Page 177 - THE DECAMERON: A Visionary Journey in 100 Stories and 100 Etchings by Petru Russu

hand, gone to the fields to see it fly, leaving me alone and discontented decayed tooth?" "That may well be," said Lydia. She took him to a
in bed. I have often wanted to do what I have now done, but I waited window, had him open his mouth, and after examining it, said, "Oh,
for the right time to do it in the presence of men who would judge Nicostratus, how could you endure it so long? You have a tooth here
my cause justly." that is not only decayed but rotten throughout. If you leave it, it will
infect its neighbors. You should have it removed before it gets worse."
Hearing this, the gentlemen laughed and turned to Nicostratus, who "I agree," said Nicostratus. "Send for a surgeon to draw it." "God
was displeased. They said, "Well done, lady, for avenging your wrongs forbid," said Lydia. "I can draw the tooth myself. Surgeons do these
by killing the sparrow-hawk!" The lady then withdrew to her chamber, things cruelly, and I couldn't bear to see you suffer under their hands.
and they passed the affair off with various pleasantries, turning I'll do it myself, and if you suffer too much, I can stop immediately."
Nicostratus' wrath into laughter.
She had the necessary instruments brought, dismissed all attendants
Pyrrhus, who had witnessed the scene, thought, "My lady has begun except Lusca, and locked the door. She made Nicostratus lie down on
nobly, promising well for the happiness of my love. God grant that a table, set the pincers in his mouth, and clamped them on a tooth.
she continues." And Lydia did continue. Not many days after killing While Lusca held him still, despite his roars of pain, Lydia wrenched the
the sparrow-hawk, she was with Nicostratus in their chamber. From tooth out by main force. She then took another horribly decayed tooth
caressing, they moved to toying and trifling, and he, playfully pulling her from Lusca's hand and showed it to Nicostratus, saying, "See what
hair, gave her the opportunity to fulfill the second of Pyrrhus' demands. you had in your jaw; look how far gone it is." Believing her, Nicostratus
She nimbly grabbed a small tuft of his beard and, laughing, plucked thought his breath would no longer be offensive. Somewhat eased of
it out of his chin. Nicostratus, somewhat resenting this, asked, "Why the extreme pain, he left the chamber. Lydia sent the tooth to her lover,
do you make such a wry face? I only plucked a few hairs from your who, now assured of her love, placed himself entirely at her service.
beard. You didn't feel it as much as I did when you tugged my hair."
Nicostratus had in his service two lads of gentle birth, placed with him To make his assurance even more certain, Lydia feigned sickness. One
by their kinsfolk to learn manners. One lad carved before Nicostratus day after breakfast, Nicostratus, attended only by Pyrrhus, came to
when he ate, while the other gave him to drink. Lydia called both see her. She asked him to help her down to the garden for her better
lads to her and told them their breath smelled, advising them to hold comfort. Nicostratus and Pyrrhus took her to the garden and set her
their heads back when serving Nicostratus and to say nothing of it to on a lawn at the foot of a beautiful pear tree. After a while, Lydia, who
anyone. The lads believed her and did as she instructed. Lydia then had already informed Pyrrhus of what he must do, said, "Pyrrhus, I
said to Nicostratus, "Have you noticed what these lads do when they would greatly like some of those pears. Climb the tree and shake some
wait on you?" "Indeed, I have," replied Nicostratus. "I've often thought down." Pyrrhus quickly climbed the tree and began shaking down the
of asking them why they do so." "No need," said Lydia. "I can tell you pears. While doing so, he said, "Fie! Sir, what is this you do? And you,
the reason, which I've kept to myself to avoid vexing you. But now that Madam, have you no shame to allow this in my presence? Do you think
others are noticing, it need no longer be withheld. Your breath stinks, I am blind? You were gravely ill just now. Your cure has been speedy
and they avert their heads because of it. It wasn't always this way, indeed to permit such behavior. If you must disport yourselves, why
and I don't know why it is now. It's most offensive when you converse not use one of your many goodly chambers? It would be much more
with gentlemen, so it would be wise to find a cure." decent than doing so in my presence."

"I wonder what it could be," said Nicostratus. "Is it possible I have a Lydia turned to her husband and said, "What can Pyrrhus mean? Is he

173
The Decameron