The Decameron and Collected Works of Giovanni Boccaccio (Illustrated) Quotes

“here be said save that even in poor cottages there rain down divine spirits from heaven, like as in princely palaces there be those who were worthier to tend swine than to have lordship over men?”
― Giovanni Boccaccio, The Decameron and Collected Works of Giovanni Boccaccio (Illustrated)

“Charming ladies, as I doubt not you know, the understanding of mortals consisteth not only in having in memory things past and taking cognizance of things present; but in knowing, by means of the one and the other of these, to forecast things future is reputed by men of mark to consist the greatest wisdom. To-morrow, as you know, it will be fifteen days since we departed Florence, to take some diversion for the preservation of our health and of our lives, eschewing the woes and dolours and miseries which, since this pestilential season began, are continually to be seen about our city. This, to my judgment, we have well and honourably done; for that, an I have known to see aright, albeit merry stories and belike incentive to concupiscence have been told here and we have continually eaten and drunken well and danced and sung and made music, all things apt to incite weak minds to things less seemly, I have noted no act, no word, in fine nothing blameworthy, either on your part or on that of us men; nay, meseemeth I have seen and felt here a continual decency, an unbroken concord and a constant fraternal familiarity; the which, at once for your honour and service and for mine own, is, certes, most pleasing to me. Lest, however, for overlong usance aught should grow thereof that might issue in tediousness, and that none may avail to cavil at our overlong tarriance,”
― Giovanni Boccaccio, The Decameron and Collected Works of Giovanni Boccaccio (Illustrated)

“My story, gracious ladies, will not be of folk of so high a rank as those of whom Elisa has told us, but perchance ‘twill not be less touching. ’Tis brought to my mind by the recent mention of Messina, where the matter befell.”
― Giovanni Boccaccio, The Decameron and Collected Works of Giovanni Boccaccio (Illustrated)

“but I beseech you, as most I may, that you inflict not on her those pangs which you inflicted whilere on her who was sometime yours; for methinketh she might scarce avail to endure them, both because she is younger and because she hath been delicately reared, whereas the other had been in continual fatigues from a little child.”
― Giovanni Boccaccio, The Decameron and Collected Works of Giovanni Boccaccio (Illustrated)

“he took her to wife, she would still study to please him, nor take umbrage at aught that he should do or say, and if she would be obedient, and many other like things, to all of which she answered ay;”
― Giovanni Boccaccio, The Decameron and Collected Works of Giovanni Boccaccio (Illustrated)

“My friends, you constrain me unto that which I was altogether resolved never to do, considering how hard a thing it is to find a wife whose fashions sort well within one’s own humour and how great an abundance there is of the contrary sort and how dour a life is his who happeneth upon a woman not well suited unto him.”
― Giovanni Boccaccio, The Decameron and Collected Works of Giovanni Boccaccio (Illustrated)

“I purpose to relate to you of a marquess, not an act of magnificence, but a monstrous folly, which, albeit good ensued to him thereof in the end, I counsel not any to imitate, for it was a thousand pities that weal betided him thereof.”
― Giovanni Boccaccio, The Decameron and Collected Works of Giovanni Boccaccio (Illustrated)