larly told them, what had chaunced till that time, to
the great maruell and admiration of them that heard him, and
then added these woordes: "By meanes whereof, if your minde be
not chaunged within this litle time, and specially master
Nicholas, of good right she is my wife, and none by iust title
can clayme hir." Whereunto none at al made answere, looking that
he shoulde haue proceeded further. In the meane while Nicholas
and the rest that were there, fell into earnest weepinge. But
maister Gentil, rising from the borde and taking in his armes
the little childe, and the gentlewoman by the hand, went
towardes Nicholas, and sayd vnto him: "Rise vp sir gossip, I do
not restore vnto thee thy Wife, whom thy frends and householde
did cast into the Streat, but I will geue thee this Gentlewoman
my Gossip, with the litle childe, that is, as I am assured
begotten of thee, for whom at the christening I made answere and
promise, and called him Gentil, and do pray thee that she be no
lesse esteemed of thee now (for being in my house almost three
moneths) than she was before. For I swere by the almighty God,
who made me in loue with hir, (peraduenture that my loue might
be the cause of hir preseruation) that she neuer liued more
honestly with hir father, mother, or with thee, than she hath
done in company of my mother." When he had sayd so, he returned
towards the Gentlewoman, and sayd vnto hir: "Maistresse, from
this time forth, I discharge you of the promise which you haue
made me, and leaue you to your husband franke and free." And
when he had bestowed the gentlewoman, and the chylde in the
fathers armes, he returned to his place agayne. Nicholas
ioyfully receyued his Wyfe and childe, for the whych so mutch
the more he reioysed, as hee was furthest of from hope of hir
recouery, rendering inumerable thankes to the Knight and the
rest, and moued with compassion hee wept for company, greatly
praysing maister Gentil for that act, who was commended of ech
man that heard the reporte thereof. The Gentlewoman was receiued
into hir house wyth maruellous ioye: And longe tyme after she
was gazed vpon by the Citizens of Bologna, as a thing to their
great wonder reuiued agayne. Afterwards Maister Gentil continued
styll a friend vnto Nicholas, and vnto hys Wyfe and Chyldren.

THE TWENTIETH NOUELL.

_Saladine in the habite of a Marchaunt, was honourably receyued into
the house of mayster Thorello, who went ouer the Sea, in company