THE EIGHTH STORY
[Day the Seventh]
A MAN WAXETH JEALOUS OF HIS WIFE, WHO BINDETH A PIECE OF PACKTHREAD TO HER GREAT TOE ANIGHTS, SO SHE MAY HAVE NOTICE OF HER LOVER'S COMING. ONE NIGHT HER HUSBAND BECOMETH AWARE OF THIS DEVICE AND WHAT WHILE HE PURSUETH THE LOVER, THE LADY PUTTETH ANOTHER WOMAN TO BED IN HER ROOM. THIS LATTER THE HUSBAND BEATETH AND CUTTETH OFF HER HAIR, THEN FETCHETH HIS WIFE'S BROTHERS, WHO, FINDING HIS STORY [SEEMINGLY] UNTRUE, GIVE HIM HARD WORDS
It seemed to them all that Madam Beatrice had been extraordinarilyingenious in cozening her husband and all agreed that Anichino'sfright must have been very great, whenas, being the while held fast bythe lady, he heard her say that he had required her of love. But theking, seeing Filomena silent, turned to Neifile and said to her, "Doyou tell"; whereupon she, smiling first a little, began, "Fair ladies,I have a hard task before me if I desire to pleasure you with a goodlystory, as those of you have done, who have already told; but, withGod's aid, I trust to discharge myself thereof well enough.
You must know, then, that there was once in our city a very richmerchant called Arriguccio Berlinghieri, who, foolishly thinking, asmerchants yet do every day, to ennoble himself by marriage, took towife a young gentlewoman ill sorting with himself, by name MadamSismonda, who, for that he, merchant-like, was much abroad andsojourned little with her, fell in love with a young man calledRuberto, who had long courted her, and clapped up a lover's privacywith him. Using belike over-little discretion in her dealings with herlover, for that they were supremely delightsome to her, it chancedthat, whether Arriguccio scented aught of the matter or how elsesoever it happened, the latter became the most jealous man alive andleaving be his going about and all his other concerns, applied himselfwell nigh altogether to the keeping good watch over his wife; norwould he ever fall asleep, except he first felt her come into the bed;by reason whereof the lady suffered the utmost chagrin, for that on nowise might she avail to be with her Ruberto.
However, after pondering many devices for finding a means toforegather with him and being to boot continually solicited thereof byhim, it presently occurred to her to do on this wise; to wit, havingmany a time observed that Arriguccio tarried long to fall asleep, butafter slept very soundly, she determined to cause Ruberto come aboutmidnight to the door of the house and to go open to him and abide withhim what while her husband slept fast. And that she might know when heshould be come, she bethought herself to hang a twine out of thewindow of her bedchamber, which looked upon the street, on such wisethat none might perceive it, one end whereof should well nigh reachthe ground, whilst she carried the other end along the floor of theroom to the bed and hid it under the clothes, meaning to make it fastto her great toe, whenas she should be abed. Accordingly, she sent toacquaint Ruberto with this and charged him, when he came, to pull thetwine, whereupon, if her husband slept, she would let it go and cometo open to him; but, if he slept not, she would hold it fast and drawit to herself, so he should not wait. The device pleased Ruberto andgoing thither frequently, he was whiles able to foregather with herand whiles not.
On this wise they continued to do till, one night, the lady beingasleep, it chanced that her husband stretched out his foot in bed andfelt the twine, whereupon he put his hand to it and finding it madefast to his wife's toe, said in himself, 'This should be some trick';and presently perceiving that the twine led out of window, he held itfor certain. Accordingly, he cut it softly from the lady's toe andmaking it fast to his own, abode on the watch to see what this mightmean. He had not waited long before up came Ruberto and pulled at thetwine, as of his wont; whereupon Arriguccio started up; but, he nothaving made the twine well fast to his toe and Ruberto pulling hard,it came loose in the latter's hand, whereby he understood that he wasto wait and did so. As for Arriguccio, he arose in haste and takinghis arms, ran to the door, to see who this might be and do him amischief, for, albeit a merchant, he was a stout fellow and a strong.When he came to the door, he opened it not softly as the lady was usedto do, which when Ruberto, who was await, observed, he guessed how thecase stood, to wit, that it was Arriguccio who opened the door, andaccordingly made off in haste and the other after him. At last, havingfled a great way and Arriguccio stinting not from following him,Ruberto, being also armed, drew his sword and turned upon his pursuer,whereupon they fell to blows, the one attacking and the otherdefending himself.
Meanwhile, the lady, awaking, as Arriguccio opened the chamber-door,and finding the twine cut from her toe, knew incontinent that herdevice was discovered, whereupon, perceiving that her husband had runafter her lover, she arose in haste and foreseeing what might happen,called her maid, who knew all, and conjured her to such purpose thatshe prevailed with her to take her own place in the bed, beseechingher patiently to endure, without discovering herself, whatsoeverbuffets Arriguccio might deal her, for that she would requite hertherefor on such wise that she should have no cause to complain; afterwhich she did out the light that burnt in the chamber and going forththereof, hid herself in another part of the house and there began toawait what should betide.
