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his other friends Bruno and Buffalmaco； all is found to be meere
foolery。
Pamphilus having ended his Novell； whereat the Ladies laughed
exceedingly； so that very hardly they could give over。 The Queene gave
charge to Madame Eliza； that shee should next succeed in order；
when； being scarcely able to refraine from smyling； thus she began。
I know not （Gracious Ladies） whether I can move you to as hearty
laughter； with a briefe Novell of mine owne； as Pamphilus lately did
with his： yet I dare assure you； that it is both true and pleasant；
and I will relate it in the best manner I can。
In our owne Citie； which evermore hath contained all sorts of
people； not long since there dwelt； a Painter； named Calandrino； a
simple man； yet as much adicted to matters of novelty； as any man
whatsoever could be。 The most part of his time； he spent in the
company of two other Painters； the one called Bruno； and the other
Buffalmaco； men of very recreative spirits； and of indifferent good
capacity； often resorting to the said Calandrino； because they tooke
delight in his honest simplicity； and pleasant order of behaviour。
At the same time likewise； there dwelt in Florence； a yong Gentleman
of singular disposition； to every generous and witty conceite； as
the world did not yeeld a more pleasant companion； he being named Maso
del Saggio； who having heard somwhat of Calandrinos sillinesse：
determined to jest with him in merry manner； and to suggest his
longing humors after Novelties； with some conceit of extraordinary
nature。
He happening （on a day） to meete him in the Church of Saint John；
and seeing him seriously busied； in beholding the rare pictures； and
the curious carved Tabernacle； which （not long before） was placed on
the。 high Altar in the said Church： considered with himselfe； that
he had now fit place and opportunity； to effect what hee had long time
desired。 And having imparted his minde to a very intimate friend；
how he intended to deale with simple Calandrino： they went both very
neere him； where he sate all alone； and making shew as if they saw him
not； began to consult between themselves； concerning the rare
properties of precious stones； whereof Maso discoursed as exactly；
as he had beene a most skilfull Lapidarie； to which conference of
theirs； Calandrino lent an attentive eare； in regard it was matter
of singular rarity。
Soone after； Calandrino started up； and perceiving by their loude
speaking； that they talked of nothing which required secret
Counsell： he went into their company （the onely thing which Maso
desired） and holding on still the former Argument； Calandrino would
needs request to know； in what place these precious stones were to
be found； which had such excellent vertues in them？ Maso made answere；
that the most of them were to be had in Berlinzona； neere to the
City of Bascha； which was in the Territory of a Countrey； called
Bengodi； where the Vines were bound about with Sawcidges； a Goose
was sold for a penny； and the Goslings freely given in to boote。 There
was also an high mountaine wholly made of Parmezane； grated Cheese；
whereon dwelt people； who did nothing else but make Mocharones and
Ravivolies； boyling them with broth of Capons； and afterward hurled
them all about； to whosoever can or will catch them。 Neere to this
mountaine runneth a faire River； the whole streame being pure white
Bastard； none such was ever sold for any money； and without one drop
of water in it。
Now trust me Sir； （said Calandrino） that is an excellent Countrey to
dwell in： but I pray you tell me Sir； what do they with the Capons
after they have boyld them？ The Baschanes （quoth Maso） eate them
all。 Have you Sir； said Calandrino； at any time beene in that
Countrey？ How？ answered Maso； doe you demaund if have beene there？ Yes
man； above a thousand times； at the least。 How farre Sir； I pray you
（quoth Calandrino） is that worthy Countrey； from this our City？ In
troth； replyed Maso； the miles are hardly to be numbred； for the
most part of them； we travell when we are nightly in our beddes； and
if a man dreame right； he may be there upon a sudden。
Surely Sir； said Calandrino； it is further hence； then to Abruzzi？
Yes questionlesse； replyed Maso； but； to a willing minde； no travell
seemeth tedious。
Calandrino well noting； that Maso delivered all these speeches； with
a stedfast countenance； no signe of smyling； or any gesture to urge
the least mislike： he gave such credit to them； as to any matter of
apparent and manifest truth； and upon this assured confidence； he
said。
Beleeve me Sir； the journey is over…farre for mee to undertake；
but if it were neerer； I could affoord to goe in your Company； onely
to see how they make these Macherones； and to fill my belly with them。
But now wee are in talke Sir； I pray you pardon mee to aske； whether
any such precious stones； as you spake off； are to be found in that
Countrey； or no？ Yes indeed； replyed Maso； there are two kinds of them
to be found in those Territories； both being of very great vertue。 One
kind； are gritty stones； of Settignano； and of Montisca； by vertue
of which places； when any Mill…stones or Grind…stones are to bee made；
they knede the sand as they use to doe meale； and so make them of what
bignesse they please。 In which respect； they have a common saying
there： that Nature maketh common stones； but Montisca Mill…stones。
Such plenty are there of these Mill…stones； so slenderly here esteemed
among us； as Emeralds are with them； whereof they have whole
mountaines； farre greater then our Montemorello； which shine most
gloriously at midnight。 And how meanly soever we account of their
Mill…stones； yet there they drill them； and enchase them in Rings；
which afterward they send to the great Soldane； and have whatsoever
they will demaund for them。
The other kinde is a most precious Stone indeede； which our best
Lapidaries call the Helitropium； the vertue whereof is so admirable；
as whosoever beareth it about him； so long as he keepeth it； it is
impossible for any eye to discerne him； because he walketh meerely
invisible。 O Lord Sir （quoth Calandrino） those stones are of rare
vertue indeede： but where else may a man finde that Helitropium？
Whereto Maso thus answered： That Countrey onely doth not containe
the Helitropium； for they be many times found upon our plaine of
Mugnone。 Of what bignesse Sir （quoth Calandrino） is the Stone； and
what coulour？ The Helitropium； answered Maso； is not alwayes of one
quality； because some are bigge； and others lesse； but all are of
one coulour； namely blacke。
Calandrino committing all these things to respective memory； and
pretending to be called thence by some other especiall affaires；
departed from Maso； concluding resolvedly with himselfe； to finde this
precious stone； if possibly hee could： yet intending to doe nothing；
untill hee had acquainted Bruno and Buffalmaco therewith； whom he
loved dearly： he went in all hast to seeke them； because； （without any
longer trifling the time） they three might bee the first men； that
should find out this precious stone； spending almost the whole morning
before they were all three met together。 F