THE FOURTH NOVELL

 

      WHEREBY MAY BE DISCERNED, INTO HOW MANY DANGERS A MAN MAY

         FALL, THROUGH A COVETOUS DESIRE TO ENRICH HIMSELFE

 

  Landolpho Ruffolo, falling into poverty, became a Pirate on the

Seas, and being taken by the Genewayes, hardly escaped drowning: Which

yet (neverthelesse) he did, upon a little Chest or Coffer, full of

very rich Jewels, being carried thereon to Corfu, where he was well

entertained by a good woman; And afterward, returned richly home to

his owne house.

 

  Madam Lauretta, sitting next to Madam Pampinea, and seeing how

triumphantly she had finished her discourse; without attending any

thing else, spake thus. Gracious Ladies, we shall never behold (in

mine opinion) a greater act of Fortune, then to see a man so suddainly

exalted, even from the lowest depth of poverty, to a Royall estate

of dignity; as the discourse of Madam Pampinea hath made good, by

the happy advancement of Alessandro. And because it appeareth

necessary, that whosoever discourseth on the subject proposed,

should no way vary from the very same termes; I shall not shame to

tell a tale, which, though it containe far greater mishapes then the

former, may sort to as happy an issue, albeit not so noble and

magnificent. In which respect, it may (perhaps) merit the lesse

attention; but howsoever that fault shall be found in you, I meane

to discharge mine owne duty.

   Opinion hath made it famous for long time, that the Seacoast of

Rhegium to Gaieta, is the onely delactable 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 in as many

kindes of Merchandizes, as any other people that I know. Among which

Townes, there is one, named Ravello, wherein (as yet to this day there

are rich people) there was (not long since) a very wealthy man,

named Landolpho Ruffolo, who being not contented with his riches,

but coveting to multiply them double and trebble, fell in danger, to

loose both himselfe and wealth together. This man (as other

Merchants are wont to doe) after hee had considered on his affaires,

bought him a very goodly Ship, lading it with divers sorts of

Merchandizes, all belonging to himselfe onely, and making his voyage

to the Isle of Cyprus. Where he found, over and beside the

Merchandizes he had brought thither, many Ships more there arrived,

and all laden with the same commodities, in regard whereof, it was

needefull for him, not onely to make a good Mart of his goods; but

also was further constrained (if hee meant to vent his commodities) to

sell them away (almost) for nothing, endangering his utter destruction

and 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: he resolved to

die, or to recompence his losses upon others, because he would not

returne home poore, having departed thence so rich.

  Meeting with a Merchant, that bought his great Ship of him; with the

money made thereof, and also his other Merchandizes, hee purchased

another, being a lighter vessell, apt and proper for the use of a

Pirate, arming and furnishing it in ample manner, for roving and

robbing upon the Seas. Thus hee began to make other mens goods his

owne, especially from the Turkes he tooke much wealth, Fortune being

alwayes therein so favourable to him, that hee could never compasse

the like by trading. So that, within the space of one yeare, hee had

robd and taken so many Gallies from the Turke; that he found

himselfe well recovered, not onely of all his losses by Merchandize,

but likewise his wealth was wholly redoubled. Finding his losses to be

very liberally requited, and having now sufficient, it were folly to

hazard a second fall; wherefore, conferring with his owne thoughts,

and finding that he had enough, and needed not to covet after more: he

fully concluded, now to returne home to his owne house againe, and

live upon his goods thus gotten.

  Continuing still in feare of the losses he had sustained by

traffique, and minding never more to imploy his money that way, but to

keep this light vessell, which had holpen him to all his wealth: he

commanded his men to put forth their Oares, and shape,their course for

his owne dwelling. Being aloft in the higher Seas, darke night

over-taking them, and a mighty winde suddainly comming upon them: it

not onely was contrary to their course, but held on with such

impetuous violence; that the small vessell, being unable to endure it,

made to land-ward speedily, and in expectation of a more friendly

wind, entred a little port of the Sea, directing up into a small

Island, and there safely sheltred it selfe. Into the same port which

Landolpho had thus taken for his refuge, entred (soone after) two

great Carrackes of Genewayes, lately come from Constantinople. When

the men in them had espied the small Barke, and lockt up her passage

from getting forth; understanding the Owners name, and that report had

famed him to be very rich, they determined (as men evermore addicted

naturally, to covet after money and spoile) to make it their owne as a

prize at Sea.

