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
Well may you imagine, that this was no small comfort to the poore
aged Countes heart, yet would he not make himselfe knowne to him or
any other about him? but referred his joy to a further enlarging or
diminishing, by sight of the other limme of his life, his dearely
affected daughter _Gianetta_, denying rest to his body in any
place, untill such time as he came to _London_. Making there secret
enquiry, concerning the Lady with whom he had left his daughter: hee
understoode, that a young Gentlewoman, named _Gianetta_, was married
to that Ladies onely Son; which made a second addition of joy to his
soule, accounting all his passed adversities of no value, both his
children being living, and in so high honour.
Having found her dwelling, and (like a kinde Father) being earnestly
desirous to see her; he dayly resorted neere to the house, where Sir
_Roger Mandavill_ (for so was _Gianettaes_ husband named) chauncing to
see him, being moved to compassion because he was both poore and aged:
commaunded one of his men, to take him into the house, and to give him
some foode for Gods sake, which (accordingly) the servant performed.
_Gianetta_ had divers children by her husband, the eldest of them being
but eight yeares olde, yet all of them so faire and comely as could
be. As the olde Count sate eating his meate in the Hall, the children
came all about him, embracing, hugging, and making much of him, even as
if Nature had truly instructed them, that this was their aged, though
poore Grandfather, and hee as lovingly receiving these kinde relations
from them, wisely and silently kept all to himselfe, with sighes,
teares, and joyes entermixed together. So that the children would not
part from him, though their Tutour and Maister called them often, which
being tolde to their Mother, shee came foorth of the neere adjoining
Parlour, and threatned to beate them, if they would not doe what their
Maister commanded them.
Then the children began to cry, saying, that they would tarie still by
the good olde man, because he loved them better then their Maister did;
whereat both the Lady and the Count began to smile. The Count, like
a poore beggar, and not as father to so great a Lady, arose, and did
her humble reverence, because shee was now a Noble woman, conceiving
wonderfull joy in his soule, to see her so faire and goodly a creature:
yet could she take no knowledge of him, age, want and misery had
so mightily altred him, his head all white, his beard without any
comely forme, his garments so poore, and his face so wrinkled, leane
and meager, that hee seemed rather some Carter, then a Count. And
_Gianetta_ perceiving, that when her children were fetcht away, they
returned againe to the olde man, and would not leave him; desired their
Maister to let them alone.
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