The Decameron of Giovanni Boccaccio

by Giovanni Boccaccio

  THE SECOND STORY

  [Day the Tenth]

  GHINO DI TACCO TAKETH THE ABBOT OF CLUNY AND HAVING CURED HIM OF THE STOMACH-COMPLAINT, LETTETH HIM GO; WHEREUPON THE ABBOT, RETURNING TO THE COURT OF ROME, RECONCILETH HIM WITH POPE BONIFACE AND MAKETH HIM A PRIOR OF THE HOSPITALLERS

  The magnificence shown by King Alfonso to the Florentine cavalierhaving been duly commended, the king, who had been mightily pleasedtherewith, enjoined Elisa to follow on, and she straightway beganthus: "Dainty dames, it cannot be denied that for a king to bemunificent and to have shown his munificence to him who had served himis a great and a praiseworthy thing; but what shall we say if achurchman be related to have practised marvellous magnanimity towardsone, whom if he had used as an enemy, he had of none been blamedtherefor? Certes, we can say none otherwise than that the king'smagnificence was a virtue, whilst that of the churchman was a miracle,inasmuch as the clergy are all exceeding niggardly, nay, far more sothan women, and sworn enemies of all manner of liberality; and albeitall men naturally hunger after vengeance for affronts received, we seechurchmen, for all they preach patience and especially commend theremission of offences, pursue it more eagerly than other folk. This,then, to wit, how a churchman was magnanimous, you may manifestlylearn from the following story of mine.

  Ghino di Tacco, a man very famous for his cruelty and his robberies,being expelled [Transcriber's Note: missing 'from'] Siena and at feudwith the Counts of Santa Fiore, raised Radicofani against the Churchof Rome and taking up his sojourn there, caused his swashbucklersdespoil whosoever passed through the surrounding country. Now,Boniface the Eighth being pope in Rome, there came to court the Abbotof Cluny, who is believed to be one of the richest prelates in theworld, and having there marred his stomach, he was advised by thephysicians to repair to the baths of Siena and he would without failbe cured. Accordingly, having gotten the pope's leave, he set out onhis way thither in great pomp of gear and baggage and horses andservitors, unrecking of Ghino's [ill] report. The latter, hearing ofhis coming, spread his nets and hemmed him and all his household andgear about in a strait place, without letting a single footboy escape.This done, he despatched to the abbot one, the most sufficient, of hismen, well accompanied, who in his name very lovingly prayed him bepleased to light down and sojourn with the aforesaid Ghino in hiscastle. The abbot, hearing this, answered furiously that he wouldnowise do it, having nought to do with Ghino, but that he would fareon and would fain see who should forbid his passage. Whereto quoth themessenger on humble wise, 'Sir, you are come into parts where, barringGod His might, there is nothing to fear for us and whereexcommunications and interdicts are all excommunicated; wherefore, mayit please you, you were best comply with Ghino in this.'

  During this parley, the whole place had been encompassed about withmen-at-arms; wherefore the abbot, seeing himself taken with his men,betook himself, sore against his will, to the castle, in company withthe ambassador, and with him all his household and gear, and alightingthere, was, by Ghino's orders, lodged all alone in a very dark andmean little chamber in one of the pavilions, whilst every one else waswell enough accommodated, according to his quality, about the castleand the horses and all the gear put in safety, without aught thereofbeing touched. This done, Ghino betook himself to the abbot and saidto him, 'Sir, Ghino, whose guest you are, sendeth to you, praying youacquaint him whither you are bound and on what occasion.' The abbot,like a wise man, had by this laid by his pride and told him whither hewent and why. Ghino, hearing this, took his leave and bethoughthimself to go about to cure him without baths. Accordingly, he letkeep a great fire still burning in the little room and causing guardthe place well, returned not to the abbot till the following morning,when he brought him, in a very white napkin, two slices of toastedbread and a great beaker of his own Corniglia vernage[441] andbespoke him thus, 'Sir, when Ghino was young, he studied medicine andsaith that he learned there was no better remedy for thestomach-complaint than that which he purposeth to apply to you and ofwhich these things that I bring you are the beginning; wherefore doyou take them and refresh yourself.'

  [Footnote 441: See p. 372, note.]

