part; wherefore, since I may neither give you my own, nor others’ company (the journey that you are about to make not permitting it), I am come here, as ’tis fitting, in this chamber to take my leave of you.  Wherefore, before I bid you adieu, I entreat you, by that friendship, that love, which is between us, that you forget me not, and that, if it be possible, when you have settled your affairs in Lombardy, you come at least once, before our days are ended, to visit me, that thereby I may both have the delight of seeing you again, and make good that omission which, by reason of your haste, I must needs now make; and that in the meanwhile it irk thee not to visit me by letter, and to ask of me whatever you shall have a mind to, and be sure that there lives not the man whom I shall content more gladly than you.”  Messer Torello could not refrain his tears, and so, with words few, and broken by his sobs, he answered that ’twas impossible that the Soldan’s generous deeds and chivalrous character should ever be forgotten by him, and that without fail he would do as he bade him, so soon as occasion should serve him.  Whereupon Saladin tenderly embraced and kissed him, and with many a tear bade him adieu, and quitted the chamber.  His lords then took leave of Messer Torello, and followed Saladin into the hall, where he had had the bed made ready.

’Twas now late, and the necromancer being intent to hasten Messer Torello’s transit, a physician brought him a potion, and having first shewn him what he was to give him by way of viaticum, caused him to drink it; and not long after he fell asleep.  In which state he was carried by Saladin’s command, and laid on the goodly bed, whereon he set a large and fair and most sumptuous crown, marking it in such sort that there could be no mistake that it was sent by Saladin to Messer Torello’s wife.  He next placed on Messer Torello’s finger a ring, in which was set a carbuncle of such brilliance that it shewed as a lighted torch, and of well-nigh inestimable value.  After which he girded on him a sword, the appointments of which might not readily be appraised.  And therewithal he adorned him in front with a pendant, wherein were pearls, the like of which had never been seen, and not a few other rare jewels.  And, moreover, on either side of him he set two vast basins of gold full of pistoles; and strings of pearls not a few, and rings and girdles, and other things, which ’twere tedious to enumerate, he disposed around him.  Which done, he kissed Messer Torello again, and bade the necromancer speed him on his journey.  Whereupon, forthwith, the bed, with Messer Torello thereon, was borne away from before Saladin’s eyes, and he and his barons remained conversing thereof.