The Decameron, Volume II

am I; so onlythou let not this which we are to do embroil me with thy wife, with whom,notwithstanding the evil turn she has done me, I am minded to remain atpeace." "Have no fear on that score," replied Zeppa; "nay, I will givethee into the bargain a jewel so rare and fair that thou hast not thelike." Which said, he took her in his arms and fell a kissing her, andhaving laid her on the chest, in which her husband was safe under lockand key, did there disport himself with her to his heart's content, asshe with him.

  Spinelloccio in the chest heard all that Zeppa had said, and how he wasanswered by the lady, and the Trevisan dance that afterwards went on overhis head; whereat his mortification was such that for a great while hescarce hoped to live through it; and, but for the fear he had of Zeppa,he would have given his wife a sound rating, close prisoner though hewas. But, as he bethought him that 'twas he that had given the firstaffront, and that Zeppa had good cause for acting as he did, and that hehad dealt with him considerately and as a good fellow should, he resolvedthat if it were agreeable to Zeppa, they should be faster friends thanever before. However, Zeppa, having had his pleasure with the lady, gotdown from the chest, and being reminded by the lady of his promise of thejewel, opened the door of the chamber and brought his wife in. Quoth shewith a laugh:--"Madam, you have given me tit for tat," and never a wordmore. Whereupon:--"Open the chest," quoth Zeppa; and she obeying, heshewed the lady her Spinelloccio lying therein. 'Twould be hard to saywhether of the twain was the more shame-stricken, Spinelloccio to beconfronted with Zeppa, knowing that Zeppa wist what he had done, or thelady to meet her husband's eyes, knowing that he had heard what went onabove his head. "Lo, here is the jewel I give thee," quoth Zeppa to her,pointing to Spinelloccio, who, as he came forth of the chest, blurtedout:--"Zeppa, we are quits, and so 'twere best, as thou saidst a whileago to my wife, that we still be friends as we were wont, and as we hadnought separate, save our wives, that henceforth we have them also incommon." "Content," quoth Zeppa; and so in perfect peace and accord theyall four breakfasted together. And thenceforth each of the ladies had twohusbands, and each of the husbands two wives; nor was there ever theleast dispute or contention between them on that score.

  (1) A suburb of Siena.

  NOVEL IX.

  --Bruno and Buffalmacco prevail upon Master Simone, a physician, to betakehim by night to a certain place, there to be enrolled in a company thatgo the course. Buffalmacco throws him into a foul ditch, and there theyleave him.--

  When the ladies had made merry a while over the partnership in wivesestablished by the two Sienese, the queen, who now, unless she wereminded to infringe Dioneo's privilege, alone remained to tell, began onthis wise:--Fairly earned indeed, loving ladies, was the flout thatSpinelloccio got from Zeppa. Wherefore my judgment jumps with that whichPampinea expressed a while ago, to wit, that he is not severely to becensured who bestows a flout on one that provokes it or deserves it; andas Spinelloccio deserved it, so 'tis my purpose to tell you of one thatprovoked it, for I deem that those from whom he received it, were ratherto be commended than condemned. The man that got it was a physician, who,albeit he was but a blockhead, returned from Bologna to Florence inmantle and hood of vair.

  'Tis matter of daily experience that our citizens come back to us fromBologna, this man a judge, that a physician, and the other a notary,flaunting it in ample flowing robes, and adorned with the scarlet and thevair and other array most goodly to see; and how far their doingscorrespond with this fair seeming, is also matter of daily experience.Among whom 'tis not long since Master Simone da Villa, one whosepatrimony was more ample than his knowledge, came back wearing thescarlet and a broad stripe(1) on the shoulder, and a doctor, as he calledhimself, and took a house in the street that we now call Via delCocomero. Now this Master Simone, being thus, as we said, come back, hadthis among other singular habits, that he could never see a soul passalong the street, but he must needs ask any that was by, who that manwas; and he was as observant of all the doings of men, and as sedulous tostore his memory with such matters, as if they were to serve him tocompound the drugs that he was to give his patients. Now, of all that hesaw, those that he eyed most observantly were two painters, of whom hereto-day mention has twice been made, Bruno, to wit, and Buffalmacco, whowere ever together, and were his neighbours. And as it struck him thatthey daffed the world aside and lived more lightheartedly than any othersthat he knew, as indeed they did, he enquired of not a few folk as totheir rank. And learning on all hands that they were poor men andpainters, he could not conceive it possible that they should live thuscontentedly in poverty, but made his mind up that, being, as he wasinformed, clever fellows, they must have some secret source from whichthey drew immense gains; for which reason he grew all agog to get onfriendly terms with them, or any rate with one of them, and did succeedin making friends with Bruno.

