the decameron(十日谈)-第119章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


comming　nothing　neere　the　summe　of　（scarce　halfe）　sixe　and　twenty
Florines；　he　began　to　repent　his　deed　of　darkenesse；　although　it　was
acted　in　the　day…time；　and　considered　with　himselfe；　by　what　honest
（yet　unsuspected　meanes）　hee　might　recover　his　Cloake　againe；　before
it　went　to　the　Broaker；　in　redemption　of　Belcolores　pawned
apparrell；　and　yet　to　send　her　no　Florines　neither。
　　Having　a　cunning　reaching　wit；　especially　in　matters　for　his　owne
advantage；　and　pretending　to　have　a　dinner　at　his　lodging；　for　a　few
of　some　invited　friends：　he　made　use　of　a　neighbours　Boy；　sending
him　to　the　house　of　Belcolore；　with　request　of　lending　him　her　Stone
Morter；　to　make　Greenesawce　in　for　his　guests；　because　hee　had　meate
required　such　sawce。　Belcolore　suspecting　no　treachery；　sent　him　the
Stone　Morter　with　the　Pestell；　and　about　dinner　time；　when　he　knew
Bentivegna　to　bee　at　home　with　his　wife；　by　a　spye　which　was　set　for
the　purpose；　hee　called　the　Clearke　（usually　attending　on　him）　and
said。　Take　this　Morter　and　Pestell；　beare　them　home　to　Belcolore；
and　tell　her：　Sir　Simon　sends　them　home　with　thankes；　they　having
sufficiently　served　his　turne；　and　desire　her　likewise；　to　send　me
my　Cloake；　which　the　Boy　left　as　a　pledge　for　better　remembrance；
and　because　she　would　not　lend　it　without　a　pawne。
　　The　Clearke　comming　to　the　house　of　Belcolore；　found　her　sitting
at　dinner　with　her　Husband；　and　delivering　her　the　Pestell　and　Morter；
performed　the　rest　of　Sir　Simons　message。　Belcolore　hearing　the　Cloake
demaunded；　stept　up　to　make　answere：　But　Bentivegna；　seeming　（by　his
lookes）　to　be　much　offended；　roughly　replyed。　Why　how　now　wife？　Is　not
Sir　Simon　our　especiall　friend；　and　cannot　he　be　pleasured　without　a
pawne？　I　protest　upon　my　word；　I　could　find　in　my　heart　to　smite
thee　for　it。　Rise　quickely　thou　wert　best；　and　send　him　backe　his
Cloake；　with　this　warning　hereafter；　that　whatsoever　he　will　have；
be　it　your　poore　Asse；　or　any　thing　else　being　ours；　let　him　have
it：　and　tell　him　（Master　Clearke）　he　may　command　it。　Belcolore　rose
grumbling　from　the　Table；　and　fetching　the　Cloake　forth　of　the
Chest；　which　stood　neere　at　hand　in　the　same　roome；　shee　delivered
it　to　the　Clearke；　saying。　Tell　Sir　Simon　from　me；　and　boldly　say
you　heard　me　speake　it：　that　I　make　a　vow　to　my　selfe；　he　shall
never　make　use　of　my　Morter　hereafter；　to　beat　any　more　of　his
sawcinesse　in；　let　my　Husband　say　whatsoever　he　will；　I　speake　the
word；　and　will　performe　it。
　　Away　went　the　Clearke　home　with　the　Cloake；　and　told　Sir　Simon
what　she　had　said；　whereto　he　replyed。　If　I　must　make　use　of　her
Morter　no　more；　I　will　not　trust　her　with　the　keeping　of　my　Cloake；
for　feare　it　goe　to　gage　indeed。
　　Bentivegna　was　a　little　displeased　at　his　wives　words；　because　hee
thought　she　spake　but　in　jest；　albeit　Belcolore　was　so　angry　with
Sir　Simon；　that　she　would　not　speake　to　him　till　vintage　time
following。　But　then　Sir　Simon；　what　by　sharpe　threatenings；　of　her
soule　to　be　in　danger　of　hell　fire；　continuing　so　long　in　hatred　of
a　holy　Priest；　which　words　did　not　a　little　terrifie　her；　besides
daily　presents　to　her；　of　sweet　new　Wines；　roasted　Chesse…nuts；　Figges
and　Almonds：　all　unkindnesse　became　converted　to　former　familiarity；
the　garments　were　redeemed：　he　gave　her　Sonnets　which　she　would
sweetly　sing　to　her　Cimbale；　and　further　friendship　increased　betweene
her　and　sweet　Sir　Simon。




　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　EIGHT　DAY；　THE　THIRD　NOVELL

　　　JUSTLY　REPREHENDING　THE　SIMPLICITY　OF　SUCH　MEN；　AS　ARE　TOO　MUCH
　　　　　　　　　ADDICTED　TO　CREDULITIE；　AND　WILL　GIVE　CREDIT　TO　EVERY
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THING　THEY　HEARE

