the decameron(十日谈)-第2章

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　　Master　Chappelet；　who　（as　we　have　formerly　saide）　was　lodged　neere
to　the　place　where　they　thus　conferred；　having　a　subtle　attention
（as　oftentimes　we　see　sicke　persons　to　be　possessed　withall）　heard　all
these　speeches　spoken　of　him；　and　causing　them　to　bee　called　unto　him；
thus　hee　spake。
　　I　would　not　have　you　to　be　any　way　doubtfull　of　me；　neither　that　you
should　receive　the　least　damage　by　me：　I　have　heard　what　you　have
said；　and　am　certaine；　that　it　will　happen　according　to　your　words；　if
matters　should　fall　out　as　you　conceite；　but　I　am　minded　to　deale
otherwise。　I　have　committed　so　many　offences　against　our　Lord　God；
in　the　whole　current　of　my　life；　that　now　I　intend　one　action　at　the
houre　of　my　death；　which　I　trust　will　make　amends　for　all。　Procure
therefore；　I　pray　you；　that　the　most　holy　and　religious　man　that　is　to
be　found　（if　there　bee　any　one　at　all）　may　come　unto　me；　and　referre
the　case　then　to　me；　for　I　will　deale　in　such　sort　for　you　and　my
selfe；　that　all　shall　be　well；　and　you　no　way　discontented。
　　The　two　Brethren；　although　they　had　no　great　hope　in　his　speeches；
went　yet　to　a　Monastery　of　Gray…Friars；　and　requested；　that　some　one
holy　and　learned　man；　might　come　to　heare　the　confession　of　a　Lombard；
that　lay　very　weake　and　sicke　in　their　house。　And　one　was　granted　unto
them；　being　an　aged　religious　Frier；　a　great　read　master　in　the　sacred
Scripture；　a　very　venerable　person；　who　being　of　good　and　sanctified
life；　all　the　Citizens　held　him　in　great　respect　and　esteeme；　and　on
hee　went　with　them　to　their　house。　When　he　was　come　up　into　the
Chamber　where　Master　Chappelet　lay；　and　being　there　seated　downe　by
him；　he　beganne　first　to　comfort　him　very　lovingly；　demanding　also
of　him；　how　many　times　he　had　bin　at　confession？　Whereto　Master
Chappelet　（who　never　had　bin　shrived　in　all　his　life　time）　thus
replied。
　　Holy　Father；　I　alwayes　used　（as　a　common　custome）　to　bee　confessed
once　（at　the　least）　every　weeke；　albeit　sometimes　much　more　often；　but
true　it　is；　that　being　falne　into　this　sicknesse；　now　eight　daies
since　I　have　not　beene　confest；　so　violent　hath　bene　the　extremity
of　my　weaknesse。　My　sonne　（answered　the　good　old　man）　thou　hast　done
well；　and　so　keep　thee　still　hereafter　in　that　minde：　but　I　plainly
perceive；　seeing　thou　hast　so　often　confessed　thy　selfe；　that　I
shall　take　the　lesse　labour　in　urging　questions　to　thee。
　　Master　Chappelet　replyed；　Say　not　so　good　Father；　for　albeit　I
have　bene　so　oftentimes　confessed；　yet　am　I　willing　now　to　make　a
generall　confession；　even　of　all　sinnes　comming　to　my　remembrance；
from　the　very　day　of　my　birth；　until　this　instant　houre　of　my
shrift。　And　therefore　I　entreat　you　（holy　Father）　to　make　a　particular
demand　of　everie　thing；　even　as　if　I　had　never　bene　confessed　at
all；　and　to　make　no　respect　of　my　sicknesse：　for　I　had　rather　be
offensive　to　mine　owne　flesh；　then　by　favoring　or　allowing　it　ease；　to
hazard　the　perdition　of　my　soule；　which　my　Redeemer　bought　with　so
precious　a　price。
　　These　words　were　highly　pleasing　to　the　holy　Friar；　and　seemed　to
him　as　an　argument　of　a　good　conscience：　Wherefore；　after　hee　had　much
commended　this　forwardnesse　in　him；　he　began　to　demand　of　him　if　he
had　never　offended　with　any　Woman？　Whereunto　master　Chappelet
（breathing　forth　a　great　sigh）　answered。
　　Holy　Father；　I　am　halfe　ashamed　to　tell　you　the　truth　in　this
case；　as　fearing　least　I　should　sinne　in　vaine…glory。　Whereto　the
Confessor　replyed；　Speake　boldly　sonne；　and　feare　not；　for　in
telling　the　truth；　bee　it　in　confession　or　otherwise；　a　man　can
never　sinne。　Then　sayde　Maister　Chappelet；　Father；　seeing　you　give
me　so　good　an　assurance；　I　will　resolve　you　faithfully　heerein。　I　am
