Page 183 - THE DECAMERON: A Visionary Journey in 100 Stories and 100 Etchings by Petru Russu

and she would inform Gulfardo when he left so they could The Eighth Day | The Second Novell
meet safely. Storyteller: Panfilo

Gulfardo waited for the right time and went to Gasparuolo, A young priest from Varlungo fell in love with Monna Belcolore
saying, "I need two hundred crowns for an important matter and left his cloak as a pledge to win her affection. He later
and would appreciate it if you could lend them to me at your borrowed a mortar and, when returning it, demanded his cloak
usual rate." Gasparuolo agreed and gave him the money. A back, claiming it was collateral. To appease her husband, she
few days later, when Gasparuolo had gone to Genoa, the reluctantly returned the cloak.
woman informed Gulfardo it was safe to visit and bring the
money.

Gulfardo, with his friend, visited Mistress Ambrosia and, in his
friend's presence, gave her the two hundred crowns, saying,
"Mistress Ambrosia, please give these two hundred crowns
to your husband on my behalf when he returns from Genoa."
She, believing he spoke this way to conceal the transaction
from his friend, replied, "I will pay them to my husband for
you." She counted the money, found it correct, and put it
away, then hosted Gulfardo and enjoyed his company while
her husband was away.

When Gasparuolo returned, Gulfardo, with his friend,
1985 HAND COLORED AQUA TINTA / AQUA FORTE
approached him while he was with his wife and said, "Sir,
29,5X19,5 CM. | 11¾X7½ IN. (IMAGE SIZE).
I repaid the two hundred crowns to your wife a few days
after you left for Genoa. Please mark it as paid." Gasparuolo
asked his wife if it was true. Seeing the witness present, she
could not deny it and said, "Yes, I received the two hundred I say then, that at Varlungo, a village nearby, as all of you, my ladies,
crowns but forgot to tell you." Gasparuolo, satisfied, thanked should know either from your own knowledge or by report, there lived a
Gulfardo and promised to do him a greater kindness in the worthy priest, strong in the service of the ladies. Although he wasn't very
future. quick with his book, he had plenty of precious and blessed mistakes to
edify his flock with on Sundays under the elm. When the men were out,
Thus, Gulfardo left content, and Ambrosia, deceived, had to he would visit their wives like no priest had done before, bringing them
hand over the money to her husband, paying the price for her feast-day gowns, holy water, and sometimes a bit of candle, and giving
greed, while Gulfardo enjoyed his triumph without expense, them his blessing.
outwitting a covetous woman.
It so happened that among his fair parishioners, he became particularly
fond of Monna Belcolore, the wife of a farmer named Bentivegna del

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The Decameron