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 why doe I trouble my selfe, in talking thus of our so lately
converted Friar, holy Father _Reynard_, when they of longer standing,
and reputed meerely for Saints in life, are rather much more vile
then hee? Such is the wretched condition of this world, that they
shame not (fat, soggie, and nastie Abbey-lubbers) to shew how full
fedde they live in their Cloysters, with cherry cheekes, and smooth
shining lookes, gay and gaudy garments, far from the least expression
of humility, not walking in the streets like Doves: but high-crested
like Cockes, with well cramd gorges. Nay, which is worse, if you did
but see their Chambers furnished with Gally-pots of Electuaries,
precious Unguents, Apothecary Boxes, filled with various Confections,
Conserves, excellent Perfumes, and other goodly Glasses of artificiall
Oyles and Waters: beside Rundlets and small Barrels full of Greeke
Wine, _Muscatella, Lachrime Christi,_ and other such like most precious
Wines, so that (to such as see them) they seeme not to bee Chambers
of Religious men; but rather Apothecaries Shoppes, or appertaining to
Druggists, Grocers, or Perfumers.
It is no disgrace to them to be Gowty; because when other men
know it not, they alledge, that strict fasting, feeding on grosse
meates (though never so little,) continuall studying, and such like
restraints from the bodies freer exercise, maketh them subject to
many infirmities. And yet, when any one of them chanceth to fall
sicke, the Physitian must minister no such counsell to them, as
Chastity, Abstinence from voluptuous meats, Discipline of the body,
or any of those matters appertaining to a modest religious life.
For, concerning the plaine, vulgar, and Plebeian people, these holy
Fathers are perswaded, that they know nothing really belonging to a
sanctimonious life; as long watching, praying, discipline and fasting,
which (in themselves) are not able, to make men look leane, wretched,
and pale. Because Saint _Dominicke_, Saint _Fraunces_, and divers
other holy Saints beside, observed the selfesame religious orders
and constitutions, as now their carefull successors do. Moreover, in
example of those fore-named Saints, who went wel cloathed, though
they had not three Garments for one, nor made of the finest Woollen
excellent cloath: but rather of the very coarsest of all other, and of
the common ordinary colour, to expell cold onely, but not to appear
brave or gallant, deceyving thereby infinite simple credulous soules,
whose purses (neverthelesse) are their best pay-masters.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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