the decameron(十日谈)-第130章

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starving　mee　thorough　want　of　Food　and　drinke。　Be　now　then　so
mercifull　（for　manhoods　sake）　as　to　come　uppe　hither；　and　inflict　that
on　me；　which　mine　owne　hands　are　not　strong　enough　to　do；　I　meane
the　ending　of　my　loathed　and　wearisome　life；　for　I　desire　it　beyond
all　comfort　else；　and　I　shall　honour　thee　in　the　performance　of　it。　If
thou　deny　me　this　gracious　favour；　at　least　send　me　uppe　a　glasse　of
Water；　onely　to　moisten　my　mouth；　which　my　teares　（being　all　meerly
dried　up）　are　not　able　to　doe；　so　extreame　is　the　violence　of　the
Sunnes　burning　heate。
　　Well　perceived　the　Scholler；　by　the　weaknesse　of　her　voyce；　and
scorching　of　her　body　by　the　Suns　parching　beames；　that　shee　was
brought　now　to　great　extremity：　which　sight；　as　also　her　humble
intercession；　began　to　touch　him　with　some　compassion；　nevertheles；
thus　he　replied。　Wicked　woman；　my　hands　shal　be　no　means　of　thy　death；
but　make　use　of　thine　owne；　if　thou　be　so　desirous　to　have　it：　and
as　much　water　shalt　thou　get　of　me　to　asswage　thy　thirst；　as　thou
gavest　me　fire　to　comfort　my　freezing；　when　thou　wast　in　the　luxurious
heat　of　thy　immodest　desires；　and　I　wel…neere　frozen　to　death　with
extremity　of　cold。　Pray　that　the　Evening　may　raine　downe　Rosewater
on　thee；　because　that　in　the　River　of　Arno　is　not　good　enough　for
thee：　for　as　little　pitty　doe　I　take　on　thee　now；　as　thou　didst　extend
compassion　to　me　then。
　　Miserable　Woman　that　I　am；　answered　Helena；　Why　did　the　heavens
bestow　beautie　on　mee；　which　others　have　admired　and　honoured；　and　yet
（by　thee）　is　utterly　despised？　More　cruell　art　thou　then　any　savage
Beast；　thus　to　vexe　and　torment　mee　in　such　mercilesse　manner。　What
greater　extreamity　couldst　thou　inflict　on　me；　if　I　had　bin　the
destruction　of　all　thy　Kindred；　and　lefte　no　one　man　living　of　thy
race？　I　am　verily　perswaded；　that　more　cruelty　cannot　be　used
against　a　Traitor；　who　was　the　subversion　of　an　whole　Cittie；　then
this　tyranny　of　thine；　roasting　me　thus　in　the　beames　of　the　Sun；
and　suffering　my　body　to　be　devoured　with　Flies；　without　so　small　a
mercie；　as　to　give　mee　a　little　coole　water；　which　murtherers　are
permitted　to　have；　being　condemned　by　justice；　and　led　to　execution：
yea　Wine　also；　if　they　request　it。
　　But；　seeing　thou　art　so　constant　in　thy　pernitious　resolve；　as
neither　thine　owne　good　Nature；　nor　this　lamentable　sufferance　in
me；　are　able　to　alter　thee：　I　will　prepare　my　self　for　death
patiently；　to　the　end；　that　Heaven　may　be　mercifull　to　my　soul；　and
reward　thee　justly；　according　to　thy　cruelty。　Which　words　being　ended；
she　withdrew　her　selfe　towards　the　middest　of　the　Tarras；　despairing
of　escaping　（with　life）
　　from　the　heates　violence；　and　not　once　onely；　but　infinite　times
beside　（among　her　other　grievous　extreamities）　she　was　ready　to　dye
with　drought；　bemoaning　incessantly　her　dolorous　condition。
　　By　this　time　the　day　was　well　neere　spent；　and　night　beganne　to
hasten　on　apace：　when　the　Scholler　（immagining　that　he　afflicted　her
sufficiently）　tooke　her　Garments；　and　wrapping　them　up　in　his　mans
Cloake；　went　thence　to　the　Ladies　house；　where　he　found　Ancilla　the
Waiting…woman　sitting　at　the　doore；　sad　and　disconsolate　for　her
Ladies　long　absence；　to　whom　thus　he　spake。　How　now　Ancilla？　Where
is　thy　Lady　and　Mistris？　Alas　Sir　（quoth　she）　I　know　not。　I　thought
this　morning　to　have　found　her　in　her　bed；　as　usually　I　was　wont　to
do；　and　where　I　left　her　yesternight　at　our　parting：　but　there　she　was
not；　nor　in　any　place　else　of　my　knowledge；　neyther　can　I　imagine　what
is　become　of　her；　which　is　to　me　no　meane　discomfort。
　　But　can　you　（Sir）　say　any　thing　of　her？　Ancilla；　said　he；　I　would
