washing hands； so everie one sitting down at the Tatle； it fell to the
lot of Primasso； to sit directly against the doore； whereat the
Abbot must enter into the Hall。 The custome in this Court was such；
that no manner of Foode should be served to any of the Table； untill
such time as the Lord Abbot was himselfe set： whereupon； every thing
being fit and ready； the Master of the Houshold went to tell his Lord；
that nothing now wanted but his onely presence。
The Abbot comming from his Chamber to enter the Hall； looking
about him； as hee was wont to doe； the first man hee saw was Primasso；
who being but in homely habite； and he having not seene him before
to his remembrance； a present bad conceite possessed his braine；
that he never saw an unworthier person； saying within himselfe： See
how I give my goods away to bee devoured。 So returning backe to his
Chamber againe； commaunded the doore to be made fast； demaunding of
every man neere about him； if they knew the base Knave that sate
before his entrance into the Hall； and all his servants answered no。
Primasso being extreamely hungry； with travailing on foote so farre；
and never used to fast so long； expecting still when meate would be
served in； and that the Abbot came not at all： drew out one of his
loaves which hee brought with him； and very heartily fell to feeding。
My Lord Abbot； after hee had stayed within an indifferent while；
sent forth one of his men； to see if the poore fellow was gone； or no。
The servant told him； that he stayed there； and fed upon dry bread；
which it seemed he had brought thither with him。 Let him feede on
his owne （replyed the Abbot） for he shall taste of none of mine this
day。 Gladly wold the Abbot； that Primasso should have gone thence of
himselfe； and yet held it scarsely honest in his Lordship； to dismisse
him by his owne command。 Primasso having eaten one of his Loaves；
and yet the Abbot was not come； began to feede upon the second： the
Abbot still sending to expect his absence； and answered as he was
before。 At length； the Abbot not comming； and Primasso having eaten up
his second loafe； hunger compeld him to begin with the third。
When these newes were carried to the Abbot； sodainly he brake
forth and saide。 What new kinde of needy tricke hath my braine begotte
this day？ Why do I grow disdainfull against any man whatsoever？ I have
long time allowed my meate to be eaten by all commers that did
please to visit me； without exception against any person； Gentleman；
Yeoman； poore or rich； Marchant or Minstrill； honest man or knave；
never refraining my presence in the Hall； by basely contemning one
poore man。 Beleeve me； covetousnesse of one mans meate； doth ill agree
with mine estate and calling。 What though he appeareth a wretched
fellow to me？ He may be of greater merit then I can imagine； and
deserve more honor then I am able to give him。
Having thus discoursed with himselfe； he would needs understand of
whence； and what he was； and finding him to be Primasso； come onely to
see the magnificence which he had reported of him； knowing also （by
the generall fame noysed every where of him） that he was reputed to be
a learned； honest； and ingenious man： he grew greatly ashamed of his
owne folly； and being desirous to make him an amends； strove many
waies how to do him honor。 When dinner was ended； the Abbot bestowed
honorable garments on him； such as beseemed his degree and merit；
and putting good store of money in his purse； as also giving him a
good horse to ride on； left it at his owne free election； whether he
would stay there still with him； or depart at his pleasure。
Wherewith Primasso being highly contented； yeelding him the
heartiest thankes he could devise to do； returned to Paris on
horse…backe； albeit he came poorely thether on foot。
Master Can de la Scala； who was a man of good understanding；
perceived immediately （without any further interpretation） what
Bergamino meant by this morall； and smiling on him； saide：
Bergamino； thou hast honestly expressed thy vertue and necessities；
and justly reprooved mine avarice； niggardnesse； and base folly。 And
trust me Bergamino； I never felt such a fit of covetousnesse come upon
me； as this which I have dishonestly declared to thee： and which I
will now banish from me； with the same correction as thou hast
taught mee。 So； having payed the Host all his charges； redeeming
also his robes or garments； mounting him on a good Gelding； and
putting plenty of Crownes in his purse； he referd it to his owne
choise to depart； or dwell there still with him。
THE FIRST DAY； THE EIGHT NOVELL
WHICH PLAINLY DECLARETH； THAT A COVETOUS GENTLEMAN； IS NOT
WORTHY OF ANY HONOR OR RESPECT
Guillaume Boursier； with a few quaint and familiar words； checkt the
miserable covetousnesse of Signior Herminio de Grimaldi。
Madam Lauretta； sitting next to Philostratus； when she had heard the
witty conceite of Bergamino； knowing； that she was to say somewhat；
without injunction or command； pleasantly thus began。
This last discourse （faire and vertuous company） induceth me to tell
