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
But, seeing thou art so constant in thy pernitious resolve, as neither
thine owne good Nature, nor this lamentable sufferance in me, are able
to alter thee: I will prepare my self for death patiently, to the
end, that Heaven may be mercifull to my soul, and reward thee justly,
according to thy cruelty. Which words being ended, she withdrew her
selfe towards the middest of the Tarras, despairing of escaping (with
life) from the heates violence; and not once onely, but infinite times
beside (among her other grievous extreamities) she was ready to dye
with drought, bemoaning incessantly her dolorous condition.
By this time the day was well neere spent, and night beganne to
hasten on apace: when the Scholler (immagining that he afflicted her
sufficiently) tooke her Garments, and wrapping them up in his mans
Cloake, went thence to the Ladies house, where he found _Ancilla_ the
Waiting-woman sitting at the doore, sad and disconsolate for her Ladies
long absence, to whom thus he spake. How now _Ancilla_? Where is thy
Lady and Mistris? Alas Sir (quoth she) I know not. I thought this
morning to have found her in her bed, as usually I was wont to do, and
where I left her yesternight at our parting: but there she was not, nor
in any place else of my knowledge, neyther can I imagine what is become
of her, which is to me no meane discomfort.
But can you (Sir) say any thing of her? _Ancilla_, said he, I would
thou hadst bin in her company, and at the same place where now she is,
that some punishment for thy fault might have falne uppon thee, as
already it hath done on her. But beleeve it assuredly, that thou shalt
not freely escape from my fingers, till I have justly paide thee for
thy paines, to teach thee to abuse any Gentleman, as thou didst me.
Having thus spoken, hee called to his servant, saying. Give her the
Garments, and bid her go looke her Lady, if she will. The Servingman
fulfilled his Masters command, and _Ancilla_ having receyved her Ladies
cloaths, knowing them perfectly, and remembring (withall) what had
bin said: she waxed very doubtfull, least they had slaine her, hardly
refraining from exclaiming on them, but that greefe and heavie weeping
overcame her; so that uppon the Schollers departing, she ranne in all
hast with the garments towardes the Tower.
Upon this fatall and unfortunate day to Madame _Helena_, it chanced,
that a Clowne or Countrey Peazant belonging to her Farme or Dairy
house, having two of his young Heyfers wandred astray, and he
labouring in diligent search to finde them: within a while after the
Schollers departure, came to seeke them in Woods about the Tower, and,
notwithstanding all his crying and calling for his beasts, yet he
heard the Ladies greevous moanes and lamentations. Wherefore, he cryed
out so lowd as he could, saying: Who is it that mourneth so aloft on
the Tower? Full well she knew the voyce of her peazant, and therefore
called unto him, and sayd in this manner.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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