THE THIRD STORY
[Day the Fourth]
THREE YOUNG MEN LOVE THREE SISTERS AND FLEE WITH THEM INTO CRETE, WHERE THE ELDEST SISTER FOR JEALOUSY SLAYETH HER LOVER. THE SECOND, YIELDING HERSELF TO THE DUKE OF CRETE, SAVETH HER SISTER FROM DEATH, WHEREUPON HER OWN LOVER SLAYETH HER AND FLEETH WITH THE ELDEST SISTER. MEANWHILE THE THIRD LOVER AND THE YOUNGEST SISTER ARE ACCUSED OF THE NEW MURDER AND BEING TAKEN, CONFESS IT; THEN, FOR FEAR OF DEATH, THEY CORRUPT THEIR KEEPERS WITH MONEY AND FLEE TO RHODES, WHERE THEY DIE IN POVERTY
Filostrato, having heard the end of Pampinea's story, bethoughthimself awhile and presently, turning to her, said, "There was somelittle that was good and that pleased me in the ending of your story;but there was overmuch before that which gave occasion for laughterand which I would not have had there." Then, turning to Lauretta,"Lady," said he, "ensue you with a better, and it may be." Quoth she,laughing, "You are too cruel towards lovers, an you desire of themonly an ill end;[231] but, to obey you, I will tell a story of threewho all ended equally ill, having had scant enjoyment of their loves."So saying, she began thus: "Young ladies, as you should manifestlyknow, every vice may turn to the grievous hurt of whoso practiseth it,and often of other folk also; but of all others that which with theslackest rein carrieth us away to our peril, meseemeth is anger, whichis none otherwhat than a sudden and unconsidered emotion, aroused byan affront suffered, and which, banishing all reason and overcloudingthe eyes of the understanding with darkness, kindleth the soul to thehottest fury. And although this often cometh to pass in men and morein one than in another, yet hath it been seen aforetime to workgreater mischiefs in women, for that it is lightlier enkindled inthese latter and burneth in them with a fiercer flame and urgeth themwith less restraint. Nor is this to be marvelled at, for that, an wechoose to consider, we may see that fire, of its nature, catchethquicklier to light and delicate things than to those which are denserand more ponderous; and we women, indeed,--let men not take itill,--are more delicately fashioned than they and far more mobile.Wherefore, seeing that we are naturally inclined thereunto[232] andconsidering after how our mansuetude and our loving kindness are ofrepose and pleasance to the men with whom we have to do and how bigwith harm and peril are anger and fury, I purpose, to the intent thatwe may with a more steadfast, mind keep ourselves from these latter,to show you by my story how the loves of three young men and as manyladies came, as I said before, to an ill end, becoming through the ireof one of the latter, from happy most unhappy.
[Footnote 231: _i.e._ _semble_ "an you would wish them nought but anill end."]
[Footnote 232: _i.e._ to anger.]
Marseilles is, as you know, a very ancient and noble city, situate inProvence on the sea-shore, and was once more abounding in rich andgreat merchants than it is nowadays. Among the latter was one calledNarnald Cluada, a man of mean extraction, but of renowned good faithand a loyal merchant, rich beyond measure in lands and monies, who hadby a wife of his several children, whereof the three eldest weredaughters. Two of these latter, born at a birth, were fifteen and thethird fourteen years old, nor was aught awaited by their kinsfolk tomarry them but the return of Narnald, who was gone into Spain with hismerchandise. The names of the two elder were the one Ninetta and theother Maddalena and the third called Bertella. Of Ninetta a young manof gentle birth, though poor, called Restagnone, was enamoured as muchas man might be, and she of him, and they had contrived to do on suchwise that, without any knowing it, they had enjoyment of their loves.
