marriage.”  To which he replied, “Well, you shall have her, for the maiden is fair and wise, and loveth you entirely; and verily you shall lead a more joyful life with her than with a lady of a greater House”; whereupon the Count held his peace.  The marriage over, the Count asked leave to go home, having settled beforehand what he would do.  Knowing that the Florentines and the Senois were at war, he was no sooner on horseback than he stole off to Tuscany, meaning to side with the Florentines; by whom being honorably received and made a captain, he continued a long time in their service.

His wife, hoping by her well-doing to win his heart, returned home, where, finding all things spoiled and disordered by reason of his absence, she like a sage lady carefully put them in order, making all his people very glad of her presence and loving to her person.  Having done this, she sent word thereof to the Count by two knights, adding that, if she were the cause of his forsaking home, he had but to let her know it, and she, to do him pleasure, would depart thence.  Now he had a ring which he greatly loved, and kept very carefully, and never took off his finger, for a certain virtue which he knew it had.  When the knights came, he said to them churlishly, “Let her do what she list; for I purpose to dwell with her when she shall have this ring on her finger, and a son of mine in her arms.”  The knights, after trying in vain to change his purpose, returned to the lady, and told his answer; at which she was very sorrowful, and bethought herself a good while how she might accomplish those two things.  She then called together the noblest of the country, and told them what she had done to win her husband’s love; that she was loth he should dwell in perpetual exile on her account; and therefore would spend the rest of her life in pilgrimages and devotion; praying them to let him know she had left, with a purpose never to return.  Then, taking with her a maid and one of her kinsmen, she set out in the habit of a pilgrim, well furnished with silver and jewels, told no one whither she was going, and rested not till she came to Florence.  She put up at the house of a poor widow; and the next day, seeing her husband pass by on horseback, she asked who he was.  The widow told her this, and also that he was marvellously in love with a neighbour of hers, a gentlewoman who was poor, but of right honest life and report, and dwelt with her mother, a wise and honest lady.  After hearing this, she was not long in deciding what to do.  Going secretly to the house, and getting a private interview with the mother, she told her whole story, and how she hoped to thrive in her undertaking, if the mother and daughter would lend their aid.  In recompense she proposed to give the daughter a handsome marriage portion; and the mother replied, “Madam, tell me wherein I may do you service; if it be honest, I will gladly perform it; and, that being done, do as it shall please you.”