Page 220 - THE DECAMERON: A Visionary Journey in 100 Stories and 100 Etchings by Petru Russu

Calandrino's aunts having died, leaving him two hundred pounds in petty He will tell you at once what you must do; and we will come to see you,
The Decameron and, as if he had had ten thousand florins of gold to invest, engaged every they all three went home with Calandrino, who, now quite spent, went
cash, Calandrino announced that he was minded to purchase an estate,
and will do anything that may be needful." And Nello then joining them,
broker in Florence to treat for him, the negotiation always falling through,
straight to his room, and said to his wife: "Come now, wrap me well up; I
as soon as the price was named. Bruno and Buffalmacco, knowing what
feel very ill." And so he laid himself on the bed, and sent a maid with his
was afoot, told him again and again that he had better give himself a
water to Master Simone, who had then his shop in the Mercato Vecchio,
jolly time with them than go about buying land as if he must needs make
pellets; but so far were they from effecting their purpose, that they could
will stay here with him, and I will go hear what the doctor has to say, and if
not even prevail upon him to give them a single meal. Whereat as one at the sign of the pumpkin. Whereupon said Bruno to his comrades: "You
need be, will bring him here." "Please, do so, my friend," said Calandrino,
day they grumbled, being joined by a comrade of theirs, one Nello, also "and bring me word how it is with me, for I feel as how I cannot say in my
a painter, they all three took counsel how they might wet their whistle inside." So Bruno went to Master Simone, and before the maid arrived with
at Calandrino's expense; and, their plan being soon concerted, the next the water, told him what was afoot. The Master, thus primed, inspected the
morning Calandrino was scarcely gone out, when Nello met him, saying: water, and then said to the maid: "Go tell Calandrino to keep himself very
"Good day, Calandrino:" to which Calandrino replied: "God give you a good warm, and I will come at once, and let him know what is the matter with
day and a good year." Nello then drew back a little, and looked him steadily him, and what he must do." With which message the maid was scarcely
in the face, until: "What do you see to stare at?" said Calandrino. "Did returned, when the Master and Bruno arrived, and the Master, having
you have no pain in the night?" returned Nello; "you seem not yourself to seated himself beside Calandrino, felt his pulse, and by and by, in the
me." Which Calandrino no sooner heard, than he began to be disquieted, presence of his wife, said: "Listen, Calandrino, I speak to you as a friend,
and: "Alas! How do you say?" said he. "What do you think is the matter and I tell you that what is wrong with you is just that you are with child."
with me?" "Why, as to that I have nothing to say," returned Nello; "but Whereupon Calandrino cried out querulously:
you seem to be quite changed: perhaps it is not what I suppose;" and
with that he left him. "Woe's me! It is your doing, Tessa, for that you must needs be uppermost: I
told you plainly what would come of it," Whereat the lady, being not a little
Calandrino, anxious, though he could not in the least have said why, went modest, colored from brow to neck, and with downcast eyes, withdrew
on; and soon Buffalmacco, who was not far off, and had observed him part from the room, saying never a word by way of answer. Calandrino ran on
from Nello, made up to him, and greeted him, asking him if he was not in the same plaintive strain: "Alas! woe's me! What shall I do? How shall
in pain. "I cannot say," replied Calandrino; "it was but now that Nello told I be delivered of this child? What passage can it find? Ah! I see only too
me I looked quite changed. Can it be that there is something the matter plainly that the lasciviousness of this wife of mine has been the death of
with me?" "Something?" said Buffalmacco, "yes, indeed, there might be me: God make her as wretched as I would fain be happy! Were I as well
a trifle the matter with you. You look to be half dead, man." as I am not, I would get up and thrash her, till I left not a whole bone in
her body, although it does but serve me right for letting her get the upper
Calandrino now began to think he must have a fever. And then up came place; but if I do win through this, she shall never have it again; verily she
Bruno; and the first thing he said was: "Why, Calandrino, how ill you look! might pine for it, but she should not have it.”
your appearance is that of a corpse. How do you feel?" To be thus accosted
by all three left no doubt in Calandrino's mind that he was ill, and so: "What Which to hear, Bruno, Buffalmacco, and Nello were like to burst with
shall I do?" said he, in a great fright. "My advice," replied Bruno, "is that suppressed laughter, and Master Simone laughed so frantically that all his
you go home and get yourself to bed and cover yourself well up, and send teeth were ready to start from his jaws. However, at length, in answer to
your water to Master Simone, who, as you know, is such a friend of ours. Calandrino's appeals and entreaties for counsel and succor: "Calandrino,"
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