diverting themselves with this agree able recreation, the weather became suddenly overcast, and there fell so thick a snow, that it covered the ground three feet in depth, which these young men no sooner saw than they left playing and singing, and sallied forth into the court-yard of the mansion, where they began to colleet snow-balls for their pastime. The lady of the house, observing in what manner they were occupied, and being herself of a most lively and pleasant disposition, took it into her head that she would play them an agreeable turn, and for that purpose called together four young ladies, (two of whom were her husband's daughters, a third her own niece, and the fourth a neighbour, who happened to be then on a visit to her, all married women, beautiful, accomplished, and good-humoured in perfection, whose husbands were at that time absent upon various occasions of business,) and said to them, "I have been thinking, my dear girls, that we will go out upon the roof of the house, taking all the maids with us, where we will form an immense collection of snow-balls, and then go down with them to the windows that look into the court-yard, from which we will commence a most terrible war upon the young men who are now so actively engaged in fighting with one another. They will immediately be inclined to turn and answer our salute; but as they will be below, all our artillery will take such full effect, that, for once at least, they will find themselves to have the worst in the conflict." This proposal pleased them mightily, so that it was no sooner said than done. To the terrace they went, they and all the maids with them, and from the terrace upon the roof, where they speedily filled three large vats and two baskets with snow-balls of the most solid and excellent construction; then, without noise, silently advanced to the windows, at the foot of one of which each of the fair engineers deposited her ammunition, and having accoutred themselves, by tying their petticoats and tucking up their sleeves for the encounter, poured forth at once a tremendous volley upon the enemy, who, still occupied in the skirmish with one another, were marvellously astounded at so unexpected and strange a salutation; and, each one lifting his face and stretching his eyes towards VOL. XII. the quarter of the assailants, presented a front the most favourable to a second attack, which was not delayed for an instant; so that, at the next discharge of artillery, every eye was closed, and mouth, ears, and nostrils, filled with the congealed element, which, melting, deluged their clothes, and de scended in torrents over their whole persons. The lady assailants, witnessing this full success of their enterprize, could not forbear from setting up shouts of laughter and triumph, which discovered them; and thenceforth began one of the most pleasant and amusing skirmishes in the world; only the young men still had the worst of it, as, whenever they stooped to pick up their ammunition, they were thoroughly pelted, and, in turning aside to avoid one shot, were sure to receive another; besides which, it now and then happened that their feet slipped, and in falling, it was well if eight or ten balls did not hit them at once; and at every advantage so gained, the enemy shouted with exultation, so that for the full space of twenty minutes, so long as their ammunition lasted, they had entertainment and pleasure unspeakable. At last, however, their means of annoyance being exhausted, they prudently withdrew from the scene of triumph, and having closed the windows, retired to change their dresses, leaving the young men in the court-yard well drenched and bedevilled, to console themselves as well as they were able for their signal discomfiture. The cavaliers, on their side, no sooner saw that the enemy had withdrawn, than they made the best of their way back to the apartment which they had quitted, there to repair their losses as well as they were able. But a good fire and dry clothes having recruited their spirits, they again bethought themselves of the disgrace they had sustained, and of the means of revenge; so, with one accord, they went back into the court-yard, filled their hands and pockets with snow, and then proceeded on tip-toe towards the saloon, where they expected to find their fair antagonists refreshing themselves after their victory, and wholly unprovided for their defence. In this expectation, however, they found themselves deceived; for they could not advance so secretly but they were both heard and seen from within, so that, 3 Y upon their arrival, they found the doors barricadoed against them; and thus, baffled and laughed at, they were obliged to desist from the enterprize, with only the additional satisfaction of being a second time wetted to the skin by means of the very implements which they carried about them for the purposes of retaliation. Being now reassembled in council, they began to talk of departure, but had not settled to what place they should adjourn, before the weather again changed, and torrents of rain succeeding the heavy fall of snow, with thick