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
They created a kinde Society, consisting of about five and twenty men,
who should meete together twice in a moneth, & in a place reputed
convenient for them: where being so assembled, every man uttered his
minde to those two Schollers, in such cases as they most desired, to
have wherewith they were all satisfied the self-same night. It came so
to passe, that _Buffalmaco_ and I, grew into acquaintance with those
two worthy Schollers, and our private familiarity together proved
so prosperous, that we were admitted into the same Society, and so
have ever since continued. Now Sir, I am to tell you matter deserving
admiration, & which (in very good judgements) would seeme to exceed all
beleefe.
For, at every time when we were assembled together: you are not able
to imagine, what sumptuous hangings of Tapistrie, did adorne the Hall
where we sate at meate, the Tables covered in such Royall manner,
waited on by numberlesse Noble and goodly attendants, both Women and
Men, serving readily, at each mans command of the company. The Basins,
Ewers, Pots, Flaggons, & all the vessels else which stood before, and
for the service of our diet, being composed onely of Gold and Silver,
and out of no worse did we both eate and drinke: the viands being very
rare and dainty, abounding in plenty and variety, according to the
appetite of everie person, as nothing could be wished for, but it was
instantly obtained.
In good sadnesse Sir, I am not able to remember and tell you (within
the compasse of a thousand yeares) what, and how manie severall
kindes of Musicall Instruments, were continually played on before us;
what multiplicity of Waxe lights burned in all partes of the roomes;
neither the excessive store of rich Drugs, Marchpanes, Comfites, and
rare Banquetting stuffe, consumed there at one Feasting, wherein there
wanted no bounty of the best and purest wines. Nor do I (Master Doctor)
repute you so weakly witted, as to think, that in the time of our
being thus assembled there, any of us al were cloathed in such simple
and meane Garments, as ordinarily are worne in the streets on mens
bodies, or any so silly as the verie best you have: No Sir, not any one
man among us, but appeared by his apparrell, equall to the greatest
Emperour on the earth, his robe most sumptuously imbroidered with
precious stones, Pearles, and Carbuncles, as all the world affoordeth
not the like. But above all the rest, the delights and pleasures there,
are beyond my capacity to expresse, or (indeede) any comparison: as
namely, store of goodly and beautifull women, brought thither from all
parts of the world; alwayes provided, if men bee desirous of their
company: but for your easier comprehension, I will make some briefe
relation of them to you, according as I heard them there named.
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