ootnote 171: _i.e._ my death.]

[Footnote 172: Syn. a rare or strange means (_nuovo consiglio_). The
word _nuovo_ is constantly used by Boccaccio in the latter sense, as
is _consiglio_ in its remoter signification of means, remedy, etc.]

[Footnote 173: _i.e._ the favour.]

[Footnote 174: _i.e._ the lost six months.]

THE SIXTH STORY

[Day the Third]

RICCIARDO MINUTOLO, BEING ENAMOURED OF THE WIFE OF
FILIPPELLO FIGHINOLFI AND KNOWING HER JEALOUSY OF HER
HUSBAND, CONTRIVETH, BY REPRESENTING THAT FILIPPELLO WAS ON
THE ENSUING DAY TO BE WITH HIS OWN WIFE IN A BAGNIO, TO
BRING HER TO THE LATTER PLACE, WHERE, THINKING TO BE WITH
HER HUSBAND, SHE FINDETH THAT SHE HATH ABIDDEN WITH
RICCIARDO

Elisa having no more to say, the queen, after commending the sagacity
of Il Zima, bade Fiammetta proceed with a story, who answered, all
smilingly, "Willingly, Madam," and began thus: "It behoveth somedele
to depart our city (which, like as it aboundeth in all things else, is
fruitful in instances of every subject) and as Elisa hath done, to
recount somewhat of the things that have befallen in other parts of
the world; wherefore, passing over to Naples, I shall tell how one of
those she-saints, who feign themselves so shy of love, was by the
ingenuity of a lover of hers brought to taste the fruits of love, ere
she had known its flowers; the which will at once teach you
circumspection in the things that may hap and afford you diversion of
those already befallen.

In Naples, a very ancient city and as delightful as any in Italy or
maybe more so, there was once a young man, illustrious for nobility of
blood and noted for his much wealth, whose name was Ricciardo
Minutolo. Albeit he had to wife a very fair and lovesome young lady,
he fell in love with one who, according to general opinion, far
overpassed in beauty all the other ladies of Naples. Her name was
Catella and she was the wife of another young gentleman of like
condition, hight Filippello Fighinolfi, whom, like a very virtuous
woman as she was, she loved and cherished over all. Ricciardo, then,
loving this Catella and doing all those things whereby the love and
favour of a lady are commonly to be won, yet for all that availing not
to compass aught of his desire, was like to despair; and unknowing or
unable to rid him of his passion, he neither knew how to die nor did
it profit him to live.

Abiding in this mind, it befell that