the decameron(十日谈)-第11章

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in　this　manner。




　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　SECOND　DAY；　THE　FIRST　NOVELL

　　　　　　WHEREIN　IS　SIGNIFIED；　HOW　EASIE　A　THING　IT　IS；　FOR　WICKED　MEN
　　　　　　TO　DECEIVE　THE　WORLD；　UNDER　THE　SHADOW　AND　COLOUR　OF　MIRACLES：
　　　　　　　　　AND　THAT　SUCH　TREACHERY　（OFTENTIMES）　REDOUNDETH　TO
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　HARME　OF　THE　DEVISER

　　Martellino　counterfeitting　to　be　lame　of　his　members；　caused
himselfe　to　be　set　on　the　body　of　Saint　Arriguo；　where　he　made　shew　of
his　sudden　recovery；　but　when　his　dissimulation　was　discovered；　he　was
well　beaten；　being　afterward　taken　prisoner；　and　in　great　danger　of
being　hanged　and　strangled　by　the　necke；　and　yet　he　escaped　in　the
end。

　　Faire　Ladies；　it　hath　happened　many　times；　that　he　who　striveth　to
scorne　and　floute　other　men；　and　especially　in　occasions　deserving
to　be　respected；　proveth　to　mocke　himselfe　with　the　selfe　same　matter；
yea；　and　to　his　no　meane　danger　beside。　As　you　shall　perceive　by　a
Tale；　which　I　intend　to　tell　you；　obeying　therein　the　command　of　our
Queene；　and　according　to　the　subject　by　her　enjoyned。　In　which
discourse；　you　may　first　observe；　what　great　mischance　happened　to　one
our　Citizens；　and　yet　afterward；　how　（beyond　all　hope）　he　happily
escaped。
　　Not　long　since；　there　lived　in　the　City　of　Trevers；　an　Almaine　or
Germaine；　named　Arriguo；　who　being　a　poore　man；　served　as　a　Porter；　or
burden…bearer　for　money；　when　any　man　pleased　to　employ　him。　And
yet；　notwithstanding　his　poore　and　meane　condition；　he　was　generally
reputed；　to　be　of　good　and　sanctified　life。　In　which　regard　（whether
it　were　true　or　no；　I　know　not）　it　happened；　that　when　he　died　（at
least　as　the　men　of　Trevers　themselves　affirmed）　in　the　very　instant
houre　of　his　departing；　all　the　Belles　in　the　great　Church　of　Trevers；
（not　being　pulled　by　the　helpe　of　any　hand）　beganne　to　ring：　which
being　accounted　for　a　miracle；　every　one　saide；　that　this　Arriguo
had　bene；　and　was　a　Saint。　And　presently　all　the　people　of　the　City
ran　to　the　house　where　the　dead　body　lay；　and　carried　it　（as　a
sanctified　body）　into　the　great　Church；　where　people；　halt；　lame；
and　blind；　or　troubled　with　any　other　diseases；　were　brought　about　it；
even　as　if　every　one　should　forth…with　be　holpen；　onely　by　their
touching　the　body。
　　It　came　to　passe；　that　in　so　great　a　concourse　of　people；　as
resorted　thither　from　all　parts；　three　of　our　Citizens　went　to
Trevers；　one　of　them　being　named　Stechio；　the　second　Martellino；　and
the　third　Marquiso；　all　being　men　of　such　condition；　as　frequented
Princes　Courts；　to　give　them　delight　by　pleasant　and　counterfetted
qualities。　None　of　these　men　having　ever　beene　at　Trevers　before；
seeing　how　the　people　crowded　thorow　the　streetes；　wondered　greatly
thereat：　but　when　they　knew　the　reason　why　the　throngs　ranne　on　heapes
in　such　sort　together；　they　grew　as　desirous　to　see　the　Shrine；　as　any
of　the　rest。　Having　ordered　all　affaires　at　their　lodging；　Marquiso
saide；　It　is　fit　for　us　to　see　this　Saint；　but　I　know　not　how　we　shall
attaine　thereto；　because　（as　I　have　heard）　the　place　is　guarded　by
Germaine　Souldiers；　and　other　warlike　men；　commanded　thither　by　the
Governour　of　this　City；　least　any　outrage　should　be　there　committed：
And　beside；　the　Church　is　so　full　of　people；　as　we　shall　never
compasse　to　get　neere。　Martellino　being　also　as　forward　in　desire　to
see　it；　presently　replied。　All　this　difficulty　cannot　dismay　me；　but　I
will　go　to　the　very　body　of　the　Saint　it　selfe。　But　how？　quoth
Marquiso。　I　will　tell　thee；　answered　Martellino。　I　purpose　to　go　in
the　disguise　of　an　impotent　lame　person；　supported　on　the　one　side
by　thy　selfe；　and　on　the　other　by　Stechio；　as　if　I　were　not　able　to
