married the happy couple, honoured the feast with his presence also, and delighted me in the evening with all his best stories of his strange adventures in foreign lands. And before the first flush of the bridal gaieties was over, and while my parents were still rejoicing in their son's good fortune, and settling near them, I secured the kind offices of the good father to get them to agree to my going to sea; for I had always had a restless longing to go beyond our small island and see the world. And so at last, with many tears and blessings, they gave me up to my own desires, and I took an affectionate farewell of them all, leaving most of my gains secretly behind for them, as a parting gift. "Then I went to the other coast, and took a passage in an English vessel, bound for Naples first of all; and there I made a good bargain with the coral my father and Felippo had last obtained, and transmitted the money to them through the banker there. Our stock of spoil was so very good, that the Neapolitan merchants were glad enough to get it, and fashion it into dainty necklets, crosses, and ear-jewels, which were eagerly bought up by dealers from many countries. "I have been home several times since, and have nursed Agata's babies, and showed Felippo's two boys (the eldest my namesake and godson) where |