They had already a pretty while enjoyed this satisfaction when itchanced that two young companions, named the one Folco and the otherUghetto, whose fathers were dead, leaving them very rich, fell inlove, the one with Maddalena and the other with Bertella. Restagnone,noting this (it having been shown him of Ninetta), bethought himselfthat he might make shift to supply his own lack by means of thenewcomers' love. Accordingly, he clapped up an acquaintance with them,so that now one, now the other of them accompanied him to visit theirmistresses and his; and when himseemed he was grown privy enough withthem and much their friend, he called them one day into his house andsaid to them, 'Dearest youths, our commerce should have certified youhow great is the love I bear you and that I would do for you thatwhich I would do for myself; and for that I love you greatly, Ipurpose to discover to you that which hath occurred to my mind, andyou and I together will after take such counsel thereof as shall seemto you best. You, an your words lie not and for that to boot whichmeseemeth I have apprehended by your deeds, both daily and nightly,burn with an exceeding passion for the two young ladies beloved ofyou, as do I for the third their sister; and to this ardour, an youwill consent thereunto,[233] my heart giveth me to find a very sweetand pleasing remedy, the which is as follows. You are both very rich,which I am not; now, if you will agree to bring your riches into acommon stock, making me a third sharer with you therein, and determinein which part of the world we shall go lead a merry life with ourmistresses, my heart warranteth me I can without fail so do that thethree sisters, with a great part of their father's good, will go with,us whithersoever we shall please, and there, each with his wench, likethree brothers, we may live the happiest lives of any men in theworld. It resteth with you now to determine whether you will go aboutto solace yourself in this or leave it be.'
[Footnote 233: _i.e._ to the proposal I have to make.]
The two young men, who were beyond measure inflamed, hearing that theywere to have their lasses, were not long in making up their minds, butanswered that, so this[234] should ensue, they were ready to do as hesaid. Restagnone, having gotten this answer from the young men, foundmeans a few days after to foregather with Ninetta, to whom he couldnot come without great unease, and after he had abidden with herawhile, he told her what he had proposed to the others and with manyarguments studied to commend the emprise to her. This was littleuneath to him, seeing that she was yet more desirous than himself tobe with him without suspect; wherefore she answered him frankly thatit liked her well and that her sisters would do whatever she wished,especially in this, and bade him make ready everything needfultherefor as quickliest he might. Restagnone accordingly returned tothe two young men, who still importuned him amain to do that whereofhe had bespoken them, and told them that, so far as concerned theirmistresses, the matter was settled. Then, having determined amongthemselves to go to Crete, they sold certain lands they had, undercolour of meaning to go a-trading with the price, and having mademoney of all their other goods, bought a light brigantine and secretlyequipped it to the utmost advantage.
[Footnote 234: _i.e._ the possession of their mistresses.]
Meanwhile, Ninetta, who well enough knew her sisters' mind, with softwords inflamed them with such a liking for the venture that themseemedthey might not live to see the thing accomplished. Accordingly, thenight come when they were to go aboard the brigantine, the threesisters opened a great coffer of their father's and taking thence avast quantity of money and jewels, stole out of the house, accordingto the given order. They found their gallants awaiting them and goingstraightway all aboard the brigantine, they thrust the oars into thewater and put out to sea nor rested till they came, on the followingevening, to Genoa, where the new lovers for the first time took easeand joyance of their loves. There having refreshed themselves withthat whereof they had need, they set out again and sailing from portto port, came, ere it was the eighth day, without any hindrance, toCrete, where they bought great and goodly estates near Candia and madethem very handsome and delightsome dwelling-houses thereon. Here theyfell to living like lords and passed their days in banquets andjoyance and merrymaking, the happiest men in the world, they and theirmistresses, with great plenty of servants and hounds and hawks andhorses.
Abiding on this wise, it befell (even as we see it happen all day longthat, how much soever things may please, they grow irksome, an onehave overgreat plenty thereof) that Restagnone, who had much lovedNinetta, being now able to have her at his every pleasure, without le
tor hindrance, began to weary of her, and consequently his love for herbegan to wane. Having seen at entertainment a damsel of the country, afair and noble young lady, who pleased him exceedingly, he fell tocourting her with all his might, giving marvellous entertainments inher honor and plying her with all manner gallantries; which Ninettacoming to know, she fell into such a jealousy that he could not go astep but she heard of it and after harassed both him and herself withwords and reproaches on account thereof. But, like as overabundance ofaught begetteth weariness, even so doth the denial of a thing desiredredouble the appetite; accordingly, Ninetta's reproaches did but fanthe flame of Restagnone's new love and in process of time it came topass that, whether he had the favours of the lady he loved or not,Ninetta held it for certain, whoever it was reported it to her;wherefore she fell into such a passion of grief and thence passed intosuch a fit of rage and despite that the love which she bore Restagnonewas changed to bitter hatred, and blinded by her wrath, she bethoughtherself to avenge, by his death, the affront which herseemed she hadreceived.
