Page 246 - THE DECAMERON: A Visionary Journey in 100 Stories and 100 Etchings by Petru Russu

The Decameron minded that my story shall be of a feat of magnificence done by a lover: servant, he gently bore her out of the tomb, set her before him on his
which, all things considered, will, perhaps, seem to you inferior to none
horse, and brought her privately to his house in Bologna, where his wise
and worthy mother lived. Being fully apprised of the circumstances, his
that have been shown you; so it be true that to possess the beloved one,
mother took pity on the lady, kindled a huge fire, and prepared a bath,
men will part with their treasures, forget their enmities, and jeopardize
thereby restoring her to life. The first sign she gave was to heave a great
their own lives, their honor, and their reputation, in a thousand ways.
sigh and murmur: "Alas! Where am I?" To which the worthy lady replied:
Know, then, that in Bologna, that most famous city of Lombardy, there
dwelt a knight, Messer Gentile Carisendi by name, worshipful alike for
to herself, looked around and, finding herself in an unfamiliar place and
his noble lineage and his native worth. In his youth, being enamored of a
young gentlewoman named Madonna Catalina, wife of one Niccoluccio "Be of good cheer; you are well lodged." By and by, the lady, coming
seeing Messer Gentile before her, was filled with wonder. She besought
Caccianimico, and well-nigh despairing, for that the lady gave him but his mother to tell her how she came to be there. Messer Gentile then
a sorry requital of his love, he betook himself to Modena, being called told her everything. Sore distressed, the lady thanked him as best she
there as Podesta. Now, while he was there, Niccoluccio being also away could. She then besought him, by the love he had borne her and of his
from Bologna, and his lady gone, for that she was with child, to lie in at a courtesy, that while she stayed in his house, she might be spared anything
house she had some three miles or so from the city, it befell that she was that could impair her honor and her husband's, and that at daybreak
suddenly smitten with a sore malady of such and so virulent a quality that he would allow her to return home. "Madam," replied Messer Gentile,
it left no sign of life in her, so that the very physicians pronounced her "however I did affect you in the past, since God in His goodness has, by
dead. And for that the women that were nearest of kin to her professed means of the love I bore you, restored you to me alive, I mean not now,
to have been told by her that she was not so far gone in pregnancy that or at any time hereafter, to treat you either here or elsewhere, save as
the child could be perfectly formed, they, without more ado, laid her in a dear sister. But the service I have rendered you tonight merits some
a tomb in a neighboring church, and after long lamentation, closed it reward, and therefore I would that you deny me not a favor which I shall
upon her. Messer Gentile was soon informed by one of his friends about ask of you." The lady graciously answered that she would be prompt to
Madonna Catalina's death. Despite her lack of favor towards him, he grant it, so long as it was within her power and consonant with her honor.
grieved deeply and began to reflect: "So, Madonna Catalina, you are dead!
While you lived, I never received a glance from you; therefore, now that Messer Gentile then said: "Your relatives, Madam, one and all, nay, all
you are dead, it is only right that I go take a kiss from you." It was night the people in Bologna are fully persuaded that you are dead. There is
when he mused thus, and, observing strict secrecy, he got on his horse therefore none to expect you at home. The favor I crave of you is this:
with a single servant and did not stop until he reached the place where that you will be pleased to stay privately here with my mother until such
the lady was interred. Having opened the tomb, he cautiously entered it. time, which will be soon, as I return from Modena. It is for this reason that
Then, lying down beside her, he set his face against hers and, weeping I intend to make a solemn and joyous donation of you to your husband
profusely, kissed her again and again. in the presence of the most honorable people of this city that I ask of
you this grace." Mindful of what she owed the knight and knowing that
As is common knowledge, the desires of men, especially lovers, know his request was appropriate, the lady, though yearning to gladden her
no bounds and crave ever greater satisfaction. Thus, although Messer relatives with the sight of her in the flesh, consented to do as Messer
Gentile had intended to stay no longer, he now said to himself: "Why not Gentile asked and pledged him her faith. Scarcely had she done so
touch her bosom for a while? I have never touched it, nor shall I ever when she felt that the hour of her labor had come. Tenderly cared for
touch it again." Obeying this impulse, he laid his hand on her bosom and, by Messer Gentile's mother, she soon gave birth to a fine boy, which
keeping it there for some time, felt her heart faintly beating. Banishing greatly enhanced her own and Messer Gentile's happiness. Having made
all fear and examining the body more closely, he discovered that life all necessary provisions for her and left word that she was to be tended
was not extinct, though it was scant and flickering. With the help of his as if she were his own wife, Messer Gentile, observing strict secrecy,
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