had taken leave of Messer Ansaldo and of his companions, he put out to sea and hoisted sail and steered the course for Alexandria in the name of God and of goodfortune.
After these three friends in their three ships had sailed on several days, it chanced that early one morning Giannetto caught sight of a certain gulf in which was a very fair port. Whereupon he asked the captain what might be the name of the place. The captain replied that it belonged to a certain lady, a widow, who had brought many toruin.
Giannetto inquired how they had been undone, and the captain replied, “Messere, this lady is very beautiful, and she has made it a law that, if any stranger lands there, he must needs share her bed, and, if he should have his will of her, that he should have her to wife and be the lord of the town and of all the country round. But if he should fail in his venture, he must lose all he has.”
Giannetto meditated for a moment, and then bade the captain land him at the port by some means or other, but the captain cried to him, “Messere, take care what you do, for many gentlemen have landed there, and everyone has beenruined.”
But Giannetto said, “Trouble not yourself about others; do what I tellyou.”
His command was obeyed. They put the ship about at once and made sail for the port, and those on board the other ships perceived not what was done.
In the harbor the next morning, when the news was spread that a fine ship had come into port, all the