Page 100 - THE DECAMERON: A Visionary Journey in 100 Stories and 100 Etchings by Petru Russu

The Decameron toward Restagnone and his new lover. Resentful and driven by "Sister," he said, "my wife has advised that we quickly get you
her thoughts of vengeance, she sought means to carry out her
out of here, fearing the Duke's renewed anger and your potential
deadly intent. She met a local woman, an expert in poisons, and
re-arrest. I have a boat ready for you, and ensuring your safety
persuaded her with gifts and promises to prepare a deadly potion.
is all that we desire." Ninetta, not suspecting his intentions,
One day, when Restagnone's blood was overheated and
gratefully accepted her sister’s and his help and left with him
unsuspecting, Ninetta gave him a draught of this potion,
headed to the seashore with little money and boarded the boat,
pretending it was a health tonic. The next morning, Restagnone
was found dead in his bed. Folco, Hugnetto, and their wives, without saying goodbye to her other sister and her husband. They
unsure of where they were headed.
unaware of Ninetta's role and seeing her mourning, buried him
honorably. However, fate revealed the truth, it turned out the The disguised Duke, after waiting at Folco's door without being
local woman who provided the poison was arrested for another admitted, returned angrily to his court, vowing revenge on
crime and confessed under torture to delivering poison to Ninetta. Magdalena if she didn't explain herself. The next morning, when
The Duke of Candie, upon learning this, quietly arrested Ninetta Magdalena was found murdered and the news reached the Duke,
at Folco's house. She confessed under examination, revealing they searched for the culprit. Folco and Ninetta had fled, and
her motive for revenge against Restagnone. some, bearing grudges against Hugnetto, blamed him and his
wife for Magdalena's death. The Duke, easily convinced due to
Folco and Hugnetto, privately informed of the situation, tried to save his love for Magdalena, arrested Hugnetto and his wife.
Ninetta from death by fire, but the Duke was determined to follow
through with justice. Magdalena, knowing the Duke had previously They were shocked and dismayed by their imprisonment, being
pursued her, tried in vain to save her sister through honorable innocent of both the murder and Folco's escape with Ninetta.
means. The Duke, driven by his desire, promised Ninetta's life in However, under extreme torture, they confessed to being involved
exchange for her love. Magdalena, valuing her honor above all, in Magdalena’s murder. Despite their innocence, their confession
reluctantly let her sister face her fate but devised an ingenious led to a death sentence from the Duke. Before their execution,
plan to outsmart the Duke. Pretending to agree to his demand, she using hidden money, they bribed their guards and escaped by
made him promise to spare Ninetta, and once Ninetta was safe sea to Rhodes, where they lived in distress and misery.
at home, she would meet his desires. Urgently, the Duke altered
Ninetta's execution, secretly sending her to Folco's house in a sack Heaven's justice caught up with Folco and Ninetta, him for
in the dead of night and followed soon after to claim his reward. murdering his honest wife, and her for poisoning her husband.
After being battered on the seas by relentless storms and
Magdalena explained her virtuous plan to save her sister's life and denied landing at any port, they were forced back to Candie.
thwart the Duke's wicked desires to her husband. However, he Apprehended and brought before the Duke, they confessed their
was filled with jealousy and wrongly believed that the Duke had crimes and were burned at the stake together.
already dishonored Magdalena. His rage blinded his reason, and
he decided that poor Magdalena had to die. Despite her tears and Thus, Restagnone’s idle and careless love and the jealous rage
pleas, he killed her with his dagger and then rushed to Ninetta’s of Ninetta and Folco led to their downfall, ending their happiness
room, where he deceitfully spoke to her. in disaster.

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