the decameron(十日谈)-第139章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


a　day）　solemnly　invited　him；　to　suppe　and　lodge　in　her　house　all
night；　he　went；　both　with　sad　and　melancholly　lookes；　seeming　as
overcome　with　extreamity　of　sorrow。　Biancafiore　mervayling　at　this
strange　alteration　in　him；　sweetly　kissing　and　embracing　him：　would
needs　know　the　reason　of　his　passionate　affliction；　and　he
permitting　her　to　urge　the　question　oftentimes　together；　without
returning　any　direct　answere；　to　quit　her　in　her　kind；　and　with
coine　of　her　owne　stampe；　after　a　few　dissembled　sighes；　he　began　in
this　manner。
　　Ah　my　dearest　Love；　I　am　utterly　undone；　because　the　Shippe
containing　the　rest　of　mine　expected　Merchandises；　is　taken　by　the
Pyrates　of　Monago；　and　put　to　the　ransome　of　tenne　thousand　Florines
of　Gold；　and　my　part　particularly；　is　to　pay　one　thousand。　At　this
instant　I　am　utterly　destitute　of　money；　because　the　five　hundred
Florines　which　I　received　of　you；　I　sent　hence　the　next　daie　following
to　Naples；　to　buy　more　cloathes；　which　likewise　are　to　be　sent　hither。
And　if　I　should　now　make　sale　of　the　Merchandizes　in　my　Magazine
（the　time　of　generall　utterance　being　not　yet　come）　I　shall　not　make　a
pennyworth　for　a　penny。　And　my　misfortune　is　the　greater；　because　I　am
not　so　well　knowne　heere　in　your　City；　as　to　find　some　succour　in　such
an　important　distresse；　wherfore　I　know　not　what　to　do　or　say。
Moreover；　if　the　money　be　not　speedily　sent；　our　goods　will　be　carried
into　Monago；　and　then　they　are　past　all　redemption　utterly。
　　Biancafiore　appearing　greatly　discontented；　as　one　verily　perswaded；
that　this　pretended　losse　was　rather　hers；　then　his；　because　she　aymed
at　the　mainest　part　of　all　his　wealth：　began　to　consider　with　her
selfe；　which　was　the　likeliest　course　to　bee　taken；　for　saving　the
goods　from　carriage　to　Monago：　wherupon　thus　she　replied。　Heaven
knoweth　（my　dearest　Salabetto）　how　thy　love　maketh　me　sorrowfull　for
this　misfortune；　and　it　greeveth　me　to　see　thee　any　way　distressed：
for　if　I　had　mony　lying　by　mee　（as　many　times　I　have）　thou　shouldst
finde　succour　from　my　selfe　onely；　but　indeede　I　am　not　able　to
helpe　thee。　True　it　is；　there　is　a　friend　of　mine；　who　did　lend　me
five　hundred　Florines　in　my　need；　to　make　uppe　the　other　summe　which　I
borrowed　of　thee：　but　he　demandeth　extreme　interest；　because　he　will
not　abate　any　thing　of　thirty　in　the　hundred；　and　if　you　should　bee
forced　to　use　him；　you　must　give　him　some　good　security。　Now　for　my
part；　the　most　of　my　goods　here　I　will　pawne　for　thee：　but　what　pledge
can　you　deliver　in　to　make　up　the　rest？　Wel　did　Salabetto　conceive　the
occasion　why　she　urged　this　motion；　and　was　so　diligent　in　doing　him
such　a　pleasure：　for　it　appeared　evidently　to　him；　that　her　selfe
was　to　lend　the　mony；　wherof　he　was　not　a　litle　joyful；　seeming　very
thankful　to　hir。　Then　he　told　her；　that　being　driven　to　such
extremity；　how　unreasonable　soever　the　usury　was；　yet　he　would
gladly　pay　for　it。　And　for　her　Friends　further　security；　hee　would
pawne　him　all　the　goods　in　his　Magazine；　entering　them　downe　in　the
name　of　the　party；　who　lent　the　money。　Onely　he　desired　to　keepe　the
Keyes　of　the　Ware…house；　as　well　to　shew　his　Merchandises；　when　any
Merchant　shot　bee　so　desirous：　as　also　to　preserve　them　from　ill
using；　transporting　or　changing；　before　his　redemption　of　them。
　　She　found　no　fault　with　his　honest　offer；　but　sayde；　hee　shewed
himselfe　a　well…meaning　man；　and　the　next　morning　shee　sent　for　a
Broker；　in　whom　she　reposed　especiall　trust；　and　after　they　had
privately　consulted　together；　shee　delivered　him　a　thousand　Golden
Florines；　which　were　caried　by　him　presently　to　Salabetto；　and　the
Bond　made　in　the　Brokers　name；　of　all　the　goods　remaining　in
Salabettoes　ware…house；　with　composition　and　absolute　agreement；　for
the　prefixed　time　of　the　monies　repaiment。　No　sooner　was　this　tricke
fully　accomplished；　but　Salabetto　seeming　as　if　he　went　to　redeeme　his
taken　goods：　set　saile　for　Naples　towards　Pietro　della　Canigiano；　with
fifteene　hundred　Florines　of　Gold：　from　whence　also　he　sent
contentment　to　his　Master　at　Florence　（who　imployd　him　as　his　Factor
at　Palermo）　beside　his　owne　packes　of　Cloathes。　He　made　repayment
likewise　to　Canigiano；　for　the　monies　which　furnished　him　in　this　last
voyage；　and　any　other　to　whom　hee　was　indebted。　So　there　he　stayed
awhile　with　Canigiano；　whose　counsel　thus　holpe　him　to　out…reach　the
Sicillian　Courtezane：　and　meaning　to　deale　in　Merchandise　no　more；
afterward　he　returned　to　Florence　and　there　lived　in　good　reputation。
　　Now　as　concerning　Biancafiore；　when　she　saw　that　Salabetto
returned　not　againe　to　Palermo；　she　beganne　to　grow　somewhat
