the decameron(十日谈)-第132章

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revenge。
　The　Woman　hearing　this；　and　perceiving　the　manifolde　confirmations
thereof；　protested　（on　solemne　oath）　by　Zeppa；　hir　beliefe　grew
setled；　and　thus　she　answered。　My　loving　neighbor　Zeppa；　seeing　this
kinde　of　revenge　is　（in　meere　justice）　imposed　on　mee；　and　ordained　as
a　due　scourge；　as　well　to　the　breach　of　friendship　and
neighbourhood；　as　abuse　of　his　true　and　loyall　wife：　I　am　the　more
willing　to　consent：　alwaies　provided；　that　it　be　no　imbarrement　of
love　betweene　your　wife　and　mee；　albeit　I　have　good　reason　to　alledge；
that　she　began　the　quarrell　first：　and　what　I　do　is　but　to　right　my
wrong；　as　any　other　woman　of　spirit　would　do：　Afterwards；　we　may　the
more　pardon　one　another。　For　breach　more　easi　of　peace　（answered
Zeppa）　between　my　wife　and　you；　take　my　honest　word　for　your
warrant。　Moreover；　in　requitall　of　this　favour　to　mee；　I　will
bestowe　a　deare　and　precious　jewell　on　you；　excelling　all　the　rest
which　you　have　beside。
　　In　delivering　these　words；　he　sweetly　kissed　and　embraced　her；　as
she　sat　on　the　Chest　wherein　her　husband　lay：　now；　what　they　did
else　beside；　in　recompence　of　the　wrong　received；　I　leave　to　your
imagination；　as　rather　deserving　silence；　then　immodest　blabbing。
Spinelloccio；　being　all　this　while　in　the　Chest；　hearing　easily　all
the　words　which　Zeppa　had　uttered；　the　answer　of　his　wife；　as　also
what　Musicke　they　made　over　his　head：　you　may　guesse　in　what　a　case　he
was；　his　heart　being　ready　to　split　with　rage；　and；　but　that　hee　stood
in　feare　of　Zeppa；　he　would　have　railde　and　exclaimed　on　his　wife；
as　thus　hee　lay　shut　up　in　the　Chest。　But　entering　into　better
consideration；　that　so　great　al　injury　was　first　begun　by　himselfe；
and　Zeppa　did　no　more；　then　in　reason　and　equity　he　might　well　do
（having　evermore　carried　himselfe　like　a　kinde　neighbour　and　frend
towards　him；　without　the　least　offer　of　distaste）　he　faithfully
resolved；　to　be　a　firmer　friend　to　Zeppa　then　formerly　hee　had　bin；　if
it　might　be　embraced　and　accepted。
　　Delights　and　pleasures；　be　they　never　so　long　in　contenting　and
continuance；　yet　they　come　to　a　period　and　conclusion　at　last：　So
Zeppa；　having　ended　his　amorous　combate；　and　over　the　head　of　his
perfidious　friend；　thought　himselfe　sufficiently　revenged。　But　now；　in
consideration　of　a　further　promise　made　on　the　bargaine；
Spinelloccioes　wife　challengeth　the　jewel；　then　which　kind　of
recompence；　nothing　can　be　more　welcom　to　women。　Heereupon；　Zeppa
calling　for　his　owne　wife；　commanded　her　to　open　the　Chest；　which　shee
did；　and　he　merrily　smiling；　saide。　Well　wife；　you　have　given　mee　a
Cake　insted　of　bread；　and　you　shal　lose　nothing　for　your　labour。　So
Spinelloccio　comming　forth　of　the　Chest；　it　requireth　a　better　witte
then　mine；　to　tell　you；　which　of　them　stood　most　confounded　with
shame；　either　Spinelloccio　seeing　Zeppa；　and　knowing　well　enough
what　he　had　done：　or　the　woman　beholding　her　husband；　who　easily　heard
all　their　familiar　conference；　and　the　action　thereupon　so
deservedly　performed。
　　See　neighbour；　is　not　this　your　dearest　Jewell？　Having　kept　it
awhile　in　my　wives　custody；　according　to　my　promise；　here　I　deliver　it
you。　Spinellcccio　being　glad　of　his　deliverance　out　of　the　Chest；
albeit　not　a　little　ashamed　of　himselfe；　without　using　many
impertinent　words　saide。　Zeppa；　our　wrongs　are　equally　requited　on
each　other；　and　therefore　I　allow　thy　former　speeches　to　my　Wife；　that
thou　wast　my　friend；　as　I　am　the　like　to　thee；　and　so　I　pray　thee
let　us　still　continue。　For　nothing　else　is　now　to　bee　divided　betweene
us；　seeing　we　have　shared　alike　in　our　wives；　which　none　knowing　but
our　selves；　let　it　be　as　closely　kept　to　our　selves。　Zeppa　was　wel
pleased　with　the　motion；　and　so　all　foure　dined　lovingly　together；
without　any　variance　or　discontentment。　And　thence　forward；　each　of
the　Women　had　two　Husbands；　as　either　Husband　enjoyed　two　Wives；
without　further　contention　or　debate。




