The Nights of Straparola . reamed the young man, having put his hand upon her balmy mouth,would not suffer her to cry out, and, kneeling down before her, hecraved her pardon, imploring her to aid him in his trouble, forasmuchas he had not come thither to put any shame upon her or to sully herpure mind, but driven by untoward destiny. Then he told her whohe was, and the cause which had brought him into her chamber, andhow and by whom he was persecuted. V^iolante recovered somewhatof her composure on listening to these words of the young man, and,perceiving by the light of the lamp whi
The Nights of Straparola . reamed the young man, having put his hand upon her balmy mouth,would not suffer her to cry out, and, kneeling down before her, hecraved her pardon, imploring her to aid him in his trouble, forasmuchas he had not come thither to put any shame upon her or to sully herpure mind, but driven by untoward destiny. Then he told her whohe was, and the cause which had brought him into her chamber, andhow and by whom he was persecuted. V^iolante recovered somewhatof her composure on listening to these words of the young man, and,perceiving by the light of the lamp which was burning in the chamberof what a graceful and seemly presence he was, felt greatly moved topity thereby, and said to him : Young man, of a truth you have beengudty of great arrogance in coming here unsummoned, and greaterstill has been your presumption in touching that to which you had noright. However, now that I have heard the tale of your misfortuneswhich you have told to me, and as I am not made of marble, with a. FABLE v.] STRAPAROLA. 107 heart as hard as a diamond, I am prepared to lend you any aid whichI can give honestly, provided that you will promise faithfully to respeftmy honour. The young man at once tendered to Violante manywords of due gratitude for her kindly speech, and, as the dawn wasnow growing bright in the sky, he changed himself once more into aring, which Violante put away amongst her most precious jewels. Butshe would often take it out so that it might assume human form andhold sweet discourse with her. It happened one day that the king,Violantes father, was stricken witha grievous distemper which could be healed by none of the physicians,who all affirmed that his malady was one beyond the aid of medicine,and from day to day the condition of the king grew worse and chance this news came to the ears of Lattantio, who, havingarrayed himself as a physician, went to the royal palace and gainedadmission to the bedchamber of the king. Then, hav
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, booksubjectfairyta, bookyear1894