you； how an honest Courtier reprehended in like manner （and nothing
unprofitably） base covetousnesse in a Merchant of extraordinary
wealth。 Which Tale； although （in effect） it may seeme to resemble
the former； yet perhaps； it will prove no lesse pleasing to you； in
regard it sorted to as good an end。
It is no long time since； that there lived in Genes or Geneway； a
Gentleman named Signior Herminio de Grimaldo； who （as every one wel
knew） was more rich in inheritances； and ready summes of currant money
then any other knowne Citizen in Italy。 And as hee surpassed other men
in wealth； so did he likewise excell them in wretched Avarice； being
so miserably greedy and covetous； as no man in the world could be more
wicked that way； because； not onely he kept his purse lockt up from
pleasuring any； but denied needfull things to himselfe； enduring
many miseries onely to avoid expences； contrary to the Genewayes
generall custom； who alwayes delighted to be decently cloathed； and to
have their dyet of the best。 By reason of which most miserable
basenesse； they tooke away from him the Sirname of Grimaldi； whereof
he was in right descended； and called him master Herminio the covetous
Mizer； a nickname very notably agreeing with his gripple nature。
It came to passe； that in this time of his spending nothing； but
multiplying daily by infinite meanes； that a civill honest Gentleman
（a Courtier of ready wit； and discoursive in Languages） came to
Geneway； being named Guillaume Boursier。 A man very farre differing
from divers Courtiers in these dayes； who for soothing shamefull and
gracelesse maners in such as allow them maintenance； are called and
reputed to bee Gentlemen； yea speciall favourites： whereas much more
worthily； they should be accounted as knaves and villaines； being
borne and bred in all filthinesse； and skilfull in every kinde of
basest behaviour； not fit to come in Princes Courts。 For； whereas in
passed times； they spent their dayes and paines in making peace；
when Gentlemen were at warre or dissention； or treating on honest
marriages； betweene friends and familiars； and （with loving
speeches） would recreate disturbed mindes； desiring none but
commendable exercises in Court； and sharpely reprooving （like Fathers）
disordred life； or ill actions in any； albeit with recompence
little； or none at all； these upstarts now adayes； employ all their
paines in detractions； sowing questions and quarrels betweene one
another； making no spare of lyes and falshoods。 Nay which is worse；
they wil do this in the presence of any man； upbraiding him with
injuries； shames； and scandals （true or not true） upon the very
least occasion。 And by false and deceitful flatteries and villanies of
their owne inventing； they make Gentlemen to become as vile as
themselves。 For which detestable qualities； they are better beloved
and respected of their misdemeanored Lords； and recompenced in more
bountifull maner； then men of vertuous carriage and desert。 Which is
an argument sufficient； that goodnesse is gone up to heaven； and
hath quite forsaken these loathed lower Regions； where men are drowned
in the mud of all abhominable vices。
But returning where I left （being led out of my way by a just and
religious anger against such deformity） this Gentleman； Master
Guillaume Boursier； was willingly seene； and gladly welcommed by all
the best men in Geneway。 Having remained some few daies in the City；
and amongst other matters； heard much talke of the miserable
covetousnesse of master Herminio； he grew very desirous to have a
sight of him。 Master Herminio had already understood； that this
Gentleman； Master Guillaume Boursier was vertuously disposed； and （how
covetously soever hee was inclined） having in him some sparkes of
noble nature； gave him very good words； and gracious entertainment；
discoursing with him on divers occasions。
In company of other Genewayes with him； he brought him to a new
erected house of his； a building of great cost and beauty； where；
after he had shewne him all the variable rarieties； he beganne thus。
Master Guillaume； no doubt but you have heard and seene many things；
and you can instruct me in some queint conceit or device； to be fairly
figured in painting； at the entrance into the great Hall of my
House。 Master Guillaume hearing him speake so simply； returned him
this answer： Sir； I cannot advise you in any thing； so rare or unseene
as you talk of： but how to sneeze （after a new manner） upon a full and
over…cloyed stomacke； to avoyde base humours that stupifie the braine；
or other matters of the like quality。 But if you would be taught a
good one indeede； and had a disposition to see it fairely effected；
I could instruct you in an excellent Emblem； wherwith （as yet） you
never came acquainted。
Master Herminio hearing him say so； and expecting no such answer
as he had； saide； Good Master Guillaume； tell me what it is； and on my
faith I will have it fairely painted。 Whereto Master Guillaume
suddenly replied； Do nothing but this Sir： Paint over the Portall of