the decameron(十日谈)-第127章

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swiftly　drawing　on；　they　had　the　better　hope　of　affecting　his　safty；
out　of　so　great　and　dangerous　a　cold。
　　But　after　he　was　become　almost　well　and　lusty　againe；　hee　used　to　be
seldome　seene　abroad　for　an　indifferent　while；　concealing　his　intended
revenge　secret　to　himselfe；　yet　appearing　more　affectionate　to
Madame　Helena；　then　formerly　he　had　beene。
　　Now；　it　came　to　passe　（within　no　long　while　after）　that　Fortune
being　favourable　to　our　injured　Scholler；　prepared　a　new　accident；
wherby　he　might　fully　effect　his　harts　desire。　For　the　lusty　yong
Gallant；　who　was　Madame　Helenaes　deare　darling　and　delight；　and　（for
whose　sake）　she　dealt　so　inhumanely　with　poore　Reniero：　became　weary
of　her　amourous　service；　and　was　falne　in　liking　of　another　Lady；
scorning　and　disdaining　his　former　Mistresse；　whereat　shee　grew
exceedingly　displeased；　and　began　to　languish　in　sighes　and　teares。
　　But　Ancilla　her　waiting…woman；　compassionating　the　perilous
condition　of　her　Lady；　and　knowing　no　likely　meanes　whereby　to　conquer
this　oppressing　melancholly；　which　shee　suffered　for　the　losse　of
her　hearts　chosen　friend：　at　length　she　began　to　consider；　that　the
Scholler　still　walked　daily　by　the　doore；　as　formerly　hee　was　wont
to　doe；　and　（by　him）　there　might　some　good　be　done。
　　A　fond　and　foolish　opinion　overswayed　her；　that　the　Scholler　was
extraordinarily　skilfull　in　the　Art　of　Nigromancy；　and　could　thereby
so　over…rule　the　heart　of　her　lost　friend；　as　hee　should　bee　compelled
to　love　her　againe；　in　as　effectuall　manner　as　before；　herewith
immediately　she　acquainted　her　Lady；　who　being　as　rashly　credulous；　as
her　maide　was　opinionative　（never　considring；　that　if　the　Scholler　had
any　experience　in　Negromancy；　hee　would　thereby　have　procured　his　owne
successe）　gave　releefe　to　her　surmise；　in　very　joviall　and　comfortable
manner；　and　entreated　her　in　all　kindnes；　to　know　of　him；　whether　he
could　worke　such　a　businesse；　or　no；　and　（upon　his　undertaking　to
effect　it）　shee　would　give　absolute　assurance；　that　（in　recompence
thereof）　he　should　unfainedly　obtaine　his　hearts　desire。　Ancilla　was
quicke　and　expeditious；　in　delivering　this　message　to　discontented
Reniero；　whose　soule　being　ready　to　mount　out　of　his　body；　onely　by
conceit　of　joy；　chearefully　thus　he　said　within　himselfe。　Gracious
Fortune！　how　highly　am　I　obliged　to　thee　for　this　so　great　favour？　Now
thou　hast　blest　me　with　a　happy　time；　to　be　justly　revenged　on　so
wicked　a　woman；　who　sought　the　utter　ruine　of　my　life；　in　recompence
of　the　unfaigned　affection　I　bare　her。　Returne　to　thy　Lady　（quoth
he）　and　saluting　her　first　on　my　behalfe；　bid　her　to　abandon　all
care　in　this　businesse；　for；　if　her　amourous　Friend　were　in　India；　I
would　make　him　come　（in　meere　despight　of　his　heart）　and　crave　mercy
of　her　for　his　base　transgression。　But　concerning　the　meanes　how；
and　in　what　manner　it　is　to　bee　done；　especially　on　her　owne
behalfe：　I　will　impart　it　to　her　so　soone　as　she　pleaseth：　faile　not
to　tell　her　so　constantly　from　me；　with　all　my　utmost　paines　at　her
service。
　　Ancilla　came　jocondly　home　with　her　answere；　and　a　conclusion　was
set　downe　for　their　meeting　together　at　Santa　Lucia　del　prato；　which
accordingly　was　performed；　in　very　solemne　conference　between　them。
Her　fond　affection　had　such　power　over　her；　that　shee　had　forgot；　into
what　peril　she　brought　his　life；　by　such　an　unnatural　nightwalke：
but　disclosed　all　her　other　intention　to　him；　how　loth　she　was　to　lose
so　deare　a　friend；　and　desiring　him　to　exercise　his　utmost　height　of
skil；　with　large　promises　of　her　manifold　favours　to　him；　whereto
our　Scholler　thus　replyed。
　　Very　true　it　is　Madam；　that　among　other　studies　at　Paris；　I
