Gerbino
Intro
- Storyteller: Elissa
- The author tells us that the brigata is divided in their opinions about who was most responsible for the tragedy in Lauretta's story.
- Many think that Ninetta's anger was to blame.
- Elissa starts her story by telling us that we don't only fall in love by looking with our eyes; sometimes, just the reputation of a person is enough to do the trick.
- In this case, simple hearsay not only creates love, but causes the lovers to die horrible deaths.
Story
- Gerbino is the grandson of King William II of Sicily and apparently, he's quite a hottie. Not only is he handsome, he's also a famous warrior and a man of chivalry.
- Pretty soon, stories about Gerbino's awesomeness reach the ears of the daughter of the King of Tunis. (She's not so bad herself.)
- She also loves a man with a good reputation. She quickly falls in love with Gerbino, sight unseen.
- Gerbino also hears of this woman's beauty and sweetness and falls hard for her. He can't figure out an excuse to get out to Tunis, so he enlists the help of his friends.
- One of them is able to speak with the lady and tell her all about Gerbino's love.
- Pretty soon, this messenger friend is going back and forth from Sicily to Tunis, carrying love letters and little gifts between the two lovers.
- The long distance relationship drags on, until the King of Tunis announces that he's marrying her off to the King of Granada.
- He also knows about the two lovers' long-distance love affair, and he'll have no more of that. So he contacts King William and gets an official promise that Gerbino won't interfere.
- But Gerbino has other plans. He takes two ships and intercepts his lover's bridal entourage.
- Things don't go well. In the hostilities, the Tunisians kill Gerbino's beautiful lady before his eyes.
- Gerbino becomes a killing machine and leaves no loot behind. He retrieves the lady's body from the sea and gives her an honorable burial.
- The King of Tunis is not pleased. He sends ambassadors to complain to King William.
- King William can't tolerate this insubordination from his only grandson, so he has the young rebel beheaded right before his eyes.
- And yes, that's how it all ends.
- Happy now, Filostrato?