the decameron(十日谈)-第25章

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having　before　heard　of　their　comming；　adorned　her　selfe　the　more
Majestically；　entertaining　them　with　ceremonious　demeanor　（after　her
Countries　custome）　which　gave　most　gracious　and　unspeakable　acception。

　　At　the　Princes　affable　motion；　shee　sate　downe　betweene　them；
their　delight　being　beyond　expression；　to　behold　her；　but　abridged
of　much　more　felicitie；　because　they　understood　not　any　part　of　her
Language：　so　that　they　could　have　no　other　conference；　but　by　lookes
and　outward　signes　onely；　and　the　more　they　beheld　her；　the　more
they　marvelled　at　her　rare　perfections；　especially　the　Duke；　who
hardly　credited　that　shee　was　a　mortall　creature。　Thus　not　perceyving；
what　deepe　carowses　of　amorous　poyson　his　eyes　dranke　downe　by　the
meere　sight　of　her；　yet　thinking　thereby　onely　to　bee　satisfied；　hee
lost　both　himselfe　and　his　best　sences；　growing　in　love　（beyond　all
measure）　with　her。　When　the　Prince　and　he　were　parted　from　her；　and
hee　was　at　his　owne　private　amorous…　meditations　in　his　Chamber；　he
reputed　the　Prince　farre　happier　then　any　man　else　whatsoever；　by
the　enjoying　of　such　a　peerelesse　beauty。
　　After　many　intricate　and　distracted　cogitations；　which　molested
his　braines　incessantly；　regarding　more　his　loves　wanton　heate；　then
reason；　kindred；　and　honourable　hospitality；　he　resolutely
determined　（whatsoever　ensued　thereupon）　to　bereave　the　Prince　of
his　faire　felicity；　that　none　but　himselfe　might　possesse　such　a
treasure；　which　he　esteemed　to　bee　the　height　of　all　happinesse。　His
courage　being　conformable　to　his　bad　intent；　with　all　hast　it　must
be　put　in　execution；　so　that　equity；　justice；　and　honesty；　being　quite
abandoned；　nothing　but　subtile　stratagems　were　now　his　meditations。
　　On　a　day；　according　to　a　fore…compacted　treachery　which　he　had
ordered　with　a　Gentleman　of　the　Princes　Chamber；　who　was　named
Churiacy；　he　prepared　his　horses　to　be　in　readinesse；　and　dispatched
all　his　affaires　else　for　a　sodaine　departure。　The　night　following；
hee　was　secretly　conveyed　by　the　said　Churiacy；　and　a　friend　of　his
with　him　（being　both　armed）　into　the　Princes　Chamber；　where　he
（while　the　Ladie　was　soundly　sleeping）　stood　at　a　gazing　window
towards　the　Sea；　naked　in　his　shirt；　to　take　the　coole　ayre；　because
the　season　was　exceeding　hot。　Having　formerly　enstructed　his　friend
what　was　to　be　done；　very　softly　they　stept　to　the　Prince；　and　running
their　weapons　quite　thorow　his　bodie；　immediately　they　threw　him　forth
of　the　window。
　　Here　you　are　to　observe；　that　the　Pallace　was　seated　on　the　Sea
shore；　and　verie　high；　and　the　Window　whereat　the　Prince　then　stood
looking　foorth；　was　directly　over　divers　houses；　which　the　long
continuance　of　time；　and　incessant　beating　on　by　the　surges　of　the
Sea；　had　so　defaced　and　ruined　them；　as　seldome　they　were　visited　by
any　person；　whereof　the　Duke　having　knowledge　before；　was　the　easier
perswaded　that　the　falling　of　the　Princes　body　in　so　vast　a　place；
could　neither　bee　heard　or　descryed　by　any。　The　Duke　and　his
Companion；　having　thus　executed　what　they　came　for；　proceeded　yet　in
their　cunning　a　little　further；　casting　a　strangling　Cord　about　the
necke　of　Churiacy；　seemed　as　if　they　hugged　and　imbraced　him：　but　drew
it　with　so　maine　strength；　that　he　never　spake　word　after；　and　so
threw　him　downe　after　the　Prince。
　　This　done；　and　plainely　perceiving　that　they　were　not　heard　or
seene；　either　by　the　Lady；　or　any　other：　the　Duke　tooke　a　light　in　his
hand；　going　on　to　the　bed；　where　the　Lady　lay　most　sweetely
sleeping；　whom　the　more　he　beheld；　the　more　he　admired　and
commended：　but　if　in　her　garments　shee　appeared　so　pleasing；　what
did　shee　now　in　a　bed　of　such　state　and　Majestie？　Being　no　way　daunted
