the decameron(十日谈)-第147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！


and　having　done　the　businesse　for　which　he　rose；　returned　to　his　bed
againe；　never　remembring　to　set　the　Cradle　where　first　he　found　it。
　　The　Wife　having　found　the　thing　throwne　downe　being　of　no　value　or
moment；　cared　not　for　lighting　any　candle；　but　rating　the　Cat；
returned　backe；　feeling　for　the　bed　where　her　Husband　lay；　but　finding
not　the　Cradle　there；　she　said　to　her　selfe。　What　a　foolish　woman　am
I；　that　cannot　well　tell　my　selfe　what　I　doe？　Instead　of　my　Husbands
bed；　I　am　going　to　both　my　guests。
　　So；　stepping　on　a　little　further；　she　found　the　childes　Cradle；
and　laid　her　selfe　downe　by　Adriano；　thinking　shee　had　gone　right　to
her　Husband。　Adriano　being　not　yet　falne　asleepe；　feeling　the　hostesse
in　bed　with　him：　tooke　advantage　of　so　faire　an　occasion　offered；
and　what　he　did；　is　no　businesse　of　mine；　（as　I　heard）　neither　found
the　woman　any　fault。　Matters　comming　to　passe　in　this　strange
manner；　and　Panuccio　fearing；　lest　sleepe　seazing　on　him；　he　might
disgrace　the　maides　reputation：　taking　his　kinde　farewell　of　her；　with
many　kisses　and　sweet　imbraces：　returned　againe　to　his　owne　Bed；　but
meeting　with　the　Cradle　in　his　way；　and　thinking　it　stood　by　the
hostes　Bed；　（as　truely　it　did　so　at　the　first）　went　backe　from　the
Cradle；　and　stept　into　the　hostes　Bed　indeed；　who　awaked　upon　his　very
entrance；　albeit　he　slept　very　soundly　before。
　　Panuccio　supposing　that　he　was　laid　downe　by　his　loving　friend
Adriano；　merrily　said　to　the　Hoste。　I　protest　to　thee；　as　I　am　a
Gentleman；　Nicholetta　is　a　dainty　delicate　wench；　and　worthy　to　be　a
very　good　mans　wife：　this　night　shee　hath　given　mee　the　sweetest
entertainement；　as　the　best　Prince　in　the　world　can　wish　no　better；
and　I　have　kist　her　most　kindly　for　it。　The　Hoste　hearing　these　newes；
which　seemed　very　unwelcome　to　him；　said　first　to　himself：　What　make
such　a　devill　heere　in　my　Bedde？　Afterward　being　more　rashly　angry；
then　well　advised；　hee　said　to　Panuccio。　Canst　thou　make　vaunt　of　such
a　mounstrous　villany？　Or　thinkest　thou；　that　heaven　hath　not　due
vengeance　in　store；　to　requite　all　wicked　deeds　of　darkenesse？　If
all　should　sleepe；　yet　I　have　courage　sufficient　to　right　my　wrong；
and　yet　as　olde　as　I　am　to　rig　thou　shalt　be　sure　to　finde　it。
　　Our　amorous　Panuccio　being　none　of　the　wisest　young　men　in　the
world；　perceiving　his　errour；　sought　not　to　amend　it；　（as　well　he
might　have　done）　with　some　queint　straine　of　wit；　carried　in　quick　and
cleanly　manner；　but　angerly　answered。　What　shall　I　find　that　thou
darst　doe　to　me？　am　I　any　way　afraid　of　thy　threatnings？　The　Hostes
imagining　she　was　in　bed　with　her　Husband；　said　to　Adriano：　Harke
Husband；　I　thinke　our　Guests　are　quarrelling　together；　I　hope　they
will　doe　no　harme　to　one　another。　Adriano　laughing　outright；　answered。
Let　them　alone；　and　become　friends　againe　as　they　fell　out：　perhaps
they　dranke　too　much　yesternight。
　　The　woman　perceiving　that　it　was　her　husband　that　quarrelled；　and
distinguishing　the　voyce　of　Adriano　from　his：　knew　presently　where
shee　was；　and　with　whom；　wherefore　having　wit　at　will；　and　desirous　to
cloude　an　error　unadvisedly　committed；　and　with　no　willing　consent
of　her　selfe：　without　returning　any　more　words；　presently　she　rose；
and　taking　the　Cradle　with　the　child　in　it；　removed　it　the　to　her
daughters　bed　side；　although　shee　had　no　light　to　helpe　her；　and
afterward　went　to　bed　to　her；　where　（as　if　she　were　but　newly
