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 streamers, 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 faw a gulph, with a fine port, and asked the captain how the port was called? He replied That place belongs to a widow lady, who has ruined many gentlemen. In what manner? fays Giannetto. He anfwered, 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 if 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 inftant they flide into the port fo eafily that the other fhips 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 custom 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 numbers, who were her fubjects, to keep Giannetto company. These 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 fweetmeats. The lady entreats him to taste the wine; he takes the fweetmeats, 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 the found full of rich merchandize. After nine o' clock the women fervants go to the bed-fide, 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 houfe of a friend, who is furprised to fee him, and inquires of him the cause of his return: He answers, his fhip had ftruck on a rock in the night, and was broke in pieces.

This friend, going one day to make a vifit to Anfaldo, found him very difconfolate. I fear, fays Anfaldo, fo much, that this fon of mine is dead, that I have no rest. His friend told him, that

he had been shipwreck'd, and had loft his all, but that he himself was fafe. Anfaldo inftantly gets up and runs to find him. My dear fon, faid 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 arriv ing 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 told him frequently, not to be caft down. Giannetto faid, he should never be happy, till he was at liberty to make another voyage. Anfaldo provided another ship of more value than the firft. He again entered the port of Belmonte, and the lady looking on the port from her bed-chamber, and seeing the fhip, afked her maid, if the knew the streamers; 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 muft furely have a great regard for me, for never any one came a fecond time: the maid faid, she had never seen a more agreeable man. He went to the castle, and prefented himfelf to the lady; who, as foon as the faw him embraced him, and the day was paffed 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 sweetmeats; 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 ftrip the fhip. He has a horse and money given him, and away he goes, and never ftops till he gets to Venice; and at night goes to the fame friend, who with attonithment asked him what was the matter? I am undone, fays Giannetto. His friend answered, You are the cause of the ruin of Anfaldo, and your fhame ought to be greater than the lofs you have fuffered. Giannetto lived privately many days. At laft he took the 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, says he, we have still enough: the fea 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 confeiled, he could never be contented till he fhould be in a con

dition to regain all that he 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 pleafed. 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 their 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 promifed to do every thing that he con ceived might give him pleafure. Anfaldo gave him his bleffing, they took their leave, and the thips fet out.

Giannetto had nothing in his head but to fteal into Belmonte; and he prevailed with one of the failors in the night to fail the veffel into the port. It was told the lady that Giannetto was arrived in port. She faw from the window the veffel, and immediately fent for him.

Giannetto goes to the caftle, the day is fpent in joy and feasting: and to honour him, a tournament is ordered, and many barons and knights tilted that day. Giannetto did wonders, fo well did he understand the lance, and was fo graceful a figure on horseback: he pleafed fo much, that all were defirous to have him for their lord.

The lady, when it was the ufual time, catching him by the hand, begged him to take his reft. When he paffed the door of the chamber, one of the damfels in a whifper faid to him, Make a pretence to drink the liquor, but touch not one drop. The lady faid, I know you must be thirfty, I muft have you drink before you go to bed: immediately two damfels entered the room, and prefented the wine. Who can refufe wine from fuch beautiful hands? cries Giannetto: at which the lady fmiled. Giannetto takes the cup, and making as if he drank, pours the wine into his bofom, The lady thinking he had drank, fays afide to herself with great joy, You must go, young man, and bring another fhip, for this is condemned. Giannetto went to bed, and began to fnore as if he flept foundly. The lady perceiving this, laid herself down by his fide. Giannetto lofes no time, but turning to the lady, embraces her, faying, Now am I in poffeffion of my utmoft wishes. When Giannetto came out of his chamber, he was knighted and placed in the chair of state, had the fceptre put into his hand, and was

proclaimed fovereign of the country, with great pomp and fplendour; and when the lords and ladies were come to the caftle, he married the lady in great ceremony.

