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
From the City of _Bologna_, that very instant day, a well staide and
governed Monke there arrived, who was a neere kinsman to the Abbot,
and one whom he might securely trust. In the dead time of the night,
the Abbot and this Monke arose, and taking _Ferando_ out of the vault,
carried him into a darke dungeon or prison, which he termed by the
name of Purgatory, and where hee used to discipline his Monkes, when
they had committed any notorious offence, deserving to be punished
in Purgatory. There they tooke off his usuall wearing garments, and
cloathed him in the habite of a Monke, even as if he had beene one of
the house; and laying him on a bundle of straw, so left him untill
his sences should be restored againe. On the day following, late in
the evening, the Abbot, accompanied with his trusty Monke, (by way
of visitation) went to see and comfort the supposed widow; finding
her attired in blacke, very sad and pensive, which by his wonted
perswasions, indifferently he appeased; challenging the benefit of her
promise. Shee being thus alone, not hindered by her Husbands jealousie,
and espying another goodly gold Ring on his finger, how frailety
and folly over-ruled her, I know not, shee was a weake woman, he a
divelish deluding man; and the strongest holdes by over-long battery
and besieging, must needes yeeld at the last, as I feare shee did: for
very often afterward, the Abbot used in this manner to visit her, and
the simple ignorant Countrey people, carrying no such ill opinion of
the holy Abbot, and having seene _Ferando_ lying for dead in the vault,
and also in the habite of a Monke; were verily perswaded, that when
they saw the Abbot passe by to and fro, but most commonly in the night
season, it was the ghost of _Ferando_, who walked in this manner after
his death, as a just pennance for his jealousie.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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