the decameron(十日谈)-第154章

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all　alone　within　the　goodly　Court　of　his　Pallace：　a　poore　woman　entred
at　one　of　the　gates；　craving　an　almes　of　him；　which　she　had；　and
returned　in　againe　at　a　second　gate；　comming　also　to　him；　and　had　a
second　almes；　continuing　so　still　a　dozen　times；　but　at　the　thirteenth
returning；　Mithridanes　saide　to　her：　Good　Woman；　you　goe　and　come　very
often；　and　still　you　are　served　with　almes。　When　the　old　Woman　heard
these　words；　she　said。　O　the　liberality　of　Nathan！　How　honourable
and　wonderfull　is　that？　I　have　past　through　two　and　thirty　gates　of
his　Palace；　even　such　as　are　here；　and　at　every　one　I　receyved　an
almes；　without　any　knowledgement　taken　of　me；　either　by　him；　or　any　of
his　followers：　and　heere　I　have　past　but　through　thirteene　gates；
and　am　there　both　acknowledged　and　taken。　Farewell　to　this　house；
for　I　never　meane　to　visit　it　any　more；　with　which　words　shee　departed
thence；　and　never　after　came　thither　againe。
　　When　Mithridanes　had　a　while　pondered　on　her　speeches；　hee　waxed
much　discontented；　as　taking　the　words　of　the　olde　woman；　to　extoll
the　renowne　of　Nathan；　and　darken　or　ecclipse　his　glorie；　whereupon　he
said　to　himselfe。　Wretched　man　as　I　am；　when　shall　I　attaine　to　the
height　of　liberality；　and　performe　such　wonders；　as　Nathan　doth？　In
seeking　to　surmount　him；　I　cannot　come　neere　him　in　the　very
meanest。　Undoubtedly；　I　spend　all　my　endeavour　but　in　vaine；　except
I　rid　the　world　of　him；　which　（seeing　his　age　will　not　make　an　end
of　him）　I　must　needs　do　with　my　own　hands。　In　which　furious　and　bloody
determination　（without　revealing　his　intent　to　any　one）　he　mounted
on　horse…backe；　with　few　attendants　in　his　company；　and　after　three
dayes　journey；　arrived　where　Nathan　dwelt。　He　gave　order　to　his　men；
to　make　no　shew　of　beeing　his　servants；　or　any　way　to　acknowledge　him：
but　to　provide　them　selves　of　convenient　lodgings；　untill　they　heard
other　tydings　from　him。
　　About　Evening；　and　（in　this　manner）　alone　by　himselfe；　neere　to
the　Palace　of　Nathan；　he　met　him　solitarily　walking；　not　in　pompous
apparrell；　whereby　to　bee　distinguished　from　a　meaner　man：　and；
because　he　knew　him　not；　neyther　had　heard　any　relation　of　his
description；　he　demanded　of　him；　if　he　knew　where　Nathan　then　was？
Nathan；　with　a　chearfull　countenance；　thus　replyed。　Faire　Syr；　there
is　no　man　in　these　parts；　that　knoweth　better　how　to　shew　you　Nathan
then　I　do；　and　therefore；　if　you　be　so　pleased；　I　will　bring　you　to
him。　Mithridanes　said；　therein　he　should　do　him　a　great　kindnesse：
albeit　（if　it　were　possible）　he　would　bee　neyther　knowne　nor　seene
of　Nathan。　And　that　（quoth　he）　can　I　also　do　sufficiently　for　you；
seeing　it　is　your　will　to　have　it　so；　if　you　will　goe　along　with　me。
　　Dismounting　from　his　horse；　he　walked　on　with　Nathan；　diversly
discoursing；　untill　they　came　to　the　Pallace；　where　one　of　the
servants　taking　Mithridanes　his　horse；　Nathan　rounded　the　fellow　in
the　eare；　that　he　should　give　warning　to　al。　throughout　the　House；　for
revealing　to　the　Gentleman；　that　he　was　Nathan；　as　accordingly　it
was　performed。　No　sooner　were　they　within　the　Pallace；　but　he
conducted　Mithridanes　into　a　goodly　chamber；　wher　none　（as　yet）　had
seene　him；　but　such　as　were　appointed　to　attend　on　him　reverently；
yea；　and　he　did　himselfe　greatly　honor　him；　as　being　loth　to　leave　his
company。
　　While　thus　Mithridanes　conversed　with　him；　he　desired　to　know
（albeit　he　respected　him　much　for　his　yeares）　what　he　was。　Introth
sir；　answered　Nathan；　I　am　one　of　the　meanest　servants　to　Nathan；
and　from　my　child…hood；　have　made　my　selfe　thus　olde　in　his　service：
yet　never　hath　he　bestowed　any　other　advancement　on　mee；　then　as　you
