There was a young man in Perugia Andreuccio whose name was Peter, he bought and sold horses, and,

having once heard that Naples was a very good place to sell and buy, took five hundred florins, and there went with other merchants. Before then he had never been outside his country. He arrived in Naples on a Sunday evening and the owner of the hotel where he had gone to live well explained by what he had to do to find what he wanted, and so the next morning Andreuccio could go to the market. He saw many horses, some of them beautiful, and then tried to ask the price, but could not find what he needed. To show, however, that he really wanted to buy horses and not only watching, he pulled out the bag several times with florins that he had brought with him, so that everyone could see. While turning the square with the money in his hands, it happened that a young Sicilian beautiful, ready to make happy any man cheap, passed by and saw the money and immediately said to herself: Who would be better for me if those were my money? and went on. This young man was an old well she Sicilian, who, when he saw Andreuccio, let go his girlfriend and then ran to embrace the young man making a great feast. The young woman saw it, waited for the part without say anything. Andreuccio turned to the old and the recognized and stood for a moment to talk to each other. Then the old woman said: -will surely find the hotel before you leave town. - And then he went and stood in the square Andreuccio to see other horses, but all morning not bought anything. The woman, who had seen the money first and then Andreuccio old to the joy of having met the young man began to ask who he was and what did Andreuccio in town and as you know him, to somehow get itself all that money or at least most of them. And the old woman told her all of Andreuccio he could not say more, namely that she had long lived in Sicily first, and then to Perugia with his father, then told her where she lived and why he came to Naples. The girl, known how all of his family, who his father was and what he did in the city, thought of as being able to get what he wanted. And back home gave him to do the old, making her work all day so not had time to go back to Andreuccio and took a girl home who was very well prepared especially for this, he sent her the evening the hotel where he lived Andreuccio. The guys and, arrived here, he just met him at the door and asked to Andreuccio. He then said that he was Andreuccio in person and it took him aside and said: -Sir, a lady of this city would be happy to talk to you, when you'd like. Heard this Andreuccio thought about it a lot and said to himself that the woman was certainly in love with him because he was a handsome young man, and that another handsome as he was not there and maybe in Naples said he was ready and then asked where and when this woman wanted to talk. All the girl said: -Lord, when you like to come, she is waiting for you at home. Andreuccio, without saying anything at the hotel, said: - By then, walking forward and I will come back to where your mistress lives. So she took him home to the woman, who lived in a part of town called Malpertugio. The name then say how honest this place. Andreuccio but, not knowing the names and

places of the city, followed the little maid without fear of going because he believed in a fair and a good woman. then he went back to the young, he entered the house and went upstairs. Meanwhile the servant had entered and had called his wife saying-Behold Andreuccio and the lady was coming up the stairs to wait. She was still very young, tall and with a beautiful face, and wore clothes very rich. Andreuccio As it got close she was to meet him with open arms and gettatasi his neck, stood for a moment without saying anything; as if her joy was so strong as to leave to say a word. Then, weeping, kissed him on the forehead and said: - O my Andreuccio, well come to this house. And he, not understanding what she wanted, replied, "Madam, you are the wellfound. The woman took him by the hand and led him inside the house and there, without saying anything, went with him to his room, which had the scent of flowers in the garden. Andreuccio In the middle of the room she saw a beautiful bed and all around a lot things and rich gold and silver. To the young, not knowing the world, believed that she was a great lady. They both sat at the foot of the bed and so she began to speak: - Andreuccio, I'm sure you do not understand the reason for my love for you and why I cry because I do not know and you've never heard of me. But now I hear something that will seem even stranger, and that is that I'm your sister. And I say that because God wanted me to know you before I die, when will my time, I'll die happy. If you've never heard my story before, now you tell it. Peter, my father and yours, as I think you know, long-lived in Palermo where he was much loved because he was good and cheerful. But among others who loved him very much, my mardre, who was a lady and widow was the one who loves him more, so much that he forgot the fear that it was for his father and his brothers and went to live with him , and so I was born and now here I am, as you see me. Then, having to leave Peter Palermo to return to Perugia, he left me, baby, with my mother and never - as far as I know - most remembered me or her. If he was not my father, I could say that this was an act cattvio really when you consider the feelings shown by him to my mother and the love he had to carry me, your daughter, you lose no more born to a poor woman But by a kind lady. Especially since my mother, for the love too, had put herself and all that she had in his hands. But what can this mean now? Of things ill done and spend a long time is certainly not easy to speak but you can expect to put in place as you would like. What went well anyway: our father left me little girl still in Palermo, where, as you see me now grown, my mother, who was a rich lady, I gave in marriage to one of Girgenti, kind and decent man, which for the sake of my mom and me went to stay at Palermo. And here began in secret to help our King Charles. Wando Frederick learned of this, we had to escape from Sicily, just when I thought of becoming the first woman on the island. Inceve, took the few things that we could take - I say if I think a few of the many we had - and leave the land and buildings, who fled to this city where we had evidence that King Charles had love for us. The king, indeed gives a good part of what we had lost for her sake, and gave us houses and lands and continues to help my suffering, which is your brother, yourself and who you will soon

