art to her breast and
said, 'Abide ye with God, for I go hence.' Then, closing her eyes and
losing every sense, she departed this life of woe. Such, then, as you
have heard, was the sorrowful ending of the loves of Guiscardo and
Ghismonda, whose bodies Tancred, after much lamentation, too late
repenting him of his cruelty, caused honourably bury in one same
sepulchre, amid the general mourning of all the people of Salerno."

THE SECOND STORY

[Day the Fourth]

FRA ALBERTO GIVETH A LADY TO BELIEVE THAT THE ANGEL GABRIEL
IS ENAMOURED OF HER AND IN HIS SHAPE LIETH WITH HER SUNDRY
TIMES; AFTER WHICH, FOR FEAR OF HER KINSMEN, HE CASTETH
HIMSELF FORTH OF HER WINDOW INTO THE CANAL AND TAKETH REFUGE
IN THE HOUSE OF A POOR MAN, WHO ON THE MORROW CARRIETH HIM,
IN THE GUISE OF A WILD MAN OF THE WOODS, TO THE PIAZZA,
WHERE, BEING RECOGNIZED, HE IS TAKEN BY HIS BRETHREN AND PUT
IN PRISON

The story told by Fiammetta had more than once brought the tears to
the eyes of the ladies her companions; but, it being now finished, the
king with a stern countenance said, "My life would seem to me a little
price to give for half the delight that Guiscardo had with Ghismonda,
nor should any of you ladies marvel thereat, seeing that every hour of
my life I suffer a thousand deaths, nor for all that is a single
particle of delight vouchsafed me. But, leaving be my affairs for the
present, it is my pleasure that Pampinea follow on the order of the
discourse with some story of woeful chances and fortunes in part like
to mine own; which if she ensue like as Fiammetta hath begun, I shall
doubtless begin to feel some dew fallen upon my fire." Pampinea,
hearing the order laid upon her, more by her affection apprehended the
mind of the ladies her companions than that of Filostrato by his
words,[224] wherefore, being more disposed to give them some diversion
than to content the king, farther than in the mere letter of his
commandment, she bethought herself to tell a story, that should,
without departing from the proposed theme, give occasion for laughter,
and accordingly began as follows:

[Footnote 224: _i.e._ was more inclined to consider the wishes of the
ladies her companions, which she divined by sympathy, than those of
Filostrato, as shown by his words (_piu per la sua affezione cognobbe
l'animo delle campagne che quello del re per le sue parole_). It is
difficult, however, in this instance as i