　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　EIGHT　DAY；　THE　NINTH　NOVELL

　　　　　　　WHEREIN　IS　APPROVED；　THAT　TITLES　OF　HONOUR；　LEARNING；　AND
　　　　　　　　　　DIGNITY；　ARE　NOT　ALWAYES　BESTOWNE　ON　THE　WISEST　MEN

　　Maestro　Simone；　an　ydle…headed　Doctor　of　Physicke；　was　throwne　by
Bruno　and　Buffalmaco；　into　a　common　Leystall　of　Filth：　The　Physitian
fondly　beleeving；　that　（in　the　night　time）　he　should　bee　made　one　of　a
new　created　Company；　who　usually　went　to　see　wonders　at　Corsica；　and
there　in　the　Leystall　they　left　him。

　　After　that　the　Ladies　had　a　while　considered；　on　the　communication
betweene　the　two　Wives　of　Sienna；　and　the　falshood　in　friendship　of
their　Husbands：　the　Queene；　who　was　the　last　to　recount　her　Novell；
without　offering　injurie　to　Dioneus；　began　to　speake　thus。
　　The　reward　for　a　precedent　wrong　committed；　which　Zeppa　retorted
upon　Spinelloccio；　was　answerable　to　his　desert；　and　no　more　then
equity　required；　in　which　respect；　I　am　of　opinion；　that　such　men
ought　not　to　be　over…sharpely　reproved；　as　do　injurie　to　him；　who
seeketh　for　it；　and　justly　should　have　it；　althogh　Madam　Pampinea　（not
long　since）　avouched　the　contrary。
　　Now；　it　evidently　appeareth；　that　Spinelloccio　well　deserved　what
was　done　to　him；　and　I　purpose　to　speake　of　another；　who　needs　would
seeke　after　his　owne　disgrace。
　　The　rather　to　confirme　my　former　speeches；　that　they　which　beguile
such　wilfull　foolish　men；　are　not　to　bee　blamed；　but　rather　commended。
And　he　unto　whom　the　shame　was　done；　was　a　Physitian；　which　came
from　Bologna　to　Florence；　and　returned　thither　againe　like　unto　a
Beast；　notoriously　baffulled　and　disgraced。
　　It　is　a　matter　well　knowne…　to　us；　and　（almost）　observed　day　by　day；
that　divers　of　our　Citizens；　when　they　returne　from　their　studying
at　Bologna：　one　becommeth　an　Advocate；　another　a　Physitian；　and　a
third　a　Notarie；　with　long　and　large　gowns；　some　of　Scarlet；　and　hoods
furred　with　Minever；　beside　divers　other　great　apparances；
succeeding　effectually　daily　in　their　severall　kinds。　Among　whom；
there　returned　（not　long　since）　thence；　one　Master。　Simon　da　Villa；
more　rich　in　possessions　left　him　by　his　parents；　then　anie
knowledge　thereto　obtained：　yet　cloathed　in　Scarlet；　with　his
Miniver　hood；　and　styled　a　Doctor　of　Physicke；　which　title　hee　onely
bestowed　on　himselfe；　and　tooke　a　goodly　house　for　his　dwelling；　in
the　street　which　wee　commonly　call　La　via　del　Cocomero。　This　Master
Doctor　Simon；　being　thus　newly　come　thither；　among　other　notable
qualities　in　him；　had　one　more　especial　then　any　of　the　rest；
namely；　to　know　the　names　and　conditions　of　such　persons；　as　daily
passed　by　his　doore；　and　what　professions　they　were　of；　wherby　any
likelyhood　might　be　gathered　of　needing　his　helpe；　and　being　his
patients；　observing　them　all　with　very　vigilant　care。
　　But；　among　all　the　rest　by　him　thus　warily　noted；　he　most　observed
two　Painters；　of　whom　we　have　heeretofore　twice　discoursed；　Bruno
and　Buffalmaco；　who　walked　continually　together；　and　were　his　neere
dwelling　neighbors。　The　matter　which　most　of　al　he　noted　in　them；　was；
that　they　lived　merrily；　and　with　much　lesse　care；　then　any　else　in
the　Cittie　beside；　and　verily　they　did　so　in　deede。　Wherefore；　he
demanded　of　divers　persons；　who　had　good　understanding　of　them　both；
of　what　estate　and　condition　they　were。　And　hearing　by　every　one；　that
they　were　but　poore　men　and　Painters：　he　greatly　mervailed；　how　it
could　be　possible　for　them；　that　they　should　live　so　jocondly；　and
in　such　poverty。　It　was　related　to　him　further　beside；　that　they
were　men　of　a　quicke　and　ingenious　apprehension；　whereby　hee
