the decameron(十日谈)-第15章

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demeanour；　deserveth　a　Lady　of　farre　greater　worth；　although　（perhaps）
Nobility　in　blood　be　denied　him；　and　may　make　him　seeme　not　so
excellent；　as　one　derived　from　Royall　discent。　Holy　and　religious
vowes　have　past　betweene　us　both；　and　the　Ring　on　his　finger；　is　the
firme　pledge　of　my　faith　and　constancie；　never　to　accept　any　other　man
in　marriage；　but　him　onely；　although　my　Father；　or　any　else　doe
dislike　it。　Wherefore　（holy　Father）　the　principall　cause　of　my　comming
hither；　being　already　effectually　concluded　on；　I　desire　to　compleat
the　rest　of　my　Pilgrimage；　by　visiting　the　sanctified　places　in　this
City；　whereof　there　are　great　plenty：　And　also；　that　sacred
marriage；　being　contracted　in　the　presence　of　God　onely；　betweene
Alessandro　and　my　selfe；　may　by　you　be　publikely　confirmed；　and　in
an　open　congregation。　For；　seeing　God　hath　so　appointed　it；　and　our
soules　have　so　solemnely　vowed　it；　that　no　disaster　whatsoever　can
alter　it：　you　being　Gods　Vicar　here　on　earth；　I　hope　will　not
gainesay；　but　confirme　it　with　your　fatherly　benediction；　that　wee　may
live　in　Gods　feare；　and　dye　in　his　favour。
　　Perswade　your　selves　（faire　Ladies）　that　Alessandro　was　in　no
meane　admiration；　when　hee　heard；　that　his　wife　was　daughter　to　the
King　of　England；　unspeakable　joy　（questionlesse）　wholly　overcame
him：　but　the　two　Knights　were　not　a　little　troubled　and　offended；　at
such　a　straunge　and　unexpected　accident；　yea；　so　violent　were　their
passions；　that　had　they　beene　any　where　else；　then　in　the　Popes
presence；　Alessandro　had　felt　their　furie；　and　（perhaps）　the　Princesse
her　selfe　too。　On　the　other　side；　the　Pope　was　much　amazed　at　the
habite　she　went　disguised　in；　and　likewise　at　the　election　of　her
husband；　but；　perceiving　there　was　no　resistance　to　be　made　against
it；　hee　yeelded　the　more　willingly　to　satisfie　her　desire。　And
therefore；　having　first　comforted　the　two　Knights；　and　made　peace
betweene　them；　the　Princesse；　and　Alessandro；　he　gave　order　for　the
rest　that　was　to　be　done。
　　When　the　appointed　day　for　the　solemnity　was　come；　hee　caused　the
Princesse　（cloathed　in　most　rich　and　royall　garments）　to　appeare
before　all　the　Cardinals；　and　many　other　great　persons　then　in
presence；　who　were　come　to　this　worthy　Feast；　which　hee　had　caused
purposely　to　bee　prepared；　where　she　seemed　so　faire　and　goodly　a
Lady；　that　every　eye　was　highly　delighted　to　behold　her；　commending
her　with　no　meane　admiration。　In　like　manner　was　Alessandro　greatly
honoured　by　the　two　Knights；　being　most　sumptuous　in　appearance；　and
not　like　a　man　that　had　lent　money　to　usury；　but　rather　of　very　royall
quality；　the　Pope　himselfe　celebrating　the　marriage　betweene　them；
which　being　finished；　with　the　most　magnificent　pompe　that　could　be
devised；　hee　gave　them　his　benediction；　and　licenced　their　departure
thence。
　　Alessandro；　his　Princesse　and　her　traine　thus　leaving　Rome；　they
would　needes　visite　Florence；　where　the　newes　of　this　accident　was
（long　before）　noysed；　and　they　received　by　the　Citizens　in　royall
manner。　There　did　shee　deliver　the　three　brethren　out　of　prison；
having　first　payed　all　their　debts；　and　reseated　them　againe　（with
their　wives）　in　their　former　inheritances　and　possessions。
Afterward；　departing　from　Florence；　and　Agolanto；　one　of　the　Uncles
travailing　with　them　to　Paris；　they　were　there　also　most　honourably
entertained　by　the　King　of　France。　From　whence　the　two　Knights　went
before　for　England；　and　prevailed　so　successefully　with　the　King；　that
hee　received　his　daughter　into　grace　and　favour；　as　also　his　Sonne
in　law　her　husband；　to　whom　hee　gave　the　order　of　Knighthoode；　and
（for　his　greater　dignitie）　created　him　Earle　of　Cornewall。
　　And　such　was　the　noble　spirit　of　Alessandro；　that　he　pacified　the
troubles　betweene　the　King　and　his　sonne；　whereon　ensued　great　comfort
to　the　Kingdome；　winning　the　love　and　favour　of　all　the　people；　and
Agolanto　（by　the　meanes　of　Alessandro）　recovered　all　that　was　due　to
him　and　his　brethren　in　England；　returning　richly　home　to　Florence；
Count　Alessandro　（his　kinsman）　having　first　dub'd　him　Knight。　Long
time　he　lived　in　peace　and　tranquility；　with　the　faire　Princesse　his
wife；　proving　to　be　so　absolute　in　wisedome；　and　so　famous　a　Souldier；
that　（as　some　report）　by　assistance　of　his　Father　in　law；　he　conquered
the　Realme　of　Ireland；　and　was　crowned　King　thereof。




