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
The Chamber-maide, being much moved to compassion, returned to her
Lady, and tolde her all; she likewise pittying his distresse, and
remembring shee had the key of that doore, whereby the Marquesse both
entred and returned, when he intended not to be seene of any, said
to her Maide. Goe, and open the doore softly for him; we have a good
supper, and none to helpe to eate it, and if he be a man likely, we can
allow him one nights lodging too. The Chamber-maide, commending her
Lady for this charitable kindnesse, opened the doore, and seeing hee
appeared as halfe frozen, shee said unto him. Make hast good man, get
thee into this Bath, which yet is good and warme, for my Lady her selfe
came but newly out of it. Whereto very gladly he condiscended, as not
tarrying to be bidden twise; finding himselfe so singularly comforted
with the heate thereof, even as if hee had beene restored from death to
life. Then the Lady sent him garments, which lately were her deceased
husbands, and fitted him so aptly in all respects, as if purposely they
had beene made for him.
Attending in further expectation, to know what else the Lady would
commaund him; hee began to remember God and Saint _Julian_, hartily
thanking her, for delivering him from so bad a night as was threatned
towards him, and bringing him to so good entertainement. After all
this, the Lady causing a faire fire to be made in the neerest Chamber
beneath, went and sate by it her selfe, demaunding how the honest man
fared. Madame, answered the Chamber-maide, now that he is in your
deceased Lords garments, he appeareth to be a very goodly Gentleman,
and (questionlesse) is of respective birth and breeding, well deserving
this gracious favour which you have afforded him. Goe then (quoth the
Lady) and conduct him hither, to sit by this fire, and sup here with
mee, for I feare he hath had but a sorrie supper. When _Rinaldo_ was
entred into the Chamber, and beheld her to be such a beautifull Lady,
accounting his fortune to exceede all comparison, hee did her most
humble reverence, expressing so much thankefulnesse as possibly hee
could, for this her extraordinary grace and favour.
The Lady fixing a stedfast eye upon him, well liking his gentle
language and behaviour, perceiving also, how fitly her deceased
husbands apparell was formed to his person, and resembling him in all
familiar respects, he appeared (in her judgement) farre beyond the
Chambermaides commendations of him; so praying him to sit downe by her
before the fire, shee questioned with him, concerning this unhappy
nights accident befalne him, wherein he fully resolved her, and shee
was the more perswaded, by reason of his servants comming into the
Towne before night, assuring him, that he should be found for him early
in the morning.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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