The Decameron of Giovanni Boccaccio

by Giovanni Boccaccio

  THE NINTH STORY

  [Day the Tenth]

  SALADIN, IN THE DISGUISE OF A MERCHANT, IS HONOURABLY ENTERTAINED BY MESSER TORELLO D'ISTRIA, WHO, PRESENTLY UNDERTAKING THE [THIRD] CRUSADE, APPOINTETH HIS WIFE A TERM FOR HER MARRYING AGAIN. HE IS TAKEN [BY THE SARACENS] AND COMETH, BY HIS SKILL IN TRAINING HAWKS, UNDER THE NOTICE OF THE SOLDAN, WHO KNOWETH HIM AGAIN AND DISCOVERING HIMSELF TO HIM, ENTREATETH HIM WITH THE UTMOST HONOUR. THEN, TORELLO FALLING SICK FOR LANGUISHMENT, HE IS BY MAGICAL ART TRANSPORTED IN ONE NIGHT [FROM ALEXANDRIA] TO PAVIA, WHERE, BEING RECOGNIZED BY HIS WIFE AT THE BRIDE-FEAST HELD FOR HER MARRYING AGAIN, HE RETURNETH WITH HER TO HIS OWN HOUSE

  Filomena having made an end of her discourse and the magnificentgratitude of Titus having been of all alike commended, the king,reserving the last place unto Dioneo, proceeded to speak thus:"Assuredly, lovesome ladies, Filomena speaketh sooth in that which shesaith of friendship and with reason complaineth, in concluding herdiscourse, of its being so little in favour with mankind. If we werehere for the purpose of correcting the defaults of the age or even ofreprehending them, I might ensue her words with a discourse at largeupon the subject; but, for that we aim at otherwhat, it hath occurredto my mind to set forth to you, in a story belike somewhat overlong,but withal altogether pleasing, one of the magnificences of Saladin,to the end that, if, by reason of our defaults, the friendship of anyone may not be throughly acquired, we may, at the least, be led, bythe things which you shall hear in my story, to take delight in doingservice, in the hope that, whenassoever it may be, reward will ensueto us thereof.

  I must tell you, then, that, according to that which divers folkaffirm, a general crusade was, in the days of the Emperor Frederickthe First, undertaken by the Christians for the recovery of the HolyLand, whereof Saladin, a very noble and valiant prince, who was thenSoldan of Babylon, having notice awhile beforehand, he bethoughthimself to seek in his own person to see the preparations of theChristian princes for the undertaking in question, so he might thebetter avail to provide himself. Accordingly, having ordered all hisaffairs in Egypt, he made a show of going a pilgrimage and set out inthe disguise of a merchant, attended by two only of his chiefest andsagest officers and three serving-men. After he had visited manyChristian countries, it chanced that, as they rode through Lombardy,thinking to pass beyond the mountains,[471] they encountered, aboutvespers, on the road from Milan to Pavia, a gentleman of the latterplace, by name Messer Torello d'Istria, who was on his way, with hisservants and dogs and falcons, to sojourn at a goodly country seat hehad upon the Tesino, and no sooner set eyes on Saladin and his companythan he knew them for gentlemen and strangers; wherefore, the Soldanenquiring of one of his servants how far they were yet distant fromPavia and if he might win thither in time to enter the city, hesuffered not the man to reply, but himself answered, 'Gentlemen, youcannot reach Pavia in time to enter therein.' 'Then,' said Saladin,'may it please you acquaint us (for that we are strangers) where wemay best lodge the night.' Quoth Messer Torello, 'That will Iwillingly do. I had it presently in mind to dispatch one of my menhere to the neighborhood of Pavia for somewhat: I will send him withyou and he shall bring you to a place where you may lodge convenientlyenough.' Then, turning to the discreetest of his men he [privily]enjoined him what he should do and sent him with them, whilst hehimself, making for his country house, let order, as best he might, agoodly supper and set the tables in the garden; which done, he postedhimself at the door to await his guests.

  [Footnote 471: _i.e._ to cross the Alps into France.]

