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off； named Brunetta； and of whom Chichibio was somewhat enamored；
entred into the Kitchin； and feeling the excellent smell of the Crane；
to please her beyond all savours； that ever she had felt before： she
entreated Chichibio verie earnestly； that hee would bestow a legge
thereof on her。 Whereto Chichibio （like a pleasant companion； and
evermore delighting in singing） sung her this answer。
My Brunetta； faire and feat a；
Why should you say so？
The meate of my Master；
Allowes you for no Taster；
Go from the Kitchin go。
Many other speeches past betweene them in a short while； but in
the end； Chichibio； because hee would not have his Mistresse
Brunetta angrie with him； cut away one of the Cranes legges from the
spit； and gave it to her to eate。 Afterward； when the Fowle was served
up to the Table before Messer Currado； who had invited certain
strangers his friends to sup with him； wondering not a little； he
called for Chichibio his Cook； demanding what was become of the Cranes
other legge？ Whereto the Venetian （being a lyar by Nature） sodainely
answered： Sir； Cranes have no more but one legge each Bird。 Messer
Currado； growing verie angry； replyed。 Wilt thou tell me； that a Crane
hath no more but one legge？ Did I never see a Crane before this？
Chichibio persisting resolutely in his deniall； saide。 Beleeve me Sir；
I have told you nothing but the truth； and when you please； I wil make
good my wordes； by such Fowles as are living。
Messer Currado； in kinde love to the strangers that hee had
invited to supper； gave over any further contestation； onely he
said。 Seeing thou assurest me； to let me see thy affirmation for
truth； by other of the same Fowles living （a thing which as yet I
never saw； or heard of） I am content to make proofe thereof to
morrow morning； till then I shall rest satisfied： but； upon my word；
if I finde it otherwise； expect such a sound payment； as thy knavery
justly deserveth； to make thee remember it all thy life time。 The
contention ceassing for the night season； Messer Currado； who though
he had slept well； remained still discontented in his minde： arose
in the morning by breake of day； and puffing and blowing angerly；
called for his horses； commanding Chichibio to mount on one of them；
so riding on towards the River； where （earely every morning） he had
seene plenty of Cranes； he sayde to his man； We shall see anon
Sirra； whether thou or I lyed yesternight。
Chichibio perceiving； that his Masters anger was not （as yet）
asswaged； and now it stood him upon； to make good his lye； not knowing
how he should do it； rode after his Master； fearfully trembling all
the way。 Gladly he would have made an escape； but hee could not by any
possible meanes； and on every side he looked about him； now before；
and after behinde； to espy any Cranes standing on both their legges；
which would have bin an ominous sight to him。 But being come neere
to the River； he chanced to see （before any of the rest） upon the
banke thereof； about a dozen Cranes in number； each of them standing
but upon one legge； as they use to do when they are sleeping。
Whereupon； shewing them quickly to Messer Currado； he said。 Now Sir
your selfe may see； whether I told you true yesternight； or no： I am
sure a Crane hath but one thigh； and one leg； as all here present
are apparant witnesses； and I have bin as good as my promise。
Messer Currado looking on the Cranes； and well understanding the
knavery of his man； replyed： Stay but a little while sirra； and I will
shew thee； that a Crane hath two thighes； and two legges。 Then
riding somwhat neerer to them； he cryed out aloud； Shough； shough；
which caused them to set downe their other legs； and all fled away；
after they had made a few paces against the winde for their
mounting。 So going unto Chichibio； he said： How now you lying Knave；
hath a Crane two legs； or no？ Chichibio being well…neere at his wits
end； not knowing now what answer hee should make； but even as it
came sodainly into his minde； said： Sir； I perceive you are in the
right； and if you would have done as much yesternight； and had cryed
Shough； as here you did： questionlesse； the Crane would then have
set down the other legge； as these heere did： but if （as they） she had
fled away too； by that meanes you might have lost your Supper。
This sodaine and unexpected witty answere； comming from such a
logger…headed Lout； and so seasonably for his owne safety： was so
pleasing to Messer Currado； that he fell into a hearty laughter； and
forgetting all anger； saide。 Chichibio； thou hast quit thy selfe well；
and to my contentment： albeit I advise thee； to teach mee no more such
trickes heereafter。 Thus Chichibio； by his sodaine and merry answer；
escaped a sound beating； which （otherwise） his master had inflicted on
him。
THE SIXT DAY； THE FIFT NOVELL
WHEREBY MAY BEE OBSERVED； THAT SUCH AS WILL SPEAKE CONTEMPTIBLY OF
OTHERS； OUGHT （FIRST OF ALL） TO LOOKE
RESPECTIVELY ON THEIR OWNE IMPERFECTIONS
Messer Forese da Rabatte； and Maister Giotto； a Painter by his
profession； comming together from Mugello； scornfully reprehended
one another for their deformity of body。
So soone as Madame Neiphila sate silent （the Ladies having greatly
commended the pleasant answer of Chichibio） Pamphilus； by command from
the Queene； spake in this manner。 Woorthy Ladies； it commeth to
passe oftentimes； that like as Fortune is observed divers wayes； to
hide under vile and contemptible Arts； the most great and
unvalewable treasures of vertue （as； not long since； was well
discoursed unto us by Madame Pampinea：） so in like manner hath
appeared； that Nature hath infused very singular spirits into most
mishapen and deformed bodies of men。 As hath beene noted in two of our
owne Citizens； of whom I purpose to speake in fewe words。 The one of
them was named Messer Forese de Rabatta； a man of little and low
person； but yet deformed in body； with a flat face； like a Terrier
or Beagle； as if no comparison （almost） could bee made more ugly。
But notwithstanding all this deformity； he was so singularly
experienced in the Lawes； that all men held him beyond any equall；
or rather reputed him as a Treasury of civill knowledge。
The other man； being named Giotto； had a spirit of so great
excellency； as there was not any particular thing in Nature； the
Mother and Worke…mistresse of all； by continuall motion of the
heavens； but hee by his pen and pensell could perfectly portrait；
shaping them all so truly alike and resemblable； that they were
taken for the reall matters indeede； and； whether they were present or
no； there was hardly any possibility of their distinguishing。 So
that many times it happened； that by the variable devises he made； the
visible sence of men became deceived； in crediting those things to
be naturall； which were but meerly painted。 By which meanes； hee
reduced that singular Art to light； which long time before had lyen
buried； under the grosse error of some； who； in the mysterie of
painting； delighted more to content the ignorant； then to please the
judicious understanding of the wise； he justly deserving thereby； to
be tearmed one of the Florentines most glorious lights。 And so much
the rather； because he performed all his actions； in the true and
lowly spirit of humility： for while he lived； and was a Master in
his Art； above all other Painters： yet he refused any such title；
which shined the more majestically… in him； as appeared by such； who
knew Much lesse then he； or his Schollers either： yet his knowledge
was extreamly coveted among them。
Now； notwithstanding all this admirable excellency in him： he was
not （thereby） a jot the handsommer man （either in person or
countenance） then was our fore…named Lawyer Messer Forese； and
therefore my Novell concerneth them both。 Understand then （faire
Assemblie） that the possessions and inheritances of Messer Forese
and Giotto； lay in Mugello； wherefore； when Holy…dayes were celebrated
by Order of Court； and in the Sommer time； upon the admittance of so
apt a vacation； Forese rode thither upon a very unsightly