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 the dayes of the first King of _Cyprus_, after the Conquest made
in the holy Land by _Godfrey_ of _Bullen_, it fortuned, that a
Gentlewoman of _Gascoignie_, travelling in pilgrimage, to visit the
sacred Sepulcher in _Jerusalem_, returning home againe, arrived at
_Cyprus_, where shee was villanously abused by certaine base wretches.
Complaining thereof, without any comfort or redresse, shee intended
to make her moane to the King of the Countrey. Whereupon it was tolde
her, that therein shee should but loose her labour, because hee was so
womanish, and faint-hearted; that not onely he refused to punish with
justice the offences of others, but also suffered shamefull injuries
done to himselfe. And therefore, such as were displeased by his
negligence, might easily discharge their spleene against him, and doe
him what dishonour they would.
When the Gentlewoman heard this, despairing of any consolation, or
revenge for her wrongs, shee resolved to checke the Kings deniall of
justice, and comming before him weeping, spake in this manner. Sir, I
presume not into your presence, as hoping to have redresse by you, for
divers dishonourable injuries done unto me; but, as a full satisfaction
for them, doe but teach me how you suffer such vile abuses, as daily
are offered to your selfe. To the ende, that being therein instructed
by you, I may the more patiently beare mine owne; which (as God
knoweth) I would bestow on you very gladly, because you know so well
how to endure them.
The King, who (till then) had beene very bad, dull, and slothfull, even
as sleeping out his time of governement; beganne to revenge the wrongs
done to this Gentlewoman very severely, and (thenceforward) became a
most sharpe Justicer, for the least offence offered against the honour
of his Crowne, or to any of his subjects beside.
_Master_ Albert _of Bullen, honestly made a Lady to blush, that
thought to have done as much to him, because shee perceived him, to be
amorously affected towards her._
The tenth Novell.
_Wherein is declared, that honest love agreeth with people of all ages._
After that Madam _Eliza_ sate silent, the last charge and labour of
the like employment, remained to the Queene her selfe; whereupon shee
beganne thus to speake: Honest and vertuous young Ladies, like as
the Starres (when the Ayre is faire and cleere) are the adorning and
beauty of Heaven, and flowers (while the Spring time lasteth) doe
graciously embellish the Meadowes; even so sweete speeches and pleasing
conferences, to passe the time with commendable discourses, are the
best habit of the minde, and an outward beauty to the body: which
ornament of words, when they appeare to be short and sweete, are much
more seemely in women, then in men; because long and tedious talking
(when it may be done in lesser time) is a greater blemish in women,
then in men.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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