So an arrangement was made, that the daughter should encourage the Count, and signify her readiness to grant his wish, provided he would first send her the ring he prized so highly, as a token of his love.  Proceeding with great subtlety as she was instructed, the daughter soon got the ring; and at the time fixed for the meeting the Countess supplied her place; the result of which was, that she became the mother of two fine boys, and so was prepared to claim her dues as a wife upon the seemingly-impossible terms which the Count himself had proposed.

Meanwhile her husband, hearing of her departure, had returned to his country.  In due time the Countess also took her journey homeward, and arrived at Montpellier, where, hearing that the Count was about to have a great party at his house, she determined to go thither in her pilgrim’s weeds.  Just as they were on the point of sitting down to the table, she came to the place where her husband was, and fell at his feet weeping, and said, “My lord, I am thy poor unfortunate wife, who, that thou mightest return and dwell in thy house, have been a great while begging about the world.  Therefore I now beseech thee to observe the conditions which the two knights that I sent to thee did command me to do; for behold, here in my arms, not only one son of thine, but twain, and likewise the ring:  it is now time, if thou keep promise, that I should be received as thy wife.”  The Count knew the ring, and the children also, they were so like him, and desired her to rehearse in order how all these things came about.  When she had told her story, he knew it to be true; and, perceiving her constant mind and good wit, and the two fair young boys, to keep his promise, and to please his people, and the ladies that made suit to him, he caused her to rise up, and embraced and kissed her, and from that day forth loved and honoured her as his wife.

* * * * *

From this sketch it will be seen that the Poet anglicized Beltramo into Bertram, changed Giletta to Helena, and closely followed Boccaccio in the main features of the plot so far as regards these persons and the widow and her daughter.  Beyond this, the novel yields no hints towards the play, while the latter has several judicious departures from the matter of the former.  Giletta is rich, and has a fine establishment of her own; which so far reduces the social inequality between her and the Count:  Helena is poor and dependent, so that she has nothing to stand upon but her nobility of nature and merit.  Beltramo, again, has no thought of going to Florence till after his compelled marriage; so that his going to the war is not from any free stirring of virtue in him, but purely to escape the presence of a wife that has been forced upon him.  With Bertram, the unwelcome marriage comes in only as an additional spur to the execution of a purpose already formed.  Before Helena makes her appearance at the Court, his spirit is in revolt against the command which would make him