  Meanwhile, the servant, devising with the gentlemen of one thing andanother, led them about by certain by-roads and brought them, withouttheir suspecting it, to his lord's residence, where, whenas MesserTorello saw them, he came to meet them afoot and said, smiling,'Gentlemen, you are very welcome.' Saladin, who was very quick ofapprehension, understood that the gentleman had misdoubted him theywould not have accepted his invitation, had he bidden them whenas hefell in with them, and had, therefore, brought them by practice to hishouse, so they might not avail to refuse to pass the night with him,and accordingly, returning his greeting, he said, 'Sir, an one couldcomplain of men of courtesy, we might complain of you, for that(letting be that you have somewhat hindered us from our road) youhave, without our having merited your goodwill otherwise than by amere salutation, constrained us to accept of such noble hospitality asis this of yours.' 'Gentlemen,' answered Messer Torello, who was adiscreet and well-spoken man, 'it is but a sorry hospitality that youwill receive from us, regard had to that which should behove unto you,an I may judge by that which I apprehend from your carriage and thatof your companions; but in truth you could nowhere out of Pavia havefound any decent place of entertainment; wherefore, let it not irk youto have gone somedele beside your way, to have a little less unease.'Meanwhile, his servants came round about the travellers and helpingthem to dismount, eased[472] their horses.

  [Footnote 472: _Adagiarono_; see p. 447, note.]

  Messer Torello then brought the three stranger gentlemen to thechambers prepared for them, where he let unboot them and refresh themsomewhat with very cool wines and entertained them in agreeablediscourse till such time as they might sup. Saladin and his companionsand servants all knew Latin, wherefore they understood very well andwere understood, and it seemed to each of them that this gentleman wasthe most pleasant and well-mannered man they had ever seen, ay, andthe best spoken. It appeared to Messer Torello, on the other hand,that they were men of magnificent fashions and much more of accountthan he had at first conceived, wherefore he was inwardly chagrinedthat he could not honour them that evening with companions and with amore considerable entertainment. But for this he bethought himself tomake them amends on the morrow, and accordingly, having instructed oneof his servants of that which he would have done, he despatched him toPavia, which was very near at hand and where no gate was ever locked,to his lady, who was exceeding discreet and great-hearted. Then,carrying the gentlemen into the garden, he courteously asked them whothey were, to which Saladin answered, 'We are merchants from Cyprusand are bound to Paris on our occasions.' 'Would to God,' cried MesserTorello, 'that this our country produced gentlemen of such a fashionas I see Cyprus doth merchants!' In these and other discourses theyabode till it was time to sup, whereupon he left it to them to honourthemselves at table,[473] and there, for an improvised supper, theywere very well and orderly served; nor had they abidden long after thetables were removed, when Messer Torello, judging them to be weary,put them to sleep in very goodly beds and himself a little after inlike manner betook himself to rest.

  [Footnote 473: _i.e._ to place themselves according to their severalranks, which were unknown to Torello.]

  Meanwhile the servant sent to Pavia did his errand to the lady, who,with no womanly, but with a royal spirit, let call in haste a greatnumber of the friends and servants of Messer Torello and made readyall that behoved unto a magnificent banquet. Moreover, she let bid bytorchlight many of the noblest of the townfolk to the banquet andbringing out cloths and silks and furs, caused throughly order thatwhich her husband had sent to bid her do. The day come, Saladin andhis companions arose, whereupon Messer Torello took horse with themand sending for his falcons, carried them to a neighbouring ford andthere showed them how the latter flew; then, Saladin enquiring forsome one who should bring him to Pavia and to the best inn, his hostsaid, 'I will be your guide, for that it behoveth me go thither.' Theothers, believing this, were content and set out in company with himfor the city, which they reached about tierce and thinking to be ontheir way to the best inn, were carried by Messer Torello to his ownhouse, where a good half-hundred of the most considerable citizenswere already come to receive the stranger gentlemen and werestraightway about their bridles and stirrups. Saladin and hiscompanions, seeing this, understood but too well what was forward andsaid, 'Messer Torello, this is not what we asked of you; you have doneenough for us this past night, ay, and far more than we are worth;wherefo
re you might now fitly suffer us fare on our way.' 'Gentlemen,'replied Messer Torello, 'for my yesternight's dealing with you I ammore indebted to fortune than to you, which took you on the road at anhour when it behoved you come to my poor house; but of your thismorning's visit I shall be beholden to yourselves, and with me allthese gentlemen who are about you and to whom an it seem to youcourteous to refuse to dine with them, you can do so, if you will.'

