the decameron(十日谈)-第30章

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and　when　shee　departed；　it　presently　ceased。　Now　was　he　thorowly
perswaded；　that　he　had　found　the　true　effect　of　his　sicknesse；　when
taking　the　Father　and　mother　aside；　thus　he　spake　to　them。　If　you　be
desirous　of　your　Sons　health；　it　consisteth　not　either　in　Physicion　or
physicke；　but　in　the　mercy　of　your　faire　Maide　Gianetta；　for
manifest　signes　have　made　it　knowne　to　me；　and　he　loveth　the
Damosell　very　dearely：　yet　（for　ought　I　can　perceive；　the　Maide　doth
not　know　it：）　now　if　you　have　respect　of　his　life；　you　know　（in　this
case）　what　is　to　be　done。　The　Nobleman　and　his　Wife　hearing　this；
became　somewhat　satisfied；　because　there　remained　a　remedy　to　preserve
his　life：　but　yet　it　was　no　meane　griefe　to　them；　if　it　should　so
succeede；　as　they　feared；　namely；　the　marriage　betweene　this　their
Sonne　and　Gianetta。
　　The　Physicion　being　gone；　and　they　repairing　to　their　sicke　Sonne；
the　Mother　began　with　him　in　this　manner。　Sonne；　I　was　alwayes
perswaded；　that　thou　wouldest　not　conceale　any　secret　from　me；　or
the　least　part　of　thy　desires；　especially；　when　without　enjoying　them；
thou　must　remaine　in　the　danger　of　death。　Full　well　art　thou
assured；　or　in　reason　oughtest　to　be；　that　there　is　not　any　thing
for　thy　contentment；　be　it　of　what　quality　soever；　but　it　should
have　beene　provided　for　thee；　and　in　as　ample　manner　as　for　mine
owne　selfe。　But　though　thou　hast　wandred　so　farre　from　duty；　and
hazarded　both　thy　life　and　ours；　it　commeth　so　to　passe；　that　Heaven
hath　beene　more　mercifull　to　thee；　then　thou　wouldest　be　to　thy　selfe；
or　us。　And　to　prevent　thy　dying　of　this　disease；　a　dreame　this　night
hath　acquainted　me　with　the　principall　occasion　of　thy　sickenesse；
to　wit　extraordinary　affection　to　a　young　Maiden；　in　some　such　place
as　thou　hast　seene　her。　I　tell　thee　Sonne；　it　is　a　matter　of　no
disgrace　to　love；　and　why　shouldst　thou　shame　to　manifest　as　much；
it　being　so　apt　and　convenient　for　thy　youth？　For　if　I　were　perswaded；
that　thou　couldst　not　love；　I　should　make　the　lesse　esteeme　of　thee。
Therefore　deare　Sonne；　be　not　dismayed；　but　freely　discover　thine
affections。　Expell　those　disastrous　drouping　thoughts；　that　have
indangered　thy　life　by　this　long　lingering　sicknesse。　And　let　thy
soule　be　faithfully　assured；　that　thou　canst　not　require　any　thing
to　be　done；　remaining　within　the　compasse　of　my　power；　but　I　will
performe　it；　for　I　love　thee　as　dearely　as　mine　owne　life。　Set
therefore　aside　this　nice　conceit　of　shame　and　feare；　revealing　the
truth　boldly　to　me；　if　I　may　stead　thee　in　thy　love；　resolving　thy
selfe　unfaignedly；　that　if　my　care　stretch　not　to　compasse　thy
content；　account　me　for　the　most　cruell　Mother　living；　and　utterly
unworthy　of　such　a　Sonne。
　　The　young　Gentleman　having　heard　these　protestations　made　by　his
Mother；　was　not　a　little　ashamed　of　his　owne　follie；　but
recollecting　his　better　thoughts　together；　and　knowing　in　his　soule；
that　no　one　could　better　further　his　hopes；　then　shee；　forgetting
all　his　former　feare；　he　returned　her　this　answere；　Madam；　and　my
dearely　affected　Mother；　nothing　hath　more　occasioned　my　loves　so
strict　concealement；　but　an　especiall　errour；　which　I　finde　by　daily
proofe　in　many；　who　being　growne　to　yeeres　of　grave　discretion；　doe
never　remember；　that　they　themselves　have　bin　yong。　But　because　herein
I　find　you　to　be　both　discreet　and　wise；　I　will　not　onely　affirme　what
you　have　seen　in　me　to　be　true；　but　also　will　confesse；　to　whom　it　is：
upon　condition；　that　the　effect　of　your　promise　may　follow　it；
according　to　the　power　remaining　in　you；　whereby　you　onely　may
secure　my　life。
　　His　Mother；　desirous　to　bee　resolved；　whether　his　confession　would
