Page 26 - THE DECAMERON: 100 Days on 100 Etchings by Petru Rusu
P. 26
“Bergamino and Cangrande“
Cangrande della Scala, Lord of Verona, was usually a sure enough, they’re preparing a sumptuous breakfast.
generous prince in all things. But one year, he had an However, it was the practice not to set food on the table
attack of stinginess. He called together entertainers till the Abbot had entered the hall. When the Abbot walks
for a great party, but once everyone arrived he changed through the door, the first person he sees is Primas, who’s
his mind and sent them all away with almost nothing. dirty and ill-mannered. It turns him off completely and
One of these was Bergamino, a comedian, who received he goes back to his room. Primas decides to dig into his
nothing for his preparations from Cangrande. But he hung emergency rations while he waits for the Abbot’s temper to
around anyway, hoping that the prince would loosen his cool. Unfortunately, the Abbot’s serving men tell him that
purse strings and make it worth his while. Bergamino got Primas is chowing down on his own vittles in the dining
nothing for his patience except an enormous bill from the room. This makes the Abbot feel even angrier toward the
inn where he stayed. In the end, he had to barter three vagrant. But the Abbot has a sudden insight. He’s always
of his finest gowns to the innkeeper for his room. But been generous, even to people who didn’t deserve it. Why
he stayed on. Bergamino put himself directly in front of the sudden attack of miserliness? He finally thinks to ask
Cangrande so the prince could see how dejected he was who Primas is. When he finds out, he’s appalled. Primas
about not getting paid. Cangrande eventually took the bait the grammarian! So the Abbot returns to the hall and puts
and asked him what could possibly be wrong? Bergamino Primas in a place of honor. He also gives him lovely parting
responded with a relevant story about Primas, a renowned gifts and puts his residence at Primas’ disposal. When
grammarian, and a similar encounter he had with a Bergamino finishes the story, Cangrande gets it. He tells
notoriously generous Abbot of Cluny. Though Primas was Bergamino that, like the Abbot, he doesn’t know why he’s
a famous poet, he was poverty-stricken and learned that been so harsh with Bergamino. But he’ll make exactly the
he could get a good breakfast if he went to see the Abbot same amends to him as the Abbot had done with Primas.
of Cluny. But Primas wanted to make sure he didn’t starve In the end, Bergamino leaves with a lovely robe, money, a
on the journey in case he got lost. So he took three loaves horse, and access to Cangrande’s home for as long as he
of bread with him. When he arrives at the monastery, wants to stay.
“Bergamino and Cangrande” Retrieved from publicly source: shmoop
DECAMERON 26 <https://www.shmoop.com/study-guides/literature/decameron/summary/first-day-seventh-story>
