Page 125 - THE DECAMERON: A Visionary Journey in 100 Stories and 100 Etchings by Petru Russu

The next day, as May was drawing to a close, Caterina began the help of a ladder, climbed onto a wall and, with great effort and
complaining to her mother about the excessive heat that had kept risk, made his way to the terrace. Caterina received him warmly,
her from sleeping the previous night. "Daughter," said her mother, and they exchanged many kisses before getting into bed. They
"what heat was there? There was no heat at all." "Had you said, spent almost the entire night enjoying each other's company and
'to my thinking,' mother," replied Caterina, "you might have been making the nightingale sing many times. Towards dawn, they fell
right; but you should remember that girls feel the heat more than asleep, Caterina's right arm around Ricciardo's neck and her left
older ladies." "True, my daughter," her mother agreed, "but I hand holding him intimately.
cannot control the weather. We must take it as it comes. Perhaps
tonight will be cooler, and you will sleep better." "God grant it be When day broke, Messer Lizio remembered that his daughter
so," said Caterina, "but it's not usual for the nights to get cooler was sleeping on the terrace. He softly opened the door, saying to
as summer approaches." "What would you have me do?" asked himself, "Let me see what kind of night's rest the nightingale has
her mother. "With your and my father's permission," answered given our Caterina." He gently raised the curtain around the bed
Caterina, "I would like to have a little bed made up on the terrace and saw Ricciardo and Caterina asleep, naked and in each other's
by his room and over his garden. There, hearing the nightingales arms. Noting Ricciardo's presence, he went to his wife's room and
sing and being in a cooler place, I would sleep much better than in called her, saying, "Up, up, wife, come and see; for your daughter
your room." "Daughter, be of good cheer," said her mother. "I will has caught the nightingale and holds him in her hand." "How can
speak to your father, and we will do as he decides." this be?" asked the lady. "Come quickly, and you shall see," replied
Messer Lizio.
The lady told Messer Lizio what had passed between her and
Caterina, but he, being old and perhaps a bit grumpy, said, "What The lady hurriedly dressed and followed Messer Lizio. When they
nightingale is this that she wants to hear? I will see to it that the reached the bed and raised the curtain, Madonna Giacomina saw
cicadas lull her to sleep." This speech offended Caterina so much how her daughter had indeed caught and held the nightingale. The
that she not only didn't sleep that night but also kept her mother lady, thinking Ricciardo had played a cruel trick, wanted to cry out
awake with her constant complaints about the heat. The next and scold him, but Messer Lizio said, "Wife, as you value my love,
morning, her mother went to Messer Lizio and said, "Sir, you don't say nothing. Since she has caught him, he shall be hers. Ricciardo is
care enough for your daughter. What difference does it make if she a gentleman and wealthy; an alliance with him can only benefit us.
lies on the terrace? She tossed and turned all night because of the If he wants to part from me on good terms, he must first marry her,
heat. Besides, can you blame her for loving to hear the nightingale so that the nightingale will be in his own cage and not another's."
sing? Young people naturally have their preferences." "Go, make
her a bed there as you like, and set a curtain around it. Let her The lady was reassured, seeing her husband take the matter calmly
sleep there and hear the nightingale sing to her heart's content," and that her daughter had had a good night. She kept silent. It
replied Messer Lizio. wasn't long before Ricciardo awoke and, seeing it was broad
daylight, feared for his life. He woke Caterina, saying, "Alas! My
Caterina was delighted to hear this and had a bed made on the love, what shall we do now that day has come and found me here?"
terrace, intending to sleep there that night. She watched until she Messer Lizio answered, "We shall do well." Ricciardo, feeling as
saw Ricciardo, signaling him as they had arranged. Messer Lizio, if his heart were torn out, sat up in bed and said, "My lord, I beg
hearing Caterina go to bed, locked the door leading from his room your mercy for God's sake. I know my disloyalty and wrongdoing
to the terrace and went to sleep. When all was quiet, Ricciardo, with deserve death. Do with me as you see fit, but please spare my life
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