Now, having tarried there some while, and observed the King's
ways with much care, and how he would grant castles, cities, or
baronies, to this, that, or the other of his subjects, he deemed that
the King shewed therein but little judgment, seeing that he would
give them to men that merited them not. And for that nought was
given to him, he, knowing his merit, deemed himself gravely injured
in reputation; wherefore he made up his mind to depart the realm,
and to that end craved license of the King;
[006]
which the King granted
him, and therewith gave him one of the best and finest mules that
was ever ridden, a gift which Messer Ruggieri, as he had a long
journey to make, did not a little appreciate.
[007]
The King then bade
one of his discreet domestics contrive, as best he might, to ride with
Messer Ruggieri on such wise that it might not appear that he did
so by the King's command, and charge his memory with whatever
Messer Ruggieri might say of him, so that he might be able to repeat
it; which done, he was on the very next morning to bid Ruggieri
return to the King forthwith.
[008]
The King's agent was on the
alert, and no sooner was Ruggieri out of the city, than without any
manner of difficulty he joined his company, giving out that he was
going towards Italy.
[009]
As thus they rode, talking of divers matters,
Messer Ruggieri being mounted on the mule given him by the
King: "Methinks," quoth the other, it being then hard upon
tierce, "that 'twere well to give the beasts a voidance;"
[010]
and by and
by, being come to a convenient place, they voided all the beasts save
the mule. Then, as they continued their journey, the squire
hearkening attentively to the knight's words, they came to a river,
and while there they watered the beasts, the mule made a voidance
in the stream. Whereat: "Ah, foul fall thee, beast," quoth
Messer Ruggieri, "that art even as thy master, that gave thee to me!"[011]Which remark, as also many another that fell from Ruggieri as they
rode together throughout the day, the squire stored in his memory;
but never another word did he hear Ruggieri say touching the King,
that was not laudatory to the last degree.