so　true　a　Virgin…man　in　this　matter；　even　as　when　I　issued　forth　of　my
mothers　Wombe。　O　sonne　（quoth　the　Friar）　how　happy　and　blessed　of
God　art　thou？　Well　hast　thou　lived；　and　therein　hast　thou　not　meanly
merited；　having　had　so　much　libertie　to　doe　the　contrary　if　thou
wouldest；　wherein　verie　few　of　us　can　so　answer　for　our　selves。
　　Afterward；　he　demanded　of　him；　how　much　displeasing　to　God　hee　had
beene　in　the　sinne　of　Gluttony？　When　（sighing　againe　greatly）　hee
answered：　Too　much；　and　too　often；　good　Father。　For；　over　and　beside
the　Fasts　of　our　Lent　season；　which　everie　yeare　ought　to　bee　duely
observed　by　devout　people；　I　brought　my　selfe　to　such　a　customarie
use；　that　I　could　fast　three　dayes　in　every　Weeke；　with　Bread　and
Water。　But　indeede　（holy　Father）　I　confesse；　that　I　have　drunke
water　with　such　a　pleasing　appetite　and　delight　（especially　in
praying；　or　walking　on　pilgrimages）　even　as　greedy　drunkards　doe；　in
drinking　good　Wine。　And　many　times　I　have　desired　such　Sallades　of
small　hearbes；　as　Women　do　gather　abroad　in　the　open　fields；　and
feeding　onely　upon　them；　without　coveting　after　any　other　kinde　of
sustenance；　hath　seemed　much　more　pleasing　to　me；　then　I　thought　to
agree　with　the　nature　of　Fasting；　especially；　when　as　it　swerveth
from　devotion；　or　is　not　done　as　it　ought　to　bee。
　Sonne；　Sonne；　replied　the　Confessour；　these　sinnes　are　naturall；
and　very　light；　and　therefore　I　would　not　have　thee　to　charge　thy
conscience　with　them；　more　then　is　needfull。　It　happeneth　to　every　man
（how　holy　soever　he　be）　that　after　he　hath　fasted　overlong；　feeding
will　be　welcome　to　him；　and　drinking　good　drinke　after　his　travaile。　O
Sir；　（said　Maister　Chappelet）　never　tell　me　this　to　comfort　me；　for
well　you　know；　and　I　am　not　ignorant　therein；　that　such　things　as
are　done　for　the　service　of　God；　ought　all　to　be　performed　purely；　and
without　any　blemish　of　the　minde；　what　otherwise　is　done；　savoureth　of
sinne。　The　Friar　being　well　contented　with　his　words；　said：　It　is
not　amisse　that　thou　understandest　it　in　this　manner；　and　thy
conscience　thus　purely　cleared；　is　no　little　comfort　to　me。　But　tell
me　now　concerning　Avarice；　hast　thou　sinned　therein；　by　desiring
more　then　was　reasonable；　or　withholding　from　others；　such　things　as
thou　oughtst　not　to　detaine？　Wherein　Maister　Chappelet　answered。
Good　Father；　I　would　not　have　you　to　imagine；　because　you　see　me
lodged　heere　in　the　house　of　two　Usurers；　that　therefore　I　am　of　any
such　disposition。　No　truely　Sir；　I　came　hither　to　no　other　end；　but
onely　to　chastise　and　admonish　them　in　friendly　manner；　to　clense
their　mindes　from　such　abhominable　profit：　And　assuredly；　I　should
have　prevailed　therein；　had　not　this　violent　sicknesse　hindered　mine
intention。　But　understand　（holy　Father）　that　my　parents　left　me　a　rich
man；　and　immediatly　after　my　Fathers　death；　the　greater　part　of　his
goods　I　gave　away　for　Gods　sake；　and　then；　to　sustaine　mine　owne　life；
and　to　helpe　the　poore　members　of　Jesus　Christ；　I　betooke　my　selfe
to　a　meane　estate　of　Merchandise；　desiring　none　other　then　honest
gaine　thereby；　and　evermore　whatsoever　benefit　came　to　me；　I
imparted　halfe　thereof　to　the　poore；　converting　mine　owne　small
portion　about　my　necessary　affaires；　which　that　other　part　would
scarcely　serve　to　supply：　yet　alwayes　God　gave　thereto　such　a
mercifull　blessing；　that　my　businesse　dayly　thrived　more　and　more；
arising　still　from　good　to　better。
　　Well　hast　thou　done　therein　good　Sonne；　said　the　Confessour：　but　how
oftentimes　hast　thou　beene　angry？　Oh　Sir　（said　Maister　Chappelet）
therein　I　assure　yee；　I　have　often　transgressed。　And　what　man　is
able　to　forbeare　it；　beholding　the　dayly　actions　of　men　to　be　so
