the decameron(十日谈)-第34章

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and　acceptable　to　him；　that　hee　liked　her　care　and　diligence　beyond
all　comparison。
　　It　came　to　passe　within　a　short　while　after；　that　this　Gentleman
of　Cathalogna　sayled　（with　some　charge　of　his）　into　Alexandria；
carrying　thither　certaine　Faulcons；　which　he　presented　to　the
Soldan；　who　oftentimes　welcommed　this　Gentleman　to　his　table；　where　he
observed　the　behaviour　of　Sicurano；　attending　on　his　Maisters
Trencher；　and　therewith　was　so　highly　pleased；　that　hee　requested　to
have　him　from　the　Gentleman；　who　（for　his　more　advancement）
willingly　parted　with　his　so　lately　entertained　servant。　Sicurano
was　so　ready　and　discreet　in　his　daily　services；　that　he　grew　in　as
great　grace　with　the　Soldan；　as　before　hee　had　done　with　Enchararcho。
　　At　a　certaine　season　in　the　yeare；　as　customary　order　（there
observed）　had　formerly　beene；　in　the　City　of　Acres　which　was　under　the
Soldanes　subjection；　there　yeerely　met　a　great　assembly　of
Merchants；　as　Christians；　Moores；　jewes；　Sarazens；　and　many　other
Nations　besides；　as　at　a　common　Mart　or　Fayre。　And　to　the　end；　that
the　Merchants　（for　the　better　sale　of　their　goods）　might　be　there　in
the　safer　assurance；　the　Soldane　used　to　send　thither　some　of　his
ordinarie　Officers；　and　a　strong　guard　of　Souldiers　beside；　to
defend　them　from　all　injuries　and　molestation；　because　he　reaped
thereby　no　meane　benefit。　And　who　should　be　now　sent　about　this
businesse；　but　his　new　elected　favourite　Sicurano；　because　she　was
skilfull　and。　perfect　in　the　Languages。
　　Sicurano　being　come　to　Acres；　as　Lord　and　Captaine　of　the　Guard
for　the　Merchants；　and　for　the　safety　of　their　Merchandizes；　she
discharged　her　office　most　commendably；　walking　with　her　traine
thorough　every　part　of　the　Fayre；　where　she　observed　a　worthy
company　of　Merchants；　Sicilians；　Pisans；　Genewayes；　Venetians；　and

other　Italians；　whom　the　more　willingly　she　noted；　in　remembrance　of
her　native　Country。　At　one　especiall　time　among　other；　chancing　into　a
Shop　or　Booth　belonging　to　the　Venetians；　she　espied　（hanging　up
with　other　costly　wares）　a　Purse　and　a　Girdle；　which　sodainly　she
remembred　to　be　sometime　her　owne；　whereat　she　was　not　a　little
abashed　in　her　minde。　But　without　making　any　such　outward　shew；
courteously　she　requested　to　know　whose　they　were；　and　whether　they
should　be　sold；　or　no。
　　Ambroginolo　of　Placentia；　was　likewise　come　thither；　and　great　store
of　Merchandizes　hee　had　brought　with　him；　in　a　Carracke　appertaining
to　the　Venetians；　and　hee　hearing　the　Captaine　of　the　Guard　demaund
whose　they　were；　stepped　foorth　before　him；　and　smiling；　answered：
That　they　were　his；　but　not　to　be　solde；　yet　if　hee　liked　them；　gladly
he　would　bestow　them　on　him。　Sicurano　seeing　him　smile；　suspected
least　himselfe　had　（by　some　unfitting　behaviour）　beene　the　occasion
thereof：　and　therefore；　with　a　more　setled　countenance；　hee　said：
Perhaps　thou　smilest；　because　I　that　am　a　man；　professing　Armes；
should　question　after　such　womanish　toyes。　Ambroginolo　replyed；　My
Lord；　pardon　mee；　I　smile　not　at　you；　or　at　your　demaund；　but　at　the
manner　how　I　came　by　these　things。
　　Sicurano；　upon　this　answere；　was　ten　times　more　desirous　then
before；　and　saide：　If　Fortune　favoured　thee　in　friendly　maner；　by
the　obtaining　of　these　things：　if　it　may　be　spoken；　tell　mee　how
thou　hadst　them。　My　Lord　（answered　Ambroginolo）　these　things　（with
many　more　besides）　were　given　me　by　a　Gentlewoman　of　Geneway；　named
Madam　Genevra；　the　wife　to　one　Bernardo　Lomellino；　in　recompence　of
one　nights　lodging　with　her；　and　she　desired　me　to　keepe　them　for
her　sake。　Now；　the　maine　reason　of　my　smiling；　was　the　remembrance
of　her　husbands　folly；　in　waging　five　thousand　Duckets　of　Gold；
