the decameron(十日谈)-第168章

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　　Adalietta；　sweetly　hugging　him　in　her　armes；　and　melting　her　selfe
in　kisses；　sighes；　and　teares　on　his　face；　said。　Well　Sir；　I　will　do
so　much　as　I　am　able；　in　this　your　most　kinde　and　loving　imposition：
and　when　I　shall　bee　compelled　to　the　contrary：　yet　rest　thus
constantly　assured；　that　I　will　not　breake　this　your　charge；　so　much
as　in　thought。　Praying　ever　heartily　to　the　heavenly　powers；　that　they
will　direct　your　course　home　againe　to　me；　before　your　prefixed
date；　or　else　I　shall　live　in　continual　languishing。　In　the　knitting
up　of　this　woful　parting；　embracing　and　kissing　either　infinit
times；　the　Lady　tooke　a　Ring　from　off　her　finger；　and　giving　it　to　her
husband；　said。　If　I　chaunce　to　die　before　I　see　you　againe；　remember
me　when　you　looke　on　this。　He　receiving　the　Ring；　and　bidding　all
the　rest　of　his　Friends　farewell；　mounted　on　horsebacke；　and　rode　away
wel　attended。
　　Being　come　unto　Geneway；　he　and　his　company　boorded　a　Galley；　and
（in　few　dayes　after）　arrived　at　Acres；　where　they　joyned　themselves
with　the　Christian　Army；　wherein　there　happened　a　verie　dangerous
mortality：　During　which　time　of　so　sharpe　visitation　（the　cause
unknowne　whence　it　proceeded）　whether　thorough　the　industrie；　or
rather　the　good　Fortune　of　Saladine；　well…neere　all　the　rest　of　the
Christians　（which　escaped　death）　were　surprized　his　prisoner
（without　a　blow　strucken）　and　sundred　and　imprisoned　in　divers
Townes　and　Citties。　Amongest　the　which　number　of　prisoners；　it　was
Signior　Thorelloes　chaunce　to　be　one；　and　walked　in　bonds　to
Alexandria；　where　being　unknowne；　and　fearing　least　he　should　be
discovered：　constrained　thereto　meerly　by　necessity；　hee　shewed
himselfe　in　the　condition　of　a　Faulconer；　wherein　he　was　very
excellently　experienced；　and　by　which　means　his　profession　was　made
knowne　to　Saladine；　hee　delivered　out　of　prison；　and　created　the
Soldans　Faulconer。
　　Thorello　（whom　the　Soldane　called　by　no　other　name；　then　the
Christian；　neyther　of　them　knowing　the　other）　sadly　now　remembred
his　departure　from　Pavia；　devising　and　practising　many　times；　how　he
might　escape　thence；　but　could　not　compasse　it　by　any　possible　meanes。
Wherefore；　certaine　Ambassadours　beeing　sent　by　the　Genewayes；　to
redeeme　divers　Cittizens　of　theirs；　there　detained　as　prisoners；　and
being　ready　to　returne　home　againe：　he　purposed　to　write　to　his
Wife；　that　he　was　living；　and　wold　repaire　to　her　so　soone　as　he
could；　desiring　the　still　continued　rememberance　of　her　limited
time。　By　close　and　cunning　meanes　hee　wrote　the　Letter；　earnestly
intreating　one　of　the　Ambassadors　（who　knew　him　perfectly；　but　made　no
outward　apparance　thereof）　to　deale　in　such　sort　for　him；　that　the
Letter　might　be　delivered　to　the　handes　of　the　Abbot　Di　San　Pietro
in　Ciel　d'Oro；　who　was　（indeede）　his　Unckle。
　　While　Thorello　remayned　in　this　his　Faulconers　condition；　it
fortuned　uppon　a　day；　that　Saladine；　conversing　with　him　about　his
Hawkes：　Thorello　chanced　to　smile；　and　used　such　a　kinde　of　gesture　or
motion　with　his　Lippes；　which　Saladine　（when　he　was　in　his　house　at
Pavia）　had　heedfully　observed；　and　by　this　note；　instantly　he
remembred　Signior　Thorello；　and　began　to　eye　him　very　respectively；
perswading　himselfe　that　he　was　the　same　man。　And　therefore　falling
from　their　former　kinde　of　discoursing：　Tell　me：　Christian　（quoth
Saladine）　what　Country…man　art　thou　of　the　West？　Sir；　answered
Signiour　Thorello；　I　am　by　Country　a　Lombard；　borne　in　a　Citty
called　Pavia；　a　poore　man；　and　of　as　poore　condition。
　　So　soone　as　Saladine　had　heard　these　Words；　becomming　assured　in
that　which　（but　now）　he　doubted；　he　saide　within　himselfe。　Now　the
