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'I have read no more of Boccac[c]io than his description of the plague which is extremely powerful from the hesitation you seemed to have in allowing me to read him I felt inclined to return it immediately - but on reflection I thought it silly to deprive myself of the pleasure of reading a clever work because it contained some exceptionable passages which I might pass of[f] even if I found them disagreeable - so I shall go on - at least as long as I find it for my good- '
'Boccac[c]io I return! - I have read the introduction and three of the tales which I took by chance from different parts of the book - in the two first my choice was fortunate and I was inclined to think the work had been belied - the third was enough - I will never open the book again -'