the decameron(十日谈)-第138章

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at　fifteene　dayes；　wherein　you　are　highly　beholding　to　Fortune；　that　I
have　made　sale　of　all　my　Cloathes；　which　if　they　had　lyen　still　on
my　hand；　my　power　could　not　stretch　to　lend　you　five　Florines。　Alas
deare　heart　（quoth　she）　would　you　be　in　such　want　of　money；　and　hide
it　from　her　that　loves　you　so　loyally？　Why　did　you　not　make　your
need　knowne　to　me？　Although　I　am　not　furnished　of　a　thousand　Florines；
yet　I　have　alwaies　ready　three　or　foure　hundred　by　me；　to　do　any　kinde
office　for　my　friend。　In　thus　wronging　me；　you　have　robd　me　of　all
boldnes；　to　presume　upon　your　offer　made　me。　Salabetto；　far　faster
inveigled　by　these　words　then　before；　said。　Let　not　my　folly　（bright
Biancafiore）　cause　you　to　refuse　my　friendly　offer；　in　such　a　case
of　extreme　necessity：　I　have　them　ready　pre。　pared　for　you；　and　am
heartily　sory；　that　my　power　cannot　furnish　you　with　the　whole　summe。
　　Then　catching　him　fast　in　her　armes；　thus　she　answered。　Now　I
plainly　perceive；　my　dearest　Salabetto；　that　the　love　thou　bearest
me　is　true　and　perfect；　when；　without　expectation　of　being
requested；　thou　art　readie　to　succour　me　in　such　an　urgent　neede；
and　with　so　faire　a　summe　of　Florines。　Sufficiently　was　I　thine　owne
before；　but　now　am　much　more　ingaged　by　so　high　deserving；　with　this
particular　acknowledgement　for　ever；　that　my　Brothers　head　was
redeemed　by　thy　goodnesse　onely。　Heaven　beareth　me　record；　how
unwilling　I　am　to　be　beholding　in　this　kind；　considring　that　you　are　a
Merchant；　and　Merchants　furnish　al　their　affairs　with　ready　monis：　but
seeing　necessity　constraineth　me；　and　I　make　no　doubt　of　repaiment
at　the　time　appointed：　I　。　p　shall　the　more　boldly　accept　your
kindnes；　with　this　absolute　promise　beside；　that　I　wil　rather　sell　all
the　houses　I　have；　then　breake　my　honest　word　with　you。
　　Counterfeit　teares　still　drayning　downe　her　cheeks；　and　Salabetto
kindly　comforting　her；　he　continued　there　with　hir　all　that　night；
to　expresse　him　selfe　her　most　liberall　servant。　And；　without
expecting　any　more　requesting；　the　next　morning　he　brought　her　the
five　hundred　Florines；　which　she　received　with　a　laughing　heart；　but
outward　dissembled　weeping　eies；　Salabetto　never　demanding　any　other
security；　but　onely　her　single　promise。
　　Biancafiore；　having　thus　received　the　five　hundred　Florines；　the
indiction　of　the　Almanacke　began　to　alter：　and　whereas　（before）
Salabetto　could　come　see　her　whensoever　he　pleased；　many　occasions　now
happened；　whereby　he　came　seven　times　for　once；　and　yet　his　entrance
was　scarsely　admitted；　neither　was　his　entertainment　so　affable；　or
his　cheare　so　bountifull；　as　in　his　former　accesses　thither。　Moreover；
when　the　time　for　repaiment　was　come；　yea　a　moneth　or　two　over…past；
and　he　demanded　to　have　his　money；　hee　could　have　nothing　but　words
for　paiment。　Now　he　began　to　consider　on　the　craft　and　cunning　of　this
wicked　Woman；　as　also　his　owne　shallow　understanding；　knowing　he　could
make　no　proofe　of　his　debt；　but　what　her　selfe　listed　to　say；　having
neither　witnes；　specialty；　bill　or　bond　to　shew：　which　made　his
folly　so　shamefull　to　him；　that　he　durst　not　complaine　to　any
person；　because　he　had　received　some　advertisements　before；　whereto　he
wold　by　no　means　listen；　and　now　should　have　no　other　amends；　but
publike　infamie；　scorne　and　disgrace；　which　made　him　almost　weary　of
his　life；　and　much　to　bemoane　his　owne　unhappinesse。　He　received
also　divers　Letters　from　his　Master；　to　make　returne　of　the　500
Florines　over　by　way　of　banke；　according　as　he　had　used　to　do：　but
nowe　could　performe　no　such　matter。
　　Hereupon；　because　his　error　should　not　be　discovered；　he　departed　in
a　small　vessell　thence；　not　making　for　Pisa；　as　he　should　have　done；
