THE NINTH NOVELL

 

      WHEREBY APPEARETH, WHAT ILL SUCCESSE ATTENDETH ON THEM,

     THAT LOVE CONTRARY TO REASON: IN OFFERING INJURIE BOTH TO

                    FRIENDSHIP AND MARRIAGE TOGETHER

 

  Messer Guiglielmo of Rossiglione having slaine Messer Guiglielmo

Guardastagno, whom hee imagined to love his wife, gave her his heart

to eate. Which she knowing afterward, threw her selfe out of an high

window to the ground; and being dead, was then buried with her friend.

 

  When the Novell of Madam Neiphila was ended, which occasioned much

compassion in the whole assembly; the King who wold not infringe the

priviledge granted to Dioneus, no more remaining to speake but they

two, began thus. I call to minde (gentle Ladies) a Novell, which

(seeing we are so farre entred into the lamentable accidents of

successelesse love), will urge you unto as much commisseration, as

that so lately reported to you. And so much the rather, because the

person of whom we are to speake, were of respective quality; which

approveth the accident to be more cruell, then those whereof we have

formerly discoursed.

  According as the people of Provence do report, there dwelt

sometime in that jurisdiction, two noble Knights, each well

possessed of Castles and followers; the one being named Messer

Guiglielmo de Rossiglione, and the other Messer Guiglielmo

Guardastagno. Now, in regard that they were both valiant Gentlemen,

and singularly expert in actions of Armes; they loved together the

more mutually, and held it as a kinde of custome to be seene in all

Tiltes and Tournaments, or any other exercises of Armes, going

commonly alike in their wearing garments. And although their Castles

stood about five miles distant each from other, yet were they dayly

conversant together, as very loving and intimate friends. The one of

them, I meane Messer Guiglielmo de Rossilione, had to wife a very

gallant beautifull Lady, of whom Messer Guardastagno (forgetting the

lawes of respect and loyall friendship) became overfondly enamoured,

expressing the same by such outward meanes, that the Lady her selfe

tooke knowledge thereof, and not with any dislike, as it seemed, but

rather lovingly entertained; yet she grew not so forgetfull of her

honour and estimation, as the other did of faith to his friend.

  With such indiscretion was this idle love carried, that whether it

sorted to effect, or no, I know not: but the husband perceived some

such maner of behaviour, as he could not easily digest, nor thought it

fitting to endure. Whereuppon, the league of friendly amity so long

continued, began to faile in very strange fashion, and became

converted into deadly hatred: which yet he very cunningly concealed,

bearing an outward shew of constant friendship still, but (in his

heart) he had vowed the death of Guardastagno. Nothing wanted, but

by what meanes it might best be effected, which fell out to be in this

manner. A publicke joust or Tourney, was proclaimed by sound of

Trumpet throughout all France, wherewith immediately, Messer

Guiglielmo Rossiglione acquainted Messer Guardastagno, entreating

him that they might further conferre theron together, and for that

purpose to come and visit him, if he intended to have any hand in

the businesse. Guardastagno being exceeding glad of this accident,

which gave him liberty to see his Mistresse, sent answer backe by

the messenger, that on the morrow at night, he would come and sup with

Rossiglione; who upon this reply, projected to himselfe in what

maner to kill him.

  On the morrow, after dinner, arming himselfe, and two more of his

servants with him, such as he had solemnly sworne to secrecy, he

mounted on horsebacke, and rode on about a mile from his owne

Castle, where he lay closely ambushed in a Wood, through which

Guardastagno must needs passe. After he had stayed there some two

houres space and more, he espyed him come riding with two of his

attendants, all of them being unarmed, as no way distrusting any

such intended treason. So soone as he was come to the place, where

he had resolved to do the deed; hee rushed forth of the ambush, and

having a sharpe Lance readily charged in his rest, ran mainly at

him, saying: False villaine, thou art dead. Guardastagno, having

nothing wherewith to defend himselfe, nor his servants able to give

him any succour; being pierced quite through the body with the

Lance, downe he fell dead to the ground, and his men (fearing the like

misfortune to befall them) gallopped mainely backe againe to their

Lords Castle, not knowing them who had thus murthered their Master, by

reason of their armed disguises, which in those martiall times were

usually worne.

  Messer Guiglielmo Rossiglione, alighting from his horse, and

having a keene knife ready drawne in his hand; opened therewith the

brest of dead Guardastagno, and taking foorth his heart with his

owne hands, wrapped it in the Bandelote belonging to his Lance,

commanding one of his men to the charge thereof, and never to disclose

the deed. So, mounting on horse-backe againe, and darke night

drawing on apace, he returned home to his Castle. The Lady, who had

heard before of Guardastagnoes intent, to suppe there that night,

and (perhaps) being earnestly desirous to see him; marvailing at his

so long tarrying, saide to her husband: Beleeve me Sir (quoth she)

me thinkes it is somewhat strange, that Messer Guiglielmo Guardastagno

delayes his comming so long, he never used to do so till now. I

received tidings from him wife (saide he) that he cannot be here

till to morrow. Whereat the Lady appearing to be displeased, concealed

it to herselfe, and used no more words.

