the decameron(十日谈)-第134章

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kindnesse　towards　thee；　using　thee　as　my　Domesticke　companion；　and
embracing　thee　as　my　bosome　friend；　and　therefore　I　am　the　bolder　in
mooving　one　request　unto　thee。　As　thou　well　knowest；　it　is　no　long
while　since；　when　thou　diddest　acquaint　me　with　the　behaviour　of　the
Corsicane　Roving　Company；　to　be　one　in　so　rare　and　excellent　a
Society；　such　hath　bin　my　earnest　longing　ever　since；　as　day　nor　night
have　I　enjoyed　anie　rest；　but　should　thinke　my　felicity　beyond　all
compare；　if　I　could　be　entertained　in　fellowship　among　you。
　　Nor　is　this　desire　of　mine　but　upon　great　occasion；　as　thou　thy
selfe　shalt　perceive；　if　I　prove　accepted　into　your　Societie；　and
let　me　then　be　made　a　mocking　stocke　for　ever；　if　I　cause　not　to
come　thither　one　of　the　most　delicate　young　women；　that　ever　anie
eye　beheld；　and　which　I　my　selfe　saw　（not　above　a　yeare　since）　at
Cacavinciglia；　on　whom　I　bestowed　my　intirest　affection；　and　（by　the
best　Urinall　that　ever　I　gazed　on）　would　have　given　her　tenne　faire
Bologninaes；　to　yeeld　the　matter　I　moved　to　her；　which　yet　I　could　not
（by　any　meanes）　compasse。　Therefore；　with　all　the　flowing　faculties　of
my　soule　I　entreate　thee；　and　all　the　very　uttermost　of　my　all
indeede；　to　instruct　me　in　those　wayes　and　meanes；　whereby　I　may
hope　to　be　a　member　of　you。　Which　if　thou　dooest　accomplish　for　me；
and　I　may　finde　it　effectually　performed：　I　shall　not　onely　be　thy
true　and　loyall　friend　for　ever；　but　will　honour　thee　beside；　beyond
all　men　living。
　　I　know　thee　to　bee　a　man　of　judgement；　deepely　informed　in　all
well…grounded　experience：　thou　seest　what　a　propper；　portly；　and
comely　man　I　am；　how　fitly　my　legges　are　answerable　to　my　body；　my
lookes　amiable；　lovely；　and　of　Rosie　colour：　beside　I　am　a　Doctor　of
Physicke；　of　which　profession　（being　only　most　expedient）　I　thinke　you
have　not　one　in　your　Society。　I　have　many　commendable　qualities　in　me；
as；　playing　on　divers　instruments；　exquisite　in　singing；　and　composing
rare　ditties；　whereof　I　will　instantly　sing　thee　one。　And　so　he
began　to　sing。
　　Bruno　was　swolne　so　bigge　with　desire　of　laughter；　that　hee　had
scarsely　any　power　to　refraine　from　it：　neverthelesse；　he　made　the
best　meanes　he　could　devise：　and　the　Song　being　ended；　the　Physition
saide。　How　now　Bruno？　What　is　thine　opinion　of　my　singing？　Beleeve
me　Sir；　replyed　Bruno；　the　Vialles　of　Sagginali；　will　loose　their　very
best　times；　in　contending　against　you；　so　mirilifficially　are　the
sweet　accents　of　your　voice　heard。　I　tell　thee　truly　Bruno　（answered
Master　Doctor）　thou　couldst　not　by　any　possibility　have　beleeved　it；
if　thou　hadst　not　heard　it。　In　good　sadnes　Sir　（said　Bruno）　you　speake
most　truly。　I　could　（quoth　the　Doctor）　sing　thee　infinite　more　beside；
but　at　this　time　I　must　forbeare　them。　Let　mee　then　further　informe
thee　Bruno；　that　beside　the　compleat　perfections　thou　seest　in　me；
my　father　was　a　Gentleman；　althogh　he　dwelt　in　a　poore　Country
village；　and　by　my　mothers　side；　I　am　derived　from　them　of　Vallecchio。
Moreover；　as　I　have　formerly　shewn　thee；　I　have　a　goodly　Library　of
Bookes；　yea；　and　so　faire　and　costly　garments；　as　few　Physitians　in
Florence　have　the　like。　I　protest　to　thee　upon　my　faith；　I　have　one
gowne；　which　cost　me　（in　readie　money）　almost　an　hundred　poundes　in
Bagattinoes；　and　it　is　not　yet　above　ten　yeares　old。　Wherefore　let
me　prevaile　with　thee；　good　Bruno；　to　worke　so　with　the　rest　of　thy
friends；　that　I　may　bee　one　of　your　singular　Society；　and；　by　the
honest　trust　thou　reposest　in　mee；　bee　boldly　sick　whensoever　thou
wilt；　my　paines　and　Physicke　shall　be　freely　thine；　without　the
payment　of　one　single　peny。　Bruno　hearing　his　importunate　words；　and