against　one　thousand　of　mine；　that　I　should　not　obtaine　my　will　of　his
Wife；　which　I　did；　and　thereby　won　the　wager。　But　hee；　who　better
deserved　to　be　punished　for　his　folly；　then　shee；　who　was　but　sicke　of
all　womens　disease；　returning　from　Paris　to　Geneway；　caused　her　to
be　slaine；　as　afterward　it　was　reported　by　himselfe。
　　When　Sicurano　heard　this　horrible　lye；　immediately　shee　conceived；
that　this　was　the　occasion　of　her　husbands　hatred　to　her；　and　all
the　hard　haps　which　she　had　since　suffered：　whereupon；　shee　reputed　it
for　more　then　a　mortall　sinne；　if　such　a　villaine　should　passe　without
due　punishment。　Sicurano　seemed　to　like　well　this　report；　and　grew
into　such　familiarity　with　Ambroginolo；　that　（by　her　perswasions）　when
the　Fayre　was　ended；　she　tooke　him　higher　with　her　into　Alexandria；
and　all　his　Wares　along　with　him；　furnishing　him　with　a　fit　and
convenient　shop；　where　he　made　great　benefite　of　his　Merchandizes；
trusting　all　his　monies　in　the　Captaines　custody；　because　it　was　the
safest　course　for　him；　and　so　hee　continued　there　with　no　meane
contentment。
　　Much　did　shee　pitty　her　Husbands　perplexity；　devising　by　what　good
and　warrantable　meanes　she　might　make　knowne　her　innocency　to　him；
wherein　her　place　and　authority　did　greatly　sted　her；　and　she
wrought　with　divers　gallant　Merchants　of　Geneway　that　then　remained　in
Alexandria；　and　by　vertue　of　the　Soldans　friendly　letters　beside；　to
bring　him　thither　upon　an　lall　occasion。　Come　he　did；　albeit　in
especiall　in　poore　and　meane　order；　which　soone　was　better　altered
by　her　appointment；　and　he　verie　honourably　（though　in　private）
entertained　by　divers　of　her　woorthie　friends；　till　time　did　favour
what　she　further　intended。
　　In　the　expectation　of　Bernardoes　arrivall；　shee　had　so　prevayled
with　Ambrogiriolo；　that　the　same　tale　which　he　formerly　told　to　her；
he　delivered　againe　in　presence　of　the　Soldan；　who　seemed　to　be　wel
pleased　with　it。　But　after　shee　had　once　seene　her　Husband；　shee
thought　upon　her　more　serious　businesse；　providing　her　selfe　of　an　apt
opportunity；　when　shee　entreated　such　favour　of　the　Soldan；　that
both　the　men　might　bee　brought　before　him；　where　if　Ambroginolo
would　not　confesse　（without　constraint）　that　which　he　had　made　his
vaunt　of　concerning　Bernardoes　wife；　he　might　be　compelled　thereto
perforce。
　Sicuranoes　word　was　a　Law　with　the　Soldane；　so　that　Ambroginolo　and
Bernardo　being　brought　face　to　face；　the　Soldane　with　a　sterne　and
angry　countenance；　in　the　presence　of　a　most　Princely　Assembly；
commanded　Ambroginolo　to　declare　the　truth；　upon　perill　of　his　life；
by　what　meanes　he　won　the　Wager　of　the　five　thousand　Golden　Duckets　he
received　of　Bernardo。　Ambroginolo　seeing　Sicurano　there　present；
upon　whose　favour　he　wholly　relyed；　yet　perceiving　her　lookes　likewise
to　be　as　dreadful　as　the　Soldans；　and　hearing　her　threaten　him　with
most　greevous　torments　except　he　revealed　the　truth　indeed；　you　may
easily　guesse　in　what　condition　he　stood　at　that　instant。
　　Frownes　and　fury　he　beheld　on　either　side；　and　Bernardo　standing
before　him；　with　a　world　of　famous　witnesses；　to　heare　his　lye
confounded　by　his　owne　confession；　and　his　tongue　to　denie　what　it　had
before　so　constantly　avouched。　Yet　dreaming　on　no　other　pain　or
penalty；　but　restoring　backe　the　five　thousand　Duckets　of　gold；　and
the　other　things　by　him　purloyned；　truly　he　revealed　the　whole　forme
of　his　falshood。　Then　Sicurano　according　as　the　Soldane　had　formerly
commanded　him；　turning　to　Bernardo；　saide。　And　thou；　upon　the
suggestion　of　this　foule　lye；　what　didst　thou　to　thy　Wife？　Being
（quoth　Bernardo）　overcome　with　for　the　losse　of　my　money；　and　the
dishonor　I　supposed　to　receive　by　my　Wife；　I　caused　a　servant　of