dishonest？　No　care　of　keeping　Gods　Commandements；　nor　any　feare　of　his
dreadfull　judgements。　Many　times　in　a　day；　I　have　rather　wished　my
selfe　dead　then　living；　beholding　youth　pursuing　idle　vanities；　to
sweare　and　forsweare　themselves；　tipling　in　Tavernes；　and　never
haunting　Churches；　but　rather　affecting　the　worlds　follies；　then　any
such　duties　as　they　owe　to　God。　Alas　Sonne　（quoth　the　Friar）　this　is　a
good　and　holy　anger；　and　I　can　impose　no　penance　on　thee　for　it。　But
tell　me；　hath　not　rage　or　furie　at　any　time　so　over…ruled　thee；　as
to　commit　murther　or　man…slaughter；　or　to　speake　evill　of　any　man；
or　to　doe　any　other　such　kinde　of　injurie？　Oh　Father　（answered　Maister
Chappelet）　you　that　seeme　to　be　a　man　of　God；　how　dare　you　use　any
such　vile　words？　If　I　had　had　the　very　least　thought；　to　doe　any
such　act　as　you　speake；　doe　you　thinke　that　God　would　have　suffered　me
to　live？　These　are　deeds　of　darknesse；　fit　for　villaines　and　wicked
livers；　of　which　hellish　crew；　when　at　any　time　I　have　happened　to
meet　with　some　one　of　them；　I　have　said；　God；　God　convert　thee。
　　Worthy；　and　charitable　words；　replied　the　Friar：　but　tell　me
Sonne；　Didst　thou　ever　beare　false　witnes　against　any　man；　or　hast
spoken　falsly；　or　taken　ought　from　any　one；　contrary　to　the　will　of
the　owner？　Yes　indeed　Father；　said　Maister　Chappelet；　I　have　spoken
ill　of　another；　because　I　have　sometime　seene　one　of　my　neighbors；　who
with　no　meane　shame　of　the　world；　would　do　nothing　else　but　beat　his
wife：　and　of　him　once　I　complained　to　the　poore　mans　parents；
saying；　that　he　never　did　it　but　when　he　was　overcome　with　drinke。
Those　were　no　ill　words；　quoth　the　Friar；　but　I　remember　you　said；
that　you　were　a　Merchant：　Did　you　ever　deceive　any；　as　some
Merchants　use　to　doe？　Truely　Father；　answered　M。　Chappelet；　I　thinke
not　any；　except　one　man；　who　one　day　brought　me　money　which　he　owed　me
for　a　certaine　peece　of　cloath　I　sold　him；　and　I　put　it　into　a　purse
without　accounting　it。　About　a　moneth　afterward；　I　found　that　there
were　foure　small　pence　more　then　was　due　to　mee：　and　never　happening
to　meete　with　the　man　againe；　after　I　had　kept　them　the　space　of　a
whole　yeare；　I　then　gave　them　away　unto　foure　poore　people；　for　Gods
sake。
　　A　small　matter；　said　the　Friar；　and　truly　payed　backe　againe　to
the　owner；　in　bestowing　them　on　the　poore。　Many　other　questions　he
demanded　of　him；　whereto　still　he　answered　in　the　same　manner。　But
before　he　proceeded　to　absolution；　Master　Chappelet　spake　thus：　I　have
yet　one　sinne　more；　which　I　have　not　revealed　to　you：　when　being　urged
by　the　Friar　to　confesse　it；　he　said。　I　remember；　that　I　should　afford
one　day　in　the　weeke；　to　cleanse　the　house　of　my　soule；　for　better
entertainement　to　my　Lord　and　Saviour；　and　yet　I　have　done　no　such
reverence　to　the　Sunday　or　Sabbath；　as　I　ought　to　have　done。　A　small
fault　Sonne；　replyed　the　Friar。　O　no　（quoth　Master　Chappelet）
doe　not　terme　it　a　small　fault；　because　Sunday　being　a　holy　day；
is　highly　to　be　reverenced：　for　as　on　that　day；　our　blessed　Lord　arose
from　death　to　life。　But　（quoth　the　Confessor）　hast　thou　done　nothing
else　on　that　day？　Yes；　said　he；　being　forgetfull　of　my　selfe；　once　I
did　spet　in　Gods　Church。　The　Friar　smiling；　said：　Alas　Sonne；　that
is　a　matter　of　no　moment；　for　wee　that　are　Religious　persons；　doe
use　to　spet　there　every　day。　The　more　is　your　shame；　answered　Master
Chappelet；　for　no　place　ought　to　bee　kept　more　pure　and　cleane　then
the　sacred　Temple；　wherein　our　daily　sacrifices　are　offered　up　to　God。
　　In　this　manner　he　held　on　an　houre　and　more；　uttering　the　like
transgressions　as　these；　and　at　last　began　to　sigh　very
passionately；　and　to　shed　a　few　teares；　as　one　that　was　skilfull
enough　in　such　dissembling　pranks：　whereat　the　Confessor　being　much