The Decameron by Giovanni Boccaccio (best classic books of all time txt) 📕

to give him notice that the Florentines right well understood how, whereas he should have brought judges, he had brought them sorry patches, to have them better cheap, he thought it best to hold his peace, and so the thing went no farther for the nonce.” The Sixth Story

Bruno and Buffalmacco, having stolen a pig from Calandrino, make him try the ordeal with ginger boluses and sack and give him (instead of the ginger) two dog-balls compounded with aloes, whereby it appeareth that he himself hath had the pig and they make him pay blackmail, an he would not have them tell his wife.

No sooner had Filostrato despatched his story, which had given rise to many a laugh, than the queen bade Filomena follow on, whereupon she began: “Gracious ladies, even as Filostrato was led by the mention of Maso to tell the story which you have just heard from him, so neither more nor less am I moved by that of Calandrino and his friends to tell you another of them, which methinketh will please you.

Who Calandrino, Bruno and Buffalmacco were I need not explain to you, for that you have already heard it well enough; wherefore, to proceed with my story, I must tell you that Calandrino owned a little farm at no great distance from Florence, that he had had to his wife’s dowry. From this farm, amongst other things that he got thence, he had every year a pig, and it was his wont still to betake himself thither, he and his wife, and kill the pig and have it salted on the spot. It chanced one year that, his wife being somewhat ailing, he went himself to kill the pig, which Bruno and Buffalmacco hearing and knowing that his wife was not gone to the farm with him, they repaired to a priest, very great friend of theirs and a neighbor of Calandrino, to sojourn some days with him. Now Calandrino had that very morning killed the pig and seeing them with the priest, called to them saying, ‘You are welcome. I would fain have you see what a good husband384 I am.’ Then carrying them into the house, he showed them the pig, which they seeing to be a very fine one and understanding from Calandrino that he meant to salt it down for his family, ‘Good lack,’ quoth Bruno to him, ‘what a ninny thou art! Sell it and let us make merry with the price, and tell thy wife that it hath been stolen from thee.’ ‘Nay,’ answered Calandrino, ‘she would never believe it and would drive me out of the house. Spare your pains, for I will never do it.’ And many were the words, but they availed nothing.

Calandrino invited them to supper, but with so ill a grace that they refused to sup there and took their leave of him; whereupon quoth Bruno and Buffalmacco, ‘What sayest thou to stealing yonder pig from him tonight?’ ‘Marry,’ replied the other, ‘how can we do it?’ Quoth Bruno, ‘I can see how well enough, an he remove it not from where it was but now.’ ‘Then,’ rejoined his companion, ‘let us do it. Why should we not? And after we will make merry over it with the parson here.’ The priest answered that he would well, and Bruno said, ‘Here must some little art be used. Thou knowest, Buffalmacco, how niggardly Calandrino is and how gladly he drinketh when others pay; let us go and carry him to the tavern, where the priest shall make believe to pay the whole scot in our honor nor suffer him to pay aught. Calandrino will soon grow fuddled and then we can manage it lightly enough, for that he is alone in the house.’ As he said, so they did and Calandrino seeing that the priest suffered none to pay, gave himself up to drinking and took in a good load, albeit it needed no great matter to make him drunk. It was pretty late at night when they left the tavern and Calandrino, without troubling himself about supper, went straight home, where, thinking to have shut the door, he left it open and betook himself to bed. Buffalmacco and Bruno went off to sup with the priest and after supper repaired quietly to Calandrino’s house, carrying with them certain implements wherewithal to break in whereas Bruno had appointed it; but, finding the door open, they entered and unhooking the pig, carried it off to the priest’s house, where they laid it up and betook themselves to sleep.

On the morrow, Calandrino, having slept off the fumes of the wine, arose in the morning and going down, missed his pig and saw the door open; whereupon he questioned this one and that if they knew who had taken it and getting no news of it, began to make a great outcry, saying, ‘Woe is me, miserable wretch that I am!’ for that the pig had been stolen from him. As soon as Bruno and Buffalmacco were risen, they repaired to Calandrino’s house, to hear what he would say anent the pig, and he no sooner saw them than he called out to them, well nigh weeping, and said, ‘Woe’s me, comrades mine; my pig hath been stolen from me!’ Whereupon Bruno came up to him and said softly, ‘It is a marvel that thou hast been wise for once.’ ‘Alack,’ replied Calandrino, ‘indeed I say sooth.’ ‘That’s the thing to say,’ quoth Bruno. ‘Make a great outcry, so it may well appear that it is e’en as thou sayst.’ Therewithal Calandrino bawled out yet loudlier, saying, ‘Cock’s body, I tell thee it hath been stolen from me in good earnest!’ ‘Good, good,’ replied Bruno; ‘that’s the way to speak; cry out lustily, make thyself well heard, so it may seem true.’ Quoth Calandrino, ‘Thou wouldst make me give my soul to the Fiend! I tell thee and thou believest me