THE FOURTH NOVELL

 

      WHEREIN IS DECLARED, WHAT CRAFT AND SUBTILTY SOME WILY WITS

      CAN DEVISE, TO DECEIVE THE SIMPLE, AND COMPASSE THEIR OWNE

                                 DESIRES.

 

  A yong Scholler, named Felice, enstructed Puccio di Rinieri, how

to become rich in a very short time. While Puccio made experience of

the instructions taught him; Felice obtained the favour of his

Daughter.

 

  After that Philomena had finished her Tale, she sate still; and

Dioneus (with faire and pleasing Language) commended the

Gentlewomans quaint cunning, but smiling at the Confessors witlesse

simplicity. Then the Queene, turning with chearefull looks toward

Pamphilus, commaunded him to continue on their delight; who gladly

yeelded, and thus began. Madame, many men there are, who while they

strive to climbe from a good estate, to a seeming better; doe become

in much worse condition then they were before. As happened to a

neighbour of ours, and no long time since, as the accident will better

acquaint you withall.

  According as I have heard it reported, neere to Saint Brancazio,

there dwelt an honest man, and some-what rich, who was called Puccio

di Rinieri, and who addicted all his paines and endeavours to Alchimy:

wherefore, he kept no other family, but onely a widdowed daughter, and

a servant; and because he had no other Art or exercise, he used

often to frequent the market place. And in regard he was but a weake

witted man and a gourmand or grosse feeder; his language was the

more harsh and rude; like to our common Porters or sottish men, and

his carriage also absurd, boore-like, and clownish. His daughter,

being named Monna Isabetta, aged not above eight and twenty, or thirty

yeeres; was a fresh indifferent faire, plumpe, round woman, cherry

cheekt, like a Queene-Apple; and, to please her Father, fed not so

sparingly, as otherwise she would have done, but when she communed

or jested with any body, she would talke of nothing, but onely

concerning the great vertue in Alchimy, extolling it above all other

Arts.

  Much about this season of the yeare, there returned a young Scholler

from Paris, named Felice, faire of complexion, comely of person,

ingeniously witted and skilfully learned, who (soone after) grew

into familiarity, with Puccio: now because he could resolve him in

many doubts, depending on his profession of Alchimy, (himselfe

having onely practise, but no great learning) he used many questions

to him, shewed him very especiall matters of secrecy, entertaining him

often to dinners and suppers, whensoever he pleased to come and

converse with him; and his daughter likewise, perceiving with what

favour her Father respected him, became the more familiar with him,

allowing him good regard and reverence.

  The young man continuing his resort to the House of Puccio, and

observing the widdow to be faire, fresh, and prettily formall; he

began to consider with himselfe, what those things might be, wherein

she was most wanting; and (if he could) to save anothers labour,

supply them by his best endeavours. Thus not alwayes carrying his eyes

before him, but using many backe and circumspect regards, he proceeded

so farre in his wylie apprehensions, that (by a few sparkes close kept

together) he kindled part of the same fire in her, which began to

flame apparantly in him. And hee very wittily observing the same, as

occasion first smiled on him, and allowed him favourable

opportunity, so did hee impart his intention to her.

  Now albeit he found her plyant enough, to gaine physicke for her

owne griefe, as soone as his; yet the meanes and manner were (as

yet) quite out of all apprehension. For shee in no other part of the

World, would trust her selfe in the young mans company, but onely in

her Fathers house; and that was a place out of all possibility,

because Puccio (by a long continued custome) used to watch

well-neere all the night, as commonly he did, each night after

other, never stirring foorth of the roomes, which much abated the edge

of the young mans appetite. After infinite intricate revolvings,

wheeling about his busied braine, he thought it not altogether an

Herculian taske, to enjoy his happinesse in the house, and without any

suspition, albeit Puccio kept still within doores, and watched as

hee was wont to doe.

  Upon a day as he sate in familiar conference with Puccio, he began

to speake unto him in this manner; I have many times noted, kinde

friend Puccio, that all thy desire and endeavour is, by what meanes

thou mayst become very rich, wherein (me thinkes) thou takest too wide

a course, when there is a much neerer and shorter way, which Mighell

Scotus, and other his associates, very diligently observed and

followed, yet were never willing to instruct other men therein;

whereby the mysterie might bee drowned in oblivion, and prosecuted

by none but onely great Lords, that are able to undergoe it. But

because thou art mine especiall friend, and I have received from

thee infinite kind favours; whereas I never intended, that any man (by

me) should be acquainted with so rare a secret; if thou wilt imitate

the course as I shall shew thee, I purpose to teach it thee in full

perfection. Puccio being very earnestly desirous to understand the

speediest way to so singular a mysterie, first began to entreat him

(with no meane instance) to acquaint him with the rules of so rich a

Science; and afterward sware unto him, never to disclose it to any

person, except hee gave his consent thereto; affirming beside, that it

was a rarity, not easie to bee comprehended by very apprehensive

judgements. Well (quoth Felice) seeing thou has: made me such a

sound and solemne promise, I will make it knowne unto thee.

