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
After that the whole countrey of _Roussillion_ (by the policy and
wisedome of this worthy Lady was fully re-established) in their ancient
liberties; she made choise of two discreet knights, whom she sent to
the Count her husband, to let him understand, that if in displeasure
to her, hee was thus become a stranger to his owne countrey: upon
the return of his answer, to give him contentment, shee would depart
thence, and by no meanes disturbe him. Roughly and churlishly he
replied; Let her doe as she list, for I have no determination to dwel
with her, or neere where she is. Tell her from me, when she shall have
this Ring, which you behold heere on my finger, and a sonne in her
armes begotten by me; then will I come live with her, and be her love.
The Ring he made most precious and deere account of, and never tooke
it off from his finger, in regard of an especial vertue and property,
which he well knew to be remaining in it. And these two Knights,
hearing the impossibility of these two strict conditions, with no other
favour elsee to be derived from him; sorrowfully returned backe to
their Ladie, and acquainted her with this unkinde answer, as also his
unalterable determination, which wel you may conceive, must needs be
verie unwelcome to her.
After she had an indifferent while considered with her selfe, her
resolution became so undauntable; that she would adventure to practise
such meanes, whereby to compasse those two apparant impossibilities,
and so to enjoy the love of her husband. Having absolutely concluded
what was to be done, she assembled all the cheefest men of the country,
revealing unto them (in mournfull manner) what an attempt she had made
already, in hope of recovering her husbands favour, and what a rude
answer was thereon returned. In the end, she told them, that it did
not sute with her unworthinesse, to make the Count live as an exile
from his owne inheritance, upon no other inducement, but only in regard
of her: wherefore, she had determined betweene heaven and her soule,
to spend the remainder of her dayes in Pilgrimages and prayers, for
preservation of the Counts soule and her owne; earnestly desiring them,
to undertake the charge and government of the Countrey, and signifying
unto the Count, how she had forsaken his house, and purposed to wander
so far thence, that never would she visite _Roussillion_ any more. In
the deliverie of these words, the Lords and gentlemen wept and sighed
extraordinarily, using many earnest imprecations to alter this resolve
in her, but all was in vaine.
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