the decameron(十日谈)-第172章

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Nobility；　and　my　being　with　you；　I　ever　acknowledged；　to　proceed
from　heaven　and　you；　not　any　merit　of　mine；　but　onely　as　a　favour　lent
me；　which　you　being　now　pleased　to　recall　backe　againe；　I　ought　to
be　pleased　（and　so　am）　that　it　bee　restored。　Here　is　the　Ring；
wherewith　you　Espoused　me；　here　（in　all　humility）　I　deliver　it　to　you。
You　command　me；　to　carry　home　the　marriage　Dowry　which　I　brought
with　me：　there　is　no　need　of　a　Treasurer　to　repay　it　me；　neither　any
new　purse　to　carry　it　in；　much　lesse　any　Sumpter　to　be　laden　with
it。　For　（Noble　Lord）　it　was　never　out　of　my　memory；　that　you　tooke
me　starke　naked；　and　if　it　shall　seeme　sightly　to　you；　that　this
body　which　hath　borne　two　children；　and　begotten　by　you；　must　againe
be　seene　naked；　willingly　must　I　depart　hence　naked。　But　I　humbly
beg　of　your　Excellency；　in　recompence　of　my　Virginity；　which　I　brought
you　blamelesse；　so　much　as　in　thought：　that　I　may　have　but　one　of　my
wedding　Smocks；　onely　to　conceale　the　shame　of　nakednesse；　and　then
I　depart　rich　enough。
　　The　Marquesse　whose　heart　wept　bloody　teares；　as　his　eyes　would
likewise　gladly　have　yeelded　their　naturall　tribute；　covered　all
with　a　dissembled　angry　countenance；　and　starting　up；　said。　Goe；
give　her　a　Smocke　onely；　and　so　send　her　gadding。　All　there　present
about　him；　entreated　him　to　let　her　have　a　petticote；　because　it　might
not　be　said；　that　she　who　had　been　his　Wife　thirteene　yeares　and　more；
was　sent　away　so　poorely　in　her　Smocke：　but　all　their　perswasions
prevailed　not　with　him。　Naked　in　her　Smocke；　without　hose　or　shoes；
bareheaded；　and　not　so　much　as　a　Cloth　about　her　necke；　to　the　great
griefe　and　mourning　of　all　that　saw　her；　she　went　home　to　her　old
fathers　house。
　　And　he　（good　man）　never　beleeving；　that　the　Marquesse　would　long
keepe　his　daughter　as　his　Wife；　but　rather　expected　dally；　what　now
had　happened：　safely　laid　up　the　garments；　whereof　the　Marquesse
despoyled　her；　the　same　morning　when　he　espoused　her。　Wherefore　he
delivered　them　to　her；　and　she　fell　to　her　fathers　houshold　businesse；
according　as　formerly　she　had　done；　sustayning　with　a　great　and
unconquerable　spirit；　all　the　cruell　assaults　of　her　enemy　Fortune。
　　About　such　time　after；　as　suted　with　his　owne　disposition；　the
Marquesse　made　publiquely　knowne　to　his　subjects；　that　he　meant　to
joyne　in　marriage　again；　with　the　daughter　to　one　of　the　Counts　of
Panago；　and　causing　preparation　to　be　made　for　a　sumptuous　wedding；　he
sent　for　Grizelda；　and　she　being　come；　thus　he　spake　to　her。　The
Wife　that　I　have　made　the　new　election　of；　is　to　arrive　here　within
very　few　dayes；　and　at　her　first　comming；　I　would　have　her　to　be
most　honourably　entertained。　Thou　knowest　I　have　no　women　in　my　house；
that　can　decke　up　the　Chambers；　and　set　all　requisite　things　in　due
order；　befitting　for　so　solemne　a　Feast：　and　therefore　I　sent　for
thee；　who　knowing　（better　then　any　other）　all　the　partes；　provision
and　goods　in　the　house；　set　every　thing　in　such　order；　as　thou　shalt
thinke　necessary。
　　Invite　such　Ladies　and　Gentlewomen　as　thou　wilt；　and　give　them
welcome；　even　as　if　thou　wert　the　Lady　of　the　house：　and　when　the
marriage　is　ended；　returne　then　home　to　thy　father　againe。
　　Although　these　words　pierced　like　wonding　daggers；　the　heart　of
poore　（but　Noble　patient）　Grizelda；　as　being　unable　to　forget　the
unequal'd　love　she　bare　to　the　Marquesse；　though　the　dignitie　of　her
former　fortune；　more　easily　slipt　out　of　her　remembrance；　yet
neverthelesse；　thus　she　answered。
　　My　Gracious　Lord；　I　am　glad　I　can　doe　you　any　service；　wherein　you
shall　find　mee　both　willing　and　ready。　In　the　same　poore　garments；
