• Choose a category
• All
• Classic-Fiction

apply to this lawyer. With all my heart, says the Jew; but let who will come, I will stick to my bond. When they came to this judge, and had saluted him, he immediately knew Giannetto; but he did not remember him: for he had disguised his face with the juice of certain herbs. Giannetto, and the Jew, each told the merits of the cause to the judge; who, when he had taken the bond and read it, said to the Jew, I must have you take the hundred thousand ducats, and release this honest man, who will always have a grateful sense of the favour done to him. The Jew replied, I will do no such thing. The judge answered, it will be better for you. The Jew was positive to yield nothing. Upon this they go to the tribunal appointed for such judgments: and our judge speaks in favour of Ansaldo; and desiring that the Jew may stand forth, Now, says he, do you (to the Jew) cut a pound of this man's flesh where you chuse. The Jew ordered him to be stripped naked; and takes in his hand a razor, which had been made on purpose. Gian netto seeing this, turning to the judge, this, says he, is not the favour I asked of you. Be quiet, says he, the pound of flesh is not yet cut off. As soon as the Jew was going to begin, take care what you do, says the deo comincid aver paura, e messer Giannetto a rallegrarsi. E dopo molte novelle, disse il Giudeo: Messer lo giudice, voi ne avete saputo piu di me; ma fatemi dare quei cento mila ducati e son contento. Disse il giudice: Io voglio che tu vi levi una libra di carne, come dicono le carte tue, perd ch' io non ti darei un danaio; avessigli tolti quando io te gli volli far dare. II Giudeo venne a nonanta, e poi a ottanta mila, e '1 giudice sempre piu fermo. Disse messer Giannetto al giu dice : Diangli cid che e' vuole, pure che ce lo renda. Disse il giudice : Io ti dico che tu lasci fare a me. Allora il Giu deo disse: Datemene cinquantamila. Rispose il giudice: Io non te ne darei il piu tristo danaio che tu avessi mai. Sog- giunse il Giudeo: Datemi almeno i miei dieci mila ducati, che maladetta sia 1' aria e la terra. Disse il giudice: Non m' in- tendi tu 1 io non te ne vuo' dar nessuno; se tu glie la vuoi levare, si glie la lieva; quanto che no, io te faro protestare e annullare le carte tue. Talche chiunque v' era presente, di questo faceva grandissima allegrezza, e ciascuno si faceva beffe di questo Giudeo, dicendo: Tale si crede uccellare, ch'

judge, if you take more or less than a pound, I will order your head to be struck off: and I tell you beside, that if you shed one drop of blood you shall be put to death. Your paper makes no mention of the shed ding of blood; but says expresly, that you may take a pound of flesh? neither more nor less; and if you are wise, you will take great care what you do. He immediately sent for the executioner to bring the block and ax; and now, says he, if I see one drop of blood, off goes your head. The Jew began to be in great fear, and Giannetto in as great joy. At length the Jew, after much wrangling, told him, you are more cunning than I can pretend to be; however, give me the hun dred thousand ducats, and I am content. No, says the judge, cut off your pound of flesh according to your bond; I will not give you a farthing: why did not you take the money when it was offered? The Jew came down to ninety, and then to eighty thousand; but the judge was still resolute. Giannetto told the judge to give what he required, that Ansaldo might have his liberty: but he replied, let me manage him. Then the Jew would have taken fifty thousand: he said, I will not give you a penny. Give me at least, says the Jew, my own ten e uccellato. Onde veggendo il Giudeo ch' egli non poteva fare quello ch' egli avrebbe voluto, prese le carte sue, e per istizza tutte le taglid, e cosi fu liberato messere Ansaldo, e con grandissima festa messer Giannetto lo rimend a casa; e poi prestamente prese questi cento mila ducati, e ando a questo giudice, e trovollo nella camera che s' acconciava per volere andar via. Allora messer Giannetto gli disse: Mes sere, voi avete fatto a me il maggior servigio