awaked）　she　called　her　Husband；　to　understand　what　angry　speeches
had　past　betweene　him　and　Panuccio。　The　Hoste　replyed；　saying。　Didst
thou　not　heare　him　wife；　brag　and　boast；　how　he　hath　lyen　this　night
with　our　daughter　Nicholetta？　Husband　（quoth　she）　he　is　no　honest
Gentleman；　if　hee　should　say　so；　and　beleeve　me　it　is　a　manifest
lye；　for　I　am　in　bed　with　her　my　selfe；　and　never　yet　closed　mine　eyes
together；　since　the　first　houre　I　laid　me　downe：　it　is　unmannerly　done
of　him　to　speake　it；　and　you　are　little　lesse　then　a　logger…head；　if
you　doe　beleeve　it。　This　proceedeth　from　your　bibbing　and　swilling
yesternight；　which　（as　it　seemeth）　maketh　you　to　walke　about　the　roome
in　your　sleepe；　dreaming　of　wonders　in　the　night　season：　it　were　no
great　sinne　if　you　brake　your　neck；　to　teach　you　keepe　a　fairer
quarter；　and　how　commeth　it　to　passe；　that　Signior　Panuccio　could
not　keepe　himselfe　in　his　owne　bed？
　　Adriano　（on　the　other　side）　perceiving　how　wisely　the　woman
excused　her　owne　shame　and　her　daughters；　to　backe　her　in　a
businesse　so　cunningly　begun；　he　called　to　Panuccio；　saying。　Have
not　I　tolde　thee　an　hundred　times；　that　thou　art　not　fit　to　lye　any
where；　out　of　thine　owne　lodging？　What　a　shame　is　this　base
imperfection　to　thee；　by　rising　and　walking　thus　in　the　night…time；
according　as　thy　dreames　doe　wantonly　delude　thee；　and　cause　thee　to
forsake　thy　bed；　telling　nothing　but　lies　and　fables；　yet　avouching
them　for　manifest　truthes？　Assuredly　this　will　procure　no　meane　perill
unto　thee：　Come　hither；　and　keepe　in　thine　owne　bedde　for　meere　shame。
　　When　the　honest　meaning　Host　heard；　what　his　own　Wife　and　Adriano
had　confirmed：　he　was　verily　perswaded；　that　Panuccio　spake　in　a
dreame　all　this　while：　And　to　make　it　the　more　constantly　apparant；
Panuccio　（being　now　growne　wiser　by　others　example）　lay　talking　and
blundring　to　himselfe；　even　as　if　dreames　or　perturbations　of　the
minde　did　much　molest　him；　with　strange　distractions　in　franticke
manner。　Which　the　Hoste　perceiving；　and　compassionating　his　case；　as
one　man　should　do　anothers：　he　tooke　him　by　the　shoulders；　jogging　and
hunching　him；　saying。　Awake　Signior　Panuccio；　and　get　you　gone　hence
to　your　owne　bed。
　　Panuccio；　yawning　and　stretching　out　his　limbes；　with　unusuall
groanes　and　respirations；　such　as　（better）　could　bee　hardly
dissembled：　seemed　to　wake　as　out　of　a　traunce；　and　calling　his　friend
Adriano；　said。
　　Adriano；　is　it　day；　that　thou　dost　waken　me？　It　may　be　day　or
night　replyed　Adriano；　for　both　（in　these　fits）　are　alike　to　thee。
Arise　man　for　shame；　and　come　to　thine　lodging。　Then　faining　to　be
much　troubled　and　sleepie；　he　arose　from　the　hoast；　and　went　to
Adrianoes　bed。
　　When　it　was　day；　and　all　in　the　house　risen；　the　hoast　began　to
smile　at　Panuccio；　mocking　him　with　his　idle　dreaming　and　talking　in
the　night。
　　So；　falling　from　one　merry　matter　to　another；　yet　without　any
mislike　at　all：　the　Gentlemen；　having　their　horses　prepared；　and　their
Portmantues　fastened　behind；　drinking　to　their　hoast；　mounted　on
horsebacke；　and　they　roade　away　towards　Florence；　no　lesse　contented
with　the　manner　of　occasions　happened；　then　the　effects　they　sorted
to。　Afterward；　other　courses　were　taken；　for　the　continuance　of　this
begun　pleasure　with　Nicholetta；　who　made　her　mother　beleeve；　that
Panuccio　did　nothing　else　but　dreame。　And　the　mother　her　selfe
remembring　how　kindely　Adriano　had　used　her　（a　fortune　not　expected　by
her　before：）　was　more　then　halfe　of　the　minde；　that　she　did　then
dreame　also；　while　she　was　waking。




