The Decameron of Giovanni Boccaccio
own preservation, with their breeches on their heads. Again, such as
they are, these stories, like everything else, can both harm and
profit, according to the disposition of the listener. Who knoweth not
that wine, though, according to Cinciglione and Scolajo[485] and many
others, an excellent thing for people in health,[486] is hurtful unto
whoso hath the fever? Shall we say, then, because it harmeth the
fevered, that it is naught? Who knoweth not that fire is most useful,
nay, necessary to mortals? Shall we say, because it burneth houses and
villages and cities, that it is naught? Arms on like wise assure the
welfare of those who desire to live in peace and yet oftentimes slay
men, not of any malice of their own, but of the perversity of those
who use them wrongfully. Corrupt mind never understood word healthily,
and even as seemly words profit not depraved minds, so those which are
not altogether seemly avail not to contaminate the well-disposed, any
more than mire can sully the rays of the sun or earthly foulness the
beauties of the sky. What books, what words, what letters are holier,
worthier, more venerable than those of the Divine Scriptures? Yet many
there be, who, interpreting them perversely, have brought themselves
and others to perdition. Everything in itself is good unto somewhat
and ill used, may be in many things harmful; and so say I of my
stories. If any be minded to draw therefrom ill counsel or ill
practice, they will nowise forbid it him, if perchance they have it in
them or be strained and twisted into having it; and who so will have
profit and utility thereof, they will not deny it him, nor will they
be ever styled or accounted other than useful and seemly, if they be
read at those times and to those persons for which and for whom they
have been recounted. Whoso hath to say paternosters or to make tarts
and puddings for her spiritual director, let her leave them be; they
will not run after any to make her read them; albeit your she-saints
themselves now and again say and even do fine things.
[Footnote 484: _i.e._ of overmuch licence.]
[Footnote 485: Two noted wine-bidders of the time.]
[Footnote 486: Lit. living folk (_viventi_).]
There be some ladies also who will say that there are some stories
here, which had been better away. Granted; but I could not nor should
write aught save those actually related, wherefore those who told them
should have told them goodly and I would have written them goodly.
But, if folk will e'en pretend that I am both the inventor and writer
thereof (which I am not), I say that I should not take shame to myself
that they were not all alike goodly, for that there is no craftsman
living (barring God) who doth everything alike well and completely;
witness Charlemagne, who was the first maker of the Paladins, but knew
not to make so many thereof that he might avail to form an army of
them alone. In the multitude of things, needs must divers qualities
thereof be found. No field was ever so well tilled but therein or
nettles or thistles or somewhat of briers or other weeds might be
found mingled with the better herbs. Besides, having to speak to
simple lasses, such as you are for the most part, it had been folly to
go seeking and wearying myself to find very choice and exquisite
matters, and to use great pains to speak very measuredly. Algates,
whoso goeth reading among these, let him leave those which offend and
read those which divert. They all, not to lead any one into error,
bear branded upon the forefront that which they hold hidden within
their bosoms.
Again, I doubt not but there be those who will say that some of them
are overlong; to whom I say again that whoso hath overwhat to do doth
folly to read these stories, even though they were brief. And albeit a
great while is passed from the time when I began to write to this
present hour whenas I come to the end of my toils, it hath not
therefor escaped my memory that I proffered this my travail to idle
women and not to others, and unto whoso readeth to pass away the time,
nothing can be overlong, so but it do that for which he useth it.
Things brief are far better suited unto students, who study, not to
pass away, but usefully to employ time, than to you ladies, who have
on your hands all the time that you spend not in the pleasures of
love; more by token that, as none of you goeth to Athens or Bologna or
Paris to study, it behoveth to speak to you more at large than to
those who have had their wits whetted by study. Again, I doubt not a
jot but there be yet some of you who will say that the things
aforesaid are full of quips and cranks and quodlibets and that it ill
beseemeth a man of weight and gravity to have written thus. To these I
am bound to render and do render thanks, for that, moved by a virtuous
jealousy, they are so tender of my fame; but to their objection I
reply on this wise; I confess to being a man of weight and to have
been often weighed in my time, wherefore, speaking to those ladies who
have not weighed me, I declare that I am not heavy; nay, I am so light
that I abide like a nutgall in water, and considering that the
preachments made of friars, to rebuke men of their sins, are nowadays
for the most part seen full of quips and cranks and gibes, I conceived
that these latter would not sit amiss in my stories written to ease
women of melancholy. Algates, an they should laugh overmuch on that
account, the Lamentations of Jeremiah, the Passion of our Saviour and
the Complaint of Mary Magdalen will lightly avail to cure them
thereof.
Again, who can doubt but there will to boot be found some to say that
I have an ill tongue and a venomous, for that I have in sundry places
written the truth anent the friars? To those who shall say thus it
must be forgiven, since it is not credible that they are moved by
other than just cause, for that the friars are a good sort of folk,
who eschew unease for the love of God and who grind with a full head
of water and tell no tales, and but that they all savour somewhat of
the buck-goat, their commerce would be far more agreeable. Natheless,
I confess that the things of this world have no stability and are
still on the change, and so may it have befallen of my tongue, the
which, not to trust to mine own judgment, (which I eschew as most I
may in my affairs,) a she-neighbour of mine told me, not long since,
was the best and sweetest in the world; and in good sooth, were this
the case, there had been few of the foregoing stories to write. But,
for that those who say thus speak despitefully, I will have that which
hath been said suffice them for a reply; wherefore, leaving each of
you henceforth to say and believe as seemeth good to her, it is time
for me to make an end of words, humbly thanking Him who hath, after so
long a labour, brought us with His help to the desired end. And you,
charming ladies, abide you in peace with His favour, remembering you
of me, if perchance it profit any of you aught to have read these
stories.
HERE ENDETH THE BOOK CALLED DECAMERON
AND SURNAMED PRINCE GALAHALT