the decameron(十日谈)-第111章

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being　in　a　sound　sleepe；　and　Arriguccio　waking；　because　his　drowsie
houre　was　not　yet　come：　as　he　extendeth　forth　his　legge　in　the　bed；　he
found　the　thred；　which　feeling　in　his　hand；　and　perceiving　it　was　tyed
to　his　wives　great　toe；　it　prooved　apt　tinder　to　kindle　further
jealousie；　and　now　hee　suspected　some　treachery　indeede；　and　so　much
the　rather　because　the　thred　guided　（under　the　cloathes）　from　the
bed　to　the　window；　and　there　hanging　downe　into　the　streete；　as　a
warning　to　some　further　businesse。
　　Now　was　Arriguccio　so　furiously　enflamed；　that　hee　must　needes　bee
further　resolved　in　this　apparant　doubt：　and　because　therein　hee　would
not　be　deceived；　softly　he　cut　the　thred　from　his　wives　toe；　and
made　it　fast　about　his　owne；　to　trye　what　successe　would　ensue
thereon。　It　was　not　long　before　Roberto　came；　and　according　as　hee
used　to　doe；　hee　pluckt　the　thred；　which　Arriguccio　felt；　but
because　hee　had　not　tyed　it　fast；　and　Roberto　pulling　it
over…hardly；　it　fell　downe　from　the　window　into　his　hand；　which　he
understood　as　his　lesson；　to　attend　her　comming；　and　so　hee　did。
Arriguccio　stealing　softly　out　of　bed　from　his　wife；　and　taking　his
Sword　under　his　arme；　went　downe　to　the　doore；　to　see　who　it　was；　with
full　intent　of　further　revenge。　Now；　albeit　he　was　a　Merchant；　yet
he　wanted　not　courage；　and　boldnesse　of　spirit；　and　opening　the
doore　without　any　noyse；　onely　as　his　wife　was　wont　to　doe：　Roberto；
there　waiting　his　entrance；　perceived　by　the　doores　unfashionable
opening；　that　it　was　not　Simonida；　but　her　Husband；　whereupon　he
betooke　himselfe　to　flight　and　Arriguccio　fiercely　followed　him。　At
the　length；　Roberto　perceiving　that　flight　avayled　him　not；　because
his　enemy　still　pursued　him：　being　armed　also　with　a　Sword；　as
Arriguccio　was；　he　returned　backe　upon　him；　the　one　offering　to
offend；　as　the　other　stood　upon　his　defence；　and　so　in　the　darke
they　fought　together。
　　Simonida　awaking；　even　when　her　Husband　went　foorth　of　the
Chamber；　and　finding　the　thred　to　be　cut　from　her　toe；　conjectured
immediately；　that　her　subtle　cunning　was　discovered；　and　supposing　her
Husband　in　pursuite　of　Roberto；　presently　she　arose；　and；
considering　what　was　likely　to　ensue　thereon；　called　her　Chamber…maide
（who　was　not　ignorant　of　the　businesse）　and　by　perswasions　prevailed
so　with　her；　that　she　lay　downe　in　her　place　in　the　bed；　upon
solemne　protestations　and　liberall　promises；　not　to　make　her　selfe
knowne；　but　to　suffer　all　patiently；　either　blowes；　or　other　ill　usage
of　her　Husband；　which　shee　would　recompence　in　such　bountifull　sort；
as　she　should　have　no　occasion　to　complaine。　So；　putting　out　the
watchlight；　which　every　night　burned　in　the　Chamber；　she　departed
thence；　and　sate　downe　in　a　close　corner　of　the　house；　to　see　what
would　be　the　end　of　all　this　stirre；　after　her　Husbands　comming　home。
　　The　fight　（as　you　have　formerly　heard）　continuing　betweene　Roberto
and　Arriguccio；　the　neighbours　hearing　of　the　clashing　of　their　Swords
in　the　streets；　arose　out　of　their　beds；　and　reproved　them　in　very
harsh　manner。　In　which　respect　Arriguccio；　fearing　to　be　knowne；　and
ignorant　also　what　his　adversary　was　（no　harme　being　as　yet　done　on
either　side）　permitted　him　to　depart；　and　extreamely　full　of　anger；
returned　backe　againe　to　his　house。　Being　come　up　into　his
bed…chamber；　thus　he　began；　Where　is　this　lewde　and　wicked　woman？
what？　hast　thou　put　out　the　light；　because　I　should　not　finde　thee？
that　shall　not　avayle　thee；　for　I　can　well　enough　finde　a　drab　in
the　darke。　So；　groping　on　to　the　beds　side；　and　thinking　hee　had　taken
holde　on　his　wife；　he　grasped　the　Chamber…maide；　so　beating　her　with
