The Decameron (Day 1 to Day 5)

by Giovanni Boccaccio

  Landolpho Ruffolo, _falling into poverty, became a Pirate on the Seas,and being taken by the Genewayes, hardly escaped drowning: Whichyet (neverthelesse) he did, upon a little Chest or Coffer, full ofvery rich Jewels, being caried thereon to_ Corfu, _where he was wellentertained by a good woman; And afterward, returned richly home to hisowne house._

  The fourth Novell.

  _Whereby may be discerned, into how many dangers a man may fall,through a covetous desire to enrich himselfe._

  Madame _Lauretta_, sitting next to Madame _Pampinea_, and seeing howtriumphantly shee had finished her discourse; without attending anything else, spake thus. Gracious Ladies, wee shall never behold (inmine opinion) a greater act of Fortune, then to see a man so suddainlyexalted, even from the lowest depth of poverty, to a Royall estate ofdignity; as the discourse of Madame _Pampinea_ hath made good, by thehappy advancement of _Alessandro_. And because it appeareth necessary,that whosoever discourseth on the subject proposed, should no way variefrom the very same termes; I shall not shame to tell a tale, which,though it containe farre greater mishaps then the former, may sortto as happy an issue, albeit not so noble and magnificent. In whichrespect, it may (perhaps) merit the lesse attention; but howsoever thatfault shall be found in you, I meane to discharge mine owne duty.

  Opinion hath made it famous for long time, that the Sea-coast of_Rhegium_ to _Gaieta_, is the onely delectable part of all _Italy_,wherein, somewhat neere to _Salerno_, is a shore looking upon the Sea,which the inhabitants there dwelling, doe call the coast of _Malfy_,full of small Townes, Gardens, Springs and wealthy men, trading inas many kindes of Merchandizes, as any other people that I know.Among which Townes, there is one, named _Ravello_, wherein (as yetto this day there are rich people) there was (not long since) a verywealthy man, named _Landolpho Ruffolo_, who being not contented withhis riches, but coveting to multiply them double and trebble, fell indanger, to loose both himselfe and wealth together.

  This man (as other Merchants are wont to doe) after hee had consideredon his affaires, bought him a very goodly Ship, lading it with diverssorts of Merchandizes, all belonging to himselfe onely, and making hisvoyage to the Isle of _Cyprus_. Where he found, over and beside theMerchandizes he had brought thither, many Ships more there arrived,and all laden with the selfe same commodities, in regard whereof, itwas needefull for him, not onely to make a good Mart of his goods; butalso was further constrained (if hee meant to vent his commodities) tosell them away (almost) for nothing, endangering his utter destructionand overthrow. Whereupon, grieving exceedingly at so great a losse,not knowing what to doe, and seeing, that from very aboundant wealth,hee was likely to fall into as low poverty: hee resolved to dye, or torecompence his losses upon others, because he would not returne homepoore, having departed thence so rich.

  Meeting with a Merchant, that bought his great Ship of him; with themoney made thereof, and also of his other Merchandizes, hee purchasedanother, being a lighter vessell, apt and proper for the use of aPirate, arming and furnishing it in ample manner, for roving androbbing upon the Seas. Thus hee began to make other mens goods hisowne, especially from the Turkes he tooke much wealth, Fortune beingalwayes therein so favourable to him, that hee could never compasse thelike by trading. So that, within the space of one yeare, hee had robdand taken so many Gallies from the Turke; that he found himselfe wellrecovered, not onely of all his losses by Merchandize, but likewise hiswealth was wholly redoubled. Finding his losses to be very liberallyrequited, and having now sufficient, it were folly to hazard a secondfall; wherefore, conferring with his owne thoughts, and finding that hehad enough, and needed not to covet after more: he fully concluded, nowto returne home to his owne house againe, and live upon his goods thusgotten.

  Continuing still in feare, of the losses he had sustained by traffique,& minding, never more to imploy his mony that way, but to keep thislight vessel, which had holpen him to all his wealth: he commandedhis men to put forth their Oares, and shape their course for his ownedwelling. Being aloft in the higher Seas, darke night over-takingthem, and a mighty winde suddainly comming upon them: it not onely wascontrary to their course, but held on with such impetuous violence;that the small vessell, being unable to endure it, made to land-wardspeedily, and in expectation of a more friendly wind, entred a littleport of the Sea, directing up into a small Island, and there safelysheltred it selfe. Into the same port which _Landolpho_ had thus takenfor his refuge, entred (soone after) two great Carrackes of _Genewayes_lately come from _Constantinople_. When the men in them had espiedthe small Barke, and lockt uppe her passage from getting foorth;understanding the Owners name, and that report had famed him to be veryrich, they determined (as men evermore addicted naturally, to covetafter money and spoile) to make it their owne as a prize at Sea.

