_Messer_ Guiglielmo _of_ Rossiglione _having slaine Messer_ GuiglielmoGuardastagno, _whom hee imagined to love his wife, gave her his heartto eate. Which she knowing afterward, threw her selfe out of an highwindow to the ground; and being dead, was then buried with her friend._
The ninth Novell.
_Whereby appeareth, what ill successe attendeth on them, that lovecontrarie to reason: in offering injurie both to friendship andmarriage together._
When the Novell of Madam _Neiphila_ was ended, which occasioned muchcompassion in the whole assembly; the King who wold not infringe thepriviledge graunted to _Dioneus_, no more remaining to speake butthey two, began thus. I call to minde (gentle Ladies) a Novell, which(seeing we are so farre entred into the lamentable accidents ofsuccesselesse love) will urge you unto as much commisseration, as thatso lately reported to you. And so much the rather; because the personsof whom we are to speake, were of respective quality; which approveththe accident to bee more cruell, then those whereof wee have formerlydiscoursed.
According as the people of _Provence_ do report, there dwelt sometimein that jurisdiction, two noble Knights, each well possessed of Castles& followers; the one beeing named _Messer Guiglielmo de Rossiglione_,and the other _Messer Guiglielmo Guardastagno_. Now, in regard thatthey were both valiant Gentlemen, and singularly expert in actions ofArmes; they loved together the more mutually, and held it as a kindeof custom, to be seene in all Tiltes and Tournaments, or any otherexercises of Armes, going commonly alike in their wearing garments.And although their Castles stood about five miles distant each fromother, yet were they dayly conversant together, as very loving andintimate friends. The one of them, I meane _Messer Guiglielmo deRossiglione_, had to wife a very gallant beautifull Lady, of whom_Messer Guardastagno_ (forgetting the lawes of respect and loyallfriendshippe) became over-fondly enamoured, expressing the same by suchoutward meanes, that the Lady her selfe tooke knowledge thereof, andnot with any dislike, as it seemed, but rather lovingly entertained;yet she grew not so forgetfull of her honour and estimation, as theother did of faith to his friend.
With such indiscretion was this idle love carried, that whether itsorted to effect, or no, I know not: but the husband perceived somesuch manner of behaviour, as hee could not easily digest, nor thoughtit fitting to endure. Whereuppon, the league of friendly amity so longcontinued, began to faile in very strange fashion, and became convertedinto deadly hatred: which yet hee very cunningly concealed, bearingan outwarde shew of constant friendshippe still, but (in his heart)hee had vowed the death of _Guardastagno_. Nothing wanted, but bywhat meanes it might best be effected, which fell out to bee in thismanner. A publicke Just or Tourney, was proclaimed by sound of Trumpetthroughout all France, wherewith immediately, _Messer GuiglielmoRossiglione_ acquainted _Messer Guardastagno_, entreating him thatthey might further conferre thereon together, and for that purpose tocome and visit him, if he intended to have any hand in the businesse._Guardastagno_ being exceeding gladde of this accident, which gave himliberty to see his Mistresse; sent answer backe by the messenger, thaton the morrow at night, he would come and sup with _Rossiglione_; whoupon this reply, projected to himselfe in what manner to kill him.
On the morrow, after dinner, arming himselfe, and two more of hisservants with him, such as he had solemnly sworne to secrecy, heemounted on horseback, and rode on about a mile from his owne Castle,where he lay closely ambushed in a Wood, through which _Guardastagno_must needs passe. After he had stayed there some two houres space andmore, he espyed him come riding with two of his attendants, all ofthem being unarmed, as no way distrusting any such intended treason.So soone as he was come to the place, where he had resolved to do thedeed; hee rushed forth of the ambush, and having a sharpe Lance readilycharged in his rest, ran mainly at him, saying: False villain, thou artdead. _Guardastagno_, having nothing wherewith to defend himselfe, norhis servants able to give him any succour; being pierced quite throughthe body with the Lance, downe hee fell dead to the ground, and his men(fearing the like misfortune to befall them) gallopped mainely backeagaine to their Lords Castle, not knowing them who had thus murtheredtheir Master, by reason of their armed disguises, which in thosemartiall times were usually worne.
_Messer Guiglielmo Rossiglione_, alighting from his horse, and havinga keene knife ready drawne in his hand; opened therewith the brest ofdead _Guardastagno_, and taking foorth his heart with his owne hands,wrapped it in the Banderole belonging to his Lance, commanding one ofhis men to the charge thereof, and never to disclose the deed. So,mounting on horse-backe againe, and darke night drawing on apace,he returned home to his Castle. The Lady, who had heard before of_Guardastagnoes_ intent, to suppe there that night, and (perhaps) beingearnestly desirous to see him; mervailing at his so long tarrying,saide to her husband. Beleeve me Sir (quoth she) me thinkes it issomewhat strange, that _Messer Guiglielmo Guardastagno_ delayes hiscomming so long, he never used to do so til now. I received tidingsfrom him wife (said he) that he cannot be heere till to morrow. Whereatthe Lady appearing to bee displeased, concealed it to her selfe, andused no more words.