see for yourself . That's why I'm here, where, by the grace of God, my dear brother, I finally saw and met. Having said so he began again to embrace him and kiss him gently on the forehead. Andreuccio waited to hear the story told so clearly from the woman, never for a moment because she had been in doubt on the words to say. He also recalled that his father had really been for some time in Palermo, and thought so that as a young man could have fallen in love with a woman and could have left it later, because young people often do so, and saw the woman cry like that, he believed that what she said was true. And when she had finished speaking the said: -Lady, I could not believe that you were the world, if you had not met now, because my father never spoke to me of these facts. Perhaps he spoke to others, but I have not ever heard anything. And I much more expensive to have you here, my sweet sister found it, because I'm alone and sweetest thing I could hope for. And I really do not know the man so important as you do not have to be expensive, especially to me, I'm just a simple merchant. But one thing please tell me: how could you know that I was here? She said: - This morning I did know a woman who is often up to me and which has long abiato in Palermo and Perugia with our father. And if it was because it seemed to me better than you came to my house instead that I am at home, I was coming to find you in person some time. After saying this she began to ask, name by name, of all his relatives and Andreuccio told her they feel more secure of the story she had told him. As they spoke at length and it was very hot, she made her wine and food and gave him drink and eat in Andreuccio. After that, he said he wanted to go home because it was dinner time and she looked very sad and said, "O dear me, I see how little you love me! You are here with your sister and want to go back for dinner in the hotel. No, you must stay and dine with me. Even though my suffering does not there - which I am very sorry - I will know you well what little party there a woman can do. And Andreuccio, who did not know what else to respond, he said: - You are my dear as it may be a sister, but if I do not go, I'll be waiting all evening for dinner, and this is unkind. And then she said: - My God, do not believe that I did not send anyone to the house to say that you should not be expected this evening could you send me and tell your friends who come here for dinner and then you go away happy together and happy. Andreuccio said that that night would not hear of his companions, and that she could then make him what he wanted. Then she pretended to send someone to the hotel that evening to say that he should not have waited and then, after a long talk, they sat down, richly served food and wine. The woman continued to speak up when it became dark. When they rose from table, Andreuccio wanted to go home, but it would not let him go, because Naples was the city where you could run only at night. And he said that when he sent word that the hotel the wait for dinner, she remembered to say that not even waiting for the night. Andreuccio believed her, and happy to stay with her again, she stopped even after dinner. The two had much to tell, and until one reluctant to talk. Then she left him alone in the room, with a small servant ready to help in If he needed something, and she went in her room with her serves.

Who is Andreuccio? Andreuccio Why has so much money with them? Does anyone see that money? How are the two women he met at the market? Because the old woman knows? What does the young Sicilian Andreuccio to know who is? How does the Andreuccio young to have in your home? Andreuccio not understand why the woman does not live in an honest place? Andreuccio as you receive in the house of the young Sicilian? How is the woman's room? What history tells the woman? Why not Andreuccio back to the hotel that night? 2 It was very hot and Andreucio, just left alone, took off his clothes and put on his trousers at the foot of the bed. Then, feeling of having eaten too much, wanted to go out to lighten the rich dinner, and asked the servant where he could do. The boy showed him the door in the room and said: - Go there. Andreuccio came safe, but ended his foot on a piece of wood, badly placed, so that both broke and a piece of wood and Andreuccio, ended up falling down. But God loved him so much that the young did not appear at all, even if he fell from the very top. But he fell down in the dirt and was at a time up into the nose. That place was, as often seen in a small street very bad, situated on two pieces of wood between a house and another. One of the pieces was just what I fell. Therefore they are down there Andreuccio disappointed in his state, he began to call the servant, but the boy when he heard him fall, ran and told the woman. It, went to the chamber Andreuccio, tried without wasting time if we were his clothes and with them the money that the young man he always carried with him. find what you were looking for, so she went to close the small door by which Andreuccio was released and then dropped. Andreuccio saw that the servant does not answer him, he began to call louder, but again no one was heard. Then he began to think that maybe people wanted to take his money and climbed over the small wall that enclosed the place from the road , fell below the street and went to the door of the house so well aware by now, and here he called in vain for a long time and because the knock at the door would open. Then the young man, when he saw clear his bad luck began to cry and to say: oh, as soon as I did to lose five hundred guilders and a sister! And after a long cry again took a knock on the door and cried so long and so strong that many of the neighbors rose up out of bed, awakened by the noise and is one of the woman approached the window and asked: - Who knocks there? Oh, give-Andreuccio - do not you recognize me? are Andreuccio, brother of Madonna Fiordaliso. And the woman said: Good-man, if you drank too much, go to sleep and come back tomorrow morning. I do not know any Andreuccio and I do not know what story you are talking about. Back at

