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
There was a faire and good Inne in _Paris_, much frequented by many
great _Italian_ Merchants, according to such variety of occasions and
businesse, as urged their often resorting thither. One night among many
other, having had a merry Supper together, they began to discourse on
divers matters, and falling from one relation to another; they communed
in very friendly manner, concerning their wives, lefte at home in
their houses. Quoth the first, I cannot well imagine what my wife is
now doing, but I am able to say for my selfe, that if a pretty female
should fall into my company: I could easily forget my love to my wife,
and make use of such an advantage offered.
A second replyed; And trust me, I should do no lesse, because I am
perswaded, that if my wife be willing to wander, the law is in her owne
hand, and I am farre enough from home: dumbe walles blab no tales, &
offences unknowne are sildome or never called in question. A thirde man
jumpt in censure, with his former fellowes of the Jury; and it plainly
appeared, that al the rest were of the same opinion, condemning their
wives over-rashly, and alledging, that when husbands strayed so far
from home, their wives had wit enough to make use of their time.
Onely one man among them all, named _Bernardo Lomellino_, & dwelling
in _Geneway_, maintained the contrary; boldly avouching, that by the
especiall favour of Fortune, he had a wife so perfectly compleat in
al graces and vertues, as any Lady in the world possibly could be,
and that _Italy_ scarsely contained her equall. For, she was goodly
of person, and yet very young, quicke, quaint, milde, and courteous,
and not any thing appertaining to the office of a wife, either for
domesticke affayres, or any other imployment whatsoever, but in
woman-hoode shee went beyond all other. No Lord, Knight, Esquire, or
Gentleman, could bee better served at his table, then himselfe dayly
was, with more wisedome, modesty and discretion. After all this, hee
praised her for riding, hawking, hunting, fishing, fowling, reading,
writing, enditing, and most absolute keeping his Bookes of accounts,
that neither himselfe, or any other Merchant could therein excell her.
After infinite other commendations, he came to the former point of
their argument, concerning the easie falling of women into wantonnesse,
maintaining (with a solemne oath) that no woman possibly could be more
chaste and honest then she: in which respect, he was verily perswaded,
that if he stayed from her ten yeares space, yea (all his life time)
out of his house; yet never would shee falsifie her faith to him, or be
lewdly allured by any other man.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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