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
What will you say Madam, if I cause you to see your eldest Son, not
long since married to one of my Daughters? whereunto _Beritola_ thus
replied. My Lord, I can say nothing else unto you, but that I shall be
much more obliged to you, then already I am, and so much the rather,
because you will let me see the thing which is dearer to me then mine
owne life; and rendring it unto mee in such manner as you speake of,
you will recall backe some part of my former lost hopes: and with these
words the teares streamed aboundantly from her eyes. Then turning to
his wife, he saide; And you deare Love, if I shew you such a Sonne in
Law, what will you thinke of it? Sir (quoth shee) what pleaseth you,
must and shall satisfie me, be he Gentleman, or a beggar. Well said
Madam, answered _Messer Conrado_, I hope (within few dayes) to make you
both joyfull. So when the amorous couple had recovered their former
feature, and honourable garments were prepared for them, privately thus
he said to _Geoffrey_; Beyond the joy which already thou art inriched
withall, how would it please thee to meet with thine owne Mother here?
I cannot beleeve Sir, replied _Geoffrey_, that her greevous misfortunes
have suffered her to live so long: yet notwithstanding, if Heaven
hath beene so merciful to her, my joyes were incomparable, for by her
gracious counsell, I might well hope to recover no meane happinesse in
_Sicilie_. Within a while after, both the Mothers were sent for, who
were transported with unspeakable joyes, when they beheld the so lately
maried couple; being also much amazed, when they could not guesse what
inspiration had guided _Conrado_ to this extraordinary benignity,
joyning _Jehannot_ in mariage with _Spina_. Hereupon Madam _Beritola_,
remembring the speeches between her and _Conrado_, began to observe
him very advisedly, and by a hidden vertue, which long had silently
slept in her, and now with joy of spirit awaked, calling to minde
the lineatures of her Sonnes Infancy, without awaiting for any other
demonstrations, shee folded him in her armes with earnest affection.
Motherly joy and pitty now contended so violently together, that shee
was not able to utter one word, the sensitive vertues being so closely
combined, that (even as dead) shee fell downe in the armes of her
Sonne. And he wondering greatly thereat, making a better recollection
of his thoughts, did well remember, that he had often before seene her
in the Castell, without any other knowledge of her. Neverthelesse,
by meere instinct of Nature, whose power (in such actions) declares
it selfe to be highly predominant; his very soule assured him, that
shee was his Mother, and blaming his understanding, that he had not
before beene better advised, he threw his armes about her, and wept
exceedingly.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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