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
Heereupon, he commanded _Pyrrhus_ to come downe, and being on the
ground: Now _Pyrrhus_ (quoth he) tell me what thou saydst. _Pyrrhus_,
pretending an alteration into much amazement, straungely looking about
him, saide; I know not verie well (my Lord) what answere I should make
you, fearing least my sight hath bin abused by error: for when I was
aloft in that Tree, it seemed manifestly to me: that you embraced my
Lady (though somewhat rudely, in regard of her perillous sicknesse,
yet lovingly) and as youthfully as in your yonger daies, with infinite
kisses, and wanton dalliances, such as (indeede) deserved a far more
private place in my poore opinion. But in my descending downe, mee
thought you gave over that amorous familiaritie, and I found you seated
as I left you. Now trust mee _Pyrrhus_, answered _Nicostratus_, Thy
tongue and wit have very strangely wandred, both from reason and all
reall apprehension: because we never stirred from hence, since thou
didst climbe up into the Tree, neither mooved otherwise, then as now
thou seest us. Alas my Lord (saide _Pyrrhus_) I humbly crave pardon for
my presumption, in reprooving you for medling with your owne: which
shall make me hereafter better advised, in any thing what soever I heare
or see.
Mervaile and amazement, encreased in _Nicostratus_ far greater then
before, hearing him to avouch still so constantly what he had seene,
no contradiction being able to alter him, which made him rashly sweare
and say. I will see my selfe, whether this Peare-tree bee enchanted,
or no: and such wonders to be seene when a man is up in it, as thou
wouldst have us to beleeve. And being mounted up so hy, that they were
safe from his sodaine comming on them, _Lydia_ had soone forgotten her
sicknes, and the promised kisse cost her above twenty more, beside
verie kinde and hearty embraces, as lovingly respected and entertained
by _Pyrrhus_. Which _Nicostratus_ beholding aloft in the tree; cryed
out to her, saying. Wicked woman, What doest thou meane? And thou
villain _Pyrrhus_, Darst thou abuse thy Lord, who hath reposed so much
trust in thee? So, descending in haste downe againe, yet crying so to
them still: _Lydia_ replyed, Alas my Lord, Why do you raile and rave in
such sort? So, hee found her seated as before, and _Pyrrhus_ waiting
with dutifull reverence, even as when he climbed up the Tree: but yet
he thought his sight not deceyved, for all their demure and formall
behaviour, which made him walke up and downe, extreamely fuming and
fretting unto himselfe, and which in some milder manner to qualifie,
_Pyrrhus_ spake thus to him.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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