The Decameron (Day 6 to Day 10): Containing an hundred pleasant NovelsBoccaccio, Giovanni
History
The Decameron (Day 6 to Day 10): Containing an hundred pleasant Novels
Boccaccio, Giovanni
Allegories; Frame stories; Plague -- Europe -- History -- Fiction; Storytelling -- Fiction
Remember (_Pyrrhus_) that Fortune presents her selfe but once before
any one, with cheerefull lookes, and her lappe wide open of richest
favours, where if choice be not quickely made, before she folde it
up, and turn her backe: let no complaint afterward be made of her,
if the Fellow that had so faire an offer, proove to be miserable,
wretched, and a Beggar, only thorow his owne negligence. Beside, what
else hath formerly bin saide, there is now no such neede of loyaltie
in servants to their Ladies, as should be among deare Friends and
Kindred: but servants ought rather (as best they may) be such to their
Masters, as they are to them. Doest thou imagine, that if thou hadst
a faire Wife, Mother, Daughter, or Sister, pleasing in the eye of our
_Nicostratus_; he would stand on such nice tearmes of duty or Loyaltie,
as now thou doest to his Ladie? Thou wert a verie foole to rest so
perswaded. Assure thy selfe, that if entreaties and faire meanes might
not prevaile, force, and compulsion (whatsoever ensued thereon) woulde
winne the masterie. Let us then use them, and the commodities unto them
belonging, as they would us and ours. Use the benefit of thy Fortune,
& beware of abusing her favour. She yet smiles on thee; but take heede
least she turne her backe, it will then be over-late to repent thy
folly. And if my Ladie die through thy disdaine, be assured, that thou
canst not escape with life, beside open shame and disgrace for ever.
_Pyrrhus_, who had often considered on _Lescaes_ first message,
concluded with himselfe; that if any more she moved the same matter:
hee would returne her another kinde of answere, wholly yeelding to
content his Lady; provided, that he might remaine assured, concerning
the intyre truth of the motion, and that it was not urged onely to
trie him, wherefore, thus he replyed. _Lesca_, do not imagine mee so
ignorant, as not to know the certaintie of all thy former allegations,
confessing them as freely as thou doest, or canst. But yet let mee
tell thee withall, that I knowe my Lord to be wise and judicious, and
having committed all his affaires to my care and trust: never blame mee
to misdoubt; least my Ladie (by his counsell and advice) make thee the
messenger of this motion, thereby to call my Fidelitie in question.
To cleare which doubt, and for my further assurance of her well meaning
toward me; if she will undertake the performance of three such things
as I must needes require in this case: I am afterward her owne, in any
service she can command me. The first of them, is, that in the presence
of my Lord and Master, she kill his faire Faulcon, which so dearly hee
affecteth. The second, to send me a locke or tuft of his beard, being
puld away with her owne hand. The third and last, with the same hand
also, to pluck out one of his best and soundest teeth, and send it
mee as her loves true token. When I finde all these three effectually
performed, I am wholly hers, & not before.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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