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
Being entred into the City, and in the poore estate of beggers, they
craved every bodies mercy and almes. It came to passe, that standing
one morning at the Cathedral Church-doore, a great Lady of England,
being then wife to the Lord high Marshall, comming forth of the Church,
espied the Count and his children there begging. Of him she demanded
what Countrey-man he was? and whether those children were his owne,
or no? The Count replyed, that he was borne in _Picardy_, and for
an unhappy fact committed by his eldest sonne (a stripling of more
hopefull expectation, then proved) hee was enforced, with those his
two other children to forsake his country. The Lady being by nature
very pittiful, looking advisedly on the yong Girle, beganne to grow
in good liking of her; because (indeede) she was amiable, gentle, and
beautifull, whereupon shee saide. Honest man, thy daughter hath a
pleasing countenance, and (perhaps) her inward disposition may proove
answerable to hir outward goods parts: if therefore thou canst bee
content to leave her with me, I will give her entertainment, and upon
her dutifull carriage and behaviour, if she live to such yeares as may
require it, I will have her honestly bestowne in marriage. This motion
was verie pleasing to the Count, who readily declared his willing
consent thereto, and with the teares trickling downe his cheekes, in
thankfull manner he delivered his prettie daughter to the Lady.
Shee being thus happily bestowne, hee minded to tarry no longer in
_London_; but, in his wonted begging manner, travailing thorough the
Country with his sonne _Perotto_, at length hee came into _Wales_: but
not without much weary paine and travell, being never used before,
to journey so far on foote. There dwelt another Lord, in office of
Marshalship to the King of _England_, whose power extended over
those partes; a man of very great authority, keeping a most noble
and bountifull house, which they termed the _President of Wales his
Court_; whereto the Count and his son oftentimes resorted, as finding
there good releefe and comfort. On a day, one of the Presidents sons,
accompanied with divers other Gentlemens children, were performing
certaine youthfull sports & pastimes, as running, leaping, and such
like, wherein _Perotto_ presumed to make one among them, excelling all
the rest in such commendable manner, as none of them came any thing
nere him. Divers times the President had taken notice thereof, and was
so well pleased with the Lads behaviour, that he enquired, of whence
he was? Answer was made, that hee was a poore mans son, that every day
came for an almes to his gate.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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