agree　with　the　Physitians　words；　or　no；　and　reserving　another
intention　to　her　selfe：　bad　him　feare　nothing；　but　freely　discover　his
whole　desire；　and　forthwith　she　doubted　not　to　effect　it。　Then
Madame　（quoth　hee）　the　matchlesse　beauty；　and　commendable　qualities　of
your　Maid　Gianetta；　to　whom　（as　yet）　I　have　made　no　motion；　to
commisserate　this　my　languishing　extremity；　nor　acquainted　any
living　creature　with　my　love：　the　concealing　of　these　afflictions　to
myselfe；　hath　brought　mee　to　this　desperate　condition：　and　if　some
meane　bee　not　wrought；　according　to　your　constant　promise；　for　the
full　enjoying　of　my　longing　desires；　assure　your　selfe　（most　Noble
Mother）　that　the　date　of　my　life　is　very　short。　The　Lady　well　knowing；
that　the　time　now　rather　required　kindest　comfort；　then　any　severe
or　sharpe　reprehension；　smiling　on　him；　said：　Alas　deere　sonne；　wast
thou　sicke　for　this？　Be　of　good　cheare；　and　when　thy　strength　is
better　restored；　then　referre　the　matter　to　me。　The　young　Gentleman；
being　put　in　good　hope　by　his　Mothers　promise；　began　（in　short　time）
to　shew　apparant　signes　of　well…forwarded　amendment；　to　the　Mothers
great　joy　and　comfort；　disposing　her　selfe　dayly　to　proove；　how　in
honor　she　might　keepe　promise　with　her　sonne。
　　Within　a　short　while　after；　calling　Gianetta　privately　to　her；　in
gentle　manner；　and　by　the　way　of　pleasant　discourse；　she　demanded　of
hir；　whither　she　was　provided　of　a　Lover；　or　no。　Gianetta；　being　never
acquainted　with　any　such　questions；　a　scarlet　Dye　covering　all　her
modest　countenance；　thus　replyed。　Madam；　I　have　no　neede　of　any　Lover；
and　very　unseemely　were　it；　for　so　poore　a　Damosell　as　I　am；　to　have
so　much　as　a　thought　of　Lovers；　being　banished　from　my　friends　and
kinsfolke；　and　remaining　in　service　as　I　do。
　　If　you　have　none　（answered　the　Ladie）　wee　will　bestow　one　on　you；
which　shall　content　your　minde；　and　bring　you　to　a　more　pleasing　kinde
of　life；　because　it　is　farre　unfit；　that　so　faire　a　Maid　as　you
are。；　should　remaine　destitute　of　a　Lover。　Madam；　said　Gianetta；
considering　with　my　selfe；　that　since　you　received　me　of　my　poore
Father；　you　have　used　me　rather　like　your　daughter；　then　a　servant；　it
becommeth　mee　to　doe　as　pleaseth　you。　Notwithstanding；　I　trust　（in　the
regard　of　mine　owne　good　and　honour）　never　to　use　any　complaint　in
such　a　case：　but　if　you　please　to　bestow　a　husband　on　me；　I　purpose　to
love　and　honor　him　onely；　and　not　any　other。　For；　of　all　the
inheritance　left　me　by　my　progenitors；　nothing　remaineth　to　me　but
honourable　honesty；　and　that　shall　be　my　Legacie　so　long　as　I　live。
　　These　wordes；　were　of　a　quite　contrary　complexion；　to　those　which
the　Lady　expected　from　her；　and　for　effecting　the　promise　made　unto
hir　Sonne：　howbeit　（like　a　wise　and　noble　Ladie）　much　she　inwardly
commended　the　maids　answers；　and　said　unto　her。　But　tell　me
Gianetta；　what　if　my　Lord　the　King　（who　is　a　gallant　youthfull　Prince；
and　you　so　bright　a　beautie　as　you　are）　should　take　pleasure　in　your
love；　would　ye　denie　him？　Sodainly　the　Maide　returned　this　answer：
Madame；　the　King　perhaps　might　enforce　me；　but　with　my　free　consent；
hee　shall　never　have　any　thing　of　me　that　is　not　honest。　Nor　did　the
Lady　dislike　her　Maides　courage　and　resolution；　but　breaking　of　all
her　further　conference；　intended　shortly　to　put　her　project　in　proofe；
saying　to　her　son；　that　when　he　was　fully　recovered；　he　should　have
private　accesse　to　Gianetta；　whom　shee　doubted　not　but　would　be
tractable　enough　to　him；　for　she　helde　it　no　meane　blemish　to　her
honour；　to　moove　the　Maide　any　more　in　the　matter；　but　let　him
compasse　it　as　he　could。
　　Farre　from　the　yong　Gentlemans　humour　was　this　answer　of　his　Mother；
because　he　aimed　not　at　any　dishonourable　end：　true；　faithfull；　and
