the decameron(十日谈)-第107章

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you？　Yes　Sir；　quoth　she。　How　is　it　possible　then　（replyed　the　Husband）
that　the　Friar　can　lodge　there　with　you　too？
　　She；　dissembling　a　farre　fetcht　sigh；　thus　answered。　Reverend　Sir；　I
know　not　what　skilfull　Art　the　Fryar　useth；　but　this　I　am　sure；
every　doore　in　our　house　will　flye　open　to　him；　so　soone　as　he　doth
but　touch　it。　Moreover；　he　told　me；　that　when　he　commeth　unto　my
Chamber　doore；　he　speaketh　certaine　words　to　himselfe；　which
immediately　casteth　my　Husband　into　a　dead　sleepe；　and；
understanding　him　to　bee　thus　sleepily　entranced：　he　openeth　the
doore；　entreth　in；　lieth　downe　by　me；　and　this　every　night　he
faileth　not　to　do。　The　jealous　Coxcomb　angerly　scratching　his　head；
and　wishing　his　wife　halfe　hangd；　said：　Mistresse；　this　is　very
badly　done；　for　you　should　keepe　your　selfe　from　all　men；　but　your
husband　onely。　That　shall　I　never　doe；　answered　shee；　because　（indeed）
I　love　him　dearely。　Why　then　（quoth　our　supposed　Confessor）　I　cannot
give　you　any　absolution。　I　am　the　more　sory　Sir；　said　she；　I　came
not　hither　to　tell　you　any　leasings；　for　if　I　could；　yet　I　would
not；　because　it　is　not　good　to　fable　with　such　Saint…like　men　as　you
are。　You　do　therein　（quoth　hee）　the　better；　and　surely　I　am　very
sory　for　you；　because　in　this　dangerous　condition；　it　will　bee　the
utter　losse　of　your　soule：　neverthelesse；　both　for　your　husbands
sake　and　your　owne；　I　will　take　some　paines；　and　use　such　especiall
prayers　in　your　name；　which　may　（perchance）　greatly　avayle　you。　And
I　purpose　now　and　then；　to　send　you　a　Novice　or　young　Clearke　of　mine；
whom　you　may　safely　acquaint　with　your　minde；　and　signifie　to　me；　by
him；　whether　they　have　done　you　good；　or　no：　and　if　they　prove
helpefull；　then　will　we　further　proceed　therein。　Alas　Sir；　said　she；
never　trouble　your　selfe；　in　sending　any　body　to　our　house；　because；
if　my　Husband　should　know　it；　he　is　so　extreamly　jealous；　as　all　the
world　cannot　otherwise　perswade　him；　but　that　he　commeth　thither　for
no　honest　intent；　and　so　I　shall　live　worse　then　now　I　do。　Fear　not
that；　good　woman；　quoth　he；　but　beleeve　it　certainly；　that　I　will　have
such　a　care　in　this　case；　as　your　Husband　shall　never　speake　thereof
to　you。　If　you　can　doe　so　Sir；　sayde　she；　proceed　I　pray　you；　and　I　am
well　contented。
　　Confession　being　thus　ended；　and　she　receiving　such　pennance　as
hee　appointed；　she　arose　on　her　feete；　and　went　to　heare　Masse；
while　our　jealous　Woodcocke　（testily　puffing　and　blowing）　put　off
his　Religious　habite；　returning　home　presently　to　his　house；　beating
his　braines　al　the　way　as　he　went；　what　meanes　he　might　best　devise；
for　the　taking　of　his　wife　and　the　Friar　together；　whereby　to　have
them　both　severely　punished。　His　wife　being　come　home　from　the
Chappell；　discerned　by　her　Husbands　lookes；　that　he　was　like　to
keepe　but　a　sory　Christmasse：　yet　he　used　his　utmost　industry；　to
conceale　what　he　had　done；　and　which　she　knew　as　well　as　himself。
And　he　having　fully　resolved；　to　watch　his　own　street　doore　the　next
night　ensuing　in　person；　in　expectation　of　the　Friars　comming；　saide
to　his　Wife。　I　have　occasion　both　to　suppe　and　lodge　out　of　my　house
this　night；　wherefore　see　you　the　streete　doore　to　be　surely　made　fast
on　the　inside；　and　the　doore　at　the　middest　of　the　staires；　as　also
your　own　Chamber　doore；　and　then　（in　Gods　name）　get　you　to　bed。
Whereto　she　answered；　that　all　should　be　done　as　hee　had　appointed。
　　Afterward；　when　she　saw　convenient　time；　she　went　to　the　chink　in
the　Wall；　and　making　such　a　signe　as　shee　was　woont　to　doe：
Phillippo　came　thither；　to　whom　she　declared　all　her　mornings
affayres；　and　what　directions　her　husband　had　given　her。　Furthermore
she　saide；　certaine　I　am；　that　he　will　not　depart　from　the　house；
