Gillette of Narbonne and Bertrand of Roussillon
Intro
- Storyteller: Neifile
- Since Dioneo has to speak last, Neifile must tell her story now.
- She can't see how she can top Lauretta's story (but she's going to try).
Story
- We start out in France, where the hypochondriac Isnard Count Roussillon keeps a doctor on retainer. The Count has an only son, Bertrand.
- The doctor's called Gerard of Narbonne and he has a lovely daughter named Gillette.
- She's crazy in love with Bertrand.
- Both young people lose their fathers (guess some hypochondriacs really are sick).
- Bertrand's sent off to Paris and Gillette has to stay at home. She's seriously deflated by this.
- Although Gillette's a pretty eligible bachelorette, she refuses all other suitors. She's still bonkers for Bertrand.
- Then Fortune gives her an opening: the King of France has a chest tumor.
- And guess what? He lives in Paris, where a certain special someone also lives.
- And guess what again? Gillette has a lot of medical knowledge from watching her dad.
- She's ready to bargain with the King to get her hands on Bertrand.
- Gillette promises to cure the King in one week. If not, he can burn her at the stake.
- Now that's confidence.
- The King sees that she isn't married, so he promises to make her a good marriage if he succeeds.
- Gillette adds a proviso: she gets to choose the man.
- Of course, Gillette succeeds. Guess who she chooses?
- Bertrand's not pleased. Gillette's a she-doctor. A working-class woman. He thinks he deserves someone more high class.
- The king tells him to quit whining—Gillette is beautiful and intelligent.
- Bertrand sulks for a while and then concocts a plan of his own.
- He tells the king he will "consummate" the marriage at his estate. Instead, he takes side trips to Tuscany to wage war with the Florentines against the Siennese.
- Gillette is left high and dry.
- She keeps it together and goes to her husband's estate in France. Gillette rules wisely and everyone loves her.
- Gossip starts that Bertrand's a bad Count. Gillette writes to Bertrand to say that she'll go away if only he'll return to govern his estate himself.
- Bertrand says "Whatever" and issues a challenge: he'll live with her when she's wearing his special ring and is carrying his child in her arms.
- Gillette isn't one to back down from a challenge. She dresses like a poor pilgrim, packs up her jewels and money, and heads for Florence.
- She learns that her husband has fallen in love with a poor girl there. Only the girl's virtuous mother has been able to keep Bertrand at bay.
- Gillette reveals her identity to the mother of this girl and tells her story. Also, she has a plan.
- She wants to trick her husband into sleeping with her by convincing him that he's actually making love to the young girl. Classic switcheroo.
- Gillette promises her mother that no harm will come to the daughter and that she won't have to do anything awful.
- They start by telling Bertrand that the girl has demanded his special ring as a token of devotion.
- Of course, he sends it.
- Then, the women manage to get him into bed with his proper wife, who's hoping to get pregnant as quickly as possible.
- While this is going on, Bertrand gives Gillette a precious jewel every morning before he leaves her. Remember, he still thinks he's sleeping with the young girl. Gillette saves them up.
- After a short time, Gillette gets pregnant with twin boys.
- She knows it's time to get out of town, so she gives the mother over 1,000 pounds as a dowry for the young daughter. The mother wisely packs up her girl and goes to live in the country.
- Bertrand returns to his estate in France because his nobles tell him that Gillette is gone.
- Gillette stays in Florence until her twin boys are weaned. Then she makes her way to France to take Bertrand up on his promise.
- She confronts Bertrand in public and charges him to honor his promise. She shows the boys (who look just like Bertrand) and the ring.
- (Is it just Shmoop, or are you wondering why Gillette wants this guy back?)
- Bertrand is freaked out. Gillette explains the whole plot.
- Seeing that she went through so much trouble to get him, Bertrand decides that he should take her as his wife.
- He kisses her and they live happily ever after, which means that he never tried to disown her again.