on whom they bestow their courtesies
buy them, ere they have done with them, for more than their worth;
wherefore, if no reward ensue to them thereof, neither themselves nor
others should marvel thereat."

THE TENTH STORY

[Day the Tenth]

THE MARQUESS OF SALUZZO, CONSTRAINED BY THE PRAYERS OF HIS
VASSALS TO MARRY, BUT DETERMINED TO DO IT AFTER HIS OWN
FASHION, TAKETH TO WIFE THE DAUGHTER OF A PEASANT AND HATH
OF HER TWO CHILDREN, WHOM HE MAKETH BELIEVE TO HER TO PUT TO
DEATH; AFTER WHICH, FEIGNING TO BE GROWN WEARY OF HER AND TO
HAVE TAKEN ANOTHER WIFE, HE LETTETH BRING HIS OWN DAUGHTER
HOME TO HIS HOUSE, AS SHE WERE HIS NEW BRIDE, AND TURNETH
HIS WIFE AWAY IN HER SHIFT; BUT, FINDING HER PATIENT UNDER
EVERYTHING, HE FETCHETH HER HOME AGAIN, DEARER THAN EVER,
AND SHOWING HER HER CHILDREN GROWN GREAT, HONOURETH AND
LETTETH HONOUR HER AS MARCHIONESS

The king's long story being ended and having, to all appearance, much
pleased all, Dioneo said, laughing, "The good man,[478] who looked
that night to abase the phantom's tail upright,[479] had not given a
brace of farthings of all the praises that you bestow on Messer
Torello." Then, knowing that it rested with him alone to tell, he
proceeded: "Gentle ladies mine, it appeareth to me that this day hath
been given up to Kings and Soldans and the like folk; wherefore, that
I may not remove overfar from you, I purpose to relate to you of a
marquess, not an act of magnificence, but a monstrous folly, which,
albeit good ensued to him thereof in the end, I counsel not any to
imitate, for it was a thousand pities that weal betided him thereof.

[Footnote 478: _i.e._ he who was to have married Madam Adalieta.]

[Footnote 479: See p. 325.]

It is now a great while agone since the chief of the house among the
Marquesses of Saluzzo was a youth called Gualtieri, who, having
neither wife nor children, spent his time in nought but hunting and
hawking nor had any thought of taking a wife nor of having children;
wherein he deserved to be reputed very wise. The thing, however, not
pleasing his vassals, they besought him many times to take a wife, so
he might not abide without an heir nor they without a lord, and
offered themselves to find him one of such a fashion and born of such
parents that good hopes might be had of her and he be well content
with her; whereto he answered, 'My friends, you constrain me unto that
whi