the decameron(十日谈)-第171章

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he　found　the　maides　father；　being　named　Janiculo；　and　said　unto　him。
God　speed　good　Father；　I　am　come　to　espouse　thy　daughter　Grizelda：　but
first　I　have　a　few　demands　to　make；　which　I　will　utter　to　her　in　thy
presence。　Then　hee　turned　to　the　maide；　and　saide。
　　Faire　Grizelda；　if　I　make　you　my　wife；　will　you　doe　your　best
endeavour　to　please　me；　in　all　things　which　I　shall　doe　or　say？　will
you　also　be　gentle；　humble；　and　patient？　with　divers　other　the　like
questions：　whereto　she　still　answered；　that　she　would；　so　neere　as
heaven　（with　grace）　should　enable　her。
　　Presently　he　tooke　her　by　the　hand；　so　led　her　forth　of　the　poore
homely　house；　and　in　the　presence　of　all　his　company；　with　his　owne
hands；　he　took　off　her　meane　wearing　garments；　smocke　and　all；　and
cloathed　her　with　those　Robes　of　State　which　he　had　purposely
brought　thither　for　her；　and　plaiting　her　haire　over　her　shoulders；
hee　placed　a　Crowne　of　gold　on　her　head；　whereat　every　one　standing　as
amazed；　and　wondring　not　a　little；　hee　said：　Grizelda；　wilt　thou
have　me　to　thy　husband？　Modestly　blushing；　and　kneeling　on　the　ground；
she　answered。　Yes　my　gracious　Lord；　if　you　will　accept　so　poore　a
maiden　to　be　your　wife。　Yes　Grizelda；　quoth　hee；　with　this　holy　kisse；
I　confirme　thee　for　my　wife；　and　so　espoused　her　before　them　all。　Then
mounting　her　on　a　milke…white　Palfray；　brought　thither　for　her；　shee
was　thus　honourably　conducted　to　her　Pallace。
　　Now　concerning　the　marriage　feast　and　triumphes；　they　were　performed
with　no　lesse　pompe；　then　if　she　had　beene　daughter　to　the　King　of
France。　And　the　young　Bride　apparantly　declared；　that　（with　her
garments）　her　minde　and　behavior　were　quite　changed。　For　indeed　shee
was　（as　it　were　shame　to　speake　otherwise）　a　rare　creature；　both　of
person　and　perfections；　and　not　onely　was　shee　absolute　for　beautie；
but　so　sweetely　amiand　gracious；　and　goodlie；　as　if　she　were　not　the
daughter　of　poore　Janicula；　and　a　Countrie　Shepheardesse；　but　rather
of　some　Noble　Lord；　whereat　every　one　wondred　that　had　knowne　her。
Beside　all　this；　shee　was　so　obedient　to　her　husband；　so　fervent　in
all　dutifull　offices；　and　patient；　without　the　very　least　provoking：
as　hee　held　himselfe　much　more　then　contented；　and　the　onely　happy　man
of　the　world。
　　In　like　manner；　towards　the　subjects　of　her　Lord　and　Husband；　she
shewed　her　selfe　alwayes　so　benigne　and　gracious；　as　there　was　not　any
one；　but　the　more　they　lookt　on　her；　the　better　they　loved　her；
honouring　her　voluntarily；　and　praying　to　the　heavens；　for　her　health；
dignity　and　well…fares　long　continuance。　Speaking　now　（quite
contrary　to　their　former　opinion　of　the　Marquesse）　honourably　and
thily；　that　he　had　shewne　him　selfe　a　singular　wise　man；　in　the
election　of　his　Wife；　which　few　else　（but　he）　in　the　world　would
have　done：　because　their　judgement　might　fall　farre　short；　of
discerning　those　great　and　precious　vertues；　veiled　under　a　homely
habite；　and　obscured　in　a　poore　Countrey　cottage。　To　be　briefe；　in
very　short　time；　not　onely　the　Marquisate　it　selfe；　but　all
neighbouring　Provinces　round　about；　had　no　other　common　talke；　but
of　her　rare　course　of　life；　devotion；　charity；　and　all　good　actions
else；　quite　quailing　all　sinister　Instructions　of　her　Husband；
before　he　received　her　in　marriage。
　　About　foure　or　five　yeeres　after　the　birth　of　her　daughter；　shee
conceived　with　child　againe；　and　（at　the　limitted　houre　of
deliverance）　had　a　goodly　Sonne；　to　the　no　little　liking　of　the
Marquesse。　Afterward；　a　strange　humour　entred　into　his　braine；　namely；
that　by　a　long　continued　experience；　and　courses　of　intollerable
quality；　he　would　needes　make　proofe　of　his　faire　Wives　patience。
