the decameron(十日谈)-第146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！


never　repute　me　heereafter　for　thy　Kinsman　and　Friend。　He　is　falne
in　love　with　a　Woman　of　the　common　gender；　one　that　is　to　be　hired　for
money：　he　hath　his　private　meetings　with　her；　and　the　place　is
partly　knowne　to　me；　as　by　a　secret　appointment　（made　very　lately）　I
am　credibly　given　to　understand；　wherefore　walke　presently　along
with　me；　and　thou　shalt　take　him　in　the　heat　of　his　knavery。
　　All　the　while　as　these　words　were　uttering　to　her；　shee　could　not
dissemble　her　inward　impatience；　but　starting　up　as　halfe　franticke
with　fury。　she　said。　O　notorious　villaine！　Darest　thou　abuse　thine
honest　wife　so　basely？　I　sweare　by　blessed　Saint　Bridget；　thou　shalt
be　paid　with　coyne　of　thine　owne　stampe。　So　casting　a　light　wearing
Cloake　about　her；　and　taking　a　yong　woman　in　her　company；　shee　went
away　with　Nello　in　no　meane　haste。　Bruno　seeing　her　comming　a　farre
off；　said　to　Phillippo：　You　Sir；　you　know　what　is　to　be　done；　act　your
part　according　to　your　appointment。　Phillippo　went　immediately　into
the　roome；　where　Calandrino　and　his　other　Consorts　were　at　worke；
and　said　to　them。　Honest　friends；　I　have　certaine　occasions　which
command　mine　instant　being　at　Florence：　worke　hard　while　I　am
absent；　and　I　will　not　be　unthankefull　for　it。　Away　hee　departed
from　them；　and　hid　himselfe　in　a　convenient　place；　where　he　could
not　be　descryed；　yet　see　whatsoever　Calandrino　did：　who　when　he
imagined　Phillippo　to　be　farre　enough　off；　descended　downe　into　the
Court；　where　he　found　Nicholetta　sitting　alone；　and　going　towards　her；
began　to　enter　into　discoursing　with　her。
　　She　knowing　what　remained　to　bee　done　on　her　behalfe；　drew
somewhat　neere　him；　and　shewed　her　selfe　more　familiar　then　formerly
she　had　done：　by　which　favourable　meanes；　he　touched　her　with　the
charmed　Parchment；　which　was　no　sooner　done；　but　with　out　using　any
other　kinde　of　language；　hee　went　to　the　hay…Barne；　whither
Nicholletta　followed　him；　and　both　being　entred；　he　closed　the　Barne
doore；　and　then　stood　gazing　on　her；　as　if　hee　had　never　seene　her
before。　Standing　stil　as　in　a　study；　or　bethinking　himselfe　what　he
should　say：　she　began　to　use　affable　gesture　to　him；　and　taking　him　by
the　hand；　made　shew　as　if　shee　meant　to　kisse　him；　which　yet　she
refrained；　though　he　（rather　then　his　life）　would　gladly　have　had
it。　Why　how　now　deare　Calandrino　（quoth　she）　jewell　of　my　joy；　comfort
of　my　heart；　how　many　times　have　I　longed　for　thy　sweet　Company？　And
enjoying　it　now；　according　to　mine　owne　desire；　dost　thou　stand　like　a
Statue；　or　man　alla　morte？　The　rare　tunes　of　the　Gitterne；　but　（much
more）　the　melodious　accents　of　thy　voyce；　excelling　Orpheus　or
Amphion；　so　ravished　my　soule；　as　I　know　not　how　to　expresse　the　depth
of　mine　affection；　and　yet　hast　thou　brought　me　hither；　onely　to　looke
babies　in　mine　eyes；　and　not　so　much　as　speake　one　kinde　word　to　me？
　　Bruno　and　Buffalmaco；　having　hid　themselves　close　behinde
Philippo；　they　both　heard　and　saw　all　this　amourous　conflict；　and　as
Calandrino　was　quickning　his　courage；　and　wiping　his　mouth；　with
intent　to　kisse　her：　his　wife　and　Nello　entred　into　the　Barne；　which
caused　Nicholetta　to　get　her　gone　presently；　sheltring　her　self
where　Philippo　lay　scouting。　But　the　enraged　woman　ranne　furiously
upon　poore　daunted　Calandrino；　making　such　a　pitiful　massacre　with　her
nailes；　and　tearing　the　baire　from　his　head；　as　hee　meerely　looked
like　an　infected　Anatomy。　Fowle　loathsome　dog　（quoth　she）　must　you
be　at　your　minions；　and　leave　mee　hunger…starved　at　home？　An　olde
knave　with　（almost）　never　a　good　tooth　in　thy　head；　and　yet　art　thou
neighing　after　young　wenches？　hast　thou　not　worke　enough　at　home；
but　must　bee　gadding　in　to　other　mens　grounds？　Are　these　the　fruites
of　wandring　abroad？
　Calandrino　being　in　this　pittifull　perplexity；　stood　like　one　neither
alive　nor　dead；　nor　daring　to　use　any　resistance　against　her；　but　fell
on　his　knees　before　his　Wife；　holding　up　his　hands　for　mercy；　and
entreating　her　（for　charities　sake）　not　to　torment　him　any　more：　for
he　had　committed　no　harme　at　all；　and　the　Gentlewoman　was　his
Masters　Wife；　who　came　with　no　such　intent　thither；　as　shee　fondly
imagined。　Wife；　or　wife　not　（quoth　she）　I　would　have　none　to　meddle
with　my　I　but　I　that　have　the　most　right　to　him。
　　Bruno　and　Buffalmaco；　who　had　laughed　all　this　while　heartily　at
this　pastime；　with　Phillippo　and　Nicholetta；　came　running　in　haste
to　know　the　reason　of　this　loude　noise；　and　after　they　had　pacified
the　woman　with　gentle　perswasions：　they　advised　Calandrino；　to　walke
with　his　Wife　to　Florence；　and　returne　no　more　to　worke　there
againe；　least　Phillippo　hearing　what　had　hapned；　should　be　revenged　on
him　with　some　outrage。　Thus　poore　Calandrino　miserably　misused　and
beaten；　went　home　to　Florence　with　his　Wife；　scoulded　and　raild　at　all
the　way；　beside　his　other　molestations　（day　and　night）　afterward：
his　Companions；　Phillippo　and　Nicholetta；　making　themselves　merry　at
his　mis…fortune。




