Page 263 - THE DECAMERON: A Visionary Journey in 100 Stories and 100 Etchings by Petru Russu

back. In the presence of Titus, he said to Gisippus: "How came you to
be so mad as to confess a deed you never did, your life being at stake? Partly because of his banishment from his city and partly because the
You said you killed the man last night, and now this other says it was sweet friendship of Titus was justly dear to him, Gisippus consented to
not you but he who killed him." Gisippus, seeing Titus, knew well that become a Roman. And so, they lived long and happily together in Rome,
Titus, grateful for past services, was now minded to save his life at the Gisippus with his Fulvia and Titus with his Sophronia, in the same house,
cost of his own. Affected to tears, Gisippus said: "Nay but, Varro, in very growing, if possible, greater friends day by day.
truth, I killed him, and it is now too late, this tender solicitude of Titus for
my deliverance." But Titus said: "Praetor, you see this man is a stranger Exceedingly sacred, then, is friendship, and worthy not only to be held in
and was found unarmed beside the murdered man. You cannot doubt veneration but to be extolled with never-ending praise as the most dutiful
that he was fain of death for very wretchedness. Discharge him, and mother of magnificence and seemliness, sister of gratitude and charity,
let punishment fall on me, who have merited it." and foe to enmity and avarice. Ever, without waiting to be asked, ready
to do as generously by another as she would be done by herself. Rarely
Marveling at the importunity of both, Varro surmised that neither was indeed is it today that two are found in whom her most holy fruits are
guilty. While he was considering how to acquit them, a young man named manifest. For which is most shamefully answerable the covetousness of
Publius Ambustus, a desperate character known to all the Romans as mankind, which, regarding only private interest, has banished friendship
an arrant thief, entered. He had committed the murder and, knowing beyond earth's farthest bounds, there to abide in perpetual exile. How
both men were innocent, was so sore at heart by their innocence that, should love, wealth, or kinship, how should anything but friendship have
overborne by great compassion, he presented himself before Varro and so quickened the soul of Gisippus that the tears and sighs of Titus should
said: "Praetor, destiny draws me here to resolve these men's contention. incline his heart to cede to him the fair and gracious lady that was his
Some God within me leaves me no peace with his whips and stings betrothed and beloved? Laws, threats, terror! How should these, how
until I confess my offense. Know that neither of these men is guilty of should anything but friendship, have withheld Gisippus, in lonely places,
what each accuses himself. It was I who killed the man this morning in hidden retreats, in his own bed, from embracing the fair damsel within
around daybreak. Before I killed him, while sharing our plunder, I saw his youthful arms? Honors, rewards, gains! Would Gisippus for these,
this poor fellow asleep there. I need not say anything to clear Titus; his would he for anything but friendship, have made nothing of the loss of
illustrious renown attests that he is not a man of such a sort. Discharge kindred, his own and Sophronia's, have made nothing of the injurious
him, therefore, and exact from me the penalty prescribed by the laws." murmurs of the populace, have made nothing of mocks and scorns,
so only he might content his friend? And on the other hand, for what
The affair had by this time come to the ears of Octavianus, who caused other cause than friendship had Titus, when he might decently have
all three to be brought before him and demanded to know the reasons pretended not to see, have striven with the utmost zeal to compass his
why they had each accused themselves. After hearing their stories, own death and set himself upon the cross in Gisippus's stead? And what
Octavianus released the two because of their innocence and the third but friendship had left no place for suspicion in the soul of Titus and filled
out of love for them. Titus took Gisippus home, having first chided him it with a most fervent desire to give his sister to Gisippus, albeit he saw
not a little for his faint-heartedness and diffidence. There, Sophronia him reduced to extreme penury and destitution? But so it is that men
received him as a brother and made him feel very welcome. After covet hosts of acquaintances, troops of kinsfolk, offspring in plenty; and
comforting him for a while and dressing him in apparel befitting his the number of their dependents increases with their wealth. They do not
worth and birth, Titus shared all his substance with him and then gave reflect that there is none of these, be he who he may, but will be more
him his sister, a young damsel named Fulvia, as a wife. He said to him: apprehensive of the least peril threatening himself than concerned to
"Choose now, Gisippus, whether you will stay here with me or go back avert a great peril from his lord or kinsman, whereas between friends
to Achaia with all that I have given you." we know it is quite the opposite.
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