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
By this time, _Conrado_ and his wife, who had followed closely after
the hounds, was come thither, and seeing what had hapned, looking on
the Lady, who was become blacke, swarthy, meager, and hairy, they
wondered not a little at her, and she a great deale more at them. When
(upon her request) _Conrado_ had checkt back his hounds, they prevailed
so much by earnest intreaties, to know what she was, and the reason of
her living there; that she intirely related her quality, unfortunate
accidents, and strange determination for living there. Which when the
Gentleman had heard, who very well knew her husband, compassion forced
teares from his eyes, and earnestly he laboured by kinde perswasions,
to alter so cruel a deliberation; making an honourable offer, for
conducting her home to his owne dwelling, where shee should remaine
with him in noble respect, as if she were his owne sister, without
parting from him, till Fortune should smile as fairely on her, as ever
she had done before.
When these gentle offers could not prevaile with her, the Gentleman
left his wife in her company, saying, that he would go fetch some foode
for her; and because her garments were all rent and torne, hee woulde
bring her other of his wives, not doubting but to winne her thence
with them. His wife abode there with _Beritola_, very much bemoaning
her great disasters, and when both viands and garments were brought:
by extremity of intercession, they caused her to put them on, and also
to feede with them, albeit she protested, that shee would not part
thence into any place, where any knowledge should be taken of her. In
the end, they perswaded her, to go with them into _Lunigiana_, carrying
also with her the two yong Goats and their damme, which were then in
the Cave altogether, prettily playing before _Beritola_, to the great
admiration of _Conrado_ and his wife, as also the servants attending on
them.
When the windes and weather grew favourable for them, Madam _Beritola_
went aboard with _Conrado_ and his wife, being followed by the two
young Goates and their Damme; and because her name should bee knowne
to none but _Conrado_, and his wife onely, shee would be stiled no
otherwise, but the Goatherdesse. Merrily, yet gently blew the gale,
which brought them to enter the River of _Macra_, where going on shore,
and into their owne Castell, _Beritola_ kept company with the wife
of _Conrado_, but in a mourning habite, and a wayting Gentlewoman of
hers, honest, humble, and very dutifull, the Goates alwayes familiarly
keeping them company.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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