The Decameron

Giovanni Boccaccio

Description

While the plague ravishes major cities, a group of Italian men and women seek shelter at a countryside estate telling stories to pass the time. Giovanni Boccaccio’s imaginative writing style elevates the multilayered novellas ranging from romance to satire.

Seven young women and three men have isolated themselves in a villa hoping to avoid the looming disease that’s consumed their nation. Every day, as a form of entertainment, each person tells a story to the group. It must fit a specific theme, keeping the concept fresh and inspired. The storytelling consists of romance and humor as well as death and deception. It’s a vibrant display of the author’s skill as he produces 100 captivating tales over the course of 10 days.

The Decameron is a timely interpretation of isolation in the midst of a global pandemic. It starts quaint but builds into a massive narrative that spans genres and themes. With surprising twists and turns, the book is an engaging text that will keep readers guessing.

With an eye-catching new cover, and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of The Decameron is both modern and readable.

Sujets

• Romans historiques
• Moyen-Age
• Frame story
• 14th century
• Italy
• Black Death
• My Last Duchess
• Classics
• Fiction
• Florence

Informations

• Publié par: Mint Editions
• Date de parution: 01 décembre 2020
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781513273549
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 1 Mo

Extrait

The Decameron
Giovanni Boccaccio
 
The Decameron was first published in 1886.
This edition published by Mint Editions 2020.
ISBN 9781513268545 | E-ISBN 9781513273549
Published by Mint Editions ®

minteditionbooks .com
Publishing Director: Jennifer Newens
Design & Production: Rachel Lopez Metzger
Translated by: John Payne
Typesetting: Westchester Publishing Services
 