his　fists；　and　spurning　her　with　his　feet；　that　al　her　face　was　bloody
and　bruised。　Next；　with　his　knife　he　cut　off　a　great　deal　of　her
haire；　giving　her　the　most　villanous　speeches　as　could　be　devised：
swearing；　that　he　would　make　her　a　shame　to　all　the　world。
　　You　need　make　no　doubt；　but　the　poore　maide　wept　exceedingly；　as　she
had　good　occasion　to　doe：　and　albeit　many　times　she　desired　mercy；　and
that　hee　would　not　bee　so　cruell　to　her：　yet　notwithstanding；　her
voyce　was　so　broken　with　crying；　and　his　impacience　so　extreame；
that　rage　hindered　all　power　of　distinguishing；　or　knowing　his　wives
tongue　from　a　strangers。　Having　thus　madly　beaten　her；　and　cut　the
lockes　off　from　her　head；　thus　he　spake　to　her。　Wicked　woman；　and　no
wife　of　mine；　be　sure　I　have　not　done　with　thee　yet；　for；　although　I
meane　not　now　to　beate　thee　any　longer：　I　will　goe　to　thy　brethren；
and　they　shall　understand　thy　dishonest　behaviour。　Then　will　I　bring
them　home　with　me；　and　they　perceiving　how　much　thou　hast　abused
both　their　honour　and　thine　owne；　let　them　deale　with　thee　as　they
finde　occasion；　for　thou　art　no　more　a　companion　for　me。　No　sooner　had
he　uttered　these　angry　words；　but　hee　went　forth　of　the　Chamber；
bolting　it　fast　on　the　outward　side；　as　meaning　to　keepe　her　safely
inclosed；　and　out　of　the　house　he　went　alone　by　himselfe。
　　Simonida；　who　had　heard　all　this　tempestuous　conflict；　perceiving
that　her　Husband　had　lockt　the　streete　doore　after　him；　and　was　gone
whether　he　pleased：　unbolted　the　Chamber　doore；　lighted　a　waxe　candle；
and　went　in　to　see　her　poore　maide；　whom　she　found　to　be　most
pittifully　misused。　She　comforted　her　as　well　as　she　could；　brought
her　into　her　owne　lodging　Chamber；　where　washing　her　face　and　hurts　in
very　soveraigne　waters；　and　rewarding　her　liberally　with
Arriguccioes　owne　Gold；　she　held　her　selfe　to　be　sufficiently
satisfyed。　So；　leaving　the　maide　in　her　lodging；　and　returning　again
to　her　owne　Chamber：　she　made　up　the　bed　in　such　former　manner；　as
if　no　body　had　lodged　therein　that　night。　Then　hanging　up　her　Lampe
fresh　fild　with　oyle；　and　clearly　lighted；　she　deckt　her　selfe　in　so
decent　sort；　as　if　she　had　bin　in　no　bed　all　that　night。
　　Then　taking　sowing　worke　in　her　hand；　either　shirts　or　bands　of
her　Husbands；　hanging　the　Lampe　by　her；　and　sitting　downe　at　the
stayres　head；　she　fell　to　worke　in　very　serious　manner；　as　if　shee　had
undertaken　some　imposed　taske。
　　On　the　other　side；　Arriguccio　had　travelled　so　farre　from　his　house；
till　he　came　at　last　to　the　dwelling　of　Simonidaes　brethren：　where　hee
knockt　so　soundly；　that　he　was　quickely　heard；　and　（almost　as
speedily）　let　in。　Simonidaes　brethren；　and　her　mother　also；　hearing　of
Arriguccioes　comming　thither　so　late。　Rose　from　their　beds；　and　each
of　them　having　a　Waxe　Candle　lighted；　came　presently　to　him；　to
understand　the　cause　of　this　his　so　unseasonable　visitation。
Arriguccio；　beginning　at　the　originall　of　the　matter；　the　thred
found　tyed　about　his　wives　great　toe；　the　fight　and　houshold
conflict　after　following：　related　every　circumstance　to　them。　And
for　the　better　proofe　of　his　words；　he　shewed　them　the　thred　it　selfe；
the　lockes　supposed　of　his　wives　haire；　and　adding　withall；　that
they　might　now　dispose　of　Simonida　as　themselves　pleased；　because
she　should　remaine　no　longer　in　his　house。
　　The　brethren　to　Simonida　were　exceedingly　offended　at　this　relation；
in　regard　they　beleeved　it　for　truth；　and　in　this　fury；　commanded
Torches　to　be　lighted；　preparing　to　part　thence　with　Arriguccio　home
to　his　house；　for　the　more　sharpe　reprehension　of　their　Sister。
Which　when　their　mother　saw；　she　followed　them　weeping；　first
entreating　one；　and　then　the　other；　not　to　be　over　rash　in　crediting
such　a　slander；　but　rather　to　consider　the　truth　thereof　advisedly：