First　he　began　to　provoke　her　by　injurious　speeches；　shewing　fierce
and　frowning　lookes　to　her；　intimating；　that　his　people　grew
displeased　with　him；　in　regard　of　his　Wives　base　birth　and
education；　and　so　much　the　rather；　because　she　was　likely　to　bring
children；　who　（by　her　blood）　were　no　better　then　beggers；　and　murmured
at　the　daughter　already　borne。　Which　words　when　Grizelda　heard；
without　any　alteration　of　countenance；　for　the　least　distemperature　in
any　appearing　action　she　said。
　　My　honourable　and　gracious　Lord；　dispose　of　me；　as　you　thinke
best；　for　your　owne　dignity　and　contentment；　for　I　shall　therewith
be　well　pleased：　as　she　that　knowes　her　selfe；　farre　inferiour　to
the　meanest　of　your　people；　much　lesse　worthy　of　the　honour；　whereto
you　liked　to　advance　me。
　　This　answere　was　very　welcome　to　the　Marquesse；　as　apparantly
perceiving　hereby；　that　the　dignity　whereto　hee　had　exalted　her；　or
any　particular　favours　beside；　could　not　infect　her　with　any　pride；
coynesse；　or　disdaine。　Not　long　after；　having　told　her　in　plaine　and
open　speeches；　that　his　subjects　could　not　endure　her　so　late　borne
daughter：　he　called　a　trusty　servant　of　his；　and　having　instructed　him
what　he　should　doe；　sent　him　to　Grizelda；　and　he　being　alone　with　her；
looking　very　sadde；　and　much　perplexed　in　mind；　he　saide。　Madame；
except　I　intend　to　loose　mine　owne　life；　I　must　accomplish　what　my
Lord　hath　strictly　enjoyned　me；　which　is；　to　take　this　your　yong
daughter；　and　then　I　must：　So　breaking　off　abruptly；　the　Lady
hearing　his　words；　and　noting　his　frowning　lookes；　remembring　also
what　the　Marquesse　himselfe　had　formerly　said；　she　presently　imagined；
that　he　had　commanded　his　servant　to　kill　the　childe。　Suddenly
therefore；　she　tooke　it　out　of　the　Cradle；　and　having　sweetly
kissed；　and　bestowne　her　blessing　on　it　（albeit　her　heart　throbbed；
with　the　inward　affection　of　a　Mother）　without　any　alteration　of
countenance；　she　tenderly　laid　it　in　the　servants　armes；　and　said。
Here　friend；　take　it；　and　doe　with　it　as　thy　Lord　and　mine　hath
commanded　thee：　but　leave　it　in　no　rude　place；　where　birds　or　savage
beasts　may　devour　it；　except　it　be　his　will　to　have　it　so。
　　The　servant　departing　from　her　with　the　child；　and　reporting　the
Marquesse　what　his　Lady　had　said；　he　wondered　at　her　incomparable
constancy。　Then　he　sent　it　by　the　same　servant　to　Bologna；　to　an
honourable　Lady　his　kinsewoman；　requesting　her　（without　revealing
whose　child　it　was）　to　see　it　both　nobly　and　carefully　educated。
　　At　time　convenient　afterward；　being　with　child　againe；　and　delivered
of　a　Princely　Sonne　（then　which　nothing　could　be　more　joyfull　to　the
Marquesse）　yet　all　this　was　not　sufficient　for　him；　but　with　farre
ruder　language　then　before；　and　lookes　expressing　harsh　intentions；　he
said　unto　her。　Grizelda；　though　thou　pleasest　me　wonderfully；　by　the
birth　of　this　Princely　Boy；　yet　my　subjects　are　not　therewith
contented；　but　blunder　abroad　maliciously；　that　the　grandchild　of
Janiculo；　a　poore　countrey　pezant；　when　I　am　dead　and　gone；　must　be
their　Soveraigne　Lord　and　Master。　Which　makes　me　stand　in　feare　of
their　expulsion；　and　to　prevent　that；　I　must　be　rid　of　this　childe；　as
well　as　the　other；　and　then　send　thee　away　from　hence；　that　I　may　take
another　wife；　more　pleasing　to　them。
　　Grizelda；　with　a　patient　sufferent　soule；　hearing　what　he　had
said；　returned　no　other　answere　but　this。　Most　Gracious　and　Honourable
Lord；　satisfie　and　please　your　owne　Royall　minde；　and　never　use　any
respect　of　me：　for　nothing　is　precious　or　pleasing　to　mee；　but　what
may　agree　with　your　good　liking。　Within　a　while　after；　the　Noble
Marquesse　in　the　like　manner　as　he　did　before　for　the　Daughter；　so
he　sent　the　same　servant　for　the　Sonne；　and　seeming　as　if　he　had
