Retelling the novella

The princess is a young widow who is deeply loved by her father, who for that reason does not want to give her away in marriage a second time.

Upon seeing Guiscardo at her father’s court, princess Ghismunda falls in love, and the love is reciprocal. However, as Guiscardo is of humble origin, they are forced to meet each other in secrecy. Ghismunda finds a way to arrange this, which she communicates to Guiscardo in a letter hidden in a hollow cane.