gnory and Franciscans insisted he should put aside; but the Dominican, being obstinate to the contrary and resolved not to part with it, they all returned to their convents. Whereupon the people, encouraged by Friar Girolamo's enemies and authorized by the Signory, went to his convent and fetched him and two more of his brethren out, and tortured them most cruelly. . . . The pope sent them power and commission to make out process against him, and at last he and his two brethren were burnt.1 ... The charge against him consisted only of two articles: that he created disorder in the city; and that he was an impostor. ... For my own part I will neither condemn nor excuse him, nor will I say they did ill or well in putting him to death; but I am sure he foretold several things which afterwards came to pass and which all his friends in Florence could never have suggested. And as to our master and the evils with which he threatened him, they happened exactly as you have heard: first, the death of the Dauphin, and then his own death; predictions of which I have seen in letters under Friar Girolamo's own hand to the king. 1 May 23, 1498. CHAPTER XVII MEDIEVAL TALES1 THE Gesta Romanorum, the most popular story book of the Middle Ages, is a Latin collection of short, pithy tales probably compiled toward the end of the thirteenth century. Perhaps the collection began as a series of narratives from Roman history, but, if so, it was soon enlarged with stories derived from Oriental and other sources. The work owes its name, Deeds of the Romans, to the fact that every narrative in the original compilation is assigned to some emperor who had or had not reigned in Rome. Nothing at all is known as to the authorship of the book; we are not even sure whether it originated in Germany, France, or England. These tales were intended to be used by preachers to enforce and enliven their sermons from the pulpit. Each story, accordingly, concluded with an "Application" or "Moral." It must be admitted that the author or authors often displayed considerable ingenuity in extracting moral lessons from stories of the most fanciful sort. The Gesta Romanorum has a certain literary interest as the source from which such writers as Chaucer, Shakespeare, and Schiller drew materials for their own compositions. 73. Dead Alexander 2 We read that at the death of Alexander a golden sepulcher was constructed, and that a number of philosophers assembled 1 Gesta Romanorum, translated by Charles Swan, revised by Wynnard Hooper. London, 1877. George Bell and Sons. 2 Gesta Romanorum, No. 31. around it. One said, "Yesterday, Alexander made a treasure of gold; to-day, gold makes a treasure of him." Another observed, "Yesterday, the whole world was not enough to satisfy his ambition; to-day, three or four ells of cloth are more than sufficient." A third said, "Yesterday, Alexander commanded the people; to-day, the people command him." Another said, "Yesterday, Alexander could enfranchise thousands; to-day, he cannot free himself from the bonds of death." Another remarked, "Yesterday, he pressed the earth; to-day, it oppresses him." "Yesterday," continued another, "all men feared Alexander; to-day, men consider him nothing." Another said, "Yesterday, Alexander had a multitude of friends; today, not one." Another said, "Yesterday, Alexander led on an army; to-day, that army bears him to the grave." Application. My beloved, anyone may be called Alexander who is rich and worldly minded; and to him may the observations of the philosophers be truly applied. 74. The Eight Pennies 1 When Titus was emperor of Rome, he made a decree that the natal day of his first-born son should be held sacred, and that whosoever violated it by any kind of labor should be put to death. Then he called Vergil 2 to him and said, "Good friend, I have made a certain law; I desire you to frame some curious piece of art which may reveal to me every transgressor of the law." Vergil constructed a magic statue and caused it to be set up in the midst of the city. By virtue of the secret powers with which it was invested, it told the emperor whatever was done amiss. And thus by the accusation of the statue an infinite number of persons were convicted and punished. Now there was a certain carpenter, called Focus, who pursued his occupation every day alike. Once, as he lay in bed, 1 Gesta Romanorum, No. 57. 2 The Roman poet Vergil during medieval times was popularly reputed to have been a magician possessed of marvelous powers. his thoughts turned upon the accusations of the statue, and the multitudes which it had caused to perish. In the morning he clothed himself and proceeded to the statue, which he addressed in the following manner: "O statue! statue! because of thy informations many of our citizens have been taken and slain. I vow to my God, that if thou accusest me, I will break thy head." Having so said, he returned home. About the first hour, the emperor, as he was wont, sent messengers to the statue to inquire if the edict had been strictly complied with. After they had arrived and had delivered the emperor's message, the statue exclaimed, "Friends, look up; what see ye written upon my forehead?" They looked, and beheld three sentences which ran thus: "Times are altered. Men grow worse. He who speaks truth has his head broken." "Go," said the statue, “declare to his majesty what you have seen and read." The messengers obeyed and detailed the circumstances as they had happened. The emperor therefore commanded his guard to arm and march to the place on which the statue was erected; and he further ordered that if anyone presumed to molest it, the offender should be bound hand and foot and dragged into his presence. The soldiers approached the statue and said, “Our emperor wills you to declare the name of the scoundrel who threatens you." The statue made answer, "It is Focus the carpenter. Every day he violates the law, and, moreover, menaces me with a broken head if I expose him." Focus was immediately apprehended and conducted to the emperor, who said, “Friend, what do I hear of thee? Why hast thou broken my law?” "My lord," answered Focus, "I cannot keep it; for I am obliged to obtain every day eight pennies, which, without incessant work, I have not the means of getting.” "And why eight pennies?" said the emperor. "Every day through the year," returned the carpenter, "I am bound to repay two pennies which I borrowed in my youth; two I lend; two I lose; and two I spend." "For what reason do you this?" asked the emperor. "My lord," he replied, "listen to me. I am bound each day to repay two pennies to my father; for, when I was a boy, my father expended upon me daily the like sum. Now he is poor and needs my assistance, and therefore I return what I borrowed formerly. Two other pennies I lend to my son, who is pursuing his studies; in order that, if by any chance I should fall into poverty, he may restore the loan, just as I have done to his grandfather. Again, I lose two pennies every day on my wife; for she is contentious, wilful, and passionate. Now, because of this disposition, I account whatsoever is given to her entirely lost. Lastly, two other pennies I expend upon myself in meat and drink. I cannot do with less, nor can I earn them without unremitting labor. You now know the truth; and, I pray you, judge fairly and truly.” "Friend," said the emperor, "thou hast answered well. Go, and labor earnestly in thy calling." Soon after this the emperor died, and Focus the carpenter, on account of his singular wisdom, was elected in his stead by the unanimous choice of the whole nation. He governed as wisely as he had lived; and at his death, his picture, bearing on the head eight pennies, was placed among the effigies of the deceased emperors. Application. My beloved, the emperor is God, who appointed Sunday as a day of rest. By Vergil is typified the Holy Spirit, which ordains a preacher to declare men's virtues and vices. Focus is any good Christian who labors diligently in his vocation and performs faithfully every duty. 75. The Three Truths 1 A certain king, named Asmodeus, established an ordinance by which every malefactor taken and brought before the judge 1 Gesta Romanorum, No. 58. |