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
Let us now convert our lookes to _Wales_, to _Perotto_; being lefte
there with the other Lord Marshall, who was the President of that
Countrey. On he grew in yeares, choisely respected by his Lord, because
hee was most comely of person, and addicted to all valiant attempts:
so that in Tourneyes, Justes, and other actions of Armes, his like was
not to bee found in all the Island, being named onely _Perotto_ the
valiant _Piccard_, and so was he famed farre and neere. As God had not
forgotten his Sister, so in mercy he became as mindefull of him; for, a
contagious mortalitie hapning in the Country, the greater part of the
people perished thereby, the rest flying thence into other partes of
the Land, whereby the whole Province became dispeopled and desolate.
In the time of this plague and dreadfull visitation, the Lord President,
his Lady, Sonnes, Daughters, Brothers, Nephewes, and Kindred dyed, none
remaining alive, but one onely Daughter marriageable, a few of the
houshold servants, beside _Perotto_, whom (after the sicknesse was more
mildly asswaged) with counsaile and consent of the Country people, the
young Lady accepted to be her husband, because hee was a man so worthy
and valiant, and of all the inheritance left by her deceased Father,
she made him Lord and sole commaunder. Within no long while after, the
King of _England_, understanding that his President of _Wales_ was
dead, and fame liberally relating, the vertues, valour, and good parts
of _Perotto_ the Piccard: hee created him to be his President there,
and to supply the place of his deceased Lord. These faire fortunes,
within the compasse of so short a time, fell to the two innocent
children of the Count _D'Angiers_, after they were left by him as lost
and forlorne.
Eighteene yeares were now fully over-past, since the Count _D'Angiers_
fled from _Paris_, having suffered (in miserable sort) many hard and
lamentable adversities, and seeing himselfe now to be growne aged, hee
was desirous to leave Ireland, and to know (if hee might) what was
become of both his children. Hereupon, perceiving his wonted forme to
be so altered, that such as formerly had conversed most with him, could
now not take any knowledge of him, & feeling his body (through long
labour and exercise endured in service) more lusty, then in his idle
youthfull yeares, especially when he left the Court of _France_, hee
purposed to proceede in his determination. Being very poore and simple
in apparell, hee departed from the Irish Earle his Maister, with whom
hee had continued long in service, to no advantage or advancement, and
crossing over into _England_, travailed to the place in _Wales_, where
he left _Perotto_: and where hee found him to be Lord Marshall and
President of the Country, lusty and in good health, a man of goodly
feature, and most honourably respected and reverenced of the people.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account