the decameron(十日谈)-第163章

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wilt　be　left　vanquished；　sinking　under　the　burthen　of　loves
tyrannicall　oppression；　and　then　my　turne　is　next　to　follow　thee。
And　therefore；　had　I　no　other　reason　to　love　thee；　yet　because　thy
life　is　deare　to　me；　in　regard　of　mine　owne　depending　thereon；　I　stand
the　neerer　thereto　obliged。　For　this　cause；　Sophronia　must　and　shal　be
thine；　for　thou　canst　not　find　any　other　so　conforme　to　thy　fancy：
albeit　I　who　can　easily　convert　my　liking　to　another　wife；　but　never
to　have　the　like　friend　againe；　shall　hereby　content　both　thee；　and　my
selfe。
　　Yet　perhaps　this　is　not　a　matter　so　easily　done；　or　I　to　expresse
such　liberality　therein；　if　wives　were　to　be　found　with　the　like
difficultie；　as　true　and　faithfull　friends　are：　but；　（being　able　to
recover　another　wife）　though　never　such　a　worthy　friend；　I　rather
chuse　to　change；　I　doe　not　say　loose　her　（for　in　giving　her　to　thee；　I
loose　her　not　my　selfe）　and　by　this　change；　make　that　which　was　good
before；　tenne　times　better；　and　so　preserve　both　thee　and　my　selfe。　To
this　end　therefore；　if　my　prayers　and　perswasions　have　any　power
with　thee；　I　earnestly　entreat　thee；　that；　by　freeing　thy　selfe　out　of
this　affliction；　thou　wilt　（in　one　instant）　make　us　both　truely
comforted；　and　dispose　thy　selfe　（living　in　hope）　to　embrace　that
happinesse；　which　the　fervent　love　thou　bearest　to　Sophronia；　hath
justly　deserved。
　　Now　although　Titus　was　confounded　with　shame；　to　yeeld　consent；　that
Sophronia　should　be　accepted　as　his　wife；　and　used　many　obstinate
resistances：　yet　notwithstanding；　Love　pleading　on　the　one　side
powerfully；　and　Gisippus　as　earnestly　perswading　on　the　other；　thus　he
answered。　Gisippus；　I　know　not　what　to　say；　neither　how　to　behave　my
selfe　in　this　election；　concerning　the　fitting　of　mine　contentment；　or
pleasing　thee　in　thy　importunate　perswasion。　But　seeing　thy　liberality
is　so　great；　as　it　surmounteth　all　reason　or　shame　in　me；　I　will　yeeld
obedience　to　thy　more　then　noble　nature。　Yet　let　this　remaine　for
thine　assurance；　that　I　doe　not　receive　this　grace　of　thine；　as　a
man　not　sufficiently　understanding；　how　I　enjoy　from　thee；　not　onely
her　whom　most　of　all　I　doe　affect；　but　also　doe　hold　my　very　life　of
thee。　Grant　then　you　greatest　Gods　（if　you　be　the　Patrones　of　this
mine　unexpected　felicitie）　that　with　honor　and　due　respect；　I　may
hereafter　make　apparantly　knowne：　how　highly　I　acknowledge　this　thy
wonderfull　favour；　in　being　more　mercifull　to　me；　then　I　could　be　to
my　selfe。
　　For　abridging　of　all　further　circumstances；　answered　Gisippus；　and
for　easier　bringing　this　matter　to　full　effect；　I　hold　this　to　be
our　onely　way。　It　is　not　unknowne　to　thee；　how　after　much　discourse
had　between　my　kindred；　and　those　belonging　to　Sophronia；　the
matrimoniall　conjunction　was　fully　agreed　on；　and　therefore；　if　now
I　shall　flye　off；　and　say；　I　will　not　accept　thee　as　my　wife：　great
scandall　would　arise　thereby；　and　make　much　trouble　among　our　friends；
which　could　not　be　greatly　displeasing　to　me；　if　that　were　the　way
to　make　her　thine。　But　I　rather　stand　in　feare；　that　if　I　forsake
her　in　such　peremptory　sort；　her　kinred　and　friends　will　bestow　her　on
some　other；　and　so　she　is　utterly　lost；　without　all　possible　meanes　of
recovery。　For　prevention　therefore　of　all　sinister　accidents；　I　thinke
it　best；　（if　thy　opinion　jumpe　with　mine）　that　I　still　pursue　the
busines；　as　already　I　have　begun；　having　thee　alwaies　in　my　company；
as　my　dearest　friend　and　onely　associate。　The　nuptials　being　performed
with　our　friends；　in　secret　manner　at　night　（as　we　can　cunningly
enough　contrive　it）　thou　shalt　have　her　maiden　honour　in　bed；　even
as　if　she　were　thine　owne　wife。　Afterward；　in　apt　time　and　place；　we
