e back gate which robs a house), and it was going back to the
gate of San Nicolo which robbed a man of all his patience. This man had
gone with Barlacchia the jester from Florence to Val d'Arno, and on
returning they had stopped in the plain of Ripolo, where the friend was
obliged to delay for a time, while Barlacchia went on. Now it was so
late that although Barlacchia was certain to reach the Porto a San Nicolo
in time to enter, it was doubtful whether the one who came later could do
so unless a word should be spoken in advance to the guard, who for
friendship or a fee would sit up and let the late-comer in. Therefore
the friend said to the jester, '_Di gratia facesse sostenere la
porta_'--'See that the gate is all right,' or that all is right at the
bridge--meaning, of course, that he should make it right with the
guardian to let him in.

"And when Barlacchia came to the gate, he indeed asked the officer in
charge _se questi si sostengo_--whether it was all right, and if it stood
firmly, and was in no danger of falling, affirming that he was making
special inquiry at request of a friend who was commissioner of the city
gates and bridges, and obtained a paper certifying that the gate was in
excellent condition, after which he went home.

"Trotting along on his mule came the friend, who, believing that
Barlacchia had made it all right with the guard, had not hurried. But he
found it was all wrong, and that 'a great mistake had been made
somewhere,' as the eel said when he was thrown into boiling hot oil
instead of cold water. For he found the gate locked and nobody to let
him in, so that in a great rage he was obliged to go back to an inn which
was distinguished for nothing but its badness, _dove stette con gran
disagio quella notte_ (where he passed the night in great discomfort).

"And when morning came, he passed the gate, but stopped and asked whether
Barlacchia had been there the night before. To which the guard answered,
'Yes,' and that he had been very particular in his inquiries as to
whether the doors were firm on their hinges, and if the foundations were
secure; on hearing which, the man saw that he had been sold, {108} and
going to the Piazza Signoria, and meeting Barlacchia, _gli disse rilevata
villania_, let him have abuse in bold relief and large proportion, saying
that it was infamous to snipe his equal in all things and better in most,
in such a low-flung manner, unbecoming a half-grown chimney-s