but　directly　for　Naples　hee　shaped　his　course。　At　that　instant
lodged　there；　Don　Pietro　della　Canigiano；　Treasurer　of　the　Empresse　of
Constantinople；　a　man　of　great　wisedome　and　understanding；　as　also
very　ingenious　and　politike；　he　being　an　especiall　Favourer　of
Salabetto　and　all　his　friendes；　which　made　him　presume　the　more　boldly
（being　urged　thereto　by　meere　necessity；　the　best　corrector　of
wandering　wits）　to　acquaint　him　with　his　lamentable　misfortune；　in
every　particular　as　it　had　hapned；　requesting　his　aid　and　advice；
how　he　might　best　weare　out　the　rest　of　his　dayes；　because　hee　never
meant　to　visit　Florence　any　more。
　　Canigiano　being　much　displeased　at　the　repetition　of　his　Follie；
sharply　reproved　him；　saying。　Thou　hast　done　leudly；　in　carying　thy
selfe　so　loosely；　and　spending　thy　Masters　goods　so　carelesly；　which
though　I　cannot　truly　tearme　spent；　but　rather　art　meerely　cousened
and　cheated　of　them；　yet　thou　seest　at　what　a　deere　rate　thou　hast
purchased　pleasure；　which　yet　is　not　utterly　helplesse；　but　may　by　one
meanes　or　other　be　recovered。　And　being　a　man　of　woonderfull
apprehension；　advised　him　instantly　what　was　to　bee　done；　furnishing
him　also　with　a　summe　of　money；　wherewith　to　adventure　a　second　losse；
in　hope　of　recovering　the　first　againe：　he　caused　divers　Packes　to
be　well　bound　up；　with　the　Merchants　markes　orderly　made　on　them；
and　bought　about　twenty　Buttes　or　Barrelles；　all　filled　（as　it　were）
with　Oyle；　and　these　pretended　commodities　being　shipt；　Salabetto
returned　with　them　to　Palermo。　Where　having　given　in　his　packets　to
the　Customehouse；　and　entred　them　all　under　his　owne　name；　as　being
both　owner　and　factor：　all　his　Wares　were　lockt　up　in　his　Magizine；
with　open　publication；　that　he　would　not　vent　any　of　them；　before
other　merchandises　（which　he　daily　expected）　were　there　also　arrived。
　　Biancafiore　having　heard　thereof；　and　understanding　withall；　that　he
had　brought　Merchandises　now　with　him；　amounting　to　above　two　thousand
Florins；　staying　also　in　expectation　of　other　commodities；　valewing
better　then　three　thousand　more；　she　beganne　to　consider　with　her
selfe；　that　she　had　not　yet　gotten　money　enough　from　him；　and
therefore　would　cast　a　figure　for　a　farre　bigger　booty。　Which　that　she
might　the　more　fairely　effect；　without　so　much　as　an　imagination　of
the　least　mistrust：　she　would　repay　him　backe　his　five　hundred
Florines；　to　winne　from　him　a　larger　portion　of　two　or　three
thousand　at　the　least；　and　having　thus　setled　her　determination；　she
sent　to　have　him　come　speake　with　her。　Salabetto；　having　bene
soundly　bitten　before；　and　therefore　the　better　warranted　from　the
like　ranckling　teeth；　willingly　went　to　her；　not　shewing　any　signe
of　former　discontent：　and　she；　seeming　as　if　she　knew　nothing　of　the
wealth　he　brought　with　him；　gracing　him　in　as　loving　manner　as　ever
she　had　done；　thus　she　spake。
　　I　am　sure　Salabetto；　you　are　angry　with　mee；　because　I　restored
not　your　Florines　at　my　promised　day。　Salabetto　smiling；　presently
answered。　Beleeve　me　Lady　（quoth　he）　it　did　a　little　distast　me；
even　as　I　could　have　bin　offended　with　him；　that　should　plucke　out
my　heart　to　bestow　it　on　you；　if　it　would　yeelde　you　any
contentment。　But　to　let　you　know　unfainedly；　how　much　I　am　incensed
with　anger　against　you：　such　and　so　great　is　the　affection　I　beare
you；　that　I　have　solde　the　better　part　of　my　whole　estate；
converting　the　same　into　Wealthy　Merchandises；　which　I　have　alreadie
brought　hither　with　mee；　and　valewing　above　two　thousand　Florines；　all
which　are　stored　up　in　my　Magazine。　There　must　they　remaine；　till
another　Ship　come　forth　of　the　Westerne　parts；　wherein　I　have　a　much
greater　adventure；　amounting　unto　more　then　three　thousand　Florines。
