e way, who asked what
was the matter. Though some of the bystanders signed to Giovanni not
to tell Cecchino, he cried out like a madman how it was that Bertino
Aldobrandi had been killed by the guard. My poor brother gave vent to
a bellow which might have been heard ten miles away. Then he turned to
Giovanni: "Ah me! but could you tell me which of those men killed him
for me?" Giovanni said yes, that it was a man who had a big two-handed
sword, with a blue feather in his bonnet. My poor brother rushed
ahead, and having recognized the homicide by those signs, he threw
himself with all his dash and spirit into the middle of the band, and
before his man could turn on guard, ran him right through the guts,
and with the sword's hilt thrust him to the ground. Then he turned
upon the rest with such energy and daring that his one arm was on the
point of putting the whole band to flight, had it not been that while
wheeling round to strike an arquebusier, this man fired in
self-defense and hit the brave unfortunate young fellow above the knee
of his right leg. While he lay stretched upon the ground the
constables scrambled off in disorder as fast as they were able, lest a
pair to my brother should arrive upon the scene.

Noticing that the tumult was not subsiding, I too rose from table, and
girding on my sword--for everybody wore one then--I went to the bridge
of Sant' Agnolo, where I saw a group of several men assembled. On my
coming up and being recognized by some of them, they gave way before
me and showed me what I least of all things wished to see, albeit I
made mighty haste to view the sight. On the instant I did not know
Cecchino, since he was wearing a different suit of clothes from that
in which I had lately seen him. Accordingly he recognized me first and
said, "Dearest brother, do not be upset by my grave accident: it is
only what might be expected in my profession; get me removed from here
at once, for I have but few hours to live." They had acquainted me
with the whole event while he was speaking, in brief words befitting
such occasion. So I answered, "Brother, this is the greatest sorrow
and the greatest trial that could happen to me in the whole course of
my life. But be of good cheer; for before you lose sight of him who
did the mischief, you shall see yourself revenged by my hand." Our
words on both sides were to the purport, but of the shortest.

The guard was now about fifty paces from us; for Maffio, their
o