the decameron(十日谈)-第24章

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should　serve　her　with　many　Wines　compounded　and　mingled　together；
which　hee　accordingly　performed；　as　being　cunning　enough　in　such
occasions。
　　Alathiella　mistrusting　no　such　trechery　intended　against　her；　and
liking　the　Wines　pleasing　taste　extraordinarily；　dranke　more　then
stoode　with　her　precedent　modest　resolution；　and　forgetting　all　her
passed　adversities；　became　very　frolicke　and　merry：　so　that　seeing
some　women　dance　after　the　manner　observed　there　in　Majorica；　she　also
fell　to　dauncing　according　to　the　Alexandrian　custome。　Which　when
Bajazeth　beheld；　he　imagined　the　victory　to　be　more　then　halfe
wonne；　and　his　hearts　desire　verie　neere　the　obtaining：　plying　her
still　with　wine　upon　wine；　and　continuing　this　revelling　the　most　part
of　the　night。
　　At　the　length；　the　invited　guests　being　all　gone；　the　Lady　retyred
then　to　her　chamber；　attended　on　by　none　but　Bajazeth　himselfe；　and　as
familiarly　as　if　he　had　bene　one　of　her　women；　shee　no　way
contradicting　his　bold　intrusion；　so　farre　had　wine　over…gone　her
sences；　and　prevailed　against　all　modest　bashfulnesse。　These　wanton
embracings；　strange　to　her　that　had　never　tasted　them　before；　yet
pleasing　beyond　measure；　by　reason　of　his　treacherous　advantage；
afterward　drew　on　many　more　of　the　ike　carowsing　meetings；　without
so　much　as　thought　of　her　passed　miseries；　or　those　more　honourable
and　chaste　respects；　that　ever　ought　to　attend　on　Ladies。
　　Now；　Fortune　envying　thus　their　stollen　pleasures；　and　that　shee；
being　the　purposed　wife　of　a　potent　King；　should　thus　become　the
wanton　friend　of　a　much　mean　man；　whose　onely　glory　was　her　shame；
altered　the　course　of　their　too　common　pastimes；　by　preparing　a
farre　greater　infelicity　for　them。　This　Bajazeth　had　a　Brother；　aged
about　five　and　twenty　yeeres；　of　most　compleate　person；　in　the　very
beauty　of　his　time；　and　fresh　as　the　sweetest　smelling　Rose；　he
being　named　Amurath。　After　he　had　once　seene　this　Ladie　（whose　faire
feature　pleased　him　beyond　all　womens　else）　shee　seemed　in　his　sodaine
apprehension；　both　by　her　outward　behaviour　and　civill　apparancie；
highly　to　deserve　his　verie　best　opinion；　for　she　was　not　meanely
entred　into　his　favour。　Now　hee　found　nothing　to　his　hinderance；　in
obtaining　the　heighth　of　his　hearts　desire；　but　onely　the　strict
custodie　and　guard；　wherein　his　brother　Bajazeth　kept　her：　which
raised　a　cruell　conceite　in　his　minde；　wherein　followed　（not　long
after）　as　cruell　an　effect。
　　It　came　to　passe；　that　at　the　same　time；　in　the　Port　of　the
Cittie；　called　Caffa；　there　lay　then　a　Ship　laden　with　Merchandize；
being　bound　thence　for　Smyrna；　of　which　Ship　two　Geneway　Merchants
（being　brethren）　were　the　Patrons　and　Owners；　who　had　given
direction　for　hoysing　the　sailes　to　depart　thence　when　the　winde
should　serve。　With　these　two　Genewayes　Amurath　had　covenanted；　for
himselfe　to　goe　aboord　the　ship　the　night　ensuing；　and　the　Lady　in　his
company。　When　night　was　come；　having　resolved　with　himselfe　what　was
to　be　done：　in　a　disguised　habite　hee　went　to　the　house　of　Bajazeth；
who　stood　not　any　way　doubtfull　of　him；　and　with　certaine　of　his
most　faithfull　Confederates　（whom　he　had　sworne　to　the　intended
action）　they　hid　themselves　closely　in　the　house。　After　some　part　of
the　night　was　over…past；　he　knowing　the　severall　lodgings　both　of
Bajazeth　and　Alathiella；　slew　his　brother　soundly　sleeping；　and
seizing　on　the　Lady；　whom　he　found　awake　and　weeping；　threatned　to
kill　her　also；　if　she　made　any　noyse。　So；　being　well　furnished　with
the　greater　part　of　worldly　jewels　belonging　to　Bajazeth；　unheard　or
undescried　by　any　body；　they　went　presently　to　the　Port；　and　there
