eous plight, where,
after long tending by the physicians, she was healed, yet not so
wholly but she had all her throat and a part of her face marred on
such wise that, whereas before she was fair, she ever after appeared
misfeatured and very foul of favour; wherefore, being ashamed to
appear whereas she might be seen, she many a time bitterly repented
her of her frowardness and her perverse denial to put faith, in a
matter which cost her nothing, in her husband's true dream."

THE EIGHTH STORY

[Day the Ninth]

BIONDELLO CHEATETH CIACCO OF A DINNER, WHEREOF THE OTHER
CRAFTILY AVENGETH HIMSELF, PROCURING HIM TO BE SHAMEFULLY
BEATEN

The merry company with one accord avouched that which Talano had seen
in sleep to have been no dream, but a vision, so punctually, without
there failing aught thereof, had it come to pass. But, all being
silent the queen charged Lauretta follow on, who said, "Like as those,
most discreet ladies, who have to-day foregone me in speech, have been
well nigh all moved to discourse by something already said, even so
the stern vengeance wreaked by the scholar, of whom Pampinea told us
yesterday, moveth me to tell of a piece of revenge, which, without
being so barbarous as the former, was nevertheless grievous unto him
who brooked it.

I must tell you, then, that there was once in Florence a man whom all
called Ciacco,[435] as great a glutton as ever lived. His means
sufficing him not to support the expense that his gluttony required
and he being, for the rest, a very well-mannered man and full of
goodly and pleasant sayings, he addressed himself to be, not
altogether a buffoon, but a spunger[436] and to company with those
who were rich and delighted to eat of good things; and with these he
went often to dine and sup, albeit he was not always bidden. There was
likewise at Florence, in those days, a man called Biondello, a little
dapper fellow of his person, very quaint of his dress and sprucer than
a fly, with his coif on his head and his yellow periwig still drest to
a nicety, without a hair awry, who plied the same trade as Ciacco.
Going one morning in Lent whereas they sell the fish and cheapening
two very fine lampreys for Messer Vieri de' Cerchj, he was seen by
Ciacco, who accosted him and said, 'What meaneth this?' Whereto
Biondello made answer, 'Yestereve there were sent unto Messer Corso
Donati three lampreys, much finer than these, and a sturgeon; to which
suff