The Complete Works of William Shakespeare - Israel Gollancz William Shakespeare [1379]
The lady, when it was the usual time, taking him by the hand, begged him to take his rest. When he passed the door of the chamber, one of the damsels of the lady, laying her mouth to his ear, in a whisper said to him, Make a pretence to drink the liquor, but touch not one drop this evening. He understood what she meant, and when the lady said, I know you must be thirsty, I must have you drink before you go to bed, immediately two damsels, handsome as angels, with wine and sweet meats, in the usual manner, entered the room, and pre- sented the wine. Who can refuse wine from such beautiful hands? cries Giannetto: at which the lady smiled. Giannetto takes the cup,
signori del paese vennero alia festa a fare allegrezza, giostrare, armeggiare, danzare, cantare e sonare, con tutte quelle cose che s'appartengono a far festa. Messer Giannetto, come magnanimo, comincio a donare drappi di seta e altre ricche cose ch' egli aveva recate, e divento virile, e fecesi temere a mantenere ragione e giustizia a ogni maniera di gente, e cosi si stava in questa festa e allegrezza, e non si curava ne ricor- dava di messere Ansaldo cattivello, ch' era rimaso pegno per dieci mila ducati a quel Giudeo. Ora essendo un giorno messer Giannetto alia finestra del palazzo con la donna sua, vide passare per piazza una brigata d' uomini con torchietti in mano accesi, i quali andavano a offerire. Disse messer Giannetto: Che vuol dir quello? Rispose la donna: Quella e una brigata d' artefici che vanno a offerire alia Chiesa di San Giovanni, perch' egli e oggi la festa sua. Messer Gian netto si ricordo allora di messere Ansaldo, e levossi dalla finestra, e trasse un gran sospiro, e tutto si cambid nel viso, e andava di giu in su per la sala piu volte, pensando sopra questo fatto. La donna il domando quel ch' egli aveva.
and making as if he had drank, pours the wine into his bosom. The lady thinking he had drank, says aside to herself with great joy, You must go, young man, and bring another ship, for this is condemned. Giannetto went to bed, and finding himself brisk and in great spirits, he thought it a thousand years till the lady came to bed, comforting himself with the hopes that he had caught her now certainly, and that she would find, she was mistaken in her man; and in order to entice her soon to bed, he began to snore as if he slept soundly. The lady perceiving this, said, this will do, and laid heiself down by his side. Giannetto loses no time, but turning to the lady, embraces her, saying, Now am 1 in possession of my utmost wishes. He gave her immedi ately the strongest proofs of his affection, and lay all night in her arms. The lady was highly pleased with her lover, and early in the morning sent for her principal subjects, telling them, that Giannetto was their lord; and gave them orders to pay all possible honours to him. Imme diately the news is spread through the whole territory; the people crying, Long live our new master! long live our new master! the bells and musical instruments inviting all to joy and mirth. The nobles who Rispose messer Giannetto: Io non ho altro. Per che la donna il comincid a esaminare, dicendo: Per certo voi avete qualche cosa, e non lo volete dire; e tanto gli disse che mes ser Giannetto le conto come messere Ansaldo era rimaso pegno per dieci mila ducati, e questo di corre il termine, dice- va egli, e perd ho gran dolore che mio padre moia per me; perche se oggi e' non glie li da, ha a perdere una libra di car- ne d' addosso. La donna disse: Messere, montate subita- mente a cavallo et attraversate per terra, che andrete piu tosto che per mare, e menate quella compagnia che vi piace, e por- tate cento mila ducati, e non restate mai che voi siate a Vine gia; e se non e morto,