Tales From the Decameron of Giovanni Boccaccio

  7. Panago A form taken from popular speech, Panago (i.e. Pánico, near Bologna) was a feudatory of the counts of Alberti.

  8. My lord, I am ready to do as you ask Yet another biblical echo, this time of the Virgin’s ‘Ecce ancilla Dei’ (‘Behold the handmaid of the Lord’). from Luke i, 38.

  9. I think I can boast The Italian text reads ‘credendomi poter dar vanto’. Luigi Russo pointed out that the phrase had a precise and solemn meaning in feudal society. It has to do with the ‘vaunts’ or boasts made by knights, often over the dinner table, concerning some outstanding personal achievement, defying their companions to cite a more worthy deed of their own.

  (Conclusion)

  1. the wisdom of mortals… anticipate the future For his definition of wisdom, B. is paraphrasing a passage from Dante’s Convivio (IV, xxvii, 5): ‘A person ought, then, to be prudent, or wise. To be so he must have good recollection of the past, good knowledge of the present and good foresight regarding the future.’

  AUTHOR’S EPILOGUE

  1. with his sword or his lance In other words, with his weapon. B. is continuing to cite nouns with equivocal meanings.

  2. sometimes with a single nail, sometimes with two More phallic imagery, the mildly blasphemous double entendre being made possible because chiodo (‘nail’) derives from the Latin clavus, from which the Italian verb chiavare (‘to screw’) also derives. The sexual implications of the phrase tend to be overlooked by academic critics, some of whom have recently engaged in erudite debate over the way in which the Crucifixion is represented by medieval artists. Cimabue’s frescoes show Christ’s feet nailed separately to the cross. Giotto, more economical, followed the practice of northern European painters in transfixing both feet with a single nail.

  3. Athens, or Bologna, or Paris The most famous centres of learning in the ancient world (Athens) and the world of B.’s own day and age (Bologna and Paris).

  4. Jeremiah… Magdalen The references are to the Lamentations of Jeremiah, sung during Holy Week, to any one of several popular poems on the Passion of Christ such as Jacopone’s Pianto della Madonna, and to the poem already referred to in the story of Friar Puccio (III, 4).

  5. who forsake a life of discomfort for the love of God Repetition of the deliberately ambiguous phrase used by Friar Cipolla in his impromptu sermon (VI, 10).

  6. do their grinding when the millpond’s full A phrase used by the priest of Varlungo in the story of Monna Belcolore (VIII, 2).

  7. they all smell a little of the billy-goat A reference to the homosexual proclivities of the religious, hinted at by Friar Cipolla with his veiled allusion to Capretius (VI, 10).

  8. that I had the finest and sweetest tongue in the world Almost certainly, what is implied here is an act of cunnilingus. The light-hearted comment is offered in the same spirit as the casual reference to masturbation at the end of IX, 2. None of B.’s previous editors has felt it necessary to comment on his mischievous claim to close physical intimacy with his anonymous lady neighbour. The passage is entirely in keeping with the playful, irreverent tone of the rest of the Epilogue.

  MAPS

  Note: The maps on the following pages show the geographical location of places etc. named in the Introduction and Notes as well as in the text of the Decameron itself. Readers may consult the indexes for page-references to the various locations.

  INDEX TO STORIES

  Abate, Amerigo (Sicilian nobleman), 411–19

  Abraham, 37–41, 45

  Abruzzi, 475, 562

  Acre, Holy Land, 173, 773

  Adalieta, Madonna (wife of Torello of Strà), 769–73, 780–83

  Adriano (friend of Pinuccio), 678–82

  Aegina, 139

  Aesculapius, 13

  Agilulf, King of the Lombards, 199–205

  Agnesa, Madonna (lover of Friar Rinaldo), 495–500

  Agnesa (daughter of Bernabuccio), 399–405

  Agnolclla (lover of Pietro Boccamazza), 385–93

  Agnus Dei, 620

  Agolante (son of Tebaldo), 83–5, 90–91

  Agolanti, Sandro, 75

  Agolanti family, 83

  Aieroli, Ruggieri d’, 354–62

  Aiguesmortes, Provence, 145

  Alatiel (daughter of Sultan of Babylon), 126–47

  Albenga, 173

  Alberighi, Filippo (father of Federigo), 426

  Alberto of Imola, Friar, 303–12

  Alberto (physician of Bologna), 64–6

  Aldobrandino, see Palermini, A.

