the decameron(十日谈)-第103章

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home　with　thy　hands　in　thy　hose；　as　if　thou　hadst　no　worke　at　all　to
do　this　day。
　　Having　thus　spoken；　she　fell　to　weeping；　and　then　thus　began
again。　Poore　wretched　woman　as　I　am；　in　an　unfortunate　houre　was　I
borne；　and　in　a　much　worse；　when　I　was　made　thy　Wife。　I　could　have　had
a　proper；　handsome　yong　man；　one；　that　would　have　maintained　mee　brave
and　gallantly：　but；　beast　as　I　was；　to　forgoe　my　good；　and　cast　my
selfe　away　on　such　a　beggar　as　thou　art；　and　whom　none　wold　have
had；　but　such　an　Asse　as　I。　Other　women　live　at　hearts　ease；　and　in
jollity；　have　their　amorous　friends　and　loving　Paramours；　yea；　one；
two；　three　at　once；　making　their　husbands　looke　like　a　Moone　cressent；
wheron　they　shine　Sun…like；　with　amiable　lookes；　because　they　know　not
how　to　helpe　it：　when　I　（poore　foole）　live　heere　at　home　a　miserable
life；　not　daring　once　to　dreame　of　such　follies；　an　innocent　soule；
heartlesse　and　harmelesse。
　　Many　times；　sitting　and　sighing　to　my　selfe：　Lord；　thinke　I；　of　what
mettall　am　I　made？　Why　should　not　I　have　a　Friend　in　a　corner；
aswell　as　others　have？　I　am　flesh　and　blood；　as　they　are；　not　made
of　brasse　or　iron；　and　therefore　subject　to　womens　frailty。　would　thou
shouldest　know　it　husband；　and　I　tell　it　thee　in　good　earnest；　That　if
I　would　doe　ill；　I　could　quickely　finde　a　friend　at　a　neede。
Gallants　there　are　good　store；　who　（of　my　knowledge）　love　me
dearely；　and　have　made　me　very　large　and　liberall　promises；　of
Golde；　Silver；　jewels；　and　gay　Garments；　if　I　would　extend　them　the
least　favour。　But　my　heart　will　not　suffer　me；　I　never　was　the
daughter　of　such　a　mother；　as　had　so　much　as　a　thought　of　such
matters：　no；　I　thanke　our　blessed　Ladie；　and　S。　Friswid　for　it：　and
yet　thou　returnest　home　againe；　when　thou　shouldst　be　at　Worke。
　　Lazaro；　who　stoode　all　this　while　like　a　well…beleeving　Logger…head；
demurely　thus　answered。　Alas　good　Wife！　I　pray　you　bee　not　so　angry；　I
never　had　so　much　as　an　ill　thought　of　you；　but　know　wel　enough　what
you　are；　and　have　made　good　proofe　thereof　this　morning。　Understand
therefore　patiently　（sweet　Wife）　that　I　went　forth　to　my　work　as　dayly
I　use　to　do；　little　dreaming　（as　I　thinke　you　doe　not）　that　it　had
bene　Holyday。　Wife；　this　is　the　Feast　day　of　Saint　Galeone；　whereon　we
may　in　no　wise　worke；　and　this　is　the　reason　of　my　so　soone　returning。
Neverthelesse　（dear　Wife）　I　was　not　carelesse　of　our　Houshold
provision：　For；　though　we　worke　not；　yet　we　must　have　foode；　which　I
have　provided　for　more　then　a　moneth。　Wife；　I　remembred　the　brewing
Fat；　whereof　we　have　little　or　no　use　at　all；　but　rather　it　is　a
trouble　to　the　house；　then　otherwise。　I　met　with　an　honest　Friend；　who
stayeth　without　at　the　doore；　to　him　I　have　sold　the　Fat　for　ten
Gigliatoes；　and　he　tarrieth　to　take　it　away　with　him。
　　How　Husband？　replied　Peronella；　Why　now　I　am　worse　offended　then
before。　Thou　that　art　a　man；　walkest　every　where；　and　shouldst　be
experienced　in　worldly　affaires：　wouldst　thou　bee　so　simple；　as　to
