The Decameron of Giovanni Boccaccio

by Giovanni Boccaccio

  THE SECOND STORY

  [Day the Ninth]

  AN ABBESS, ARISING IN HASTE AND IN THE DARK TO FIND ONE OF HER NUNS, WHO HAD BEEN DENOUNCED TO HER, IN BED WITH HER LOVER AND THINKING TO COVER HER HEAD WITH HER COIF, DONNETH INSTEAD THEREOF THE BREECHES OF A PRIEST WHO IS ABED WITH HER; THE WHICH THE ACCUSED NUN OBSERVING AND MAKING HER AWARE THEREOF, SHE IS ACQUITTED AND HATH LEISURE TO BE WITH HER LOVER

  Filomena was now silent and the lady's address in ridding herself ofthose whom she chose not to love having been commended of all, whilst,on the other hand, the presumptuous hardihood of the two gallants washeld of them to be not love, but madness, the queen said gaily toElisa, "Elisa, follow on." Accordingly, she promptly began,"Adroitly, indeed, dearest ladies, did Madam Francesca contrive to ridherself of her annoy, as hath been told; but a young nun, fortuneaiding her, delivered herself with an apt speech from an imminentperil. As you know, there be many very dull folk, who set up forteachers and censors of others, but whom, as you may apprehend from mystory, fortune bytimes deservedly putteth to shame, as befell theabbess, under whose governance was the nun of whom I have to tell.

  You must know, then, that there was once in Lombardy a convent, veryfamous for sanctity and religion, wherein, amongst the other nuns whowere there, was a young lady of noble birth and gifted with marvellousbeauty, who was called Isabetta and who, coming one day to the grateto speak with a kinsman of hers, fell in love with a handsome youngman who accompanied him. The latter, seeing her very fair and diviningher wishes with his eyes, became on like wise enamoured of her, andthis love they suffered a great while without fruit, to the no smallunease of each. At last, each being solicited by a like desire, theyoung man hit upon a means of coming at his nun in all secrecy, andshe consenting thereto, he visited her, not once, but many times, tothe great contentment of both. But, this continuing, it chanced onenight that he was, without the knowledge of himself or his mistress,seen of one of the ladies of the convent to take leave of Isabetta andgo his ways. The nun communicated her discovery to divers others andthey were minded at first to denounce Isabetta to the abbess, who wascalled Madam Usimbalda and who, in the opinion of the nuns and ofwhosoever knew her, was a good and pious lady; but, on consideration,they bethought themselves to seek to have the abbess take her with theyoung man, so there might be no room for denial. Accordingly, theyheld their peace and kept watch by turns in secret to surprise her.

  Now it chanced that Isabetta, suspecting nothing of this nor being onher guard, caused her lover come thither one night, which wasforthright known to those who were on the watch for this and who,whenas it seemed to them time, a good part of the night being spent,divided themselves into two parties, whereof one abode on guard at thedoor of her cell, whilst the other ran to the abbess's chamber andknocking at the door, till she answered, said to her, 'Up, madam;arise quickly, for we have discovered that Isabetta hath a young manin her cell.' Now the abbess was that night in company with a priest,whom she ofttimes let come to her in a chest; but, hearing the nuns'outcry and fearing lest, of their overhaste and eagerness, they shouldpush open the door, she hurriedly arose and dressed herself as bestshe might in the dark. Thinking to take certain plaited veils, whichnuns wear on their heads and call a psalter, she caught up by chancethe priest's breeches, and such was her haste that, without remarkingwhat she did, she threw them over her head, in lieu of the psalter,and going forth, hurriedly locked the door after her, saying, 'Whereis this accursed one of God?' Then, in company with the others, whowere so ardent and so intent upon having Isabetta taken in defaultthat they noted not that which the abbess had on her head, she cameto the cell-door and breaking it open, with the aid of the others,entered and found the two lovers abed in each other's arms, who, allconfounded at such a surprise, abode fast, unknowing what to do.

  The young lady was incontinent seized by the other nuns and haled off,by command of the abbess, to the chapter-house, whilst her gallantdressed himself and abode await to see what should be the issue of theadventure, resolved, if any hurt were offered to his mistress, to do amischief to as many nuns as he could come at and carry her off. Theabbess, sitting in chapter, proceeded, in the presence of all thenuns, who had no eyes but for the culprit, to give the latter thefoulest rating that ever woman had, as having by her lewd and filthypractices (an the thing should come to be known without the walls)sullied the sanctity, the honour and the fair fame of the convent; andto this she added very grievous menaces. The young lady, shamefast andfearful, as feeling herself guilty, knew not what to answer andkeeping silence, possessed the other nuns with compassion for her.However, after a while, the abbess multiplying words, she chanced toraise her eyes and espied that which the former had on her head andthe hose-points that hung down therefrom on either side; whereupon,guessing how the matter stood, she was all reassured and said, 'Madam,God aid you, tie up your coif and after say what you will to me.'

  The abbess, taking not her meaning, answered, 'What coif, vile womanthat thou art? Hast thou the face to bandy pleasantries at such atime? Thinkest thou this that thou hast done is a jesting matter?''Prithee, madam,' answered Isabetta, 'tie up your coif and after saywhat you will to me.' Thereupon many of the nuns raised their eyes tothe abbess's head and she also, putting her hand thereto, perceived,as did the others, why Isabetta spoke thus; wherefore the abbess,becoming aware of her own default and perceiving that it was seen ofall, past hope of recoverance, changed her note and proceeding tospeak after a fashion altogether different from her beginning, came tothe conclusion that it is impossible to withstand the pricks of theflesh, wherefore she said that each should, whenas she might, privilygive herself a good time, even as it had been done until that day.Accordingly, setting the young lady free, she went back to sleep withher priest and Isabetta returned to her lover, whom many a timethereafter she let come thither, in despite of those who envied her,whilst those of the others who were loverless pushed their fortunes insecret, as best they knew."