Page 28 - THE DECAMERON: A Visionary Journey in 100 Stories and 100 Etchings by Petru Russu

The Decameron It so happened that his zeal was rewarded by discovering a questions, he replied, 'No doubt, but rather assured faith in all I heard.
One thing, however, caused me to commiserate you and the other
friars for the evil plight you must find yourselves in the other world.'
good man, better furnished with money than with sense, who,

in an unguarded moment, not from lack of faith but perhaps
from excess of hilarity, being heated with wine, said to his
'What was the passage that moved you to commiserate us?'
companions that he had a wine good enough for Christ Himself
asked the inquisitor. 'It was the passage that says: "You
to drink. This was reported to the inquisitor, who, knowing the
right,' said the inquisitor. 'But why did it affect you so?'
man had large estates and a well-lined purse, set to work in hot
haste to bring the full rigor of the law upon him. His aim was not shall receive a hundredfold,"' replied the man. 'You heard

to lighten the load of the man's misbelief but to increase the 'Sir,' replied the man, 'I will tell you. Since I have been here, I
weight of his own purse by the florins he might receive from him. have seen a crowd of poor people receive a daily dole of huge
tureens of swill, the refuse from your table and that of the brothers
The inquisitor cited the man to his presence and asked if the of this convent. If you are to receive a hundredfold in the other
allegations were true. The good man affirmed and explained world, you will have so much that you will all be drowned in it.'
how it had happened. The inquisitor, with a stern countenance,
upbraided him, saying, 'Then you have made Christ a wine-bibber, This raised a general laugh among those at the inquisitor's table.
a lover of rare vintages, as if He were a sot, a toper, and a tavern- The inquisitor, feeling their gluttony and hypocrisy had been
haunter like one of you. Do you think a few words of apology exposed, was very angry. But, fearing further censure, he told the
will make this a light matter? It is no such thing. You deserve man to go about his business and show himself there no more.
the fire, and we should do our duty by inflicting it upon you.'

Terrified, the good man employed intermediaries to anoint the
inquisitor's palms with a liberal allowance of St. John Goldenmouth's
grease, an excellent remedy for the avarice that spreads like a
pestilence among the clergy, especially the friars minors. The
ointment had such a gracious effect that the threatened fire was
replaced with a cross, which the man was to wear as if bound for
an overseas venture. To make the ensign more handsome, the
inquisitor ordered it to be yellow on a black ground. After pocketing
the coin, the inquisitor kept the man dangling about him for days,
bidding him hear mass every morning at Santa Croce and wait upon
him at breakfast, after which he was free for the rest of the day.

One morning, the Gospel at mass included the words: 'You shall
receive a hundredfold and shall possess eternal life.' With these
words deeply graven in his memory, the man presented himself
before the inquisitor, who was taking his breakfast. Asked if he had
heard mass, he answered, 'Yes, sir.' Asked if he had any doubts or
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The Decameron