Gods　have　given　me　time；　wherein　I　may　make　knowne　to　this　man；　how
thankefully　I　accepted　his　kinde　courtesie；　and　cannot　easily　forget
it。　Then；　without　saying　any　thing　else；　causing　his　Guard…robe　to
be　set　open；　he　tooke　him　with　him　thither；　and　sayde。　Christian；
observe　well　all　these　Garments；　and　quicken　thy　remembrance；　in
telling　mee　truly；　whether　thou　hast　seene　any　of　them　before　now；
or　no。　Signiour　Thorello　looked　on　them　all　advisedly；　and　espyed
those　two　especiall　Garments；　which　his　Wife　had　given　one　of　the
strange　Merchants；　yet　he　durst　not　credit　it；　or　that　possibly　it
could　be　the　same；　neverthelesse　he　said。　Sir；　I　doe　not　know　any　of
them；　but　true　it　is；　that　these　two　doe　resemble　two　such　Robes；　as　I
was　wont　to　weare　my　selfe；　and　these　（or　the　like）　were　given　to
three　Merchants；　that　happened　to　visite　my　poore　house。
　　Now　could　Saladine　containe　no　longer；　but　embracing　him　joyfully　in
his　armes；　he　said。　You　are　Signior　Thorello　d'Istria；　and　I　am　one　of
those　three　Merchants　to　whom　your　Wife　gave　these　Roabes：　and　now　the
time　is　come　to　give　you　credible　intelligence　of　my　Merchandise；　as　I
promised　at　my　departing　from　you；　for　such　a　time　（I　told　you）
would　come　at　length。　Thorello；　was　both　glad；　and　bashfull
together：　glad；　that　he　had　entertained　such　a　Guest；　and　bashfully
ashamed；　that　his　welcome　had　not　exceeded　in　more　bountifull
manner。　Thorello；　replyed　Saladine；　seeing　the　Gods　have　sent　you　so
happily　to　me：　account　your　selfe　to　be　soly　Lord　here；　for　I　am　now
no　more　then　a　private　man。
　　I　am　not　able　to　expresse　their　counterchanges　of　courtesie；
Saladine　commanding　him　to　be　cloathed　in　Royall　garments；　and
brought　into　the　presence　of　his　very　greatest　Lords；　where　having
spoken　liberally　in　his　due　commendation；　he　commanded　them　to
honour　him　as　himselfe；　if　they　expected　any　grace　or　favour　from　him；
which　every　one　did　immediatly；　but　（above　all　the　rest）　those　two
Baschaes；　which　accompanied　Saladine　at　his　house。　The　greatnesse　of
this　pompe　and　glory；　so　suddenly　throwne　on　Signior　Thorello；　made
him　halfe　forget　all　matters　of　Lomberdie；　and　so　much　the　rather；
because　he　had　no　doubt　at　all；　but　that　his　letters；　were　safely　come
to　the　hands　of　his　Uncle。
　　Here　I　am　to　tell　you；　that　in　the　Campe　or　Army　of　the
Christians；　on　the　day　when　Saladine　made　his　surprizal；　there　was　a
Provinciall　Gentleman　dead　and　buried；　who　was　Signior　Thorello　de
Dignes；　a　man　of　very　honourable　and　great　esteeme；　in　which　respect
（Signior　Thorello　d'Istria；　knowne　throughout　the　Army；　by　his
Nobility　and　valour）　whosoever　heard　that　Signior　Thorello　was　dead：
beleeved　it　to　be　Thorello　d'Istria；　and　not　he　of　Dignes；　so　that
Thorello　d'Istriaes　unknowne　surprizall　and　thraldome；　made　it　also　to
passe　for　an　assured　truth。
　　Beside；　many　Italians　returning　home；　and　carrying　this　report　for
credible；　some　were　so　audaciously　presumptuous；　as　they　avouched　upon
their　oathes；　that　not　onely　they　saw　him　dead；　but　were　present　at
his　buriall　likewise。　Which　rumour　comming　to　the　eare　of　his　Wife；
and　likewise　to　his　kinred　and　hers：　procured　a　great　and　grievous
mourning　among　them；　and　all　that　happened　to　heare　thereof。
　　Over…tedious　time　it　would　require；　to　relate　at　large；　the　publique
griefe　and　sorrow；　with　the　continuall　lamentations　of　his　Wife；　who
（within　some　few　moneths　after）　became　tormented　with　new　marriage
solicitings；　before　she　had　halfe　sighed　for　the　first：　the　very
greatest　persons　of　Lomberdie　making　the　motion；　being　daily
followed　and　furthered　by　her　owne　brothers　and　friends。　Still
（drowned　in　teares）　she　returned　denyall；　till　in　the　end；　when　no
contradiction　could　prevaile；　to　satisfie　her　parents；　and　the
