the decameron(十日谈)-第133章

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as　if　hee　were　in　some　straunge　distraction　of　minde；　stamping　with
his　feete；　and　beating　his　Fiste　oftentimes　on　the　Table；　at　ast　he
started　uppe；　and　spake　in　this　manner。
　　Ah　Master　Doctor；　the　love　I　be　to　your　capricious　and　rarely
circumcised　experience；　and　likewise　the　confidence　I　repose　in　your
scrutinous　taciturnitie；　are　both　of　such　mighty　and　prevailing
power　as　I　cannot　conceale　any　thing　from　you；　which　you　covet　to
know。　And　therefore；　if　you　wil　sweare　unto　me　by　the　crosse　of
Monteson；　that　never　（as　you　have　already　faithfully　promised）　you
will　disclose　a　secret　so　admirable；　I　will　relate　it　unto　you；　and
not　otherwise。　The　Doctor　sware；　and　sware　againe；　and　then　Bruno　thus
began。
　　Know　then　my　learned　and　judicious　Doctor；　that　it　is　not　long
time　since；　when　there　lived　in　this　Citie　of　ours；　a　man　very
excellent　in　the　Art　of　Nigromancie；　who　named　himselfe　Michale　Scoto；
because　he　was　a　Scottishman　borne；　of　many　woorthy　Gentlemen　（very
few　of　them　being　now　living）　hee　was　much　honoured　and　respected。
When　he　grew　desirous　to　depart　from　hence；　upon　their　earnest
motion　and　entreaty；　he　left　here　two　of　his　Schollers　behinde　him；
men　of　absolute　skill　and　experience：　giving　them　especial　charge
and　command；　to　do　all　possible　services　they　could　devise；　for
those　Gentlemen　who　had　so　highly　honoured　him。　The　two　famous
Schollers；　were　very　helpefull　to　those　Gentlemen；　in　divers　of
their　amorous　occasions；　and　verie　many　other　matters　besides。
　　Not　long　after；　they　finding　the　Citie；　and　behaviour　of　the
people　sufficiently　pleasing　to　them；　they　resolved　on　their
continuance　heere；　entering　into　a　league　of　love　and　friendshippe
with　divers；　never　regarding；　whether　they　were　Gentlemen；　or　no；　or
distinguishing　the　poore　from　the　rich：　but　only　in　being　conforme
to　their　complexions；　sociable　and　fit　for　friendship。
　　They　created　a　kinde　Society；　consisting　of　about　five　and　twenty
men；　who　should　meete　together　twice　in　a　moneth；　and　in　a　place
reputed　convenient　for　them：　where　being　so　assembled；　every　man
uttered　his　minde　to　those　two　Schollers；　in　such　cases　as　they　most
desired；　to　have　wherwith　they　were　all　satisfied　the　self…same　night。
It　came　so　to　passe；　that　Buffalmaco　and　I；　grew　into　acquaintance
with　those　two　worthy　Schollers；　and　our　private　familiarity
together　proved　so　prosperous；　that　we　were　admitted　into　the　same
Society；　and　so　have　ever　since　continued。　Now　Sir；　I　am　to　tell　you
matter　deserving　admiration；　and　which　（in　very　good　judgements）　would
seeme　to　exceed　all　beleefe。
　　For；　at　every　time　when　we　were　assembled　together：　you　are　not　able
to　imagine；　what　sumptuous　hangings　of　Tapistrie；　did　adorne　the
Hall　where　we　sate　at　meate；　the　Tables　covered　in　such　Royall　manner；
waited　on　by　numberless　Noble　and　goodly　attendants；　both　Women　and
Men；　serving　readily；　at　each　mans　command　of　the　company。　The　Basins；
Ewers；　Pots；　Flaggons；　and　all　the　vessels　else　which　stood　before；
and　for　the　service　of　our　diet；　being　composed　onely　of　Gold　and
Silver；　and　out　of　no　worse　did　we　both　eate　and　drinke：　the　viands
being　very　rare　and　dainty；　abounding　in　plenty　and　variety；　according
to　the　appetite　of　everie　person；　as　nothing　could　be　wished　for；
but　it　was　instantly　obtained。
　　In　good　sadnesse　Sir；　I　am　not　able　to　remember　and　tell　you　（within
the　compasse　of　a　thousand　yeares）　what；　and　how　manie　severall　kindes
of　Musicall　Instruments；　were　continually　played　on　before　us；　what
multiplicity　of　Waxe　lights　burned　in　all　partes　of　the　roomes；
neither　the　excessive　store　of　rich　Drugs；　Marchpanes；　Comfites；　and