knowing　him　（as　all　men　else　did　beside）　to　be　a　man　of　more　words
then　wit；　saide。　Master　Doctor；　snuffe　the　candle　I　pray　you；　and　lend
me　a　little　more　light　with　it　hitherward；　until　I　have　finished　the
tailes　of　these　Rats；　and　then　I　wil　answer　you。
　　When　the　Rats　tailes　were　fully　finished；　Bruno　declaring　by　outward
behaviour；　that　he　greatly　distasted　the　matter　mooved；　thus　answered。
Worthy　Master　Doctor；　the　courtesies　you　have　already　extended　towards
me；　and　the　bountifull　favours　promised　beside；　I　know　to　be　exceeding
great；　and　farre　beyond　the　compasse　of　any　merit　in　me。　But
concerning　your　request；　albeit　in　respect　of　your　admired　braine
and　Wisedome；　it　is　of　little　or　no　moment　at　all；　yet　it　appeareth
over…mighty　to　mee；　and　there　is　not　any　man　now　living　in　the
world；　that　hath　the　like　Authoritie　over　me；　and　can　more　commaund
me；　then　you　（with　one　poore　syllable）　easily　may　doe：　as　well　in
regarde　of　my　Love　and　Dutie；　as　also　your　singular　and　sententious
speeches；　able　not　onelie　to　make　me　breake　a　sound　and　setled
resolution；　but　（almost）　to　move　Mountaines　out　of　their　places；　and
the　more　I　am　in　your　Learned　company；　so　much　the　faster　am　I　lincked
unto　you；　in　immooveable　affection；　so　farre　am　I　in　love　with　your
admirable　qualities。　And　had　I　no　other　reason；　to　affect　you　in
such　endeared　manner；　as　I　doe；　yet　because　you　are　enamoured　of　so
rare　a　beauty；　as　you　have　already　related　to　me；　it　onely　were　a
motive　sufficient　to　compell　me。　But　indeed　I　must　need　tell　you；　that
I　have　not　so　much　power　in　this　case；　as　you　（perhaps）　do　imagine；
which　barreth　me　from　such　forward　readines；　as　otherwise　needed　not
to　be　urged。　Neverthelesse；　having　so　solemnly　ingaged　your　faith　to
me；　and　no　way　misdoubting　your　faithfull　secrecy；　I　shall　instruct
you　in　some　meanes　to　be　observed；　and　it　appeareth　plainly　to　me；
that　being　furnished　with　such　plenty　of　Bookes；　as　you　are；　and　other
rich　endowments；　as　you　have　before　rehersed；　you　cannot　but　attaine
to　the　full　period　of　your　longing　desire。
　　Speake　boldly　thy　minde　Bruno；　answered　the　Doctour：　for；　I　perceive
thou　hast　no　perfect　knowledge　of　me　as　yet；　neither　what　an　especiall
gift　I　have　of　secrecy。　Messer　Gasparino　da　Salicete；　when　he　was
Judge　and　Potestat　over　the　people　of　Forlini；　made　choise　of　mee
（among　infinite　of　his　dearest　friends）　to　acquaint　with　a　secret　of
no　meane　moment。　And　such　a　faithfull　Secretary　he　found　me；　as　I
was　the　onely　man；　that　knew　his　mariage　with　Bergamino；　why　then
should　any　distrust　be　made　of　me？　If　it　be　so　as　you　say　Sir
（answered　Bruno）　your　credit　is　the　sounder；　and　I　dare　the　better
adventure　on　your　fidelity：　the　meanes　then　which　you　are　to　worke　by；
I　shall　now　direct　you　in。
　　We　have　alwayes　in　this　noble　Society　of　ours；　a　Captaine；　and　two
Counsellors；　which　are　changed　at　every　six　months　end。　And　now　at
Christmas　next　（so　neere　drawing　on）　Buffalmaco　shal　be　elected
Captaine；　and　my　selfe　one　of　the　Counsellers；　for　so　it　is　already
agreed　on；　and　orderly　set　downe。　Now；　he　that　is　Captain；　may　doe
much　more　then　any　other　can；　and　appoint　matters　as　himselfe
pleaseth。　Wherefore　I　thinke　it　very　expedient；　that　so　soone　as
possibly　you　may；　you　procure　acquaintance　with　Buffalmaco；　entreating
him　with　all　respective　courtesie。　Hee　is　a　man；　who　when　he
perceyveth　you　to　be　so　wonderfully　Wise　and　discreete；　he　will　be
immediatly　in　love　with　you：　so；　when　you　have　your　best　senses
about　you；　and　your　richest　wearing　Garments　on　（alwayes　remembred；
that　your　acquaintance　first　be　fully　confirmed）　then　never　feare　to
urge　your　request；　for　he　can　have　no　power　at　all　to　denie　you；
because　I　have　already　spoken　of　you　to　him；　and　find　him　to　stand