sell　such　a　brewing　Fat　for　ten　Gigliatoes？　Why；　I　that　am　a　poore
ignorant　woman；　a　house　Dove；　sildome　going　out　of　my　doore：　have　sold
it　already　for　twelve　Gigliatoes；　to　a　very　honest　man；　who　（even　a
little　before　thy　comming　home）　came　to　me；　we　agreed　on　the　bargaine；
and　he　is　now　underneath　the　Fat；　to　see　whether　it　be　sound　or　no。
When　credulous　Lazaro　heard　this；　he　was　better　contented　then　ever；
and　went　to　him　that　taried　at　the　doore；　saying。　Good　man；　you　may
goe　your　way；　for；　whereas　you　offered　me　but　ten　Gigliatoes　for　the
Fat；　my　loving　wife　hath　sold　it　for　twelve；　and　I　must　maintaine　what
shee　hath　done：　so　the　man　departed；　and　the　variance　ended。
　　Peronella　then　saide　to　her　husband。　Seeing　thou　art　come　home　so
luckily；　helpe　me　to　lift　up　the　Fat；　that　the　man　may　come　foorth；
and　then　you　two　end　the　bargaine　together。　Striguario；　who　thogh　he
was　mewed　up　under　the　tubbe；　had　his　eares　open　enough；　and　hearing
the　witty　excuse　of　Peronella；　tooke　himselfe　free　from　future
feare：　and　being　come　from　under　the　Fat；　pretending　also；　as　if　he
had　herd　nothing；　nor　saw　Lazaro；　looking　round　about　him；　said。　Where
is　this　good　woman？　Lazaro　stepping　forth　boldly　like　a　man；
replyed：　Heere　am　I；　what　would　you　have　Sir？　Thou？　quoth
Striguario；　what　art　thou？　I　ask　for　the　good　wife；　with　whom　I　made
my　match　for　the　Fat。　Honest　Gentleman　（answered　Lazaro）　I　am　that
honest　Womans　Husband；　for　lacke　of　a　better；　and　I　will　maintaine
whatsoever　my　Wife　hath　done。
　　I　crie　you　mercie　Sir；　replyed　Striguario；　I　bargained　with　your
Wife　for　this　brewing　Fat；　which　I　finde　to　be　whole　and　sound：　only
it　is　uncleane　within；　hard　crusted　with　some　dry　soile　upon　it；　which
I　know　not　well　how　to　get　off；　if　you　will　be　the　meanes　of　making　it
cleane；　I　have　the　money　heere　ready　for　it。　For　that　Sir　（quoth
Peronella）　take　you　no　care；　although　no　match　at　all　had　beene
made；　what　serves　my　Husband　for；　but　to　make　it　cleane？　Yes
forsooth　Sir；　answered　sily　Lazaro；　you　shall　have　it　neate　and　cleane
before　you　pay　the　mony。
　　So；　stripping　himselfe　into　his　shirt　lighting　a　Candle；　and
taking　tooles　fit　for　the　purpose；　the　Fat　was　whelmed　over　him；　and
he　being　within　it；　wrought　untill　he　sweated；　with　scraping　and
scrubbing。　So　that　these　poore　Lovers；　what　they　could　not
accomplish　as　they　wold；　necessity　enforced　them　to　performe　as　they
might。　And　Peronella；　looking　in　at　the　vent…hole；　where　the　Liquor
runneth　forth　for　the　meshing；　seemed　to　instruct　her　husband　in　the
businesse；　as　espying　those　parts　where　the　Fat　was　fowlest；　saying：
There；　there　Lazaro；　tickle　it　there；　the　Gentleman　payes　well　for　it；
and　is　worthy　to　have　it：　but　see　thou　do　thy　selfe　no　harme　good
Husband。　I　warrant　thee　Wife；　answered　Lazaro；　hurt　not　your　selfe
with　leaning　your　stomacke　on　the　Fat；　and　leave　the　cleansing　of　it
to　me。　To　be　breefe；　the　Brewing　Fat　was　neatly　cleansed；　Peronella
and　Striguario　both　well　pleased；　the　money　paide；　and　honest
meaning　Lazaro　not　discontented。




