How we cite our quotes: (Day.Story.Page)
Quote #1
Being filled with compassion for Alessandro's misfortunes, [the Abbot] began to console him in tones of deep affection, telling him not to lose hope; for if he kept his courage, God would not only restore him to the position from which he had been toppled by Fortune, but set him even higher. (II.3.86)
The story of Alessandro and the Abbot is a gender-identity bending version of friends with benefits. If you take a close look at the language here, you might guess that the Abbot's admiration is teetering on the threshold of erotic appraisal. Stay tuned.
Quote #2
On noticing that Messer Geri passed by his door every morning with the Pope's emissaries, it occurred to Cisti that since the season was very hot he might as well do them the kindness of offering them some of his delicious white wine. But, being sensible of the difference in rank between himself and Messer Geri, he considered it would be presumptuous of him to issue an invitation and resolved to arrange matters in such a way that Messer Geri would come of his own accord. (VI.2.449, Pampinea's story of Cisti the Baker)
Cisti may only be a baker, but he is a prince among men. He has a delicate enough understanding of social etiquette to know that friendship between himself and a gentleman must be approached with a certain kind of finesse.
Quote #3
Being in the habit, like other folk, of going to church and listening to sermons, they had frequently heard about the glory and the suffering that awaited the souls of the dead, each according to his merits, in the world to come. But since they wanted to find out for certain about these matters, and could think of no other way of doing it, they promised one another that whichever of them died first would return, if possible, to the one who was still alive, and give him all the information he wanted; and they sealed this compact with a solemn oath. (VII.10.544, Dioneo's story of Tingoccio and Meuccio)
Tingoccio and Meuccio may not be the best of friends—they're both in love with the same woman who's off-limits—but they take their oaths seriously. Boccaccio uses the folktale motif of afterlife reportage to comment on the gullibility of layfolk like these two friends.