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
Oh mine honest friends, answered _Calandrino_, your counsell is not
to be followed, neither is my wife so easie to be perswaded: this were
the readiest way to make your house a hell, and she to become the
Master-Divell: therefore talke no further, for flatly I will not doe
it. Albeit they laboured him very earnestly, yet all proved not to anie
purpose: onely he desired them to suppe with him, but in so colde a
manner, as they denyed him, and parted thence from him. As they walked
on the way, _Bruno_ saide to _Buffalmaco_. Shall we three (this night)
rob him of his Brawne? Yea marry (quoth _Buffalmaco_) how is it to be
done? I have (saide _Bruno_) alreadie found the meanes to effect it,
if he take it not from the place where last we saw it. Let us doe it
then (answered _Buffalmaco_) why should we not do it? Sir Domine heere
and we, will make good cheare with it among our selves. The nimble
Priest was as forward as the best; and the match being fully agreed
on, _Bruno_ thus spake. My delicate Sir Domine, Art and cunning must
be our maine helps: for thou knowest _Buffalmaco_, what a covetous
wretch _Calandrino_ is, glad and readie to drink alwaies on other mens
expences: let us go take him with us to the Tavern, where the Priest
(for his owne honour and reputation) shall offer to make paiment of the
whole reckoning, without receiving a farthing of his, whereof he will
not be a little joyfull, so shall we bring to passe the rest of the
businesse, because there is no body in the house, but onely himselfe:
for he is best at ease without company.
As _Bruno_ had propounded, so was it accordingly performed, & when
_Calandrino_ perceyved, that the Priest would suffer none to pay, but
himselfe, he dranke the more freely; and when there was no neede at
all, tooke his Cuppes couragiously, one after another. Two or three
houres of the night were spent, before they parted from the Taverne,
_Calandrino_ going directly home to his house, and instantly to bed,
without any other supper, imagining that he had made fast his doore,
which (indeede) he left wide open: sleeping soundly, without suspition
of any harme intended unto him. _Buffalmaco_ and _Bruno_ went and supt
with the Priest, and so soone as supper was ended, they tooke certaine
Engines, for their better entering into _Calandrinoes_ house, and so
went on to effect theyr purpose. Finding the doore standing readie
open, they entered in, tooke the Brawne, carried it with them to the
Priests house, and afterward went all to bed.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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