mine　to　kill　her；　and　as　hee　credibly　avouched；　her　body　was
devoured　by　ravenous　Wolves　in　a　moment　after。
　　These　things　being　thus　spoken　and　heard；　in　the　presence　of　the
Soldan；　and　no　reason　（as　yet）　made　knowne；　why　the　case　was　so
seriously　urged；　and　to　what　end　it　would　succeede：　Sicurano　spake
in　this　manner　to　the　Soldane。　My　gracious　Lord；　you　may　plainly
perceive；　in　what　degree　that　poore　Gentlewoman　might　make　her
vaunt；　beeing　so　well　provided；　both　of　a　loving　friend；　and　a
husband。　Such　was　the　friends　love；　that　in　an　instant；　and　by　a
wicked　lye；　hee　robbed　her　both　of　her　renowne　and　honour；　and
bereft　her　also　of　her　husband。　And　her　husband；　rather　crediting
anothers　falshoode；　then　the　invincible　trueth；　whereof　he　had
faithfull　knowledge；　by　long　and　very　honorable　experience；　caused　her
to　be　slaine；　and　made　foode　for　devouring　Wolves。　Beside　all　this；
such　was　the　good　will　and　affection　borne　to　that　Woman　both　by
friend　and　husband；　that　the　longest　continuer　of　them　in　her　company；
makes　them　alike　in　knowledge　of　her。　But　because　your　great　wisedom
knoweth　perfectly　what　each　of　them　have　worthily　deserved：　if　you
please　（in　your　ever…knowne　gracious　benignity）　to　permit　the
punishment　of　the　deceiver；　and　pardon　the　partie　so　diceyved；　I
will　procure　such　meanes；　that　she　shall　appeare　here　in　your
presence；　and　theirs。
　　The　Soldane；　being　desirous　to　give　Sicurano　all　manner　of
satisfaction；　having　followed　the　course　so　indistriously；　bad　him
to　produce　the　Woman；　and　hee　was　well　contented。　Whereat　Bernardo
stoode　much　amazed；　because　he　verity　beleeved　that　she　was　dead。
And　Ambroginolo　foreseeing　already　a　preparation　for　punishment；
feared；　that　the　repayment　of　the　money　would　not　now　serve　his　turne：
not　knowing　also；　what　he　should　further　hope　or　suspect；　if　the　woman
her　selfe　did　personally　appeare；　which　hee　imagined　would　be　a
miracle。　Sicurano　having　thus　obtained　the　Soldanes　permission；
teares；　humbling　her　selfe　at　his　feete；　in　a　moment　she　lost　her
manly　voyce　and　demeanour；　as　knowing　that　she　was　now　no　longer　to
use　them；　but　must　truly　witnesse　what　she　was　indeed；　and　therefore
thus　spake。
　　Great　Soldane；　I　am　the　miserable　and　unfortunate　Genevra；　that
for　the　space　of　sixe　whole　yeeres；　have　wandered　through　the　world；
in　the　habite　of　a　man；　falsely　and　most　maliciously　slaundered；　by
this　villainous　Traytor　Ambroginolo；　and　by　this　unkinde　cruell
husband；　betraied　to　his　servant　to　be　slaine；　and　left　to　be　devoured
by　savage　beasts。　Afterward；　desiring　such　garments　as　better　fitted
for　her；　and　shewing　her　breasts；　she　made　it　apparant　before　the
Soldane　and　his　assistants；　that　shee　was　the　very　same　woman　indeede。
Then　turning　her　selfe　to　Ambroginolo；　with　more　then　manly　courage；
she　demanded　of　him；　when；　and　where　it　was；　that　he　lay　with　her；
as　（villainously）　he　was　not　ashamed　to　make　his　vaunt？　But　hee；
having　alreadie　acknowledged　the　contrarie；　being　stricken　dumbe
with　shamefull　disgrace；　was　not　able　to　utter　one　word。
　　The　Soldane；　who　had　alwayes　reputed　Sicurano　to　be　a　man；　having
heard　and　seene　so　admirable　an　accident；　was　so　amazed　in　his
minde；　that　many　times　he　was　very　doubtfull；　whether　this　was　a
dreame；　or　an　absolute　relation　of　trueth。　But；　after　hee　had　more
seriously　considered　thereon；　and　found　it　to　be　reall　and　infallible：
with　extraordinary　gracious　praises；　he　commended　the　life；　constancy；
condition　and　vertues　of　Genevra；　whom　（til　that　time）　he　had
alwayes　called　Sicurano。　So　committing　her　to　the　company　of
honourable　Ladies；　to　be　changed　from　her　manly　habite；　he　pardoned
Bernardo　her　husband　（according　to　her　request　formerly　made）　although
hee　had　more　justly　deserved　death：　which　li