the decameron(十日谈)-第36章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


out　other　then　you　have　affirmed；　you　shal　offer　me　great　wrong；　in
seeking　to　get　her　from　me；　because　I　am　a　young　man；　and　can　as
well　maintaine　so　faire　a　wife　as　you；　or　any　man　else　that　I　know。
Beleeve　it　certainly；　replyed　the　judge；　that　she　is　my　wife；　and　if
you　please　to　bring　me　where　she　is；　you　shall　soone　perceive　it：
for　she　will　presently　cast　her　armes　about　my　necke；　and　I　durst
adventure　the　utter　losse　of　her；　if　she　deny　to　do　it　in　your
presence。　Come　on　then；　saide　Pagamino；　and　let　us　delay　the　time　no
longer。
　　When　they　were　entred　into　Pagaminos　house；　and　sat　downe　in　the
Hall；　he　caused　her　to　be　called；　and　she　（being　readily　prepared
for　the　purpose）；　came　forth　of　her　Chamber　before　them　both；　where
friendly　they　sate　conversing　together；　never　uttering　any　word　unto
Signieur　Ricciardo；　or　knowing　him　from　any　other　stranger；　that
Pagamino　might　bring　into　the　house　with　him。　Which　when　my　Lord　the
Judge　beheld；　（who　expected　to　finde　a　farre　more　gracious　welcome）　he
stoode　as　a　man　amazed；　saying　to　himselfe。　Perhaps　the
extraordinary　greefe　and　melancholly　suffered　by　me　since　the　time
of　her　losse；　hath　so　altred　my　wonted　complexion；　that　shee　is　not
able　to　take　knowledge　of　me。　Wherefore；　going　neerer　to　her；　he
saide：　Faire　Love；　deerely　have　I　bought　your　going　on　fishing；
because　never　man　felt　the　like　afflictions　as　I　have　done　since　the
day　when　I　lost　you：　but　by　this　your　uncivil　silence；　you　seeme　as　if
you　did　not　know　me。　Why　deerest　love；　seest　thou　not　that　I　am　thy
husband　Ricciardo；　who　am　come　to　pay　what　ransome　this　Gentleman
shall　demaund；　even　in　the　house　where　now　we　are；　so　to　convey　thee
home　againe；　upon　his　kind　promise　of　thy　deliverance；　after　the
payment　of　thy　ransome？
　　Bertolomea　turning　towards　him；　and　seeming　as　if　shee　smiled　to　her
selfe；　thus　answered。　Sir；　speake　you　to　me？　Advise　your　selfe　well；
least　you　mistake　me　for　some　other；　for　mine　owne　part；　I　never　saw
you　till　now。　How　now　quoth　Ricciardo？　Consider　better　what　you　say；
looke　more　circumspectly　on　me；　and　then　you　will　remember；　that　I
am　your　loving　husband；　and　my　name　is　Ricciardo　di　Cinzica。　You
must　pardon　me　Sir；　replyed　Bertolomea；　I　know　it　not　so　fitting　for　a
modest；　woman　to　stand　gazing　in　the　faces　of　men：　and　let　me　looke
uppon　you　never　so　often；　certaine　I　am；　that　（till　this　instant）　I
have　not　seene　you。　My　Lord　Judge　conceived　in　his　minde；　that　thus
she　denied　all　knowledge　of　him；　as　standing　in　feare　of　Pagamino；　and
would　not　confesse　him　in　his　presence。　Wherefore　hee　entreated　of
Pagamino；　to　affoord　him　so　much　favour；　that　he　might　speake　alone
with　her　in　her　Chamber。　Pagamino　answered；　that　he　was　well　contented
therewith；　provided；　that　he　should　not　kisse　her　against　her　will。
Then　he　requested　Bartolomea；　to　goe　with　him　alone　into　her
Chamber；　there　to　heare　what　he　could　say；　and　to　answere　him　as
shee　found　occasion。　When　they　were　come　into　the　Chamber；　and　none
there　present　but　he　and　shee；　Signior　Ricciardo　began　in　this　manner。
Heart　of　my　heart；　life　of　my　life；　the　sweetest　hope　that　I　have　in
this　world；　wilt　thou　not　know　thine　owne　Ricciardo；　who　loveth　thee
more　then　he　doth　himselfe？　Why　art　thou　so　strange？　Am　I　so
disfigured；　that　thou　knowest　me　not？　Behold　me　with　a　more　pleasing
eye；　I　pray　thee。
　　Bartolomea　smiled　to　her　self　and　without　suffering　him　to　proceed
any　further　in　speech；　returned　him　this　answere。　I　would　have　you
to　understand　Sir；　that　my　memory　is　not　so　oblivious；　but　I　know
you　to　be　Signior　Ricciardo　di　Cinzica；　and　my　husband　by　name　or
title；　but　during　the　time　that　I　was　with　you；　it　very　ill　appeared
that　you　had　any　knowledge　of　me。　For　if　you　had　bene　so　wise　and
considerate；　as　（in　your　own　judgement）　the　world　reputed　you　to　be；
you　could　not　be　voide　of　so　much　apprehension；　but　did　apparantly
perceive；　that　I　was　yong；　fresh；　and　cheerefully　disposed；　and　so　（by
consequent）　meet　to　know　matters　requisite　for　such　young　women；
