the decameron(十日谈)-第157章

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this；　or　stiled　by　the　name　of　magnificent　actions。




　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　TENTH　DAY；　THE　FIFT　NOVELL

　　　　　ADMONISHING　ALL　LADIES　AND　GENTLEWOMEN；　THAT　ARE　DESIROUS　TO
　　　PRESERVE　THEIR　CHASTITY；　FREE　FROM　ALL　BLEMISH　AND　TAXATION：　TO
　　　　　　　　　　MAKE　NO　PROMISE　OF　YEELDING　TO　ANY；　UNDER　A　COMPACT　OR
　　　　　　　　　　　COVENANT；　HOW　IMPOSSIBLE　SOEVER　IT　MAY　SEEME　TO　BE

　　Madame　Dianora；　the　Wife　of　Signior　Gilberto；　being　immodestly
affected　by　Signior　Ansaldo；　to　free　her　selfe　from　his　tedious
importunity；　she　appointed　him　to　performe　（in　her　judgement）　an　act
of　impossibility；　namely；　to　give　her　a　Garden；　as　plentifully
stored　with　fragrant　Flowers　in　January；　as　in　the　flourishing
moneth　of　May。　Ansaldo；　by　meanes　of　a　bond　which　he　made　to　a
Magitian；　performed　her　request。　Signior　Gilberto；　the　Ladyes　Husband；
gave　consent；　that　his　Wife　should　fulfill　her　promise　made　to
Ansaldo。　Who　hearing　the　bountifull　mind　of　her　Husband；　released
her　of　her　promise：　And　the　Magitian　likewise　discharged　Signior
Ansaldo；　without　taking　any　thing　of　him。

