the decameron(十日谈)-第120章

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should　find　out　this　precious　stone；　spending　almost　the　whole　morning
before　they　were　all　three　met　together。　For　they　were　painting　at　the
Monastery　of　the　Sisters　of　Faenza；　where　they　had　very　serious
imployment；　and　followed　their　businesse　diligently：　where　having
found　them；　and　saluting　them　in　such　kinde　manner；　as　continually
he　used　to　doe；　thus　he　began。
　　Loving　friends；　if　you　were　pleased　to　follow　mine　advise；　wee　three
will　quickely　be　the　richest　men　in　Florence；　because；　by
information　from　a　Gentleman　（well　deserving　to　be　credited）　on　the
Plaine　of　Mugnone：　there　is　a　precious　stone　to　be　found；　which
whosoever　carrieth　it　about　him；　walketh　invisible；　and　is　not　to　be
seene　by　any　one。　Let　us　three　be　the　first　men　to　goe　and　finde　it；
before　any　other　heare　thereof；　and　goe　about　it；　and　assure　our
selves　that　we　shall　finde　it；　for　I　know　it　（by　discription）　so　soone
as　I　see　it。　And　when　wee　have　it；　who　can　hinder　us　from　bearing　it
about　us？　Then　will　we　goe　to　the　Tables　of　our　Bankers；　or　money
Changers；　which　we　see　daily　charged　with　plenty　of　gold　and　silver；
where　we　may　take　so　much　as　wee　list；　for　they　（nor　any）　are　able
to　descrie　us。　So；　（in　short　time）　shall　wee　all　be　wealthy；　never
needing　to　drudge　any　more；　or　paint　muddy　walles；　as　hitherto　we　have
done；　and；　as　many　of　our　poore　profession　are　forced　to　doe。
　　Bruno　and　Buffalmaco　hearing　this；　began　to　smile；　and　looking
merily　each　on　other；　they　seemed　to　wonder　thereat；　and　greatly
commended　the　counsell　of　Calandrino。　Buffalmaco　demaunding　how　the
stone　was　named。　Now　it　fortuned；　that　Calandrino　（who　had　but　a
grosse　and　blockish　memory）　had　quite　forgot　the　name　of　the　stone；
and　therefore　said。　What　neede　have　wee　of　the　name；　when　we　know；　and
are　assured　of　the　stones　vertue？　Let　us　make　no　more　adoe；　but
（setting　aside　all　other　businesse）　goe　seeke　where　it　is　to　be　found。
Well　my　friend　（answered　Bruno）　you　say　wee　may　finde　it；　but　how；　and
by　what　meanes？
　　There　are　two　sorts　of　them　（quoth　Calandrino）　some　bigge；　others
smaller；　but　all　carry　a　blacke　colour：　therefore　（in　mine　opinion）
let　us　gather　all　such　stones　as　are　blacke；　so　shall　we　be　sure　to
finde　it　among　them；　without　any　further　losse　of　time。
　　Buffalmaco　and　Bruno；　liked　and　allowed　the　counsell　of
Calandrino；　which　when　they　had　（by　severall　commendations）　given
him　assurance　of；　Bruno　saide。　I　doe　not　thinke　it　a　convenient　time
now；　for　us　to　go　about　so　weighty　a　businesse：　for　the　Sun　is　yet
in　the　highest　degree；　and　striketh　such　a　heate　on　the　plaine　of
Mugnone；　as　all　the　stones　are　extreamly　dryed；　and　the　very
blackest　will　nowe　seeme　whitest。　But　in　the　morning；　after　the　dew　is
falne；　and　before　the　Sunne　shineth　forth；　every　stone　retaineth　his
true　colour。　Moreover；　there　be　many　Labourers　now　working　on　the
plaine；　about　such　businesse　as　they　are　severally　assigned；　who
seeing　us　in　so　serious　a　serch：　may　imagine　what　we　seeke　for；　and
partake　with　us　in　the　same　inquisition；　by　which　meanes　they　may
chance　to　speed　before　us；　and　so　wee　may　lose　both　our　trot　and
amble。　Wherefore；　by　my　consent；　if　your　opinion　jumpe　with　mine；　this
is　an　enterprize　onely　to　be　perfourmed　in　an　early　morning；　when
the　blacke　stones　are　to　be　distinguisht　from　the　white；　and　a
Festivall　day　were　the　best　of　all　other；　for　then　there　will　be
none　to　discover　us。
　　Buffalmaco　applauded　the　advice　of　Bruno；　and　Calandrino　did　no
lesse；　concluding　all　together；　that　Sunday　morning　（next　ensuing）
should　be　the　time；　and　then　they　all　three　would　go　see　the　Stone。
But　Calandrino　was　verie　earnest　with　them；　that　they　shold　not
