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
For now there wanted no costly dinners and suppers, with al delicates
could be devised, for the entertainement of _Buffalmaco_ and _Bruno_;
who, like Guests very easie to be invited, where rich wines and good
cheare are never wanting, needed little sending for, because his
house was as familiar to them, as their owne. In the end, when the
Physitian espyed an opportunitie apt for the purpose, he made the same
request to _Buffalmaco_, as formerly hee had done to _Bruno_. Whereat
_Buffalmaco_, sodainly starting, and looking frowningly on _Bruno_,
as if he were extraordinarily incensed against him: clapping his
hand furiously on the Table, he sayde. I sweare by the great God of
_Pasignano_, that I can hardly refrayne from giving thee such a blow on
the face, as should make thy Nose to fall at thy heeles: vile Traitor
as thou art: for none beside thy selfe, could discover so rare and
excellent a secret unto this famous Physitian. The Doctour, with verie
plausible and pleasing tearmes, excused the matter verie artificially;
protesting, that another had revealed it unto him: and after many wise
circumstantiall Allegations, at length hee prevailed so farre, that
_Buffalmaco_ was pacified; who afterwardes turning in kinde manner,
thus hee beganne.
Master Doctour, you have lived both at _Bologna_, and heere in these
partes with us, having (no doubt) sufficiently understoode, what it is
to carry a close mouth, I meane the true Charracter of taciturnitie.
Questionlesse, you never learned the A. B. C. as now foolish Ideots
do, blabbing their lessons all about the towne, which is much better
apprehended by rumination; and surely (if I be not much deceyved) your
Nativity happened on a Sonday morning, Sol being at that time, Lord of
the ascendent, joyned with _Mercurie_ in a fierie Triplicitie. By such
conference as I have had with _Bruno_, I conceyved (as he himselfe also
did) that you were verie singular in Physicke onely: but it seemeth,
your Studies reached a higher straine, for you have learned, and know
verie skilfullie, how to steale mens hearts from them, yea, to bereave
them of their verie soules, which I perceyve that you can farre better
doe, then any man else living to my knowledge, only by your wise,
witty, judicious, and more then meere _Mercurian_ eloquence, such as I
never heard before.
The Physitian interrupting him bashfully, turned himselfe unto _Bruno_,
saying. Did not I tell thee this before? Observe what a notable thing
it is, to speake well, and to frequent the company of the Wise. A
thousand other, meerely blockes and dullardes by Nature, could never
so soone comprehend all the particularities of my knowledge, as this
honest and apprehensive man hath done. Thou didst not search into it
halfe so soone, nor (indeed) did I expresse a quarter of my ingenuity
to thee, as (since his comming) hath prodigally flowne from me.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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