the decameron(十日谈)-第27章

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with　him。
　　When　he　was　come　into　the　house；　she　bashfully　demanded　of　him；　if
he　was　not　named　Antigonus　of　Famagosta；　because　she　knew　one　like　him
so　called？　He　answered　that　he　was　so　named：　saying　moreover；　Madam　me
thinkes　I　should　know　you；　but　I　cannot　remember　where　I　have　seene
you；　wherefore　I　would　entreat　（if　it　might　stand　with　your　good
liking）　that　my　memory　might　be　quickned　with　better　knowledge　of　you。
The　Lady　perceiving　him　to　be　the　man　indeed；　weeping　incessantly；　she
threw　her　armes　about　his　necke；　and　soone　after　asked　Antigonus
（who　stood　as　one　confounded　with　mervaile）　if　he　had　never　seene
her　in　Alexandria？　Upon　these　words；　Antigonus　knew　her　immediately　to
be　Alathiella；　daughter　to　the　great　Soldane；　who　was　supposed　（long
since）　to　be　drowned　in　the　Sea：　and　offering　to　do　her　such　reverence
as　became　him；　she　would　not　permit　him；　but　desired　that　he　would　bee
assistant　to　her；　and　willed　him　also　to　sit　downe　awhile　by　her。
　　A　goodly　chaire　being　brought　him；　in　very　humble　maner　he
demanded　of　her；　what　had　become　of　her　in　so　long　a　time；　because
it　was　verily　beleeved　throughout　all　Egypt；　that　she　was　drowned　in
the　Sea。　I　would　it　had　bin　so；　answered　the　Lady；　rather　then　to
leade　such　a　life　as　I　have　done；　and　I　thinke　my　Father　himselfe
would　wish　it　so；　if　ever　he　should　come　to　the　knowledge　thereof。
With　these　words　the　teares　rained　downe　her　faire　cheekes：
wherefore　Antigonus　thus　spake　unto　hir。　Madam；　discomfort　not　your
selfe　before　you　have　occasion；　but　（if　you　be　so　pleased）　relate　your
passed　accidents　to　me；　and　what　the　course　of　your　life　hath　bene：
perhaps；　I　shall　give　you　such　friendly　advice　as　may　stand　you
insted；　and　no　way　be　injurious　to　you。
　　Fetching　a　sighe；　even　as　if　her　heart　would　have　split　in　sunder；
thus　she　replyed。
　　Ah　Antigonus；　me　thinkes　when　I　looke　on　thee；　I　seeme　to　behold
my　royall　Father；　and　therefore　mooved　with　the　like　religious　zeale
and　charitable　love；　as　in　duty　I　owe　unto　him：　I　wil　make　known　to
thee；　what　I　rather　ought　to　conceale　and　hide　from　any　person　living。
I　know　thee　to　be　honourable；　discreete；　and　truely　wise；　though　I
am　a　fraile；　simple；　and　weake　woman；　therefore　I　dare　discover　to
thee；　rather　then　any　other　that　I　know；　by　what　strange　and
unexpected　misfortunes　I　have　lived　so　long　obscurely　in　the　world。
And　if　in　thy　great　and　grave　judgement　（after　the　hearing　of　my
many　miseries）　thou　canst　any　way　restore　me　to　my　former　estate；　I
pray　thee　do　it：　but　if　thou　perceive　it　impossible　to　be　done；　as
earnestly　likewise　I　entreate　thee；　never　to　reveale　to　any　living
person；　that　either　thou　hast　seene　mee；　or　heard　any　speech　of　me。
After　these　words；　the　teares　still　streaming　from　her　faire　eyes；　she
recounted　the　whole　passage　of　her　rare　mishappes；　even　from　her
shipwracke　in　the　sea　of　Majorica；　untill　that　very　instant　houre；
speaking　them　in　such　harsh　manner　as　they　hapned；　and　not　sparing　any
jot　of　them。
　　Antigonus　being　mooved　to　much　compassion；　declared　how　hee　pitied
her　by　his　teares；　and　having　bene　silent　an　indifferent　while；　as
considering　in　this　case　what　was　best　to　be　done；　thus　he　began。
Madam；　seeing　you　have　past　through　such　a　multitude　of　misfortunes；
yet　undiscovered；　what　and　who　you　are：　I　will　render　you　as
blamelesse　to　your　Father；　and　estate　you　as　fairely　in　his　love；　as
at　the　houre　when　you　parted　from　him；　and　afterward　make　you　wife
to　the　King　of　Colchos。　Shee　demanding　of　him；　by　what　meanes　possibly
this　could　be　accomplished；　breefely　he　made　it　knowne　to　her；　how；
and　in　what　manner　he　would　performe　it。
　　To　cut　off　further　tedious　circumstances；　forthwith　he　returned　to