　　Not　any　one　in　all　the　Company；　but　extolled　the　worthy　Act　of
Signior　Gentile　to　the　skies；　till　the　King　gave　command　to　Madame
Aemillia；　that　she　should　follow　next　with　her　Tale；　who　boldly
stepping　up；　began　in　this　order。
　　Gracious　Ladies；　I　thinke　there　is　none　heere　present　among　us；
but　（with　good　reason）　may　maintaine；　that　Signiour　Gentile
performed　a　magnificent　deede；　but　whosoever　saith；　it　is　impossible
to　do　more；　perhaps　is　ignorant　in　such　actions；　as　can　and　may　be
done；　as　I　meane　to　make　good　unto　you；　by　a　Novell　not　overlong　or
tedious。
　　The　Countrey　of　Fretulium；　better　knowne　by　the　name　of　Forum　Julij；
although　it　be　subject　to　much　cold；　yet　it　is　pleasant；　in　regard
of　many　goodly　Mountaines；　Rivers；　and　cleare　running　Springs；
wherewith　it　is　not　meanly　stored。　Within　those　Territories；　is　a　City
called　Udina；　where　sometime　lived　a　faire　and　Noble　Lady；　named
Madame　Dianora；　WiFe　to　a　rich　and　woorthie　Knight；　called　Signior
Gilberto；　a　man　of　very　great　fame　and　merite。
　　This　beautiful　Lady；　beeing　very　modest　and　vertuously　inclined；　was
highly　affected　by　a　Noble　Baron　of　those　parts；　tearmed　by　the　name
of　Signior　Ansaldo　Gradense；　a　man　of　very　great　spirit；　bountifull；
active　in　Armes；　and　yet　very　affable　and　courteous；　which　caused
him　to　be　the　better　respected。　His　love　to　this　Lady　was
extraordinary；　hardly　to　bee　contained　within　any　moderate　compasse；
striving　to　bee　in　like　manner　affected　of　her：　to　which　end；　she
wanted　no　daily　solicitings；　Letters；　Ambassages　and　Love…tokens；
all　proving　to　no　purpose。
　　This　vertuous　Lady；　being　wearied　with　his　often　temptations；　and
seeing；　that　by　denying　whatsoever　he　demanded；　yet　he　wold　not　give
over　his　suite；　but　so　much　the　more　importunatly　stil　pursued　her：
began　to　bethinke　her　selfe；　how　she　might　best　be　rid　of　him；　by
imposing　some　such　taske　upon　him；　as　should　bee　impossible　（in　her
opinion）　for　him　to　effect。　An　olde　woman；　whom　hee　imployed　for　his
continual　messenger　to　her；　as　shee　came　one　day　about　her　ordinary
errand；　with　her　she　communed　in　this　manner。　Good　woman　（quoth　she）
thou　hast　so　often　assured　me；　that　Signior　Ansaldo　loveth　me　above
all　other　Women　in　the　world；　offering　me　wonderfull　gifts　and
presents　in　his　name；　which　I　have　alwayes　refused；　and　so　stil　wil
do；　in　regard　I　am　not　to　be　woon　by　any　such　allurements：　yet　if　I
could　be　soundly　perswaded；　that　his　affection　is　answerable　to　thy
peremptory　protestations；　I　shoulde　（perhaps）　be　the　sooner　wonne；
to　listen　to　his　suite　in　milder　manner；　then　hitherto　I　have　done。
Wherefore；　if　he　wil　give　me　assurance；　to　perform　such　a　businesse　as
I　mean　to　enjoyne　him；　he　shall　the　speedier　heare　better　answer
from　me；　and　I　wil　confirme　it　with　mine　oath。
　　Wonderfully　pleased　was　Mistresse　Maquerella；　to　heare　a　reply　of
such　comfortable　hope；　and　therefore　desired　the　Lady；　to　tel　hir　what
she　wold　have　done。　Listen　to　me　wel　（answerd　Madam　Dianora）　the
matter　which　I　would　have　him　to　effect　for　me；　is；　without　the　wals
of　our　City；　and　during　the　month　of　Januarie　nexte　ensuing；　to
provide　me　a　Garden；　as　fairely　furnished　with　all　kind　of　fragrant
flowers；　as　the　flourishing　month　of　May　can　yeelde　no　better。　If　he
be　not　able　to　accomplish　this　imposition；　then　I　command　him；　never
hereafter　to　solicite　me　any　more；　either　by　thee；　or　any　other
whatsoever：　for；　if　he　do　importune　me　afterward；　as　hitherto　I　have
concealed　his　secret　conspiring；　both　from　my　husband；　and　all　my
friends；　so　wil　I　then　lay　his　dishonest　suite　open　to　the　world；　that
he　may　receive　punishment　accordingly；　for　offering　to　wrong　a
Gentleman　in　his　wife。
　　When　Signior　Ansaldo　heard　her　demand；　and　the　offer　beside
thereuppon　made　him　（although　it　seemed　no　easie　matter；　but　a　thing
meerly　impossible　to　be　done）　he　considered　advisedly；　that　she　made
this　motion　to　no　other　end；　but　onely　to　bereave　him　of　all　his　hope；
ever　to　enjoy　what　so　earnestly　hee　desired：　neverthelesse；　he　would
not　so　give　it　utterly　over；　but　would　needs　approve　what　could　be
done。　Heereupon；　hee　sent　into　divers　partes　of　the　world；　to　find　out
any　one　that　was　able　to　advise　him　in　this　doubtfull　case。　In　the
end；　one　was　brought　to　him；　who　beeing　well　recompenced　for　his
paines；　by　the　Art　of　Nigromancie　would　under　take　to　do　it。　With
him　Signior　Ansaldo　covenanted；　binding　himselfe　to　pay　a　great
summe　of　mony；　upon　performance　of　so　rare　a　deed；　awaiting　（in
hopefull　expectation）　for　the　month　of　januaries　comming。　It　being
come；　and　the　weather　then　in　extreamity　of　cold；　every　being
covered　with　ice　and　snow；　the　Magitian　prevailed　so　by　his　Art；
that　after　the　Christmas　Holy　dayes　were　past；　and　the　Calends　of
january　entred：　in　one　night；　and　without　the　Cittie　Wals；　the
goodliest　Garden　of　flowers　and　fruites；　was　sodainely　sprung　up；　as
（in　opinion　of　such　as　beheld　it）　never　was　the　like　seen　before。
Now　Ladies；　I　think　I　need　not　demand　the　question；　whether　Signior
Ansaldo　were　wel　pleased；　or　no；　who　going　to　beholde　t；　saw　it　most
