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
Seven times she rehearsed the charme to the Image, looking still
when the two Ladies would appeare in their likenesse, and so long
she held on her imprecations (feeling greater cold, then willinglie
she would have done) that breake of day began to shew it selfe, and
halfe despairing of the Ladies comming, according as the Scholler had
promised, she said to her selfe: I much misdoubt, that _Reniero_ hath
quitted me with such another peece of night-service, as it was my lucke
to bestow on him: but if he have done it in that respect, hee was but
ill advised in his revenge, because the night wants now three parts
of the length, as then it had: and the cold which he suffered, was
far superior in quality to mine, albeit it is more sharp now in the
morning, then all the time of night it hath bin.
And, because day-light should not discover her on the Tarrasse, she
went to make her descent downe againe: but finding the Ladder to be
taken away, & thinking how her publike shame was now inevitable, her
heart dismayed, and shee fell downe in a swoune on the Tarras: yet
recovering her senses afterward, her greefe and sorrow** exceeded all
capacity of utterance. For, now she became fully perswaded, that this
proceeded from the Schollers malice, repenting for her unkinde usage
towards him, but much more condemning her selfe, for reposing any trust
in him, who stood bound (by good reason) to be her enemy.
Continuing long in this extreame affliction, and surveighing all likely
meanes about her, whereby she might descend from the Tarras, whereof
she was wholly disappointed: she began to sighe and weepe exceedingly,
and in this heavy perplexity of spirit, thus shee complained to her
selfe. Miserable and unfortunate _Helena_, what will be saide by
thy Bretheren, Kindred, Neighbours, and generallie throughout all
_Florence_, when they shall know, that thou wast founde heere on this
Turret, starke naked? Thine honourable carriage, and honesty of life,
heeretofore free from a thought of suspition, shall now be branded with
detestation; and if thou wouldst cloud this mishappe of thine, by such
lies and excuses, as are not rare amongst women: yet _Reniero_ that
wicked Scholler, who knoweth all thy privy compacting, will stand as a
thousand witnesses against thee, and shame thee before the whole City,
so both thine honor and loved friend are lost for ever.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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