The Princely Tales of the Decameron Quiz

Answer: Leek

The fair Madonna Malgherida de' Ghisoleri could certainly take her pick of lovers, so when the seventy-year-old Master Alberto showed up at her house enamored, she and her friends made fun of him. However, he has a witty reply that puts the shame back on the one who tried to shame him:

"My hope in thus old aspiring to love you, who are loved by so many young men, is founded on what I have frequently observed of ladies' ways at lunch, when they trifle with the lupin and the leek. In the leek no part is good, but the head is at any rate not so bad as the rest, and indeed not unpalatable; you, however, for the most part, following a depraved taste, hold it in your hand and munch the leaves, which are not only of no account but actually distasteful. How am I to know, madam, that in your selection of lovers, you are not equally eccentric? In which case I should be the man of your choice, and the rest would be cast aside."

Sometimes admitting one's shortcomings can be the best weapon!

Answer: The fidelity of Bernabo's wife

Stemming from a discussion in which several men - all but Bernabo - doubted the fidelity of their wives, Ambroguiolo bet a large sum of money that he could seduce Bernabo's wife. He quickly found his efforts to be fruitless and resorted to a ruse to "prove" he had successfully seduced her. Enraged, Bernabo arranged for his wife to be murdered, but she escaped disguised as a man. Years later, she met Ambroguiolo, found out the truth and arranged for the traitor to fatally become a subject of deception.

Sometimes karma just takes its time!

Answer: She cured the king of a fistula

Gillette, daughter of Bertrand's father's physician, had loved Bertrand from childhood. When the old count died, Bertrand moved to the king's service, leaving his county unattended. Years later, Gillette heard of the king's ailment and cured him for the price of the marriage she desired. Bertrand was married to her but never returned home, leaving his wife to rule in his stead (a task she did well at). Only when she resorted to a ruse was she finally able to prove to him that she truly loved him and was in fact worthy of his love.

Sometimes it takes just too long to realize what you have received!

Answer: She was tricked into eating her paramour's heart

When Guillaume de Roussillon found out that his fair wife had an affair with his best friend, fellow noble Guillaume de Cabestaing, he resorted to a drastic punishment for the lovebirds: He laid an ambush for Cambestaing and slew him with his lance, taking his heart and having it served to his wife for dinner. After she had eaten, he told her the entire truth, upon which she committed suicide by jumping from the high window. The self-appointed judge and executioner did not emerge from the affair unscathed, however - rightfully fearing the wrath of the populace, he fled his lands and thus lost not only his wife but also his county.

Sometimes mercy is the only way to prevent utter tragedy!

Answer: A prized hunting falcon

Federigo, who began his life as a well-off noble, had his mind and heart set on the lady Monna Giovanna and did everything to woo her, to the extent that he gradually wasted his fortune and finally retreated into solitude with the only thing that remained him - the best falcon in the land. Lady Giovanna married and had a son before becoming widowed. When the boy fell ill, he longed to have the great falcon, so Giovanna, hoping to save the child, set out to request it from Federigo. Federigo received her, and before she could make her request, courtesy asked it of him to serve her breakfast. Without any other means to provide her with a meal befitting her stature, Federigo had his prized bird slaughtered, roasted and served, only to be most devastated by what came next. Giovanna's boy died soon after, but the story still ended somewhat well for the two - Giovanna had finally recognized just how much Federigo loved her and took him as her second husband.

Sometimes the best intentions have the worst results!

Answer: A tombyard

Some wealthy but less than cultured Florentines wanted to get Guido de Cavalcanti, a learned and witty man, to join their company, which the young man resented - not so much because of them but because he was a thinker who preferred to be alone. They mock-assaulted him in a tombyard, taunting him (an Epicurean) "[...]when thou hast proved that God does not exist, what wilt thou have achieved?" to which he made the reply given in the question. By this he implied that the tombs were their homes - that they were no better than dead to him. That's a powerful insult indeed!

Sometimes the strongest statement one can make is the hidden one!

Answer: A girlfriend he had premarital relations with

In the time of the "Decameron", "gossip" had no negative connotation but was simply a female friend (of course it is possible that our current use of the word evolved from this use, which would make it rather rude). In this case, our one friend was very successful in his dealings with a girl both of them liked, but his success and ensuing sin did contribute to his damnation in spite of hell turning the blind eye: The reason he died so young was a disease he had contracted from the lady.

Sometimes you will find that the penalty you dread most has already been meted out!

Answer: He was plunged into a trench filled with manure

In the opinion of Master Simone, the relatively poor painters Bruno and Buffalmaco were consistently too happy in life to be explained by their social standing, so he tried to get behind their secret. Bruno rose to the challenge by spinning a yarn about a secret society with contacts to the rich and mighty they were members of. Naturally, Simone wanted to become part of that, so the two pranksters dutifully arranged an induction, part of which was to ride a strange beast in the middle of the night as a sign of courage. That beast was no one else but a costumed Buffalmaco who used the excellent opportunity of passing by a manure trench to rid himself of his rider in a rather spectacular and smelly way.

Sometimes you just shouldn't believe those stories you are told!

Answer: He should beat his wife into submission

On their journey, the two men arrived at a bridge where a stubborn mule blocked their progress. They watched for a while as the mule's handler beat the animal and even objected to the mishandling of the creature, but the handler persisted, and, given enough force, finally startled the animal into walking again. On their departure, they found out that that bridge was called the Bridge of Geese. Giosefo took this as a sign that he should do the same to his wife and proceeded to savagely beat her up on the next small insubordination. To Solomon's credit, this even had the desired effect.

Sometimes what was wisdom 600 years ago is no longer applicable today!

Answer: Hidden in a cup of wine

Torello was a generous man who gained the favor of Sultan Saladin when he, not recognizing him, most graciously hosted him for several days. When he later fell captive during a crusade, Saladin spotted him in prison, liberated him and appointed him a lord of his own domain. Torello had arranged for a message of his good health sent to his wife, but it never arrived and due to a name confusion, he was declared dead. When he learned of this on the very last day of the agreed waiting period, he despaired, but Saladin had at his disposal a necromancer who could send Torello back to Pavia in a single night. Torello appeared at what was supposed to be the nuptial of his wife with her new husband, still dressed in Saracen manner. He took the ring she gave him upon his departure and hid it in her cup of wine. When she drank from the cup, she immediately recognized him and they were reunited in the nick of time.

Sometimes serving those in need is repaid thousandfold!