the decameron(十日谈)-第95章

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contention　ceassing　for　the　night　season；　Messer　Currado；　who　though
he　had　slept　well；　remained　still　discontented　in　his　minde：　arose
in　the　morning　by　breake　of　day；　and　puffing　and　blowing　angerly；
called　for　his　horses；　commanding　Chichibio　to　mount　on　one　of　them；
so　riding　on　towards　the　River；　where　（earely　every　morning）　he　had
seene　plenty　of　Cranes；　he　sayde　to　his　man；　We　shall　see　anon
Sirra；　whether　thou　or　I　lyed　yesternight。
　　Chichibio　perceiving；　that　his　Masters　anger　was　not　（as　yet）
asswaged；　and　now　it　stood　him　upon；　to　make　good　his　lye；　not　knowing
how　he　should　do　it；　rode　after　his　Master；　fearfully　trembling　all
the　way。　Gladly　he　would　have　made　an　escape；　but　hee　could　not　by　any
possible　meanes；　and　on　every　side　he　looked　about　him；　now　before；
and　after　behinde；　to　espy　any　Cranes　standing　on　both　their　legges；
which　would　have　bin　an　ominous　sight　to　him。　But　being　come　neere
to　the　River；　he　chanced　to　see　（before　any　of　the　rest）　upon　the
banke　thereof；　about　a　dozen　Cranes　in　number；　each　of　them　standing
but　upon　one　legge；　as　they　use　to　do　when　they　are　sleeping。
Whereupon；　shewing　them　quickly　to　Messer　Currado；　he　said。　Now　Sir
your　selfe　may　see；　whether　I　told　you　true　yesternight；　or　no：　I　am
sure　a　Crane　hath　but　one　thigh；　and　one　leg；　as　all　here　present
are　apparant　witnesses；　and　I　have　bin　as　good　as　my　promise。
　　Messer　Currado　looking　on　the　Cranes；　and　well　understanding　the
knavery　of　his　man；　replyed：　Stay　but　a　little　while　sirra；　and　I　will
shew　thee；　that　a　Crane　hath　two　thighes；　and　two　legges。　Then
riding　somwhat　neerer　to　them；　he　cryed　out　aloud；　Shough；　shough；
which　caused　them　to　set　downe　their　other　legs；　and　all　fled　away；
after　they　had　made　a　few　paces　against　the　winde　for　their
mounting。　So　going　unto　Chichibio；　he　said：　How　now　you　lying　Knave；
hath　a　Crane　two　legs；　or　no？　Chichibio　being　well…neere　at　his　wits
end；　not　knowing　now　what　answer　hee　should　make；　but　even　as　it
came　sodainly　into　his　minde；　said：　Sir；　I　perceive　you　are　in　the
right；　and　if　you　would　have　done　as　much　yesternight；　and　had　cryed
Shough；　as　here　you　did：　questionlesse；　the　Crane　would　then　have
set　down　the　other　legge；　as　these　heere　did：　but　if　（as　they）　she　had
fled　away　too；　by　that　meanes　you　might　have　lost　your　Supper。
　　This　sodaine　and　unexpected　witty　answere；　comming　from　such　a
logger…headed　Lout；　and　so　seasonably　for　his　owne　safety：　was　so
pleasing　to　Messer　Currado；　that　he　fell　into　a　hearty　laughter；　and
forgetting　all　anger；　saide。　Chichibio；　thou　hast　quit　thy　selfe　well；
and　to　my　contentment：　albeit　I　advise　thee；　to　teach　mee　no　more　such
trickes　heereafter。　Thus　Chichibio；　by　his　sodaine　and　merry　answer；
escaped　a　sound　beating；　which　（otherwise）　his　master　had　inflicted　on
him。




　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　SIXT　DAY；　THE　FIFT　NOVELL

　　WHEREBY　MAY　BEE　OBSERVED；　THAT　SUCH　AS　WILL　SPEAKE　CONTEMPTIBLY　OF
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　OTHERS；　OUGHT　（FIRST　OF　ALL）　TO　LOOKE
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　RESPECTIVELY　ON　THEIR　OWNE　IMPERFECTIONS

　　Messer　Forese　da　Rabatte；　and　Maister　Giotto；　a　Painter　by　his
profession；　comming　together　from　Mugello；　scornfully　reprehended
one　another　for　their　deformity　of　body。

