XLVII Here It Is Told How a Knight Asked a Lady for Her Love
A knight once begged a lady for her love, and told her among other things that he was noble and rich and passing fair. And your husband is so ugly, as you know.
And that husband was behind the wall of the room. He spoke and said: Messer, by your courtesy further your own affairs, but do not mar those of other men.
Messer di Val Buona was the ugly man. And Messer Rinieri da Calvoli was the other.1
Notes
1 These two knights are mentioned by Dante in the 14th Canto of the Purgatorio, vv. 88–90 and 97.