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
Now it fortuned, that there arrived also at the same _Baffa_ (about
some especiall occasions of his) a Gentleman, whose name was
_Antigonus_, well stept into yeares, and better stored with wisedome
then wealth: because by medling in many matters, while hee followed the
service of the King of _Cyprus_, Fortune had beene very adverse to him.
This ancient Gentleman, passing (on a day) by the house where the Lady
lay, and the Merchant being gone about his businesse into _Armenia_:
hee chanced to see the Lady at a window of the house, and because shee
was very beautifull, he observed her the more advisedly, recollecting
his sences together, that doubtlesse he had seene her before, but in
what place hee could not remember. The Lady her selfe likewise, who
had so long time beene Fortunes tennis ball, and the terme of her
many miseries drawing now neere ending: began to conceive (upon the
very first sight of _Antigonus_) that she had formerly seene him in
_Alexandria_, serving her Father in place of great degree. Hereupon,
a suddaine hope perswaded her, that by the advice and furtherance of
this Gentleman, she should recover her wonted Royall condition: and
opportunity now aptly fitting her, by the absence of her pretended
Merchant husband, she sent for him, requesting to have a few words with
him.
When he was come into the house, she bashfully demanded of him, if he
was not named _Antigonus_ of _Famagosta_, because shee knew one (like
him) so called? Hee answered, that he was so named, saying moreover:
Madame, me thinkes that I should know you, but I cannot remember
where I have seene you, wherefore I would entreate (if it might stand
with your good liking) that my memory might be quickned with better
knowledge of you. The Lady perceiving him to be the man indeede,
weeping incessantly, she threw her armes about his necke, and soone
after asked _Antigonus_ (who stood as one confounded with mervaile) if
hee had never seene her in _Alexandria_? Upon these words, _Antigonus_
knew her immediatly to be _Alathiella_, daughter to the great Soldane,
who was supposed (long since) to be drowned in the Sea: and offering
to doe her such reverence as became him, she would not permit him, but
desired, that he would be assistant to her, and willed him also to sit
downe a while by her.
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