rare　Banquetting　stuffe；　consumed　there　at　one　Feasting；　wherein　there
wanted　no　bounty　of　the　best　and　purest　wines。　Nor　do　I　（Master
Doctor）　repute　you　so　weakly　witted；　as　to　think；　that　in　the　time
of　our　being　thus　assembled　there；　any　of　us　al　were　cloathed　in
such　simple　and　meane　Garments；　as　ordinarily　are　worne　in　the　streets
on　mens　bodies；　or　any　so　silly　as　the　verie　best　you　have：　No　Sir；
not　any　one　man　among　us；　but　appeared　by　his　apparrell；　equall　to　the
greatest　Emperour　on　the　earth；　his　robe　most　sumptuously
imbroidered　with　precious　stones；　Pearles；　and　Carbuncles；　as　the
world　affoordeth　not　the　like。　But　above　all　the　rest；　the　delights
and　pleasures　there；　are　beyond　my　capacity　to　expresse；　or
（indeede）　any　comparison：　as　namely；　store　of　goodly　and　beautifull
women；　brought　thither　from　all　parts　of　the　world；　alwayes
provided；　if　men　bee　desirous　of　their　company：　but　for　your　easier
comprehension；　I　will　make　some　briefe　relation　of　them　to　you；
according　as　I　heard　them　there　named。
　　There　is　the　great　Lady　of　Barbanicchia；　the　Queene　of　Baschia；
the　Wife　to　the　great　Soldane；　the　Empresse　of　Osbeccho；　the
Ciancianfera　of　Norniera；　the　Semistante　of　Berlinzona；　and　the
Scalpedra　of　Narsia。　But　why　do　I　breake　my　braine；　in　numbering　up　so
many　to　you？　All　the　Queenes　of　the　world　are　there；　even　so　farre
as　to　the　Schinchimurra　of　Prester　John；　that　hath　a　horne　in　the
midst　of　her　posteriores；　albeit　not　visible　to　every　eye。
　　Now　I　am　further　that　after　we　have　tasted　a　Cup　of　precious　Wine；
fed　on　a　few　delicate　Comfits；　and　danced　a　dance　or　two　to　the　rare
Musicke：　every　one　taketh　a　Lady　by　the　hand；　of　whom　he　pleaseth　to
make　his　election；　and　she　conducteth　him　to　her　Chamber；　in　very
grave　and　gracious　manner。　Concerning　the　Chambers　there；　each　of　them
resembleth　a　Paradise　to　looke　on；　they　are　so　faire　and　goodly；　and
no　lesse　odorifferous　in　smell；　then　the　sweetest　perfumes　in　your
Apothecaries　shoppes；　or　the　rare　compounds　of　Spices；　when　they　are
beaten　in　an　open　Morter。　And　as　for　the　Beds；　they　are　infinitely
richer；　then　the　verie　costliest　belonging　to　the　Duke　of　Venice：
yet　（in　such）　each　man　is　appointed　to　take　his　rest；　the　Musicke　of
rare　Cymbals　lasting　all　night　long；　much　better　to　be　by　you
considered；　then　in　my　rude　eloquence　expressed。
　　But　of　all　those　rich　and　sumptuous　Beds　（if　pride　of　mine　owne
opinion　do　not　deceive　me）　them　two　provided　for　Buffalmaco　and　me；
had　hardly　any　equall：　he　having　the　Queene　of　France　as　his　Lady
and　Mistresse；　and　I；　the　renowned　Queene　of　England；　the　onely　two
choise　beauties　of　the　whole　World；　and　wee　appeared　so　pleasing　in
their　eyes；　as　they　would　have　refused　the　greatest　Monarkes　on　the
earth；　rather　then　to　bee　rejected　by　us。　Now　therefore；　you　may
easily　consider　with　your　selfe；　what　great　reason　we　have　to　live
more　merrily；　then　any　other　men　can　doe：　in　regard　we　enjoy　the
gracious　favour　of　two　such　Royall　Queenes；　receyving　also　from　them
（whensoever　wee　please　to　commaund　them）　a　thousand　or　two　thousand
Florines　at　the　least；　which　are　both　truly　and　duly　sent　us。　Enjoying
thus　the　benefit　of　this　high　happinesse；　we　that　are　companions　of
this　Society；　do　tearme　it　in　our　vulgar　Language；　The　Pyrats　voyage
to　Corsica。　Because；　as　Rovers　or　Pyrats　robbe　and　take　away　the
goodes　of　such　as　they　meete　withall；　even　so　do　we：　only　there
remaineth　this　difference　betweene　us；　that　they　never　restore　what
they　have　taken：　which　we　do　immediately　afterward；　whether　it　be
required　or　no。　And　thus　Master　Doctor；　as　to　my　most　endeered　friend；
I　have　now　revealed　the　meaning　of　sayling　to　Corsica；　after　the
manner　of　our　private　Pyracie；　and　how　important　the　close　retention
