— Calandrino being enamoured of a damsel,
Bruno gives him a scroll, averring that, if he but
touch her therewith, she will go with him: he
is found with her by his wife who subjects him to
a most severe and vexatious examination. —
So, at no great length, ended Neifile her story, which
the company allowed to pass with none too much laughter
or remark: whereupon the queen, turning to Fiammetta,
bade her follow suit. Fiammetta, with mien most
gladsome, made answer that she willingly obeyed, and
thus began:—As I doubt not, ye know, ladies
most debonair, be the topic of discourse never so
well worn, it will still continue to please, if the
speaker knows how to make due choice of time and occasion
meet. Wherefore, considering the reason for which
we are here (how that ’tis to make merry and
speed the time gaily, and that merely), I deem that
there is nought that may afford us mirth and solace
but here may find time and occasion meet, and, after
serving a thousand turns of discourse, should still
prove not unpleasing for another thousand. Wherefore,
notwithstanding that of Calandrino and his doings
not a little has from time to time been said among
us, yet, considering that, as a while ago Filostrato
observed, there is nought that concerns him that is
not entertaining, I will make bold to add to the preceding
stories another, which I might well, had I been minded
to deviate from the truth, have disguised, and so recounted
it to you, under other names; but as whoso in telling
a story diverges from the truth does thereby in no
small measure diminish the delight of his hearers,
I purpose for the reason aforesaid to give you the
narrative in proper form.
Niccolo Cornacchini, one of our citizens, and a man
of wealth, had among other estates a fine one at Camerata,
on which he had a grand house built, and engaged Bruno
and Buffalmacco to paint it throughout; in which task,
for that ’twas by no means light, they associated
with them Nello and Calandrino, and so set to work.
There were a few rooms in the house provided with
beds and other furniture, and an old female servant
lived there as caretaker, but otherwise the house
was unoccupied, for which cause Niccolo’s son,
Filippo, being a young man and a bachelor, was wont
sometimes to bring thither a woman for his pleasure,
and after keeping her there for a few days to escort
her thence again. Now on one of these occasions
it befell that he brought thither one Niccolosa, whom
a vile fellow, named Mangione, kept in a house at
Camaldoli as a common prostitute. And a fine
piece of flesh she was, and wore fine clothes, and
for one of her sort, knew how to comport herself becomingly
and talk agreeably.
