Page 171 - THE DECAMERON: A Visionary Journey in 100 Stories and 100 Etchings by Petru Russu

heart and began to sigh. After a sigh or two, she answered, "Sweet when you were out hawking, he shamelessly asked me to comply
Anichino, be of good cheer. Neither presents nor promises, nor with his wanton desires. To prove his guilt to you, I pretended to
any courting by gentlemen or lords (for I have been and am still agree and told him I would meet him in the garden at the foot of
courted by many) ever swayed my soul to love any of them. But the pine after midnight. I will not go there, but if you want to test
you, by your few words, have so moved me that, brief though his loyalty, you can slip on one of my loose robes, cover your face
the time has been, I am already more yours than mine. I deem with a veil, and go down to wait for him. I am sure he will come."
you to have won my love worthily, and I give it to you. I vow
to give you joy of it before the night is past. Come to my room Egano replied, "Indeed, it is fitting that I should go see." He got up,
about midnight; I will leave the door open. You know the side of put on one of the lady's loose robes and veiled his face as best he
the bed on which I sleep. Come there; if I am asleep, touch me, could in the dark, then went to the garden and sat at the foot of the
and I shall awake and give you solace of your long-pent desire. pine to wait for Anichino. As soon as the lady knew he was out of the
In earnest, I will even give you a kiss." So saying, she threw her room, she rose and locked the door. Anichino, who had never been
arms around his neck and lovingly kissed him, as Anichino did her. so terrified in his life and had struggled mightily to free his hand from
the lady's grasp, was overjoyed at this turn of events. The lady got
Their conversation ended, Anichino attended to some matters, back into bed, and Anichino, at her bidding, stripped and lay down
looking forward to midnight with boundless excitement. Egano beside her. They enjoyed each other's company for a good while.
returned from hawking, and after supper, being weary, went straight
to bed. The lady soon followed, leaving the chamber door open as The lady, deeming it unwise for Anichino to stay longer,
promised. At the appointed hour, Anichino came, softly entered had him get up and dress. She said, "My dear, take a stout
the chamber, closed the door behind him, and quietly approached cudgel and go to the garden. Pretend that I am there and
where the lady lay. Placing his hand on her breast, he found she that your approach to me was just a test. Give Egano a sound
was awake. As soon as she knew Anichino was there, she took his scolding and a good beating with your cudgel. The result
hand in both her own and turned in the bed until she awoke Egano. will be wonderfully delightful." Anichino went to the garden,
armed with a staff of wild willow. As he approached the pine,
"Husband," she said, "I did not mention this to you last night because Egano saw him and came forward to greet him cheerfully.
I thought you were tired. But tell me, honestly, Egano, whom do you But Anichino said, "Ah! Wicked woman! So you have come!
deem your best and most loyal servant, and the most attached to Did you really think I would wrong my lord? A thousand
you, of all you have in the house?" "What a question, wife?" replied curses upon you!" He raised his cudgel and began to strike.
Egano. "Do you not know him? I have no servant, nor ever had, so
trusted or loved as Anichino. But why do you ask such a question?" Egano, having seen and heard enough, fled without a word, while
Anichino pursued him, shouting, "Away with you! May you have a
When Anichino realized that Egano was awake and heard them wretched year, you lewd woman. Egano shall hear of this tomorrow."
talking about him, he tried several times to withdraw his hand, Egano, having received several blows, returned to his chamber as
fearing the lady meant to betray him. But she held it tightly, quickly as he could. The lady asked if Anichino had come into the
preventing him from escaping. She then answered Egano, "I will garden. "Would to God he had not!" replied Egano. "He took me for
tell you what he is. I thought he was all you said, and that none you and beat me black and blue with his cudgel, scolding me like
was as loyal to you as he, but he has deceived me. Yesterday, the vilest woman. It seemed strange that he would say those words

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