Finisce l’Ottava giornata del Decameron: incomincia la Nona, nella quale, sotto il reggimento d’, si ragiona ciascuno secondo che gli piace e di quello che piú gli aggrada.
[Author]La luce, il cui splendore la notte fugge, aveva già l’ottavo cielo d’azzurrino in color cilestro mutato tutto, e cominciavansi i fioretti per li prati a levar suso, quando levatasi fece le sue compagne e i giovani parimente chiamare; li quali venuti e appresso alli lenti passi della reina avviatisi, infino a un non guari al lontano se n’andarono, e per quello entrati, videro gli animali, sí come cavriuoli, cervi e altri, quasi sicuri da’ cacciatori per la soprastante pistolenzia, non altramenti aspettargli che se senza tema o dimestichi fossero divenuti. E ora a questo e ora a quell’altro appressandosi, quasi giugnere gli dovessero, faccendogli correre e saltare, per alcuno spazio sollazzo presero: ma già inalzando il sole, parve a tutti di ritornare.
Essi eran tutti di frondi di quercia inghirlandati, con le mani piene o d’erbe odorifere o di fiori; e chi scontrati gli avesse, niuna altra cosa avrebbe potuto dire se non: O costor non saranno dalla morte vinti o ella gli ucciderà lieti. Cosí adunque, piede innanzi piè venendosene, cantando e cianciando e motteggiando, pervennero al , dove ogni cosa ordinatamente disposta e li lor famigliari lieti e festeggianti trovarono. Quivi riposatisi alquanto, non prima a tavola andarono che sei canzonette piú liete l’una che l’altra, da’ giovani e dalle donne cantate furono. Appresso alle quali, data l’acqua alle mani, tutti secondo il piacere della gli mise il siniscalco a tavola, dove, le vivande venute, allegri tutti mangiarono: e da quello levati, al carolare e al sonare si dierono per alquanto spazio, e poi, comandandolo la reina, chi volle s’andò a riposare. Ma già l’ora usitata venuta, ciascuno nel luogo usato s’adunò a ragionare, dove la reina, a guardando, disse che principio desse alle novelle del presente giorno; la qual sorridendo cominciò in questa guisa.
Endeth here the eighth day of the Decameron, beginneth the ninth, in which, under the rule of Emilia, discourse is had, at the discretion of each, of such matters as most commend themselves to each in turn.
[Author]The luminary, before whose splendour the night takes wing, had already changed the eighth heaven from azure to the lighter blue, and in the meads the flowerets were beginning to lift their heads, when Emilia, being risen, roused her fair gossips, and, likewise, the young men. And so the queen leading the way at an easy pace, and the rest of the company following, they hied them to a copse at no great distance from the palace. Where, being entered, they saw the goats and stags and other wild creatures, as if witting that in this time of pestilence they had nought to fear from the hunter, stand awaiting them with no more sign of fear than if they had been tamed: and so, making now towards this, now towards the other of them as if to touch them, they diverted themselves for a while by making them skip and run. But, as soon as the sun was in the ascendant, by common consent they turned back, and whoso met them, garlanded as they were with oak-leaves, and carrying store of fragrant herbs or flowers in their hands might well have said: Either shall death not vanquish these, or they will meet it with a light heart. So, slowly wended they their way, now singing, now bandying quips and merry jests, to the palace, where they found all things in order meet, and their servants in blithe and merry cheer. A while they rested, nor went they to table until six ditties, each gayer than that which went before, had been sung by the young men and the ladies; which done, they washed their hands, and all by the queen’s command were ranged by the seneschal at the table; and, the viands being served, they cheerily took their meal: wherefrom being risen, they trod some measures to the accompaniment of music; and then, by the queen’s command, whoso would betook him to rest. However, the accustomed hour being come, they all gathered at the wonted spot for their discoursing, and the queen, bending her regard upon Filomena, bade her make a beginning of the day’s story-telling, which she with a smile did on this wise: