Page 13 - THE DECAMERON: A Visionary Journey in 100 Stories and 100 Etchings by Petru Russu

in navigating its deep seas; so that, whereas it was used they will, may hear and see many things, may hawk, hunt,
to be grievous, now, all discomfort being done away, I find fish, ride, play, or traffic. By which means all are able to
that which remains to be delightful. But the cessation of compose their minds, either in whole or in part, and repair
the pain has not banished the memory of the kind offices the ravage wrought by the dumpish mood, at least for some
done me by those who shared by sympathy the burden of space of time; and shortly after, by one way or another,
my griefs; nor will it ever, I believe, pass from me except by either solace ensues, or the dumps become less grievous.
death. And as among the virtues gratitude is in my judgment Wherefore, in some measure to compensate the injustice of
most especially to be commended, and ingratitude in equal Fortune, which to those whose strength is least, as we see it
measure to be censured, therefore, that I show myself not to be in the delicate frames of ladies, has been most niggard
ungrateful, I have resolved, now that I may call myself free, of support, I, for the succor and diversion of such of them as
to endeavor, in return for what I have received, to afford, so love (for others may find sufficient solace in the needle and
far as in me lies, some solace, if not to those who succored the spindle and the reel), do intend to recount one hundred
me, and who, perhaps, by reason of their good sense or novels or fables or parables or stories, as we may please to
good fortune, need it not, at least to such as may be apt to call them, which were recounted in ten days by an honorable
receive it. company of seven ladies and three young men in the time of
the late mortal pestilence, as also some canzonets sung by
And though my support or comfort, so to say, may be of little the said ladies for their delectation. In these pleasant novels
avail to the needy, nevertheless it seems to me meet to offer will be found some passages of love rudely crossed, with
it most readily where the need is most apparent, because it other courses of events of which the issues are felicitous, in
will there be most serviceable and also most kindly received. times as well modern as ancient: from which stories the said
Who will deny that it should be given, for all that it may be ladies, who shall read them, may derive both pleasure from
worth, to gentle ladies much rather than to men? Within their the entertaining matters set forth therein, and also good
soft bosoms, betwixt fear and shame, they harbor secret fires counsel, in that they may learn what to shun, and likewise
of love, and how much strength concealment adds to those what to pursue. Which cannot, I believe, come to pass,
fires, they know who have proved it. Moreover, restrained by unless the dumps be banished by diversion of mind. And if
the will, the caprice, the commandment of fathers, mothers, it so happens (as God grant it may), let them give thanks to
brothers, and husbands, confined most part of their time Love, who, liberating me from his fetters, has given me the
within the narrow compass of their chambers, they live, so power to devote myself to their gratification.
to say, a life of vacant ease, and, yearning and renouncing in
the same moment, meditate divers matters which cannot all
be cheerful. If thereby a melancholy bred of amorous desire
makes entrance into their minds, it is likely to tarry there
to their sore distress, unless it be dispelled by a change of
ideas. Besides which, they have much less power to support
such a weight than men. For, when men are enamored, their
case is very different, as we may readily perceive. They, if
they are afflicted by a melancholy and heaviness of mood,
have many ways of relief and diversion; they may go where
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The Decameron