darkness, rendered all thoughts of a decampment abortive, and reduced them to the hard necessity of endeavouring, by help of fire and candles, and some choice mad rigals for five voices, of Verdelotto and Arcadelte, to pass away the time which it seemed destined that they would here consume in the Enchanted Castle. Meanwhile the ladies, safe from the fear of reprisals, enjoyed themselves with many a hearty laugh at the expence of the vanquished, and sat round the fire discoursing on a variety of pleasant subjects, when the voices of the singers attracted their attention; and not being able, from where they were seated, to distinguish the words of the songs, which some among them, of more poetical taste than the others, were particularly desirous to learn, they held council with one another how to proceed; and, finally, all resolved that the cavaliers should be called in to join their circle, which they did the more willingly, as the whole party were, from relationship, or good neighbourhood, in the habits of familiar intercourse with each other. The lady of the mansion took upon herself the office of ambassadress; the object of her mission was not of a nature to require much support from the arts of persuasion. The terms she had to offer, were, on the contrary, joy fully accepted, and she was immediately accompanied by the gentlemen into the saloon, where they were received by all present with the most joyful welcome. And so, after they had performed six or eight madrigals, much to the satisfaction of their lovely auditory, they all took their seats round the fire, and one of them, having brought with him out of the chamber a volume of the " Cento Novelle," which he held under his arm, was asked by one of the ladies, what the book was on; to which he answer→ ed, that it was the most delightful and most instructive book ever composed. "These," he said, " are the tales of Master John Bocaccio, more properly St John Boccad'oro," (Golden-mouth.) To say the truth," observed another, smiling," that same saint pleases me well." And, as it happened that the gentleman had a fine voice, and a graceful manner in reading, he was forthwith entreated to select one of the tales for the entertainment of the party-a task which he declined, however, being desirous that some one else should lead the way; upon which another of the ladies proposed, that, as there were ten in company, each should take a deeade in turn, and that it should be de cided by lot which of them was to be gin. This proposal was exceedingly well received; but now a new subject of contention arose, and while they were disputing which decade each should undertake, one preferring the fifth, another the third, another the sixth, another the seventh, and another the fourth, their fair hostess began to consider, that a favourable opportunity was now presented for carrying into execution a thought which had often before suggested itself to her fancy; so, without saying a word, she left her seat by the fire, and went to her chamber, when, having called to her the house-steward and another servant in attendance, and directed them what she would have them do, she then returned to the company, and in a gracious and merry tone thus addressed them: "Since hard necessity, rather than your good will or our providing, brave youths and fair ladies, has so unexpectedly assembled us round the fire this evening, I am constrained to entreat of you and request that you will do me a favour To you, cavaliers, I more particularly address myself, and have so much confidence in your spirit and gallantry, that I am sure you will not fail to perform my pleasure." Whereupon all present having engaged themselves by promise and oath to do all that in them lay for the fulfilment of her high behests, she resumed-" You hear how the heavens are pouring down in a deluge; and, therefore, the favour I have to ask of you is, that you will not think of quitting me, but will sup here this next Thursday, but the Thursday after, is the Balingaccio, (the last Thurs day in the Carnival.) I therefore propose, and beg as a favour, that the next two Thursdays you will consider yourselves in like manner engaged. to me and my brother-the more so, be cause this evening, not having time for reflection, our tales will be short; but, after a week's interval, I think we may promise ourselves much longer ones for the next, and some of our heroic diversions for our concluding supper. And so, every one among us having to tell in turn a short tale, a pretty long one, and a complete his tory, we shall make proof of our abilities in three distinct species of composition,-besides which, the number three is always most perfect, including within itself beginning, middle and end." It is impossible to describe how much this harangue of their hostess delighted both the male and female part of the company, and they expressed their satisfaction by signs and tokens so manifest, that it seemed as they could scarce contain themselves for abundance of pleasure. Whereupon the lady of the mansion proceeded: evening with your good friend, my brother, and remain till the rain