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
Moreover, oftentimes it hath bene seene, that when two Priests went
with one Crosse to fetch the body; there would follow (behind) three
or foure bearers with their Bieres, and when the Priests intended
the buriall but of one bodie, sixe or eight more have made up the
advantage, and yet none of them being attended by any seemly company,
lights, teares, or the very least decencie, but it plainly appeared,
that the verie like account was then made of men or Women, as if they
had bene Dogges or Swine. Wherein might manifestly bee noted, that that
which the naturall course of things could not shewe to the wise, with
rare and little losse, to wit, the patient support of miseries and
misfortunes, even in their greatest height: not onely the wise might
now learne, but also the verie simplest people; & in such sort, that
they should alwaies be prepared against all infelicities whatsoever.
Hallowed ground could not now suffice, for the great multitude of dead
bodies, which were daily brought to every Church in the City, and
every houre in the day; neither could the bodies have proper place of
buriall, according to our ancient custome: wherefore, after that the
churches and Church-yards were filled, they were constrained to make
use of great deepe ditches, wherein they were buried by hundreds at
once, ranking dead bodies along in graves, as Merchandizes are laide
along in ships, covering each after other with a small quantity of
earth, & so they filled at last up the whole ditch to the brim.
Now, because I would wander no further in everie particularity,
concerning the miseries happening in our Citie: I tell you, that
extremities running on in such manner as you have heard; little lesse
spare was made in the Villages round about; wherein (setting aside
enclosed Castles, which were now filled like to small Cities) poore
Labourers and Husband-men, with their whole Families, dyed most
miserably in out-houses, yea, and in the open fieldes also; without
any assistance of physicke, or helpe of servants; & likewise in the
high-wayes, or their ploughed landes, by day or night indifferently,
yet not as men, but like brute beasts.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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