Famagosta；　and　going　before　the　King　of　the　country；　thus　he　spake
to　him。　Sir；　you　may　（if　so　you　will　be　pleased）　in　an　instant；　do
me　an　exceeding　honor；　who　have　bene　impoverished　by　your　service；　and
also　a　deed　of　great　renowne　to　your　selfe；　without　any　much　matter　of
expence　and　cost。　The　King　demanding　how？　Antigonus　thus　answered。　The
faire　daughter　of　the　Soldane；　so　generally　reported　to　be　drowned；　is
arrived　at　Baffa；　and　to　preserve　her　honor　from　blemishing；　hath
suffered　many　crosses　and　calamities：　being　at　this　instant　in　very
poore　estate；　yet　desirous　to　revisite　her　father。　If　you　please　to
send　her　home　under　my　conduct；　it　will　be　great　honour　to　you；　and　no
meane　benefite　to　me：　which　kindnesse　will　for　ever　be　thankfully
remembred　by　the　Soldan。
　　The　King　in　royall　magnificence；　replied　sodainly；　that　he　was
highly　pleased　with　these　good　tydings；　and　having　sent　honorably
for　hir　from　Baffa；　with　great　pompe　she　was　conducted　to　Famagosta；
and　there　most　graciously　welcommed　both　by　the　King　and　Queene；
with　solemne　triumphes；　bankets；　and　revelling；　performed　in　most
Majesticke　manner。　Being　questioned　by　the　King　and　Queene；　concerning
so　large　a　time　of　strange　misfortunes：　according　as　Antigonus　had
formerly　enstructed　her；　so　did　she　shape　the　forme　of　her　answers；
and　satisfied　（with　honor）　all　their　demands。　So；　within　few　daies
after；　upon　her　earnest　and　instant　request；　with　an　honourable　traine
of　Lords　and　Ladies；　shee　was　sent　thence；　and　conducted　all　the　way
by　Antigonus；　untill　she　came　unto　the　Soldans　Court。
　　After　some　few　dayes　of　her　reposing　there；　the　Soldan　was
desirous　to　understand；　how　she　could　possibly　live　so　long　in　any
Kingdome　or　Province　whatsoever；　and　yet　no　knowledge　to　be　taken　of
her？　The　Lady；　who　perfectly　retained　by　heart；　and　had　all　her
lessons　at　her　fingers　ends；　by　the　warie　instruction　which
Antigonus　had　given　her；　answered　her　father　in　this　manner。　Sir；
about　the　twentieth　day　after　my　departure　from　you；　a　very　terrible
and　dreadfull　tempest　overtooke　us；　so　that　in　dead　time　of　the　night；
our　ship　being　split　in　sunder　upon　the　sands；　neere　to　a　place　called
Varna；　what　became　of　all　the　men　that　were　aboord；　I　neither　know；
nor　ever　heard　of。　Onely　I　remember；　then　when　death　appeared；　and　I
being　recovered　from　death　to　life；　certaine　Pezants　of　the
Countrey；　comming　to　get　what　they　could　finde　in　the　ship　so
wrackt；　I　was　first　（with　two　of　my　women）　brought　and　set　safely　on
the　shore。
　　No　sooner　were　we　there；　but　certaine　rude　shagge…haird　villaines
set　upon　us；　carrying　away　from　me　both　my　women；　then　haling　me　along
by　the　haire　of　my　head：　neither　teares　or　intercessions　could　draw
any　pitty　from　them。　As　thus　they　dragd　me　into　a　spacious　Wood；　foure
horsemen　on　a　sodaine　came　riding　by；　who　seeing　how　dishonourably　the
villaines　used　me；　rescued　me　from　them；　and　forced　them　to　flight。
But　the　foure　horsemen；　seeming　（in　my　judgement）　to　bee　persons　of
power　and　authority；　letting　them　go；　came　to　me；　urging　sundry
questions　to　me；　which　neither　I　understood；　or　they　mine　answeres。
After　many　deliberations　held　among　themselves；　setting　me　upon　one　of
their　horses；　they　brought　me　to　a　Monasterie　of　religious　women；
according　to　the　custome　of　their　Law：　and　there；　whatsoever　they
did　or　sayde；　I　know　not；　but　I　was　most　benignely　welcommed
thither；　and　honoured　of　them　extraordinarily；　where　（with　them　in
Devotion）　I　dedicated　my　selfe　to　the　Goddesse　of　chastity；　who　is
highly　reverenced　and　regarded　among　the　women　of　that　Countrey；　and
to　her　religious　service　they　are　wholly　addicted。
　　After　I　had　continued　some　time　among　them；　and　learned　a　little
