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
After you have so often spoken them, two goodly Ladies (the very
fairest that ever you beheld) will appeare unto you, very graciously
saluting you, and demanding what you would have them to performe for
you. Safely you may speake unto them, and orderly tel them what you
desire: but be very carefull, that you name not one man insted of
another. When you have uttered your mind, they will depart from you,
and then you may descend againe, to the place where you did leave
your garments, which having putte on, then returne to your house. And
undoubtedly, before the midst of the next night following, your friend
will come in teares to you, and humbly crave your pardon on his knees;
beeing never able afterward to be false to you, or leave your Love for
any other whatsoever.
The Lady hearing these words, gave very setled beleefe to them,
imagining unfainedly, that shee had (more then halfe) recovered her
friend already, and held him embraced betweene her armes: in which
jocond perswasion, the chearfull** blood mounted up into hir cheekes,
and thus she replyed. Never make you any doubt Sir, but that I can
sufficiently performe whatsoever you have said, and am provided of
the onely place in the world, where such a weighty businesse is to be
effected. For I have a Farme or dairy house, neere adjoyning to the
vale of _Arno_, & closely bordering upon the same River. It beeing now
the moneth of July, the most convenientest time of all the yeare to
bathe in; I can bee the easier induced thereunto.
Moreover, there is hard by the Rivers side a small Tower or Turret
uninhabited; whereinto few people do sildome enter, but onely Heardsmen
or Flocke-keepers, who ascend uppe (by the helpe of a wodden Ladder) to
a Tarrasse on the top of the saide Tower, to looke all about for their
beasts, when they are wandred astray: it standing in a solitary place,
and out of the common way or resort. There dare I boldly adventure
to mount up, and with the invincible courage of a wronged Lady (not
fearing to looke death himself in the face) do al that you have
prescribed, yea, and much more, to recover my deare lost Lover againe,
whom I value equal with my owne Life.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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