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There needed nothing more to set them all on fire; they therefore pressed on most violently, crying out to "seize the villain, that blasphemer of God and his saints, who, being no wise disordered, comes here to make a jest of our saint and us. Whereupon they dragged him by the hair of the head and threw him upon the ground, kicking him and tearing the clothes off his back; nor was there one that did not endeavor to give him a blow, whilst Martellino kept crying out for God's sake to have mercy; but all to no purpose, for the blows fell thicker and faster upon him.

Marchese and Stecchi now began to be in some pain for themselves, and, not daring to help him, they cried out with the multitude, "Kill him! kill him!" contriving all the time how to get him out of their hands: nevertheless, he had certainly been murdered but for the following expedient. Marchese, knowing that the officers of justice were at the door, ran to the lieutenant that commanded, crying out, "Help, sir, help! for God's sake; here's a fellow that has picked my pocket of a hundred florins; I beg you will assist me in getting them back again. And immediately twelve of the sergeants ran to where Martellino was in the utmost jeopardy, and with the greatest difficulty got him away, all trodden under foot and bruised as he was, and carried him to the palace, followed by many of the people who had been incensed against him, and who, now hearing that he was taken up for a cut-purse, and seeing no other way of revenging themselves, declared that they had also been robbed by him.

On hearing these complaints, the judge, who was an ill-tempered man, took him aside and examined him; whilst Martellino answered him in a jesting manner, making no account of their accusations.

ordered him to be tied by the neck and soundly lashed, that he might make him confess the crimes he was charged with, in order to hang him afterwards. Martellino being, therefore, bound down to the ground, and the judge asking him if those things with which he was accused were true, and telling him it would be in vain to deny them, he made answer, "My lord, I am ready to confess the truth; but please first to order all my accusers to say when and where I robbed them, and I will then tell you truly what I am guilty of, and what not. The judge readily consented, and, having summoned some of them before him, one said he had picked his pocket eight days ago, another four days, and some averred that he had robbed them that same day. Martellino replied: "My lord, they are all liars; for I had not been here many hours (and would to God I had never come at all!) before I went to view this saint, where I got abused as you now see. That this is true, the officer who keeps your book of presentations, as also my landlord, will testify for me; therefore, I beseech you not to torture and put me to death at the instance of these people."

When Marchese and Stecchi heard what passed before the judge, and that their friend was severely handled, they began to be in great fear about him, saying to themselves that they had taken him out of the frying-pan to throw him into the fire; and they ran from place to place to find out their landlord, whom they acquainted with what had happened. The landlord, laughing heartily at their story, took them to one Alexander Agolanti, a person of great interest in the city, to whom they related the whole affair, entreating him to have pity on poor Martellino. Alexander, after much laughter, went to the governor of the town and prevailed upon him to have Martellino brought into his presence. The messenger that went for him found him standing before the judge in his shirt, all terrified because his worship would hear nothing in his favor, having an aversion, perhaps, to our country people, and being probably resolved to hang him at all events: and he refused to deliver him up till he was compelled. Martellino, being brought before the governor, told him everything that had hap

pened, and entreated him, as a special favor, that he would let him go, saying that, till he came to Florence, he should always think he had the rope about his neck. The governor was highly diverted with the story, and, ordering every one of the three a suit of apparel, they escaped, beyond all their hopes, from the most imminent danger and got home safe and sound.

FRIAR ALBERT MAKES A WOMAN BE

WITH HER, AND IN THAT SHAPE DECEIVES HER. AFTERWARDS, FOR FEAR OF HER RELATIONS, HE THROWS HIMSELF OUT OF THE WINDOW, AND TAKES SHELTER IN A POOR MAN'S HOUSE, WHO EXPOSES HIM THE NEXT DAY IN THE PUBLIC MARKET-PLACE, IN THE FORM OF A WILD MAN, WHEN HE IS DISCOVERED BY TWO FRIARS AND PUT INTO PRISON.

