Page 83 - THE DECAMERON: A Visionary Journey in 100 Stories and 100 Etchings by Petru Russu

The only remedy is to cure Ferondo of his jealousy. I know how to devise immediately. Arrange for him to stay with me tomorrow or the day after."
the cure, but you must keep it secret." He then slipped a beautiful ring on her finger and dismissed her. Pleased
with the gift and expecting more, the lady rejoined her attendants, praising
The lady promised secrecy and asked how the cure could be devised. The the abbot's sanctity.
abbot replied, "He must go to purgatory. He must die, and after suffering
enough to be cured of his jealousy, we will pray to God to restore him A few days later, Ferondo came to the abbey. The abbot, resolved to
to life." send him to purgatory, selected a powder of marvelous virtue, which he
The lady asked if she would remain a widow. The abbot said, "Yes, for a had obtained from a great prince in the Levant. The powder, used by the
certain time. You must not marry another, as it would offend God. When Old Man of the Mountain, could induce a sleep so deep that the recipient
Ferondo is restored to life, you must return to him, and he will be more would seem dead. The abbot gave Ferondo enough to cause a three-day
jealous than ever." sleep, mixed in a beaker of wine. Ferondo drank it unwittingly, and soon
after, he fell into a deep sleep in the cloister.
The lady agreed, saying she would be content if Ferondo was cured of
his jealousy. The abbot then asked what reward he would receive for his The abbot, feigning concern, tried to revive Ferondo with cold water
service. The lady replied that she would do anything within her power. and other remedies, but to no avail. The monks, finding no sign of life,
The abbot said, "You will give me your love and gratify my passion for pronounced him dead. They sent word to his wife and kinsfolk, who
you, which consumes me." mourned briefly before Ferondo was laid in a tomb by the abbot's order.
The lady went home, vowing never to part from her son and taking care
The lady, shocked, said, "I thought you were a holy man. Does it befit holy of Ferondo's estate.
men to make such overtures to ladies seeking counsel?"
That night, the abbot, with the help of a trusted Bolognese monk, retrieved
The abbot replied, "My holiness is not diminished by this, as it resides Ferondo from the tomb and placed him in a lightless vault used as a prison
in the soul. This is but a sin of the flesh. Your beauty compels me to act for delinquent monks. They stripped him of his clothes, dressed him as
this way. You should be proud that your beauty delights even the saints. a monk, and left him on a truss of straw until he revived. The Bolognese
Though I am an abbot, I am also a man, and not yet old. While Ferondo is monk, instructed by the abbot, kept watch by the tomb.
in purgatory, I will be your nightly companion and give you the solace he
should have provided. No one will ever discover this, as all think of me as The next day, the abbot visited the lady's house, finding her in mourning.
you did. Do not reject the grace that God accords you. If you are wise and After offering some consolation, he gently reminded her of her promise.
follow my advice, you will have what many women desire in vain. I also Feeling free from Ferondo, the lady, noticing another beautiful ring on the
have rare and beautiful jewels that I will give you. Deny me not the reward abbot's finger, promised immediate compliance and arranged for the abbot
for the service I gladly render you." to visit her the next night. At nightfall, the abbot donned Ferondo's clothes
and, attended by his monk, visited the lady. He lay with her until matins,
The lady, her eyes still downcast, didn't know how to deny the abbot, then returned to the abbey. He made many such visits, leading some to
yet she hesitated to gratify him. Seeing her hesitation, the abbot pressed believe Ferondo was wandering as penance. Fables spread among the
on, persuading her that complying would be wise. With some confusion, foolish rustics, sometimes reaching the lady, who understood their origin.
she agreed to obey his every command, but only after Ferondo was When Ferondo revived, he found himself in an unknown place. The
in purgatory. The abbot, pleased, replied, "We will send him there Bolognese monk, gibbering horribly and armed with a rod, thrashed him

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The Decameron