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
If any man having in his house a good and faithfull servant, who
falling into extremity of sickenesse, shall be throwne forth into
the open street, without any care or pitty taken on him; A stranger
chanceth to passe by, and (moved with compassion of his weakenesse)
carryeth him home to his owne house, where using all charitable
diligence, and not sparing any cost, he recovereth the sicke person to
his former health. I now desire to know, if keeping the said restored
person, and imploying him about his owne businesse: the first Master
(by pretending his first right) may lawfully complaine of the second,
and yeeld him backe againe to the first master, albeit he doe make
challenge of him?
All the Gentlemen, after many opinions passing among them, agreed
altogether in one sentence, and gave charge to Signior _Nicoluccio
Caccianimico_, (because he was an excellent and elegant speaker) to
give answere for them all. First, he commended the custome observed in
_Persia_, saying, he jumpt in opinion with all the rest, that the first
Master had no right at all to the servant, having not onely (in such
necessity) forsaken him, but also cast him forth into the comfortlesse
street. But for the benefits and mercy extended to him; it was more
then manifest, that the recovered person, was become justly servant to
the second Master, and in detayning him from the first, hee did not
offer him any injury at all. The whole Company sitting at the Table
(being all very wise & worthy men) gave their verdict likewise with
the confession of Signior _Nicoluccio Caccianimico_. Which answere
did not a little please the Knight; and so much the rather, because
_Nicoluccio_ had pronounced it, affirming himselfe to be of the same
minde.
So, sitting in a pretended musing a while, at length he said. My
honourable guests, it is now more then high time, that I should doe
you such honour, as you have most justly deserved, by performing the
promise made unto you. Then calling two of his servants, he sent
them to Madame _Catharina_ (whom he had caused to adorne her self
in excellent manner) entreating her, that she would be pleased to
grace his guests with her presence. _Catharina_, having deckt her
child in costly habiliments, layed it in her armes, and came with
the servants into the dyning Hall, and sate down (as the Knight had
appointed) at the upper end of the Table, and then Signior _Gentile_
spake thus. Behold, worthy Gentlemen, this is the Jewell which I have
most affected, and intend to love none other in the world; be you my
Judges, whether I have just occasion to doe so, or no? The Gentlemen
saluting her with respective reverence, said to the Knight; that he had
great reason to affect her: And viewing her advisedly, many of them
thought her to be the very same woman (as indeed she was) but that they
beleeved her to be dead.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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