Accordingly, betaking herself to an old Greek woman, a past mistressin the art of compounding poisons, she induced her with gifts andpromises to make her a death-dealing water, which she, withoutconsidering farther, gave Restagnone one evening to drink he beingheated and misdoubting him not thereof; and such was the potency ofthe poison that, ere morning came, it had slain him. Folco and Ughettoand their mistresses, hearing of his death and knowing not of whatpoison he had died,[235] bewept him bitterly, together with Ninetta,and caused bury him honourably. But not many days after it chancedthat the old woman, who had compounded the poisoned water for Ninetta,was taken for some other misdeed and being put to the torture,confessed to this amongst her other crimes, fully declaring that whichhad betided by reason thereof; whereupon the Duke of Crete, withoutsaying aught of the matter, beset Folco's palace by surprise one nightand without any noise or gainsayal, carried off Ninetta prisoner, fromwhom, without putting her to the torture, he readily got what he wouldknow of the death of Restagnone.
[Footnote 235: Sic (_di che veleno fosse morto_), but this is probablya copyist's error for _che di veleno fosse morto_, _i.e._ that he haddied of poison.]
Folco and Ughetto (and from them their ladies) had privy notice fromthe duke why Ninetta had been taken, the which was exceeding grievousto them and they used their every endeavour to save her from the fire,whereto they doubted not she would be condemned, as indeed she richlydeserved; but all seemed vain, for that the duke abode firm in willingto do justice upon her. However, Maddalena, who was a beautiful youngwoman and had long been courted by the duke, but had never yetconsented to do aught that might pleasure him, thinking that, bycomplying with his wishes, she might avail to save her sister from thefire, signified to him by a trusty messenger that she was at hiscommandment in everything, provided two things should ensue thereof,to wit, that she should have her sister again safe and sound and thatthe thing should be secret. Her message pleased the duke, and afterlong debate with himself if he should do as she proposed, heultimately agreed thereto and said that he was ready. Accordingly, onenight, having, with the lady's consent, caused detain Folco andUghetto, as he would fain examine them of the matter, he went secretlyto couch with Maddalena and having first made a show of puttingNinetta in a sack and of purposing to let sink her that night in thesea, he carried her with him to her sister, to whom on the morrow hedelivered her at parting, in payment of the night he had passed withher, praying her that this,[236] which had been the first of theirloves, might not be the last and charging her send the guilty ladyaway, lest blame betide himself and it behove him anew proceed againsther with rigour.
[Footnote 236: _i.e._ that night.]
Next morning, Folco and Ughetto, having heard that Ninetta had beensacked overnight and believing it, were released and returned home tocomfort their mistresses for the death of their sister. However, forall Maddalena could do to hide her, Folco soon became aware ofNinetta's presence in the palace, whereat he marvelled exceedingly andsuddenly waxing suspicious,--for that he had heard of the duke'spassion for Maddalena,--asked the latter how her sister came to bethere. Maddalena began a long story, which she had devised to accountto him therefor, but was little believed of her lover, who was shrewdand constrained her to confess the truth, which, after long parley,she told him. Folco, overcome with chagrin and inflamed with rage,pulled out a sword and slew her, whilst she in vain besought mercy;then, fearing the wrath and justice of the duke, he left her dead inthe chamber and repairing whereas Ninetta was, said to her, with afeigned air of cheerfulness, 'Quick, let us begone whither it hathbeen appointed of thy sister that I shall carry thee, so thou maystnot fall again into the hands of the duke.' Ninetta, believing thisand eager, in her fearfulness, to begone, set out with Folco, it beingnow night, without seeking to take leave of her sister; whereupon heand she, with such monies (which were but few) as he could lay handson, betook themselves to the sea-shore and embarked on board a vessel;nor was it ever known whither they went.
On the morrow, Maddalena being found murdered, there were some who, ofthe envy and hatred they bore to Ughetto, forthright gave noticethereof to the duke, whereupon the latter, who loved Maddalenaexceedingly, ran furiously to the house and seizing Ughetto and hislady, who as yet knew nothing of the matter,--to wit, of the departureof Folco and Ninetta,--constrained them to confess themselves guilty,together with Folco, of his mistress's death. They, apprehending withreason death in consequence of this confession, with great painscorrupted those who had them in keeping, giving them a certain sum ofmoney, which they kept hidden in their house against urgentoccasions, and embarking with their guards, without having leisure totake any of their goods, fled by night to Rhodes, where they lived nogreat while after in poverty and distress. To such a pass, then, didRestagnone's mad love and Ninetta's rage bring themselves and others."
The Decameron of Giovanni Boccaccio Page 39