now　see；　in　which　respect；　howsoever　other　men　may　commend　him；　yet
I　have　no　reason　at　all　to　do　it。　These　Words；　gave　some　hope　to
Mithridanes；　that　with　a　little　more　counsell；　he　might　securely　put
in　execution　his　wicked　determination。　Nathan　likewise　demaunded　of
him　（but　in　very　humble　manner）　of　whence；　and　what　he　was；　as　also
the　businesse　inviting　him　thither：　offering　him　his　utmost　aide　and
counsell；　in　what　soever　consisted　in　his　power。
　　Mithridanes　sat　an　indifferent　while　meditating　with　his　thoghts
before　ie　would　returne　any　answer：　but　at　the　last；　concluding　to
repose　confidence　in　him　（in　regard　of　his　pretended　discontentment）
with　many　circumstantial　perswasions；　first　for　fidelity；　next　for
constancie；　and　lastly　for　counsell　and　assistance；　he　declared　to　him
truly　what　he　was；　the　cause　of　his　comming　thither；　and　the　reason
urging　him　thereto。　Nathan　hearing　these　words；　and　the　detestable
deliberation　of　Mithridanes；　became　quite　changed　in　himself：　yet
wisely　making　no　outward　appearance　thereof；　with　a　bold　courage　and
setled　countenance；　thus　he　replyed。
　　Mithridanes；　thy　Father　was　a　Noble　Gentleman；　and　（in　vertuous
qualities）　inferiour　to　none；　from　whom　（as　now　I　see）　thou　desirest
not　to　degenerate；　having　undertaken　so　bold　and　high　an　enterprise；　I
meane；　in　being　liberall　and　bountifull　to　all　men。　I　do　greatly
commend　the　envy　which　thou　bearest　to　the　vertue　of　Nathan：　because
if　there　were　many　more　such　men；　the　world　that　is　now　wretched　and
miserable；　would　become　good　and　conformable。　As　for　the　determination
which　thou　hast　disclosed　to　mee；　I　have　sealed　it　up　secretly　in　my
soule：　wherein　I　can　better　give　thee　counsell；　then　any　especiall
helpe　or　furtherance：　and　the　course　which　I　would　have　thee　to
observe；　followeth　thus　in　few　words。
　　This　window；　which　we　now　looke　forth　at；　sheweth　thee　a　smal　wood
or　thicket　of　trees；　being　litle　more　then　the　quarter　of　a　miles
distance　hence；　whereto　Nathan　usually　walketh　every　morning；　and
there　continueth　time　long　enough：　there　maist　thou　very　easily　meet
him；　and　do　whatsoever　thou　intendest　to　him。　If　thou　kilst　him；
because　thou　maist　with　safety　returne　home　unto　thine　owne　abiding；
take　not　the　same　way　which　guided　thee　thither；　but　another；　lying　on
the　left　hand；　and　directing　speedily　out　of　the　wood；　as　being　not　so
much　haunted　as　the　other；　but　rather　free　from　all　resort；　and　surest
for　visiting　thine　owne　countrey；　after　such　a　dismall　deed　is　done。
　　When　Mithridanes　had　receyved　this　instruction；　and　Nathan　was
departed　from　him；　hee　secretly　gave　intelligence　to　his　men；　（who
likewise　were　lodged；　as　welcom　strangers；　in　the　same　house）　at
what　place　they　should　stay　for　him　the　next　morning。　Night　being
passed　over；　and　Nathan　risen；　his　heart　altred　not　a　jot　from　his
counsel　given　to　Mithridanes；　much　lesse　changed　from　anie　part
thereof：　but　all　alone　by　himselfe；　walked　on　to　the　wood；　the　place
appointed　for　his　death。　Mithridanes　also　being　risen；　taking　his
Bow　and　Sword　（for　other　weapons　had　he　none）　mounted　on　horsbacke；
and　so　came　to　the　wood；　where　（somewhat　farre　off）　hee　espyed
Nathan　walking；　and　no　creature　with　him。　Dismounting　from　his
horse；　he　had　resolved　（before　he　would　kill　him）　not　onely　to　see；
but　also　to　heare　him　speake：　so　stepping　roughly　to　him；　and　taking
hold　of　the　bonnet　on　his　head；　his　face　being　then　turned　from　him；
he　sayde。　Old　man；　thou　must　dye。　Whereunto　Nathan　made　no　other
answer；　but　thus：　Why　then　（belike）　I　have　deserved　it。
　　When　Mithridanes　heard　him　speake；　and　looked　advisedly　on　his　face；
he　knew　him　immediately　to　be　the　same　man；　that　had　entertained　him
so　lovingly；　conversed　with　him　so　familiarly；　and　counselled　him　so
