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
Upon this his amorous and diligent inquisition, it came so to passe,
that a worthy Gentlewoman, called _Bertolomea_, one of the very fairest
and choysest young Maides in _Pisa_, whose youth did hardly agree with
his age; but mucke was the motive of this mariage, and no expectation
of mutuall contentment. The Judge being maried, and the Bride brought
solemnly home to his house, we need make no question of brave cheare
& banqueting, wel furnished by their friends on either side: other
matters were now hammering in the Judges head, for though he could
please all his Clyents with counsell; yet now such a sute was commenced
against himself, and in Beauties Court of continuall requests, that the
Judge failing in plea for his owne defence, was often non-suited by
lacke of answer; yet he wanted neither good wines, drugges, and all
restauratives, to comfort the heart, and encrease good blood; but all
avayled not in this case.
But well fare a good courage, where performance faileth, he could
liberally commend his passed joviall dayes, and make a promise of
as faire felicities yet to come; because his youth would renew it
selfe, like to the Eagle, and his vigour in as full force as before.
But beside all these idle allegations, he would needs instruct his
wife in an Almanack or Calender, which (long before) he had bought at
_Ravenna_, and wherein he plainely shewed her, that there was not any
one day in the yeere, but it was dedicated to some Saint or other. In
reverence of whom, and for their sakes, he approved by divers arguments
& reasons, that a man & his wife ought to abstaine from bedding
together. Hereto he added, that those Saints dayes had their fasts
& feasts, beside the foure seasons of the yeere, the vigils of the
Apostles, and a thousand other holy dayes, with Fridayes, Saturdayes,
& Sundayes, in honour of our Lords rest, and all the sacred time of
Lent; as also certaine observations of the Moone, & infinite other
exceptions beside; thinking perhaps, that it was as convenient for men
to refraine from their wives conversation, as he did often times from
sitting in the Court. These were his daily documents to his young wife,
wherewith (poore soule) she became so tired, as nothing could be more
irksome to her; and very carefull he was, lest any other shold teach her
what belonged to working daies, because he wold have her know none but
holidaies.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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