Page 48 - Petru Russo | The 100 Days of Decameron by Giovanni Boccaccio
P. 48

Andreuccio’s Night of Trials























              This novella recounts the perilous adventures of Andreuccio da       Before long, he is mistaken for a thief by a group of actual robbers.
              Perugia, a young merchant whose misfortunes in Naples lead to a      They bring him to their hideout and rope him into their next heist,
              night filled with danger, cunning, and an eventual reward. Themes    mistaking his compliance for cooperation. When their plan goes

              of resilience, adaptability, and fate run through this gripping tale.   awry, Andreuccio seizes the opportunity to escape, only to face
                                                                                   new dangers.
              Andreuccio arrives in Naples with high hopes of investing his
              money in profitable ventures, but his aspirations are dashed         In the winding streets of Naples, he meets a woman who offers him

              when he is immediately robbed of his entire fortune. Stranded,       refuge, but her hospitality masks sinister intentions. Andreuccio
              desperate, and alone, he encounters a stranger who promises him      narrowly avoids disaster when her enraged husband returns
              an opportunity to buy precious stones at a great price.              unexpectedly, forcing him to hide in a chest. The ruse fails, and
                                                                                   Andreuccio is taken prisoner yet again.

              Desperate to regain his losses, Andreuccio agrees, only to find
              himself in a cemetery at night. There, he falls into an open grave   Just when all hope seems lost, a group of Perugian merchants
              and loses consciousness. Awakening to the gruesome sight of dead     passing through Naples recognizes Andreuccio and comes to his
              bodies, Andreuccio’s terror mounts as he realizes he has no idea     aid. They rescue him, ensuring his safe return home. In an ironic

              how to escape the cemetery.                                          twist, Andreuccio finds a ruby among his belongings, a prize gained
                                                                                   through his night of trials.






         DECAMERON        48                                                                                                                                               49
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