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
_Credulano_, being as credulous as his name imported, seemed ready
to swoune with sodaine conceit: Alas good wife (quoth he) how hapned
this? Sit downe sweet Husband said she, and I will tell you al. Our
child was sodainly taken with a swouning, wherein I being unskilful,
did verily suppose him to be dead, not knowing what to doe, or say.
By good hap, our Gossip _Reynard_ came in, and taking the childe up
in his armes, said to me. Gossip, this is nothing else but Wormes in
the bellie of the childe, which ascending to the heart, must needs
kill the child, without all question to the contrary. But be of good
comfort Gossip, and feare not, for I can charme them in such sort, that
they shall all die, and before I depart hence, you shall see your Son
as healthfull as ever. And because the manner of this charm is of such
nature, that it required prayer and exorcising in two places at once:
Nurse went up with his Holye Brother into our Pigeon loft, to exercise
their devotion there, while we did the like heere. For none but the
mother of the childe must bee present at such a mystery, nor any enter
to hinder the operation of the charme; which was the reason of making
fast the Chamber doore. You shall see Husband anon the Childe, which is
indifferently recovered in his armes, and if Nurse and his holy Brother
were returned from theyr meditations; he saith, that the charme would
then be fully effected: for the child beginneth to looke chearefull and
merry.
So deerely did _Credulano_ love the childe, that hee verily beleeved,
what his Wife had saide, never misdoubting any other treachery: and,
lifting up his eyes, with a vehement sigh, said. Wife, may not I goe in
and take the child into my armes? Oh no, not yet good husband (quoth
she) in any case, least you should overthrow all that is done. Stay but
a little while, I will go in againe, and if all bee well, then will I
call you. In went _Agnesia_ againe, making the doore fast after her,
the Fryar having heard all the passed speeches, by this time he was
fitted with his habite, and taking the childe in his armes, he said to
_Agnesia_. Gossip methought I heard your Husbands voice, is hee at your
Chamber doore? Yes Gossip _Reynard_ (quoth _Credulano_ without, while
_Agnesia_ opened the doore, and admitted him entrance) indeede it is
I. Come in Sir, I pray you, replyed the Friar, and heere receive your
childe of mee, who was in great danger, of your ever seeing him any
more alive. But you must take order, to make an Image of waxe, agreeing
with the stature of the childe, to be placed on the Altar before the
Image of S. _Frances_, by whose merites the childe is thus restored to
health.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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