But though the Decameron, a collection of one hundred stories, is a mirror of the humorous taste of that time, the stories are for the most part, long, dull and prosy.
They relate the intrigues of lovers in a freely licentious way, but both humorous description and witty repartee are consciously lacking.
One of the most amusing of the decent tales is here given, also a sonnet of Boccaccio’s translated by Rossetti.
OF THREE GIRLS AND THEIR TALK
By a clear well, within a little field
Full of green grass and flowers of every hue,
Sat three young girls, relating (as I knew)
Their loves. And each had twined a bough to shield
Her lovely face; and the green leaves did yield
The golden hair their shadow,—while the two