the decameron(十日谈)-第136章

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seeming　as　become　of　much　milder　temper；　he　went　neere　to　the　Tomb
whereon　the　Physitian　stood；　and　there　appeared　to　stay　contentedly。
　　Master　Doctor；　trembling　and　quaking　still　extreamely；　was　so
farre　dismayed；　as　he　knew　not　what　was　best　to　be　done；　either　to
mount　on　the　beasts　backe；　or　not　to　mount　at　all。　In　the　end；

thinking　no　harme　could　happen　to　him；　if　he　were　once　mounted；　with
the　second　feare；　hee　expelled　the　former；　and　descending　downe　softly
from　the　Tombe；　mounted　on　the　beast；　saying　out　alowde：　God；　Saint
Dominicke；　and　my　good　Angell　helpe　to　defend　mee。　Seating　himselfe　so
well　as　he　could；　but　trembling　still　exceedingly；　he　crossed　his
armes　over　his　stomacke；　according　to　the　Lesson　given　him。
　　Then　did　Buffalmaco　shape　his　course　in　milde　manner；　toward　Santa
Maria　della　Scala；　and　groping　to　finde　his　way　in　the　darke；　went
on　so　farre　as　the　Sisters　of　Ripole；　commonly　called　the　Virgin
Sanctuary。　Not　farre　off　from　thence；　were　divers　trenches　and
ditches；　wherein　such　men　as　are　imployed　in　necessary
nightservices；　used　to　empty　the　Countesse　di　Cimillari；　and　afterward
imployed　it　for　manuring　Husbandmens　grounds。　Buffalmaco；　being　come
neere　one　of　them；　he　stayed　to　breath　himselfe　awhile；　and　then
catching　fast　hold　on　one　of　the　Doctours　feete；　raysed　him　somewhat
higher　on　his　back；　for　the　easier　discharging　of　his　burthen；　and
so　pitched　him　（with　his　head　forwardes）　into　the　Laystall。
　　Then　began　he　to　make　a　dreadful　kinde　of　noise；　stamping　and
trampling　with　his　feete；　passing　backe　againe　to　Santa　Maria　della
Scala；　and　to　Prato　d'Ognissanti；　where　hee　met　with　Bruno；　who　was
constrained　to　forsake　him；　because　he　could　not　refraine　from　lowde
Laughter；　then　both　together　went　backe　once　more；　to　see　how　the
Physitian　would　behave　himselfe；　being　so　sweetely　embrued。
　　Master　Doctor；　seeing　himselfe　to　bee　in　such　an　abhominable
stinking　place；　laboured　with　all　his　utmost　endevour；　to　get
himself　released　thence：　but　the　more　he　contended　and　strove　for
getting　forth；　he　plunged　himselfe　the　further　in；　being　most
pitifully　myred　from　head　to　foot；　sighing　and　sorrowing
extraordinarily；　because　much　of　the　foule　water　entred　in　at　his
mouth。　In　the　end；　being　forced　to　leave　his　hood　behinde　him；
scrambling　both　with　his　hands　and　feet；　he　got　landing　out　of　his
stinking　Labyrinth；　and　having　no　other　means；　home　he　returned　to　his
own　house；　where　knocking　at　the　door　he　was　at　length　admitted
entrance。　The　doore　being　scarse　made　fast　againe　after　his　letting
in；　Buffalmaco　and　Bruno　were　there　arrived；　listning　how　M。　Doctor
should　bee　welcomd　home　by　his　angry　wife：　who　scolding　and　railing　at
him　with　wonderfull　impatience；　gave　him　most　hard　and　bitter
speeches；　terming　him　the　vilest　man　living。
　　Where　have　you　bin　Sir？　quoth　she。　Are　you　becom　a　night…walker
after　other　Women？　And　could　no　worse　garments　serve　your　turne；　but
your　Doctors　gown　of　Scarlet？　Am　I　to　suffer　this　behaviour？　Or　am　not
I　sufficient　to　content　you；　but　you　must　be　longing　after　change？　I
would　thou　hadst　bin　stifled　in　that　foule　filth；　where　thy　fouler
life　did　justly　cast　thee。　Behold　goodly　Master　Doctor　of　the