abashed；　as　halfe　suspecting　that　which　followed。　After　she　had
tarried　for　him　above　two　moneths　space；　and　perceived　hee　came　not；
nor　any　tydings　heard　of　him：　shee　caused　the　Broker　to　breake　open
the　Magazine；　casting　forth　the　Buttes　or　Barrels；　which　shee　beleeved
to　bee　full　of　good　Oyles。　But　they　were　all　filled　with　Seawater；
each　of　them　having　a　small　quantity　of　Oyle　floating　on　the　toppe；
onely　to　serve　when　a　tryall　should　bee　made。　And　then　unbinding　the
Packes；　made　up　in　formall　and　Merchantable　manner：　there　was
nothing　else　in　them；　but　Logges　and　stumpes　of　Trees；　wrapt
handsomely　in　hurdles　of　Hempe　and　Tow；　onely　two　had　Cloathes　in
them。　So　that　（to　bee　briefe）　the　whole　did　not　value　two　hundred
Crownes：　which　when　she　saw；　and　observed　how　cunningly　she　was
deceived：　a　long　while　after　shee　sorrowed；　for　repaying　backe　the
five　hundred　Florines；　and　folly　in　lending　a　thousand　more；　using
it　as　a　Proverbe　alwaies　after　to　hit　selfe：　That　whosoever　dealt　with
a　Tuscane；　had　neede　to　have　sound　sight　and　judgement。　So　remaining
contented　（whither　she　would　or　no）　with　her　losse：　she　plainly
perceyved；　that　although　she　lived　by　cheating　others；　yet　now　at
the　length　she　had　mette　with　her　match。
　　So　soone　as　Dioneus　had　ended　his　Novell；　Madame　Lauretta　also　knew；
that　the　conclusion　of　her　Regiment　was　come；　whereupon；　when　the
counsell　of　Canigiano　had　past　with　generall　commendation；　and　the　wit
of　Salabetto　no　lesse　applauded；　for　fitting　it　with　such　an
effectuall　prosecution；　shee　tooke　the　Crowne　of　Laurell　from　her　owne
head；　and　set　it　upon　Madame　Aimilliaes；　speaking　graciously　in　this
manner。　Madam；　I　am　not　able　to　say；　how　pleasant　a　Queene　we　shall
have　of　you；　but　sure　I　am；　that　we　shall　enjoy　a　faire　one：　let
matters　therefore　be　so　honourably　ca。rried；　that　your　government
may　be　answerable　to　your　beautifull　perfections；　which　words　were
no　sooner　delivered；　but　she　sate　downe　in　her　mounted　seate。
　　Madame　Aemillia　being　somewhat　bashfull；　not　so　much　of　hir　being
created　Queene；　as　to　heare　her　selfe　thus　publikely　praysed；　with
that　which　Women　do　most　of　all　desire：　her　face　then　appearing；
like　the　opening　of　the　Damaske　Rose；　in　the　goodlyest　morning。　But
after　she　had　a　while　dejected　her　lookes；　and　the　Vermillion　blush
was　vanished　away：　having　taken　order　with　the　Master　of　the　houshold；
for　all　needefull　occasions　befitting　the　assembly；　thus　she　began。
　　Gracious　Ladies；　wee　behold　it　daily；　that　those　Oxen　which　have
laboured　in　the　yoake　most　part　of　the　day；　for　their　more
convenient　feeding；　are　let　forth　at　liberty；　and　permitted　to
wander　abroad　in　the　Woods。　We　see　moreover；　that　Gardens　and
Orchards；　being　planted　with　variety　of　the　fairest　fruit　Trees；　are
equalled　in　beauty　by　Woods　and　Forrests；　in　the　plentifull　enjoying
of　as　goodly　spreading　branches。　In　consideration　whereof；
remembring　how　many　dayes　wee　have　already　spent　（under　the
severitie　of　Lawes　imposed）　shaping　all　our　discourses　to　a　forme　of
observation：　I　am　of　opinion；　that　it　will　not　onely　well　become　us；
but　also　prove　beneficiall　for　us；　to　live　no　longer　under　such
restraint；　and　like　enthralled　people；　desirous　of　liberty；　wee　should
no　more　be　subjected　to　the　yoke；　but　recover　our　former　strength　in
walking　freely。
　　Wherefore；　concerning　our　pastime　purposed　for　to　morrow；　I　am　not
minded　to　use　any　restriction；　or　tye　you　unto　any　particular
ordination：　but　rather　do　liberally　graunt；　that　every　one　shall
devise　and　speake　of　arguments　agreeing　with　your　owne　dispositions。
　　Besides；　I　am　verily　perswaded；　that　variety　of　matter　uttered　so
freely；　will　be　much　more　delightfull；　then　restraint　to　one　kinde
of　purpose　onely。　Which　being　thus　granted　by　me；　whosoever　shal
succeede　me　in　the　government；　may　（as　being　of　more　power　and
preheminence）　restraine　all　backe　againe　to　the　accustomed　lawes。
And　having　thus　spoken；　she　dispensed　with　their　any　longer
attendance；　untill　it　should　be　Supper　time。
　　Every　one　commended　the　Queenes　appointment；　allowing　it　to
rellish　of　good　wit　and　judgement：　and　being　all　risen；　fell　to　such
exercises　as　they　pleased。　The　Ladies　made　Nosegaies　and　Chaplets　of
Flowers；　the　men　played　on　their　Instruments；　singing　divers　sweete
Ditties　to　them；　and　thus　were　busied　untill　Supper　time。　Which　beeing
come；　and　they　supping　about　the　beautifull　Fountaine：　after　Supper；
they　fell　to　singing　and　dauncing。　In　the　end；　the　Queene；　to
imitate　the　order　of　her　predecessors；　commanded　Pamphilus；　that
notwithstanding　all　the　excellent　songs　formerly　sung：　he　should　now
sing　one；　whereunto　dutifully　obeying；　thus　he　began。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　SONG
　　　　　　　　　　THE　CHORUS　SUNG　BY　ALL

