the decameron(十日谈)-第113章

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him：　and　（indeede）　shall　dye；　except　the　sooner　I　may　enjoy　him。　And
therefore；　if　my　life　and　well…fare　be　respected　by　thee；　let　him
understand　the　integrity　of　mine　affection；　by　such　good　means　as　thou
findest　it　most　expedient　to　be　done：　entreating　him　from　me；　that　I
may　have　some　conference　with　him；　when　he　shall　thereto　be
solicited　by　me。
　　The　Chamber…Gentlewoman　Lesca；　willingly　undertooke　the　Ladies
Embassie；　and　so　soone　as　opportunity　did　favor　her：　having　withdrawne
Pyrrhus　into　an　apt　and　commodious　place；　shee　delivered　the　Message
to　him；　in　the　best　manner　she　could　devise。　Which　Pyrrhus　hearing；
did　not　a　little　wonder　thereat；　never　having　noted　any　such　matter；
and　therefore　sodainly　conceyved；　that　the　Lady　did　this　onely　to
try　him；　whereupon；　somewhat　roundly　and　roughly；　hee　returned　this
answere。　Lesca；　I　am　not　so　simple；　as　to　credite　any　such　Message
to　be　sent　from　my　Lady；　and　therefore　be　better　advised　of　thy　words。
But　admit　that　it　should　come　from　her；　yet　I　cannot　be　perswaded；
that　her　soule　consented　to　such　harsh　Language；　far　differing　from
a　forme　so　full　of　beuty。　And　yet　admit　againe；　that　her　hart　and
tongue　herein　were　relatives：　My　Lord　and　Master　hath　so　farre
honoured　mee；　and　so　much　beyond　the　least　part　of　merite　in　mee：　as　I
will　rather　dye；　then　any　way　offer　to　disgrace　him：　And　therefore　I
charge　thee；　never　more　to　move　mee　in　this　matter。
　　Lesca；　not　a　jot　danted　at　his　stearne　words；　presently　she　saide。
Pyrrhus；　Both　in　this　and　all　other　Messages　my　Lady　shall　command　me；
I　wil　speake　to　thee　whensoever　shee　pleaseth；　receive　what　discontent
thou　canst　thereby；　or　make　presumption　of　what　doubts　thou　maist
devise。　But　as　I　found　thee　a　senselesse　fellow；　dull；　and　not
shaped　to　any　understanding；　so　I　leave　thee：　And　in　that　anger　parted
from　him；　carrying　backe　the　same　answer　to　her　Lady。　She　no　sooner
heard　it；　but　instantly　shee　wished　her　selfe　to　be　dead；　and　within
some　few　dayes　after；　she　conferred　againe　with　her　Chamber…woman；
saying。　Lesca；　thou　knowest　well　enough；　that　the　Oxe　falleth　not　at
the　first　blow　of　the　Axel　neither　is　the　victory　won；　upon　a　silly
and　shallow　adventure：　Wherefore；　I　thinke　it　convenient；　that　once
more　thou　shouldst　make　another　tryall　of　him；　who　（in　prejudice　to
me）　standeth　so　strictly　on　his　loyalty；　and　choosing　such　an　houre　as
seemeth　most　commodious；　soundly　possesse　him　with　my　tormenting
passions。　Bestirre　thy　Wittes；　and　tippe　thy　tongue　with　a　Womans
eloquence；　to　effect　what　I　so　earnestly　desire：　because；　by
languishing　in　this　lovesicke　affliction；　it　will　bee　the　danger　of　my
death；　and　some　severe　detriment　to　him；　to　be　the　occasion　of　so
great　a　losse。
　　Lesca；　comforted　her　Lady；　so　much　as　lay　in　her　power　to　doe；　and
having　sought　for　Pyrrhus；　whom　she　found　at　good　leysure；　and；　in　a
pleasing　humor；　thus　she　beganne。　Pyrrhus；　some　few　dayes　since　I
tolde　thee；　in　what　extreame　Agonies　thy　Lady　and　mine　was；　onely　in
regarde　of　her　love　to　thee：　and　now　againe　I　come　once　more；　to
give　thee　further　assurance　thereof：　Wherefore；　beleeve　it
unfeignedly；　that　if　thy　obstinacie　continue　still；　in　like　manner
as　the　other　day　it　did；　expect　very　shortly　to　heare　the　tydings　of
her　death。
　　It　is　my　part　therefore；　to　entreat　thee；　to　comfort　her　long
languishing　desires：　but　if　thou　persist　in　thy　harsh　opinion；　in
stead　of　reputing　thee　a　wise　and　fortunate　yong　man；　I　shall　confesse
thee　to　bee　an　ignoraunt　Asse。　What　a　glorie　is　it　to　thee；　to　be
affected　of　so　faire　and　worthy　a　Lady；　beyond　all　men　else
whatsoever？　Next　to　this；　tell　me；　how　highly　maist　thou　confesse
