Page 113 - THE DECAMERON: A Visionary Journey in 100 Stories and 100 Etchings by Petru Russu

protesting that nothing in his house could be left alone. The lady, already the Stadic. Seeing her lusty and mettlesome, the Stadic was inclined to
annoyed, lost her temper and said, "What would you say, Master, of an grapple her with the hook, to which she was not averse, knowing it would
important matter, when you raise such a din because a bottle of water has secure her a better hearing. After the operation, she told the Stadic the
been upset? Is there never another to be found in the world?" The leech whole story, explaining how Ruggieri came into the usurers' house. The
replied, "Madam, you take this to be mere water. It was no such thing, Stadic, finding the story plausible, questioned the leech, the carpenter, the
but an artificial water of soporific virtue," and he explained its purpose. chest's owner, and the usurers. He confirmed that the usurers had stolen
The lady, guessing that Ruggieri had drunk it and seemed dead to them, the chest and brought it into their house. Finally, he sent for Ruggieri,
said, "Master, we knew it not; make another." The leech, seeing no help who confirmed he had gone to the maid's room, drunk some water, and
for it, had another made. awoke in the chest in the usurers' house.

Not long after, the maid, who had gone to find out what people said The Stadic, seeing Ruggieri was innocent, released him and fined the
of Ruggieri, returned, saying, "Madam, they speak nothing but evil of usurers for the theft of the chest. Ruggieri and his lady were overjoyed, and
Ruggieri, and he has no friend or kinsman to aid him. It is certain that the they often laughed and made merry over the affair, remaining constant in
Stadic will have him hanged tomorrow. Besides, I have discovered how their love and finding ever better solace in each other. May such fortune
he came into the usurers' house. The carpenter, in front of whose shop befall me, sans the being put in the chest.
stood the chest we put Ruggieri into, had a violent altercation with the
chest's owner. The owner claimed the carpenter sold it to the two young The gentle ladies, heartsore from the preceding stories, found great
usurers, who told him so last night when he saw it in their house at the merriment in Dioneo's tale, especially the part about the Stadic and the
time Ruggieri was taken. The carpenter denied selling it and accused the hook. Their spirits were lifted, and they found relief from the piteous
usurers of stealing it. They went to the usurers' house together, and I mood. Observing the sun taking a yellowish tinge, the king realized his
returned here. So, it seems Ruggieri was brought there in the chest, but sovereignty was ending. He courteously apologized to the fair ladies for
how he came to life again, I cannot guess." making lovers' infelicity the topic of their discourse. He then rose, took
the laurel wreath from his head, and, while the ladies watched, graciously
The lady now understood the situation and told the maid what she had placed it upon the blond head of Fiammetta. He said, "Herewith I crown
learned from the leech. She begged the maid to help get Ruggieri off and thee, as deeming that thou, better than any other, wilt know how to make
preserve her honor. The maid agreed and, with the lady's plan, went to to-morrow console our fair companions for the rude trials of to-day."
the leech, weeping, and confessed that she had brought Ruggieri into the
house to sleep with her. She explained that she had given him the soporific The theme was approved by all. The queen called the seneschal, made
water, not knowing its nature, and put the bottle back. The leech, though all necessary arrangements, and then gaily dismissed the company until
wroth, replied in a bantering tone, "Thy pardon thou hast by thine own supper. Some wandered about the garden, others visited the mills, each
deed; for, whereas thou didst last night think to have with thee a gallant taking their pleasure as they wished. When the supper hour came, they
that would thoroughly dust thy pelisse for thee, he was but a sleepy head; gathered by the fair fountain, supped in the gayest of spirits, and were
wherefore get thee gone, and do what thou mayst for the deliverance of well served. After supper, they danced and sang. Filomena led the dance,
thy lover, and for the future look thou bring him not into the house; else and the queen said, "Filostrato, being minded to follow in the footsteps
I will pay thee for that turn and this to boot." of our predecessors, and that, as by their, so by our command a song be
sung; and well witting that thy songs are even as thy stories, to the end
The maid, deeming she had come off well, hurried to the prison where that no day but this be vexed with thy misfortunes, we ordain that thou
Ruggieri lay and persuaded the warders to let her speak with him. She told give us one of them, whichever thou mayst prefer."
him how to answer the Stadic to get off and obtained an audience with
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The Decameron