the decameron(十日谈)-第115章

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thought　you　gave　over　that　amorous　familiaritie；　and　I　found　you
seated　as　I　left　you。　Now　trust　mee　Pyrrhus；　answered　Nicostratus；　Thy
tongue　and　wit　have　very　strangely　wandred；　both　from　reason　and　all
reall　apprehension：　because　we　never　stirred　from　hence；　since　thou
didst　climbe　up　into　the　Tree；　neither　mooved　otherwise；　then　as　now
thou　seest　us。　Alas　my　Lord　（saide　Pyrrhus）　I　humbly　crave　pardon
for　my　presumption；　in　reprooving　you　for　medling　with　your　owne：
which　shal　make　me　hereafter　better　advised；　in　any　thing　what
soever　I　heare　or　see。
　　Mervaile　and　amazement；　encreased　in　Nicostratus　far　greater　then
before；　hearing　him　to　avouch　still　so　constantly　what　he　had　seene；
no　contradiction　being　able　to　alter　him；　which　made　him　rashly　sweare
and　say。　I　will　see　my　selfe；　whether　this　Peare…tree　bee　enchanted；
or　no：　and　such　wonders　to　be　seene　when　a　man　is　up　in　it；　as　thou
wouldst　have　us　to　beleeve。　And　being　mounted　up　so　hy；　that　they　were
safe　from　his　sodaine　comming　on　them；　Lydia　had　soone　forgotten　her
sicknes；　and　the　promised　kisse　cost　her　above　twenty　more；　beside
verie　kinde　and　hearty　embraces；　as　lovingly　respected　and　entertained
by　Pyrrhus。　Which　Nicostratus　beholding　aloft　in　the　tree；　cryed　out
to　her；　saying。　Wicked　woman；　What　doest　thou　meane？　And　thou
villain　Pyrrhus；　Darst　thou　abuse　thy　Lord；　who　hath　reposed　so　much
trust　in　thee？　So；　descending　in　haste　downe　againe；　yet　crying　so
to　them　still：　Lydia　replyed；　Alas　my　Lord；　Why　do　you　raile　and
rave　in　such　sort？　So；　he（　found　her　seated　as　before；　and　Pyrrhus
waiting　with　dutiful　reverence；　even　as　when　he　climbed　up　the　Tree：
but　yet　he　thought　his　sight　not　deceyved；　for　all　their　demure　and
formall　behaviour；　which　made　him　walke　up　and　downe；　extreamely
fuming　and　fretting　unto　himselfe；　and　which　in　some　milder　manner
to　qualifie；　Pyrrhus　spake　thus　to　him。
　　I　deny　not　（my　good　Lord）　but　freely　confesse；　that　even　as　your
selfe；　so　I；　being　above　in　the　Tree；　had　my　sight　most　falsely
deluded：　which　is　so　apparantly　confirmed　by　you；　and　in　the　same
sort；　as　there　needeth　no　doubt　of　both　our　beguiling；　in　one　and
the　same　suspitious　nature。　In　which　case　to　be　the　more　assuredly
resolved；　nothing　can　be　questioned；　but　whether　your　beleefe　do　so
farre　misleade　you；　as　to　thinke；　that　my　Ladie　（who　hath　alwayes　bene
most　wise；　loyall；　and　vertuous；）　would　so　shamefullie　wrong　you：　yea；
and　to　performe　it　before　your　face；　wherein　I　dare　gadge　my　life　to
the　contrary。　Concerning　my　selfe；　it　is　not　fit　for　mee；　to　argue
or　contest　in　mine　owne　commendation：　you　that　have　ever　knowne　the
sincerity　of　my　service；　are　best　able　to　speake　in　my　behalfe：　and
rather　wold　I　be　drawne　in　peeces　with　foure　wilde　horses；　then　bee
such　an　injurious　slave　to　my　Lord　and　Master。
　　Now　then；　it　can　be　no　otherwise；　but　we　must　needs　rest
certainely　perswaded；　that　the　guile　and　offence　of　this　false
appearance；　was　occasioned　by　thee　onely。　For　all　the　world　could
not　make　me　otherwise　beleeve；　but　that　I　saw　you　kisse　and　most
kindely　imbrace　my　Lady：　if　your　owne　eyes　had　not　credited　the　like
behaviour　in　me　to　her；　of　which　sinne；　I　never　conceived　so　much　as　a
thought。　The　Lady　（on　the　other　side）　seeming　to　be　very　angerly
incensed；　starting　faintly　up　on　her　feet；　yet　supporting　her　selfe　by
the　tree；　said。　It　appeareth　Sir；　that　you　have　entertained　a　goodly
opinion　of　me；　as；　if　I　were　so　lewde　and　lasciviously　disposed；　or
addicted　to　the　very　least　desire　of　wantonnesse：　that　I　would　bee
so　forgetfull　of　mine　owne　honour；　as　to　adventure　it　in　your　sight；
and　with　a　servant　of　my　house？　Oh　Sir；　such　women　as　are　so
