for his hawks, brought them to a ford, and shewed them howthe hawks flew. By and by, Saladin requesting of him a guide to the bestinn at Pavia:--"I myself will be your guide," returned Messer Torello,"for I have occasion to go thither." Which offer they, nothing doubting,did gladly accept, and so with him they set forth; and about tierce,being come to the city, and expecting to be directed to the best inn,they were brought by Messer Torello, to his own house, where they wereforthwith surrounded by full fifty of the greatest folk of the city,gathered there to give the gentlemen a welcome; and 'twas who should holda bridle or a stirrup, while they dismounted. Whereby Saladin and hislords more than guessing the truth:--"Messer Torello," quoth they, "'twasnot this that we craved of you. Honour enough had we from you last night,and far in excess of our desires; wherefore thou mightst very well haveleft us to go our own road." Whereto:--"Gentlemen," replied MesserTorello, "for that which was done yestereve I have to thank Fortunerather than you: seeing that Fortune surprised you on the road at an hourwhen you must needs repair to my little house: for that which shall bedone this morning I shall be beholden to you, as will also thesegentlemen that surround you, with whom, if you deem it courteous so todo, you may refuse to breakfast, if you like."
Fairly conquered, Saladin and his lords dismounted, and heartily welcomedby the gentlemen, were conducted to the chambers which had been mostsumptuously adorned for their use; and having laid aside their ridingdress, and taken some refreshment, repaired to the saloon, where all hadbeen made ready with splendour. There, having washed their hands, theysat them down to table, and were regaled with a magnificent repast ofmany courses, served with all stately and fair ceremony, insomuch that,had the Emperor himself been there, 'twould not have been possible to dohim more honour. And albeit Saladin and his lords were grandees and usedto exceeding great displays of pomp and state, nevertheless this shewedto them as not a little marvellous, and one of the greatest they had everseen, having regard to the quality of their host, whom they knew to bebut a citizen, and no lord. Breakfast done, and the tables cleared, theyconversed a while of high matters, and then, as 'twas very hot, all thegentlemen of Pavia--so it pleased Messer Torello--retired for theirsiesta, while he remained with his three guests; with whom he presentlywithdrew into a chamber, whither, that there might be nought that he helddear which they had not seen, he called his noble lady. And so the dame,exceeding fair and stately of person, and arrayed in rich apparel, withher two little boys, that shewed as two angels, on either hand, presentedherself before them, and graciously greeted them. Whereupon they rose,and returned her salutation with reverence, and caused her to sit downamong them, and made much of her two little boys. But after someinterchange of gracious discourse, Messer Torello being withdrawnsomewhat apart, she asked them courteously, whence they came and whitherthey were bound, and had of them the same answer that Messer Torello hadreceived. "So!" quoth the lady with a joyful air, "then I see that mywoman's wit will be of service to you; wherefore I pray you as a specialfavour neither to reject nor to despise the little gift that I am aboutto present to you; but reflecting that, as women have but small minds, sothey make but small gifts, accept it, having regard rather to the goodwill of the giver than the magnitude of the gift." She then caused bringforth for each of them two pair of robes, lined the one with silk, theother with vair, no such robes as citizens or merchants, but such aslords, use to wear, and three vests of taffeta, besides linen clothes,and:--"Take them," quoth she. "The robes I give you are even such as Ihave arrayed my lord withal: the other things, considering that you arefar from your wives, and have come a long way, and have yet a long way togo, and that merchants love to be neat and trim, may, albeit they are ofno great value, be yet acceptable to you."
