THE NINTH STORY
[Day the Fourth]
SIR GUILLAUME DE ROUSSILLON GIVETH HIS WIFE TO EAT THE HEART OF SIR GUILLAUME DE GUARDESTAING BY HIM SLAIN AND LOVED OF HER, WHICH SHE AFTER COMING TO KNOW, CASTETH HERSELF FROM A HIGH CASEMENT TO THE GROUND AND DYING, IS BURIED WITH HER LOVER
Neifile having made an end of her story, which had awakened no littlecompassion in all the ladies her companions, the king, who purposednot to infringe Dioneo his privilege, there being none else to tellbut they twain, began, "Gentle ladies, since you have such compassionupon ill-fortuned loves, it hath occurred to me to tell you a storywhereof it will behove you have no less pity than of the last, forthat those to whom that which I shall tell happened were persons ofmore account than those of whom it hath been spoken and yet more cruelwas the mishap that befell them.
You must know, then, that according to that which the Provencalsrelate, there were aforetime in Provence two noble knights, each ofwhom had castles and vassals under him, called the one Sir Guillaumede Roussillon and the other Sir Guillaume de Guardestaing, and forthat they were both men of great prowess in arms, they loved eachother with an exceeding love and were wont to go still together andclad in the same colours to every tournament or jousting or other actof arms. Although they abode each in his own castle and were distant,one from other, a good half score miles, yet it came to pass that, SirGuillaume de Roussillon having a very fair and lovesome lady to wife,Sir Guillaume de Guardestaing, notwithstanding the friendship andfellowship that was between them, become beyond measure enamoured ofher and so wrought, now with one means and now with another, that thelady became aware of his passion and knowing him for a very valiantknight, it pleased her and she began to return his love, insomuch thatshe desired and tendered nothing more than him nor awaited otherwhatthan to be solicited of him; the which was not long in coming to passand they foregathered once and again.
Loving each other amain and conversing together less discreetly thanbehoved, it befell that the husband became aware of their familiarityand was mightily incensed thereat, insomuch that the great love hebore to Guardestaing was turned into mortal hatred; but this he knewbetter to keep hidden than the two lovers had known to conceal theirlove and was fully resolved in himself to kill him. Roussillon beingin this mind, it befell that a great tourneying was proclaimed inFrance, the which he forthright signified to Guardestaing and sent tobid him come to him, an it pleased him, so they might take counseltogether if and how they should go thither; whereto the other veryjoyously answered that he would without fail come to sup with him onthe ensuing day. Roussillon, hearing this, thought the time comewhenas he might avail to kill him and accordingly on the morrow hearmed himself and mounting to horse with a servant of his, lay atambush, maybe a mile from his castle, in a wood whereas Guardestaingmust pass.
There after he had awaited him a good while, he saw him come, unarmedand followed by two servants in like case, as one who apprehendsnothing from him; and when he saw him come whereas he would have him,he rushed out upon him, lance in hand, full of rage and malice,crying, 'Traitor, thou art dead!' And to say thus and to plunge thelance into his breast were one and the same thing. Guardestaing,without being able to make any defence or even to say a word, fellfrom his horse, transfixed of the lance, and a little after died,whilst his servants, without waiting to learn who had done this,turned their horses' heads and fled as quickliest they might, towardstheir lord's castle. Roussillon dismounted and opening the dead man'sbreast with a knife, with his own hands tore out his heart, which helet wrap in the pennon of a lance and gave to one of his men to carry.Then, commanding that none should dare make words of the matter, heremounted, it being now night, and returned to his castle.
The lady, who had heard that Guardestaing was to be there that eveningto supper and looked for him with the utmost impatience, seeing himnot come, marvelled sore and said to her husband, 'How is it, sir,that Guardestaing is not come?' 'Wife,' answered he, 'I have had[word] from him that he cannot be here till to-morrow'; whereat thelady abode somewhat troubled. Roussillon then dismounted and callingthe cook, said to him, 'Take this wild boar's heart and look thou makea dainty dish thereof, the best and most delectable to eat that thouknowest, and when I am at table, send it to me in a silver porringer.'The cook accordingly took the heart and putting all his art theretoand all his diligence, minced it and seasoning it with store of richspices, made of it a very dainty ragout.
When it was time, Sir Guillaume sat down to table with his wife andthe viands came; but he ate little, being hindered in thought for theill deed he had committed. Presently the cook sent him the ragout,which he caused set before the lady, feigning himself disordered[255]that evening and commending the dish to her amain. The lady, who wasnowise squeamish, tasted thereof and finding it good, ate it all;which when the knight saw, he said to her, 'Wife, how deem you of thisdish?' 'In good sooth, my lord,' answered she, 'it liketh meexceedingly.' Whereupon, 'So God be mine aid,' quoth Roussillon; 'I doindeed believe it you, nor do I marvel if that please you, dead,which, alive, pleased you more than aught else.' The lady, hearingthis, hesitated awhile, then said, 'How? What have you made me eat?''This that you have eaten,' answered the knight, 'was in very truththe heart of Sir Guillaume de Guardestaing, whom you, disloyal wife asyou are, so loved; and know for certain that it is his very heart, forthat I tore it from his breast with these hands a little before myreturn.'
[Footnote 255: Or surfeited (_svogliato_).]
It needeth not to ask if the lady were woebegone, hearing this of himwhom she loved more than aught else; and after awhile she said, 'Youhave done the deed of a disloyal and base knight, as you are; for, ifI, unenforced of him, made him lord of my love and therein offendedagainst you, not he, but I should have borne the penalty thereof. ButGod forfend that ever other victual should follow upon such noble meatthe heart of so valiant and so courteous a gentleman as was SirGuillaume de Guardestaing!' Then, rising to her feet, without anymanner of hesitation, she let herself fall backward through a windowwhich was behind her and which was exceeding high above the ground;wherefore, as she fell, she was not only killed, but well nigh brokenin pieces.
Sir Guillaume, seeing this, was sore dismayed and himseemed he haddone ill; wherefore, being adread of the country people and of theCount of Provence, he let saddle his horses and made off. On themorrow it was known all over the country how the thing had passed;whereupon the two bodies were, with the utmost grief and lamentation,taken up by Guardestaing's people and those of the lady and laid inone same sepulchre in the chapel of the latter's own castle; andthereover were verses written, signifying who these were that wereburied therewithin and the manner and occasion of their death."[256]
[Footnote 256: This is the well-known story of the Troubadour Guillemde Cabestanh or Cabestaing, whose name Boccaccio alters toGuardastagno or Guardestaing.]