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
Many notable courses wheeled about his conceit, every one promising
fairely, and ministring meanes of formall apparance, yet one (above
the rest) wonne his absolute allowance, which he intended to prosecute
as best he might. In which resolution, he kept still very close, so
long as _Spinelloccio_ was with his Wife; but hee being gone, he went
into the Chamber, where he found his wife, amending the forme of her
head attyre, which _Spinelloccio_ had put into a disordred fashion.
Wife (quoth he) what art thou doing? Why? Do you not see Husband?
answered she. Yes that I do wife, replied _Zeppa_, and something else
happened to my sight, which I could wish that I had not seene. Rougher
Language growing betweene them, of his avouching, and her as stout
denying, with defending her cause over-weakely, against the manifest
proofes both of eye and eare; at last she fell on her knees before
him, weeping incessantly, and no excuses now availing, she confest her
long acquaintance with _Spinelloccio_, and most humbly entreated him
to forgive her. Uppon the which penitent confession and submission,
_Zeppa_ thus answered.
Wife, if inward contrition be answerable to thy outward seeming sorrow,
then I make no doubt, but faithfully thou dost acknowledge thine owne
evill dooing: for which, if thou expectest pardon of me; determine
then to fulfill effectually, such a busines as I must enjoyne, and
thou performe. I command thee to tell _Spinelloccio_, that to morrow
morning, about nine of the clocke, we being both abroad walking, he
must finde some apt occasion to leave my company, and then come hither
to visit thee. When he is here, sodainly will I returne home; and upon
thy hearing of my entraunce: to save his owne credite, and thee from
detection, thou shalt require him to enter this Chest, untill such time
as I am gone forth againe; which he doing, for both your safeties, so
soon as he is in the chest, take the key and locke him up fast. When
thou hast effected this, then shall I acquaint thee with the rest
remaining, which also must be done by thee, without dread of the least
harme to him or thee, because there is no malicious meaning in me, but
such as (I am perswaded) thou canst not justly mislike. The wife, to
make some satisfaction for her offence committed, promised that she
would performe it, and so she did.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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