who with aftonishment afked him, what was the matter? I am undone, fays Giannetto. His friend anfwered, You are the caufe of the ruin of Anfaldo, and your fhame ought to be greater than the lofs you have fuffered. Giannetto lived privately many days. At laft he took a refolution of feeing Anfaldo, who rofe from his chair, and running to embrace him, told him he was welcome: Giannetto with tears returned his embraces. Anfaldo heard his tale: do not grieve, my dear fon, fays he, we have ftill enough: the fea enriches fome men, others it ruins. Poor Giannetto's head was day and night full of the thoughts of his bad fuccefs. When Anfaldo inquired what was the matter, he confeffed, he could never be contented till he fhould be in a condition to regain all that he loft. When Anfaldo found him refolved, he began to fell every thing he had, to furnish this other fine fhip with merchandize: but, as he wanted ftill ten thousand ducats, he applied hirnfelf to a Jew at Meftri, and borrowed them on condition, that if they were not paid on the feaft of St. John in the next month of June, that the Jew might take a pound of flesh from any part of his body he pleafed. Anfaldo agreed, and the Jew had an obligation drawn, and witneffed, with all the form and ceremony neceffary; and then counted him the ten thousand ducats of gold, with which Anfaldo bought what was ftill wanting for the veffel. This laft fhip was finer and better freighted than the other two, and his companions made ready for the voyage, with a defign that whatever they gained fhould be for their friend. When it was time to depart, Anfaldo told Giannetto, that fince he well knew of the obligation to the Jew, he intreated, that if any misfortune happened, he would return to Venice, that he might fee him before he died; and then he could leave the world with fatisfaction: Giannetto promised to do every thing that he conceived might give him pleafure. Anfaldo gave him his blefing, they took their leave, and the Thips fet out. Giannetto had nothing in his head but to fteal into Belmonte; and he prevailed with one of the failors in the night to fail the veffel into the port. It was told the lady that Giannetto was arrived in port. She faw from the window the veffel, and immediately fent for him. Giannetto goes to the caftle, the day is fpent in joy and feafting; and to honour him, a tournament is ordered, and many barons and knights tilted that day. Giannetto did wonders, fo well did he understand the lance, and was fo graceful a figure on horfeback: he pleafed fo much, that all were defirous to have him for their lord. The lady, when it was the ufual time, catching him by the hand, begged him to take his reft. When he paffed the door of the chamber, one of the damfels in a whisper faid to him, Make a pretence to drink the liquor, but touch not one drop. The lady faid, I know you must be thirsty, I muft have you drink before you go to bed: immediately two damfels entered the room, and prefented the wine. Who can refufé wine from fuch beautiful hands? cries Giannetto: at which the lady fmiled. Giannetto takes the cup, and making as if he drank, pours the wine into his bofom. The lady, thinking he had drank, fays afide to herself with great joy, You must go, young man, and bring another fhip, for this is condemned. Giannetto went to bed, and began to fnore as if he flept foundly. The lady perceiv ing this, laid herself down by his fide. Giannetto lofes no time, but turning to the lady, embraces her, faying, Now am I in poffeffion of my utmoft wishes. When Giannetto came out of his chamber, he was knighted, and placed in the chair of ftate, had the fceptre put into his hand, and was proclaimed fovereign of the country with great pomp and fplendour; and when the lords and ladies were come to the caftle, he married the lady in great ceremony. Giannetto governed excellently, and caufed juftice to be administered impartially. He continued fome time in this happy ftate, and never enter. tained a thought of poor Anfaldo, who had given his bond to the Jew for ten thousand ducats. But one day, as he ftood at the window of the palace with his bride, he faw a number of people pafs along the piazza, with lighted torches in their hands. What is the meaning of this? fays he. The lady anfwered, They are artificers, going to make their offerings at the church of St. John, this day being his feftival. Giannetto inftantly recollected Anfaldo, gave a great figh, and turned pale. His lady inquired the caufe of his fudden change. He faid, he felt nothing. She continued to prefs with great carnettnefs, till he was obliged to confefs the caufe of his uneafinefs, that Anfaldo was engaged for the money, that the term was expired; and the grief he was in, was, left his father fhould