the decameron(十日谈)-第143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！


creature；　do　I　not　tell　thee　true？　The　Woman；　being　of　verie　honest
and　civill　conversation；　hearing　her　husband　speake　so　foolishly：
blushing　with　shame；　and　hanging　downe　her　head　in　bashfull　manner；
without　returning　any　answer；　went　forth　of　her　Chamber。
　　Calandrino　continuing　still　in　his　angry　humour；　wringing　his　hands；
and　beating　them　upon　his　breast；　said：　Wretched　man　that　I　am；　What
shall　I　do？　How　shal　I　be　delivered　of　this　child？　Which　way　can　it
come　from　me　into　the　world？　I　plainly　perceyve；　that　I　am　none
other　then　a　dead　man；　and　all　through　the　wickednesse　of　my　Wife：
heaven　plague　her　with　as　many　mischiefes；　as　I　am　desirous　to　finde
ease。　Were　I　now　in　as　good　health；　as　heere…tofore　I　have　beene；　I
would　rise　out　of　my　bed；　and　never　cease　beating　her；　untill　I　had
broken　her　in　a　thousand　peeces。　But　if　Fortune　will　be　so
favourable　to　me；　as　to　helpe　mee　out　of　this　dangerous　agony：　hang
me；　if　ever　she　get　me　under　her　againe；　or　make　me　such　an　Asse；　in
having　the　mastery　over　mee；　as　diuers　times　she　hath　done。
　　Bruno；　Buffalmaco　and　Nello；　hearing　these　raving　speeches　of
Calandrino；　were　swolne　so　bigge　with　laughter；　as　if　their　ribbes
would　have　burst　in　sunder；　neverthelesse；　they　abstained　so　well　as
they　were　able；　but　Doctor　Simon　gaped　so　wide　with　laughing　as　one
might　easily　have　pluckt　out　all　his　teeth。　In　the　end；　because　he
could　tarry　there　no　longer；　but　was　preparing　to　depart：　Calandrino
thanked　him　for　his　paines；　requesting　that　hee　would　be　carefull　of
him；　in　aiding　him　with　his　best　advise　and　counsell；　and　he　would　not
be　unmindfull　of　him。　Honest　neighbour　Calandrino；　answered　the
Phisition；　I　would　not　have　you　to　torment　your　selfe；　in　such　an
impatient　and　tempestuous　manner；　because　I　perceive　the　time　so　to
hasten　on；　as　we　shall　soone　perceive　（and　that　within　very　few
dayes　space）　your　health　well　restored；　and　without　the　sense　of
much　paine；　but　indeed　it　wil　cost　expences。　Alas　Sir；　said
Calandrino；　mak　not　any　spare　of　my　purse；　to　procure　that　I　may
have　safe　deliverance。　I　have　two　hundred　Florines；　lately　falne　to　me
by　the　death　of　mine　Aunt；　wherewith　I　intended　to　purchase　a　Farme　in
the　Countrey：　take　them　all　if　need　be；　onely　reserving　some　few　for
my　lying　in　Childbed。　And　then　Master　Doctor；　Alas；　I　know　not　how
to　behave　my　selfe；　for　I　have　heard　the　grievous　complaint　of　women
in　that　case；　oppressed　with　bitter　pangs　and　throwes；　as
questionlesse　they　will　bee　my　death；　except　you　have　the　greater　care
of　me。
　　Be　of　good　cheere　neighbour　Calandrino；　replyed　Doctor　Simon；　I　will
provide　an　excellent　distilled　drinke　for　you；　marveilously　pleasing
in　taste；　and　of　soveraigne　vertue；　which　will　resolve　all　in　three
mornings；　making　you　as　whole　and　as　sound　as　a　Fish　newly　spawned。
But　you　must　have　an　especiall　care　afterward；　being　providently　wise；
least　you　fall　into　the　like　follies　againe。　Concerning　the
preparation　of　this　precious　drinke；　halfe　a　dozen　of　Capons；　the　very
fairest　and　fattest；　I　must　make　use　of　in　the　distillation：　what
other　things　shall　bee　imployed　beside；　you　may　deliver　forty　Florines
to　one　of　these　your　honest　friends；　to　see　all　the　necessaries　bought
and　sent　me　home　to　my　house。　Concerning　my　businesse；　make　you　no
doubt　thereof；　for　I　will　have　all　distilled　against　to　morrow；　and
then　doe　you　drinke　a　great　Glasse　full　every　morning；　fresh　and
fasting　next　your　heart。　Calandrino　was　highly　pleased　with　his　words；
returning　master　Doctor　infinite　thankes；　and　referring　all　to　his
disposing。　And　having　given　forty　Florines　to　Bruno；　with　other
money　beside；　to　buy　the　halfe　dozen　of　Capons：　he　thought　himselfe
greatly　beholding　to　them　all；　and　protested　to　requite　their
kindenesse。
　　Master　Doctor　being　gone　home　to　his　house；　made　ready　a　bottel　of
very　excellent　Hypocrasse；　which　he　sent　the　next　day　according　to　his
promise：　and　Bruno　having　bought　the　Capons；　with　other　junkets；　fit
for　the　turne；　the　Phisitian　and　his　merry　Companions；　fed　on　them
hartely　for　the　givers　sake。　As　for　Calandrino；　he　liked　his　dyet
drinke　excellently　well；　quaffing　a　large　Glassefull　off　three
mornings　together：　afterward　Master　Doctor　and　the　rest　came　to　see
him；　and　having　felt　his　pulse；　the　Phisition　said。　Calandrino；　thou
art　now　as　sound　in　health；　as　any　man　in　all　Florence　can　be：　thou
needest　not　to　keepe　within　doores　any　longer；　but　walke　abroad
boldly；　for　all　is　well　and　the　childe　gone。
　　Calandrino　arose　like　a　joyfull　man；　and　walked　daily　through　the
streets；　in　the　performance　of　such　affaires　as　belonged　to　him：　and
every　acquaintance　he　met　withall；　he　told　the　condition　of　his　sudden
sickenesse；　and　what　a　rare　cure　Master　Doctor　Simon　had　wrought　on
him；　delivering　him　（in　three　dayes　space）　of　a　childe；　and　without
the　feeling　of　any　paine。　Bruno；　Buffalmaco；　and　Nello；　were　not　a
little　jocond；　for　meeting　so　well　with　covetous　Calandrino：　but　how
the　Wife　liked　the　folly　of　her　Husband；　I　leave　to　the　judgement　of
all　good　Women。