walke　of　my　selfe：　And　you　two　thus　sustaining　me；　desiring　to　come
neere　the　Saint　to　cure　me；　every　one　will　make　way；　and　freely　give
you　leave　to　go　on。
　　This　devise　was　very　pleasing　to　Marquiso　and　Stechio；　so　that
（without　any　further　delaying）　they　all　three　left　their　lodging；
and　resorting　into　a　secret　corner　aside；　Martellino　so　writhed　and
mishaped　his　hands；　fingers；　and　armes；　his　legges；　mouth；　eyes；　and
whole　countenance；　that　it　was　a　dreadfull　sight　to　looke　upon　him；
and　whosoever　beheld　him；　would　verily　have　imagined；　that　hee　was
utterly　lame　of　his　limbes；　and　greatly　deformed　in　his　body。　Marquiso
and　Stechio；　seeing　all　sorted　so　well　as　they　could　wish；　tooke　and
led　him　towards　the　Church；　making　very　pitious　moane；　and　humbly
desiring　（for　Gods　sake）　of　every　one　that　they　met；　to　grant　them
free　passage：　whereto　they　charitably　condiscended。
　　Thus　leading　him　on；　crying；　Beware　there　before；　and　give　way　for
Gods　sake；　they　arrived　at　the　body　of　Saint　Arriguo；　that　（by　his
helpe）　he　might　be　healed。　And　while　all　eyes　were　diligently
observing；　what　miracle　would　be　wrought　on　Martellino；　he　having
sitten　a　small　space　upon　the　Saints　body；　and　being　sufficiently
skilfull　in　counterfeiting；　began　first　to　extend　forth　the　one　of　his
fingers；　next　his　hand；　then　his　arme；　and　so　（by　degrees）　the　rest　of
his　body。　Which　when　the　people　saw；　they　made　such　a　wonderfull　noyse
in　praise　of　Saint　Arriguo；　even　as　if　it　had　thundered　in　the　Church。
　　Now　it　chanced　by　ill　fortune；　that　there　stood　a　Florentine　neere
to　the　body；　who　knew　Martellino　very　perfectly；　but　appearing　so
monstrously　mishapen；　when　he　was　brought　into　the　Church；　hee　could
take　no　knowledge　of　him。　But　when　he　saw　him　stand　up　and　walke；
hee　knew　him　then　to　be　the　man　indeede；　whereupon　he　saide。　How
commeth　it　to　passe；　that　this　fellow　should　be　so　miraculously　cured；
that　never　truly　was　any　way　impotent？　Certaine　men　of　the　City
hearing　these　words；　entred　into　further　questioning　with　him；
demanding；　how　he　knew　that　the　man　had　no　such　imperfection？　Well
enough　（answered　the　Florentine）　I　know　him　to　be　as　direct　in　his
limbes　and　body；　as　you；　I；　or　any　of　us　all　are：　but　indeede；　he
knowes　better　how　to　dissemble　counterfet　trickes；　then　any　man　else
that　ever　I　saw。
　　When　they　heard　this；　they　discoursed　no　further　with　the
Florentine；　but　pressed　on　mainely　to　the　place　where　Martellino
stood；　crying　out　aloude。　Lay　hold　on　this　Traytor；　a　mocker　of　God；
and　his　holy　Saints；　that　had　no　lamenesse　in　his　limbes；　but　to
make　a　mocke　of　our　Saint　and　us；　came　hither　in　false　and　counterfeit
manner。　So　laying　hands　uppon　him；　they　threw　him　against　the
ground；　having　him　by　the　haire　on　his　head；　and　tearing　the
garments　from　his　backe；　spurning　him　with　their　feete；　and　beating
him　with　their　fists；　that　many　were　much　ashamed　to　see　it。
　　Poore　Martellino　was　in　a　pittifull　case；　crying　out　for　mercy；
but　no　man　would　heare　him；　for；　the　more　he　cryed；　the　more　still
they　did　beat　him；　as　meaning　to　leave　no　life　in　him：　which　Stechio
and　Marquiso　seeing；　considered　with　themselves；　that　they　were
likewise　in　a　desperate　case；　and　therefore；　fearing　to　be　as　much
misused；　they　cryed　out　among　the　rest；　Kill　the　counterfet　knave；　lay
on　loade；　and　spare　him　not；　neverthelesse；　they　tooke　care　how　to　get
him　out　of　the　peoples　handes；　as　doubting；　least　they　would　kill
him　indeede；　by　their　extreame　violence。
　　Sodainly；　Marquiso　bethought　him　how　to　do　it；　and　proceeded　thus。
All　the　Sergeants　for　Justice　standing　at　the　Church　doore；　hee　ran
with　all　possible　speede　to　the　Potestates　Lieutenant；　and　said　unto
him。　Good　my　Lord　Justice；　helpe　me　in　an　hard　case；　yonder　is　a