lofe his life for him that if the ten thousand ducats were not paid that day, he muft lofe a pound of his flesh. The lady told him to mount on horfeback, and go by land the neareft way, to take fome attendants, and an hundred thoufand ducats; and not to ftop till he arrived at Venice; and if he was not dead, to endeavour to bring Anfaldo to her. Giannetto takes horfe with twenty attendants, and makes the beft of his way to Venice. The time being expired, the Jew had feized Anfaldo, and infifted on. having a pound of his fleth. He intreated him only to wait fome days, that if his dear Giannetto arrived, he might have the pleasure of einbracing him the Jew replied, he was willing to wait; but, fays he, I will cut off the pound of Beth, according to the words of the obligation. Anfaldo anfwered, that he was content. Several merchants would have jointly paid the money; the Jew would not hearken to the propofal, but infifted that he might have the fatisfaction of faying, that he had put to death the greateft of the Chriftian merchants. Giannetto making all poffible hafte to Venice, his lady foon followed him in a lawyer's habit, with two fervants attending her. Giannetto, when he came to Venice, goes to the Jew, and (after embracing. Anfaldo) tells him he is ready to pay the money, and as inuch more as he fhould demand. The Jew faid, he would take no money, fince it was not paid at the time due; but that he would have the pound of fleth. Every one blamed the Jew; but as Venice was a place where juftice was ftrictly. administered, and the Jew had his pretenfions grounded on public and received forms, their only refource was intreaty; and when the merchants of Venice applied to him, he was inflexible. Giannetto offered him twenty thoufand, then thirty thousand, afterwards forty, fifty, and at laft an hundred thousand ducats. The Jew told him, if he would give him as much gold as Venice was worth, he would not accept it; and lays he, you know little of me, if you think I will defift from my demand. The lady now arrives at Venice, in her lawyer's drefs; and alighting at an inn, the landlord asks of one of the fervants who his mafter was? The fervant answered, that he was a young lawyer who had finished his ftudies at Bologna. The landlord upon this thews his gueft great civility and when he attended at dinner, the lawyer inquiring how juftice was adminiftered in that city, he answered, juftice in this place is too fevere, and related the cafe of Anfaldo. Says the lawyer, this queftion may be eafily anfwered. If you can answer it, fays the landlord, and fave this worthy man from death, you will get the love and efteem of all the beft men of this city. The lawyer caufed a proclamation to be made, that whoever had any law matters to determine, they should have recourfe to him: fo it was told to Giannetto, that a famous lawyer was come from Bologna, who. could decide all cafes in law. Giannetto propofed to the Jew to apply to this lawyer. With all my heart, fays the Jew; but let who will come, I will ftick to my bond. They came to this judge, and faluted him. Giannetto did not remember him: for he had difguifed his face with the juice of certain herbs. Giannetto, and the Jew, each told the merits of the caufe to the judge; who, when he had taken the bond and read it, faid to the Jew, I must have you take the hundred thousand ducats, and release this honeft man, who will always have a grateful fenfe of the favour done to him. The Jew replied, I will do no fuch thing. The judge anfwered, it will be better for you. The Jew was pofitive to yield nothing. Upon this they go to the tribunal appointed for fuch judgments: and cur judge fays to the Jew, Do you cut a pound of this man's flesh where you choose. The Jew ordered him to be ftripped naked, and takes in his hand a razor, which had been made on purpofe. Giannetto feeing this, turning to the judge, this, fays he, is not the favour I afked of you. Be quiet, fays he, the pound of flesh is not yet cut off. As foon as the Jew was going to begin, Take care what you do, fays the judge, if you take more or lefs than a pound, I will order your head to be ftruck off: and befide, if you fhed one drop of blood, you fhall be put to death. Your paper makes no mention of the shedding of blood; but fays exprefsly, that you may take a pound of flesh, neither more nor lefs. He immediately fent for the executioner to bring the block and ax; and now, fays he, if I fee one drop of blood, off goes your head. At length the Jew, after much wrangling, told him, Give me the hundred thousand ducats, and I am content. No, fays the judge, cut off your pound of flesh according to your bond: why did not you take the money when it was offered? The Jew came down to ninety, and then to