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第26章

the decameron(十日谈)-第26章

小说: the decameron(十日谈) 字数: 每页3500字

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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

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