  Saladin and his companions, overcome, dismounted and being joyfullyreceived by the assembled company, were carried to chambers which hadbeen most sumptuously arrayed for them, where having put off theirtravelling gear and somewhat refreshed themselves, they repaired tothe saloon, where the banquet was splendidly prepared. Water havingbeen given to the hands, they were seated at table with the goodliestand most orderly observance and magnificently served with many viands,insomuch that, were the emperor himself come thither, it had beenimpossible to do him more honour, and albeit Saladin and hiscompanions were great lords and used to see very great things,natheless, they were mightily wondered at this and it seemed to themof the greatest, having regard to the quality of the gentleman, whomthey knew to be only a citizen and not a lord. Dinner ended and thetables removed, they conversed awhile of divers things; then, atMesser Torello's instance, the heat being great, the gentlemen ofPavia all betook themselves to repose, whilst he himself, abidingalone with his three guests, carried them into a chamber and (that noprecious thing of his should remain unseen of them) let call thitherhis noble lady. Accordingly, the latter, who was very fair and tall ofher person, came in to them, arrayed in rich apparel and flanked bytwo little sons of hers, as they were two angels, and saluted themcourteously. The strangers, seeing her, rose to their feet andreceiving her with worship, caused her sit among them and made much ofher two fair children. Therewithal she entered into pleasant discoursewith them and presently, Messer Torello having gone out awhile, sheasked them courteously whence they were and whither they went; towhich they made answer even as they had done to her husband; whereuponquoth she, with a blithe air, 'Then see I that my womanly advisementwill be useful; wherefore I pray you, of your especial favour, refuseme not neither disdain a slight present, which I shall cause bringyou, but accept it, considering that women, of their little heart,give little things and regarding more the goodwill of the giver thanthe value of the gift.' Then, letting fetch them each two gowns, onelined with silk and the other with miniver, no wise citizens' clothesnor merchants, but fit for great lords to wear, and three doublets ofsendal and linen breeches to match, she said, 'Take these; I have cladmy lord in gowns of the like fashion, and the other things, for allthey are little worth, may be acceptable to you, considering that youare far from your ladies and the length of the way you have travelledand that which is yet to travel and that merchants are proper men andnice of their persons.'

  The Saracens marvelled and manifestly perceived that Messer Torellowas minded to leave no particular of hospitality undone them; nay,seeing the magnificence of the unmerchantlike gowns, they misdoubtedthem they had been recognized of him. However, one of them made answerto the lady, saying, 'Madam, these are very great matters and such asshould not lightly be accepted, an your prayers, to which it isimpossible to say no, constrained us not thereto.' This done andMesser Torello being now returned, the lady, commending them to God,took leave of them and let furnish their servants with like thingssuch as sorted with their condition. Messer Torello with many prayersprevailed upon them to abide with him all that day; wherefore, afterthey had slept awhile, they donned their gowns and rode with himsomedele about the city; then, the supper-hour come, they suppedmagnificently with many worshipful companions and in due time betookthemselves to rest. On the morrow they arose with day and found, inplace of their tired hackneys, three stout and good palfreys, and onlikewise fresh and strong horses for their servants, which whenSaladin saw, he turned to his companions and said, 'I vow to God thatnever was there a more accomplished gentleman nor a more courteous andapprehensive than this one, and if the kings of the Christians arekings of such a fashion as this is a gentleman, the Soldan of Babyloncan never hope to stand against a single one of them, not to speak ofthe many whom we see make ready to fall upon him.' Then, knowing thatit were in vain to seek to refuse this new gift, they very courteouslythanked him therefor and mounted to horse.

  Messer Torello, with many companions, brought them a great way withoutthe city, till, grievous as it was to Saladin to part from him, (somuch was he by this grown enamoured of him,) natheless, needconstraining him to press on, he presently besought him to turn back;whereupon, loath as he was to leave them, 'Gentlemen,' quoth he,'since it pleaseth you, I will do it; but one thing I will e'en say toyou; I know not who you are nor do I ask to know more thereof than itpleaseth you to tell me; but, be you who you may, you will never makeme believe that you are merchants, and so I commend you to God.'Saladin, having by this taken leave of all Messer Torello'scompanions, replied to him, saying, 'Sir, we may yet chance to let yousee somewhat of our merchandise, whereby we may confirm yourbelief;[474] meantime, God be with you.' Thereupon he departed withhis followers, firmly resolved, if life should endure to him and thewar he looked for undo him not, to do Messer Torello no less honourthan that which he had done him, and much did he discourse with hiscompanions of him and of his lady and all his affairs and fashions anddealings, mightily commending everything. Then, after he had, with nolittle fatigue, visited all the West, he took ship with his companionsand returned to Alexandria, where, being now fully informed, headdressed himself to his defence. As for Messer Torello, he returnedto Pavia and went long in thought who these might be, but never hitupon the truth, no, nor came near it.

