Page 226 - THE DECAMERON: A Visionary Journey in 100 Stories and 100 Etchings by Petru Russu

The Decameron so minded." "Nay, but, for the love of God, so be it," replied Calandrino, courtyard, where he found Niccolosa alone, and started talking with her.
"and that speedily." "Dare you touch her, then, with a scroll that I shall
She, knowing well what she had to do, drew close to him, and showed
him a little more familiarity than she was used to: whereupon Calandrino
give you?" said Bruno. "I dare," replied Calandrino. "Fetch me, then,"
touched her with the scroll, and having done so, saying never a word,
said Bruno, "a bit of the skin of an unborn lamb, a live bat, three grains
bent his steps towards the barn, where Niccolosa followed him, and being
of incense, and a blessed candle; and leave the rest to me." To catch
entered, shut the door, and immediately embraced him, threw him down
the bat taxed all Calandrino's art and craft for the whole of the evening;
but having at length taken him, he brought him with the other matters to
Bruno: who, having withdrawn into a room by himself, wrote on the skin
by the arms about the shoulders, did not allow him to approach his face
to hers, but gazing upon him, as if he were the delight of her heart: "Oh
some cabalistic jargon, and handed it to him, saying: "Know, Calandrino, on the straw that lay there, and got astride of him, and holding him fast
that, if you touch her with this scroll, she will follow you forthwith, and Calandrino, sweet my Calandrino," said she, "heart of my body, my very
do whatever you wish. Wherefore, should Filippo go abroad today, get soul, my bliss, my consolation, ah! how long have I yearned to hold you
yourself somehow up to her, and touch her; and then go into the barn that in my arms and have you all my own! Your endearing ways have utterly
is nearby - it is the best place we have, for never a soul goes there—and disarmed me; you have made prize of my heart with your rebeck. Do I
you will see that she will come there too. When she is there, you know indeed hold you in my embrace?" Calandrino, scarcely able to move,
well what to do." Calandrino, overjoyed as never another, took the scroll, murmured: "Ah! sweet my soul, let me kiss you." To which: "No, but you
saying only: "Comrade, leave that to me." are too hasty," replied Niccolosa. "Let me first feast my eyes on you; let
me but sate them with this sweet face of yours."
Now Nello, whom Calandrino mistrusted, entered with no less zest than
the others into the affair, and was their confederate for Calandrino's Meanwhile Bruno and Buffalmacco had joined Filippo, so that what passed
discomfiture; accordingly, by Bruno's direction, he hurried to Florence, and was seen and heard by all three. And while Calandrino was thus intent on
finding Monna Tessa: "You have scarcely forgotten, Tessa," said he, "what kissing Niccolosa, lo, up came Nello with Monna Tessa. "By God, I swear
a beating Calandrino gave you, without the least cause, that day when he they are both there," exclaimed Nello, as they entered the doorway; but the
came home with the stones from Mugnone; for which I would have you lady, now fairly furious, laid hold of him and thrust him aside, and rushing
be avenged, and, if you will not, call me no more kinsman or friend. He in, saw Niccolosa astride of Calandrino. Niccolosa no sooner caught sight
has fallen in love with a lady up there, who is abandoned enough to go of the lady, than up she jumped, and in a trice was beside Filippo. Monna
closeting herself not seldom with him, and it is but a short while since they Tessa fell upon Calandrino, who was still on the floor, planted her nails
made an appointment to meet forthwith: so I would have you go there, in his face, and scratched it all over: she then seized him by the hair, and
and surprise him in the act, and give him a sound trouncing." When the hauling him to and fro about the barn: "Foul, pestilent cur," said she,
lady heard this, she deemed it no laughing matter; but started up and "is this the way you treat me? You old fool! A curse on the love I have
broke out with: "Alas, the arrant knave! Is this how he treats me? By the borne you! Have you not enough to do at home, that you must needs go
Holy Rood, never fear but I will pay him out!" And wrapping herself in her falling in love with strange women? And a fine lover you would make! Do
cloak, and taking a young woman with her for a companion, she sped more you not know yourself, knave? Do you not know yourself, wretch? You,
at a run than at a walk, escorted by Nello, up to Camerata. Bruno, seeing from whose whole body it would not be possible to wring enough sap
her from afar, said to Filippo: "Look, here comes our friend." Whereupon for a sauce! God's faith, it was not Tessa that got you with child: God's
Filippo went to the place where Calandrino and the others were at work, curse on her, whoever she was: truly she must be a poor creature to
and said: "My masters, I must go at once to Florence; do not slacken on be enamored of a jewel of your rare quality." At the sight of his wife,
that account." And so off he went, and hid himself where, unobserved, Calandrino, suspended, as it were, between life and death, ventured no
he might see what Calandrino would do. Calandrino waited only until he defense; but, his face torn to shreds, his hair and clothes all disordered,
saw that Filippo was at some distance, and then he went down into the fumbled about for his hood, which having found, up he got, and humbly
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