The Decameron (Day 6 to Day 10): Containing an hundred pleasant Novels — John Shaqi
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
But before you proceede to pronounce any sentence, may it please you
to favour me with one small request, namely, that you would demand of
my Husband, if at all times, and whensoever he tooke delight in my
company, I ever made any curiosity, or came to him unwillingly. Whereto
_Rinaldo_, without tarrying for the Potestate to moove the question,
sodainly answered; that (undoubtedly) his wife at all times, and oftner
then he could request it, was never sparing of her kindnesse, or put
him off with any deniall. Then the Lady, continuing on her former
speeches, thus replyed. Let me then demand of you my Lord, being our
Potestate and Judge, if it be so, by my Husbands owne free confession,
that he hath alwaies had his pleasure of me, without the least refusall
in me, or contradiction; what should I doe with the over-plus remaining
in mine owne power, and whereof he had no need? Would you have mee cast
it away to the Dogges? Was it not more fitting for me, to pleasure
therewith a worthy Gentleman, who was even at deaths doore for my love,
then (my husbands surfetting, and having no neede of me) to let him lye
languishing, and dye?
Never was heard such an examination before, and to come from a woman of
such worth, the most part of the honourable _Pratosians_ (both Lords
and Ladies) being there present, who hearing her urge such a necessary
question, cryed out all aloud together with one voice (after they had
laughed their fill) that the Lady had saide well, and no more then she
might. So that, before they departed thence, by comfortable advice
proceeding from the Potestate: the Edict (being reputed overcruell) was
modified, and interpreted to concerne them onely, who offered injurie
to their Husbands for money. By which meanes, _Rinaldo_ standing as one
confounded, for such a foolish and unadvised enterprize, departed from
the Auditorie: and the Ladie, not a little joyfull to bee thus freed
and delivered from the fire, returned home with victorie to her owne
house.
Fresco da Celatico, _counselled and advised his Neece_ Cesca: _That if
such as deserved to be looked on, were offensive to her eyes, as she
had often told him; she should forbeare to looke on any._
The Eighth Novell.
_In just scorne of such unsightly and ill-pleasing surly Sluts, who
imagine none to be faire or well-favoured, but themselves._
All the while as _Philostratus_ was re-counting his Novell; it seemed,
that the Ladies (who heard it) found themselves much mooved thereat, as
by the wanton blood monting up into their cheekes, it plainly appeared.
But in the end, looking on each other with strange behaviour, they
could not forbeare smiling: which the Queene interrupting by a command
of attention, turning to Madame _Æmillia_, willed her to follow next.
When she, puffing and blowing, as if she had bene newly awaked from
sleepe, began in this manner.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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