Sep 24, 2025
When the Ride Is Rough, Dismount Gracefully
Madonna Oretta speaks like a true queen - “Sir, this horse of yours is trotting in a rather ungainly way. Please set me down on my feet.” (Boccaccio 303)
Wit does not have to be loud- but it needs to be timely. Madonna Oretta did not insult the knight, instead, she rescued herself with elegance. I would say her words were a saddle of silk on a 'horse' of clumsy storytelling.
Filomena’s Writing Tip
“Want to silence a bore without being rude? Use metaphor. Use grace. Use Oretta.”
A lady’s charm is not just in her silence - it is in knowing when to speak. And how.