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And now the young lord came galloping round the corner, attired in a green velvet doublet with red silk sleeves, and a grey hat with a heron's feather therein; summa, gaily dressed as beseems a wooer. And when we now ran out at the door, he called aloud to my child in the Latin, from afar off, "Quomodo stat dulcissima virgo?" Whereupon she gave answer, saying, "Bene te aspecto."
And again he drew near to Dulcissima, and there, before them all, he fell on his knee. And a murmur ran through the hall. "Madam," said Deodonato, "if you love me, wed me. And, if you love me not, depart in peace and in honor; and I, Deodonato, will live my life alone." Then the damsel trembled, and barely did Deodonato catch her words: "There are many men here," said she.
"You had no chance of using the pins," said he, "and the rent in your gown is very sore." And upon this the eyes of the damsel lost their fire and sought the floor; and she plucked at her girdle, and would not look on Deodonato. And they said outside, "It is very still in the Hall of the Duke." Then said Deodonato, "Dulcissima, what would you?" "That you repeal your decrees," said she.
"Well named!" said Deodonato softly, and he went to the damsel, and he laid his hand, full gently, on her robe, and he said: "Dulcissima, you have the prettiest face in all the Duchy, and I will have no wife but you;" and Duke Deodonato kissed the damsel. The damsel forbore to strike Duke Deodonato, as she had struck Dr. Fusbius.
And Deodonato shot to his feet, and before them all he kissed her, and, turning, spoke: "As I have wooed, let every man in this Duchy woo. As I have won, let every man that is worthy win. For, unless he so woo, and unless he so win, vain is his wooing, and vain is his winning, and a fig for his wedding, say I, Deodonato! I, that was Deodonato, and now am Deodonato and Dulcissima."
He made her repeat to him the carmen to his Majesty; whereupon he, in the person of the king, answered her: "Dulcissima et venustissima puella, quae mihi in coloribus caeli, ut angelus Domini appares utinam semper mecum esses, nunquam mihi male caderet"; whereupon she grew red, as likewise did I, but from vexation, as may be easily guessed.
Duke Deodonato sat a while in thought, and there was silence in the hall. Then he spoke: "Let all withdraw, saving the damsel only." And they one and all withdrew, and Duke Deodonato was left alone with the damsel. Then he arose and gazed long on the damsel; but the damsel would not look on Duke Deodonato. "How are you called, lady?" asked Duke Deodonato. "I am called Dulcissima," said she.
For the more windows, the wider the view; and the wider the view, the more pretty damsels do you see; and the more pretty damsels you see, the more jocund a thing is life and that is what the men of the Duchy love and not least, Duke Deodonato, whom, with his bride Dulcissima, may Heaven long preserve! There was once the date is of no moment a Sultan, and he had a Vizier named Ashimullah.
"You had no chance of using the pins," said he, "and the rent in your gown is very sore." And upon this the eyes of the damsel lost their fire and sought the floor; and she plucked at her girdle, and would not look on Deodonato. And they said outside: "It is very still in the Hall of the Duke." Then said Deodonato: "Dulcissima, what would you?" "That you repeal your decrees," said she.
And again he drew near to Dulcissima, and there, before them all, he fell on his knee. And a murmur ran through the hall. "Madam," said Deodonato, "if you love me, wed me. And, if you love me not, depart in peace and in honor; and I, Deodonato, will live my life alone." Then the damsel trembled, and barely did Deodonato catch her words: "There are many men here," said she.
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