the decameron(十日谈)-第166章

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but　onely　the　precious　league　of　Amity？
　　What　Lawes；　what　threatnings；　what　feares；　could　cause　the　yong
armes　of　Gisippus　to　abstaine　embraces；　betaking　himselfe　to
solitary　walkes；　and　obscure　places；　when　in　his　owne　bedde；　he
might　have　enjoyed　so　matchlesse　a　beauty　（who　perhaps　desired　it　so
much　as　himselfe）　but　onely　the　gracious　title　of　Amity？　What
greatnesse；　what　merits　or　precedence；　could　cause　Gisippus　not　to
care；　for　the　losse　of　his　kindred；　those　of　Sophronia；　yea；　of
Sophronia　her　selfe；　not　respecting　the　dishonest　murmurings　of　base
minded　people；　their　vile　and　contemptible　language；　scornes　and
mockeries；　and　all　to　content　and　satisfie　a　friend；　but　onely
Divine　Amity？
　　Come　now　likewise　to　the　other　side。　What　occasions　could　compell
Noble　Titus；　so　promptly　and　deliberatly；　to　procure　his　owne　death；
to　rescue　his　friend　from　the　crosse；　and　inflict　the　pain　and　shame
upon　himselfe；　pretending　not　＇to＇　see　or　know　Gisippus　at　all；　had　it
not　bin　wrought　by　powerfull　Amity？　What　cause　else　could　make　Titus
so　liberall；　in　dividing　（with　such　willingnesse）　the　larger　part　of
his　patrimony　to　Gisippus；　when　Fortune　had　dispossest　him　of　his
owne；　but　onely　heaven…borne　Amity？　What　else　could　have　procured
Titus；　without　any　further　dilation；　feare　or　suspition；　to　give　his
Sister　Fulvia　in　marriage　to　Gisippus；　when　he　saw　him　reduced　to　such
extreame　poverty；　disgrace　and　misery；　but　onely　infinite　Amity？　To
what　end　doe　men　care　then；　to　covet　and　procure　great　multitudes　of
kinred；　store　of　brethren；　numbers　of　children；　and　to　encrease
（with　their　owne　monyes）　plenty　of　servants：　when　by　the　least　losse
and　dammage　happening；　they　forget　all　duty　to　Father；　Brother；　or
Master？　Amity　and　true　friendship　is　of　a　quite　contrary　nature；
satisfying　（in　that　sacred　bond）　the　obligation　due　to　all　degrees；
both　of　parentage；　and　all　alliences　else。




　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　TENTH　DAY；　THE　NINTH　NOVELL

　　　　　　　DECLARING　WHAT　AN　HONOURABLE　VERTUE　COURTESIE　IS；　IN　THEM
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THAT　TRUELY　KNOW　HOW　TO　USE　THEM

　　Saladine；　the　great　Soldan　of　Babylon；　in　the　habite　of　a
Merchant；　was　honourably　received　and　welcommed；　into　the　house　of
Signior　Thorello　d'Istria。　Who　travelling　to　the　Holy　Land；　prefixed　a
certaine　time　to　his　Wife；　for　his　returne　back　to　her　againe；
wherein；　if　he　failed；　it　was　lawfull　for　her　to　take　another　Husband。
By　clouding　himselfe　in　the　disguise　of　a　Faulkner；　the　Soldan　tooke
notice　of　him；　and　did　him　many　great　honours。　Afterward；　Thorello
falling　sicke；　by　Magicall　Art；　he　was　conveighed　in　one　night　to
Pavia；　when　his　Wife　was　to　be　married　on　the　morrow：　where　making
himselfe　knowne　to　her；　all　was　disappointed；　and　shee　went　home
with　him　to　his　owne　house。

