The Decameron (Day 6 to Day 10)

  _Two yong Gentlemen, the one named_ Panuccio, _and the other_ Adriano,_lodged one night in a poore Inne, where one of them went to bed to theHostes Daughter, and the other (by mistaking his way in the darke) tothe Hostes wife. He which lay with the daughter, happened afterward tothe Hostes bed, and told him what he had done, as thinking he spake tohis owne companyon. Discontentment growing betweene them, the Motherperceiving her errour, went to bed to her daughter, and with discreetelanguage, made a generall pacification._

  The Sixt Novell.

  _Wherein is manifested, that an offence committed ignorantly, and bymistaking; ought to be covered with good advise, and civill discretion._

  _Calandrino_, whose mishaps had so many times made the whole assemblymerry, and this last passing among them with indifferent commendations:upon a generall silence commanded, the Queene gave order to_Pamphilus_, that hee should follow next, as indeed he did, beginningthus. Praise-worthy Ladies, the name of _Nicholetta_, so fondly affectedby _Calandrino_, putteth mee in minde of a Novell, concerning another_Nicholetta_, of whom I purpose to speake: to the ende you may observehow by a sudden wary fore-sight, a discreet woman compassed the meanesto avoyde a notorious scandall.

  On the plaine of _Mugnone_, neere to _Florence_, dwelt (not long since)an honest meane man, who kept a poore Inne or Ostery for travellers,where they might have some slender entertainement for their money. Ashe was but a poore man, so his house affoorded but very small receitof guests, not lodging any but on necessity, and such as he had someknowledge of. This honest poore hoste had a woman (sufficiently faire)to his wife, by whom hee had also two children, the one a comely youngmaiden, aged about fifteene yeares, and the other a sonne, not fully(as yet) a yeare old, and sucking on the mothers brest.

  A comely youthfull Gentleman of our City, became amorously affected tothe Damosell, resorting thither divers times as hee travelled on theway, to expresse how much he did respect her. And she accounting herfortune none of the meanest, to bee beloved by so youthfull a Gallant,declared such vertuous and modest demeanour, as might deserve his bestopinion of her: so that their love grew to an equall simpathy, andmutuall contentment of them both, in expectation of further effects; hebeing named _Panuccio_, and she _Nicholetta_.

  The heate of affection thus encreasing day by day, _Panuccio_ grewexceedingly desirous to enjoy the fruits of his long continued liking,and divers devises mustred in his braine, how he might compasse onenights lodging in her fathers house, whereof hee knew every part andparcell, as not doubting to effect what hee desired, yet undiscoveredby any, but the maide her selfe.

  According as his intention aymed, so he longed to put it in execution,and having imparted his mind to an honest loyall friend, named_Adriano_, who was acquainted with the course of his love: hyringtwo horses, and having Portmantues behind them, filled with mattersof no moment, they departed from _Florence_, as if they had somegreat journey to ride. Having spent the day time where themselvesbest pleased, darke night being entred, they arrived on the plaine of_Mugnone_, where, as if they were come from the parts of _Romanio_,they rode directly to this poore Inne, and knocking at the doore, thehonest Hoste (being familiar and friendly to all commers) opened thedoore, when _Panuccio_ spake in this manner to him. Good man, we mustrequest one nights lodging with you, for we thought to have reachedso farre as _Florence_, but dark night preventing us, you see at whata late houre wee are come hither. Signior _Panuccio_, answered thehoste, it is not unknowne to you, how unfitting my poore house is, forentertaining such guests as you are: Neverthelesse, seeing you areovertaken by so unseasonable an houre, and no other place is neere foryour receite; I will gladly lodge you so well as I can.

