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
In these and such like speeches, as thus they beguiled the time, so did
they observe it for a dayly course, sometime discipling, other whiles
eating and drinking, for the space of ten whole moneths together: in
the which time, the Abbot sildome failed to visite _Ferandoes_ wife,
without the least suspition in any of the neighbours, by reason of
their setled opinion, concerning the nightly walking of _Ferandoes_
ghost. But, as all pleasures cannot bee exempted from some following
paine or other, so it came to passe, that _Ferandoes_ wife proved
to be conceived with childe, and the time was drawing on for her
deliverance. Now began the Abbot to consider, that _Ferandoes_ folly
was sufficiently chastised, and hee had beene long enough in Purgatory:
wherefore, the better to countenance all passed inconveniences, it
was now thought high time, that _Ferando_ should be sent to the world
againe, and set free from the paines of Purgatory, as having payed for
his jealousie dearely, to teach him better wisedome hereafter.
Late in the dead time of the night the Abbot himselfe entred into
the darke dungeon, and in an hollow counterfeited voyce, called to
_Ferando_, saying. Comfort thy selfe _Ferando_, for the Fates are now
pleased, that thou shalt bee released out of Purgatory, and sent to
live in the world againe. Thou didst leave thy wife newly conceived
with childe, and this very morning she is delivered of a goodly Sonne,
whom thou shalt cause to be named _Bennet_: because, by the incessant
prayers of the holy Abbot, thine owne loving wife, and for sweet Saint
_Bennets_ sake, this grace and favour is afforded thee. _Ferando_
hearing this, was exceeding joyfull, and returned this answere:
For ever honoured be the Fates, the holy Lord Abbot, blessed Saint
_Bennet_, and my most dearely beloved wife, whom I will faithfully love
for ever, and never more offend her by any jealousie in me.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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