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
Not a little joyfull was the Woman of so rich a gift, hoping to enjoy
a great many more of them, and returning home to her neighbours,
acquainted them with wonderfull matters, all concerning the
sanctimonious life of the Abbot, a meere miracle of men, and worthy to
be truely termed a Saint. Within two dayes after, _Ferando_ went to
the Abbye againe, and so soone as the Abbot espyed him, hee presently
prepared for his sending of him into Purgatorie. He never was without
a certaine kinde of drugge, which being beaten into powder, would worke
so powerfully upon the braine, and all the other vitall sences, as to
entrance them with a deadly sleepe, and deprive them of all motion,
either in the pulses, or any other part elsee, even as if the body
were dead indeede; in which operation it would so hold and continue,
according to the quantity given and drunke, as it pleased the Abbot
to order the matter. This powder or drugge, was sent him by a great
Prince of the East, and therewith he wrought wonders upon his Novices,
sending them into Purgatory when he pleased, and by such punishments as
he inflicted on them there, made them (like credulous asses) beleeve
whatsoever himselfe listed.
So much of this powder had the Abbot provided, as should suffice for
three dayes entrauncing, and having compounded it with a very pleasant
Wine, calling _Ferando_ into his Chamber, there gave it him to drinke,
and afterward walked with him about the Cloyster, in very friendly
conference together, the silly sot never dreaming on the treachery
intended against him. Many Monkes beside were recreating themselves
in the Cloyster, most of them delighting to behold the follies of
_Ferando_, on whom the potion beganne so to worke, that he slept in
walking, nodding and reeling as hee went, till at the last hee fell
downe, as if he had beene dead.
The Abbot pretending great admiration at this accident, called his
Monkes about him, all labouring by rubbing his temples, throwing
cold water and vinegar in his face, to revive him againe; alleaging
that some fume or vapour in the stomacke, had thus over-awed his
understanding faculties, and quite deprived him of life indeede. At
length, when by tasting the pulse, and all their best employed paines,
they saw that their labour was spent in vaine; the Abbot used such
perswasions to the Monkes, that they all beleeved him to be dead:
whereupon they sent for his Wife and friends, who crediting as much as
the rest did, were very sad and sorrowfull for him.
The Abbot (cloathed as he was) laide him in a hollow vault under a
Tombe, such as there are used in stead of Graves; his Wife returning
home againe to her House, with a young Sonne which shee had by her
Husband, protesting to keepe still within her House, and never more to
be seene in any company, but onely to attend her young Sonne, and be
very carefull of such wealth as her Husband had left unto her.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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