The Decameron of Giovanni Boccaccio Read online

  THE SEVENTH STORY

  [Day the First]

  BERGAMINO, WITH A STORY OF PRIMASSO AND THE ABBOT OF CLUNY, COURTEOUSLY REBUKETH A FIT OF PARSIMONY NEWLY COME TO MESSER CANE DELLA SCALA

  Emilia's pleasantness and her story moved the queen and all the restto laugh and applaud the rare conceit of this new-fangled crusader.Then, after the laughter had subsided and all were silent again,Filostrato, whose turn it was to tell, began to speak on this wise:"It is a fine thing, noble ladies, to hit a mark that never stirreth;but it is well-nigh miraculous if, when some unwonted thing appearethof a sudden, it be forthright stricken of an archer. The lewd andfilthy life of the clergy, in many things as it were a constant markfor malice, giveth without much difficulty occasion to all who have amind to speak of, to gird at and rebuke it; wherefore, albeit theworthy man, who pierced the inquisitor to the quick touching thehypocritical charity of the friars, who give to the poor that which itshould behove them cast to the swine or throw away, did well, I holdhim much more to be commended of whom, the foregoing tale moving methereto, I am to speak and who with a quaint story rebuked Messer Canedella Scala, a magnificent nobleman, of a sudden and unaccustomedniggardliness newly appeared in him, figuring, in the person ofanother, that which he purposed to say to him concerning themselves;the which was on this wise.

  As very manifest renown proclaimeth well nigh throughout the wholeworld, Messer Cane della Scala, to whom in many things fortune wasfavourable, was one of the most notable and most magnificent gentlementhat have been known in Italy since the days of the Emperor Frederickthe Second. Being minded to make a notable and wonder-goodlyentertainment in Verona, whereunto many folk should have come fromdivers parts and especially men of art[59] of all kinds, he of asudden (whatever might have been the cause) withdrew therefrom andhaving in a measure requited those who were come thither, dismissedthem all, save only one, Bergamino by name, a man ready of speech andaccomplished beyond the credence of whoso had not heard him, who,having received neither largesse nor dismissal, abode behind, in thehope that his stay might prove to his future advantage. But MesserCane had taken it into his mind that what thing soever he might givehim were far worse bestowed than if it had been thrown into the fire,nor of this did he bespeak him or let tell him aught.

  [Footnote 59: _i.e._ gleemen, minstrels, story-tellers, jugglers andthe like, lit. men of court (_uomini di corte_).]

  Bergamino, after some days, finding himself neither called upon norrequired unto aught that pertained to his craft and wasting hissubstance, to boot, in the hostelry with his horses and his servants,began to be sore concerned, but waited yet, himseeming he would not dowell to depart. Now he had brought with him three goodly and richsuits of apparel, which had been given him of other noblemen, that hemight make a brave appearance at the festival, and his host pressingfor payment, he gave one thereof to him. After this, tarrying yetlonger, it behoved him give the host the second suit, an he wouldabide longer with him, and withal he began to live upon the third,resolved to abide in expectation so long as this should last and thendepart. Whilst he thus fed upon the third suit, he chanced one day,Messer Cane being at dinner, to present himself before him with arueful countenance, and Messer Cane, seeing this, more by way ofrallying him than of intent to divert himself with any of his speech,said to him, 'What aileth thee, Bergamino, to stand thus disconsolate?Tell us somewhat.'[60] Whereupon Bergamino, without a moment'shesitation, forthright, as if he had long considered it, related thefollowing story to the purpose of his own affairs.

  [Footnote 60: _Dinne alcuna cosa._ If we take the affix _ne_ (thereof,of it), in its other meaning (as dative of _noi_, we), of "to us,"this phrase will read "Tell somewhat thereof," _i.e._ of the cause ofthy melancholy.]

  'My lord,' said he, 'you must know that Primasso was a very learnedgrammarian[61] and a skilful and ready verse-maker above all others,which things rendered him so notable and so famous that, albeit hemight not everywhere be known by sight, there was well nigh none whoknew him not by name and by report. It chanced that, finding himselfonce at Paris in poor case, as indeed he abode most times, for thatworth is[62] little prized of those who can most,[63] he heard speakof the Abbot of Cluny, who is believed to be, barring the Pope, therichest prelate of his revenues that the Church of God possesseth, andof him he heard tell marvellous and magnificent things, in that hestill held open house nor were meat and drink ever denied to any whowent whereas he might be, so but he sought it what time the Abbot wasat meat. Primasso, hearing this and being one who delighted in lookingupon men of worth and nobility, determined to go see the magnificenceof this Abbot and enquired how near he then abode to Paris. It wasanswered him that he was then at a place of his maybe half a dozenmiles thence; wherefore Primasso thought to be there at dinner-time,by starting in the morning betimes.