familiarly　affected；　need　learne　no　wit　of　men　in　amourous　matters；
their　private　Chambers　shall　be　better　trusted；　then　an　open　blabing
and　tell…tale　Garden。
　　Nicostratus；　who　verily　beleeved　what　they　had　both　said；　and　that
neither　of　them　would　adventure　such　familiarity　before　his　face：
would　talke　no　more　of　the　matter；　but　rather　studyed　of　the　rarity　of
such　a　miracle；　not　seene；　but　in　the　height　of　the　tree；　and　changing
againe　up　on　the　descent。　But　Lydia；　containing　still　her
collourable　kinde　of　impatience；　and　angerly　frowning　upon
Nicostratus；　stearnely　saide。　If　I　may　have　my　will；　this　villanous
and　deceiving　tree；　shall　never　more　shame　me；　or　any　other　woman：　and
therefore　Pyrrhus；　runne　for　an　Axe；　and　by　felling　it　to　the
ground；　in　an　instant；　revenge　both　thy　wrong　and　mine。　Doest　not　thou
serve　a　worthy　Lord？　And　have　not　I　a　wise　Husband；　who；　without　any
consideration；　will　suffer　the　eye　of　his　understanding　to　be　so
dazeled；　with　a　foolish　imagination　beyond　all　possibility？　For；
although　his　eyes　did　apprehend　such　a　folly；　and　it　seemed　to　be　a
truth　indeed：　yet；　in　the　depth　of　setled　judgement；　all　the　world
should　not　perswade　him；　that　it　was　so。
　　Pyrrhus　had　quickely　brought　the　Axe；　and　hewing　downe　the　tree；
so　soone　as　the　Lady　saw　it　fall；　turning　her　selfe　to　Nicostratus；
she　said。　Now　that　I　have　seene　mine　honour　and　honesties　enemy　laid
along；　mine　anger　is　past；　and　Husband；　I　freely　pardon　you：
intreating　you　heartily　henceforward；　not　to　presume　or　imagine；
that　my　love　eyther　is；　or　can　bee　altred　from　you。
　　Thus　the　mocked　and　derided　Nicostratus；　returned　in　againe　with　his
Lady　and　Pyrrhus；　where　perhaps　（although　the　Peare…tree　was　cut
downe）　they　could　find　as　cunning　meanes　to　over…reach　him。




　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　SEVENTH　DAY；　THE　TENTH　NOVELL
　　　　　WHEREIN　SUCH　MEN　ARE　COVERTLY　REPREHENDED；　WHO　MAKE　NO　CARE　OR
　　　　　　　　　　CONSCIENCE　AT　ALL　OF　THOSE　THINGS　THAT　SHOULD　PRESERVE
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THEM　FROM　SINNE

　　Two　Citizens　of　Siena；　the　one　named　Tingoccio　Mini；　and　the　other
Meucio　di　Tura；　affected　both　one　woman；　called　Monna　Mita；　to　whom
the　one　of　them　was　a　Gossip。　The　Gossip　dyed；　and　appeared
afterward　to　his　companion；　according　as　he　had　formerly　promised
him　to　doe；　and　tolde　him　what　strange　wonders　he　had　seene　in　the
other　world。

　　Now　there　remained　none　but　the　King　himselfe；　last　of　all　to
recount　his　Novell；　who；　after　hee　heard　the　Ladies　complaints
indifferently　pacified；　for　the　rash　felling　downe　of　such　a
precious　Peare…tree；　thus　he　began。　Faire　Ladies；　it　is　a　case　more
then　manifest；　that　every　King；　who　will　be　accounted　just　and
upright：　should　first　of　all；　and　rather　then　any　other；　observe　those
Lawes　which　he　himselfe　hath　made；　otherwise　he　ought　to　be　reputed　as
a　servant；　worthy　of　punishment；　and　no　King。　Into　which　fault　and
reprehension；　I　your　King；　shall　well　neere　be　constrained　to　fall；
for　yesterday　I　enacted　a　Law；　upon　the　forme　of　our　discoursing；　with
full　intent；　that　this　day　I　would　not　use　any　part　of　my
priviledge；　but　being　subject　（as　you　all　are）　to　the　same　Law；　I
should　speake　of　that　argument；　which　already　you　have　done。
　　Wherein；　you　have　not　onely　performed　more　then　I　could　wish；　upon　a
subject　so　sutable　to　my　minde：　but　in　every　Novell；　such　variety　of
excellent　matter；　such　singular　illustrations；　and　delicate
eloquence　hath　flowne　from　you　all；　as　I　am　utterly　unable　to　invent
any　thing　（notwithstanding　the　most　curious　search　of　my　braine）　apt
or　fit　for　the　purpose；　to　paragon　the　meanest　of　them　already
related。　And　therefore　seeing　I　must　needs　sinne　in　the　Law
established　by　my　selfe；　I　tender　my　submission；　as　worthy　of