　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　SEVENTH　DAY；　THE　THIRD　NOVELL

　　　SERVING　AS　A　FRIENDLY　ADVERTISEMENT　TO　MARRIED　WOMEN；　THAT　MONKS；
　　　　　　　　　FRIARS；　AND　PRIESTS　MAY　BE　NONE　OF　THEIR　GOSSIPS；　IN
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　REGARD　OF　UNAVOYDABLE　PERILLES　ENSUING　THEREBY

　　Friar　Reynard；　falling　in　love　with　a　Gentlewoman；　Wife　to　a　man
of　good　account；　found　the　meanes　to　become　her　Gossip。　Afterward；
he　being　conferring　closely　with　her　in　her　Chamber；　and　her　Husband
coming　sodainly　thither：　she　made　him　beleeve；　that　he　came　thither
for　no　other　end；　but　to　cure　his　God…sonne　by　a　charme；　of　a
dangerous　disease　which　he　had　by　Wormes。

　　Philostratus　told　not　this　Tale　so　covertly；　concerning　Lazaros
simplicity；　and　Peronellaes　witty　policy；　but　the　Ladies　found　a
knot　in　the　rush；　and　laughed　not　a　little；　at　his　queint　manner　of
discoursing　it。　But　upon　the　conclusion；　the　King　looking　upon　Madam
Eliza；　willed　her　to　succeede　next；　which　as　willingly　she　granted；
and　thus　began。　Pleasant　Ladies；　the　charme　or　conjuration　wherwith
Madam　Aemillia　laid　her　night…walking　Spirit；　maketh　me　remember　a
Novell　of　another　enchantment；　which　although　it　carrieth　not
commendation　equall　to　the　other；　yet　I　intend　to　report　it；　because
it　suteth　with　our　present　purpose；　and　I　cannot　sodainly　be
furnisht　with　another；　answerable　thereto　in　nature。
　　You　are　to　understand　then；　that　there　lived　in　Siena；　a　proper　yong
man；　of　good　birth　and　well　friended；　being　named　Reynard。　Earnestly
he　affected　his　neere　dwelling　neighbour；　a　beautifull　Gentlewoman；
and　wife　to　a　man　of　good　esteeme：　of　whom　hee　grew　halfe　perswaded；
that　if　he　could　（without　suspition）　compasse　private　conference
with　her；　he　should　reach　the　height　of　his　amorous　desires。　Yet
seeing　no　likely　meanes　wherewith　to　further　his　hope；　and　shee
being　great　with　childe；　he　resolved　to　become　a　Godfather　to　the
childe；　at　such　time　as　it　should　be　brought　to　Christening。　And　being
inwardly　acquainted　with　her　Husband；　who　was　named　Credulano；　such
familiar　intercourses　passed　betweene　them；　both　of　Reynards　kinde
offer；　and　Credulanoes　as　courteous　acceptance；　that　hee　was　set　downe
for　a　Gossippe。
　　Reynard　being　thus　embraced　for　Madam　Agnesiaes　Gossip；　and　this
proving　the　onely　colourable　meanes；　for　his　safer　permission　of
speech　with　her；　to　let　her　now　understand　by　word　of　mouth；　what　long
before　she　collected　by　his　lookes　and　behaviour：　it　fell　out　no　way
beneficiall　to　him；　albeit　Agnesia　seemed　not　nice　or　scrupulous　in
hearing；　yet　she　had　a　more　precious　care　of　her　honor。　It　came　to
passe；　within　a　while　after　（whether　by　seeing　his　labour　vainly
spent；　or　some　other　urgent　occasion　moving　him　thereto；　I　know　not）
Reynard　would　needs　enter　into　Religion；　and　whatsoever　strictnesse　or
austeritie　hee　found　to　be　in　that　kinde　of　life；　yet　he　determined　to
persevere　therein；　whether　it　were　for　his　good　or　ill。　And　although
within　a　short　space；　after　he　was　thus　become　a　Religious　Monke；
hee　seemed　to　forget　the　former　love　which　he　bare　to　his　gossip
Agnesia；　and　divers　other　enormous　vanities　beside：　yet　let　me　tell
you；　successe　of　time　tutord　him　in　them　again（！；　and；　without　any
respect　to　his　poore　ho　habite；　but　rather　in　contempt　thereof　（as
it　were）　he　tooke　an　especiall　delight；　in　wearing　garments　of　much
richer　esteeme；　yet　favoured　by　the　same　Monasticall　profession；
appearing　（in　all　respects）　like　a　Court…Minion　or　Favourite；　of　a
sprightly　and　Poeticall　disposition；　for　composing　Verses；　Sonnets；
and　Canzons；　singing　them　to　sundry　excellent　instruments；　and　yet　not
greatly　curious　of　his　company；　so　they　were　some　of　the　best；　and
Madame　Agnesia　one；　his　former　Gossip。
　　But　why　doe　I　trouble　my　selfe；　in　talking　thus　of　our　so　lately
converted　Friar；　holy　Father　Reynard；　when　they　of　longer　standing；
and　reputed　meerely　for　Saints　in　life；　are　rather　much　more　vile　then
hee？　Such　is　the　wretched　condition　of　this　world；　that　they　shame　not
（fat；　foggie；　and　nastie　Abbey…lubbers）　to　shew　how　full…fedde　they
live　in　their　Cloysters；　with　cherry　cheekes；　and　smooth　shining
lookes；　gay　and　gaudy　garments；　far　from　the　least　expression　of
humility；　not　walking　in　the　streets　like　Doves：　but　high…crested　like
Cockes；　with　well　cramd　gorges。　Nay；　which　is　worse；　if　you　did　but
see　their　Chambers　furnished　with　Gally…pots　of　Electuaries；
precious　Unguents；　Apothecary　Boxes；　filled　with　various
Confections；　Conserves；　excellent　Perfumes；　and　other　goodly　Glasses
of　artificiall　Oyles　and　Waters：　beside　Rundlets　and　small　Barrels
full　of　Greeke　Wine；　Muscatella；　Lachrime　Christi；　and　other　such　like
most　precious　Wines；　so　that　（to　such　as　see　them）　they　seeme　not　to
bee　Chambers　of　Religious　men；　but　rather　Apothecaries　Shoppes；　or
appertaining　to　Druggists；　Grocers；　or　Perfumers。
　　It　is　no　disgrace　to　them　to　be　Gowty；　because　when　other　men　know
it　not；　they　alledge；　that　strict　fasting；　feeding　on　grosse　Meates
（though　never　so　little；）　continuall　studying；　and　such　like
restraints　from　the　bodies　freer　exercise；　maketh　them　subject　to　many
infirmities。　And　yet；　when　any　one　of　them　chanceth