　　Adam　Philomena　having　concluded　her　discourse；　and　the　rare
acknowledgement；　which　Titus　made　of　his　esteemed　friend　Gisippus；
extolled　justly　as　it　deserved　by　all　the　Company：　the　King；　reserving
the　last　office　to　Dioneus　（as　it　was　at　the　first　granted　him）
began　to　speake　thus。　Without　all　question　to　the　contrary　（worthy
Ladies）　nothing　can　be　more　truely　said；　then　what　Madame　Philomena；
hath　delivered；　concerning　Amity；　and　her　complaint　in　the
conclusion　of　her　Novell；　is　not　without　great　reason；　to　see　it　so
slenderly　reverenced　and　respected　（now　a　dayes）　among　all　men。　But　if
we　had　met　here　in　duty　onely　for　correcting　the　abuses　of　iniquity；
and　the　malevolent　courses　of　this　preposterous　age；　I　could　proceed
further　in　this　just　cause　of　complaint。　But　because　our　end　aimeth　at
matters　of　other　nature；　it　commeth　to　my　memory　to　tel　you　of　a
History；　which　（perhaps）　may　seeme　somewhat　long；　but　altogether
pleasant；　concerning　a　magnificent　act　of　great　Saladine：　to　the
end；　that　by　observing　those　things　which　you　shall　heare　in　my
Novell；　if　we　cannot　（by　reason　of　our　manifold　imperfections）
intirely　compasse　the　amity　of　any　one；　yet　（at　least）　we　may　take
delight；　in　stretching　our　kindnesse　（in　good　deeds）　so　farre　as　we
are　able；　in　hope　one　day　after；　some　worthy　reward　will　ensue
thereon；　as　thereto　justly　appertaining。
　　Let　me　tell　you　then；　that　（as　it　is　afermed　by　many）　in　the　time　of
the　Emperour　Frederick；　first　of　that　name；　the　Christians；　for　the
better　recovery　of　the　holy　land；　resolved　to　make　a　generall　voyage
over　the　Seas。　Which　being　understood　by　Saladine；　a　very　worthy
Prince；　and　then　Soldan　of　Babylon：　he　concluded　with　himselfe；　that
he　would　（in　person）　goe　see；　what　preparation　the　Christian
Potentates　made　for　this　Warre；　that　hee　might　the　better　provide
for　himselfe。　Having　setled　all　things　orderly　in　Aegypt　for　the
busines；　and　making　an　outward　appearance；　as　if　he　purposed　a
pilgrimage　to　Mecha：　he　set　onward　on　his　journey；　habited　like　a
Merchant；　attended　onely　with　two　of　his　most　Noble　and　wisest
Baschaes；　and　three　waiting　servants。
　　When　he　had　visited　many　Christian　Provinces；　and　was　riding
thorow　Lombardle；　to　passe　the　mountaines；　it　fortuned；　in　his
journeying　from　Millaine　to　Pavia；　and　the　day　being　very　farre　spent；
so　that　night　hastened　speedily　on　him：　he　met　with　a　Gentleman；　named
Signior　Thorella　d'Istria；　but　dwelling　at　Pavia；　who　with　his　men；
Hawkes　and　Hounds；　went　to　a　house　of　his；　seated　in　a　singular　place；
and　on　the　River　of　Ticinum。　Signior　Thorello　seeing　such　men　making
towardes　him；　presently　imagined；　that　they　were　some
Gentle…strangers；　and　such　hee　desired　to　respect　with　honor。
　　Wherefore；　Saladine　demanding　of　one　of　Thorelloes　men；　how　farre
（as　then）　it　was　to　Pavia；　and　whether　they　might　reach　thither　by
such　an　houre；　as　would　admit　their　entrance　into　the　Citty：
Thorello　would　not　suffer　his　servant　to　returne　the　answer；　but
replyed　thus　himselfe。　Sir　（quoth　he）　you　cannot　reach　Pavia；　but
night　will　abridge　you　of　any　entraunce　there。　I　beseech　you　then　Sir；
answered　Saladine；　favour　us　so　much　（because　we　are　all　strangers
in　these　parts）　as　to　tell　us　where　we　may　be　well　lodged。　That　shal　I
Sir；　said　Thorello；　and　very　gladly　too。
　　Even　at　the　instant　Sir；　as　we　met　with　you；　I　had　determined　in
my　mind；　to　send　one　of　my　servants　somewhat　neere　to　Pavia；　about　a
businesse　concerning　my　selfe：　he　shall　go　along　with　you；　and　conduct
you　to　a　place；　where　you　will　be　very　well　entertayned。　So；
stepping　to　him；　who　was　of　best　discretion　amongst　his　men；　he　gave
order　to　him　what　should　bee　done；　and　sent　him　with　them。　Himselfe；
making　hast　by　a　farre　neerer　way；　caused　Supper　to　be　prepared　in
worthy　manner；　and　the　Tables　to　be　covered　in　his　Garden；　and　all
things　being　in　good　readinesse；　he　sate　downe　at　his　doore；　to　attend
the　comming　of　his　guests。　The　Servingman；　discoursing　with　the
Gentlemen　on　divers　occasions；　guided　them　by　such　unusuall
passages；　as　（before　they　could　discerne　it）　he　brought　them　to　his
Masters　house；　where　so　soone　as　Thorello　saw　them　arrived；　he　went
forth　to　meet　them；　assuring　them　all　of　most　hearty　welcome。
