Conclusion
Conclusion
[Voice: author]
[001]
What laughter this story drew from the ladies, who understood it
better than Dioneo had wished, may be left to the imagination of
the fair one that now laughs thereat.
[002]
However, as the stories were
ended, and the sun now shone with a tempered radiance, the queen,
witting that the end of her sovereignty was come, stood up and took
off the crown, and set it on the head of Pamfilo, whom alone it now
remained thus to honour; and said with a smile:
My lord, 'tis
a great burden that falls upon thee, seeing that thou, coming last, art
bound to make good my shortcomings and those of my predecessors;
which God give thee grace to accomplish, even as He has given me
grace to make thee king.
[003]
With gladsome acknowledgment of the
honour:
I doubt not,
replied Pamfilo,
that, thanks to your
noble qualities and those of my other subjects, I shall win even such
praise as those that have borne sway before me.
Then, following
the example of his predecessors, he made all meet arrangements in
concert with the seneschal: after which, he turned to the expectant
ladies, and thus spoke:
[004]
Enamoured my ladies, Emilia, our queen
of to-day, deeming it proper to allow you an interval of rest to recruit
your powers, gave you license to discourse of such matters as should
most commend themselves to each in turn; and as thereby you are
now rested, I judge that 'tis meet to revert to our accustomed rule.
Wherefore I ordain that for to-morrow you do each of you take
thought how you may discourse of the ensuing theme: to wit, of
such as in matters of love, or otherwise, have done something with
liberality or magnificence.
[005]
By the telling, and (still more) by the
doing of such things, your spirits will assuredly be duly attuned and
animated
to emprise high and noble; whereby our life, which cannot
but be brief, seeing that 'tis enshrined in a mortal body, fame
shall perpetuate in glory; which whoso serves not the belly, as do the
beasts, must not only covet, but with all zeal seek after and labour to
attain.
[006] The gay company having, one and all, approved the theme, rose at a word from their new king, and betook them to their wonted pastimes, and so, according as they severally had most lief, diverted them, [007] until they blithely reunited for supper, which being served with all due care and despatched, they rose up to dance, as they were wont, and when they had sung, perhaps, a thousand ditties, fitter to please by their words than by any excellence of musical art, the king bade Neifile sing one on her own account. And promptly and graciously, with voice clear and blithe, thus Neifile sang:
Lest I faint,I cry,
come, I entreat.
[013] The king and all the ladies did not a little commend Neifile's song; after which, as the night was far spent, the king bade all go to rest until the morrow.