Page 160 - THE DECAMERON: A Visionary Journey in 100 Stories and 100 Etchings by Petru Russu

The Decameron The Seventh Day | The Second Novell One day, after the husband had gone out and Giannello Sirignario,
the gallant, had come into the house and was with Peronella, her
Storyteller: Filostrato
husband unexpectedly returned. It was not his habit to return until
Peronella hid her lover under a brewing vat when her husband
the end of the day. Finding the door locked, he knocked and said to
unexpectedly returned, saying he had sold the vat. She claimed
himself, "O God, praised be Thy name forever; for although Thou hast
ordained that I be poor, at least Thou hast given me the consolation
she had already sold it to another buyer, who was inspecting it.
The lover emerged, she had her husband clean the vat, and the
the door when I left, so no one else could enter and trouble her."
buyer carried it away.
of a good and honest girl for a wife. See how quickly she shut
Peronella recognized her husband's knock and said to Giannello, "Oh
no, Giannello mine, I am a dead woman, for here is my husband! Come
back! I don't know why he has returned at this hour; perhaps he saw
you come in. For the love of God, get into this tub you see here, and I
will go open the door and see what has brought him back this morning."
Giannello quickly got into the tub, and Peronella went to the door, let in
her husband, and gave him a black look, saying,

"This is a surprise that you are back so soon this morning! By what I see,
you intend to make this a holiday, returning with your tools in hand. If so,
what are we to live on? Where will we get bread to eat? Do you think I
will let you pawn my gown and other bits of clothes? Day and night I do
nothing but spin, so much that the flesh has fallen away from my nails,
1985 HAND COLORED AQUA TINTA / AQUA FORTE
29,5X19,5 CM. | 11¾X7½ IN. (IMAGE SIZE). just to keep our lamp alight. Husband, husband, every woman in the
neighborhood marvels and mocks at me for my labor and pains, and
you come home with your hands idle when you should be at work." She
began to weep and repeat, "Oh no, woe's me, in what evil hour was I
born? In what luckless moment did I come here, I, who might have had
Not long ago in Naples, a poor man, a mason by trade, married a fair
a goodly young man, but instead took up with one who never thinks of
and amorous maiden named Peronella. She supplemented their income
the woman he made his wife? Other women have a good time with their
by spinning while her husband worked as a mason. They managed as
lovers, and everyone here has two or three; they take their pleasure
best they could on very slender means. One day, a gallant of the city
and make their husbands believe the moon is the sun. And I, because I
noticed Peronella and, being greatly pleased with her, fell in love with
am an honest woman and have no such casual amours, I suffer and am
her. Through various means, he won her affection and they arranged
hard-pressed. I don't know why I don't get myself one of these lovers,
to meet. Since her husband rose early in the morning to work or seek
as others do. Husband, if I wanted to dishonor you, I wouldn't lack for
work, the gallant would watch him leave and then come to the house as
a man. There are plenty of gallants who love me, court me, and have
soon as her husband was well out of sight. The street where she lived,
sent me many offers of money, dresses, or jewels, should I prefer them.
called Avorio, was scarcely inhabited, making their meetings easier.

156
The Decameron