  Aldruda, Monna, 441

  Alessandro (Agolante’s nephew), 84–91

  Alexandria, Egypt, 42, 116, 126, 142–3, 146, 173, 175, 772–7

  Alexis, Saint, 486

  Algarve, King of, 126, 144, 147

  Algebra, 474

  Alibech (recluse taught to put devil in Hell), 275–9

  Alphonso, King of Spain, 703–6

  Altarisi, Great Khan of, 620

  Altopascio, 472

  Amalfi, 92, 355, 359

  Ambrogiuolo of Piacenza (trickster), 166–78

  Ambrose of Siena, Saint, 499–500

  Ambruogia (wife of Guasparruolo Cagastraccio), 552–4

  Ambustus, Publius, 762

  Amerigo, see Abate, A.

  Anagni, 386–7

  Anastagi, see Guido degli A.

  Anastasius, Brother, 216

  Ancona, 238, 664

  Andreuccio di Pietro (horsedealer of Perugia), 97–111

  Andreuola (daughter of Negro da Pontecarraro), 331–8

  Anger, 313–14

  Angiulieri, Cecco (young man of Siena), 664–8

  Anichino (alias Lodovico, lover of Beatrice), 519–24

  Ansaldo, see Gradense, A.

  Anselmini, Ambruogio (husband of Monna Mita), 545–7

  Anthony, Saint, Order of, 469–70, 475

  anti-clericalism

  abuse of confessional, 256–7

  credulity of priests at Confession, 27–37

  feeble-minded priests, 205–15, 474–5

  friars’ high living and greed, 243–5, 474–5

  holy relics ridiculed, 470–77

  hypocrisy of the religious, 51–4, 302–12

  lecherous monks and friars, 216–21, 255–64, 495–500, 569–75. 603

  nuns’ behaviour, 193–9, 656–8

  spitting in church, 33

  tall stories of pilgrimages, 474–7

  undue influence over women of parish, 555–60

  wicked lives of the religious, 39–41, 44–8

  anti-feminism, see women

  Antigono of Famagusta, 142–7

  Antioch, 691, 693

  Antioco (guardian of Alatiel), 140–42

  Antonio d’Orso, Bishop of Florence, 452

  Antwerp, Walter, Count of, 148–64

  Apulia, 114,695, 737

  archery, 382–3

  Archipelago, 93

  Arcite, 548

  Arezzo, 501

  Argenti, Filippo (hot-tempered Florentine), 687–9

  Argos, Greece, 533

  Aristippus (Athenian philosopher), 746

  Aristippus of Cyprus, 367–0

  Aristotle, 471

  Armenia, 142, 412

  King of, 416

  Arno, river, 541, 595, 626, 631, 686

  Arrighetto, see Capece, A.

  Arrigo, ‘Saint’, 71–5

  Arriguccio, see Berlinghieri, A.

  Asinaio, Mount, 287

  Assisi, 304

  Asti, Rinaldo d’ (merchant robbed on road to Verona), 76–82

  Athens, 135, 138, 746–57

  Duchess of, 136–7

  Duke of, 133–8

  Atticciato (Potbelly) (friend of Pasquino), 340–42

  Augustus Caesar, 746, 762

  Authari, King of the Lombards, 200

  avarice, 59–61

  Avicenna (Persian physician), 621

  Avignon, 555

  Avorio, see Naples

  Azzo of Ferrara, Marquis, 76, 79–81
r />   Babylon

  Berminedab, Sultan of, 126, 143–7

  Saladin, Sultan of, 41–4, 765

  bagnio (Turkish bath), 230–32

  Bagriel (Gabriel), Arse(Arch)-angel, 263

  Balducci, Filippo, 285–7

  Balena, see Guccio Imbratta

  Barbanicky, Begum of, 619

  Barbary, 275, 321, 379, 381, 776

  Barletta, 695–6

  Baronci family, 457, 459–61, 472

  Bartolomea (wife of Ricciardo), 179–86

  Basano, King of Cappadocia, 139–40

  basil, pot of, 329

  Basques, 475, 561–2

  Queen of the, 619

  Bath, Order of, 627

  Beatrice, Madonna (lover of Lodovico), 518–24

  Bedlam, 474

  Belchfire, Butch, 107

  Belcolore, Monna (wife of Bentivegna del Mazzo), 555–60

  Beminedab, Sultan of Babylon, 126, 143–7

  Benedetto Ferondi (infant son of Ferondo), 264

  Benedict, Saint, 48, 220, 262–3

  Benevento, battle of (1266), 112

  Bentivegna del Mazzo (husband of Monna Belcolore), 555–6

  Bergamina, 623

  Bergamino (conversationalist of Verona), 54–9

  Beritola, see Caracciolo, B.

  Berlinghieri, Arriguccio (jealous husband of Sismonda), 524–32

  Bernabò, see Lomellin, B.