of　the　voiage　is；　you　are　best　able　your　selfe　to　judge：　In　which
regarde；　remember　your　Oathes　and　faithfull　promises；　or　else　I　am
undone　for　ever。
　　Our　worthy　wise　Doctor；　whose　best　skill　scarsely　extended　so　farre；
as　to　cure　the　itch　in　Children；　gave　such　sound　beleefe　to　the
relation　of　Bruno；　as　any　man　could　doe；　to　the　most　certaine　truth　of
ife　or　death：　having　his　desire　immeasurably　enflamed；　to　bee　made　a
member　of　this　straunge　Societie；　which　hee　more　coveted；　then　any
thing　in　the　world　beside；　accounting　it　a　felicity　farre　beyond　all
other。
　　Whereupon　he　answered　Bruno；　that　it　was　no　great　matter　of
mervaile；　if　he　lived　so　merily　as　he　did；　having　such　a　singular
supply；　to　avoide　all　necessities　whatsoever：　and　very　hardly　could　he
refraine　from　immediate　request；　to　be　accepted　into　the　company。
But　yet　he　thought　fit　to　deferre　it　further；　untill　he　had　made　Bruno
more　beholding　to　him；　by　friendly　entertainments　and　other
courtesies；　when　he　might　（with　better　hope）　be　bold　to　move　the
motion。
　　Well　may　you　conceive；　that　nothing　more　hammerd　in　the　Doctors
head；　then　this　rare　voyage　to　Corsica；　and　Bruno　was　his　daily
guest　at　dinner　and　supper；　with　such　extraordinary　apparances　of
kindnesse　and　courtesie；　as　if　the　Physitian　could　not　live；　except　he
had　the　company　of　Bruno。　Who　seeing　himselfe　to　bee　so　lovingly
respected；　and　hating　ingratitude；　for　favours　so　abundantly　heaped　on
him：　hee　painted　the　whole　story　of　Lent　about　his　Hall；　and　an
Agnus　Dei　fairely　gilt；　on　the　portall　of　his　Chamber；　as　also　a
goodly　Urinall　on　his　street　doore；　to　the　end；　that　such　as　had　neede
of　his　counsell；　might　know　where　so　judicious　a　Doctour　dwelt。　In　a
Gallery　likewise　by　his　Garden；　he　painted　the　furious　Battaile
betweene　the　Rats　and　Cats；　which　did　（not　a　little）　delight　Master
Doctor。
　　Moreover；　at　such　times　as　Bruno　had　not　supt　with　our　Physitian；　he
would　bee　sure　to　tell　him　on　the　morrow；　that　the　night　passed；　he
had　bin　with　the　Company　which　he　did　wot　of。　And　there　（quoth　he）　the
Queene　of　England　having　somewhat　offended　mee；　I　commanded；　that
the　Gomedra；　belonging　to　the　Grand　Cham　of　Tartaria；　should　be
brought　me；　and　instantly　shee　was。　What　may　be　the　meaning　of
Gomedrabe？　said　the　Doctor；　I　understand　not　those　difficult　names。
I　beleeve　you　Sir；　answered　Bruno；　nor　do　I　need　to　marvalle
thereat：　and　yet　I　have　heard　Porcograsso　speake；　and　also　Vannacenna；
and　both　unexperienced　in　our　Language。　You　would　say　（replyed　the
Doctor）　Hippocrates　and　Avicenna；　who　were　two　admirable　Physitians。
It　may　be　so　（said　Bruno）　and　as　hardly　do　I　understand　your　names；　as
you　mine：　but　Gomedra；　in　the　Grand　Chams　language；　signifies　Empresse
in　ours。　But　had　you　once　seene　her　Sir；　she　would　make　you　forget　all
Physicall　observations；　your　arguments；　receits；　and　medicines；
onely　to　be　in　her　heavenly　presence；　which　words　he　used
（perceiving　his　forward　longing）　to　enflame　him　the　more。　Not　long
after；　as　the　doctor　was　holding　the　candle　to　Bruno；　at　the
perfecting　the　bloody　Battayle　of　the　Cattes　and　Rattes；　because　he
could　never　bee　wearied　in　his　Companie；　and　therefore　was　the　more
willing；　to　undergoe　the　office　of　the　Candle…holder：　he　resolved　to
acquaint　him　with　his　minde；　and　being　all　alone　by　themselves；　thus
he　began。
　　Bruno；　as　heaven　knoweth；　there　is　not　this　day　any　creature　living；
for　whom　I　would　gladly　do　more；　then　for　thee；　and　the　very　least
word　of　thy　mouth；　hath　power　to　commaund　mee　to　goe　bare…footed；　even
from　hence　so　farre　as　to　Peretola；　and　account　my　labour　well
employed　for　thy　sake：　wherefore；　never　wonder　at　my　continuall
kindnesse　towards　thee；　using　thee　as　my　Domesticke　companion；　and
embracing　thee　as　my　bosome　friend；　and　therefore