Indeed, I scarcely recognized myself.

Would my wife, would Guido recognize me?
Almost I doubted it.

This thought was so painful to me that the tears sprung to my eyes.

I brushed them away in haste.
"Fy on thee, Fabio! Be a man!" I said, addressing myself angrily.

"Of what matter after all whether hairs are black or white?
What matter how the face changes, so long as the heart is true?
For a moment, perhaps, thy love may grow pale at sight of thee; but when she knows of thy sufferings, wilt thou not be dearer to her than ever?
Will not one of her soft embraces recompense thee for all thy past anguish, and suffice to make thee young again ?" And thus encouraging my sinking spirits, I quickly arrayed myself in the Neapolitan coral-fisher's garb.