has subsided, or even should it continue, there are sleeping-rooms on the groundfloor enough for a much larger party, where you may all be lodged at your ease. But, in the meanwhile, I have thought of an agreeable manner of passing the time till supper; and that is, not in reading the tales written by Bocaccio, (although it must be confessed that none more delectable, or more worthy the repeating, can any where be met with,) but in inventing (trovandone) and relating, each one in order, some of ours; the which, if they should chance to be neither equally amusing nor equally well-imagined, yet they will have the merit of being less known and familiar, so that their novelty will make amends for what they may be deficient in excellence; besides that, there is among ourselves wit, fancy, learning, and understand ing in sufficient abundance. Our gentlemen, particularly, are well versed in all the academical branches of literature and humanity, familiar with the poets, not only Latin and Tuscan, but with the Greek also, so that there cannot be wanting ample room for invention and materials of eloquence." It appears to me to be necessary Nor shall my fair ladies be wanting in their endeavours to do you honour; and to say the truth, we are now in the midst of the carnival, at which season you know that it is lawful even for those devoted to religion to so lace and divert themselves; when the holy brothers play at balls, act come dies, and sing and dance in disguise, and the most sanctified of the sister hood hold it no sin to dress themselves in male attire, with velvet bonnets on their heads, tight hose on their legs, and swords by their sides; wherefore, then, should it be unbecoming or unsuitable in us, to give one another pleasure by story-telling? Who can blame us? What stern moralist can find in our pastime any just cause of reproof or censure? This is Thursday evening; and, as you well know, not that all things should be arranged with due regularity, so as to give effect to our excellent design; and for this purpose, I would recommend that we should resolve ourselves, not into a kingly government, but into the form of a republic. I would also propose, (but nevertheless subject to your goodliking,) that it be decided by lot who shall begin, and who follow; and that we take three bags (borse,) one containing tickets inscribed with the names of the gentlemen, the other those of the ladies; and that the first drawn shall draw oneout of the last-mentioned bag; and accordingly, whether the ticket so drawn be the gentlemen's or the la dies' ticket, the person to be nominated shall be taken out of the gentlemen's or the ladies' bag, and so on to the last; and that, at every name so •This phrase of "inventing" appears at first sight to throw some discredit on the -genuineness of the anecdotes, which form the basis of the most amusing among the novels which follow. But there are enough of the serious and romantic cast, to which the term ** invention” may apply, without extending it to the whole collection, nor am I sure that by the term itself we are necessarily to understand that the foundation of the stories is fabulous. The circumstantiality attending them is strongly in favour of their reality. drawn out, the person on whom the lot falls shall take the post of honour next the fire, and begin his or her narration accordingly; and this will suffice for to-night's supper"* . . Here follows a considerable gap in the manuscript (nel manoscritto mancava una certa intera)—and, upon emerging from the Lacuna, we find ourselves in the midst of an invocation, (by way of exordium,) by Giacinto (on whom the first lot has fallen,) singular enough as a relic of the old style of the romance-writers and troubadours, in which the "Dio ottimo e grandissimo" is implored for his assistance, in enabling him to relate the story which immediately follows and of which it is enough in this place to observe, that no mutilation could render it sufficiently decent for modern hearers. I therefore pass it over, and shall proceed, without following the order in which they are related, with the specimens which I propose to furnish of the Italian hoax, or Beffa. The ensuing Novel does not require any explanation, nor suggest any re mark, except that the treatment of Master Neri may possibly call to mind the chastisement of Malvolio in "Twelfth Night." That the mortification experienced by the unhappy sufferer on this occasion should have produced effects so deep and lasting, may be perhaps regarded as somewhat extravagant; but the sensibility of the Italian character to the wounds of ridicule, appears to have been acute to a degree quite unimaginable by persons of our dull northern temperature; and the intensity of pain occasioned by the infliction, doubtless, added proportionably to the keenness of relish experienced in the perpetration. TALE THE THIRD. "How Master Scheggia, with the aid of Monaco and Pilucca, played such a trick upon Neri Chiaramontesi, as to drive him to despair, so that he went away from Florence, and never returned to it till he was an old man.” IN the days of