the decameron(十日谈)-第167章

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strangers。
　　On　the　morrow　morning；　the　Gentlemen　arose；　and　mounting　on
horsebacke　with　Signior　Thorello；　he　called　for　his　Hawkes　and　Hounds；
brought　them　to　the　River；　where　he　shewed　two　or　three　faire　flights：
but　Saladine　desiring　to　know；　which　was　the　fayrest　Hostery　in　all
Pavia；　Thorello　answered。　Gentlemen；　I　wil　shew　you　that　my　selfe；
in　regard　I　have　occasion　to　ride　thither。　Which　they　beleeving；
were　the　better　contented；　and　rode　on　directly　unto　Pavia；　arriving
there　about　nine　of　the　clocke；　and　thinking　he　guided　them　to　the
best　Inne；　he　brought　them　to　his　owne　house；　where；　above　fifty　of
the　worthiest　Citizens；　stood　ready　to　welcome　the　Gentlemen；
imbracing　them　as　they　lighted　from　their　Horsses。　Which　Saladine；　and
his　associates　perceiving；　they　guessed　as　it　was　indeede；　and
Saladine　sayd。　Beleeve　me　worthy　Thorello；　this　is　not　answerable　to
my　demand；　you　did　too　much　yester　night；　and　much　more　then　we
could　desire　or　deserve：　Wherefore；　you　might　wel　be　the　sooner
discharged　of　us；　and　let　us　travaile　on　our　journey。
　　Noble　Gentlemen；　replyed　Thorello　（for　in　mine　eye　you　seeme　no
lesse）　that　courtesie　which　you　met　with　yester…night；　I　am　to
thanke　Fortune　for；　more　then　you；　because　you　were　then　straited　by
such　necessity；　as　urged　your　acceptance　of　my　poore　Country　house。
But　now　this　morning；　I　shall　account　my　selfe　much　beholding　to　you
（as　the　like　will　all　these　worthy　Gentlemen　here　about　you）　if　you　do
but　answer　kindnes　with　kindnes；　and　not　refuse　to　take　a　homely
dinner　with　them。
　　Saladine　and　his　friends；　being　conquerd　with　such　potent
perswasions；　and　already　dismounted　from　their　horses；　saw　that　all
deniall　was　meerly　in　vaine：　and　therefore　thankfully　condiscending
（after　some　few　ceremonious　complements　were　over…past）　the
Gentlemen　conducted　them　to　their　Chambers；　which　were　most
sumptuously　prepared　for　them；　and　having　laid　aside　their　riding
garments；　being　a　little　re　reshed　with　Cakes　and　choice　Wines；　they
descended　into　the　dining　Hall；　the　pompe　whereof　I　am　not　able　to
report。
　　When　they　had　washed；　and　were　seated　at　the　Tables；　dinner　was
served　in　most　magnificent　sort；　so　that　if　the　Emperor　himself　had
bin　there；　he　could　not　have　bin　more　sumptuously　served。　And　although
Saladine　and　his　Baschaes　were　very　Noble　Lords；　and　wonted　to　see
matters　of　admiration：　yet　could　they　do　no　lesse　now；　but　rather
exceeded　in　marvaile；　considering　the　qualitie　of　the　Knight；　whom
they　knew　to　bee　a　Citizen；　and　no　Prince　or　great　Lord。　Dinner
being　ended；　and　divers　familiar　conferences　passing　amongst　them：
because　it　was　exceeding　hot；　the　Gentlemen　of　Pavia　（as　it　pleased
Thorello　to　appoint）　went　to　repose　themselves　awhile；　and　he
keeping　company　with　his　three　guests；　brought　them　into　a　goodly
Chamber；　where；　because　he　would　not　faile　in　the　least　scruple　of
courtesie；　or　conceale　from　them　the　richest　jewell　which　he　had；　he
sent　for　his　Lady　and　wife；　because　（as　yet）　they　had　not　seene　her。
　　She　was　a　Lady　of　extraordinary　beauty；　tall　stature；　very
sumptuously　attired；　and　having　two　sweet　Sonnes　（resembling　Angels）
she　came　with　them　waiting　before　her；　and　graciously　saluted　her
guests。
　　At　her　comming；　they　arose；　and　having　received　hir　with　great
reverence；　they　seated　her　in　the　midst；　kindly　cherishing　the　two
Children。　After　some　gracious　Language　past　on　eyther　side；　she
demanded　of　whence；　and　what　they　were；　which　they　answered　in　the
same　kind　as　they　had　done　before　to　her　husband。　Afterward；　with　a
modest　smiling　countenance；　she　sayd。　Worthy　Gentlemen；　let　not　my
weake　Womanish　discretion　appeare　distastable；　in　desiring　to　crave