as　she　came　from　her　fathers　house；　（although　shee　was　turned　out　in
her　Smocke）　she　began　to　sweep　and　make　cleane　the　Chambers；　rubbe　the
stooles　and　benches　in　the　Hall；　and　ordered　every　in　the　Kitchin；
as　if　she　were　the　worst　maide　in　all　the　house；　never　ceasing　or
giving　over；　till　all　things　were　in　due　and　decent　order　as　best
beseemed　in　such　a　case。　After　all　which　was　done；　the　Marquesse；
having　invited　all　the　Ladies　of　the　Countrey；　to　be　present　at　so
great　a　Feast：　when　the　marriage　day　came；　Grizelda；　in　her　gowne　of
Countrey　gray；　gave　them　welcome；　in　honourable　manner；　and　graced
them　all　with　very　cheerefull　countenance。
　　Gualtiero　the　Marquesse；　who　had　caused　his　two　children　to　be　nobly
nourished　at　Bologna；　with　a　neere　kinswoman　of　his；　who　had　married
with　one　of　the　Counts　of　Panago；　his　daughter　being　now　aged　twelve
yeares　old；　and　somewhat　more；　as　also　the　Son　about　sixe　or　seven。　He
sent　a　Gentleman　expresly　to　his　kindred；　to　have　them　come　and　visite
him　at　Saluzza；　bringing　his　daughter　and　Sonne　with　them；　attended　in
very　honourable　manner；　and　publishing　every　where　as　they　came　along；
that　the　young　Virgin　（knowne　to　none　but　himselfe　and　them）　should　be
the　Wife　to　the　Marquesse；　and　that　onely　was　the　cause　of　her
comming。　The　Gentleman　was　not　slacke；　in　the　execution　of　the　trust
reposed　in　him：　but　having　made　convenient　preparation；　with　the
kindred；　Sonne；　daughter；　and　a　worthy　company　attending　on　them；
arrived　at　Saluzza　about　dinner　time；　where　wanted　no　resort；　from　all
neighbouring　parts　round　about；　to　see　the　comming　of　the　Lord
Marquesses　new　Spouse。
　　By　the　Lords　and　Ladies　she　was　joyfully　entertained；　and　comming
into　the　great　Hall；　where　the　tables　were　readily　covered：
Grizelda；　in　her　homely　Country　habite；　humbled　her　selfe　before
her；　saying。　Gracious　welcome；　to　the　new　elected　Spouse　of　the　Lord
Marquesse。
　　All　the　Ladies　there　present；　who　had　very　earnestly　importuned
Gualtiero　（but　in　vaine）　that　Grizelda；　might　better　be　shut　up　in
some　Chamber；　or　else　to　lend　her　the　wearing　of　any　other　garments；
which　formerly　had　been　her　owne；　because　she　should　not　be　so　poorely
seene　among　strangers：　being　seated　at　the　Tables；　she　waited　on
them　very　serviceably。　The　yong　Virgin　was　observed　by　every　one；
who　spared　not　to　say；　that　the　Marquesse　had　made　an　excellent
change：　but　above　them　all；　Grizelda　did　most　commend　her；　and　so
did　her　brother　likewise；　as　young　as　he　was；　yet　not　knowing　her　to
be　his　Sister。
　　Now　was　the　Marquesse　sufficiently　satisfied　in　his　soule；　that　he
had　seene　so　much　as　he　desired；　concerning　the　patience　of　his
Wife；　who　in　so　many　hart…grieving　trials；　was　never　noated　so　much　as
to　alter　her　countenance。　And　being　absolutely　perswaded；　that　this
proceeded　not　from　any　want　of　understanding　in　her；　because　he　knew
her　to　be　singularly　wise：　he　thought　it　high　time　now；　to　free　her
from　these　afflicting　oppressions；　and　give　her　such　assurance　as
she　ought　to　have。　Wherefore；　commanding　her　into　his　presence；　openly
before　all　his　assembled　friends；　smiling　on　her；　he　said。　What
thinkst　thou　Grizelda　of　our　new　chosen　Spouse？　My　Lord　（quoth　she）
I　like　her　exceeding　well；　and　if　she　be　so　wise；　as　she　is　faire
（which　verely　I　thinke　she　is）　I　make　no　doubt　but　you　shall　live　with
her；　as　the　onely　happy　man　of　the　world。　But　I　humbly　entreat　your
Honor　（if　I　have　any　power　in　me　to　prevaile　by）　that　you　would　not
give　her　such　cutting　and　unkind　language；　as　you　did　to　your　other
wife：　for　I　cannot　thinke　her　armed　with　such　patience；　as　should
（indeed）　support　them：　as　wel　in　regard　she　is　much　yonger；　as　also
her　more　delicate　breeding　and　education；　whereas　she　who　you　had
before；　was　brought　up　in　continual　toile　and　travaile。
