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happened one morning early, that Giannetto faw a gulph, with a fine port, and asked the captain how the port was called? He replied, That place belongs to a widow lady, who has ruined many gentlemen. In what manner? fays Giannetto. He answered, This lady is a fine and beautiful woman, and has made a law, that whoever arrives here is obliged to go to bed with her, and if he can have the enjoyment of her, he must take her for his wife, and be lord of all the country; but if he cannot enjoy her, he lofes every thing he has brought with him. Giannetto, after a little reflection, tells the captain to get into the port. He was obeyed; and in an inftant they flide into the port so easily, that the other fhips perceived nothing.

The lady was foon informed of it, and fent for Giannetto, who waited on her immediately. She, taking him by the hand, asked him who he was? whence he came ? and if he knew the custom of the country? He answered, That the knowledge of that custom was his only reafon for coming. The lady paid him great honours, and fent for barons, counts, and knights in great number, who were her fubjects, to keep Giannetto company. Thefe nobles were highly delighted with the good breeding and manners of Giannetto; and all would have rejoiced to have him for their lord.

The night being come, the lady faid, it seems to be time to go to bed. Giannetto told the lady, he was entirely devoted to her fervice; and immediately two damsels enter with wine and fweet meats. The lady entreats him to tafte the wine: he takes the sweet meats, and drinks fome of the wine, which was prepared with ingredients to caufe fleep. He then goes into the bed, where he inftantly falls asleep, and never wakes till late in the morning; but the lady role with the fun, and gave orders to unload the veffel, which the found full of rich merchandize. After nine o'clock, the women fervants go to the bed fide, order Giannetto to rife and begone, for he had loft the fhip. The lady gave him a horfe and money, and he leaves the place very melancholy, and goes to Venice. When he arrives, he dares not return home for fhame; but at night goes to the house of a friend, who is furprised to fee him, and enquires of him the cause of his return? He answers, his fhip had ftruck on a rock in

the night, and was broke in pieces.

This friend, going one day to make a vifit to Anfaldo, found him very difconfolate. I fear, fays Anfaldo, so much, that this fon of mine is dead, that I have no reft. His friend told him, that he had been fhipwreckt, and had loft his all, but that he himself was fafe. Anfaldo inftantly gets up, and runs to find him. My dear fon, says he, you need not fear my difpleafure; it is a common accident; trouble yourself no further. He takes him home, all the way telling him to be chearful and easy.

The news was foon known all over Venice, and every one was concerned for Giannetto. Some time after, his companions arriving from Alexandria very rich, demanded what was become of their friend, and having heard the ftory, ran to fee him, and rejoiced with him for his safety; telling him that next fpring he might gain as much as he had loft the last. But Giannetto had no other thoughts than of his return to the lady; and was refolved to marry her, or die. Anfaldo told him frequently, not to be caft down. Giannetto faid, he fhould never be happy, till he was at liberty to make another voyage. Anfaldo provided another fhip of more value than the firft. He again entered the port of Belmonte, end the lady looking on the port from her bedchamber, and feeing the ship, asked her maid, if she knew the streamers? the maid faid, it was the ship of the young man who arrived the last year. You are in the right, anfwered the lady; he muft furely have a great regard for me, for never any one came a fecond time: the maid said, the had never feen a more agreeable man. He went to the caftle, and prefented himself to the lady; who, as foon as the faw him, embraced him, and the day was paffed in joy and revels. Bed-time being come, the lady entreated him to go to reft: when they were feated in the chamber, the two damfels enter with wine and fweet-meats; and having eat and drank of them, they go to bed, and immediately Giannetto falls afleep, the lady undreffed, and lay down by his fide; but he waked not the whole night. In the morning, the lady rifes, and gives orders to ftrip the ship. He has a horse and money given to him, and away he goes, and never stops till he gets to Venice; and at night goes

to the fame friend, who with astonishment asked him, what was the matter? I am undone, fays Giannetto. His friend anfwered, You are the cause of the ruin of Anfaldo, snd your fhame ought to be greater than the lofs you have fuffered. Giannetto lived privately many days. At laft be took a refolution of feeing Anfaldo, who rose from his chair, and running to embrace him, told him he was welcome: Giannetto with tears r.turned his embraces. Anfaldo, heard his tale: Do not grieve, my dear son, says he, we have ftill enough: the fea enriches fome men, others it ruins.