one　especiall　favour　from　you；　namely；　not　to　refuse　or　disdaine　a
small　gift；　wherewith　I　purpose　to　present　you。　But　considering　first；
that　women　（according　to　their　simple　faculty）　are　able　to　bestow
but　silly　gifts：　so　you　would　be　pleased；　to　respect　more　the　person
that　is　the　giver；　then　the　quality　or　quantity　of　the　gift。
　　Then　causing　to　be　brought　（for　each　of　them）　two　goodly　gowns　or
Robes　（made　after　the　Persian　manner）　the　one　lyned　thorough　with
cloth　of　Gold；　and　the　other　with　the　costlyest　Fur；　not　after　such
fashion　as　Citizens　or　Marchants　use　to　weare；　but　rather　beseeming
Lords　of　greatest　account；　and　three　light　under…wearing　Cassocks　or
Mandillions；　of　Carnatian　Sattin；　richly　Imbroidred　with　Gold　and
Pearles；　and　lined　thorow　with　White　Taffata；　presenting　these　gifts
to　him；　she　sayd。　I　desire　you　Gentlemen　to　receive　these　meane
trifies；　such　as　you　see　my　Husband　weares　the　like；　and　these　other
beside；　considering　you　are　so　far　from　your　Wives；　having　travailed　a
long　way　already；　and　many　miles　more　yet　to　overtake；　also
Marchants　（being　excellent　men）　affect　to　be　comely　and　handsome　in
their　habits；　although　these　are　of　slender　value；　yet　（in
necessity）　they　may　do　you　service。
　　Now　was　Saladine　and　his　Baschaes　halfe　astonyed　with　admiration；　at
the　magnificent　minde　of　Signiour　Thorello；　who　would　not　forget　the
least　part　of　courtesie　towardes　them；　and　greatly　doubted　（seeing　the
beauty　and　riches　of　the　Garments）　least　they　were　discovered　by
Thorello。　Neverthelesse；　one　of　them　thus　answered　the　Lady。　Beleeve
me　Madame；　these　are　rich　guiftes；　not　lightly　either　to　be　given；
rich　or　receyved：　but　in　regard　of　your　strict　imposition；　we　are
not　able　to　deny　them。　This　being　done；　with　most　gracious　and
courteous　demeanour；　she　departed　from　them；　leaving　her　Husband　to
keepe　them　still　companie；　who　furnished　their　servants　also；　with
divers　worthy　necessaries　fitting　for　their　journey。
　　Afterward；　Thorello　（by　very　much　importunitie）　wonne　them　to　stay
with　him　all　the　rest　of　the　day；　wherefore；　when　they　had　rested
themselves　awhile；　being　attyred　in　their　newly　given　robes；　they　rode
on　Horsebacke　thorow　the　Citty。　When　supper　time　came；　they　supt　in
most　honourable　and　worthy　company；　beeing　afterwards　Lodged　in　most
faire　and　sumptuous　Chambers；　and　being　risen　in　the　morning；　in
exchange　of　their　horses　（over…wearied　with　Travaile）　they　found　three
other　very　richly　furnished；　and　their　men　also　in　like　manner
provided。　Which　when　Saladine　had　perceyved；　he　tooke　his　Baschaes
aside；　and　spake　in　this　manner。
　　By　our　greatest　Gods；　I　never　met　with　any　man；　more　compleat　in　all
noble　perfections；　more　courteous　and　kinde　then　Thorello　is。　If　all
the　Christian　Kings；　in　the　true　and　heroicall　nature　of　Kings；　do
deale　as　honourably　as　I　see　this　Knight　doeth；　the　Soldane　of　Babylon
is　not　able　to　endure　the　comming　of　one　of　them；　much　lesse　so
many；　as　wee　see　preparing　to　make　head　against　us。　But　beholding；
that　both　refusall　and　acceptation；　was　all　one　in　the　minde　of
Thorello：　after　much　kinde　Language　had　bin　intercoursed　betweene
them；　Saladine　（with　his　Attendants）　mounted　on　horsebacke。
　　Signiour　Thorello；　with　a　number　of　his　honourable　Friends　（to　the
number　of　an　hundred　Horsse）　accompanied　them　a　great　distance　from
the　Citie；　and　although　it　greeved　Saladine　exceedingly；　to　leave
the　company　of　Thorello；　so　dearely　he　was　affected　to　him：　but
necessity　（which　controlleth　the　power　of　all　lawes　whatsoever）　must
needs　divide　them：　yet　requesting　his　returne　agayne　that　way；　if
possibly　it　might　be　granted；　which　Saladine　promised　but　did　not
performe。　Well　Gentlemen　（quoth　Thorello　at　parting）　I　know　not　what
