Page 223 - THE DECAMERON: A Visionary Journey in 100 Stories and 100 Etchings by Petru Russu

thirty-five soldi, if we pay forthwith, but if we wait till tomorrow, we shall the help of the peasants compelled him to dismount; and having stripped
not get off with less than thirty-eight, the full amount of the loan; and it is him, donned his clothes, mounted his horse and leaving him barefoot and
because I staked by his advice that he will make me this allowance. Now in his shirt, rode back to Siena, giving out on all hands that he had won
why should we not save these three soldi?" Whereat Angiulieri waxed well- the palfrey and the clothes from Angiulieri. So Angiulieri, having thought
nigh desperate, more particularly that he marked that the bystanders were to present himself to the cardinal in the March a wealthy man, returned
scanning him suspiciously, as if, so far from understanding that Fortarrigo to Buonconvento poor and in his shirt; and being ashamed for the time
had staked and lost his, Angiulieri's money, they gave him credit for still to show himself in Siena, pledged the nag that Fortarrigo had ridden for
being in funds: so he cried out: "What have I to do with your doublet? It is a suit of clothes, and betook him to his kinsfolk at Corsignano, where he
high time you were hanged by the neck, that, not content with robbing me tarried, until he received a fresh supply of money from his father. Thus,
and gambling away my money, you must needs also keep me in parley here then, Fortarrigo's guile disconcerted Angiulieri's judicious purpose, albeit
and make mock of me, when I would fain be gone." Fortarrigo, however, when time and occasion served, it was not left unrequited.
still persisted in making believe that Angiulieri did not mean this for him,
and only said: "Nay, but why will you not save me these three soldi? Do
you think I can be of no more use to you? Please, if you love me, do me
this turn. Why are you in such a hurry? We have time enough to get to
Torrenieri this evening. Come now, out with your purse. You know I might The Ninht Day | The Fifth Novell
search Siena through, and not find a doublet that would suit me so well Storyteller: Fiammatta
as this: and for all I let him have it for thirty-eight soldi, it is worth forty or
more; so you will wrong me twice over." Vexed beyond measure that, after Master Simon the Physician, by the persuasions of Bruno, Buffalmaco,
robbing him, Fortarrigo should now keep him clavering about the matter, and a third companion, named Nello, made Calandrino believe that
Angiulieri made no answer, but turned his horse's head, and took the road he was pregnant. And having medicine administered to him for the
for Torrenieri. But Fortarrigo with cunning malice trotted after him in his shirt, condition: they got both good fat capons and money from him, and so
and it was still his doublet, his doublet, that he would have of him: and when cured him, without any other means of deliverance.
they had thus ridden two good miles, and Angiulieri was forcing the pace
to get out of earshot of his pestering, Fortarrigo espied some husbandmen
in a field beside the road a little ahead of Angiulieri, and fell a shouting to
them amain: "Take thief! Take thief!" Whereupon they came up with their
spades and their mattocks, and barred Angiulieri's way, supposing that he
must have robbed the man that came shouting after him in his shirt, and
stopped him and apprehended him; and little indeed did it avail him to tell
them who he was, and how the matter stood. For up came Fortarrigo with
a wrathful air, and: "I know not," said he, "why I spare to kill you on the spot,
traitor, thief that you are, thus to despoil me and give me the slip!" And then,
turning to the peasants: "You see, gentlemen," said he, "in what a trim he
left me in the inn, after gambling away all that he had with him and on him.
Well indeed may I say that under God it is to you I owe it that I have thus
come by my own again: for which cause I shall ever be beholden to you." 1985 HAND COLORED AQUA TINTA / AQUA FORTE
Angiulieri also had his say; but his words passed unheeded. Fortarrigo with 29,5X19,5 CM. | 11¾X7½ IN. (IMAGE SIZE).
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The Decameron