eighty thousand: but the judge was ftill refolute. Giannetto told the judge to give what he required, that Anfaldo might have his liberty: but he replied, let me manage him. Then the Jew would have taken fifty thoufand: he said, I will not give you a penny. Give me at leaft, fays the Jew, my own ten thousand ducats, and a curfe confound you all. The judge replies, I will give you nothing: if you will have the pound of flesh, take it; if not, I will order your bond to be protested and annulled. The Jew feeing he could gain nothing, tore in pieces the bond in a great rage. Anfaldo was releafed, and conducted home with great joy by Giannetto, who carried the hundred thousand ducats to the inn to the lawyer. The lawyer faid, I do not want money; carry it back to your lady, that the may not fay, that you have fquandered it away idly. Says Giannetto, my lady is fo kind, that I might spend four times as much, without incurring her difpleasure. How are you pleafed with the lady? fays the lawyer. I love her better than any earthly thing, anfwers Giannetto: nature feems to have done her utmoft in forming her. If you will come and fee her, you will be furprised at the honours the will thew you. I cannot go with you, fays the lawyer; but fince you speak so much good of her, I muft defire you to prefent my refpects to her. I will not fail, Giannetto answered; and now, let me intreat you to accept of fome of the money. While he was fpeaking, the lawyer obferved a ring on his finger, and Taid, if you will give me this ring, I fhall feek no other reward. Willingly, fays Giannetto; but as it is a ring given me by my lady, to wear for her fake, I have fome reluctance to part with it, and the, not feeing it on my finger, will believe, that I have given it to a woman. Says the lawyer, the esteems you fufficiently to credit what you tell her, and you may fay you made a prefent of it to me; but I rather think you want to give it to fome former miftrefs here in Venice. So great, fays Giannetto, is the love and reverence I bear to her, that I would not change her for any woman in the world. After this, he takes the ring from his finger, and prefents it to him. I have ftill a favour to afk, fays the lawyer. It fhall be granted, fays Giannetto. It is, replied he, that you do not ftay any time here, but go as foon as poffible to your lady. It appears to me a thousand years till I fee her, anfwered Giannetto: and immediately they take leave of each other. The lawyer embarked, and left Venice. Giannnetto took leave of his Venetian friends, and carried Anfaldo with him, and fome of his old acquaintance accompanied them. The lady arrived fome days before; and having refumed her female habit, pretended to have spent the time at the baths and now gave orders to have the ftreets lined with tapestry: and when Giannetto and Anfaldo were landed, all the court went out to meet them. When they arrived at the palace, the lady ran to embrace Anfaldo, but feigned anger againft Giannetto,though the loved him exceffively: yet the feaftings, tilts, and diverfions went on as ufual, at which all the lords and ladies were prefent. Giannetto feeing that his wife did not receive him with her accustomed good countenance, called her, and would have faluted her. She told him, fhe wanted none of his careffes: I am fure, fays fhe, you have been lavish of them to fome of your former miftreffes. Giannetto began to make excuses. She asked him, where was the ring fhe had given him? It is no more than what I expected, cries Giannetto, and I was in the right to fay you would be angry with me; but, I fwear, by all that is facred, and by your dear felf, that I gave the ring to the lawyer who gained our caufe. And I can fwear, fays the lady, with as much folemnity, that you gave the ring to a woman: therefore fwear no more. Giannetto pro efted that what he had told her was true, and that he faid all this to the lawyer, when he asked for the ring. The lady replied, you would have done much better to stay at Venice with your miftreffes, for I fear they all wept when you came away. Giannetto's tears began to fall, and in great forrow he affured her, that what the fuppofed could not be true. The lady feeing his tears, which were daggers in her bofom, ran to embrace him, and in a fit of laughter fhewed the ring, and told him, that she was herfelf the lawyer, and how the obtained the ring. Giannetto was greatly aftonished, finding it all true, and told the story to the nobles and to his companions; and this heightened greatly the love between him and his lady. He then called the damfel who had given him the good advice in the evening not to drink the liquor, and gave her to Anfaldo for a wife: and they spent the reit of their lives in great felicity and contentment. |