THE SECOND BOOK OF BOCCACE HIS FIAMMETTA
WHILSTTHAT, O dearest Ladies, I spent my merry days in so pleasant and jocund a life, as is above written, never thinking of future chances, cruel fortune did secretly prepare her malicious poison for me, and with continual courage (myself not suspecting anything) did at an inch pursue my joyful life. And thinking that (in making me become a vassal to love, and in my chiefest time of joy and liberty), she was not well appaid, but perceiving how this my sweet servitude did yield me great delight, she endeavoured with a more stinging nettle to torment and prick my poor and silly soul. And her appointed time being now come, she tempered (as after you shall perceive) her bitter galls and wormwood for my unwilling and feeble stomach: which (maugre my teeth) compelling me to drink, turned my present mirth into sudden sadness, and my wonted laughter into woeful lamentations: which things not only enduring, but yet thinking it my duty in writing them, to show them to some others, I took such compassion of myself, that taking almost all my force from me, and bringing infinite tears to mine eyes, it did hardly permit me anything effectually to execute my purpose herein: which, albeit I may very ill do, yet will I forcibly go about to perform the same.
After that he and I (the weather falling out very cold and rainy) were in my Chamber together, reposing and solacing ourselves upon a sumptuous and sweet bed, and Lady Citherea wearied, nay almost overcome, the dark and silent night with her long tariance favourably granted to our pleasant and desired sports fit opportunity of time and place. And a great light hanging in the midst of the Chamber glutted his eyes and mine (viewing each other’s beauty) with exceeding joy: of which, while I recreated my mind in gazing and discoursing of his, mine eyes did drink a superfluous kind of sweetness, which making their lights inebriated (as it were) with the same, with deceitful sleep (I know not how) a little while oppressed, and my words (interrupted also in the midst) remained locked up close in their lids.
Which pleasant and sweet slumber, passing so mildly away from me, as it came, my ears by chance heard certain doleful mutterings and sorrowful bewailings uttered forth by my best beloved. Wherefore suddenly troubled in mind, and my thoughts, at war within themselves for his welfare, made me almost interrupt him with these words Sweet heart, what dost thou ail?” But countermanded by new counsel I kept them in, and with a sharp eye and subtle ears, secretly beholding him turned now on the other side of the bed, I listened a good while to his sorrowful and silent words, but mine ears did not apprehend any of them, albeit I might perceive him molested with great store of lamentable sobs and sighs, that he cast forth, and by seeing also his breast bedewed all with tears.
What words (alas) can sufficiently express with how many cares my poor soul all this while (being ignorant of the cause) was afflicted? A thousand thoughts in one moment did violently run up and down in my doubtful mind, meeting all at the last, and concluding in one thing, which was, that he, loving some other Woman, remained with me here, and in this sort against his will.
My words were very often at the brink of my mouth, to examine the cause of his grief, but doubting lest he lamenting in this sort, and being suddenly espied and interrupted of me, he might not be greatly abashed thereat, they retired back, and went down again: and oftentimes likewis
