the decameron(十日谈)-第102章

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of　the　Father；　Son；　and　holy　Ghost；　so　that　no　doubt　at　all　needs　to
be　made；　of　any　power　it　can　have　to　hurt　or　touch　us。
　　Monna　Tessa；　because　（perhaps）　Frederigo　might　receive　some　other
suspition；　and　so　enter　into　distaste　of　her　by　anger　or　offence：
determined　to　arise　indeede；　and　to　let　him　covertly　understand；
that　John　was　there；　and　therefore　saide　to　her　husband。　Beleeve　me
John；　thy　counsell　is　good；　and　every　one　of　thy　words　hath　wisedome
in　it：　but　I　hold　it　best　for　our　owne　safety；　thou　being　heere；
that　wee　should　conjure　him　quite　away；　to　the　end　he　may　never　more
haunt　our　house。　Conjure　him　Wife？　Quoth　John；　By　what　meanes？　and
how？　Bee　patient　good　man　（quoth　Tessa）　and　I　will　enstruct　thee；　I
have　learned　an　excellent　kinde　of　conjuration；　for；　the　last　weeke；
when　I　went　to　procure　the　pardons　at　Fiesola；　one　of　the　holy　recluse
Nuns；　who　（indeede　John）　is　my　indeered　Sister　and　Friend；　and　the
most　sanctimonius　in　life　of　them　all；　perceiving　me　to　be　troubled
and　terrified　by　Spirits；　taught　me　a　wholsome　and　holy　prayer；　and
protested　withall；　that　shee　had　often　made　experiment　thereof；　before
she　became　a　Recluse；　and　found　it　（alwayes）　a　present　helpe　to　her。
Yet　never　durst　I　adventure　to　essay　it；　living　heere　by　my　selfe
all　alone：　but　honest　John；　seeing　thou　art　heere　with　me；　we　will
go　both　together；　and　conjure　this　Spirit。　John　replyed；　that　he　was
very　willing；　and　being　both　up；　they　went　fayre　and　softly　to　the
doore；　where　Frederigo　stoode　still　without；　and　was　growne　somewhat
suspitious　of　his　long　attendance。
　　When　they　were　come　to　the　doore；　Monna　Tessa　said　to　John：　Thou
must　cough　and　spet；　at　such　time　as　I　shall　bid　thee。　Well　（quoth
John）　I　will　not　faile　you。　Immediately　she　beganne　her　prayer　in　this
manner。

　　Spirit；　that　walkst　thus　in　the　night；
　　Poore　Countrey　people　to　affright：
　　Thou　hast　mistane　thy　marke　and　ayme；
　　The　head　stood　right；　but　John　home　came；
　　And　therefore　thou　must　packe　away；
　　For　I　have　nothing　else　to　say：
　　But　to　my　Garden　get　the　gone；
　　Under　the　Peach…tree　stands　alone；
　　There　shalt　thou　finde　two　Capons　drest；
　　And　Egges　laide　in　mine　owne　Hennes　nest；
　　Bread；　and　a　Bottle　of　good　Wine；
　　All　wrapt　up　in　a　cloath　most　fine。
　　Is　not　this　good　Goblins　fare？
　　Packe　and　say　you　have　your　share；
　　Not　doing　harme　to　John　or　me；
　　Who　this　night　keepes　me　companie。

　　No　sooner　had　she　ended　her　devoute　conjuring　prayer；　but　she
saide　to　her　husband：　Now　John；　cough　and　spet：　which　John　accordingly
did。　And　Frederigo；　being　all　this　while　without；　hearing　her　witty
conjuration　of　a　Spirit；　which　he　himselfe　was　supposed　to　be；　being
ridde　of　his　former　jealous　suspition：　in　the　middst　of　all　his
melancholy；　could　very　hardly　refraine　from　laughing；　the　jest
appeared　so　pleasing　to　him：　But　when　John　cought　and　spet；　softly
he　said　to　himselfe：　When　next　thou　spetst；　spet　out　all　thy　teeth。
　　The　woman　having　three　severall　times　conjured　the　Spirite；　in
such　manner　as　you　have　already　heard；　returned　to　bed　againe　with　her
husband：　and　Frederigo；　who　came　as　perswaded　to　sup　with　her；　being
supperlesse　all　this　while；　directed　by　the　words　of　Monna　Tessa　in
hir　praier；　went　into　the　Garden。　At　the　foot　of　the　Peach…tree；　there
he　found　the　linnen　cloth；　with　the　two　hot　Capons；　Bread；　Egges；
and　a　Bottle　of　Wine　in　it；　all　which　he　carried　away　with　him；　and
went　to　Supper　at　better　leysure。　Oftentimes　afterward；　upon　other
meetings　of　Frederigo　and　she　together；　they　laughed　heartily　at　her
enchantment；　and　the　honest　beleefe　of　silly　John。
　　I　cannot　deny；　but　that　some　do　affirme；　that　the　Woman　had　turned
the　face　of　the　Asses　head　towards　Fiesola；　and　a　Country　Travailer
passing　by　the　Vine；　having　a　long　piked　staffe　on　his　necke：　the
staffe　（by　chance）　touched　the　head；　and　made　it　turne　divers　times
about；　and　in　the　end　faced　Florence；　which　being　the　cal　for
Frederigoes　comming；　by　this　meanes　he　was　disappointed。　In　like
manner　some　say；　that　Monna　Tessaes　prayer　for　conjuring　the　Spirit；
was　in　this　order。

