the decameron(十日谈)-第110章

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the　water　runneth　stillest；　the　Foord　is　deepest；　even　so；　his
smooth　lookes　have　beguiled　both　you　and　me。　For；　no　longer　agoe；　then
this　verie　day；　no　sooner　were　you　ridden　foorth　on　Hauking；　but　he
（belike　purposely）　tarrying　at　home；　watching　such　a　leysure　as　best
fitted　his　intent：　was　not　ashamed　to　solicite　mee；　both　to　abuse　your
bed；　and　mine　owne　spotlesse　honor。
　　Moreover；　he　prosecuted　his　impious　purpose　with　such　alluring
perswasions：　that　being　a　weake　woman；　and　not　willing　to　endure
over　many　Amorous　proofes　（onely　to　acquaint　you　with　his　most
sawcie　immodestie；　and　to　revenge　your　selfe　uppon　him　as　best　you
may；　your　selfe　beeing　best　able　to　pronounce　him　guiltie）　I　made
him　promise；　to　meete　him　in　our　Garden；　presently　after
midde…night；　and　to　finde　mee　sitting　under　the　Pine…Tree；　never
meaning　（as　I　am　vertuous）　to　be　there。　But；　that　you　may　know　the
deceite　and　falshoode　of　your　Servant；　I　would　have　you　to　put　on　my
Night…gowne；　my　head　Attire；　and　Chinne…cloath；　and　sitting　but　a
short　while　there　underneath　the　Pine…Tree：　such　is　his　insatiate
desire；　as　he　will　not　faile　to　come；　and　then　you　may　proceede；　as
you　finde　occasion。
　　When　Egano　heard　these　Words；　sodainely　hee　started　out　of　Bed；
saying。　Doe　I　foster　such　a　Snake　in　mine　owne　bosome？　Gramercie
Wife　for　this　politicke　promise　of　thine；　and　beleeve　mee；　I　meane
to　follow　it　effectually。　So；　on　he　put　his　Ladies　Night…gown；　her
formall　head　Attire　and　Chin…cloth；　going　presently　downe　into　the
Garden；　to　expect　Anichinoes　comming　to　the　Pine…Tree。　But　before
the　matter　grew　to　this　issue；　let　me　demand　of　you　faire　Ladies；　in
what　a　lamentable　condition　（as　you　may　imagine）　was　poore　Anichino；
to　bee　so　strongly　detained　by　her；　heare　all　his　amorous　suite
discovered；　and　likely　to　draw　very　heavy　afflictions　on　him？
Undoubtedly；　he　looked　for　immediate　apprehension　by　Egano；
imprisonment　and　publike　punishment　for　his　so　malapert　presumption：
and　had　it　proved　so；　she　had　much　renowned　her　selfe；　and　dealt
with　him　but　as　he　had　justlie　deserved。
　　But　frailtie　in　our　feminine　sex　is　too　much　prevalent；　and　makes　us
wander　from　vertuous　courses；　when　we　are　wel　onward　in　the　way　to
them。　Madam　Beatrix；　whatsoever　passed　betweene　her　and　Anichino；　I
know　not；　but；　either　to　continue　this　new　begunne　league　for
further　time；　or；　to　be　revenged　on　her　husbands　implicity；　in
over…rashlie　giving　credit　to　so　smooth　a　ly；　this　was　her　advise　to
him。　Anichino；　quoth　she；　Take　a　good　Cudgell　in　thy　hand；　then　go
into　the　Garden　so　farre　as　the　Pine；　and　there；　as　if　formerly　thou
hadst　solicited　mee　unto　this　secret　meeting；　only　but　by　way　of
approving　my　honestie：　in　my　name；　revile　thy　master　so　bitterly　as
thou　canst；　bestowing　manie　sound　blowes　on　him　with　thy　cudgel；　yet
urge　the　shame　stil　（as　it　were）　to　mee；　and　never　leave　him；　til　thou
hast　beaten　him　out　of　the　garden；　to　teach　him　keepe　his　bed
another　time　Such　an　apt　Scholler　as　Anichino　was　in　this　kind；
needs　no　tutoring；　but　a　word　is　enough　to　a　ready　Wit。　To　the
Garden　goes　he；　with　a　good　willow　cudgell　in　his　hand；　and　comming
neere　to　the　Pine…tree；　there　he　found　Egano　disguised　like　to　his
Lady；　who　arising　from　the　place　where　he　sate；　went　with　chearefull
gesture　to　welcome　him；　but　Anichino　（in　rough　and　stearne　manner）
thus　spake　unto　him。　Wicked　shamelesse；　and　most　immodest　Woman；　Art
thou　come；　according　to　thine　unchaste　and　lascivious　promise？
Couldest　thou　so　easily　credite；　（though　I　tempted　thee；　to　trie　the
vertue　of　thy　continencie）　I　would　offer　such　a　damnable　wrong　to　my
worthy　Master；　that　so　deerely　loves　me；　and　reposeth　his　especiall
confidence　in　me？　Thou　art　much　deceived　in　me；　and　shalt　finde；
that　I　hate　to　be　false　to　him。
　　So　lifting　up　the　Cudgell；　he　gave　him　therewith　halfe　a　score
good　bastinadoes；　laying　them　on　soundly；　both　on　his　armes　and
shoulders：　and　Egano　feeling　the　smart　of　them；　durst　not　speake　one
Worde；　but　fled　away　from　him　so　fast　as　hee　could；　Anichino　still
following；　and　multiplying　many　other　injurious　speeches　against
him；　with　the　Epithites　of　Strumpet；　lustfull　and　insatiate　Woman。
Go　thou　lewde　beast　（quoth　he）　most　unworthy　the　title　of　a　Lady；　or
to　be　Wife　unto　so　good　a　natured　man；　as　my　Mayster　is；　to　whom　I
will　reveale　thy　most　ungracious　incivility　to　Morrow；　that　he　may
punish　thee　a　little　better　then　I　have　done。
　　Egano　being　thus　well　beaten　for　his　Garden　walke；　got　within　the
doore；　and　so　went　up　to　his　Chamber　againe：　his　Lady　there
demanding　of　him；　whether　Anichino　came　according　to　his　promise；　or
no？　Come？
　　quoth　Egano；　Yes　Wife；　he　came；　but　deerely　to　my　cost：　for　hee
verily　taking　me　for　thee；　hath　beaten　me　most　extreamly；　calling　me
an　hundred　Whores　and　Strumpets；　reputing　thee　to　bee　the　wickedst
Woman　living。　In　good　sadnesse　Beatrix；　I　wondred　not　a　little　at　him；
that　he　would　give　thee　any　such　vile　speeches；　with　intent　to　wrong
mee　in　mine　honour。　Questionlesse；　because　hee　saw　thee　to　be
joviall　spirited；　gracious　and　affable　towardes　all　men；　therefore　hee
intended　to　make　triall　of　thine　honest　carriage。　Well　Sir　（sayde
shee）　twas　happy　that　hee　tempted　mee　with　words；　and　let　you　taste
the　proofe　of　them　by　deeds：　and　let　him　thinke；　that　I　brooke　those
words　as　distastably；　as　you　do　or　can；　his　ill　deeds。　But　seeing　he
is　so　just；　faithfull；　and　loyall　to　you；　you　may　love　him　the　better；
and　respect　him　as　you　finde　occasion。
　　Whereto　Egano　thus　replyed。　Now　trust　me　thou　hast　said　very　well：
And　me　wi　drawing　hence　the　argument　of　his　setled　perswasion；　that　he
had　the　chastest　Woman　living　to　his　wife；　and　so　just　a　Servant；　as
could　not　be　fellowed：　there　never　was　any　further　discoverie　of
this　Garden…night　accident。　Perhaps；　Madame　Beatrix　and　Anichino　might
subtilly　smile　thereat　in　secret；　in　regard　that　they　knew　more　then
any　other　else　beside　did。　But；　as　for　honest　meaning　Egano；　hee　never
had　so　much　as　the　verie　least　mistrust　of　ill　dealing；　either　in
his　Lady；　or　Anichino；　whom　hee　loved　and　esteemed　farre　more
respectively　uppon　this　proofe　of　his　honestie　towards　him；　then　hee
would　or　could　possibly　have　done；　without　a　triall　so　playne　and
pregnant。