sent　it　to　have　been　slaine；　conveighed　it　to　be　nursed　at　Bologna；　in
company　of　his　sweete　Sister。　Whereat　the　Lady　shewed　no　other
discontentment　in　any　kinde；　then　formerly　she　had　done　for　her
Daughter；　to　the　no　meane　marvell　of　the　Marquesse；　who　protested　in
his　soule；　that　the　like　woman　was　not　in　all　the　world　beside。　And
were　it　not　for　his　heedfull　observation；　how　loving　and　carefull
she　was　of　her　children；　prizing　them　as　dearely　as　her　owne　life：
rash　opinion　might　have　perswaded　him；　that　she　had　no　more　in　her；
then　a　carnall　affection；　not　caring　how　many　she　had；　so　shee　might
thus　easily　be　rid　of　them；　but　he　knew　her　to　be　a　truely　vertuous
mother；　and　wisely　liable　to　endure　his　severest　impositions。
　　His　Subjects　beleeving；　that　he　had　caused　the　children　to　bee
slaine；　blamed　him　greatly；　thought　him　to　be　a　most　cruell　man；　and
did　highly　compassionate　the　Ladies　case：　who　when　shee　came　in
company　of　other　Gentlewomen；　which　mourned　for　their　deceassed
children；　would　answere　nothing　else：　but　that　they　could　not　be
more　pleasing　to　her；　then　they　were　to　the　father　that　begot　them。
　　Within　certaine　yeares　after　the　birth　of　these　children；　the
Marquesse　purposed　with　himselfe；　to　make　his　last　and　finall　proofe
of　faire　Grizeldaes　patience；　and　said　to　some　neere　about　him：　that
he　could　no　longer　endure；　to　keepe　Grizelda　as　his　wife；
confessing；　he　had　done　foolishly；　and　according　to　a　young　giddie
braine；　when　he　was　so　rash　in　the　marriage　of　her。　Wherfore　he
would　send　to　the　Pope；　and　purchase　a　dispensation　from　him；　to
repudiate　Grizelda；　and　take　another　Wife。　Wherein　although　they
greatly　reproved　him；　yet　he　told　them　plainely；　that　it　must　needes
be　so。
　　The　Lady　hearing　these　newes；　and　thinking　she　must　returne　againe
to　her　poore　father's　house；　and　（perhaps）　to　her　old　occupation　of
keeping　sheepe；　as　in　her　yonger　dayes　she　had　done；　understanding
withall；　that　another　woman　must　enjoy　him；　whom　shee　dearely　loved
and　honoured；　you　may　well　thinke　（worthy　Ladies）　that　her　patience
was　now　put　to　the　maine　proofe　indeede。　Neverthelesse；　as　with　an
invincible　true　vertuous　courage；　she　had　outstood　all　the　other
injuries　of　Fortune；　so　did　she　constantly　settle　her　soule；　to
beare　this　with　an　undaunted　countenance　and　behaviour。
　　At　such　time　as　was　prefixed　for　the　purpose；　counterfeit　Letters
came　to　the　Marquesse　（as　sent　from　Rome）　which　he　caused　to　be
publikely　read　in　the　hearing　of　his　subjects：　that　the　Pope　had
dispensed　with　him；　to　leave　Grizelda；　and　marry　with　another　Wife；
wherefore　sending　for　her　immediatly；　in　presence　of　them　all；　thus　he
spake　to　her。　Woman；　by　concession　sent　me　from　the　Pope；　he　hath
dispensed　with　me；　to　make　choyce　of　another　Wife；　and　to　free　my
selfe　from　thee。　And　because　my　predecessors　have　beene　Noblemen；
and　great　Lords　in　this　Country；　thou　being　the　daughter　of　a　poore
Countrey　Clowne；　and　their　blood　and　mine　notoriously　imbased；　by　my
marriage　with　thee：　I　intend　to　have　thee　no　longer　my　Wife；　but
will　returne　thee　home　to　thy　Fathers　house；　with　all　the　rich　Dowry
thou　broughtest　me；　and　then　I　wil　take　another　Wife；　with　whom　I　am
already　contracted；　better　beseeming　my　birth；　and　farre　more
contenting　and　pleasing　to　my　people。
　　The　Lady　hearing　these　words　（not　without　much　paine　and　difficulty）
restrayned　her　teares；　quite　contrary　to　the　naturall　inclination　of
women；　and　thus　answered。　Great　Marquesse；　I　never　was　so　empty　of
discretion；　but　did　alwayes　acknowledge；　that　my　base　and　humble
condition；　could　not　in　any　manner　sute　with　your　high　blood　and
Nobility；　and　my　being　with　you；　I　ever　acknowledged；　to　proceed
from　heaven　and　you；　not　any　merit　of　mine；　but　onely　as