Page 147 - THE DECAMERON: A Visionary Journey in 100 Stories and 100 Etchings by Petru Russu

gentleman named Messer Dego della Ratta, King Ruberto's marshal, The Sixth Day | The Fourth Novell
came to the city. Dego, being very handsome and inordinately fond Storyteller: Neifile
of women, took a special liking to the beautiful niece of the bishop's
brother. Learning that her husband, though of good family, was Demonstrating that a quick-witted and humorous response
a miserly caitiff, Dego struck a bargain with him to lie one night can often diffuse an angry situation. Chichibio, cook to Messer
with the lady for five hundred florins of gold. He then had the Currado Gianfiliazzi, turned his master's anger into laughter
same number of silver popolins gilded and, having lain with the with a sudden, funny answer, thereby avoiding the punishment
lady against her will, gave them to her husband. When this became Messer intended to impose on him.
generally known, the caitiff husband was left with the loss and the
laugh against him. The bishop, like a wise man, pretended to know
nothing of the affair.

The bishop and the marshal were often together. On St. John's
day, as they rode side by side down the street where the palio
race starts, they took note of the ladies. The bishop saw a young
gentlewoman named Monna Nonna de' Pulci, a cousin of Messer
Alesso Rinucci, whom you all must know. She was lusty, fair,
of excellent discourse, and good courage, and had just settled
with her husband in Porta San Piero. The bishop presented her
to the marshal and, being close beside her, laid his hand on the
marshal's shoulder and said to her, "Nonna, what do you think
of this gentleman? Do you think you might make a conquest of
him?" The lady resented these words as a jibe at her honor, likely 1985 HAND COLORED AQUA TINTA / AQUA FORTE
29,5X19,5 CM. | 11¾X7½ IN. (IMAGE SIZE).
to tarnish it in the eyes of those who heard them. Without thinking
of vindicating her honor, but intending to return blow for blow, she
hastily retorted, "Perhaps, Sir, he might not make a conquest of
me; but if he did, I would want good money."
Although, loving ladies, ready wit often provides words that are apt,
excellent, and suitable for the circumstances, it is also true that Fortune
The answer stung both the marshal and the bishop to the quick. sometimes aids the timid and unexpectedly puts words on their tongue
The marshal was the contriver of the scurvy trick played on the that they could never have found for themselves in a quiet moment. This
bishop's brother regarding his niece, and the bishop felt outraged is what I intend to show you with my story.
on behalf of his brother's niece. They dared not look each other
in the face, but took themselves off in shame and silence, saying Currado Gianfigliazzi, as you may know, has always been a noble citizen of
never a word more to her that day.
our city, open-handed and magnificent, living as a gentleman should with
hounds and hawks, which, to say nothing of more important matters, he
In such a case, the lady, having received a bite, was justified in found unfailing delight in. One day, near Peretola, he dispatched a crane
wittily returning it.
with one of his falcons. Finding it young and plump, he sent it to his excellent
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The Decameron