[004]
In Ravenna, that most ancient city of Romagna, there dwelt of yore
noblemen and gentlemen not a few, among whom was a young man,
Nastagio degli Onesti by name, who by the death of his father and one
of his uncles inherited immense wealth.
[005]
Being without a wife, Nastagio,
as 'tis the way with young men, became enamoured of a daughter
of Messer Paolo Traversaro, a damsel of much higher birth than his,
whose love he hoped to win by gifts and the like modes of courting,
which,
[006]
albeit they were excellent and fair and commendable, not
only availed him not, but seemed rather to have the contrary effect,
so harsh and ruthless and unrelenting did the beloved damsel shew
herself towards him; for whether it was her uncommon beauty or
her noble lineage that puffed her up, so haughty and disdainful was
she grown that pleasure she had none either in him or in aught that
pleased him.
[007]
The burden of which disdain Nastagio found so hard
to bear, that many a time, when he had made his moan, he longed to
make away with himself. However he refrained therefrom, and
many a time resolved to give her up altogether, or, if so he might, to
hold her in despite, as she did him:
[008]
but 'twas all in vain, for it
seemed as if, the more his hope dwindled, the greater grew his love.
[009]
And, as thus he continued, loving and spending inordinately, certain
of his kinsfolk and friends, being apprehensive lest he should waste
both himself and his substance, did many a time counsel and beseech
him to depart Ravenna, and go tarry for a time elsewhere, that so he
might at once cool his flame and reduce his charges.
[010]
For a long
while Nastagio answered their admonitions with banter; but as they
continued to ply him with them, he grew weary of saying no so
often, and promised obedience. Whereupon he equipped himself as
if for a journey to France or Spain, or other distant parts, got on
horseback and sallied forth of Ravenna, accompanied by not a few of
his friends, and being come to a place called Chiassi, about three
miles from Ravenna,
[011]
he halted, and having sent for tents and pavilions,
told his companions that there he meant to stay, and they might go
back to Ravenna.
[012]
So Nastagio pitched his camp, and there commenced
to live after as fine and lordly a fashion as did ever any man,
bidding divers of his friends from time to time to breakfast or sup
with him, as he had been wont to do.
[013]
Now it so befell that about
the beginning of May, the season being very fine, he fell a brooding
on the cruelty of his mistress, and, that his meditations might be the
less disturbed, he bade all his servants leave him, and sauntered slowly,
wrapt in thought, as far as the pinewood.
[014]
Which he had threaded
for a good half-mile, when, the fifth hour of the day being well-nigh
past, yet he recking neither of food nor of aught else, 'twas as if he
heard a woman wailing exceedingly and uttering most piercing
shrieks: whereat, the train of his sweet melancholy being broken,
he raised his head to see what was toward, and wondered to find himself
in the pinewood;
[015]
and saw, moreover, before him running through
a grove, close set with underwood and brambles, towards the place
where he was, a damsel most comely, stark naked, her hair dishevelled,
and her flesh all torn by the briers and brambles, who wept and cried
piteously for mercy;
[016]
and at her flanks he saw two mastiffs, exceeding
great and fierce, that ran hard upon her track, and not seldom
came up with her and bit her cruelly; and in the rear he saw, riding
a black horse, a knight sadly accoutred, and very wrathful of mien,
carrying a rapier in his hand, and with despiteful, blood-curdling
words threatening her with death.
[017]
Whereat he was at once amazed
and appalled, and then filled with compassion for the hapless lady,
whereof was bred a desire to deliver her, if so he might, from such
anguish and peril of death.
[018]
Wherefore, as he was unarmed, he ran
and took in lieu of a cudgel a branch of a tree, with which he prepared
to encounter the dogs and the knight.
[019]
Which the knight observing,
called to him before he was come to close quarters, saying: "Hold
off, Nastagio, leave the dogs and me alone to deal with this vile
woman as she has deserved."
[020]
And, even as he spoke, the dogs
gripped the damsel so hard on either flank that they arrested her flight,
and the knight, being come up, dismounted. Whom Nastagio
approached, saying: "I know not who thou art, that knowest me
so well, but thus much I tell thee: 'tis a gross outrage for an armed
knight to go about to kill a naked woman, and set his dogs upon her
as if she were a wild beast: rest assured that I shall do all I can to
protect her."
[021]
Whereupon: "Nastagio," replied the knight, "of
the same city as thou was I, and thou wast yet a little lad when I,
Messer Guido degli Anastagi by name, being far more enamoured of
this damsel than thou art now of her of the Traversari, was by her
haughtiness and cruelty brought to so woeful a pass that one day
in a fit of despair I slew myself with this rapier which thou seest
in my hand; for which cause I am condemned to the eternal
pains.
[022]
Nor was it long after my death that she, who exulted
therein over measure, also died, and for that she repented her
not of her cruelty and the joy she had of my sufferings, for
which she took not blame to herself, but merit, was likewise
condemned to the pains of hell.
[023]
Nor had she sooner made her
descent, than for her pain and mine 'twas ordained, that she should
flee before me, and that I, who so loved her, should pursue her, not as
my beloved lady, but as my mortal enemy,
[024]
and so, as often as I come
up with her, I slay her with this same rapier with which I slew
myself, and having ripped her up by the back, I take out that hard
and cold heart, to which neither love nor pity had ever access, and
therewith her other inward parts, as thou shalt forthwith see, and
cast them to these dogs to eat.
[025]
And in no long time, as the just
and mighty God decrees, she rises even as if she had not died, and
recommences her dolorous flight, I and the dogs pursuing her. [026]And
it so falls out that every Friday about this hour I here come up with
her, and slaughter her as thou shalt see; but ween not that we rest
on other days; for there are other places in which I overtake her,
places in which she used, or devised how she might use, me cruelly;
on which wise, changed as thou seest from her lover into her foe, I
am to pursue her for years as many as the months during which she
shewed herself harsh to me.
[027]
Wherefore leave me to execute the
decree of the Divine justice, and presume not to oppose that which
thou mayst not avail to withstand."
