the decameron(十日谈)-第137章

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making　shew　of　desiring　any　speedy　dispatch；　he　delighted　to　view
all　parts　of　the　City；　as　mens　minds　are　continuallie　addicted　to
Novelties。　He　being　a　very　faire　and　affable　yong　man；　easie　to　kindle
affection　in　a　very　modest　eie：　it　fortuned；　that　a　Courtezane；　one　of
our　before　remembred　shavers；　who　termed　hir　selfe　Madame　Biancafiore；
having　heard　somewhat　concerning　his　affairs；　beganne　to　dart
amorous　glances　at　him。　Which　the　indiscreete　youth　perceyving；　and
thinking　her　to　be　some　great　Lady：　began　also　to　grow　halfe
perswaded；　that　his　comely　person　was　pleasing　to　her　and　therefore　he
would　carrie　this　good　fortune　of　his　somewhat　cautelously。
　　Without　imparting　his　mind　unto　any　one；　he　would　daily　passe　too
and　fro　before　her　doore；　which　she　observing；　and　having
indifferently　wounded　him　with　her　wanton　piercing　lookes：　she　began
to　use　the　first　tricke　of　her　Trade；　by　pretending　her　enflamed
affection　towards　him；　which　made　her　pine　and　consume　away　in　care；
except　he　might　be　moved　to　pitty　her。　Whereupon；　she　sent　one　of
her　Pandoraes　unto　him；　perfectly　instructed　in　the　Art　of　a
Maquerella；　who　（after　many　cunning　counterfetted　sighes；　and
teares；　which　she　had　alwayes　ready　at　command）　told　him　that　his
comely　person　and　compleate　perfections；　had　so　wounded　the　very　soule
of　her　Mistresse；　as　she　could　enjoy　no　rest　in　any　place；　either　by
day　or　night。　In　regard　whereof；　she　desired　（above　all　things　else）
to　meete　with　him　privately　in　a　Bathe：　with　which　Wordes；　she
straightway　tooke　a　Ring　forth　of　her　pursse；　and　in　most　humble
manner；　delivered　it　unto　him；　as　a　token　from　her　Mistresse。
　　Salabetto　having　heard　this　Message；　was　the　onely　joyfull　man
that　could　be：　and　having　receyved　the　Ring；　looking　on　it
advisedly；　first　kissed　it；　and　then　put　it　upon　his　finger。　Then　in
answer　to　the　Messenger；　he　sayd：　That　if　her　Mistresse　Biancafiore
affected　him；　she　sustained　no　losse　thereby；　in　regard　he　loved　her
as　fervently；　and　was　ready　to　be　commanded　by　her；　at　any　time
whensoever　she　pleased。
　　She　having　delivered　this　message　to　her　Mistresse；　was　presently
returned　backe　againe　to　him；　to　let　him　understand；　in　which　of　the
Bathes　she　meant　to　meet　him；　on　the　next　morrow　in　the　evening。
This　being　counsell　for　himselfe　onely　to　keepe；　he　imparted　it　not　to
any　friend　whatsoever；　but　when　the　houre　for　their　meeting　was
come；　he　went　unto　the　place　where　he　was　appointed；　a　Bathe
（belike）　best　agreeing　with　such　businesse。
　　Not　long　had　he　taried　there；　but　two　Women　slaves　came　laden　to
him；　the　one　bearing　a　Mattresse　of　fine　Fustian　on　hir　head；　and
the　other　a　great　Basket　filled　with　many　things。　Having　spred　the
Mattresse　in　a　faire　Chamber　on　a　Couch…bed；　they　covered　it　with
delicate　white　Linnen　sheets；　all　about　embroidred　with　faire
Fringes　of　gold；　then　laid　they　on　costly　quilts　of　rich　Silkes；
artificially　wrought　with　gold　and　silver　knots；　having　pearles　and
precious　stones　interwoven　among　them；　and　two　such　rich　pillowes；
as　sildome　before　had　the　like　bin　seene。　Salabetto　putting　off　his
garments；　entred　the　Bath　prepared　for　him；　where　the　two　Slaves
washed　his　body　very　neatly。　Soone　after　came　Biancafiore　hirselfe；
attended　on　by　two　other　women　slaves；　and　seeing　Salabetto　in　the
Bathe；　making　him　a　lowly　reverence；　breathing　forth　infinite
dissembled　sighes；　and　teares　trickling　downe　her　cheekes；　kissing　and
embracing　him；　thus　she　spake。
　　I　know　not　what　man　else　in　the　worlde；　beside　thy　selfe；　could　have
the　power　to　bring　me　hither：　the　fire　flew　from　thy　faire　eies　（O
thou　incompareable　lovely　Tuscane）　that　melted　my　soule；　and　makes
