Conclusion
Conclusion
[Voice: author]
[001]
As the young ladies and the three young men finished their story-telling
the sun was westering and the heat of the day in great
measure abated.
[002]
Which their queen observing, debonairly thus she
spoke:
Now, dear gossips, my day of sovereignty draws to a close,
and nought remains for me to do but to give you a new queen, by
whom on the morrow our common life may be ordered as she may
deem best in a course of seemly pleasure; and though there seems to
be still some interval between day and night, yet, as whoso does not
in some degree anticipate the course of time, cannot well provide for
the future; and in order that what the new queen shall decide to be
meet for the morrow may be made ready beforehand, I decree that
from this time forth the days begin at this hour.
[003]
And so in reverent
submission to Him, in whom is the life of all beings, for our comfort
and solace we commit the governance of our realm for the morrow
into the hands of Queen Filomena, most discreet of damsels.
[004]
So saying she arose, took the laurel wreath from her brow, and with a
gesture of reverence set it on the brow of Filomena, whom she then,
and after her all the other ladies and the young men, saluted as
queen, doing her due and graceful homage.
[005]
Queen Filomena modestly blushed a little to find herself thus
invested with the sovereignty; but, being put on her mettle by
Pampinea's recent admonitions, she was minded not to seem awkward,
and soon recovered her composure. She then began by confirming
all the appointments made by Pampinea, and making all needful
arrangements for the following morning and evening, which they
were to pass where they then were. Whereupon she thus spoke:
[006]
Dearest gossips, though, thanks rather to Pampinea's courtesy than
to merit of mine, I am made queen of you all; yet I am not on
that account minded to have respect merely to my own judgment in
the governance of our life, but to unite your wisdom with mine; and
that you may understand what I think of doing, and by consequence
may be able to amplify or curtail it at your pleasure, I will in few
words make known to you my purpose.
[007]
The course observed by
Pampinea to-day, if I have judged aright, seems to be alike commendable
and delectable; wherefore, until by lapse of time, or for some
other cause, it grow tedious, I purpose not to alter it.
[008]
So when we
have arranged for what we have already taken in hand, we will go
hence and enjoy a short walk; at sundown we will sup in the cool;
and we will then sing a few songs and otherwise divert ourselves,
until it is time to go to sleep.
[009]
To-morrow we will rise in the cool
of the morning, and after enjoying another walk, each at his or her
sweet will, we will return, as to-day, and in due time break our fast,
dance, sleep, and having risen, will here resume our story-telling,
wherein, methinks, pleasure and profit unite in superabundant
measure.
[010]
True it is that Pampinea, by reason of her late election to
the sovereignty, neglected one matter, which I mean to introduce,
to wit, the circumscription of the topic of our story-telling, and its
preassignment, that each may be able to premeditate some apt story
bearing upon the theme; and seeing that from the beginning of the
world Fortune has made men the sport of divers accidents, and so it
will continue until the end, the theme, so please you, shall in each
case be the same;
[011]
[012]
The ladies and the young men alike commended the rule thus
laid down, and agreed to follow it. Dioneo, however, when the rest
had done speaking, said:
Madam, as all the rest have said, so say
I, briefly, that the rule prescribed by you is commendable and delectable;
but of your especial grace I crave a favour, which, I trust,
may be granted and continued to me, so long as our company shall
endure; which favour is this: that I be not bound by the assigned
theme if I am not so minded, but that I have leave to choose such
topic as best shall please me.
[013]
And lest any suppose that I crave this
grace as one that has not stories ready to hand, I am henceforth
content that mine be always the last.
[014]
The queen, knowing him to
be a merry and facetious fellow, and feeling sure that he only craved
this favour in order that, if the company were jaded, he might have
an opportunity to recreate them by some amusing story, gladly, with
the consent of the rest, granted his petition.
[015]
She then rose, and
attended by the rest sauntered towards a stream, which, issuing clear
as crystal from a neighbouring hill, precipitated itself into a valley
shaded by trees close set amid living rock and fresh green herbage.
Bare of foot and arm they entered the stream, and roving hither and
thither amused themselves in divers ways till
[016]
in due time they returned
to the palace, and gaily supped. Supper ended, the queen sent for
instruments of music, and bade Lauretta lead a dance, while Emilia
was to sing a song accompanied by Dioneo on the lute.
[017] Accordingly Lauretta led a dance, while Emilia with passion sang the following song:
[022] This ballade, to which all heartily responded, albeit its words furnished much matter of thought to some, was followed by some other dances, and part of the brief night being thus spent, the queen proclaimed the first day ended, and bade light the torches, that all might go to rest until the following morning; and so, seeking their several chambers, to rest they went.