifile, "in seeking to teach us, you might havechanced to learn sense, even as did Masetto of Lamporecchio of thenuns, and find your tongue what time your bones should have learnt towhistle without a master."
Filostrato, finding that he still got a Roland for his Oliver,[205]gave over pleasantry and addressed himself to the governance of thekingdom committed to him. Wherefore, letting call the seneschal, hewas fain to know at what point things stood all and after discreetlyordained that which he judged would be well and would content thecompany for such time as his seignory should endure. Then, turning tothe ladies, "Lovesome ladies," quoth he, "since I knew good from evil,I have, for my ill fortune, been still subject unto Love for thecharms of one or other of you; nor hath humility neither obedience,no, nor the assiduous ensuing him in all his usances, in so far as ithath been known of me, availed me but that first I have been abandonedfor another and after have still gone from bad to worse; and so Ibelieve I shall fare unto my death; wherefore it pleaseth me that itbe discoursed to-morrow of none other matter than that which is mostconformable to mine own case, to wit, OF THOSE WHOSE LOVES HAVE HADUNHAPPY ENDING, for that I in the long run look for a most unhappy[issue to mine own]; nor was the name by which you call me conferredon me for otherwhat by such an one who knew well what it meant."[206]So saying, he rose to his feet and dismissed every one untilsupper-time.
[Footnote 205: Lit. that scythes were no less ple
nty that he hadarrows (_che falci si trovavano non meno che egli avesse strali_), aproverbial expression the exact bearing of which I do not know, butwhose evident sense I have rendered in the equivalent English idiom.]
[Footnote 206: Syn. what he said (_che si dire_). See ante, p. 11,note.]
The garden was so goodly and so delightsome that there was none whoelected to go forth thereof, in the hope of finding more pleasanceelsewhere. Nay, the sun, now grown mild, making it nowise irksome togive chase to the fawns and kids and rabbits and other beasts whichwere thereabout and which, as they sat, had come maybe an hundredtimes to disturb them by skipping through their midst, some addressedthemselves to pursue them. Dioneo and Fiammetta fell to singing ofMesser Guglielmo and the Lady of Vergiu,[207] whilst Filomena andPamfilo sat down to chess; and so, some doing one thing and someanother, the time passed on such wise that the hour of supper camewell nigh unlooked for; whereupon, the tables being set round aboutthe fair fountain, they supped there in the evening with the utmostdelight.
[Footnote 207: Apparently the well-known fabliau of the Dame de Vergy,upon which Marguerite d'Angouleme founded the seventieth story of theHeptameron.]
As soon as the tables were taken away, Filostrato, not to depart fromthe course holden of those who had been queens before him, commandedLauretta to lead up a dance and sing a song. "My lord," answered she,"I know none of other folk's songs, nor have I in mind any of mine ownwhich should best beseem so joyous a company; but, an you choose oneof those which I have, I will willingly sing it." Quote the king,"Nothing of thine can be other than goodly and pleasing; whereforesing us such as thou hast." Lauretta, then, with a sweet voice enough,but in a somewhat plaintive style, began thus, the other ladiesanswering:
No maid disconsolate Hath cause as I, alack! Who sigh for love in vain, to mourn her fate.
He who moves heaven and all the stars in air Made me for His delight Lovesome and sprightly, kind and debonair, E'en here below to give each lofty spright Some inkling of that fair That still in heaven abideth in His sight; But erring men's unright, Ill knowing me, my worth Accepted not, nay, with dispraise did bate.
Erst was there one who held me dear and fain Took me, a youngling maid, Into his arms and thought and heart and brain, Caught fire at my sweet eyes; yea time, unstayed Of aught, that flits amain And lightly, all to wooing me he laid. I, courteous, nought gainsaid And held[208] him worthy me; But now, woe's me, of him I'm desolate.
Then unto me there did himself present A youngling proud and haught, Renowning him for valorous and gent; He took and holds me and with erring thought[209] To jealousy is bent; Whence I, alack! nigh to despair am wrought, As knowing myself,--brought Into this world for good Of many an one,--engrossed of one sole mate.
The luckless hour I curse, in very deed, When I, alas! said yea, Vesture to change,--so fair in that dusk wede I was and glad, whereas in this more gay A weary life I lead, Far less than erst held honest, welaway! Ah, dolorous bridal day, Would God I had been dead Or e'er I proved thee in such ill estate!
O lover dear, with whom well pleased was I Whilere past all that be,-- Who now before Him sittest in the sky Who fashioned us,--have pity upon me Who cannot, though I die, Forget thee for another; cause me see The flame that kindled thee For me lives yet unquenched And my recall up thither[210] impetrate.
[Footnote 208: Lit. made (_Di me il feci digno_).]
[Footnote 209: _i.e._ false suspicion (_falso pensiero_).]
[Footnote 210: _i.e._ to heaven (_e costa su m'impetra la tornata_).]
Here Lauretta made an end of her song, wherein, albeit attentivelyfollowed of all, she was diversely apprehended of divers persons, andthere were those who would e'en understand, Milan-fashion, that a goodhog was better than a handsome wench;[211] but others were of aloftier and better and truer apprehension, whereof it booteth not totell at this present. Thereafter the king let kindle store offlambeaux upon the grass and among the flowers and caused sing diversother songs, until every star began to decline, that was above thehorizon, when, deeming it time for sleep, he bade all with a goodnight betake themselves to their chambers.
[Footnote 211: The pertinence of this allusion, which probably refersto some current Milanese proverbial saying, the word _tosa_, here usedby Boccaccio for "wench," belonging to the Lombard dialect, is notvery clear. The expression "Milan-fashion" (_alla melanese_) may besupposed to refer to the proverbial materialism of the people ofLombardy.]
HERE ENDETH THE THIRD DAYOF THE DECAMERON