ABSTRACT
While he was holding Court most royally there, and all was joy because of his victory, joustings and balls being held daily, one of his knights, a baron of great esteem much beloved by King Piero because he was of great personal valour and had carried himself nobly in the recent campaigns, fell deeply in love with a young lady, daughter of Messer Lionato de* Lionati, a nobleman of Messina. This young lady was more well-bred, graceful and beautiful than any other in that country; and little by little he came to desire her so much that he knew not how he could live out of sight of her loveliness. The baron was called Sir Timbreo di Cardona, and the lady's name was Fenicia. Because he had served King Piero by land and sea since childhood he had been richly rewarded, for besides the numberless gifts previously bestowed on him the King had recently given him the County of Colisano, with other lands, so that his revenues, not counting his daily allowance from the King, amounted to more than twelve thousand ducats.
