Chapter LXXXVII: How a Man Went to Shrive Himself

A man went to a priest to confession; and among other things he said: I have a sister-in-law, and my brother is far away; and whenever I go home, her familiarity is so great that she sits down on my lap; how should I behave?

The priest answered: if she did so to me, she would be well requited for it.

LXXXVIII

HERE IS TOLD OF MESSER CASTELLANO DA CAFFERI OF MANTUA

When Messere Castellano of Mantua was the governor [150] of Florence, there arose a quarrel between Messer Pepo Alemanni and Messer Cante Caponsacchi, so that they threatened one another direly.

Wherefore the governor, to put an end to the difference, sent them both over the frontier. Messer Pepo he sent in one direction and Messer Cante, since he was a great friend of his, he sent to Mantua. And he recommended him to his family; and Messere Cante rewarded him in this way: he lay with his wife.