| INTRODUCTION | 3 |
| THE BOOKE TO THE READER | 10 |
| DEDICATION | 15 |
| CHAPTER ONE: THE ARGUMENT | 17 |
| CHAPTER TWO | 27 |
| The First Question, Proposed by Philocpo. A young woman, asked
to show which of two lovers she loves the more, each of whom
claims to be the favoured one, places on the head of one her
own garland, and taking from the other that which he wears,
wears it herself. To which did she show the more favour. |
| CHAPTER THREE | 33 |
| The Second Question, proposed by Parmenio. A young
gentleman in love with a young maiden takes as a go-between an
old, wrinkled beggar-woman. She contrives to bring him to the
maiden but all are taken together by the brothers of the maid,
who condemn the young gentleman to stay both with their sister
and the old woman each for a year and to have converse
precisely alike with each. Only he may choose which he will take
first and which last. Then which should he have taken for the
first year? |
| CHAPTER FOUR | 42 |
| The Third Question, proposed by a young gentlewoman. To
which of three aspirants should a lady give her preference, to
him who excels in valour, or to him who is most courteous and
liberal, or to him who is wisest? |
| CHAPTER FIVE | 48 |
| The Fourth Question, proposed by Menedon. A story in which
the question has to be resolved which of three persons, the
husband, the lover or the magician has behaved most
generously. |
| CHAPTER SIX | 68 |
| 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. |
| CHAPTER SEVEN | 76 |
| The Sixth Question, proposed by a young gentlewoman. Two
maidens in love with the same youth wish to induce him to
choose between them. Agreed on this, one runs to him, embraces
and kisses him; the other cannot but remains apart all shy and
shameful. Which loved him better and more deserved his
love? |
| CHAPTER EIGHT | 83 |
| The Seventh Question, proposed by Caleone. Is love a good or
an evil? It is in this Question that Galeon, or, as the better
reading is, Caleon, in a charming ballad, explains the sense of
the name Fiammetta. |
| CHAPTER NINE | 94 |
| 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
parentage and riches, or her who is inferior to him in all these
things? Fiammeta, who answers this question by saying that
a young man should prefer her who is superior in birth and
station, was of course herself in this position in regard to
Boccaccio. |
| CHAPTER TEN | 99 |
| The Ninth Question, proposed by Feramonte, Duke of Montorio.
Which is it better that a young man should fall in love with,
a maiden, a married woman or a widow? |
| CHAPTER ELEVEN | 108 |
| The Tenth Question, Proposed by Ascaleone. A beautiful and
noble lady beloved of all but especially by two young knights,
is falsely accused and condemned to the fire. The judge however
in doubt leaves open a way of escape. If any knight could be
found who would fight in defence of her honour against the
first who should maintain the contrary and should overcome,
she should be free, but if he should be beaten, she should be
burned. The two lovers come forward and fight and one allows
himself to be vanquished for her sake. Which should she have
loved the better? |
| CHAPTER TWELVE | 112 |
| The Eleventh Question, proposed by a gentlewoman named
Graciosa. Which is the greater delight to the lover, to see his
mistress present, or not seeing her to think lovingly of
her? |
| CHAPTER THIRTEEN | 116 |
| The Twelfth Question, Proposed by Longano. Which is the
more unhappy, the lady who after having tasted love, loves her
lover, who must go into exile without hope of return; or she
to whom fate has never allowed to taste with a lover the joys
of love at all. |
| CHAPTER FOURTEEN | 122 |
| The Thirteenth Question, Proposed by Massaline. Which, in the
story told by Massaline, was the greater: the loyalty of the
lover or the good fortune of the husband who got again his lost
wife whom he thought dead and who had been brought out alive
from her tomb by her lover who touched her not, but restored
her to her husband? |
| CHAPTER FIFTEEN | 132 |
| Conclusion. |
