the decameron(十日谈)-第22章

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said　to　Geoffrey；　Beyond　the　joy　which　already　thou　art　inriched
withall；　how　would　it　please　thee　to　meete　thine　owne　Mother　here？　I
cannot　beleeve　Sir　（replied　Geoffrey）　that　her　greevous　misfortunes
have　suffered　her　to　live　so　long；　and　yet；　if　heaven　hath　bin　so
mercifull　to　her；　my　joyes　were　incomparable；　for　by　her　gracious
counsel；　I　might　well　hope　to　recover　no　meane　happines　in　Sicily。
Soone　after；　both　the　mothers　were　sent　for；　who　were　transported　with
unspeakable　joy；　when　they　beheld　the　so　lately　married　couple：
being　much　amazed　what　inspiration　had　guided　Messer　Conrado　to　this
extraordinary　benignity；　in　joyning　Jehannot　in　marriage　with　Spina。
　Hereupon；　Madam　Beritola　remembring　the　speeches　betweene　her　and
Messer　Conrado；　began　to　observe　him　very　advisedly；　and　by　a　hidden
vertue　which　long　had　silently　slept　in　her；　and　now　with　joy　of
spirit　awaked；　calling　to　mind　the　lineatures　of　her　sonnes　infancy；
without　awaiting　for　any　other　demonstration；　she　folded　him　in　her
armes　with　earnest　affection。　Motherly　joy　and　pity　now　contended　so
violently　togither；　that　she　was　not　able　to　utter　one　word；　the
sensitive　vertues　being　so　closely　combined；　that　（even　as　dead）　she
fell　downe　in　the　armes　of　her　Son。　And　he　wondering　greatly
thereat；　making　a　better　recollection　of　his　thoughts；　did　well
remember；　that　hee　had　often　before　seene　her　in　the　Castle；　without
any　other　knowledge　of　her。　Neverthelesse；　by　meere　instinct　of
Nature；　whose　power　in　such　actions　declares　it　selfe　to　be　highly
predominant；　his　very　soule　assured　him；　that　she　was　his　Mother；
and　blaming　his　understanding；　that　he　had　not　before　bene　better
advised；　he　threw　his　armes　about　her；　and　wept　exceedingly。
　　Afterward；　by　the　loving　paines　of　Conradoes　wife；　as　also　her
daughter　Spina；　Madam　Beritola　（being　recovered　from　her　passionate
traunce；　and　her　vitall　spirits　executing　their　Offices　againe）　fell
once　more　to　the　embracing　of　her　Sonne；　kissing　him　infinite　times；
with　teares　and　speeches　of　motherly　kindnesse；　he　likewise　expressing
the　same　dutifull　humanity　to　her。　Which　ceremonious　courtesies
being　passed　over　and　over；　to　no　little　joy　in　all　the　beholders；
beside　repetition　of　their　severall　misfortunes；　Messer　Conrado　made
all　knowne　to　his　friends；　who　were　very　glad　of　this　new　alliance
made　by　him；　which　was　honoured　with　many　solemne　feastings。　Which
being　all　concluded；　Geoffrey　having　found　out　fit　place　and
opportunity；　for　conference　with　his　new　created　Father；　without　any
sinister　opposition；　began　as　followeth。
　　Honourable　Father；　you　have　raised　my　contentment　to　the　highest
degree；　and　have　heaped　also　many　gracious　favours　on　my　Noble　Mother；
but　now　in　the　finall　conclusion；　that　nothing　may　remaine　uneffected；
which　consisteth　in　your　power　to　performe：　I　would　humbly　entreate
you；　to　honour　my　Mother　with　your　company；　at　a　Feast　of　my　making；
where　I　would　gladly　also　have　my　Brother　present。　Messer　Gasparino
d'Oria　（as　I　have　heretofore　told　you）　questing　as　a　common　Pyrat　on
the　Seas；　tooke　us　and　sent　us　home　to　his　house　as　slaves；　where
（as　yet）　he　detaineth　him。　I　would　likewise　have　you　send　into　Sicily；
who　informing　himselfe　more　amply　in　the　state　of　the　Countrey；　may
understand　what　is　become　of　Henriet　my　Father；　and　whether　he　be
living　or　no。　If　he　be　alive；　then　to　know　in　what　condition　he　is；
and　being　secretly　instructed　in　all　things；　then　to　returne　backe
againe　to　you。
　　This　motion　made　by　Geoffrey；　was　so　pleasing　to　Conrado；　that
without　any　reference　to　further　leysure；　hee　dispatched　thence　two
discreete　persons；　the　one　to　Geneway；　and　the　other　to　Sicily：　he
which　went　for　Geneway；　having　met　with　Gasparino；　earnestly　entreated
him　（on　the　behalfe　of　Conrado）　to　send　him　the　Poore　expelled；　and
his　Nurse　recounting　every　thing　in　order；　which　Conrado　had　tolde
him；　concerning　Geoffrey　and　his　mother。　When　Gasparino　had　heard
the　whole　discourse；　he　marvelled　greatly　thereat；　and　saide；　True
it　is；　that　I　will　doe　any　thing　for　Messer　Conrado；　which　may　bee
to　his　love　and　liking；　provided；　that　it　lye　in　my　power　to　performe；
and　（about　some　foureteene　yeeres　since）　I　brought　such　a　Lad　as　you
seeke　for；　with　his　mother；　home　to　my　house；　whom　I　will　gladly
send　unto　him。　But　you　may　tell　him　from　me；　that　I　advise　him　from
over…rash　crediting　the　Fables　of　Jehannot；　that　now　termes　himselfe
by　the　name　of　Geoffrey；　because　he　is　a　more　wicked　boy　then　he
taketh　him　to　be；　and　so　did　I　finde　him。
　　Having　thus　spoken；　and　giving　kinde　welcome　to　the　Messenger；
secretly　he　called　the　Nurse　unto　him；　whom　hee　heedfully　examined