Leystall；　who　being　maried　to　an　honest　woman　must　yet　go　abroad　in
the　night　time；　insatiatly　lusting　after　whores　and　harlots。　With
these　and　the　like　intemperate　speeches；　she　ceased　not　to　afflict　and
torment　him；　till　the　night　was　almost　spent；　and　the　Doctor　brought
into　a　sweeter　savour。
　　The　next　morning；　Bruno　and　Buffalmaco；　colourd　their　bodyes　with
a　strange　kinde　of　painting；　resembling　blisters；　swellings；　and
bruises；　as　if　they　had　bin　extreamly　beaten；　came　to　the　Physitians
house；　finding　him　to　be　newly　up；　al　the　house　yet　smelling　of　his
foule　savour　（although　it　had　bin　very　well　perfumed）　and　being
admitted　to　him　in　the　Garden；　hee　welcommed　them　with　the　mornings
salutations。　But　Bruno　and　Buffalmaco　（being　otherwise　provided　for
him）　delivering　stearne　and　angry　lookes；　stamping　and　chafing；
Bruno　thus　replyed。
　　Never　speake　so　faire　and　flattering　to　us；　for　we　are　moved
beyond　all　compasse　of　patience。　All　misfortunes　in　the　worlde　fall
upon　you；　and　an　evill　death　may　you　dye；　like　the　most　false　and
perfidious　Traitor　living　on　the　earth。　We　must　beate　our　braines；　and
move　all　our　most　endeared　friends；　onely　for　your　honor　and
advancement：　while　wee　were　well　neere　starved　to　death　in　the　cold
like　Dogs；　and；　by　your　breach　of　promise；　have　bin　this　night　so
extreamly　beaten；　as　if　（like　Asses）　we　should　have　beene　driven　to
Rome。
　　But　that　which　is　most　greevous　of　all；　is　danger　of　excluding　out
of　the　Society；　where　wee　tooke　good　order　for　your　admittance；　and
for　your　most　honourable　entertainment。　If　you　wi　not　credit　us；
behold　our　bodies；　and　let　your　owne　eyes　be　witnesses；　in　what　cruell
manner　we　have　bin　beaten。　So　taking　him　aside　under　the　Gallery；
where　they　might　not　be　discovered　by　overmuch　light；　they　opened
their　bosomes；　shewing　him　their　painted　bodies；　and　sodainly　closed
them　up　againe。
　　The　Physitian　laboured　to　excuse　himselfe；　declaring　his　misfortunes
at　large；　and　into　what　a　filthy　place　he　was　throwne。　It　maketh　no
matter　（answered　Buffalmaco）　I　would　you　had　bin　throwen　from　off
the　Bridge　into　Arno；　where　you　might　have　beene　recommended　to　the
Divell　and　all　his　Saints。　Did　not　I　tell　you　so　much　before。　In
good　sadnesse　（quoth　the　Doctor）　I　neyther　commended　my　selfe　to
God；　nor　any　of　his　Saints。　How？　sayde　Buffalmaco；　I　am　sure　you
will　not　maintaine　an　untruth；　you　used　a　kind　of　recommendation：
for　our　messenger　told　us；　that　you　talked　of　God；　S。　Dominicke；　and
your　good　Angell；　whom　you　desired　to　assist　you；　being　so
affrighted　with　feare；　that　you　trembled　like　a　leafe　upon　a　tree；　not
knowing　indeede　where　you　were。　Thus　have　you　unfaithfully　dealt
with　us；　as　never　any　man　shall　doe　the　like　againe；　in　seeking
honour；　and　losing　it　through　your　own　negligence。
　　Master　Doctor　humbly　entreated　pardon；　and　that　they　would　not
revile　him　any　more；　labouring　to　appease　them　by　the　best　words　he
could　use；　as　fearing　least　they　should　publish　this　great　disgrace　of
him。　And　whereas　（before）　he　gave　them　gracious　welcomes；　now　he
redoubled　them　with　farre　greater　courtesies；　feasting　them　daily　at
his　own　table；　and　evermore　delighting　in　their　company。　Thus　（as
you　have　heard）　two　poore　Painters　of　Florence；　taught　Master　Doctor
better　Wit；　then　all　the　Learned　at　Bologna。




