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
Beleeve mee Gentlewoman (speaking to the widdowe her selfe) it should
not appeare strange to any of wisedome and discretion, that I am
amorously enclined, and especially to you, because you are well worthy
of it. And although those powers, which naturally appertaine to the
exercises of Love, are bereft and gone from aged people; yet goodwill
thereto cannot be taken from them, neither judgement to know such
as deserve to be affected: for, by how much they exceede youth in
knowledge and experience, by so much the more hath nature made them
meet for respect and reverence. The hope which incited me (being aged)
to love you, that are affected of so many youthfull Gallants, grew
thus. I have often chaunced into divers places, where I have seene
Ladies and Gentlewomen, being disposed to a Collation or rere-banquet
after dinner, to feede on Lupines, and young Onions or Leekes, and
although it may be so, that there is little or no goodnesse at all
in them; yet the heads of them are least hurtfull, and most pleasing
in the mouth. And you Gentlewomen generally (guided by unreasonable
appetite) will hold the heads of them in your hands, and feede upon the
blades or stalkes; which not onely are not good for any thing, but also
are of very bad savour. And what know I (Lady) whether among the choise
of friends, it may fit your fancy to doe the like? For, if you did so,
it were no fault of mine to be chosen of you, but thereby were all the
rest of your suters the sooner answered.
The widdowed Gentlewoman, and all the rest in her company, being
bashfully ashamed of her owne and their folly, presently said. Master
_Albert_, you have both well and worthily chastised our over-bold
presumption, and beleeve mee Sir, I repute your love and kindnesse of
no meane merit, comming from a man so wise and vertuous: And therefore
(mine honour reserved) commaund my uttermost, as alwayes ready to
do you any honest service. Master _Albert_, arising from his seat,
thanking the faire widdow for her gentle offer; tooke leave of her and
all the company, and she blushing, as all the rest were therein not
much behinde her, thinking to checke him, became chidden her selfe,
whereby (if wee be wise) let us all take warning.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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