Il Novellino of Masuccio

Ett iaobfUino of tljc noble \mkn ux tfjc motfjer tongue, iHaisurrio eSuactiato of falerno, tirtiratrt to tlje most tUustrious Ippolita of Hiagon, of tijc fjouseof Flsconti anti JBucfjes.s of UTalabcla/ j^nt begins in auspicious tolse t|)e prologue:

^^”^ - -:^^T^~” INCE I clearly understand and hold as an indisputable fad, most illustrious and exalted lady, that it would ill become me to compose a book to the music of my mean and harsh-toned lyre, that it would become me even less were I to call the same after my own name, I see that, in so doing, I might be morejustly rebuked ‘or my temerity than commended either in great or small degree for my gifts of eloquence. Nevertheless, having from my most tender youth busied myself in the exercise of my wit, c Darse and unpolished though it be, having written down with my rude and sluggish hand certain novels, the truth of which is approved by real and authentic events which have come to pass in former times, and in these our days, and having sent these same to divers worshipful persons — as in sooth the titles of the stories themselves will clearly demonstrate — the desire has often come upon me to gather together all such of these as may be scattered abroad in divers places, and, by the colledion thereof, to form the present little book, calling the same — on account of its trifling worth — The Novellino, and dedicating and sending it to you, who are the mainstay and light of this our Italian land.