Page 141 - THE DECAMERON: A Visionary Journey in 100 Stories and 100 Etchings by Petru Russu

donkeys, being extremely thirsty, got its head out of the halter, a little argument with you, to know what you are complaining
broke loose from the stable, and went around nosing everything about. Well indeed would it be with me if you placed me on an
in search of water. It came upon the hen-coop, under which equal footing with Ercolano's wife, who is an old sanctimonious
the boy was hiding. The boy, forced to stand on all fours, had hypocrite and has everything she wants from him, and is
the fingers of one hand sticking out from under the hen-coop. cherished by him as a wife should be. But that is not my case.
For, granted that you give me garments and shoes to my liking,
As luck, or rather ill-luck, would have it, the donkey stepped on you know how otherwise ill-treated I am, and how long it has
them. The boy, in great pain, let out a loud howl, much to Pietro's been since you last lay with me. I would far rather go barefoot
surprise, who realized the noise was coming from inside his and in rags and have your benevolence in bed than have all that
house. Pietro came out and, hearing the boy still moaning and I have and be treated as you treat me. Understand me, Pietro,
groaning because the donkey kept its hoof hard on his fingers, be reasonable; consider that I am a woman like other women,
called out, "Who is there?" He ran to the hen-coop, lifted it, with the same cravings. If you deny me gratification, it is no
and saw the boy, who, besides the pain from the donkey's hoof, blame to me that I seek it elsewhere; and at least I do you the
trembled in every limb, fearing Pietro would harm him. Pietro, honor of not consorting with stable-boys or scurvy knaves."
recognizing him as someone he had long been after for his foul
purposes, asked, "What are you doing here?" The boy, making no Pietro, perceiving that she was likely to continue in this vein the
answer except to beg Pietro for the love of God not to hurt him, whole night, indifferent as he was to her, said, "Now, Madam,
finally confessed everything. Pietro, as elated by the discovery no more of this; in the matter of which you speak, I will content
as his wife was distressed, took the boy by the hand and led you. But out of your great courtesy, let us have something to eat
him into the room where his terrified wife awaited him. Sitting for supper; for I think the boy, as well as I, has not yet eaten."
directly in front of her, Pietro said, "Just a moment ago, you
cursed Ercolano's wife and said she ought to be burned, that "Yes, true enough," said the lady, "he has not eaten; for we
she was the reproach of your sex. Why didn't you say the same were just sitting down to supper when, curse you, you made
about yourself? Or, if you weren't inclined to accuse yourself, your appearance." "Go then," said Pietro, "get us some supper;
how did you have the nerve to censure her, knowing you had and by and by I will arrange this affair in such a way that you
done the same? It was for no other reason than that you are shall have no more cause for complaint." The lady, perceiving
all fashioned this way, and you try to cover your own misdeeds that her husband was now calm, rose and soon had the table
with the faults of others. Would that fire might fall from heaven laid again and spread with the supper she had ready. So they
and burn you all, brood of iniquity that you are!" made a jolly meal of it, the caitiff husband, the lady, and the boy.
What Pietro devised for their mutual satisfaction after supper
The lady, noting that in the first flush of his wrath he had given has slipped from my memory. But this much I know: the next
her nothing worse than harsh words, and sensing that he was morning, as he made his way to the piazza, the boy would have
secretly overjoyed to hold such a beautiful boy by the hand, been puzzled to say whether the wife or the husband had had
took heart and said, "I doubt not indeed that you would be well more of his company during the night. But this I would say to
pleased if fire fell from heaven and devoured us all, seeing you, dear ladies, that whoever gives you tit, just give him tat;
that you are as fond of us as a dog is of a stick, though by the and if you cannot do it at once, bear it in mind until you can,
Holy Rood you will be disappointed. But I would like to have that even as the ass gives, so he may receive.

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