thy　self　beholding　to　Fortune；　if　thou　but　duly　consider；　how　shee
hath　elected　thee　as　sole　soveraigne　of　her　hopes；　which　is　a　crowne
of　honour　to　thy　youth　and　a　sufficient　refuge　against　all　wants　and
necessities？　Where　is　any　to　thy　knowledge　like　thy　selfe；　that　can
make　such　advantage　of　his　time；　as　thou　maist　do；　if　thou　wert
wise？　Where　canst　thou　find　any　one　to　go　beyond　thee　in　Armes；
Horses；　sumptuous　garments；　and　Gold；　as　will　be　heaped　on　thee；　if
Lydia　may　be　the　Lady　of　thy　love？　Open　then　thine　understanding　to　my
words；　returne　into　thine　owne　souie；　and　bee　wise　for　thy　selfe。
　　Remember　（Pyrrhus）　that　Fortune　presents　her　selfe　but　once　before
any　one；　with　cheerefull　lookes；　and　her　lappe　wide　open　of　richest
favours；　where　if　choice　be　not　quickely　made；　before　she　folde　it　up；
not　quic　and　turn　her　backe；　let　no　complaint　afterward　be　made　of
her；　if　the　Fellow　that　had　so　faire　an　offer；　proove　to　be　miserable；
wretched；　and　a　Begger；　only　thorow　his　owne　negligence。　Beside；
what　else　hath　formerly　bin　saide；　there　is　now　no　such　neede　of
loyaltie　in　servants　to　their　Ladies；　as　should　be　among　deare　Friends
and　Kindred：　but　servants　ought　rather　（as　best　they　may）　be　such　to
their　Masters；　as　they　are　to　them。　Doest　thou　imagine；　that　if　thou
hadst　a　faire　Wife；　Mother；　Daughter；　or　Sister；　pleasing　in　the　eye
of　our　Nicostratus；　he　would　stand　on　such　nice　tearmes　of　duty　or
Loyaltie；　as　now　thou　doest　to　his　Ladie？　Thou　wert　a　verie　foole　to
rest　so　perswaded。　Assure　thy　selfe；　that　if　entreaties　and　faire
means　might　not　prevalle；　force；　and　compulsion　（whatsoever　ensued
thereon）　woulde　winne　the　masterie。　Let　us　then　use　them；　and　the
commodities　unto　them　belonging；　as　they　would　us　and　ours。　Use　the
benefit　of　thy　Fortune；　and　beware　of　abusing　her　favour。　She　yet
smiles　on　thee；　but　take　heede　least　she　turne　her　backe；　it　will　then
be　over…late　to　repent　thy　folly。　And　if　my　Ladie　die　through　thy
disdaine；　be　assured；　that　thou　canst　not　escape　with　life；　beside
open　shame　and　disgrace　for　ever。
　　Pyrrhus；　who　had　often　considered　on　Lescaes　first　message；
concluded　with　himselfe；　that　if　any　more　she　moved　the　same　matter：
hee　would　returne　her　another　kinde　of　answere；　wholly　yeelding　to
content　his　Lady；　provided；　that　he　might　remaine　assured；
concerning　the　intyre　truth　of　the　motion；　and　that　it　was　not　urged
onely　to　trie　him；　wherefore；　thus　he　replyed。　Lesca；　do　not　imagine
mee　so　ignorant；　as　not　to　know　the　certaintie　of　all　thy　former
allegations；　confessing　them　as　freely　as　thou　doest；　or　canst。　But
yet　let　mee　tell　thee　withall；　that　I　knowe　my　Lord　to　be　wise　and
judicious；　and　having　committed　all　his　affaires　to　my　care　and　trust：
never　blame　mee　to　misdoubt；　least　my　Ladie　（by　his　counsell　and
advice）　make　thee　the　messenger　of　this　motion；　therby　to　call　my
Fidelitie　in　question。
　　To　cleare　which　doubt；　and　for　my　further　assurance　of　her　well
meanning　toward　me；　if　she　wil　undertake　the　performance　of　three　such
things　as　I　must　needes　require　in　this　case：　I　am　afterward　her　owne；
in　any　service　she　can　command　me。　The　first　of　them；　is；　that　in
the　presence　of　my　Lord　and　Master；　she　kill　his　faire　Faulcon；
which　so　dearly　hee　affecteth。　The　second；　to　send　me　a　locke　or
tuft　of　his　beard；　being　puld　away　with　her　owne　hand。　The　third　and
last；　with　the　same　hand　also；　to　pluck　out　one　of　his　best　and
soundest　teeth；　and　send　it　mee　as　her　loves　true　token。　When　I
finde　all　these　three　effectually　performed；　I　am　wholly　hers；　and　not
before。
　　These　three　strict　impositions；　seemed　to　Lesca；　and　her　Ladie
likewise；　almost　beyond　the　compasse　of　all　possibility。　Nevertheles
Love；　being　a　powerfull　Oratour　in　perswading；　as　also　adventurous
