Page 262 - THE DECAMERON: A Visionary Journey in 100 Stories and 100 Etchings by Petru Russu

guilty for love and friendship's sake: that Sophronia has secretly become Gisippus remained in Athens, held in little regard by nearly all the citizens.
The Decameron threats and hostile machinations. What more would you do if he had Involved in certain disputes, he and his household were soon banished
the wife of Titus Quintius. It is for this that you harass him with your

from the city, poor and destitute, and condemned to perpetual exile.
given her to a villein, a caitiff, a slave? Where would you find fetters,
dungeons, crosses adequate for your vengeance? But enough of this for
Reduced to mendicancy, he made his way to Rome, hoping to see if Titus
would remember him. Learning that Titus lived and was highly regarded
now: an unexpected event has occurred; my father is dead, and I must
return to Rome. Therefore, being eager to take Sophronia with me, I have
revealed to you what I might have kept secret. If you are wise, you will
waiting until Titus came by. Ashamed of his sorry state, he ventured no
gladly reconcile yourselves to this. If I had been minded to deceive you by all the Romans, Gisippus found his house and stood in front of it,
word but tried to be seen by Titus, hoping he would recognize him and
or put an affront upon you, I might have scornfully abandoned her to you. call him by name. However, Titus passed by, and Gisippus, thinking he
But God forbid that such baseness ever be harbored in a Roman breast. had been seen and avoided, recalled what he had done for Titus in the
Sophronia, then, by the will of the Gods, by force of law, and by my own past and went away angry and desperate. Fasting and penniless, and
love-taught astuteness, is mine. It seems that you, deeming yourselves now night, he wandered aimlessly, yearning for death. By chance, he
wiser than the Gods or the rest of mankind, foolishly disregard this in two came to a spot within the city that resembled a wilderness and, finding
ways most offensive to me: you both withhold Sophronia from me, in a spacious grotto, took shelter there for the night. Worn out with grief,
whom you have no right against me, and treat Gisippus as your enemy, he fell asleep on the bare ground, wretchedly clad as he was.
to whom you are rightfully bound. I do not intend to fully expound your
folly now, but I counsel you to abate your wrath, abandon all schemes Two men who had gone out thieving that night came to the grotto
of vengeance, and restore Sophronia to me, so that I may part from you towards morning after committing the theft. They quarreled, and the
on terms of amity and alliance. Rest assured that whether this, which is stronger man killed the other and fled. Aroused by the noise, Gisippus
done, pleases you or not, if you are minded to contravene it, I shall take witnessed the murder and, thinking he now had the means to achieve
Gisippus with me to Rome and, in your despite, find means to recover the death he longed for without suicide, stayed put. The sergeants of
her who is lawfully mine. Pursuing you with unremitting enmity, I will the court, having already got wind of the affair, arrived, seized him, and
make you experience the full measure and effect of a Roman's wrath." led him away. When examined, he confessed to the murder and said
he had been unable to escape from the grotto. The praetor, Marcus
Having said this, Titus sprang to his feet, his face contorted with anger, Varro, sentenced him to death by crucifixion, as was the custom. But
and took Gisippus by the hand. With clear contempt for the others, Titus, who happened to come into the praetorium at that moment, was
shaking his head at them and threatening them, he led Gisippus out of told the crime for which Gisippus was condemned. Scanning the poor
the temple. Those who remained in the temple, partly persuaded by his wretch's face, Titus recognized him as Gisippus and marveled at how he
arguments to accept his alliance and friendship, and partly terrified by had come to be there in such a woeful state. Desiring to save him and
his last words, resolved by common consent that it was better to have seeing no other way to do so except by accusing himself, Titus stepped
Titus's alliance, as they had lost that of Gisippus, than to add to that loss forward and said loudly: "Marcus Varro, call back the poor man on whom
the enmity of Titus. Therefore, they followed Titus and, having caught you have passed sentence, for he is innocent. It is enough that I have
up with him, told him they were pleased that Sophronia should be his incurred the wrath of the Gods by one deed of violence, the murder of
and that they valued his alliance and the friendship of dear Gisippus. the man your sergeants found dead this morning, without aggravating
After ratifying this treaty of amity and alliance with mutual cheer, they my offense by the death of another innocent man."
departed and sent Sophronia to Titus. Sophronia, discreetly making a
virtue of necessity, transferred her love from Gisippus to Titus and, upon Perplexed and vexed that he had been heard by all in the praetorium,
arriving in Rome with Titus, was received with great honor. but unable to avoid compliance with the law, Varro had Gisippus brought
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