[036]
When 'twas broad day, the affair reached the ears of Messer
Negro, who, half dead with grief, hied him with not a few of his
friends to the palace; where, having heard all that the Podestà had
to say, he required him peremptorily to give him back his daughter.
[037]The Podestà , being minded rather to be his own accuser, than that
he should be accused by the girl of the violence that he had meditated
towards her, began by praising her and her constancy, and in proof
thereof went on to tell what he had done; he ended by saying, that,
marking her admirable firmness, he had fallen mightily in love with
her, and so, notwithstanding she had been wedded to a man of low
degree, he would, if 'twere agreeable to her and to her father, Messer
Negro, gladly make her his wife.
[038]
While they thus spoke, Andreuola
made her appearance, and, weeping, threw herself at her father's feet,
saying: "My father, I wot I need not tell you the story of my
presumption, and the calamity that has befallen me, for sure I am
that you have heard it and know it; wherefore, with all possible
humility I crave your pardon of my fault, to wit, that without your
knowledge I took for my husband him that pleased me best.
[039]
And
this I crave, not that my life may be spared, but that I may die as
your daughter and not as your enemy;" and so, weeping, she fell at
his feet.
[040]
Messer Negro, now an old man, and naturally kindly and
affectionate, heard her not without tears, and weeping raised her
tenderly to her feet, saying: "Daughter mine, I had much liefer
had it that thou hadst had a husband that I deemed a match for thee;
and in that thou hadst taken one that pleased thee I too had been
pleased; but thy concealing thy choice from me is grievous to me
by reason of thy distrust of me, and yet more so, seeing that thou
hast lost him before I have known him.
[041]
But as 'tis even so, to his
remains be paid the honour which, while he lived for thy contentment,
I had gladly done him as my son-in-law." Then, turning to
his sons and kinsmen, he bade them order Gabriotto's obsequies with
all pomp and honourable circumstance.