because　the　Husband　might　be　angry　with　his　Wife　upon　some　other
occasion；　and　having　outraged　her；　made　this　the　meanes　in　excuse　of
himselfe。　Moreover　she　said；　that　she　could　not　chuse　but　wonder
greatly；　how　this　matter　should　thus　come　to　passe：　because　she　had
good　knowledge　of　her　daughter；　during　the　whole　course　of　her
education；　faultlesse　and　blamelesse　in　every　degree；　with　many
other　good　words　of　her　beside；　as　proceeding　from　naturall
affection　of　a　mother。
　　Being　come　to　the　house　of　Arriguccio；　entring　in；　and　ascending
up　the　stayres：　they　heard　Simonida　sweetly　singing　at　her　working；
but　pausing；　upon　hearing　their　rude　trampling；　shee　demaunded；　who
was　there。　One　of　the　angry　brethren　presently　answered：　Lewde　woman
as　thou　art；　thou　shalt　know　soone　enough　who　is　heere：　Our　blessed
Lady　be　with　us　（quoth　Simonida）　and　sweet　Saint　Frances　helpe　to
defend　me；　who　dare　use　such　unseemely　speeches？　Starting　up　and
meeting　them　on　the　staire　head：　Kinde　brethren；　（said　she）　is　it　you？
What；　and　my　loving　mother　too？　For　sweet　Saint　Charities　sake；　what
may　be　the　reason　of　your　comming　hither　in　this　manner。　Shee　being
set　downe　againe　to　her　worke；　so　neatly　apparelled；　without　any　signe
of　outrage　offered　her；　her　face　unblemished；　her　haire　comely
ordered；　and　differing　wholly　from　the　former　speeches　of　her　Husband：
the　Brethren　marvelled　thereat　not　a　little；　and　asswaging　somewhat
the　impetuous　torrent　of　their　rage；　began　to　demaund　in　coole
blood；　（as　it　were）　from　what　ground　her　Husbands　complaints
proceeded；　and　threatning　her　roughly；　if　she　would　not　confesse　the
truth　intirely　to　them。
　　Ave　Maria　（quoth　Simonida；　crossing　her　selfe）　Alas　deare
Brethren；　I　know　not　what　you　say；　or　meane；　nor　wherein　my　Husband
should　bee　offended；　or　make　any　complaint　at　all　of　me。　Arriguccio
hearing　this　looked　on　her　like　a　man　that　had　lost　his　Senses：　for
well　he　remembred；　how　many　cruell　blowes　he　had　given　her　on　the
face；　beside　scratches　of　his　nailes；　and　spurnes　of　his　feet；　as　also
the　cutting　of　her　haire；　the　least　shew　of　all　which　misusage；　was
not　now　to　be　seene。　Her　brethren　likewise　briefly　told　her；　the　whole
effect　of　her　Husbands　speeches；　shewing　her　the　thred；　and　in　what
cruell　manner　he　sware　hee　did　beate　her。　Simonida；　turning　then　to
her　Husband；　and　seeming　as　confounded　with　amazement；　said。　How　is
this　Husband？　what　doe　I　heare？　would　you　have　me　supposed　（to　your
owne　shame　and　disgrace）　to　be　a　bad　woman；　and　your　selfe　a　cruell
curst　man；　when　（on　either　side）　there　is　no　such　matter？　When　were
you　this　night　heere　in　the　house　with　mee？　Or　when　should　you　beate
mee；　and　I　not　feele　nor　know　it？　Beleeve　me　（sweete　heart）　all
these　are　meerely　miracles　to　me。
　　Now　was　Arriguccio　ten　times　more　mad　in　his　minde；　then　before；
saying。　Divell；　and　no　woman；　did　wee　not　this　night　goe　both　together
to　bed？　Did　not　I　cut　this　thred　from　thy　great　toe；　tyed　it　to
mine；　and　found　the　craftie　compact　betweene　thee　and　thy　Minnion？　Did
not　I　follow　and　fight　with　him　in　the　streets？　Came　I　not　backe
againe；　and　beate　thee　as　a　Strumpet　should　be？　And　are　not　these
the　locks　of　haire；　which　I　my　selfe　did　cut　from　thy　bead？
　　Alas　Sir　（quoth　she）　where　have　you　been？　doe　you　know　what　you　say？
you　did　not　lodge　in　this　house　this　night；　neither　did　I　see　you
all　the　whole　day　and　night；　till　now。
　　But　leaving　this；　and　come　to　the　matter　now　in　question；　because
I　have　no　other　testimony　then　mine　owne　words。　You　say；　that　you
did　beate　me；　and　cut　those　lockes　of　haire　from　my　head。　Alas　Sir；
why　should　you　slander　your　selfe？　In　all　your　life　time　you　did　never
strike　me。　And　to　approve　the　truth　of　my　speeches；　d