This manner of life lasted for a long time; but as the King was a person
of public condition, he could not conceal his love sufficiently well to
prevent it from coming at length to the knowledge of every one; and
all honourable people felt great pity for the gentleman, though divers
malicious youths were wont to deride him by making horns at him behind
his back. But he knew of their derision, and it gave him great pleasure,
so that he came to think as highly of his horns as of the King's crown.
One day, however, the King and the gentleman's wife, noticing a stag's
head that was set up in the gentleman's house, could not refrain in his
presence from laughing and saying that the head was suited to the house.
Soon afterwards the gentleman, who was no less spirited than the King,
caused the following words to be written over the stag's head:--
"Io porto le corna, ciascun lo vede, Ma tal le porta che no lo
crede." (8)
8 "All men may see the horns I've got, But one wears horns
and knows it not.
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