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
The exclamations of the Lady were so tedious and irksome, that
_Ricciardo_ perceiving, if she continued longer in these complaints,
worse would ensue thereon, then could be easily remedied: resolved
to make himselfe knowne to her, to reclaime her out of this violent
extasie, and holding her somewhat strictly, to prevent her escaping
from him, he said. Madam, afflict your selfe no further, for, what I
could not obtaine by simply loving you, subtilty hath better taught me,
and I am your _Ricciardo_, which she hearing, and perfectly knowing him
by his voyce; shee would have leapt out of the Bath, but shee could
not, and to avoyde her crying out, he layde his hand on her mouth,
saying. Lady, what is done, cannot now be undone, albeit you cried
out all your lifetime. If you exclaime, or make this knowne openly by
any meanes; two unavoydable dangers must needes ensue thereon. The
one (which you ought more carefully to respect) is the wounding of
your good renowne and honour, because, when you shall say, that by
treacherie I drew you hither: I will boldly maintaine the contrary,
avouching, that having corrupted you with gold, and not giving you
so much as covetously you desired; you grew offended, and thereon
made the out-cry, and you are not to learne, that the world is more
easily induced to beleeve the worst, then any goodnesse, be it never
so manifest. Next unto this, mortall hatred must arise betweene your
husband and me, and (perhaps) I shall as soone kill him, as he mee;
whereby you can hardly live in any true contentment after. Wherefore,
joy of my life, doe not in one moment, both shame your selfe, and cause
such perill betweene your husband and me: for you are not the first,
neither can be the last, that shall be deceived. I have not beguiled
you, to take any honour from you, but onely declared, the faithfull
affection I beare you, and so shall doe for ever, as being your bounden
and most obedient servant; and as it is a long time agoe, since I
dedicated my selfe and all mine to your service, so hence-forth must
I remaine for ever. You are wise enough (I know) in all other things;
then shew your selfe not to be silly or simple in this.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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