Stanza 13

Boccaccio:

A' quali Gualtieri rispose: "Amici miei, voi mi strignete a quello che io del tutto aveva disposto di non far mai, considerando quanto grave cosa sia a poter trovare chi co' suoi costumi ben si convenga e quanto del contrario sia grande la copia, e come dura vitasia quella di colui che a donna non bene a sé conveniente s'abbatte. E il dire che voi vi crediate a' costumi de' padri e delle madri le figliuole conoscere, donde argomentate di darlami tal che mi piacerà, è una sciocchezza; con ciò sia cosa che io non sappia dove i padri possiate conoscere né come i segreti delle madri di quelle: quantunque, pur conoscendogli, sieno spesse volte le figliuole a' padri e alle madri dissimili. Ma poi che pure in queste catene vi piace d'annodarmi, e io voglio esser contento;

To whom: "My friends," replied Gualtieri, "you enforce me to that which I had resolved never to do, seeing how hard it is to find a wife, whose ways accord well with one's own, and how plentiful is the supply of such as run counter thereto, and how grievous a life he leads who chances upon a lady that matches ill with him. [007] And to say that you think to know the daughters by the qualities of their fathers and mothers, and thereby--so you would argue--to provide me with a wife to my liking, is but folly; for I wot not how you may penetrate the secrets of their mothers so as to know their fathers; and granted that you do know them, daughters oftentimes resemble neither of their parents. [008] However, as you are minded to rivet these fetters upon me, I am content that so it be;


Petrarch:

Moverunt pie preces animum viri, et «Cogitis» inquit «me, amici, ad id quod michi in animum nunquam venit; delectabar omnimoda libertate, que in coniugio rara est. Ceterum subiectorum michi voluntatibus me sponte subicio, et prudentie vestre fisus et fidei.

Their loyal entreaties touched the man's heart, and he made answer: "My friends, you constrain me to that which never entered my thoughts. I have had pleasure in complete liberty, a thing which is rare in marriage. Nevertheless I, willingly submit to the wishes of my subjects, trusting in your prudence and your devotion.


Chaucer:

Hir meeke preyere and hir pitous cheere
Made the markys herte han pitee.
"Ye wol," quod he, "myn owene peple deere,
To that I nevere erst thoughte, streyne me.
145 I me rejoysed of my liberte,
That seelde tyme is founde in mariage.
Ther I was free, I moot been in servage.


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