one. As he was
not of such noble birth as herself, he durst not reveal his affection,
for the love he bore her was so great and perfect that he would rather
have died than have desired aught to her dishonour. Seeing that he was
so greatly beneath her, he had no hope of marrying her; in his love,
therefore, his only purpose was to love her with all his strength and
as perfectly as he was able. This he did for so long a time that at last
she had some knowledge of it; and, seeing that the love he bore her
was so full of virtue and of good intent, she felt honoured by it, and
showed him in turn so much favour that he, who sought nothing better
than this, was well contented.

But malice, which is the enemy of all peace, could not suffer this
honourable and happy life to last, and certain persons spoke to the
maiden's mother of their amazement at this gentleman being thought so
much of in her house. They said that they suspected him of coming there
more on account of her daughter than of aught else, adding that he
had often been seen in converse with her. The mother, who doubted the
gentleman's honour as little as that of any of her own children, was
much distressed on hearing that his presence was taken in bad part, and,
dreading lest malicious tongues should cause a scandal, she entreated
that he would not for some time frequent her house as he had been wont
to do. He found this hard to bear, for he knew that his honourable
conversation with her daughter did not deserve such estrangement.
Nevertheless, in order to silence evil gossip, he withdrew until the
rumours had ceased; then he returned as before, his absence having in no
wise lessened his love.

One day, however, whilst he was in the house, he heard some talk of
marrying the damsel to a gentleman who did not seem to him to be so very
rich that he should be entitled to take his mistress from him. So he
began to pluck up courage, and engaged his friends to speak for him,
believing that, if the choice were left to the damsel, she would prefer
him to his rival. Nevertheless, the mother and kinsfolk chose the
other suitor, because he was much richer; whereupon the poor gentleman,
knowing his sweetheart to be as little pleased as himself, gave way to
such sorrow, that by degrees, and without any other distemper, he became
greatly changed, seeming as though he had covered the comeliness of his
face with the mask of that death, to which hour by hour he was joyously
hasten