Page 172 - THE DECAMERON: 100 Days on 100 Etchings by Petru Rusu
P. 172
“Calandrino and the Heliotrope“
Calandrino is a simple painter who’s a comedic character present itself. On the weekend, they head out to the river
in several stories that will follow. Calandrino’s friends and to go heliotrope hunting. Calandrino gathers up as many
friends of his friends take every opportunity to prey on black stones (the supposed color of heliotrope) as he can
his gullibility because it’s soooo fun. This time, Maso del and brings them back to his friends. And, of course, Bruno
Saggio, a noted prankster of Florence, decides to put one and Buffalmacco pretend that they can’t see their friend.
over on Calandrino. Maso and a friend enter the church Instead, they talk about how rude he was to have left
of San Giovanni where Calandrino’s admiring the artwork. them and then coincidentally pelt him with stones all the
Maso makes sure Calandrino can hear him when he talks way back to town. Before they’d set out on this adventure,
with his friend about the miraculous properties of certain Bruno and Buffalmacco had arranged it with the customs
stones. Calandrino takes the bait and asks him where guards outside the city not to challenge Calandrino when
such stones can be found. Maso describes the fabulous they came back from the river. So he passes without being
land of Cornucopia, where there’s a mountain made of noticed, or so he thinks. No one else in town speaks to him
grated Parmesan cheese. He also goes on about more (mostly because not many people are out yet). Calandrino
local “precious stones,” like the millstone. Maso’s having reaches his house and is greeted immediately by his
a great time at Calandrino’s expense. Finally, Calandrino wife Tessa, who’s upset because he missed his breakfast.
learns that the Mugnone River contains a special stone Thinking that she caused the magic stone to lose its power
called the heliotrope, which makes the person who holds women do that to magical things, apparently he beats
it “invisible when they’re out of sight.” Calandrino’s Tessa until she’s black and blue. Meanwhile, Bruno and
awestruck. He rushes off to find his friends Buffalmacco Buffalmacco arrive and berate him for hurting her, since
and Bruno, who are also painters and who love to have it’s probably his fault for not warning her of his plans
a laugh at his expense. When the two friends hear that beforehand. They say it’s his judgment for abandoning
Calandrino wants to go to the Mugnone, they realize that them at the river. So in the end, Calandrino’s left with a
an excellent opportunity to humiliate Calandrino is about to room full of useless black stones.
“Calandrino and the Heliotrope” retrieved from publicly source: shmoop
DECAMERON 172 <https://www.shmoop.com/study-guides/literature/decameron/summary/eighth-day-third-story>
