the decameron(十日谈)-第155章

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it　full　fourescore　yeares；　with　the　consummation　of　all　my　delights
and　pleasures：　and　well　I　know；　that　according　to　the　course　of　Nature
（as　it　fares　with　other　men；　and　generally　all　things　else）　it
cannot　bee　long　before　it　must　leave　mee。
　　Wherefore；　I　hold　it　much　better　for　me　to　give　it　away　freely；　as　I
have　alwayes　done　my　goods　and　treasure；　then　bee　curious　in　keeping
it；　and　suffer　it　to　be　taken　from　me　（whether　I　will　or　no）　by
Nature。　A　small　gift　it　is；　if　time　make　me　up　the　full　summe　of　an
hundred　yeares：　how　miserable　is　it　then；　to　stand　beholding　but　for
foure　or　five；　and　all　of　them　vexation　too？　Take　it　then　I　intreate
thee；　if　thou　wilt　have　it；　for　I　never　met　with　any　man　before　（but
thy　selfe）　that　di　desire　it；　nor　（perhaps）　shall　finde　any　other　to
request　it：　for　the　longer　I　keepe　it；　the　worse　it　wil　be　esteemed：
and　before　it　grow　contemptible；　take　it　I　pray　thee。
　　Mithridanes；　being　exceedingly　confounded　with　shame；　bashfully
sayde：　Fortune　fore…fend；　that　I　should　take　away　a　thing　so
precious　as　your　life　is；　or　once　to　have　so　vile　a　thought　of　it　as
lately　I　had；　but　rather　then　I　would　diminish　one　day　thereof；　I
could　wish；　that　my　time　might　more　amply　enlarge　it。　Forthwith
aunswered　Nathan；　saying。　Wouldst　thou　（if　thou　couldst）　shorten　thine
owne　dayes；　onely　to　lengthen　mine？　Why　then　thou　wouldest　have　me
to　do　that　to　thee；　which　（as　yet）　I　never　did　unto　any　man；　namely；
robbe　thee；　to　enrich　my　selfe。　I　will　enstruct　thee　in　a　much
better　course；　if　thou　wilt　be　advised　by　mee。　Lusty　and　young；　as　now
thou　art；　thou　shalt　dwell　heere　in　my　house；　and　be　called　by　the
name　of　Nathan。　Aged；　and　spent　with　yeares；　as　thou　seest　I　am；　I
will　goe　live　in　thy　house；　and　bee　called　by　the　name　of　Mithridanes。
So；　both　the　name　and　place　shall　illustrate　thy　Glorie；　and　I　live
contentedly；　without　the　very　least　thought　of　envie。
　　Deare　Father；　answered　Mithridanes；　if　I　knew　so　well　howe　to　direct
mine　owne　actions；　as　you　doe；　and　alwayes　have　done；　I　would　gladly
accept　your　most　liberall　offer：　but　because　I　plainlie　perceive；　that
my　very　best　endeavours；　must　remayne　darkened　by　the　bright　renowne
of　Nathan：　I　will　never　seeke　to　impayre　that　in　another；　which　I
cannot　（by　any　means）　increase　in　my　selfe；　but　（as　you　have
worthily　taught　me）　live　contented　with　my　owne　condition。
　　After　these；　and　many　more　like　loving　speeches　had　passed　between
them；　according　as　Nathan　very　instantly　requested；　Mithridanes
returned　back　with　him　to　the　Pallace；　where　many　dayes　he　highly
honored　and　respected　him；　comforting　and　counselling　him；　to　persever
alwayes　in　his　honourable　determination。　But　in　the　end；　when
Mithridanes　could　abide　there　no　longer；　because　necessary　occasions
called　him　home：　he　departed　thence　with　his　men；　having　found　by　good
experience；　that　hee　could　never　goe　beyond　Nathan　in　liberality。




　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　TENTH　DAY；　THE　FOURTH　NOVELL

　　　　　WHEREIN　IS　SHEWNE；　THAT　TRUE　LOVE　HATH　ALWAYES　BIN；　AND　SO　STILL
　　　　　　　　　　　　　IS；　THE　OCCASION　OF　MANY　GREAT　AND　WORTHY　COURTESIES

　　Signior　Gentile　de　Carisendi；　being　come　from　Modena；　took　a
Gentlewoman；　named　Madam　Catharina；　forth　of　a　grave；　wherin　she　was
buried　for　dead：　which　act　he　did；　in　regard　of　his　former　honest
affection　to　the　said　Gentlewoman。　Madame　Catharina　remaining　there
afterward；　and　delivered　of　a　goodly　Sonne：　was　（by　Signior　Gentile）
delivered　to　her　owne　Husband；　named　Signior　Nicoluccio
Caccianimico；　and　the　yong　infant　with　her。

