Decameron Sixth Day, Fifth Story Summary

Giotto and Forese da Rabatta

Storyteller: Panfilo
Panfilo is going to one-up Neifile: his story will talk about genius hidden behind an ugly face.

Panfilo tells us about two physically repulsive dudes: Forese da Rabatta (a famous jurist) and Master Giotto, the famous medieval Italian painter.
He describes Forese as "deformed" and "dwarf-like." Giotto is about as handsome. Harsh.
Both men had homes in the northeast of Florence and one summer, they meet each other as they're returning back to the city.
On top of their general ugliness, they're riding horses that look about to keel over.
Then it starts to rain.
They shelter for a while with a peasant friend, but when they realize it won't let up, they borrow some outerwear and decide to tough it out on the road.
The two unattractive men—by now filthy and drenched—ride along for a while in silence.
When Giotto finally speaks, Forese looks over at him. And then he bursts out laughing at the sight of his friend.
Forese quips that no one who saw Giotto in that state would believe he was the greatest painter in the world.
Giotto sees the opportunity and takes it. No stranger, he said, would believe that Forese could even know his ABCs, let alone be a brilliant legal mind!
Forese hadn't guessed at his own homely appearance, leaving himself wide open to insult.