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
So soone as he was risen in the morning, leaving his servant behinde
him in his lodging, he went (when he thought it fit time) all alone
toward the house of his Mistresse, where finding by good fortune the
gate open, he entred into a small Parlour beneath, and where he saw
his Mistresse sitting on the ground, wringing her hands, and wofully
weeping, which (in meere compassion) moved him to weepe likewise; and
going somewhat neere her, he saide. Madam, torment your selfe no more,
for your peace is not farre off from you. The Gentlewoman hearing him
say so, lifted up her head, and in teares spake thus. Good man, thou
seemest to me to be a Pilgrim stranger; what doest thou know, either
concerning my peace, or mine affliction? Madam (replied the Pilgrime)
I am of _Constantinople_, and (doubtlesse) am conducted hither by the
hand of Heaven, to convert your teares into rejoycing, and to deliver
your Father from death. How is this? answered shee: If thou be of
_Constantinople_, and art but now arrived here; doest thou know who we
are, either I, or my Father?
The Pilgrime discoursed to her, even from one end to the other, the
history of her Husbands sad disasters, telling her, how many yeeres
since shee was espoused to him, and many other important matters,
which wel shee knew, and was greatly amazed thereat, thinking him
verily to be a Prophet, and kneeling at his feete, entreated him very
earnestly, that if hee were come to deliver her Father _Aldobrandino_
from death, to doe it speedily, because the time was very short. The
Pilgrime appearing to be a man of great holinesse, saide. Rise up
Madam, refraine from weeping, and observe attentively what I shall
say; yet with this caution, that you never reveale it to any person
whatsoever. This tribulation whereinto you are falne, (as by revelation
I am faithfully informed) is for a grievous sinne by you heretofore
committed, whereof divine mercy is willing to purge you, and to make
a perfect amends by a sensible feeling of this affliction; as seeking
your sound and absolute recovery, least you fall into farre greater
danger then before. Good man (quoth shee) I am burthened with many
sinnes, and doe not know for which any amends should be made by me, any
one sooner then another: wherefore if you have intelligence thereof,
for charities sake tell it me, and I will doe so much as lieth in me,
to make a full satisfaction for it. Madam, answered the Pilgrime;
I know well enough what it is, and will demand it no more of you,
to winne any further knowledge thereof, then I have already: but
because in revealing it yourselfe, it may touch you with the more true
compunction of soule; let us goe to the point indeede, and tell me, doe
you remember, that at any time you were married to an Husband, or no?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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