learned　the　Art　of　Negromancy；　the　depth　whereof　I　am　as　skilfull
in；　as　anie　other　Scholler　whatsoever。　But；　because　it　is　greatly
displeasing　unto　God；　I　made　a　vow　never　to　use　it；　either　for　my
selfe；　or　anie　other。　Neverthelesse；　the　love　I　beare　you　is　of　such
power；　as　I　know　not　well　how　to　denie；　whatsoever　you　please　to
command　me：　in　which　respect；　if　in　doing　you　my　very　best　service；
I　were　sure　to　bee　seized　on　by　all　the　divels：　I　will　not　faile　to
accomplish　your　desire；　you　onely　having　the　power　to　command　me。
But　let　me　tell　you　Madame；　it　is　a　matter　not　so　easie　to　be
performed；　as　you　perhaps　may　rashly　imagine；　especially；　when　a　Woman
would　repeale　a　man　to　love　her；　or　a　man　a　woman：　because；　it　is
not　to　be　done；　but　by　the　person　whom　it　properly　concerneth。　And
therefore　it　behoveth；　that　such　as　would　have　this　businesse
effected；　must　be　of　a　constant　minde；　without　the　least　scruple　of
feare：　because　it　is　to　be　accomplished　in　the　darke　night　season；
in　which　difficulties　I　doe　not　know；　how　you　are　able　to　warrant　your
selfe；　or　whether　you　have　such　courage　of　spirit；　as　（with　boldnes）
to　adventure。
　　Madame　Helena；　more　hot　in　pursuite　of　her　amorous　contentment；　then
any　way　governed　by　temperate　discretion；　presently　thus　answered。
Sir；　Love　hath　set　such　a　keene　edge　on　my　unconquerable　affection；　as
there　is　not　any　daunger　so　difficult；　but　I　dare　resolutely　undertake
it；　for　the　recovery　of　him；　who　hath　so　shamefullie　refused　my
kindnesse：　wherefore　（if　you　please）　shew　mee；　wherein　I　must　be　so
constant　and　dreadlesse。　The　Scholler；　who　had　（more　then　halfe）
caught　a　right　Ninnyhammer　by　the　beake；　thus　replyed。　Madame；　of
necessity　I　must　make　an　image　of　Tin；　in　the　name　of　him　whom　you
desire　to　recall。　Which　when　I　have　sent　you；　the　Moone　being　then
in　her　full；　and　your　selfe　stript　starke　naked：　immediately　after
your　first　sleepe；　seaven　times　you　must　bathe　your　selfe　with　it　in　a
swift　running　River。　Afterward；　naked　as　you　are；　you　must　climbe　up
upon　some　tree；　or　else　upon　an　uninhabited　house　top；　where
standing　dreadlesse　of　any　perill；　and　turning　your　face　to　the　North；
with　the　Image　in　your　hand；　seaven　times　you　must　speake　such　wordes；
as　I　will　deliver　to　you　in　writing。
　　After　you　have　so　often　spoken　them；　two　goodly　Ladies　（the　very
fairest　that　ever　you　beheld）　wil　appeare　unto　you；　very　graciously
saluting　you；　and　demanding　what　you　would　have　them　to　performe　for
you。　Safely　you　may　speake　unto　them；　and　orderly　tel　them　what　you
desire：　but　be　very　careful；　that　you　name　not　one　man　insted　of
another。　When　you　have　uttered　your　mind；　they　wil　depart　from　you；
and　then　you　may　descend　againe；　to　the　place　where　you　did　leave　your
garments；　which　having　putte　on；　then　returne　to　your　house。　And
undoubtedly；　before　the　midst　of　the　next　night　following；　your　friend
wil　come　in　teares　to　you；　and　humbly　crave　your　pardon　on　his
knees；　beeing　never　able　afterward　to　be　false　to　you；　or　leave　your
Love　for　any　other　whatsoever。
　　The　Lady　hearing　these　words；　gave　very　setled　beleefe　to　them；
imagining　unfainedly；　that　shee　had　（more　then　halfe）　recovered　her
friend　already；　and　held　him　embraced　between　her　armes：　in　which
jocond　perswasion；　the　chearful　blood　mounted　up　into　hir　cheekes；　and
thus　she　replyed。
　　Never　make　you　any　doubt　Sir；　but　that　I　can　sufficiently　performe
whatsoever　you　have　said；　and　am　provided　of　the　onely　place　in　the
world；　where　such　a　weighty　businesse　is　to　be　effected。　For　I　have
a　Farme　or　dairy　house；　neere　adjoyning　to　the　vale　of　Arno；　and
closely　bordering　upon　the　same　River。　It　beeing　now　the　moneth　of
july；　the　most　convenientest　time　of　all　the　yeare　to　bathe　in；　I
