Of ftarved people.

Por. It is almoft morning,

And yet, I'm fure, you are not fatisfy'd
Of thefe events at full. Let us go in,
And charge us there upon interrogatories,
And we will answer all things faithfully.
Gra. Let it be fo. The first interrogatory,
That my Neriffa fhall be fworn on, is
Whether 'till the next night she had rather stay,
Or go to bed now, being two hours to day.
But were the day come, I fhould wish it dark,
'Till I were couching with the Doctor's clerk.
Well, while I live, I'll fear no other thing
So fore, as keeping fafe Nerilla's ring.

[Exeunt omnes. (1)

than in adapting his images with propriety to his fpeakers; of which he has here given an inftance in making the young Jewess call good fortune, Manna, WARBURTON.

The commentator fhould have remarked, that this fpeech is not, even in his own edition, the fpeech of the Jewels.

(1) It has been lately discovered, that this Fable is taken from a ftory in the Pecorone of Ser Giovanni Fiorentino, a Novelift, who wrote in 1378. The story has been published in English, and I have epitomised the tranflation. The tranflator of this novel is of opinion, that the choice of the cafkets is borrowed from a tale of Boccace, which I have likewife abridged, though I believe that Sbak feare muf have had fome other novel in view.

ΤΗ

HERE lived at Florence, a merchant whose name was Bindo. He was rich, and had three fons. Being near his end, he called for the two eldest, and left them heirs, to the youngest he left nothing. This youngest, whofe name was Giannetto, went to his father and faid, What has my father done? The father replied, Dear Giannetto there is none to whom I with better than to you. Go to Venice to your godfather, whofe name is Anfaldo; he has no child, and

has

has wrote to me often to send you thither to him. He is the richest merchant amongst the chriftians: if you behave well, you will be certainly a rich man. The fon answered, I am ready to do whatever my dear father fhall command: upon which he gave him his, benediction, and in a few days died.

Gian

Giannetto went to Anfaldo, and prefented the letter given by the father before his death. Anfaldo reading the letter, cried out, my dearest godfon is welcome to my arms. He then afk'd news of his father. netto replied, He is dead. I am much grieved, replied Anfaldo, to hear of the death of Bindo; but the joy I feel in feeing you, mitigates my forrow. He con

ducted him to his houfe, and gave orders to his fervants, that Giannatto fhould be obeyed, and ferved with more attention than had been paid to himself.. He then delivered him the keys of his ready money; and told him, Son, fpend. this money, keep a table, and make yourfelf known: remember, that the more you gain the good will of every body, the more you will be dear to me.

Giannetto now began to give entertainm.ents. He was more obedient and courteous to Anfaldo, than if he had been an hundred times his father. Every body in Venice was fond of him. Anfaldo could think of nothing but him; fo much was he pleafed with his good manners and behaviour.

It happened, that two of his moft intimate acquaintance defigned to go with two fhips to Alexandria, and told Giannetto, he would do well to take a voyage and fee the world. I would go willingly, faid he, if my father Anfaldo will give leave. His companions go to Anfaldo, and beg his permiffion for Giannetto, to go. in the fpring with them to Alexandria; and defire him to provide him a fhip. Anfaldo immediately procured a very fine fhip, loaded it with merchandize, adorned it with ftreamers, and furnished it with arms. and as foon as it was ready, he gave orders to the captain and failors to do every thing that Giannetto commanded. It happened one morning early, that Giannetto saw a gulph, with a fine port, and asked the captain how the

port

port was called? He replied, that place belongs to a widow lady, who has ruined many gentlemen. In what manner, fays Giannetto. He answered, This lady is a fine and beautiful woman, and has made a law, that whoever arrives here is obliged to go to bed with her, and it he can have the enjoyment of her, he must take her for his wife, and be lord of all the country; but if he cannot enjoy her, he lofes every thing he has brought with him. Giannetto, after a little reflection, tells the captain to get into the port. He was obeyed; and in an instant they flide into the port fo eafily, that the other ships perceived nothing.

'The lady was foon informed of it, and fent for Giannetto, who waited on her immediately. She, taking him by the hand, afked him who he was? whence he came and if he knew the cuftom of the country? He answered, That the knowledge of that custom was his only reafon for coming. The lady paid him great honours, and fent for barons, counts, and knights in great number, who were her fubjects, to keep Giannetto company. Thefe nobles were highly delighted with the good breeding and manners of Giannetto; and all would have rejoiced to have him for their lord.

