the decameron(十日谈)-第28章

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suffice　then　that　I　have　said　so　much；　as　（both　by　the　reports；　and
mine　owne　understanding）　may　give　you　faithfull　assurance；　to　make
your　Royall　vaunt；　of　having　the　fairest；　most　vertuous；　and　honest
Lady　to　your　daughter；　of　any　King　or　Prince　whatsoever。
　　The　Soldane　was　joyfull　beyond　all　measure；　welcomming　both　him
and　the　rest　in　most　stately　manner；　oftentimes　entreating　the　Gods
very　heartily；　that　he　might　live　to　requite　them　with　equall
recompence；　who　had　so　graciously　honored　his　daughter：　but　above
all　the　rest；　the　King　of　Cyprus；　who　sent　her　home　so　Majestically。
And　having　bestowne　great　gifts　on　Antigonus；　within　a　few　dayes
after；　hee　gave　him　leave　to　returne　to　Cyprus：　with　thankfull　favours
to　the　King　as　well　by　Letters；　as　also　by　Ambassadours　expressely
sent；　both　from　himselfe　and　his　Daughter。
　　When　as　this　businesse　was　fully　finished；　the　Soldane；　desiring
to　accomplish　what　formerly　was　intended　and　begun；　namely；　that　she
might　be　wife　to　the　King　of　Colchos；　hee　gave　him　intelligence　of　all
that　had　happened；　writing　moreover　to　him；　that　（if　he　were　so
pleased）　he　wold　yet　send　her　in　Royall　manner　to　him。　The　King　of
Colchos　was　exceeding　joyfull　of　these　glad　tydings；　and　dispatching　a
worthy　traine　to　fetch　her；　she　was　conveyed　thither　very　pompously；
and　she　who　had　bene　imbraced　by　so　many；　was　received　by　him　as　an
honest　Virgin；　living　long　time　after　with　him　in　much　joy　and
felicity。　And　therefore　it　hath　bene　saide　as　a　common　Proverbe：　The
mouth　well　kist　comes　not　short　of　good　Fortune；　but　is　still
renewed　like　the　Moone。




　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　SECOND　DAY；　THE　EIGHT　NOVELL

　　　　　　　WHEREBY　ALL　MEN　MAY　PLAINELY　UNDERSTAND；　THAT　LOYALTY
　　　　　　FAITHFULLY　KEPT　TO　THE　PRINCE　（WHAT　PERILS　SOEVER　DOE　ENSUE）
　　　　　　DOTH　YET　NEVERTHELESSE　RENOWNE　A　MAN；　AND　BRING　HIM　TO　FARRE
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　GREATER　HONOUR

　　The　Count　D'Angiers　being　falsly　accused；　was　banished　out　of
France；　and　left　his　two　children　in　England　in　divers　places。
Returning　afterward　（unknowne）　thorow　Scotland；　hee　found　them
advanced　unto　great　dignitie。　Then；　repayring　in　the　habite　of　a
Servitour；　into　the　King　of　France　his　Armie；　and　his　innocencie
made　publiquely　knowne；　hee　was　reseated　in　his　former　honourable
degree。