  Bernabuccio (father of Agnesa), 403–5

  Bernard, Saint, 486

  Bertella (daughter of N’Arnald Civada), 314–15

  Bertrand (son of Count of Roussillon), 265–74

  Besokindas Tocursemenot, Father, 475

  Biliuzza (woman of Varlungo), 558

  Binguccio dal Poggio (friend of priest of Varlungo), 559

  Biondello (Florentine prankster), 686–9

  Bitonto, 698

  ‘Black Death’, 453

  Boccamazza, Pietro, 385–93

  Bólgaro, Marin, 406, 410

  Bologna, 64, 259, 518, 520, 616, 624–5, 719–22, 725, 792

  Boniface VIII, Pope, 25, 448, 707–11

  Bordello, 474

  Borghese Domenichi, Coppo di (renowned Florentine), 425–6

  Borsiere, Guiglielmo (Genoese courtier), 59–61

  bread and cheese test, 582–5

  Brescia, 331

  Brindisi, 96

  Broomhandle, Viscount, 626

  Bruges, 85

  Brunelleschi, Betto (leader of Florentine company), 467–8

  Brunetta (Florentine wench), 454–5

  Bruno (Florentine painter), 561–9, 579–85, 616–32, 659–63, 669–77

  Buffalmacco (Florentine painter), 561–9, 579–85, 616–32, 659–63, 669–77

  Buglietto d’Alberto (old clothes expert), 558

  Buonconvento, 665

  Burgundy, 25, 27

  Cabestanh, see Guillaume de C.

  Caccianimico, Niccoluccio (husband of Catalina), 719–28

  Cagastraccio, Guasparruolo (husband of Ambruogia), 552–4

  Calabria, 406–7

  Calais, 151–2

  Calandrino (Florentine painter), 561–9, 579–85, 659–63, 669–77

  Caltabellotta, 745

  Camaldoli, see Florence

  Camerata, 486, 669–77

  Camollia, Siena, 611

  Campanella, see Minerva

  Campi, 426

  Camporeggi, Siena, 545

  Can Grande della Scala, Lord of Verona, 54–9

  Candia, Crete, 316–17

  Canigiano, Pietro dello (treasurer to Empress of Constantinople), 639–40, 643–4

  Capece, Arrighetto (courtier to King Manfred), 111, 114, 116, 118–19, 122–4

  Capitol, Rome, 756

  Cappadocia, King of, 139–40

  Capretius, 475

  Capua, Duke of, 291

  Caracciolo, Beritola (wife of Arrighetto Capece), 112–24

  Carapresa, Zita, see Zita C.

  Carapresa (woman of Susa), 381–5

  Carisendi, Gentile de’ (lover of Catalina), 719–26

  Carthage, 323

  Cassandra (wife of Lysimachus), 374–6

  Castel Guiglielmo, 78

  Castellammare di Stabia, 732

  Castle Dusk, 445

  Catalana, Ruga, see Naples

  Catalina, Madonna (wife of Niccoluccio Caccianimico), 719–26

  Catania, 123

  Catella (wife of Filippello Sighinolfo), 228–36

  Caterina (daughter of Lizio da Valbona), 393–9

  Cathay, 712–18

  Cavalcanti, Cavalcante de’, 467

  Cavalcanti, Guido (Italian poet), 288, 467–8

  Cavicciuli, see Florence

  Cavriuola (Beritola Caracciolo), 115, 120

  Cefalù, 745

  Cephalonia, island of, 94

  Cepperello (Ciappelletto) (notary of Prato), 24–37

  Certaldo, 469–77

  Cesca (niece of Fresco da Celatico), 465–6

  Cesspool, Countess of, 626–8

  Charlemagne, 800

  Charles I (‘the Old’)

  King of Naples, 112, 118, 123, 731–37

  Charles II, King of Naples, 101

  Charles of Valois, see Lackland

  Chatillon, Lord of, 472

  Chiarmontesi, Alessandro (lover of Francesca de’ Lazzari), 650–55

  Chichibio (Venetian cook), 454–6

  Chimera (servant of Lauretta), 21

  Chinzica, see Ricciardo di C.

  Chios, island of, 139

  Chremes (Athenian nobleman), 746–7

  Christ, 34, 199, 214, 219, 244, 445, 455, 559, 670, 799

  church, see anti-clericalism

  Ciacco (Florentine glutton), 685–9

  Ciappelletto (Cepperello) (notary of Prato), 24–37

  Cicero, 470

  Cignano, Niccolò da (Salabaetto) (Florentine merchant), 633–44

  Cimon (Galesus) (son of Aristippus), 367–78

  Cino da Pistoia (Italian poet), 288

  Cipolla, Friar, 469–77

  Cisti the Baker, 448–51

  Ciuriaci (servant of Prince of Morea), 134–6

  Ciuta (Ciutazza) (maidservant to Monna Piccarda), 572–5

  Civada, see N’Arnald C.

