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
It came to passe, that in this time of his spending nothing, but
multiplying daily by infinite meanes, that a civill honest Gentleman
(a Courtier, of ready wit, and discoursive in Languages) came to
_Geneway_, being named _Guillaume Boursier_. A man very farre differing
from divers Courtiers in these dayes, who for soothing shamefull and
gracelesse manners, in such as allow them maintenance, are called and
reputed to bee Gentlemen, yea especiall favourites: whereas much more
worthily, they should be accounted as knaves and villaines, being
borne and bred in all filthinesse, and skilfull in every kinde of
basest behaviour, not fit to come in Princes Courts. For, whereas in
passed times, they spent their dayes and paines in making peace, when
Gentlemen were at warre or dissention, or treating on honest marriages,
betweene friends and familiars, & (with loving speeches) would recreate
disturbed mindes, desiring none but commendable exercises in Court,
and sharpely reprooving (like fathers) disordred life, or ill actions
in any, albeit with recompence little, or none at all: these upstarts
now adayes, employ all their paines in detractions, sowing questions
and quarrels betweene one another, making no spare of lyes & falshoods.
Nay which is worse, they will do this in the presence of any man,
upbraiding him with injuries, shames, and scandals (true or not true)
upon the very least occasion. And by false and deceitfull flatteries
and villanies of their own inventing, they make Gentlemen to become as
vile as themselves. For which detestable qualities, they are better
beloved and respected of theyr misdemeanour'd Lords, and recompenced in
more bountifull manner, then men of vertuous carriage and desert. Which
is an argument sufficient, that goodnesse is gone up to heaven, and
hath quite forsaken these loathed lower Regions, where men are drowned
in the mud of all abhominable vices.
But returning where I left (being led out of my way by a just and
religious anger against such deformity) this Gentleman, Master
_Guillaume Boursier_, was willingly seene, and gladly welcommed by all
the best men in _Geneway_. Having remayned some few dayes in the City,
& (among other matters) heard much talke of the miserable covetousness
of master _Herminio_, he grew verie desirous to have a sight of him.
Master _Herminio_ had already understood, that this Gentleman, Master
_Guillaume Boursier_, was vertuously disposed, and (how covetously
soever he was inclined) having in him some sparkes of noble nature;
gave him very good words, and gracious entertainement, discoursing with
him on divers occasions.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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