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
Now (quoth the Monke) thou canst confesse thine owne wilfull follie,
but this should have beene thought on before, and whilest thou wast
living in the World. But if the Fates vouchsafe to favour thee so
much, as hereafter to send thee to the World once more; remember thy
punishment here in Purgatory, and sinne no more in that foule sinne of
jealousie. I pray you Sir tell me, replyed _Ferando_, after men are
dead, and put into Purgatory, is there any hope of their ever visiting
the World any more? Yes, saide the Monke, if the fury of the Fates be
once appeased. O that I knew (quoth _Ferando_) by what meanes they
would be appeased, and let me visite the World once againe: I would
be the best Husband that ever lived, and never more be jealous, never
wrong so good a Wife, nor ever use one unkind word against her. In the
meane while, and till their anger may be qualified; when next my Wife
doth send me foode, I pray you worke so much, that some Candles may be
sent me also, because I live here in uncomfortable darknesse; and what
should I doe with foode, if I have no light. Shee sends Lights enow,
answered the Monke, but they are burnt out on the Altar in Masse-time,
and thou canst have none other here, but such as I must bring my selfe;
neither are they allowed, but onely for the time of thy feeding and
correcting.
_Ferando_ breathing foorth a vehement sigh, desired to know what he
was, being thus appointed to punish him in Purgatory? I am (quoth the
Monke) a dead man, as thou art, borne in _Sardignia_, where I served
a very jealous Master; and because I soothed him in his jealousie,
I had this pennance imposed on me, to serve thee here in Purgatory
with meate and drinke, and (twice every day) to discipline thy body,
untill the Fates have otherwise determined both for thee and me. Why?
saide _Ferando_, are any other persons here, beside you and I? Many
thousands, replyed the Monke, whom thou canst neither heare nor see,
no more then they are able to doe the like by us. But how farre, saide
_Ferando_, is Purgatory distant from our native Countries? About some
fifty thousand leagues, answered the Monke; but yet passable in a
moment, whensoever the offended Fates are pleased: and many Masses are
daily saide for thy soule, at the earnest entreaty of thy Wife, in hope
of thy conversion; and becomming a new man, hating to be jealous any
more hereafter.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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