THE FOURTH NOVELL

 

       SERVING AS AN ADMONITION TO ALL MEN, FOR TAKING GAMESTERS

                    AND DRUNKARDS INTO THEIR SERVICE

 

  Francesco Fortarigo, played away all that he had at Buonconvento,

and likewise the money of Francesco Aniolliero, being his Master. Then

running after him in his shirt, and avouching that hee had robbed him:

he caused him to be taken by Pezants of the Country, clothed

himselfe in his Masters wearing garments, and (mounted on his horse)

rode thence to Sienna, leaving Aniolliero in his shirt, and walked

barefooted.

 

  The ridiculous words given by Calandrino to his Wife, all the

whole company hartily laughed at: but a Philostratus ceassing,

Madame Neiphila (as it pleased the Queene to appoint) began to

speake thus. Vertuous Ladies, if it were not more hard and uneasie for

men, to make good their understanding and vertue, then apparant

publication of their disgrace and folly; many would not labour in

vaine, to curbe in their idle speeches with a bridle, as you have

manifestly observed by the weake wit of Calandrino. Who needed no such

fantastick circumstance, to cure the strange disease, which he

imagined (by sottish perswasions) to have: had hee not been so

lavish of his tongue, and accused his Wife of overmastering him. Which

maketh me remember a Novell, quite contrary to this last related,

namely, how one man may strive to surmount another in malice; yet he

to sustaine the greater harme, that had (at the first) the most

advantage of his enemy, as I will presently declare unto you.

  There dwelt in Sienna, and not many yeeres since, two young men of

equall age, both of them bearing the name of Francesco: but the one

was descended of the Aniollieri, and the other likewise of the

Fortarigi; so that they were commonly called Aniolliero, and

Fortarigo, both Gentlemen, and well derived. Now, although in many

other matters, their complexions did differ very much: Yet

notwithstanding, they varied not in one bad qualitie, namely too great

neglect of their Fathers, which caused their more frequent

conversation, as very familiar and respective friends. But

Aniolliero (being a very goodly and faire conditioned young Gentleman)

apparently perceiving, that he could not maintaine himselfe at Sienna,

in such estate as he liked, and upon the pension allowed him by his

Father, hearing also, that at the Marquisate of Ancona, there lived

the Popes Legate, a worthy Cardinall, his much indeared good Lord

and friend: he intended to goe visite him, as hoping to advance his

fortunes by him.

  Having acquainted his Father with this determination, he concluded

with him, to have that from him in a moment which might supply his

wants because he would be clothed gallantly, and mounted honourably.

And seeking for a servant necessary to attend on him, it chanced

that Fortarigo hearing thereof, came presently to Aniolliero,

intreating him in the best manner he could, to let him waite on him as

his serving man, promising both dutiful and diligent attendance: yet

not to deaund any other wages, but onely payment of his ordinary

expences. Aniolliero made him answere, that he durst not give him

entertainment, not in regard of his insufficiency, and unaptnesse

for service: but because he was a great Gamester, and divers times

would be beastly drunke? whereto Fortarigo replyed that hee would

refraine from both those foule vices, and addict all his endeavor

wholly to please him, without just taxation of any grosse errour;

making such solemne vowes and protestations beside, as conquered

Aniolliero, and won his consent.

  Being entred upon his journey, and arriving in a morning at

Buonconvento, there Aniolliero determined to dine, and afterward,

finding the heate to be unfit for travaile; he caused a bed to be

prepared, wherein being laid to rest by the helpe of Fortarigo, he

gave him charge, that after the heates violence was overpast, hee

should not faile to call and awake him. While Aniolliero slept thus in

his bed, Fortarigo, never remembring his solemne vowes and promises:

went to the Taverne, where having drunke indifferently, and finding

company fit for the purpose, he fell to play at the dice with them. In

a very short while, he had not onely lost his money, but all the

cloathes on his backe likewise, and coveting to recover his losses

againe; naked in his shirt, he went to Aniollieroes Chamber, where

finding him yet soundly sleeping, he tooke all the money he had in his

purse, and then returned backe to play, speeding in the same manner as

hee did before, not having one poore penny left him.

  Aniolliero chancing to awake, arose and made him ready, without

any servant to helpe him; then calling for Fortarigo, and not

hearing any tydings of him: he began immediately to imagine, that he

was become drunke, and so had falne asleepe in one place or other,

as very often he was wont to doe. Wherefore, determining so to leave

him, he caused the male and Saddle to be set on his horse, and so to

furnish himselfe with a more honest servant at Corsignano.

  But when hee came to pay his hoste, hee found not any penny left

him: whereupon (as well he might) he grew greatly offended, and raised

much trouble in the house, charged the hoasts people to have robde

him, and threatening to have them sent as prisoners to Sienna.

Suddenly entred Fortarigo in his shirt, with intent to have stolne

Aniollieroes garments, as formerly hee did the money out of his purse,

and seeing him ready to mount on horsebacke, hee saide.