with　his　so　late　committed　sin；　but　swimming　rather　in　surfet　of
joy；　his　hands　all　bloody；　and　his　soule　much　more　ugly；　he　laide
him　downe　on　the　bed　by　her；　bestowing　infinite　kisses　and　embraces　on
her；　she　supposing　him　to　be　the　Prince　all　this　while；　not　opening
her　eyes　to　bee　otherwise　resolved。　But　this　was　not　the　delight　he
aymed　at；　neither　did　he　thinke　it　safe　for　him；　to　delay　time　with
any　longer　tarrying　there：　Wherefore；　having　his　agents　at　hand　fit
and　convenient　for　the　purpose；　they　surprized　her　in　such　sort；
that　shee　could　not　make　any　noyse　or　outcry；　and　carrying　her　through
the　same　false　posterne；　whereat　themselves　had　entred；　laying　her
in　a　Princely　litter；　away　they　went　with　all　possible　speede；　not
tarrying　in　any　place；　untill　they　were　arrived　neere　Athens。　But
thither　he　would　not　bring　her；　because　himselfe　was　a　married　man；
but　rather　to　a　goodly　Castle　of　his　owne；　not　distant　farre　from
the　City；　where　he　caused　her　to　bee　kept　very　secretly　（to　her　no
little　greefe　and　sorrow）　yet　attended　on　and　served　in　most
honourable　manner。
　　The　Gentlemen　usually　attending　on　the　Prince；　having　waited　all　the
next　morning　till　noone；　in　expectation　of　his　rising；　and　hearing
no　stirring　in　the　Chamber；　did　thrust　at　the　doore；　which　was　but
onely　closed　together；　and　finding　no　body　there；　they　presently
imagined；　that　he　was　privately　gone　to　some　other　place；　where
（with　the　Ladie；　whom　he　so　deerely　affected）　hee　might　remaine　some
few　dayes　for　his　more　contentment；　and　so　they　rested　verily
perswaded。　Within　some　few　dayes　following；　while　no　other　doubt
came　in　question；　the　Princes　Foole；　entering　by　chance　among　the
ruined　houses；　where　lay　the　dead　bodies　of　the　Prince　and　Churiacy：
tooke　hold　of　the　cord　about　Churiacyes　necke；　and　so　went　along
dragging　it　after　him。　The　dead　body　being　knowne　to　many；　with　no
meane　mervaile　how　he　should　bee　murthered　in　so　vile　manner：　by　gifts
and　faire　perswasions　they　wonne　him　to　bring　them　to　the　place
where　he　found　it。　And　there　（to　the　no　little　greefe　of　the　whole
Cittie）　they　found　the　Princes　body　also；　which　they　caused　to　bee
intered　with　all　the　most　Majesticke　pompe　that　might　be。
　　Upon　further　inquisition；　who　should　commit　horrid　a　deede；
perceyving　likewise　that　the　Duke　of　Athens　was　not　to　be　found；　but
was　closely　gone：　they　judged　（according　to　the　truth）　that　he　had　his
hand　in　this　bloody　businesse；　and　had　carried　away　the　Lady　with　him。
Immediately；　they　elected　the　Princes　brother　to　be　their　Lord　and
Soveraigne；　inciting　him　to　revenge　so　horrid　a　wrong；　and　promising
to　assist　him　with　their　utmost　power。　The　new　chosen　Prince　being
assured　afterward；　by　other　more　apparant　and　remarkeable　proofes；
that　his　people　informed　him　With　nothing　but　truth：　sodainly；　and
according　as　they　had　concluded；　with　the　help　of　neighbors；　kindred
and　frends；　collected　from　divers　places；　he　mustred　a　good　and
powerfull　army；　marching　on　towards　Athens；　to　make　war　against　the
Duke。
　　No　sooner　heard　he　of　this　warlike　preparation　made　against　him；　but
he　likewise　levied　forces　for　his　owne　defence；　and　to　his　succour
came　many　great　States：　among　whom；　the　Emperor　of　Constantinople　sent
his　sonne　Constantine；　attended　on　by　his　Nephew　Emanuell；　with
Troopes　of　faire　and　towardly　force；　who　were　honoutably　welcommed　and
entertained　by　the　Duke；　but　much　more　by　the　Dutchesse；　because
shee　was　their　sister　in　Law。
　　Military　provision　thus　proceeding　on　daily　more　and　more；　the
Dutches　making　choise　of　a　fit　and　convenient　houre；　took　these　two
Princes　with　her　to　a　with…drawing　Chamber；　and　there　in　flouds　of
teares　flowing　from　her　eyes；　wringing　her　hands；　and　sighing