　　Calandrino；　Bruno；　and　Buffalmaco；　all　of　them　being　Painters　by
profession；　travelled　to　the　Plaine　of　Mugnone；　to　finde　the
precious　Stone　called　Helitropium。　Calandrino　no　perswaded　himselfe　to
have　found　it；　returned　home　to　his　house　heavily　loaden　with
stones。　His　Wife　rebuking　him　for　his　absence；　hee　groweth　into　anger；
and　shrewdly　beateth　her。　Afterward；　when　the　case　is　debated　among
his　other　friends　Bruno　and　Buffalmaco；　all　is　found　to　be　meere
foolery。

　　Pamphilus　having　ended　his　Novell；　whereat　the　Ladies　laughed
exceedingly；　so　that　very　hardly　they　could　give　over。　The　Queene　gave
charge　to　Madame　Eliza；　that　shee　should　next　succeed　in　order；
when；　being　scarcely　able　to　refraine　from　smyling；　thus　she　began。
　　I　know　not　（Gracious　Ladies）　whether　I　can　move　you　to　as　hearty
laughter；　with　a　briefe　Novell　of　mine　owne；　as　Pamphilus　lately　did
with　his：　yet　I　dare　assure　you；　that　it　is　both　true　and　pleasant；
and　I　will　relate　it　in　the　best　manner　I　can。
　　In　our　owne　Citie；　which　evermore　hath　contained　all　sorts　of
people；　not　long　since　there　dwelt；　a　Painter；　named　Calandrino；　a
simple　man；　yet　as　much　adicted　to　matters　of　novelty；　as　any　man
whatsoever　could　be。　The　most　part　of　his　time；　he　spent　in　the
company　of　two　other　Painters；　the　one　called　Bruno；　and　the　other
Buffalmaco；　men　of　very　recreative　spirits；　and　of　indifferent　good
capacity；　often　resorting　to　the　said　Calandrino；　because　they　tooke
delight　in　his　honest　simplicity；　and　pleasant　order　of　behaviour。
At　the　same　time　likewise；　there　dwelt　in　Florence；　a　yong　Gentleman
of　singular　disposition；　to　every　generous　and　witty　conceite；　as
the　world　did　not　yeeld　a　more　pleasant　companion；　he　being　named　Maso
del　Saggio；　who　having　heard　somwhat　of　Calandrinos　sillinesse：
determined　to　jest　with　him　in　merry　manner；　and　to　suggest　his
longing　humors　after　Novelties；　with　some　conceit　of　extraordinary
nature。
　　He　happening　（on　a　day）　to　meete　him　in　the　Church　of　Saint　John；
and　seeing　him　seriously　busied；　in　beholding　the　rare　pictures；　and
the　curious　carved　Tabernacle；　which　（not　long　before）　was　placed　on
the。　high　Altar　in　the　said　Church：　considered　with　himselfe；　that
he　had　now　fit　place　and　opportunity；　to　effect　what　hee　had　long　time
desired。　And　having　imparted　his　minde　to　a　very　intimate　friend；
how　he　intended　to　deale　with　simple　Calandrino：　they　went　both　very
neere　him；　where　he　sate　all　alone；　and　making　shew　as　if　they　saw　him
not；　began　to　consult　between　themselves；　concerning　the　rare
properties　of　precious　stones；　whereof　Maso　discoursed　as　exactly；
as　he　had　beene　a　most　skilfull　Lapidarie；　to　which　conference　of
theirs；　Calandrino　lent　an　attentive　eare；　in　regard　it　was　matter
of　singular　rarity。
　　Soone　after；　Calandrino　started　up；　and　perceiving　by　their　loude
speaking；　that　they　talked　of　nothing　which　required　secret
Counsell：　he　went　into　their　company　（the　onely　thing　which　Maso
desired）　and　holding　on　still　the　former　Argument；　Calandrino　would
needs　request　to　know；　in　what　place　these　precious　stones　were　to
be　found；　which　had　such　excellent　vertues　in　them？　Maso　made　answere；
that　the　most　of　them　were　to　be　had　in　Berlinzona；　neere　to　the
City　of　Bascha；　which　was　in　the　Territory　of　a　Countrey；　called
Bengodi；　where　the　Vines　were　bound　about　with　Sawcidges；　a　Goose
was　sold　for　a　penny；　and　the　Goslings　freely　given　in　to　boote。　There
was　also　an　high　mountaine　wholly　made　of　Parmezane；　grated　Cheese；
whereon　dwelt　people；　who　did　nothing　else　but　make　Mocharones　and
Ravivolies；　boyling　them　with　broth　of　Capons；　and　afterward　hurled
them　all　about；　to　whosoever　can　or　will　catch　them。　Neere　to　this
mountaine　runneth　a　faire　River；　the　whole　streame　being　pure　white
