having his eyes about him like a lynx, looking at this woman and that, to see whether by chance he could find the likeness to a stone upon a face of flesh. And as he was wandering about at random, turning continually to this side and that, like a thief in fear of the constables, he met a beggar carrying an hospital of plasters and a Giudecca of rags[1] upon his back, who said to him, "My gallant sir, what makes you so frightened?"
"Have I forsooth to tell you my affairs?" answered Jennariello: "'faith I should do well to tell my reason to the constable."
"Softly, my fair youth!" replied the beggar, "for the flesh of man is not sold by weight: if Darius had not told his troubles to a groom, he would not have become king of Persia[2]. It will be no great matter therefore for you to tell your affairs to a poor beggar; for there is not a twig so slender but it may serve for a toothpick."
When Jennariello heard the poor man talking sensibly and with reason, he told him the cause that had brought him to that country; whereupon the beggar replied, "See now, my son, how necessary it is to make account of every one; for though I am only a heap of
