Section 12, II/52-II/60 Summary and Analysis

In "About the wife of Bernabo the Genoese," Rectitude recounts Boccaccio's "Decameron". When Bernabo praises his wife, Ambrose bets that he can seduce her. Ambrose steals her belt and purse, claiming it is a gift of her favor, and Bernabo orders a servant to kill his wife. She escapes and disguises herself as a male servant for Senor Ferant, named Sagurat. When she joins Senor Ferant in a visit to the sultan, the sultan hires Sagurat as his chief steward. On an errand for the sultan, Sagurat encounters Ambrose with her purse and learns of his betrayal. Sagurat asks the sultan to summon Bernabo and have Ambrose retell his story. Bernabo grieves as he hears of the betrayal, but his wife reveals herself. Ambrose is killed, and Bernabo and his wife and rejoined. In "After Rectitude has...