reveale　it　to　any　living　body；　because　it　was　tolde　him　as　an
especiall　secret：　disclosing　further　to　them；　what　hee　had　heard
concerning　the　Countrey　of　Bengodi；　maintaining　（with　solemn　oaths　and
protestations）　that　every　part　thereof　was　true。　Uppon　this　agreement；
they　parted　from　Calandrino　who　hardly　enjoyed　anie　rest　at　all；
either　by　night　or　day；　so　greedie　he　was　to　bee　possessed　of　the
stone。　On　the　Sonday　morning；　hee　called　up　his　Companions　before
breake　of　day；　and　going　forth　at　S。　Galls　Port；　they　stayed　not；　till
they　came　to　the　plaine　of　Mugnone；　where　they　searched　all　about　to
finde　this　strange　stone。
　　Calandrino　went　stealing　before　the　other　two；　and　verilie　perswaded
himselfe；　that　he　was　borne　to　finde　the　Helitropium；　and　looking　on
every　side　about　him；　hee　rejected　all　other　Stones　but　the　blacke；
whereof　first　he　filled　his　bosome；　and　afterwards；　both　his
Pockets。　Then　he　tooke　off　his　large　painting　Apron；　which　he　fastened
with　his　girdle　in　the　manner　of　a　sacke；　and　that　he　filled　full　of
stones　likewise。　Yet　not　so　satisfied；　he　spred　abroad　his　Cloake；
which　being　also　full　of　stones；　hee　bound　it　up　carefully；　for
feare　of　loosing　the　very　least　of　them。　All　which　Buffalmaco　and
Bruno　well　observing　（the　day　growing　on；　and　hardly　they　could
reach　home　by　dinner　time）　according　as　merrily　they　had　concluded；
and　pretending　not　to　see　Calandrino；　albeit　he　was　not　farre　from
them：　What　is　become　of　Calandrino？　saide　Buffalmaco。　Bruno　gazing
strangely　every　where　about　him；　as　if　hee　were　desirous　to　finde　him；
replyed。　I　saw　him　not　long　since；　for　then　he　was　hard　by　before
us；　questionlesse；　he　hath　given　us　the　slippe；　is　privilie　gone
home　to　dinner；　and　making　starke　fooles　of　us；　hath　lefte　us　to　picke
up　blacke　stones；　upon　the　parching　plaines　of　Mugnone。　Well　（quoth
Buffalmaco）　this　is　but　the　tricke　of　an　hollow…hearted　friend；　and
not　such　as　he　protested　himselfe　to　be；　to　us。　Could　any　but　wee　have
bin　so　sottish；　to　credit　his　frivolous　perswasions；　hoping　to　finde
any　stones　of　such　vertue；　and　here　on　the　fruitlesse　plains　of
Mugnone？　No；　no；　none　but　we　would　have　beleeved　him。
　　Calandrino　（who　was　close　by　them）　hearing　these　wordes；　and
seeing　the　whole　manner　of　their　wondering　behaviour：　became
constantly　perswaded；　that　hee　had　not　onely　found　the　precious　stone；
but　also　had　some　store　of　them　about　him；　by　reason　he　was　so　neere
to　them；　and　yet　they　could　not　see　him；　therefore　he　walked　before
them。　Now　was　his　joy　beyond　all　compasse　of　expression；　and　being
exceedingly　proud　of　so　happy　an　adventure：　did　not　meane　to　speake
one　word　to　them；　but　（heavily　laden　as　hee　was）　to　steale　home
faire　and　softly　before　them；　which　indeede　he　did；　leaving　them　to
follow　after；　if　they　would。　Bruno　perceiving　his　intent；　said　to
Buffalmaco：　What　remaineth　now　for　us　to　doe？　Why　should　not　we　go
home；　as　well　as　hee？　And　reason　too；　replyed　Bruno。　It　is　in　vaine　to
tarry　any　longer　heere：　but　I　solemnly　protest；　Calandrino　shall　no
more　make　an　Asse　of　me：　and　were　I　now　as　neere　him；　as　not　long
since　I　was；　I　would　give　him　such　a　remembrance　on　the　heele　with
this　Flint　stone；　as　should　sticke　by　him　this　moneth；　to　teach　him
a　lesson　for　abusing　his　friends。
　　Hee　threw　the　stone；　and　hit　him　shrewdly　on　the　heele　therewith；
but　all　was　one　to　Calandrino；　whatsoever　they　saide；　or　did；　as
thus　they　still　followed　after　him。　And　although　the　blow　of　the　stone
was　painfull　to　him；　yet　he　mended　his　pace　so　wel　as　he　was　able；
in　regard　of　beeing　over…loaden　with　stones；　and　gave　them　not　one
word　all　the　way；　because　he　tooke　himselfe　to　bee　invisible；　and
utterly　unseene　of　them。　Buffalmaco　taking　uppe　another　Flintstone；
