the decameron(十日谈)-第165章

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accept　Titus　as　their　kinsman　（seeing　Gisippus　had　made　manifest
refusall　thereof）　than　to　lose　the　kinred　of　the　one；　and　procure
the　hatred　of　the　other。　Wherefore　they　went　to　seeke　Titus；　and
said　unto　him；　they　were　very　well　contented　that　Sophronia　should　bee
his　Wife；　hee　their　deare　and　loving　kinsman；　and　Gisippus　to
remaine　their　much　respected　friend。　And　embracing　one　another；　making
a　solemne　feast；　such　as　in　the　like　cases　is　necessarilie　required；
they　departed　from　him；　presently　sending　Sophronia　to　him；　who　making
a　vertue　of　necessity；　converted　her　love　（in　short　time　after）　to
Titus；　in　as　effectuall　manner；　as　formerly　shee　had　done　to　Gisippus；
and　so　was　sent　away　with　him　to　Rome；　where　she　was　received　and
welcommed　with　very　great　honour。
　　Gisippus　remaining　still　at　Athens；　in　small　regard　of　eyther　theirs
or　his　owne　friends：　not　long　after　by　meanes　of　sundry　troublesome
Citizens；　and　partialities　happening　among　the　common　people；　was
banished　from　Athens；　and　hee；　as　also　all　his　familie；　condemned　to
perpetuall　exile：　during　which　tempestuous　time；　Gisippus　was　become
not　onely　wretchedly　poore；　but　wandred　abroad　as　a　common　begger；
in　which　miserable　condition　he　travelled　to　Rome；　to　try　if　Titus
would　take　any　acknowledgement　of　him。　Understanding　that　he　was
living；　and　one　most　respected　among　the　Romanes；　as　being　a　great
Commander　and　a　Senator：　he　enquired　for　the　place　where　hee　dwelt；
and　going　to　be　neere　about　his　house；　stayed　there　so　long；　till
Titus　came　home；　yet　not　daring　to　manifest　himselfe；　or　speake　a　word
to　him；　in　regard　of　his　poore　and　miserable　estate；　but　strove　to
have　him　see　him；　to　the　end；　that　hee　might　acknowledge　and　call
him　by　his　name；　notwithstanding；　Titus　passed　by　him　without　either
speech；　or　looking　on　him：　Which　when　Gisippus　perceived；　and　making
full　account；　that　（at　the　least）　he　would　remember　him；　in　regard
of　former　courtesies；　done　to　him：　confounded　with　griefe　and
desperate　thoughtes；　hee　departed　thence；　never　meaning　to　see　him　any
more。
　　Now；　in　regard　it　was　night；　he　having　eaten　nothing　all　that　day；
nor　provided　of　one　penny　to　buy　him　any　food；　wandred　he　knew　not
whether；　desiring　rather　to　die　than　live；　hee　came　at　last　to　an
old　ruinous　part　of　the　City；　over…spred　with　briers　and　bushes；　and
seldome　resorted　unto　by　any：　where　finding　a　hollow　Cave　or　vault；　he
entred　into　it；　meaning　there　to　weare　away　the　comfortlesse　night；
and　laying　himselfe　downe　on　the　hard　ground；　almost　starke　naked；　and
without　any　warme　garments；　over…wearied　with　weeping；　at　last　he　fell
into　a　sleepe。
　　It　fortuned　that　two　men；　who　had　beene　abroad　the　same　night；
committing　thefts　and　robberies　together；　somwhat　very　earlie　in　the
morning；　came　to　the　same　Cave；　intending　there　to　share　and　divide
their　booties；　and　difference　happening　betweene　them　about　it；　hee
that　was　the　stronger　person；　slew　there　the　other；　and　then　went　away
with　the　whole　purchase。
　　Gisippus　having　heard　and　seene　the　manner　of　this　accident；　was　not
a　little　joyfull；　because　he　had　now　found　a　way　to　death；　without
laying　any　violent　hand　on　himselfe；　for　life　being　very　loathsome
to　him；　it　was　his　only　desire　to　die。　Wherfore；　he　would　not　budge
from　the　place；　but　taried　there　so　long；　till　the　Sergeants　and
Officers　of　justice　（by　information　of　him　that　did　the　deede）　came
thither　well　attended；　and　furiously　ledde　Gisippus　thence　to　prison。
　　Being　examined　concerning　this　bloudy　fact；　he　plainly　confessed；
that　hee　himselfe　had　committed　the　murder；　and　afterward　would　not
depart　from　the　Cave；　but　purposely　stayed　for　apprehension；　as