but　sit　and　watch　the　doore　without；　to　take　one　that　comes　not　heere。
If　therefore；　you　can　climbe　over　the　house　top；　and　get　in　at　our
gutter　Window；　you　and　I　may　conferre　more　familiarly　together。　The
young　Gentleman　being　no　dullard；　had　his　lesson　quickly　taught　him；
and　when　night　was　come；　Geloso　（for　so　must　wee　tearme　the
Cocke…braind　husband）　armes　himselfe　at　all　points；　with　a　browne　Bill
in　his　hand；　and　so　he　sits　to　watch　his　owne　doore。　His　Wife　had　made
fast　all　the　doores；　especially　that　on　the　midst　of　the　stayres；
because　he　should　not　（by　any　means）　come　to　her　Chamber；　and　so；　when
the　houre　served；　the　Gentleman　adventured　over　the　house　top；　found
the　gutter　Window；　and　the　way　conducting　him　to　her　Chamber；　where
I　leave　them　to　their　further　amorous　conference。
　　Geloso；　more　than　halfe　mad　with　anger；　first；　because　hee　had
lost　his　supper：　next；　having　sitten　almost　all　the　night　（which　was
extreamely　cold　and　windle）　his　Armor　much　mollesting　him；　and　yet
he　could　see　no　Friar　come：　when　day　drew　neere；　and　hee　ashamed　to
watch　there　any　longer；　conveighed　himselfe　to　some　more　convenient
place；　where　putting　off　his　Armes；　and　seeming　to　come　from　the　place
of　his　Lodging；　about　the　ninth　houre；　he　found　his　doore　open；　entred
in；　and　went　up　the　stayres；　going　to　dinner　with　his　Wife。　Within　a
while　after；　according　as　Geloso　had　ordred　the　businesse；　a　youth
came　thither；　seeming　to　be　the　Novice　sent　from　the　Confessor；　and　he
being　admitted　to　speake　with　her；　demanded；　whether　shee　were
troubled　or　mollested　that　night　passed；　as　formerly　she　had　bin；
and　whether　the　partie　came　or　no？　The　Woman；　who　knew　well　enough　the
Messenger　（notwithstanding　all　his　formall　disguise）　made　answer：　That
the　party　expected；　came　not：　but　if　hee　had　come；　it　was　to　no
purpose；　because　her　minde　was　now　otherwise　altred；　albeit　she
changed　not　a　jote　from　her　amorous　conclusion。
　　What　should　I　now　further　say　unto　you？　Geloso　continued　his　watch
many　nights　afterward；　as　hoping　to　surprize　the　Friar　at　his
entrance；　and　his　wife　kept　still　her　contented　quarter；　according
as　opportunitie　served。　In　the　conclusion；　Geloso　beeing　no　longer
able　to　endire　his　bootlesse　watching；　nor　some　（more　then　ordinary）
pleasing　countenance　in　his　wife：　one　day　demaunded　of　her　（with　a
very　stearne　and　frowning　brow）　what　secret　sinnes　shee　had　revealed
to　the　ghostly　Father；　upon　the　day　of　her　shrift？　The　Woman
replyed；　that　she　would　not　tell　him；　neyther　was　it　a　matter
reasonable；　or　lawfull　for　her　to　doe。　Wicked　Woman；　answered
Geloso：　I　knowe　them　all　well　enough；　even　in　despight　of　thee；　and
every　word　that　thou　spakest　unto　him。　But　Huswife；　now　I　must　further
know；　what　the　Fryar　is；　with　whom　you　are　so　farre　in　love；　and　（by
meanes　of　his　enchantments）　lyeth　with　you　every　night；　tell　me　what
and　who　he　is；　or　else　I　meane　to　cut　your　throate。
　　The　Woman　immediately　made　answer；　it　was　not　true；　that　she　was
in　love　with　any　Fryar。　How？　quoth　Geloso；　didst　not　thou　confesse
so　much　to　the　Ghostly　Father；　the　other　day　when　thou　wast　at　shrift？
No　Sir；　sayde　she；　but　if　I　did；　I　am　sure　he　would　not　disclose　it　to
you；　except　hee　suffered　you　to　bee　there　present；　which　is　an　Article
beyonde　his　dutie。　But　if　it　were　so；　then　I　confesse　freely；　that　I
did　say　so　unto　him。　Make　an　end　then　quickely　Wife　（quoth　Geloso）　and
tell　mee　who　the　Friar　is。　The　Woman　fell　into　a　hearty　laughter；
saying。　It　liketh　me　singularly　well；　when　a　wise　man　will　suffer
himselfe　to　be　ledde　by　a　simple　Woman；　even　as　a　Sheepe　is　to　the
slaughter；　and　by　the　hornes。　If　once　thou　wast　wise；　that　wisedome
became　utterly　lost；　when　thou　felst　into　that　divellish　frensie　of
