The Decameron, Giovanni Boccaccio [top ten books of all time .TXT] 📗
- Author: Giovanni Boccaccio
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Things being at this pass, it befell that Tingoccio, having more leisure of discovering his every desire to the lady, contrived with acts and words so to do that he had his will of her, of which Meuccio soon became aware and albeit it sore misliked him, yet, hoping some time or other to compass his desire, he feigned ignorance thereof, so Tingoccio might not have cause or occasion to do him an ill turn or hinder him in any of his affairs. The two friends loving thus, the one more happily than the other, it befell that Tingoccio, finding the soil of his gossip’s demesne soft and eath to till, so delved and laboured there that there overcame him thereof a malady, which after some days waxed so heavy upon him that, being unable to brook it, he departed this life. The third day after his death (for that belike he had not before been able) he came by night, according to the promise made, into Meuccio’s chamber and called the latter, who slept fast. Meuccio awoke and said, ‘Who art thou?’ Whereto he answered, ‘I am Tingoccio, who, according to the promise which I made thee, am come back to thee to give thee news of the other world.’
Meuccio was somewhat affrighted at seeing him; nevertheless, taking heart, ‘Thou art welcome, brother mine,’ quoth he, and presently asked him if he were lost. ‘Things are lost that are not to be found,’ replied Tingoccio; ‘and how should I be here, if I were lost?’ ‘Alack,’ cried Meuccio, ‘I say not so; nay, I ask thee if thou art among the damned souls in the avenging fire of hell.’ Whereto quoth Tingoccio, ‘As for that, no; but I am, notwithstanding, in very grievous and anguishful torment for the sins committed by me.’ Meuccio then particularly enquired of him what punishments were awarded in the other world for each of the sins that folk use to commit here below, and he told him them all. After this Meuccio asked if there were aught he might do for him in this world, whereto Tingoccio replied that there was, to wit, that he should let say for him masses and orisons and do alms in his name, for that these things were mightily profitable to those who abode yonder. Meuccio said that he would well and Tingoccio offering to take leave of him, he remembered himself of the latter’s amour with his gossip and raising his head, said, ‘Now that I bethink me, Tingoccio, what punishment is given thee over yonder anent thy gossip, with whom thou layest, whenas thou wast here below?’ ‘Brother mine,’ answered Tingoccio, ‘whenas I came yonder, there was one who it seemed knew all my sins by heart and bade me betake myself to a certain place, where I bemoaned my offences in exceeding sore punishment and where I found many companions condemned to the same penance as myself. Being among them and remembering me of that which I had done whilere with my gossip, I looked for a much sorer punishment on account thereof than that which had presently been given me and went all shivering for fear, albeit I was in a great fire and an exceeding hot; which one who was by my side perceiving, he said to me, “What aileth thee more than all the others who are here that thou shiverest, being in the fire?” “Marry,” said I, “my friend, I am sore in fear of the sentence I expect for a grievous sin I wrought aforetime.” The other asked me what sin this was, and I answered, “It was that I lay with a gossip of mine, and that with such a vengeance that it cost me my life”; whereupon quoth he, making merry over my fear, “Go to, fool; have no fear. Here is no manner of account taken of gossips.” Which when I heard, I was altogether reassured.’ This said and the day drawing near, ‘Meuccio,’ quoth he, ‘abide with God, for I may no longer be with thee,’ and was suddenly gone. Meuccio, hearing that no account was taken of gossips in the world to come, began to make mock of his own simplicity, for that whiles he had
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