me　onely　live　at　thy　command。　Then　hurling　off　her　light　wearing
garment　（because　she　came　prepared　for　the　purpose）　shee　stept　into
the　bathe　to　him；　and；　not　permitting　the　Slaves　a…while　to　come
neere；　none　but　her　selfe　must　now　lave　his　body；　with　Muske
compounded　Sope　and　Gilly…floures。　Afterward；　the　slaves　washed　both
him　and　her；　bringing　two　goodly　sheetes；　softe　and　white；　yeelding
such　a　delicate　smell　of　Roses；　even　as　if　they　had　bene　made　of
Rose…leaves。　In　the　one；　they　folded　Salabetto；　and　her　in　the
other；　and　so　conveyed　them　on　their　shoulders　unto　the　prepared
Bed…Couch；　where　because　they　should　not　sweate　any　longer；　they　tooke
the　sheets　from　about　them；　and　laid　them　gently　in　the　bed。
　　Then　they　opened　the　Basket；　wherein　were　divers　goodly　Silver
bottles；　some　filled　with　Rosewaters；　others　with　flowers　of
Orenges；　and　Waters　distilled　of　Gelsomine；　Muske；　and　Amber…Greece；
wherewith　（againe）　the　slaves　bathed　their　bodyes　in　the　bed；　and
afterward　presented　them　with　variety　of　Comfites；　as　also　very
precious　Wines；　serving　them　in　stead　of　a　little　Collation。　Salabetto
supposed　himself　to　be　in　Paradise：　for　this　appeared　to　be　no　earthly
joy；　bestowing　a　thousand　gladsome　gazes　on　her；　who　（questionlesse）
was　a　most　beautifull　creature；　and　the　tarrying　of　the　Slaves；　seemed
millions　of　yeares　to　him；　that　hee　might　more　freely　embrace　his
Biancafiore。　Leaving　a　Waxe　Taper　lighted　in　the　Chamber；　the　slaves
departed；　and　then　shee　sweetly　embracing　Salabetto；　bestowed　those
further　favours　on　him；　which　hee　came　for；　and　she　was　not
squeamish　in　the　affoording；　wherof　he　was　exceedingly　joyfull；
because　he　imagined；　that　they　proceeded　from　the　integrity　of　her
affection　towards　him。
　　When　she　thought　it　convenient　time　to　depart　thence；　the　slaves
returned；　they　cloathed　themselves；　and　had　a　Banquet　standing　ready
prepared　for　them；　wherewith　they　cheared　their　wearyed　spirits；　after
they　had　first　washed　in　odorifferous　waters。　At　parting：　Salabetto
（quoth　she）　whensoever　thy　leysures　shal　best　serve　thee；　I　will
repute　it　as　my　cheefest　happinesse；　that　thou　wilt　accept　a　Supper
and　Lodging　in　my　house；　which　let　it　be　this　instant　night；　if　thou
canst。　He　being　absolutely　caught；　both　by　hir　beauty　and　flattering
behaviour：　beleeved　faithfully；　that　he　was　as　intirely　beloved　of
her；　as　the　heart　is　of　the　body：　whereuppon　hee　thus　answered。
Madame；　whatsoever　pleaseth　you；　must　needes　be　much　more　acceptable
unto　mee：　and　therefore；　not　onely　may　command　my　service　this
night；　but　likewise　the　whole　employment　of　my　life；　to　be　onely　yours
in　my　very　best　studies　and　endeavours。
　　No　sooner　did　she　heare　this　answer；　but　she　returned　home　to　her
owne　house；　which　she　decked　in　most　sumptuous　maner；　and　also　made
ready　a　costly　Supper；　expecting　the　arrivall　of　Salabetto：　who　when
the　darke　night　was　indifferently　well　entred；　went　thither；　and　was
welcommed　with　wonderfull　kindnesse；　wanting　no　costly　Wines　and
Delicates　all　the　Supper　while。　Being　afterward　conducted　into　a
goodly　Chamber；　he　smelt　there　admirable　sweete　senting　savours；
such　as　might　well　beseeme　a　Princes　Pallace。　He　beheld　a　most
costly　Bed；　and　very　rich　furniture　round　about　the　roome：　which
when　he　had　duly　considered　to　himself；　he　was　constantly　perswaded；
that　she　was　a　Lady　of　infinit　wealth。　And　although　he　had　heard
divers　flying　reports　concerning　her　life；　yet　hee　would　not　credite
any　thing　amisse　of　her；　for　albeit　she　might　（perhappes）　beguile　some
other；　yet　shee　affected　him　（he　thought）　in　better　manner；　and　no
such　misfortune　could　happen　to　him。
　　Having　spent　all　the　night　with　her　in　wanton　dalliances；　and
being　risen　in　the　morning；　to　enflame　his　affection　more　and　more
