Page 165 - THE DECAMERON: A Visionary Journey in 100 Stories and 100 Etchings by Petru Russu

Despite her threats, Tofano remained steadfast in his foolish purpose. At to the spot, and after hearing the story from the neighbors, they beat
last, the lady said, "I can no longer endure your surly humor. God forgive Tofano until he was black and blue from head to foot. They then entered
you. I leave you my distaff here; be sure to keep it safe." She then went his house, took all that belonged to the lady, and brought her home with
to the well, and in the dark night, where wayfarers could barely see each them, warning Tofano to expect worse to come.\
other, she picked up a large stone by the well and, exclaiming, "God forgive
me!" dropped it in. Hearing the mighty splash, Tofano never doubted she Thus hard-pressed and regretting the plight his jealousy had brought him,
had cast herself in. Grabbing a bucket and rope, he rushed out of the house Tofano, who loved his wife dearly, set some friends to work to patch things
to rescue her. Meanwhile, the lady hid by the door, and as soon as he ran up. He eventually persuaded his lady to forgive him and live with him again,
to the well, she slipped back into the house, locked the door, and went to promising never to be jealous again and to let her amuse herself as she
the window. She greeted him with, "It's while you are drinking, not now pleased, provided she used discretion so he would not be aware of it.
when the night is far spent, that you should temper your wine with water." Thus, like the churl and fool he was, he made terms after being despoiled.
Now long live Love, and perish war and all who wage it!
Thus derided, Tofano returned to the door and, finding it locked, began
pleading with her to let him in. Changing her tone to a shrill near-shriek,
she said, "By the Holy Rood, you tedious drunken sot, you will not get in
tonight. Your ways are more than I can endure. It's time I let the world
know what kind of man you are and at what hour you come home." Tofano, The Seventh Day | The Fifth Novell
now angry, began loudly upbraiding her. The neighbors, aroused by the Storyteller: Fiammetta
noise, got up, men and women alike, and looked out of their windows,
asking what was the matter. The lady, weeping, said, "It's this wicked man A jealous man pretended to be a priest and confessed his wife.
who comes home drunk in the evening or falls asleep in some tavern and She tricked him into believing she loved a priest who visited
then returns at this hour. I have borne with him long and to no purpose, every night. While he guarded the door to catch the priest, her
but it's now past endurance. I have locked him out in the hope that it may secret friend visited by climbing over the roof.
cause him to mend his ways."

Tofano, like a fool, told the neighbors exactly what had happened and
was very menacing. The lady said to the neighbors, "Now mark the sort
of man he is! What would you say if I were in the street and he were in
the house? God's faith, I doubt you would believe what he said. He tells
you I have done just what he has done himself. He thought to terrify me
by throwing something into the well, where I wish he had thrown himself
and drowned, so the wine he drank would have been watered to some
purpose!"

The neighbors, men and women alike, censured Tofano, throwing all
the blame on him and loudly defending the lady. The news spread from
neighbor to neighbor until it reached the lady's kinsfolk. They hurried 1985 HAND COLORED AQUA TINTA / AQUA FORTE
29,5X19,5 CM. | 11¾X7½ IN. (IMAGE SIZE).
161
The Decameron