[018]
Now when the ambassadors had received their
congè, and were
about to depart, Messer Geri
gave a grand banquet, to which he bade
some of the most honourable of the
citizens, and also Cisti, who could
by no means be induced to come.
[019]However, Messer Geri bade one
of his servants go fetch a flask of Cisti's
wine, and serve half a beaker
thereof to each guest at the first course.
The servant, somewhat
offended, perhaps, that he had not been suffered to
taste any of the
wine, took with him a large flask,
[020]
which Cisti no sooner
saw, than:
"Son," quoth he, "Messer Geri does not send thee to
me":
[021]
and
often as the servant affirmed that he did, he could get no
other answer:
wherewith he was fain at last to return to Messer Geri.
"Go, get
thee back," said Messer Geri, "and tell him that I do send
thee
to him, and if he answers thee so again, ask him, to whom then
I
send thee."
[022]
So the servant came back, and said: "Cisti, Messer
Geri
does, for sure, send me to thee."
[023]
"Son," answered Cisti,
"Messer
Geri does, for sure, not send thee to me."
[024]
"To whom
then," said
the servant, "does he send me?"
[025]
"To Arno,"
returned Cisti.
[026]
Which being reported by the servant to Messer Geri, the
eyes of
his mind were straightway opened, and: "Let me see," quoth
he
to the servant, "what flask it is thou takest there." And when he
had seen it: "Cisti says sooth," he added; and having sharply
chidden
him, he caused him take with him a suitable flask,
[027]
which
when Cisti saw:
"Now know I," quoth he, "that 'tis indeed Messer
Geri that sends
thee to me," and blithely filled it.
[028]
And having
replenished the rundlet
that same day with wine of the same quality,
he had it carried with due
care to Messer Geri's house, and followed
after himself; where finding
Messer Geri he said: "I would not
have you think, Sir, that I
was appalled by the great flask your servant
brought me this morning;
'twas but that I thought you had forgotten
that which by my little beakers
I gave you to understand, when you
were with me of late; to wit, that this
is no table wine; and so
wished this morning to refresh your memory.
[029]
Now,
however, being
minded to keep the wine no longer, I have sent you all I
have of it,
to be henceforth entirely at your disposal."
[030]
Messer Geri
set great
store by Cisti's gift, and thanked him accordingly, and ever
made
much of him and entreated him as his friend.
