ferved with more attention than had been paid to himself. He then delivered him the keys of his ready money; and told him, Son fpend this money, keep a table, and make yourself known: remember, that the more you gain the good will of every body, the more you will be dear to me. Giannetto now began to give entertainments. He was more obedient and courteous to Anfaldo, than if he had been an hun. dred times his father. Every body in Venice was fond of him. Anfaldo could think of nothing but him; fo much was he pleafed with his good manners and behaviour.

It happened, that two of his moft intimate acquaintance defigned to go with two fhips to Alexandria, and told Giannetto, he would do well to take a voyage and fee the world. I would go willingly, faid he, if my father Anfaldo will give leave. His companions go to Anfaldo, and beg his permiffion for Giannetto to go in the fpring with them to Alexandria; and defire him to provide him a fhip. Anfaldo immediately procured a very fine fhip, loaded it with merchandize, adorned it with ftreamers, and furnished it with arms; and, as foon as it was ready, he gave orders to the captain and failors to do every thing that Giannetto commanded. It happened one morning early, that Giannetto faw a gulph, with a fine port, and asked the captain how the port was called? He replied, That place belongs to a widow lady, who has ruined many gentlemen. In what manner? fays Giannetto. He an

fwered, This lady is a fine and beautiful woman, and has made a law, that whoever arrives here is obliged to go to bed with her, and if he can have the enjoyment of her, he must take her for his wife, and be lord of all the country; but if he cannot enjoy her, he lofes every thing he has brought with him. Giannetto, after a little reflection, tells the captain to get into the port. He was obeyed; and in an inftant they flide into the port fo easily, that the other fhips perceived nothing.

The lady was foon informed of it, and fent for Giannetto, who waited on her immediately. She, taking him by the hand, asked him who he was? whence he came? and if he knew the cuftom of the country? He anfwered, That the knowledge of that cuftom was his only reafon for coming. The lady paid him great honours, and fent for barons, counts, and knights in great number, who were her fubjects, to keep Giannetto company. 1 hefe nobles were highly delighted with the good breeding and manners of Giannetto; and all would have rejoiced to have him for their lord.

The night being come, the lady faid, it feems to be time to go to bed. Giannetto told the lady, he was entirely devoted to her fervice; and immediately two damfels enter with wine and fweet meats. The lady entreats him to taste the wine; he takes the fweet meats, and drinks fome of the wine, which was prepared with ingredients to caufe fleep. He then goes into the bed, where he inftantly falls afleep,

and

and never wakes till late in the morning; but the lady rofe with the fun, and gave orders to unload the veffel, which the found full of rich merchandize. After nine o'clock, the women fervants go to the bedfide, order Giannetto to rife and be gone, for he had loft the fhip. The lady gave him a horfe and money, and he leaves the place very melancholy, and goes to Venice. When he arrives, he dares not return home for fhame; but at night goes to the houfe of a friend, who is furprised to fee him, and inquires of him the caufe of his return? He anfwers, his fhip hat ftruck on a rock in the night, and was broke in pieces.

This friend, going one day to make a visit to Anfaldə, found him very difconfolate. I fear, fays Anfaldo, fo much, that this fon of mine is dead, that I have no rest.

His friend told him, that he had been fhip-wreckt, and had loft his all. but that he himself was fafe. Anfaldo inftant ly gets up and runs to find him, My dear fon, fays he, you need not fear my difpleafure; it is a common accident; trouble your felf no further. He takes him home, all the way telling him to be chearful and easy.

The news was foon known all over Venice, and every one was concerned for Giannetto. Some time after, his companions ar. riving from Alexandria very rich, demanded what was become of their friend, and having heard the story, ran to fee him, and rejoiced with him for his tafety; telling him, that next fpring he might gain as much as he had lott the last. But Giannetto had VOL. 1.

no other thoughts than of his return to the lady; and was refolved to marry her, or die. Anfaldo told him frequently, not to be calt down. Giaunetto faid, he fhould never be happy, till he was at liberty to make another voyage. Anfaldo provided another hip of more value than the firft.

He again entered the port of Belmonte, and the lady looking on the port from her bedchamber, and feeing the fhip, afked her maid, if he knew the ftreamers? the maid, faid it was the fhip of the young man who arrived the last year. You are in the right, anfwered the lady.; he muit furely have a great regard for me, for never any one came a fecond time: the maid faid, she had never seen a more agreeable man. He went to the castle, and prefented himself to the lady: who, as foon as she faw him, embraced him, and the day was pafled in joy and revels. Bed-time being come, the lady entreated him to go to reft: when they were feated in the chamber, the two damfels enter with wine and fweet meats; and having eat and drank of them, they go to bed, and immediately Gianne to falls asleep, the lady undreffed, and lay down by his fide; but he waked not the whole night. In the morning, the lady rifes, and gives orders to ftrip the thip. He has a horle and money given to him, and away he goes, and never ftops till he gets to Venice; and at night goes to the fame friend, who with aflonishment asked him what was the matter? I am undone, fays Giannetto. His friend antwered, You are the cause of I i.

the

Poor Giannetto's head was day and night full of the thoughts of his bad fuccefs. When Anfaldo enquired what was the matter, he confeffed he could never be contented till he should be in a condition to regain all that he lot. When Anfaldo fourd him refolved, he began to fell every thing he had, to furnish this other fine fhip with merchandize: but, as he wanted till ten thousand ducats, he applied himself to a Jew at Meftri, ad borrowed them on condition, that if they were not paid on the feast of St. John in the next month of June, that the Jew might take a pound of flesh from any part of his body he pleafed. Anfaldo agreed, and the Jew had an obligation drawn, and witneffed, with all the form and ceremony neceffary: and then counted him the ten thousand ducats of go'd; with which Anfaldo bought what was ftill wanting for the vellel. This laft fhip was finer and better freighted than the other two, and his companions made ready for the voyage, with a defign that whatever they gained fhould be for their friend. When it was time to de

part, Anfaldo told Giannette, that fince he well knew of the obligation to the Jew, he entreated, that if any misfortune happened, he would return to Venice, that he might fee him before he died; and then he could leave the world with fatisfaction: Giannetto promised to do every thing that he conceived might give him pleasure. Anfaldo gave him his bleffing, they took their leave, and the fhips fet out.

Giannetto had nothing in his head but to steal into Belmonte; and he prevailed with one of the failors in the night to fail the veflel into the port. It was told the lady, that Giannetto was arrived in port. She faw from the window the veffel, and immediately fent for him.

Giannetto goes to the caftle, the day is fpent in joy and fealting; and to honour him, a tour. nament is ordered, and many barons and knights tilted that day. Giannetto did wonders, fo we'l did he understand the lance, and was fo graceful a figure on horfe back: he pleafed so much, that all were delirous to have him for their lord.

The lady, when it was the ufual time, catching him by the hand, begged him to take his reit. When he paffed the door of the chamber, one of the damfels in a whisper faid to him, Make a pretence to drink the liquor, but touch not one drop. The lady faid, I know you mult be thirsty, I must have you drink before you go to bed: immedi ately two damfels entered the room, and prefented the wine. Who can refufe wine from fuch

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