topics: |  fiction-short | italian | classic | erotica

A modernization of a 1587 translation of 13 chapters of Filocolo, one of
Boccaccio's longer works.
The translator, marked in the original merely as H.G., is most likely
Humphrey Gifford.
The fables are well ahead of Aesop's simplistic moralism; each tale can be
interpreted in two ways, although the "queen"'s analysis has the last word.

The ribald illustrations do little to enhance the rather interesting dilemmas
posed in the text.

The story is about a group of young noblemen who find themselves in a new
city after a storm. They fall together with a group of young women.  A young
woman, Fiammetta, is chosen "The Queen of Love" (Ch.1, The
Argument).  Nine men and four women each tell an amorous tale and pose a
question
about love. The group proposes answers ; the queen is the final arbiter - but
there is no right or wrong.

The first question, proposed by Philocopo: A young woman, asked to show which
of two lovers she values the more, places on the head of one her own leaf
garland, and taking from the other that which he wears, wears it herself.  To
which did she show the greater favour?

The queen suggests that it was the person on whose head the garland was
given.  Philocopo says he had thought otherwise, for lovers cherish that
which has been given by a beloved: "Paris seldom times or never entered
into the bloody battles against the Greeks without bearing some token that
had been given by Helen".  She argues that this story, involving pillage,
does not illustrate the point.  "How can you shew me that we love him whom
we despoil better than him to whom we give?"

The second question, proposed by Parmenio: A lover arranges to meet his
beloved through a go-between, an old, wrinkled beggar-woman.  The brothers of
the woman catches them all, and sentences him thus: He is to take a year and
converse precisely alike with each of the maid and the old woman.  i.e.  "as
many times as you shall kiss or have to do with her, as many times shall you
kiss and have to do with the old woman" in the other year.  Which should he
choose for the first year?

The queen says he should choose the young woman, for "present good ought not
to be left for the future".  Parmenio argues otherwise: "God forbid then that
a man should covet rest before travel, or reward before the doing his service
or delight before he has tasted tribulation."  The queen answers that the
wheel of fortune is full of ups and downs, and "who is certain that after the
evil may not follow the worst, as well as the better that is tarried for?"
So it would be better to choose immediately, what fortune one gets.

The third question, proposed by a young gentlewoman (Ch.4): To which of three
aspirants should a young lady give her preference, to the man of valour, or
to him who is most courtous and liberal, or to the wisest?

The queen suggests that "love and honour are with discretion a long time to
be kept, the which are maintained neither by force nor courtesy, but only by
wisdom, we say that both you and every other woman ought rather to give her
love to a wise man than any of the rest."  The woman counters by saying that
no foresight can resist the force of love, citing the myths of Byblis who
loved her brother, of Leander who drowned in the Hellespont, and of Pasiphae
who made love to a bull.  Love has the "power to take knowledge from the
learned, taking away the wit from the wise, they shall have nothing left. But
if from the strong and courteous it shall take away the little wit they have,
it shall yet increase them in their virtues, and so they shall become more
than the wise enamoured."  The queen feels that the wise will know enough to
"bridle their will" and thereby keep their wits around them.

Ch.5: The fourth question, proposed by Menedon
Ch.6: The fifth question, proposed by Clonico: Which is the more unhappy, a
lover who cannot obtain the favour of his mistress, or he who having obtained
it has reason for jealousy?

The sixth question, proposed by a young gentlewoman:  Two women love the same
youth, and wish to induce him to choose between them.  One runs to him and
embraces and kisses him.  The other is shy and remapins apart.  Which loved
him better and more deserves his love?

The seventh question, proposed by Galeon: Fiammetta's name is analyzed in
this tale.

The eighth question, proposed by a young gentlewoman named Paola: Of two
women whom he likes equally, ought a young man to prefer her who is superior
to him by noble birth and percentage and riches, or her who is inferior to
him in all these things? Fiammetta: she who is superior.

The ninth question, proposed by Feramont Duke of Montorio: Should a young man
fall in love with a maiden, a married woman, or a widow?

The tenth question, proposed by Ascaleon: A beautiful, noble lady, beloved by
two knights, is falsely accused and condemned to the fire.  But if a
knight supporting her were to fight another denouncing her, then

The eleventh question, proposed by a gentlewoman named Grace
The twelfth question, proposed by Longano
The thirteenth question, proposed by Massaline
Conclusion