本段为三部分中的第一部分。仅翻译此段；不要总结或提及他段。
在我们这地方，曾经（而且现在依然）有一座女修道院，以圣洁闻名（为了不损其声誉，我不提它的名字），院里不久之前只有八名修女和一位院长，全都是年轻人。院里有个蠢头蠢脑的穷汉，替她们料理一座十分漂亮的园子；他嫌工钱太少，跟院里的管事算了账，回了他的老家伦波雷基奥。
在那里迎接他回乡的人当中，有个年轻的长工，身强力壮，作为一个乡下人，也算相貌堂堂，名叫马塞托。他问那汉子这么久去了哪里。那好人名叫努托，告诉了他。马塞托便问他在修道院里做些什么活计，他说："我替她们照看一座又大又好的园子，还时不时去矮林里砍柴、打水，做些这类零碎差事；可那些修女给的工钱太少，我几乎连双鞋都买不起。再说，她们全都年轻，我看她们是着了魔，因为无论做什么都合不了她们的意；哎，我在菜园里干活的时候，这个说'把这栽这儿'，那个说'把那栽那儿'，第三个又夺了我手里的铲子，说'那样不对'；总之，她们把我烦得不行，我干脆丢下活儿跑出菜园；到头来，七七八八的，我再也待不下去，就走了。我走的时候，她们的管事求我，说要是能找到合适的人手，就打发人来给他，我答应了；不过，谁接了这差事，愿上帝叫他腰杆子结实些吧，不然我一个也不荐！"
马塞托听了，心里陡然生起一股要去陪那些修女的强烈欲望，简直被这念头烧干了，照努托的话揣想，觉得自己或许能捞到些想要的好处。然而他料到，若对努托吐露半分，便要坏事，于是说："老天，你走得好。跟女人怎么过日子？还不如跟魔鬼一处。她们十回有六回连自己要什么都不知道。"
他们聊完之后，马塞托便盘算怎么才能去到她们那里；觉得自己干努托说的那些活儿绰绰有余，不怕因这个被拒，只怕因自己年轻俊俏而不被收留。他想了许多，终于拿定主意："那地方离这儿远，没人认得我；只要装作哑巴，必定收留。"打定这主意，他脖子上挂了把斧头，也不跟谁说去处，扮作叫花子模样，到了修道院。进门正撞上管事在院子里，算是运气。他打起哑巴的手势，讨口饭吃，说若有用得着的地方，可以替他劈柴。管事爽快给了他吃的，又搬出几段努托没劈开的木头；马塞托力气大，三下五除二全劈了。不多时，管事要去矮林，带他同去砍柴，然后套上驴，打手势叫他驮回家。他干得极好，管事便留他住了几日，好差他做点别的事。
一日，院长见了他，问管事是谁。管事答："夫人，这是个又聋又哑的穷汉，前几日来讨施舍，我发了善心收下，叫他做点咱们缺人手的活。要是他懂侍弄菜园，又肯留下，想必能好好效劳；咱们正缺这么个人，他又壮实，由咱们摆布；况且，您也不必担心他跟那帮小姑娘胡闹。""说得是，"院长道，"探探他懂不懂耕种，想法留住他；给双鞋、一件旧兜帽，好生待他，哄着他，管饱。"管事应了。
马塞托离得不算远，扫着院子，把这些听了个全，心里乐道："若把我放进去，我替你们侍弄的菜园，可是从来没这么侍弄过的。"管事见他活儿地道，打手势问肯不肯留；他也比划说，但凭吩咐。管事便雇下他，吩咐料理菜园，指点了活计，自去忙别事。
马塞托日复一日地干着，修女们便来逗他、取笑他，如同常人对待哑巴那样，冲他说些极下流的话，以为他听不懂；院长大约也当他既无舌又无尾，毫不介意。一日，他一上午苦活下来歇着，两个年轻修女逛进园子，凑近他躺的地方，见他装睡，便打量起他来。
当下，两人中胆子稍大的那个对另一个说道：‘我若知道你会替我保守秘密，就想告诉你一个我翻来覆去想过的念头，说不定对你也有好处。’另一个答道：‘你尽管放心说吧，我绝不会向任何人吐露。’于是那冒失的姑娘说道：‘我不知道你是否留意过，我们被看管得多么严，除了那老总管和那个哑巴伙计，从没有人敢进这里来。可我常听来这里看望我们的太太们说，世间别的乐事都比不上女人和男人在一处的乐趣。所以我常常想，既然不能跟别人，那就跟这个哑巴试一试，看看究竟如何。而且他又是最合适的，因为他即使想，也不能、不会说出去。你看他就是个傻头傻脑的小子，个子长过了脑子。我很想听听你觉得怎样。’另一个说：‘哎呀！你说的是什么话？你难道不知道我们已把童贞许配给上帝了吗？’头一个答道：‘噢，就这件事而言，人们整天许给他多少东西，可哪一件真正还愿了？既然我们许给了他，那就让他另找别人去履行好了。’她的同伴又说：‘要是我们怀了孕，那怎么办？’那个答道：‘事情还没来，你就开始担忧了；等真到了那一步，我们再想办法也不迟；到那时我们有一千种法子不让人知道，只要我们自己不说出去。’另一个听了这话，本已比同伴更想尝尝男人是什么滋味，便说：‘那么，我们该怎么办呢？’头一个说：‘你瞧，快到午祷的时候了，我想姐妹们除了我们都睡着了。咱们去园子里看看有没有人，要是没人，那还等什么？我们只管拉着他的手，把他带进那间他避雨的棚屋里去，然后一个跟他待着，另一个望风。他那么傻，我们叫他干什么都行。’马塞托把这话全听在耳里，正巴不得让她们来拉自己，只等着其中一个修女来带他。那两个女人四下仔细张望，确信没人能看见她们之后，那个先提起话头的就走上前来，唤醒马塞托；他立刻站了起来。那修女像哄小孩似的牵着他的手，把他带进棚屋。马塞托装出一副傻笑的样子，没怎么费事就依了她。那修女心满意足之后，又像个讲交情的伙伴，把位置让给了同伴；马塞托依然装傻，又满足了她们俩。离开之前，两个姑娘又各自忍不住再试了一次那哑巴骑马的本事，事后彼此商量，都认为这乐趣果然和她们听说的一样，甚至有过之而无不及。于是，她们便常常瞅空子，在合适的时刻去找那哑巴消遣。后来有一天，一个修女从自己房间的窗格里望见她们，便又告诉了另外两个修女。起初她们说要到女院长那里去告发，可后来变了主意，同先头那两个达成协议，也来分享马塞托的效力；其余三个修女也先后因为种种机缘成了她们的伙伴。最后，那位还不知情的女院长，在一个大热天独自在园里散步，看见马塞托（他白天常因夜里奔波过度而疲惫不堪）正躺在一棵杏树荫下睡觉；风掀起他前面的衣裳，把他的一切都露了出来。女院长见了，又见四下无人，也不由得生出了跟她的修女们一样的欲望。她唤醒马塞托，把他带回自己的房间，把他留了好几天，反复品尝那过去她动辄怪罪别人的乐趣，惹得别的修女好不抱怨，说那园丁总不来收拾园子。最后她打发他回去，却又常常叫他来。而且她索要的分量比谁都多，马塞托实在招架不住那么多人，就想：要是再这么装哑巴装下去，只怕对自己大大不利。于是有一天夜里，他和女院长在一起时，索性开了口，对她说：‘夫人，我听人说过，一只公鸡配十只母鸡绰绰有余，可十个男人也难满足一个女人；而我现在却要伺候九个人，这我无论如何也受不了；就凭我干过的那些事，我已经弄到连一点也干不动的田地了。所以，您要么让我以上帝的名分离开，要么就替我想个法子吧。’女院长听见本被当作哑巴的人开口说话，十分惊异，说道：‘这是怎么回事？我原以为你是哑巴。’马塞托答道：‘夫人，我以前确实是哑巴，但不是天生的，是得了一场病，使我失去了言语；直到今夜，我才第一次觉得它恢复了。为此我尽可能赞美上帝。’女院长相信了他的话，又问他刚才说要伺候九个人是什么意思。马塞托把实情一一说了出来。她这才明白，手下的修女们个个都比她自己聪明得多；但她是个有见识的女人，便决定同修女们商量，安排周全，既不让马塞托走，也不让他败坏修道院的名声。
于是，
他们彼此公开坦白了各自暗中做过的事，便众口一词，征得马塞托的同意后，如此安排，叫四邻都相信：他久已失语，竟因他们的祈祷和本修道院所奉圣徒的功德，恢复了说话的能力；他们的管事新近死了，他们便让马塞托接替做了管事，并如此分配他的劳役，使他能够承受。此后，虽说他跟她们生了一大群小猴儿，事情却安排得极谨慎，直到女院长死后才泄露出去——那时马塞托渐入老境，有心带着钱财回乡。事情既已传开，他遂轻易遂了心愿，于是马塞托凭着自己的先见，设法把青春派了好用场，晚年带着钱财和一个做父亲的名分回到出发之地，却不曾费心费力抚养儿女；想当初他脖子上挂着一把斧头离家，如今却说，基督就是这样对待给自个儿帽子上装角的人的。"
[脚注152：Hortyard（orto）是orchard的古体，原指圈起来用以种植供食用之果木、菜蔬与香草的园地，即今之菜园与果园合而为一，不同于供游赏的花圃（giardino）。]
[脚注153：giardino，即花圃。]
[脚注154：字面意为弄断了……的绳串。]
第二个故事
[第三天]
马夫与阿吉卢尔夫王后私通，王察觉后不露声色，查出其人，剃了他的头；
然被剃者如法炮制，剃尽同侪，因而免祸
菲洛斯特拉托的故事讲完了，女士们听得时而微红脸、时而发笑；女王遂请潘皮内亚接着讲一个。潘皮内亚面带微笑，开口说道："有些人行事全无分寸，一味冒险逞能，偏要显出自己知晓并领会那本不与己相干的事；他们往往为了这般责备别人隐而未显的过失，自以为可减自家之羞，实则羞耻倍增。可爱的小姐们，我且反此一端，向你们证明确实如此——且说一人之机智，在某位贤勇国王的裁断里，其分量怕还不及马塞托呢。"
There was (and is yet) in these our parts a convent of women, very
famous for sanctity (the which, that I may not anywise abate its
repute, I will not name), wherein no great while agone, there being
then no more than eight nuns and an abbess, all young, in the nunnery,
a poor silly dolt of a fellow was gardener of a very goodly garden of
theirs, who, being miscontent with his wage, settled his accounts with
the ladies' bailiff and returned to Lamporecchio, whence he came.
There, amongst others who welcomed him home, was a young labouring
man, stout and robust and (for a countryman) a well-favoured fellow,
by name of Masetto, who asked him where he had been so long. The good
man, whose name was Nuto, told him, whereupon Masetto asked him in
what he had served the convent, and he, 'I tended a great and goodly
garden of theirs, and moreover I went while to the coppice for faggots
and drew water and did other such small matters of service; but the
nuns gave me so little wage that I could scare find me in shoon
withal. Besides, they are all young and methinketh they are possessed
of the devil, for there was no doing anything to their liking; nay,
when I was at work whiles in the hortyard,[152] quoth one, "Set this
