The Decameron of Giovanni Boccaccio Page 12

  THE NINTH STORY

  [Day the First]

  THE KING OF CYPRUS, TOUCHED TO THE QUICK BY A GASCON LADY, FROM A MEAN-SPIRITED PRINCE BECOMETH A MAN OF WORTH AND VALIANCE

  The Queen's last commandment rested with Elisa, who, without awaitingit, began all blithely, "Young ladies, it hath often chanced that whatall manner reproofs and many pains[68] bestowed upon a man have notavailed to bring about in him hath been effected by a word more oftenspoken at hazard than of purpose aforethought. This is very well shownin the story related by Lauretta and I, in my turn, purpose to proveto you the same thing by means of another and a very short one; forthat, since good things may still serve, they should be received witha mind attent, whoever be the sayer thereof.

  [Footnote 68: Syn. penalties, punishments (_pene_).]

  I say, then, that in the days of the first King of Cyprus, after theconquest of the Holy Land by Godefroi de Bouillon, it chanced that agentlewoman of Gascony went on a pilgrimage to the Holy Sepulchre andreturning thence, came to Cyprus, where she was shamefully abused ofcertain lewd fellows; whereof having complained, without getting anysatisfaction, she thought to appeal to the King for redress, but wastold that she would lose her pains, for that he was of so abject acomposition and so little of worth that, far from justifying others oftheir wrongs, he endured with shameful pusillanimity innumerableaffronts offered to himself, insomuch that whose had any grudge[against him] was wont to vent his despite by doing him some shame orinsult.

  The lady, hearing this and despairing of redress, bethought herself,by way of some small solacement of her chagrin, to seek to rebuke theking's pusillanimity; wherefore, presenting herself in tears beforehim, she said to him, 'My lord, I come not into thy presence for anyredress that I expect of the wrong that hath been done me; but insatisfaction thereof, I prithee teach me how thou dost to suffer thoseaffronts which I understand are offered unto thyself, so haply I maylearn of thee patiently to endure mine own, the which God knoweth, anI might, I would gladly bestow on thee, since thou art so excellent asupporter thereof.'

  The King, who till then had been sluggish and supine, awoke as if fromsleep and beginning with the wrong done to the lady, which he cruellyavenged, thenceforth became a very rigorous prosecutor of all whocommitted aught against the honour of his crown."