incessantly；　she　recounted　the　whole　History；　occasion　of　the　warre；
and　how　dishonourably　the　Duke　dealt　with　her　about　this　strange
woman；　whom　hee　purposed　to　keepe　in　despight　of　her；　as　thinking　that
she　knew　nothing　therof；　and　complaining　very　earnestly　unto　them；
entreated　that　for　the　Dukes　honour；　and　her　comfort；　they　would
give　their　best　assistance　in　this　case。
　　The　two　young　Lords　knew　all　this　matter；　before　shee　thus
reported　it　to　them；　and　therefore；　without　staying　to　listen　＇to＇　her
any　longer；　but　comforting　her　so　wel　as　they　could；　with　promise　of
their　best　emploied　paines：　being　informd　by　her；　in　what　place　the
Lady　was　so　closely　kept　they　took　their　leave；　and　parted　from　her。
Often　they　had　heard　the　Lady　much　commended；　and　her　incomparable
beauty　highly　extolled；　yea　even　by　the　Duke　himselfe；　which　made　them
the　more　desirous　to　see　her：　wherfore　earnestly　they　solicited　him　to
let　them　have　a　sight　of　her；　and　he　（forgetting　what　happened　to
the　Prince；　by　shewing　her　so　unadvisedly　to　him）　made　them　promise　to
grant　their　request。　Causing　a　very　magnificent　dinner　to　be　prepared；
and　in　a　goodly　garden；　at　the　Castle　where　the　Lady　was　kept：　on
the　morrow；　attended　on　by　a　smal　traine；　away　they　rode　to　dine
with　her。
　　Constantine　being　seated　at　the　Table；　hee　began　（as　one
confounded　with　admiration）　to　observe　her　judiciously；　affirming
secretly　to　his　soule　that　he　had　never　seene　so　compleat　a　woman
before；　and　allowing　it　for　justice；　that　the　Duke　or　any　other
whosoever；　if　（to　enjoy　so　rare　a　beauty）　they　had　committed
treason；　or　any　mischeefe　els　beside；　yet　in　reason　they　ought　to　be
held　excused。　Nor　did　he　bestow　so　many　lookes　upon　her；　but　his
praises　infinitely　surpassed　them；　as　thinking　that　he　could　not
sufficiently　commend　her；　following　the　Duke　step　by　step　in
affection；　for　being　now　growne　amorous　of　her；　and　remembrance　of　the
intended　warre　utterly　abandoned；　no　other　thoughts　could　come
neerer　him　but　how　to　bereave　the　Duke　of　her；　yet　concealing　his
love；　and　not　imparting　it　to　any　one。
　　While　his　fancies　were　thus　amorously　set　on　fire；　the　time　came；
that　they　must　make　head　against　the　Prince；　who　already　was
marching　with　in　the　Dukes　dominions：　wherfore　the　Duke；
Constantine；　and　all　the　rest；　according　to　a　counsel　held　among　them；
went　to　defend　certaine　of　the　Frontiers；　to　the　end　that　the　Prince
might　passe　no　further。　Remaining　there　divers　dayes　together；
Constantine　（who　could　thinke　on　nothing　else　but　the　beautiful
Lady）　considered　with　himself；　that　while　the　Duke　was　now　so　farre
from　her；　it　was　an　easie　matter　to　compasse　his　intent：　Hereupon；　the
better　to　colour　his　present　returne　to　Athens；　he　seemed　to　be
surprized　with　a　sudden　extreame　sicknesse；　in　regard　whereof　（by
the　Dukes　free　license；　and　leaving　all　his　power　to　his　Cosen
Emanuel）　forthwith　he　journyed　backe　to　Athens。　After　some
conference　had　with　his　sister；　about　her　dishonourable　wrongs　endured
at　his　hands　onely；　by　the　Lady；　he　solemnly　protested；　that　if　she
were　so　pleased；　hee　would　aide　her　powerfully　in　the　matter；　by
taking　her　from　the　place　where　shee　was；　and　never　more　afterward；　to
be　seene　in　that　Country　any　more。
　　The　Dutchesse　being　faithfully　perswaded；　that　he　would　do　this
onely　for　her　sake；　and　not　in　any　affection　he　bare　to　the　Lady；
answered；　that　it　highly　pleased　her；　alwayes　provided；　that　it
might　be　performed　in　such　sort；　as　the　Duke　her　husband　should
never　understand；　that　ever　she　gave　any　consent　thereto；　which
Constantine　sware　unto　her　by　many　deepe　oaths；　whereby　she　referred
all　to　his　owne　disposition。　Constantine　heereupon　secretly　prepared
in　a　readinesse　a　subtile　Barke；　sending　it