here," and another, "Set that here," and a third snatched the spade
from my hand, saying, "That is naught"; brief, they gave me so much
vexation that I would leave work be and begone out of the hortyard;
insomuch that, what with one thing and what with another, I would
abide there no longer and took myself off. When I came away, their
bailiff besought me, an I could lay my hand on any one apt unto that
service, to send the man to him, and I promised it him; but may God
make him sound of the loins as he whom I shall get him, else will I
send him none at all!' Masetto, hearing this, was taken with so great
a desire to be with these nuns that he was all consumed therewith,
judging from Nuto's words that he might avail to compass somewhat of
that which he desired. However, foreseeing that he would fail of his
purpose, if he discovered aught thereof to Nuto, he said to the
latter, 'Egad, thou didst well to come away. How is a man to live with
women? He were better abide with devils. Six times out of seven they
know not what they would have themselves.' But, after they had made an
end of their talk, Masetto began to cast about what means he should
take to be with them and feeling himself well able to do the offices
of which Nuto had spoken, he had no fear of being refused on that
head, but misdoubted him he might not be received, for that he was
young and well-looked. Wherefore, after pondering many things in
himself, he bethought himself thus: 'The place is far hence and none
knoweth me there, an I can but make a show of being dumb, I shall for
certain be received there.' Having fixed upon this device, he set out
with an axe he had about his neck, without telling any whither he was
bound, and betook himself, in the guise of a beggarman, to the
convent, where being come, he entered in and as luck would have it,
found the bailiff in the courtyard. Him he accosted with signs such as
dumb folk use and made a show of asking food of him for the love of
God and that in return he would, an it were needed, cleave wood for
him. The bailiff willingly gave him to eat and after set before him
divers logs that Nuto had not availed to cleave, but of all which
Masetto, who was very strong, made a speedy despatch. By and by, the
bailiff, having occasion to go to the coppice, carried him thither and
put him to cutting faggots; after which, setting the ass before him,
he gave him to understand by signs that he was to bring them home.