  [Footnote 474: Sic (_la vostra credenza raffermeremo_); but themeaning is, "whereby we may amend your unbelief and give you cause tocredit our assertion that we are merchants."]

  The time being now come for the crusade and great preparations madeeverywhere, Messer Torello, notwithstanding the tears and entreatiesof his wife, was altogether resolved to go thereon and having made hisevery provision and being about to take horse, he said to his lady,whom he loved over all, 'Wife, as thou seest, I go on this crusade, aswell for the honour of my body as for the health of my soul. I commendto thee our affairs and our honour, and for that I am certain of thegoing, but of the returning, for a thousand chances that may betide, Ihave no assurance, I will have thee do me a favour, to wit, thatwhatever befall of me, an thou have not certain news of my life, thoushalt await me a year and a month and a day, ere thou marry again,beginning from this the day of my departure.' The lady, who wept sore,answered, 'Messer Torello, I know not how I shall endure the chagrinwherein you leave me by your departure; but, an my life prove strongerthan my grief and aught befall you, you may live and die assured thatI shall live and die the wife of Messer Torello and of his memory.''Wife,' rejoined Messer Torello, 'I am very certain that, inasmuch asin thee lieth, this that thou promisest me will come to pass; but thouart a young woman and fair and of high family and thy worth is greatand everywhere known; wherefore I doubt not but many great and noblegentlemen will, should aught be misdoubted of me,[475] demand thee ofthy brethren and kinsfolk; from whose importunities, how much soeverthou mightest wish, thou wilt not be able to defend thyself and itwill behove thee perforce comply with their wishes; and this is why Iask of thee this term and not a greater one.' Quoth the lady, 'I willdo what I may of that which I have told you, and should itnevertheless behove me to do otherwise, I will assuredly obey you inthis that you enjoin me; but I pray God that He bring nor you nor meto such an extremity in these days.' This said, she embraced him,weeping, and drawing a ring from her finger, gave it to him, saying,'And it chance that I die ere I see you again, remember me when youlook upon this ring.'

  [Footnote 475: _i.e._ should any rumour get wind of death.]

  Torello took the ring and mounted to horse; then, bidding all hispeople adieu, he set out on his journey and came presently with hiscompany to Genoa. There he embarked
on board a galleon and coming in alittle while to Acre, joined himself to the other army[476] of theChristians, wherein, well nigh out of hand, there began a soresickness and mortality. During this, whether by Saladin's skill or ofhis good fortune, well nigh all the remnant of the Christians who hadescaped alive were taken by him, without blow stricken, and dividedamong many cities and imprisoned. Messer Torello was one of thosetaken and was carried prisoner to Alexandria, where, being unknown andfearing to make himself known, he addressed himself, of necessityconstrained, to the training of hawks, of which he was a great master,and by this he came under the notice of Saladin, who took him out ofprison and entertained him for his falconer. Messer Torello, who wascalled by the Soldan by none other name than the Christian, recognizedhim not nor did Saladin recognize him; nay, all his thoughts were inPavia and he had more than once essayed to flee, but without avail;wherefore, certain Genoese coming ambassadors to Saladin, to treat forthe ransom of sundry of their townsmen, and being about to depart, hebethought himself to write to his lady, giving her to know that he wasalive and would return to her as quickliest he might and bidding herawait him. Accordingly, he wrote letters to this effect and instantlybesought one of the ambassadors, whom he knew, to cause them come tothe hands of the Abbot of San Pietro in Ciel d'Oro, who was his uncle.

  [Footnote 476: Sic (_all' altro esercito_). The meaning of this doesnot appear, as no mention has yet been made of two Christian armies.Perhaps we should translate "the rest of the army," _i.e._ such partof the remnant of the Christian host as fled to Acre and shutthemselves up there after the disastrous day of Hittin (23 June,1187). Acre fell on the 29th July, 1187.]