even　on　the　most　difficult　dangers；　gave　her　courage　to　undertake　them
all：　sending　Lesca　backe　againe　to　him；　with　full　assurance；　of
these　more　then　Herculean　labours。　Moreover；　her　selfe　did　intend　to
adde　a　fourth　taske；　in　regard　of　his　strong　opinion　concerning　the
great　Wisedome　of　his　Lord　and　Maister。　After　she　had　effected　all　the
other　three；　she　would　not　permit　him　to　kisse　her；　but　before　his
Lords　face：　which　yet　should　be　accomplished　in　such　sort；　as
Nicostratus　himselfe　should　not　beleeve　it；　although　apparantly　he　saw
it。　Well；　（quoth　Pyrrhus）　when　all　these　wonders　are　performed；　assure
my　Ladie。　that　I　am　truelie　hers。
　　Within　a　short　while　after；　Nicostratus　made　a　solemne　Feastival
（accorling　as　yearely　he　used　to　doe）　in　honour　of　his　birth　day；
inviting　many　Lords　and　Ladies　thereto。　On　which　rejoycing　day；　so
soone　as　dinner　was　ended；　and　the　Tables　withdrawne：　Lydia　came
into　the　great　Hall；　where　the　Feast　was　solemnly　kept；　very　rich
and　costly　apparrelled；　and　there；　in　presence　of　Pyrrhus；　and　the
whole　assemblie；　going　to　the　Perch　whereon　the　Faulcone　sate；　wherein
her　Husband　tooke　no　little　delight；　and　having　untyed　her；　as　if　shee
meant　to　beare　her　on　her　Fist：　tooke　her　by　the　jesses；　and　beating
her　against　the　wal；　killed　her。　Nicostratus　beholding　this；　called
out　aloud　unto　her；　saying。　Alas　Madame！　What　have　you　done？　She
making　him　no　answere；　but　turning　to　the　Lords　and　Ladies；　which
had　dined　there；　spake　in　this　manner。
　　Ill　should　I　take　revenge　on　a　King；　that　had　offended　me；　if　I
had　not　so　much　heart；　as　to　wreake　my　spleene　on　a　paltry　Hawke。
Understand　then；　worthy　Lords　and　Ladies；　that　this　Faulcone　hath　long
time　robbed　me　of　those　delights；　which　men　（in　meere　equitie）　ought
to　have　with　their　wives：　because　continually；　so　as　breake　of　day
hath　appeared；　my　Husband；　starting　out　of　bed；　makes　him　selfe
readie；　presently　to　Horsse；　and　with　this　Faulcon　on　his　Fist；
rides　abroad　to　his　recreation　in　the　Fields。　And　I；　in　such
forsaken　sort　as　you　see；　am　left　all　alone　in　my　bed；　discontented
and　despised：　often　vowing　to　my　selfe；　to　bee　thus　revenged　as　now
I　am；　being　with…held　from　it　by　no　other　occasion；　but　onely　want
of　a　fit　and　apt　time；　to　do　it　in　the　presence　of　such　persons；　as
might　bee　just　judges　of　my　wrongs；　and　as　I　conceive　you　all　to　be。
　　The　Lords　and　Ladies　hearing　these　words；　and　beleeving　this　deed　of
hers　to　be　done　no　otherwise；　but　out　of　her　entire　affection　to
Nicostratus；　according　as　her　speeches　sounded：　compassionately
turning　towards　him　（who　was　exceedingly　displeased）　and　all
smiling；　said。　Now　in　good　sadnesse　Sir；　Madame　Lydia　hath　done　well
in　acting　her　just　revenge　upon　the　Hawke；　that　bereft　her　of　her
Husbands　kinde　companie；　then　which　nothing　is　more　precious　to　a
loving　wife；　and　a　hell　it　is　to　live　without　it。　And　Lydia；　being
sodainly　with。　into　her　chamber；　with　much　other　friendly　and　familiar
talke；　they　converted　the　anger　of　Nicostratus　into　mirth　and　smiling。
　　Pyrrhus；　who　had　diligently　observed　the　whole　cariage　of　this
businesse；　saide　to　himselfe。　My　Ladie　hath　begun　well；　and　proceeding
on　with　no　worse　successe；　will　（no　doubt）　bring　her　love　to　an
happy　conclusion。　As　for　the　Lady　her　selfe；　she　having　thus　kild
the　Hawke；　it　was　no　long　while　after；　but　being　in　the　Chamber　with
her　husband；　and　they　conversing　familiarly　together；　she　began　to
jest　with　him；　and　hee　in　the　like　manner　with　her；　tickling　and
toying　each　the　other；　till　at　the　length　she　played　with　his　beard；
and　now　she　found　occasion　aptly　serving；　to　effect　the　second　taske
imposed　by　Pyrrhus。　So；　taking　fast　hold　on　a　small　tuft　of　his　beard；
she　gave　a　sodaine　snatch；　and　plucked　it　away　quite　f