the decameron(十日谈)-第17章

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of　good　respect；　entred　boldly：　the　Mayde　going　in　before；　and　guiding
him　up　a　faire　payre　of　stayres；　which　he　having　more　then　halfe
ascended；　the　cunning　young　Queane　gave　a　call　to　her　Mistresse；
saying；　Signior　Andrea　is　come　already；　whereupon；　she　appeared　at　the
stayres…head；　as　if　she　had　stayed　there　purposely　to　entertaine
him。　She　was　young；　very　beautifull；　comely　of　person；　and　rich　in
adornements；　which　Andrea　well　observing；　and　seeing　her　descend　two
or　three　steps；　with　open　armes　to　embrace　him；　catching　fast　hold
about　his　neck；　he　stood　as　a　man　confounded　with　admiration；　and
she　contained　a　cunning　kinde　of　silence；　even　as　if　she　were　unable
to　utter　one　word；　seeming　hindered　by　extremity　of　joy　at　his
presence；　and　to　make　him　effectually　admire　her　extraordinary
kindnesse；　having　teares　plenteously　at　commaund；　intermixed　with
sighes　and　broken　speeches；　at　last；　thus　she　spake。
　　Signior　Andrea；　you　are　the　most　welcome　friend　to　me　in　the
world；　sealing　this　salutation　with　infinite　sweet　kisses　and
embraces：　whereat　（in　wonderfull　amazement）　he　being　strangely
transported；　replied；　Madame；　you　honour　me　beyond　all　compasse　of
merit。　Then；　taking　him　by　the　hand；　shee　guided　him　thorough　a　goodly
Hall；　into　her　owne　Chamber；　which　was　delicately　embalmed　with　Roses；
Orenge　flowers；　and　all　other　pleasing　smelles；　and　a　costly　bed　in
the　middest；　curtained　round　about；　verie　artificiall　Pictures
beautifying　the　walles；　with　many　other　embellishments；　such　as
those　Countries　are　liberally　stored　withall。　He　being　meerely　a
novice　in　these　kinds　of　wanton　carriages　of　the　World；　and　free
from　any　base　or　degenerate　conceite；　firmely　perswaded　himselfe；　that
（questionlesse）　she　was　a　Lady　of　no　meane　esteeme；　and　he　more　then
happy；　to　be　thus　respected　and　honored　by　her。　They　both　being　seated
on　a　curious　Chest　at　the　beds　feete；　teares　cunningly　trickling　downe
her　Cheekes；　and　sighes　intermedled　with　inward　sobbings；　breathed
foorth　in　sad；　but　verie　seemely　manner；　thus　shee　beganne。
　　I　am　sure　Andrea；　that　you　greatly　marvell　at　me；　in　gracing　you
with　this　solemne　and　kinde　entertainment；　and　why　I　should　so　melt　my
selfe　in　sighes　and　teares；　at　a　man　that　hath　no　knowledge　of　mee；　or
perhaps；　sildome　or　never　heard　any　speeches　of　mee：　but　you　shall
instantly　receive　from　mee　matter　to　augment　your　greater　marvaile；
meeting　heere　with　your　owne　Sister；　beyond　all　hope　or　expectation　in
eyther　of　us　both。　But　seeing　that　Heaven　hath　beene　so　gracious　to
me；　to　let　mee　see　one　of　my　Brethren　before　I　dye　（though　gladly　I
would　have　seene　them　all）　which　is　some　addition　of　comfort　to　me；
and　that　which　（happily）　thou　hast　never　heard　before；　in　plaine　and
truest　manner；　I　will　reveale　unto　thee。
　　Piero；　my　Father　and　thine；　dwelt　long　time　（as　thou　canst　not
choose　but　to　have　understood）　in　Palermo；　where；　through　the
bounty；　and　other　gracious　good　parts　remaining　in　him；　he　was　much
renowned；　and　to　this　day；　is　no　doubt　remembred；　by　many　of　his
loving　Friends　and　Wellwillers。　Among　them　that　most　intimately
affected　Piero；　my　mother　（who　was　Gentlewoman；　and　at　that　time　a
widow）　did　deerest　of　all　other　love　him；　so　that：　forgetting　the
feare　of　her　Father；　Brethren；　yea；　and　her　owne　honour；　they　became
so　privately　acquainted；　that　I　was　begotten；　and　am　heere　now　such　as
thou　seest　me。　Afterward；　occasions　so　befalling　our　Father；　to
abandon　Palermo；　and　returne　to　Perouse；　he　left　my　mother　and　me
his　little　daughter；　never　after　（for　ought　that　I　could　learne）
once　remembring　either　her　or　me：　so　that　（if　he　had　not　beene　my
Father）　I　could　have　much　condemned　him；　in　regard　of　his
