, though after a fashion misbeseeming both thyself and
her, taken with love-liking, is a widow and her dowry is both great
and good; as for her manners and her father and mother, thou knowest
them, and of thy present state I say nothing. Wherefore, an thou will,
I purpose that, whereas she hath unlawfully been thy mistress, she
shall now lawfully become thy wife and that thou shalt abide here with
me and with her, as my very son, so long as it shall please thee.'

Now prison had mortified Giannotto's flesh, but had nothing abated the
generous spirit, which he derived from his noble birth, nor yet the
entire affection he bore his mistress; and albeit he ardently desired
that which Currado proffered him and saw himself in the latter's
power, yet no whit did he dissemble of that which the greatness of his
soul prompted him to say; wherefore he answered, 'Currado, neither
lust of lordship nor greed of gain nor other cause whatever hath ever
made me lay snares, traitor-wise, for thy life or thy good. I loved
and love thy daughter and still shall love her, for that I hold her
worthy of my love, and if I dealt with her less than honourably, in
the opinion of the vulgar, my sin was one which still goeth hand in
hand with youth and which an you would do away, it behoveth you first
do away with youth. Moreover, it is an offence which, would the old
but remember them of having been young and measure the defaults of
others by their own and their own by those of others, would show less
grievous than thou and many others make it; and as a friend, and not
as an enemy, I committed it. This that thou profferest me I have still
desired and had I thought it should be vouchsafed me, I had long since
sought it; and so much the dearer will it now be to me, as my hope
thereof was less. If, then, thou have not that intent which thy words
denote, feed me not with vain hope; but restore me to prison and there
torment me as thou wilt, for, so long as I love Spina, even so, for
the love of her, shall I still love thee, whatsoever thou dost with
me, and have thee in reverence.'

Currado, hearing this, marvelled and held him great of soul and his
love fervent and tendered him therefore the dearer; wherefore, rising
to his feet, he embraced him and kissed him and without more delay
bade privily bring Spina thither. Accordingly, the lady--who was grown
lean and pale and weakly in prison and showed well nigh another than
she was wont to be, as on like