There was, long ago, in Florence a Grand Duke who was as shrewd as a fox, and scaltro come l’orco — crafty as a devil.
He had a courtier friend or intimate, as such court friends go, whom he loved well enough for company, but not enough to trust him out of sight; and this gentleman believed himself to be clever enough to cheat the Duke, and only waited for an opportunity.
One day this good signore, whose name was Flaminio, showed the Duke a ring in which was set what appeared to be a splendid diamond.
È bella cosa — ’tis a fine thing,’ said Flaminio, ‘and I got it at a great bargain for six hundred crowns.’
The Duke examined it closely, and noted that the stone was false, and worth about five crowns. But he kept his thoughts close, though he opened his mouth and said: ‘Will you sell it to me for eight hundred crowns?’ ‘I had rather not,’ replied Flaminio.
'Say a thousand, then. I can go no higher.’ Then Flaminio, as it seemed rather unwillingly, and as a great favour, sold it to the Duke, saying:
‘But I sell it without recourse. I do not guarantee it, for I may have been deceived, as all men may be in gems.’
‘Never mind,’ replied the Duke; ‘Chi compra, guardi. I will take the risk.’
When Flaminio had taken the thousand crowns and departed, the Duke sent for a jeweller, and said:
‘Look at this stone and tell me how much it is worth.’ ‘Signore, about five crowns.’
‘As I thought,’ replied the Duke. ‘Now take it out and set in its place a real diamond exactly like it.’
‘That will cost two thousand crowns,’ answered the jeweller.
‘Good. I will pay it. But keep the affair a secret.’
The change of stones was promptly effected. That evening Flaminio and many other courtiers were invited to supper by the Duke, and Flaminio had told them all, as a good joke, the whole story.
Therefore they soon began to rally the Duke with much laughter, declaring that his diamond was glass. But the Duke replied:
‘Cari Signori, I think that you are in error. I know something about diamonds, and I will bet a thousand scudi all round that this stone is real. Only remember that it is at all risks, and without recourse, for it was under such condition that I bought it.’
Whereupon twelve of those who were present betted each a thousand crowns that the stone was not a diamond.
Then the Duke sent for the Signore Benevenuto Sellini, and asked him:
“‘How much is this stone worth?’
The Signore Benevenuto examined it, and said:
‘At least two thousand crowns; and I should have tried to sell it to your Highness for three thousand.’
The twelve gentlemen looked at this like a dozen Roman asses.
‘Pay up, gentlemen,’ exclaimed the Duke; ‘pay up your honest debts! It rains manna for me to-day, and I must gather it ere morning. Pay up to a penny, as soon as one can say Amen—ny!’
Chi paga debito fa capitale,
Chi non paga andrá allo spedale.
‘He who pays up his debts makes capital;
He who doth not goes to the hospital.’
‘A fowler came at length and caught the bat;
Wise is the mouse, and wiser still the rat,
But in the end they find a wiser cat.’”