Page 196 - THE DECAMERON: A Visionary Journey in 100 Stories and 100 Etchings by Petru Russu

The Decameron do not know your estate or the tower. But if it is as you say, it will be the The lady ascended the tower and, facing north, began to recite the
best place for your purpose. When the time comes, I will send you the
image and the orison. But I pray you, when you have your heart's desire
scholar's orison. The scholar, having stealthily entered the tower behind
her, cautiously moved the ladder that led to the roof where the lady stood
and know I have done you good service, do not forget me but keep your
and waited to see what she would say and do. The lady recited the orison
promise." "I will without fail," said the lady, and she bade him farewell and
went home. The scholar, gleefully anticipating his success, fashioned an
seven times and then waited for the appearance of the two damsels. She
image, inscribed it with magical signs, and wrote some gibberish as an
she saw daybreak. Disconcerted that things had not gone as the scholar
orison. He sent these to the lady, instructing her to follow his directions
the next night. He then went with a servant to a friend's house near the had to wait so long, and the night was much cooler than she liked, that
had promised, she thought to herself, "I suspect he intended to give me
tower to carry out his plan. The lady set out with her maid to her estate. a night like the one I gave him. But if that was his intent, he is clumsy in
At night, she sent the maid to bed as if she were going to rest herself. his revenge, for this night is not as long as his by a third, and the cold
Around the hour of first sleep, she stole out of the house and down to is different." Not wanting to be overtaken by daylight, she thought of
the tower by the Arno. Satisfied Satisfied that no one was around, she descending but found the ladder removed. She felt as if the world had
took off her clothes and hid them under a bush. With the image in hand, collapsed beneath her feet, her senses reeled, and she fainted on the roof.
she dipped herself seven times in the river. Then, she went to the tower. When she came to, she burst into tears and lamentations, realizing it was
The scholar, hidden with his servant among the willows and other trees the scholar's doing. She began to regret offending him and then trusting
by the bank, watched her. As she passed by, the whiteness of her flesh him, knowing she had good reason to expect his enmity. She remained
dispelled the night shadows. He attentively scanned her bosom and every in this state for a long time. Then, searching for a way to descend and
part of her body, finding them very fair. He felt some pity for her, but he finding none, she wept again and bitterly said to herself, "Alas, wretched
was also assailed by the solicitations of the flesh, which prompted him to woman! What will your brothers, kinsmen, neighbors, and all of Florence
take her by force and have his pleasure. Compassion and passion nearly say when they find you here naked? Your honor, previously unsuspected,
overcame him, but remembering who he was, the grievous wrong done to will be known to have been a facade. Should you seek to defend yourself
him, and by whom, his rekindled wrath got the better of his other feelings. with lies, the accursed scholar, who knows all your doings, will not allow
He did not swerve from his resolve and let her go her way. it. Poor wretch! You have lost both your cherished lover and your honor!"
Overcome with grief, she was tempted to throw herself from the tower.
Satisfied that no one was around, she took off her clothes and hid them Then, thinking she might see a shepherd approaching the tower with
under a bush. With the image in hand, she dipped herself seven times his sheep, she could send him for her maid, for the sun had risen. She
in the river. Then, she went to the tower. The scholar, hidden with his approached one of the parapets and looked out. The scholar, awakening
servant among the willows and other trees by the bank, watched her. As from a slumber at the foot of a bush, saw her, and she saw him. "Good
she passed by, the whiteness of her flesh dispelled the night shadows. day, Madam," he said. "Have the damsels arrived yet?" The lady, seeing
He attentively scanned her bosom and every part of her body, finding and hearing him, burst into tears again and begged him to come into the
them very fair. He felt some pity for her, but he was also assailed by the tower so she could speak with him. The scholar courteously granted her
solicitations of the flesh, which prompted him to take her by force and request. The lady threw herself prone on the roof, with only her head
have his pleasure. Compassion and passion nearly overcame him, but visible through the aperture, and through her sobs, she spoke, "Rinieri,
remembering who he was, the grievous wrong done to him, and by whom, if I gave you a bad night, you are well avenged on me. Though it is July,
his rekindled wrath got the better of his other feelings. He did not swerve I was very cold last night, standing here with nothing on. I have bitterly
from his resolve and let her go her way. wept over the trick I played on you and my folly in trusting you. I marvel
that I still have eyes in my head. I implore you, not for love of me, whom
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The Decameron