  How now Aniolliero? What shall we goe away so soone? I pray you

Sir tarry a little while, for an honest man is comming hither, who

hath my Doublet engaged for eight and thirty shillings; and I am

sure that he will restore it me back for five and thirty, if I could

presently pay him downe the money.

  During the speeches, an other entred among them, who assured

Aniolliero, that Fortarigo was the Thiefe which robde him of his

money, shewing him also how much hee had lost at the Dice: Wherewith

Aniolliero being much mooved, very angerly reprooved Fortarigo, and,

but for feare of the Law, would have offered him outrage, thretning to

have him hangd by the neck, or else condemned to the Gallies belonging

to Florence, and so mounted on his horse. Fortarigo making shew to the

standers by, as if Aniolliero menaced some other body, and not him,

said. Come Aniolliero, I pray thee let us leave this frivilous

prating, for (indeede) it is not worth a Button, and minde a matter of

more importance: my Doublet will bee had againe for five and thirty

shillings, if the money may bee tendered downe at this very instant,

whereas if we deferre it till to morrow, perhaps hee will then have

the whole eight and thirty which he lent me, and he doth me this

pleasure, because I am ready (at another time) to affoord him the like

courtesie; why then should we loose three shillings, when they may

so easily be saved.

  Aniolliero hearing him speake in such confused manner, and

perceiving also, that they which stood gazing by, beleeved (as by

their lookes appeared) that Fortarigo had not played away his

Masters mony at the Dice, but rather that he had some stocke of

Fortarigoes in his custody; angerly answered; Thou sawcy companion,

what have I to doe with thy Doublet? I would thou wert hangd, not only

for playing away my money, but also by delaying thus my journey, and

yet boldly thou standest out-facing mee, as if I were no better then

thy fellow. Fortarigo held on still his former behaviour, without

using any respect or reverence to Aniolliero, as if all the

accusations did not concerne him, but saying, Why should wee not

take the advantage of three shillings profit? Thinkest thou, that I am

not able to doe as much for thee? why, lay out so much money for my

sake, and make no more haste then needs we must, because we have

day-light enough to bring us (before night) to Torreniero. Come,

draw thy purse, and pay the money, for upon mine honest word, I may

enquire throughout all Sienna, and yet not find such another Doublet

as this of mine is. To say then, that I should leave it, where it

now lyeth pawned, and for eight and thirty shillings, when it is

richly more worth then fifty, I am sure to suffer a double

endammagement thereby.

  You may well imagine, that Aniolliero was now enraged beyond all

patience, to see himselfe both robde of his money, and overborne

with presumptuous language: wherefore, without making any more

replications, he gave the spurre to his horse, and rode away towards

Torreniero. Now fell Fortarigo into a more knavish intention against

Aniolliero, and being very speedy in running, followed apace after him

in his shirt, crying out still aloude to him all the way, to let him

have his Doublet againe. Aniolliero riding on very fast, to free his

eares from this idle importunity, it fortuned that Fortarigo espied

divers countrey Pezants, laboring in the fields about their businesse,

and by whom Aniolliero (of necessity) must passe: To them he cryed out

so loude as he could; Stay the thiefe, Stop the Thiefe, he rides

away so fast, having robde me.

  They being provided, some with Prongges, Pitchforkes and Spades, and

others with the like weapons fit for Husbandry, stept into the way

before Aniolliero: and beleeving undoubtedly, that he had robde the

man which pursued him in his shirt, stayed and apprehended him.

Whatsoever Aniolliero could doe or say, prevailed not any thing with

the unmannerly Clownes, but when Fortarigo was arrived among them,

he braved Aniolliero most impudently, saying.

  What reason have I to spoyle thy life (thou traiterous Villaine)

to rob and spoyle thy Master thus on the high way? Then turning to the

Countrey Boores: How much deare friends (quoth he) am I beholding to

you for this unexpected kindnesse? You behold in what manner he left

me in my Lodging, having first playd away all my money at the Dice,

and then deceiving me of my horse and garments also: but had not you

(by great good lucke) thus holpe mee to stay him; a poore Gentleman

had bin undone for ever, and I should never have found him againe.

  Aniolliero avouched the truth of his wrong received, but the base

peazants, giving credite onely to Fortarigoes lying exclamations:

tooke him from his horse, despoyled him of all his wearing

apparrell, even to the very Bootes from off his Legges: suffered him

to ride away from him in that manner, and Aniolliero left so in his

shirt, to dance a bare foote Galliard after him either towards Sienna,

or any place else.

  Thus Aniolliero, purposing to visite his Cousin the Cardinal like

a Gallant, and at the Marquisate of Ancona, returned backe poorly in

his shirt unto Buonconvento, and durst not (for shame) repaire to

Sienna. In the end, he borrowed money on the other horse which

Fortarigo rode on, and remained there in the Inne, whence riding to

Corsignano, where he had divers Kinsmen and Friends, he continued

there so long with them, till he was better furnished from his Father.

  Thus you may perceive, that the cunning Villanies of Fortarigo,

hindred the honest intended enterprise of Aniolliero howbeit in fit

time and place, nothing afterward was left unpunished.