importunate　pursuers：　she　was　constrained　to　reveale；　the　charge
imposed　on　her　by　her　Husband；　which　shee　had　vowed　infallibly　to
keepe；　and　till　that　very　time；　she　would　in　no　wise　consent。
　　While　wooing　for　a　second　wedding　with　Adalietta；　proceeded　in
this　manner　at　Pavia；　it　chanced　on　a　day；　that　Signior　Thorello　had
espied　a　man　in　Alexandria　whom　he　saw　with　the　Geneway
Ambassadours；　when　they　set　thence　towards　Geneway　with　their　Gallies。
And　causing　him　to　be　sent　for；　he　demaunded　of　him；　the　successe　of
the　voyage；　and　when　the　Gallies　arrived　at　Geneway；　whereto　he
returned　him　this　answere。　My　Lord；　our　Gallies　made　a　very　fatall
voyage；　as　it　is　（already）　too　well　knowne　in　Creete；　where　my
dwelling　is。　For　when　we　drew　neere　Sicilie；　there　suddenly　arose　a
very　dangerous　North…West…winde；　which　drove　us　on　the　quicke…Sands　of
Barbarie；　where　not　any　man　escaped　with　life；　onely　my　selfe
excepted；　but　（in　the　wracke）　two　of　my　brethren　perished。
　　Signior　Thorello；　giving　credit　to　the　mans　words；　because　they　were
most　true　indeed；　and　remembring　also；　that　the　time　limitted　to　his
Wife；　drew　neere　expiring　within　very　few　dayes；　and　no　newes　now
possibly　to　be　sent　thither　of　his　life；　his　Wife　would
questionlesse　be　marryed　againe：　he　fell　into　such　a　deepe　conceited
melancholly；　as　food　and　sleepe　forsooke　him；　whereupon；　he　kept　his
bed；　setting　downe　his　peremptory　resolution　for　death。　When
Saladine　（who　dearely　loved　him）　heard　thereof；　he　came　in　all　haste
to　see　him；　and　having　（by　many　earnest　perswasions　and　entreaties）
understood　the　cause　of　his　melancholly　and　sickenesse：　he　very
severely　reproved　him；　because　he　could　no　sooner　acquaint　him
therewith。　Many　kind　and　comfortable　speeches；　he　gave　him；　with
constant　assurance；　that　（if　he　were　so　minded）　he　would　so　order
the　businesse　for　him；　as　he　should　be　at　Pavia；　by　the　same　time　as
he　had　appointed　to　his　Wife；　and　revealed　to　him　also　the　manner　how。
　　Thorello　verily　beleeved　the　Soldanes　promise；　because　he　had
often　heard　the　possibility　of　performance；　and　others　had　effected　as
much；　divers　times　else…where：　whereupon　he　began　to　comfort　himselfe；
soliciting　the　Soldan　earnestly　that　it　might　be　accomplished。
Saladine　sent　for　one　of　his　Sorcerers　（of　whose　skill　he　had　formerly
made　experience）　to　take　a　direct　course；　how　Signior　Thorello
should　be　carryed　（in　one　night）　to　Pavia；　and　being　in　his　bed。　The
Magitian　undertooke　to　doe　it；　but；　for　the　Gentlemans　more　ease；　he
must　first　be　possessed　with　an　entraunced　dead　sleep。　Saladine
being　thus　assured　of　the　deeds　full　effecting；　he　came　againe　to
Thorello；　and　finding　him　to　be　setled　for　Pavia　（if　possibly　it　might
be　accomplished　by　the　determined　time；　or　else　no　other　expectation
but　death）　he　said　unto　him　as　followeth。
　　Signior　Thorello；　if　with　true　affection　you　love　your　Wife；　and
misdoubt　her　marriage　to　some　other　man：　I　protest　unto　you；　by　the
supreme　powers；　that　you　deserve　no　reprehension　in　any　manner
whatsoever。　For；　of　all　the　Ladyes　that　ever　I　have　seene；　she　is
the　onely　woman；　whose　carriage；　vertues；　and　civile　speaking　（setting
aside　beauty；　which　is　but　a　fading　flowre）　deserveth　most
graciously　to　be　respected；　much　more　to　be　affected　in　the　highest
degree。　It　were　to　me　no　meane　favour　of　our　Gods；　（seeing　Fortune
directed　your　course　so　happily　hither）　that　for　the　short　or　long
time　we　have　to　live；　we　might　reigne　equally　together　in　these
Kingdomes　under　my　subjection。　But　if　such　grace　may　not　be　granted
me；　yet；　seeing　it　stands　mainly　upon　the　perill　of　your　life；　to　be
at　Pavia　againe　by　your　own　limitted　time；　it　is　my　chiefest
comfort；　that　I　am　therewith　acquainted；　because　I　intended　to　have
you　conveighed　thither；　yea；　even　i