The story related by Fiammetta drew tears several times from the eyes of all the company; but it being now finished, the king, looking gravely, said, "I would have given my life willingly to have enjoyed but half the pleasure which those lovers met with. Nor need you wonder at that, because I undergo a thousand deaths daily, without the least pleasure whatever in return. But, letting my fortune alone for the present, it is my will that Pampinea proceed; who, if she goes on as well as Fiammetta has begun, I shall expect to receive some small degree of comfort more to my affliction. Pampinea, finding herself fixed upon for the next novel, and having more regard to the inclination of the company, which she very well knew, than to the king's command, and being more desirous of diverting them than of satisfying his melancholy temper, chose a novel which should make them laugh, though she still kept to the subject proposed: It is a common saying, said she, that a wicked man, who has the reputation of being virtuous and good, may do many things, and nobody believe it. This affords ample matter for discourse, and a fit handle for me to show how great the hypocrisy is of some of the religious, who have their garments long and large; their faces made pale artificially, and on purpose; their language so

and afterwards those who put their trust in them. Of whom, might I have the liberty of speaking all I know, I could quickly disclose to many simple people, what wickedness is too often concealed under that holy habit. I could wish, however, that the same success might attend the hypocrisy of them all, as befell a certain friar, who was concerned in some of the best families in Venice; the relation of which may prove some diversion to you, after your grief for the death of Ghismond.

There lived at Imola a man of a very bad life, called Berto della Massa, whose evil deeds had gained him such a character there, that nobody could believe him even when he spoke the truth. Finding, therefore, that all his quirks and cunning would stand him in no further stead at Imola, he removed, in a kind of despair, to Venice, the common receptacle of every sort of wickedness, and resolved to manage matters in a quite different manner from what he had done; and, as if he felt some remorse of conscience for his past life, pretending also to be seized with uncommon zeal and devotion, he turned friar, calling himself Father Albert of Imola. In this habit he seemed to lead a mighty sanctified life, highly commending penance and abstinence, and eating no flesh and drinking no wine; but then it was when he could get neither to please him. Besides this, when he was officiating at the altar at any time, if he saw he was taken notice of by many people, he would be sure to weep over our Saviour's passion, having tears enough at command whenever he chose. In short, what with his preaching and crying together, he had so far insinuated himself into the good graces of the people of Venice, that there was scarcely a will made but he was left

executor; he had the care also and dis- | posal of many people's money; and was adviser and confessor to the greatest part both of the men and women; so that from a wolf he became the shepherd, and the fame of his sanctity was greater than ever was that of St. Francis.

Now it happened that a vain, simple lady, named Lisetta da Ca Quirino, wife to a merchant, who was going a voyage to Flanders, came one day, with some other women, to confess to this holy friar and being asked, as she was confessing, if she had a lover, she replied, putting on an angry countenance, What! father, have you no eyes in your head? Where do you see a woman so handsome as myself? I could have lovers enough; but my beauty is designed for none of them; it is fit only to appear in heaven itself. And many more things she said of the same sort, enough to give any one a surfeit to hear them. Father Albert immediately saw her blind side and thought her fit game for his net, but deferred using any flattering speeches till a more convenient opportunity. To show himself, however, holy for that time, he began to reprove her, telling her all this was vain-glory, and so forth. The lady, in return, called him a brute, and told him he could not distinguish beauty when he saw it. He then, not to provoke her too far, took her confession, and dismissed her.'"

A little time after, taking a friend with him whom he could trust to the house, he went with her to one side of the hall, where nobody could see them, and falling down upon his knees, said, "Madame, I must beg, for Heaven's sake, that you will forgive me for blaspheming your beauty, as I did last Sunday; since I was so chastised the following night for it, that I could not rise out of my bed before to day.' "And who," quoth the foolish lady, "chastised you in that manner?" "I will tell you. As I was saying my prayers that night, as usual, suddenly a great light shone around me. I turned about to see what it was, and beheld a beautiful youth, with a staff in his hand, who took hold of my hood, threw me down upon the floor, and beat me in such a manner that I was almost killed. Upon my asking what all that was for, he made answer, Because thou didst so saucily presume to reprove the celestial beauty of Madame Lisetta, whom I love above all

things in the world.' 'And who are you?' I demanded. 'I am the angel Gabriel,' he replied. 'O, my Lord,' then said I, 'I beseech you to forgive me.' He answered, 'I do forgive thee, upon condition that thou goest the very first opportunity to her, and obtain her pardon and unless she thinks fit to excuse thee, I shall return, and give thee such discipline asj thou shalt feel as long as thou shalt live.' What he said more I dare not speak, unless I have your forgiveness.'