　　So　soone　as　Madame　Neiphila　sate　silent　（the　Ladies　having　greatly
commended　the　pleasant　answer　of　Chichibio）　Pamphilus；　by　command　from
the　Queene；　spake　in　this　manner。　Woorthy　Ladies；　it　commeth　to
passe　oftentimes；　that　like　as　Fortune　is　observed　divers　wayes；　to
hide　under　vile　and　contemptible　Arts；　the　most　great　and
unvalewable　treasures　of　vertue　（as；　not　long　since；　was　well
discoursed　unto　us　by　Madame　Pampinea：）　so　in　like　manner　hath
appeared；　that　Nature　hath　infused　very　singular　spirits　into　most
mishapen　and　deformed　bodies　of　men。　As　hath　beene　noted　in　two　of　our
owne　Citizens；　of　whom　I　purpose　to　speake　in　fewe　words。　The　one　of
them　was　named　Messer　Forese　de　Rabatta；　a　man　of　little　and　low
person；　but　yet　deformed　in　body；　with　a　flat　face；　like　a　Terrier
or　Beagle；　as　if　no　comparison　（almost）　could　bee　made　more　ugly。
But　notwithstanding　all　this　deformity；　he　was　so　singularly
experienced　in　the　Lawes；　that　all　men　held　him　beyond　any　equall；
or　rather　reputed　him　as　a　Treasury　of　civill　knowledge。
　　The　other　man；　being　named　Giotto；　had　a　spirit　of　so　great
excellency；　as　there　was　not　any　particular　thing　in　Nature；　the
Mother　and　Worke…mistresse　of　all；　by　continuall　motion　of　the
heavens；　but　hee　by　his　pen　and　pensell　could　perfectly　portrait；
shaping　them　all　so　truly　alike　and　resemblable；　that　they　were
taken　for　the　reall　matters　indeede；　and；　whether　they　were　present　or
no；　there　was　hardly　any　possibility　of　their　distinguishing。　So
that　many　times　it　happened；　that　by　the　variable　devises　he　made；　the
visible　sence　of　men　became　deceived；　in　crediting　those　things　to
be　naturall；　which　were　but　meerly　painted。　By　which　meanes；　hee
reduced　that　singular　Art　to　light；　which　long　time　before　had　lyen
buried；　under　the　grosse　error　of　some；　who；　in　the　mysterie　of
painting；　delighted　more　to　content　the　ignorant；　then　to　please　the
judicious　understanding　of　the　wise；　he　justly　deserving　thereby；　to
be　tearmed　one　of　the　Florentines　most　glorious　lights。　And　so　much
the　rather；　because　he　performed　all　his　actions；　in　the　true　and
lowly　spirit　of　humility：　for　while　he　lived；　and　was　a　Master　in
his　Art；　above　all　other　Painters：　yet　he　refused　any　such　title；
which　shined　the　more　majestically…　in　him；　as　appeared　by　such；　who
knew　Much　lesse　then　he；　or　his　Schollers　either：　yet　his　knowledge
was　extreamly　coveted　among　them。
　　Now；　notwithstanding　all　this　admirable　excellency　in　him：　he　was
not　（thereby）　a　jot　the　handsommer　man　（either　in　person　or
countenance）　then　was　our　fore…named　Lawyer　Messer　Forese；　and
therefore　my　Novell　concerneth　them　both。　Understand　then　（faire
Assemblie）　that　the　possessions　and　inheritances　of　Messer　Forese
and　Giotto；　lay　in　Mugello；　wherefore；　when　Holy…dayes　were　celebrated
by　Order　of　Court；　and　in　the　Sommer　time；　upon　the　admittance　of　so
apt　a　vacation；　Forese　rode　thither　upon　a　very　unsightly　jade；　such
as　a　man　can　sildome　meet　with　worse。　The　like　did　Giotto　the　Painter；
as　ill　fitted　every　way　as　the　other；　and　having　dispatched　their
busines　there；　they　both　returned　backe　towards　Florence；　neither　of
them　being　able　to　boast；　which　was　the　best　mounted。
　　Riding　on　a　faire　and　softly　pace；　because　their　Horses　could　goe　no
faster：　and　they　being　well　entred　into　yeeres；　it　fortuned　（as
oftentimes　the　like　befalleth　in　Sommer）　that　a　sodaine　showre　of
raine　overtooke　them；　for　avoyding　whereof；　they　made　all　possible
haste　to　a　poore　Countreymans　Cottage；　familiarly　knowne　to　them　both。
Having　continued　there　an　indifferent　while；　and　raine　unlikely　to
cease：　to　prevent　allfurther　protraction　of　time；　and　to　arriveat
Florence　in　due　season；　they　borrowed　two　old　cloakes　of　the　poore
man；　of　over…worn　and　ragged　Country　gray；　as　also　two　hoodes　of　the
like　Complexion；　（because　the　poore　man　had　no　better）　which　did
more　mishape　them；　then　their　owne　ugly　deformity；　and　made　them
notoriously　flouted　and　scorned；　by　all　that　met　or　over…tooke　them。
　　After　they　had　ridden　some　distance　of　ground；　much　moyled　and
bemyred　with　their　shuffling　jades；　flinging　the　dirt　every　way
about　them；　that　well　they　might　be　termed　two　filthy　companions：
the　raine　gave　over；　and　the　evening　looking　somewhat　cleare；　they
began　to　confer　familiarly　together。　Messer　Forese；　riding　a　lofty
French　trot；　everie　step　being　ready　to　hoise　him　out　of　his　saddle；
hearing　Giottos　discreete　answers　to　every　ydle　question　he　made
（for　indeede　he　was　a　very　elegant　speaker）　began　to　peruse　and
surveigh　him；　even　from　the　foote　to　the　head；　as　we　use　to　say。　And
perceiving　him　to　be　so　greatly　deformed；　as　no　man　could　be　worse；　in
his　opinion：　without　any　consideration　of　his　owne　mishaping　as　bad；
or　rather　more　unsightly　then　hee；　in　a　scoffing　laughing　humour；
hee　saide。　Giotto；　doest　thou　imagine；　that　a　stranger；　who　had
never　seene　thee　before；　and　should　now　happen　into　our　companie；
would　beleeve　thee　to　bee　the　best　Painter　in　the　world；　as　indeede
thou　art？　Presently　Giotto　（without　any　further　meditation）　returned
him　this　answere。　Signior　Forese；　I　think　he　might　then　beleeve　it；
when　（beholding　you）　hee　could　imagine　that　you　had　learned　your
A。　B。　C。　Which　when　Forese　heard；　he　knew　his　owne　error；　and　saw　his
payment　returned　in　such　Coine；　as　he　sold　his　Wares　for。




