towards the new-made queen, had abated and she had taken
heart again, she seated herself somewhat higher than of wont and said,
"Since I am to be your queen, I will, departing not from the manner
holden of those who have foregone me and whose governance you have by
your obedience commended, make manifest to you in few words my
opinion, which, an it be approved by your counsel, we will ensue.
To-morrow, as you know, is Friday and the next day is Saturday, days
which, by reason of the viands that are used therein,[146] are
somewhat irksome to most folk, more by token that Friday, considering
that He who died for our life on that day suffered passion, is worthy
of reverence; wherefore I hold it a just thing and a seemly that, in
honour of the Divinity, we apply ourselves rather to orisons than to
story-telling. As for Saturday, it is the usance of ladies on that day
to wash their heads and do away all dust and all uncleanliness
befallen them for the labours of the past week; and many, likewise,
use, in reverence of the Virgin Mother of the Son of God, to fast and
rest from all manner of work in honour of the ensuing Sunday.
Wherefore, we being unable fully to ensue the order of living taken by
us, on like wise methinketh we were well to rest from story-telling on
that day also; after which, for that we shall then have sojourned here
four days, I hold it opportune, an we would give no occasion for
newcomers to intrude upon us, that we remove hence and get us gone
elsewhither; where I have already considered and provided. There when
we shall be assembled together on Sunday, after sleeping,--we having
to-day had leisure enough for discoursing at large,[147]--I have
bethought myself,--at once that you may have more time to consider and
because it will be yet goodlier that the license of our story-telling
be somewhat straitened and that we devise of one of the many fashions
of fortune,--that our discourse shall be OF SUCH AS HAVE, BY DINT OF
DILIGENCE,[148] ACQUIRED SOME MUCH DESIRED THING OR RECOVERED SOME
LOST GOOD. Whereupon let each think to tell somewhat that may be
useful or at least entertaining to the company, saving always Dioneo
his privilege." All commended the speech and disposition of the queen
and ordained that it should be as she had said. Then, calling for her
seneschal, she particularly instructed him where he should set the
tables that evening and after of what he should do during all the time
of her seignory;