jealousie；　without　knowing　anie　reason　for　it：　for；　by　this
beastlike　and　no　manly　humor；　thou　hast　eclipsed　no　meane　part　of　my
glory；　and　womanly　reputation。
　　Doest　thou　imagine　Husband；　that　if　I　were　so　blinded　in　the　eyes　of
my　head；　as　thou　art　in　them　which　should　informe　thine　understanding；
I　could　have　found　out　the　Priest；　that　would　needs　bee　my
Confessor？　I　knew　thee　Husband　to　be　the　man；　and　therefore　I　prepared
my　wit　accordingly；　to　fit　thee　with　the　foolish　imagination　which
thou　soughtest　for；　and　（indeed）　gave　it　thee。　For；　if　thou　hadst
beene　wise；　as　thou　makest　the　world　to　beleeve　by　outward
apparance；　thou　wouldest　never　have　expressed　such　a　basenesse　of
minde；　to　borrow　the　coulour　of　a　sanctified　cloake；　thereby　to
undermine　the　secrets　of　thine　honest　meaning　Wife。　Wherefore；　to
feede　thee　in　thy　fond　suspition；　I　was　the　more　free　in　my
Confession；　and　tolde　thee　truely；　with　whom；　and　how　heinously　I
had　transgressed。　Did　I　not　tell　thee；　that　I　loved　a　Fryar？　And　art
not　thou　he　whom　love；　being　a　Fryar；　and　my　ghostly　Father；　though
（to　thine　owne　shame）　thou　madst　thy　selfe　so？　I　said　moreover；　that
there　is　not　any　doore　in　our　house；　that　can　keepe　it　selfe　shut
against　him；　but　（when　he　pleaseth）　he　comes　and　lies　with　me。　Now
tell　me　Husband；　What　doore　in　our　house　hath　（at　any　time）　bin　shut
against　thee；　but　they　are　freely　thine　owne；　and　grant　thee　entrance？
Thou　art　the　same　Friar　that　confest　me；　and　lieth　every　night　with
me；　and　so　often　as　thou　sentst　thy　yong　Novice　or　Clearke　to　me；　as
often　did　I　truly　returne　thee　word；　when　the　same　Fryar　lay　with
me。　But　（by　jealousie）　thou　hast　so　lost　thine　understanding；　that
thou　wilt　hardly　beleeve　all　this。
　　Alas　good　man；　like　an　armed　Watchman；　thou　satst　at　thine　owne
doore　all　a　cold　Winters　night；　perswading　mee　（poorelly　credulous
woman）　that；　upon　urgent　occasions；　thou　must　needs　suppe　and　lodge
from　home。　Remember　thy　selfe　therefore　better　heereafter；　become　a
true　understanding　man；　as　thou　shouldst　bee；　and　make　not　thy　selfe　a
mocking　stocke　to　them；　who　knoweth　thy　jealous　qualities；　as　well
as　I　do；　and　be　not　so　watchfull　over　me；　as　thou　art。　For　I　sweare　by
my　true　honesty；　that　if　I　were　but　as　willing；　as　thou　art
suspitious：　I　could　deceive　thee；　if　thou　hadst　an　hundred　eyes；　as
Nature　affords　thee　but　two；　and　have　my　pleasures　freely；　yet　thou　be
not　a　jot　the　wiser；　or　my　credit　any　way　impaired。
　　Our　wonderfull　wise　Geloso；　who　（very　advisedly）　considred　that　he
had　wholly　heard　his　wives　secret　confession；　and　dreamed　now　on　no
other　doubt　beside；　but　（perceiving　by　her　speeches）　how　hee　was
become　a　scorne　to　al　men：　without　returning　other　answer；　confirmed
his　wife　to　be　both　wise　and　honest；　and　now　when　he　hadde　just
occasion　to　be　jealous　indeede；　hee　utterly　forsware　it；　and　counted
them　all　Coxcombes　that　would　be　so　misguided。　Wherefore；　she　having
thus　wisely　wonne　the　way　to　her　owne　desires；　and　he　reduced　into　a
more　humane　temper：　I　hope　there　was　no　more　neede；　of　clambring
over　houses　in　the　night　time　like　Cats；　nor　walking　in　at　gutter
Windowes；　but　all　abuses　were　honestly　reformed。




　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　SEVENTH　DAY；　THE　SIXTH　NOVELL

　　WHEREIN　IS　MANIFESTLY　DISCERNED；　THAT　IF　LOVE　BE　DRIVEN　TO　A　NARROW
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　STRAITE　IN　ANY　OF　HIS　ATTEMPTS；　YET　HEE　CAN
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　ACCOMPLISH　HIS　PURPOSE　BY　SOME　OTHER　SUPPLY

　　Madame　Isabella；　delighting　in　the　company　of　her　affected　Friend；
named　Lionello；　and　she　being　likewise　beloved　by　Signior
Lambertuccio：　At　the　same　time　as　shee　had　entertained　Lionello；
shee　was　also　visited　by　Lambertuccio。　Her　Husband　returning　home　in
the　very　instant；　shee