The Decameron (Day 1 to Day 5): Containing an hundred pleasant NovelsBoccaccio, Giovanni
History
The Decameron (Day 1 to Day 5): Containing an hundred pleasant Novels
Boccaccio, Giovanni
Allegories; Frame stories; Plague -- Europe -- History -- Fiction; Storytelling -- Fiction
The neighbours, well acquainted with this Ruffians rude conditions,
speaking in gentle manner to _Andrea_, said. Shift for thy selfe (good
man) in time, and tarrie not for his comming downe to thee; except thou
art wearie of thy life, be gone therefore, and say thou hast a friendly
warning. These words dismaying _Andrea_, but much more the stearne
oathes and ugly sight of the Ruffian, incited also by the neighbours
counsell, whom he imagined to advise him in charitable manner: it
caused him to depart thence, taking the way homeward to his Inne, in no
meane affliction and torment of minde, for the monstrous abuse offered
him, and losse of his money. Well he remembred the passages, whereby
(the day before) the young Girle had guided him, but the loathsome
smell about him, was so extreamely offensive to himselfe: that,
desiring to wash him at the Sea side, he strayed too farre wide on the
contrary hand, wandring up the streete called _Ruga Gatellana_.
Proceeding on still, even to the highest part of the Citie, hee espied
a Lanthorne and light, as also a man carrying it, and another man with
him in company, both of them comming towards him. Now, because he
suspected them two of the watch, or some persons that would apprehend
him: he stept aside to shunne them, and entred into an olde house hard
by at hand. The other mens intention was to the very same place, and
going in, without any knowledge of _Andreaes_ being there, one of them
layd downe divers instruments of yron, which he had brought thither on
his backe, and had much talke with his fellow concerning those engines.
At last one of them said, I smell the most abhominable stinke, that
ever I felt in all my life. So, lifting up his Lanthorne, he espied
poore pittifull _Andrea_, closely couched behinde the wall. Which sight
somewhat affrighting him, he yet boldly demaunded, what and who hee
was: whereto _Andrea_ aunswered nothing, but lay still and held his
peace. Neerer they drew towards him with their light, demaunding how
hee came thither, and in that filthy manner.
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