  Classe, near Ravenna, 420

  Cluny, Abbot of, 56–7, 707–11

  Cocomero, Via del, 616

  Conradin (Conrad V, King of Sicily), 736

  Constance, Queen (consort of Peter HI), 743–5

  Constant (son of Emperor of Constantinople), 136–9

  Constantinople, 93, 240

  Emperor of, 136, 139

  Empress of, 639

  Coppo, see Borghese Domenichi, C. di

  Corfu, island of, 95, 96

  Corinth, Greece, 131, 133

  Cornacchini, Filippo (son of Niccolò), 669–74

  Cornacchini, Niccolò (owner of estate at Camerata), 669

  Corniglia wine, 708

  Cornucopia, land of, 561–2

  Cornwall, Earl of, 91

  Corsignano, 665

  courtiers, 60

  cranes with one leg, 454–6

  Cremona, see Guidotto da C.

  Cressida, 444

  Crete, 316, 372, 776

  Duke of, 318–19

  Crivello (servant of Giacomino da Pavia), 400–402, 405

  cruelty, 297–301

  Crusades, 49, 53, 416, 765, 772–3; see also Holy Land

  Cuba, La, villa, 406–7

  Cuculia, see Mannuccio dalla C.

  Currado, Viceroy of Trapani, 415, 417

  Cyprus King of, 61–2, 144, 146–7

  Cyprus, island of, 92, 141–3, 146–7, 238, 367–72, 378, 767

  Cypsehus (father of Iphigenia), 370–71

  Dante Alighieri, 288

  Dego della Ratta (Marshal to King Robert), 452–3

  Dianora, Madonna (wife of Gilberto), 726–31

  Digne, see Torello of D.

  Dioneo (member
of the lieta brigata), 18, 20,22, 44, 68, 178, 274, 353, 362–3, 432, 445–6, 469, 477–9, 544, 615, 632, 765, 783–4, 795

  dogana, 632–3, 640, 643

  Dominic, Saint, 496

  Donati, Corso (Florentine political leader), 686

  dreams, 330–33, 678–82, 683–5

  Dung, Lord, 626

  Egano de’ Galluzzi (husband of Beatrice), 518–19

  Egypt, 473, 765

  Sultan of, 173, 175–7

  Sultana of, 619

  Elena (Florentine widow), 586–610

  Elissa (member of the lieta brigata), 14, 17 61, 148, 221, 320, 385, 441, 465, 495, 560, 655, 706

  Emilia (member of the lieta brigata), 14, 51, 68–9, 111, 187, 237, 338, 378, 464, 485, 569–70, 644–5, 689, 726

  En Cararch (ship’s captain), 173

  England, 84, 85, 86, 91, 148, 152, 154, 160, 161

  King of, 82, 85, 158, 159

  King’s Marshal, 152–3, 159

  Queen of, 619, 620

  Envy, 284, 294

  Epicureans, 467

  Ercolano (friend of Pietro di Vinciolo), 436–7

  Ermellina (wife of Aldobrandino Palermini), 237–54

  Eve, 799

  Faenza, 400, 403, 563

  falconry, 426–31, 454, 537, 768, 773

  Famagusta, 142, 144

  Fano, 399, 403

  Faziuolo da Pontremoli (murdered man mistaken for Tedaldo), 253–4

  Federigo degli Alberighi, 426–32

  Federigo di Neri Pegolotti (lover of Monna Tessa), 486–90

  Felice, Dom (amorous monk), 216–21

  Ferondo (jealous husband sent to Purgatory), 254–64

  Ferrara, 76

  Ffouljakes, Baron, 626

  Fiammetta (member of the lieta brigata), 48, 97, 228, 291, 363, 425, 459, 505, 610, 668, 731, 796

  Fiesole, 487, 570

  Provost of, 570–75

  Figiovanni, Ruggieri de’ (Tuscan knight), 703–6

  Filippa (adulterous wife of Rinaldo de’ Pugliesi), 462–4, 552

  Filippo di Sanlodeccio (Tedaldo degli Elisei), 238

  Filippo of Rimini (neighbour of wife with jealous husband), 507–13

  Filomena (member of the lieta brigata), 41, 66–8, 165, 205, 326, 419, 446, 518, 649, 746

  Filostrato (member of the lieta brigata), 76, 192, 280–91, 349, 393, 461, 490, 575, 659, 7

  Finale, Sicurano da (Zinevra), 173

  Fiordaliso (Neapolitan prostitute), 97–105

  Fiorentino, Piero di (young man of Florence), 460–61

  Flanders, 304

  Florence, 237–8, 269, 339, 344, 426, 449, 561, 586, 609, 644, 685, 797