  Things being at this pass with him, it befell one day that, as Saladinwas devising with him of his hawks, Messer Torello chanced to smileand made a motion with his mouth, which the former had much noted,what while he was in his house at Pavia. This brought the gentleman tohis mind and looking steadfastly upon him, himseemed it was himself;wherefore, leaving the former discourse, 'Harkye, Christian, said he,'What countryman art thou of the West?' 'My lord,' replied Torello, 'Iam a Lombard of a city called Pavia, a poor man and of meancondition.' Saladin, hearing this, was in a manner certified of thetruth of his suspicion and said joyfully in himself, 'God hathvouchsafed me an opportunity of showing this man how grateful hiscourtesy was to me.' Accordingly, without saying otherwhat, he letlay out all his apparel in a chamber and carrying him thither, said tohim, 'Look, Christian, if there be any among these gowns that thouhast ever seen.' Torello looked and saw those which his lady had givenSaladin; but, natheless, conceiving not that they could possibly bethe same, he answered, 'My lord, I know none of them; albeit, in goodsooth, these twain do favour certain gowns wherewithal I, togetherwith three merchants who came to my house, was invested aforetime.'Thereupon Saladin, unable to contain himself farther, embraced himtenderly, saying, 'You are Messer Torello d'Istria and I am one of thethree merchants to whom your lady gave these gowns; and now is thetime come to certify you what manner merchandise mine is, even as Itold you, at my parting from you, might chance to betide.' MesserTorello, hearing this, was at once rejoiced and ashamed; rejoiced tohave had such a guest and ashamed for that himseemed he hadentertained him but scurvily. Then said Saladin, 'Messer Torello,since God hath sent you hither to me, henceforth consider that not I,but you are master here.' Accordingly, after they had mightilyrejoiced in each other, he clad him in royal apparel and carrying himinto the presence of all his chief barons, commanded, after sayingmany things in praise of his worth, that he should of all who held hisfavour dear be honoured as himself, which was thenceforward done ofall, but above all of the two gentlemen who had been Saladin'scompanions in his house.

  The sudden height of glory to which Messer Torello thus found himselfadvanced put his Lombardy affairs somedele out of his mind, more bytoken that he had good reason to hope that his letters were by thiscome to his uncle's hands. Now there had died and been buried in thecamp or rather in the host, of the Christians, the day they were takenby Saladin, a Provencal gentleman of little account, by name MesserTorello de Dignes, by reason whereof, Messer Torello d'Istria beingrenowned throughout the army for his magnificence, whosoever heardsay, 'Messer Torello is dead,' believed it of Messer Torello d'Istria,not of him of Dignes. The hazard of the capture that ensued thereuponsuffered not those who had been thus misled to be undeceived;wherefore many Italians returned with this news, amongst whom weresome who scrupled not to avouch that they had seen him dead and hadbeen at the burial. This, coming to be known of his wife and kinsfolk,was the cause of grievous and inexpressible sorrow, not only to them,but to all who had known him. It were longsome to set forth what andhow great was the grief and sorrow and lamentation of his lady; but,after having bemoaned herself some months in continual affliction,coming to sorrow less and being sought in marriage with the chiefestmen in Lombardy, she began to be presently importuned by her brothersand other her kinsfolk to marry again. After having again and againrefused with many tears, needs must she at the last consent perforceto do her kinsfolk's will, on condition that she should abide, withoutgoing to a husband, so long as she had promised Messer Torello.

