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
Soone after, _Calandrino_ started up, and perceiving by their loude
speaking, that they talked of nothing which required secret Counsell:
he went into their company (the onely thing which _Maso_ desired) and
holding on still the former Argument; _Calandrino_ would needs request
to know, in what place these precious stones were to be found, which
had such excellent vertues in them? _Maso_ made answere, that the most
of them were to be had in _Berlinzona_, neere to the City of _Bascha_,
which was in the Territory of a Countrey, called _Bengodi_, where the
Vines were bound about with Sawcidges, a Goose was sold for a penny,
and the Goslings freely given in to boote. There was also an high
mountaine, wholly made of _Parmezane_, grated Cheese, whereon dwelt
people, who did nothing else but make _Mocharones_ and _Raviuolies_,
boiling them with broth of Capons, and afterward hurled them all about,
to whosoever can or will catch them. Neere to this mountaine runneth a
faire River, the whole streame being pure white Bastard, none such was
ever sold for any money, and without one drop of water in it.
Now trust me Sir, (said _Calandrino_) that is an excellent Countrey to
dwell in: but I pray you tell me Sir, what doe they with the Capons
after they have boyld them? The _Baschanes_ (quoth _Maso_) eate them
all. Have you Sir, said _Calandrino_, at any time beene in that
Countrey? How? answered _Maso_, doe you demaund if I have beene there?
Yes man, above a thousand times, at the least. How farre Sir, I pray
you (quoth _Calandrino_) is that worthy Countrey, from this our City?
In troth replyed _Maso_, the miles are hardly to be numbred, for the
most part of them we travell when we are nightly in our beddes, and if
a man dreame right; he may be there upon a sudden.
Surely Sir, said _Calandrino_, it is further hence, then to _Abruzzi_?
Yes questionlesse, replyed _Maso_; but, to a willing minde, no travell
seemeth tedious.
_Calandrino_ well noting, that _Maso_ delivered all these speeches,
with a stedfast countenance, no signe of smyling, or any gesture to
urge the least mislike: he gave such credit to them, as to any matter
of apparent and manifest truth, and upon this assured confidence, he
said.
Beleeve me Sir, the journey is over-farre for mee to undertake, but if
it were neerer; I could affoord to goe in your Company; onely to see
how they make these _Macherones_, and to fill my belly with them.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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