Page 245 - THE DECAMERON: A Visionary Journey in 100 Stories and 100 Etchings by Petru Russu

Wherefore yet again I bid you, nay, I entreat you, if so you are minded, The Tenth Day | The Fourth Novell
to take it for your satisfaction. I know not how I could better bestow it. Storyteller: Lauretta
I have had the use of it now for some eighty years, and pleasure and
solace thereof; and I know that, by the course of Nature and the common Signior Gentile de Carisendi returned from Modena and took
lot of man and all things mundane, it can continue to be mine for but a Madam Catharina from a grave where she was mistakenly buried.
little while. So I deem that it is much better to bestow it, as I have ever He did this out of his affection for her. Catharina had a son while
bestowed and dispensed my wealth, than to keep it until, against my staying with him. Later, Gentile returned her and the infant to her
will, it be reft from me by Nature. It would be but a trifle, though it were husband, Signior Nicoluccio Caccianimico.
a hundred years: how insignificant, then, the six or eight years that are
all I have to give! Take it, then, if you wish, take it, I pray you; for, long
as I have lived here, none have I found but you to desire it; nor know I
when I may find another, if you take it not, to demand it of me. And if,
perchance, I should find one such, yet I know that the longer I keep it,
the less its worth will be; wherefore, ere it be thus cheapened, take it,
I implore you."

Deeply ashamed, Mitridanes answered: "Now God forbid that I should
even harbor, as I just did, such a thought, let alone do such a deed, as to
take from you something as precious as your life, the years of which, far
from shortening, I would gladly add to with my own." "So then," replied
Nathan promptly, "you would, if you could, add your years to mine, and
cause me to serve you as I never yet served any man, to take from you
that which is yours, I who never took anything from anyone!" "Yes, that
1985 HAND COLORED AQUA TINTA / AQUA FORTE
I would," returned Mitridanes. "Then," said Nathan, "do as I shall bid you. 29,5X19,5 CM. | 11¾X7½ IN. (IMAGE SIZE).
You are young: stay here in my house, and call yourself Nathan; and I will
go to your house, and always call myself Mitridanes." Mitridanes replied:
"Were I able to fulfill this trust, as you have been and are, I would hardly
hesitate to accept your offer; but, as I am too sure that anything I might A marvelous thing it seemed to all that for generosity a man should
do would only serve to lower Nathan's fame, and I am not inclined to be ready to sacrifice his own life; and in this, they agreed that Nathan
mar that in another which I cannot mend in myself, I will not accept it." had without doubt surpassed the King of Spain and the Abbot of Cluny.
However, when they had discussed the matter diversely and at length,
After this and similar exchanges of delightful conversation, Nathan and the king, turning his attention to Lauretta, indicated his desire for her
Mitridanes, at Nathan's request, returned to the palace. There, Nathan to speak; and accordingly, Lauretta began: "Goodly matters are they
honorably entertained Mitridanes for some days and, with his wise and magnificent that have been recounted to you, young ladies; nay, so
counsel, confirmed and encouraged him in his high and noble resolve. much of our field of discourse is already filled by their grandeur, that for
Afterward, Mitridanes, intending to return home with his company, took us who are yet to tell, there is, I think, no room left, unless we seek our
his leave of Nathan, fully persuaded that it was not possible to surpass topic where matter of discourse relevant to every theme does most richly
him in generosity. abound, namely, in the affairs of love. For this reason, as well as because
our time of life cannot but make us especially inclined thereto, I am
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The Decameron