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
The yong Lady, who fixed not her eyes on inferiour subjects (but
esteemed her selfe above ordinary reach or capacity) could moove them
artificially, as curious women well know how to doe, looking on every
side about her, yet not in a gadding or grosse manner; for she was
not ignorant in such darting glaunces, as proceeded from an enflamed
affection, which appearing plainely in _Reniero_; with a pretty smile,
shee said to her selfe. I am not come hither this day in vaine; for, if
my judgement faile me not, I thinke I have caught a Woodcocke by the
Bill. And lending him a cunning looke or two, queintly caried with the
corner of her eye; she gave him a kinde of perswading apprehension,
that her heart was the guide to her eye. And in this artificiall**
Schoole-tricke of hers, shee carryed therewith another consideration,
to wit, that the more other eyes fedde themselves on her perfections,
and were (well-neere) lost in them beyond recovery: so much the greater
reason had he to account his fortune beyond comparison, that was the
sole master of her heart, and had her love at his command.
Our witty Scholler having set aside his Philosophicall considerations,
strove how he might best understand her carriage toward him, and
beleeving that she beheld him with pleasing regards; hee learned to
know the house where shee dwelt, passing daily by the doore divers
times, under colour of some more serious occasions: wherein the Lady
very proudly gloried, in regard of the reasons before alleadged, and
seemed to affoord him lookes of good liking. Being led thus with a
hopefull perswasion, hee founde the meanes to gaine acquaintance with
her waiting-woman, revealing to her his intire affection, desiring her
to worke for him in such sort with her Lady, that his service might be
gracious in her acceptance. The Gentlewoman made him a very willing
promise, and immediately did his errand to her Lady; who heard her with
no small pride and squemishnesse, and breaking forth into a scornefull
laughter, thus she spake.
_Ancilla_ (for so she was named) dost thou not observe, how this
Scholler is come to lose all the wit heere, which he has studyed so
long for in the University of _Paris_? Let us make him our onely Table
argument, and seeing his folly soareth so high, we will feed him with
such a dyet as hee deserveth. Yet when thou speakest next with him,
tell him, that I affect him more then he can doe me: but it becommeth
me to be carefull of mine honour, and to walke with an untainted brow,
as other Ladies and Gentlewomen doe: which he is not to mislike, if he
be so wise as he maketh shew of, but rather will the more commend me.
Alas good Lady lack-wit, little did she understand (faire assembly) how
dangerous a case it is to deale with Schollers.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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