Bastard；　none　such　was　ever　sold　for　any　money；　and　without　one　drop
of　water　in　it。
　　Now　trust　me　Sir；　（said　Calandrino）　that　is　an　excellent　Countrey　to
dwell　in：　but　I　pray　you　tell　me　Sir；　what　do　they　with　the　Capons
after　they　have　boyld　them？　The　Baschanes　（quoth　Maso）　eate　them
all。　Have　you　Sir；　said　Calandrino；　at　any　time　beene　in　that
Countrey？　How？　answered　Maso；　doe　you　demaund　if　have　beene　there？　Yes
man；　above　a　thousand　times；　at　the　least。　How　farre　Sir；　I　pray　you
（quoth　Calandrino）　is　that　worthy　Countrey；　from　this　our　City？　In
troth；　replyed　Maso；　the　miles　are　hardly　to　be　numbred；　for　the
most　part　of　them；　we　travell　when　we　are　nightly　in　our　beddes；　and
if　a　man　dreame　right；　he　may　be　there　upon　a　sudden。
　　Surely　Sir；　said　Calandrino；　it　is　further　hence；　then　to　Abruzzi？
Yes　questionlesse；　replyed　Maso；　but；　to　a　willing　minde；　no　travell
seemeth　tedious。
　　Calandrino　well　noting；　that　Maso　delivered　all　these　speeches；　with
a　stedfast　countenance；　no　signe　of　smyling；　or　any　gesture　to　urge
the　least　mislike：　he　gave　such　credit　to　them；　as　to　any　matter　of
apparent　and　manifest　truth；　and　upon　this　assured　confidence；　he
said。
　　Beleeve　me　Sir；　the　journey　is　over…farre　for　mee　to　undertake；
but　if　it　were　neerer；　I　could　affoord　to　goe　in　your　Company；　onely
to　see　how　they　make　these　Macherones；　and　to　fill　my　belly　with　them。
　　But　now　wee　are　in　talke　Sir；　I　pray　you　pardon　mee　to　aske；　whether
any　such　precious　stones；　as　you　spake　off；　are　to　be　found　in　that
Countrey；　or　no？　Yes　indeed；　replyed　Maso；　there　are　two　kinds　of　them
to　be　found　in　those　Territories；　both　being　of　very　great　vertue。　One
kind；　are　gritty　stones；　of　Settignano；　and　of　Montisca；　by　vertue
of　which　places；　when　any　Mill…stones　or　Grind…stones　are　to　bee　made；
they　knede　the　sand　as　they　use　to　doe　meale；　and　so　make　them　of　what
bignesse　they　please。　In　which　respect；　they　have　a　common　saying
there：　that　Nature　maketh　common　stones；　but　Montisca　Mill…stones。
Such　plenty　are　there　of　these　Mill…stones；　so　slenderly　here　esteemed
among　us；　as　Emeralds　are　with　them；　whereof　they　have　whole
mountaines；　farre　greater　then　our　Montemorello；　which　shine　most
gloriously　at　midnight。　And　how　meanly　soever　we　account　of　their
Mill…stones；　yet　there　they　drill　them；　and　enchase　them　in　Rings；
which　afterward　they　send　to　the　great　Soldane；　and　have　whatsoever
they　will　demaund　for　them。
　　The　other　kinde　is　a　most　precious　Stone　indeede；　which　our　best
Lapidaries　call　the　Helitropium；　the　vertue　whereof　is　so　admirable；
as　whosoever　beareth　it　about　him；　so　long　as　he　keepeth　it；　it　is
impossible　for　any　eye　to　discerne　him；　because　he　walketh　meerely
invisible。　O　Lord　Sir　（quoth　Calandrino）　those　stones　are　of　rare
vertue　indeede：　but　where　else　may　a　man　finde　that　Helitropium？
Whereto　Maso　thus　answered：　That　Countrey　onely　doth　not　containe
the　Helitropium；　for　they　be　many　times　found　upon　our　plaine　of
Mugnone。　Of　what　bignesse　Sir　（quoth　Calandrino）　is　the　Stone；　and
what　coulour？　The　Helitropium；　answered　Maso；　is　not　alwayes　of　one
quality；　because　some　are　bigge；　and　others　lesse；　but　all　are　of
one　coulour；　namely　blacke。
　　Calandrino　committing　all　these　things　to　respective　memory；　and
pretending　to　be　called　thence　by　some　other　especiall　affaires；
departed　from　Maso；　concluding　resolvedly　with　himselfe；　to　finde　this
precious　stone；　if　possibly　hee　could：　yet　intending　to　doe　nothing；
untill　hee　had　acquainted　Bruno　and　Buffalmaco　therewith；　whom　he
loved　dearly：　he　went　in　all　hast　to　seeke　them；　because；　（without　any
longer　trifling　the　time）　they　three　might　bee　the　first　men；　that
should　find　out　this　precious　stone；　spending　almost　the　whole　morning
before　they　were　all　three