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
I deny not (my good Lord) but freely confesse, that even as your selfe,
so I, being above in the Tree, had my sight most falsely deluded: which
is so apparantly confirmed by you, and in the same sort, as there
needeth no doubt of both our beguiling; in one and the same suspitious
nature. In which case to be the more assuredly resolved, nothing can
be questioned, but whether your beleefe do so farre misleade you, as
to thinke, that my Ladie (who hath alwayes bene most wise, loyall,
and vertuous,) would so shamefullie wrong you: yea, and to performe
it before your face, wherein I dare gadge my life to the contrary.
Concerning my selfe, it is not fit for mee, to argue or contest in
mine owne commendation: you that have ever knowne the sincerity of my
service, are best able to speake in my behalfe: and rather wold I be
drawne in peeces with foure wilde horses, then bee such an injurious
slave to my Lord and Master.
Now then, it can be no otherwise, but we must needs rest certainely
perswaded, that the guile and offence of this false appearance, was
occasioned by thee onely. For all the world could not make me otherwise
beleeve, but that I saw you kisse and most kindely imbrace my Lady:
if your owne eyes had not credited the like behaviour in me to her,
of which sinne, I never conceived so much as a thought. The Lady (on
the other side) seeming to be very angerly incensed, starting faintly
upon her feet, yet supporting her selfe by the tree, said. It appeareth
Sir, that you have entertained a goodly opinion of me as, if I were so
lewde and lasciviously disposed, or addicted to the very least desire
of wantonnesse: that I would bee so forgetfull of mine owne honour, as
to adventure it in your sight, and with a servant of my house? Oh Sir,
such women as are so familiarly affected, need learne no wit of men in
amourous matters; their private Chambers shall be better trusted, then
an open blabing and tell-tale Garden.
_Nicostratus_, who verily beleeved what they had both said, and that
neither of them would adventure such familiarity before his face:
would talke no more of the matter, but rather studyed of the rarity of
such a miracle, not seene, but in the height of the tree, and changing
againe upon the descent. But _Lydia_, containing still her collourable
kinde of impatience, and angerly frowning upon _Nicostratus_, stearnely
saide. If I may have my will, this villanous and deceiving tree, shall
never more shame me, or any other woman: and therefore _Pyrrhus_, runne
for an Axe, and by felling it to the ground, in an instant, revenge
both thy wrong and mine. Doest not thou serve a worthy Lord? And have
not I a wise Husband, who, without any consideration, will suffer the
eye of his understanding to be so dazeled, with a foolish imagination
beyond all possibility? For, although his eyes did apprehend such a
folly, and it seemed to be a truth indeed: yet, in the depth of setled
judgement, all the world should not perswade him, that it was so.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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