can　bee　the　easier　induced　thereunto。
　　Moreover；　there　is　hard　by　the　Rivers　side　a　smal　Tower　or　Turret
uninhabited；　whereinto　few　people　do　sildome　enter；　but　onely
Heardsmen　or　Flocke…keepers；　who　ascend　uppe　（by　the　helpe　of　a　wodden
Ladder）　to　a　Tarrasse　on　the　top　of　the　saide　Tower；　to　looke　all
about　for　their　beasts；　when　they　are　wandred　astray：　it　standing　in　a
solitary　place；　and　out　of　the　common　way　or　resort。　There　dare　I
boldly　adventure　to　mount　up；　and　with　the　invincible　courage　of　a
wronged　Lady　（not　fearing　to　looke　death　himself　in　the　face）　do　al
that　you　have　prescribed；　yea；　and　much　more；　to　recover　my　deare　lost
Lover　againe；　whom　I　value　equal　with　my　owne　Life。
　　Reniero；　who　perfectly　knew　both　the　Dairy　Farme；　and　the　old　smal
Turret；　not　a　little　joyful；　to　heare　how　forward　shee　was　to　shame
her　selfe；　answered　in　this　manner。　Madame；　I　was　never　in　those　parts
of　the　Country；　albeit　they　are　so　neere　to　our　City；　and　therfore　I
must　needs　be　ignorant；　not　onely　of　your　Farme；　but　the　Turret
also。　But　if　they　stand　in　such　convenient　manner　as　you　have
described；　all　the　world　could　not　yeelde　the　like　elsewhere；　so　apt
and　sutable　to　your　purpose：　wherefore；　with　such　expedition　as
possibly　can　use；　I　will　make　the　Image；　and　send　it　you；　as　also
the　charme；　verie　fairely　written。　But　let　me　entreate　you；　that
when　you　have　obtayned　your　hearts　desire；　and　are　able　to　Judge
truely　of　my　love　and　service：　not　to　be　unmindfull　of　me；　but　（at
your　best　leysure）　to　performe　what　you　have　with　such　protestations
promised；　which　shee　gave　him　her　hand　and　faith　to　do；　without　any
impeach　or　hinderance：　and　so　parting；　she　returned　home　to　her　house。
　　Our　over…joyed　Scholler；　applauding　his　happy　Starres；　for
furthering　him　with　faire　a　way　to　his　revenge；　immagining　that　it　was
already　halfe　executed；　made　the　Image　in　due　forme；　and　wrote　an
old　Fable；　insted　of　a　Charme；　both　which　he　sent　to　the　Lady；　so
soone　as　he　thought　the　time　to　be　fitting：　and　this　admonition
withall；　that　the　Moone　being　entering　into　the　full；　without　any
longer　delay；　she　might　venter　on　the　businesse　the　next　night
following；　and　remaine　assured　to　repossesse　her　friend。　Afterward　for
the　better　pleasing　of　himselfe；　he　went　secretly　attended；　onely　by
his　servant；　to　the　house　of　a　trusty　frend　of　his；　who　dwelt
somwhat　neere　to　the　Turret；　there　to　expect　the　issue　of　this
Lady…like　enterprize。　And　Madam　Helena　accompanied　with　none　but
Ancilla　walked　on　to　her　dairy　Farme；　where　the　night　ensuing；
pretending　to　take　her　rest　sooner　then　formerly　she　used　to　doe；
she　commanded　Ancilla　to　bed；　referring　her　selfe　to　her　best　liking。
　　After　she　had　to　her　first　sleepe　（according　to　the　Schollers
direction）　departing　softly　out　of　her　chamber；　she　went　on　towards
the　ancient　Tower；　standing　hard　by　the　river　of　Arno；　looking　every
way　heedfully　about　hir；　least　she　should　be　spied　by　any　person。
But　perceiving　hir　selfe　to　be　so　secure　as　she　could　desire；
putting　off　all　her　garments；　she　hid　them　in　a　small　brake　of　bushes：
afterward；　holding　the　Image　in　hir　hand；　seven　times　she　bathd　hir
body　in　the　river；　and　then　returned　with　it　to　the　Tower。　The
Scholler；　who　at　the　nights　closing　up　of　day；　had　hid　himselfe
among　the　willowes　and　other　trees；　which　grew　very　thick　about　the
Tower；　saw　both　hir　going　and　returning　from　the　River；　and　as　she
passed　thus　naked　by　him；　he　plainly　perceyved；　that　the　nights
obscurity　could　not　cloud　the　delicate　whitenes　of　hir　body；　but
made　the　Starres　themselves　to　gaze　amorously　on　her；　even　as　if
they　were　proud　to　behold　her　bathing；　and　（like　so　many　twinkling
Tapers）　shewed　hir　in　emulation　of　another　Diana。　Now；　what
conflicts　this　si