the decameron(十日谈)-第32章

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estate　and　calling；　which　was　as　speedily　performed。　Moreover；　the　Kin
greatly　honoured　Sir　Roger　Mandevile；　desiring　to　be　made　acquainted
with　all　their　passed　fortunes。
　　When　Sir　Roger　had　received　the　royall　reward；　for　thus　surrendering
the　Count　and　his　Sonne；　the　Count　calling　him　to　him；　saide。　Take
that　Princely　remuneration　of　my　soveraigne　Lord　and　King；　and
commending　me　to　your　unkinde　Father；　tell　him　that　your　Children
are　no　beggars　brats；　neither　basely　borne　by　their　Mothers　side。
Sir　Roger　returning　home　with　his　bountifull　reward；　soone　after
brought　his　Wife　and　Mother　to　Paris；　and　so　did　Perotto　his　Wife
where　in　great　joy　and　triumph；　they　continued　with　while　with　the
noble　Count；　who　had　all　his　goods　and　honours　restored　to　him；　in
farre　greater　measure　then　ever　they　were　before：　his　Sonnes　in　Law
returning　home　with　their　Wives　into　England；　left　the　Count　with
the　King　at　Paris；　where　he　spent　the　rest　of　his　dayes　in　great
honour　and　felicity。




　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　SECOND　DAY；　THE　NINTH　NOVELL

　　　　　　　WHEREIN　IS　DECLARED；　THAT　BY　OVERLIBERALL　COMMENDING　THE
　　　　　　CHASTITY　OF　WOMEN；　IT　FALLETH　OUT　（OFTENTIMES）　TO　BE　VERY
　　　　　　DANGEROUS；　ESPECIALLY　BY　THE　MEANES　OF　TREACHERERS　WHO　YET
　　　　　　　　　（IN　THE　ENDE）　ARE　JUSTLY　PUNNISHED　FOR　THEIR　TREACHERY

　　Bernardo；　a　Merchant　of　Geneway；　being　deceived　by　another　Merchant；
named　Ambroginolo；　lost　a　great　part　of　his　goods。　And　commanding
his　innocent　Wife　to　be　murthered；　she　escaped；　and　（in　the　habite
of　a　man）　became　servant　to　the　Soldane。　The　deceiver　being　found　at
last；　shee　compassed　such　meanes；　that　her　Husband　Bernardo　came
into　Alexandria；　and　there；　after　due　punnishment　inflicted　on　the
false　deceiver；　she　resumed　the　garments　againe　of　a　woman；　and
returned　home　with　her　Husband　to　Geneway。

