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
doe most of all excercise themselves.
And to the end, that my speeches may not savour of any untruth against
them; these men which I speake of, have not any habite at all of
religious men, but onely the colour of their garments, and whereas
they in times past, desired nothing more then the salvation of mens
soules; these fresher witted fellowes, covet after women & wealth, and
employ all their paines by their whispering confessions, and figures
of painted feareful examples, to affright and terrifie unsetled and
weake consciences, by horrible and blasphemous speeches; yet adding
a perswasion withall, that their sinnes may be purged by Almes-deedes
and Masses. To the end, that such as credit them in these their dayly
courses, being guided more by apparance of devotion, then any true
compunction of heart, to escape severe penances by them enjoyned: may
some of them bring bread, others wine, others coyne, all of them matter
of commoditie and benefit, and simply say, these gifts are for the
soules of their good friends deceased.
I make not any doubt, but Almes-deedes and prayers, are very mighty,
and prevailing meanes, to appease heavens anger for some sinnes
committed; but if such as bestow them, did either see or know, to whom
they give them: they would more warily keepe them, or elsee cast them
before Swine, in regard they are altogether so unworthy of them. But
come we now to the case of your ghostly father, crying out in your
eare, that secret mariage was a most greevous sinne: Is not the breach
thereof farre greater. Familiar conversation betweene man and woman,
is a concession meerely naturall: but to rob, kill, or banish anyone,
proceedeth from the mindes malignity. That you did rob _Thebaldo_, your
selfe hath already sufficiently witnessed, by taking that from him,
which with free consent in mariage you gave him. Next I must say, that
by all the power remaining in you, you kild him, because you would
not permit him to remaine with you, declaring your selfe in the very
height of cruelty, that hee might destroy his life by his owne hands.
In which case the Law requireth, that whosoever is the occasion of an
ill act committed, hee or she is as deepe in the fault, as the party
that did it. Now concerning his banishment, and wandring seaven yeares
in exile thorow the world; you cannot denie, but that you were the
onely occasion thereof. In all which three severall actions, farre more
capitally have you offended; then by contracting of mariage in such
clandestine manner.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account