This he did very well; wherefore the bailiff kept him there some days,
so he might have him do certain things for which he had occasion. One
day it chanced that the abbess saw him and asked the bailiff who he
was. 'Madam,' answered he, 'this is a poor deaf and dumb man, who came
hither the other day to ask an alms; so I took him in out of charity
and have made him do sundry things of which we had need. If he knew
how to till the hortyard and chose to abide with us, I believe we
should get good service of him; for that we lack such an one and he is
strong and we could make what we would of him; more by token that you
would have no occasion to fear his playing the fool with yonder lasses
of yours.' 'I' faith,' rejoined the abbess, 'thou sayst sooth. Learn
if he knoweth how to till and study to keep him here; give him a pair
of shoes and some old hood or other and make much of him, caress him,
give him plenty to eat.' Which the bailiff promised to do. Masetto was
not so far distant but he heard all this, making a show the while of
sweeping the courtyard, and said merrily in himself, 'An you put me
therein, I will till you your hortyard as it was never tilled yet.'
Accordingly, the bailiff, seeing that he knew right well how to work,
asked him by signs if he had a mind to abide there and he replied on
like wise that he would do whatsoever he wished; whereupon the bailiff
engaged him and charged him till the hortyard, showing him what he was
to do; after which he went about other business of the convent and
left him. Presently, as Masetto went working one day after another,
the nuns fell to plaguing him and making mock of him, as ofttimes it
betideth that folk do with mutes, and bespoke him the naughtiest words
in the world, thinking he understood them not; whereof the abbess,
mayhap supposing him to be tailless as well as tongueless, recked
little or nothing. It chanced one day, however, that, as he rested
himself after a hard morning's work, two young nuns, who went about
the garden,[153] drew near the place where he lay and fell to looking
upon him, whilst he made a show of sleeping. Presently quoth one who
was somewhat the bolder of the twain to the other, 'If I thought thou
wouldst keep my counsel, I would tell thee a thought which I have once
and again had and which might perchance profit thee also.' 'Speak in
all assurance,' answered the other, 'for certes I will never tell it
to any.' Then said the forward wench, 'I know not if thou have ever
considered how straitly we are kept and how no man dare ever enter
here, save the bailiff, who is old, and yonder dumb fellow; and I have
again and again heard ladies, who come to visit us, say that all other
delights in the world are but toys in comparison with that which a
woman enjoyeth, whenas she hath to do with a man. Wherefore I have
often had it in mind to make trial with this mute, since with others I
may not, if it be so. And indeed he is the best in the world to that
end, for that, e'en if he would, he could not nor might tell it
again. Thou seest he is a poor silly lout of a lad, who hath overgrown
his wit, and I would fain hear how thou deemest of the thing.'
