How we cite our quotes: (Day.Story.Page)
Quote #1
Although he was an old man approaching seventy, and the natural warmth had almost entirely departed from his body, his heart was so noble that he was not averse to welcoming the flames of love [...] He was mightily attracted by the lady, and, no differently than if he had been in the prime of his youth, he felt those flames so keenly in his mature old breast, that he never seemed able to sleep at night, unless in the course of the day he had seen the fair lady's fine and delectable features. (I.10.64, Pampinea's tale of Master Alberto)
Boccaccio's making a strong pitch here for empathy with the elderly in love. Cut them a break, he says, they feel the same urges as a young person. This is an example of B's opinion that sexual feelings are natural and universal for a person of any age, including (and especially) himself.
Quote #2
'The fact is that I am unable, in my husband's absence, to withstand the promptings of the flesh and the powers of Love, which are so irresistible that even the strongest of men, not to mention frail women like myself, have often succumbed to them in the past and will always continue to do so. Living in the lap of luxury as I do, with nothing to occupy me, I have allowed my thoughts to dwell upon the pleasures of the senses, and fallen hopelessly in love.' (II.8.150, Elissa's story of the Walter, Count of Antwerp)
Two important things that Boccaccio would like us to know about human beings in love: 1) Even women have uncontrollable sexual feelings; and 2) Idleness really is the devil's playground.
Quote #3
'And I can tell you this, that if you had given as many holidays to the workers on your estates as you gave to the one whose job it was to tend my little field, you would never have harvested a single ear of corn. But, by the merciful will of God, who took pity on my youth, I chanced upon the man with whom I share this room [...]' (II.10.183-184, Dioneo's tale of Ricciardo and Paganino)
Tending my little field—a great example of Boccaccio's use of euphemism. Bartolomea's taking her husband to task here for not stepping up to do his husbandly duty. It's a pretty common metaphor to play on the idea of husband/husbandry and to speak of reproductive activities in terms of farming and earthy fertility. Several of the tales describe frustrated wives who are forced to seek out lovers because their husbands aren't providing for their sexual satisfaction either because they're too old, too busy, or just aren't interested. And this is usually described in the stories as a pretty legitimate reason for cheating. I mean, what else are they supposed to do, right?
Quote #4
'I have always been given to understand, ma'am...that whereas a single cock is quite sufficient for ten hens, ten men are hard put to satisfy one woman, and yet here I am with nine of them on my plate. I can't endure it any longer, not at any price, and as a matter of fact I've been on the go so much that I'm no longer capable of delivering the goods.' (III.1.198, Filostrato's story of Masetto da Lamporecchio and the nuns)
Some of the women in the tales are passive recipients of the sexual urges of the men in their lives. But here, Masetto gives us a different view: women, even nuns, are insatiable. The licentious behavior of the clergy is a favorite topic in The Decameron.
Quote #5
[...] the girl, ever ready to obey the call of duty and bring [the devil] under control, happened to develop a taste for the sport, and began to say to Rustico:
'I can certainly see what those worthy men in Gafsa meant when they said that serving God was so agreeable. I don't honestly recall ever having done anything that gave me so much pleasure and satisfaction as I get from putting the devil back in Hell.' (III.10.277, Dioneo's tale of Rustico and Alibech)
Alibech is the poster child for early sex education in schools. When Rustico shows her his "devil" and explains about her "Hell," Alibech becomes a religious zealot and Rustico gets more than he bargained for. It's a terrible joke, but also one of Boccaccio's more charming stories about innocent sexual curiosity that shows his flair for the double entendre. The message here is that even a naïve virgin, once introduced to sex, will love it.
Quote #6
'[...] I am made of flesh and blood like yourself. Moreover, I am still a young woman. And for both of these reasons, I am full of amorous longings, intensified beyond belief by my marriage, which enabled me to discover the marvelous joy that comes from their fulfillment. As I was incapable of resisting these forces, I made up my mind, being a woman in the prime of life, to follow the path along which they were leading, and I fell in love.' (IV.1.297)
Boccaccio's insight into the sexual life of women includes this gem here about women who have been widowed. Since they know what they're missing, Ghismonda says here, they want it even more. It's a good defense, but Daddy isn't buying it. This is another great example of B's insistence that sexual longings are natural and once fulfilled, impossible to resist. Unlike Dante and even Petrarch, Boccaccio showed acceptance, even affection, for women and their longings, rather than seeing them as seductive, evil creatures.
Quote #7
'With men it is different: they are born with a thousand other talents apart from this, and older men do a far better job than the younger ones, as a rule; but women exist for no other purpose than to do this and to bear children, which is why they are cherished and admired [...] And since this is the purpose for which we are born, I repeat that you are very well advised to pay your husband in his own coin, so that when you're an old woman your heart will have no cause for complaint against your flesh.' (V.10.434-35, Dioneo's tale of Pietro di Vinciolo)
The old bawd in this tale may not have a lot of couth, but she does have some bitter insight into the truth of a woman's life in the 14th century. It's an argument that Boccaccio makes in the opening of The Decameron: men have other things to take them into the world and distract them from their passions; women do not. They really only have two things (hint: sex and procreation) so they better enjoy it and use it to their advantage while they can.
Quote #8
'Moreover, because a young man will cover more miles in a single day, he seems to you a better rider. But whereas I admit that he will shake your skin-coat with greater vigour, the older man, being more experienced, has a better idea of where the fleas are lurking. Besides, a portion that is small, but delicately flavoured, is infinitely preferable to a larger one that has no taste at all. And a hard gallop will tire and weaken a man, however young, whilst a gentle trot, though it may bring him somewhat later to the inn, will at least ensure that he is still in good fettle on arrival.' (VIII.7.602, Pampinea's story of the Scholar and the Widow)
There's no real indication of how much older Rinieri is than this beautiful but ruthless Widow, but he's armed himself with arguments about how much better mature men are in bed. For instance—and speaking euphemistically—they know "where the fleas are lurking" (you know, an itch that needs scratching). Young men may have more sexual stamina, but this doesn't necessarily translate into satisfaction for the ladies.
Quote #9
Isabetta was then set at liberty, and she and the Abbess returned to their beds, the latter with the priest and the former with her lover. She thenceforth arranged for him to visit her at frequent intervals, undeterred by the envy of those of her fellow nuns without lovers, who consoled themselves in secret as best they could. (IX.2. 658, Elissa's story of Isabetta and the Abbess)
You're right in thinking that this is a peculiar kind of sleeping arrangement for a convent full of nuns. But then again, you're probably fairly familiar with Boccaccio's opinion about the purity of ecclesiastics. More interesting, however, is the reference in the last sentence. Yes, "nuns without lovers, who consoled themselves in secret" means what you think it means. Goodness gracious.
Quote #10
'I will grant you, however, that the things of this world have no stability, but are subject to constant change, and this may well have happened to my tongue. But not long ago, distrusting my own opinion (which in matters concerning myself I trust as little as possible), I was told by a lady, a neighbor of mine, that I had the finest and sweetest tongue in the world; and this, to tell the truth, was at a time when few of these tales remained to be written.' (Author's Epilogue, 802)
The "Author's Epilogue" appears to be a conciliatory endnote to a book filled with naughty stories, but don't be fooled. It's nothing of the sort. Boccaccio is gleefully and unapologetically bawdy even when he's supposedly defending himself from defamation of character. You can see that his neighbor-lady is not speaking of his words when she mentions his tongue. The author makes sure he gets the last word on the topic of sex.