ry gained by him over King Manfred, the Ghibellines were expelled
from Florence and the Guelphs returned thither. In consequence of this
a certain gentleman, called Messer Neri degli Uberti, departing the
city with all his household and much monies and being minded to take
refuge no otherwhere than under the hand of King Charles, betook
himself to Castellamare di Stabia.[457] There, belike a crossbowshot
removed from the other habitations of the place, among olive-trees
and walnuts and chestnuts, wherewith the country aboundeth, he bought
him an estate and built thereon a goodly and commodious
dwelling-house, with a delightsome garden thereby, amiddleward which,
having great plenty of running water, he made, after our country
fashion, a goodly and clear fishpond and lightly filled it with good
store of fish. Whilst he concerned himself to make his garden goodlier
every day, it befell that King Charles repaired to Castellamare, to
rest himself awhile in the hot season, and there hearing tell of the
beauty of Messer Neri's garden, he desired to behold it. Hearing,
moreover, to whom it belonged, he bethought himself that, as the
gentleman was of the party adverse to his own, it behoved to deal the
more familiarly with him, and accordingly sent to him to say that he
purposed to sup with him privily in his garden that evening, he and
four companions. This was very agreeable to Messer Neri, and having
made magnificent preparation and taken order with his household of
that which was to do, he received the king in his fair garden as
gladliest he might and knew. The latter, after having viewed and
commended all the garden and Messer Neri's house and washed, seated
himself at one of the tables, which were set beside the fishpond, and
seating Count Guy de Montfort, who was of his company, on one side of
him and Messer Neri on the other, commanded other three, who were come
thither with them, to serve according to the order appointed of his
host. Thereupon there came dainty meats and there were wines of the
best and costliest and the ordinance was exceeding goodly and
praiseworthy, without noise or annoy whatsoever, the which the king
much commended.

[Footnote 457: A town on the Bay of Naples, near the ruins of
Pompeii.]

Presently, as he sat blithely at meat, enjoying the solitary place,
there entered the garden two young damsels of maybe fifteen years of
age, with hair like threads of gold, all ringleted and hanging loose,
wh