ingratitude　to　my　mother；　and　love　which　hee　ought　to　have　shewne　me
as　his　childe；　being　borne　of　no　Chamber…maide；　neyther　of　a　Citty
sinner；　albeit　I　must　needes　say；　that　she　was　blame…worthy；　without
any　further　knowledge　of　him　（rioved　onely　thereto　by　most　loyal
affection）　to　commit　both　her　selfe；　and　all　the　wealth　shee　had；　into
his　hands：　but　things　ill　done；　and　so　long　time　since；　are　more
easily　controulled；　then　amended。
　Being　left　so　young　at　Palermo；　and　growing　（well　neere）　to　the
stature　as　now　you　see　me；　my　Mother　（being　wealthy）　gave　me　in
marriage　to　one　of　the　Gergentes　Family；　a　Gentleman；　and　of　great
revennues；　who　in　his　love　to　me　and　my　mother；　went　and　dwelt　at
Palermo：　where　falling　into　the　Guelphes　Faction；　and　making　one　in
the　enterprize　with　Charles　our　King；　it　came　to　passe；　that　they　were
discovered　to　Fredericke　King　of　Arragon；　before　their　intent　could　be
put　in　execution：　Whereupon；　we　were　enforced　to　flye　from　Sicily；
even　when　my　hope　stoode　fairely；　to　have　beene　the　greatest　Lady　in
all　the　Island。　Packing　up　then　such　few　things　as　wee　could　take　with
us；　（few　I　may　well　call　them；　in　regard　of　our　wealthy　possessions；
both　in　Pallaces；　Houses；　and　Lands；　all　which　we　were　constrained
to　forgo：）　we　made　our　recourse　to　this　Citty；　where　we　found　King
Charles　so　benigne　and　gracious　to　us；　that　recompencing　the　greater
part　of　our　losses；　he　bestowed　Lands　and　houses　on　us　here；　beside
a　continuall　large　pension　to　my　husband　your　brother　in　Law；　as
heereafter　himselfe　shall　better　acquaint　you　withal。　Thus　came　I
hither；　and　thus　remaine　here；　where　I　am　able　to　welcome　my　brother
Andrea；　thankes　more　to　Fortune；　then　any　friendlinesse　in　him。　With
which　words　she　embraced　and　kissed　him　many　times；　sighing　and
weeping　as　she　did　before。
　Andrea　hearing　this　Fable　so　artificially　delivered；　composed　from
point　to　point　with　such　likely　protestations；　without　faltring　or
failing　in　any　one　words　utterance；　and　remembring　perfectly　for
truth；　that　his　Father　had　formerly　dwelt　at　Palermo；　knowing　also　（by
some　sensible　feeling　in　himselfe）　the　custome　of　young　people；　who
are　easily　conquered　by　affection　in　their　youthfull　heate；　seeing
beside　the　tears；　trembling　speeches；　and　earnest　embracings　of　this
cunning　commodity；　he　tooke　all　to　be　true　by　her　thus　spoken；　and
upon　her　silence；　thus　replyed。　Lady；　let　it　not　seeme　strange　to　you；
that　your　words　have　raysed　marvell　in　me；　because　（indeed）　I　had　no
knowledge　of　you；　even　no　more　then　as　if　I　had　never　seene　you：　never
also　having　heard　my　father　speak　either　of　you　or　your　mother　（for
some　considerations　best　known　unto　himselfe：）　or　if　at　any　time　he
used　such　language；　either　my　youth　then；　or　defective　memory　since；
hath　utterly　lost　it。　But　truely；　it　is　no　little　joy　and　comfort　to
me；　to　finde　a　sister　here；　where　I　had　no　such　hope　or　expectation；
and　where　also　myselfe　am　a　meere　stranger。　For　to　speake　my　minde
freely　of　you；　and　the　perfections　gracefully　appearing　in　you　I
know　not　any　man　of　how　great　repute　or　qualitie　soever；　but　you　may
well　beseeme　his　acceptance；　much　rather　then　mine；　that　am　but　a　mean
Merchant。　But　faire　Sister；　I　desire　to　be　resolved　in　one　thing；　to
wit；　by　what　means　you　had　understanding　of　my　being　in　this　City？
whereto　readily　she　returned　him　this　answer。
　　Brother；　a　poore　Woman　of　this　City；　whom　I　employ　sometimes
houshold　occasions；　came　to　mee　this　morning；　and　（having　seene　you）
tolde　me；　that　shee　dwelt　a　long　while　with　our　Father；　both　at
Palermo　and　Perouse。　And　because　I　held　it　much　better　beseeming　my
condition；　to　have　you　visite　me　in　mine　owne　dwelling；　then　I　to　come
see　you　at　a　common　Inne；　I　made　the　bolder　to　send　for　you　hither。
