hen Giotto was alone he
reflected: "What is the meaning of this? Has someone sent him here to
play a trick on me? Be that as it may, no one has ever before brought
me a buckler to paint. And the fellow who brought it is a simple
creature, and asks me to paint his arms as if he was of the royal
house of France. Decidedly I shall have to make him some new arms."
Reflecting thus with himself he sat down before the buckler, and
having designed what he thought proper, he called a pupil and told
him to complete the painting of it, which he accordingly did. The
painting represented a light helmet, a gorget, a pair of arm pieces,
a pair of iron gauntlets, a pair of cuirasses, a pair of cuisses and
gambadoes, a sword, a knife, and a lance. When the worthy man
returned, who knew nothing of all this, he came up and said: "Master,
is the buckler finished." "Oh yes," said Giotto, "go you and bring it
here." When it arrived this gentleman by proxy looked hard at it and
said to Giotto: "What rubbish have you painted here?" "Will you think
it rubbish to pay for it?" said Giotto. "I won't pay you four
deniers," said the man. "What did you ask me to paint?" asked Giotto.
"My arms," replied the man. "Well," said Giotto, "are they not here,
are any wanting?" "That is so," said the man. "A plague on you,"
said Giotto, "you must needs be very simple. If anyone asked you who
you were you would be at a loss to tell him, and yet you come here
and say, 'paint me my arms.' If you had been one of the Bardi, well
and good, but what arms do you bear? Where do you come from? Who were
your ancestors? Begin at least by coming into the world before you
talk of arms as if you were the Dusnam of Bavaria. I have represented
all your arms on the buckler, and if you have any more tell me and I
will have them painted." "You have given me rough words," said the
man, "and spoilt my buckler." He then departed to the justice, and
procured a summons against Giotto. The latter appeared, and on his
side issued a summons against the man for two florins, as the price
of the painting. When the magistrates had heard the arguments, which
were much better advanced on Giotto's side, they adjudged that the
man should take away his buckler, and give six lire to Giotto,
because he was in the right. Accordingly the rustic took his buckler,
paid the money, and was allowed to go. Thus this man, who did not
know his place, had it pointed out to him, and may this befall all
such