you　are；　neither　（against　your　will）　do　I　desire　it：　but　whether　you
be　Marchants　or　no　remember　me　in　your　kindnesse；　and　so　to　the
heavenly　powers　I　commend　you。　Saladine；　having　taken　his　leave　of　all
them　that　were　with　Thorello；　returned　him　this　answer。　Sir；　it　may
one　day　hereafter　so　happen；　as　we　shal　let　you　see　some　of　our
Marchandises；　for　the　better　confirmation　of　your　beleefe；　and　our
profession。
　　Thus　parted　Signior　Thorello　and　his　friends；　from　Saladine　and
his　company；　who　verily　determined　in　the　heighth　of　his　minde；　if
he　should　be　spared　with　life；　and　the　warre　（which　he　expected）
concluded：　to　requite　Thorello　with　no　lesse　courtesie；　then　hee　had
already　declared　to　him；　conferring　a　long　while　after　with　his
Baschaes；　both　of　him　and　his　beauteous　Lady；　not　forgetting　any　of
their　courteous　actions；　but　gracing　them　all　with　deserved
commendation。　But　after　they　had　（with　very　laborious　paines）　surveyed
most　of　the　Westerne　parts；　they　all　tooke　Shipping；　and　returned　into
Alexandria：　sufficiently　informed；　what　preparation　was　to　be　made　for
their　owne　defence。　And　Signior　Thorello　being　come　backe　againe　to
Pavia；　consulted　with　his　privat　thoughts　（many　times　after）　what
these　three　travailers　should　be；　but　came　farre　short　of　knowing
the　truth；　till　（by　experience）　hee　became　better　informed。
　　When　the　time　was　come；　that　the　Christians　were　to　make　their
passage；　and　wonderfull　great　preparations；　in　all　places　performed：
Signiour　Thorello；　notwithstanding　the　teares　and　intreaties　of　his
Wife；　determined　to　be　one　in　so　woorthy　and　honourable　a　voyage：
and　having　made　his　provision　ready；　nothing　wanting　but　mounting　on
Horsebacke；　to　go　where　he　should　take　shipping；　to　his　Wife　（whom
he　most　intirely　affected）　thus　hee　spake。　Madame；　I　goe　as　thou　seest
in　this　famous　Voyage；　as　well　for　mine　Honour；　as　also　the　benefite
of　my　soule；　all　our　goodes　and　possessions；　I　commit　to　thy
vertuous　care。　And　because　I　am　not　certaine　of　my　returning　backe
againe；　in　regard　of　a　thousand　accidents　which　may　happen；　in　such
a　Countrey　as　I　goe　unto：　I　desire　onely　but　one　favour　of　thee；
whatsoever　daunger　shall　befall　mee；　Namely；　when　any　certaine　tydings
shall　be　brought　you　of　my　death；　to　stay　no　longer　before　thy
second　marriage；　but　one　yeare；　one　month；　and　one　day；　to　begin　on
this　day　of　my　departing　from　thee。
　　The　Lady；　who　wept　exceedingly；　thus　answered。　Alas　Sir：　I　know
not　how　to　carry　my　selfe；　in　such　extremity　of　greefe；　as　now　you
leave　me；　but　if　my　life　surmount　the　fortitude　of　sorrow；　and
whatsoever　shall　happen　to　you　for　certainty；　either　life　or　death：
I　will　live　and　dye　the　Wife　of　Signiour　Thorello；　and　make　my
obsequies　in　his　memory　onely。　so　Madame　（replyed　her　Husband）　not　so；
Be　not　overrash　in　promising　any　thing；　albeit　I　am　well　assured；　that
so　much　as　consisteth　in　thy　strength；　I　make　no　question　of　thy
performance。　But　consider　withall　（deare　heart）　thou　art　a　yong　woman；
beautifull；　of　great　parentage；　and　no　way　thereto　inferior　in　the
blessings　of　Fortune。
　　Thy　Vertues　are　many；　and　universally　both　divulged　and　knowen；　in
which　respect；　I　make　no　doubt；　but　divers　and　sundrie　great　Lords　and
Gentlemen　（if　but　the　least　rumor　of　my　death　be　noysed）　will　make
sulte　for　thee　to　thy　parents　and　brethren；　from　whose　violent
solicitings；　wouldst　thou　never　so　resolutely　make　resistance；　yet
thou　canst　not　be　able　to　defend　thy　selfe；　but　whether　thou　wilt　or
no；　thou　must　yeeld　to　please　them；　and　this　is　the　only　reason；　why　I
would　tie　thee　to　this　limited　time；　and　not　one　day　or　minute　longer。
　　Adalietta；　sweetly　hugging　him　in　her　armes；　and　melting　her　selfe
in　kisses；　sighes；　and　teares　on　his　face；　said。　Well　Sir；　I