thou　hadst　bin　in　her　company；　and　at　the　same　place　where　now　she　is；
that　some　punishment　for　thy　fault　might　have　falne　uppon　thee；　as
already　it　hath　done　on　her。　But　beleeve　it　assuredly；　that　thou　shalt
not　freely　escape　from　my　fingers；　till　I　have　justly　paide　thee　for
thy　paines；　to　teach　thee　to　abuse　any　Gentleman；　as　thou　didst　me。
　　Having　thus　spoken；　hee　called　to　his　servant；　saying。　Give　her
the　Garments；　and　bid　her　go　looke　her　Lady；　if　she　will。　The
Servingman　fulfilled　his　Masters　command；　and　Ancilla　having
receyved　her　Ladies　cloaths；　knowing　them　perfectly；　and　remembring
（withall）　what　had　bin　said：　she　waxed　very　doubtfull；　least　they
had　slaine　her；　hardly　refraining　from　exclaiming　on　them；　but　that
greefe　and　heavie　weeping　overcame　her；　so　that　uppon　the　Schollers
departing；　she　ranne　in　all　hast　with　the　garments　towardes　the　Tower。
　　Upon　this　fatall　and　unfortunate　day　to　Madame　Helena；　it　chanced；
that　a　Clowne　or　Countrey　Peazant　belonging　to　her　Farme　or　Dairy
house；　having　two　of　his　young　Heyfers　wandred　astray；　and　he
labouring　in　diligent　search　to　finde　them：　within　a　while　after　the
Schollers　departure；　came　to　seeke　them　in　Woods　about　the　Tower；　and；
notwithstanding　all　his　crying　and　calling　for　his　beasts；　yet　he
heard　the　Ladies　greevous　moanes　and　lamentations。　Wherefore；　he　cryed
out　so　lowd　as　he　could；　saying：　Who　is　it　that　mourneth　so　aloft　on
the　Tower？　Full　well　she　knew　the　voyce　of　her　peazant；　and
therefore　called　unto　him；　and　sayd　in　this　maner。
　　Go　（quoth　she）　I　pray　thee　for　my　Waiting…woman　Ancilla；　and　bid　her
make　some　meanes　to　come　up　hither　to　me。　The　Clowne　knowing　his　Lady；
sayde。　How　now　Madame？　Who　hath　carried　you　up　there　so　high？　Your
Woman　Ancilla　hath　sought　for　you　all　this　day；　yet　no　one　could
ever　have　immagined　you　to　bee　there。　So　looking　about　him；　he
espyed　the　two　sides　of　the　Ladder；　which　the　Scholler　had　pulled　in
sunder；　as　also　the　steppes；　which　he　had　scattered　thereabout；
placing　them　in　due　order　againe　as　they　should　bee；　and　binding
them　fast　with　Withies　and　Willowes。
　　By　this　time　Ancilla　was　come　thither；　who　so　soone　as　shee　was
entred　into　the　Tower；　could　not　refrain　from　teares　and　complaints；
beating　her　hands　each　against　other；　and　crying　out。　Madam；　deare
Lady　and　Mistresse！　Alas；　Wher　are　you？　So　soone　as　she　heard　the
tongue　of　Ancilla；　she　replyed　（so　well　as　she　could）　saying：　Ah　my
sweet　Woman；　I　am　heere　aloft　uppon　the　Tarras；　weepe　not；　neyther
make　any　noyse；　but　quickely　bring　me　some　of　my　Garments。　When　shee
heard　her　answer　in　such　comfortable　maner；　she　mounted　up　the　Ladder；
which　the　peazant　had　made　very　firme　and　strong；　holding　it　fast
for　her　safer　ascending；　by　which　meanes　she　went　up　on　the　Tarras。
Beholding　her　Ladie　in　so　strange　a　condition；　resembling　no　humane
body；　but　rather　the　trunke　of　a　Tree　halfe　burned；　lying　flat　on
her　face；　naked；　scorched　and　strangely　deformed：　shee　beganne　to
teare　the　lockes　of　her　owne　hayre；　raving　and　raging　in　as
pittifull　manner；　as　if　her　Ladie　had　beene　quite　dead。　Which　storming
tempest；　Madame　Helena　soone　pacified；　entreating　her　to　use
silence；　and　helpe　to　put　on　her　garments。
　　Having　understood　by　her；　that　no　one　knew　of　her　being　there；　but
such　as　brought　her　cloathes；　and　the　poore　peazant；　attending　there
still　to　do　her　any　service：　shee　became　the　better　comforted；
entreating　them　by　all　meanes；　that　it　might　bee　concealed　from　any
further　discovery；　which　was　on　eyther　side；　most　faithfullie
protested。
　　The　poore　Clowne　holpe　to　beare　downe　his　Lady　uppon　his　backe；
because　the　Ladder　stood　not　conveniently　enough　for　her　descending；
neither　were　her　limbes　plyable　for　her　owne　use；　by　reason　of　their
rifts　and　smarting。　Ancilla　following　after；　and　being　more　respective
