Page 162 - THE DECAMERON: A Visionary Journey in 100 Stories and 100 Etchings by Petru Russu

The Decameron You should know that there once lived in Siena a young man named Fra Rinaldo, having returned to his first affections, began visiting
Rinaldo, who was gallant and from an honorable family. He was deeply
his godson's mother frequently and, gaining confidence, solicited
her more insistently than before. The good lady, perhaps finding
in love with one of his neighbors, a beautiful gentlewoman who was
Fra Rinaldo more attractive than before, had recourse one day to
the wife of a wealthy man. Rinaldo hoped that if he could find a way
the common expedient of those who would gladly concede what is
to speak with her privately, he might achieve all that he desired from
asked of them. She said, "Oh! But Fra Rinaldo, do friars do this sort
her. Seeing no way to do so, and the lady being pregnant, he thought
of becoming her child's godfather. He ingratiated himself with her
habit, which I can do easily enough, you will see that I am a man like
husband and gracefully broached the matter, and it was arranged.
Now, being godfather to Madonna Agnesa's child, Rinaldo had a more of thing?" "Madam," replied Fra Rinaldo, "when I divest myself of this
any other, and no friar." The lady answered with a smile, "But you are
legitimate reason to speak with her. He took courage and expressed my child's godfather. How could it be? It would be a great misfortune,
to her in words what his heart had long conveyed through his eyes. and I have heard many times that it is a severe sin. Without a doubt,
Though the lady was not displeased to hear it, it availed him little. were it not so, I would do as you wish." "If," said Fra Rinaldo, "you
forego it for such a scruple, you are a fool for your pains. I do not
Not long afterward, for reasons unknown, Rinaldo became a friar. say it is no sin, but there is no sin so great that God does not pardon
Whether he found good fortune in the friarage or another reason, he it if one repents. Now tell me, who is more truly the father of your
persevered in that way of life. Though he initially laid aside his love son, I who held him at the font, or your husband who begot him?"
for her and certain other vanities, he resumed them in time without "My husband," replied the lady. "So you say," returned the friar,
putting off the habit. He began to take pride in his appearance, "and does your husband not lie with you?" "Why, yes," said the lady.
dressing in fine clothes, composing songs, sonnets, and ballades, "Then," replied the friar, "I, who am less truly your son's father than
singing them, and making a show in all else that pertained to his new your husband, ought also to lie with you, as does your husband."
character. But why dwell on Fra Rinaldo? What friars are there that
do not do the same? Sleek-faced and sanguine, daintily clad, they The lady, not being a logician, needed little to sway her. She
strut shamelessly before all, showing not as doves but as insolent believed or pretended to believe that what the friar said was
cocks with raised crests and swelling bosoms. Worse still, their true. "Who might answer your words of wisdom?" she said,
cells are packed with vases of electuaries and unguents, boxes of and soon forgot the godfather in the lover, complying with his
comfits, pitchers and phials of artificial waters and oils, and flagons desires. They did not end their course there, but, under the cover
of fine wines, making them resemble apothecaries' or perfumers' of the friar's sponsorship, which set them more at ease and
shops rather than friars' cells. They blush not to be known as rendered them less open to suspicion, they met again and again.
gouty, flattering themselves that others do not know that long fasts,
coarse fare, and sober living make men lean and healthy, and that On one of these occasions, Fra Rinaldo came to the lady's house
the remedy for gout is chastity and the regimen of a humble friar. and saw no one else except a very pretty and dainty maid who
waited on the lady. He sent his companion away with her into the
They forget that long vigils, prayers, and strict discipline pigeon-house to teach her the Lord's Prayer, while he and the
should mortify men and make them pale, and that neither lady, holding her little boy by the hand, went into the bedroom,
St. Dominic nor St. Francis wore fine garments but locked themselves in, got onto a divan, and began to enjoy each
coarse woolen habits to keep out the cold, not for show. other. While they were thus engaged, the husband returned and,
before anyone was aware of him, was at the bedroom door,

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