the decameron(十日谈)-第16章

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by　swimming。　Others　caught　hold　on　such　things；　as　by　Fortunes　favour；
floated　neerest　to　them；　among　whom；　distressed　Landolpho；　desirous　to
save　his　life；　if　possibly　it　might　be；　espied　a　Chest　or　Coffer
before　him；　ordained　（no　doubt）　to　be　the　meanes　of　his　safety　from
drowning。　Now　although　the　day　before；　he　had　wished　for　death
infinite　times；　rather　then　to　returne　home　in　such　wretched
poverty；　yet；　seeing　how　other　men　strove　for　safety　of　their　lives　by
any　helpe；　were　it　never　so　little；　bee　tooke　advantage　of　this　favour
offred　him；　and　the　rather　in　a　necessitie　so　urgent。　Keeping　fast
upon　the　Coffer　so　well　as　he　could；　and　being　driven　by　the　winds　and
waves；　one　while　this　way；　and　anon　quite　contrary；　he　made　shift
for　himselfe　till　day　appeared；　when　looking　every　way　about　him；
seeing　nothing　but　clouds；　the　seas　and　the　Coffer；　which　one　while
shrunke　from　under　him；　and　another　while　supported　him；　according
as　the　windes　and　billowes　carried　it：　all　that　day　and　night　thus
he　floated　up　and　downe；　drinking　more　then　willingly　hee　would；　but
almost　hunger…starved　thorow　want　of　foode。　The　next　morning；　either
by　the　appointment　of　heaven　or　power　of　the　Windes；　Landolpho　who　was
（well…neere）　become　a　Spundge；　holding　his　armes　strongly　about　the
Chest；　as　we　have　seene　some　doe；　who　（dreading　drowning）　take　hold　on
any　the　very　smallest　helpe；　drew　neere　unto　the　shore　of　the　Iland
Corfu；　where　（by　good　fortune）　a　poore　woman　was　scowring　dishes
with　the　salt　water　and　sand；　to　make　them　（housewife　like）　neate
and　cleane。
　　When　shee　saw　the　Chest　drawing　neere　her；　and　not　discerning　the
shape　of　any　man；　shee　grew　fearefull；　and　retyring　from　it；　cried　out
aloude。　He　had　no　power　of　speaking　to　her；　neither　did　his　sight
doe　him　the　smallest　service；　but　even　as　the　waves　and　windes
pleased；　the　Chest　was　driven　still　neerer　to　the　Land；　and　then　the
woman　perceyved　that　it　had　the　forme　of　a　ofer；　and　looking　more
advisedly；　beheld　two　armes　extended　over　it；　and　afterward；　she
espied　the　face　of　a　man；　not　being　able　to　judge；　whether　he　were
alive；　or　no。　Moved　by　charitable　and　womanly　compassion；　shee　stept
in　among　the　billowes；　and　getting　fast　holde　on　the　hayre　of　his
head；　drew　both　the　Chest　and　him　to　the　Land；　and　calling　forth　her
Daughters　to　helpe　her；　with　much　adoe　she　unfolded　his　armes　from　the
Chest；　setting　it　up　on　her　Daughters　head；　and　then　betweene　them；
Landolpho　was　led　into　the　Towne；　and　there　conveyed　into　a　warme
Stove；　where　quickly　he　recovered　by　her　pains；　his　strength
benummed　with　extreame　cold。
　　Good　wines　and　comfortable　broathes　shee　cherished　him　withall；　that
his　sences　being　indifferently　restored；　hee　knew　the　place　where
hee　was；　but　not　in　what　manner　he　was　brought　thither；　till　the
good　woman　shewed　him　the　Cofer　that　had　kept　him　floating　upon　the
waves；　and　（next　under　God）　had　saved　his　life。　The　Chest　seemed　of
such　slender　weight；　that　nothing　of　any　value　could　be　expected　in
it；　either　to　recompence　the　womans　great　paines　and　kindnesse
bestowne　on　him；　or　any　matter　of　his　owne　benefit。　Neverthelesse；　the
woman　being　absent；　he　opened　the　Chest；　and　found　innumerable
precious　stones　therein；　some　costly　and　curiously　set　in　Gold；　and
others　not　fixed　in　any　mettall。　Having　knowledge　of　their　great　worth
and　value　（being　a　Merchant；　and　skil'd　in　such　matters）　he　became
much　comforted；　praysing　God　for　this　good　successe；　and　such　an
admirable　meanes　of　deliverance　from　danger。
　　Then　considering　with　himselfe；　that　（in　a　short　time）　hee　had　beene
twice　well　buffeted　and　beaten　by　Fortune；　and　fearing；　least　a
third　mishap　might　follow　in　like　manner；　hee　consulted　with　his
thoughts；　how　he　might　safest　order　the　businesse；　and　bring　so　rich　a
booty　（without　perill）　to　his　owne　home。　Wherefore；　wrapping　up　the
jewels　in　very　unsightly　coloures；　that　no　suspition　at　all　should
be　conceived　of　them；　hee　saide　to　the　good　woman；　that　the　Chest
would　not　doe　him　any　further　service；　but　if　shee　pleased　to　lende
him　a　small　sacke　or　bagge；　shee　might　keepe　the　Cofer；　for　in　her
house　it　would　divers　way　stead　her。　The　woman　gladly　did　as　he
desired；　and　Landolpho　returning　her　infinite　thankes；　for　the
loving　kindnesse　shee　had　affoorded　him；　throwing　the　sacke　on　his
necke；　passed　by　a　Barke　to　Brundusiam；　and　from　thence　to　Tranium；
where　Merchants　in　the　City　bestowed　good　garments　on　him；　he
acquainting　them　with　his　disasterous　fortunes；　but　not　a　word
concerning　his　last　good　successe。
　　Being　come　home　in　safety　to　Ravello；　he　fell　on　his　knees；　and
thanked　God　for　all　his　mercies　towards　him。　Then　opening　the　sacke；
and　viewing　the　jewels　at　more　leysure　then　formerly　he　had　done；　he
found　them　to　be　of　so　great　estimation；　that　selling　them　but　at
ordinary　and　reasonable　rates；　he　was　three　times　richer；　then　when
hee　departed　first　from　his　house。　And　having　vented　them　all；　he　sent
a　great　summe　of　money　to　the　good　woman　at　Corfu；　that　had　rescued
him　out　of　the　Sea；　and　saved　his　life　in　a　danger　so　dreadfull。　The
like　he　did　to　Tranium；　to　the　Merchants　that　had　newly　cloathed
him；　living　richly　upon　the　remainder；　and　never　adventuring　more　to
the　Sea；　but　ended　his　dayes　in　wealth　and　honour。




