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
These three strict impositions, seemed to _Lesca_, and her Ladie
likewise, almost beyond the compasse of all possibility. Nevertheles
Love, being a powerfull Oratour in perswading, as also adventurous even
on the most difficult dangers; gave her courage to undertake them all:
sending _Lesca_ backe againe to him, with full assurance, of these
more then _Herculean_ labours. Moreover, her selfe did intend to adde
a fourth taske, in regard of his strong opinion concerning the great
Wisedome of his Lord and Maister. After she had effected all the other
three, she would not permit him to kisse her, but before his Lords
face: which yet should be accomplished in such sort, as _Nicostratus_
himselfe should not beleeve it, although apparantly he saw it. Well,
(quoth _Pyrrhus_) when all these wonders are performed, assure my
Ladie, that I am truelie hers.
Within a short while after, _Nicostratus_ made a solemne Feastivall
(according as yearely he used to doe) in honour of his birth day,
inviting many Lords and Ladies thereto. On which rejoycing day, so
soone as dinner was ended, and the Tables withdrawne: _Lydia_ came
into the great Hall, where the Feast was solemnly kept; very rich and
costly apparrelled; and there, in presence of _Pyrrhus_, and the whole
assemblie, going to the Perch whereon the Faulcone sate, wherein her
Husband tooke no little delight, and having untyed her, as if shee
meant to beare her on her Fist: tooke her by the Jesses, and beating
her against the wal, killed her. _Nicostratus_ beholding this, called
out aloud unto her, saying. Alas Madame! what have you done? She making
him no answere, but turning to the Lords and Ladies, which had dined
there, spake in this manner.
Ill should I take revenge on a King, that had offended me, if I had not
so much heart, as to wreake my spleene on a paltry Hawke. Understand
then, worthy Lords and Ladies, that this Faulcone hath long time
robbed me of those delights, which men (in meere equitie) ought to
have with their wives: because continually, so soone as breake of day
hath appeared, my Husband, starting out of bed, makes himselfe readie,
presently to Horsse, and with this Faulcon on his Fist, rides abroad
to his recreation in the Fields. And I, in such forsaken sort as you
see, am left all alone in my bed, discontented and despised: often
vowing to my selfe, to bee thus revenged as now I am, being with-held
from it by no other occasion, but onely want of a fit and apt time, to
do it in the presence of such persons, as might bee just Judges of my
wrongs, and as I conceive you all to be.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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