Page 152 - A Homage to Giovanni Boccaccio by Petru Rusu
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Peronella: The Lover in the Barre
This novella humorously recounts the resourceful actions
of Peronella, who outsmarts her suspicious husband while
maintaining her secret affair. Themes of wit, deception, and quick
thinking shine in this tale.
Peronella, a clever and charming woman, enjoys the company
of a lover while her husband is away. One day, her husband
unexpectedly returns home while her lover is visiting. Thinking
quickly, Peronella hides her lover inside a large tun (a barrel used
for storage).
Unaware of the situation, the husband declares his intention to sell
the tun to a potential buyer. Peronella, ever resourceful, claims
she has already sold it to a man who is currently inside inspecting
its condition. She convinces her husband to wait until the “buyer”
emerges.
Her lover, playing along with the ruse, jumps out of the tun and
declares it needs cleaning before he can finalize the purchase. The
husband, still oblivious, dutifully scours the tun himself and then
carries it to the lover’s house, believing he is helping complete the
sale.
This witty story celebrates Peronella’s quick wit and ingenuity,
leaving readers amused at the husband’s gullibility and the lover’s
complicity in the charade.
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