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
His blood boyling with rage and distemper, by such a monstrous injurie
offered him; he wrapt his night-mantle about him, and leaving his
Chamber, imagining, that whatsoever he was, needes he must be one of
his owne house: he tooke a light in his hand, and convayed it into
a little Lanthorne, purposing to be resolved in his suspition. No
guests or strangers were now in his Court, but onely such as belonged
to his houshold, who lodged altogether about the Escurie and Stables,
being there appointed to divers beds. Now, this was his conceite, that
whosoever had beene so lately familiar with the Queene, his heart and
pulse could (as yet) be hardly at rest, but rather would be troubled
with apparant agitation, as discovering the guilt of so great an
offender. Many Chambers had hee passed thorow, where all were soundly
sleeping, and yet he felt both their brests and pulses.
At last he came to the lodging of the man indeede, that had so
impudently usurped his place, who could not as yet sleepe, for joy of
his atchieved adventure. When he espied the King come in, knowing well
the occasion of his search, he began to waxe very doubtfull, so that
his heart and pulse beating extremely, he felt a further addition of
feare, as being confidently perswaded, that there was now no other way
but death, especially if the King discovered his agony. And although
many considerations were in his braine, yet because he saw that the
King was unarmed, his best refuge was, to make shew of sleepe, in
expectation what the King intended to doe. Among them all he had
sought, yet could not find any likelihood, whereby to gather a grounded
probability; untill he came to this Querry, whose heart and pulses
laboured so sternely, that he said to himselfe; yea mary, this is the
man that did the deede.
Neverthelesse, purposing to make no apparance of his further intention,
he did nothing elsee to him, but drawing foorth a paire of sheares,
which purposely he brought thither with him, he clipped away a part of
his lockes, which (in those times) they used to weare very long, to the
end that he might the better know him the next morning, and so returned
backe to his lodging againe. The Querry, who partly saw, but felt what
was done to him; perceived plainely (being a subtill ingenious fellow)
for what intent he was thus marked. Wherefore, without any longer
dallying, up he rose, and taking a paire of sheares, wherewith they
used to trim their Horses; softly he went from bed to bed, where they
all lay yet soundly sleeping, and clipt away each mans locke from his
right eare, in the selfe same manner as the King had done his, and
being not perceived by any one of them, quietly he laide him downe
againe.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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