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Book FirstPart XCIX
Part XCIX
When we had crossed the mountains of the Simplon, we came to a river near
a place called Indevedro. ^1 It was broad and very deep, spanned by a long
narrow bridge without ramparts. That morning a thick white frost had fallen;
and when I reached the bridge, riding before the rest, I recognised how
dangerous it was, and bade my servants and young men dismount and lead their
horses. So I got across without accident, and rode on talking with one of the
Frenchmen, whose condition was that of a gentleman. The other, who was a
scrivener, lagged a little way behind, jeering the French gentleman and me
because we had been so frightened by nothing at all as to give ourselves the
trouble of walking. I turned round, and seeing him upon the middle of the
bridge, begged him to come gently, since the place was very dangerous. The
fellow, true to his French nature, cried out in French that I was a man of
poor spirit, and that there was no danger whatsoever. While he spoke these
words and urged his horse forward, the animal suddenly slipped over the
bridge, and fell with legs in air close to a huge rock there was there. Now
God is very often merciful to madmen; so the two beasts, human and equine,
plunged together into a deep wide pool, where both of them went down below the
water. On seeing what had happened, I set off running at full speed, scrambled
with much difficulty on to the rock, and dangling over from it, seized the
skirt of the scrivener`s gown and pulled him up, for he was still submerged
beneath the surface. He had drunk his bellyful of water, and was within an ace
of being drowned. I then, beholding him out of danger, congratulated the man
upon my having been the means of rescuing his life. The fellow to this
answered me in French, that I had done nothing; the important things to save
were his writings, worth many scores of crowns; and these words he seemed to
say in anger, dripping wet and spluttering the while. Thereupon, I turned
round to our guides, and ordered them to help the brute, adding that I would
see them paid. One of them with great address and trouble set himself to the
business, and picked up all the fellow`s writings, so that he lost not one of
them: the other guide refused to trouble himself by rendering any assistance.
[Footnote 1: Probably the Doveria in the Valdivedro.]
I ought here to say that we had made a purse up, and that I performed the
part of paymaster. So, when we reached the place I mentioned, and had dined, I
drew some coins from the common purse and gave them to the guide who helped to
draw him from the water. Thereupon the fellow called out that I might pay them
out of my own pocket; he had no intention of giving the man more than what had
been agreed on for his services as guide. Upon this I retorted with insulting
language. Then the other guide, who had done nothing, came up and demanded to
be rewarded also. I told him that the one who had borne the cross deserved the
recompense. He cried out that he would presently show me a cross which should
make me repent. I replied that I would light a candle at that cross, which
should, I hoped, make him to be the first to weep his folly. The village we
were in lay on the frontier between Venice and the Germans. So the guide ran
off to bring the folk together, and came, followed by a crowd, with a
boar-spear in his hand. Mounted on my good steed, I lowered the barrel of my
arquebuse, and turning to my comrades, cried: "At the first shot I shall bring
that fellow down; do you likewise your duty, for these are highway robbers,
who have used this little incident to contrive our murder." The innkeeper at
whose house we had dined called one of the leaders, an imposing old man, and
begged him to put a stop to the disorder, saying: "This is a most courageous
young man; you may cut him to pieces, but he will certainly kill a lot of you,
and perhaps will escape your hands after doing all the mischief he is able."
So matters calmed down: and the old man, their leader, said to me: "Go in
peace; you would not have much to boast of against us, even if you had a
hundred men to back you." I recognised the truth of his words, and had indeed
made up my mind to die among them; therefore, when no further insults were
cast at me, I shook my head and exclaimed: "I should certainly have done my
utmost to prove I am no statue, but a man of flesh and spirit." Then we
resumed our journey; and that evening, at the first lodging we came to,
settled our accounts together. There I parted for ever from that beast of a
Frenchman, remaining on very friendly terms with the other, who was a
gentleman. Afterwards I reached Ferrara, with my three horses and no other
company.
Having dismounted, I went to court in order to pay my reverence to the
Duke, and gain permission to depart next morning for Loreto. When I had waited
until two hours after nightfall, his Excellency appeared. I kissed his hands;
he received me with much courtesy, and ordered that water should be brought
for me to wash my hands before eating. To this compliment I made a pleasant
answer: "Most excellent lord, it is now more than four months that I have
eaten only just enough to keep life together; knowing therefore that I could
not enjoy the delicacies of your royal table, I will stay and talk with you
while your Excellency is supping; in this way we shall both have more pleasure
than if I were to sup with you." Accordingly, we entered into conversation,
and prolonged it for the next three hours. At that time I took my leave, and
when I got back to the inn, found a most excellent meal ready; for the Duke
had sent me the plates from his own banquet, together with some famous wine.
Having now fasted two full hours beyond my usual hour for supping, I fell to
with hearty appetite; and this was the first time since four months that I
felt the power or will to eat.
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