row. Perdicone and Lisa's
father and mother, well pleased, (as indeed was she herself,) held
high festival and joyous nuptials; and according as many avouch, the
king very faithfully kept his covenant with the damsel, for that,
whilst she lived, he still styled himself her knight nor ever went
about any deed of arms but he wore none other favour than that which
was sent him of her. It is by doing, then, on this wise that subjects'
hearts are gained, that others are incited to do well and that eternal
renown is acquired; but this is a mark at which few or none nowadays
bend the bow of their understanding, most princes being presently
grown cruel and tyrannical."

THE EIGHTH STORY

[Day the Tenth]

SOPHRONIA, THINKING TO MARRY GISIPPUS, BECOMETH THE WIFE OF
TITUS QUINTIUS FULVUS AND WITH HIM BETAKETH HERSELF TO ROME,
WHITHER GISIPPUS COMETH IN POOR CASE AND CONCEIVING HIMSELF
SLIGHTED OF TITUS, DECLARETH, SO HE MAY DIE, TO HAVE SLAIN A
MAN. TITUS, RECOGNIZING HIM, TO SAVE HIM, AVOUCHETH HIMSELF
TO HAVE DONE THE DEED, AND THE TRUE MURDERER, SEEING THIS,
DISCOVERETH HIMSELF; WHEREUPON THEY ARE ALL THREE LIBERATED
BY OCTAVIANUS AND TITUS, GIVING GISIPPUS HIS SISTER TO WIFE,
HATH ALL HIS GOOD IN COMMON WITH HIM

Pampinea having left speaking and all having commended King Pedro, the
Ghibelline lady more than the rest, Fiammetta, by the king's
commandment, began thus, "Illustrious ladies, who is there knoweth not
that kings, when they will, can do everything great and that it is, to
boot, especially required of them that they be magnificent? Whoso,
then, having the power, doth that which pertaineth unto him, doth
well; but folk should not so much marvel thereat nor exalt him to such
a height with supreme praise as it would behove them do with another,
of whom, for lack of means, less were required. Wherefore, if you with
such words extol the actions of kings and they seem to you fair, I
doubt not anywise but those of our peers, whenas they are like unto or
greater than those of kings, will please you yet more and be yet
highlier commended of you, and I purpose accordingly to recount to
you, in a story, the praiseworthy and magnanimous dealings of two
citizens and friends with each other.

You must know, then, that at the time when Octavianus Caesar (not yet
styled Augustus) ruled the Roman empire in the office called
Triumvirate, there was in Rome a gentleman called Pu