this letter. If you manage your affairs with prudence, you will become a rich man.”
The young man answered, “My father, I am ready to do what you command.”
Whereupon the sick man gave him his blessing,and in a few days' time breathed his last. All the sonslamented sorely, and buried their father with due honors.
When a few days had passed, the two brothers called Giannetto, and said to him, “Brother, it is true indeed that our father has made a will leaving us his heirs, and making no mention of you. Nevertheless, you are our brother, and from this time you shall have share in whatever may be left, equally with ourselves.”
Giannetto answered, “I thank you, my brothers, for what you offer, but I have made up my mind to seek my fortune in some other place. On this I am fully determined. Therefore you can take the heritage sanctified and assigned to you.”
The brothers, when they saw what his will was, gave him a horse and money for his charges. Giannetto took leave of them; and having journeyed to Venice and gone to the warehouse of Messer Ansaldo, he delivered the letter which his father had handed to him on his deathbed.
And Messer Ansaldo, when he had read the same, learned that the young man before him was the son of his dear friend Bindo. As soon as he had read it, he straightway embraced Giannetto, saying, “Welcome, dear godson, whom I have so greatly desired tosee.”
Then he asked news of Bindo, and Giannetto replied that he was dead. Whereupon Ansaldo embraced