Page 248 - THE DECAMERON: A Visionary Journey in 100 Stories and 100 Etchings by Petru Russu

especially Niccoluccio, are now of another opinion than you were a brief The Tenth Day | The Fifth Novell
The Decameron her from me." None answered, for all were intent on hearing what more Madame Dianora, pursued by Signior Ansaldo, asked him for an
while ago, the lady rightly belongs to me, nor can any man lawfully reclaim
Storyteller: Emilia
he would say. But, while Niccoluccio and some others there wept for
sympathy, Messer Gentile stood up, took the little boy in his arms and the
impossible task: a garden full of flowers in January. With the help
lady by the hand, and approached Niccoluccio, saying: "Rise, my friend. I
of a magician, Ansaldo fulfilled her request. Her husband, Signior
do not, indeed, restore you your wife, whom your relatives and hers cast
forth; but I am minded to give you this lady, my friend, with this her little
generosity, released her from the promise.
boy, whom I know well to be your son, and whom I held at the font and Gilberto, consented to her promise. Ansaldo, moved by Gilberto's
named Gentile. I pray you that she be not the less dear to you for that
she has tarried three months in my house; for I swear to you by that God,
who, perhaps, ordained that I should be enamored of her, to the end that
my love might be, as it has been, the occasion of her restoration to life,
that never with her father, or her mother, or with you, did she live more
virtuously than with my mother in my house." Which said, he turned to
the lady, saying: "Madam, I now release you from all promises made to
me, and so deliver you to Niccoluccio." Then, leaving the lady and the
child in Niccoluccio's embrace, he returned to his seat. To receive his
wife and son was to Niccoluccio a delight great in the measure of its
remoteness from his hope. In the most honorable terms at his command,
he thanked the knight, whom all the rest, weeping for sympathy, greatly
commended for what he had done, as did also all who heard thereof.
The lady, welcomed home with wondrous cheer, was long a marvel to
1985 HAND COLORED AQUA TINTA / AQUA FORTE
the people of Bologna, who gazed on her as one raised from the dead.
29,5X19,5 CM. | 11¾X7½ IN. (IMAGE SIZE).
Messer Gentile lived ever after as the friend of Niccoluccio and his and
the lady's relatives. Now, what shall be your verdict, gracious ladies?

A king's generosity, though it was of his scepter and crown, an abbot's Each of the cheerful company had with superlative commendation
reconciliation, at no cost to himself, of a malefactor with the Pope, or extolled Messer Gentile to the skies, when the king bade Emilia follow
an old man's submission of his throat to the knife of his enemy—will suit; and with a good courage, as burning to speak, thus Emilia began:
you judge that such acts as these are comparable to the deed of Messer "Delicate my ladies, none can justly say that 'twas not magnificently
Gentile? Who, though young and burning with passion, and deeming done of Messer Gentile; but if it be alleged that 'twas the last degree of
himself justly entitled to that which the heedlessness of another had magnificence, 'twill perchance not be difficult to show that more was
discarded and he by good fortune had recovered, not only tempered possible, as is my purpose in the little story that I shall tell you. In Friuli,
his ardor with honor but, having that which with his whole soul he had a country which, though its air is shrewd, is pleasantly diversified by
long been bent on wresting from another, did with generosity restore it. fine mountains and not a few rivers and clear fountains, is a city called
Assuredly none of the feats aforesaid seem to me like unto this. Udine, where dwelt of yore a fair and noble lady, Madonna Dianora
by name, wife of a wealthy grandee named Giliberto, a very pleasant
gentleman, and debonair. Now this lady, for her high qualities, was in
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The Decameron