will　publiquely　make　knowne　what　is　done；　if　they　take　it　well；　we
will　be　as　jocond　as　they：　if　they　frowne　and　waxe　offended；　the
deed　is　done；　over…late　to　be　recalled；　and　so　perforce　they　must　rest
contented。
　　You　may　well　imagine；　this　advise　was　not　a　little　pleasing　to
Titus；　wherupon　Gisippus　received　home　Sophronia　into　his　house；
with　publike　intention　to　make　her　his　wife；　according　as　was　the
custome　then　observed；　and　Titus　being　perfectly　recovered；　was
present　at　the　Feast　very　ceremonially　observed。　When　night　was
come；　the　Ladies　and　Gentlewomen　conducted　Sophronia　to　the
Bride…Chamber；　where　they　left　her　in　her　Husbands　bed；　and　then
departed　all　away。　The　Chamber　wherein　Titus　used　to　lodge；　joyned
close　to　that　of　Gisippus；　for　their　easier　accesse　each　to　the　other；
at　all　times　whensoever　they　pleased；　and　Gisippus　being　alone　in
the　Bride…Chamber；　preparing　as　if　he　were　comming　to　bed：
extinguishing　the　light；　he　went　softly　to　Titus；　willing　him　to　goe
to　bed　to　his　wife。　Which　Titus　hearing；　overcome　with　shame　and
feare；　became　repentant；　and　denyed　to　goe。　But　Gisippus；　being　a　true
intyre　friend　indeed；　and　confirming　his　words　with　actions：　after　a
little　lingring　dispute；　sent　him　to　the　Bride；　and　so　soone　as　he　was
in　the　bed　with　her；　taking　Sophronia　gently　by　the　hand；　softly　he
moved　the　usuall　question　to　her；　namely；　if　she　were　willing　to　be
his　wife。
　　She　beleeving　verily　that　he　was　Gisippus；　modestly　answered。　Sir；　I
have　chosen　you　to　be　my　Husband；　reason　requires　then；　that　I
should　be　willing　to　be　your　wife。　At　which　words；　a　costly　Ring；
which　Gisippus　used　daily　to　weare；　he　put　upon　her　finger；　saying。
With　this　Ring；　I　confesse　my　selfe　to　be　your　Husband；　and　bind　you
（for　ever）　my　Spouse　and　Wife；　no　other　kind　of　marriage　was
observed　in　those　dayes；　and　so　he　continued　all　the　night　with　her；
she　never　suspecting　him　to　be　any　other　then　Gisippus；　and　thus　was
the　marriage　consumated；　betweene　Titus　and　Sophronia；　albeit　the
friends　（on　either　side）　thought　otherwise。
　　By　this　time；　Publius；　the　father　of　Titus；　was　departed　out　of　this
mortall　life；　and　letters　came　to　Athens；　that　with　all　speed　he
should　returne　to　Rome；　to　take　order　for　occasions　there　concerning
him；　wherefore　he　concluded　with　Gisippus　about　his　departure；　and
taking　Sophronia　thither　with　him；　which　was　no　easie　matter　to　be
done；　until　it　were　first　known；　how　occasions　had　bin　caried　among
them。　Wherupon；　calling　her　one　day　into　her　Chamber；　they　told　her
entirely；　how　all　had　past；　which　Titus　confirmed　substantially；　by
such　direct　passages　betweene　themselves；　as　exceeded　all
possibility　of　denyall；　and　moved　in　her　much　admiration；　looking　each
on　other　very　discontentedly；　she　heavily　weeping　and　lamenting；　and
greatly　complaining　of　Gisippus；　for　wronging　her　so　unkindly。
　　But　before　any　further　noyse　was　made　in　the　house；　shee　went　to　her
Father；　to　whom；　as　also　to　her　Mother；　shee　declared　the　whole
trecherie；　how　much　both　they　and　their　other　friends　were　wronged
by　Gisippus；　avouching　her　selfe　to　be　the　wife　of　Titus；　and　not　of
Gisippus；　as　they　supposed。　These　newes　were　highly　displeasing　to　the
Father　of　Sophronia；　who　with　hir　kinred；　as　also　those　of　Gisippus；
made　great　complaints　to　the　Senate；　very　dangerous　troubles　and
commotions　arising　daily　betweene　them；　drawing　both　Gisippus　and
Sophronia　into　harsh　reports；　he　being　generally　reputed；　not　onely
worthy　of　all　bitter　reproofe；　but　also　the　severest　punishment。
Neverthelesse；　hee　maintained　publikely　what　he　had　done；　avouching　it
for　an　act　both　of　honour　and　honestie；　wherewith　Sophronia's
friends　had　no　reason　to　bee　offended；　but　rather　to　take　it　in　very