home, and then let us sleep. How-Do not you know what I tell you? Of course you need to know. But if it is customary to do so in Sicily, which at any moment you forget what you say, at least give me back my clothes, I left the room, and I will go in peace. And to him, she almost laughed and said again: - Good man, I think you dreams. Having said that went back inside and closed the window. Andreuccio, now sure of his misfortune, he felt all his pain into a force great change and prepared to get back with the acts that he could not with words. He took a large stone and then again began to beat on the door with it. Many of the people who lived nearby, now awakened by all the noise, he returned again to the window, believing that the young man was a criminal and just wanted to hurt that woman, all together they shouted at him, just as dogs do when they see someone who does not know: This really should not be done, to come home at this time for women to tell these stories well. It should be 'with God and then let us sleep in peace. And if you really have something to do with her, come back tomorrow. But now, at this time, leave us in peace. Perhaps made stronger by these words, one who was inside the house and was a friend of the woman and that Andreuccio had neither seen nor heard before, came to the window and told him with a terrible voice? "Who is down there? Andreuccio to hear that voice, looked up and saw a man who, for what little I could see, appeared to be a big man with a black beard, which seemed to have just raised the bed so that he could not keep eyes open. Fearless Andreuccio then replied: "I am a brother of the woman who lives there. The man did not even wait Andreuccio finished speaking and crying more than before, said: -I do not know who will keep me from coming down and beat you enough to leave you there for dead, crazy drunk you are. perhaps you've decided not to allow ourselves to sleep tonight? And back inside, closed the window again. Some of the neighbors who knew her best man, then said to Andreuccio: -By God, my good man, go away, do not wait to be killed in this way. Go away and will be better. Then Andreuccio, full of fear for the voice and the man's face and spoke so sure others to help him, he decided to return to the hotel, very sad in his heart for the lost money. But he did not want to return to the hotel so dirty and full of bad smell, and then took a road on the left called the Catalan Ruga, going down toward the sea and wash a little. As he walked down that street, he saw two men who held a lantern in his hand. Andreuccio, believing that the two were part of the family from which he had just escaped or were the criminals, hid inside an old house waiting for those who were far away. But the two men went on: they stayed in the house where he had hidden Andreuccio and, at the entrance, one of the two sat on the floor of the strange pieces of iron that he had with him. Then they began to look throughout the room.

And while they spoke, said one, "What does this mean? be an odor so bad that I seem to not have heard of worse. Having said that he raised his lantern and saw Andreuccio. The two, who were believed to enter a house where there was none, but he asked him who he was, full of fear, did not answer. Then he went closer and asked him again and told her what had happened Andreuccio . They believe they know where this could have happened, they said to herself: -Of course all this has happened in the house of Scarabone Buttafuoco. And to Andreuccio said: Good-man, you have to say thanks to God the way that you lost your money because you had the good fortune of falling into a place from which you could not rientarare in that house. If you were not finished there, you would certainly have been killed not just in bed. And then you would have just lost your money, but also life. But now, and that the use of crying? And what good cry? If you're going to tell everyone what happened, you will be killed by some man. After then talked a little with each other, continued: -As you see, we regret what has happened to you, and give you now the way to pick up at least part of what you lost. Andreuccio replied immediately that he was ready to do what the two said. That day was a dead archbishop of Naples called Filipppo Minutolo and was placed in the tomb with many gold and red ruby on his finger that Costaguta more than five hundred florins. And the two just wanted to go get these things to the dead. Andreuccio, thinking have found an easy way for a new cue to offer the money he had lost, he went to them immediately. As they walked towards the church the more the criminals said to herself that Andreuccio sent a smell too strong and then one of them said: -We could not find a way to wash it a little so that the smell go away? At the other replied: -Of course, now we are close to a shaft which usually has a pulley and bucket. Andreuccio We could go there and send down a bit because they wash ' At this well was found that the rope but the big bucket was taken away. Then they decided to lower it down themselves with the rope. Andreuccio As soon as the well had been washed, should pull the rope and they would have pushed again. But soon the two were sent down Andreuccio in the pit, the soldiers began to arrive in the city of ladies who, either because it was very hot, or because they had to run after someone came to the well to drink.