Wolves

Wolves are the immediate danger in the forest episode of Pietro Boccamazza and Agnolella’s flight. Their attack kills Pietro’s horse while he is stranded in an oak, leaving him alone in the woods and fearing he will not find his way out.

The Encounter in the Forest

As night advances toward the first sleep, a pack of about twenty Wolves surrounds Pietro’s horse beneath the oak where he has taken refuge. The horse senses them, pulls at its bridle until it breaks, and tries to flee; hemmed in, it fights back with its teeth and hooves. The Wolves overcome it and eat it, leaving only its bones.

Consequences for Pietro

Pietro had regarded his horse as a companion and support in his troubles, so its loss is both practical and personal: he is stranded without it and doubts that he can escape the forest. At daybreak, he spots a fire about a mile away, climbs down from the oak, and reaches shepherds who offer him food and warmth. They direct him to a nearby castle and two accompany him there.

Narrative Role

The Wolves’ attack sharply worsens the lovers’ separation, but it does not prevent their reunion. At the castle, Pietro finds Agnolella, who had arrived safely after the two were separated. The episode makes the forest’s danger concrete through the loss of his mount, then turns from isolation toward rescue and reunion.