faithfully：　all　which　overcomming　his　former　fury；　his　harsh　nature
became　meerly　confounded　with　shame：　So　throwing　downe　his　drawne
sword；　which　he　held　readily　prepared　for　the　deede：　he　prostrated
himselfe　at　Nathans　feet；　and　in　teares；　spake　in　this　manner。　Now
do　I　manifestly　know　（most　loving　Father）　your　admired　bounty　and
liberalitie；　considering；　with　what　industrious　providence；　you　made
the　meanes　for　your　comming　hither；　prodigally　to　bestow　your　life
on　me；　which　I　have　no　right　unto；　although　you　were　so　willing　to
part　with　it。　But　those　high　and　supreame　powers；　more　carefull　of
my　dutie；　then　I　my　selfe：　even　at　the　very　instant；　and　when　it　was
most　needfull；　opened　the　eyes　of　my　better　understanding；　which
internall　envy　had　closed　up　before。　And　therefore；　looke　how　much　you
have　bin　forward　to　pleasure　me；　so　much　the　more　shame　and
punishment；　I　confesse　my　heinous　transgression　hath　justly
deserved：　take　therefore　on　me　（if　you　please）　such　revenge；　as　you
thinke　（in　justice）　answerable　to　my　sin。
　　Nathan　lovingly　raised　Mithridanes　from　the　ground；　then　kissing　his
cheeke；　and　tenderly　embracing　him；　he　said。　Sonne；　thou　needest　not
to　aske；　much　less　to　obtaine　pardon；　for　any　enterprise　of　thine；
which　thou　canst　not　yet　terme　to　be　good　or　bad：　because　thou
soughtest　not　to　bereave　me　of　my　life；　for　any　hatred　thou　barest　me；
but　onely　in　coveting　to　be　reputed　the　Woorthier　man。　Take　then
this　assurance　of　me；　and　beleeve　it　constantly；　that　there　is　no
man　living；　whom　I　love　and　honour；　as　I　do　thee：　considering　the
greatnesse　of　thy　minde；　which　consisteth　not　in　the　heaping　up　of
money；　as　wretched　and　miserable　Worldlings　make　it　their　onely
felicity；　but；　contending　in　bounty　to　spend　what　is　thine；　didst　hold
it　for　no　shame　to　kil　me；　thereby　to　make　thy　selfe　so　much　the
more　worthily　famous。
　　Nor　is　it　any　matter　to　be　wondred　at；　in　regard　that　Emperors；
and　the　greatest　Kings；　hadde　never　made　such　extendure　of　their
Dominions；　and　consequently　of　their　renowne；　by　any　other　Art；　then
killing；　yet　not　one　man　onely；　as　thou　wouldst　have　done：　but
infinite　numbers；　burning　whole　Countries；　and　making　desolate　huge
Townes　and　Cities；　onely　to　enlarge　their　dominion；　and　further
spreading　of　their　fame。　Wherefore；　if　for　the　increasing　of　thine
owne　renowne；　thou　wast　desirous　of　my　death：　it　is　no　matter　of
novelty；　and　therefore　deserving　the　lesse　mervaile；　seeing　men　are
slaine　daily；　and　all　for　one　purpose　or　other。
　　Mithridanes；　excusing　no　further　his　malevolent　deliberation；　but
rather　commending　the　honest　defence；　which　Nathan　made　on　his
behalfe；　proceeded　so　farre　in　after　discoursing；　as　to　tel　him
plainely；　that　it　did　wondrously　amaze　him；　how　he　durst　come　to　the
fatall　appointed　place；　himselfe　having　so　exactly　plotted　and
contrived　his　owne　death：　whereunto　Nathan　returned　this　aunswere。
　　I　would　not　have　thee　Mithridanes；　to　wonder　at　my　counsel　or
determination；　because；　since　age　hath　made　mee　Maister　of　mine　owne
will；　and　I　resolved　to　doe　that；　wherein　thou　hast　begun　to　follow
me：　never　came　any　man　to　mee；　whom　I　did　not　content　（if　I　could）
in　any　thing　he　demanded　of　me。　It　was　thy　fortune　to　come　for　my
life；　which　when　I　saw　thee　so　desirous　to　have　it；　I　resolved
immediately　to　bestow　it　on　thee：　and　so　much　the　rather；　because　thou
shouldst　not　be　the　onely　man；　that　ever　departed　hence；　without
enjoying　whatsoever　hee　demanded。　And；　to　the　end　thou　mightst　the
more　assuredly　have　it；　I　gave　thee　that　advice；　least　by　not　enjoying
mine；　thou　shouldest　chance　to　loose　thine　owne。　I　have　had　the　use　of
it　full　fourescore　yeares；　with　the　consummation　of　all　my　delights
and　pleasures：　and　well　I　know；　that　according　to　the