villaine　that　hath　cut　my　purse；　I　desire　he　may　bee　brought　before
you；　that　I　may　have　my　money　againe。　He　hearing　this；　sent　for　a
dozen　of　the　Sergeants；　who　went　to　apprehend　unhappy　Martellino；
and　recover　him　from　the　peoples　fury；　leading　him　on　with　them　to　the
Palace；　no　meane　crowds　thronging　after　him；　when　they　heard　that　he
was　accused　to　bee　a　Cutpurse。　Now　durst　they　meddle　no　more　with　him；
but　assisted　the　Officers；　some　of　them　charging　him　in　like　manner；
that　hee　had　cut　their　purses　also。
　　Upon　these　clamours　and　complaints；　the　Potestates　Lieutenant　（being
a　man　of　rude　quality）　tooke　him　sodainly　aside；　and　examined　him　of
the　crimes　wherewith　he　was　charged。　But　Martellino；　as　making　no
account　of　these　accusations；　laughed；　and　returned　scoffing　answeres。
Whereat　the　Judge；　waxing　much　displeased；　delivered　him　over　to　the
Strappado；　and　stood　by　himselfe；　to　have　him　confesse　the　crimes
imposed　on　him；　and　then　to　hang　him　afterward。　Being　let　downe　to　the
ground；　the　Judge　still　demaunded　of　him；　whether　the　accusations
against　him　were　true；　or　no？　Affirming；　that　it　nothing　avayled　him
to　deny　it：　whereupon　hee　thus　spake　to　the　Judge。　My　Lord；　I　am　heere
ready　before　you；　to　confesse　the　truth；　but　I　pray　you；　demaund　of
all　them　that　accuse　me；　when　and　where　I　did　cut　their　purses；　and
then　I　wil　tell　you　that；　which　（as　yet）　I　have　not　done；　otherwise
I　purpose　to　make　you　no　more　answers。
　Well　（quoth　the　Judge）　thou　requirest　but　reason；　and　calling
divers　of　the　accusers；　one　of　them　saide；　that　he　lost　his　purse
eight　dayes　before；　another　saide　six；　another　foure；　and　some　saide
the　very　same　day。　Which　Martellino　hearing；　replyed。　My　Lord；　they
all　lie　in　their　throats；　as　I　will　plainly　prove　before　you。　I
would　to　God　I　had　never　set　foot　within　this　City；　as　it　is　not
many　houres　since　my　first　entrance；　and　presently　after　mine
arrivall；　I　went　（in　evill　houre　I　may　say　for　me）　to　see　the　Saints
body；　where　I　was　thus　beaten　as　you　may　beholde。　That　all　this　is
true　which　I　say　unto　you；　the　Seigneurie　Officer　that　keeps　your
Booke　of　presentations；　will　testifie　for　me；　as　also　the　Host　where　I
am　lodged。　Wherefore　good　my　Lord；　if　you　finde　all　no　otherwise；　then
as　I　have　said；　I　humbly　entreate　you；　that　upon　these　bad　mens
reportes　and　false　informations；　I　may　not　be　thus　tormented；　and
put　in　perill　of　my　life。
　　While　matters　proceeded　in　this　manner；　Marquiso　and　Stechio；
understanding　how　roughly　the　Potestates　Lieutenant　dealt　with
Martellino；　and　that　he　had　already　given　him　the　Strappado；　were　in
heavy　perplexity；　saying　to　themselves；　we　have　carried　this　businesse
very　badly；　redeeming　him　out　of　the　Frying…pan；　and　flinging　him　into
the　fire。　Whereupon；　trudging　about　from　place　to　place；　and　meeting
at　length　with　their　Host；　they　told　him　truly　how　all　had　happened；
whereat　hee　could　not　refraine　from　laughing。　Afterward；　he　went
with　them　to　one　Master　Alexander　Agolante；　who　dwelt　in　Trevers；
and　was　in　great　credite　with　the　Cities　cheefe　Magistrate；　to　whom
hee　related　the　whole　Discourse；　all　three　earnestly　entreating　him；
to　commisserate　the　case　of　poore　Martellino。
　　Master　Alexander；　after　he　had　laughed　heartily　at　this　hotte
peece　of　service；　went　with　him　to　the　Lord　of　Trevers；　prevailing
so　well　with　him；　that　he　sent　to　have　Martellino　brought　before
him。　The　Messengers　that　went　for　him；　found　him　standing　in　his　shirt
before　the　Judge；　very　shrewdly　shaken　with　the　Strappado；　trembling
and　quaking　pitifully。　For　the　Judge　would　not　heare　any　thing　in
his　excuse；　but　hating　him　（perhaps）　because　hee　was　a　Florentine：
flatly　determined　to　have　him　hanged　by　the　necke；　and　would　not
deliver　him　to　the　Lord；　untill　in