The Decameron (Day 1 to Day 5)

by Giovanni Boccaccio

  _Bergamino, by telling a Tale of a skilfull man, named_ Primasso, _andof an Abbot of Clugni; honestly checked a new kinde of covetousnesse,in Master_ Can de la Scala.

  The seaventh Novell.

  _Approving, that it is much unfitting for a Prince, or great person, tobe covetous; but rather to be liberall to all men._

  The curteous demeanour of Madam _?milia_, and the quaintnesse of herdiscourse, caused both the Queene, and the rest of the company, tocommend the invention of carrying the Crosse, and the golden oyntmentappointed for pennance. Afterward, _Philostratus_, who was in order tospeake next, began in this manner.

  It is a commendable thing (faire Ladies) to hit a But that neverstirreth out of his place: but it is a matter much more admirable,to see a thing (suddenly appearing, and sildome or never frequentedbefore) to be as suddenly hit by an ordinary Archer. The vicious andpolluted lives of Priests, yeeldeth matter of it selfe in many things,deserving speech and reprehension, as a true But of wickednesse, andwell worthy to be sharply shot at. And therefore, though that honestmeaning man did wisely, in touching Master Inquisitor to the quicke,with the hypocriticall charity of Monkes and Friars, in giving suchthings to the poore, as were more meete for swine, or to be worsethrowne away; yet I hold him more to be commended, who (by occasionof a former tale, and which I purpose to relate) pleasantly reprovedMaster _Can de la Scala_, a Magnifico and mightie Lord, for a suddenand unaccustomed covetousnesse appearing in him, figuring by other men,that which he intended to say of him, in manner following.

  Master _Can de la Scala_, as fame ranne abroade of him in all places,was (beyond the infinite favours of Fortune towards him) one of themost notable and magnificent Lords that ever lived in _Italy_, sincethe dayes of _Fredericke_ the second Emperour. He determining toprocure a very solemne assembly at _Verona_, and many people being metthere from divers places, especially Gentlemen of all degrees; suddenly(upon what occasion I know not) his minde altered, and hee would notgoe forward with his intention. Most of them hee partly recompencedwhich were come thither, and they dismissed to depart at theirpleasure, one onely man remained unrespected, or in any kinde sort sentaway, whose name was _Bergamino_, a man very pleasantly disposed, andso wittily ready in speaking and answering, as none could easily creditit, but such as heard him; and although his recompence seemed over longdelayed, yet hee made no doubt of a beneficiall ending.

  By some enemies of his, Master _Can de la Scala_ was incensed, thatwhatsoever he gave or bestowed on him; was as ill imployed andutterly lost, as if it were throwne into the fire, and therefore heneither did or spake any thing to him. Some fewe dayes being passedover, and _Bergamino_ perceiving, that hee was neither called, norany account made of, notwithstanding many manly good parts in him;observing beside, that hee found a shrewd consumption in his purse, hisInne, horses, and servants being chargeable to him: he began to growextremely melancholly, and yet hee attended in expectation day by day,as thinking it farre unfitting for him, to depart before he was biddenfarewell.

  Having brought with him thither three goodly rich garments, whichhad beene given him by sundry Lords, for his more sightly appearanceat this great meeting: the importunate Host being greedy of payment,first he delivered him one of them, and yet not halfe the score beingwiped off, the second must needes follow, and beside, except he meantto leave his lodging, hee must live upon the third so long as it wouldlast, till hee saw what end his hopes would sort to. It fortuned,during the time of living thus upon his latest refuge, that he metwith Maister _Can_ one day at dinner, where he presented himselfebefore him, with a discontented countenance: which Master _Can_ wellobserving, more to distaste him, then take delight in any thing thatcould come from him, he said. _Bergamino_, how chearest thou? Thouart very melancholly, I pray thee tell us why? _Bergamino_ suddenly,without any premeditation, yet seeming as if he had long consideredthereon, reported this Tale.

  Sir, I have heard of a certaine man, named _Primasso_, one skilfullylearned in the Grammar, and (beyond all other) a very witty and readyversifier: in regard whereof, he was so much admired, and farrerenowned, that such as never saw him, but onely heard of him, couldeasily say, this is _Primasso_. It came to passe, that being once at_Paris_, in poore estate, as commonly hee could light on no betterfortune (because vertue is slenderly rewarded, by such as have thegreatest possessions) he heard much fame of the Abbot of _Clugni_, aman reputed (next to the Pope) to be the richest Prelate of the Church.Of him he heard wonderfull and magnificent matters, that he alwayeskept an open and hospitable Court, and never made refusall of any(from whence so ever hee came or went) but they did eate and drinkefreely there; provided, that they came when the Abbot was set at theTable. _Primasso_ hearing this, and being an earnest desirer, to seemagnificent and vertuous men; he resolved to goe see this rare bountyof the Abbot, demaunding how far he dwelt from _Paris_. Being answered,about some three leagues thence; _Primasso_ made account, that if hewent on betimes in the morning, he should easily reach thither beforethe houre for dinner.

