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
As the rest, so did Madam _Beritola_ goe on shore in the Iland, where
having found a separate and solitary place, fit for her silent and sad
meditations, secretly by her selfe, shee sorrowed for the absence of
her husband. Resorting daily to this her sad exercise, and continuing
there her complaints, unseene by any of the Marriners, or whosoever
else: there arrived suddenly a Galley of Pyrates, who seazing on the
small Barke, carried it and all the rest in it away with them. When
_Beritola_ had finished her wofull complaints, as daily shee was
accustomed to doe, shee returned backe to her children againe; but
finding no person there remaining, whereat she wondered not a little:
immediately (suspecting what had happened indeede) she lent her lookes
on the Sea, and saw the Galley, which as yet had not gone farre,
drawing the smaller vessell after her. Heereby plainly she perceyved,
that now she had lost her children, as formerly shee had done her
husband; being left there poore, forsaken, and miserable, not knowing
when, where, or how to finde any of them againe, and calling for her
husband and children, shee fell downe in a swound uppon the shore.
Now was not any body neere, with coole water or any other remedy, to
helpe the recovery of her lost powers; wherefore her spirites might the
more freely wander at their own pleasure: but after they were returned
backe againe, and had won their wonted offices in her body, drowned
in teares, and wringing her hands, shee did nothing but call for her
children and husband, straying all about, in hope to finde them,
seeking in Caves, Dennes, and every where else, that presented the
verie least glimpse of comfort. But when she saw all her paines sort to
no purpose, and darke night drawing swiftly on, hope and dismay raising
infinit perturbations, made her yet to be somewhat respective of her
selfe, & therefore departing from the sea-shore, she returned to the
solitary place, where she used to sigh and mourne alone by her selfe.
The night being over-past with infinite feares and affrights, & bright
day saluting the world againe, with the expence of nine hours and more,
she fell to her former fruitlesse travailes. Being somewhat sharply
bitten with hunger, because the former day and night shee hadde not
tasted any food: she made therefore a benefit of necessity, and fed
on the green hearbes so well as she could, not without many piercing
afflictions, what should become of her in this extraordinary misery. As
shee walked in these pensive meditations, she saw a Goate enter into
a Cave, and (within a while after) come forth againe, wandering along
thorow the woods. Whereupon she stayed, and entred where she saw the
beast issue forth, where she found two yong Kids, yeaned (as it seemed)
the selfesame day, which sight was very pleasing to her, and nothing
(in that distresse) could more content her.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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