　　By　judgment　of　all　the　honorable　assembly；　it　was　reputed
wonderfull；　that　a　man　should　be　so　bountifull；　as　to　give　away　his
owne　life；　and　to　his　hatefull　enemy。　In　which　respect；　it　passed　with
generall　affirmation；　that　Nathan　（in　the　vertue　of　liberallity）　had
exceeded　Alphonso；　King　of　Spain；　but　（especially）　the　Abbot　of
Clugny。　So；　after　every　one　had　delivered　their　opinion；　the　King；
turning　himselfe　to　Madame　Lauretta；　gave　her　such　a　signe；　as　well
instructed　her　understanding；　that　she　should　be　the　next　in　order；
whereto　she　gladly　yeelding；　began　in　this　manner。
　　Youthfull　Ladies；　the　discourses　already　past；　have　been　so　worthy
and　magnificent；　yea；　reaching　to　such　a　height　of　glorious　splendour；
as　（me　thinkes）　there　remaineth　no　more　matter；　for　us　that　are　yet　to
speake；　whereby　to　enlarge　so　famous　an　Argument；　and　in　such　manner
as　it　ought　to　be：　except　we　lay　hold　on　the　actions　of　love；
wherein　is　never　any　want　of　subject；　it　is　so　faire　and　spacious　a
field　to　walke　in。　Wherefore；　as　well　in　behalfe　of　the　one；　as
advancement　of　the　other；　whereto　our　instant　age　is　most　of　all
inclined：　I　purpose　to　acquaint　you　with　a　generous　and　magnificent
act；　of　an　amourous　Gentleman；　which　when　it　shall　be　duely　considered
on；　perhaps　will　appeare　equall　to　any　of　the　rest。　At　least；　if　it
may　passe　for　currant；　that　men　may　give　away　their　treasures；　forgive
mighty　injuries；　and　lay　downe　life　it　selfe；　honour　and　renowne
（which　is　farre　greater）　to　infinite　dangers；　only　to　attaine　any
thing　esteemed　and　affected。
　　Understand　then　（Gracious　hearers）　that　in　Bologna；　a　very　famous
City　of　Lombardicy　there　lived　sometime　a　Knight；　most　highly
respected　for　his　vertues；　named　Signior　Gentile　de　Carisendi；　who　（in
his　yonger　dayes）　was　enamoured　of　a　Gentlewoman；　called　Madam
Catharina；　the　Wife　of　Signior　Nicoluccio　Caccianimico。　And　because
during　the　time　of　his　amourous　pursuite；　he　found　but　a　sorry
enterchange　of　affection　from　the　Lady；　hee　went　（as　hopelesse　of
any　successe）　to　be　Potestate　of　Modena；　whereto　he　was　called　by
place　and　order。
　　At　the　same　time；　Signior　Nicoluccio　being　absent　from　Bologna；
and　his　Lady　at　a　Farme…house　of　his　in　the　Countrey　（about　three
miles　distant　from　the　City）　because　she　was　great　with　child；；　and
somewhat　neere　the　time　of　her　teeming：　it　came　to　passe；　that　some
dangerous　accident　befell　her；　which　was　so　powerfull　in　operation；　as
no　signe　of　life　appeared　remained　in　her；　but　she　was　reputed　（even
in　the　judgement　of　the　best　Phisitians；　whereof　she　wanted　no
attendance）　to　be　verily　dead。　And　because　in　the　opinion　of　her
parents　and　neerest　kinred；　the　time　for　her　deliverance　was　yet　so
farre　off；　as　the　Infant　within　her；　wanted　much　of　a　perfect
creature：　they　made　the　lesse　mourning；　but　in　the　next　Church；　as
also　the　vault　belonging　to　her　Ancestors；　they　gave　her　buriall
very　speedily。
　　Which　tydings　comming　to　the　hearing　of　Signior　Gentile；　by　one　that
was　his　endeared　friend：　Although　（while　she　lived）　he　could　never
be　gracious　n　her　favour；　yet　her　so　sudden　death　did　greatly　grieve
him；　whereupon　he　discoursed　in　this　sort　with　himselfe。　Deare
Madame　Catharina；　I　am　not　a　little　sorry　for　thy　death；　although
（during　thy　life…time）　I　was　scarcely　worthy　of　one　kind　looke：　Yet
now　being　dead；　thou　canst　not　prohibite　me；　but　I　may　robbe　thee　of　a
kisse。　No　sooner　had　hee　spoke　the　words；　but　it　beeing　then　night；
and　taking　such　order；　as　none　might　know　of　his　departure：　hee
mounted　on　horsebacke；　accompanied　onely　with　one　servant；　and
stayed　no　where；　till　hee　came　to　the　vault　where　the　Lady　was　buried。
Which　when　he　had　opened；　with　instruments　convenient　for　the　purpose；
he　descended　downe　into　the　vault；　and　kneeled　downe　by　the　Beere