　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　SECOND　DAY；　THE　FOURTH　NOVELL

　　　　　　WHEREBY　MAY　BE　DISCERNED；　INTO　HOW　MANY　DANGERS　A　MAN　MAY
　　　　　　　　　FALL；　THROUGH　A　COVETOUS　DESIRE　TO　ENRICH　HIMSELFE

　　Landolpho　Ruffolo；　falling　into　poverty；　became　a　Pirate　on　the
Seas；　and　being　taken　by　the　Genewayes；　hardly　escaped　drowning：　Which
yet　（neverthelesse）　he　did；　upon　a　little　Chest　or　Coffer；　full　of
very　rich　Jewels；　being　carried　thereon　to　Corfu；　where　he　was　well
entertained　by　a　good　woman；　And　afterward；　returned　richly　home　to
his　owne　house。

　　Madam　Lauretta；　sitting　next　to　Madam　Pampinea；　and　seeing　how
triumphantly　she　had　finished　her　discourse；　without　attending　any
thing　else；　spake　thus。　Gracious　Ladies；　we　shall　never　behold　（in
mine　opinion）　a　greater　act　of　Fortune；　then　to　see　a　man　so　suddainly
exalted；　even　from　the　lowest　depth　of　poverty；　to　a　Royall　estate
of　dignity；　as　the　discourse　of　Madam　Pampinea　hath　made　good；　by
the　happy　advancement　of　Alessandro。　And　because　it　appeareth
necessary；　that　whosoever　discourseth　on　the　subject　proposed；
should　no　way　vary　from　the　very　same　termes；　I　shall　not　shame　to
tell　a　tale；　which；　though　it　containe　far　greater　mishapes　then　the
former；　may　sort　to　as　happy　an　issue；　albeit　not　so　noble　and
magnificent。　In　which　respect；　it　may　（perhaps）　merit　the　lesse
attention；　but　howsoever　that　fault　shall　be　found　in　you；　I　meane
to　discharge　mine　owne　duty。
　　　Opinion　hath　made　it　famous　for　long　time；　that　the　Seacoast　of
Rhegium　to　Gaieta；　is　the　onely　delactable　part　of　all　Italy；　wherein；
somewhat　neere　to　Salerno；　is　a　shore　looking　upon　the　Sea；　which
the　inhabitants　there　dwelling；　doe　call　the　coast　of　Malfy；　full　of
small　Townes；　Gardens；　Springs；　and　wealthy　men；　trading　in　as　many
kindes　of　Merchandizes；　as　any　other　people　that　I　know。　Among　which
Townes；　there　is　one；　named　Ravello；　wherein　（as　yet　to　this　day　there
are　rich　people）　there　was　（not　long　since）　a　very　wealthy　man；
named　Landolpho　Ruffolo；　who　being　not　contented　with　his　riches；
but　coveting　to　multiply　them　double　and　trebble；　fell　in　danger；　to
loose　both　himselfe　and　wealth　together。　This　man　（as　other
Merchants　are　wont　to　doe）　after　hee　had　considered　on　his　affaires；
bought　him　a　very　goodly　Ship；　lading　it　with　divers　sorts　of
Merchandizes；　all　belonging　to　himselfe　onely；　and　making　his　voyage
to　the　Isle　of　Cyprus。　Where　he　found；　over　and　beside　the
Merchandizes　he　had　brought　thither；　many　Ships　more　there　arrived；
and　all　laden　with　the　same　commodities；　in　regard　whereof；　it　was
needefull　for　him；　not　onely　to　make　a　good　Mart　of　his　goods；　but
also　was　further　constrained　（if　hee　meant　to　vent　his　commodities）　to
sell　them　away　（almost）　for　nothing；　endangering　his　utter　destruction
and　overthrow。　Whereupon；　grieving　exceedingly　at　so　great　a　losse；
not　knowing　what　to　doe；　and　seeing；　that　from　very　aboundant
wealth；　hee　was　likely　to　fall　into　as　low　poverty：　he　resolved　to
die；　or　to　recompence　his　losses　upon　others；　because　he　would　not
returne　home　poore；　having　departed　thence　so　rich。
　　Meeting　with　a　Merchant；　that　bought　his　great　Ship　of　him；　with　the
money　made　thereof；　and　also　his　other　Merchandizes；　hee　purchased
another；　being　a　lighter　vessell；　apt　and　proper　for　the　use　of　a
Pirate；　arming　and　furnishing　it　in　ample　manner；　for　roving　and
robbing　upon　the　Seas。　Thus　hee　began　to　make　other　mens　goods　his
