XII.[1] The Tale of the Ten Coffers.
"It is saide to me that suche a man of Spayne went to Miche and while he went he cam in to Egipt; whiche wold entre and pas thurgh the deserte [and] thought to leve his money in Egipt. And bifore that he would leve it he asked if any feithful man Were in that Regioun to whom he myght leve it. And an auncient man shewed hym to a man named of goodenes and of trewth, to whom he left a thowsand talentis. From that he went furth and made anend of his journey and cam ageyn to hym to whom he committed his money, and this that he to hym commytted asked. But he ful of wikkednesse saide that he never had seen hym tofore. Forsoth he so disceived went to the goode men of that Regioun arid told to hem and reherced how he to whom he had commytted his money hadde hym entreatid. Forsoth neighburghs heryng suche thynges of (f. 126) hym wolden nat bileeve it, but saiden it myght nat be but that he had lost his money. So every day he went to the house of hym to whom he commytted his money[2] [and] with faire wordis and speche besought hym to yielde hym his money. Whiche that the disceivour herying blamed hym and saide that if he any more cam or spak therof he shuld suflfre grevous peyne as he was worthy. He heryng the threatis and manacis of hym that disceived hym went his wey and bigan to sorowe; and in his goyng ageyne met with anold womman clad in heremytal clothyng,—this freal and fieble old wif supportyng hirsilf with hir staf, remoevyng the stones out of their place, [and] praisyng god that no passyngby hurt nat their feete at hem. The whiche seeyng the man wepyng, knewe hym for a straunger [and] moeved with pitee cald hym in to help [hym] and what was hym bifalle asked hym. And he bi order told. Forsoth the womman heryng the wordis of the man saide: 'Friend, if the wordis bien triewe that thow hast saide, I shal do the help.' And he: 'In what maner, goode womman and and goddis seruaunt?' Quod she than and saide: 'Bryng me a man of thi lond and cuntrey to whom thow maist trust in word and deede.' Than said he: 'I shal bryng [hym].' And sofurth to the felaw of hym that was disceived comaunded x cofres preciously to be peynted with dyvers colours withoutfurth, wele locked and bounden with irn and silver, and filled ful of smale stones, and bryng hem[3] vnto the house of his host. And he so dide. The womman whan she sawe al thing arraied and redy as she bad, 'Now,' quod she, 'seeke x men the whiche shuln go with me to the house of hym that hath deceived the, and with thi felaw beryng the cofres oon after another afer comyng. And as soone as the first is comen in to the house[4] and hath rested, com thow and aske thi money, and somoche I trust in god that thi money shalbe to the Restored.' And he, as the old womman bad hym, he dide; whiche nat foryeteful [when] taken to the house of the disceivour, with the felaw of the disceived cam and saide:[5] 'Suche a man of Spayne [whiche] was hosted with me and wold go to Mehe asked and sought bifore the money whiche he hath in x cofres, to what goode man he myght saufly comm'ende it to kepe til he come ageyne. Also I beseche the as of my cause in thi warde thow kepe, and forwhi I have herd and also knowe the a goode man to be feithful and triewe, I wil nonother but only the this money to be commendid vnto.' And while they spaken thus cam he beryng the first cofre[6] so as he was comaunded, and another after afer so a longe appieryng; the disceived [man] nat foryeteful of the old wommans comaundementis, cam after (f. 126b) the first cofre. Forsoth he whiche had hid the money, ful of wikkidnes and cursed craft, as he saw the man comyng to whom he had hid and denyed the money, dredyng lest he wold aske or enquire questions[7] of hem that dide do bryng thiese cofres of his money so taken and denyed, went agenst hym and saide: 'Friend, where hastow be and wher hast thow taried? Com and take thi money to me of trust commended, forwhi I have founde it and from hensfurth it werieth and lothith me to kepe it.' And than he glad and joyeng, Received the money doyng thankynges. Thold wif whan she sawe hym havyng his money, risyng saide: 'Go we both, I and my felawe, rennyng bifore agenst our cofres to haast hem; and thow forsoth abide til we come ageyn, and kepe wele that now we han brought.' He forsoth with a glad soule kept that he had take and abode the comyng of theym that myghten com after. And so with goode wit and engyne of thold wif the money was yolden."[8]
The disciple: "This was a remarkable and useful trick and I do not think any philosopher could think out a more subtle means by which man could recover his money more easily." The master: "A philosopher might well do by his natural and artificial skill and also by studying the secrets of nature what the woman did by her clever wits alone." The disciple: "I can well believe it; but if thou hast stored away in the treasury of thy heart anything of this character from the philosophers, pray bestow it on me, thy disciple, and I will commend it to faithful memory, so that I may at some time feed this most delicate morsel to those of my fellow disciples who have been brought up on the milk of philosophy. The master:
- ↑ No. XV in the original, I, 20, l. 22.
- ↑ Lat. (I, 21, l. 4) illius qui retinebat iniuste pecuniam.
- ↑ Ms. 'the' or 'ye.'
- ↑ Lat. (I. 21, l. 18) illius hominis qui te decepit.
- ↑ The Latin (I, 21, l. 22) has, Quae non oblita incepti quod praedixerat iter incepit. Et venit cum socio decepti ad domum deceptoris et inquit.
- ↑ The Lat. (I, 22, l. 1) is different here, venit primus deferens cofrum, aliis a longe iam apparentibus.
- ↑ Lat. (I, 22, l. 4) timens ne, si pecuniam requireret.
- ↑ The connecting link between this tale and the following one in the Latin (I, 22, l. 13) was omitted by the translator.