　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　SIXT　DAY；　THE　SIXTH　NOVEL

　　Michiele　Scalza　proves　to　some　young　men　that　the　family　of　the
Baronchi　was　the　most　noble　in　the　world；　for　which　he　gets　a　good
supper。

　　Michiele　Scalza；　a　young　Florentine；　had　so　facetious　and　productive
a　genius　that　the　principal　youth　of　Florence　took　a　great　deal　of
pleasure　in　and　thought　it　an　honour　to　enjoy　his　company。　Being　one
day　at　Mont　Ughi　with　many　gentlemen；　the　discussion　happened　to　run
upon　the　antiquity　and　nobility　of　the　Florentine　families。　Some
gave　the　preference　to　that　of　the　Uberti；　others　to　that　of　the
Lamberti；　everyone　speaking；　as　people　ordinarily　do；　according　to
their　different　humours　and　interests。
　　When　Scalza　heard　what　they　all　had　to　say；　he　smiling　cried：　〃You
are　none　of　you　in　the　right。　I　will　maintain　the　family　of　the
Baronchi　to　be　the　most　ancient　and　noble　not　only　in　Florence　but
also　in　the　whole　world。　All　philosophers　and　such　as　can　be
supposed　to　know　that　family；。　I'm　confident；　are　of　my　opinion；　and
that　you　may　not　mistake　my　meaning　I　must　tell　you　I　mean　the
Baronchi　our　neighbours；　who　dwell　near　Santa　Maria　Maggiore。〃　They
all　presently　fell　a…laughing；　and　asked　him　whether　he　took　them
for　people　of　the　other　world　that　they　should　not　know　the　Baronchi
as　well　as　he。　〃Gentlemen；〃　says　Scalza；　〃I　am　so　far　from　taking
you　for　people　of　the　other　world　that　I　will　lay　any　one　of　you　a
good　supper　enough　for　six　on　what　I　affirm；　and　be　judged　by　whom　you
please。〃
　　The　wager　was　laid；　and　they　all　agreed　to　leave　the　decision　to
Pietro　di　Florentino；　who　was　then　present。　Everyone　expected　Scalza
would　lose；　and　began　to　laugh　at　him　beforehand。　He　that　was　to
determine　the　matter；　being　very　judicious；　first　heard　the　reasons　of
the　opposite　party；　and　then　asked　Scalza　how　he　could　prove　his
assertion。
　　〃I　will　prove　it　so　sufficiently；〃　says　he；　that　you　shall　all　be
thoroughly　convinced。　Gentlemen；〃　says　he；　〃by　how　much　a　family　is
most　ancient　by　so　much　it　is　most　noble。　The　family　of　the　Baronchi
is　the　most　ancient　in　Florence；　ergo　it　is　the　most　noble。　I　have
nothing；　then；　to　prove　but　the　antiquity　of　the　Baronchi。　This　will
appear　in　that　Prometheus　made　them　at　the　time　that　he　first　began　to
learn　to　paint；　and　made　others　after　he　was　master　of　his　art。　To
convince　you　of　this；　do　but　examine　the　figures　of　the　one　and　the
other：　you'll　find　art　and　proportion　in　the　composition　of　the　one；
whereas　the　others　are　but　rough…drawn　and　imperfect。　Among　the
Baronchi　you'll　meet　with　one　with　a　long　narrow　face；　another　with
a　prodigi