　　Madam　Eliza　having　ended　her　compassionate　discourse；　which　indeede
had　moved　all　the　rest　to　sighing；　the　Queene；　who　was　faire；　comely
of　stature；　and　tarrying　a　very　majesticall　countenance；　smiling
more　familarly　then　the　other；　spake　to　them　thus。　It　is　very
necessary；　that　the　promise　made　to　Dioneus；　should　carefully　be　kept；
and　because　now　there　remaineth　none；　to　report　any　more　Novels；　but
onely　he　and　my　selfe：　I　must　first　deliver　mine；　and　he　（who　takes　it
for　an　honour）　to　be　the　last　in　relating　his　owne；　last　let　him　be
for　his　owne　deliverance。　Then　pausing　a　little　while；　thus　she
began　againe。　Many　times　among　vulgar　people；　it　hath　passed　as　a
common　Proverbe：　That　the　deceiver　is　often　trampled　on；　by　such　as　he
hath　deceived。　And　this　cannot　shew　it　selfe　（by　any　reason）　to　be
true；　except　such　accidents　as　awaite　on　treachery；　doe　really　make
a　just　discovery　thereof。　And　therefore　according　to　the　course　of
this　day　observed；　I　am　the　woman　that　must　make　good　what　I　have
saide　for　the　approbation　of　that　Proverbe：　no　way　（I　hope）
distastfull　to　you　in　the　hearing；　but　advantageable　to　preserve　you
from　any　such　beguiling。
　　There　was　a　faire　and　goodly　Inne　in　Paris；　much　frequented　by
many　great　Italian　Merchants；　according　to　such　variety　of　occasions
and　businesse；　as　urged　their　often　resorting　thither。　One　night　among
many　other；　having　had　a　merry　Supper　together；　they　began　to
discourse　on　divers　matters；　and　falling　from　one　relation　to　another；
they　communed　in　very　friendly　manner；　concerning　their　wives；　lefte
at　home　in　their　houses。　Quoth　the　first；　I　cannot　well　imagine　what
my　wife　is　now　doing；　but　I　am　able　to　say　for　my　selfe；　that　if　a
pretty　female　should　fall　into　my　company：　I　could　easily　forget　my
love　to　my　wife；　and　make　use　of　such　an　advantage　offered。
　　A　second　replyed；　And　trust　me；　I　should　do　no　lesse；　because　I　am
perswaded；　that　if　my　wife　be　willing　to　wander；　the　law　is　in　her
owne　hand；　and　I　am　farre　enough　from　home：　dumbe　walles　blab　no
tales；　and　offences　unknowne　are　sildome　or　never　called　in
question。　A　third　man　unapt　in　censure；　with　his　former　fellowes　of
the　Jury；　and　it　plainely　appeared；　that　all　the　rest　were　of　the　same
opinion；　condemning　their　wives　over…rashly；　and　alledging；　that
when　husbands　strayed　so　far　from　home；　their　wives　had　wit　enough
to　make　use　of　their　time。
　　Onely　one　man　among　them　all；　named　Bernardo　Lomellino；　and　dwelling
in　Geneway；　maintained　the　contrary；　boldly　avouching；　that　by　the
especiall　favour　of　Fortune；　he　had　a　wife　so　perfectly　compleate　in
all　graces　and　vertues；　as　any　Lady　in　the　world　possibly　could　be；
and　that　Italy　scarsely　contained　her　equall。　But；　she　was　goodly　of
person；　and　yet　very　young；　quicke；　quaint；　milde；　and　courteous；
and　not　any　thing　appertaining　to　the　office　of　a　wife；　either　for
domesticke　affayres；　or　any　other　imployment　whatsoever；　but　in
womanhoode　shee　went　beyond　all　other。　No　Lord；　Knight；　Esquire；　or
Gentleman；　could　bee　better　served　at　his　Table；　then　himselfe　dayly
was；　with　more　wisedome；　modesty　and　discretion。　After　all　this；　hee
praised　her　for　riding；　hawking；　hunting；　fishing；　fowling；　reading；
writing；　enditing；　and　most　absolute　keeping　his　Bookes　of　accounts；
that　neither　himselfe；　or　any　other　Merchant　could　therein　excell　her。
After　infinite　other　commendations；　he　came　to　the　former　point　of
their　argument；　concerning　the　easie　falling　of　women　into
wantonnesse；　maintaining　（with　a　solemne　oath）　that　no　woman
possibly　could　be　more　chaste　and　honest　then　she：　in　which　respect；
he　was　verily　perswaded；　that　if　he　stayed　from　her　ten　years　space
（yea　all　his　life　time）　out　of　his　house；　yet　never　would　shee
falsifie　her　faith　to　him；　or　be　lewdly　allured　by　any　other　man。
　　Amongst　these　Merchants　thus　communing　together；　there　was　a　young
proper　man；　named　Ambroginolo　of　Placentia；　who　began　to　laugh　at
the　last　prayses　which　Bernardo　had　used　of　his　Wife；　and　seeming　to
make　a　mockerie　thereof；　demaunded；　if　the　Emperour　had　given　him　this
priviledge；　above　all　other　married　men？　Bernardo　being　somewhat
offended；　answered：　No　Emperour　hath　done　it；　but　the　especiall
blessing　of　heaven；　exceeding　all　the　Emperours　on　the　earth　in　grace；
and　thereby　have　received　this　favour；　whereto　Ambroginolo　presently
thus　replyed。　Bernardo；　without　all　question　to　the　contrary；　I
beleeve　that　what　thou　hast　said；　is　true；　but　（for　ought　I　can
perceive）　thou　hast　slender　judgement　in　the　Nature　of　things：
because；　if　thou　diddst　observe　them　well；　thou　couldst　not　be　of　so
grosse　understanding。　For；　by　comprehending　matters　in　their　true
