the decameron(十日谈)-第18章

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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　and　soultry；　Andrea　put　off　his　hose　and　doublet；
and　being　in　his　shirt　alone；　layed　them　underneath　the　beds　boulster；
as　seeming　carefull　of　his　money。　But　finding　a　provocation　to　the
house　of　Office；　he　demanded　of　the　Lad；　where　hee　might　find　it；
who　shewed　him　a　little　doore　in　a　corner　of　the　Chamber；　appointing
him　to　enter　there。　Safely　enough　he　went　in；　but　chanced　to　tread
upon　a　board；　which　was　fastened　at　neither；　ende　to　the　joynts
whereon　it　lay；　being　a　pit…fall　made　of　purpose；　to　entrap　any　such
coxcombe；　as　would　be　trained　to　so　base　a　place　of　lodging；　so　that
both　he　and　the　board　fell　downe　together　into　the　draught；　yet　such
being　his　good　fortune；　to　receive　no　harme　in　the　fall　（although　it
was　of　extraordinary　height）　onely　the　filth　of　the　place；　（it　being
over　full）　had　fowly　myred　him。
　　Now　for　your　better　understanding　the　quality　of　the　place；　and　what
ensued　thereupon；　it　is　not　unnecessary　to　describe　it；　according　to　a
common　use；　observed　in　those　parts。　There　was　a　narrow　passage　or
entrie；　as　often　we　see　reserved　betweene　two　houses；　for　eithers
benefit　to　such　a　needfull　place；　and　boards　loosely　lay　upon　the
joynts；　which　such　as　were　acquainted　withall；　could　easily　avoide　any
perille　in　passing　to　or　from　the　stoole。　But　our　so　newly　created
Brother；　not　dreaming　to　find　a　Queane　to　his　Sister；　receiving　so
foule　a　fall　into　the　vault；　and　knowing　not　how　to　helpe　himselfe；
being　sorrowfull　beyond　measure；　cryed　out　to　the　boy　for　light　and
aide；　who　intended　not　to　give　him　any。　For　the　crafty　wag；　（a　meete
attendant　for　so　honest　a　Mistresse）　no　sooner　heard　him　to　be　fallen；
but　presently　he　ran　to　enforme　her　thereof；　and　shee　as　speedily
returned　to　the　Chamber；　where　finding　his　cloathes　under　the　beds
head；　shee　needed　no　instruction　for　search　of　his　pockets。　But　having
found　the　gold；　which　Andrea　indiscreetely　carried　alwayes　about
him；　as　thinking　it　could　no　where　else　be　so　safe：　This　was　all
shee　aymed　at；　and　for　which　shee　had　ensnared　him；　faigning　her　selfe
to　be　of　Palermo；　and　Daughter　to　Piero　of　Perouse；　so　that　not
regarding　him　any　longer；　but　making　fast　the　house　of　Office　doore；
there　she　left　him　in　that　miserable　taking。
　Poore　Andrea　perceiving；　that　his　calles　could　get　no　answere　from
the　Lad；　cryed　out　louder；　but　all　to　no　purpose：　when　seeing　into　his
owne　simplicity；　and　understanding　his　error；　though　somewhat　too
late；　hee　made　such　meanes　constrainedly；　that　he　got　over　a　wall；
which　severed　that　foule　sinke　from　the　Worlds　eye；　and　being　in　the
open　streete；　went　to　the　doore　of　the　House；　which　then　he　knew　too
well　to　his　cost；　making　loud　exclaimes　with　rapping　and　knocking；　but
all　as　fruitelesse　as　before。　Sorrowing　exceedingly；　and　manifestly
beholding　his　misfortune；　Alas　（quoth　he）　how　soone　have　I　lost　a
Sister；　and　five　hundred　Crownes　besides？　With　many　other　words；
loud　calles；　and　beatings　uppon　the　doore　without　intermission；　the
neighbours　finding　themselves　disturbed；　and　unable　to　endure　any　such
ceaselesse　vexation；　rose　from　their　beddes；　and　called　to　him；
desiring　him　to　be　gone；　and　let　them　rest。　A　Maide　also　of　the　same
house；　looking　forth　at　the　window；　and　seeming　as　newly　raised　from
sleepe；　called　to　him；　saying；　What　noyse　is　that　beneath？　Why
Virgin　（answered　Andrea）　know　you　not　me？　I　am　Andrea　de　Piero；
Brother　to　your　Mistresse　Fiordeliza。　Thou　art　a　drunken　knave　replyed
the　Maide；　more　full　of　drinke　then　wit：　goe　sleepe；　goe　sleepe；　and
come　againe　to　morrow：　for　I　know　no　Andrea　de　Piero；　neither　hath