  Bruno, who had not needed to be much with him in order to discover thatthis physician was but a dolt, had never such a jolly time in palming offhis strange stories upon him, while the physician, on his part, wasmarvellously delighted with Bruno; to whom, having bidden him tobreakfast, and thinking that for that reason he might talk familiarlywith him, he expressed the amazement with which he regarded both him andBuffalmacco, for that, being but poor men, they lived so lightheartedly,and asked him to tell him how they managed. At which fresh proof of thedoctor's simplicity and fatuity Bruno was inclined to laugh; but,bethinking him that 'twere best to answer him according to his folly, hesaid:--"Master, there are not many persons to whom I would disclose ourmanner of life, but, as you are my friend, and I know you will not let itgo further, I do not mind telling you. The fact is that my comrade and Ilive not only as lightheartedly and jovially as you see, but much moreso; and yet neither our art, nor any property that we possess, yields usenough to keep us in water: not that I would have you suppose that we goa thieving: no, 'tis that we go the course, and thereby without the leastharm done to a soul we get all that we need, nay, all that we desire; andthus it is that we live so lightheartedly as you see." Which explanationthe doctor believing none the less readily that he knew not what itmeant, was lost in wonder, and forthwith burned with a most vehementdesire to know what going the course might be, and was instant with Brunoto expound it, assuring him that he would never tell a soul. "Alas!Master," said Bruno, "what is this you ask of me? 'Tis a mighty greatsecret you would have me impart to you: 'twould be enough to undo me, tosend me packing out of the world, nay, into the very jaws of Lucifer ofSan Gallo,(2) if it came to be known. But such is the respect in which Ihold your quiditative pumpionship of Legnaia, and the trust I repose inyou, that I am not able to deny you aught you ask of me; and so I willtell it you, on condition that you swear by the cross at Montesone thatyou will keep your promise, and never repeat it to a soul."

  The Master gave the required assurance. Whereupon:--"You are then toknow," quoth Bruno, "sweet my Master, that 'tis not long since there wasin this city a great master in necromancy, hight Michael Scott, for thathe was of Scotland, and great indeed was the honour in which he was heldby not a few gentlemen, most of whom are now dead; and when the time camethat he must needs depart from Florence, he at their instant entreatyleft behind him two pupils, adepts both, whom he bade hold themselvesever ready to pleasure those gentlemen who had done him honour. And veryhandsomely they did serve the said gentlemen in certain of their loveaffairs and other little matters; and finding the city and the manners ofthe citizens agreeable to them, they made up their minds to stay herealways, and grew friendly and very intimate with some of the citizens,making no distinction between gentle and simple, rich or poor, so onlythey were such as were conformable to their ways. And to gratify thesetheir friends they formed a company of perhaps twenty-five men, to meettogether at least twice a month in a place appointed by them; where, whenthey are met, each utters his desire, and forthwith that same night theyaccomplish it. Now Buffalmacco and I, being extraordinarily great andclose friends with these two adepts, were by them enrolled in thiscompany, and are still members of i
t. And I assure you that, as often aswe are assembled together, the adornments of the saloon in which we eatare a marvel to see, ay, and the tables laid as for kings, and themultitudes of stately and handsome servants, as well women as men, at thebeck and call of every member of the company, and the basins, and theewers, the flasks and the cups, and all else that is there for ourservice in eating and drinking, of nought but gold and silver, andtherewithal the abundance and variety of the viands, suited to the tasteof each, that are set before us, each in due course, these too bemarvels. 'Twere vain for me to seek to describe to you the sweet concordthat is there of innumerable instruments of music, and the tuneful songsthat salute our ears; nor might I hope to tell you how much wax is burnedat these banquets, or compute the quantity of