albeit they were short. Andthough, now that I approach the end of my labours, 'tis long since Ibegan to write, I am not, therefore, oblivious that 'twas to none butleisured ladies that I made proffer of my pains; nor can aught be long tohim that reads but to pass the time, so only he thereby accomplish hispurpose. Succinctness were rather to be desired by students, who are atpains not merely to pass, but usefully to employ, their time, than byyou, who have as much time at your disposal as you spend not in amorousdelights. Besides which, as none of you goes either to Athens, or toBologna, or to Paris to study, 'tis meet that what is meant for youshould be more diffuse than what is to be read by those whose minds havebeen refined by scholarly pursuits.
Nor make I any doubt but there are yet others who will say that the saidstories are too full of jests and merry conceits, and that it ill beseemsa man of weight and gravity to have written on such wise. To these I ambound to render, and do render, my thanks, for that, prompted bywell-meant zeal, they have so tender a regard to my reputation. But tothat, which they urge against me, I reply after this sort:--That I am ofweight I acknowledge, having been often weighed in my time; wherefore, inanswer to the fair that have not weighed me, I affirm that I am not ofgravity; on the contrary I am so light that I float on the surface of thewater; and considering that the sermons which the friars make, when theywould chide folk for their sins, are to-day, for the most part, full ofjests and merry conceits, and drolleries, I deemed that the like stuffwould not ill beseem my stories, written, as they were, to banish women'sdumps. However, if thereby they should laugh too much, they may bereadily cured thereof by the Lament of Jeremiah, the Passion of theSaviour, or the Complaint of the Magdalen.
And who shall question but that yet others there are who will say that Ihave an evil tongue and venomous, because here and there I tell the truthabout the friars? Now for them that so say there is forgiveness, for that'tis not to be believed but that they have just cause; seeing that thefriars are good folk, and eschew hardship for the love of God, and grindintermittently, and never blab; and, were they not all a triflemalodorous, intercourse with them would be much more agreeable.Nevertheless, I acknowledge that the things of this world have nostability, but are ever undergoing change; and this may have befallen mytongue, albeit, no great while ago, one of my fair neighbours--for inwhat pertains to myself I trust not my own judgment, but forgo it to thebest of my power--told me 'twas the goodliest and sweetest tongue in theworld; and in sooth, when this occurred, few of the said stories were yetto write; nor, for that those who so tax me do it despitefully, am Iminded to vouchsafe them any further answer.
So, then, be every lady at liberty to say and believe whatever she maythink fit: but 'tis now time for me to bring these remarks to a close,with humble thanks to Him, by whose help and guidance I, after so longtravail, have been brought to the desired goal. And may you, sweet myladies, rest ever in His grace and peace; and be not unmindful of me, if,peradventure, any of you may, in any measure, have been profited byreading these stories.
(1) Noted topers of the day.
--Endeth here the tenth and last day of the book called Decameron,otherwise Prince Galeotto.--
THE END.
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