  The abbot, whose hunger was greater than his desire to bandy words,ate the bread and drank the wine, though he did it with an ill will,and after made many haughty speeches, asking and counselling of manythings and demanding in particular to see Ghino. The latter, hearingthis talk, let part of it pass as idle and answered the rest verycourteously, avouching that Ghino would visit him as quickliest hemight. This said, he took his leave of him and returned not until theensuing day, when he brought him as much toasted bread and as muchmalmsey; and so he kept him several days, till such time as heperceived that he had eaten some dried beans, which he had of intentaforethought brought secretly thither and left there; whereupon heasked him, on Ghino's part, how he found himself about the stomach.The abbot answered, 'Meseemeth I should fare well, were I but out ofhis hands; and after that, I have no greater desire than to eat, sowell have his remedies cured me.' Thereupon Ghino caused the abbot'sown people array him a goodly chamber with his own gear and let makeready a magnificent banquet, to which he bade the prelate's wholehousehold, together with many folk of the burgh. Next morning, hebetook himself to the abbot and said to him, 'Sir, since you feelyourself well, it is time to leave the infirmary.' Then, taking him bythe hand, he brought him to the chamber prepared for him and leavinghim there in company of his own people, occupied himself with caringthat the banquet should be a magnificent one.

  The abbot solaced himself awhile with his men and told them what hislife had been since his capture, whilst they, on the other hand,avouched themselves all to have been wonder-well entreated of Ghino.The eating-hour come, the abbot and the rest were well and orderlyserved with goodly viands and fine wines, without Ghino yet lettinghimself be known of the prelate; but, after the latter had abiddensome days on this wise, the outlaw, having let bring all his gear intoone saloon and all his horses, down to the sorriest rouncey, into acourtyard that was under the windows thereof, betook himself to himand asked him how he did and if he deemed himself strong enough totake horse. The abbot answered that he was strong enough and quiterecovered of his stomach-complaint and that he should fare perfectlywell, once he should be out of Ghino's hands. Ghino then brought himinto the saloon, wherein was his gear and all his train, and carryinghim to a window, whence he might see all his horses, said, 'My lordabbot, you must know that it was the being a gentleman and expelledfrom his house and poor and having many and puissant enemies, and notevilness of mind, that brought Ghino di Tacco (who is none other thanmyself) to be, for the defence of his life and his nobility, ahighway-robber and an enemy of the court of Rome. Nevertheless, forthat you seem to me a worthy gentleman, I purpose not, now that I havecured you of your stomach-complaint, to use you as I would another,from whom, he being in my hands as you are, I would take for myselfsuch part of his goods as seemed well to me; nay, it is my intent thatyou, having regard to my need, shall appoint to me such part of yourgood as you yourself will. It is all here before you in its entiretyand your horses you may from this window see in the courtyard; take,therefore, both part and all, as it pleaseth you, and from this timeforth be it at your pleasure to go or to stay.'

  The abbot marvelled to hear such generous words from a highway-robberand was exceeding well pleased therewith, insomuch that, his anger anddespite being of a sudden fallen, nay, changed into goodwill, hebecame Ghino's hearty friend and ran to embrace him, saying, 'I vow toGod that, to gain the friendship of a man such as I presently judgethee to be, I would gladly consent to suffer a far greater affrontthan that which meseemed but now thou hadst done me. Accursed befortune that constrained thee to so damnable a trade!' Then, lettingtake of his many goods but a very few necessary things, and the likeof his horses, he left all the rest to Ghino and returned to Rome. Thepope had had news of the taking of the abbot and albeit it had givenhim sore concern, he asked him, when he saw him, how the baths hadprofited him;
whereto he replied, smiling, 'Holy Father, I found aworthy physician nearer than at the baths, who hath excellently wellcured me'; and told him how, whereat the pope laughed, and the abbot,following on his speech and moved by a magnanimous spirit, craved aboon of him. The pope, thinking he would demand otherwhat, freelyoffered to do that which he should ask; and the abbot said, 'HolyFather, that which I mean to ask of you is that you restore yourfavour to Ghino di Tacco, my physician, for that, of all the men ofworth and high account whom I ever knew, he is certes one of the mostdeserving; and for this ill that he doth, I hold it much morefortune's fault than his; the which[442] if you change by bestowing onhim somewhat whereby he may live according to his condition, I doubtnot anywise but you will, in brief space of time, deem of him even asI do.' The pope, who was great of soul and a lover of men of worth,hearing this, replied that he would gladly do it, an Ghino were indeedof such account as the abbot avouched, and bade the latter cause himcome thither in all security. Accordingly, Ghino, at the abbot'sinstance, came to court, upon that assurance, nor had he been longabout the pope's person ere the latter reputed him a man of worth andtaking him into favour, bestowed on him a grand priory of those of theHospitallers, having first let make him a knight of that order; whichoffice he held whilst he lived, still approving himself a loyal friendand servant of Holy Church and of the Abbot of Cluny."

  [Footnote 442: _i.e._ fortune.]