（without　any　further　delay）　Amurath　and　the　Lady　were　received　into
the　Ship；　but　his　companions　returned　backe　againe；　when　the　Mariners；
having　their　sailes　ready　set；　and　the　winde　aptly　fitting　for　them；
lanched　forth　merrily　into　the　maine。
　　You　may　well　imagine；　that　the　Ladie　was　extraordinarily　afflicted
with　greefe　for　her　first　misfortune；　and　now　this　second　chancing
so　sodainely；　must　needs　offend　her　in　greater　manner：　but　Amurath　did
so　kindely　comfort　her　with　milde；　modest；　and　manly　perswasions；　that
all　remembrance　of　Bajazeth　was　quickely　forgotten；　and　shee　became
converted　to　lovely　demeanor；　even　when　Fortune　prepared　a　fresh
miserie　for　her；　as　not　satisfied　with　those　whereof　shee　had　tasted
already。　The　Lady　being　unequalled　for　beauty　（as　I　said　before）　her
behaviour　also　in　such　exquisit　and　commendable　kinde　expressed；　the
two　Brethren　owners　of　the　Ship；　became　so　deeply　enamored　of　her；
that　forgetting　all　their　more　serious　affaires；　they　studied　by　all
possible　meanes；　to　be　pleasing　and　gracious　in　her　eye；　yet　with　such
a　carefull　carriage；　that　Amurath　should　neither　see；　or　suspect　it。
　　When　the　Brethren　had　imparted　their　loves　extreamity　each　to　the
other；　and　plainely　perceyved；　that　though　they　were　equally　in
their　fiery　torments；　yet　their　desires　were　utterly　contrary：　they
began　severally　to　consider；　that　gaine　gotten　by　Mirchandize；
admitted　an　equall　and　honest　division；　but　this　purchase　was　of　a
different　quality；　pleading　the　title　of　a　sole　possession；　without
any　partner　or　intruder。　Fearefull　and　jealous　were　they　both；　least
either　should　ayme　at　the　others　intention；　yet　willing　enough　to
shake　hands；　in　ridding　Amurath　out　of　the　way；　who　onely　was　the
hinderer　of　their　hopes；　Whereupon　they　concluded　together；　that　on
a　day　when　the　Ship　sayled　on　very　swiftly；　and　Amurath　was　sitting
upon　the　Decke；　studiously　observing　how　the　Billowes　combatted　each
with　other；　and　not　suspecting　any　such　treason　in　them　towards　him：
stealing　softly　behinde　him；　sodainely　they　threw　him　into　the　Sea；
the　shippe　floating　on　above　halfe　a　Leagues　distance；　before　any
perceived　his　fall　into　the　Sea。　When　the　Ladie　heard　thereof；　and　saw
no　likely　meanes　of　recovering　him　againe；　she　fell　to　her　wonted
teares　and　lamentations：　but　the　two　Lovers　came　quickely　to　comfort
her；　using　kinde　words　and　pithy　perswasions　（albeit　she　understood
them　not；　or　at　the　most　very　little）　to　appease　the　violence　of　her
passions；　and；　to　speak　uprightly；　she　did　not　so　much　emoane　the
losse　of　Amurath；　as　the　multiplying　of　her　owne　misfortunes；　still
one　succeeding　in　the　necke　of　another。　After　divers　long　and　well
delivered　Orations；　as　also　very　faire　and　courteous　behaviour；　they
had　indifferently　pacified　her　complainings：　they　beganne　to　discourse
and　commune　with　themselves；　which　of　them　had　most　right　and　title　to
Alathiella；　and　consequently　ought　to　enjoy　her。　Now　that　Amurath
was　gone；　each　pleaded　his　priviledge　to　bee　as　good　as　the　others；
both　in　the　Ship；　Goods；　and　all　advantages　else　whatsoever　happening：
which　the　elder　brother　absolutely　denied；　alleadging　first　his
propriety　of　birth；　a　reason　sufficient；　whereby　his　younger　ought
to　give　him　place：　Likewise；　his　right　and　interest　both　in　the　ship
and　goods；　to　be　more　then　the　others；　as　being　heire　to　his　father；
and　therefore　in　justice　to　be　highest　preferred。　Last　of　all；　that
his　strength　onely　threw　Amurath　into　the　Sea；　and　therefore　gave
him　the　full　possession　of　his　prize；　no　right　at　all　remaining　to　his
brother。
　　From　temperate　and　calme　speeches；　they　fell　to　frownes　and　ruder
Language；　which　heated　their　blood　in　such　violent　manner；　that
forgetting　brotherly　affection；　and　all　respect　of　Parents　or　Friends；
