Page 52 - THE DECAMERON: 100 Days on 100 Etchings by Petru Rusu
P. 52
“Bernabò and Ambrogiuolo“
A group of Italian merchants in Paris are having a great time at Bernabò is crushed! Here’s absolute proof that Zinevra had been
dinner, talking about the women they left behind in Italy. They naked with Ambrogiuolo. He pays up the wager and heads back to
all agree that they don’t know what their wives are doing when Genoa. And then the story gets all Snow White. Bernabò instructs
they’re out of town, but who cares? The merchants are certainly his servant to fetch his wife for him and kill her when he reaches
enjoying whatever pretty women come their way. But Bernabò a secret enough place. As the servant’s about to murder her, she
disagrees with them. His wife is golden. She’s even as good as a asks why. Basically, he’s afraid not to carry out his master’s orders
knight or a squire. He brags a lot about her accomplishments and but Zinevra convinces him that she can get him off the hook. She’ll
then adds that she’s virtuous and chaste. Ambrogiuolo, another disappear and he can claim that he’s killed her. So Zinevra dresses
merchant, laughs at all this. He gets into it with Bernabò and goes like a man and signs on as cabin-boy on a Catalan ship. She
on a long tear about men having stronger moral fiber than women. calls herself Sicurano. She winds up at the court of the Sultan in
How would it be possible for Bernabò’s wife to resist what all other Alexandria and carries out her duties so well that she becomes a
women cannot? Bernabò continues defending virtuous women trusted servant there. The Sultan sends her to Acre (now northern
and Ambrogiuolo insists that he’s missing the truth that’s right Israel) to oversee a trade fair. As she’s inspecting the goods, she
under his nose. Bernabò then puts his money where his mouth is. recognizes some items that belonged to her. Ambrogiuolo’s there
If Ambrogiuolo can turn his wife’s head, then Bernabò will give him and begins to brag about his “conquest.” Sicurano gets him to tell
1,000 florins. Ambrogiuolo ups the ante. He’ll do it in three months’ the whole story about his having sex with Zinevra. Sicurano has a
time - and wager 5,000 to his 1,000. He’ll prove he’s done the deed eureka moment. Now she understands Bernabò’s anger. And it’s
by bringing back her panties. Well, he’ll bring back some “intimate her turn for revenge. She lures Ambrogiuolo to Alexandria and also
possessions” of hers. Game on. Ambrogiulo makes a beeline gets Bernabò to make the journey. They’re both brought before the
for Genoa. He makes friends with a poor woman who’s close to Sultan, who forces Ambrogiuolo to tell the truth. Bernabò is also
Bernabò’s wife. In the end, he persuades her to have him carried forced to admit his wrongdoing in killing his innocent wife. Sicurano
into the house in a chest, which is then set at the foot of the lady’s goes for the big reveal, ripping open her shirt and showing her
bed. After the lady’s asleep, creepy Ambrogiuolo gets out of the breasts. The Sultan is surprised, but praises Zinevra for her good
chest and begins to procure those “intimate” tokens as proof. He character. Bernabò grovels at her feet and Zinevra takes him back.
also takes a peek at her naked body while she sleeps, and sees But Ambrogiuolo? He’s smeared with honey, tied to a pole and left
that she has a mole under her breast. Ambrogiuolo takes some in the sun to be eaten by bugs and suffocated by the heat. Harsh.
items from her bedroom and voila! He’s got enough information to The Sultan awards Zinevra all of Ambrogiuolo’s money and gives her
“prove” that he slept with her. He creeps back into the chest and tons of precious jewels and shiny things. Then he sends the happy
waits to be carried out again. Ambrogiuolo travels back to Paris couple home with great honors. Ambrogiuolo’s bones are left to
and describes the bedroom and Zinevra’s breast mole to Bernabò. bleach out in the sun for a long time, as a warning to deceivers.
“Bernabò and Ambrogiuolo” Retrieved from publicly source: shmoop
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