of　their　language；　they　asked　me；　of　whence；　and　what　I　was。　Reason
gave　me　so　much　understanding；　to　be　fearefull　of　telling　them　the
trueth；　for　feare　of　expulsion　from　among　them；　as　an　enemy　to　their
Law　and　Religion：　wherefore　I　answered　（according　as　necessitie　urged）
that　I　was　daughter　to　a　Gentleman　of　Cyprus　who　sent　me　to　bee
married　in　Candie；　but　our　fortunes　（meaning　such　as　had　the　charge　of
me）　fell　out　quite　contrary　to　our　expectation；　by　losses；　shipwracke；
and　other　mischances；　adding　many　matters　more　beside；　onely　in　regard
of　feare；　and　yeelding　obediently　to　observe　their　customes。
　　At　length；　she　that　was　in　cheefest　preheminence　among　these　Women
（whom　they　termed　by　the　name　of　their　Ladie　Abbesse）　demaunded　of
mee；　whether　I　was　willing　to　abide　in　that　condition　of　life；　or　to
returne　home　againe　into；　Cyprus。　I　answerd；　that　I　desired　nothing
more。　But　shee；　being　very　carefull　of　mine　honour；　would　never　repose
confidence　in　any　that　came　for　Cyprus；　till　two　honest　Gentlemen　of
France　who　hapned　thither　about　two　moneths　since；　accompanied　with
their　wives；　one　of　them　being　a　neere　kinswoman　to　the　Lady
Abbesse。　And　she　well　knowing；　that　they　travelled　in　pilgrimage　to
Jerusalem；　to　visite　the　holy　Sepulcher；　where　（as　they　beleeve）
that　he　whom　they　held　for　their　God　was　buried；　after　the　jewes　had
put　him　to　death；　recommended　me　to　their　loving　trust；　with　especiall
charge；　for　delivering　mee　to　my　Father　in　Cyprus。　What　honourable
love　and　respect　I　found　in　the　company　of　those　Gentlemen　and　their
Wives；　during　our　voyage　backe　to　Cyprus；　the　historie　would　be
overtedious　in　reporting；　neither　is　it　much　materiall　to　our　purpose；
because　your　demaund　is　to　another　end。
　　Sayling　on　prosperously　in　our　Ship；　it　was　not　long　before　we
arrived　at　Baga；　where　being　landed；　and　not　knowing　any　person；
neither　what　I　should　say　to　the　Gentlemen；　who　onely　were　carefull
for　delivering　me　to　my　Father；　according　as　they　were　charged　by
the　reverend　Abbesse：　it　was　the　will　of　heaven　doubtlesse　（in　pitty
and　compassion　of　my　passed　disasters）　that　I　was　no　sooner　come　on
shore　at　Baffa；　but　I　should　there　haply　meet　with　Antigonus；　whom　I
called　unto　in　our　Country　language　because　I　would　not　be
understood　by　the　Gentlemen　nor　their　wives；　requesting　him　to
acknowledge　me　as　his　daughter。　Quickly　he　apprehended　mine　intention；
accomplishing　what　requested；　and　（according　to　his　poore　power）
most　bounteously　feasted　the　Gentlemen　and　their　wives；　conducting
me　to　the　King　of　Cyprus；　who　received　me　royally；　and　sent　me　home　to
you　with　so　much　honour；　as　I　am　no　way　able　to　relate。　What　else
retnaineth　to　be　said；　Antigonus　who　hath　oft　heard　the　whole　story　of
my　misfortunes；　at　better　leysure　will　report。
　　Antigonus　then　turning　to　the　Soldan；　saide：　My　Lord；　as　shee　hath
often　told　me；　and　by　relation　both　of　the　Gentlemen　and　their
wives；　she　hath　delivered　nothing　but　truth。　Onely　shee　hath　forgotten
somewhat　worth　the　speaking；　as　thinking　it　not　fit　for　her　to
utter；　because　indeed　it　is　not　so　convenient　for　her。　Namely；　how
much　the　Gentlemen　and　their　wives　（with　whom　she　came）　commended
the　rare　honesty　and　integrity　of　life；　as　also　the　unspotted　vertue
wherein　shee　lived　among　those　chaste　religious　women；　as　they
constantly　（both　with　teares　and　solemne　protestations）　avouched　to
me；　when　kindly　they　resigned　their　charge　to　me。　Of　all　which
matters；　and　many　more　beside；　if　I　should　make　discourse　to　your
Excellencie；　this　whole　day；　the　night　ensuing；　and　the　next　daies
full　extendure；　are　not　sufficient　to　acquaint　you　withall。　Let　it
suffice　then　that　I　have　said　so　much；　as　（both　by　the　reports；　and
mine　owne　understanding）　may　give　you　faithfull　a