Scheggia, Monaco, and Pilacca, (who were choice friends and boon companions, and all three masters in the art of hoaxing), there was one Neri Chiaramontesi, a man of good birth and easy circumstances, but cunning and crafty withal as any of our city in his time; nor was there any who took greater delight in playing off his wit upon other persons. This worthy gentleman frequently found himself in company with the the three before mentioned, at the table of my Lord Mario Tornaquinci, a knight of the Golden Spur, of great wealth and worship; and upon these occasions he had not scrupled to per-form divers feats at the expense of his -companions, for which they did not dare attempt to take any revenge, although very much to their displeasure -above all, to that of Master Scheggia, who murmured greatly at being made the butt of so many shafts of ridicule. -Once upon a time it so happened, that as they all were chirping together round a good fire at the house of this worshipful cavalier, (it being then in the depth of winter), discoursing with one another about this thing and that, says Neri to Scheggia, "Here's a crown of gold for you, if you will go directly to the house of La Pellegrina, (who was a famous courtezan in those days, and had come from Bologna), habited as you are now, but having first besmeared your face and hands with ink, and present to her this pair of gloves, without uttering a syllable."—" And here's a brace of crowns for you," said Scheggia, "if you will sally forth, armed cap-a-pie in white armour, with a lance on your shoulder, to Ceccherino the mercer's shop"-(which was at that time a noted place of rendezvous for all the rich young gallants of Florence.) In the name of grace," replied Neri, laughing, "hand me up the two crowns."" Content!" "answered Scheggia; "but hear me—I re I cannot pretend to understand, much less to explain, the mode of election proposed to this witty and eloquent institution by its agreeable foundress; but it seems to be borrowed from the forms of the Florentine Republic. quire, moreover, that whatsoever per- Meanwhile, Monaco and Pilucca had gone upon their respective missions the one to the shop of the haberdasher, the other to Grechetto's fencing-school, (which was then held in the tower hard by the old market-place)—and both affirmed to the by-standers that Neri Chiaramontesi had gone out of his senses, and attempted to kill his own mother, and thrown all his household goods into a well-and that he had at last armed himself cap-a-pie in one of my Lord Tornaquinci's suits, and, with his lance in rest, was driving all the people helter-skelter before him. To which Pilucca (who was at the fencingschool) added, how he had heard him swear a terrible oath that he would go to Ceccherino's shop, to give him a drubbing-upon which the greater part of the young men who were present ran out of school to see the fun, with so much the greater delight, as that same haberdasher was an object of general dislike, on account of his igno rance and presumption, and having the most cursed and slanderous tongue in all Florence-notwithstanding which, his shop was the resort of noble and honourable gallants, to whom Monaco was at the same time busy in relating various other particulars of the extravagance and madness of Neri. Meanwhile, Neri himself having left the knight's house, (which was near St Marie Novella), made his progress to Ceccherino's shop, not without much wonder and laughter of all beholders; and on his arrival at the door gave a thundering rap, and bursting it open, entered with furious gestures, in complete armour as he was, exclaiming with a loud voice, "Aha! traitors Aha! ye are all dead men"-and forthwith put his lance in rest. They who were present, alarmed by what they had just heard, as no less than by what they themselves saw and witness ed, were soon seized with a perfect panic, and fled away in all directions→→ some to the counting-house, some be hind the counter, or under chairs and tables--some shouting, some threatening, some praying-in short, the uproar was quite prodigious. Scheggia, who had followed close at his heels all the way, no sooner saw him entered, than he ran off full speed towards Portarossa, where dwelt his uncle, Agnolo Chiaramontesi, (an old man, one of the woollen trade, and a citizen of fair credit and reputation), and told him, quite out of breath, that he must make all haste to the shop of Ceccherino the mercer, where he would find his nephew, who was raving mad, and with lance in hand laying about him, so that it was to be feared great mischief might ensue. Whereupon Agnolo (who, having no children of his own, entertained great affection for his nephew) exclaimed, "Alas! alas! what is this you tell me!"-" Only the exact truth," replied Scheggia; and added, "Come, come away quickly; and bring with you some four or five of your workmen, to seize and bind him, and convey him, bound, to your house; and then when you have kept him three or four days in the dark, without any body to speak to, it may be hoped that he will be brought back to his senses." Having no reason to disbelieve a |