Meanwhile, the people of the quarter, aroused by the noise of theaffray between Arriguccio and Ruberto, arose and fell a-railing atthem; whereupon the husband, fearing to be known, let the youth go,without having availed to learn who he was or to do him any hurt, andreturned to his house, full of rage and despite. There, coming intothe chamber, he cried out angrily, saying, 'Where art thou, vilewoman? Thou hast done out the light, so I may not find thee; but thouart mistaken.' Then, coming to the bedside, he seized upon the maid,thinking to take his wife, and laid on to her so lustily with cuffsand kicks, as long as he could wag his hands and feet, that he bruisedall her face, ending by cutting off her hair, still giving her thewhile the hardest words that were ever said to worthless woman. Themaid wept sore, as indeed she had good cause to do, and albeit shesaid whiles, 'Alas, mercy, for God's sake!' and 'Oh, no more!' hervoice was so broken with sobs and Arriguccio was so hindered with hisrage that he never discerned it to be that of another woman than hiswife.
Having, then, as we have said, beaten her to good purpose and cut offher hair, he said to her, 'Wicked woman that thou art, I mean not totouch thee otherwise, but shall now go fetch thy brothers and acquaintthem with thy fine doings and after bid them come for thee and dealwith thee as they shall deem may do them honour and carry thee away;for assuredly in this house thou shalt abide no longer.' So saying, hedeparted the chamber and locking the door from without, went away allalone. As soon as Madam Sismonda, who had heard all, was certified ofher husband's departure, she opened the door and rekindling the light,found her maid all bruised and weeping sore; whereupon she comfortedher as best she might and carried her back to her own chamber, whereshe after caused privily tend her and care for her and so rewarded herof Arriguccio's own monies that she avouched herself content. Nosooner had she done this than she hastened to make the bed in her ownchamber and all restablished it and set it in such order as if nonehad lain there that night; after which she dressed and tired herself,as if she had not yet gone to bed; then, lighting a lamp, she took herclothes and seated herself at the stairhead, where she proceeded tosew and await the issue of the affair.
Meanwhile Arriguccio betook himself in all haste to the house of hiswife's brothers and there knocked so long and so loudly that he washeard and it was opened to him. The lady's three brothers and hermother, hearing that it was Arriguccio, rose all and letting kindlelights, came to him and asked what he went seeking at that hour andalone. Whereupon, beginning from the twine he had found tied to wife'stoe, he recounted to them all that he had discovered and done, and togive them entire proof of the truth of his story, he put into theirhands the hair he thought to have cut from his wife's head, ending byrequiring them to come for her and do with her that which they shouldjudge pertinent to their honour, for that he meant to keep her nolonger in his house. The lady's brothers, hearing this and holding itfor certain, were sore incensed agai
nst her and letting kindletorches, set out to accompany Arriguccio to his house, meaning to doher a mischief; which their mother seeing, she followed after them,weeping and entreating now the one, now the other not to be in suchhaste to believe these things of their sister, without seeing orknowing more of the matter, for that her husband might have beenangered with her for some other cause and have maltreated her andmight now allege this in his own excuse, adding that she marvelledexceedingly how this [whereof he accused her] could have happened, forthat she knew her daughter well, as having reared her from a littlechild, with many other words to the like purpose.
When they came to Arriguccio's house, they entered and proceeded tomount the stair, whereupon Madam Sismonda, hearing them come, said,'Who is there?' To which one of her brothers answered, 'Thou shaltsoon know who it is, vile woman that thou art!' 'God aid us!' criedshe. 'What meaneth this?' Then, rising to her feet, 'Brothers mine,'quoth she, 'you are welcome; but what go you all three seeking at thishour?' The brothers,--seeing her seated sewing, with no sign ofbeating on her face, whereas Arriguccio avouched that he had beatenher to a mummy,--began to marvel and curbing the violence of theiranger, demanded of her how that had been whereof Arriguccio accusedher, threatening her sore, and she told them not all. Quoth she, 'Iknow not what you would have me say nor of what Arriguccio can havecomplained to you of me.' Arriguccio, seeing her thus, eyed her as ifhe had lost his wits, remembering that he had dealt her belike athousand buffets on the face and scratched her and done her all theill in the world, and now he beheld her as if nothing of all this hadbeen.
