The Decameron of Giovanni Boccaccio
Page 65
THE SEVENTH STORY
[Day the Sixth]
MADAM FILIPPA, BEING FOUND BY HER HUSBAND WITH A LOVER OF HERS AND BROUGHT TO JUSTICE, DELIVERETH HERSELF WITH A PROMPT AND PLEASANT ANSWER AND CAUSETH MODIFY THE STATUTE
Fiammetta was now silent and all laughed yet at the novel argumentused by Scalza for the ennoblement over all of the Cadgers, when thequeen enjoined Filostrato to tell and he accordingly began to say, "Itis everywise a fine thing, noble ladies, to know how to speak well,but I hold it yet goodlier to know how to do it whereas necessityrequireth it, even as a gentlewoman, of whom I purpose to entertainyou, knew well how to do on such wise that not only did she afford herhearers matter for mirth and laughter, but did herself loose from thetoils of an ignominious death, as you shall presently hear.
There was, then, aforetime, in the city of Prato, a statute in truthno less blameworthy than cruel, which, without making any distinction,ordained that any woman found by her husband in adultery with any herlover should be burnt, even as she who should be discovered to havesold her favours for money. What while this statute was in force, itbefell that a noble and beautiful lady, by name Madam Filippa, who wasof a singularly amorous complexion, was one night found by Rinaldo de'Pugliesi her husband, in her own chamber in the arms of Lazzerino de'Guazzagliotri, a noble and handsome youth of that city, whom she lovedeven as herself. Rinaldo, seeing this, was sore enraged and scarcecontained himself from falling upon them and slaying them; and butthat he feared for himself, an he should ensue the promptings of hisanger, he had certainly done it. However, he forbore from this, butcould not refrain from seeking of the law of Prato that which it wasnot permitted him to accomplish with his own hand, to wit, the deathof his wife. Having, therefore, very sufficient evidence to prove thelady's default, no sooner was the day come than, without taking othercounsel, he lodged an accusation against her and caused summon herbefore the provost.
Madam Filippa, being great of heart, as women commonly are who areverily in love, resolved, although counselled to the contrary by manyof her friends and kinsfolk, to appear, choosing rather, confessingthe truth, to die with an undaunted spirit, than, meanly fleeing, tolive an outlaw in exile and confess herself unworthy of such a loveras he in whose arms she had been the foregoing night. Wherefore,presenting herself before the provost, attended by a great company ofmen and ladies and exhorted of all to deny the charge, she demanded,with a firm voice and an assured air, what he would with her. Themagistrate, looking upon her and seeing her very fair and commendableof carriage and according as her words testified, of a lofty spirit,began to have compassion of her, fearing lest she should confesssomewhat wherefore it should behoove him, for his own honour's sake,condemn her to die. However, having no choice but to question her ofthat which was laid to her charge, he said to her, 'Madam, as you see,here is Rinaldo your husband, who complaineth of you, avouchinghimself to have found you in adultery with another man and demandingthat I should punish you therefor by putting you to death, accordingto the tenor of a statute which here obtaineth; but this I cannot do,except you confess it; wherefore look well what you answer and tell meif that be true whereof your husband impeacheth you.'
The lady, no wise dismayed, replied very cheerfully, 'Sir, true it isthat Rinaldo is my husband and that he found me last night in the armsof Lazzarino, wherein, for the great and perfect love I bear him, Ihave many a time been; nor am I anywise minded to deny this. But, as Iam assured you know, laws should be common to all and made with theconsent of those whom they concern; and this is not the case with thisstatute, which is binding only upon us unhappy women, who might farbetter than men avail to satisfy many; more by token that, when it wasmade, not only did no woman yield consent thereunto, but none of uswas even cited to do so; wherefore it may justly be styled naught.However, an you choose, to the prejudice of my body and of your ownsoul, to be the executor of this unrighteous law, it resteth with youto do so; but, ere you proceed to adjudge aught, I pray you do me oneslight favour, to wit, that you question my husband if at all timesand as often as it pleased him, without ever saying him nay, I have ornot vouchsafed him entire commodity of myself.'
Rinaldo, without waiting to be questioned of the provost, straightwaymade answer that undoubtedly the lady had, at his every request,accorded him his every pleasure of herself; whereupon, 'Then, my lordprovost,' straightway rejoined she, 'if he have still taken of me thatwhich was needful and pleasing to him, what, I ask you, was or am I todo with that which remaineth over and above his requirements? Should Icast it to the dogs? Was it not far better to gratify withal agentleman who loveth me more than himself, than to leave it waste orspoil?' Now well nigh all the people of Prato had flocked thither tothe trial of such a matter and of so fair and famous a lady, andhearing so comical a question, they all, after much laughter, criedout as with one voice that she was in the right of it and that shesaid well. Moreover, ere they departed thence, at the instance of theprovost, they modified the cruel statute and left it to apply to thosewomen only who should for money make default to their husbands.Thereupon Rinaldo, having taken nought but shame by so fond anemprise, departed the court, and the lady returned in triumph to herown house, joyful and free and in a manner raised up out of the fire."