concerning　this　case。　She　having　heard　the　rebellion　in　the　Kingdome
of　Sicily；　and　understanding　withall　that　Henriet　was　yet　living；
joyfully　threw　off　all　her　former　feare；　relating　every　thing　to　him
orderly；　and　the　reasons　moving　her　to　conceale　the　whole　businesse　in
such　manner　as　shee　had　done。　Gasparino　well　perceiving；　that　the
report　of　the　Nurse；　and　the　message　received　from　Conrado；　varied　not
in　any　one　circumstance；　began　the　better　to　credit　her　words。　And
being　a　man　most　ingenious；　making　further　inquisition　into　the
businesse；　by　all　the　possible　meanes　hee　could　devise；　and　finding
every　thing　to　yeeld　undoubted　assurance；　ashamed　of　the　vile　and　base
usage　wherein　he　had　so　long　time　kept　the　Lad；　and　desiring　（by　his
best　meanes）　to　make　him　amends；　he　had　a　beautifull　daughter；　aged
about　thirteene　yeares；　and　knowing　what　manner　of　man　he　was；　his
Father　Henriet　also　yet　living；　he　gave　her　to　him　in　marriage；　with　a
very　bountifull　and　honourable　dowry。
　　The　joviall　dayes　of　feasting　being　past；　he　went　aboord　a　Galley
with　the　Poore　expelled；　his　Daughter；　the　Ambassador；　and　the
Nurse；　departing　thence　to　Lericy；　where　they　were　nobly　welcommed
by　Messer　Conrado；　and　his　Castle　being　not　farre　from　thence；　with　an
honourable　traine　they　were　conducted　thither；　and　entertained　with
all　possible　kindnesse。　Now　concerning　the　comfort　of　the　Mother；
meeting　so　happily　with　both　her　sonnes；　the　joy　of　the　brethren　and
mother　together；　having　also　found　the　faithful　Nurse；　Gasparino　and
his　daughter；　in　company　now　with　Conrado　and　his　wife；　friends；
familiars；　and　all　generally　in　a　jubilee　of　rejoycing：　it　exceedeth
capacity　in　mee　to　expresse　it；　and　therefore　I　referre　it　to　your
more　able　imagination。
　　In　the　time　of　this　mutuall　contentment；　to　the　end　that　nothing
might　be　wanting　to　compleat　and　perfect　this　universall　joy；　our
Lord；　a　most　abundant　bestower　where　he　beginneth；　added　long　wished
tydings　concerning　the　life　and　good　estate　of　Henry　Capece。　For；　even
as　they　were　feasting；　and　the　concourse　great　of　worthy　guests；
both　Lords　and　Ladies；　the　first　service　was　scarsely　set　on　the
Tables；　but　the　Ambassador　which　was　sent　to　Sicily；　arrived　there
before　them。　Among　many　other　important　matters；　he　spake　of
Henriet；　who　being　so　long　a　time　detained　in　prison　by　King
Charles；　when　the　commotion　arose　in　the　Citty　against　the　King；　the
people　（grudging　at　Henriets　long　imprisonment）　slew　the　Guards；　and
set　him　at　liberty。　Then　as　capitall　enemie　to　King　Charles；　hee　was
created　Captaine　Generall；　following　the　chase；　and　killing　the
French。
　　Now　by　this　meanes；　he　grew　great　in　the　grace　of　King　Pedro；　who
replanted　him　in　all　the　goods　and　honours　which　he　had　before；　with
verie　high　and　eminent　authority。　Hereunto　the　Ambassador　added；
that　hee　was　entertayned　with　extraordinary　grace；　and　delivery　of
publike　joy　and　exaltation；　when　his　Wife　and　Sonne　were　knowne　to
be　living；　of　whom　no　tydings　had　at　any　time　bene　heard；　since　the
houre　of　his　surprizall。　Moreover；　that　a　swift　winged　Bark　was　now
sent　thither　（upon　the　happy　hearing　of　this　newes）　well　furnished
with　noble　Gentlemen；　to　attend　till　their　returning　backe。　We　neede
to　make　no　doubt　concerning　the　tydings　brought　by　this　Ambassadour；
nor　of　the　Gentlemens　welcome；　thus　sent　to　Madame　Beritola　and
Geoffrey；　who　before　they　would　sit　downe　at　the　Table；　saluted　Messer
Conrado　and　his　kinde　Lady　（on　the　behalfe　of　Henriet）　for　all　the
great　graces　extended　to　her　and　her　Sonne；　with　promise　of　any　thing；
lying　in　the　power　of　Henriet；　to　rest　continually　at　their　command。
The　like　they　did　to　Signior　Gasparino　（whose　liberall　favours　came
unlooked　for）　with　certaine　assurance；　that　when　Henriet　should
understand　what　he　had　done　for　his　other　Sonne；　the　Poore　expelled；
there　would　be　no　defaylance　of　reciprocall　courtesies。
　　As　the　longest　joyes　have　no　perpetuity　of　lasting；　so　all　these
graceful　ceremonies　had　their　conclusion；　with　as　many　sighes　and
teares　at　parting；　as　joyes　abounded　at　their　first　encountring。
Imagine　then；　that　you　see　such　aboord；　as　were　to　have　here　no　longer
abiding；　Madam　Beritola　and　Geoffrey；　with　the　rest；　as　the　Poore
expelled；　the　so　late　married　Wives；　and　the　faithfull　Nurse　bearing
them　company。　With　prosperous　windes　they　arrived　in　Sicily；　where　the
Wife；　Sonnes；　and　Daughters；　were　joyfully　met　by　Henriet　at
Palermo；　and　with　such　honourable　pompe；　as　a　case　so　important
equally　deserved。　The　Histories　make　further　mention；　that　there
they　lived　（a　long　while　after）　in　much　felicitie；　with　thankfull
hearts　（no　doubt）　in　Heaven；　in　acknowledgement　of　so　many　great
mercies　received。