  Landing some store of their men, well armed with Crosse-bowes andother weapons, they tooke possession of such a place, where nonedurst issue forth of the small Barke, but endangered his life withtheir Darts & Arrowes. Entering aboord the Barke, and making it theirowne by full possession, all the men they threw over-boord, withoutsparing any but _Landolpho_ himselfe, whom they mounted into one ofthe Carrackes, leaving him nothing but a poore shirt of Maile on hisbacke, and having rifled the Barke of all her riches, sunke it into thebottome of the sea. The day following, the rough windes being calmed,the Carrackes set saile againe, having a prosperous passage all theday long; but uppon the entrance of darke night, the windes blew moretempestuously then before, and sweld the Sea in such rude stormes, thatthe two Carracks were sundered each from other, and by violence of thetempest it came to passe, that the Carracke wherein lay poore miserable_Landolpho_ (beneath the Isle of _Cephalonia_) ran against a rocke, andeven as a glasse against a wall, so split the Carracke in peeces, thegoods and merchandizes floating on the Sea, Chests, Coffers, Beds, andsuch like other things, as often hapneth in such lamentable accidents.

  Now, notwithstanding the nights obscurity, and impetuous violence ofthe billowes; such as could swimme, made shift to save their lives byswimming. Others caught hold on such things, as by Fortunes favourfloated neerest to them, among whom, distressed _Landolpho_, desirousto save his life, if possibly it might be, espied a Chest or Cofferbefore him, ordained (no doubt) to be the meanes of his safety fromdrowning. Now although the day before, he had wished for death infinitetimes, rather then to returne home in such wretched poverty; yet,seeing how other men strove for safety of their lives by any helpe,were it never so little, he tooke advantage of this favour offred him,and the rather in a necessitie so urgent. Keeping fast upon the Cofferso well as he could, and being driven by the winds & waves, one whilethis way, and anon quite contrarie, he made shift for himselfe till dayappeared; when looking every way about him, seeing nothing but clouds,the seas and the Coffer, which one while shrunke from under him, andanother while supported him, according as the windes and billowescarried it: all that day and night thus he floated up and downe,drinking more then willingly hee would, but almost hunger-starvedthorow want of foode. The next morning, either by the appointmentof heaven, or power of the Windes, _Landolpho_ who was (well-neere)become a Spundge, holding his armes strongly about the Chest, as weehave seene some doe, who (dreading drowning) take hold on any the verysmallest helpe; drew neere unto the shore of the Iland _Corfu_, where(by good fortune) a poore woman was scowring dishes with the salt waterand sand, to make them (house-wife like) neate and cleane.

  When shee saw the Chest drawing neere her, and not discerning theshape of any man, shee grew fearefull, and retyring from it, cried outaloude. He had no power of speaking to her, neither did his sight doehim the smallest service; but even as the waves and windes pleased, theChest was driven still neerer to the Land, and then the woman perceivedthat it had the forme of a Coffer, and looking more advisedly, beheldtwo armes extended over it, and afterward, shee espied the face of aman, not being able to judge, whether he were alive, or no. Moved bycharitable and womanly compassion, shee stept in among the billowes,and getting fast holde on the
haire of his head, drew both the Chestand him to the Land, and calling forth her Daughter to helpe her, withmuch adoe shee unfolded his armes from the Chest, setting it up onher Daughters head, and then betweene them, _Landolpho_ was led intothe Towne, and there conveyed into a warme Stove, where quickly herecovered (by her pains) his strength benummed with extreame cold.

  Good wines and comfortable broathes shee cherished him withall, thathis sences being indifferently restored, hee knew the place where hewas; but not in what manner he was brought thither, till the good womanshewed him the Cofer that had kept him floating upon the waves, and(next under God) had saved his life. The Chest seemed of such slenderweight, that nothing of any value could be expected in it, either torecompence the womans great paines and kindnesse bestowne on him, orany matter of his owne benefit. Neverthelesse, the woman being absent,he opened the Chest, and found innumerable precious stones therein,some costly and curiously set in gold, and others not fixed in anymettall. Having knowledge of their great worth and value (being aMerchant, and skild in such matters) he became much comforted, praysingGod for this good successe, and such an admirable meanes of deliverancefrom danger.

  Then considering with himselfe, that (in a short time) hee had beenetwice well buffeted and beaten by Fortune, and fearing, least a thirdmishap might follow in like manner; hee consulted with his thoughts,how he might safest order the businesse, and bring so rich a booty(without perill) to his owne home. Wherefore, wrapping up the Jewels invery unsightly cloutes, that no suspition at all should be conceivedof them, hee saide to the good woman, that the Chest would not doe himany further service; but if shee pleased to lende him a small sacke orbagge, shee might keepe the Cofer, for in her house it would diversway stead her. The woman gladly did as he desired, and _Landolpho_returning her infinite thankes, for the loving kindnesse shee hadaffoorded him, throwing the sacke on his necke, passed by a Barke to_Brundusiam_, and from thence to _Tranium_, where Merchants in theCity bestowed good garments on him, hee acquainting them with hisdisasterous fortunes, but not a word concerning his last good successe.

  Being come home in safety to _Ravello_, hee fell on his knees, andthanked God for all his mercies towards him. Then opening the sacke,and viewing the Jewels at more leysure then formerly he had done, hefound them to be of so great estimation, that selling them but atordinary and reasonable rates, he was three times richer, then when heedeparted first from his house. And having vented them all, he sent agreat sum of money to the good woman at _Corfu_, that had rescued himout of the Sea, and saved his life in a danger so dreadfull: The likehee did to _Tranium_, to the Merchants that had newly cloathed him;living richly upon the remainder, and never adventuring more to theSea, but ended his dayes in wealth and honour.