being　truely　toucht　with　compunction　for　so　foule　an　offence：　upon
which　eremptorie　confession；　Marcus　Varro　being　then　Praetor；　gave
sentence　that　he　should　be　crucified　on　a　Crosse；　as　it　was　the　usuall
manner　of　death　in　those　dayes。　Titus　chancing　to　come　at　the　same
time　into　Praetorium；　advisedly　beholding　the　face　of　the　condemned
man　（as　hee　sate　upon　the　bench）　knew　him　to　bee　Gysippus；　not　a
little　wondring　at　this　strange　accident；　the　povertie　of　his
estate；　and　what　occasion　should　bring　him　thither；　especially　in
the　questioning　for　his　life；　and　before　the　Tribunall　of　justice。
　　His　soule　earnestly　thirsting；　by　all　possible　meanes　to　helpe　and
defend　him；　and　no　other　course　could　now　be　taken　for　safetie　of
his　life；　but　by　accusing　himselfe；　to　excuse　and　cleare　the　other
of　the　crime：　hee　stept　from　off　the　judgement　bench；　and　crouding
through　the　throng　to　the　Barre；　called　out　to　the　Praetor　in　this
manner。　Marcus　Varro；　recall　thy　sentence　given　on　the　condemned　man
sent　away；　because　hee　is　truely　guiltlesse　and　innocent：　With　one
bloudie　blow　have　I　offended　the　Gods；　by　killing　that　wretched　man；
whom　the　Serjeants　found　this　morning　slaine；　wherefore　Noble　Praetor；
let　no　innocent　mans　bloud　be　shed　for　it；　but　onely　mine　that　have
offended。
　　Marcus　Varro　stood　like　a　man　confounded　with　admiration；　being　very
sorrie；　for　that　which　the　whole　assistants　had　both　seene　and
heard；　yet　hee　could　not　（with　honour）　desist　from　what　must　needs
be　done；　but　would　performe　the　Lawes　severe　injunction。　And　sending
for　condemned　Gisippus　backe　againe；　in　the　presence　of　Titus；　thus　he
spake　to　him。　How　becamest　thou　so　madly　incensed；　as　（without　any
torment　inflicted　on　thee）　to　confesse　an　offence　by　thee　never
committed？　Art　thou　wearie　of　thy　life？　Thou　chargest　thy　selfe
falsly；　to　be　the　person　who　this　last　night　murdered　the　man　in　the
Cave；　and　there　is　another　that　voluntarily　also　doth　confesse　his
guiltinesse。
　　Gisippus　lifting　up　his　eyes；　and　perceiving　it　was　Titus；　conceived
immediately；　that　he　had　done　this　onely　for　his　deliverance；　as　one
that　remembred　him　sufficiently；　and　would　not　be　ungratefull　for
former　kindnesses　received。　Wherefore；　the　teares　flowing　abundantly
down　his　cheekes；　he　said　to　the　Judge　Varro；　it　was　none　but　I　that
murdered　the　man；　wherefore；　I　commiserate　the　case　of　this　Noble
Gentleman　Titus；　who　speakes　now　too　late　for　the　safety　of　my　life。
Titus　on　the　other　side；　said。　Noble　Praetor；　this　man　（as　thou　seest）
is　a　stranger　heere；　and　was　found　without　any　weapon；　fast　asleepe　by
the　dead　body：　thou　mayst　then　easily　perceive；　that　meerely　the
miserable　condition　wherein　he　is；　hath　made　him　desperate；　and　he
would　make　mine　offence　the　occasion　of　his　death。　Absolve　him；　and
send　me　to　the　Crosse；　for　none　but　I　have　deserved　to　die　for　this
fact。
　　Varro　was　amazed；　to　observe　with　what　earnest　instance　each　of　them
strove　to　excuse　the　other；　which　halfe　perswaded　him　in　his　soule；
that　they　were　both　guiltlesse。　And　as　he　was　starting…up；　with　full
intent　to　acquaint　them：　a　yong　man；　who　had　stood　there　all　this
while；　and　observed　the　hard　pleading　on　either　side；　he　crowded
into　the　Barre；　being　named　Publius　Ambustus；　a　fellow　of　lewd　life；
and　utterly　out　of　hopes；　as　being　debauched　in　all　his　fortunes；
and　knowne　among　the　Romaines　to　be　a　notorious　theefe；　who　verily　had
committed　the　murder。　Well　knew　his　conscience；　that　none　of　them　were
guilty　of　the　crime；　wherewith　each　so　wilfully　charged　himselfe：
being　therefore　truely　toucht　with　remorse；　he　stept　before　Marcus
Varro；　saying。
　　Honourable　Praetor；　mine　owne　horrid　and　abominable　actions；　have
induced　me　thus　to　intrude　my　selfe；　for　clearing　the　strict
