In the third story of the first day Philomena tells the story of how a man prevents his own demise by sharing the tale of the Three rings of Saladine.
After Madame Neiphilia ended her story, which all of the company enjoyed, it pleased the Queene that Madame Philomena go next, who began thus:
The Tale delivered by Neiphila makes me remember a case which happened to another Jew. And because that God, and the truth of his holy Faith, has already been very well discoursed on it shall not seem unfitting (in my poor opinion) to descend now into the accidents of men. Wherefore, I will relate a matter to you which being attentively heard and considered may make you much more circumspect in answering diverse questions and demands, then (perhaps) otherwise you would be. Consider then (most worthy assembly) that just as folly or stupidity many times has overthrown some men from place of eminence into the greatest miseries, even so, discreet sense and good understanding has delivered many out of unpleasant dangers and seated them in safest security. To prove it true, that folly hath made many fall from high authority into poor and despised calamity, may be proven by infinite examples - which now we need not remember. But, how good sense and able understanding may prove to happily prevent great desolation, I will describe to you in very few words, and make it good according to my promise.
Saladin was a man so powerful and valiant that his very valour not only made him Sultan of Babylon but also gave him many important victories over Kings of Muslims, and Kings of Christians. Having in diverse Wars, and other magnificent employments of his owne wasted all his treasure, and (by reason of some sudden accident happening to him) standing in need to use some great sum of money, yet not readily knowing where, or how, to procure it he remembered a rich Jew named Melchisedech, who lent out money for use or interest in the City of Alexandria. This man he imagined best able to furnish him, if he could be convinced to do it willingly: but he was known to be so careful and thrifty, that hardly any means would draw him to it. In the end, constrained by necessity, and labouring his wits for some apt device whereby he might have the money Saladin concluded that, though he might not compel him to do it, yet he could devise a plan shadowed with good reason to ensnare Melchisedeh. And having sent for him, entertained him very familiarly in his Court, and sitting down by him, Saladin thus began.
Honest man, I have heard it reported by many, that you are very learned, and in cases concerning God, you go beyond all others of these times: wherefore, I would gladly be informed by you, which of those three Laws or Religions, you think to be truest; that of the Jew, that of the Muslim, or that of the Christian? The Jew, being a very wise man, saw plainly that Saladin sought to entrap him in his answer, and so to raise some quarrell against him. For, if he commended any one of those Lawes above the other, he knew that Saladin would get what he wanted. Wherefore, he decided to shape such an answer as might no way trouble or entangle him. Summoning all his senses together, and aware that delaying his response to the Sultan might put him in danger, thus he replied:
My Lord, the question asked by you is fair and worthy, and to fully give my opinion does necessarily require some time for consideration if it might please you to allow it. If not, let me first make entrance to my reply with a pretty tale well worth the hearing.
I have oftentimes heard it reported, that (long ago) there was a very wealthy man, who (among other precious Jewels of his own) had a goodly Ring of great value, the beauty and estimation whereof, made him earnestly desire to leave it as a perpetual memory and honour to his descendants. Whereupon, he willed and ordained that among his male children, the one whom should inherit this Ring (being left it by the Father after his death); that he and none other was to be proclaimed his heir, and to be honoured and reverenced by all the rest as being the prime and worthiest person. That man’s Son, to whom the Ring was left by him, kept the same course with his descendants, dealing (in all respects) as his predecessor had done; so that (in short time) the Ring (from hand to hand) had a long Legacy.
At length, the ring came to the hand of one who had three sons, all of them goodly and virtuous persons, and very obedient to their Father: in which regard, he affected them all equally, without any difference or partial respect. The custom of this Ring being known to them, each one of the sons (coveting to be esteemed above the others) desired (as he could best make his means) that his Father, in regard he was now grown very old, would leave that Ring to him, whereby he should be acknowledged for his heir. The good man, who loved no one of them more then the other, knew not how to make his choice, nor to which of them he should leave the Ring: yet having given his promise to them each, he studied by what means to satisfy them all three. Wherefore, secretly having conferred with a curious and excellent Goldsmith, he caused two other Rings to be made, so closely resembling the first made Ring, that himself (when he had them in his hand) could not distinguish which was the right one.
Lying upon his death-bed, and his Sons then coming to him, he gave to each of them a Ring. And they (after his death) each prclaiming their right to the inheritance and honor grew to great argument. Each man produced then his Ring, which were truly all so alike in resemblance that no one could know the right Ring from the other and therefore, legal cases to distinguish the true heir to the Father continued for a long time, and so it does yet to this very day. In like manner my good Lord, concerning those three Laws given by God the Father, to three such people as you have propounded, each of them do imagine that they have the heritage of God, and his true Law, and also duly to perform his Commandments; but which of them do so indeed, the question (as of the three Rings) yet remains.
Saladine well perceiving that the Jew was too cunning to be caught in his snare, and had answered so well that to do him further violence would lead unto his perpetual dishonour, resolved to reveal his need and extremity, and try if he would therein lend him money. Having disclosed the matter, and how he purposed to have dealt with him, if he had not returned so wise an answer, the Jew lent him as great a sum of money as he requested, and Saladin repaid it back to him justly, giving him other great gifts beside: respecting him as his special friend, and maintaining him in very honourable condition near to his own person.
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Boccaccio's Decameron, translated by John Florio (1620).
This story was adapted and narrated by Ania Upstill.