　　The　Ladies　sighed　verie　often；　hearing　the　variety　of　wofull
miseries　happening　to　Alathiella：　but　who　knoweth；　what　occasion
mooved　them　to　those　sighes？　Perhappes　there　were　some　among　them；　who
rather　sighed　they　could　not　be　so　often　maried　as　she　was；　rather
then　for　any　other　compassion　they　had　of　her　disasters。　But　leaving
that　to　their　owne　construction；　they　smiled　merrily　at　the　last
speeches　of　Pamphilus：　and　the　Queene　perceyving　the　Novell　to　be
ended；　shee　fixed　her　eye　upon　Madame　Eliza；　as　signifying　thereby；
that　she　was　next　to　succeed　in　order；　which　shee　joyfully
embracing；　spake　as　followeth。　The　field　is　very　large　and　spacious；
wherein　all　this　day　we　have　walked；　and　there　is　not　any　one　here
so　wearied　with　running　the　former　races；　but　nimbly　would　adventure
on　as　many　more；　so　copious　are　the　alterations　of　Fortune；　in　sad
repetition　of　her　wonderfull　changes：　and　among　the　infinity　of　her
various　courses；　I　must　make　addition　of　another；　which　I　trust；
will　no　way　discontent　you。
　　When　the　Romaine　Empire　was　translated　from　the　French　to　the
Germaines；　mighty　dissentions　grew　betweene　both　the　Nations；
insomuch；　that　it　drew　a　dismall　and　a　lingering　warre。　In　which
respect；　as　well　for　the　safety　of　his　owne　Kingdome；　as　to　annoy
and　disturbe　his　enemies；　the　King　of　France　and　one　of　his　sonnes；
having　congregated　the　forces　of　their　owne　Dominions；　as　also　of
their　friends　and　confederates；　they　resolved　manfully　to　encounter
their　enemies。　But　before　they　would　adventure　any　rash　proceeding；
they　held　it　as　the　cheefest　part　of　policy　and　royall　providence；　not
to　leave　the　State　without　a　Chiefe　or　Governour。　And　having　had
good　experience　of　Gualtier；　Count　D'Angiers；　to　be　a　wise　and
worthy　Lord；　singularly　expert　in　military　discipline　and　faithfull　in
all　affaires　of　the　Kingdome　（yet　fitter　for　ease　and　pleasure；　then
laborious　toyle　and　travalle：）　he　was　elected　Lieutenant　Governour
in　their　sted；　over　the　whole　kingdom　of　France；　and　then　they　went　on
in　their　enterprize。
　　Now　began　the　Count　to　execute　the　office　committed　to　his　trust；　by
orderly　proceeding；　and　with　great　discretion；　yet　not　entering　into
any　businesse；　without　consent　of　the　Queene　and　her　faire　daughter　in
Law：　who　although　they　were　left　under　his　care　and　custodie；　yet
（notwithstanding）　he　honoured　them　as　his　superiours；　and　as　the
dignity　of　their　quality　required。　Here　you　are　to　observe；　concerning
Count　Gualtier　himselfe；　that　he　was　a　most　compleate　person；　aged
litle　above　forty　yeeres；　as　affable　and　singularly　conditioned；　as
any　Nobleman　possibly　could　be；　nor　did　those　times　affoord　a
Gentleman；　that　equalled　him　in　all　respects。　It　fortuned；　that　the
King　and　his　sonne　being　busy　in　the　aforenamed　war；　the　wife　and　Lady
of　Count　Gualtier　died　in　the　mean　while；　leaving　him　onely　a　sonne
and　a　daughter　very　yong；　and　of　tender　yeeres；　which　made　his　owne
home　the　lesse　welcom　to　him；　having　lost　his　deere　Love；　and　second
selfe。
　　Heereupon；　he　resorted　to　the　Court　of　the　said　Ladies　the　more
frequently；　often　conferring　with　them；　about　the　waighty　affaires
of　the　Kingdome：　in　which　time　of　so　serious　interparlance；　the
Kings　sonnes　wife；　threw　many　affectionate　regards　upon　him；　convaying
such　conspiring　passions　to　her　heart　（in　regard　of　his　person　and
vertues）　that　her　love　exceeded　all　capacity　of　governement。　Her
desires　out…stepping　al　compasse　of　modesty；　or　the　dignity　of　her
Princely　condition；　throwes　off　all　regard　of　civill　and　sober
thoughts；　and　guides　her　into　a　Labyrinth　of　wanton　imaginations。　For；
she　regards　not　now　the　eminency　of　his　high　Authority；　his　gravity　of
yeares；　and　those　parts　that　are　the　true　conducts　to　honour：　but
lookes　upon　her　owne　loose　and　lascivious　appetite；　her　young；
gallant；　and　over…ready　yeelding　nature；　comparing　them　with　his
want　of　a　wife；　and　likely　hope　thereby　of　her　sooner　prevailing；
supposing；　that　nothing　could　be　her　hindrance；　but　onely　bashfull
shamefastnesse；　which　she　rather　chose　utterly　to　forsake　and　set
aside；　then　to　faile　of　her　hot　enflarned　affection；　and　therefore　she
would　needs　be　the　discoverer　of　her　owne　disgrace。
　　Upon　a　day；　being　alone　by　her　selfe；　and　the　time　seeming
suteable　to　her　intention：　shee　sent　for　the　Count；　under　colour　of
some　other　important　conference　with　him。　The　Count　D'Aongiers；
whose　thoughts　were　quite　contrary　to　hers：　immediately　went　to　her；