contention　betweene　these　two　persons。　And　questionlesse；　some　God
or　greater　power；　hath　tormented　my　wretched　soule；　and　so
compunctually　solicited　me；　as　I　cannot　chuse；　but　make　open
confession　of　my　sinne。　Here　therefore；　I　doe　apparantly　publish；　that
neither　of　these　men　is　guilty　of　the　offence；　wherewith　so　wilfully
each　chargeth　himselfe。　I　am　the　villaine；　who　this　morning　murdered
the　man　in　the　Cave；　one　of　no　greater　honesty　then　my　selfe；　and
seeing　this　poore　man　lie　there　sleeping；　while　we　were　dividing　the
stolne　booties　betweene　us；　I　slew　my　Companyon；　because　I　would　be
the　sole　possessor。　As　for　Noble　Lord　Titus；　he　had　no　reason　thus
to　accuse　himselfe；　because　＇he＇　is　a　man　of　no　such　base　quality：　let
them　both　then　be　delivered；　and　inflict　the　sentence　of　death　on　me。
　　Octavius　Caesar；　to　whom　tydings　was　brought　of　this　rare
accident；　commanding　them　al　three　to　be　brought　before　him；　would
needs　understand　the　whole　History；　in　every　particular　as　all　had
happened；　which　was　substantially　related　to　him。　Whereupon；
Octavius　pleased　them　all　three：　the　two　noble　friendes；　because
they　were　innocent；　and　the　third；　for　openly　revealing　the　very
truth。
　　Titus　tooke　home　with　him　his　friend　Gisippus；　and　after　he　had
sharpely　reproved　him　for　his　distrust；　and　cold　credence　of　his
friendship：　he　brought　him　to　Sophronia；　who　welcomed　him　as　lovingly；
as　if　he　had　bin　her　naturall　borne　brother；　bemoaning　his　hard　and
disastrous　fortune；　and　taking　especiall　care；　to　convert　all　passed
distresses；　into　as　happy　and　comfortable　a　change；　fitting　him　with
garments　and　attendants；　beseeming　his　degree　both　in　Nobility　and
vertue。　Titus；　out　of　his　honourable　bounty；　imparted　halfe　his
lands　and　rich　possessions　to　him；　and　afterward　gave　him　in　marriage；
his　owne　Sister；　a　most　beautifull　Lady；　named　Fulvia；　saying　to　him
beside。　My　deare　friend　Gisippus；　it　remaineth　now　in　thine　owne
election；　whether　thou　wilt　live　here　still　with　me；　or　returne
backe　to　Athens；　with　all　the　wealth　which　I　have　bestowed　on　thee。
But　Gisippus；　being　one　way　constrayned；　by　the　sentence　of　banishment
from　his　native　City；　and　then　againe；　in　regard　of　the　constant　love；
which　he　bare　to　so　true　and　thankefull　friend　as　Titus　was：　concluded
to　live　there　as　a　loyall　Roman；　where　he　with　his　Fulvia；　and　Titus
with　his　faire　Sophronia；　lived　long　after　together　in　one　and　the
same　house；　augmenting　daily　（if　possible　it　might　be）　their　amity
beyond　all　other　equalizing。
　　A　most　sacred　thing　therefore　is　（ordiall　amity；　worthy　not　onely　of
singuler　reverence；　but　also　to　be　honoured　with　eternall
commendation；　as　being　the　onely　wise　Mother　of　all　magnificence　and
honesty；　the　Sister　of　Charity　and　Gratitude；　the　enemy　to　hatred
and　avarice；　and　which　is　alwayes　ready　（without　attending　to　be
requested）　to　extend　all　vertuous　actions　to　others；　which　she　would
have　done　to　her　selfe。　Her　rare　and　divine　effects；　in　these　contrary
times　of　ours；　are　not　to　be　found　between　two　such　persons；　which
is　a　mighty　fault；　and　greatly　checketh　the　miserable　covetousnesse　of
men；　who　respecting　nothing　but　onely　their　particular　benefit；　have
banished　true　Amity；　to　the　utmost　confines　of　the　whole　earth；　and
sent　her　into　perpetuall　exile。
　　What　love；　what　wealth；　or　affinity　of　kindred；　could　have　made
Gisippus　feele　（even　in　the　intyrest　part　of　his　soule）　the　fervent
compassion；　the　teares；　the　sighes　of　Titus；　and　with　such　efficacy　as
plainely　appeared：　to　make　him　consent；　that　his　faire　elected　Spouse；
by　him　so　dearely　esteemed；　should　become　the　wife　of　his　Companion；
but　onely　the　precious　league　of　Amity？
　　What　Lawes；　what　threatnings；　what　feares；　could　cause　the　yong
ar