　　Spirit；　Spirit；　thy　way；
　　And　come　againe　some　other　day。
　　It　was　not　I　that　turnd　the　head；
　　But　some　other。　In　our　Bed
　　Are　John　and　I：　Go　from　our　dore；
　　And　see　thou　trouble　us　no　more。

　　So　that　Frederigo　departed　thence；　both　with　the　losse　of　his　labour
and　supper。　But　a　neighbour　of　mine；　who　is　a　woman　of　good　yeares；
told　me；　that　both　the　one　and　other　were　true；　as　she　her　selfe
heard；　when　she　was　a　little　Girle。　And　concerning　the　latter
accident；　it　was　not　to　John　of　Lorrayne；　but　to　another；　named　John
de　Nello；　that　dwelt　at　S。　Peters　Gate；　and　of　the　same　profession
as　John　of　Lorrayne　was。　Wherefore　（faire　Ladies）　it　remaineth　in　your
owne　choice；　to　entertain　which　of　the　two　prayers　you　please；　or　both
together　if　you　will：　for　they　are　of　extraordinary　vertue　in　such
strange　occurrences；　as　you　have　heeretofore　heard；　and　（upon　doubt）
may　prove　by　experience。　It　shall　not　therefore　be　amisse　for　you；
to　learne　them　both　by　hart；　for　（peradventure）　they　may　stand　you
in　good　sted；　if　ever　you　chance　to　have　the　like　occasion。




　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　SEVENTH　DAY；　THE　SECOND　NOVELL

　　　WHEREIN　IS　DECLARED；　WHAT　HARD　AND　NARROW　SHIFTS　AND　DISTRESSES；
　　　SUCH　AS　BEE　SERIOUSLY　LINKED　IN　LOVE；　ARE　MANY　TIMES　ENFORCED　TO
　　　　　　UNDERGO：　ACCORDING　AS　THEIR　OWNE　WIT；　AND　CAPACITIE　OF　THEIR
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　SURPRIZERS；　DRIVE　THEM　TO　IN　EXTREMITIES

　　Peronella　hid　a　yong　man　her　friend　and　Lover；　under　a　great　brewing
Fat；　upon　the　sodaine　returning　home　of　her　Husband；　who　told　her；
that　hee　had　solde　the　saide　Fat　and　brought　him　that　bought　it；　to
cary　it　away。　Peronella　replyed；　that　shee　had　formerly　solde　it
unto　another；　who　was　now　underneath　it；　to　see　whether　it　were
whole　and　sound；　or　no。　Whereupon；　he　being　come　forth　from　under
it；　she　caused　her　Husband　to　make　it　neate　and　cleane；　and　so　the
last　buyer　carried　it　away。