  Rossiglione leaving his Lady, went into the Kitchin, where calling

for the Cooke, he delivered him the heart, saying: Take this heart

of a wilde Boare, which it was my good happe to kill this day, and

dresse it in the daintiest manner thou canst devise to do; which being

so done, when I am set at the Table, send it to me in a silver dish,

with sauce beseeming so dainty a morsell. The Cooke tooke the heart,

beleeving it to be no otherwise, then as his Lord had saide: and using

his utmost skill in dressing it, did divide it into artificiall

small slices, and made it most pleasing to be tasted. When supper time

was come, Rossiglione sate downe at the table with his Lady: but he

had little or no appetite at all to eate, the wicked deed which he had

done so perplexed his soule, and made him to sit very strangely

musing. At length, the Cooke brought in the dainty dish, which he

himselfe setting before his wife, began to finde fault with his owne

lacke of stomacke, yet provoked her with many faire speeches, to

tast the Cooks cunning in so rare a dish.

  The Lady having a good appetite indeede, when she had first tasted

it, fed afterward so heartily thereon, that she left very little, or

none at all remaining. When he perceived that all was eaten, he said

unto her: Tell me Madame, how you do like this delicate kinde of

meate? In good faith Sir (quoth she) in all my life I was never better

pleased. Now trust mee Madame, answered the Knight, I do verily

beleeve you, nor do I greatly wonder thereat, if you like that dead,

which you loved so dearly being alive. When she heard these words, a

long while she sate silert, but afterward saide. I pray you tell me

Sir; what meate was this which you have made me to eate? Muse no

longer (saide he) for therein I will quickly resolve thee. Thou hast

eaten the heart of Messer Guiglielmo Guardastagno, whose love was so

deare and precious to thee, thou false, perfidious, and disloyall

Lady: I pluckt it out of his vile body with mine owne hands, and

made my Cooke to dresse it for thy diet.

  Poore Lady, how strangely was her soule afflicted, hearing these

harsh and unpleasing speeches? Teares flowed aboundantly from her

faire eies, and like tempestuous windes embowelled in the earth, so

did vehement sighes breake mainly from her heart, and after a

tedious time of silence, she spake in this manner. My Lord and

husband, you have done a most disloyall and damnable deede,

misguided by your owne wicked jealous opinion, and not by any just

cause given you, to murther so worthy and Noble a Gentleman. I protest

unto you upon my soule, which I wish to be confounded in eternall

perdition, if ever I were unchaste to your bed, or allowed him any

other favour, but what might well become so honourable a friend. And

seeing my body hath bene made the receptacle for so precious a kinde

of foode, as the heart of so valiant and courteous a Knight, such as

was the Noble Guardastagno; never shall any other foode hereafter,

have entertainment there, or my selfe live the Wife to so bloody a

Husband.

  So starting up from the Table, and stepping unto a great gazing

Window, the Casement whereof standing wide open behinde her: violently

shee leaped out thereat, which beeing an huge height in distance

from the ground, the fall did not onely kill her, but also shivered

her body into many peeces. Which Rossiglione perceiving, hee stoode

like a body without a soule, confounded with the killing of so deare a

friend, losse of a chaste and honourable wife, and all through his

owne overcredulous conceit.

  Upon further conference with his private thoughts, and remorsefull

acknowledgement of his heinous offence, which repentance (too late)

gave him eyes now to see, though rashnesse before would not permit him

to consider; these two extreamities inlarged his dulled understanding.

First, he grew fearfull of the friends and followers to murthered

Guardastagno, as also the whole Country of Provence, in regard of

the peoples generall love unto him; which being two maine and

important motives, both to the detestation of so horrid an act, and

immediate severe revenge to succeede thereon: he made such provision

as best he could, and as so sodaine a warning would give leave, he Red

away secretly in the night season.

  These unpleasing newes were soone spread abroad the next morning,

not only of the unfortunate accidents, but also of Rossiglions flight;

in regard whereof, the dead bodyes being found, and brought

together, as well by the people belonging to Guardastagno, as them

that attended on the Lady: they were layed in the Chappell of

Rossigliones Castle; where, after so much lamentation for so great a

misfortune to befall them, they were honourably enterred in one

faire Tombe, with excellent Verses engraven thereon, expressing both

their noble degree, and by what unhappy meanes, they chanced to have

buriall in that very place.