　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　EIGHT　DAY；　THE　TENTH　NOVELL

　　　　WHEREBY　APPEARETH；　THAT　SUCH　AS　MEET　WITH　CUNNING　HARLOTS；　AND
　　SUFFER　THEMSELVES　TO　BE　DECEIVED　BY　THEM：　MUST　SHARPEN　THEIR　WITS；
　　　　　　　　　　　TO　MAKE　THEM　REQUITALL　IN　THE　SELFESAME　KINDE

　　A　Cicilian　Courtezane；　named　Madame　Biancafiore；　by　her　craftie
wit　and　policie；　deceived　a　young　Merchant；　called　Salabetto；　of　all
the　money　he　had　taken　for　his　Wares　at　Palermo。　Afterward；　he
making　shew　of　comming　hither　againe；　with　farre　richer　Merchandises
then　hee　brought　before：　made　the　meanes　to　borrow　a　great　summe　of
Money　of　her；　leaving　her　so　base　a　pawne；　as　well　requited　her　for
her　former　cozenage。

　　Needlesse　it　were　to　question；　whether　the　Novell　related　by　the
Queene；　in　divers　passages　thereof；　mooved　the　Ladies　to　hearty
laughter；　and　likewise　to　compassionate　sighes　and　teares；　as　pittying
Madame　Helena　in　her　hard　misfortune；　and　yet　applauding　the
Scholler　for　his　just　revenge。　But　the　discourse　being　ended；　Dioneus；
who　knew　it　was　his　Office　to　be　the　last　speaker　every　day；　after
silence　was　commanded；　he　began　in　this　manner。
　　Worthy　Ladies；　it　is　a　matter　very　manifest；　that　deceits　do　appeare
so　much　the　more　pleasing；　when　（by　the　selfesame　meanes）　the　subtle
deceyver　is　artificially　deceived。　In　which　respect；　though　you　all
have　reported　very　singular　deceits：　yet　I　meane　to　tel　you　one；
that　may　prove　as　pleasing　to　you；　as　any　of　your　owne。　And　so　much
the　rather；　because　the　woman　deceived；　was　a　great　and　cunning
Mistris　in　beguiling　others；　equalling　（if　not　excelling）　any　of
your　former　beguilers。
　　It　hath　bene　observed　heretofore；　and　（happily）　at　this　very　day
it　is　as　frequent；　that　in　all　Cities　and　Townes　upon　the　Seacoasts；
having　Ports　for　the　benefit　and　venting　Merchandises；　Merchants　use
to　bring　their　wealthy　laden　Vessels　thither。　And　when　they　unlade　any
Ship　of　great　fraught；　there　are　prepared　Store…houses；　which　in
many　places　are　called　Magazines　or　Doganaes；　at　the　charge　of　the
Communalty；　or　Lord　of　the　Towne　or　City；　for　the　use　whereof；　they
receive　yearly　gain　and　benefit。　Into　those　warehouses；　they　deliver
（under　writing；　and　to　the　owners　of　them　in　especiall　charge）　all
their　goods　and　merchandises；　of　what　price　or　valew　soever　they　are。
　　Such　as　be　the　Owners　of　these　Magazines；　when　the　Wares　are　thus
stored　uppe　in　them；　doe　safely　locke　them　up　there　with　their
keyes；　having　first　registred　downe　truly　all　the　goods；　in　the
Register　belonging　to　the　Custome…house；　that　the　Merchant　may　have
a　just　account　rendred　him；　and　the　rights　payed　to　the
Customehouse；　according　to　the　Register；　and　as　they　are　either　in
part；　or　in　all　made　sale　of。
　　Brokers　are　continually　there　attending；　being　informed　in　the
quality　of　the　Merchandises　stored；　and　likewise　to　what　Merchants
they　appertaine：　by　meanes　of　these　men；　and　according　as　the　goods
come　to　their　hands；　they　devise　to　have　them　exchaunged；　trucked；
vented；　and　such　other　kinds　of　dispatches；　answerable　to　the　mens
minds；　and　worth　of　the　Commodities。　As　in　many　other　Kingdomes　and
Countries；　so　was　this　custome　observed　at　Palermo　in　Sicily；　where
likewise　then　were；　and　（no　doubt）　now　adayes　are；　store　of　Women；
faire　and　comely　of　person；　but　yet　vowed　enemies　to　honesty。
　　Neverthelesse；　by　such　as　know　them　not；　they　are　held　and　reputed
to　be　blamelesse　Women；　and　by　yeilding　their　bodyes　unto　generall
use；　are　the　occasion　of　infinite　misfortunes　to　men。　For　so　soone
as　they　espy　a　Merchant…stranger　there　arrived；　they　win　information
from　the　Booke　belonging　to　the　Magazin；　what　wares　are　therein
stored；　of　what　valew　they　bee；　and　who　is　the　Owner　of　them。
Afterwards；　by　amorous　actions；　and　affable　speeches；　they　allure　yong
Merchants　to　take　knowledge　of　them；　to　bee　familiar　in　their　company；
till　from　some　they　get　most　part　of　their　wealth；　from　others　all。
Nay；　divers　have　gone　so　farre；　as　to　make　Port…sale　of　Ship；　Goods；
and　Person；　so　cunningly　they　have　bene　shaven　by　these　Barbers；　and
yet　without　any　Razor。
　　It　came　to　passe；　and　no　long　time　since；　that　a　young　Florentine　of
ours；　named　Niccolo　de　Cignano；　but　more　usually　called　Salabetto；
imployed　as　Factor　for　his　Maister；　arrived　at　Palermo；　his　Ship
stored　with　many　Woollen　Cloathes；　a　remainder　of　such　as　had　bin　sold
at　the　Mart　of　Salerno；　amounting　in　valew　to　above　five　hundred
Florines　of　Gold。　When　he　had　given　in　his　packet　to　the
Custome…house；　and　made　them　up　safe　in　his　Warehouse；　without
making　shew　of　desiring　any　speedy　dispatch；　he　delighted　to　view
all　parts　of　the　City；　as　mens　minds　are　continuallie