Page 251 - THE DECAMERON: A Visionary Journey in 100 Stories and 100 Etchings by Petru Russu

Who might fully recount with what diversity of argument the ladies towards him than he would otherwise have done. So he sent word
debated which of the three, Giliberto, Messer Ansaldo, or the that he and four comrades would sup privately with him in his garden
necromancer, behaved with the most generosity in the affair of on the following evening. Messer Neri felt himself much honored and,
Madonna Dianora? Too long were it to tell. However, when the having made his preparations with magnificence and arranged the
king had allowed them to dispute for a while, he, with a glance at order of the ceremonies with his household, did all he could and knew
Fiammetta, bade her rescue them from their wrangling by telling her to make the King cordially welcome to his fair garden.
story. Fiammetta made no demur but thus began:
When the King had viewed the garden throughout, as well as Messer
"Illustrious ladies, I have always believed that in gatherings like ours, Neri's house, and commended them, he washed and seated himself at
one should speak so clearly that the meaning of what is said should one of the tables set beside the pond. He bade Count Guy de Montfort,
never, by excessive circumlocution, provide grounds for dispute; which one of his companions, sit on one side of him, and Messer Neri on the
is much more appropriate among students in the schools than among other, with the other three to serve as directed by Messer Neri. The
us, whose abilities are scarcely adequate to the management of the dishes set before them were dainty, the wines excellent and rare, and
distaff and the spindle. Therefore, I, who had in mind a matter of, the order of the meal very fair and commendable, without the least
perhaps, some subtlety, now that I see you all at odds over the matters noise or anything else that might distress; whereon the King bestowed
last discussed, am inclined to set it aside and tell you something else, no stinted praise. As he gaily supped, well-pleased with the lovely spot,
which concerns a man of no small importance, but a valiant king, being two young maidens entered the garden. Each perhaps fifteen years old,
a chivalrous action that he did, although not motivated by his honor. both blonde, their golden tresses falling in ringlets about them, and
crowned with dainty garlands of periwinkle-flowers. So delicate and
There is none of you who may not have often heard of King Charles fair of face were they that they looked more like angels than anything
the Old, or the First, by whose magnificent enterprise and the ensuing else. Each was clad in a robe of the finest linen, white as snow upon
victory gained over King Manfred, the Ghibellines were driven out of their flesh, close-fitting from the waist up, but below the waist ample,
Florence, and the Guelfs returned there. For this reason, a knight, like a pavilion to the feet. The foremost bore on her shoulders a pair
Messer Neri degli Uberti by name, leaving Florence with his household of nets, which she held with her left hand, carrying a long pole in her
and not a little money, resolved to fix his abode under no other rule right. Her companion followed, bearing a frying pan on her left shoulder,
than that of King Charles. And being desirous of a lonely place in which a bundle of faggots under her left arm, and a tripod in her left hand,
to end his days in peace, he betook himself to Castello da Mare di while in her other hand she carried a cruse of oil and a lighted taper. At
Stabia; and there, perhaps a crossbow-shot from the other houses of the sight of them, the King marveled and gazed intently to learn what
the place, amid the olives, hazels, and chestnuts that abound in those it might mean. The two young maidens came forward with becoming
parts, he bought an estate, on which he built a good and comfortable modesty and did obeisance to the King. This done, they went to the
house, with a pleasant garden beside it. In the midst of the garden, place of ingress to the pond. The one with the frying pan set it down,
having no lack of running water, he set, after our Florentine fashion, along with the other items, and took the pole from the other. They
a fair and clear pond, which he quickly filled with fish. While thus he both went down into the pond, covered by its waters to their breasts.
lived, daily occupying himself with nothing else but how to make his One of Messer Neri's servants, having lit a fire and set the tripod on
garden more beautiful, it happened that King Charles, in the hot season, the faggots with oil therein, waited until some fish were thrown to him
went to Castello da Mare to refresh himself for a while. Hearing of the by the girls. One searched with the pole in parts where she knew the
beauty of Messer Neri's garden, he was desirous to view it. Having fish lay hidden, while the other made ready the nets. In a brief space
learned to whom it belonged, he thought that, as the knight was an of time, to the great delight of the King, who watched them attentively,
adherent of the party opposed to him, he would use more familiarity they caught many fish, which they tossed to the servant. He set them,
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