whereon　she　lay；　and　in　her　wearing　garments；　according　to　the
usuall　manner；　with　teares　trickling　mainly　downe　his　cheekes；　he
bestowed　infinite　sweet　kisses　on　her。
　　But　as　we　commonly　see；　that　mens　desires　are　never　contented；　but
still　will　presume　on　further　advantages；　especially　such　as　love
entirely：　so　fared　it　with　Gentile；　who　being　once　minded　to　get　him
gone；　as　satisfied　with　the　oblation　of　his　kisses；　would　needs　yet
step　backe　againe；　saying。　Why　should　I　not　touch　her　yvory　breast；
the　Adamant　that　drew　all　desires　to　adore　her？　Ah　let　me　touch　it
now；　for　never　hereafter　can　I　bee　halfe　so　happy。　Overcome　with
this　alluring　appetite；　gently　he　laid　his　hand　upon　her　breast；
with　the　like　awefull　respect；　as　if　she　were　living；　and　holding　it
so　an　indifferent　while：　either　he　felt；　or　his　imagination　so
perswaded　him；　the　heart　of　the　Lady　to　beate　and　pant。　Casting　off
all　fond　feare；　and　the　warmth　of　his　increasing　the　motion：　his
inward　soule　assured　him；　that　she　was　not　dead　utterly；　but　had
some　small　sense　of　life　remaining　in　her；　whereof　he　would　needs　be
further　informed。
　　So　gently　as　possible　he　could；　and　with　the　helpe　of　his　man；　he
tooke　her　forth　of　the　monument；　and　layingher　softly　on　his　horse
before　him；　conveighed　her　closely　to　his　house　in　Bologna。　Signior
Gentile　had　a　worthy　Lady　to　his　Mother；　a　woman　of　great　wisdome
and　vertue；　who　understanding　by　her　Sonne；　how　matters　had
happened；　moved　with　compassion；　and　suffering　no　one　in　the　house
to　know　what　was　done；　made　a　good　fire；　and　very　excellent　Bathe；
which　recalled　back　againe　wrongwandering　life。　Then　fetching　a
vehement　sigh；　opening　her　eyes；　and　looking　very　strangly　about
her；　she　said。　Alas！　where　am　I　now？　whereto　the　good　old　Lady
kindly　replyed；　saying。　Comfort　your　selfe　Madame；　for　you　are　in　a
good　place。
　　Her　spirits　being　in　better　manner　met　together；　and　she　still
gazing　every　way　about　her；　not　knowing　well　where　she　was；　and　secing
Signior　Gentile　standing　before　her：　he　entreated　his　mother　to　tell
her　by　what　meanes　she　came　thither；　which　the　good　old　Lady　did；
Gentile　himselfe　helping　to　relate　the　whole　history。　A　while　she
grieved　and　lamented；　but　afterward　gave　them　most　hearty　thankes；
humbly　requesting；　that；　in　regard　of　the　love　he　had　formerly　borne
her；　in　his　house　she　might　finde　no　other　usage；　varying　from　the
honour　of　her　selfe　and　her　Husband；　and　when　day　was　come；　to　be
conveighed　home　to　her　owne　house。　Madame；　answered　Signior　Gentile；
whatsoever　I　sought　to　gaine　from　you　in　former　dayes；　I　never
meane；　either　here；　or　any　where　else；　to　motion　any　more。　But
seeing　it　hath　been　my　happy　fortune；　to　prove　the　blessed　means　of
reducing　you　from　death　to　life：　you　shal　find　no　other
entertainment　here；　then　as　if　you　were　mine　owne　Sister。　And　yet
the　good　deed　which　I　have　this　night　done　for　you　doth　well
deserve　some　courteous　requitall：　in　which　respect；　I　would　have　you
not　to　deny　me　one　favour；　which　I　will　presume　to　crave　of　you。
Whereto　the　Lady　lovingly　replyed；　that　she　was　willing　to　grant　it；
provided；　it　were　honest；　and　in　her　power：　whereto　Signior　Gentile
thus　answered。
　　Madame；　your　parents；　kindred　and　friends；　and　generally　all
throughout　Bologna；　doe　verily　thinke　you　to　be　dead；　wherefore
there　is　not　any　one；　that　will　make　any　inquisition　after　you：　in
which　regard；　the　favour　I　desire　from　you；　is　no　more　but　to　abide
here　secretly　with　my　Mother；　untill　such　time　as　I　returne　from
Modena；　which　shall　be　very　speedily。　The　occasion　why　I　move　this
motion；　aymeth　at　this　end；　that　in　presence　of　the　chiefest　persons
of　our　City；　I　may　make　a　gladsome　present　of　you　to　your　Husband。　The
Lady　knowing　her　selfe　highly　beholding　to　the　Knight；　and　the　request
he　made　to　be　very　honest：　disposed　her　se