Giannetto governed excellently, and caufed juftice to be adminiftered impartially. He continued fome time in his happy ftate, and never entertained a thought of poor Anfaldo, who had given his bond to the Jew for ten thousand ducats. But one day, as he flood at the window of his palace with his bride, he faw a number of people pafs along the piazza, with lighted torches in their hands. What is the meaning of this? fays he. The lady answered, they are artificers, going to make their offerings at the church of St. John, this day heing his feftival. Giannetto inftantly recollected Anfaldo, gave a great figh, and turned pale. His lady enquired the caufe of his fudden change. He faid, he felt nothing. She continued to prefs with great earneftnefs, till he was obliged to confefs the caufe of his uneafinefs; that Anfaldo was engaged for the money; that the term was expired; and the grief he was in was left his father should lose his life for him: that if the ten thou fand ducats were not paid that day, he must lofe a pound of his flesh. The lady told him to mount on horseback, and go by land the nearest way, to take fome attendants, and an hundred thousand ducats; and not to ftop till he arrived at Venice; and if he was not dead, to endeavour to bring Anfaldo to her. Giannetto takes horfe with twenty attendants, and makes the best of his way to Venice.

The time being expired, the Jew had feized Anfaldo, and infifted on having a pound of his flesh. He entreated him only to wait fome days, that if his dear Giannetto arrived, he might have the pleafure of embracing him: the Jew replied he was willing to wait; but, fays he, I will cut off the pound of flesh, according to the words of the obligation. Anfaldo anfwered, that he was content.

Several merchants would have jointly paid the money; the Jew would not hearken to the propofal, but infifted that he might have the fatisfaction of faying, that he had put to death the greatest of the Chriftian merchants. Giannetto making all poffible hafte to Venice, his lady foon followed him in a lawyer's habit, with two fervants attending her. Giannetto, when he came to Venice, goes to the Jew, and (after embracing Anfaldo) tells him, he is ready to pay the money, and as much more as he fhould demand. The Jew faid, he would take no money, fince it was not paid at the time due; but that he would have the pound of flesh. Every one blamed the Jew; but as Venice was a place where juftice was ftrictly administered, and the Jew had his pretenfions grounded on publick and received forms, their only refource was entreaty; and when the merchants of Venice applied to him, he was inflexible. Giannetto offered him twenty thoufand, then thirty thoufand, afterwards forty, fifty, and at last an hundred thousand ducats. The

Jew told him, if he would give as much gold as Venice was worth, he would not accept it; and, fays he, you know little of me, if you think I will defift from my demand.

The lady now arrives at Venice, in her lawyer's drefs; and alighting at an inn, the landlord afks of one of the fervants who his master was the fervant answered, that he was a young lawyer who had finished his ftudies at Bologna. The landlord upon this fhows his gueft great civility: and when he attended at dinner, the lawyer enquiring how juftice was adminiftered in that city, he anfwered, juftice in this place is too fevere, and related the cafe of Anfaldo. Says the lawyer, this question may be eafily anfwered. If you can answer it, fays the landlord, and fave this worthy man from death, you will get the love and esteem of all the best men of this city. The lawyer caufed a proclamation to be made, that whoever had any law matters to determine, they should have recourfe to him: fo it was told to Giannetto, that a famous lawyer was come from Bologna, who could decide all cafes in law. Ġiannetto proposed to the Jew to apply to this lawyer. With all my heart, fays the Jew; but let who will come, I will stick to my bond. They came to this judge, and faluted him. Giannetto did not remember him: for he had difguifed his face with the juice of certain herbs. Giannetto, and the Jew, each told the merits of the cause to the judge; who, when he had taken the bond and read it, faid to the Jew, I must have you take the hundred thousand ducats, and release this honeft man, who will always have a grateful fenfe of the favour done to him. The Jew replied, I will do no fuch thing. The judge anfwered, it will be better for you. The Jew was pofitive to yield nothing. Upon this they go to the tribunal appointed for fuch judgements: and our Judge fays to the Jew, Do you cut a pound of this man's flesh where you choofe. The Jew ordered him to be stripped naked; and takes in his hand a razor, which had been made on purpose. Giannetto, feeing this, turning to the judge, this, fays he, is not the favour I asked of you. Be quiet, fays he, the pound of flesh is not yet cut off. As foon as the Jew was going to begin, Take care what you do, fays the judge, if you take more or lefs than a pound, I will order your head to be ftruck off: and befide, if you shed one drop of blood, you fhall be put to death. Your paper makes no mention of the fhedding of blood; but says exprefsly, that you may take a pound of flesh, neither more nor lefs. He immediately fent for the executioner to bring the block and ax; and now, fays he, if I fee one drop of blood, off goes your head. At length the Jew, after much wrangling, told him, Give me the hundred thousand ducats, and I am content. No, fays the judge, cut off your pound of flesh according to your bond: why did not you take the money when it was offered? The Jew came down to ninety, and then to eighty thousand: but the judge was ftill refolute. Giannetto told the