Page 225 - THE DECAMERON: A Visionary Journey in 100 Stories and 100 Etchings by Petru Russu

Calandrino: "she has stricken me to the death." Said Bruno: "I will go see yes, and anyhow I will soon let her know it, when I come to grapple her.
if she is the lady I take her to be, and if I find that it is so, leave the rest to By the very body of Christ I will have such sport with her, that she will
me." Whereupon down went Bruno, and found Filippo and the damsel, follow me as any love-sick maid follows her swain." "Oh!" said Bruno, "I
and fully apprised them what sort of fellow Calandrino was, and what he doubt not you will make her your prey: and I seem to see you bite her
had told them, and concerted with them what each should do and say, dainty red mouth and her cheeks, that show as twin roses, with your
that they might have a merry time together over Calandrino's love affair. teeth, that are as so many lute-pegs, and afterwards devour her bodily."
He then rejoined Calandrino, saying: "It is the very same; and therefore So encouraged, Calandrino fancied himself already in action, and went
the affair needs very delicate handling, for, if Filippo were but aware of it, about singing and capering in such high glee that it was as if he would
not all Arno's waters would suffice to cleanse us. However, what should burst his skin. And so the next day he brought the rebeck, and to the no
I say to her from you, if by chance I should get speech of her?" "In faith," small amusement of all the company sang several songs to her. And, in
replied Calandrino, "why, first, first of all, you will tell her that I wish her short, by frequently seeing her, he waxed so mad with passion that he
a thousand bushels of the good seed of generation, and then that I am gave over working; and a thousand times a day he would run now to the
her servant, and if she is willing for – anything – you understand?" "Yes," window, now to the door, and then to the courtyard on the chance of
said Bruno, "leave it to me." catching sight of her; nor did she, astutely following Bruno's instructions,
fail to afford him plenty of opportunity. Bruno played the go-between,
Supper-time came; and, the day's work done, they went down into the bearing him her answers to all his messages, and sometimes bringing
courtyard, Filippo and Niccolosa being there, and there they tarried a him messages from her. When she was not at home, which was most
while to advance Calandrino's suit. Calandrino's gaze was soon riveted frequently the case, he would send him letters from her, in which she
on Niccolosa, and such strange and startling gestures he made that they gave great encouragement to his hopes, at the same time giving him to
would have given sight to the blind. She, on her part, used all her arts understand that she was at the house of her relatives, where as yet he
to inflame his passion, primed as she had been by Bruno, and diverted might not visit her.
beyond measure as she was by Calandrino's antics, while Filippo,
Buffalmacco, and the rest feigned to be occupied in conversation, and In this way, Bruno and Buffalmacco so managed the affair as to divert
to see nothing of what passed. However, after a while, to Calandrino's themselves inordinately, causing him to send her, as at her request, now
extreme disgust, they took their leave; and as they bent their steps towards an ivory comb, now a purse, now a little knife, and other such dainty
Florence: "I assure you," said Bruno to Calandrino, "she wastes away for trifles; in return for which they brought him, now and again, a counterfeit
you like ice in the sunlight; by the body of God, if you were to bring your ring of no value, with which Calandrino was marvelously pleased. And
rebeck, and sing her one or two of your love-songs, she'd throw herself out Calandrino, to stimulate their zeal in his interest, would entertain them
of the window to be with you." Said Calandrino: "Do you think, comrade, hospitably at table, and otherwise flatter them. Now, when they had
do you think, it would be well if I brought it?" "Yes, indeed," returned thus kept him in play for two good months, and the affair was just where
Bruno. Whereupon: "Ah! Comrade," said Calandrino, "so you would not it had been, Calandrino, seeing that the work was coming to an end,
believe me when I told you today? Truly, I perceive there's no one else and thinking that, if it did so before he had brought his love affair to a
who knows so well what he would be at as I. Who but I would have known successful issue, he must give up all hopes of ever doing so, began to
how so soon to win the love of a lady like that? Lucky indeed might they be very insistent and importunate with Bruno. So, in the presence of the
deem themselves, if they did it, those young gallants that go about, day damsel, and by preconcert with her and Filippo, said Bruno to Calandrino:
and night, up and down, strumming on the one-stringed viol, and would "Listen, comrade, this lady has vowed to me a thousand times that she will
not know how to gather a handful of nuts once in a millennium. May you do as you would have her, and as, for all that, she does nothing to please
be by to see when I bring her the rebeck! You will see fine sport. Listen you, I am of the opinion that she leads you by the nose: wherefore, as
well to what I say: I am not so old as I look; and she knows it right well: she keeps not her promises, we will make her do so, willy-nilly, if you are
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