towards　her；　and　to　prevent　any　ill　opinion　he　might　conceyve　of
her；　she　bestowed　a　rich　and　costly　Girdle　on　him；　as　also　a　pursse
most　curiously　wrought；　saying　to　him。　My　sweet　Salabetto；　with
these　testimonies　of　my　true　affection　to　thee；　I　give　thee　faithfully
to　understand；　that　as　my　person　is　onely　subjected　thine；　so　this
house　and　all　the　riches　in　it；　remaineth　absolutely　at　thy
disposition；　or　whatsoever　hereafter　shal　happen　within　the　compasse
of　my　power。
　　He　being　not　a　little　proud　of　this　her　bountifull　offer　（having
never　bestowed　any　gift　on　her；　because　by　no　meanes　shee　would
admit　it）　after　many　sweet　kisses　and　embraces；　departed　thence；　to
the　place　where　the　Merchants　usually　frequented：　resorting　to　her
（from　time　to　time）　as　occasion　served；　and　paying　not　one　single　peny
for　all　his　wanton　pleasure；　by　which　cunning　baytes　（at　length）　she
caught　him。
　　It　came　to　passe；　that　having　made　sale　of　all　his　Clothes；
whereby　hee　had　great　gaines；　and　the　moneyes　justly　payed　him　at
the　times　appointed：　Biancafiore　got　intelligence　thereof；　yet　not
by　him；　but　from　one　of　the　Brokers。　Salabetto　comming　one　night　to
sup　with　her；　she　embraced　and　kissed　him　as　she　was　wont　to　doe；
and　seemed　so　wonderfully　addicted　in　love　to　him；　even　as　if　shee
would　have　dyed　with　delight　in　his　armes。　Instantly；　shee　would　needs
bestow　two　goodly　gilt　standing　Cuppes　on　him；　which　Salabetto　by　no
meanes　would　receive；　because　she　had　formerly　bin　very　bountifull
to　him；　to　above　the　value　of　an　hundred　Crowns；　and　yet　she　would　not
take　of　him　so　much　as　a　mite。　At　length；　pressing　still　more　tokens
of　her　love　and　bounty　on　him；　which　he　as　courteously　denied；　as
she　kindly　offered：　one　of　her　Women…slaves　（as　shee　had　before
cunningly　appointed）　sodainely　calling　her；　forthwith　she　departed　out
of　her　Chamber。　And　when　she　had　continued　a　pretty　while　absent；
she　returned　againe　weeping；　and　throwing　her　selfe　downe　upon　her
Pallet；　breathed　forth　such　sighes　and　wofull　lamentations；　as　no
Woman　could　possibly　doe　the　like。
　　Salabetto　amazedly　wondering　thereat；　tooke　her　in　his　Armes；　and
weeping　also　with　her；　said。　Alas　my　deare　Love；　what　sodain
accident　hath　befalne　you；　to　urge　this　lamentable　alteration？　If
you　love　me；　hide　it　not　from　me。　After　he　had　of　entreated　her　in
this　manner；　casting　her　armes　about　his　necke；　and　sighing　as　if
her　heart　would　breake；　thus　she　replyed。　Ah　Salabetto；　the　onely
jewell　of　my　joy　on　earth；　I　knowe　not　what　to　do；　or　say；　for　（even
now）　I　received　Letters　from　Messina；　wherein　my　Brother　writes　to　me；
that　although　it　cost　the　sale　of　all　my　goods；　or　whatsoever　else　I
have　beside；　I　must　（within　eight　dayes　space）　not　faile　to　send　him　a
thousand　Florins　of　gold；　or　else　he　must　have　his　head　smitten　off；
and　I　know　not　by　what　meanes　to　procure　them　so　soone。　For；　if　the
limitation　of　fifteene　dayes　might　serve　the　turne；　I　could　borrow
them　in　a　place；　where　I　can　command　a　farre　greater　summe；　or　else
I　would　sell　some　part　of　our　Lands。　But　beeing　no　way　able　to
furnish　him　so　soone；　I　would　I　had　died　before　I　heard　these
dismall　tydings。　And　in　the　uttering　of　these　words；　she　graced　them
with　such　cunning　dissembled　sorrow；　as　if　she　had　meant　truly　indeed。
Salabetto；　in　whom　the　fury　of　his　amorous　flames；　had　consumed　a
great　part　of　his　necessary　understanding；　beleeving　these
counterfetted　tears　and　complaints　of　hers；　to　proceed　from　an
honest　meaning　soule；　rashly　and　foolishly　thus　replied。　Deare
Biancafiore；　I　cannot　furnish　you　with　a　thousand　golden　Florines；　but
am　able　to　lend　you　five　hundred　if　I　were　sure　of　their　repayment
at　fifteene　dayes；　wherein　you　are　highly　beholding　to　Fortune；　that　I
h