Page 219 - THE DECAMERON: A Visionary Journey in 100 Stories and 100 Etchings by Petru Russu

the two lovers in bed together. The lovers, stunned by the sudden The Ninth Day | The Third Novell
intrusion, didn't know what to do. The sisters took the young nun
Storyteller: Filostrato
and, by the abbess's command, brought her to the chapter-house.
The gallant, left behind in the cell, dressed and waited to see how Master Simon the Physician, by the persuasions of Bruno, Buffalmaco,
things would unfold, ready to make the nuns pay dearly for any and a third companion, named Nello, made Calandrino believe that
harm done to his mistress and to take her away with him. he was pregnant. And having medicine administered to him for the
condition: they got both good fat capons and money from him, and so
In the chapter-house, the abbess, surrounded by all the nuns, cured him, without any other means of deliverance.
began to reprimand Isabetta severely for her disgraceful conduct,
which, if discovered, would tarnish the convent's reputation. She
added dire threats to her scolding. Ashamed and fearful, Isabetta
remained silent, which evoked pity from the other nuns. But as
the abbess continued her tirade, Isabetta noticed the abbess's
headgear and the points hanging down. Realizing the significance,
she gained courage and said, "Madam, so help you God, tie up your
coif, and then you may say what you will to me." The abbess, not
understanding, replied, "What coif, lewd woman? Do you have the
audacity to jest? Do you think what you have done is a matter for
jokes?" Isabetta repeated, "Madam, I pray you, tie up your coif,
and then you may say to me whatever you please."

This prompted several nuns to look at the abbess's head, and
1985 HAND COLORED AQUA TINTA / AQUA FORTE
the abbess herself raised her hands to her head, realizing what
29,5X19,5 CM. | 11¾X7½ IN. (IMAGE SIZE).
Isabetta meant. Seeing that she had been caught in the same sin
and that there was no hiding it, the abbess changed her tone. She
spoke differently, concluding that it was impossible to resist the
flesh's desires and that, as long as they kept it secret, they could When Elisa had ended her story, and all had given thanks to God that He
all enjoy themselves as they had the opportunity. She dismissed had granted the young nun a happy escape from the fangs of her envious
Isabetta to rejoin her lover in her cell and returned to her priest. companions, the queen asked Filostrato to follow suit; and without waiting
Many times thereafter, despite the envious, Isabetta continued to for a second command, Filostrato began: "Fairest my ladies, the uncouth
see her lover, while the other nuns, lacking lovers, did their best judge from the Marches, of whom I told you yesterday, took from the tip
in secret to find their own fortunes. of my tongue a story of Calandrino, which I was about to narrate: and as
nothing can be said of him without greatly enhancing our jollity, although
not a little has already been said about him and his comrades, I will now
give you the story which I had meant to give you yesterday. Who they were,
this Calandrino and the others that I am to tell of in this story, has already
been sufficiently explained; therefore, without further ado, I say that one of

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