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
Moreover, at such times as Bruno had not supt with our Physitian, he
would bee sure to tell him on the morrow, that the night passed, he
had bin with the Company which he did wot of. And there (quoth he) the
Queene of _England_ having somewhat offended mee, I commanded, that
the _Gomedra_, belonging to the _Grand Cham_ of _Tartaria_, should
be brought me, and instantly shee was. What may be the meaning of
_Gomedra_ be? saide the Doctor, I understand not those difficult names.
I beleeve you Sir, answered _Bruno_, nor do I need to marvaile thereat:
and yet I have heard _Porcograsso_ speake, and also _Vannacenna_, and
both unexperienced in our Language. You would say (replyed the Doctour)
_Hippocrates_ and _Avicenna_, who were two admirable Physitians. It may
be so (said _Bruno_) & as hardly do I understand your names, as you
mine: but _Gomedra_, in the _Grand Chams_ language, signifies Empresse
in ours. But had you once seene her Sir, she would make you forget
all Physicall observations, your arguments, receits and medicines,
onely to be in her heavenly presence, which words he used (perceiving
his forward longing) to enflame him the more. Not long after, as the
doctor was holding the candle to _Bruno_, at the perfecting the bloody
Battayle of the Cattes and Rattes, because he could never bee wearied
in his Companie, and therefore was the more willing, to undergoe the
office of the Candle-holder: he resolved to acquaint him with his
minde, and being all alone by themselves, thus he began.
_Bruno_, as heaven knoweth, there is not this day any creature living,
for whom I would gladly do more, then for thee, and the very least word
of thy mouth, hath power to commaund mee to goe bare-footed, even from
hence so farre as to _Peretola_, and account my labour well employed
for thy sake: wherefore, never wonder at my continuall kindnesse
towards thee, using thee as my Domesticke companion, and embracing
thee as my bosome friend, and therefore I am the bolder in mooving one
request unto thee. As thou well knowest, it is no long while since,
when thou diddest acquaint me with the behaviour of the _Corsicane_
Roving Company, to be one in so rare and excellent a Society, such hath
bin my earnest longing ever since, as day nor night have I enjoyed anie
rest, but should thinke my felicity beyond all compare, if I could be
entertained in fellowship among you.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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