_Rossiglione_ leaving his Lady, went into the Kitchin, where callingfor the Cooke, he delivered him the heart, saying: Take this heart ofa wilde Boare, which it was my good happe to kill this day, and dresseit in the daintiest manner thou canst devise to doe; which being sodone, when I am set at the Table, send it to me in a silver dish,with sauce beseeming so dainty a morsell. The Cooke tooke the heart,beleeving it to be no otherwise, then as his Lord had saide: and usinghis utmost skill in dressing it, did divide it into artificiall smallslices, and made it most pleasing to be tasted. When supper time wascome, _Rossiglione_ sate downe at the table with his Lady: but hee hadlittle or no appetite at all to eate, the wicked deed which he had doneso perplexed his soule, and made him to sit very strangely musing. Atlength, the Cook brought in the dainty dish, which he himselfe settingbefore his wife, began to finde fault with his own lack of stomack, yetprovoked her with many faire speeches, to tast the Cooks cunning in sorare a dish.
The Lady having a good appetite indeede, when she had first tasted it,fed afterward so heartily thereon, that shee left very little, or noneat all remaining. When he perceyved that all was eaten, he said untoher: Tel me Madam, how you do like this delicate kinde of meat? In goodfaith Sir (quoth she) in all my life I was never better pleased. Nowtrust mee Madam, answered the Knight, I doe verily beleeve you, nordo I greatly wonder thereat, if you like that dead, which you lovedso dearly being alive. When she heard these words, a long while shesate silent, but afterward saide. I pray you tell mee Sir, what meatewas this which you have made me to eate? Muse no longer (said he) fortherein I will quickly resolve thee. Thou hast eaten the heart of_Messer Guiglielmo Guardastagno_, whose love was so deare and preciousto thee, thou false, perfidious, and disloyall Lady: I pluckt it out ofhis vile body with mine owne hands, and made my Cooke to dresse it forthy diet.
Poor Lady, how strangely was her soule afflicted, hearing these harshand unpleasing speeches? Teares flowed aboundantly from her faire eies,and like tempestuous windes embowelled in the earth, so did vehementsighes breake mainly from her heart, and after a tedious time ofsilence, she spake in this manner. My Lord and husband, you have donea most disloyall and damnable deede, misguided by your owne wickedjealous opinion, and not by any just cause given you, to murther soworthie and Noble a Gentleman. I protest unto you uppon my soule, whichI wish to bee confounded in eternall perdition, if ever I were unchasteto your bedde, or allowed him any other favour, but what might wellbecome so honourable a friend. And seeing my bodie hath bene made thereceptacle for so precious a kinde of foode, as the heart of so valiantand courteous a Knight, such as was the Noble _Guardastagno_; nevershall any other foode heereafter, have entertainment there, or my selfelive the Wife to so bloody a husband.
So starting uppe from the Table, and stepping unto a great gazingWindowe, the Casement whereof standing wide open behinde her: violentlyshee leaped out thereat, which beeing an huge h
eighth in distance fromthe ground, the fall did not onely kill her, but also shivered herbodie into many peeces. Which _Rossiglione_ perceyving, hee stoode likea bodie without a soule, confounded with the killing of so deare afriend, losse of a chaste and honourable wife, and all through his owneover-credulous conceit.
Uppon further conference with his private thoughtes, and remorsefullacknowledgement of his heinous offence, which repentance (too late)gave him eyes now to see, though rashnesse before would not permit himto consider; these two extreamities inlarged his dulled understanding.First, he grew fearfull of the friends and followers to murdered_Guardastagno_, as also the whole Countrey of _Provence_, in regarde ofthe peoples generall love unto him; which being two maine and importantmotives, both to the detestation of so horrid an acte, and immediatesevere revenge to succeed thereon: hee made such provision as best heecould, and as so sodaine a warning would give leave, hee fled awaysecretly in the night season.
These unpleasing newes were soone spread abroad the next morning, notonly of the unfortunate accidents, but also of _Rossigliones_ flight;in regard whereof, the dead bodyes being found, and brought together, aswell by the people belonging to _Guardastagno_, as them that attendedon the Lady: they were layed in the Chappell of _Rossigliones_ Castell;where, after so much lamentation for so great a misfortune to befallthem, they were honourably enterred in one faire Tombe, with excellentVerses engraven thereon, expressing both their noble degree, and bywhat unhappy meanes, they chanced to have buriall there.