Page 12 - THE DECAMERON: A Visionary Journey in 100 Stories and 100 Etchings by Petru Russu
P. 12
The Decameron
Here begins the book called It's human to have compassion on the afflicted; and as it
Decameron, also known as Prince shows well in all, it is especially demanded of those who
have needed comfort and found it in others. Among such
Galeotto, which contains one people, if any had ever needed it or found it precious or
hundred stories told in ten days by delightful, I may be numbered; seeing that from my early
seven ladies and three young men, youth even to the present, I was beyond measure aflame
along with one hundred aqua tinta- with a most aspiring and noble love, more perhaps than,
were I to enlarge upon it, would seem to accord with my
aqua forte interpretations by Petru lowly condition. By which, among people of discernment
to whose knowledge it had come, I had much praise and
Russu.
high esteem, but nevertheless extreme discomfort and
suffering, not indeed by reason of cruelty on the part of the
beloved lady, but through superabundant ardor engendered
in the soul by ill-bridled desire; which, as it allowed me
no reasonable period of rest, frequently occasioned me
inordinate distress. In this distress, so much relief was
afforded me by the delightful discourse of a friend and his
commendable consolations, that I entertain a very solid
conviction that to them I owe it that I am not dead. But, as it
pleased Him, who, being infinite, has assigned by immutable
law an end to all things mundane, my love, beyond all other
fervent, and neither to be broken nor bent by any force of
determination, or counsel of prudence, or fear of manifest
shame or ensuing danger, did nevertheless in course of time
abate of its own accord, in such wise that it has now left
nought of itself in my mind but that pleasure which it is
wont to afford to him who does not adventure too far out
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The Decameron