　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　NINTH　DAY；　THE　SIXT　NOVELL

　　　　　　WHEREIN　IS　MANIFESTED；　THAT　AN　OFFENCE　COMMITTED　IGNORANTLY；
　　　　　　　AND　BY　MISTAKING；　OUGHT　TO　BE　COVERED　WITH　GOOD　ADVISE；　AND
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　CIVILL　DISCRETION

　　Two　yong　Gentlemen；　the　one　named　Panuccio；　and　the　other　Adriano；
lodged　one　night　in　a　poore　Inne；　where　one　of　them　went　to　bed　to　the
Hostes　Daughter；　and　the　other　（by　mistaking　his　way　in　the　darke）
to　the　Hostes　Wife。　He　which　lay　with　the　daughter；　happened　afterward
to　the　Hostes　bed　and　told　him　what　he　had　done；　as　thinking　he
spake　to　his　own　companyon。　Discontentment　growing　betweene　them；
the　Mother　perceiving　her　errour；　went　to　bed　to　her　daughter；　and
with　discreete　language；　made　a　generall　pacification。

　　Calandrino；　whose　mishaps　had　so　many　times　made　the　whole
assembly　merry；　and　this　last　passing　among　them　with　indifferent
commendations：　upon　a　generall　silence　commanded；　the　Queene　gave
order　to　Pamphilus；　that　hee　should　follow　next；　as　indeed　he　did；
beginning　thus。　Praiseworthy　Ladies；　the　name　of　Nicoletta；　so
fondly　affected　by　Calandrino；　putteth　mee　in　minde　of　a　Novell；
concerning　another　Nicoletta；　of　whom　I　purpose　to　speake：　to　the　ende
you　may　observe　how　by　a　sudden　wary　fore…sight；　a　discreet　woman
compassed　the　meanes　to　avoyde　a　notorious　scandall。
　　On　the　plaine　of　Mugnone；　neere　to　Florence；　dwelt　（not　long
since）　an　honest　meane　man；　who　kept　a　poore　Inne　or　Ostery　for
travellers；　where　they　might　have　some　slender　entertainement　for
their　money。　As　he　was　but　a　poore　man；　so　his　house　affoorded　but
very　small　receit　of　guests；　not　lodging　any　but　on　necessity；　and
such　as　he　had　some　knowledge　of。　This　honest　poore　hoste　had　a
woman　（sufficiently　faire）　to　his　wife；　by　whom　hee　had　also　two
children；　the　one　a　comely　young　maiden；　aged　about　fifteene　yeares；
and　the　other　a　sonne；　not　fully　（as　yet）　a　yeare　old；　and　sucking
on　the　mothers　brest。
　　A　comely　youthfull　Gentleman　of　our　City；　became　amorously
affected　to　the　Damosell；　resorting　thither　divers　times　as　hee
travelled　on　the　way；　to　expresse　how　much　he　did　respect　her。　And　she
accounting　her　fortune　none　of　the　meanest；　to　bee　beloved　by　so
youthfull　a　Gallant；　declared　such　vertuous　and　modest　demeanour；　as
might　deserve　his　best　opinion　of　her：　so　that　their　love　grew　to　an
equall　simpathy；　and　mutuall　contentment　of　them　both；　in
expectation　of　further　effects；　he　being　named　Panuccio；　and　she
Nicholletta。
　　The　heate　of　affection　thus　encreasing　day　by　day；　Panuccio　grew
exceedingly　desirous　to　enjoy　the　fruits　of　hi；　long　continued　liking；
and　divers　devises　mustred　in　his　braine；　how　he　might　compasse　one
nights　lodging　in　her　fathers　house；　whereof　hee　knew　every　part　and
parcell；　as　not　doubting　to　effect　what　hee　desired；　yet
undiscovered　by　any；　but　the　maide　her　selfe。
　　According　as　his　intention　aymed；　so　he　longed　to　put　it　in
execution；　and　having　imparted　his　mind　to　an　honest　loyall　friend；
named　Adriano；　who　was　acquainted　with　the　course　of　his　love：
