prison till the next morning. When he came into the Kings presence,
and there boldly justified the goodnesse of his cause: Restituta
likewise was sent for, who no sooner saw her deare Love Guion, but she
ran and caught him fast about the necke, kissing him in teares, and
greeving not a little at his hard fortune. Heereat the King grew
exceedingly enraged, loathing and hating her now, much more then
formerly hee did affect her, and having himselfe seene by what strange
meanes he did climbe over the wall, and then mounted to her Chamber
window; he was extreamely impatient, and could not otherwise bee
perswaded, but that their meetings thus had bene very many.
Forthwith hee sentenced them both with death, commanding, that
they should be conveyed thence to Palermo, and there (being stript
starke naked) be bound to a stake backe to backe, and so to stand
the full space of nine houres, to see if any could take knowledge,
of whence, or what they were; then afterward, to be consumed with
fire. The sentence of death, did not so much daunt or dismay the poore
Lovers, as the uncivill and unsightly manner, which (in feare of the
Kings wrathfull displeasure) no man durst presume to contradict.
Wherefore, as he had commanded, so were they carryed thence to
Palermo, and bound naked to a stake in the open Market place, and
(before their eyes) the fire of wood brought, which was to consume
them, according to the houre as the King had appointed. You neede
not make any question, what an huge concourse of people were soone
assembled together, to behold such a sad and wofull spectacle, even
the whole City of Palermo, both men and women. The men were stricken
with admiration, beholding the unequalled beauty of faire Restituta,
and the selfe-same passion possessed the women, seeing Guion to be
such a goodly and compleat young man: but the poore infortunate Lovers
themselves, they stood with their lookes dejected to the ground, being
much pittied of all, but no way to be holpen or rescued by any,
awaiting when the happy houre would come, to finish both their shame
and lives together.
During the time of this tragicall expectation, the fame of this
publike execution being noysed abroade, calling all people farre and
neere to behold it; it came to the eare of Don Rogiero de Oria, a
man of much admired valour, and then Lord high Admirall of Sicily, who
came himselfe in person, to the place appointed for their death.
First, he observed the Mayden, confessing her (in his soule) to be a
beauty beyond all compare. Then looking on the young man, thus he
saide within himselfe: If the inward endowments of the mind, doe
paralell the outward perfections of body; the World cannot yeeld a
more compleate man. Now, as good natures are quickly incited to
compassion (especially in cases almost commanding it) and compassion
knocking at the doore of the soule, doth quicken the memory with
many passed recordations: so this noble Admirall, advisedly, beholding
poore condemned Guion, conceived, that he had somewhat seene him
before this instant, and upon this perswasion (even as if divine
vertue had tutored his tongue) he saide: Is not thy name Guion di
Procida?
Marke now, how quickly misery can receive comfort, upon so poore and
silly a question; for Guion began to elevate his dejected countenance,
and looking on the Admirall, returned him this answer. Sir, heretofore
I have bene the man which you speake of; but now, both that name and
man must die with me. What misfortune (said the Admirall) hath thus
unkindly crost thee? Love (answered Guion) and the Kings
displeasure. Then the Admirall would needs know the whole history at
large, which briefly was related to him, and having heard how all
had happened; as he was turning his Horse to ride away thence, Guion
called to him, saying, Good my Lord, entreat one favour for me, if
possibly it may be. What is that? replyed the Admirall. You see Sir
(quoth Guior) that I am very shortly to breathe my last; all the grace
which I do most humbly entreat, is, that as I am here with this chaste
Virgin, (whom I honour and love beyond my life) and miserably bound
backe to backe: our faces may be turned each to other, to the end,
that when the fire shall finish my life, by looking on her, my soule
may take her flight in full felicity. The Admirall smiling, said; I
will do for thee what I can, and (perhaps) thou mayest so long looke
on her, as thou wilt be weary, and desire to looke off her.