Her brothers told her briefly what they had heard from Arriguccio,twine and beating and all, whereupon she turned to him and said,'Alack, husband mine, what is this I hear? Why wilt thou make me pass,to thine own great shame, for an ill woman, where as I am none, andthyself for a cruel and wicked man, which thou art not? When wast thouin this house to-night till now, let alone with me? When didst thoubeat me? For my part, I have no remembrance of it.' 'How, vile womanthat thou art!' cried he. 'Did we not go to bed together here? Did Inot return hither, after running after thy lover? Did I not deal theea thousand buffets and cut off thy hair?' 'Thou wentest not to bed inthis house to-night,' replied Sismonda. 'But let that pass, for I cangive no proof thereof other than mine own true words, and let us cometo that which thou sayest, to wit, that thou didst beat me and cut offmy hair. Me thou hast never beaten, and do all who are here and thouthyself take note of me, if I have any mark of beating in any part ofmy person. Indeed, I should not counsel thee make so bold as to lay ahand on me, for, by Christ His Cross, I would mar thy face for thee!Neither didst thou cut off my hair, for aught that I felt or saw; buthaply thou didst it on such wise that I perceived it not; let me seeif I have it shorn or no.' Then, putting off her veil from her head,she showed that she had her hair unshorn and whole.
Her mother and brothers, seeing and hearing all this, turned upon herhusband and said to him, 'What meanest thou, Arriguccio? This is notthat so far which thou camest to tell us thou hadst done, and we knownot how thou wilt make good the rest.' Arriguccio stood as one in atrance and would have spoken; but, seeing that it was not as hethought he could show, he dared say nothing; whereupon the lady,turning to her brothers, said to them, 'Brothers mine, I see he hathgone seeking to have me do what I have never yet chosen to do, to wit,that I should acquaint you with his lewdness and his vile fashions,and I will do it. I firmly believe that this he hath told you hathverily befallen him and that he hath done as he saith; and you shallhear how. This worthy man, to whom in an ill hour for me you gave meto wife, who calleth himself a merchant and would be thought a man ofcredit, this fellow, forsooth, who should be more temperate than amonk and chaster than a maid, there be few nights but he goethfuddling himself about the taverns, foregathering now with this lewdwoman and now with that and keeping me waiting for him, on such wiseas you find me, half the night and whiles even till morning. I doubtnot but that, having well drunken, he went to bed with some trull ofhis and waking, found the twine on her foot and after did all thesehis fine feats whereof he telleth, winding up by returning to her andbeating her and cutting off her hair; and not being yet well come tohimself, he fancied (and I doubt not yet fancieth) that he did allthis to me; and if you look him well in the face, you will see he isyet half fuddled. Algates, whatsoever he may have said of me, I willnot have you take it to yourselves except as a drunken man's talk, andsince I forgive him, do you also pardon him.'
Her mother, hearing this, began to make an outcry and say, 'By ChristHis Cross, daughter mine, it shall not pass thus! Nay, he shouldrather be slain for a thankless, ill-conditioned dog, who was neverworthy to have a girl of thy fashion to wife. Marry, a fine thing,forsooth! He could have used thee no worse, had he picked thee up outof the dirt! Devil take him if thou shalt abide at the mercy of thespite of a paltry little merchant of asses' dung! They come to us outof their pigstyes in the country, clad in homespun frieze, with theirbag-breeches and pen in arse, and as soon as they have gotten a leashof groats, they must e'en have the daughters of gentlemen and rightladies to wife and bear arms and say, "I am of such a family" and"Those of my house did thus and thus." Would God my sons had followedmy counsel in the matter, for that they might have stablished thee soworshipfully in the family of the Counts Guidi, with a crust of breadto thy dowry! But they must needs give thee to this fine jewel offellow, who, whereas thou art the best girl in Florence and themodestest, is not ashamed to knock us up in the middle of the night,to tell us that thou art a strumpet, as if we knew thee not. But, byGod His faith, an they would be ruled by me, he should get such atrouncing therefor that he should stink for it!' Then, turning to thelady's brothers, 'My sons,' said she, 'I told you this could not be.Have you heard how your fine brother-in-law here entreateth yoursister? Four-farthing[353] huckster that he is! Were I in your shoes,he having said what he hath of her and doing that which he doth, Iwould never hold myself content nor appeased till I had rid the earthof him; and were I a man, as I am a woman, I would trouble none otherthan myself to despatch his business. Confound him for a sorry drunkenbeast, that hath no shame!'
[Footnote 353: Or, in modern parlance, "twopennny-halfpenny."]
The young men, seeing and hearing all this, turned upon Arriguccio andgave him the soundest rating ever losel got; and ultimately they saidto him. 'We pardon thee this as to a drunken man; but, as thoutenderest thy life, look henceforward we hear no more news of thiskind, for, if aught of the like come ever again to our ears, we willpay thee at once for this and for that.' So saying, they went theirways, leaving Arriguccio all aghast, as it were he had taken leave ofhis wits, unknowing in himself whether that which he had done hadreally been or whether he had dreamed it; wherefore he made no morewords thereof, but left his wife in peace. Thus the lady, by her readywit, not only escaped the imminent peril [that threatened her,] butopened herself a way to do her every pleasure in time to come, withoutevermore having any fear of her husband."