THE SIXT NOVELL

 

      WHEREIN IS MANIFESTED, THAT AN OFFENCE COMMITTED IGNORANTLY,

       AND BY MISTAKING; OUGHT TO BE COVERED WITH GOOD ADVISE, AND

                           CIVILL DISCRETION

 

  Two yong Gentlemen, the one named Panuccio, and the other Adriano,

lodged one night in a poore Inne, where one of them went to bed to the

Hostes Daughter, and the other (by mistaking his way in the darke)

to the Hostes Wife. He which lay with the daughter, happened afterward

to the Hostes bed and told him what he had done, as thinking he

spake to his own companyon. Discontentment growing betweene them,

the Mother perceiving her errour, went to bed to her daughter, and

with discreete language, made a generall pacification.

 

  Calandrino, whose mishaps had so many times made the whole

assembly merry, and this last passing among them with indifferent

commendations: upon a generall silence commanded, the Queene gave

order to Pamphilus, that hee should follow next, as indeed he did,

beginning thus. Praiseworthy Ladies, the name of Nicoletta, so

fondly affected by Calandrino, putteth mee in minde of a Novell,

concerning another Nicoletta, of whom I purpose to speake: to the ende

you may observe how by a sudden wary fore-sight, a discreet woman

compassed the meanes to avoyde a notorious scandall.

  On the plaine of Mugnone, neere to Florence, dwelt (not long

since) an honest meane man, who kept a poore Inne or Ostery for

travellers, where they might have some slender entertainement for

their money. As he was but a poore man, so his house affoorded but

very small receit of guests, not lodging any but on necessity, and

such as he had some knowledge of. This honest poore hoste had a

woman (sufficiently faire) to his wife, by whom hee had also two

children, the one a comely young maiden, aged about fifteene yeares,

and the other a sonne, not fully (as yet) a yeare old, and sucking

on the mothers brest.

  A comely youthfull Gentleman of our City, became amorously

affected to the Damosell, resorting thither divers times as hee

travelled on the way, to expresse how much he did respect her. And she

accounting her fortune none of the meanest, to bee beloved by so

youthfull a Gallant, declared such vertuous and modest demeanour, as

might deserve his best opinion of her: so that their love grew to an

equall simpathy, and mutuall contentment of them both, in

expectation of further effects; he being named Panuccio, and she

Nicholletta.

  The heate of affection thus encreasing day by day, Panuccio grew

exceedingly desirous to enjoy the fruits of hi; long continued liking,

and divers devises mustred in his braine, how he might compasse one

nights lodging in her fathers house, whereof hee knew every part and

parcell, as not doubting to effect what hee desired, yet

undiscovered by any, but the maide her selfe.

  According as his intention aymed, so he longed to put it in

execution, and having imparted his mind to an honest loyall friend,

named Adriano, who was acquainted with the course of his love:

hyring two horses, and having Portmantues behind them, filled with

matters of no moment, they departed from Florence, as if they had some

great journey to ride. Having spent the day time where themselves best

pleased, darke night being entred, they arrived on the plaine of

Mugnone, where, as if they were come from the parts of Romanio, they

rode directly to this poore Inne, and knocking at the doore, the

honest Hoste (being familiar and friendly to all commers) opened the

doore, when Panuccio spake in this manner to him. Good man, we must

request one nights lodging with you, for we thought to have reached so

farre as Florence, but dark night preventing us, you see at what a

late houre wee are come hither. Signior Panuccio, answered the

hoste, it is not unknowne to you, how unfiting my poore house is,

for entertaining such guests as you are: Neverthelesse, seeing you are

overtaken by so unseasonable an houre, and no other place is neere for

your receite; I will gladly lodge you so well as I can.