After　which　words；　in　very　orderly　manner；　she　enquired　of　his
chiefest　kindred　and　friends；　calling　them　readily　by　their　proper
names；　according　to　her　former　instructions。　Whereto　Andrea　still　made
her　answere；　confirming　thereby　his　beliefe　of　her　the　more
strongly；　and　crediting　whatsoever　she　saide；　farre　better　then
before。
　　Their　conference　having　long　time　continued；　and　the　heate　of　the
day　being　somewhat　extraordinary；　she　called　for　Greeke　wine；　and
banquetting　stuffe；　drinking　to　Andrea；　and　he　pledging　her　very
contentedly。　After　which；　he　would　have　returned　to　his　lodging；
because　it　drew　neere　supper　time；　which　by　no　meanes　shee　would
permit；　but　seeming　more　then　halfe　displeased；　shee　saide。　Now　I
plainely　perceive　brother；　how　little　account　you　make　of　me；
considering；　you　are　with　your　owne　Sister；　who　（you　say）　you　never
saw　before；　and　in　her　owne　House；　whether　you　should　alwayes　resort
when　you　come　to　this　City；　and　would　you　now　refuse　her；　to　goe　and
sup　at　a　common　Inne？　Beleeve　me　Brother；　you　shall　sup　with　me；　for
although　my　Husband　is　now　from　home；　to　my　no　little
discontentment：　yet　you　shall　find　Brother；　that　his　wife；　can　bid　you
welcome；　and　make　you　good　cheere　beside。
　　Now　was　Andrea　so　confounded　this　extremity　of　courtesie；　that　he
knew　not　what　to　say；　but　onely　thus　replied。　I　love　you　as　a　Sister
ought　to　be　loved；　and　accept　of　your　exceeding　kindnesse：　but　if　I
returne　not　to　my　lodging；　I　shall　wrong　mine　Host　and　his　guests
too　much；　because　they　will　not　sup　untill　I　come。　For　that　（quoth
shee）　we　have　a　present　remedy；　one　of　my　servants　shall　goe　and
give　warning；　whereby　they　shall　not　tarry　your　comming。　Albeit；　you
might　doe　me　a　great　kindnesse；　to　send　for　your　friends　to　sup　with
us　here；　where　I　assure　ye；　they　shall　finde　that　your　Sister　（for
your　sake）　will　bid　them　welcome；　and　after　supper；　you　may　all
walke　together　to　your　Inne。　Andrea　answered；　that　he　had　no　such
friends　there；　as　should　be　so　burthenous　to　her：　but　seeing　she　urged
him　so　farre；　he　would　stay　to　sup　with　her；　and　referred　himselfe
solely　to　her　disposition。
　　Ceremonious　shew　was　made；　of　sending　a　servant　to　the　Inne；　for　not
expecting　Andreas　presence　at　Supper；　though　no　such　matter　was
performed；　but；　after　divers　other　discoursings；　the　table　being
covered；　and　variety　of　costly　viands　placed　thereon；　downe　they
sate　to　feeding；　with　plenty　of　curious　Wines　liberally　walking　about；
so　that　it　was　darke　night　before　they　arose　from　the　table。　Andrea
then　offring　to　take　his　leave；　she　would　（by　no　meanes）　suffer　it；
but　tolde　him；　that　Naples　was　a　Citie　of　such　strict　Lawes　and
Ordinances；　as　admitted　no　night…walkers；　although　they　were
Natives；　much　lesse　strangers；　but　punnished　them　with　great　severity。
And　therefore；　as　she　had　formerly　sent　word　to　his　Inne；　that　they
should　not　expect　his　comming　to　supper；　the　like　had　she　done
concerning　his　bed；　intending　to　give　her　Brother　Andrea　one　nights
lodging；　which　as　easily　she　could　affoord　him；　as　shee　had　done　a
Supper。　All　which　this　new…caught　Woodcocke　verily　crediting；　and　that
he　was　in　company　of　his　owne　Sister　Fiordeliza　（for　so　did　she
cunningly　stile　her　selfe；　and　in　which　beleefe　he　was　meerely
deluded）　he　accepted　the　more　gladly　her　gentle　offer；　and　concluded
to　stay　there　all　that　night。
　　After　supper；　their　conference　lasted　very　long；　purposely　dilated
out　in　length；　that　a　great　part　of　the　night　might　therein　be　wasted：
when；　leaving　Andrea　to　his　Chamber；　and　a　Lad　to　attend；　that　he
should　lacke　nothing；　she　with　her　women　went　to　their　lodgings；　and
thus　our　Brother　and　supposed　Sister　were　parted。　The　season　then
being　somewhat　hot