  Being instructed in the way, and not finding any to walke along withhim; fearing, if he went without some furnishment, and should staylong there for his dinner, he might (perhaps) complaine of hunger: hetherefore caried three loaves of bread with him, knowing that he couldmeete with water every where, albeit he used to drinke but little.Having aptly convayed his bread about him, he went on his journey, andarrived at the Lord Abbots Court, an indifferent while before dinnertime: wherefore, entring into the great Hall, and so from place toplace, beholding the great multitude of Tables, bountifull preparationin the Kitchin, and what admirable provision there was for dinner; hesaid to himselfe, Truly this man is more magnificent, then Fame hathmade him, because shee speakes too sparingly of him.

  While thus he went about, considering on all these things, he sawthe Maister of the Abbots houshold (because then it was the houre ofdinner) commaund water to be brought for washing hands, and every onesitting downe at the Table: it fell to the lot of _Primasso_, to sitdirectly against the doore, whereat the Abbot must enter into theHall. The custome in this Court was such, that no foode should beserved to any, of the Tables, untill the Lord Abbot was himselfe firstsette: whereupon, every thing being fitte and readie, the Maister ofthe houshold, went to tell his Lord, that nothing now wanted but hispresence onely.

  The Abbot comming from his Chamber to enter the Hall, looking abouthim, as hee was wont to doe; the first man hee saw was _Primasso_, whobeing but in homely habite, and he having not seene him before to hisremembrance; a present bad conceite possessed his braine, that he neversaw an unworthier person, saying within himselfe: See how I give mygoods away to be devoured. So returning backe to his Chamber againe,commaunded the doore to be made fast, demaunding of every man neereabout him, if they knew the base Knave that sate before his entranceinto the Hall, and all his servants answered no. _Primasso_ beingextreamely hungry, with travailing on foote so farre, and never used tofast so long; expecting still when meate would be served in, and thatthe Abbot came not at all: drew out one of his loaves which hee broughtwith him, and very heartily fell to feeding.

  My Lord Abbot, after he had stayed within an indifferent while, sentforth one of his men, to see if the poore fellow was gone, or no. Theservant told him, that he still stayed there, and fed upon dry bread,which it seemed he had brought thither with him. Let him feede on hisowne (replyed the Abbot) for he shall taste of none of mine this day.Gladly wold the Abbot, that _Primasso_ should have gone thence ofhimselfe, and yet held it scarsely honest in his Lordship, to dismissehim by his owne command. _Primasso_ having eaten one of his Loaves, andyet the Abbot was not come; began to feede upon the second: the Abbotstill sending to expect his absence, and answered as he was before.At length, the Abbot not comming, and _Primasso_ having eaten up hissecond loafe, hunger compeld him to begin with the third.

  When these newes were carried to the Abbot, sodainly he brake forth andsaide. What new kinde of needy tricke hath my braine begotte this day?Why do I grow disdainfull
against any man whatsoever? I have long timeallowed my meate to be eaten by all commers that did please to visitme, without exception against any person, Gentleman, Yeoman, poore orrich, Marchant or Minstrill, honest man or knave, never refraining mypresence in the Hall, by basely contemning one poore man. Beleeve me,covetousnesse of one mans meate, doth ill agree with mine estate andcalling. What though he appeareth a wretched fellow to mee? He may beof greater merit then I can imagine, and deserve more honour then I amable to give him.

  Having thus discoursed with himselfe, he would needs understande ofwhence and what he was, and finding him to be _Primasso_, come onely tosee the magnificence which he had reported of him, knowing also (by thegenerall fame noysed every where of him) that he was reputed to bee alearned, honest, and ingenious man: he grew greatly ashamed of his ownfolly, and being desirous to make him an amends, strove many waies howto do him honour. When dinner was ended, the Abbot bestowed honourablegarments on him, such as beseemed his degree and merit, and puttinggood store of money in his purse, as also giving him a good horsse toride on, left it at his owne free election, whether hee would staythere still with him, or depart at his pleasure. Wherewith _Primasso_being highly contented, yeelding him the heartiest thankes he coulddevise to doe, returned to _Paris_ on horse-back, albeit he came poorlythether on foot.

  Master _Can de la Scala_, who was a man of good understanding,perceyved immediately (without any further interpretation) what_Bergamino_ meant by this morall, and smiling on him, saide:_Bergamino_, thou hast honestly expressed thy vertue and necessities,and justly reprooved mine avarice, niggardnesse, and base folly. Andtrust me _Bergamino_, I never felt such a fit of covetousness come uponme, as this which I have dishonestly declared to thee: and which I willnow banish from me, with the same correction as thou hast taught mee.So, having payed the Host all his charges, redeeming also his robes orgarments, mounting him on a good Gelding, and putting plenty of Crownesin his purse, hee referd it to his owne choise to depart, or dwellthere still with him.