Page 106 - THE DECAMERON: A Visionary Journey in 100 Stories and 100 Etchings by Petru Russu

The Decameron The Podesta, preferring to confess his own actions rather than be accused The Fourth Day | The Seventh Novell
by the girl, began by praising her and her constancy. He admitted what
Storyteller: Emilia
he had done and ended by saying that he had fallen in love with her
because of her admirable firmness. Despite her marriage to a man of low
Fair Simonida, who loved Pasquino, was walking with him in a lovely
degree, he would gladly make her his wife if it was agreeable to her and
garden. Pasquino rubbed his teeth with a sage leaf and suddenly fell
her father, Messer Negro.
dead. Simonida was brought before the court and charged with his
While they spoke, Andreuola appeared, weeping, and threw herself at
kind of leaf and also died in the same way.
her father's feet. She said, "Father, I know I need not tell you the story of death. To prove her innocence, she rubbed her teeth with the same
my presumption and the calamity that has befallen me, for I am sure you
have heard it. I humbly ask your pardon for my fault, that without your
knowledge I took for my husband the one who pleased me best. I ask this
not to spare my life, but that I may die as your daughter and not as your
enemy." Weeping, she fell at his feet.

Messer Negro, an old man and naturally kind and affectionate, heard her
with tears. He raised her tenderly and said, "My daughter, I would have
preferred that you had a husband I deemed a match for you. If you had
taken one that pleased you, I too would have been pleased. But your
concealing your choice from me grieves me because of your distrust
and because you lost him before I knew him. But since it is so, let his
remains be honored as I would have gladly done for my son-in-law." He
then instructed his sons and kinsmen to arrange Gabriotto's obsequies
with all pomp and honor.

Meanwhile, Gabriotto's kinsmen and kinswomen, having heard the
news, gathered with almost all the people of the city. His body, resting on
Andreuola's cloth and covered with her roses, was laid out in the courtyard
and mourned by her, his family, and nearly all the women and many men
of the city. His remains were borne by some of the noblest citizens to the
tomb with great pomp.

Some days later, as the Podesta continued to press his suit, Messer Negro
would have discussed the matter with his daughter. But as she refused
to hear of it, and he deferred to her wishes, she and her maid entered a
religious house of great repute for sanctity, where they lived in high esteem
for a long time thereafter. 1985 HAND COLORED AQUA TINTA / AQUA FORTE
29,5X19,5 CM. | 11¾X7½ IN. (IMAGE SIZE).
102
The Decameron