Page 150 - THE DECAMERON: 100 Days on 100 Etchings by Petru Rusu
P. 150
“Friar Rinaldo“
Rinaldo is a handsome young man of Siena who falls in the bedroom with Rinaldo (and Rinaldo’s friend is in the
love with his neighbor’s beautiful wife, Madonna Agnesa. attic with the maid). Agnesa does some quick thinking
Agnesa’s pregnant (Rinaldo’s not the baby daddy) and and tells Rinaldo to follow her lead as she opens the
Rinaldo offers his services as godfather to the child door to her husband. Rinaldo dresses himself and takes
so that he can get close to her. But despite his efforts, his godchild (yes, he was in the room with them) in his
Agnesa’s not interested. Rinaldo becomes a friar (reasons arms. Agnesa explains that Rinaldo has saved their child
unknown) and gives up his desires for a while. But not for from certain death. The boy, she says, had worms coming
long. Like all friars, says Elissa, Rinaldo becomes corrupt close to his heart and Rinaldo recited special prayers to
and full of desires. And Agnesa isn’t made of steel. She save him. His friend was in the attic saying prayers, too.
still has reservations about giving in to a man of the cloth The poor man’s so relieved that his son hadn’t died that
who also happens to be the godfather of her child (it’s he believes everything. He even gives Rinaldo and friend
considered taboo). Rinaldo brushes off her worries. Isn’t a celebratory meal, which Elissa says they needed after
the father of the child even more closely related to it? their “hard work.” Agnesa’s husband believes them so
Doesn’t Agnesa sleep with him anyway? So they hook completely that he even has a little wax statue made as
up and have a great time. But one day, Agnesa’s husband an offering to the local saint in thanksgiving for his son’s
comes home early and surprises her as she’s locked in return to health.
“Friar Rinaldo” retrieved from publicly source: shmoop
DECAMERON 150 <https://www.shmoop.com/study-guides/literature/decameron/summary/seventh-day-third-story>
