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
_Buffalmaco, Bruno,_ and the whole company, perceiving how he continued
still his coughing and spetting; saide all with one voyce, That
_Calandrino_ was the Theefe to himselfe: and gave him manie grosse
speeches beside, all departing home into their houses, very much
displeased and angry with him. After they were gone, none remained
with him but the Priest, _Bruno_ and _Buffalmaco_, who thus spake to
_Calandrino_. I did ever thinke, that thou wast the theefe thy selfe,
yet thou imputedst thy robbery to some other, for feare we should once
drinke freely of thy purse, as thou hast done many times of ours.
_Calandrino_, who had not yet ended his coughing and spetting, sware
many bitter Oathes, that his Brawne was stolne from him. Talke so long
as thou wilt, quoth _Buffalmaco_, thy knavery is both knowne and seene,
and well thou mayst be ashamed of thy selfe. _Calandrino_ hearing this,
grew desperately angry; and to incense him more, _Bruno_ thus pursued
the matter.
Hear me _Calandrino_, for I speake to thee in honest earnest, there
was a man in the company, who did eate and drinke heere among thy
neighbours, and plainly told me, that thou keptst a young Lad heere to
do thee service, feeding him with such victuals as thou couldst spare,
by him thou didst send away thy Brawne, to one that bought it of thee
for foure Crownes, onely to cousen thy poore wife and us. Canst thou
not yet learne to leave thy mocking and scorning? Thou hast forgotte,
how thou broughtst us to the plaine of _Mugnone_, to seeke for black
invisible stones: which having found, thou concealedst them to thy
selfe, stealing home invisibly before us, and making us follow like
fooles after thee.
Now likewise, by horrible lying Oathes, and perjured protestations,
thou wouldst make us to beleeve, that the Brawne (which thou hast
cunningly sold for ready money) was stolne from thee out of thy house,
when thou art onely the Theefe to thy selfe, as by that excellent rule
of Art (which never faileth) hath plainly, to thy shame, appeared.
Wee being so well acquainted with thy delusions, and knowing them
perfectly; now do plainly tell thee, that we mean not to be foold any
more. Nor is it unknowne to thee, what paines wee have taken, in making
this singular peece of proofe. Wherefore we inflict this punishment on
thee, that thou shalt bestow on this honest Priest and us, two couple
of Capons, and a Flaggon of Wine, or else we will discover this knavery
of thine to thy Wife.
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