C ONTENTS P ROEM D AY THE F IRST T HE F IRST S TORY . M ASTER C IAPPELLETTO DUPETH A HOLY FRIAR WITH A FALSE CONFESSION AND DIETH ; AND HAVING BEEN IN HIS LIFETIME THE WORST OF MEN , HE IS , AFTER HIS DEATH , REPUTED A SAINT AND CALLED S AINT C IAPPELLETTO T HE S ECOND S TORY . A BRAHAM THE J EW , AT THE INSTIGATION OF J EHANNOT DE C HEVIGNÉ , GOETH TO THE C OURT OF R OME AND SEEING THE DEPRAVITY OF THE CLERGY , RETURNETH TO P ARIS AND THERE BECOMETH A C HRISTIAN T HE T HIRD S TORY . M ELCHIZEDEK THE J EW , WITH A STORY OF THREE RINGS , ESCAPETH A PARLOUS SNARE SET FOR HIM BY S ALADIN T HE F OURTH S TORY . A MONK , HAVING FALLEN INTO A SIN DESERVING OF VERY GRIEVOUS PUNISHMENT , ADROITLY REPROACHING THE SAME FAULT TO HIS ABBOT , QUITTETH HIMSELF OF THE PENALTY T HE F IFTH S TORY . T HE M ARCHIONESS OF M ONFERRATO , WITH A DINNER OF HENS AND CERTAIN SPRIGHTLY WORDS , CURBETH THE EXTRAVAGANT PASSION OF THE K ING OF F RANCE T HE S IXTH S TORY . A N HONEST MAN , WITH A CHANCE PLEASANTRY , PUTTETH TO SHAME THE PERVERSE HYPOCRISY OF THE RELIGIOUS ORDERS T HE S EVENTH S TORY . B ERGAMINO , WITH A STORY OF P RIMASSO AND THE A BBOT OF C LUNY , COURTEOUSLY REBUKETH A FIT OF PARSIMONY NEWLY COME TO M ESSER C ANE DELLA S CALA T HE E IGHTH S TORY . G UGLIELMO B ORSIERE WITH SOME QUAINT WORDS REBUKETH THE NIGGARDLINESS OF M ESSER E RMINO DE ’ G RIMALDI T HE N INTH S TORY . T HE K ING OF C YPRUS , TOUCHED TO THE QUICK BY A G ASCON LADY , FROM A MEAN - SPIRITED PRINCE BECOMETH A MAN OF WORTH AND VALIANCE T HE T ENTH S TORY . M ASTER A LBERTO OF B OLOGNA CIVILLY PUTTETH A LADY TO THE BLUSH WHO THOUGHT TO HAVE SHAMED HIM OF BEING ENAMOURED OF HER D AY THE S ECOND T HE F IRST S TORY . M ARTELLINO FEIGNETH HIMSELF A CRIPPLE AND MAKETH BELIEVE TO WAX WHOLE UPON THE BODY OF S T . A RRIGO . H IS IMPOSTURE BEING DISCOVERED , HE IS BEATEN AND BEING AFTER TAKEN [ FOR A THIEF ,] GOETH IN PERIL OF BEING HANGED BY THE NECK , BUT ULTIMATELY ESCAPETH T HE S ECOND S TORY . R INALDO D ’A STI , HAVING BEEN ROBBED , MAKETH HIS WAY TO C ASTEL G UGLIELMO , WHERE HE IS HOSPITABLY ENTERTAINED BY A WIDOW LADY AND HAVING MADE GOOD HIS LOSS , RETURNETH TO HIS OWN HOUSE , SAFE AND SOUND T HE T HIRD S TORY . T HREE YOUNG MEN SQUANDER THEIR SUBSTANCE AND BECOME POOR ; BUT A NEPHEW OF THEIRS , RETURNING HOME IN DESPERATION , FALLETH IN WITH AN ABBOT AND FINDETH HIM TO BE THE KING ’ S DAUGHTER OF E NGLAND , WHO TAKETH HIM TO HUSBAND AND MAKETH GOOD ALL HIS UNCLES ’ LOSSES , RESTORING THEM TO GOOD ESTATE T HE F OURTH S TORY . L ANDOLFO R UFFOLO , GROWN POOR , TURNETH CORSAIR AND BEING TAKEN BY THE G ENOESE , IS WRECKED AT SEA , BUT SAVETH HIMSELF UPON A COFFER FULL OF JEWELS OF PRICE AND BEING ENTERTAINED IN C ORFU BY A WOMAN , RETURNETH HOME RICH T HE F IFTH S TORY . A NDREUCCIO OF P ERUGIA , COMING TO N APLES TO BUY HORSES , IS IN ONE NIGHT OVERTAKEN WITH THREE GRIEVOUS ACCIDENTS , BUT ESCAPETH THEM ALL AND RETURNETH HOME WITH A RUBY T HE S IXTH S TORY . M ADAM B ERITOLA , HAVING LOST HER TWO SONS , IS FOUND ON A DESERT ISLAND WITH TWO KIDS AND GOETH THENCE INTO L UNIGIANA , WHERE ONE OF HER SONS , TAKING SERVICE WITH THE LORD OF THE COUNTRY , LIETH WITH HIS DAUGHTER AND IS CAST INTO PRISON . S ICILY AFTER REBELLING AGAINST K ING C HARLES AND THE YOUTH BEING RECOGNIZED BY HIS MOTHER , HE ESPOUSETH HIS LORD ’ S DAUGHTER , AND HIS BROTHER BEING LIKEWISE FOUND , THEY ARE ALL THREE RESTORED TO HIGH ESTATE T HE S EVENTH S TORY . T HE S OLDAN OF B ABYLON SENDETH A DAUGHTER OF HIS TO BE MARRIED TO THE K ING OF A LGARVE , AND SHE , BY DIVERS CHANCES , IN THE SPACE OF FOUR YEARS COMETH TO THE HANDS OF NINE MEN IN VARIOUS PLACES . U LTIMATELY , BEING RESTORED TO HER FATHER FOR A MAID , SHE GOETH TO THE K ING OF A LGARVE TO WIFE , AS FIRST SHE DID T HE E IGHTH S TORY . T HE C OUNT OF A NTWERP , BEING FALSELY ACCUSED , GOETH INTO EXILE AND LEAVETH HIS TWO CHILDREN IN DIFFERENT PLACES IN E NGLAND , WHITHER , AFTER AWHILE , RETURNING IN DISGUISE AND FINDING THEM IN GOOD CASE , HE TAKETH SERVICE AS A HORSEBOY IN THE SERVICE OF THE K ING OF F RANCE AND BEING APPROVED INNOCENT , IS RESTORED TO HIS FORMER ESTATE T HE N INTH S TORY . B ERNABO OF G ENOA , DUPED BY A MBROGIUOLO , LOSETH HIS GOOD AND COMMANDETH THAT HIS INNOCENT WIFE BE PUT TO DEATH . S HE ESCAPETH AND SERVETH THE S OLDAN IN A MAN ’ S HABIT . H ERE SHE LIGHTETH UPON THE DECEIVER OF HER HUSBAND AND BRINGETH THE LATTER TO A LEXANDRIA , WHERE , HER TRADUCER BEING PUNISHED , SHE RESUMETH WOMAN ’ S APPAREL AND RETURNETH TO G ENOA WITH HER HUSBAND , RICH T HE T ENTH S TORY . P AGANINO OF M ONACO STEALETH AWAY THE WIFE OF M ESSER R ICCIARDO DI C HINZICA , WHO , LEARNING WHERE SHE IS , GOETH THITHER AND MAKING FRIENDS WITH P AGANINO , DEMANDETH HER AGAIN OF HIM . T HE LATTER CONCEDETH HER TO HIM , AN SHE WILL ; BUT SHE REFUSETH TO RETURN WITH HIM AND M ESSER R ICCIARDO DYING , SHE BECOMETH THE WIFE OF P AGANINO D AY THE T HIRD T HE F IRST S TORY . M ASETTO OF L AMPORECCHIO FEIGNETH HIMSELF DUMB AND BECOMETH GARDENER TO A CONVENT OF WOMEN , WHO ALL FLOCK TO LIE WITH HIM T HE S ECOND S TORY . A HORSEKEEPER LIETH WITH THE WIFE OF K ING A GILULF , WHO , BECOMING AWARE THEREOF , WITHOUT WORD SAID , FINDETH HIM OUT AND POLLETH HIM ; BUT THE POLLED MAN POLLETH ALL HIS FELLOWS ON LIKE WISE AND SO ESCAPETH ILL HAP T HE T HIRD S TORY . U NDER COLOUR OF CONFESSION AND OF EXCEEDING NICENESS OF CONSCIENCE , A LADY , BEING ENAMOURED OF A YOUNG MAN , BRINGETH A GRAVE FRIAR , WITHOUT HIS MISDOUBTING HIM THEREOF , TO AFFORD A MEANS OF GIVING ENTIRE EFFECT TO HER PLEASURE T HE F OURTH S TORY . D OM F ELICE TEACHETH F RA P UCCIO HOW HE MAY BECOME BEATIFIED BY PERFORMING A CERTAIN PENANCE OF HIS FASHION , WHICH THE OTHER DOTH , AND D OM F ELICE MEANWHILE LEADETH A MERRY LIFE OF IT WITH THE GOOD MAN ’ S WIFE T HE F IFTH S TORY . R ICCIARDO , SURNAMED I L Z IMA , GIVETH M ESSER F RANCESCO V ERGELLESI A PALFREY OF HIS AND HATH THEREFOR HIS LEAVE TO SPEAK WITH HIS WIFE . S HE KEEPING SILENCE , HE IN HER PERSON REPLIETH UNTO HIMSELF , AND THE EFFECT AFTER ENSUETH IN ACCORDANCE WITH HIS ANSWER T HE S IXTH S TORY . R ICCIARDO M INUTOLO , BEING ENAMOURED OF THE WIFE OF F ILIPPELLO F IGHINOLFI AND KNOWING HER JEALOUSY OF HER HUSBAND , CONTRIVETH , BY REPRESENTING THAT F ILIPPELLO WAS ON THE ENSUING DAY TO BE WITH HIS OWN WIFE IN A BAGNIO , TO BRING HER TO THE LATTER PLACE , WHERE , THINKING TO BE WITH HER HUSBAND , SHE