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THE DECAMERON
CONTAININGAn hundred pleasant Novels.
_Wittily discoursed, betweene seaven Honourable Ladies, and three NobleGentlemen._
London, printed byIsaac Jaggard,1620.
The Epistle Dedicatory.
TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE, SIR PHILLIP HERBERT, Knight of the Bath at theCoronation of our Soveraigne Lord King James, Lord Baron of Sherland,Earle of Montgomery, and Knight of the most Noble Order of the Garter,&c.
_The Philosopher Zeno (Right Honourable, and my most worthily esteemedLord) being demaunded on a time by what meanes a man might attaineto happinesse; made answere:_ By resorting to the dead, and havingfamiliar conversation with them. _Intimating thereby:_ The reading ofancient and moderne Histories, and endeavouring to learne such goodinstructions, as have bene observed in our Predecessors. _A Questionalso was mooved by great King_ Ptolomy, _to one of the learned wiseInterpreters. In what occasions a King should exercise himselfe,whereto thus hee replyed:_ To know those things which formerly have bindone: And to read Bookes of those matters which offer themselves dayly,or are fittest for our instant affaires. And lastly, in seeking thosethings whatsoever, that make for a Kingdomes preservation, and thecorrection of evill manners or examples.
_Upon these good and warrantable grounds (most Noble Lord) beside manymore of the same Nature, which I omit, to avoide prolixity, I dareboldly affirme, that such as are exercised in the reading of Histories,although they seeme to be but yong in yeares, and slenderly instructedin worldly matters: yet gravity and gray-headed age speaketh maturelyin them, to the no meane admiration of common and vulgar judgement.As contrariwise, such as are ignorant of things done and past, beforethemselves had any being: continue still in the estate of children,able to speake or behave themselves no otherwise; and, even within thebounds of their Native Countries (in respect of knowledge or manlycapacity) they are no more then well-seeming dumbe Images.
In due consideration of the precedent allegations, and uppon thecommand, as also most Noble encouragement of your Honour from time totime; this Volume of singular and exquisite Histories, varied intoso many and exact natures, appeareth in the worlds view, under yourNoble patronage and defence, to be safely sheelded from foule-mouthedslander and detraction, which is too easily throwne upon the very bestdeserving labours.
I know (most worthy Lord) that many of them have (long since) benepublished before, as stolne from the first originall Author, and yetnot beautified with his sweete stile and elocution of phrases, neitherfavouring of his singular morall applications. For, as it was his fullscope and ayme, by discovering all Vices in their ugly deformities, tomake their mortall enemies (the sacred Vertues) to shine the clearer,being set downe by them, and compared with them: so every true andupright judgement, in observing the course of these well-carriedNovels, shall plainly perceive, that there is no spare made of reproofein any degree whatsoever, where sin is embraced, and grace neglected;but the just deserving shame and punishment thereon inflicted, thatothers may be warned by their example. In imitation of witty_ ?sope;_who reciteth not a Fable, but graceth it with a judicious morallapplication; as many other worthy Writers have done the like.
For instance, let me heere insert one. A poore man, having a pikestaffe on his shoulder, and travailing thorow a Countrey Village, agreat Mastive Curre ran mainly at him, so that hardly he could defendhimselfe from him. At the length, it was his chance to kill the Dogge:for which, the Owner immediately apprehending him, and bringing himbefore the Judge, alledged, that he had slaine his servant, whichdefended his life, house, and goods, and therefore challengedsatisfaction. The Judge leaning more in favour to the Plaintiffe, asbeing his friend, neighbour, and familiar, then to the justice andequity of the cause; reprooved the poore fellow somewhat sharpely, andperemptorily commanded him, to make satisfaction, or else he wouldcommit him to prison. That were injustice replyed the poore man,because I kilde the dogge in defence of mine owne life, which deservethmuch better respect then a million of such Curres. Sirra, sirra, saidethe Judge, then you should have turned the other end of your staffe,and not the pike, so the dogges life had beene saved, and your owne inno danger. True Sir (quoth the fellow) if the dog would have turn'dhis taile, and bit mee with that, and not his teeth, then we both hadparted quietly.
I know your honour to be so truly judicious, that your selfe can makethe moral allusion, both in defence of my poore paines, and acceptationof the same into your protection: with most humble submission of myselfe, and all my uttermost endeavours, to bee alwayes ready at yourservice._