r husband.

NOVEL VIII.

--
Biondello gulls Ciacco in the matter of a breakfast: for which prank
Ciacco is cunningly avenged on Biondello, causing him to be shamefully
beaten.
--

All the company by common consent pronounced it no dream but a vision
that Talano had had in his sleep, so exactly, no circumstance lacking,
had it fallen out according as he had seen it. However, as soon as all
had done speaking, the queen bade Lauretta follow suit; which Lauretta
did on this wise:--As, most discreet my ladies, those that have preceded
me to-day have almost all taken their cue from somewhat that has been
said before, so, prompted by the stern vengeance taken by the scholar in
Pampinea's narrative of yesterday, I am minded to tell you of a vengeance
that was indeed less savage, but for all that grievous enough to him on
whom it was wreaked.

Wherefore I say that there was once at Florence one that all folk called
Ciacco, a man second to none that ever lived for inordinate gluttony,
who, lacking the means to support the expenditure which his gluttony
demanded, and being, for the rest, well-mannered and well furnished with
excellent and merry jests, did, without turning exactly court jester,
cultivate a somewhat biting wit, and loved to frequent the houses of the
rich, and such as kept good tables; whither, bidden or unbidden, he not
seldom resorted for breakfast or supper. There was also in those days at
Florence one that was called Biondello, a man very short of stature, and
not a little debonair, more trim than any fly, with his blond locks
surmounted by a coif, and never a hair out of place; and he and Ciacco
were two of a trade.

Now one morning in Lent Biondello, being in the fish-market purchasing
two mighty fat lampreys for Messer Vieri de' Cerchi, was observed thus
engaged by Ciacco, who came up to him, and:--"What means this?" quoth he.
"Why," replied Biondello, "'tis that yestereve Messer Corso Donati had
three lampreys much finer than these and a sturgeon sent to his house,
but as they did not suffice for a breakfast that he is to give certain
gentlemen, he has commissioned me to buy him these two beside. Wilt thou
not be there?" "Ay, marry, that will I," returned Ciacco. And in what he
deemed due time he hied him to Messer Corso Donati's house, where he
found him with some of his neighbours not yet gone to breakfast. And
being asked by Messer Corso with what intent he was come, he
answered:--"I am come, Si