they　drew　forth　their　Ponyards；　stabbing　each　other　so　often　and
desperately；　that　before　any　in　the　shippe　had　the　power　or　meanes
to　part　them；　both　of　them　being　very　dangerously　wounded；　the　younger
brother　fell　downe　dead：　the　elder　being　in　little　better　case；　by
receiving　so　many　perilous　hurts；　remained　（neverthelesse）　living。
This　unhappy　accident　displeased　the　Lady　very　highly；　seeing　her
selfe　thus　left　alone；　without　the　help　or　counsell　of　any　bodie；
and　fearing　greatly；　least　the　anger　of　the　two　Brethrens　Parents
and　Friends；　should　now　bee　laide　to　her　charge；　and　thereon　follow
severity　of　punishment。　But　the　earnest　entreaties　of　the　wounded
surviver；　and　their　arrivall　at　Smirna　soone　after；　delivered　him　from
the　danger　of　death；　gave　some　ease　to　her　sorrow；　and　there　with
him　she　went　on　shore。
　Remaining　there　with　him　in　a　common　Inne；　while　he　continued　in
the　Chirurgians　cure；　the　fame　of　her　singular　and　much　admired　beauty
was　soone　spread　abroad　throughout　all　the　City：　and　amongst　the　rest；
to　the　hearing　of　the　Prince　of　Ionia；　who　lately　before　（on　very
urgent　occasions）　was　come　to　Smyrna。　This　rare　rumour；　made　him
desirous　to　see　her；　and　after　he　had　seene　her；　shee　seemed　farre
fairer　in　his　eye；　then　common　report　had　noised　her　to　be；　and
suddenly　grew　so　enamored　of　her；　that　she　was　the　onely　Idea　of　his
best　desires。　Afterward；　understanding　in　what　manner　shee　was　brought
thither；　he　devised　how　to　make　her　his　own；　practising　all　possible
meanes　to　accomplish　it：　which　when　the　wounded　Brothers　Parents　heard
of；　they　not　onely　made　tender　of　their　willingnesse　therein；　but　also
immediately　sent　her　to　him：　a　matter　most　highly　pleasing　to　the
Prince；　and　likewise　to　the　Lady　her　selfe；　because　she　thought　now　to
be　freed　from　no　meane　perill；　which　（otherwise）　the　wounded　Merchants
friends　might　have　inflicted　uppon　her。
　　The　Prince　perceiving；　that　beside　her　matchlesse　beauty；　shee　had
the　true　character　of　Royall　behaviour；　greeved　the　more；　that　he
could　not　be　further　informed　of　what　Countrey　shee　was。　His　opinion
being　so　stedfastly　grounded；　that　（lesse　then　Noble）　she　could　not
be；　was　a　motive　to　set　a　keener　edge　on　his　affection　towardes　her；
yet　not　to　enjoy　her　as　in　honoirable　and　loving　complement　onely；　but
as　his　espoused　Lady　and　Wife。　Which　appearing　to　her　by　apparant
demonstrations；　though　entercourse　of　speech　wanted　to　confirme　it；
remembrance　of　her　so　many　sad　disasters；　and　being　now　in　a　most
noble　and　respected　condition；　her　comfort　enlarged　it　selfe　with　a
setled　hope；　her　feares　grew　free　from　any　more　mollestations；　and　her
beauties　became　the　onely　theame　and　argument　of　private　and　publike
conference　in　all　Natolia；　that　（well…neere）　there　was　no　other
discourse；　in　any　Assembly　whatsoever。
　　Heereupon　the　Duke　of　Athens；　beeing　young；　goodly；　and　valiant　of
person　as　also　a　neere　Kinsman　to　the　Prince；　had　a　desire　to　see　her；
and　under　colour　of　visiting　his　noble　Kinsman；　（as　oftentimes
before　he　had　done）　attended　with　an　honourable　traine；　to　Smirna　he
came；　being　there　most　royally　welcommed；　and　bounteously　feasted。
Within　some　few　dayes　of　his　there　being；　conference　passed　betweene
them；　concerning　the　rare　beauty　of　the　Ladie；　the　Duke　questioning
the　Prince；　whether　shee　was　of　such　wonder；　as　fame　had　acquainted
the　World　withall？　Whereto　the　Prince　replyed；　Much　more　（Noble
kinsman）　then　can　bee　spoken　of；　as　your　owne　eyes　shall　witnesse；
without　crediting　any　words　of　mine。　The　Duke　soliciting　the　Prince
thereto　very　earnestly；　they　both　went　together　to　see　her；　and　she
having　before　heard　of　their　comming；　adorned　her　selfe　the　more
Majestically；　entertaining　them　with　ceremonious　demeanor