  The lady's affairs at Pavia being at this pass and there lacking maybeeight days of the term appointed for her going to her new husband, itchanced that Messer Torello espied one day in Alexandria one whom hehad seen embark with the Genoese ambassadors on board the galley thatwas to carry them back to Genoa, and calling him, asked him whatmanner voyage they had had and when they had reached Genoa; wheretothe other replied, 'Sir, the galleon (as I heard in Crete, where Iremained,) made an ill voyage; for that, as she drew near unto Sicily,there arose a furious northerly wind, which drove her on to theBarbary quicksands, nor was any one saved; and amongst the rest twobrothers of mine perished there.' Messer Torello, giving credit to hiswords, which were indeed but too true, and remembering him that theterm required by him of his wife ended a few days thence, concludedthat nothing could be known at Pavia of his condition and held it forcertain that the lady must have married again; wherefore he fell intosuch a chagrin that he lost [sleep and] appetite and taking to hisbed, determined to die. When Saladin, who loved him above all, heardof this, he came to him and having, by dint of many and urgentprayers, learned the cause of his grief and his sickness, upbraidedhim sore for that he had not before told it to him and after besoughthim to be comforted, assuring him that, if he would but take heart, hewould so contrive that he should be in Pavia at the appointed term andtold him how. Messer Torello, putting faith in Saladin's words andhaving many a time heard say that this was possible and had indeedbeen often enough done, began to take comfort and pressed Saladin todespatch. The Soldan accordingly charged a nigromancer of his, ofwhose skill he had aforetime made proof, to cast about for a meanswhereby Messer Torello should be in one night transported upon a bedto Pavia, to which the magician replied that it should be done, butthat, for the gentleman's own weal, he must put him to sleep.

  This done, Saladin returned to Messer Torello and finding himaltogether resolved to seek at any hazard to be in Pavia at the termappointed, if it were possible, and in default thereof, to die,bespoke him thus; 'Messer Torello, God knoweth that I neither will norcan anywise blame you if you tenderly love your lady and are fearfulof her becoming another's, for that, of all the women I ever saw, sheit is whose manners, whose fashions and whose demeanour, (leaving beher beauty, which is but a short-lived flower,) appear to me mostworthy to be commended and held dear. It had been very grateful to me,since fortune hath sent you hither, that we should have passedtogether, as equal masters in the governance of this my realm, suchtime as you and I have to live, and if this was not to be vouchsafedme of God, it being fated that you should take it to heart to seekeither to die or to find yourself in Pavia at the appointed term, Ishould above all have desired to know it in time, that I might haveyou transported to your house with such honour, such magnificence andin such company as your worth meriteth. However, since this hath notbeen vou
chsafed and you desire to be presently there, I will e'en, asI may, despatch you thither after the fashion whereof I have bespokenyou.' 'My lord,' replied Messer Torello, 'your acts, without yourwords, have given me sufficient proof of your favour, which I havenever merited in such supreme degree, and of that which you say,though you had not said it, I shall live and die most assured; but,since I have taken this resolve, I pray you that that which you tellme you will do may be done speedily, for that to-morrow is the lastday I am to be looked for.'

  Saladin answered that this should without fail be accomplished andaccordingly, on the morrow, meaning to send him away that same night,he let make, in a great hall of his palace, a very goodly and rich bedof mattresses, all, according to their usance, of velvet and cloth ofgold and caused lay thereon a counterpoint curiously wrought invarious figures with great pearls and jewels of great price (the whichhere in Italy was after esteemed an inestimable treasure) and twopillows such as sorted with a bed of that fashion. This done, he badeinvest Messer Torello, who was presently well and strong again, in agown of the Saracen fashion, the richest and goodliest thing that hadever been seen of any, and wind about his head, after their guise, oneof his longest turban-cloths.[477] Then, it growing late, he betookhimself with many of his barons to the chamber where Messer Torellowas and seating himself, well nigh weeping, by his side, bespoke himthus; 'Messer Torello, the hour draweth near that is to sunder me fromyou, and since I may not bear you company nor cause you to beaccompanied, by reason of the nature of the journey you have to make,which suffereth it not, needs must I take leave of you here in thischamber, to which end I am come hither. Wherefore, ere I commend youto God, I conjure you, by that love and that friendship that isbetween us, that you remember you of me and if it be possible, ere ourtimes come to an end, that, whenas you have ordered your affairs inLombardy, you come at the least once to see me, to the end that, whatwhile I am cheered by your sight, I may then supply the default whichneeds must I presently commit by reason of your haste; and againstthat betide, let it not irk you to visit me with letters and requireme of such things as shall please you; for that of a surety I willmore gladly do them for you than for any man alive.'

  [Footnote 477: It may be well to remind the European reader that theturban consists of two parts, _i.e._ a skull-cap and a linen cloth,which is wound round it in various folds and shapes, to form thewell-known Eastern head-dress.]

