XLII Here is told an excellent tale of William of Borganda of Provence
Edward Storer translation
One day some ladies were gathered together for a splendid banquet; and they sent for William of Borganda, and the Countess was there and they said: now tell us, William, why you have so insulted the ladies of Provence? It shall cost you dear.
Each one of them had a stick hidden away.
The one who acted as spokeswoman said: lo! William for your folly it behoves you to die.
And William spoke, and said, seeing that he was taken unawares in such a fashion: I beg you, ladies, by your courtesy that you grant me one favour. The ladies answered: ask, save that you ask not to escape.
Then William spoke and said: ladies, I beg you of your courtesy that whoever among you be the greatest hussy be the first to strike me.
Notes in this chapter
Note 1 · Or “Bergdam”. ↑Note 2 · The last count of Provence, who died in 1245. See Dante, Par. VI, 135. ↑Note 3 · The boasts of the knights figure greatly in knightly legend and story. ↑Note 4 · Underlined so in the original. ↑Note 5 · Orig.: ne metto, ne traggo. I do not put you among the number of knights defeated by me nor do I exclude you from them. In other words: I doNote 6 · The story is told of other knights in several different places. See Livre du Chevalier de la Tour Landry. ↑Note 7 · Then they looked at one another: no one was found willing to deal the first blow, and so on that occasion he got away unscathed6.Note 8 · Messer Giacopino Rangone1, a noble knight of Lombardy, being one day at table, had two flasks of very fine white and red wine before him.