"That question," replied Ciacco, "thou wilt be able to answer
much better than I before eight days are gone by." And parting from
Biondello upon the word, he went forthwith and hired a cozening rogue,
and having thrust a glass bottle into his hand, brought him within sight
of the Loggia de' Cavicciuli; and there, pointing to a knight, one Messer
Filippo Argenti, a tall man and stout, and of a high courage, and
haughty, choleric and cross-grained as ne'er another, he said to
him:--"Thou wilt go, flask in hand, to Messer Filippo, and wilt say to
him:--'I am sent to you, Sir, by Biondello, who entreats you to be
pleased to colour this flask for him with some of your good red wine, for
that he is minded to have a good time with his catamites.' And of all
things have a care that he lay not hands upon thee, for he would make
thee rue the day, and would spoil my sport." "Have I aught else to say?"
enquired the rogue. "Nothing more," returned Ciacco: "and now get thee
gone, and when thou hast delivered the message, bring me back the flask,
and I will pay thee."
So away went the rogue, and did the errand to Messer Filippo, who
forthwith, being a hasty man, jumped to the conclusion that Biondello,
whom he knew, was making mock of him, and while an angry flush overspread
his face:--"Colour the flask, forsooth!" quoth he, "and 'Catamites!' God
send thee and him a bad year!" and therewith up he started, and reached
forward to lay hold of the rogue, who, being on the alert, gave him the
slip and was off, and reported Messer Filippo's answer to Ciacco, who had
observed what had passed.
Pages:
400
401
402
403
404
405
406
407
408
409
410
411
412
413
414
415
416
417
418
419
420
421
422
423
424