　　Not　without　much　laughter　and　good　liking；　was　the　Tale　of　Madame
Aemillia　listened　unto；　and　both　the　prayers　commended　to　be　sound　and
soveraigne：　but　it　being　ended；　the　King　commaunded　Philostratus；　that
hee　should　follow　next　in　order；　whereupon　thus　he　began。
　　Deare　Ladies；　the　deceites　used　by　men　towards　your　sexe；　but
especially　Husbands；　have　bene　so　great　and　many；　as　when　it　hath
sometime　happened；　or　yet　may；　that　husbands　are　requited　in　the
self…same　kinde：　you　need　not　finde　fault　at　any　such　accident；　either
by　knowledge　thereof　afterward；　or　hearing　the　same　reported　by　any
one；　but　rather　you　should　referre　it　to　generall　publication；　to
the　end；　that　immodest　men　may　know；　and　finde　it　for　trueth；　that
if　they　have　apprehension　and　capacity；　women　are　therein　not　a　jote
inferiour　to　them。　Which　cannot　but　redound　to　your　great　benefite；
because；　when　any　one　knoweth；　that　another　is　as　cunning　and
subtile　as　himselfe；　he　will　not　be　so　rashly　adventurous　in
deceite。　And　who　maketh　any　doubt；　that　if　those　sleights　and　trickes；
whereof　this　dayes　argument　may　give　us　occasion　to　speake；　should
afterwardes　be　put　in　execution　by　men：　would　it　not　minister　just
reason；　of　punishing　themselves　for　beguiling　you；　knowing；　that　（if
you　please）　you　have　the　like　abilitie　in　your　owne　power？　Mine　intent
therefore　is　to　tell　you；　what　a　woman　（though　but　of　meane
qualitie）　did　to　her　husband；　upon　a　sodaine；　and　in　a　moment　（as　it
were）　for　her　owne　safety。
　　Not　long　since；　there　lived　in　Naples；　an　honest　meane　man；　who
did　take　to　Wife；　a　fayre　and　lustie　young　Woman；　being　named
Peronella。…He　professing　the　Trade　of　a　Mason；　and　shee　Carding　and
Spinning；　maintained　themselves　in　a　reasonable　condition；　abating　and
abounding　as　their　Fortunes　served。　It　came　to　passe；　that　a
certayne　young　man；　well　observing　the　beauty　and　good　parts　of
Peronella；　became　much　addicted　in　affection　towardes　her：　and　by
his　often　and　secret　sollicitations；　which　he　found　not　to　be
unkindely　entertayned；　his　successe　proved　answerable　to　his　hope；
no　unindifferencie　appearing　in　their　purposes；　but　where　her　estate
seemed　weakest；　his　supplies　made　an　addition　of　more　strength。
　　Now；　for　their　securer　meeting；　to　stand　cleare　from　all　matter　of
scandal　or　detection；　they　concluded　in　this　order　between　themselves。
Lazaro；　for　so　was　Peronellaes　Husband　named；　being　an　earely　riser
every　morning；　either　to　seeke　for　worke；　or　to　effect　it　being
undertaken：　this　amorous　friend　being　therewith　acquainted；　and
standing　in　some　such　convenient　place；　where　hee　could　see　Lazaroes
departure　from　his　house；　and　yet　himselfe　no　way　discerned；　poore
Lazaro　was　no　sooner　gone；　but　presently　he　enters　the　house；　which
stood　in　a　verie　solitarie　street；　called　the　Avorio。　Many　mornings
had　they　thus　met　together；　to　their　no　meane　delight　and
contentation；　till　one　especial　morning　among　the　rest；　when　Lazaro
was　gone　forth　to　worke；　and　Striguario　（so　was　the　amorous　young
man　named）　visiting　Peronella　in　the　house：　upon　a　verie　urgent
occasion；　Lazaro　returned　backe　againe；　quite　contrary　to　his　former
wont；　keeping　foorth　all　day；　and　never　comming　home　till　night。
　　Finding　his　doore　to　be　fast　lockt；　and　he　having　knockt　softlie
once　or　twice；　he　spake　in　this　manner　to　himselfe。　Fortune　I　thanke
thee；　for　albeit　thou　hast　made　mee　poore；　yet　thou　hast　bestowed　a
better　blessing　on　me；　in　matching　me　with　so　good；　honest；　and　loving
a　Wife。　Behold；　though　I　went　early　out　of　my　house；　her　selfe　hath
risen　in　the　cold　to　shut　the　doore；　to　prevent　the　entrance　of
theeves；　or　any　other　that　might　offend　us。　Peronella　having　heard
what　her　husband　sayde；　and　knowing　the　manner　of　his　knocke；　said
fearfully　to　Striguario。　Alas　deare　friend；　what　shall　wee　doe？　I　am
little　lesse　then　a　dead　Woman：　For；　Lazaro　my　Husband　is　come　backe
again；　and　I　know　not　what　to　do　or　say。　He　never　returned　in　this
order　before　now；　doubtlesse；　hee　saw　when　you　entred　the　doore；　and
for　the　safety　of　your　honour　and　mine：　creepe　under　this　brewing　Fat；
till　I　have　opened　the　doore；　to　know　the　reason　of　his　so　soone
returning。
　　Striguario　made　no　delaying　of　the　matter；　but　got　himselfe　closelie
under　the　Fat；　and　Peronella　opening　the　doore　for　her　husbands
enterance；　with　a　frowning　countenance；　spake　thus　unto　him。　What
meaneth　this　so　early　returning　home　againe　this　morning？　It
seemeth；　thou　intendest　to　do　nothing　to　day；　having　brought　backe　thy
tooles　in　thy　hands？　If　such　be　thine　intent；　how　shall　we　live？　Where
shal　we　have　bread　to　fill　our　bellies？　Dooest　thou　thinke；　that　I
will　suffer　thee　to　pawne　my　gowne；　and　other　poore　garments；　as
heeretofore　thou　hast　done？　I　that　card　and　spinne　both　night　and　day；
till　I　have　worne　the　flesh　from　my　fingers；　yet　all　will　hardly　finde
oyle　to　maintaine　our　Lampe。　Husband；　husband；　there　is　not　one
neighbour　dwelling　by　us；　but　makes　a　mockerie　of　me；　and　tels　me
plainly；　that　I　may　be　ashamed　to　drudge　and　moyle　as　I　do；
wondering　not　a　little；　how　I　am　able　to　endure　it；　and　thou　returnest
home　with　thy　hands　in　thy　hose；　as　if　thou　hadst　no　worke　at　all　to
do　this