  Landing some store of their men, well armed with Crossebowes and

other weapons, they tooke possession of such a place, where none durst

issue forth of the small Barke, but endangered his life with their

Darts and Arrowes. Entering aboord the Barke, and making it their owne

by full possession, all the men they threw over-boord, without sparing

any but Landolpho himselfe, whom they mounted into one of the

Carrackes, leaving him nothing but a poore shirt of Maile on his

backe, and having rifled the Barke of all her riches, sunke it into

the bottome of the sea. The day following, the rough windes being

calmed, the Carrackes set saile againe, having a prosperous passage

all the day long; but upon the entrance of darke night, the windes

blew more tempestuously then before, and sweld the Sea in such rude

stormes, that the two Carracks were sundered each from other, and by

violence of the tempest it came to passe, that the Carracke wherein

lay poore miserable Landolpho (beneath the Isle of Cephalonia) ran

against a rocke, and even as a glasse against a wall, so split the

Carracke in peeces, the goods and merchandize floating on the Sea,

Chests, Coffers, Beds, and such like other things, as often hapneth in

such lamentable accidents.

  Now, notwithstanding the nights obscurity, and impetuous violence of

the billowes; such as could swimme, made shift to save their lives

by swimming. Others caught hold on such things, as by Fortunes favour,

floated neerest to them, among whom, distressed Landolpho, desirous to

save his life, if possibly it might be, espied a Chest or Coffer

before him, ordained (no doubt) to be the meanes of his safety from

drowning. Now although the day before, he had wished for death

infinite times, 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, bee tooke advantage of this favour

offred him, and the rather in a necessitie so urgent. Keeping fast

upon the Coffer so well as he could, and being driven by the winds and

waves, one while this way, and anon quite contrary, he made shift

for himselfe till day appeared; when looking every way about him,

seeing nothing but clouds, the seas and the Coffer, which one while

shrunke from under him, and another while supported him, according

as the windes and billowes carried it: all that day and night thus

he floated up and downe, drinking more then willingly hee would, but

almost hunger-starved thorow want of foode. The next morning, either

by the appointment of heaven or power of the Windes, Landolpho who was

(well-neere) become a Spundge, holding his armes strongly about the

Chest, as we have seene some doe, who (dreading drowning) take hold on

any the very smallest helpe; drew neere unto the shore of the Iland

Corfu, where (by good fortune) a poore woman was scowring dishes

with the salt water and sand, to make them (housewife like) neate

and cleane.

  When shee saw the Chest drawing neere her, and not discerning the

shape of any man, shee grew fearefull, and retyring from it, cried out

aloude. He had no power of speaking to her, neither did his sight

doe him the smallest service; but even as the waves and windes

pleased, the Chest was driven still neerer to the Land, and then the

woman perceyved that it had the forme of a ofer, and looking more

advisedly, beheld two armes extended over it, and afterward, she

espied the face of a man, not being able to judge, whether he were

alive, or no. Moved by charitable and womanly compassion, shee stept

in among the billowes, and getting fast holde on the hayre of his

head, drew both the Chest and him to the Land, and calling forth her

Daughters to helpe her, with much adoe she unfolded his armes from the

Chest, setting it up on her Daughters head, and then betweene them,

Landolpho was led into the Towne, and there conveyed into a warme

Stove, where quickly he recovered by her pains, his strength

benummed with extreame cold.

  Good wines and comfortable broathes shee cherished him withall, that

his sences being indifferently restored, hee knew the place where

hee was; but not in what manner he was brought thither, till the

good woman shewed him the Cofer that had kept him floating upon the

waves, and (next under God) had saved his life. The Chest seemed of

such slender weight, that nothing of any value could be expected in

it, either to recompence the womans great paines and kindnesse

bestowne on him, or any 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 any mettall. Having knowledge of their great worth

and value (being a Merchant, and skil'd in such matters) he became

much comforted, praysing God for this good successe, and such an

admirable meanes of deliverance from danger.

  Then considering with himselfe, that (in a short time) hee had beene

twice well buffeted and beaten by Fortune, and fearing, least a

third mishap 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 in very unsightly coloures, that no suspition at all should

be conceived of them, hee saide to the good woman, that the Chest

would not doe him any further service; but if shee pleased to lende

him a small sacke or bagge, shee might keepe the Cofer, for in her

house it would divers way stead her. The woman gladly did as he

desired, and Landolpho returning her infinite thankes, for the

loving kindnesse shee had affoorded him, throwing the sacke on his

necke, passed by a Barke to Brundusiam, and from thence to Tranium,

where Merchants in the City bestowed good garments on him, he

acquainting them with his disasterous fortunes, but not a word

concerning his last good successe.

  Being come home in safety to Ravello, he fell on his knees, and

thanked God for all his mercies towards him. Then opening the sacke,

and viewing the jewels at more leysure then formerly he had done, he

found them to be of so great estimation, that selling them but at

ordinary and reasonable rates, he was three times richer, then when

hee departed first from his house. And having vented them all, he sent

a great summe of money to the good woman at Corfu, that had rescued

him out of the Sea, and saved his life in a danger so dreadfull. The

like he did to Tranium, to the Merchants that had newly cloathed

him; living richly upon the remainder, and never adventuring more to

the Sea, but ended his dayes in wealth and honour.