FINDETH THAT SHE HATH ABIDDEN WITH R ICCIARDO T HE S EVENTH S TORY . T EDALDO E LISEI , HAVING FALLEN OUT WITH HIS MISTRESS , DEPARTETH F LORENCE AND RETURNING THITHER , AFTER AWHILE , IN A PILGRIM ’ S FAVOUR , SPEAKETH WITH THE LADY AND MAKETH HER COGNISANT OF HER ERROR ; AFTER WHICH HE DELIVERETH HER HUSBAND , WHO HAD BEEN CONVICTED OF MURDERING HIM , FROM DEATH AND RECONCILING HIM WITH HIS BRETHREN , THENCEFORWARD DISCREETLY ENJOYETH HIMSELF WITH HIS MISTRESS T HE E IGHTH S TORY . F ERONDO , HAVING SWALLOWED A CERTAIN POWDER , IS ENTOMBED FOR DEAD AND BEING TAKEN FORTH OF THE SEPULCHRE BY THE ABBOT , WHO ENJOYETH HIS WIFE THE WHILE , IS PUT IN PRISON AND GIVEN TO BELIEVE THAT HE IS IN PURGATORY ; AFTER WHICH , BEING RAISED UP AGAIN , HE REARETH FOR HIS OWN A CHILD BEGOTTEN OF THE ABBOT ON HIS WIFE T HE N INTH S TORY . G ILLETTE DE N ARBONNE RECOVERETH THE K ING OF F RANCE OF A FISTULA AND DEMANDETH FOR HER HUSBAND B ERTRAND DE R OUSSILLON , WHO MARRIETH HER AGAINST HIS WILL AND BETAKETH HIM FOR DESPITE TO F LORENCE , WHERE , HE PAYING COURT TO A YOUNG LADY , G ILLETTE , IN THE PERSON OF THE LATTER , LIETH WITH HIM AND HATH BY HIM TWO SONS ; WHEREFORE AFTER , HOLDING HER DEAR , HE ENTERTAINETH HER FOR HIS WIFE T HE T ENTH S TORY . A LIBECH , TURNING HERMIT , IS TAUGHT BY R USTICO , A MONK , TO PUT THE DEVIL IN HELL , AND BEING AFTER BROUGHT AWAY THENCE , BECOMETH N EERBALE HIS WIFE D AY THE F OURTH T HE F IRST S TORY . T ANCRED , P RINCE OF S ALERNO , SLAYETH HIS DAUGHTER ’ S LOVER AND SENDETH HER HIS HEART IN A BOWL OF GOLD ; WHEREUPON , POURING POISONED WATER OVER IT , SHE DRINKETH THEREOF AND DIETH T HE S ECOND S TORY . F RA A LBERTO GIVETH A LADY TO BELIEVE THAT THE ANGEL G ABRIEL IS ENAMOURED OF HER AND IN HIS SHAPE LIETH WITH HER SUNDRY TIMES ; AFTER WHICH , FOR FEAR OF HER KINSMEN , HE CASTETH HIMSELF FORTH OF HER WINDOW INTO THE CANAL AND TAKETH REFUGE IN THE HOUSE OF A POOR MAN , WHO ON THE MORROW CARRIETH HIM , IN THE GUISE OF A WILD MAN OF THE WOODS , TO THE P IAZZA , WHERE , BEING RECOGNIZED , HE IS TAKEN BY HIS BRETHREN AND PUT IN PRISON T HE T HIRD S TORY . T HREE YOUNG MEN LOVE THREE SISTERS AND FLEE WITH THEM INTO C RETE , WHERE THE ELDEST SISTER FOR JEALOUSY SLAYETH HER LOVER . T HE SECOND , YIELDING HERSELF TO THE D UKE OF C RETE , SAVETH HER SISTER FROM DEATH , WHEREUPON HER OWN LOVER SLAYETH HER AND FLEETH WITH THE ELDEST SISTER . M EANWHILE THE THIRD LOVER AND THE YOUNGEST SISTER ARE ACCUSED OF THE NEW MURDER AND BEING TAKEN , CONFESS IT ; THEN , FOR FEAR OF DEATH , THEY CORRUPT THEIR KEEPERS WITH MONEY AND FLEE TO R HODES , WHERE THEY DIE IN POVERTY T HE F OURTH S TORY . G ERBINO , AGAINST THE PLIGHTED FAITH OF HIS GRANDFATHER , K ING G UGLIELMO OF S ICILY , ATTACKETH A SHIP OF THE K ING OF T UNIS , TO CARRY OFF A DAUGHTER OF HIS , WHO BEING PUT TO DEATH OF THOSE ON BOARD , HE SLAYETH THESE LATTER AND IS AFTER HIMSELF BEHEADED T HE F IFTH S TORY . L ISABETTA ’ S BROTHERS SLAY HER LOVER , WHO APPEARETH TO HER IN A DREAM AND SHOWETH HER WHERE HE IS BURIED , WHEREUPON SHE PRIVILY DISINTERRETH HIS HEAD AND SETTETH IT IN A POT OF BASIL . T HEREOVER MAKING MOAN A GREAT WHILE EVERY DAY , HER BROTHERS TAKE IT FROM HER AND SHE FOR