　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　NINTH　DAY；　THE　FOURTH　NOVELL

　　　　　　　SERVING　AS　AN　ADMONITION　TO　ALL　MEN；　FOR　TAKING　GAMESTERS
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　AND　DRUNKARDS　INTO　THEIR　SERVICE

　　Francesco　Fortarigo；　played　away　all　that　he　had　at　Buonconvento；
and　likewise　the　money　of　Francesco　Aniolliero；　being　his　Master。　Then
running　after　him　in　his　shirt；　and　avouching　that　hee　had　robbed　him：
he　caused　him　to　be　taken　by　Pezants　of　the　Country；　clothed
himselfe　in　his　Masters　wearing　garments；　and　（mounted　on　his　horse）
rode　thence　to　Sienna；　leaving　Aniolliero　in　his　shirt；　and　walked
barefooted。

　　The　ridiculous　words　given　by　Calandrino　to　his　Wife；　all　the
whole　company　hartily　laughed　at：　but　a　Philostratus　ceassing；
Madame　Neiphila　（as　it　pleased　the　Queene　to　appoint）　began　to
speake　thus。　Vertuous　Ladies；　if　it　were　not　more　hard　and　uneasie　for
men；　to　make　good　their　understanding　and　vertue；　then　apparant
publication　of　their　disgrace　and　folly；　many　would　not　labour　in
vaine；　to　curbe　in　their　idle　speeches　with　a　bridle；　as　you　have
manifestly　observed　by　the　weake　wit　of　Calandrino。　Who　needed　no　such
fantastick　circumstance；　to　cure　the　strange　disease；　which　he
imagined　（by　sottish　perswasions）　to　have：　had　hee　not　been　so
lavish　of　his　tongue；　and　accused　his　Wife　of　overmastering　him。　Which
maketh　me　remember　a　Novell；　quite　contrary　to　this　last　related；
namely；　how　one　man　may　strive　to　surmount　another　in　malice；　yet　he
to　sustaine　the　greater　harme；　that　had　（at　the　first）　the　most
advantage　of　his　enemy；　as　I　will　presently　declare　unto　you。
　　There　dwelt　in　Sienna；　and　not　many　yeeres　since；　two　young　men　of
equall　age；　both　of　them　bearing　the　name　of　Francesco：　but　the　one
was　descended　of　the　Aniollieri；　and　the　other　likewise　of　the
Fortarigi；　so　that　they　were　commonly　called　Aniolliero；　and
Fortarigo；　both　Gentlemen；　and　well　derived。　Now；　although　in　many
other　matters；　their　complexions　did　differ　very　much：　Yet
notwithstanding；　they　varied　not　in　one　bad　qualitie；　namely　too　great
neglect　of　their　Fathers；　which　caused　their　more　frequent
conversation；　as　very　familiar　and　respective　friends。　But
Aniolliero　（being　a　very　goodly　and　faire　conditioned　young　Gentleman）
apparently　perceiving；　that　he　could　not　maintaine　himselfe　at　Sienna；
in　such　estate　as　he　liked；　and　upon　the　pension　allowed　him　by　his
Father；　hearing　also；　that　at　the　Marquisate　of　Ancona；　there　lived
the　Popes　Legate；　a　worthy　Cardinall；　his　much　indeared　good　Lord
and　friend：　he　intended　to　goe　visite　him；　as　hoping　to　advance　his
fortunes　by　him。
　　Having　acquainted　his　Father　with　this　determination；　he　concluded
with　him；　to　have　that　from　him　in　a　moment　which　might　supply　his
wants　because　he　would　be　clothed　gallantly；　and　mounted　honourably。
And　seeking　for　a　servant　necessary　to　attend　on　him；　it　chanced
that　Fortarigo　hearing　thereof；　came　presently　to　Aniolliero；
intreating　him　in　the　best　manner　he　could；　to　let　him　waite　on　him　as
his　serving　man；　promising　both　dutiful　and　diligent　attendance：　yet
