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
Upon this his private frequentation with the Abbot, at last he
observed, that _Ferando_ had a very beautifull woman to his wife,
with whom he grew so deepely in love, as hee had no other meditations
either by day or night, but how to become acceptable in her favour.
Neverthelesse, he concealed his amorous passions privately to himselfe,
and could plainely perceive, that although Ferando (in all things
elsee) was meerely a simple fellow, and more like an Idiot, then of
any sensible apprehension: yet was he wise enough in loving his wife,
keeping her carefully out of all company, as one (indeede) very
jealous, least any should kisse her, but onely himselfe, which drove
the Abbot into despaire, for ever attaining the issue of his desire.
Yet being subtill, crafty, and cautelous, he wrought so on the flexible
nature of _Ferando_, that hee brought his wife with him divers dayes
to the Monasterie; where they walked in the goodly Garden, discoursing
on the beatitudes of eternall life, as also the most holy deedes of
men and women, long since departed out of this life, in mervailous
civill and modest manner. Yet all these were but traines to a further
intention, for the Abbot must needes bee her ghostly Father, and shee
come to be confessed by him; which the foole _Ferando_ tooke as an
especiall favour, and therefore he gave his consent the sooner.
At the appointed time, when the woman came to confession to the Abbot,
and was on her knees before him, to his no small contentment, before
she would say any thing elsee, thus she began: Sacred Father, if God
had not given me such an husband as I have, or elsee had bestowed on me
none at all; I might have beene so happy, by the meanes of your holy
doctrine, very easily to have entred into the way, whereof you spake the
other day, which leadeth to eternall life. But when I consider with
my selfe, what manner of man _Ferando_ is, and thinke upon his folly
withall; I may well terme my selfe to be a widdow, although I am a
maried wife, because while he liveth, I cannot have any other husband.
And yet (as sottish as you see him) he is (without any occasion given
him) so extreamely jealous of me; as I am not able to live with him,
but onely in continuall tribulation & hearts griefe. In which respect,
before I enter into confession, I most humbly beseech you, that you
would vouchsafe (in this distresse) to assist me with your fatherly
advise and counsell, because, if thereby I cannot attaine to a more
pleasing kinde of happinesse; neither confession, or any thing elsee, is
able to doe me any good at all.
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