  When they were dismounted from their horses, and entred into the

simple Inne: having taken order for feeding their horses, they

accepted such provision, as the place and time afforded, requesting

the Hoste to suppe with them. Now I am to tell you, that there was but

one small Chamsber in the house, wherin stood three beds, as best

the Hoste had devised to place them, two of them standing by the

walles side, and the third fronting them both, but with such close and

narrow passage, as very hardly could one step betweene them. The

best of these three beds was appointed for the Gentlemen, and

therein they layd them down to rest, but sleepe they could not, albeit

they dissembled it very formally. In the second Bed was Nicholetta the

daughter, lodged by her selfe, and the father and mother in the third,

and because she was to give the child sucke in the night time, the

radle (wherein it lay) stood close by their beds side, because the

childes crying or any other occasion concerning it, should not

disquiet the Gentlemen.

  Panuccio having subtily observed all this, and in what manner they

went to bed; after such a space of time, as he imagined them to be all

fast asleepe, he arose very softly, and stealing to the bed of

Nicholetta, lay downe gently by her. And albeit she seemed somewhat

afraid at the first, yet wheri she perceived who it was, shee rather

bad him welcome, then shewed her selfe any way discontented. Now while

Panuccio continued thus with the maide, it fortuned that a Cat threw

down somewhat in the house, the noise wherof awaked the wife, and

fearing greater harme, then (indeed) had hapned, she arose without a

Candle, and went groping in the darke, towards the place where shee

heard the noyse. Adriano, who had no other meaning but well, found

occasion also to rise, about some naturall necessity, and making his

passage in the darke, stumbled on the childes Cradle (in the way)

where the woman had set it, and being unable to passe by, without

removing it from the place: tooke and set it by his owne beds side,

and having done the businesse for which he rose, returned to his bed

againe, never remembring to set the Cradle where first he found it.

  The Wife having found the thing throwne downe being of no value or

moment, cared not for lighting any candle; but rating the Cat,

returned backe, feeling for the bed where her Husband lay, but finding

not the Cradle there, she said to her selfe. What a foolish woman am

I, that cannot well tell my selfe what I doe? Instead of my Husbands

bed, I am going to both my guests.

  So, stepping on a little further, she found the childes Cradle,

and laid her selfe downe by Adriano, thinking shee had gone right to

her Husband. Adriano being not yet falne asleepe, feeling the hostesse

in bed with him: tooke advantage of so faire an occasion offered,

and what he did, is no businesse of mine, (as I heard) neither found

the woman any fault. Matters comming to passe in this strange

manner, and Panuccio fearing, lest sleepe seazing on him, he might

disgrace the maides reputation: taking his kinde farewell of her, with

many kisses and sweet imbraces: returned againe to his owne Bed, but

meeting with the Cradle in his way, and thinking it stood by the

hostes Bed, (as truely it did so at the first) went backe from the

Cradle, and stept into the hostes Bed indeed, who awaked upon his very

entrance, albeit he slept very soundly before.

  Panuccio supposing that he was laid downe by his loving friend

Adriano, merrily said to the Hoste. I protest to thee, as I am a

Gentleman, Nicholetta is a dainty delicate wench, and worthy to be a

very good mans wife: this night shee hath given mee the sweetest

entertainement, as the best Prince in the world can wish no better,

and I have kist her most kindly for it. The Hoste hearing these newes,

which seemed very unwelcome to him, said first to himself: What make

such a devill heere in my Bedde? Afterward being more rashly angry,

then well advised, hee said to Panuccio. Canst thou make vaunt of such

a mounstrous villany? Or thinkest thou, that heaven hath not due

vengeance in store, to requite all wicked deeds of darkenesse? If

all should sleepe, yet I have courage sufficient to right my wrong,

and yet as olde as I am to rig thou shalt be sure to finde it.

  Our amorous Panuccio being none of the wisest young men in the

world, perceiving his errour; sought not to amend it, (as well he

might have done) with some queint straine of wit, carried in quick and

cleanly manner, but angerly answered. What shall I find that thou

darst doe to me? am I any way afraid of thy threatnings? The Hostes

imagining she was in bed with her Husband, said to Adriano: Harke

Husband, I thinke our Guests are quarrelling together, I hope they

will doe no harme to one another. Adriano laughing outright, answered.