politikely　imagined；　that　theyr　poore　condition　could　not　so　well
maintaine　them；　without　some　courses　else；　albeit　not　publiquely
knowne　unto　men；　yet　redounding　to　their　great　commoditie　and　profite。
In　which　regard；　he　grew　exceeding　desirous；　by　what　meanes　he　might
become　acquainted；　and　grow　into　familiarity　with　them　both；　or　any　of
them；　at　the　least：　wherein　（at　the　length）　he　prevailed；　and　Bruno
proved　to　be　the　man。
　　Now　Bruno　plainly　perceiving　（within　a　short　while　of　this　new　begun
acquaintance）　that　the　Physitian　was　a　Loggerhead；　and　meerely　no
better　then　a　Gregorian　Animall：　he　beganne　to　have　much　good
pastime　with　him；　by　telling　him　strange　and　incredible　Tales；　such　as
none　but　a　Coxcombe　would　give　credit　too；　yet　they　delighted　Doctor
Dunce　extraordinarily；　and　Brunoes　familiarity　was　so　highly
pleasing　to　him；　that　he　was　a　daily　guest　at　dinner　and　supper　with
him；　and　hee　was　not　meanly　proud　of　enjoying　his　company。　One　day；　as
they　sate　in　familiar　conference　together；　he　told　Bruno　that　he
wondred　not　a　little　at　him　and　Buffalmaco；　they　being　both　so　poore
people；　yet　lived　far　more　jovially　then　Lords；　and　therefore
desired　to　understand；　by　what　secret　meanes　they　compassed　such
mirthful　maintenance。　Bruno；　hearing　the　Doctors　demaund；　and
perceiving　that　it　savoured　more　of　the　foole；　then　any　the　very　least
taste　of　wisedome：　smiled　unto　himselfe；　and　determined　to　returne　him
such　an　answere；　as　might　be　fitting　for　his　folly；　whereupon；　thus　he
replied。
　　Beleeve　me　Master　Doctor；　I　would　not　impart　to　many　people；　what
private　helpes　we　have　for　our　maintenance：　but　yet　I　dare　boldly
acquaint　you　therewith；　in　regard　you　are　one　of　our　most　intimate
friends；　and　of　such　secrecie；　as　（I　know）　you　will　not　reveale　it
to　any。　True　it　is；　that　mine　honest　neighbor　and　my　selfe；　do　leade
our　lives　in　such　merry　manner　as　you　see；　and　better　then　all　the
world　is　aware　of；　for　I　cannot　imagine　you　to　bee　so　ignorant；　but
are　certainly　perswaded：　that　if　we　had　no　better　means；　then　our
poore　manuall　trade　and　profession；　we　might　sit　at　home　with　bread
and　water；　and　be　nothing　so　lively　spirited　as　wee　are。　Yet　Sir；　I
would　not　have　you　to　conceive；　that　wee　do　eyther　rob　or　steale；　or
use　any　other　unlawfull　courses：　onely　we　travayle　to　Corsica；　from
whence　we　bring　（without　the　least　prejudice　to　anie　other）　all　things
we　stand　in　need　of；　or　whatsoever　wee　can　desire。　Thus　do　we
maintaine　our　selves　well　and　honestly；　and　live　in　this　mirthfull
disposition。
　　Master　Doctor　hearing　this　Discourse；　and　beleeving　it　constantly；
without　any　further　instruction　or　intelligence：　became　possessed　with
verie　much　admiration；　and　had　the　most　earnest　desire　in　the　world；
to　know　what　this　Travailing　to　Corsica　might　meane：　entreating
Bruno　with　very　great　instances；　to　tell　him　what　it　was；　and　made
many　protestations　never　to　disclose　it　to　anie　one。　How　now　Master
Doctor？　answered　Bruno；　What　a　strange　motion　do　you　make　to　mee？　It
is　too　great　a　secret；　which　you　desire　to　know；　yea；　a　matter　of　mine
owne　ruine；　and　an　utter　expulsion　out　of　this　Worlde；　with
condemnation　into　the　mouth　of　Lucifer　da　San　Gallo；　if　any　man
whatsoever　should　know　it　from　me；　wherefore　I　pray　you　to　urge　it
no　more。　O　my　deer　and　honest　neighbour　Bruno　（quoth　the　Doctor）
assure　thy　selfe　upon　my　soul；　that　whatsoever　thou　revealest　to　me；
shall　be　under　seale　from　all；　but　onely　our　selves。　Fie；　fie　Master
Doctor；　answered　Bruno；　you　are　too　pressing　and　importunate。　So
sitting　smiling　to　himselfe；　shaking　his　head；　and　beating　his　breast；
as　if　hee　were　in　some　straunge　distracti