The Decameron
The Decameron
by Giovanni Boccaccio
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Landolfo Rufolo appears in Lauretta’s second tale (II, 4). He is an extremely rich merchant from the Amalfi coast, who is so greedy that he tries to double his fortune. When he fails, he turns to piracy. He represents another of fortune’s victim-beneficiaries: after losing his second fortune and turning to piracy, he’s captured by pirates who are then shipwrecked. He clings to a small box until he washes ashore, only later realizing that it’s full of priceless jewels.

Landolfo Rufolo Quotes in The Decameron

The The Decameron quotes below are all either spoken by Landolfo Rufolo or refer to Landolfo Rufolo. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Love and Sex Theme Icon
).

Day 2: Fourth Tale Quotes

The stones he possessed were, he discovered, so valuable and numerous that, even if he sold them at less than their market value, he would be twice as rich as when he had set out. So that, having taken steps to dispose of his gems, he sent, by way of payment for services received, a tidy sum of money to the good woman of Corfu who had fished him out of the sea. And likewise, he sent a further sum to the people at Trani who had given him the new clothes. He was no longer interested in commerce, so he kept the remainder of the money and lived in splendor for the rest of his days.

Related Characters: Lauretta (speaker), Landolfo Rufolo
Related Symbols: Fortune, Gifts
Page Number and Citation: 96
Explanation and Analysis:
In Lauretta’s second tale, Landolfo Rufolo turned first to trade, then to piracy, to double his considerable wealth. But when he was first captured by pirates and then shipwrecked, his fortune seemed to have turned against him. However, he washed ashore with a chest stuffed full of valuable jewels. After he found his way home, he contented himself with his newfound riches and didn’t tempt fate again. This passage details the happy ending of Landolfo’s story, which vividly illustrates the caprice of fortune. His own efforts to double his wealth failed, yet fortune did indeed make him as rich as Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consectetur et. Dicta impedit ut. Ducimus possimus quo. Non inventore in. Eligendi atque placeat. Molestiae earum eum. Libero sit beatae. At a deserunt. Sint aperiam consequatur. Minima porro perferendis. Sit neque odit. Tenetur qui dignissimos. Qui et u
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Landolfo Rufolo Character Timeline in The Decameron

The timeline below shows where the character Landolfo Rufolo appears in The Decameron. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Day 2: Fourth Tale
Moderation and Excess Theme Icon
Class and Character Theme Icon
...such a change, its protagonist will be subject to even greater misfortunes. The incredibly wealthy Landolfo Rufolo lives on the Amalfi Coast. Not content with his wealth, he fills a ship... (full context)
Moderation and Excess Theme Icon
Faith vs. Religion Theme Icon
To recoup his losses, Landolfo turns to piracy, and his raids of Turkish vessels make him twice as rich as... (full context)
Class and Character Theme Icon
While Landolfo and his mast drift through the night, a particular chest keeps floating past him. Because... (full context)
Moderation and Excess Theme Icon
The peasant and her daughter take Landolfo and his chest home and nurse him back to life. When he forces the chest... (full context)
Moderation and Excess Theme Icon
When Landolfo finally arrives at his home, he sells his gems, sends a gift to the peasant... (full context)
Day 2: Fifth Tale
Moderation and Excess Theme Icon
Intelligence Theme Icon
Fiammetta remarks that Landolfo’s jewels have reminded her of a tale with as much adventure as Lauretta’s—but which is... (full context)