At his departure, he commanded them that had the charge of this
execution, to proceede no further, untill they heard more from the
King, to whom he gallopped immediately, and although he beheld him
to bee very angerly moved; yet he spared not to speake in this
maner. Sir, wherin have those poore young couple offended you, that
are so shamefully to be burnt at Palermo? The King told him: whereto
the Admirall (pursuing still his purpose) thus replyed. Beleeve me
Sir, if true love be an offence, then theirs may be termed to be
one; and albeit it deserved death, yet farre be it from thee to
inflict it on them: for as faults doe justly require punishment, so
doe good turnes as equally merit grace and requitall. Knowest thou
what and who they are, whom thou hast so dishonourably condemned to
the fire? Not I, quoth the King. Why then I will tell thee, answered
the Admirall, that thou mayest take the better knowledge of them,
and forbeare hereafter, to be so over violently transported with
anger.
The young Gentleman, is the Sonne to Landolfo di Procida, the
onely Brother to Lord John di Procida, by whose meanes thou becamest
Lord and King of this Countrey. The faire young Damosell, is the
Daughter to Marino Bulgaro, whose power extendeth so farre, as to
preserve thy prerogative in Ischia, which (but for him) had long since
bene out-rooted there. Beside, these two maine motives, to challenge
justly grace and favour from thee; they are in the floure and pride of
their youth, having long continued in loyall love together, and
compelled by fervency of endeared affection, not any will to displease
thy Majesty: they have offended (if it may be termed an offence to
love, and in such lovely young people as they are.) Canst thou then
finde in thine heart to let them die, whom thou rather ought to
honour, and recompence with no meane rewards?
When the King had heard this, and beleeved for a certainty, that
the Admirall told him nothing but truth: he appointed not onely,
that they should proceede no further, but also was exceeding
sorrowfull for what he had done, sending presently to have them
released from the Stake, and honourably to be brought before him.
Being thus enstructed in their severall qualities, and standing in
duty obliged, to recompence the wrong which he had done, with
respective honours: he caused them to be cloathed in royall
garments, and knowing them to bee knit in unity of soule; the like
he did by marrying them solemnly together, and bestowing many rich
gifts and presents on them, sent them honourably attended home to
Ischia; where they were with much joy and comfort received, and
lived long after in great felicity.
THE FIFT DAY, THE SEVENTH NOVELL
WHEREIN IS DECLARED, THE SUNDRY TRAVELS AND PERILLOUS ACCIDENTS,
OCCASIONED BY THOSE TWO POWERFULL COMMANDERS, LOVE AND FORTUNE,
THE INSULTING TYRANTS OVER HUMANE LIFE.
Theodoro falling in love with Violenta, the Daughter to his
Master, named Amarigo, and she conceiving with child by him; was
condemned to be hanged. As they were leading him to the Gallowes,
beating and misusing him all the way: he happened to be knowne of
his owne Father, whereupon he was released, and afterward enjoyed
Violenta in marriage.
Greatly were the Ladies minds perplexed, when they heard, that the
two poore Lovers were in danger to be burned: but hearing afterward of
their happy deliverance, for which they were as joyfull againe; upon
the concluding of the Novell, the Queene looked on Madame Lauretta,
enjoyning her to tell the next Tale, which willingly she undertooke to
do, and thus began.
Faire Ladies, at such time as the good King William reigned in
Sicily, there lived within the same Dominion, a young Gentleman, named
Signior Amarigo, Abbot of Trapani, who among his other worldly
blessings, (commonly termed the goods of Fortune) was not
unfurnished of children; and therefore having neede of servants, he
made his provision of them the best he might. At that time, certaine
Gallies of Geneway Pyrates comming from the Easterne parts, which
coasting along Armenia, had taken divers children; he bought some of
them, thinking that they were Turkes. They all resembling clownish
Peazants, yet there was one among them, who seemed to be of more
tractable and gentle nature, yea, and of a more affable countenance
than any of the rest, being named Theodoro: who growing on in
yeeres, (albeit he lived in the condition of a servant) was educated
among Amarigoes Children, and as enstructed rather by nature, then
accident, his conditions were very much commended, as also the feature
of his body, which proved so highly pleasing to his Master Amarigo,
that he made him a free man, and imagining him to be a Turke, caused
him to be baptized, and named Pedro, creating him superintendent of
all his affaires, and reposing his-chiefest trust in him.
