Page 255 - THE DECAMERON: A Visionary Journey in 100 Stories and 100 Etchings by Petru Russu

gratified, lauded the maiden, and said that a girl of such high long before you see me recover, thanks to your courtesy." The
spirit merited considerate treatment. He bade Minuccio be his hidden meaning of her words was understood only by the King,
envoy to her, comfort her, and tell her that without fail, he who increasingly valued the girl and repeatedly cursed Fortune
would visit her that very day at vespers. Overjoyed to bear such for decreeing that she should be the daughter of such a man.
gladsome tidings, Minuccio tarried not but returned to Lisa with He tarried with her for a while, comforted her, and then took his
his viol. Being closeted with her, he told her all that had passed leave. The King's gracious behavior was highly commended and
and then sang the song to the accompaniment of his viol. The considered a great honor to the apothecary and his daughter.
girl was so cheered and delighted that there appeared marked
signs of her health's improvement. With passionate longing, The girl, glad at heart as ever a lady of her lover, mended with
albeit none in the house knew or divined it, she awaited the reviving hope and in a few days recovered her health and more
vesper hour when she was to see her lord. than all her former beauty. The King, having taken counsel
with the Queen on how to reward such great love, one day
Knowing the girl very well and how fair she was, and pondering got to horse with a great company of his barons and went to
many times on what Minuccio had told him, the King, being the apothecary's house. Upon arriving in the garden, he sent
a prince of a liberal and kindly disposition, grew ever more for the apothecary and his daughter. Joined by the Queen and
compassionate. So, about vespers, he mounted his horse several ladies who received the girl into their company, they
and rode forth, as if for mere pleasure. Upon arriving at the made such cheer as was a wonder to see. After a while, the
apothecary's house, he demanded access to a very goodly King and Queen called Lisa to them. The King said: "Honorable
garden that the apothecary had. After dismounting, he inquired damsel, by the great love that you have borne us, we are greatly
of Bernardo about his daughter and whether he had yet moved to honor you; and we trust that, for love of us, the honor
bestowed her in marriage. "Sire," replied Bernardo, "she is not we design for you will be acceptable to you. Now, we would
yet married; and indeed she has been and still is very ill, though honor you thus: seeing that you are of marriageable age, we
recently she has wonderfully improved." The significance of this would have you take for a husband him whom we shall give you.
improvement was immediately understood by the King. "In good Nonetheless, it is our purpose ever to call ourselves your knight,
faith," he said, "it would be a pity for so fair a creature to be demanding no other tribute of all your love but one sole kiss."
taken from the world so early; we would go in and visit her." Scarlet from brow to neck, the girl, making the King's pleasure
Attended only by two of his lords and Bernardo, he went to her her own, replied in a low voice: "My lord, very sure am I that,
chamber. Entering, he drew near the bed where the girl half should it come to be known that I was grown enamored of you,
reclined, half sat in eager expectation of his coming. most folk would hold me for a fool, deeming, perhaps, that I was
out of my mind and witless alike of my own rank and yours. But
Taking her by the hand, he said: "Madonna, what means this? A God, who alone reads the hearts of us mortals, knows that even
maiden like you should be the comfort of others, and you suffer then, when first I did affect you, I knew that you were the King,
yourself to languish. We would entreat you, for love of us, to and I but the daughter of Bernardo the apothecary, and that to
be of good cheer and speedily recover your health." Feeling suffer my passion to soar so high did ill become me. But, as you
the touch of his hand, whom she loved above all else, the girl, know far better than I, none loves of set and discreet purpose,
though somewhat shy, was so enraptured that it was as if she but only according to the dictates of impulse and fancy. Which
were in Paradise. As soon as she was able, she said: "My lord, law my forces, albeit not seldom opposed, being powerless to
it was the endeavor, weak as I am, to sustain a most grievous withstand, I loved and still love and shall ever love you. But as
burden that brought this sickness upon me; but it will not be no sooner knew I myself subjugated to your love than I vowed to
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