the decameron(十日谈)-第26章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


all　to　his　owne　disposition。　Constantine　heereupon　secretly　prepared
in　a　readinesse　a　subtile　Barke；　sending　it　in　an　evening；　neere　to
the　Garden　where　the　Lady　resorted；　having　first　informed　the　people
which　were　in　it；　fully　what　was　to　be　done。　Afterwards；　accompanied
with　some　other　of　his　attendants；　he　went　to　the　Palace　to　the
Lady；　where　he　was　gladly　entertained；　not　onely　by　such　as　wayted
on　her；　but　also　by　the　Lady　her　selfe。
　　Leading　her　along　by　the　arme　towards　the　Garden；　attended　on　by　two
of　her　servants；　and　two　of　his　owne；　seeming　as　if　he　was　sent　from
the　Duke；　to　conferre　with　her：　they　walked　alone　to　a　Port　opening　on
the　Sea；　which　standing　ready　open；　upon　a　signe　given　by　him　to　one
of　his　complices；　the　Barke　was　brought　close　to　the　shore；　and　the
Ladie　being　sodainly　seized　on；　was　immediately　conveyed　into　it；
and　he　returning　backe　to　her　people；　with　his　sword　drawne；　said：　Let
no　man　stirre；　or　speake　a　word；　except　he　be　willing　to　loose　his
life：　for　I　intend　not　to　rob　the　Duke　of　his　faire　friend；　but　to
expell　the　shame　and　dishonor　that　he　hath　offered　to　my　Sister：　no
one　being　so　hardy　as　to　returne　him　any　answer。　Aboord　went
Constantine　with　his　consorts；　and　sitting　neere　to　the　Lady；　who
wrung　her　hands；　and　wept　bitterly；　he　commaunded　the　Mariners　to
launch　forth；　flying　away　on　the　wings　of　the　winde；　till　about　the
breake　of　day　following；　they　arrived　at　Melasso。　There　they　tooke
landing；　and　reposed　on　shore　for　some　few　dayes；　Constantine
labouring　to　comfort　the　Lady；　even　as　if　she　had　bene　his　owne
Sister；　shee　having　good　cause　to　curse　her　infortunate　beauty。
　　Going　aboord　the　Barke　againe；　within　few　dayes　they　came　to
Setalia；　and　there　fearing　the　reprehension　of　his　father；　and　least
the　Lady　should　be　taken　from　him；　it　pleased　Constantine　to　make
his　stay；　as　in　a　place　of　no　meane　security。　And　（as　before）　after
much　kinde　behaviour　used　towards　the　Lady；　without　any　meanes　in
her　selfe　to　redresse　the　least　of　all　these　great　extremities；　she
became　more　milde　and　affable；　for　discontentment　did　not　a　jot　quaile
her。
　　While　occurrences　passed　on　in　this　manner；　it　fortuned；　that　Osbech
the　King　of　Turky　（who　was　in　continuall　war　with　the　Emperour）　came
by　accident　to　Lajazzo：　and　hearing　there　how　lasciviously　Constantine
spent　his　time　in　Setalia；　with　a　Lady　which　he　had　stolne；　being
but　weake　and　slenderly　guarded；　in　the　night　with　certaine　well
provided　ships；　his　men　and　he　entred　the　town；　and　surprized　many
people　in　their　beds；　before　they　knew　of　their　enimies　comming；
killing　such　as　stood　upon　their　defence　against　them；　（among　whom　was
Constantine）　and　burning　the　whole　Towne；　brought　their　booty　and
prisoners　aboord　their　Shippes；　wherewith　they　returned　backe　to
Lajazzo。　Being　thus　come　to　Lajazzo；　Osbech　who　was　a　brave　and
gallant　young　man；　upon　a　review　of　the　pillage；　found　the　faire　Lady；
whom　he　knew　to　be　the　beloved　of　Constantine；　because　shee　was
found　lying　on　his　bed。　Without　any　further　delay；　he　made　choice　of
her　to　be　his　wife；　causing　his　nuptials　to　be　honourably
solemnized；　and　many　moneths　he　lived　there　in　great　joy　with　her。
　　But　before　occasions　grew　to　this　effect；　the　Emperour　made　a
confederacie　with　Bassano；　King　of　Cappadocia；　that　hee　should　descend
with　his　forces；　one　way　upon　Osbech；　and　he　would　assault　him　with
his　power　on　the　other。　But　he　could　not　so　conveniently　bring　this　to
passe；　because　the　Emperour　would　not　yeeld　to　Bassano；　in　any
unreasonable　matter　he　demanded。　Neverthelesse；　when　hee　understoode
what　had　happened　to　his　Sonne　（for　whom　his　greefe　was　beyond　all