As the other Children of Signior Amarigo grew in yeeres and stature,
so did a Daughter of his, named Violenta, a very goodly and beautifull
Damosell, somewhat over-long kept from marriage by her Fathers
covetousnesse, and casting an eye of good liking on poore Pedro.
Now, albeit shee loved him very dearly, and all his behaviour was most
pleasing to her, yet maiden modesty forbad her to reveale it, till
Love (too long concealed) must needes disclose it selfe. Which Pedro
at the length tooke notice of, and grew so forward towards her in
equality of affection, as the very sight of her was his onely
happinesse. Yet very fearefull he was, least it should be noted,
either by any of the House, or the Mayden her selfe: who yet well
observed it, and to her no meane contentment, as it appeared no
lesse (on the other side) to honest Pedro.
While thus they loved together meerely in dumbe shewes, not daring
to speake to each other, (though nothing more desired) to finde some
ease in this their oppressing passions: Fortune, even as if she
pittied their so long languishing, enstructed them how to finde out
a way, whereby they might both better releeve themselves. Signior
Amarigo, about some two or three miles distance from Trapani, had a
Countrey-House or Farme, whereto his Wife, with her Daughter and
some other women, used oftentimes to make their resort, as it were
in sportfull recreation; Pedro alwayes being diligent to man them
thither. One time among the rest, it came to passe, as often it
falleth out in the Summer season, that the faire Skie became
suddenly over-clouded, even as they were returning home towards
Trapani, threatning a storme of raine to overtake them, except they
made the speedier haste.
Pedro, who was young, and likewise Violenta, went farre more lightly
then her Mother and her company, as much perhaps provoked by love,
as feare of the sudden raine falling, and paced on so fast before
them, that they were wholly out of sight. After many flashes of
lightning, and a few dreadfull clappes of thunder, there fell such a
tempestuous showre of hayle, as compelled the Mother and her traine to
shelter themselves in a poore Countrey-mans Cottage. Pedro and
Violenta, having no other refuge, ranne likewise into a poore
Sheepecoate, so over-ruined, as it was in danger to fall on their
heads; and no body dwelt in it, neither stood any other house neere
it, and it was scarsely any shelter for them, howbeit, necessity
enforceth to make shift with the meanest. The storme encreasing more
and more, and they coveting to avoyd it as well as they could;
sighes and drie hemmes were often inter-vented, as dumbly (before)
they were wont to doe, when willingly they could affoord another kinde
of speaking.
At last Pedro tooke heart, and saide: I would this showre would
never cease, that I might be alwayes where I am. The like could I
wish, answered Violenta, so we were in a better place of safety. These
wishes drew on other gentle language, with modest kisses and embraces,
the onely ease to poore Lovers soules; so that the raine ceased not,
till they had taken order for their oftner conversing, and absolute
plighting of their faiths together. By this time the storme was
fairely over-blowne, and they attending on the way, till the Mother
and the rest were come, with whom they returned to Trapani, where by
wise and provident meanes, they often conferred in private together,
and enjoyed the benefit of their amorous desires, yet free from any
ill surmise or suspition.
But, as Lovers felicities are sildome permanent, without one
encountring crosse or other: so these stolne pleasures of Pedro and
Violenta, met with as sowre a sauce in the farewell. For shee proved
to be conceived with childe, then which could befall them no heavier
affliction, and Pedro fearing to loose his life therefore,
determined immediate Right, and revealed his purpose to Violenta.
Which when she heard, she told him plainly, that if he fled,
forth-with she would kill her selfe. Alas deare Love (quoth Pedro)
with what reason can you wish my tarrying here? This conception of
yours, doth discover our offence, which a Fathers pity may easily
pardon in vou: but I being his servant and vassall, shall be
punished both for your sinne and mine, because he will have no mercy
on me. Content thy selfe Pedro, replyed Violenta, I will take such
order for mine owne offence, by the discreete counsell of my loving
Mother, that no blame shall any way be taide on thee, or so much as
a surmise, except thou wilt fondly betray thy selfe. If you can do so,
answered Pedro, and constantly maintaine your promise; I will not
depart, but see that you prove to bee so good as your word.
