Sophronia believing herself to be the wife of Gisippus, is really married to Titus Quintus Fulvius, who carries her to Rome, where Gisippus arrives some time after in great distress, and, thinking himself despised by Titus, confesses himself guilty of a murder, in order to put an end to his life. Titus recollects him, and, to save him, accuses himself, which, when the murderer sees, he delivers himself up as the guilty person. Finally, they are all set at liberty by Octavius, and Titus marries Gisippus to his sister, and gives him half his estate.
Pampinea having ceased to speak, and King Pietro having been much commended by the whole company, but especially by the Ghibelline lady. Filomena now, by the king’s order, began in this manner: – We all know, ladies, that kings can do, as often as they are so disposed, everything that is great and noble. Such things are more particularly required of them. Now, he who does his duty, does well; but yet we should not wonder in that manner, and extol a king so highly for it, as we would another, who, not having the same ability, has less incumbent upon him, and yet does as much. If, therefore, you commend the actions of princes to that degree, and think them glorious, I make no doubt but those of our equals will be much more admired by you, when they are found to resemble, or even exceed them. I shall, therefore, relate the great and noble behaviour of two citizens and friends.
At the time when Octavius Caesar (afterwards Augustus) governed the empire as one of the triumvirate, there dwelt at Rome a gentleman called Publius Quintus Fulvius, who having a son named Titus Quintus Fulvius, a youth of wonderful parts and learning, sent him to Athens to study philosophy, and recommended him to a gentleman there, called Chremes, who was his old friend. This noble person kept him in his own house, as a companion to a son of his own, named Gisippus, and they were both put under the tuition of a philosopher, whose name was Aristippus. Being brought up thus together, their ways and tempers were so conformable, that a brotherly affection and strict friendship sprang up between them, inseparable by any other accident than death, nor had they either happiness or repose but in each other’s company. They began their studies together, and proceeded, for they had each an uncommon genius, to the greatest depths of philosophy with equal steps, and marvellous applause. Thus they went on for three years, to the great joy of Chremes, who seemed to have the same regard for both, when it chanced that he died, being stricken in years, at which they manifested equal sorrow; nor could it be well said which was the more disconsolate.
A few months afterwards, the friends and relations of Gisippus came to see him, and began, along with Titus, to comfort and persuade him to take a wife, recommending a townswoman of theirs, a lady of extraordinary beauty and family, about sixteen years of age; and the time of their marriage drawing near, Gisippus prevailed upon Titus, who had not yet seen her, to go with him to pay her a visit Coming then to the house, and she seating herself between them, Titus, considering the charms of his friend’s betrothed spouse, began to view her with the greatest attention; and being immoderately taken with every part and every feature of her, and praising them secretly to himself, he soon grew as much enamoured as ever man in the world was with a woman, without, however, showing the least outward sign of it. After they had stayed some time, they left her, and returned home; and Titus, going into his chamber by himself, began to reflect upon what he had seen, and the more he thought, the more he grew in love. Recollecting himself at last, after many passionate sighs, he broke out to this effect: “Ah! unhappy Titus, where and on whom hast thou fixed thy heart, thy affections, and thy whole hope? Knowest thou not, that, for the favours received from Chremes and his family, as well as the close friendship betwixt thee and Gisippus, to whom she is espoused, thou oughtest to reverence her as a sister? Whom, then, dost thou love? Why suffer thyself to be thus snared? To what purpose that deceitful hope? Open the eyes of thy understanding, O miserable man! and know thyself. Listen to reason, curb thy inordinate appetite, moderate thy irregular desires, and direct them to a different object; subdue thy lascivious passion in the beginning, and be thy own master whilst it is in thy power. It is not fit, what thou desirest: it is not honest. What thou art in pursuit of, even wert thou sure to obtain it, which thou art not, thou oughtest to flee from, if thou hadst any regard to what true friendship and thy own duty both require. What, then, wilt thou do? To act reasonably, thou must quit this love.” Then, calling to mind the lady, and renouncing what he had before alleged, he said, “The laws of love are of greater force than any other; they annul those of friendship, or even the laws divine. How often has a father loved his daughter, a brother his sister? which are much stranger things than for one friend to love another friend’s wife. Besides, I am young, and youth is entirely subject to the government of love. What that directs, then, I approve. Let people of more years think of what is honest: I can will nothing but to love. This her beauty commands from every one. How am I then to blame? I love her, not because she is espoused to my friend, but I should love her to whomsoever she belonged. It is only fortune that is in fault, in having bestowed her upon him; and perhaps he may be less uneasy at my admiring her, than he would be were it any other person.”