  When they were dismounted from their horses, and entred into the simpleInne: having taken order for feeding their horses, they accepted suchprovision, as the place and time afforded, requesting the Hoste tosuppe with them. Now I am to tell you, that there was but one smallChamber in the house, wherein stood three beds, as best the Hoste haddevised to place them, two of them standing by the walles side, andthe third fronting them both, but with such close and narrow passage,as very hardly could one step betweene them. The best of these threebeds was appointed for the Gentlemen, and therein theyd lay them downto rest, but sleepe they could not, albeit they dissembled it veryformally. In the second Bed was _Nicholetta_ the daughter, lodged byher selfe, and the father and mother in the third, and because she wasto give the child sucke in the night time, the Cradle (wherein it lay)stood close by their beds side, because the childes crying or any otheroccasion concerning it, should not disquiet the Gentlemen.

  _Panuccio_ having subtily observed all this, and in what manner theywent to bed; after such a space of time, as he imagined them to beall fast asleepe, he arose very softly, and stealing to the bed of_Nicholetta_, lay downe gently by her. And albeit she seemed somewhatafraid at the first, yet when she perceived who it was, shee ratherbad him welcome, then shewed her selfe any way discontented. Now while_Panuccio_ continued thus with the maide, it fortuned that a Cat threwdown somewhat in the house, the noise whereof awaked the wife, andfearing greater harme, then (indeed) had hapned, she arose without aCandle, and went groping in the darke, towards the place where sheeheard the noyse. _Adriano_, who had no other meaning but well, foundoccasion also to rise, about some naturall necessity, and making hispassage in the darke, stumbled on the childes Cradle (in the way) wherethe woman had set it, and being unable to passe by, without removingit from the place: tooke and set it by his owne beds side, and havingdone the businesse for which he rose, returned to his bed againe, neverremembring to set the Cradle where first he found it.

  The Wife having found the thing throwne downe being of no value ormoment, cared not for lighting any candle; but rating the Cat, returnedbacke, feeling for the bed where her Husband lay, but finding not theCradle there, she said to her selfe. What a foolish woman am I, thatcannot well tell my selfe what I doe? Instead of my Husbands bed, I amgoing to both my guests.

  So, stepping on a little further, she found the childes Cradle, andlaid her selfe downe by _Adriano_, thinking shee had gone right to herHusband. _Adriano_ being not yet falne asleepe, feeling the hostessein bed with him: tooke advantage of so faire an occasion offered, andwhat he did, is no businesse of mine, (as I heard) neither found thewoman any fault. Matters comming to passe in this strange manner, and_Panuccio_ fearing, lest sleepe seazing on him, he might disgrace themaides reputation: taking his kinde farewell of her, with many kissesand sweet imbraces: returned againe to his owne Bed, but meeting withthe Cradle in his way, and thinking it stood by the hostes Bed, (astruely it did so at the first) went backe from the Cradle, and steptinto the hostes Bed indeed, who awaked upon his very entrance, albeithe slept very soundly before.

  _Panuccio_ supposing that he was laid downe by his loving friend_Adriano_, merrily said to the Hoste. I protest to thee, as I am aGentleman, _Nicholetta_ is a dainty delicate wench, and worthy to bea very good mans wife: this night shee hath given mee the sweetestentertainement, as the best Prince in the world can wish no better,and I have kist her most kindly for it. The Hoste hearing these newes,which seemed very unwelcome to him, said first to himself: What makesuch a devill heere in my Bedde? Afterward being more rashly angry,then well advised, hee said to _Panuccio_. Canst thou makes vaunt ofsuch a mounstrous villany? Or thinkest thou, that heaven hath not duevengeance in store, to requite all wicked deeds of darkenesse? If allshould sleepe, yet I have courage sufficient to right my wrong, and yetas olde as I am thou shalt be sure to finde it.

  Our amorous _Panuccio_ being none of the wisest young men in the world,perceiving his errour; sought not to amend it, (as well he might havedone) with some queint straine of wit, carried in quicke and cleanlymanner, but angerly answered. What shall I find that thou darst doe tome? am I any way afraid of thy threatnings? The Hostes imagining shewas in bed with her Husband, said to _Adriano_: Harke Husband, I thinkeour Guests are quarrelling together, I hope they will doe no harme toone another. _Adriano_
laughing outright, answered. Let them alone, andbecome friends againe as they fell out: perhaps they dranke too muchyesternight.

