Page:Peregrinaggio di tre giovani figliuoli del re di Serendippo.djvu/172

 I shall tell you now of the reasons for my sighs. I dearly pray you that what I am going to reveal to you, you will keep a secret and not share it with anyone else and that you will be able to find a remedy for my great passion." "Now you must know that when I was ten years old, I was in the custody of my cruel and wicked uncle after my father and mother had died when I was still an infant. I delighted so much in music that there was no one of my age which surpassed me in this art and it was then that I was sold to a rich merchant. He took me around various parts of the world over a five-year period and many Lords heard me play and I used to earn a lot of money with my music. Now it happened that when he went to a faraway land, he arrived with his merchandise at the court of a great Prince, where I performed my music for many of his barons. The music was beautifully performed and the Prince was told about my artistry. Because he was very fond of music, my master was immediately ordered to bring me into his presence. When I arrived there, I took the lute in my hand and began to play. The Prince was greatly delighted by my music. When I asked to take leave, I was presented a beautiful jewel, and returned to my dwelling with my master.

The very same day the Lord made my master understand that he would pay him any price if he would leave me with him.