And　my　purpose　is；　to　make　my　aboade　heere　in　this　City；　which　hath
won　the　sole　possession　of　my　heart；　onely　in　regard　of　my
Biancafiore；　to　whom　I　am　so　intirely　devoted；　as　both　my　selfe；　and
whatsoever　else　is　mine　（now　or　hereafter）　is　dedicated　onely　to　her
service；　whereto　thus　she　replyed。
　　Now　trust　me　Salabetto；　whatsoever　redoundeth　to　thy　good　and
benefite；　is　the　cheefest　comfort　of　my　soule；　in　regard　I　prize　thy
love　dearer　then　mine　owne　life；　and　am　most　joyfull　of　thy　returne
hither　againe；　but　much　more　of　thy　still　abiding　heere；　because　I
intend　to　live　onely　with　thee；　so　soone　as　I　have　taken　order　for
some　businesse　of　import。　In　the　meane　while；　let　me　entreate　thee
to　hold　me　excused；　because　before　thy　departure　hence；　thou　camest
sometimes　to　see　me；　without　thy　entrance　admitted；　and　other…whiles
againe；　found　not　such　entertainement；　as　formerly　had　bene　affoorded。
But　indeede；　and　above　all　the　rest；　in　not　re…paying　thy　money
according　to　my　promise。　But　consider　good　Salabetto；　in　what　great
trouble　and　affliction　of　minde　I　then　was；　both　in　regard　of　my
Brothers　danger；　and　other　important　occurrences　beside；　which
mollestations　do　much　distract　the　senses；　and　hinder　kinde
courtesies；　which　otherwise　would　bee　extended　liberally。
　　Last　of　all　consider　also；　how　difficult　a　thing　it　is　for　a
woman；　so　sodainly　to　raise　the　summe　of　a　thousand　golden　Florines；
when　one　friend　promiseth；　and　performeth　not；　another　protesteth；　yet
hath　no　such　meaning；　a　third　sweareth；　and　yet　proveth　a　false
Lyar：　so　that　by　being　thus　ungently　used；　a　breach　is　made　betweene
the　best　frends　living。　From　hence　it　proceeded；　and　no　other　defect
else；　that　I　made　not　due　returne　of　your　five　hundred　Florins。　No
sooner　were　you　departed　her　but　I　had　them　readie；　and　as　many
more；　and　could　I　have　knowne　whither　to　send　them；　they　had　bene　with
you　long　time　since；　which　because　I　could　not　（by　any　meanes）
compasse；　I　kept　them　still　for　you　in　continuall　readinesse；　as
hoping　of　your　comming　hither　againe。　So　causing　a　purse　to　be
brought；　wherein　the　same　Florines　were；　which　hee　had　delivered
her；　she　gave　it　into　his　hand；　and　prayed　him　to　count　them　over；
whether　there　were　so　many；　or　no。
　　Never　was　Salabettoes　heart　halfe　so　joyfull　before；　and　having
counted　them；　found　them　to　be　his　owne　five　hundred　Florines：　then；
putting　them　up　into　his　pocket；　he　saide。　Comfort　of　my　life；　Full
well　I　know　that　whatsoever　you　have　saide；　is　most　certaine；　but
let　us　talke　no　more　of　falshood　in　friendship；　or　casuall　accidents
happening　unexpected：　you　have　dealt　with　mee　like　a　most　loyall
Mistresse；　and　heere　I　protest　unfainedly　to　you；　that　as　well　in
respect　of　this　kinde　courtesie；　as　also　the　constancy　of　mine
affection　to　you；　you　cannot　request　hereafter　a　far　greater　summe
of　me；　to　supply　any　necessarie　occasion　of　yours；　but　（if　my　power
can　performe　it）　you　shall　assuredly　finde　it　certaine：　make　proofe
thereof　whensoever　you　please；　after　my　other　goods　are　Landed；　and
I　have　established　my　estate　here　in　your　City。
　　Having　in　this　manner　renewed　his　wonted　amity　with　her；　and　with
words　farre　enough　off　from　all　further　meaning：　Salabetto　began
againe　to　frequent　her　company；　she　expressing　all　former　familiarity；
shewing　her　selfe　as　lavishly　bountifull　to　him；　in　all　respects　as
before　she　had　done；　nay；　many　times　in　more　magnificent　manner。
　　But　he　intending　to　punish　her　notorious　trechery　towards　him；
when　she　left　him　as　an　open　scorne　to　the　World；　wounded　with
disgrace；　and　quite　out　of　credit　with　all　his　friends：　she　having　（on
a　day）　solemnly　invited　him；　to　suppe　and　lodge　in　her　house　all
night；　he　went；　both　with　sad　a