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
Being there arrived, all other serious matters set aside, first shee
must needs have a sight of Count _Bertrand_, as being the onely Saint
that caused her pilgrimage. Next she made meanes for her accesse
to the King, humbly entreating his Majesty, to vouchsafe her the
sight of his Fistula. When the King saw her, her modest lookes did
plainly deliver, that she was a faire, comely, and discreete young
Gentlewoman; wherefore, hee would no longer hide it, but layed it
open to her view. When shee had seene and felt it, presently she
put the King in comfort; affirming, that she knew her selfe able to
cure his Fistula, saying: Sir, if your Highnesse will referre the
matter to me, without any perill of life, or any the least paine to
your person, I hope (by the helpe of heaven) to make you whole and
sound within eight dayes space. The King hearing her words, beganne
merrily to smile at her, saying: How is it possible for thee, being
a yong Maiden, to do that which the best Physitians in Europe, are
not able to performe? I commend thy kindnesse, and will not remaine
unthankefull for thy forward willingnesse: but I am fully determined,
to use no more counsell, or to make any further triall of Physicke or
Chirurgery. Whereto faire _Juliet_ thus replied: Great King, let not my
skill and experience be despised, because I am young, and a Maiden; for
my profession is not Physicke, neither do I undertake the ministering
thereof, as depending on mine owne knowledge; but by the gracious
assistance of heaven, & some rules of skilfull observation, which I
learned of reverend _Gerard_ of _Narbona_, who was my worthy Father,
and a Physitian of no meane fame, all the while he lived.
At the hearing of these words, the King began somewhat to admire at
her gracious carriage, and saide within himselfe. What know I, whether
this virgin is sent to me by the direction of heaven, or no? Why should
I disdaine to make proofe of her skill? Her promise is, to cure mee
in a small times compasse, and without any paine or affliction to me:
she shall not come so farre, to returne againe with the losse of her
labour, I am resolved to try her cunning, and thereon saide. Faire
Virgin, if you cause me to breake my setled determination, and faile
of curing mee, what can you expect to follow thereon? Whatsoever great
King (quoth she) shall please you. Let me bee strongly guarded, yet not
hindred, when I am to prosecute the businesse: and then if I doe not
perfectly heale you within eight daies, let a good fire be made, and
therein consume my bodie unto ashes. But if I accomplish the cure, and
set your Highnesse free from all further greevance, what recompence
then shall remaine to me?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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