　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　SEVENTH　DAY；　THE　EIGHT　NOVELL

　　　WHEREBY　APPEARETH；　THAT　AN　HUSBAND　OUGHT　TO　BE　VERY　WELL　ADVISED；
　　　　WHEN　HE　MEANETH　TO　DISCOVER　ANY　WRONG　OFFERED　HIS　WIFE；　EXCEPT
　　　　　　HEE　HIM…SELFE　DO　RASHLY　RUN　INTO　ALL　THE　SHAME　AND　REPROACH

　　Arriguccio　Berlinghieri；　became　immeasurably　jelous　of　his　Wife
Simonida；　who　fastened　a　thred　about　her　great　toe；　for　to　serve　as
a　small；　when　her　amorous　friend　should　come　to　visite　her。　Arriguccio
findeth　the　fallacie；　and　while　he　pursueth　the　amorous　friend；　shee
causeth　her　Maide　to　lye　in　her　bed　against　his　returne：　whom　he
beateth　extreamly；　cutting　away　the　lockes　of　her　haire　（thinking　he
had　doone　all　this　violence　to　his　wife　Simonida：）　and　afterward
fetcheth　her　Mother　and　Brethren；　to　shame　her　before　them；　and　so
be　rid　of　her。　But　they　finding　all　his　speeches　to　be　utterly
false；　and　reputing　him　to　bee　a　drunken　jealous　foole；　all　the
blame　and　disgrace　falleth　on　himselfe。

