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garments and attendants； beseeming his degree both in Nobility and
vertue。 Titus； out of his honourable bounty； imparted halfe his
lands and rich possessions to him； and afterward gave him in marriage；
his owne Sister； a most beautifull Lady； named Fulvia； saying to him
beside。 My deare friend Gisippus； it remaineth now in thine owne
election； whether thou wilt live here still with me； or returne
backe to Athens； with all the wealth which I have bestowed on thee。
But Gisippus； being one way constrayned； by the sentence of banishment
from his native City； and then againe； in regard of the constant love；
which he bare to so true and thankefull friend as Titus was： concluded
to live there as a loyall Roman； where he with his Fulvia； and Titus
with his faire Sophronia； lived long after together in one and the
same house； augmenting daily （if possible it might be） their amity
beyond all other equalizing。
A most sacred thing therefore is （ordiall amity； worthy not onely of
singuler reverence； but also to be honoured with eternall
commendation； as being the onely wise Mother of all magnificence and
honesty； the Sister of Charity and Gratitude； the enemy to hatred
and avarice； and which is alwayes ready （without attending to be
requested） to extend all vertuous actions to others； which she would
have done to her selfe。 Her rare and divine effects； in these contrary
times of ours； are not to be found between two such persons； which
is a mighty fault； and greatly checketh the miserable covetousnesse of
men； who respecting nothing but onely their particular benefit； have
banished true Amity； to the utmost confines of the whole earth； and
sent her into perpetuall exile。
What love； what wealth； or affinity of kindred； could have made
Gisippus feele （even in the intyrest part of his soule） the fervent
compassion； the teares； the sighes of Titus； and with such efficacy as
plainely appeared： to make him consent； that his faire elected Spouse；
by him so dearely esteemed； should become the wife of his Companion；
but onely the precious league of Amity？
What Lawes； what threatnings； what feares； could cause the yong
armes of Gisippus to abstaine embraces； betaking himselfe to
solitary walkes； and obscure places； when in his owne bedde； he
might have enjoyed so matchlesse a beauty （who perhaps desired it so
much as himselfe） but onely the gracious title of Amity？ What
greatnesse； what merits or precedence； could cause Gisippus not to
care； for the losse of his kindred； those of Sophronia； yea； of
Sophronia her selfe； not respecting the dishonest murmurings of base
minded people； their vile and contemptible language； scornes and
mockeries； and all to content and satisfie a friend； but onely
Divine Amity？
Come now likewise to the other side。 What occasions could compell
Noble Titus； so promptly and deliberatly； to procure his owne death；
to rescue his friend from the crosse； and inflict the pain and shame
upon himselfe； pretending not ＇to＇ see or know Gisippus at all； had it
not bin wrought by powerfull Amity？ What cause else could make Titus
so liberall； in dividing （with such willingnesse） the larger part of
his patrimony to Gisippus； when Fortune had dispossest him of his
owne； but onely heaven…borne Amity？ What else could have procured
Titus； without any further dilation； feare or suspition； to give his
Sister Fulvia in marriage to Gisippus； when he saw him reduced to such
extreame poverty； disgrace and misery； but onely infinite Amity？ To
what end doe men care then； to covet and procure great multitudes of
kinred； store of brethren； numbers of children； and to encrease
（with their owne monyes） plenty of servants： when by the least losse
and dammage happening； they forget all duty to Father； Brother； or
Master？ Amity and true friendship is of a quite contrary nature；
satisfying （in that sacred bond） the obligation due to all degrees；
both of parentage； and all alliences else。
THE TENTH DAY； THE NINTH NOVELL
DECLARING WHAT AN HONOURABLE VERTUE COURTESIE IS； IN THEM
THAT TRUELY KNOW HOW TO USE THEM
Saladine； the great Soldan of Babylon； in the habite of a
Merchant； was honourably received and welcommed； into the house of
Signior Thorello d'Istria。 Who travelling to the Holy Land； prefixed a
certaine time to his Wife； for his returne back to her againe；
wherein； if he failed； it was lawfull for her to take another Husband。
By clouding himselfe in the disguise of a Faulkner； the Soldan tooke
notice of him； and did him many great honours。 Afterward； Thorello
falling sicke； by Magicall Art； he was conveighed in one night to
Pavia； when his Wife was to be married on the morrow： where making
himselfe knowne to her； all was disappointed； and shee went home
with him to his owne house。
Adam Philomena having concluded her discourse； and the rare
acknowledgement； which Titus made of his esteemed friend Gisippus；
extolled justly as it deserved by all the Company： the King； reserving
the last office to Dioneus （as it was at the first granted him）
began to speake thus。 Without all question to the contrary （worthy
Ladies） nothing can be more truely said； then what Madame Philomena；
hath delivered； concerning Amity； and her complaint in the
conclusion of her Novell； is not without great reason； to see it so
slenderly reverenced and respected （now a dayes） among all men。 But if
we had met here in duty onely for correcting the abuses of iniquity；
and the malevolent courses of this preposterous age； I could proceed
further in this just cause of complaint。 But because our end aimeth at
matters of other nature； it commeth to my memory to tel you of a
History； which （perhaps） may seeme somewhat long； but altogether
pleasant； concerning a magnificent act of great Saladine： to the
end； that by observing those things which you shall heare in my
Novell； if we cannot （by reason of our manifold imperfections）
intirely compasse the amity of any one； yet （at least） we may take
delight； in stretching our kindnesse （in good deeds） so farre as we
are able； in hope one day after； some worthy reward will ensue
thereon； as thereto justly appertaining。
Let me tell you then； that （as it is afermed by many） in the time of
the Emperour Frederick； first of that name； the Christians； for the
better recovery of the holy land； resolved to make a generall voyage
over the Seas。 Which being understood by Saladine； a very worthy
Prince； and then Soldan of Babylon： he concluded with himselfe； that
he would （in person） goe see； what preparation the Christian
Potentates made for this Warre； that hee might the better provide
for himselfe。 Having setled all things orderly in Aegypt for the
busines； and making an outward appearance； as if he purposed a
pilgrimage to Mecha： he set onward on his journey； habited like a
Merchant； attended onely with two of his most Noble and wisest
Baschaes； and three waiting servants。
When he had visited many Christian Provinces； and was riding
thorow Lombardle； to passe the mountaines； it fortuned； in his
journeying from Millaine to Pavia； and the day being very farre spent；
so that night