The abbot marvelled to hear a highway robber speak
thus liberally, and such was his gratification that
his wrath and fierce resentment departed from him,
nay, were transformed into kindness, insomuch that
in all cordial amity he hasted to embrace Ghino, saying:—“By
God I swear, that to gain the friendship of a man
such I now deem thee to be, I would be content to
suffer much greater wrong than that which until now,
meseemed, thou hadst done me. Cursed be Fortune
that constrains thee to ply so censurable a trade.”
Which said, he selected a very few things, and none
superfluous, from his ample store, and having done
likewise with the horses, ceded all else to Ghino,
and hied him back to Rome; where, seeing him, the
Pope, who to his great grief had heard of his capture,
asked him what benefit he had gotten from the baths.
Whereto the abbot made answer with a smile:—“Holy
Father, I found nearer here than the baths a worthy
physician who has wrought a most excellent cure on
me:” he then recounted all the circumstances,
whereat the Pope laughed. Afterwards, still pursuing
the topic, the abbot, yielding to the promptings of
magnificence, asked a favour of the Pope; who, expecting
that he would ask somewhat else than he did, liberally
promised to give him whatever he should demand.
Whereupon:—“Holy Father,” quoth
the abbot, “that which I would crave of you
is that you restore Ghino di Tacco, my physician, to
your favour; seeing that among the good men and true
and meritorious that I have known, he is by no means
of the least account. And for the evil life that
he leads, I impute it to Fortune rather than to him:
change then his fortune, by giving him the means whereby
he may live in manner befitting his rank, and I doubt
not that in a little while your judgment of him will
jump with mine.” Whereto the Pope, being
magnanimous, and an admirer of good men and true,
made answer that so he would gladly do, if Ghino should
prove to be such as the abbot said; and that he would
have him brought under safe conduct to Rome.
Thither accordingly under safe conduct came Ghino,
to the abbot’s great delight; nor had he been
long at court before the Pope approved his worth,
and restored him to his favour, granting him a great
office, to wit, that of prior of the Hospital, whereof
he made him knight. Which office he held for the
rest of his life, being ever a friend and vassal of
Holy Church and the Abbot of Cluny.
— Mitridanes, holding Nathan in despite
by reason of his courtesy, journeys with intent to
kill him, and falling in with him unawares, is advised
by him how to compass his end. Following his
advice, he finds him in a copse, and recognizing him,
is shame-stricken, and becomes his friend.
—
