Page 267 - THE DECAMERON: A Visionary Journey in 100 Stories and 100 Etchings by Petru Russu

you obedience. But I pray God that He bring neither you nor me to such
Thus parted Saladin and his company from Messer Torello, Saladin burning a strait yet a while." Which said, the lady wept, and having embraced
with an exceeding great desire, if life should be continued to him, and the Messer Torello, drew from her finger a ring, and gave it to him, saying:
war, which he anticipated, should not undo him, to show Messer Torello "Should it happen that I die before I see you again, mind you of me, when
no less honor than he had received at his hands. Conversing not a little you look upon it."
with his lords both of Messer Torello himself and of his lady, and all that
he did and that in any wise concerned him, ever more highly commending Messer Torello took the ring, got on his horse, and, having bidden all
them. However, having with much diligence spied out the entire West, farewell, set forth on his journey. Arriving with his company at Genoa, he
he put to sea and returned with his company to Alexandria. Having now embarked on a galley and soon arrived at Acre, joining the main Christian
all needful information, he put himself in a posture of defense. Messer host. There, an exceedingly great and mortal sickness broke out, during
Torello, his mind full of his late guests, returned to Pavia; but, though he which, whether owing to Saladin's strategy or his good fortune, he easily
long pondered who they might be, he came never at or anywhere near captured nearly all the remaining Christians who had escaped. These
the truth. captives, including Messer Torello, were quartered in various prisons in
many cities. Messer Torello was brought to Alexandria and confined there.
Then with great and general mustering of forces came the time for Not being known and fearing to make himself known, he applied himself
embarking on the emprise, and Messer Torello, heeding not the tearful to the training of hawks, of which he was a great master. This brought
entreaties of his wife, resolved to join therein. So, being fully equipped him to the notice of Saladin, who took him out of prison and made him
and about to take horse, he said to his lady, whom he most dearly loved: his falconer. The Sultan called him by no other name than "Christian," and
"Wife, for honor's sake and for the weal of my soul, I go, as you see, on this neither recognized nor was recognized by him. Torello, his whole soul
emprise: our substance and our honor I commend to your care. Certain ever in Pavia, tried many times to escape and return there but without
I am of my departure, but, for the thousand accidents that may ensue, success. Certain Genoese ambassadors, who had come to Alexandria for
certitude have I none of my return: wherefore I would have you do me the redemption of some of their townsfolk, were about to return. Torello
this grace, that, whatever be my fate, should you lack certain intelligence resolved to write to his lady, informing her that he lived and would return
that I live, you will expect me a year and a month and a day from this as soon as possible, and that she should expect his return. He earnestly
my departure, before you marry again." Whereupon the lady, weeping besought one of the ambassadors, whom he knew, to ensure the letter
bitterly, made answer: "Messer Torello, I know not how I shall support the reached the hands of the Abbot of San Pietro in Ciel d'Oro, his uncle.
distress in which, thus departing, you leave me; but should my life not fail
beneath it, and aught befall you, live and die secure that I shall live and One day, while talking with Saladin about his hawks, Torello smiled,
die the wife of Messer Torello, and of his memory." Whereupon: "Wife," shaping his mouth in a way Saladin had noted while in Pavia. Recalling
returned Messer Torello, "well assured I am that, so far as in you shall Messer Torello, Saladin fixed his gaze upon him and recognized him.
lie, this promise of yours will be kept; but you are young, and fair, and Leaving their conversation, Saladin asked: "Tell me, Christian, of what
of a great family, and your virtue is rare and generally known: wherefore country are you in the West?" Torello replied: "My lord, I am a Lombard, of
I make no doubt that, should there be any suspicion of my death, you a city called Pavia, a poor man, and of humble condition." Saladin, nearly
will be asked of your brothers and kinsmen by many a great gentleman: certain of his suspicion, joyfully thought to himself: "God has provided me
against whose attacks, though you desire it never so, you will not be able with an occasion to prove to this man what store I set by his courtesy."
to hold out, but will perforce be fain to gratify one or other of them; for Without another word, he brought Torello into a room where he kept all
which cause it is that I ask you to wait just so long and no longer." "As I his wearing apparel and said: "Look, Christian, if among these robes there
have said," replied the lady, "so, in so far as I may, I shall do; and if I must be any that you have ever seen before." Torello examined the robes and
needs do otherwise, rest assured that of this your behest I shall render recognized those his lady had given to Saladin but, deeming they could
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