thankfull　part；　having　married　a　man　of　farre　greater　worth　and
respect；　than　himselfe　was；　or　could　be。
　　On　the　other　side；　Titus　hearing　these　uncivill　acclamations；　became
much　moved　and　provoked　at　them；　but　knowing　it　was　a　custome　observed
among　the　Greeks；　to　be　so　much　the　more　hurried　away　with　rumours　and
threatnings；　as　lesse　they　finde　them　to　be　answered；　and　when　they
finde　them；　shew　themselves　not　onely　humble　enough；　but　rather　as
base　men；　and　of　no　courage；　he　resolved　with　himselfe；　that　their
braveries　were　no　longer　to　be　enclured；　without　some　bold　and　manly
answere。　And　having　a　Romane　heart；　as　also　an　Athenian　understanding；
by　politique　perswasions；　he　caused　the　kinred　of　Gisippus　and
Sophronia；　to　be　assembled　in　a　Temple；　and　himselfe　comming
thither；　accompanied　with　none　but　Gisippus　onely；　he　began　to　deliver
his　minde　before　them　all；　in　this　manner　following。
　　〃Many　Philosophers　doe　hold　opinion；　that　the　actions　performed　by
mortall　men；　doe　proceed　from　the　disposing　and　ordination　of　the
immortall　gods。　Whereupon　some　doe　maintaine；　that　things　which　be
done；　or　never　are　to　be　done；　proceed　of　necessity：　howbeit　some
other　doe　hold；　that　this　necessity　is　onely　referred　to　things
done。　Both　which　opinions　（if　they　be　considered　with　mature　judgment）
doe　most　manifestly　approve；　that　they　who　reprehend　any　thing　which
is　irrevocable；　doe　nothing　else　but　shew　themselves；　as　if　they
were　wiser　then　the　Gods；　who　we　are　to　beleeve；　that　with
perpetuall　reason；　and　void　of　any　error；　doe　dispose　and　governe　both
us；　and　all　our　actions；　In　which　respect；　how　foolish　and
beast…like　a　thing　it　is；　presumptuously　to　checke　or　controule
their　operations；　you　may　very　easily　consider；　and　likewise；　how
justly　they　deserve　condigne　punishment；　who　suffer　themselves　to　be
transported　in　so　temerarious　a　manner。
　　〃In　which　notorious　transgression；　I　understand　you　all　to　be
guiltie；　if　common　fame　speake　truely；　concerning　the　marriage　of　my
selfe　and　Sophronia；　whom　you　imagined　as　given　to　Gisippus；　for　you
never　remember　that　it　was　so　ordained　from　eternitie；　shee　to　be
mine；　and　no　Wife　for　Gisippus；　as　at　this　instant　is　made　manifest　by
full　effect。　But　because　the　kinde　of　speaking；　concerning　divine
providence；　and　intention　of　the　Gods；　may　seeme　a　difficult　matter　to
many；　and　somewhat　hard　to　bee　understood：　I　am　content　to　presuppose；
that　they　meddle　not　with　any　thing　of　ours；　and　will　onely　stay　my
selfe　on　humane　reasons；　and　in　this　nature　of　speech；　I　shall　be
enforced　to　doe　two　things；　quite　contrary　to　my　naturall　disposition。
The　one　is；　to　speake　somewhat　in　praise　and　commendation　of　my　selfe：
And　the　other；　justly　to　blame　and　condemne　other　mens　seeming
estimation。　But　because　both　in　the　one　and　the　other；　I　doe　not
intend　to　swerve　a　jot　from　the　Truth；　and　the　necessitie　of　the
present　case　in　question；　doth　not　onely　require；　but　also　command　it；
you　must　pardon　what　I　am　to　say。
　　〃Your　complaints　doe　proceed；　rather　from　furie　then　reason；　and
（with　continuall　murmurings；　or　rather　seditions）　slander；
backe…bite　and　condemne　Gisippus；　because　（of　his　owne　free　will　and
noble　disposition）　hee　gave　her　to　be　my　Wife；　whom　（by　your　election）
was　made　his；　wherein　I　account　him　most　highly　praiseworthy：　and
the　reasons　inducing　mee　thereunto；　are　these。　The　first；　because　he
hath　performed　no　more　then　what　a　friend　ought　to　doe：　And　the
second；　in　regard　he　hath　dealt　more　wisely；　then　you　did。　I　have　no
intention；　to　display　（at　this　present）　what　the　sacred　law　of
amitie　requireth；　to　be　acted　by　one　friend　towards　another；　it
shall　suffice　mee　onely　to　informe　you；　that　the　league　of
friendship　（farre　stronger　t