  The woman perceiving that it was her husband that quarrelled, anddistinguishing the voyce of _Adriano_ from his: knew presently whereshee was, and with whom; wherefore having wit at will, and desirousto cloude an error unadvisedly committed, and with no willing consentof her selfe: without returning any more words, presently she rose,and taking the Cradle with the child in it, removed it thence to herdaughters bed side, although shee had no light to helpe her, andafterward went to bed to her, where (as if she were but newly awaked)she called her Husband, to understand what angry speeches had pastbetweene him and _Panuccio_. The Hoste replyed, saying. Didst thou notheare him wife, brag & boast, how he hath lyen this night with ourdaughter _Nicholetta_? Husband (quoth she) he is no honest Gentleman;if hee should say so, and beleeve me it is a manifest lye, for I am inbed with her my selfe, and never yet closed mine eyes together, sincethe first houre I laid me downe: it is unmannerly done of him to speakeit, and you are little lesse then a logger-head, if you doe beleeveit. This proceedeth from your bibbing and swilling yesternight, which(as it seemeth) maketh you to walke about the roome in your sleepe,dreaming of wonders in the night season: it were no great sinne if youbrake your necks, to teach you keepe a fairer quarter; and how commethit to passe, that Signior _Panuccio_ could not keepe himselfe in hisowne bed?

  _Adriano_ (on the other side) perceiving how wisely the woman excusedher owne shame and her daughters; to backe her in a businesse socunningly begun, he called to _Panuccio_, saying. Have not I toldethee an hundred times, that thou art not fit to lye any where; out ofthine owne lodging? What a shame is this base imperfection to thee, byrising and walking thus in the night-time, according as thy dreamesdoe wantonly delude thee, and cause thee to forsake thy bed, tellingnothing but lies and fables, yet avouching them for manifest truthes?Assuredly this will procure no meane perill unto thee: Come hither, andkeepe in thine owne bedde for meere shame.

  When the honest meaning Host heard, what his own Wife and _Adriano_ hadconfirmed: he was verily perswaded, that _Panuccio_ spake in a dreameall this while: And to make it the more constantly apparant, _Panuccio_(being now growne wiser by others example) lay talking and blundringto himselfe, even as if dreames or perturbations of the minde did muchmolest him, with strange distractions in franticke manner. Which theHoste perceiving, and compassionating his case, as one man should doanothers: he tooke him by the shoulders, jogging and hunching him,saying. Awake Signior _Panuccio_, and get you gone hence to your ownebed.

  _Panuccio_, yawning and stretching out his limbes, with unusuallgroanes and respirations, such as (better) could bee hardly dissembled:seemed to wake as out of a traunce, and calling his friend _Adriano_,said.

  _Adriano_, is it day, that thou dost waken me? It may be day or nightreplyed _Adriano_, for both (in these fits) are alike to thee. Ariseman for shame, and come to thine lodging. Then faining to be muchtroubled and sleepie, he arose from the hoast, and went to _Adrianoes_bed.

  When it was day, and all in the house risen, the hoast began to smileat _Panuccio_, mocking him with his idle dreaming and talking in thenight.

  So, falling from one merry matter to another, yet without any mislikeat all: the Gentlemen, having their horses prepared, and theirPortmantues fastened behind, drinking to their hoast, mounted onhorsebacke, and they roade away towards _Florence_, no lesse contentedwith the manner of occasions happened, then the effects they sortedto. Afterward, other courses were taken, for the continuance of thisbegun pleasure with _Nicholetta_, who made her mother beleeve, that_Panuccio_ did nothing else but dreame. And the mother her selferemembring how kindely _Adriano_ had used her (a fortune not expectedby her before:) was more then halfe of the minde, that she did thendreame also, while she was waking.