wise Giannotto another man--being come,
the two lovers in Currado's presence with one consent contracted
marriage according to our usance. Then, after some days, during which
he had let furnish the newly-married pair with all that was necessary
or agreeable to them, he deemed it time to gladden their mothers with
the good news and accordingly calling his lady and Cavriuola, he said
to the latter, 'What would you say, madam, an I should cause you have
again your elder son as the husband of one of my daughters?' Whereto
she answered, 'Of that I can say to you no otherwhat than that, could
I be more beholden to you than I am, I should be so much the more so
as you would have restored to me that which is dearer to me than mine
own self; and restoring it to me on such wise as you say, you would in
some measure re-awaken in me my lost hope.' With this, she held her
peace, weeping, and Currado said to his lady, 'And thou, mistress, how
wouldst thou take it, were I to present thee with such a son-in-law?'
The lady replied, 'Even a common churl, so he pleased you, would
please me, let alone one of these,[109] who are men of gentle birth.'
'Then,' said Currado, 'I hope, ere many days, to make you happy women
in this.'

[Footnote 109: _i.e._ Beritola's sons.]

Accordingly, seeing the two young folk now restored to their former
cheer, he clad them sumptuously and said to Giusfredi, 'Were it not
dear to thee, over and above thy present joyance, an thou sawest thy
mother here?' Whereto he answered, 'I dare not flatter myself that the
chagrin of her unhappy chances can have left her so long alive; but,
were it indeed so, it were dear to me above all, more by token that
methinketh I might yet, by her counsel, avail to recover great part of
my estate in Sicily.' Thereupon Currado sent for both the ladies, who
came and made much of the newly-wedded wife, no little wondering what
happy inspiration it could have been that prompted Currado to such
exceeding complaisance as he had shown in joining Giannotto with her
in marriage. Madam Beritola, by reason of the words she had heard from
Currado, began to consider Giannotto and some remembrance of the
boyish lineaments of her son's countenance being by occult virtue
awakened in her, without awaiting farther explanation, she ran,
open-armed, to cast herself upon his neck, nor did overabounding
emotion and maternal joy suffer her to say a word; nay, they so locked
up all her senses that she f