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
The simple men and women of the country, who had bin at morning Masse
in the Church, and heard what a wonderfull Feather they should see
in the after noone; returned in all hast to their houses, where one
telling this newes to another, and gossip with gossip consulting
thereon; they made the shorter dinner, and afterward flocked in maine
troopes to the Castle, contending who shold first get entrance, such
was their devotion to see the holy feather. Friar _Onyon_ having
dined, and reposed a little after his wine, he arose from the table to
the window, where beholding what multitudes came to see the feather,
he assured himselfe of good store of mony. Hereupon, he sent to his
Boy _Guccio Imbrata_, that uppon the Bels ringing, he should come and
bring the wallet to him. Which (with much ado) he did, so soone as
his quarrell was ended in the kitchin, with the amiable Chamber-maid
_Nuta_, away then he went with his holy commodities: where he was no
sooner arrived, but because his belly was readie to burst with drinking
water, he sent him to the Church to ring the bels, which not onely
would warme the cold water in his belly, but likewise make him run as
gaunt as a Grey-hound.
When all the people were assembled in the Church together, Friar
_Onyon_ (never distrusting any injurie offered him, or that his close
commodities had bin medled withall) began his predication, uttering a
thousand lies to fit his purpose. And when he came to shew the feather
of the Phoenix (having first in great devotion finisht the confession)
he caused two goodly torches to be lighted, & ducking downe his head
three severall times, before hee would so much as touch the Taffata, he
opened it with much reverence. So soone as the Cabinet came to be seen,
off went his Hood, lowly he bowed downe his body, and uttering especial
praises of the Phoenix, and sacred properties of the wonderfull
Relique, the Cover of the Cabinet being lifted uppe, he saw the same
to bee full of Coales. He could not suspect his Villaine boy to do
this deede, for he knew him not to be endued with so much wit, onely
hee curst him for keeping it no better, and curst himselfe also, for
reposing trust in such a careles knave, knowing him to be slothfull,
disobedient, negligent, and void of all honest understanding or grace.
Sodainly (without blushing) lest his losse should be discerned, he
lifted his lookes and hands to heaven, speaking out so loude, as every
one might easily heare him, thus: O thou omnipotent providence, for
ever let thy power be praised. Then making fast the Cabinet againe, and
turning himselfe to the people, with lookes expressing admiration, he
proceeded in this manner.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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