  As for Messer Torello, he could not contain his tears; wherefore,being hindered thereby, he answered, in a few words, that it wasimpossible his benefits and his nobility should ever escape his mindand that he would without fail do that which he enjoined him, whenasoccasion should be afforded him; whereupon Saladin, having tenderlyembraced him and kissed him, bade him with many tears God speed anddeparted the chamber. The other barons then all took leave of him andfollowed the Soldan into the hall where he had caused make ready thebed. Meanwhile, it waxing late and the nigromant awaiting and pressingfor despatch, there came a physician to Messer Torello with a draughtand making him believe that he gave it him to fortify him, caused himdrink it; nor was it long ere he fell asleep and so, by Saladin'scommandment, was carried into the hall and laid upon the bedaforesaid, whereon the Soldan placed a great and goodly crown of greatprice and inscribed it on such wise that it was after manifestlyunderstood to be sent by him to Messer Torello's lady; after which heput on Torello's finger a ring, wherein was a carbuncle enchased, soresplendent that it seemed a lighted flambeau, the value whereof couldscarce be reckoned, and girt him with a sword, whose garniture mightnot lightly be appraised. Moreover, he let hang a fermail on hisbreast, wherein were pearls whose like were never seen, together withother precious stones galore, and on his either side he caused set twogreat basins of gold, full of doubloons, and many strings of pearlsand rings and girdles and other things, which it were tedious torecount, round about him. This done, he kissed him once more and badethe nigromant despatch, whereupon, in his presence, the bed wasincontinent taken away, Messer Torello and all, and Saladin abodedevising of him with his barons.

  Meanwhile, Messer Torello had been set down, even as he had requested,in the church of San Pietro in Ciel d'Oro at Pavia, with all thejewels and ornaments aforesaid, and yet slept when, matins havingsounded, the sacristan of the church entered, with a light in hishand, and chancing suddenly to espy the rich bed, not only marvelled,but, seized with a terrible fright, turned and fled. The abbot and themonks, seeing him flee, marvelled and questioned him of the cause,which he told them; whereupon quoth the abbot, 'Marry, thou art nochild nor art thou new to the church that thou shouldst thus lightlytake fright; let us go see who hath played the bugbear with thee.'Accordingly, kindling several lights, the abbot and all his monksentered the church and saw that wonder-rich and goodly bed and thereonthe gentleman asleep; and what while, misdoubting and fearful, theygazed upon the noble jewels, without drawing anywise near to the bed,it befell that, the virtue of the draught being spent, Messer Torelloawoke and heaved a great sigh, which when the monks saw and heard,they took to flight, abbot and all, affrighted and crying, 'Lord aidus!' Messer Torello opened his eyes and looking about him, plainlyperceived himself to be whereas he had asked Saladin to have himcarried, at which he was mightily content. Then, sitting up, heparticularly examined that which he had about him, and for all he hadbefore known of the magnificence of Saladin, it seemed to him nowgreater and he knew it more. Nevertheless, without moving farther,seeing the monks flee and divining why, he proceeded to call the abbotby name, praying him be not afraid, for that he was Torello hisnephew. The abbot, hearing this, waxed yet more fearful, as holdinghim as dead many months before; but, after awhile, taking assurance bytrue arguments and hearing himself called, he made the sign of thecross and went up to him; whereupon quoth Messer Torello, 'How now,father mine, of what are you adread? Godamercy, I am alive andreturned hither from beyond seas.'

  The abbot, for all he had a great beard and was clad after the Saracenfashion, presently recognized him and altogether reassured, took himby the hand, saying, 'My son, thou art welcome back.' Then hecontinued, 'Thou must not marvel at our affright, for that there isnot a man in these parts but firmly believeth thee to be dead,insomuch that I must tell thee that Madam Adalieta thy wife,overmastered by the prayers and threats of her kinsfolk and againsther own will, is married again and is this morning to go to her newhusband; ay, and the bride-feast and all that pertaineth unto thenuptial festivities is prepared.' Therewithal Messer Torello arosefrom off the rich bed and greeting the abbot and the monks withmarvellous joyance, prayed them all to speak with none of that hisreturn, against he should have despatched an occasion of his; afterwhich, having caused lay up the costly jewels in safety, he recountedto his uncle all that had befallen him up to that moment. The abbotrejoiced in his happy fortunes and together with him, rendered thanksto God, after which Messer Torello asked him who was his lady's newhusband. The abbot told him and Torello said, 'I have a mind, ere folkknow of my return, to see what manner countenance is that of my wifein these nuptials; wherefore, albeit it is not the usance of men ofyour habit to go to entertainments of this kind, I would have youcontrive, for the love of me, that we may go thither, you and I.' Theabbot replied that he would well and accordingly, as soon as it wasday, he sent to the new bridegroom, saying that he would fain be athis nuptials with a friend of his, whereto the gentleman answered thatit liked him passing well.