　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　SECOND　DAY；　THE　FIFT　NOVELL

　　　　　　COMPREHENDING；　HOW　NEEDFULL　A　THING　IT　IS；　FOR　A　MAN　THAT
　　　　　　TRAVELLETH　IN　AFFAIRES　OF　THE　WORLD；　TO　BE　PROVIDENT　AND
　　　　　　　　WELL　ADVISED；　AND　CAREFULLY　TO　KEEPE　HIMSELFE　FROM　THE
　　　　　　　　　　　CRAFTY　AND　DECEITFULL　ALLUREMENTS　OF　STRUMPETS

　　Andrea　de　Piero；　travelling　from　Perouse　to　Naples　to　buy　Horses；
was　（in　the　space　of　one　night）　surprised　by　three　admirable
accidents；　out　of　all　which　he　fortunately　escaped；　and　with　a　rich
Ring；　returned　home　to　his　owne　house。

　　The　precious　Stones　and　jewels　found　by　Landolpho；　maketh　mee　to
remember　（said　Madam　Fiammetta；　who　was　next　to　deliver　her　discourse）
a　Tale；　containing　no　lesse　perils；　then　that　reported　by　Madam
Lauretta：　but　somewhat　different　from　it；　because　the　one　happened
in　sundry　yeeres；　and　this　other　had　no　longer　time；　then　the　compasse
of　one　poore　night；　as　instantly　I　will　relate　unto　you。
　　As　I　have　heard　reported　by　many；　there　sometime　lived　in　Perouse　or
Perugia；　a　young　man；　named　Andrea　de　Piero；　whose　profession　was　to
trade　about　Horses；　in　the　nature　of　a　Horse…courser；　or
Horsemaster；　who　hearing　of　a　good　Faire　or　Market　（for　his　purpose）
at　Naples；　did　put　five　hundred　Crownes　of　gold　in　his　purse；　and
journeyed　thither　in　the　company　of　other　Horse…coursers；　arriving
there　on　a　Sunday　in　the　evening。　According　to　instructions　given
him　by　his　Host；　he　went　the　next　day　into　the　Horse…market；　where
he　saw　very　many　Horses　that　he　liked；　cheapening　their　prices　as　he
went　up　and　downe；　but　could　fall　to　no　agreement；　yet　to　manifest
that　he　came　purposely　to　buy；　and　not　as　a　cheapener　onely；
oftentimes　（like　a　shallow…brainde　trader　in　the　world）　he　shewed
his　purse　of　gold　before　all　passengers；　never　respecting　who；　or　what
they　were　that　observed　his　follie。
　　It　came　to　passe；　that　a　young　Sicillian　wench　（very　beautifull；　but
at　commaund　of　whosoever　would；　and　for　small　hire）　pass　then　by；
and　（without　his　percieving）　seeing　such　store　of　gold　in　his　purse；
presently　she　said　to　her　selfe：　why　should　not　all　those　crownes　be
mine；　when　the　foole　that　owes　them；　can　keepe　them　no　closer？　And
so　she　went　on。　With　this　young　wanton　there　was　（at　the　same　time）　an
olde　woman　（as　commonly　such　stuffe　is　alwayes　so　attended）　seeming　to
be　a　Sicillian　also；　who　so　soone　as　shee　saw　Andrea；　knew　him；　and
leaving　her　youthfull　commodity；　ranne　to　him；　and　embraced　him　very
kindly。　Which　when　the　younger　Lasse　perceived；　without　proceeding　any
further；　she　stayed　to　see　what　would　ensue　thereon。　Andrea　conferring
with　the　olde　Bawde；　and　knowing　her　（but　not　for　any　such　creature）
declared　himselfe　very　affable　to　her；　she　making　him　promise；　that
shee　would　come　and　drinke　with　him　at　his　lodging。　So　breaking　off
further　speeches　for　that　time；　shee　returned　to　her　young
Cammerado；　and　Andrea　went　about　buying　his　horses；　still　cheapning