　　Saladine；　who　was　a　man　of　accute　understanding；　did　well
perceive；　that　this　Knight　Thorello　misdoubted　his　going　with　him；
if　（when　he　met　him）　hee　should　have　invited　him；　and　therefore；
because　he　would　not　be　denied；　of　entertaining　him　into　his　house；　he
made　choise　of　this　kinde　and　honourable　course；　which　caused　him　to
returne　this　answer。　Gentle　Sir；　if　courtesie　in　one　man　to　another；
do　deserve　condemning；　then　may　we　justly　complaine　of　you；　who
meeting　us　upon　the　way；　which　you　have　shortened　by　your　kindnesse；
and　which　we　are　no　way　able　to　deserve；　wee　are　constrained　to
accept；　taking　you　to　bee　the　mirrour　of　courtesie。　Thorello　being　a
Knight　of　ingenious　apprehension；　and　wel　languaged；　replyed　thus。
　　Gentlemen；　this　courtesie　（seeing　you　terme　it　so）　which　you　receive
of　me；　in　regard　of　that　justly　belonging　to　you；　as　your　faces　do
sufficiently　informe　mee；　is　matter　of　very　slender　account。　But
assuredly　out　of　Pavia；　you　could　not　have　any　lodging；　deserving　to
be　termed　good。　And　therefore　let　it　not　bee　displeasing　to　you；　if
you　have　a　little　gone　forth　of　the　common　rode　way；　to　have　your
entertainment　somewhat　bettered；　as　many　travaylers　are　easily　induced
to　do。
　　Having　thus　spoken；　all　the　people　of　the　house　shewed　themselves；
in　serviceable　manner　to　the　Gentlemen；　taking　their　horses　as　they
dismounted；　and　Thorello　himselfe；　conducted　the　three　Gentlemen；　into
three　severall　faire　Chambers；　which　in　costly　maner　were　prepared　for
them；　where　their　boots　were　pluckt　off；　faire　Napkins　with　Manchets
lay　ready；　and　delicate　Wines　to　refresh　their　wearied　spirits；　much
prety　conference　being　entercoursed；　til　Supper　time　invited　them
thence。
　　Saladine；　and　they　that　were　with　him；　spake　the　Latine　tongue
very　readily；　by　which　meanes　they　were　the　better　understoode；　and
Thorello　seemed　（in　their　judgement）　to　bee　the　most　gracious；
compleate；　and　best　spoken　Gentleman；　as　ever　they　met　with　in　all
their　journey。　It　appeared　also　（on　the　other　side）　to　Signiour
Thorello；　that　his　guests　were　men　of　great　merit；　and　worthy　of
much　more　esteeme；　then　there　he　could　use　towards　them：　wherefore；　it
did　highly　distast　him；　that　he　had　no　more　friends　there　this　night
to　keepe　them　company；　or　himselfe　better　provided　for　their
entertainment；　which　hee　intended　（on　the　morrow）　to　recompence　with
larger　amends　at　dinner。
　　Heereupon；　having　instructed　one　of　his　men　with　what　hee
intended；　he　sent　him　to　Pavia；　which　was　not　farre　off　（and　where
he　kept　no　doore　shut）　to　his　Wife；　named　Madam　Adialetta；　a　Woman
singularly　wise；　and　of　a　Noble　spirit；　needing　little　or　no
direction；　especially　when　she　knew　her　husbands　minde。　As　they　were
walking　in　the　Garden；　Thorello　desired　to　understand；　of　whence；
and　what　they　were？　Whereto　Saladine　thus　answered。　Sir；　wee　are
Cyprian　Marchants；　comming　now　from　Cyprus；　and　are　travalling　to
Paris；　about　affaires　of　importance。　Now　trust　me　Syr；　replyed
Thorello；　I　could　heartily　wish；　that　this　Countrey　of　ours　would
yeeld　such　Gentlemen；　as　your　Cyprus　affordeth　Marchants。　So；
falling　from　one　discourse　unto　another；　Supper　was　served　in；　and
looke　howe　best　themselves　pleased；　so　they　sate　at　the　Table；　where
（we　need　make　no　doubt）　they　were　respected　in　honourable　order。
　　So　soone　as　the　Tables　were　withdrawne；　Thorello　knowing　they
might　be　weary；　brought　them　againe　to　their　Chambers；　where
committing　them　to　their　good　rest；　himselfe　went　to　bed　soone
after。　The　Servant　sent　to　Pavia；　delivered　the　message　to　his　Lady；
who；　not　like　a　woman　of　ordinary　disposition；　but　rather　truely
Royall；　sent　Thorelloes　servants　into　the　City；　to　make　preparation
for　a　Feast　indeed；　and　with　lighted　Torches　（because　it　was
somewhat　late）　they　invited　the　very　greatest　and　noblest　persons　of
the　Citie；　all　the　roomes　being　hanged　with　the　richest　Arras；　Clothes
and　Golde　worke；　Velvets；　Silkes；　and　all　other　rich　adornments；　in
such　manner　as　her　husband　had　commanded；　and　answerable　to　her　owne
worthy　mind；　being　no　way　to　learne；　in　what　manner　to　entertaine
strangers。
　　On　the　morrow　morning；　the　Gentlemen　arose；　and　mounting　on