The Decameron of Giovanni BoccaccioAn hundred pleasant Novels - wittily discoursed, betweene seaven Honourable Ladies, and three Noble Gentlemen: The book is structured as a frame story containing 100 tales told by a group of seven young women and three young men sheltering in a secluded villa just outside Florence to escape the Black Death, which was afflicting the city. Boccaccio probably conceived the Decameron after the epidemic of 1348, and completed it by 1353. The various tales of love in The Decameron range from the erotic to the tragic. Tales of wit, practical jokes, and life lessons contribute to the mosaic. In addition to its literary value and widespread influence (for example on Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales), it provides a document of life at the time. Written in the vernacular of the Florentine language, it is considered a masterpiece of classical early Italian prose. |
Contents
THE SECOND STORY Abraham the Jew at the instigation of Jehannot | |
THE THIRD STORY Melchizedek the Jew with a story of three rings | |
THE FIFTH STORY The Marchioness of Monferrato with a dinner | |
THE SEVENTH STORY Bergamino with a story of Primasso and | |
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Common terms and phrases
abbot abide abode Accordingly Agilulf albeit Aldobrandino answered asked aught avouched awhile bagnio began behoved behoveth belike bethought betide betook Bologna Bruno Buffalmacco Calandrino cause chamber chanced Ciacco Cimon Cisti commended counsel damsel daughter dead DECAMERON desire discourse e'en enamoured fain fair fair lady fashion father favour fear fell Filostrato Florence friar Genoa gentleman Gisippus goeth goodly hath heard hearing himseemed honour husband incontinent king kinsfolk knew lady latter lord lover Lusca Lysimachus Madam maid marvelled meseemeth Messer Torello methinketh mind mistress never Nicostratus nigh night noble ladies nought otherwhat Pavia Pietro pleased pleasure presently Pyrrhus queen replied returned Ricciardo rouncey Saladin seneschal Sicily sore STORY Day Tedaldo tell thee thereof thine things thither thou art thou hast thyself told took unto usance weeping whenas whereas wherefore wherein whereto whilst wife wise woman women words young