my　Mistresse　any　such　Brother。　Get　thee　gone　go　ie　good　man；　and
suffer　us　to　sleepe　I　prythee。　How　now　（quoth　Andrea）　doest　thou　not
understand　what　I　say？　Thou　knowest　that　I　supt　with　thy　Mistresse
this　night；　but　if　our　Sicilian　kindred　be　so　soone　forgot；　I
prythee　give　mee　my　Cloathes　which　I　left　in　my　Chamber；　and　then
verie　gladly　will　I　get　mee　gone。　Hereat　the　Maide　laughing　out
aloude；　saide；　Surely　the　man　is　mad；　or　walketh　the　streetes　in　a
dreame：　and　so　clasping　fast　the　Window；　away　she　went　and　left　him。
　Now　could　Andrea　assure　himselfe；　that　his　Golde　and　cloathes　were
past　recovery；　which　mooving　him　to　the　mor　impatience；　his　former
intercessions　became　converted　into　furie；　and　what　hee　could　not
compasse　by　faire　intreats；　he　intended　to　winne　by　outrage　and
violence：　so　that　taking　up　a　great　stone　in　his　hand；　hee　layed
upon　the　doore　verie　powerfull　strokes。　The　neighbors　hearing　this
mollestation　still；　admitting　them　not　the　least　respite　of　rest；
reputed　him　for　a　troublesome　fellow；　and　that　he　used　those
counterfet　words；　onely　to　disturbe　the　Mistresse　of　the　house；　and
all　that　dwelled　neere　about　her；　looking　againe　out　at　their
windowes；　they　altogether　beganne　to　rate　and　reprove　him；　even　like
so　many　bawling　Curres；　barking　at　a　strange　dog　passing　through　the
street。　This　is　shamefull　villany　（quoth　one）　and　not　to　be
suffered；　that　honest　women　should　thus　be　molested　in　their　houses；
with　foolish　idle　words；　and　at　such　an　unseasonable　time　of　the
night。　For　Gods　sake　（good　man）　be　gone；　and　let　us　sleepe；　if　thou
have　any　thing　to　say　to　the　Gentlewoman　of　the　house；　come　tomorrow
in　the　daytime；　and　no　doubt　but　she　will　make　thee　sufficient　answer。
　　Andrea；　being　some　what　pacified　with　these　speeches；　a
shagge…hayr'd　swash…buckler；　a　grim　visagde　Ruffian　（as　sildome
bawdy　houses　are　without　such　swaggering　Champions）　not　seene　or　heard
by　Andrea；　all　the　while　of　his　being　in　the　house；　rapping　out　two　or
three　terrible　Oathes；　opening　a　Casement；　and　with　a　stearne
dreadfull　voyce；　demanded；　who　durst　keepe　that　noyse　beneath？
Andrea　fearefully　looking　up；　and　（by　a　little　glimmering　of　the
Moone）　seeing　such　a　rough　fellow；　with　a　blacke　beard；　strowting　like
the　quilles　of　a　Porcupine；　and　patches　on　his　face；　for　hurts
received　in　no　honest　quarrels；　yawning　also　and　stretching；　as
angry　to　have　his　sleepe　disturbed：　trembling　and　quaking；　answered；　I
am　the　Gentlewomans　brother　of　the　house。　The　Ruffian　interrupting
him；　and　speaking　more　fiercely　then　before；　sealing　his　words　with
horrible　Oathes；　said。　Sirra；　Rascall；　I　know　not　of　whence；　or　what
thou　art；　but　if　I　come　downe　to　thee；　I　will　so　bumbast　thy　prating
Coxecombe；　as　thou　wast　never　so　beaten　in　all　thy　life；　like　a
drunken　slave　and　beast　as　thou　art；　that　all　this　night　wilt　not
let　us　sleepe。　And　so　hee　clapt　to　the　window　againe。
　　The　Neighbours　well　acquainted　with　this　Ruffians　rude　conditions；
speaking　in　gentle　manner　to　Andrea；　said。　Shift　for　thy　selfe　（good
man）　in　time；　and　tarrie　not　for　his　comming　downe　to　thee；　except
thou　art　weary　of　thy　life：　Be　gone　therefore；　and　say　thou　hast　a
friendly　warning。　These　words　dismaying　Andrea；　but　much　more　the
sterne　oathes　and　ougly　sight　of　the　Ruffian；　incited　also　by　the
Neighbours　counsell；　whom　he　imagined　to　advise　him　in　charitable
manner：　it　caused　him　to　depart　thence；　taking　the　way　home…ward　to
his　Inne；　in　no　mean　affliction　and　torment　of　minde；　for　the
monstrous　abuse　offered　him；　and　losse　of　his　money。　Well　he　remembred
the　passages；　whereby　the　day　before　the　young　Gyrle　had　guided　him；
but　the　loathsome　smell　about　him；　was　so　extreamely　to　himselfe；　that