  [Footnote 61: _i.e._ Latinist.]

  [Footnote 62: Lit. was (_era_); but as Boccaccio puts "can"(_possono_) in the present tense we must either read _e_ and _possono_or _era_ and _potevano_. The first reading seems the more probable.]

  [Footnote 63: _i.e._ have most power or means of requiting it.]

  Accordingly, he enquired the way, but, finding none bound thither, hefeared lest he might go astray by mischance and happen on a part wherethere might be no victual so readily to be found; wherefore, in orderthat, if this should betide, he might not suffer for lack of food, hebethought himself to carry with him three cakes of bread, judging thatwater (albeit it was little to his taste) he should find everywhere.The bread he put in his bosom and setting out, was fortunate enough toreach the Abbot's residence before the eating-hour. He entered andwent spying all about and seeing the great multitude of tables set andthe mighty preparations making in the kitchen and what not elseprovided against dinner, said in himself, "Of a truth this Abbot is asmagnificent as folk say." After he had abidden awhile intent uponthese things, the Abbot's seneschal, eating-time being come, badebring water for the hands; which being done, he seated each man attable, and it chanced that Primasso was set right over against thedoor of the chamber, whence the Abbot should come forth into theeating-hall.

  Now it was the usance in that house that neither wine nor bread noraught else of meat or drink should ever be set on the tables, exceptthe Abbot were first came to sit at his own table. Accordingly, theseneschal, having set the tables, let tell the Abbot that, whenas itpleased him, the meat was ready. The Abbot let open the chamber-door,that he might pass into the saloon, and looking before him as he came,as chance would have it, the first who met his eyes was Primasso, whowas very ill accoutred and whom he knew not by sight. When he saw him,incontinent there came into his mind an ill thought and one that hadnever yet been there, and he said in himself, "See to whom I give mysubstance to eat!" Then, turning back, he bade shut the chamber-doorand enquired of those who were about him if any knew yonder losel whosat at table over against his chamber-door; but all answered no.

  Meanwhile Primasso, who had a mind to eat, having come a journey andbeing unused to fast, waited awhile and seeing that the Abbot camenot, pulled out of his bosom one of the three cakes of bread he hadbrought with him and fell to eating. The Abbot, after he had waitedawhile, bade one of his serving-men look if Primasso were gone, andthe man answered, "No, my lord; nay, he eateth bread, which it seemethhe hath brought with him." Quoth the Abbot, "Well, let him eat of hisown, an he have thereof; for of ours he shall not eat to-day." Now hewould fain have had Primasso depart of his own motion, himseeming itwere not well done to turn him away; but the latter, having eaten onecake of bread and the Abbot coming not, began upon the second; thewhich was likewise reported to the Abbot, who had caused look if hewere gone.

  At last, the Abbot still tarrying, Primasso, having eaten the secondcake, began upon the third, and this again was reported to the Abbot,who fell a-pondering in himself and saying, "Alack, what new maggot isthis that is come into my head to-day? What avarice! What despite! Andfor whom? This many a year have I given my substance to eat towhosoeve
r had a mind thereto, without regarding if he were gentle orsimple, poor or rich, merchant or huckster, and have seen it with mineown eyes squandered by a multitude of ribald knaves; nor ever yet camethere to my mind the thought that hath entered into me for yonder man.Of a surety avarice cannot have assailed me for a man of littleaccount; needs must this who seemeth to me a losel be some greatmatter, since my soul hath thus repugned to do him honour."

  So saying, he desired to know who he was and finding that it wasPrimasso, whom he had long known by report for a man of merit, comethither to see with his own eyes that which he had heard of hismagnificence, was ashamed and eager to make him amends, studied inmany ways to do him honour. Moreover, after eating, he caused clothehim sumptuously, as befitted his quality, and giving him money and apalfrey, left it to his own choice to go or stay; whereupon Primasso,well pleased with his entertainment, rendered him the best thanks inhis power and returned on horseback to Paris, whence he had set outafoot.

  Messer Cane, who was a gentleman of understanding, right wellapprehended Bergamino's meaning, without further exposition, and saidto him, smiling, 'Bergamino, thou hast very aptly set forth to me thywrongs and merit and my niggardliness, as well as that which thouwouldst have of me; and in good sooth, never, save now on thineaccount, have I been assailed of parsimony; but I will drive it awaywith that same stick which thou thyself hast shown me.' Then, lettingpay Bergamino's host and clothing himself most sumptuously in a suitof his own apparel, he gave him money and a palfrey and committed tohis choice for the nonce to go or stay."