　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　NINTH　DAY；　THE　SEVENTH　NOVELL

　　　　　　WHEREBY　（WITH　SOME　INDIFFERENT　REASON）　IT　IS　CONCLUDED；　THAT
　　　　　　　　　　　　　DREAMES　DO　NOT　ALWAYES　FALL　OUT　TO　BE　LEASINGS

　　Talano　de　Molese　dreamed；　That　a　Wolfe　rent　and　tore　his　wives
face　and　throate。　Which　dreame　he　told　to　her；　with　advise　to　keepe
her　selfe　out　of　danger；　which　she　refusing　to　doe；　received　what
followed。

　　By　the　conclusion　of　Pamphilus　his　Novel；　wherein　the　womans　ready
wit；　at　a　time　of　such　necessity；　carried　deserved　commendations：
the　Queen　gave　command　to　Madam　Pampinea；　that　she　should　next　begin
with　hers；　and　so　she　did；　in　this　manner。　In　some　discourses
（gracious　Ladies）　already　past　among　us；　the　truth　of　apparitions　in
dreames　hath　partly　bin　approved；　whereof　very　many　have　made　a
mockery。　Neverthelesse；　whatsoever　hath　heeretofore　bin　sayde；　I
purpose　to　acquaint　you　with　a　very　short　Novell；　of　a　strange
accident　happening　unto　a　neighbour　of　mine；　in　not　crediting　a　Dreame
which　her　Husband　told　her。
　　I　cannot　tell；　whether　you　knew　Talano　de　Molese；　or　no；　a　man　of
much　honour；　who　tooke　to　wife　a　yong　Gentlewoman；　named　Margarita；　as
beautifull　as　the　best：　but　yet　so　peevish；　scornefull；　and
fantasticall；　that　she　disdained　any　good　advice　given　her；　neyther
could　any　thing　be　done；　to　cause　her　contentment；　which　absurd　humors
were　highly　displeasing　to　her　husband：　but　in　regard　he　knew　not
how　to　helpe　it；　constrainedly　he　did　endure　it。　It　came　to　passe；
that　Talano　being　with　his　wife；　at　a　summer…house　of　his　owne　in
the　country；　he　dreamed　one　night；　that　he　saw　his　Wife　walking　in　a
faire　wood；　which　adjoyned　neere　unto　his　house；　and　while　she　thus
continued　there；　he　seemed　to　see　issue　foorth　from　a　corner　of　the
said　Wood；　a　great　and　furious　Wolfe；　which　on　her；　caught　her　by
the　face　and　throate；　drawing　her　downe　to　the　earth；　and　offering
to　drag　her　thence。　But　he　crying　out　for　helpe；　recovered　her　from
the　Wolfe；　yet　having　her　face　and　throat　very　pitifully　rent　and
torne。
　　In　regard　of　this　terrifying　dreame；　when　Talano　was　risen　in　the
morning；　and　sate　conversing　with　his　wife；　he　spake　thus　unto　hir。
Woman；　although　thy　froward　wilfull　Nature　be　such；　as　hath　not
permitted　me　one　pleasing　day　with　thee；　since　first　we　becam　man
and　wife；　but　rather　my　life　hath　bene　most　tedious　to　me；　as
fearing　still　some　mischeefe　should　happen　to　thee：　yet　let　mee　now　in
loving　manner　advise　thee；　to　follow　my　counsell；　and　（this　day）　not
to　walke　abroad　out　of　this　house。　She　demanded　a　reason　for　this
advice　of　his。　He　related　to　her　every　particular　of　his　dreame；
adding　with　all　these　speeches。
　　True　it　is　Wife　（quoth　he）　that　little　credit　should　bee　given　to
dreames：　neverthelesse；　when　they　deliver　advertisement　of　harmes　to
ensue；　there　is　nothing　lost　by　shunning　and　avoiding　them。　She
fleering　in　his　face；　and　shaking　her　head　at　him；　replyed。　Such
harmes　as　thou　wishest；　such　thou　dreamest　of。　Thou　pretendest　much
pittie　and　care　of　me；　but　all　to　no　other　end：　but　what　mischeefes
thou　dreamest　happening　unto　mee；　so　wouldest　thou　see　them　effected
on　me。　Wherefore；　I　will　well　enough　looke　to　my　selfe；　both　this　day；
and　at　all　times　else：　because　thou　shalt　never　make　thy　selfe
merry；　with　any　such　misfortune　as　thou　wishest　unto　me。
　　Well　Wife；　answered　Talano；　I　knew　well　enough　before；　what　thou
wouldst　say：　An　unsound　head　is　soone　scratcht　with　the　very
gentlest　Combe：　but　beleeve　as　thou　pleasest。　As　for　my　selfe；　I
speake　with　a　true　and　honest　meaning　soule；　and　once　againe　I　do
advise　thee；　to　keepe　within　our　doores　all　this　day：　at　least　wise
beware；　that　thou　walke　not　into　our　wood；　bee　it　but　in　regard　of
my　dreame。　Well　sir　（quoth　she　scoffingly）　once　you　shall　say；　I
followed　your　counsell：　but　within　her　selfe　she　fell　to　this
murmuring。　Now　I　perceive　my　husbands　cunning　colouring；　and　why　I
must　not　walke　this　day　into　our　wood：　he　hath　made　a　compact　with
some　common　Queane；　closely　to　have　her　company　there；　and　is
afraide　least　I　should　take　them　tardy。　Belike　he　would　have　me　feed
among　blinde　folke；　and　I　were　worthy　to　bee　thought　a　starke　foole；
if　I　should　not　prevent　a