Page 272 - THE DECAMERON: A Visionary Journey in 100 Stories and 100 Etchings by Petru Russu

The Decameron near his house and found her fair enough, deemed that with her he come to wed Griselda, but first, there are some matters I would learn
might pass a tolerably happy life. Therefore, he sought no further
from her own lips in your presence." He then asked her whether, if
he took her as his wife, she would strive to comply with his wishes,
but resolved to marry her. Having sent for her father, who was a
not be angry no matter what he might say or do, and be obedient,
very poor man, he contracted with him to take her as his wife. This
with not a few other questions of a similar sort. To all of which she
done, Gualtieri assembled all his friends in those parts and said: "My
answered, yes. Whereupon Gualtieri took her by the hand, led her
friends, you were and are determined that I should take a wife, and
rather to comply with your wishes than for any desire I had to marry,
I have made up my mind to do so. You remember the promise you
folk as were there, caused her to strip naked. He then brought the
garments he had had fashioned for her and had her arrayed in them.
gave me, that whoever I should take, you would pay her the honor forth, and before the eyes of all his company and as many other
due to a lady. Which promise I now require you to keep, the time Upon her unkempt head, he set a crown. While all wondered, he said:
being come when I am to keep mine. I have found nearby a maiden "Gentlemen, this is she whom I intend to make my wife, so she be
after my own heart, whom I intend to take as my wife and bring to minded to have me for her husband." Then, she standing abashed
my house in a few days. Therefore, consider how you may make the and astonished, he turned to her, saying: "Griselda, will you have
nuptial feast splendid and welcome her with all honor, so that I may me for your husband?" To which she answered: "Yes, my lord." "And
be satisfied with your observance of your promise, as you will be with I will have you as my wife," said he, and married her before them
my observance of mine." The worthy men, one and all, answered all. Having set her upon a palfrey, he brought her home with pomp.
with alacrity that they were well content and that whoever she might
be, they would treat her as a lady and pay her all due honor as such. The wedding was fair and stately, and had he married a daughter of
After which, they all set about making a grand and joyful celebration the King of France, the feast could not have been more splendid. It
of the event, as did Gualtieri. He arranged for a most stately and fair seemed as if, with the change of her garb, the bride had acquired a
wedding and invited a goodly number of his friends and relatives, new dignity of mind and demeanor. She was, as we have said, fair
and great gentlemen, and others from the neighborhood. He also had of form and feature. Moreover, she was now so engaging, gracious,
many fine and costly robes cut and fashioned to the figure of a girl and debonair that she no longer appeared as the shepherdess and
who seemed to him of the same proportions as the girl he intended the daughter of Giannucolo, but as the daughter of some noble lord,
to marry. He laid in store, besides, girdles and rings, with a costly causing as many as had known her before to marvel. She was so
and beautiful crown, and all the other paraphernalia of a bride. obedient and devoted to her husband that he deemed himself the
happiest and luckiest man in the world. Likewise, she was so gracious
The day appointed for the wedding arrived, and around mid-morning, and kindly to her husband's servants that there was none of them but
he mounted his horse with as many as had come to do him honor. loved her more dearly than himself. They were zealous to do her honor,
Having made all necessary arrangements, he said: "Gentlemen, it is prayed for her welfare, prosperity, and aggrandizement, and instead
time to go bring home the bride." And so he rode with his company of, as before, saying that Gualtieri had done foolishly to take her as
to the village, where they found the girl's father returning from the his wife, now averred that he had no equal in the world for wisdom
spring with a bucket of water, making all the haste she could so that and discernment. They believed that, save for him, her noble qualities
she might afterwards go with the other women to see Gualtieri's bride would have remained hidden under her sorry apparel and the garb of
come by. When Gualtieri saw her, he called her by her name, Griselda, a peasant girl. In short, she so comported herself that, in no long time,
and asked her where her father was. She modestly answered: "My not only in the marquisate but far and wide besides, her virtues and
lord, he is in the house." Whereupon Gualtieri dismounted and, admirable conversation were matters of common talk. If anything had
having bidden the rest to wait outside, entered the cottage alone. been said to the disadvantage of her husband when he married her,
Meeting her father, whose name was Giannucolo, he said: "I have the judgment was now altogether to the contrary effect.
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