　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　SECOND　DAY；　THE　SEVENTH　NOVELL

　　　A　LIVELY　DEMONSTRATION；　THAT　THE　BEAUTY　OF　A　WOMAN　（OFTENTIMES）
　　　　　　　　　　　　IS　VERY　HURTFULL　TO　HER　SELFE；　AND　THE　OCCASION
　　　　　　　　　　　　OF　MANY　EVILS；　YEA；　AND　OF　DEATH；　TO　DIVERS　MEN

　　The　Soldan　of　Babylon　sent　one　of　his　Daughters；　to　be　joyned　in
marriage　with　the　King　of　Cholcos；　who　by　divers　accidents　（in　the
space　of　foure　yeeres）　happened　into　the　custodie　of　nine　men；　and
in　sundry　places。　At　length；　being　restored　backe　to　her　Father；　she
went　to　the　saide　King　of　Cholcos；　as　a　Maid；　and　as　at　first　she
was　intended　to　be　his　wife。

　　Peradventure　the　Novell　related　by　Madam　Aemillia；　did　not　extend　it
selfe　so　farre　in　length；　as　it　mooved　compassion　in　the　Ladies
mindes；　the　hard　fortunes　of　Beritol　and　her　Children；　which　had
incited　them　to　weeping：　but　that　it　pleased　the　Queen　（upon　the　Tales
conclusion）　to　command　Pamphilus；　to　follow　next　in　order　with　his
Discourse；　and　he　being　thereto　very　obedient；　began　in　this　manner。
　　It　is　a　matter　of　no　meane　difficulty　（vertuous　Ladies）　for　us　to
take　intire　knowledge　of　every　thing　we　doe；　because　（as　oftentimes
hath　bene　observed）　many　men；　imagining　if　they　were　rich；　they　should
live　securely；　and　without　any　cares。　And　therefore；　not　onely　have
theyr　prayers　and　intercessions　aimed　at　that　end；　but　also　their
studies　and　daily　endevours；　without　refusall　of　any　paines　or
perils　have　not　meanely　expressed　their　hourely　solicitude。　And
although　it　hath　happened　accordingly　to　them；　and　their　covetous
desires　fully　accomplished；　yet　at　length　they　have　mette　with　such
kinde　people；　who　likewise　thirsting　after　their　wealthy
possessions；　have　bereft　them　of　life；　being　their　kinde　and
intimate　friends；　before　they　attained　to　such　riches。