XCVI Here it is told of Bito and Messer Frulli of San Giorgio near Florence
Edward Storer translation
Bito was a Florentine and a fine courtier, and dwelt at San Giorgio beyond the city. There was also an old man called Ser Frulli, who had a farm over at San Giorgio which was very pleasant, so that he lived there almost the whole year with his family, and every morning he sent his servant to sell fruit and vegetables at the market by the bridge.
And he was so miserly and suspicious that he made up the bundles of the vegetables, and counted them over to the servant, and then counted over all that she brought back.
His especial warning to her was not to loiter in San Giorgio, because there were women thieves there.
One morning the servant passed with her basketful of cabbages. Bito, who had thought the thing out beforehand, had put on his finest fur coat. And sitting by the bench outside, he called the serving-maid who went over to him unthinkingly, and many women had called her even before this, but she had not wished to go to them.
He thought over the matter, and perceived the trick, and spoke very roughly to the servant, and asked where the man lived exactly.
And she told him.
He perceived then it was Bito, who had already played some tricks on him.
Burning with rage, he got up early next morning, and put a rusty sword under his coat, and came to the head of the bridge, and there found Bito sitting in company of many excellent folk. He drew out the sword, and would have wounded his man, if some one had not held him by the arm. The people were amazed, wondering what was the matter, and Bito was mightily afraid. But then remembering what had happened, he began to smile.
The folk who were standing around Messer Frulli asked him what it was all about. He told them breathlessly as best he could. Bito ordered the people to stand back (for he said), I want to come to an explanation with you. Let us have no more words about it. Give me back my danaio and keep your medaglia. And keep the cabbage with God’s curse on it. Messer Frulli said: it pleases me well so. And if you had said this before, all this would not have happened.
And not perceiving the trick, he gave him a danaio and took a medaglia, and went away content.
There was great laughter thereat.