　　It　seemed　to　the　whole　assembly；　that　Madam　Beatrix；　dealte　somewhat
strangely；　in　the　manner　of　beguiling　her　husband；　and　affirmed
also；　that　Anichino　had　great　cause　of　fear；　when　she　held　him　so
strongly　by　her　beds　side；　and　related　all　his　amorous　temptation。　But
when　the　King　perceyved；　that　Madame　Philomena　sate　silent；　he
turned　to　Madam　Neiphila；　willing　her　to　supply　the　next　place；　who
modestly　smiling；　thus　began。
　　Faire　Ladies；　it　were　an　heavy　burthen　imposed　on　me；　and　a　matter
much　surmounting　my　capacity；　if　I　should　vainely　imagine；　to
content　you　with　so　pleasing　a　Novell；　as　those　have　already　done；
by　you　so　singularly　reported：　neverthelesse；　I　must　discharge　my
dutie；　and　take　my　fortune　as　it　fals；　albeit　I　hope　to　finde　you
mercifull。
　　You　are　to　know　then；　that　sometime　there　lived　in　our　Citie；　a　very
welthy　Merchant；　named　Arriguccio　Berlinghieri；　who　（as　many　Merchants
have　done）　fondly　imagined；　to　make　himselfe　a　Gentleman　by
marriage。　Which　that　he　might　the　more　assuredly　do；　he　took　to　wife　a
Gentlewoman；　one　much　above　his　degree　or　element；　she　being　named
Simonida。　Now；　in　regard　that　he　delighted　（as　it　is　the　usuall　life
of　a　Merchant）　to　be　often　abroad；　and　little　at　home；　whereby　shee
had　small　benefit　of　his　company；　shee　grew　very　forward　in
affection　with　a　young　Gentleman；　called　Signior　Roberto；　who　had
solicited　hir　by　many　amorous　meanes；　and　（at　length）　prevailed　to　win
her　favor。　Which　favour　being　once　obtained；　affection　gaddes　so　farre
beyond　al　discretion；　and　makes　Lovers　so　heedelesse　of　their
private　conversations：　that　either　they　are　taken　tardy　in　their
folly；　or　else　subjected　to　scandalous　suspition。
　　It　came　to　passe；　that　Arriguccio；　either　by　rumour；　or　some　other
more　sensible　apprehension；　had　received　such　intelligence
concerning　his　Wife　Simonida；　as　he　grew　into　extraordinarie　jealousie
of　her；　refraining　travaile　abroad；　as　formerly　he　was　wont　to　doe；
and　ceassing　from　his　verie　ordinary　affayres；　addicting　all　his
care　and　endeavour；　onely　to　be　watchfull　of　his　Wife；　so　that　he
never　durst　sleepe；　untill　she　were　by　him　in　the　bed；　which　was　no
meane　mollestation　to　her；　being　thus　curbd　from　her　familiar　meetings
with　Roberto。　Neverthelesse；　having　a　long　while　consulted　with　her
wittes；　to　find　some　apte　meanes　for　conversing　with　him；　being
thereto　also　very　earnestlie　still　solicited　by　him；　you　shall　heare
what　course　she　undertooke。
　　Her　Chamber　being　on　the　streete　side；　and　somewhat　juttying　over
it；　she　observed　the　disposition　of　her　Husband；　that　every　night　it
was　long　before　he　fell　asleepe：　but　beeing　once　falne　into　it；　no
noyse　whatsoever；　could　easily　wake　him。　This　his　solemne　and　sound
sleeping；　emboldned　her　so　farre；　as　to　meete　with　Roberto　at　the
streete　doore；　which　（while　her　Husband　slept）　softly　she　would　open
to　him；　and　therein　private　converse　with　him。
　　But；　because　shee　would　know　the　certaine　houre　of　his　comming；
without　the　least　suspition　of　any：　she　hung　a　thred　forth　of　her
Chamber　Window；　descending　downe；　within　the　compasse　of　Robertoes
reach　in　the　street；　and　the　other　end　thereof；　guided　from　the　Window
to　the　bed；　being　conveyed　under　the　Cloathes；　and　shee　being　in
bed；　she　fastned　it　about　her　left　great　Toe；　wherewith　Roberto　was
sufficiently　acquainted；　and　thus　enstructed　withall；　that　at　his
comming；　he　should　plucke　the　thred；　and　if　her　husband　was　in　his
dead　sleep；　she　would　let　go　the　thred；　and　come　downe　to　him：　but
if　he　slept　not；　she　would　hold　it　strongly；　and　then　his　tarrying
would　prove　but　in　vaine；　there　could　be　no　meeting　that　night。
　　This　devise　was　highly　pleasing　both　to　Roberto　and　Simonida；
being　the　intelligencer　of　their　often　meeting；　and　many　times　also
advising　the　contrary。　But　in　the　end；　as　the　quaintest　cunning　may
faile　at　one　time　or　other；　so　it　fortuned　one　night；　that　Simonida
being　in　a　sound　sleepe；　and　Arriguccio　wakin