Page 258 - THE DECAMERON: A Visionary Journey in 100 Stories and 100 Etchings by Petru Russu

The Decameron and youth is altogether subject to the laws of Love. Love's pleasure, Moved to tears by his friend's tears, Gisippus said between his sobs:
then, should be mine. The seemly is for folk of riper years. 'Tis not in
my power to will aught save that which Love wills. So beauteous is this
"Titus, but that you are in need of comfort, I should reproach you for
offending against our friendship by keeping this distressful passion
damsel that there is none but should love her; and if I love her, who am
from me for so long. Unseemly things should no more than seemly
young, who can justly censure me? I love her not because she is the
things be withheld from a friend, for a friend rejoices with his friend in
affianced of Gisippus; no matter whose she was, I should love her all the
same. Herein is Fortune to blame that gave her to my friend, Gisippus,
But enough of this for now; I pass to what is of greater moment. If you
rather than to another. And if she is worthy of love, as for beauty she
ardently love Sophronia, my betrothed, I should greatly marvel were it
is, Gisippus, if he should come to know that I love her, ought to be less things seemly and endeavors to wean his friend from things unseemly.
jealous than another." not so, knowing how fair she is and how noble your soul is, thus the
apter to be swayed by passion. The juster the cause you have to love
Then, scorning himself that he should indulge such thoughts, he relapsed Sophronia, the greater the injustice with which you complain of Fortune
into the opposing mood, albeit not to abide there, but ever veering to for giving her to me, as if your love of her had been seemly had she
and fro, he spent not only the whole of that day and the ensuing night belonged to any other but me. If you are still the wise man you were
but many others. Insomuch that, being able neither to eat nor to sleep, wont to be, you must know that to none could Fortune have assigned
he grew so weak that he was fain to take to his bed. Gisippus, who had her with such good cause for you to thank her as to me. Had any other
marked his moodiness for some days and now saw that he was fairly had her, albeit your love had been seemly, he had loved her as his own,
sick, was much distressed. With sedulous care, never quitting his side, rather than as yours. If you deem me even such a friend to you as I am,
he tended and strove as best he might to comfort him, seldom and most you will not apprehend this from me, seeing that I mind me not that,
earnestly demanding to know the cause of his melancholy and sickness. since we were friends, I had ever aught that was not as much yours
Many were the subterfuges to which Titus resorted; but, as Gisippus as mine. So should I entreat you herein as in all other matters, were
was not to be put off with his fables, finding himself hard-pressed by the affair gone so far that nothing else were possible. But as it is, I can
him, with sighs and sobs he made answer on this wise: "Gisippus, had make you sole possessor of her, and so I mean to do. For I know not
such been the will of the Gods, I were fain rather to die than to live, what cause you should have to prize my friendship if, where in seemly
seeing that Fortune has brought me to a strait in which needs must my sort it might be done, I knew not how to surrender my will to yours. It
virtue be put to the ordeal, and, to my most grievous shame, 'tis found is true that Sophronia is my betrothed, and that I loved her much, and
wanting: whereof I confidently expect my due reward, to wit, death, had great cheer in expectation of the nuptials. But as you, being much
which will be more welcome to me than to live, haunted ever by the more discerning than I, do more fervently affect this rare prize, rest
memory of my baseness, which, as there is nought that from thee I assured that she will enter my chamber not mine but yours. Wherefore,
either should or can conceal, I, not without burning shame, will discover away with your moodiness, banish your melancholy, recover your lost
to thee." And so he recounted the whole story from first to last, the health, your heartiness and jollity, and gladsomely, even from this very
occasion of his melancholy, its several moods, their conflict, and with hour, anticipate the reward of your love, a love worthier far than mine."
which of them the victory rested, averring that he was dying of love for
Sophronia, and that, knowing how ill such love beseemed him, he had, Delightful as was the prospect with which hope flattered Titus, as he
for penance, elected to die, and deemed the end was now not far off. heard Gisippus thus speak, no less was the shame with which right
Gisippus, hearing his words and seeing his tears, for a while knew not reason affected him, admonishing him that the greater the liberality of
what to say, being himself smitten with the damsel's charms, albeit in a Gisippus, the less it would become him to profit thereby. Wherefore,
less degree than Titus; but ere long he made up his mind that Sophronia still weeping, he constrained himself to make answer: "Gisippus, your
must be less dear to him than his friend's life. generous and true friendship leaves me in no doubt as to the manner in
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