affected　unto　you　verie　intirely：　thus　when　you　have　begunne　the
businesse；　leave　me　to　deale　with　him　in　the　rest。
　　Now　trust　me　kinde　friend　Bruno；　replyed　the　Physitian；　I　like
your　advice　exceeding　well。　For；　if　hee　be　a　man；　that　taketh
delight　to　converse　with　men　of　skill　and　judgement；　and　you　have　made
the　way　for　his　knowing　me：　he　wil　him　thirst；　and　long　to　follow
after　mee；　to　understand　the　incredible　eloquence　flowing　from　me；　and
the　rare　composition　of　my　Musicall　Ditties；　out　of　which　he　may
learne　no　meane　wisedome。　When　the　matter　was　thus　agreed　on
betweene　them；　Bruno　departed　thence；　and　acquainted　Buffalmaco　with
everie　circumstance：　which　made　him　thinke　everie　day　a　yeare；
untill　he　might　in　the　fooling　of　Mayster　Doctoar；　according　to　his
owne　fancie。　Who　beeing　also　as　desirous　on　the　other　side；　to　make
one　in　the　Corsicane　Voyage；　could　take　no　manner　of　rest　either　by
day　or　night；　till　he　was　linked　in　friendship　with　Buffalmaco；
which　very　quickely　after　hee　compassed。
　　For　now　there　wanted　no　costly　dinners　and　suppers；　with　al
delicates　could　be　devised；　for　the　entertainement　of　Buffalmaco　and
Bruno；　who；　like　Guests　very　easie　to　be　invited；　where　rich　wines　and
good　cheare　are　never　wanting；　needed　little　sending　for；　because
his　house　was　as　familiar　to　them；　as　their　owne。　In　the　end；　when　the
Physitian　espyed　an　opportunitie　apt　for　the　purpose；　he　made　the　same
request　to　Buffalmaco；　as　formerly　hee　had　done　to　Bruno。　Whereat
Buffalmaco；　sodainly　starting；　and　looking　frowningly　on　Bruno；　as
if　he　were　extraordinarily　incensed　against　him：　clapping　his　hand
furiously　on　the　Table；　he　sayde。　I　sweare　by　the　great　God　of
Pasignano；　that　I　can　hardly　refrayne　from　giving　thee　such　a　blow
on　the　face；　as　should　make　thy　Nose　to　fall　at　thy　heeles：　vile
Traitor　as　thou　art：　for　none　beside　thy　selfe；　could　discover　so　rare
and　excellent　a　secret　unto　this　famous　Physitian。　The　Doctour；　with
very　plausible　and　pleasing　tearmes；　excused　the　matter　verie
artificially；　protesting；　that　another　had　revealed　it　unto　him：　and
after　many　wise　circumstantiall　Allegations；　at　length　hee　prevailed
so　farre；　that　Buffalmaco　was　pacified；　who　afterwardes　turning　in
kinde　manner；　thus　hee　beganne。
　　Master　Doctour；　you　have　lived　both　at　Bologna；　and　heere　in　these
partes　with　us；　having　（no　doubt）　sufficiently　understoode；　what　it　is
to　carry　a　close　mouth；　I　meane　the　true　Charracter　of　taciturnitie。
Questionlesse；　you　never　learned　the　A。　B。　C。　as　now　foolish　Ideots
do；　blabbing　their　lessons　all　about　the　towne；　which　is　much　better
apprehended　by　rumination；　and　surely　（if　I　be　not　much　deceyved）　your
Nativity　happened　on　a　Sonday　morning；　Sol　being　at　that　time；　Lord　of
the　ascendent；　joyned　with　Mercurie　in　a　fierie　Triplicitie。　By　such
conference　as　I　have　had　with　Bruno；　I　conceyved　（as　he　himselfe
also　did）　that　you　were　verie　singular　in　Physicke　onely：　but　it
seemeth；　your　Studies　reached　a　higher　straine；　for　you　have
learned；　and　know　verie　skilfullie；　how　to　steale　mens　hearts　from
them；　yea；　to　bereave　them　of　their　verie　soules；　which　I　perceyve
that　you　can　farre　better　doe；　then　any　man　else　living　to　my
knowledge；　only　by　your　wise；　witty；　judicious；　and　more　then　meere
Mercurian　eloquence；　such　as　I　never　heard　before。
　　The　Physitian　interrupting　him　bashfully；　turned　himselfe　unto
Bruno；　saying。　Did　not　I　tell　thee　this　before？　Observe　what　a　notable
thing　it　is；　to　speake　well；　and　to　frequent　the　company　of　the
Wise。　A　thousand　other；　meerely　blockes　and　dullardes　by　Nature；　could
never　so　soone　comprehend　all　the　particularities　of　my　knowledge；
as　this　honest　and　apprehensive　man　hath　done。　Thou　didst　not　search
into　it　halfe　so　soone；　no