　　　　Love；　I　found　such　felicitie；
　　　　And　joy；　in　thy　captivitie：
　　　　As　I　before　did　never　prove；
　　　　And　thought　me　happy；　being　in　Love。

　　Comfort　abounding　in　my　hart；
　　　　Joy　and　Delight
　　　　In　soule　and　spright
　　I　did　possesse　in　every　part；
　　O　Soveraigne　Love　by　thee。
　　　　Thy　Sacred　fires；
　　　　Fed　my　desires；
　　　　And　still　aspires；
　　Thy　happy　thrall　to　bee。
　　　　Love；　I　found　such　felicity；　etc。

　　My　Song　wants　power　to　relate；
　　　　The　sweets　of　minde
　　　　Which　I　did　finde
　　In　that　most　blissefull　state；
　　O　Soveraigne　Love　by　thee。
　　　　No　sad　despaire；
　　　　Or　killing　care
　　　　Could　me　prepare；
　　Still　thou　didst　comfort　me。
　　　　Love；　I　found　such　felicity；　etc。

　　I　hate　all　such　as　do　complaine；
　　　　Blaspheming　thee
　　　　With　Cruelty；
　　And　sleights　of　coy　disdaine。
　　O　So　raigne　Love；　to　mee
　　　　Thou　has　bene　kinde：
　　　　If　others　finde
　　　　Thee　worse　inclinde；
　　Yet　I　will　honour　thee。

　　　　Love；　I　found　such　felicitie；
　　　　And　joy　in　thy　Captivitie：
　　　　As　I　before　did　never　prove；
　　　　But　thought　me　happie；　being　in　Love。

　　Thus　the　Song　of　Pamphilus　ended；　whereto　all　the　rest　（as　a　Chorus）
answered　with　their　Voyces；　yet　every　one　particularly　（according　as
they　felt　their　Love…sicke　passions）　made　a　curious　construction
thereof；　perhaps　more　then　they　needed；　yet　not　Divining　what
Pamphilus　intended。　And　although　they　were　transported　with　variety　of
imaginations；　yet　none　of　them　could　arive　at　his　true　meaning　indeed。
Wherefore　the　Queene；　perceiving　the　Song　to　be　fully　ended；　and　the
Ladies；　as　also　the　young　Gentlemen；　willing　to　go　take　their　rest：
she　commaunded　them　severally　to　their　Chambers。


　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　INDUCTION　TO　THE　NINTH　DAY

　　　　WHEREON；　UNDER　THE　GOVERNMENT　OF　MADAME　AIMILIA；　THE　ARGUMENT　OF
　　　　　　EACH　SEVERAL