where　they　both　sitting　downe　together　on　a　beds　side　in　her
Chamber；　according　as　formerly　shee　had　plotted　her　purpose；　twice　hee
demaunded　of　her；　upon　what　occasion　she　had　thus　sent　for　him。　She
sitting　a　long　while　silent；　as　if　she　had　no　answere　to　make　him；
pressed　by　the　violence　of　her　amorous　passions；　a　Vermillion　tincture
leaping　up　into　her　face；　yet　shame　enforcing　teares　from　her　eyes；
with　words　broken　and　halfe　confused；　at　last　she　began　to　deliver　her
minde　in　this　manner。
　　Honourable　Lord；　and　my　deerely　respected　Friend；　being　so　wise　a
man　as　you　are；　it　is　no　difficult　matter　for　you　to　know；　what　a
frayle　condition　is　imposed　both　on　men　and　women；　yet　（for　divers
occasions）　much　more　upon　the　one；　then　the　other。　Wherefore
desertfully；　in　the　censure　of　a　just　and　upright　judge；　a　fault　of
divers　conditions　（in　respect　of　the　person）　ought　not　to　bee　censured
with　one　and　the　same　punnishment。　Beside；　who　will　not　say；　that　a
man　or　woman　of　poore　and　meane　estate；　having　no　other　helpe　for
maintainance；　but　laborious　travaile　of　their　bodies；　should
worthily　receive　more　sharpe　reprehension；　in　yeelding　to　amorous
desires；　or　such　passions　as　are　incited　by　love；　then　a　wealthy
Lady　whose　living　relieth　not　on　her　pains　or　cares；　neither　wanteth
any　thing　that　she　can　wish　to　have：　I　dare　presume；　that　you　your
selfe　will　allow　this　to　be　equall　and　just。　In　which　respect；　I　am　of
the　minde；　that　the　fore…named　allegations；　ought　to　serve　as　a
sufficient　excuse；　yea；　and　to　the　advantage　of　her　who　is　so
possessed；　if　the　passions　of　love　should　over…reach　her：　alwayes
provided；　that　shee　can　pleade　in　her　owne　defence；　the　choice　of　a
wise　and　vertuous　friend；　answerable　to　her　owne　condition　and
quality；　and　no　way　to　be　taxt　with　a　servile　or　vile　election。
　　These　two　speciall　observations；　allowable　in　my　judgement；　and
living　now　in　mee；　seizing　on　my　youthfull　blood　and　yeeres；　have
found　no　mean　inducement　to　love；　in　regard　of　my　husbands　far
distance　from　me；　medling　in　the　rude　uncivill　actions　of　warre；
when　he　should　rather　be　at　home　in　more　sweet　imployment。　You　see
Sir；　that　these　Oratours　advance　themselves　here　in　your　presence；
to　acquaint　you　with　the　extremity　of　my　over…commanding　agony：　and　if
the　same　power　hath　dominion　in　you；　which　your　discretion
（questionlesse）　cannot　be　voide　of；　then　let　me　entreate　such　advice
from　you；　as　may　rather　helpe；　then　hinder　my　hopes。　Beleeve　it　then
for　trueth　Sir；　that　the　long　absence　of　my　husband　from　me；　the
solitary　condition　wherein　I　am　left；　il　agreeing　with　the　hot　blood
running　in　my　veines；　and　the　temper　of　my　earnest　desires：　have　so
prevailed　against　my　strongest　resistances；　that　not　onely　so　weake
a　woman　as　I　am；　but　any　man　of　much　more　potent　might；　（living　in
ease　and　idlenesse　as　I　do）　cannot　withstand　such　continuall　assaults；
having　no　other　helpe　then　flesh　and　blood。
　　Nor　am　I　so　ignorant；　but　publike　knowledge　of　such　an　error　in　mee；
would　be　reputed　a　shrewd　taxation　of　honesty：　whereas　（on　the　other
side）　secret　carriage；　and　heedfull　managing　such　amorous　affaires；
may　passe　for　currant　without　any　reproach。　And　let　me　tel　you；
noble　Count；　that　I　repute　love　highly　favourable　to　mee；　by　guiding
my　judgement　with　such　moderation；　to　make　election　of　a　wise；　worthy；
and　honorable　friend；　fit　to　enjoy　the　grace　of　a　farre　greater　Lady
then　I　am；　and　the　first　letter　of　his　name；　is　the　Count　D'Angiers。
For　if　error　have　not　misled　mine　eye；　as　in　love　no　Lady　can　be
easily　deceived：　for　person；　perfections；　and　all　parts　most　to　bee
commended　in　a　man；　the　whole　Realme　of　France　containeth　not　your
equall。　Observe　beside；　how　forward　Fortune　sheweth　her　selfe　to　us
both　in　this　case；　you　to　bee　destitute　of　a　wife；　as　I　am　of　an
husband；　for　I　account　him　as　dead　to　me；　when　he　denies　me　the　duties
belonging　to　a　wife。　Wherefore；　in　regard　of　the　unfained　affection
I　beare　you；　and　compassion　which　you　ought　to　have　of　a　Royall
Princesse；　even　almost　sicke　to　death　for　your　sake；　I　earnestly
entreat　you；　not　to　deny　mee　your　loving　society；　but　pittying　my
youth　and　fiery　affections　（never　to　be　quenched　but　by　your
kindnesse）　I　may　enjoy　my　hearts　desire。
　　As　shee　uttered　these　words；　the　teares　streamed　aboundantly　downe
her　faire　cheekes；　preventing　her　of　any　further　speech：　so　that
dejecting　her　head　into　her　bosome；　overco