good　store；　but　did　not　buy　any　all　that　morning。
　　The　Punke　that　had　taken　notice　of　Andreas　purse；　upon　the　olde
womans　comming　backe　to　her　（having　formerly　studied；　how　shee　might
get　all　the　gold；　or　the　greater　part　thereof）　cunningly　questioned
with　her；　what　the　man　was；　whence　hee　came；　and　the　occasion　of　his
businesse　there？　wherein　she　fully　informed　her　particularly；　and　in
as　ample　manner　as　himselfe　could　have　done：　That　shee　had　long　time
dwelt　in　Sicily　with　his　Father；　and　afterward　at　Perouse；
recounting　also；　at　what　time　she　came　thence；　and　the　cause　which　now
had　drawne　him　to　Naples。　The　witty　young　housewife；　being　thorowly
instructed；　concerning　the　Parents　and　kindred　of　Andrea；　their　names；
quality；　and　all　other　circumstances　thereto　leading；　began　to　frame
the　foundation　of　her　purpose　thereupon；　setting　her　resolution
downe　constantly；　that　the　purse　and　gold　was　（already）　more　than
halfe　her　owne。
　　Being　come　home　to　her　owne　house；　away　shee　sent　the　olde　Pandresse
about　other　businesse；　which　might　hold　her　time　long　enough　of
employment；　and　hinder　her　returning　to　Andrea　according　to　promise；
purposing；　not　to　trust　her　in　this　serious　piece　of　service。
Calling　a　young　crafty　Girle　to　her；　whom　she　had　well　tutoured　in　the
like　ambassages；　when　evening　drew　on；　she　sent　her　to　Andreas
lodging；　where　（by　good　fortune）　she　found　him　sitting　alone　at　the
doore；　and　demanding　of　him；　if　he　knew　an　honest　Gentleman　lodging
there；　whose　name　was　Signior　Andrea　de　Piero；　he　made　her　answere；
that　himselfe　was　the　man。　Then　taking　him　aside；　she　said。　Sir；　there
is　a　worthy　Gentlewoman　of　this　Citie；　that　would　gladly　speake　with
you；　if　you　pleased　to　vouchsafe　her　so　much　favour。
　　Andrea；　hearing　such　a　kinde　of　salutation；　and　from　a
Gentlewoman；　named　of　worth；　began　to　grow　proud　in　his　owne
imaginations；　and　to　make　no　meane　estimation　of　himselfe：　As
（undoubtedly）　that　he　was　an　hansome　proper　man；　and　of　such　cariage
and　perfections；　as　had　attracted　the　amorous　eye　of　this　Gentlewoman；
and　induced　her　to　like　and　love　him　beyond　all　other；　Naples　not
containing　a　man　of　better　merit。　Whereupon　he　answered　the　Mayde；
that　he　was　ready　to　attend　her　Mistresse；　desiring　to　know；　when　it
should　be；　and　where　the　Gentlewoman　would　speake　with　him？　So　soone
as　you　please　Sir；　replied　the　Damosell；　for　she　tarrieth　your　comming
in　her　owne　house。
　　Instantly　Andrea　（without　leaving　any　direction　of　his　departure
in　his　lodging；　or　when　he　intended　to　returne　againe）　said　to　the
Girle：　Goe　before；　and　I　will　follow。　This　little　Chamber…commodity；
conducted　him　to　her　Mistresses　dwelling；　which　was　in　a　streete　named
Malpertuis；　a　title　manifesting　sufficiently　the　streetes　honesty：　but
hee；　having　no　such　knowledge　thereof；　neither　suspecting　any　harme　at
all；　but　that　he　went　to　a　most　honest　house；　and　to　a　Gentlewoman
of　good　respect；　entred　boldly：　the　Mayde　going　in　before；