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
His Mother, desirous to bee resolved, whether his confession would
agree with the Physitians words, or no, and reserving another intention
to her selfe: bad him feare nothing, but freely discover his whole
desire, and forthwith she doubted not to effect it. Then Madame (quoth
hee) the matchlesse beauty, and commendable qualities of your maid
_Gianetta_, to whom (as yet) I have made no motion, to commisserate
this my languishing extremity, nor acquainted any living creature with
my love: the concealing of these afflictions to my selfe, hath brought
mee to this desperate condition: and if some meane bee not wrought,
according to your constant promise, for the full enjoying of my longing
desires, assure your selfe (most noble Mother) that the date of my life
is very short.
The Lady well knowing, that the time now rather required kindest
comfort, then any severe or sharpe reprehension; smiling on him, saide.
Alas deere sonne, wast thou sicke for this? Be of good cheare, and when
thy strength is better restored, then referre the matter to me. The
young Gentleman, being put in good hope by his mothers promise, began
(in short time) to shew apparant signes of well-forwarded amendment: to
the Mothers great joy and comfort, disposing her selfe daily to proove,
how in honour she might keepe promise with her Son.
Within a short while after, calling _Gianetta_ privately to her, in
gentle manner, and by the way of pleasant discourse, she demanded of
her, whither she was provided of a Lover, or no. _Gianetta_, being
never acquainted with any such questions, a scarlet Dye covering all
her modest countenance, thus replied. Madam, I have no neede of any
Lover, and very unseemly were it, for so poore a Damosell as I am, to
have so much as a thought of Lovers: being banished from my friends and
kinsfolke, and remaining in service as I do.
If you have none (answered the Lady) wee will bestowe one on you,
which shall content your minde, and bring you to a more pleasing
kinde of life; because it is farre unfit, that so faire a Maid as you
are, should remaine destitute of a lover. Madam, sayde _Gianetta_,
considering with my selfe, that since you received me of my poore
Father, you have used me rather like your daughter, then a servant; it
becommeth mee to doe as pleaseth you. Notwithstanding, I trust (in the
regard of mine own good and honour) never to use any complaint in such
a case: but if you please to bestow a husband on me, I purpose to love
and honour him onely, & not any other. For, of all the inheritance left
me by my progenitors, nothing remaineth to me but honourable honesty,
and that shall bee my legacie so long as I live.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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