  Know then friend Puccio, the Philosophers do hold, that such as

covet to become rich indeed, must understand how to make the Stone: as

I will tell thee how, but marke the manner very heedfully. I do not

say, that after the Stone is obtained, thou shalt bee even as rich

as now thou art; but thou shalt plainly perceive, that the very

grosest substances, which hitherto thou hast seene, all of them shalbe

made pure golde: and such as afterward thou makest, shall be more

certaine, then to go or come with Aqua fortis, as now they do. Most

expedient is it therefore, that when a man will go diligently about

this businesse, and purposeth to prosecute such a singular labour,

which will and must continue for the space of 40 nights, he must

give very carefull attendance, wholly abstaining from sleepe,

slumbering, or so much as nodding all that while.

  Moreover, in some apt and convenient place of thy house, there

must be a forge or furnace erected, framed in decent and formall

fashion, and neere it a large table placed, ordered in such sort, as

standing upright on feete, and leaning the reines of thy backe against

it; thou must stande stedfastly in that manner every night, without

the least motion or stirring, untill the breake of day appeareth,

and thine eyes still uppon the Furnace fixed, to keepe ever in memory,

the true order which I have prescribed. So soone as the morning is

seene, thou mayest (if thou wilt) walke, or rest a little upon thy

bed, and afterward go about thy businesse, if thou have any. Then go

to dinner, attending readily till the evenings approch, preparing such

things as I will readily set thee downe in writing, without which

there is not any thing to bee done; and then returne to the same taske

againe, not varying a jot from the course directed. Before the time be

fully expired, thou shalt perceive many apparant signes, that the

stone is still in absolute forwardnesse, but it will bee utterly

lost if thou fayle in the least of all the observances. And when the

experience hath crowned thy labour, thou art sure to have the

Philosophers stone, and thereby shalt be able to enrich all, and worke

wonders beside.

  Puccio instantly replyed. Now trust me Sir, there is no great

difficultie in this labour, neither doth it require any

extraordinary length of time: but it may very easily be followed and

performed, and (by your friendly favor, in helping to direct the

Furnace and Table, according as you imagine most convenient) on Sunday

at night next, I will begin my taske.

 The place which Puccio had chosen, for his hopefull attaining to

the Philosophers Stone, was close to the Chamber where his daughter

lay having no other separation or division, but an old ruinous

tottring wall. So that, when the Scholler was playing his prize,

Puccio heard an unwonted noise in the house, which he had never

observed before, neither knew the wall to have any such motion:

wherefore, not daring to stirre from his standing, least all should be

marrd in the very beginning, he called to his daughter, demanding,

what busle labour she was about? The widdow, being much addicted to

frumping according as questions were demanded of her, and (perhaps)

forgetting who spake to her, pleasantly replied: Whoop Sir, where

are we now? Are the Spirits of Alchimy walking in the house, that we

cannot lye quietly in our beds?

  Pucclo mervalling at this answere, knowing she never gave him the

like before; demanded againe, what she did? The subtle wench,

remembring that she had not answered as became her, said: Pardon mee

Father, my wits were not mine owne, when you demanded such a sodaine

question; and I have heard you say an hundred times, that when folke

go supperles to bed, either they walke in their sleepe, or being

awake, talke very idely, as (no doubt) you have discern'd by me. Nay

daughter (quoth he) it may be, that I was in a waking dreame, and

thought I heard the olde wall totter: but I see I was deceived, for no

it is quiet and still enough. Talke no more good Father, saide she,

least you stirre from your place, and hinder your labour: take no care

for mee, I am able enough to have care of my selfe.

  To prevent any more of these nightly disturbances, they went to

lodge in another part of the house, where they continued out the

time of Puccioes paines, with equall contentment to them both, which

made her divers times say to Felice: You teach my father the cheefe

grounds of Alchimy, while we helpe to waste away his treasure. Thus

the Scholler being but poore, yet well forwarded in Learning, made use

of Puccioes folly, and found benefit thereby, to keepe him out of

wants, which is the bane and overthrow of numberlesse good wits. And

Puccio dying, before the date of his limited time, because he failed

of the Philosophers Stone, Isabetta joyned in marriage with Felice, to

make him amends for instructing her father, by which meanes he came to

be her husband.