# Day the Third Introduction explained — The Decameron

> Chapter companion for The Decameron by Giovanni Boccaccio.

## What happens

Under the governance of Neifile, the company travels to a magnificent palace and garden, where they marvel at its beauty and prepare to tell stories about those who have achieved or recovered something through diligence.

## Themes in this chapter

### The Power of Storytelling

The introduction sets the stage for the day's tales, emphasizing storytelling as a structured, communal activity that provides solace and entertainment.

### Fortune and Fate

The theme of the day—achieving or recovering something through diligence—implies a struggle against fortune, a recurring motif in the Decameron.

## Character check-ins

### Neifile

Serves as queen for the third day, leading the company to the palace and setting the theme for storytelling.

### Filostrato

Chosen by Neifile to tell the first story of the day.

### Pampinea

Part of the company enjoying the garden and palace.

### Dioneo

Among the young men accompanying the ladies.

### Lauretta

One of the ladies in the company.

### Fiammetta

Present in the company during the day's events.

## Key lines

> The dawn from vermeil began to grow orange-tawny, at the approach of the sun, when on the Sunday the queen arose and caused all her company rise also.

At sunrise on Sunday, the queen got up and had everyone else get up too.

_Describes the start of the day's journey._

> The sight of this garden and its fair ordinance and the plants and the fountain, with the rivulets proceeding therefrom, so pleased the ladies and the three young men that they all of one accord avouched that, an Paradise might be created upon earth, they could not avail to conceive what form, other than that of this garden, might be given it nor what farther beauty might possibly be added thereunto.

The garden was so beautiful that the group agreed it was the closest thing to paradise on earth.

_Highlights the idealized beauty of the garden._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/day-the-third-introduction
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_decameron_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters