the decameron(十日谈)-第100章

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aside　the　first　part；　concerning　the　proofe　of　children；　I　conceive
the　second　to　bee　more　apte　for　our　intended　argument。　In　which
respect；　my　will　is　（seeing　Lacisca　hath　given　us　so　good　an　occasion）
that　our　discoursing　to　morow；　may　onely　concerne　such　slye　cunning
and　deceits；　as　women　have　heeretofore　used；　for　satisfying　their　owne
appetites；　and　beguiling　their　Husbands；　without　their　knowledge；　or
suspition；　and　cleanly　escaping　with　them；　or　no。
　　This　argument　seemed　not　very　pleasing　to　the　Ladies；　and
therefore　they　urged　an　alteration　thereof；　to　some　matter　better
suting　with　the　day；　and　their　discoursing：　whereto　thus　he
answered。　Ladies；　I　know　as　well　as　your　selves；　why　you　would　have
this　instant　argument　altered：　but　to　change　me　from　it　you　have　no
power；　considering　the　season　is　such；　as　shielding　all　（both　men
and　women）　from　medling　with　any　dishonest　action；　it　is　lawfull　for
us　to　speake　of　what　wee　please。　And　know　you　not；　that　through　the
sad　occasion　of　the　time；　which　now　overruleth　us；　the　judges　have
forsaken　their　venerable　benches；　the　Lawes　（both　divine　and　humane）
ceasing；　granting　ample　license　to　every　one；　to　do　what　best
agreeth　with　the　conservation　of　life？　Therefore；　if　your　honesties
doe　straine　themselves　a　little；　both　in　thinking　and　speaking；　not
for　prosecution　of　any　immodest　deede；　but　onely　for　familiar　and
blamelesse　entercourse：　I　cannot　devise　a　more　convenient　ground；　at
least　that　carrieth　apparant　reason；　for　reproofe　of　perils；　to
ensue　by　any　of　you。　Moreover；　your　company；　which　hath　bin　most
honest；　since　the　first　day　of　our　meeting；　to　this　instant：　appeareth
not　any　jot　to　be　disgraced；　by　any　thing　either　said　or　done；　neither
shal　be　（I　hope）　in　the　meanest　degree。
　　And　what　is　he；　knowing　your　choise　and　vertuous　dispositions；　so
powerfull　in　their　owne　prevailing；　that　wanton　words　cannot
misguide　your　wayes；　no　nor　the　terror　of　death　it　selfe；　that　dare
insinuate　a　distempred　thought？　But　admit；　that　some　slight　or　shallow
judgements；　hearing　you　（perhaps　sometimes）　talke　of　such　amorous
follies；　should　therefore　suspitiously　imagine　you　to　be　faulty；　or
else　you　would　bee　more　sparing　of　speech？　Their　wit　and　censure　are
both　alike；　savouring　rather　of　their　owne　vile　nature；　who　would
brand　others　with　their　basebred　imperfections。　Yet　ther　is　another
consideration　beside；　of　som　great　injury　offered　to　mine　honor；　and
whereof　I　know　not　how　you　can　acquit　your　selves。
　　I　that　have　bin　obedient　to　you　all；　and　borne　the　heavy　load　of
your　businesse；　having　now　（with　full　consent）　created　mee　your
King；　you　would　wrest　the　law　out　of　my　hands；　and　dispose　of　my
authoritie　as　you　please。　Forbeare　（gentle　Ladies）　all　frivolotis
suspitions；　more　fit　for　them　that　are　full　of　bad　thoughts；　then　you；
who　have　true　Vertue　shining　in　your　eyes；　and　therefore；　let　every
one　freely　speake　their　minde；　according　as　their　humors　best　pleaseth
them。
　　When　the　Ladies　heard　this；　they　made　answer；　that　all　should　bee
answerable　to　his　minde。　Whereupon；　the　King　gave　them　all　leave　to
dispose　of　themselves　till　supper　time。　And　because　the　Sun　was　yet
very　high；　in　regard　all　the　re…counted　Novels　had　bin　so　short：
Dioneus　went　to　play　at　the　Tables　with　another　of　the　yong　Gentlemen；
and　Madame　Eliza；　having　withdrawne　the　Ladies　aside；　thus　spake
unto　them。　During　the　time　of　our　being　heere；　I　have　often　bene
desirous　to　let　you　see　a　place　somwhat　neere　at　hand；　and　which　I
suppose　you　have　never　seene；　it　being　called　The　Valley　of　Ladies。
Till　now；　I　could　not　finde　any　convenient　time　to　bring　you
thither；　the　Sunne　continuing　still　aloft；　which　fitteth　you　with
the　apter　leysure；　and　the　sight　（I　am　sure）　can　no　way　discontent
you。
　　The　Ladies　replyed；　that　they　were　all　ready　to　walk　with　her
thither：　and　calling　one　of　their　women　to　attend　on　them；　they　set
on；　without　speaking　a　word　to　any　of　the　men。　And　within　the　distance
of　halfe　a　mile；　they　arrived　at　the　Valley　of　Ladies；　wherinto　they
entred　by　a　strait　passage　at　the　one　side；　from　whence　there　issued
forth　a　cleare　running　River。　And　they　found　the　saide　Valley　to　bee
so　goodly　and　pleasant；　especially　in　that　season；　which　was　the
hottest　of　all　the　yeare；　as　all　the　world　was　no　where　able　to
yeeld　the　like。　And；　as　one　of　the　said　Ladies　（since　then）　related　to
mee；　there　was　a　plaine　in　the　Valley　so　directly　round；　as　if　it
had　beene　formed　by　a　compasse；　yet　rather　it　resembled　the
Workmanship　of　Nature；　then　to　be　made　by　the　hand　of　man：
containing　in　circuite　somewhat　more　then　the　quarter　of　a　mile；
environed　with　sixe　small　hils；　of　no　great　height；　and　on　each　of
them　stood　a　little　Palace；　shaped　in　the　fashion　of　Castles。
　　The　ground…plot　descending　from　those　hils　or　mountaines；　grew　lesse
and　lesse　by　variable　degrees；　as　wee　observe　at　entering　into　our
Theaters；　from　the　highest　part　to　the　lowest；　succinctly　to　narrow
the　circle　by　order。　Now；　concerning　these　ground…plottes　or　little
Meadowes；　those　which　the　Sun　Southward　looked　on；　were　full　of　Vines；
Olive…trees；　Almond…trees；　Cherry…trees；　and　Figge…trees；　with
divers　other　Trees　beside；　so　plentifully　bearing　fruites；　as　you
could　not　discerne　a　hands　bredth　of　losse。　The　other　Mountaines；
whereon　the　Northerne　windes　blow；　were　curiously　covered　with　small
Thickets　or　Woods　of　Oakes；　Ashes；　and　other　Trees　so　greene　and
straite；　as　it　was　impossible　to　behold　fairer。　The　goodly　plaine　it
selfe；　not　having　any　other　entrance；　but　where　the　Ladies　came　in；
was　planted　with　Trees　of　Firre；　Cipresse；　Laurell；　and　Pines；　so
singularly　growing　in　formall　order；　as　if　some　artificiall　or　cunning
hand　had　planted　them；　the　Sun　hardly　piercing　through　their　branches；
from　the　top　to　the　bottome；　even　at　his　highest；　or　any　part　of　his
course。
　　All　the　whole　field　was　richly　spred　with　grasse；　and　such　variety
of　delicate　Flowers；　as　Nature　yeilded　out　of　her　plenteous
Store…house。　But　that　which　gave　no　lesse　delight　then　any　of　the
rest；　was　a　smal　running　Brooke；　descending　from　one　of　the　Vallies；
that　divided　two　of　the　little　hils；　and　fell　through　a　Veine　of　the
intire　Rocke　it　selfe；　that　the　fall　and　murmure　thereof　was　most
delightfull　to　heare；　seeming　all　the　way　in　the　descent；　like
Quickesilver；　weaving　it　selfe　into　artificiall　workes；　and　arriving
in　the　plaine　beneath；　it　was　there　receyved　into　a　small　Channell；
swiftly　running　through　the　midst　of　the　plaine；　to　a　place　where　it
stayed；　and　shaped　it　selfe　into　a　Lake　or　Pond；　such　as　our
Citizens　have　in　their　Orchards　or　Gardens；　when　they　please　to　make
use　of　such　a　commodity。
　　This　Pond　was　no　deeper；　then　to　reach　the　breast　of　a　man；　and
having　no　mud　or　soyle　in　it；　the　bottome　thereof　shewed　like　small
beaten　gravell；　with　prety　pibble　stones　intermixed；　which　some　that
had　nothing　else　to　do；　would　sit　downe　and　count　them　as　they　lay；　as
very　easily　they　might。　And　not　onely　was　the　bottome　thus
apparantly　seene；　but　also　such　plenty　of　Fishes　swimming　every　way；
as　the　mind　was　never　to　be　wearied　in　looking　on　them。　Nor　was　this
water　bounded　in　with　any　bankes；　but　onely　the　sides　of　the　plain
Medow；　which　made　it　appeare　the　more　sightly；　as　it　arose　in　swelling
plenty。　And　alwayes　as　it　superabounded　in　his　course；　least　it　should
overflow　disorderly：　it　fell　into　another　Channell；　which　conveying　it
along　the　lower　Valley；　ran　forth　to　water　other　needfull　places。
　　When　the　Ladies　were　arrived　in　this　goodly　valley；　and　upon　advised
viewing　it；　had　sufficiently　commended　it：　in　regard　the　heat　of　the
dry　was　great；　the　place　tempting；　and　the　Pond　free　from　sight　of
any；　they　resolved　there　to　bathe　themselves。　Wherefore　they　sent
the　waiting　Gentlewoman　to　have　a　diligent　eye　on　t　way　where　they
entered；　least　any　one　should　chance　to　steale　upon　them。　All　seven　of
them　being　stript　naked；　into　the　water　they　went；　which　hid　their
delicate　white　bodies；　like　as　a　cleare　Glasse　concealeth　a　Damask
Rose　within　it。　So　they　being　in　the　Pond；　and　the　water　nothing
troubled　by　their　being　there；　they　found　much　prety　pastime　together；
running　after　the　Fishes；　to　catch　them　with　their　hands；　but　they
were　overquicke　and　cunning　for　them。　After　they　had　delighted
themselves　there　to　their　owne　contentment；　and　were　cloathed　with
their　garments；　as　before：　thinking　it　fit　time　for　their　returning
backe　againe；　least　their　over…long　stay　might　give　offence；　they
departed　thence　in　an　easie　pace；　dooing　nothing　else　all　the　way　as
they　went；　but　extolling　the　Valley　of　Ladies　beyond　all　comparison。
　　At　the　Palace　they　arrived　in　a　due　houre；　finding　the　three
Gentlemen　at　play；　as　they　left　them；　to　whom　Madame　Pampinea
pleasantly　thus　spake。　Now　trust　me　Gallants；　this　day　wee　have　very
cunningly　beguiled　you。　How　now？　answered　Dioneus；　begin　you　first
to　act；　before　you　speake？　Yes　truly　Sir；　replyed　Madame　Pampinea：
　　Relating　to　him　at　large；　from　whence　they　came；　what　they　had
done　there；　the　beautie　of　the　place；　and　the　distance　thence。　The
King　（upon　hir　excellent　report）　being　very　desirous　to　see　it；
sodainely　commaunded　Supper　to　be　served　in；　which　was　no　sooner
ended；　but　they　and　their　three　servants　（leaving　the　Ladies）　walked
on　to　the　Valley；　which　when　they　had　considered；　no　one　of　them
having　ever　bin　there　before；　they　thought　it　to　be　the　Paradise　of
the　World。
　　They　bathed　themselves　there　likewise；　as　the　Ladies　formerlie　had
done；　and　being　re…vested；　returned　backe　to　their　Lodgings；　because
darke　night　drew　on　apace：　but　they　found　the　Ladies　dauncing；　to　a
Song　which　Madame　Fiammetta　sung。　When　the　dance　was　ended；　they
entertained　the　time　with　no　other　discourse；　but　onely　concerning　the
Valley　of　Ladies；　whereof　they　all　spake　liberally　in　commendations。
Whereupon；　the　King　called　the　Master　of　the　Houshold；　giving　him
command；　that　（on　the　morrow）　dinner　should　be　readie　betimes；　and
bedding　to　be　thence　carried；　if　any　desired　rest　at　mid…time　of　the
day。
　　All　this　being　done；　variety　of　pleasing　Wines　were　brought；
Banquetting　stuffe；　and　other　dainties；　after　which　they　fell　to
Dauncing。　And　Pamphilus；　having　receyved　command　to　begin　an
especial　dance；　the　King　turned　himselfe　unto　Madame　Eliza；　speaking
thus。　Faire　Lady；　you　have　done　me　so　much　honour　this　day；　as　to
deliver　mee　the　Crowne：　in　regard　whereof；　be　you　this　night　the
Mistresse　of　the　song：　and　let　it　be　such　as　best　may　please　your
selfe。　Whereunto　Madam　Eliza；　with　a　modest　blush　arising　in　her　face；
replyed；　That　his　will　should　be　fulfilled；　and　then　（with　a
deficate　voyce）　she　beganne　in　this　manner。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　SONG
　　　　　　　　　　The　Chorus　sung　by　all

　　Love；　if　I　can　scape　free　from　forth　thy　holde；
　　　　Beleeve　it　for　a　truth；
　　Never　more　shall　thy　falshoode　me　enfolde。
　　When　I　was　yong；　I　entred　first　thy　fights；
　　Supposing　there　to　finde　a　solemne　peace：
　　I　threw　off　all　my　Armes；　and　with　delights
　　Fed　my　poore　hopes；　as　still　they　did　encrease。
　　But　like　a　Tyrant；　full　of　rancorous　hate；
　　　　Thou　tookst　advantage：
　　And　I　sought　refuge；　but　it　was　too　late。