kinde　and　nature；　thou　wouldst　speake　of　them　more　correctly　then　thou
doest。　And　to　the　end；　thou　mayest　not　imagine；　that　we　who　have
spoken　of　our　Wives；　doe　thinke　any　otherwise　of　them；　then　as　well
and　honestly　as　thou　canst　of　thine；　nor　that　any　thing　else　did
urge　these　speeches　of　them；　or　falling　into　this　kinde　of
discourse；　but　onely　by　a　naturall　instinct　and　admonition；　I　wil
proceede　familiarly；　a　little　further　with　thee；　uppon　the　matter
alreadie　propounded。　I　have　evermore　understoode；　that　man　was　the
most　noble　creature；　formed　by　God　to　live　in　this　World；　and　woman　in
the　next　degree　to　him：　but　man；　as　generally　is　beleeved；　and　as　is
discerned　by　apparant　effects　is　the　most　perfect　of　both。　Having　then
the　most　perfection　in　him；　without　all　doubt；　he　must　be　so　much
the　more　firme　and　constant。　So　in　like　manner；　it　hath　beene；　and
is　universally　graunted；　that　Woman　is　more　various　and　mutable；　may
be　approved　by　and　the　reason　thereof　may　be　approved　by　many　naturall
circumstances；　which　were　needlesse　now　to　make　any　mention　of。　If　a
man　then　be　possessed　of　the　greater　stability；　and　yet　cannot
containe　himselfe　from　condiscending；　I　say　not　to　one　that
entreates　him；　but　to　desire　any　other　that　please　him；　and　beside；　to
covet　the　enjoying　of　his　owne　pleasing　contentment　（a　thing　not
chancing　to　him　once　in　a　moneth；　but　infinite　times　in　a　dayes
space）。　What　can　you　then　conceive　of　a　fraile　Woman；　subject　（by
nature）　to　entreaties；　flatteries；　giftes；　perswasions；　and　a　thousand
other　inticing　meanes；　which　a　man　（that　is　affected　to　her）　can
use？　Doest　thou　thinke　then　that　she　hath　any　power　to　containe？
Assuredly；　though　thou　shouldest　rest　so　resolved；　yet　cannot　I　be
of　the　same　opinion。　For　I　am　sure　thou　beleevest；　and　must　needes
confesse　it；　that　thy　wife　is　a　Woman；　made　of　flesh　and　blood；　as
other　women　are：　if　it　be　so；　she　cannot　bee　without　the　same　desires；
and　the　weaknesse　or　strength　as　other　women　have；　to　resist
naturall　appetites　as　her　owne　are。　In　regard　whereof；　it　is　meerely
impossible　（although　she　be　most　honest）　but　she　must　needs　doe　that
which　other　Women　doe：　for　there　is　nothing　else　possible；　either　to
be　denied　or　affirmed　to　the　contrary；　as　thou　most　unadvisedly　hast
done。
　　Bernardo　answered　in　this　manner。　I　am　a　Merchant；　and　no
Philosopher；　and　like　a　Merchant　I　meane　to　answer　thee。　I　am　not　to
learne；　that　these　accidents　by　thee　related；　may　happen　to　fooles；
who　are　voide　of　understanding　or　shame：　but　such　as　are　wise；　and
endued　with　vertue；　have　alwayes　such　a　precious　esteeme　of　their
honour；　that　they　wil　containe　those　principles　of　constancie；　which
men　are　meerely　carelesse　of；　and　I　justifie　my　wife　to　be　one　of
them。　Beleeve　me　Bernardo；　replyed　Ambroginolo；　if　so　often　as　thy
wives　minde　is　addicted　to　wanton　folly；　a　badge　of　scorne　should
arise　on　thy　forehead；　to　render　testimony　of　hir　female　frailty；　I
beleeve　the　number　of　them　would　be　more；　then　willingly　you　would
wish　them　to　be。　And　among　all　married　men　in　every　degree；　the
notes　are　so　secret　of　their　wives　imperfections；　that　the　sharpest
sight　is　not　able　to　discerne　them：　and　the　wiser　sort　of　men　are
willing　not　to　know　them；　because　shame　and　losse　of　honour　is　never
imposed；　but　in　cases　evident　and　apparant。
　　Perswade　thy　selfe　then　Bernardo；　that　what　women　may　accomplish
in　secret；　they　will　rarely　faile　to　doe：　or　if　they　abstaine；　it　is
through　feare　and　folly。　Wherefore；　hold　it　for　a　certaine　rule；
that　that　is　onely　chaste；　that　never　was　solicited　personally；　or
if　she　endured　any　such　suite；　either　shee　answered　yea；　or　no。　And
albeit　I　know　this　to　be　true；　by　many　infallible　and　naturall
reasons；　yet　could　I　not　speak　so　exactly　as　I　doe；　if　I　had　not　tried
experimentally；　the　humours　and　affections　of　divers　Women。　Yea；　and
let　me　tell　thee　more　Bernardo；　were　I　in　private　company　with　thy
wife；　howsoever　thou　presumest　to　thinke　her　to　be；　I　should　account
it　a　matter　of　no　impossibility；　to　finde　in　her　the　selfesame
frailty。
　　Bernardoes　blood　now　began　to　boyle；　and　patience　being　a　little　put
downe　by　choller；　thus　he　replyed。　A　combat　of　words　requires
over…long　continuance；　for　I　maintaine　the　matter　which　thou
deniest；　and　all　this　sorts　to　nothing　in　the　end。　But　seeing　thou
presumest；　that　all　women　are　so　apt　and　tractable；　and　thy　selfe　so
confident　of　thine　owne　power：　I　willingly　yeeld　（for　the　better
assurance　of　my　wifes　constant　loyalty）　to　have　my　head　smitten　off；
if　thou　canst　winne　her　to　any　such　dishonest　act；　by　any　meanes
whatsoever　thou　canst　use　unto　her；　which　if　thou　canst　not　doe；
thou　shalt　onely　l