“Let me alone,” said the judge. The Jew then said, “give me fifty thousand.”
“I would not give thee a brass farthing,” said the judge. “Well then,” said the Jew, “give me my ten thousand ducats, and a curse be with you all.”
“Hast thou not heard me,” said the judge, “I will not give thee a doit; take thou the pound of flesh if thou wilt, if thou wilt not, I’ll make thee cancel the writing.” All present were overjoyed, and laughed at the Jew, in seeing the biter so completely bit.
The Jew, finding he could not compass his malicious intent, took the papers, and, being desperately enraged, tore them to bits, and threw them on the ground. Thus was Messer Ansaldo liberated and conducted home by Gianetto; who immediately taking the one hundred thousand ducats, went to the judge, and found him in his room ready to go home again; upon which Messer Gianetto said to him, “sir, you have rendered me the greatest service, and done me the greatest kindness; therefore, I request you to take this money along with you, for you have well earned it.”
“I thank you kindly, Messer Gianetto,” said the judge, “but I am not the least in want of it; take it back with you, that your wife may not say you have made a hard bargain.”
“Upon my faith,” said Gianetto, “if I were to spend four times as much, she is so noble-minded, kind, and generous, she would not in the least be displeased, for she wished me to offer more, if needful.”
“How do you feel towards her?” said the judge. “There is not a woman on earth I could love so much, she is so chaste, and as beautiful as nature could possibly make her, and if you will oblige us so far, you will come and see her. You will be charmed with her, and the great politeness she will shew you, and you will then judge whether what I say is true or not.”
“As to coming with you I cannot, for I have other things to attend to, but since you say she is so benevolent, when you see her present my best respects to her.”
“I will,” said Gianetto, “but I wish you to take some of this money;” and while he was speaking the judge perceived a ring on his finger, and said, “I wish to have that ring, nor will I have any thing else from you.” Gianetto answered, “I am agreeable to it, yet I give it you somewhat unwillingly, because it is the gift of my wife, and she desired I would always wear it for her sake, and should she notice I have it not, she will think I gave it to some woman I am in love with, and I love her more than myself.”
“I think,” replied the judge, “that if she loves you so truly, she will readily believe you, when you tell her you gave it to me; but, perhaps, you yourself wish to give it away to some favourite lady in Venice.”