honest　love　was　the　sole　scope　of　his　intention；　foule　and　loathsome
lust　he　utterly　defied；　whereupon　he　fell　into　sickenesse　againe；
rather　more　violently　then　before。　Which　the　Lady　perceiving；　revealed
her　whole　intent　to　Gianetta；　and　finding　her　constancie　beyond　common
comparison；　acquainted　her　Lord　with　all　she　had　done；　and　both
consented　（though　much　against　their　mindes）　to　let　him　enjoy　her　in
honourable　marriage：　accounting　it　better；　for　preservation　of　their
onely　sons　life；　to　match　him　farre　inferiour　to　his　degree；　then　by
denying　h　desire；　to　let　him　pine　and　dye　for　her　love。
　　After　great　consultation　with　Kindred　and　Friends；　the　match　was
agreed　upon；　to　the　no　little　joy　of　Gianetta；　who　devoutly　returned
infinite　thankes　to　heaven；　for　so　mercifully　respecting　her
dejected　poore　estate；　after　the　bitter　passage　of　so　many　miseries；
and　never　tearming　her　selfe　any　otherwise；　but　the　daughter　of　a
poore　Piccard。　Soone　was　the　yong　Gentleman　recovered　and　married；
no　man　alive　so　well　contented　as　he；　and　setting　downe　an　absolute
determination；　to　lead　a　loving　life　with　his　Gianetta。
　　Let　us　now　convert　our　lookes　to　Wales；　to　Perotto；　being　lefte
there　with　the　other　Lord　Marshall；　who　was　the　President　of　that
Countrey。　On　hee　grew　in　yeeres；　choisely　respected　by　his　Lord；
because　hee　was　most　comely　of　person；　and　forward　to　all　valiant
attempts：　so　that　in　Tourneyes；　joustes；　and　other　actions　of　Armes；
his　like　was　not　to　bee　found　in　all　the　Island；　being　named　onely
Perotto　the　valiant　Piccard；　and　so　was　he　famed　farre　and　neere。　As
God　had　not　forgotten　his　Sister；　so　in　mercy　he　became　as　mindefull
of　him；　for；　a　contagious　mortalitie　hapning　in　the　Country；　the
greater　part　of　the　people　perished　thereby；　the　rest　flying　thence
into　other　partes　of　the　Land；　whereby　the　whole　Province　became
dispeopled　and　desolate。
　　In　the　time　of　this　plague　and　dreadful　visitation；　the　Lord
President；　his　Lady；　Sonnes；　Daughters；　Brothers；　Nephewes；　and
Kindred　dyed；　none　remaining　alive；　but　one　onely　Daughter
marriageable；　a　few　of　the　houshold　servants；　beside　Perotto；　whom
（after　the　sickenesse　was　more　mildly　asswaged）　with　counsell　and
consent　of　the　Countrey　people；　the　young　Lady　accepted　to　be　her
husband；　because　hee　was　a　man　so　worthy　and　valiant；　and　of　all　the
inheritance　left　by　her　deceased　Father；　she　made　him　Lord；　and　sole
commander。　Within　no　long　while　after；　the　King　of　England
understanding　that　his　President　of　Wales　was　dead；　and　Fame　liberally
relating　the　vertues；　valour；　and　good　parts　of　Perotto　the　Piccard；
hee　created　him　President　thereof；　and　to　supply　the　place　of　his
deceased　Lord。　These　faire　fortunes；　within　the　compasse　of　so　short　a
time；　fell　to　the　two　innocent　children　of　the　Count　D'Angiers　after
they　were　left　by　him　as　lost　and　forlorne。
　　Eighteene　yeeres　were　now　fully　overpast；　since　the　Count
D'Angiers　fled　from　Paris；　having　suffered　（in　miserable　sort）　many
hard　and　lamentable　adversities；　and　seeing　himselfe　now　to　be
growne　aged；　hee　was　desirous　to　leave　Ireland；　and　to　know　（if　hee
might）　what　was　become　of　both　his　Children。　Heereupon；　perceiving　his
wonted　forme　to　be　so　altered；　that　such　as　formerly　had　conversed
most　with　him；　could　now　not　take　any　knowledge　of　him；　and　feeling
his　body　（through　long　labour　and　exercise　endured　in　service）　more
lustie　then　in　his　idle　youthfull　yeeres；　especially　when　he　left
the　Court　of　France；　hee　purposed　to　proceede　in　his　determination。
Being　verie　poore　and　simple　in　apparrel；　he　departed　from　the　Irish
Earle　his　Master；　with　whom　he　had　continued　long　in　service；　to　no
advantage　or　advancement；　and　crossing　over　into　England；　travayled　to
the　place　in　Wales；　where　he　l