Page 140 - THE DECAMERON: A Visionary Journey in 100 Stories and 100 Etchings by Petru Russu

The Decameron the sneezer continued to sneeze a third, a fourth, a fifth, and However, our supper being thus rudely interrupted, not only
have I not gulped it, but I have not so much as tasted it, as I
many more times, we all began to wonder. Ercolano, who was
said before!"
somewhat out of humor with his wife because she had kept us
a long time at the door before opening it, burst out in a sort of
Her husband's story showed his wife that there were other
rage with, 'What means this? "Who is sneezing like that?" and
ladies as knowing as she, albeit misfortune might sometimes
made off to a nearby stair, beneath which and close to its foot
was a wooden closet, the kind people commonly place in their
Ercolano's wife, but, thinking that by censuring another's sin,
houses to store things. As it seemed to him that the sneezing
she would secure more scope for her own, she launched out
came from there, he opened the door, and no sooner had he overtake them. Gladly would she have spoken out in defense of
done so than out flew a strong stench of brimstone. We had on this wise: "Fine doings indeed, a right virtuous and saintly
already been greeted by a whiff of it and complained, but the lady she must be: here is the loyalty of an honest woman, and
lady had put us off by saying, "It's just that a while ago I bleached one to whom I had gladly confessed, so spiritual I deemed her;
my veils with brimstone, having sprinkled it on a dish so they and the worst of it is that, being no longer young, she sets a
might catch its fumes, which dish I then placed under the stair, rare example to those that are so. Curses on the hour that she
so it still smells a little." came into the world: curses upon her that she does not make
away with herself, basest, most faithless of women that she
However, the door being now open and the smoke somewhat must needs be, the reproach of her sex, the opprobrium of all
less dense, Ercolano, peering in, saw the fellow who had the ladies of this city, to cast aside all regard for her honor, her
sneezed and who still kept sneezing, constrained by the marriage vow, her reputation before the world, and, lost to all
pungency of the brimstone. Despite his sneezing, he was by sense of shame, to scruple not to bring disgrace upon a man so
this time so nearly choked with the brimstone that he was like worthy, a citizen so honorable, a husband by whom she was so
neither to sneeze nor to do anything else again. As soon as he well treated, and upon herself to boot! By my hope of salvation,
caught sight of him, Ercolano bawled out, "Now I see, Madam, no mercy should be shown to such women; they should pay the
why it was that a while ago, when we came here, we were kept penalty with their lives; to the fire with them while they yet live,
waiting so long at the gate before it was opened; but woe betide and let them be burned to ashes." Then, calling to mind the lover
me for the rest of my days if I don't pay you back." Whereupon that she had close at hand in the hen-coop, she fell to coaxing
the lady, perceiving that her offense was discovered, ventured Pietro to get him to bed, for the hour grew late.
no excuse but fled from the table, whither I know not. Ercolano,
ignoring his wife's flight, repeatedly bade the sneezer to come Pietro, who was more set on eating than sleeping, only asked
forth; but he, being by this time fairly spent, budged not an inch whether there was anything he might have by way of supper.
for anything Ercolano said. So Ercolano caught him by one of "Supper, forsooth!" replied the lady. "Of course, it's our way to
his feet, dragged him forth, and ran off for a knife with intent make much of supper when you are not at home. As if I were
to kill him. But I, standing in fear of the authorities on my own Ercolano's wife! Now, why tarry longer? Go, get your night's
account, got up and would not suffer him to kill the fellow or rest: it would be far better for you."
do him any harm. For his better protection, I raised the alarm,
whereby some of the neighbors came up and took the lad, more One evening, some of Pietro's farmhands came to the house
dead than alive, and bore him off, I know not where. with various things from the farm. They put their donkeys in a
stable next to the veranda but forgot to water them. One of the
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