Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1827-11-28

THE WIT OUTWITTED.

In the days Of ~Scheggia, Monaco,
and Pilucca (who were choice friends
and boon companions, and all three
masters IN the art of hoaxing) there was
one Neri Chiaramontesi, a man Of good
birth and easy circumstances, but cum
ming and crafty withal as any of our city
in his time; nor was there any who took
greater delight in playing off his wit up
on other persons. This worthy gentle
man frequently found himself in com
pany with the three aforementioned,
at tho table of my Lord Mario lorna
quinci, a knight Of the Golden Spur, of
great wealth and worship; and upon
these occasions he had not scrupled to
perform divers feats at the expense oil
his companions, for which they did no,
dare attempt to take any revenge, al
though very much to their displeasure,
above all, to that Of Master ScheggIa,
who murmured greatly at being made
the butt of so many shafts of ridicule.-
Once upon a time It so happened, thai
as they were all CHIPPING together round
a good fire at the house of this worship
full cavalier Git being then in the depth
ofthe winter) dlscoursIng with one an
other about this thing a nd that, says
Neri to scheggia, Here's a crown OF
gold for you, ifyou will go directly to the
house of La Pellegrina who was a ia
nous courtezan in those days, and hac
come from Bologna habited as you are
now, but having first besmeared YOU
face and hands with ink, and present tc
her this pair Of gloves, without uttcrine
a syllable.' sAnd here's a brace Of
crowns for YOU said ~Scheggia, 'ifyou
will sally forth, armed cap-a-pie IN white
armour, with a lance on your shoulder
to Cuccherino, the MERGERS shop
(Which was at that time a noted place o.
rendezvous for all the rich young gal
lants of Florence>-'In the name o.
grace replied Neri, laughing, hand me
up the two crowns 'Contentp an
swered Scheggia; but hear mel re.
quire, moreover, that whatsoever per.
sons are present, you pretend to fall in,
to a furious passion with them, anc
threaten that you will make minced
meat Of them ALL. Trust me for that,
replied Neri; only let me see the mon.
ey.' Wheroupon Scheggia forthwith
drew out Of his purse two crowns, fresh
from the mint, and putting them into the
hands oftheir host, There they are,
says he, { in paws, ready to be made
over to you, as soon as you have &c.
complished the undertaking..
Neri, full Of glee, thinking full surely
that the W crowns we're his own al.
ready (and which he valued more highl,
than ten he possessed, thinking what O
good Jest he should have at the expense
Of one who had parted with them 90
lightly began forthwith to harness on
his armour-of which there were suits
enough in the good knights mansion to
fit out a hundred troopers, he being a
great friend Of the elder Lorenzo de
Medici,who at that time Ws at the head
Of affairs in Florence; and while he was
so employed, Scheggia, taking Monaco
and Pilucca aside, told them what he
would have them do,and sent them about
their business. Al length, Master Neri
having laced his helmet, took his lance
on his shoulders, and sailed forth in the
direction Of CaccherIno's shop; but he
was forced to move slowly, both by rea.