  Accordingly, eating-time come, Messer Torello, clad as he was,repaired with his uncle to the bridegroom's house, beheld withwonderment of all who saw him, but recognized of none; and the abbottold every one that he was a Saracen sent ambassador from the Soldanto the King of France. He was, therefore, seated at a table rightoveragainst his lady, whom he beheld with the utmost pleasure, andhimseemed she was troubled in countenance at these new nuptials. She,in her turn, looked whiles upon him, but not of any cognizance thatshe had of him, for that his great beard and outlandish habit and thefirm assurance she had that he was dead hindered her thereo
f.Presently, whenas it seemed to him time to essay if she remembered herof him, he took the ring she had given him at his parting and callinga lad who served before her, said to him, 'Say to the bride, on mypart, that it is the usance in my country, whenas any stranger, suchas I am here, eateth at the bride-feast of any new-married lady, likeherself, that she, in token that she holdeth him welcome at her table,send him the cup, wherein she drinketh, full of wine, whereof afterthe stranger hath drunken what he will, the cup being covered again,the bride drinketh the rest.'

  The page did his errand to the lady, who, like a well-bred anddiscreet woman as she was, believing him to be some great gentleman,commanded, to show him that she had his coming in gree, that a greatgilded cup, which stood before her, should be washed and filled withwine and carried to the gentleman; and so it was done. Messer Torello,taking her ring in his mouth, contrived in drinking to drop it, unseenof any, into the cup, wherein having left but a little wine, hecovered it again and despatched it to the lady. Madam Adalieta, takingthe cup and uncovering it, that she might accomplish his usance, setit to her mouth and seeing the ring, considered it awhile, withoutsaying aught; then, knowing it for that which she had given to MesserTorello at parting, she took it up and looking fixedly upon him whomshe deemed a stranger, presently recognized him; whereupon, as shewere waxen mad, she overthrew the table she had before her and criedout, saying, 'It is my lord, it is indeed Messer Torello!' Then,running to the place where he sat, she cast herself as far forward asshe might, without taking thought to her clothes or to aught that wason the table, and clipped him close in her arms nor could, for word ordeed of any there, be loosed from his neck till she was bidden ofMesser Torello contain herself somewhat, for that time enough wouldyet be afforded her to embrace him. She accordingly having arisen andthe nuptials being by this all troubled, albeit in part more joyousthan ever for the recovery of such a gentleman, every one, at MesserTorello's request, abode quiet; whereupon he related to them all thathad betided him from the day of his departure up to that moment,concluding that the gentleman, who, deeming him dead, had taken hislady to wife, must not hold it ill if he, being alive, took her againunto himself.

  The bridegroom, though somewhat mortified, answered frankly and as afriend that it rested with himself to do what most pleased him of hisown. Accordingly, the lady put off the ring and crown had of her newgroom and donned the ring which she had taken from the cup and thecrown sent her by the Soldan; then, issuing forth of the house wherethey were, they betook themselves, with all the nuptial train, toMesser Torello's house and there recomforted his disconsolate friendsand kindred and all the townsfolk, who regarded his return as wellnigh a miracle, with long and joyous festival. As for Messer Torello,after imparting of his precious jewels to him who had had the expenseof the nuptials, as well as to the abbot and many others, andsignifying his happy repatriation by more than one message to Saladin,whose friend and servant he still professed himself, he lived manyyears thereafterward with his noble lady and thenceforth, used morehospitality and courtesy than ever. Such then was the issue of thetroubles of Messer Torello and his beloved lady and the recompense oftheir cheerful and ready hospitalities, the which many study topractise, who, albeit they have the wherewithal, do yet so illcontrive it that they make those on whom they bestow their courtesiesbuy them, ere they have done with them, for more than their worth;wherefore, if no reward ensue to them thereof, neither themselves norothers should marvel thereat."