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
I cannot tell, whether you knew _Talano de Molese_, or no, a man of
much honour, who tooke to wife a yong Gentlewoman, named _Margarita_,
as beautifull as the best: but yet so peevish, scornefull, and
fantasticall, that she disdained any good advice given her; neyther
could any thing be done, to cause her contentment; which absurd humours
were highly displeasing to her husband: but in regard he knew not how
to helpe it, constrainedly he did endure it. It came to passe, that
_Talano_ being with his wife, at a summer-house of his owne in the
country, he dreamed one night, that he saw his Wife walking in a faire
wood, which adjoyned neere unto his house, and while she thus continued
there, he seemed to see issue foorth from a corner of the said Wood, a
great and furious Wolfe, which leaping sodainly on her, caught her by
the face and throate, drawing her downe to the earth, and offering to
drag her thence. But he crying out for helpe, recovered her from the
Wolfe, yet having her face and throat very pitifully rent and torne.
In regard of this terrifying dreame, when _Talano_ was risen in the
morning, and sate conversing with his wife, he spake thus unto hir.
Woman, although thy froward wilfull Nature be such, as hath not
permitted me one pleasing day with thee, since first we becam man and
wife, but rather my life hath bene most tedious to me, as fearing still
some mischeefe should happen to thee: yet let mee now in loving manner
advise thee, to follow my counsell, and (this day) not to walke abroad
out of this house. She demanded a reason for this advice of his. He
related to her every particular of his dreame, adding with all these
speeches.
True it is Wife (quoth he) that little credit should bee given to
dreames: neverthelesse, when they deliver advertisement of harmes
to ensue, there is nothing lost by shunning and avoiding them. She
fleering in his face, and shaking her head at him, replyed. Such harmes
as thou wishest, such thou dreamest of. Thou pretendest much pittie
and care of me, but all to no other end: but what mischeefes thou
dreamest happening unto mee, so wouldest thou see them effected on me.
Wherefore, I will well enough looke to my selfe, both this day, and at
all times else: because thou shalt never make thy selfe merry, with any
such misfortune as thou wishest unto me.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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