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
When shee saw the Chest drawing neere her, and not discerning the
shape of any man, shee grew fearefull, and retyring from it, cried out
aloude. He had no power of speaking to her, neither did his sight doe
him the smallest service; but even as the waves and windes pleased, the
Chest was driven still neerer to the Land, and then the woman perceived
that it had the forme of a Coffer, and looking more advisedly, beheld
two armes extended over it, and afterward, shee espied the face of a
man, not being able to judge, whether he were alive, or no. Moved by
charitable and womanly compassion, shee stept in among the billowes,
and getting fast holde on the haire of his head, drew both the Chest
and him to the Land, and calling forth her Daughter to helpe her, with
much adoe shee unfolded his armes from the Chest, setting it up on
her Daughters head, and then betweene them, _Landolpho_ was led into
the Towne, and there conveyed into a warme Stove, where quickly he
recovered (by her pains) his strength benummed with extreame cold.
Good wines and comfortable broathes shee cherished him withall, that
his sences being indifferently restored, hee knew the place where he
was; but not in what manner he was brought thither, till the good woman
shewed him the Cofer that had kept him floating upon the waves, and
(next under God) had saved his life. The Chest seemed of such slender
weight, that nothing of any value could be expected in it, either to
recompence the womans great paines and kindnesse bestowne on him, or
any matter of his owne benefit. Neverthelesse, the woman being absent,
he opened the Chest, and found innumerable precious stones therein,
some costly and curiously set in gold, and others not fixed in any
mettall. Having knowledge of their great worth and value (being a
Merchant, and skild in such matters) he became much comforted, praysing
God for this good successe, and such an admirable meanes of deliverance
from danger.
Then considering with himselfe, that (in a short time) hee had beene
twice well buffeted and beaten by Fortune, and fearing, least a third
mishap might follow in like manner; hee consulted with his thoughts,
how he might safest order the businesse, and bring so rich a booty
(without perill) to his owne home. Wherefore, wrapping up the Jewels in
very unsightly cloutes, that no suspition at all should be conceived
of them, hee saide to the good woman, that the Chest would not doe him
any further service; but if shee pleased to lende him a small sacke or
bagge, shee might keepe the Cofer, for in her house it would divers
way stead her. The woman gladly did as he desired, and _Landolpho_
returning her infinite thankes, for the loving kindnesse shee had
affoorded him, throwing the sacke on his necke, passed by a Barke to
_Brundusiam_, and from thence to _Tranium_, where Merchants in the
City bestowed good garments on him, hee acquainting them with his
disasterous fortunes, but not a word concerning his last good successe.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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