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THE DECAMERON
by Boccaccio Giovanni
THE INDUCTION OF THE AUTHOR TO THE FOLLOWING DISCOURSES
Gracious Ladies； so often as I consider with my selfe； and observe
respectively； how naturally you are enclined to compassion； as many
times doe I acknowledge； that this present worke of mine； will （in
your judgement） appeare to have but a harsh and offensive beginning；
in regard of the mournfull remembrance it beareth at the verie
entrance of the last Pestilentiall mortality； universally hurtfull
to all that beheld it； or otherwise came to knowledge of it。 But for
all that； I desire it may not be so dreadfull to you； to hinder your
further proceeding in reading； as if none were to looke thereon； but
with sighes and teares。 For； I could rather wish； that so fearefull
a beginning； should seeme but as an high and steepy hil appeares to
them； that attempt to travell farre on foote； and ascending the same
with some difficulty； come afterward to walk upon a goodly even
plaine； which causeth the more contentment in them； because the
attayning thereto was hard and painfull。 For even as pleasures are cut
off by griefe and anguish； so sorrowes cease by joyes most sweete
and happie arriving。
After this briefe mollestation； briefe I say； because it is
contained within small compasse of Writing； immediately followeth
the most sweete and pleasant taste of pleasure； whereof （before） I
made promise to you。 Which （peradventure） could not bee expected by
such a beginning； if promise stood not thereunto engaged。 And
indeed； if I could well have conveyed you to the center of my
desire； by any other way； then so rude and rocky a passage as this is；
I would gladly have done it。 But because without this Narration； we
could not demonstrate the occasion how and wherefore the matters
hapned； which you shall reade in the ensuing Discourses： I must set
them downe （even as constrained thereto by meere necessity） in writing
after this manner。
The yeare of our blessed Saviours incarnation； 1348； that
memorable mortality happened in the excellent City； farre beyond all
the rest in Italy； which plague； by operation of the superiour bodies；
or rather for our enormous iniquities； by the just anger of God was
sent upon us mortals。 Some few yeeres before； it tooke beginning in
the Easterne partes； sweeping thence an innumerable quantity of living
soules： extending it selfe afterward from place to place Westward；
until it seized on the said City。 Where neither humane skill or
providence； could use any prevention； notwithstanding it was
cleansed of many annoyances； by diligent Officers thereto deputed：
besides prohibition of all sickly persons enterance； and all
possible provision dayly used for conservation of such as were in
health； with incessant prayers and supplications of devoute people；
for the asswaging of so dangerous a sicknesse。
About the beginning of the yeare； it also began in very strange
manner； as appeared by divers admirable effects； yet not as it had
done in the East Countries； where Lord or Lady being touched
therewith； manifest signes of inevitable death followed thereon； by
bleeding at the nose。 But here it began with yong children； male and
female； either under the armepits； or in the groine by certaine
swellings； in some to the bignesse of an Apple； in others like an
Egge； and so in divers greater or lesser； which （in their vulgar
Language） they termed to be a Botch or Byle。 In very short time after；
those two infected parts were growne mortiferous； and would disperse
abroad indifferently； to all parts of the body； whereupon； such was
the quality of the disease； to shew it selfe by blacke or blew
spottes； which would appeare on the armes of many； others on their
thighes； and every part else of the body： in some great and few； in
others small and thicke。
Now； as the Byle （at the beginning） was an assured signe of neere
approaching death； so prooved the spots likewise to such as had
them： for the curing of which sicknesse it seemed； that the Physitians
counsell； the vertue of Medicines； or any application else； could
not yeeld any remedy： but rather it plainely appeared； that either the
nature of the disease would not endure it； or ignorance in the
Physitians could not comprehend from whence the cause proceeded； and
so by consequent； no resolution was to be determined。 Moreover； beside
the number of such as were skilfull in Art； many more both women and
men； without ever having any knowledge in Physicke； became Physitians：
so that not onely few were healed； but （well…neere） all dyed； within
three dayes after the saide signes were seene； some sooner； and others
later； commonly without either Feaver； or any other accident。
And this pestilence was yet of farre greater power or violence； for；
not onely healthfull persons speaking to the sicke； comming to see
them； or ayring cloathes in kindnesse to comfort them； was an occasion
of ensuing death： but touching their garments； or any foode whereon
the sicke person fed； or any thing else used in his service； seemed to
transferre the disease from the sicke to the sound； in very rare and
miraculous manner。 Among which matter of marvell； let me tell you
one thing； which if the eyes of many （as well as mine owne） had not
seene； hardly could I be perswaded to write it； much lesse to
beleeve it； albeit a man of good credit should report it。 I say；
that the quality of this contagious pestilence was not onely of such
efficacy； in taking and catching it one of another； either men or
women： but it extended further； even in the apparent view of many；
that the cloathes； or anything else； wherein one died of that disease；
being toucht； or lyen on by any beast； farre from the kind or
quality of man； they did not onely contaminate and infect the said
beast； were it Dogge； Cat； or any other； but also it died very soone
after。
Mine owne eyes （as formerly I have said） among divers other； one day
had evident experience heereof： for some poore ragged cloathes of
linnen and wollen； torne from a wretched body dead of that disease；
and hurled in the open streete； two Swine going by； and （according
to their naturall inclination） seeking for foode on every dunghill；
tossed and tumbled the cloaths with their snouts； rubbing their
heads likewise upon them； and immediately； each turning twice or
thrice about； they both fell downe dead on the saide cloathes； as
being fully infected with the contagion of them： which accident； and
other the like； if not far greater； begat divers feares and
imaginations in them that beheld them； all tending to a most
inhumane and uncharitable end； namely； to flie thence from the
sicke； and touching any thing of theirs； by which meanes they
thought their health should be safely warranted。
Some there were； who considered with themselves； that living
soberly； with abstinence from all superfluity； it would be a
sufficient resistance against all hurtfull accidents。 So combining
themselves in a sociable manner； they lived as separatists from all
other company； being shut up in such houses； where no sicke body
should be neere them。 And there； for their more security； they used
delicate viands and excellent wines； avoiding luxurie； and refusing
speech to one another； not looking forth at the windowes； to heare
no cries of dying people； or see any coarses carried to buriall； but
having musicall instruments； lived there in all possible pleasure。
Others； were of a contrary opinion； who avouched； that there was no
other physicke more certaine； for a disease so desperate； then to
drinke hard； be merry among themselves； singing continually； walking
every where； and satisfying their appetites with whatsoever they
desired； laughing； and mocking at every mournefull accident； and so
they vowed to spend day and night： for now they would goe to one
Taverne； then to another； living without any rule or measure； which
they might very easily doe； because every one of them； （as if he
were to live no longer in this World） had even forsaken all things
that hee had。 By meanes whereof； the most part of the houses were
become common； and all strangers； might do the like （if they pleased
to adventure it） even as boldly as the Lord or owner； without any
let or contradiction。
Yet in all this their beastly behaviour； they were wise enough； to
shun （so much as they might） the weake and sickly： In misery and
affliction of our City； the venerable authority of the Lawes； as
well divine as humane； was even destroyed； as it were； through want of
the lawfull Ministers of them。 For they being all dead； or lying sicke
with the rest； or else lived so solitary； in such great necessity of
servants and attendants； as they could not execute any office； whereby
it was lawfull for every one to do as he listed。
Betweene these two rehearsed extremities of life； there wer