which　was　indifferent　heavie　and　sharp；　said　to　Bruno。　Seest　thou　this
Flint？　Casting　it　from　him；　he　smote　Calandrino　just　in　the　backe
therewith；　saying　that　Calandrino　had　bin　so　neere　as　I　might　have　hit
him　on　the　backe　with　the　stone。　And　thus　all　the　way　on　the　plaine　of
Mugnone；　they　did　nothing　else　but　pelt　him　with　stones；　even　so　farre
as　the　Port　of　S。　Gall；　where　they　threwe　downe　what　other　stones　they
had　gathered；　meaning　not　to　molest　him　any　more；　because　they　had
done　enough　already。
　　There　they　stept　before　him　unto　the　Port；　and　acquainted　the
Warders　with　the　whole　matter；　who　laughing　heartily　at　the　jest；
the　better　to　upholde　it；　would　seeme　not　to　see　Calandrino　in　his
passage　by　them；　but　suffered　him　to　go　on；　sore　wearied　with　his
burthen；　and　sweating　extreamly。　Without　resting　himselfe　in　any
place；　he　came　home　to　his　house；　which　was　neere　to　the　corner　of　the
Milles；　Fortune　being　so　favourable　to　him　in　the　course　of　this
mockery；　that　as　he　passed　along　the　Rivers　side；　and　afterward
through　part　of　the　City；　he　was　neither　met　nor　seen　by　any；　in
regard　they　were　all　in　their　houses　at　dinner。
　　Calandrino；　every　minute　ready　to　sinke　under　his　weightie
burthen；　entred　into　his　owne　house；　where　（by　great　ill　luck）　his
wife；　being　a　comely　and　very　honest　woman；　and　named　Monna　Trista；
was　standing　aloft　on　the　stayres　head。　She　being　somewhat　angry　for
his　so　long　absence；　and　seeing　him　come　in　grunting　and　groaning；
frowningly　said。　I　thought　that　the　divell　would　never　let　thee　come
home；　all　the　whole　Citie　have　dined；　and　yet　wee　must　remaine　without
our　dinner。　When　Calandrino　heard　this；　and　perceived　that　he　was
not　invisible　to　his　Wife：　full　of　rage　and　wroth；　hee　began　to　raile；
saying。　Ah　thou　wicked　woman；　where　art　thou？　Thou　hast　utterly　undone
me：　but　（as　I　live）　I　will　pay　thee　soundly　for　it。　Up　the　staires
he　ascended　into　a　small　Parlour；　where　when　he　hadde　spred　all　his
burthen　of　stones　on　the　floore：　he　ran　to　his　wife；　catching　frer
by　the　haire　of　the　head；　and　throwing　her　at　his　feete；　giving　her　so
many　spurns　and　cruel　blowes；　as　shee　was　not　able　to　moove　either
armes　or　legges；　notwithstanding　all　her　teares；　and　humble
submission。
　　Now　Buffalmaco　and　Bruno；　after　they　had　spent　an　indifferent　while；
with　the　Warders　at　the　Port　in　laughter；　in　a　faire　and　gentle
pace；　they　followed　Calandrino　home　to　his　house；　and　being　come　to
the　doore；　they　heard　the　harsh　bickering　betweene　him　and　his　Wife；
and　seeming　as　if　they　were　but　newly　arrived；　they　called　out　alowd
to　him。　Calandrino　being　in　a　sweate；　stamping　and　raving　still　at　his
Wife：　looking　forth　of　the　window；　entreated　them　to　ascend　up　to　him；
which　they　did；　counterfetting　greevous　displeasure　against　him。　Being
come　into　the　roome；　which　they　saw　all　covered　over　with　stones；
his　Wife　sitting　in　a　corner；　all　the　haire　（well…neere）　torne　off　her
head；　her　face　broken　and　bleeding；　and　all　her　body　cruelly　beaten；
on　the　other　side；　Calandrino　standing　unbraced　and　ungirded；
strugling　and　wallowing；　like　a　man　quite　out　of　breath：　after　a
little　pausing；　Bruno　thus　spake。
　　Why　how　now　Calandrino？　What　may　the　meaning　of　this　matter　be？
What；　art　thou　preparing　for　building；　that　thou　hast　provided　such
plenty　of　stones？　How　sitteth　thy　poore　wife？　How　hast　thou　misused
her？　Are　these　the　behaviours　of　a　wise　or　honest　man？　Calandrino；
over…spent　with　travalle；　and　carrying　such　an　huge　burthen　of　stones；
as　also　the　toylesome　beating　of　his　Wife；　（but　much　more　impatient
and　offended；　for　that　high　good　Fortune；　which　he　imagined　to　have
lost：）　could　not　collect　his　spirits　together；　to　answer　them　one
ready　word；　wherefore　hee　sate　fretting　like　a　mad　man。　Whereupon；
Buf