　　When　the　Marquesse　perceyved；　that　Grizelda　beleeved　verily；　this
yong　daughter　of　hers　should　be　his　wife；　and　answered　him　in　so
honest　and　modest　manner：　he　commanded　her　to　sit　downe　by　him；　and
saide。　Grizelda；　it　is　now　more　then　fitte　time；　that　thou　shouldst
taste　the　fruite　of　thy　long　admired　patience；　and　that　they　who
have　thought　me　cruell；　harsh　and　uncivill　natured；　should　at　length
observe；　that　I　have　done　nothing　basely；　or　unadvisedly。　For　this　was
a　worke　premeditated　before；　for　enstructing　thee；　what　it　is　to　be
a　married　wife；　and　to　let　them　know　（whosoever　they　be）　how　to　take
and　keepe　a　wife。　Which　hath　begotten　（to　me）　perpetuall　joy　and
happinesse；　so　long　as　I　have　a　day　to　live　with　thee：　a　matter
whereof　I　stoode　before　greatly　in　feare；　and　which　（in　marriage　I
thought）　would　never　happen　to　me。
　　It　is　not　unknown　to　thee；　in　how　many　kinds　（for　my　first　proofe）　I
gave　thee　harsh　and　unpleasing　speeches；　which　drawing　no
discontentment　from　thee；　either　in　lookes；　words；　or　behaviour；　but
rather　such　comfort　as　my　soule　desired；　and　so　in　my　other
succeedings　afterward：　in　one　minute　now；　I　purpose　to　give　thee
that　consolation；　which　I　bereft　thee　of　in　many　tempestuous
stormes；　and　make　a　sweet　restauration；　for　all　thy　former　sower
sufferinges。　My　faire　and　dearly　affected　Grizelda；　shee　whom　thou
supposest　for　my　new　elected　Spouse；　with　a　glad　and　cheerfull　hart；
imbrace　for　thine　owne　daughter；　and　this　also　her　Brother；　beeing
both　of　them　thy　children　and　mine；　in　common　opinion　of　the　vulgar
multitude；　imagined　to　be　（by　my　command）　long　since　slaine。　I　am
thy　honourable　Lord　and　Husband；　who　doth；　and　will　love　thee　farre
above　all　women　else　in　the　world；　giving　thee　justly　this　deserved
praise　and　commendation；　That　no　man　living　hath　the　like　Wife；　as　I
have。
　　So；　sweetly　kissing　her　infinitely；　and　hugging　her　joyfully　in
his　armes　（the　teares　now　streaming　like　new…let…loose　Rivers；　downe
her　faire　face；　which　no　disaster　before　could　force　from　her）　hee
brought　her；　and　seated　her　by　her　daughter；　who　was　not　a　little
amazed　at　so　rare　an　alteration。　Shee　having　in　zeale　of　affection）
kissed　and　embraced　them　both；　all　else　there　present　being　clearely
resolved　from　the　former　doubt　which　too　long　deluded　them；　the　ladies
arose　jocondly　from　the　tables；　and　attending　on　Grizelda　to　her
Chamber；　in　signe　of　a　more　successfull　augury　to　follow；　tooke　off
her　poor　contemptible　rags；　and　put　on　such　costly　robes；　which　（as
Lady　Marchionesse）　she　used　to　weare　before。
　　Afterward；　they　waited　on　her　into　the　Hall　againe；　being　their　true
Soveraigne　Lady　and　Mistresse；　as　she　was　no　lesse　in　her　poorest
Garments；　where　all　rejoycing　for　the　new　restored　Mother；　and　happy
recovery　of　so　noble　a　son　and　daughter；　the　Festivall　continued
many　months　after。　Now　every　one　thought　the　Marquesse　to　be　a　noble
and　wise　Prince；　though　somewhat　sharpe　and　unsufferable；　in　the
severe　experiences　made　of　his　wife：　but　（above　al）　they　reputed
Grizelda；　to　be　a　most　wise；　patient；　and　vertuous　Lady。　The　Count
of　Panago；　within　few　daies　after　returned　backe　to　Bologna；　and　the
Lord　Marques；　fetching　home　old　Janiculo　from　his　country　drudgery；　to
live　with　him　（as　his　Father　in　law）　in　his　Princely　Palace；　gave
him　honorable　maintenance；　wherein　hee　long　continued；　and　ended　his
daies。　Afterward；　he　matched　his　daughter　in　a　Noble　marriage：　he
and　Grizelda　living　a　long　time　together；　in　the　highest　honor　that
possibly　could　be。
　　What　can　now　be　saide　to　the　contrary；　but　that　poore　Country
Cottages；　may　yeeld　as　divine　and　excellent　spirits；　as　the　most
stately　and　Royall　mansions；　which　breed　and　bring　uppe　some；　more
worthy　to　be　Hog…rubbe