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
Hereupon the Duke of _Athens_, being young, goodly, and valiant of
person, as also a neere Kinsman to the Prince, had a desire to see
her; and under colour of visiting his noble Kinsman, (as oftentimes
before he had done) attended with an honourable traine, to _Smirna_
he came, being there most royally welcommed, and bounteously feasted.
Within some few dayes of his there being, conference passed betweene
them, concerning the rare beauty of the Lady; the Duke questioning the
Prince, whether shee was of such wonder, as fame had acquainted the
World withall? Whereto the Prince replied; Much more (noble Kinsman)
then can be spoken of, as your owne eyes shall witnesse, without
crediting any words of mine. The Prince solliciting the Duke thereto
very earnestly, they both went together to see her; and shee having
before heard of their comming, adorned her selfe the more majestically,
entertaining them with ceremonious demeanour (after her Countries
custome) which gave most gracious and unspeakable acceptation.
At the Princes affable motion, shee sate downe betweene them, their
delight being beyond expression, to behold her, but abridged of much
more felicity, because they understood not any part of her language:
so that they could have no other conference, but by lookes and outward
signes onely; and the more they beheld her, the more they marvelled at
her rare perfections, especially the Duke, who hardly credited that
shee was a mortall creature. Thus not perceiving, what deepe carowses
of amorous poyson, his eyes dranke downe by the meere sight of her, yet
thinking thereby onely to be satisfied; he lost both himselfe and his
best sences, growing in love (beyond all measure) with her. When the
Prince and he were parted from her, and hee was at his owne private
amorous meditations in his Chamber; he reputed the Prince far happier
then any man else whatsoever, by the enjoying of such a peerelesse
beauty.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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