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
After some other questions, how this intention of theirs might be
safely brought to full effect: the sprightly Nunne, that had wit at
will, thus answered. You see Sister (quoth she) it is now the houre
of midday, when all the rest of our Sisterhood are quiet in their
Chambers, because we are then allowed to sleepe, for our earlier rising
to morning Mattins. Here are none in the Garden now but our selves,
and, while I awake him, be you the watch, and afterward follow me in my
fortune, for I will valiantly leade you the way. _Massetto_ imitating
a dogges sleepe, heard all this conspiracie intended against him, and
longed as earnestly, till shee came to awake him. Which being done,
he seeming very simply sottish, and she chearing him with flattering
behaviour: into the close Arbour they went, which the Sunnes bright
eye could not pierce into, and there I leave it to the Nunnes owne
approbation, whether _Massetto_ was a man rationall, or no. Ill deedes
require longer time to contrive, then act, and both the Nunnes, having
beene with _Massetto_ at this new forme of confession, were enjoyned
(by him) such an easie and silent penance, as brought them the oftner
to shrift, and made him to proove a perfect Confessour.
Desires obtained, but not fully satisfied, doe commonly urge more
frequent accesse, then wisdome thinkes expedient, or can continue
without discoverie. Our two Joviall Nunnes, not a little proud of
their private stolne pleasures, so long resorted to the close Arbour;
till an other Sister, who had often observed their haunt thither, by
meanes of a little hole in her window; that shee began to suspect them
with _Massetto_, and imparted the same to two other Sisters, all three
concluding, to accuse them before the Lady Abbesse. But upon a further
conference had with the offenders, they changed opinion, tooke the same
oath as the forewoman had done, and because they would be free from any
taxation at all: they revealed their adventures to the other three
ignorants, and so fell all eight into one formall confederacie, but by
good and warie observation, least the Abbesse her selfe should descry
them; finding poore _Massetto_ such plenty of Garden-worke, as made him
very doubtfull in pleasing them all.
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