Wondering, the gentlemen acknowledged without reserve that there was nopoint of courtesy wherein Messer Torello was not minded to acquit himselftowards them. And noting the lordly fashion of the robes, unsuited to thequality of merchants, they misdoubted that Messer Torello had recognizedthem. However, quoth one of them to the lady:--"Gifts great indeed arethese, Madam, nor such as lightly to accept, were it not that thereto weare constrained by your prayers, to which we may on no account say, no."Whereupon, Messer Torello being now come back, the lady bade them adieu,and took her leave of them; and in like manner did she cause theirservants to be supplied with equipment suitable to them. The gentlemen,being much importuned thereto by Messer Torello, consented to tarry therest of the day with him; and so, having slept, they donned their robes,and rode a while with him about the city; and supper-time being come,they feasted magnificently, and with a numerous and honourable company.And so in due time they betook them to rest; and at daybreak, beingrisen, they found, in lieu of their jaded nags, three stout and excellentpalfreys, and in like manner fresh and goodly mounts for their servants.Which Saladin marking turned to his lords, and:--"By God," quoth he,"never was gentleman more complete and courteous and considerate thanthis Messer Torello, and if the Christian kings are as kingly as he isknightly, there is none of them whose onset the Soldan of Babylon mightwell abide, to say nought of so many as we see making ready to fall uponhim." However, knowing that 'twas not permissible to refuse, he verycourteously thanked Messer Torello: and so they got them to horse. MesserTorello with a numerous company escorted them far beyond the gate of thecity, until, loath though Saladin was to part from him, so greatly did henow affect him, yet as he must needs speed on, he besought him to turnback. Whereupon, albeit it irked him to take leave of them:--"Gentlemen,"quoth Messer Torello, "since such is your pleasure, I obey; but this Imust say to you. Who you are I know not, nor would I know more than youare pleased to impart; but whoever you may be, you will not make mebelieve that you are merchants this while; and so adieu!" To whomSaladin, having already taken leave of all his company, thus madeanswer:--"Peradventure, Sir, we shall one day give you to see somewhat ofour merchandise, and thereby confirm your belief: and so adieu!"
Thus parted Saladin and his company from Messer Torello, Saladin burningwith an exceeding great desire, if life should be continued to him, andthe war, which he anticipated, should not undo him, to shew MesserTorello no less honour than he had received at his hands, and conversingnot a little with his lords both of Messer Torello himself and of hislady, and all that he did and that in any wise concerned him, ever morehighly commending them. However, having with much diligence spied out allthe West, he put to sea, and returned with his company to Alexandria; andhaving now all needful information, he put himself in a posture ofdefence. Messer Torello, his mind full of his late guests, returned toPavia; but, though he long pondered who they might be, he came never ator anywhere near the truth.
Then with great and general mustering of forces came the time forembarking on the emprise, and Messer Torello, heeding not the tearfulentreaties of his wife, resolved to join therein. So, being fullyequipped and about to take horse, he said to his lady, whom he mostdearly loved:--"Wife, for honour's sake and for the weal of my soul, Igo, as thou seest, on this emprise: our substance and our honour Icommend to thy care. Certain I am of my departure, but, for the thousandaccidents that may ensue, certitude have I none of my return: wherefore Iwould have thee do me this grace, that, whatever be my fate, shouldstthou lack certain intelligence that I live, thou wilt expect me a yearand a month and a day from this my departure, before thou marry again."Whereto the lady, weeping bitterly, made answer:--"Messer Torello, I knownot how I shall support the distress in which, thus departing, you leaveme; but should my life not fail beneath it, and aught befall thee, liveand die secure that I shall live and die the wife of Messer Torello, andof his memory." Whereupon:--"Wife," returned Messer Torello, "wellassured I am that, so far as in thee shall lie, this promise of thinewill be kept; but thou art young, and fair, and of a great family, andthy virtue is rare and generally known: wherefore I make no doubt that,should there be any suspicion of my death, thou wilt be asked of thybrothers and kinsmen by many a great gentleman: against whose attacks,though thou desire it never so, thou wilt
not be able to hold out, butwilt perforce be fain to gratify one or other of them; for which cause itis that I ask thee to wait just so long and no longer." "As I have said,"replied the lady, "so, in so far as I may, I shall do; and if I mustneeds do otherwise, rest assured that of this your behest I shall renderyou obedience. But I pray God that He bring neither you nor me to such astrait yet a while." Which said, the lady wept, and having embracedMesser Torello, drew from her finger a ring, and gave it to him,saying:--"Should it betide that I die before I see you again, mind you ofme, when you look upon it."
Messer Torello took the ring, and got him to horse, and having bidden alladieu, fared forth on his journey; and being arrived