Page 221 - THE DECAMERON: A Visionary Journey in 100 Stories and 100 Etchings by Petru Russu

said the Master, "you may dismiss your fears, for, God be praised, we were The Ninht Day | The Fourth Novell
apprised of your state in such good time that with but little trouble, in the Storyteller Neifile
course of a few days, I shall set you right; but it will cost a little." "Woe's
me," returned Calandrino, "be it so, Master, for the love of God: I have here Francesco Fortarigo gambled away all his money and his master's,
two hundred pounds, with which I had thoughts of buying an estate: take Francesco Aniolliero, at Buonconvento. He then ran after Aniolliero,
them all, all, if you must have all, so only I may escape being delivered, claiming he had been robbed. Peasants captured Aniolliero, while
for I know not how I should manage it, seeing that woman, although it is Fortarigo dressed in his master's clothes, mounted his horse, and
much easier for them, do make such a noise in the hour of their labor, rode to Siena, leaving Aniolliero in his shirt and barefoot.
that I doubt me, if I suffered so, I should die before I was delivered." "Do
not worry," said the doctor: "I will have a potion distilled for you; of rare
virtue it is, and not a little palatable, and in the course of three days it will
purge you of all, and leave you in better shape than a fish; but you will do
well to be careful afterwards, and commit no such indiscretions again.

Now to make this potion we must have three pairs of good fat capons,
and, for various other ingredients, you will give one of your friends
here five pounds in small change to purchase them, and you will have
everything sent to my shop, and so, please God, I will send you this
distilled potion tomorrow morning, and you will take a good beakerful
each time." Whereupon: "Be it as you bid, Master mine," said Calandrino,
and handing Bruno five pounds, and money enough to purchase three
pairs of capons, he begged him, if it were not too much trouble, to do
him the service to buy these things for him. So away went the doctor,
and made a little decoction by way of draught, and sent it to him. Bruno
bought the capons and everything else that was needed to furnish forth
the feast, with which he and his comrades and the doctor regaled them.
Calandrino drank of the decoction for three mornings, after which he
had a visit from his friends and the doctor, who felt his pulse, and then:
"Beyond a doubt, Calandrino," said he, "you are cured, and so you have
no more occasion to keep indoors, but need have no fear to do whatever
you have a mind to." Much relieved, Calandrino got up, and resumed his
accustomed way of life, and, wherever he found anyone to talk to, was
loud in praise of Master Simone for the excellent manner in which he had
cured him, causing him in three days without the least suffering to be
quit of his pregnancy. And Bruno and Buffalmacco and Nello were not a
little pleased with themselves that they had so cleverly got the better of
Calandrino's niggardliness, although Monna Tessa, who was not deceived, 1985 HAND COLORED AQUA TINTA / AQUA FORTE
murmured not a little against her husband. 29,5X19,5 CM. | 11¾X7½ IN. (IMAGE SIZE).
217
The Decameron