Poor Giannetto's head was day and night full of the thoughts of his bad fuccefs. When Anfaido enquired what was the matter, he confeffed, he could never be contented till he should be in a condition to regain all that he loft. When Anfaldo found him refolved, he began to fell every thing he had, to furnish this other fine ship with merchandize: but, as he wanted ftill ten thousand ducats, he applied himself to a Jew at Meri, and borrowed them on condition, that if they were not paid on the feaft of St. John in the next month of June, that the Jew might take a pound of flesh from any part of his body he pleafed. Anfaldo agreed, and the Jew had an obligation drawn, and witneffed, with all the form and ceremony neceffary: and then counted him the ten thoufand ducats of gold; with which Anfaldo bought what was ftill wanting for the veffel. This laft fhip was finer and better freighted than the other two, and his companions made ready for the voyage, with a defign that whatever they gained fhould be for their friend. When it was time to depart, Anfaldo told Giannetto, that fince he well knew of the obligation to the Jew, he entreated, that if any misfortune happened, he would return to Venice, that he might fee him before he died; and then he could leave the world with fatisfaction: Giannetto promised to do every thing that he conceived might give him pleasure. Anfaldo gave him his bleffing, they took their leave, and the fhips fet out.

Giannetto had nothing in his head but to fteal into Belmonte; and he prevailed with one of the failors in the night to fail the veffel into the port. It was told the lady, that

Giannetto was arrived in port. She faw from the window the veffel, and immediately fent for him.

Giannetto goes to the cattle, the day is fpent in joy and feafting; and to honour him, a tournament is ordered, and many barons and knights tilted that day. Giannetto did wonders, fo well did he understand the lance, and was fo graceful a figure on horfeback: he pleased so much, that all were defirous to have him for their lord.

The lady, when it was the ufual time, catching him by the hand, begged him to take his reft. When he paffed the door of the chamber, one of the damfels in a whisper faid to him, Make a pretence to drink the liquor, but touch not one drop. The lady faid, I know you must be thirsty, I must have you drink before you go to bed: immediately two damfels entered the room, and prefented the wine. Who can refufe wine from fuch beautiful hands? cries Giannetto: at which the lady smiled. Giannetto takes the cup, and making as if he had drank, pours the wine into his bofom. The lady thinking he had drank, fays afide to herself with great joy, You must go, young man, and bring another fhip, for this is condemned. Giannetto went to bed, and began to fnore as if he flept foundly. The lady perceiving this, laid herself down by his fide. Giannetto lofes no time, but turning to the lady, embraces her, faying, Now am I in poffeffion of my utmost wishes. When Giannetto came out of his chamber, he was knighted, and placed in the chair of ftate; had the fcepter put into his hand, and was proclaimed fovereign of the country, with great pomp and fplendour; and when the lords and ladies were come to the caftle, he married the lady in great ceremony.

Giannetto governed excellently, and caufed juftice to be administered impartially. He continued fome time in this happy ftate, and never entertained a thought of poor Anfaldo, who had given his bond to the Jew for ten thousand ducats. But one day, as he stood at the window of the palace with his bride, he faw a number of people pass along the piazza, with lighted torches in their hands. What is the meaning of this? fays he. The lady answered, They are artificers going to make their offerings at the church of St. John, this day being his feftival. Giannetto instantly recollected Anfaldo, gave a great figh, and turned pale.

His lady enquired the cause of his fudden change. He said, he felt nothing. She continued to preis with great earnestnefs, till he was obliged to confefs the caufe of his uneafinefs, that Anfaldo was engaged for the money, that the term was expired; and the grief he was in was left his father should lofe his life for him: that if the ten thoufand ducats were not paid that day, he muft lofe a pound of his flesh. The lady told him to mount on horfeback, and go by land the nearest way, to take fome attendants, and an hundred thousand ducats; and not to stop, till he arrived at Venice and if he was not dead, to endeavour to bring Anfaldo to her. Giannetto takes horfe with twenty attendants, and makes the best of his way to Venice.

The time being expired, the Jew had seized Anfaldo, and infifted on having a pound of his flesh. He entreated him only to wait fome days, that if his dear Giannetto arrived, he might have the pleasure of embracing him: the Jew replied he was willing to wait, but, fays he, I will cut off the pound of flesh, according to the words of the obligation: Anfaldo anfwered, that he was content.

Several merchants would have jointly paid the money; the Jew would not hearken to the propofal, but infifted that he might have the fatisfaction of faying, that he had put to death the greatest of the Chriftian merchants. Ciannetto making all poffible hafte to Venice, his lady foon followed him in a lawyer's habit, with two fervants attending her. Giannetto, when he came to Venice, goes to the Jew, and (after embracing Anfaldo) tells him, he is ready to pay the money, and as much more as he should demand. The Jew faid, he would take no money, fince it was not paid at the time due; but that he would have the pound of flesh. Every one blamed the Jew: but as Venice was a place where juftice was ftrictly administered, and the Jew had his pretenfions grounded on public and received forms, their only refource was entreaty: and when the merchants of Venice applied to him, he was inflexible. Giannetto offered him twenty thousand, then thirty thousand, afterwards forty, fifty, and at laft an hundred thousand ducats. The Jew told him, if he would give him as much gold as Venice was worth, he would not accept it; fays he, you know little of

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