Federigo’s Falcon from The Decameron

Giovanni Boccaccio

Summary
Setting: Italy, 14th century
Federigo is a young noble who falls in love with a beautiful married woman, Monna
Giovanna. He spends lots of money to win her love, but this does not make her love
him. Eventually, he has nothing left but a small farm and one falcon. The falcon is the
best of its kind in the world.
Time passes, and Monna Giovanna’s husband dies. Every summer she takes a trip
to the country. There, her young son becomes friends with Federigo. The boy
especially loves Federigo’s falcon. When the boy becomes very sick, he tells his
mother that he might get well if he had the bird.
Monna Giovanna goes to Federigo’s house. She tells him that she wants to make
up for her past coldness by having a meal with him. Because he has nothing nice
enough to serve her, Federigo roasts the falcon and serves it for dinner. Not knowing
what she has eaten, Monna Giovanna then tells Federigo that she needs his falcon to
make her son well. Federigo cries and explains what has happened. Monna Giovanna
goes home, and a few days later her son dies.
After a while, Monna Giovanna’s brothers tell her she should remarry. She remembers
how Federigo honored her and decides she will have no other man. They marry and
live happily.

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40 UNIT ONE THE ANGLO-SAXON AND MEDIEVAL PERIODS