so, leave the rest to me.”  Whereupon down went Bruno, and found Filippo and the damsel, and fully apprised them what sort of fellow Calandrino was, and what he had told them, and concerted with them what each should do and say, that they might have a merry time together over Calandrino’s love affair.  He then rejoined Calandrino, saying:—­“’Tis the very same; and therefore the affair needs very delicate handling, for, if Filippo were but ware thereof, not all Arno’s waters would suffice to cleanse us.  However, what should I say to her from thee, if by chance I should get speech of her?” “I’faith,” replied Calandrino, “why, first, first of all, thou wilt tell her that I wish her a thousand bushels of the good seed of generation, and then that I am her servant, and if she is fain of—­aught—­thou tak’st me?” “Ay,” quoth Bruno, “leave it to me.”

Supper-time came; and, the day’s work done, they went down into the courtyard, Filippo and Niccolosa being there, and there they tarried a while to advance Calandrino’s suit.  Calandrino’s gaze was soon riveted on Niccolosa, and such and so strange and startling were the gestures that he made that they would have given sight to the blind.  She on her part used all her arts to inflame his passion, primed as she had been by Bruno, and diverted beyond measure as she was by Calandrino’s antics, while Filippo, Buffalmacco and the rest feigned to be occupied in converse, and to see nought of what passed.  However, after a while, to Calandrino’s extreme disgust, they took their leave; and as they bent their steps towards Florence:—­“I warrant thee,” quoth Bruno to Calandrino, “she wastes away for thee like ice in the sunlight; by the body o’ God, if thou wert to bring thy rebeck, and sing her one or two of thy love-songs, she’d throw herself out of window to be with thee.”  Quoth Calandrino:—­“Think’st thou, comrade, think’st thou, ’twere well I brought it?” “Ay, indeed,” returned Bruno.  Whereupon:—­“Ah! comrade,” quoth Calandrino, “so thou wouldst not believe me when I told thee to-day?  Of a truth I perceive there’s ne’er another knows so well what he would be at as I. Who but I would have known how so soon to win the love of a lady like that?  Lucky indeed might they deem themselves, if they did it, those young gallants that go about, day and night, up and down, a strumming on the one-stringed viol, and would not know how to gather a handful of nuts once in a millennium.  Mayst thou be by to see when I bring her the rebeck! thou wilt see fine sport.  List well what I say:  I am not so old as I look; and she knows it right well:  ay, and anyhow I will soon let her know it, when I come to grapple her.  By the very body of Christ I will have such sport with her, that she will follow me as any love-sick maid follows her swain.”  “Oh!” quoth Bruno, “I doubt not thou wilt make her thy prey:  and I seem to see thee bite her dainty vermeil mouth and her cheeks, that shew as twin roses, with thy teeth, that are as so many lute-pegs, and