not　to　deaund　any　other　wages；　but　onely　payment　of　his　ordinary
expences。　Aniolliero　made　him　answere；　that　he　durst　not　give　him
entertainment；　not　in　regard　of　his　insufficiency；　and　unaptnesse
for　service：　but　because　he　was　a　great　Gamester；　and　divers　times
would　be　beastly　drunke？　whereto　Fortarigo　replyed　that　hee　would
refraine　from　both　those　foule　vices；　and　addict　all　his　endeavor
wholly　to　please　him；　without　just　taxation　of　any　grosse　errour；
making　such　solemne　vowes　and　protestations　beside；　as　conquered
Aniolliero；　and　won　his　consent。
　　Being　entred　upon　his　journey；　and　arriving　in　a　morning　at
Buonconvento；　there　Aniolliero　determined　to　dine；　and　afterward；
finding　the　heate　to　be　unfit　for　travaile；　he　caused　a　bed　to　be
prepared；　wherein　being　laid　to　rest　by　the　helpe　of　Fortarigo；　he
gave　him　charge；　that　after　the　heates　violence　was　overpast；　hee
should　not　faile　to　call　and　awake　him。　While　Aniolliero　slept　thus　in
his　bed；　Fortarigo；　never　remembring　his　solemne　vowes　and　promises：
went　to　the　Taverne；　where　having　drunke　indifferently；　and　finding
company　fit　for　the　purpose；　he　fell　to　play　at　the　dice　with　them。　In
a　very　short　while；　he　had　not　onely　lost　his　money；　but　all　the
cloathes　on　his　backe　likewise；　and　coveting　to　recover　his　losses
againe；　naked　in　his　shirt；　he　went　to　Aniollieroes　Chamber；　where
finding　him　yet　soundly　sleeping；　he　tooke　all　the　money　he　had　in　his
purse；　and　then　returned　backe　to　play；　speeding　in　the　same　manner　as
hee　did　before；　not　having　one　poore　penny　left　him。
　　Aniolliero　chancing　to　awake；　arose　and　made　him　ready；　without
any　servant　to　helpe　him；　then　calling　for　Fortarigo；　and　not
hearing　any　tydings　of　him：　he　began　immediately　to　imagine；　that　he
was　become　drunke；　and　so　had　falne　asleepe　in　one　place　or　other；
as　very　often　he　was　wont　to　doe。　Wherefore；　determining　so　to　leave
him；　he　caused　the　male　and　Saddle　to　be　set　on　his　horse；　and　so　to
furnish　himselfe　with　a　more　honest　servant　at　Corsignano。
　　But　when　hee　came　to　pay　his　hoste；　hee　found　not　any　penny　left
him：　whereupon　（as　well　he　might）　he　grew　greatly　offended；　and　raised
much　trouble　in　the　house；　charged　the　hoasts　people　to　have　robde
him；　and　threatening　to　have　them　sent　as　prisoners　to　Sienna。
Suddenly　entred　Fortarigo　in　his　shirt；　with　intent　to　have　stolne
Aniollieroes　garments；　as　formerly　hee　did　the　money　out　of　his　purse；
and　seeing　him　ready　to　mount　on　horsebacke；　hee　saide。
　　How　now　Aniolliero？　What　shall　we　goe　away　so　soone？　I　pray　you
Sir　tarry　a　little　while；　for　an　honest　man　is　comming　hither；　who
hath　my　Doublet　engaged　for　eight　and　thirty　shillings；　and　I　am
sure　that　he　will　restore　it　me　back　for　five　and　thirty；　if　I　could
presently　pay　him　downe　the　money。
　　During　the　speeches；　an　other　entred　among　them；　who　assured
Aniolliero；　that　Fortarigo　was　the　Thiefe　which　robde　him　of　his
money；　shewing　him　also　how　much　hee　had　lost　at　the　Dice：　Wherewith
Aniolliero　being　much　mooved；　very　angerly　reprooved　Fortarigo；　and；
but　for　feare　of　the　La