desiring　to　wash　him　at　the　Sea　side；　he　strayed　too　farre　wide　on　the
contrary　hand；　wandring　up　the　street　called　Ruga　Gatellana。
　　Proceeding　on　still；　even　to　the　highest　part　of　the　Citie；　hee
espyed　a　Lanthorne　and　light；　as　also　a　man　carrying　it；　and　another
man　with　him　in　company；　both　of　them　comming　towards　him。　Now；
because　he　suspected　them　two　of　the　watch；　or　some　persons　that　would
apprehend　him。；　he　stept　aside　to　shunne　them；　and　entred　into　an　olde
house　hard　by　at　hand。　The　other　mens　intention　was　to　the　very　same
place；　and　going　in；　without　any　knowledge　of　Andreaes　beeing　there；
one　of　them　layde　downe　divers　instruments　of　Iron　which　he　had
brought　thither　on　his　backe；　and　had　much　talke　with　his　fellow
concerning　those　Engines。　At　last　one　of　them　saide；　I　smell　the
most　abhominable　stinke　that　ever　I　felt　in　all　my　life。　So；　lifting
up　the　Lanthorn；　he　espied　poore　pittifull　Andrea；　closely　couched
behinde　the　wall。　Which　sight　somewhat　affrighting　him；　he　yet
boldly　demaunded；　what　and　who　he　was？　Whereto　Andrea　answered
nothing；　but　lay　still　and　held　his　peace。　Neerer　they　drew　towards
him　with　their　light；　demanding　how　hee　came　thither；　and　in　that
filthy　manner。
　　Constraint　having　now　no　other　evasion；　but　that　（of　necessitie）　all
must　out：　hee　related　to　them　the　whole　adventure；　in　the　same　sort　as
it　had　befalne　him。　They　greatly　pittying　his　misfortune；　one　of
them　said　to　the　other：　Questionlesse；　this　villanie　was　done　in　the
house　of　Scarabone　Buttafucco。　And　then　turning　to　Andrea；　proceeded
thus。　In　good　faith　poore　man；　albeit　thou　hast　lost　thy　money；　yet
art　thou　much　beholding　to　Fortune；　for　falling　（though　in　a　foule
place）　yet　in　a　succesfull　manner；　and　entring　no　more　backe　into
the　house。　For　beleeve　mee　friend；　if　thou　haddest　not　falne；　but
quietly　gone　to　sleepe　in　the　house；　that　sleepe　had　beene　thy　last　in
this　world；　and　with　thy　money；　thou　hadst　lost　thy　life　likewise。　But
teares　and　lamentations　are　now　helpelesse；　because　as　easily　mayest
thou　plucke　the　Starres　from　the　Firmament；　as　get　againe　the　least
doyt　of　thy　losse。　And　for　that　shag…haird　Slave　in　the　house；　he　will
be　thy　deathsman；　if　hee　but　understand　that　thou　makest　any
enquirie　after　thy　money。　When　he　had　thus　admonished　him；　he　began
also　in　this　manner　to　comfort　him。　Honest　fellow；…　we　cannot　but
pitty　thy　present　condition：　wherfore　if　thou　wilt　frendly　associate
us；　in　a　businesse　which　we　are　instantly　going　to　effect；　thy　losse
hath　not　bene　so　great；　but　on　our　words　we　will　warrant　thee；　that
thine　immediate　gaine　shall　farre　exceede　it。　What　will　not　a　man
（in　desperate　extremity）　both　well　like　and　allow　of；　especially
when　it　carryeth　apparance　of　present　comfort。　So　fared　it　with
Andrea；　hee　perswaded　himselfe；　worse　then　had　already　happened；　could
not　befall　him；　and　therefore　he　would　gladly　adventure　with　them。
　　The　selfe　same　day　preceding　this　disastrous　night　to　Andrea；　in　the
cheefe　Church　of　the　Cittie；　had　beene　buried　the　Archbishop　of　Naples
named　Signior　Phillippo　Minutulo；　in　his　richest　pontificall　Robes　and
Ornaments；　and　a　Ruby　on　his　finger　valued　to　be　worth　five　hundred
duckets　of　gold：　this　dead　body　they　purposed　to　rob　and　rifle；
acquainting　Andrea　with　their　whole　intent；　whose　necessitie
（coupled　with　a　covetous　desire）　made　him　more　forward　then　well
advised；　to　joyne　with　them　in　this　sacriligious　enterprize。　On　they
went　towards　the　great　Church；　Andreaes　unsavourie　perfume　much
displeasing　them；　whereupon　the　one　said　to　his　fellow：　Can　we
devise　no　ease　for　this　foule　and　noysome　inconveniences？　the　very
smell　of　him　will　be　a　meanes　to　betray　us。　There　is　a　Well…pit　hard
by；　answered　the　other