The ten days

X. The importance of matrimony

To the importance of matrimony is the ardour of the old King Charles I of Anjou bent. In a sense of guilt for his indecorous sentiments for the beautiful young Ginevra, The sovereign represses his passions and gives the girl as bride to Maffeo da Palizzi (6). In the same way King Peter of Aragon gives the lovely Lisa to Perdicone, being unable to respond to the attentions of a girl who is not noble (7). Amorous passion is secondary also to friendship. The case of Tito and Gisippo (8), the two youths from the I century AD, would seem to have been taken from De integro amico della Disciplina Clericalis by Pietro Alfonso. The exchange of favours between the two friends involves renunciation to his love for Sofronia for Gisippo, and the sacrifice of his life, which Tito is ready to do, accusing himself of the murder committed by his friend. The happy ending is marked by the marriage of the Athenian to Tito’s sister, thus reuniting the two friends, and converting their relationship to that of relatives. The Saladin, in the guise of a merchant, is sumptuously honoured by messer Torello di Pavia (9). This precedent comes in handy for Torello, who, falling very sick in Alexandria, and believed to be dead by his wife, causes her to decide to remarry. In exchange for the favours received, the Saladin cures Torello with magic and has him return in all haste to Padua, where he manages to stop his wife remarrying. Once more matrimonial unity is defended, and this is the leit motiv of this day. The theme is in effect led up to in a sort of emotive crescendo already with the tales of marital submission (7, 9) which are part of the ninth day and lead to the novella of Griselda (10).