Decameron Eighth Day, First Story Summary

Gulfardo and Guasparruolo

Storyteller: Neifile
Neifile wants to tell a story about a trick played by a man on a woman, just to even the playing field.
She scolds women who sell their chastity for money, excusing women who stray for love alone (they can't help it, can they?).

A German soldier named Gulfardo falls in love with Madonna Ambruogia, wife of Guaspparuolo Cagastraccio (say that ten times, fast).
She accepts his affections, but has two conditions: he can't tell anyone of their affair and she wants something shiny. Can he send 200 florins, please?
Gulfardo is totally turned off by her money-grubbing. He decides to humiliate her.
He then borrows 200 florins from Ambruogia's husband.
When they meet for the first time, Gulfardo brings a friend along. He hands over the payment to her and says that she should give it to her husband when he returns.
Ambruogia thinks he's talking in code because he had a friend with him, so she accepts it.
And then they get down to, um, business.
When Guaspparuolo returns, Gulfardo pays a visit with his same friend.
He mentions to Guaspparuolo that he had returned the money to his wife. Had he gotten it yet?
Ambruogia's caught. She has to hand over the money to her husband.
Gulfardo's work is done. He got what he had wanted—and Ambruogia got schooled.