My lady windbag, who had something of a sweet tooth in her head, gave ear to this ridiculous story, and said, "I told you, Father Albert, that my beauties were of the celestial kind; I am sorry for what you have suffered, and forgive you, if you will tell me truly what the angel said besides." "That I will," said he; "but one thing I must enjoin you, namely, that you tell it to no person living, unless you have a mind to ruin all; for you are certainly the happiest woman upon the face of the earth. This angel Gabriel told me, then, that he had such a regard for you, that he should frequently have come to pass the night with you, if he thought you would not be too much terrified. He bid me tell you, therefore, that he should come some night, and stay awhile with you; and seeing that he is an angel, and that you could not touch him if he were to come in that shape, he will put on a human appearance for your sake, and would know from you when you would choose to see him, and whose form and person you would have him assume. The conceited woman said she was very happy to hear that the angel Gabriel loved her, for indeed she loved him, and never failed to set up a full candle wherever she saw him painted. At any hour he might please to come he should be welcome, and would find her alone in her chamber: but on this condition, that he should not forsake her for the Virgin Mary, of whom it was said he was very fond; and, indeed, so it appeared, for he was everywhere to be seen on his knees before her. Furthermore, he might come in any form he pleased, provided he did not frighten her. "Madame," said the friar, "you talk very sensibly, and I will arrange with him as you desire; but I have a great favor to beg, which will cost you nothing; it is that he may put on my person. I will tell you why I ask this. It is because he will take my soul out of my

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By way of preparation for the part he had to play that night, Friar Albert fortified himself with lots of good things; and, when it was dark, he went with a companion to the house of a woman, who used to accommodate him when he had such affairs on hand. Having there put on his angelic accoutrements, he went to the lady's house, found the door on the latch, and stepped up into her chamber. When Lisetta beheld that shining white apparition, she knelt down before it; the angel gave her his benediction, raised her from the ground, and made a sign to her to go to bed. She obeyed with cheerful alacrity, and the angel lay down beside his votary. Friar Albert was a fine, lively fellow; and between whiles he told her many things of the glories of heaven. Just before daybreak he went away as he had come, after making arrangements for his return, and rejoined his comrade.

As soon as Lisetta had dined, she set off with her companion to see Friar Albert, and told him all about the angel Gabriel, what she had heard from him about the glories of heaven, how he was made, and a thousand marvellous stories of her own invention. After much talk, Madame Lisetta went home; and the angelic Franciscan continued his visits to her for a long time without impediment; but at last her silly babble spoiled all.

One day it chanced that, being with an acquaintance, the conversation turned on female beauty, and Lisetta, to exalt herself above all others, must needs say, "If you but knew what a conquest I have made, you would say no more about other women. Her friend, who was eager to draw her out, replied, That may be very true; and yet anybody but myself might hesitate to believe it, not knowing who is

VOL. V.-W. H.

tell you that it is the angel Gabriel; and he loves me better than himself, as the finest woman to be found, so he tells me, in the whole world or within the lagoons." The friend could hardly help laughing out, but refrained that she might hear more. "By my faith, my dear,' she said, "if the angel Gabriel is your lover, and told you this, of course he knows best; but I had no idea that angels did such things. You were mistaken, my dear, I give you my word my husband's but a fool to him; and he tells me that they make love in heaven just the same as here, but that he fell in love with me because there is none equal to me up there; nay, he comes down very often to be with me; what do you say to that?"

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It seemed an age to the friend till she could get away from Lisetta and have her fill of laughter. In the evening she had a bevy of ladies at an entertainment, and told them the whole story. They, again, told it to their husbands and to other ladies, and these to more, so that in less than two days it was known all over Venice. Lisetta's brothers-in-law heard of it amongst the rest, and without saying a word to her on the subject, they kept watch for several nights together to discover this angel and see if he could fly. Some inkling of the matter also reached the ears of Friar Albert, and one night he went to reprimand her for making it public, but had no sooner got into the apartment, and stripped himself, than he heard the brothers-in-law at the door. Jumping up at once, and seeing no other way to escape, he opened the casement that was over the great canal, and threw himself directly into it. As the water was deep, and he was a good swimmer, he received no harm and espying a house on the other side, with the door open, he rushed into it, and entreated the honest man to save his life, telling him a thousand lies concerning the reason of his coming there in that manner, and at that time. The man, being moved with pity, and having some business which called him for a time, desired him to go into his bed. and lie there till he should return; he then locked him up in the house, and went about his business. The brothers-in-law, upon coming into the lady's chamber,

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away