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
A goodly Chaire being brought him, in very humble manner he demanded of
her, what had become of her in so long a time: because it was verily
beleeved throughout all Egypt, that shee was drowned in the Sea. I
would it had bin so, answered the Lady, rather then to leade such a
life as I have done; and I thinke my Father himselfe would wish it so,
if ever he should come to the knowledge thereof. With these words the
teares rained downe her faire cheekes: wherefore _Antigonus_ thus spake
unto her. Madame, discomfort not your selfe before you have occasion,
but (if you be so pleased) relate your passed accidents to mee, and
what the course of your life hath bene: perhaps, I shall give you such
friendly advice as may stand you in sted, and no way be injurious to
you.
Fetching a sigh, even as if her heart would have split in sunder,
thus she replyed. Ah _Antigonus_, me thinkes when I looke on thee, I
seeme to behold my royall Father, and therefore mooved with the like
religious zeale and charitable love, as (in duty) I owe unto him: I
will make knowne to thee, what I rather ought to conceale, and hide
from any person living. I know thee to bee honourable, discreete, and
truely wise, though I am a fraile, simple, and weake woman, therefore
I dare discover to thee, rather then any other that I know, by what
straunge and unexpected misfortunes, I have lived so long obscurely in
the world. And if in thy great and grave judgement (after the hearing
of my many miseries) thou canst any way restore me to my former estate,
I pray thee do it: but if thou perceive it impossible to bee done, as
earnestly likewise I entreate thee, never to reveale to any living
person, that either thou hast seene me, or heard any speech of me.
After these words, the teares still streaming from her faire eyes,
shee recounted the whole passage of her rare mishaps, even from her
shipwracke in the Sea of _Majorica_, until that very instant houre;
speaking them in such harsh manner as they hapned, and not sparing any
jot of them.
_Antigonus_ being mooved to much compassion, declared how hee pitied
her by his teares, and having bene silent an indifferent while, as
considering in this case, what was best to be done, thus he began.
Madam, seeing you have past through such a multitude of misfortunes,
yet undiscovered, what and who you are: I will render you as blamelesse
to your Father, and estate you as fairely in his love, as at the hour
when you parted from him, and afterward make you wife to the King of
_Cholcos_. She demanding of him, by what meanes possibly this could
be accomplished: breefely he made it knowne to her, how, and in what
manner hee would performe it.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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