measure）　hee　graunted　the　King　of　Cappadociaes　request；　soliciting　him
with　all　instancy；　to　be　the　more　speedy　in　assayling　Osbech。　It　was
not　long；　before　hee　heard　of　this　conjuration　made　against　him；　and
therefore　hee　speedily　mustered　up　all　his　forces；　ere　he　would　be
encompassed　by　two　such　potent　kings；　and　marched　on　to　meete　the　King
of　Cappadocia；　leaving　his　Ladie　and　Wife　（for　her　safety）　at　Lajazzo；
in　the　custodie　of　a　true　and　loyall　Servant　of　his。
　　Within　a　short　while　after；　he　drew　neere　the　Campe　belonging　to　the
King　of　Cappadocia；　where　boldly　he　gave　him　battell；　chancing　therein
to　be　slaine；　his　Army　broken　and　discomfited；　by　meanes　whereof；
the　King　of　Cappadocia　remaining　Conquerour；　marched　on　towardes
Lajazzo；　every　one　yeelding　him　obeysance　all　the　way　as　he　went。　In
the　meane　space；　the　servant　to　Osbech；　who　was　named　Antiochus；　and
with　whom　the　faire　Ladie　was　left　in　guard；　although　hee　was　aged；
yet　seeing　shee　was　so　extraordinarily　beautifull；　he　fell　in　love
with　her；　forgetting　the　solemne　vowes　he　had　made　to　his　master。
One　happinesse　he　had　in　this　case　to　helpe　him；　namely；　that　he
understood　and　could　speake　her　Language：　a　matter　of　no　meane　comfort
to　her；　who　constrainedly　had　lived　divers　yeeres　together；　in　the
state　of　a　deafe　or　dumbe　Woman；　because　every　where　else　they
understoode　her　not；　nor　shee　them；　but　by　shewes　and　signes。
　　This　benefite　of　familiar　conference；　beganne　to　embolden　his　hopes；
elevate　his　courage；　and　make　him　seeme　more　youthfull　in　his　owne
opinion；　then　any　ability　of　body　could　speake　unto　him；　or　promise
him　in　the　possession　of　her；　who　was　so　farre　beyond　him；　and　so
unequall　to　be　enjoyed　by　him；　yet　to　advance　his　hopes　a　great
deale　higher；　Newes　came；　that　Osbech　was　vanquished　and　slaine；　and
that　Bassano　made　every　where　havocke　of　all：　whereon　they　concluded
together；　not　to　tarrie　there　any　longer；　but　storing　themselves
with　the　goods　of　Osbech；　secretly　they　departed　thence　to　Rhodes。
Being　：　g　seated　there　in　some　indifferent　abiding；　it　came　to
passe；　that　Antiochus　fell　into　a　deadly　sickenesse；　to　whom　came　a
Cyprian　Merchant；　one　much　esteemed　by　him；　as　beeing　an　intimate
friend　and　kinde　acquaintance；　and　in　whom　hee　reposed　no　small
confidence。　Feeling　his　sickenesse　to　encrease　more　and　more　upon
him　dayly；　hee　determined；　not　onely　to　leave　such　wealth　as　hee　had
to　this　Merchant；　but　the　faire　Lady　likewise。　And　calling　them　both
to　his　beds　side；　he　spake　in　this　manner。
　　Deere　Love；　and　my　most　worthily　respected　friend；　I　perceive
plainly　and　infallibly；　that　I　am　drawing　neere　unto　my　end；　which
much　discontenteth　me；　because　my　hope　was　to　have　lived　longer　in
this　world；　for　the　enjoying　of　your　kinde　and　most　esteemed
company。　Yet　one　thing　maketh　my　death　very　pleasing　and　welcome　to
me；　namely；　that　lying　thus　in　my　bed　of　latest　comfort　in　this
life；　I　shall　expire　and　finish　my　course；　in　the　armes　of　those　two
persons；　whome　I　most　affected　in　all　this　world；　as　you　my
ever…deerest　friend；　and　you　faire　Lady；　whom　（since　the　very　first
sight　of　you）　I　loved　and　honoured　in　my　soule。　Irkesome　and　verie
greevous　it　is　to　me；　that　（if　I　dye）　I　shall　leave　you　here　a
stranger；　without　the　counsaile　and　helpe　of　any　bodie：　and　yet　much
more　offensive　would　it　become；　if　I　had　not　such　a　friend　as　you
heere　present；　who　（I　am　faithfully　perswaded）　will　have　the　like　care
and　respect　of　her　（even　for　my　sake）　as　of　my　selfe；　if　time　had
allotted　my　longer　tarrying　here。　And　therefore　（worthy　friend）　most
earnestly　I　desire　you；　that　if　I　dye；　all　mine　affaires　and　she　may
remaine　to　your　trustie　care；　as　being　（by　my　selfe）　absolutely
commended　to　your　providence；　and　so　to　dispose　both　of　the　one　and
