Page 260 - THE DECAMERON: A Visionary Journey in 100 Stories and 100 Etchings by Petru Russu

The Decameron Now Titus and Sophronia being after this sort wedded, Publius, the we and our affairs are swayed and governed with uniform and unerring
father of Titus, departed this life. For which cause Titus was bidden
wisdom. Whereby you may very readily understand how vain and foolish
a presumption it is to pass judgment on their doings, and what manner
by letter to return forthwith to Rome to see to his affairs. Wherefore
and might of chains they need who suffer themselves to be transported
he took counsel with Gisippus on how he might take Sophronia thither
to such excess of daring. Among whom, in my judgment, you must
with him, which might not well be done without giving her to know how
one and all be numbered, if it is true, what I hear, to wit, that you have
matters stood. Whereof, accordingly, one day, having called her into
the chamber, they fully apprised her, Titus for her better assurance
bringing to her recollection not a little of what had passed between
her to Gisippus, is, nevertheless, become my wife; not considering that
it was ordained from all eternity that she should become, not the wife
them. Whereat she, after glancing from one to the other somewhat complained and do continue to complain that Sophronia, albeit you gave
disdainfully, burst into a flood of tears and reproached Gisippus that of Gisippus, but mine, as the fact does now declare.
he had so deluded her. Forthwith, saying nothing of the matter to any
there, she hied her forth of Gisippus' house and home to her father, to "But, for that discourse of the secret providence and purposes of the
whom and her mother she recounted the deceit which Gisippus had Gods seems to many a matter hard and scarce to be understood, I am
practiced upon them as upon her, averring that she was the wife not willing to assume that they meddle in no wise with our concerns, and to
of Gisippus, as they supposed, but of Titus. Whereby her father was descend to the region of human counsels; in speaking whereof I must
aggrieved exceedingly, and prolonged and grave complaint was made needs do two things quite at variance with my wont, to wit, in some
thereof by him and his own and Gisippus' families, and there was not degree praise myself and censure or vilify another. But, as in either
a little parleying and a world of pother. Gisippus earned the hatred of case I mean not to deviate from the truth, and it is what the occasion
both his own and Sophronia's kin, and all agreed that he merited not demands, I shall not fail so to do. With bitter upbraidings, animated rather
only censure but severe punishment. He, however, averred that he had by rage than by reason, you cease not to murmur, nay, to cry out, against
done a thing seemly, and that Sophronia's kinsfolk owed him thanks for Gisippus, and to harass him with your abuse, and hold him condemned,
giving her in marriage to one better than himself. for that her, whom you saw fit to give him, he has seen fit to give me, to
wife; wherein I deem him worthy of the highest commendation, and that
All which Titus witnessed with great suffering, and knowing that it was for two reasons, first, because he has done the office of a friend, and
the way of the Greeks to launch forth in high words and menaces, secondly, because he has done more wisely than you did. After what sort
and refrain not until they should meet with one that answered them, the sacred laws of friendship prescribe that friend shall entreat friend,
whereupon they were wont to grow not only humble but even abject, was it is not to my present purpose to declare; it will suffice to remind you
at length minded that their clavers should no longer pass unanswered. As that the tie of friendship should be more binding than that of blood, or
with his Roman temper he united Athenian subtlety, he cleverly contrived kinship; seeing that our friends are of our own choosing, whereas our
to bring the kinsfolk, as well of Gisippus as of Sophronia, together in a kinsfolk are appointed us by Fortune; wherefore, if my life was more
temple. Being entered, attended only by Gisippus, thus (they being intent to Gisippus than your goodwill, since I am, as I hold myself, his friend,
to hear) he harangued them: "'Tis the opinion of not a few philosophers can any wonder thereat?
that whatsoever mortals do is ordained by the providence of the immortal
Gods; for which cause some would have it that nothing either is, or ever "But pass we to my second reason; in the exposition whereof I must
shall be, done, save of necessity, albeit others there are that restrict this needs with yet more cogency prove to you that he has been wiser than
necessity to that which is already done. Regard we but these opinions you, seeing that, methinks, you know nothing of the providence of the
with some little attention, and we shall very plainly perceive that to Gods, and still less of the consequences of friendship. I say then, that,
censure that which cannot be undone is nothing else but to be minded as it was your premeditated and deliberate choice that gave Sophronia
to show oneself wiser than the Gods; by whom we must suppose that to this young philosopher Gisippus, so it was his that gave her to another
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