punishment；　or　what　amends　else　you　please　to　enjoyne　mee。　Now；　as
returned　to　my　wonted　priviledge；　I　say；　that　the　Novell　recounted
by　Madame　Eliza；　of　the　Fryar　Godfather　and　his　Gossip　Agnesia；　as
also　the　sottishnesse　of　the　Senese　her　Husband；　hath　wrought　in　me
（worthy　Ladies）　to　such　effect；　as；　forbearing　to　speake　any　more　of
these　wily　prancks；　which　witty　wives　exercise　on　their　simple
Husbands；　I　am　to　tell　you　a　pretty　short　Tale；　which；　though　there　is
matter　enough　in　it；　not　worthy　the　crediting；　yet　partly　it　will
bee　pleasing　to　heare。
　　Sometime　there　lived　in　Sienna　two　popular　men；　the　one　being
named　Tingoccio　Mini；　and　the　other　Meucio　de　Tura；　Men　simple；　and　of
no　understanding；　both　of　them　dwelling　in　Porta　Salaia。　These　two　men
lived　in　such　familiar　conversation　together；　and　expressed　such
cordiall　affection　each　to　other；　as　they　seldome　walked　asunder；
but　（as　honest　men　use　to　doe）　frequented　Churches　and　Sermons；
oftentimes　hearing；　both　what　miseries　and　beatitudes　were　in　the
world　to　come；　according　to　the　merits　of　their　soules　that　were
departed　out　of　this　life；　and　found　their　equall　repaiment　in　the
other。　The　manifold　repetition　of　these　matters；　made　them　very
earnestly　desirous　to　know；　by　what　meanes　they　might　have　tydings
from　thence；　for　their　further　confirmation。　And　finding　all　their
endeavours　utterly　frustrated；　they　made　a　solemne　vow　and　promise
（each　to　other　under　oath）　that　hee　which　first　dyed　of　them　two；
should　returne　backe　againe　（so　soone　as　possibly　he　could）　to　the
other　remaining　alive；　and　tell　him　such　tydings　as　hee　desired　to
heare。
　　After　the　promise　was　thus　faithfully　made；　and　they　still　keeping
company；　as　they　were　wont　to　doe：　It　fortuned；　that　Tingoccio
became　Gossip　to　one；　named　Ambrosio　Anselmino；　dwelling　in
Camporegglo；　who　by　his　wife；　called　Monna　Mita；　had　a　sweet　and
lovely　Sonne。　Tingoccio　often　resorting　thither；　and　consorted　with
his　companion　Meucio；　the　she…Gossip；　being　a　woman　worthy　the　loving；
faire　and　comely　of　her　person。　Tingoccio；　notwithstanding　the
Gossipship　betweene　them；　had　more　then　a　moneths　minde　to　his
Godchilds　Mother。　Meucio　also　fell　sicke　of　the　same　disease；
because　shee　seemed　Fleasing　in　his　eye；　and　Tingoccio　gave　he　no
meane　commendations；　yet；　carefully　hey　concealed　their　love　to
themselves；　but　not　for　one　and　the　same　occasion。　Because　Tingoccio
kept　it　closely　from　Meucio；　lest　he　should　hold　it　disgracefull　in
him；　to　beare　amourous　affection　to　his　Gossip；　and　thought　it
unfitting　to　bee　knowne。　But　Meucio　had　no　such　meaning；　for　hee
knew　well　enough　that　Tingoccio　loved　her；　and　therefore　conceived
in　his　minde；　that　if　he　discovered　any　such　matter　to　him：　He　will
（quoth　he）　be　jealous　of　me；　and　being　her　Gossip　（which　admitteth　his
conference　with　her　when　himselfe　pleaseth；）　he　may　easily　make　her　to
distaste　me；　and　therefore　I　must　rest　contented　as　I　am。
　　Their　love　continuing　on　still　in　this　kinde；　Tingoccio　prooved　so
fortunate　in　the　businesse；　that　having　better　meanes　then　his
companion；　and　more　prevayring　courses；　when；　where；　and　how　to
Court　his　Mistresse；　which　seemed　to　forward　him　effectually。　All
which　Meucio　plainely　perceived；　and　though　it　was　tedious　and
wearisome　to　him；　yet　hoping　to　finde　some　successe　at　length：　he
would　not　take　notice　of　any　thing；　as　fearing　to　infringe　the　amity
betweene　him　and　Tingoccio；　and　so　his　hope　to　be　quite　supplanted。
Thus　the　one　triumphing　in　his　loves　happinesse；　and　the　other
hoping　for　his　felicity　to　come；　a　lingering　sickenesse　seazed　on
Tingoccio；　which　brought　him　to　so　low　a　condition；　as　at　the　length
he　dyed。
　　About　some　three　or　foure　nights　after；　Meucio　being　fast　asleepe　in
his　bed；　the　ghost