and fell asleep at once. The lady lay down beside him, but he woke not till it was past nine o'clock the next morning.
As soon as it was day the lady arose, and made them begin unload the ship, which was filled with rich and fine merchandise. When nine o'clock had struck the waiting-maid went to the bed where Giannetto lay, and bade him rise and go his way with God's help, forasmuch as he had forfeited his ship and all that was therein.
He was greatly ashamed, and conscious that he had fared very ill in his adventure. The lady bade them give him a horse and money for the way. And he, after a sad and doleful journey, arrived at Venice, but he dared not for shame gohome.
He called by night at the house of one of his friends, who marveled greatly at the sight of him, and said, “Alas! Giannetto, what means this?”
And Giannetto made answer, “My ship struck one night upon a rock, and became a wreck, and everything was broken up. One was cast here and another there, and I caught hold of a piece of wood, on which I reached the shore. I returned hither by land, and here lam.”
Giannetto tarried for some time in the house of his friend, who went one day to see Messer Ansaldo, and found him in very melancholy mood.
Ansaldo said, “I am so sorely afeared lest this son of mine should be dead, or that he have met some ill fortune at sea, that I can find nor peace nor happiness, so great is my love for him.”