'Alack!' rejoined the other, 'what is this thou sayest? Knowest thou
not that we have promised our virginity to God?' 'Oh, as for that,'
answered the first, 'how many things are promised Him all day long,
whereof not one is fulfilled unto Him! An we have promised it Him, let
Him find Himself another or others to perform it to Him.' 'Or if,'
went on her fellow, 'we should prove with child, how would it go
then?' Quoth the other, 'Thou beginnest to take thought unto ill ere
it cometh; when that betideth, then will we look to it; there will be
a thousand ways for us of doing so that it shall never be known,
provided we ourselves tell it not.' The other, hearing this and having
now a greater itch than her companion to prove what manner beast a man
was, said, 'Well, then, how shall we do?' Quoth the first, 'Thou seest
it is nigh upon none and methinketh the sisters are all asleep, save
only ourselves; let us look about the hortyard if there be any there,
and if there be none, what have we to do but to take him by the hand
and carry him into yonder hut, whereas he harboureth against the rain,
and there let one of us abide with him, whilst the other keepeth
watch? He is so simple that he will do whatever we will.' Masetto
heard all this talk and disposed to compliance, waited but to be taken
by one of the nuns. The latter having looked well all about and
satisfied themselves that they could be seen from nowhere, she who had
broached the matter came up to Masetto and aroused him, whereupon he
rose incontinent to his feet. The nun took him coaxingly by the hand
and led him, grinning like an idiot, to the hut, where, without
overmuch pressing, he did what she would. Then, like a loyal comrade,
having had her will, she gave place to her fellow, and Masetto, still
feigning himself a simpleton, did their pleasure. Before they departed
thence, each of the girls must needs once more prove how the mute
could horse it, and after devising with each other, they agreed that
the thing was as delectable as they had heard, nay, more so.
Accordingly, watching their opportunity, they went oftentimes at
fitting seasons to divert themselves with the mute, till one day it
chanced that one of their sisters, espying them in the act from the
lattice of her cell, showed it to other twain. At first they talked of
denouncing the culprits to the abbess, but, after, changing counsel
and coming to an accord with the first two, they became sharers with
them in Masetto's services, and to them the other three nuns were at
divers times and by divers chances added as associates. Ultimately,
the abbess, who had not yet gotten wind of these doings, walking one
day alone in the garden, the heat being great, found Masetto (who had
enough of a little fatigue by day, because of overmuch posting it by
night) stretched out asleep under the shade of an almond-tree, and the
wind lifting the forepart of his clothes, all abode discovered. The
lady, beholding this and seeing herself alone, fell into that same
appetite which had gotten hold of her nuns, and arousing Masetto,
carried him to her chamber, where, to the no small miscontent of the
others, who complained loudly that the gardener came not to till the
hortyard, she kept him several days, proving and reproving that
delight which she had erst been wont to blame in others. At last she
sent him back to his own lodging, but was fain to have him often again
and as, moreover, she required of him more than her share, Masetto,
unable to satisfy so many, bethought himself that his playing the mute
might, an it endured longer, result in his exceeding great hurt.
Wherefore, being one night with the abbess, he gave loose to[154] his
tongue and bespoke her thus: 'Madam, I have heard say that one cock
sufficeth unto half a score hens, but that half a score men can ill or
hardly satisfy one woman; whereas needs must I serve nine, and to this
I can no wise endure; nay, for that which I have done up to now, I am
come to such a pass that I can do neither little nor much; wherefore
do ye either let me go in God's name or find a remedy for the matter.'
The abbess, hearing him speak whom she held dumb, was all amazed and
said, 'What is this? Methought thou wast dumb.' 'Madam,' answered
Masetto, 'I was indeed dumb, not by nature, but by reason of a malady
which bereft me of speech, and only this very night for the first time
do I feel it restored to me, wherefore I praise God as most I may.'
The lady believed this and asked him what he meant by saying that he
had to serve nine. Masetto told her how the case stood, whereby she
perceived that she had no nun but was far wiser than herself; but,
like a discreet woman as she was, she resolved to take counsel with
her nuns to find some means of arranging the matter, without letting
Masetto go, so the convent might not be defamed by him. Accordingly,
having openly confessed to one another that which had been secretly
done of each, they all of one accord, with Masetto's consent, so
ordered it that the people round about believed speech to have been
restored to him, after he had long been mute, through their prayers
and by the merits of the saint in whose name the convent was
intituled, and their bailiff being lately dead, they made Masetto
bailiff in his stead and apportioned his toils on such wise that he
could endure them. Thereafter, albeit he began upon them monikins
galore, the thing was so discreetly ordered that nothing took vent
thereof till after the death of the abbess, when Masetto began to grow
old and had a mind to return home rich. The thing becoming known,
enabled him lightly to accomplish his desire, and thus Masetto, having
by his foresight contrived to employ his youth to good purpose,
returned in his old age, rich and a father, without being at the pains
or expense of rearing children, to the place whence he had set out
with an axe about his neck, avouching that thus did Christ entreat
whoso set horns to his cap."
