[004]
Know, then, that in the time of the Marquis Azzo da Ferrara, a
merchant, Rinaldo d'Asti by name, having disposed of certain affairs
which had brought him to Bologna, set his face homeward, and
having left Ferrara behind him was on his way to Verona, when he
fell in with some men that looked like merchants, but were in truth
robbers and men of evil life and condition, whose company he
imprudently joined, riding and conversing with them.
[005]
They, perceiving
that he was a merchant, and judging that he must have
money about him, complotted to rob him on the first opportunity;
and to obviate suspicion they played the part of worthy and reputable
men, their discourse of nought but what was seemly and honourable
and leal, their demeanour at once as respectful and as cordial as they
could make it; so that he deemed himself very lucky to have met
with them, being otherwise alone save for a single mounted servant.
[006]
Journeying
thus, they conversed, after the desultory manner of travellers,
of divers matters, until at last they fell a talking of the prayers which
men address to God, and one of the robbers--there were three of
them--said to Rinaldo: "And you, gentle sir, what is your wonted
orison when you are on your travels?"
[007]
Rinaldo answered: "Why,
to tell the truth, I am a man unskilled, unlearned in such matters,
and few prayers have I at my command, being one that lives in the
good old way and lets two soldi count for twenty-four deniers;
nevertheless it has always been my custom in journeying to say of a
morning, as I leave the inn, a paternoster and an avemaria for the
souls of the father and mother of St. Julian, after which I pray God
and St. Julian to provide me with a good inn for the night.
[008]
And
many a time in the course of my life have I met with great perils by
the way, and evading them all have found comfortable quarters for
the night: whereby my faith is assured, that St. Julian, in whose
honour I say my paternoster, has gotten me this favour of God; nor
should I look for a prosperous journey and a safe arrival at night, if
I had not said it in the morning."
[009]
Then said his interrogator:
"And did you say it this morning?"
[010]
Whereto Rinaldo answered, "Troth, did I,"
[011]
which caused the other, who by this time knew
what course matters would take, to say to himself: "'Twill prove
to have been said in the nick of time; for if we do not miscarry, I
take it thou wilt have but a sorry lodging."[012]Then turning to
Rinaldo he said: "I also have travelled much, and never a prayer
have I said, though I have heard them much commended by many;
nor has it ever been my lot to find other than good quarters for the
night; it may be that this very evening you will be able to determine
which of us has the better lodging, you that have said the paternoster,
or I that have not said it. True, however, it is that in its stead I
am accustomed to say the 'Dirupisti,' or the 'Intemerata,' or the
'De profundis,' which, if what my grandmother used to say is to be
believed, are of the greatest efficacy."
[013]
So, talking of divers matters,
and ever on the look-out for time and place suited to their evil
purpose, they continued their journey, until towards evening, some
distance from Castel Guglielmo, as they were about to ford a stream,
these three ruffians, profiting by the lateness of the hour, and the
loneliness and straitness of the place, set upon Rinaldo and robbed
him, and leaving him afoot and in his shirt, said by way of adieu:
"Go now, and see if thy St. Julian will provide thee with good
lodging to-night; our saint, we doubt not, will do as much by us;"
and so crossing the stream, they went their way.
[014]
Rinaldo's servant,
coward that he was, did nothing to help his master when he saw him
attacked, but turned his horse's head, and was off at a smart pace;
nor did he draw rein until he was come to Castel Guglielmo; where,
it being now evening, he put up at an inn and gave himself no
further trouble.
[015]
Rinaldo, left barefoot, and stripped to his shirt,
while the night closed in very cold and snowy, was at his wits' end,
and shivering so that his teeth chattered in his head, began to peer
about, if haply he might find some shelter for the night, that so
he might not perish with the cold; but, seeing none (for during a
recent war the whole country had been wasted by fire), he set off for
Castel Guglielmo, quickening his pace by reason of the cold.
Whether his servant had taken refuge in Castel Guglielmo or
elsewhere, he knew not, but he thought that, could he but enter
the town, God would surely send him some succour.
[016]
However,
dark night overtook him while he was still about a mile from the
castle; so that on his arrival he found the gates already locked and
the bridges raised, and he could not pass in.
[017]
Sick at heart, disconsolate
and bewailing his evil fortune, he looked about for some
place where he might ensconce himself, and at any rate find shelter
from the snow. And by good luck he espied a house, built with a
balcony a little above the castle-wall, under which balcony he
purposed to shelter himself until daybreak. Arrived at the spot, he
found beneath the balcony a postern, which, however, was locked;
and having gathered some bits of straw that lay about, he placed
them in front of the postern, and there in sad and sorrowful plight
took up his quarters, with many a piteous appeal to St. Julian, whom
he reproached for not better rewarding the faith which he reposed
in him.
[018]
St. Julian, however, had not abandoned him, and in due
time provided him with a good lodging.
