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
So, proceeding on in his discourse, he recounted every accident as
it hapned, both what they had saide and did unto him, concerning
the severall blowes, with the two Flint-stones, the one hurting him
greevously in the heele, and the other paining him as extreamly in the
backe, with their speeches used then, and his laughter, notwithstanding
hee felt the harme of them both, yet beeing proud that he did so
invisibly beguile them. Nay more (quoth he) I cannot forbeare to tell
you, that when I passed thorow the Port, I saw you standing with the
Warders; yet, by vertue of that excellent Stone, undiscovered of
you all. Beside, going along the streets, I met many of my Gossips,
friends, and familiar acquaintance, such as used daylie to converse
with me, and drinking together in every Tavern: yet not one of them
spake to me, neyther used any courtesie or salutation; which (indeede)
I did the more freely forgive them, because they were not able to see
me.
In the end of all, when I was come home into mine owne house, this
divellish and accursed woman, being aloft uppon my stayres head, by
much misfortune chanced to see me; in regard (as it is not unknowne
to you) that women cause all things to lose their vertue. In which
respect, I that could have stild my selfe the onely happy man in
_Florence_, am now made most miserable. And therefore did I justly
beate her, so long as she was able to stand against mee, and I know no
reason to the contrary, why I should not yet teare her in a thousand
peeces: for I may well curse the day of our mariage, to hinder and
bereave me of such an invisible blessednesse.
_Buffalmaco_ and _Bruno_ hearing this, made shew of verie much
mervailing thereat, and many times maintained what _Calandrino_ had
said; being well neere ready to burst with laughter; considering, how
confidently he stood upon it, that he had found the wonderfull stone,
and lost it by his wives speaking onely to him. But when they saw him
rise in fury once more, with intent to beat her againe: then they stept
betweene them; affirming, That the woman had no way offended in this
case, but rather he himself: who knowing that women cause all things
to lose their vertue, had not therefore expresly commanded her, not to
be seene in his presence all that day, untill he had made full proofe
of the stones vertue. And questionles, the consideration of a matter
so availeable and important, was quite taken from him, because such
an especiall happinesse, should not belong to him only; but (in part)
to his friends, whom he had acquainted therewith, drew them to the
plaine with him in companie, where they tooke as much paines in search
of the stone, as possibly he did, or could; and yet (dishonestly) he
would deceive them, and beare it away covetously, for his owne private
benefit.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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