ter his good graces and with exceeding
great rejoicing received her and his son-in-law, whom he a little
after made a knight with the utmost honour and gave him the Earldom of
Cornwall. In this capacity he approved himself a man of such parts and
made shift to do on such wise that he reconciled the son with his
father, whereof there ensued great good to the island, and thereby he
gained the love and favour of all the people of the country.

Moreover, Agolante thoroughly recovered all that was there due to him
and his brethren and returned to Florence, rich beyond measure, having
first been knighted by Count Alessandro. The latter lived long and
gloriously with his lady, and according as some avouch, what with his
wit and valour and the aid of his father-in-law, he after conquered
Scotland and was crowned King thereof."

THE FOURTH STORY

[Day the Second]

LANDOLFO RUFFOLO, GROWN POOR, TURNETH CORSAIR AND BEING
TAKEN BY THE GENOESE, IS WRECKED AT SEA, BUT SAVETH HIMSELF
UPON A COFFER FULL OF JEWELS OF PRICE AND BEING ENTERTAINED
IN CORFU BY A WOMAN, RETURNETH HOME RICH

Lauretta, who sat next Pampinea, seeing her come to the glorious
ending of her story, began, without awaiting more, to speak on this
wise: "Most gracious ladies, there can, to my judgment, be seen no
greater feat of fortune than when we behold one raised from the lowest
misery to royal estate, even as Pampinea's story hath shown it to have
betided her Alessandro. And for that from this time forth whosoever
relateth of the appointed matter must of necessity speak within these
limits,[91] I shall think no shame to tell a story, which, albeit it
compriseth in itself yet greater distresses hath not withal so
splendid an issue. I know well, indeed, that, having regard unto that,
my story will be hearkened with less diligence; but, as I can no
otherwise, I shall be excused.

[Footnote 91: _i.e._ cannot hope to tell a story presenting more
extraordinary shifts from one to the other extreme of human fortune
than that of Pampinea.]

The sea-coast from Reggio to Gaeta is commonly believed to be well
nigh the most delightful part of Italy, and therein, pretty near
Salerno, is a hillside overlooking the sea, which the countryfolk call
Amalfi Side, full of little towns and gardens and springs and of men
as rich and stirring in the matter of trade as any in the world. Among
the said cities is one called Ravello and therein, albeit n