owne；　especially　from　the　Turkes　he　tooke　much　wealth；　Fortune　being
alwayes　therein　so　favourable　to　him；　that　hee　could　never　compasse
the　like　by　trading。　So　that；　within　the　space　of　one　yeare；　hee　had
robd　and　taken　so　many　Gallies　from　the　Turke；　that　he　found
himselfe　well　recovered；　not　onely　of　all　his　losses　by　Merchandize；
but　likewise　his　wealth　was　wholly　redoubled。　Finding　his　losses　to　be
very　liberally　requited；　and　having　now　sufficient；　it　were　folly　to
hazard　a　second　fall；　wherefore；　conferring　with　his　owne　thoughts；
and　finding　that　he　had　enough；　and　needed　not　to　covet　after　more：　he
fully　concluded；　now　to　returne　home　to　his　owne　house　againe；　and
live　upon　his　goods　thus　gotten。
　　Continuing　still　in　feare　of　the　losses　he　had　sustained　by
traffique；　and　minding　never　more　to　imploy　his　money　that　way；　but　to
keep　this　light　vessell；　which　had　holpen　him　to　all　his　wealth：　he
commanded　his　men　to　put　forth　their　Oares；　and　shape；their　course　for
his　owne　dwelling。　Being　aloft　in　the　higher　Seas；　darke　night
over…taking　them；　and　a　mighty　winde　suddainly　comming　upon　them：　it
not　onely　was　contrary　to　their　course；　but　held　on　with　such
impetuous　violence；　that　the　small　vessell；　being　unable　to　endure　it；
made　to　land…ward　speedily；　and　in　expectation　of　a　more　friendly
wind；　entred　a　little　port　of　the　Sea；　directing　up　into　a　small
Island；　and　there　safely　sheltred　it　selfe。　Into　the　same　port　which
Landolpho　had　thus　taken　for　his　refuge；　entred　（soone　after）　two
great　Carrackes　of　Genewayes；　lately　come　from　Constantinople。　When
the　men　in　them　had　espied　the　small　Barke；　and　lockt　up　her　passage
from　getting　forth；　understanding　the　Owners　name；　and　that　report　had
famed　him　to　be　very　rich；　they　determined　（as　men　evermore　addicted
naturally；　to　covet　after　money　and　spoile）　to　make　it　their　owne　as　a
prize　at　Sea。
　　Landing　some　store　of　their　men；　well　armed　with　Crossebowes　and
other　weapons；　they　tooke　possession　of　such　a　place；　where　none　durst
issue　forth　of　the　small　Barke；　but　endangered　his　life　with　their
Darts　and　Arrowes。　Entering　aboord　the　Barke；　and　making　it　their　owne
by　full　possession；　all　the　men　they　threw　over…boord；　without　sparing
any　but　Landolpho　himselfe；　whom　they　mounted　into　one　of　the
Carrackes；　leaving　him　nothing　but　a　poore　shirt　of　Maile　on　his
backe；　and　having　rifled　the　Barke　of　all　her　riches；　sunke　it　into
the　bottome　of　the　sea。　The　day　following；　the　rough　windes　being
calmed；　the　Carrackes　set　saile　againe；　having　a　prosperous　passage
all　the　day　long；　but　upon　the　entrance　of　darke　night；　the　windes
blew　more　tempestuously　then　before；　and　sweld　the　Sea　in　such　rude
stormes；　that　the　two　Carracks　were　sundered　each　from　other；　and　by
violence　of　the　tempest　it　came　to　passe；　that　the　Carracke　wherein
lay　poore　miserable　Landolpho　（beneath　the　Isle　of　Cephalonia）　ran
against　a　rocke；　and　even　as　a　glasse　against　a　wall；　so　split　the
Carracke　in　peeces；　the　goods　and　merchandize　floating　on　the　Sea；
Chests；　Coffers；　Beds；　and　such　like　other　things；　as　often　hapneth　in
such　lamentable　accidents。
　　Now；　notwithstanding　the　nights　obscurity；　and　impetuous　violence　of
the　billowes；　such　as　could　swimme；　made　shift　to　save　their　lives
by　swimming。　Others　caught　hold　on　such　things；　as　by　Fortunes　favour；
floated　neerest　to　them；　among　whom；　distressed　Landolpho；　desirous