hyring　two　horses；　and　having　Portmantues　behind　them；　filled　with
matters　of　no　moment；　they　departed　from　Florence；　as　if　they　had　some
great　journey　to　ride。　Having　spent　the　day　time　where　themselves　best
pleased；　darke　night　being　entred；　they　arrived　on　the　plaine　of
Mugnone；　where；　as　if　they　were　come　from　the　parts　of　Romanio；　they
rode　directly　to　this　poore　Inne；　and　knocking　at　the　doore；　the
honest　Hoste　（being　familiar　and　friendly　to　all　commers）　opened　the
doore；　when　Panuccio　spake　in　this　manner　to　him。　Good　man；　we　must
request　one　nights　lodging　with　you；　for　we　thought　to　have　reached　so
farre　as　Florence；　but　dark　night　preventing　us；　you　see　at　what　a
late　houre　wee　are　come　hither。　Signior　Panuccio；　answered　the
hoste；　it　is　not　unknowne　to　you；　how　unfiting　my　poore　house　is；
for　entertaining　such　guests　as　you　are：　Neverthelesse；　seeing　you　are
overtaken　by　so　unseasonable　an　houre；　and　no　other　place　is　neere　for
your　receite；　I　will　gladly　lodge　you　so　well　as　I　can。
　　When　they　were　dismounted　from　their　horses；　and　entred　into　the
simple　Inne：　having　taken　order　for　feeding　their　horses；　they
accepted　such　provision；　as　the　place　and　time　afforded；　requesting
the　Hoste　to　suppe　with　them。　Now　I　am　to　tell　you；　that　there　was　but
one　small　Chamsber　in　the　house；　wherin　stood　three　beds；　as　best
the　Hoste　had　devised　to　place　them；　two　of　them　standing　by　the
walles　side；　and　the　third　fronting　them　both；　but　with　such　close　and
narrow　passage；　as　very　hardly　could　one　step　betweene　them。　The
best　of　these　three　beds　was　appointed　for　the　Gentlemen；　and
therein　they　layd　them　down　to　rest；　but　sleepe　they　could　not；　albeit
they　dissembled　it　very　formally。　In　the　second　Bed　was　Nicholetta　the
daughter；　lodged　by　her　selfe；　and　the　father　and　mother　in　the　third；
and　because　she　was　to　give　the　child　sucke　in　the　night　time；　the
radle　（wherein　it　lay）　stood　close　by　their　beds　side；　because　the
childes　crying　or　any　other　occasion　concerning　it；　should　not
disquiet　the　Gentlemen。
　　Panuccio　having　subtily　observed　all　this；　and　in　what　manner　they
went　to　bed；　after　such　a　space　of　time；　as　he　imagined　them　to　be　all
fast　asleepe；　he　arose　very　softly；　and　stealing　to　the　bed　of
Nicholetta；　lay　downe　gently　by　her。　And　albeit　she　seemed　somewhat
afraid　at　the　first；　yet　wheri　she　perceived　who　it　was；　shee　rather
bad　him　welcome；　then　shewed　her　selfe　any　way　discontented。　Now　while
Panuccio　continued　thus　with　the　maide；　it　fortuned　that　a　Cat　threw
down　somewhat　in　the　house；　the　noise　wherof　awaked　the　wife；　and
fearing　greater　harme；　then　（indeed）　had　hapned；　she　arose　without　a
Candle；　and　went　groping　in　the　darke；　towards　the　place　where　shee
heard　the　noyse。　Adriano；　who　had　no　other　meaning　but　well；　found
occasion　also　to　rise；　about　some　naturall　necessity；　and　making　his
passage　in　the　darke；　stumbled　on　the　childes　Cradle　（in　the　way）
where　the　woman　had　set　it；　and　being　unable　to　passe　by；　without
removing　it　from　the　place：　tooke　and　set　it　by　his　owne　beds　side；
and　having　done　the　businesse　for　which　he　rose；　returned　to　his　bed
againe；　never　reme