other；　as　may　best　agree　with　the　comfort　of　my　soule。　As　for　you
（choice　beauty）　I　humbly　entreate；　that　after　my　death　you　would　not
forget　me；　to　the　end；　I　may　make　my　vaunt　in　another　world；　that　I
was　affected　here　by　the　fairest　Lady　that　ever　Nature　framed。　If　of
these　two　things　you　will　give　mee　assurance；　I　shall　depart　from
you　with　no　meane　comfort。
　　The　friendly　Merchant；　and　likewise　the　Ladie；　hearing　these
words；　wept　both　bitterly：　and　after　hee　had　given　over　speaking；
kindely　they　comforted　him；　with　promises　and　solemne　Vowes；　that　if
hee　dyed；　all　should　be　performed　which　hee　had　requested。　Within　a
short　while　after；　he　departed　out　of　this　life；　and　they　gave　him
verie　honourable　buriall；　according　to　that　Country　custome。　Which
being　done；　the　Merchant　dispatching　all　his　affaires　at　Rhodes；　was
desirous　to　returne　home　to　Cyprus；　in　a　Carracke　of　the　Catelans　then
there　being：　mooving　the　Ladie　in　the　matter；　to　understand　how　shee
stoode　enclined；　because　urgent　occasions　called　him　thence　to　Cyprus。
The　Lady　made　answere；　that　shee　was　willing　to　passe　thither　with
him；　hoping　for　the　love　hee　bare　to　deceased　Antiochus；　that　hee
would　respect　her　as　his　Sister。　The　Merchant　was　willing　to　give
her　any　contentment；　but　yet　resolved　her；　that　under　the　title　of
being　his　Sister；　it　would　be　no　warrant　of　securitie　to　them　both。
Wherefore；　hee　rather　advised　her；　to　stile　him　as　her　husband；　and　he
would　terme　her　his　Wife；　and　so　hee　should　be　sure　to　defend　her　from
all　injuries　whatsoever。
　　Being　aboord　the　Carrack；　they　had　a　Cabine　and　small　bed
conveniently　allowed　them；　where　they　slept　together；　that　they
might　the　better　be　reputed　as　man　and　wife；　for；　to　passe
otherwise；　would　have　beene　very　dangerous　to　them　both。　And
questionlesse；　their　faithfull　promise　made　at　Rhodes　to　Antiochus；
sickenesse　on　the　Sea；　and　mutuall　respect　they　had　of　each　others
credit；　was　a　constant　restraint　to　all　wanton　desires；　and　a　motive
rather　to　incite　Chastitie；　then　otherwise；　and　so　（I　hope）　you　are
perswaded　of　them。　But　howsoever；　the　windes　blewe　merrily；　the
Carracke　sayled　lustily；　and　（by　this　time）　they　are　arrived　at　Baffa；
where　the　Cyprian　Merchant　dwelt；　and　where　shee　continued　a　long
while　with　him；　no　one　knowing　otherwise；　but　that　shee　was　his　wife
indeede。
　Now　it　fortuned；　that　there　arrived　also　at　the　same　Baffa　（about
some　especiall　occasions　of　his）　a　Gentleman　whose　name　was　Antigonus；
well　stept　into　yeeres；　and　better　stored　with　wisedome　then　wealth：
because　by　medling　in　many　matters；　while　hee　followed　the　service
of　the　King　of　Cyprus；　Fortune　had　beene　very　adverse　to　him。　This
ancient　Gentleman；　passing　（on　a　day）　by　the　house　where　the　Lady　lay；
and　the　Merchant　being　gone　about　his　bussinesse　into　Armenia：　hee
chanced　to　see　the　Lady　at　a　window　of　the　house；　and　because　shee　was
very　beautifull；　he　observed　her　the　more　advisedly；　recollecting
his　sences　together；　that　（doubtlesse）　he　had　seene　her　before；　but　in
what　place　hee　could　not　remember。　The　Lady　her　selfe　likewise；　who
had　so　long　time　beene　Fortunes　tennis　ball；　and　the　terme　of　her　many
miseries　drawing　now　neere　an　ending：　began　to　conceive　（upon　the　very
first　sight　of　Antigonus）　that　she　had　formerly　seene　him　in
Alexandria；　serving　her　Father　in　place　of　great　degree。　Heereupon；
a　sodaine　hope　perswaded　her；　that　by　the　advice　and　furtherance　of
this　Gentleman；　shee　should　recover　her　wonted　Royall　condition：　and
opportunity　now　aptly　fitting　her；　by　the　absence　of　her　pretended
Merchant…husband；　shee　sent　for　him；　requesting　to　have　a　few　words
with　him。
　　When　he　was　come　into　the　house；　she　bashfully　demanded　of　him；　if
he　was　not　named　Anti