plenteously　stored；　with　al　kind　of　fruit　trees；　flowers；　herbes　and
plants；　as　no　one　could　be　named；　that　was　wanting　in　this　artificiall
garden。　And　having　gathered　some　pretty　store　of　them；　secretly　he
sent　them　to　Madam　Dianora；　inviting　hir　to　come　see　her　Garden；
perfected　according　to　her　owne　desire；　and　uppon　view　thereof；　to
confesse　the　integrity　of　his　love　to　her；　considering　and
remembring　withall；　the　promise　shee　had　made　him　under　solemne
oath；　that　she　might　be　reputed　for　a　woman　of　her　word。
　　When　the　Lady　beheld　the　fruites　and　flowers；　and　heard　many　other
thinges　recounted；　so　wonderfully　growing　in　the　same　Garden：　began　to
repent　her　rash　promise　made；　yet　notwithstanding　her　repentance；　as
Women　are　covetous　to　see　all　rarities；　so；　accompanied　with　divers
Ladies　and　Gentlewomen　more；　she　went　to　see　the　Garden；　and　having
commended　it　with　much　admiration；　she　returned　home　againe；　the
most　sorrowfull　Woman　as　ever　lived；　considering　what　she　had　tyed　her
selfe　to；　for　enjoying　this　Garden。　So　excessive　grew　her　griefe　and
affliction；　that　it　could　not　be　so　clouded　or　concealed：　but　her
Husband　tooke　notice　of　it；　and　would　needs　understand　the　occasion
thereof。　Long　the　Lady　（in　regard　of　shame　and　modesty）　sate　without
returning　any　answer；　but　being　in　the　end　constrained；　she　disclosd
the　whol　History　to　him。
　　At　the　first；　Signior　Gilberto　waxed　exceeding　angry；　but　when　he
further　considered　withall；　the　pure　and　honest　intention　of　his　Wife；
wisely　he　pacified　his　former　distemper；　and　saide。　Dianora；　it　is　not
the　part　of　a　wise　and　honest　woman；　to　lend　an　eare　to　ambassages
of　such　immodest　nature；　much　lesse　to　compound　or　make　agreement
for　her　honesty；　with　any　person；　under　any　condition　whatsoever。
Those　perswasions　which　the　heart　listeneth　to；　by　allurement　of　the
eare；　have　greater　power　then　many　do　imagine；　and　nothing　is　so
uneasie　or　difficult；　but　in　a　lovers　judgement　it　appeareth　possible。
Ill　didst　thou　therefore　first　of　all　to　listen；　but　worse　（afterward）
to　contract。
　　But；　because　I　know　the　purity　of　thy　soule；　I　wil　yeelde　（to
disoblige　thee　of　thy　promise）　as　perhaps　no　wise　man　else　would　do：
mooved　thereto　onely　by　feare　of　the　Magitian；　who　seeing　Signior
Ansaldo　displeased；　because　thou　makest　a　mockage　of　him；　will　do　some
such　violent　wrong　to　us；　as　we　shal　be　never　able　to　recover。
Wherefore；　I　would　have　thee　go　to　Signior　Ansaldo；　and　if　thou
canst　（by　any　meanes）　obtaine　of　him；　the　safe…keeping　of　thy
honour；　and　ful　discharge　of　thy　promise；　it　shal　be　an　eternall
fame　to　thee；　and　the　crowne　of　a　most　victorious　conquest。　But　if
it　must　needs　be　otherwise；　lend　him　thy　body　onely　for　once；　but
not　thy　wil：　for　actions　committed　by　constraint；　wherein　the　will
is　no　way　guilty；　are　halfe　pardonable　by　the　necessity。
　　Madame　Dianora；　hearing　her　husbands　words；　wept　exceedingly；　and
avouched；　that　shee　had　not　deserved　any　such　especiall　grace　of
him；　and　therefore　she　would　rather　dye；　then　doe　it。　Neverthelesse；
it　was　the　wil　of　her　Husband　to　have　it　so；　and　therefore　（against
her　wil）　she　gave　consent。　The　next　morning；　by　the　breake　of　day；
Dianora　arose；　and　attiring　her　selfe　in　her　very　meanest　garments；
with　two　servingmen　before　her；　and　a　waiting　Woman　following；　she
went　to　the　lodging　of　Signior　Ansaldo；　who　hearing　that　Madam　Dianora
was　come　to　visite　him；　greatly　mervailed；　and　being　risen；　he
called　the　Magitian　to　him；　saying。　Come　go　with　me；　and　see　what
effect　will　follow　upon　thine　Art。　And　being　come　into　her　presence；
without　any　base　or　inordinate　appetite；　he　did　her　humble
reverence；　embracing　her　honestly；　and　taking　her　into　a　goodly
Chamber；　where　a　faire　fire　was　readilie　prepared；　causing　her　to
sit　downe　by　him；　he　sayde　unto　her　as　followeth。
　　Madam；　I　humbly　intreat　you　to　resolve　me；　if　the　affection　I　have
long　time　borne　you；　and　yet　do　stil；　deserve　any　recompence　at　all：
you　would　be　pleased　then　to　tel　me　truly；　the　occasion　of　your
instant　comming　hither；　and　thus　attended　as　you　are。　Dianora；
blushing　with　modest　shame；　and　the　teares　trickling　mainly　down　her
faire　cheekes；　thus　answered。　Signior　Ansaldo；　not　for　any　Love　I
beare　you；　or　care　of　my　faithfull　promise　made　to　you；　but　onely　by
the　command　of　my　husband　（who　respecting　more　the　paynes　and　trave　of
your　inordinate　love；　then　his　owne　reputation　and　honor；　or　mine；）
hath　caused　me　to　come　hither：　and　by　vertue　of　his　command；　am
ready　（for　once　onely）　to　fulfill　your　pleasure；　but　far　from　any　will
or　consent　in　my　selfe。　If　Signior　Ansaldo　were　abashed　at　the
first；　hee　began　now　to　be　more　confounded　with　admiration；　when　he
heard　the　Lady　speake　in　such　strange　manner：　and　being　much　moved
with　the　liberall　command　of　her　husband；　he　began　to　alter　his
inflamed　heate；　into　most　honourable　respect　and　compassion；　returning
her　this　answer。
　　Most　noble　Lady；　the　Gods　forbid　（if　it　be　so　as　you　have　sayd）　that
I　should　（Villain…like）　soile　the　honour　of　him；　that