The night being come, the lady faid, it seems to be time to go to bed. Giannetto told the lady, he was entirely devoted to her fervice; and immediately two damfels enter with wine and fweet meats The lady entreats him to taste the wine; he takes the fweet meats, and drinks fome of the wine, which was prepared with ingredients to caufe fleep. He then goes into the bed, where he inftantly falls afleep, and never wakes 'till late in the morning; but the lady rofe with the fun, and gave orders to unload the veffel, which fhe found full of rich merchandize. After nine o'clock, the women fervants go to the bedfide, order Giannetto to rife and be gone, for he had loft the fhip. The lady gave him a horse and money, and he leaves the place very melancholy, and goes to Venice. When he arrives, he dares not return home for fhame; but at night goes to the house of a friend, who is furprised to fee him, and inquires of him the cause of his return?

He

He anfwers his fhip had ftruck on a rock in the night and was broke in pieces.

This friend, going one day to make a visit to Anfaldo, found him very difconfolate. I fear, fays Anfaldo, fo much, that this fon of mine is dead, that I have no reft. His friend told him, that he had been fhipwreckt, and had loft his all, but that he himself was fafe. Anfaldo inftantly gets up, and runs to find him, My dear fon, fays he, you need not fear my displeasure ; it is a common accident; trouble yourself no further. He takes him home, all the way telling him to be chearful and easy.

The news was foon known all over Venice, and every one was concerned for Giannetto. Some time after, his companions arriving from Alexandria very rich, demanded what was become of their friend, and having heard the ftory, ran to fee him, and rejoiced with him for his fafety; telling him that next fpring he might gain as much as he had loft the laft. But Giannetto had no other thoughts than of his return to the lady; and was refolved to marry her, or die Anfaldo to'd him frequently, not to be caft down. Giannetto faid, he

fhould never be happy, till he was at liberty to make another voyage. Anfelmo provided another fhip of more value than the first. He again entered the port of Belmonte, and the lady looking on the port from her bedchamber, and feeing the fhip, afked her maid, if she knew the ftreamers? the maid, faid it was the fhip of the young man who arrived the last year. You are in the right, anfwered the lady; he must furely have a great regard for me, for never any one came a fecond time the maid faid, fhe had never feen a more agreeable man. He went to the caftle, and prefented himself to the lady who, as foon as the faw him, embraced him, and the day was passed in joy and revels. Bed time being come, the lady entreated him to go to reft when they were feated in the chamber, the two damfels enter with wine and fweet-meats; and having eat and drank of them, they go to bed, and immediately Giannetto falls afleep, the lady undreffed, and lay down by his fide; but he waked not the whole

night. In the morning, the lady rifes, and gives orders to strip the fhip. He has a horfe and money given to him, and away he goes, and never ftops till he gets to Venice; and at night goes to the fame friend, who with astonishment asked him what was the matter? I am undone, fays Giannetto. His friend anfwered, You are the cause of the ruin of Anfaldo, and your shame ought to be greater than the lofs you have fuffered. Giannetto lived privately many days. At laft he took a refolution of feeing Anfaldo, who rofe from his chair, and running to embrace him, told him he was welcome. Giannetto with tears returned his embraces. Anfaldo heard his tale: Do not grieve, my dear fon, fays he, we have ftill enough; the sea enriches fome men, others it ruins.

Poor Giannetto's head was day and night full of the thoughts of his bad fuccefs. When Anfaldo enquired what was the matter, he confeffed he could never be contented till he should be in a condition to regain all that he had loft. When Anfaldo found him refolved, he began to fell every thing he had, to furnifh this other fine fhip with merchandize: but, as he wanted ftill ten thousand ducats, he applied himself to a Jew at Meftri, and borrowed them on condition, that if they were not paid on the feaft of St. John in the next month of June, that the Jew might take a pound of flesh from any part of his body he pleased. Anfaldo agreed, and the Jew had an obligation drawn, and witneffed, with all the form and ceremony neceffary: and then counted him the ten thousand ducats of gold; with which Anfaldo bought what was ftill wanting for the veffel. This laft fhip was finer and better freighted than the other two, and his companions made ready for the voyage, with a defign that whatever they gained fhould be for their friend. When it was time to depart, Anfaldo told Giannetto, that fince he well knew of the obligation to the Jew, he entreated, that if any misfortune happened, he would return to Venice, that he might fee him before he died; and then he could leave the world with fatisfaction: Giannetto promised to do every thing that he conceived might give him pleasure.