The young man answered, “I can tell you news of him; he has been shipwrecked and has lost everything, but he has escaped with hislife.”
“God be praised for this,” said Messer Ansaldo. “So long as he has saved himself I am contented, and care naught for what he has lost. But where is he?”
The young man replied that Giannetto was in his house. Whereupon Messer Ansaldo arose forthwith and was fain to go thither. And when he saw Giannetto, he ran towards him and embraced him, saying, “My son, you need feel no shame for what has befallen you, inasmuch as it is no rare thing for a ship to be wrecked at sea. Be not cast down, for since no hurt has come to you, I canrejoice.”
Then he took Giannetto home and cheered him the best he could. And the news spread through Venice, everyone being grieved for the loss which had befallen him.
Before long Giannetto's companions returned from Alexandria, having won great profit from their venture. And as soon as they landed they asked for news of him. When they heard his story they went straightway to greet him, saying, “How did you leave our company, and where did you go? When we lost sight of you, we turned back on our course for a whole day. But we could neither see aught of your ship nor learn where you had gone. Thus we fell into such grief that, for the whole of our voyage, we knew not what merriment was, deeming you to bedead.”
Giannetto answered, “An adverse wind arose in acertaininletofthesea,whichdrovemyshiponarock