Page 95 - THE DECAMERON: A Visionary Journey in 100 Stories and 100 Etchings by Petru Russu

The Fourth Day | The Second Novell Madame Fiammetta's tale moved the company to tears, but the King,
Storyteller: Pampinea with a stern face, said: "I would have praised fortune's kindness if I
had experienced even a fraction of the delight Guiscardo had with fair
Alibech becomes a hermit, and a monk named Rustico teaches her Ghismonda. None of you should wonder why, for I endure countless
a peculiar method he calls 'putting the Devil in Hell.' Eventually, she agonizing torments without any hope of relief or pleasure. But, regarding
returns home and marries Neerbale. Dioneus, paying close attention my miserable condition, I now ask Madame Pampinea to continue with
to the Queen’s tale, realizes he is the last to entertain for the day. the theme of unsuccessful love, as Madame Fiammetta has begun, to
Without wasting time for the Queen's command, he begins his story. perhaps alleviate my agony."

Madame Pampinea, understanding the mood of the company and
respecting their feelings more than the King’s command, chose to tell
a light-hearted tale within the theme. She recalled the proverb that a
bad man seen as good can commit many evils without suspicion, and
decided to speak of the hypocrisy of some religious men, who under
the guise of holiness, seek to deceive for their gain.

In the city of Imola lived Bertho de la Messa, a notorious wrongdoer.
To escape his reputation, he fled to Venice, a city known for its vices,
and took on the persona of a pious Franciscan friar, calling himself Friar
Albert of Imola. He led a seemingly austere life, fasting and appearing
deeply devout, but secretly continued his wicked ways. His pious
facade won him the trust of Venetians, who entrusted him with their
wills and wealth.

One day, a young, proud Venetian woman named Madame Lisetta de
Caquirino, whose husband was away on business, went to confess. In
her pride, she mentioned her many admirers and beauty. Friar Albert,
seeing her vanity, devised a plan to exploit her. He convinced her that
Cupid himself was in love with her and visited her disguised as Cupid.
When her relatives discovered the deception, Friar Albert fled and was
later caught pretending to be a wild man. Publicly recognized, he was
imprisoned, revealing the depths of his deceit and hypocrisy.

Friar Albert observed that the young Venetian woman, Madame Lisetta,
boasted excessively about her beauty, demonstrating her shallow mind.
He realized she would be easy to deceive and became infatuated with
1985 HAND COLORED AQUA TINTA / AQUA FORTE her. Pretending to be a holy and religious man, he reprimanded her for
29,5X19,5 CM. | 11¾X7½ IN. (IMAGE SIZE).
91
The Decameron