of　her　Lady；　then　her　owne　security　in　descending；　missing　the　step　in
the　midst　of　the　Ladder；　fell　downe　to　the　ground；　and　quite　brake　her
legge　in　the　fall；　the　paine　whereof　was　so　greevous　to　her；　that
she　cried　and　roared　extraordinarily；　even　like　a　Lyon　in　the　desert。
　　When　the　Clowne　had　set　his　Lady　safe　on　a　faire　green　banke；　he
returned　to　see　what　the　waiting　woman　ayled；　and　finding　her　leg　to
be　quite　broken：　he　caried　her　also　to　the　same　banke；　and　there
seated　her　by　her　Lady：　who　perceiving　what　a　mischance　had　hapned；
and　she　（from　whom　she　expected　her　onely　best　helpe）　to　bee　now　in
far　greater　necessity　her　selfe：　shee　lamented　exceedingly；
complaining　on　Fortunes　cruel　malice　toward　her；　in　thus　heaping　one
misery　upon　another；　and　never　ceasing　to　torment　her；　especially
now　in　the　conclusion　of　all；　and　when　shee　thought　all　future
perils　to　be　past。
　　Now　was　the　Sun　upon　his　setting；　when　the　poore　honest　country…man；
because　darke　night　should　not　overtake　them；　conducted　the　Lady
home　to　his　owne　house：　and　gaining　the　assistance　of　his　two　brethren
and　wife；　setting　the　waiting…woman　in　a　Chaire；　thither　they
brought　her　in　like　manner。　And　questionles；　there　wanted　no　diligence
and　comfortable　language；　to　pacifie　the　Ladyes　continuall
lamentations。　The　good　wife；　led　the　Lady　into　hir　own　poore
lodging；　where　（such　cates　as　they　had　to　feede　on）　lovingly　she　set
before　her：　conveying　her　afterward　into　her　owne　bed；　and　taking　such
good　order；　that　Ancilla　was　carried　in　the　night　time　to　Florence；　to
prevent　all　further　ensuing　danger；　by　reason　of　her　legs　breaking。
　　Madame　Helena；　to　colour　this　misfortune　of　her　owne：　as　also　the
great　mishap　of　her　woman：　forged　an　artificiall　and　cunning　tale；
to　give　some　formall　apparance　of　hir　being　in　the　Tower；　perswading
the　poore　simple　Country　people；　that　in　a　straunge　accident　of
thunder　and　lightning；　and　by　the　illusions　of　wicked　spirits；　all
this　adventure　hapned　to　her。　Then　Physitians　were　sent　for；　who；
not　without　much　anguish　and　affliction　to　the　Ladie　（by　reason　of　her
fleshes　flaying　off；　with　the　Medicines　and　Emplaysters　applyed　to　the
body）　was　glad　to　suffer　whatsoever…　they　did；　beside　falling　into　a
very　dangerous　Feaver；　out　of　which　she　was　not　recovered　in　a　long
while　after；　but　continued　in　daily　dispayre　of　her　life；　beside　other
accidents　hapning　in　her　time　of　Physicke；　utterly　unavoydable　in　such
extreamities：　and　hardly　had　Ancilla　her　legge　cured。
　　By　this　unexpected　pennance　imposed　on　Madame　Helena；　she　utterly
forgot　her　amorous　friend；　and　（from　thence　forward）　carefully　kept
her　selfe　from　fond　loves　allurements；　and　such　scornfull　behaviour；
wherein　she　was　most　disorderly　faulty。　And　Reniero　the　Scholler；
understanding　that　Ancilla　had　broken　her　leg；　r　；　which　he　reputed　as
a　punishment　sufficient　for　her；　held　himselfe　satisfyed；　because
neither　the　Mistresse　nor　her　Maide；　could　now　make　any　great　boast；
of　his　nights　hard　entertainment；　and　so　concealed　all　matters　else。
　　Thus　a　wanton…headed　Lady；　could　finde　no　other　subject　to　worke　her
mocking　folly　on；　but　a　learned　Scholler；　of　whom　shee　made　no　more
respect；　then　any　other　ordinary　man。　Never　remembring；　that　such
men　are　expert　（I　cannot　say　all；　but　the　greater　part　of　them）　to
helpe　the　frenzie　of　foolish　Ladies；　that　must　injoy　their　loose
desires；　by　Negromancy；　and　the　Divelles　meanes。　Let　it　therefore
（faire　Ladies）　be　my　loving　admonition　to　you；　to　detest　all　unwomanly
mocking　and　scorning；　but　more　especiallie　to　Schollers。




　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　EIGHT　DAY；　THE　EIGHT　NOVELL

　　WHEREIN　IS　APPROVED；　THAT　HE　WHICH　OFFERETH　SHAME　AND　DISGRAC