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
_Monna Tessa_, because (perhaps) _Frederigo_ might receive some other
suspition, and so enter into distaste of her by anger or offence:
determined to arise indeede, and to let him covertly understand, that
_John_ was there, and therefore saide to her husband. Beleeve me
_John_, thy counsell is good, and every one of thy words hath wisedome
in it: but I hold it best for our owne safety, thou being heere; that
wee should conjure him quite away, to the end he may never more haunt
our house. Conjure him Wife? Quoth _John_, By what meanes? and how?
Bee patient good man (quoth _Tessa_) and I will enstruct thee. I have
learned an excellent kinde of conjuration; for, the last weeke, when
I went to procure the pardons at _Fiesola_, one of the holy recluse
Nuns, who (indeede _John_) is my indeered Sister and Friend, and the
most sanctimonius in life of them all; perceiving me to be troubled
and terrified by Spirits; taught me a wholesome and holy prayer, and
protested withall, that shee had often made experiment thereof, before
she became a Recluse, & found it (alwayes) a present helpe to her.
Yet never durst I adventure to essay it, living heere by my selfe all
alone: but honest _John_, seeing thou art heere with me, we will go
both together, and conjure this Spirit. _John_ replyed, that he was
very willing; and being both up, they went fayre and softly to the
doore, where _Frederigo_ stoode still without, and was growne somewhat
suspitious of his long attendance.
When they were come to the doore, _Monna Tessa_ said to _John_: Thou
must cough and spet, at such time as I shall bid thee. Well (quoth
_John_) I will not faile you. Immediately she beganne her prayer in
this manner.
_Spirit, that walkst thus in the night,
Poore Countrey people to affright:
Thou hast mistane thy marke and ayme,
The head stood right, but_ John _home came,
And therefore thou must packe away,
For I have nothing else to say:
But to my Garden get the gone,
Under the Peach-tree stands alone,
There shalt thou finde two Capons drest,
And Egges laide in mine owne Hennes nest,
Bread, and a Bottle of good wine,
All wrapt up in a cloath most fine.
Is not this good Goblins fare?
Packe and say you have your share;
Not doing harme to_ John _or me,
Who this night keepes me companie._
No sooner had she ended her devoute conjuring prayer, but she saide
to her husband: Now _John_, cough and spet: which _John_ accordingly
did. And _Frederigo_, being all this while without, hearing her witty
conjuration of a Spirit, which he himselfe was supposed to be, being
ridde of his former jealous suspition: in the middst of all his
melancholy, could very hardly refraine from laughing, the jest appeared
so pleasing to him: But when _John_ cought and spet, softly he said to
himselfe: When next thou spetst, spet out all thy teeth.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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