Let them alone, and become friends againe as they fell out: perhaps

they dranke too much yesternight.

  The woman perceiving that it was her husband that quarrelled, and

distinguishing the voyce of Adriano from his: knew presently where

shee was, and with whom; wherefore having wit at will, and desirous to

cloude an error unadvisedly committed, and with no willing consent

of her selfe: without returning any more words, presently she rose,

and taking the Cradle with the child in it, removed it the to her

daughters bed side, although shee had no light to helpe her, and

afterward went to bed to her, where (as if she were but newly

awaked) she called her Husband, to understand what angry speeches

had past betweene him and Panuccio. The Hoste replyed, saying. Didst

thou not heare him wife, brag and boast, how he hath lyen this night

with our daughter Nicholetta? Husband (quoth she) he is no honest

Gentleman; if hee should say so, and beleeve me it is a manifest

lye, for I am in bed with her my selfe, and never yet closed mine eyes

together, since the first houre I laid me downe: it is unmannerly done

of him to speake it, and you are little lesse then a logger-head, if

you doe beleeve it. This proceedeth from your bibbing and swilling

yesternight, which (as it seemeth) maketh you to walke about the roome

in your sleepe, dreaming of wonders in the night season: it were no

great sinne if you brake your neck, to teach you keepe a fairer

quarter; and how commeth it to passe, that Signior Panuccio could

not keepe himselfe in his owne bed?

  Adriano (on the other side) perceiving how wisely the woman

excused her owne shame and her daughters; to backe her in a

businesse so cunningly begun, he called to Panuccio, saying. Have

not I tolde thee an hundred times, that thou art not fit to lye any

where, out of thine owne lodging? What a shame is this base

imperfection to thee, by rising and walking thus in the night-time,

according as thy dreames doe wantonly delude thee, and cause thee to

forsake thy bed, telling nothing but lies and fables, yet avouching

them for manifest truthes? Assuredly this will procure no meane perill

unto thee: Come hither, and keepe in thine owne bedde for meere shame.

  When the honest meaning Host heard, what his own Wife and Adriano

had confirmed: he was verily perswaded, that Panuccio spake in a

dreame all this while: And to make it the more constantly apparant,

Panuccio (being now growne wiser by others example) lay talking and

blundring to himselfe, even as if dreames or perturbations of the

minde did much molest him, with strange distractions in franticke

manner. Which the Hoste perceiving, and compassionating his case, as

one man should do anothers: he tooke him by the shoulders, jogging and

hunching him, saying. Awake Signior Panuccio, and get you gone hence

to your owne bed.

  Panuccio, yawning and stretching out his limbes, with unusuall

groanes and respirations, such as (better) could bee hardly

dissembled: seemed to wake as out of a traunce, and calling his friend

Adriano, said.

  Adriano, is it day, that thou dost waken me? It may be day or

night replyed Adriano, for both (in these fits) are alike to thee.

Arise man for shame, and come to thine lodging. Then faining to be

much troubled and sleepie, he arose from the hoast, and went to

Adrianoes bed.

  When it was day, and all in the house risen, the hoast began to

smile at Panuccio, mocking him with his idle dreaming and talking in

the night.

  So, falling from one merry matter to another, yet without any

mislike at all: the Gentlemen, having their horses prepared, and their

Portmantues fastened behind, drinking to their hoast, mounted on

horsebacke, and they roade away towards Florence, no lesse contented

with the manner of occasions happened, then the effects they sorted

to. Afterward, other courses were taken, for the continuance of this

begun pleasure with Nicholetta, who made her mother beleeve, that

Panuccio did nothing else but dreame. And the mother her selfe

remembring how kindely Adriano had used her (a fortune not expected by

her before:) was more then halfe of the minde, that she did then

dreame also, while she was waking.