eard
of this, he came to him and having, by dint of many and urgent
prayers, learned the cause of his grief and his sickness, upbraided
him sore for that he had not before told it to him and after besought
him to be comforted, assuring him that, if he would but take heart, he
would so contrive that he should be in Pavia at the appointed term and
told him how. Messer Torello, putting faith in Saladin's words and
having many a time heard say that this was possible and had indeed
been often enough done, began to take comfort and pressed Saladin to
despatch. The Soldan accordingly charged a nigromancer of his, of
whose skill he had aforetime made proof, to cast about for a means
whereby Messer Torello should be in one night transported upon a bed
to Pavia, to which the magician replied that it should be done, but
that, for the gentleman's own weal, he must put him to sleep.

This done, Saladin returned to Messer Torello and finding him
altogether resolved to seek at any hazard to be in Pavia at the term
appointed, if it were possible, and in default thereof, to die,
bespoke him thus; 'Messer Torello, God knoweth that I neither will nor
can anywise blame you if you tenderly love your lady and are fearful
of her becoming another's, for that, of all the women I ever saw, she
it is whose manners, whose fashions and whose demeanour, (leaving be
her beauty, which is but a short-lived flower,) appear to me most
worthy to be commended and held dear. It had been very grateful to me,
since fortune hath sent you hither, that we should have passed
together, as equal masters in the governance of this my realm, such
time as you and I have to live, and if this was not to be vouchsafed
me of God, it being fated that you should take it to heart to seek
either to die or to find yourself in Pavia at the appointed term, I
should above all have desired to know it in time, that I might have
you transported to your house with such honour, such magnificence and
in such company as your worth meriteth. However, since this hath not
been vouchsafed and you desire to be presently there, I will e'en, as
I may, despatch you thither after the fashion whereof I have bespoken
you.' 'My lord,' replied Messer Torello, 'your acts, without your
words, have given me sufficient proof of your favour, which I have
never merited in such supreme degree, and of that which you say,
though you had not said it, I shall live and die most assured; but,
since I have taken