beside　allowance　of　food　and　garments；　though　bashfulnesse　and　modesty
forbid　to　utter　it。　But　if　studying　the　Lawes　were　more　welcome　to　you
then　a　wife；　you　ought　not　to　have　maried；　and　you　loose　the　worthy
reputation　of　a　judge；　when　you　fall　from　that　venerable　profession；
and　make　your　selfe　a　common　proclaimer　of　feasts　and　fasting　dayes；
lenten　seasons；　vigils；　and　solemnities　due　to　Saints；　which　prohibite
the　houshold　conversation　of　husbands　and　wives。
　　Here　am　I　now　with　a　worthy　Gentleman；　that　entertaineth　me　with
very　honourable　respect；　and　here　I　live　in　this　Chamber；　not　so
much　as　hearing　of　any　feasts　or　fasting　dayes；　for；　neither　Fridaies；
Saturdaies；　vigils　of　Saints；　or　any　lingering　Lent；　enter　at　this
doore：　but　heere　is　honest　and　civill　conversation；　better　agreeing
with　a　youthfull　disposition；　then　those　harsh　documents　wherewith　you
tutord　me。　Wherefore　my　purpose　is　to　continue　here　with　him；　as　being
a　place　sutable　to　my　minde　and　youth；　referring　feasts；　vigils；　and
fasting　daies；　to　a　more　mature　and　stayed　time　of　age；　when　the
body　is　better　able　to　endure　them；　and　the　mind　may　be　prepared　for
such　ghostly　meditations：　depart　therefore　at　your　owne　pleasure；
and　make　much　of　your　Calender；　without　enjoying　any　company　of
mine；　for　you　heare　my　resolved　determination。
　　The　Judge　hearing　these　words；　was　overcome　with　exceeding　griefe；
and　when　she　was　silent；　thus　he　began。　Alas　deare　Love；　what　an
answere　is　this？　Hast　thou　no　regard　of　thine　owne　honor；　thy　Parents；
and　friends？　Canst　thou　rather　affect　to　abide　here；　for　the　pleasures
of　this　man；　and　so　sin　capitolly；　then　to　live　at　Pisa　in　the　state
of　my　wife？　Consider　deare　heart；　when　this　man　shall　waxe　weary　of
thee；　to　thy　shame　and　his　owne　disgrace；　he　will　reject　thee。　I
must　and　shall　love　thee　for　ever；　and　when　I　dye；　I　leave　thee　Lady
and　commandresse　of　all　that　is　mine。　Can　an　inordinate　appetite；
cause　thee　to　be　carelesse　of　thine　honour；　and　of　him　that　loves　thee
as　his　owne　life？　Alas；　my　fairest　hope；　say　no　more　so；　but　returne
home　with　me；　and　now　that　I　am　acquainted　with　thy　inclination；　I
will　endeavour　heereafter　to　give　thee　better　contentment。　Wherefore
（deare　heart）　doe　not　denie　me；　but　change　thy　minde；　and　goe　with　me；
for　I　never　saw　merry　day　since　I　lost　thee。
　Sir　（quoth　she）　I　desire　no　body　to　have　care　of　mine　honour；
beside　my　selfe；　because　it　cannot　be　here　abused。　And　as　for　my
Parents；　what　respect　had　they　of　me；　when　they　made　me　your　wife？
If　then　they　could　be　so　carelesse　of　mee；　what　reason　have　I　to
regard　them　now？　And　whereas　you　taxe　me；　that　I　cannot　live　here
without　capitall　sin；　farre　is　the　thought　thereof　from　me：　for；
here　I　am　regarded　as　the　wife　of　Pagamino；　but　at　Pisa；　you　reputed
me　not　worthy　your　society：　because；　by　the　point　of　the　Moone；　and
the　quadratures　of　Geometrie；　the　Planets　held　conjunction　betweene
you　and　me；　whereas　here　I　am　subject　to　no　such　constellations。　You
say　beside；　that　hereafter　you　will　strive　to　give　me　better
contentment　then　you　have　done；　surely；　in　mine　opinion　it　is　no　way
possible；　because　our　complexions　are　so　farre　different；　as　yce　is
from　fire；　or　gold　from　drosse。　As　for　your　allegation；　of　this
Gentlemans　rejecting　me；　when　his　humour　is　satisfied；　should　it　prove
to　be　so　（as　it　is　the　least　part　of　my　feare）　what　fortune　soever
shall　betide　me；　never　will　I　make　any　meanes　to　you；　what　miseries　or
misadventures　may　happen　to　me；　but　the　world　will　affoord　me　one
resting　place　or　other；　and　more　to　my　contentment；　then　if　I　were
with　you。　Therefore　I　tell　you　once　againe；　to　live　secured　from　all
offence　to　holy　Saints；　and　not　to　injure　their　feasts；　fasts；
vigills；　and　other　ceremonious　seasons：　here　is　my　demourance；　and
from　hence　I　purpose　not　to　part。
　　Our　Judge　was　now　in　a　wofull　perplexity；　and　confessing　his
folly；　in　marying　a　wife　so　young；　and　far　unfit　for　his　age　and
abilitie：　being　halfe　desperate；　sad　and　displeased；　he　came　forth
of　the　Chamber；　using　divers　speeches　to　Pagamino；　whereof　he　made
little　or　no　account　at　all：　and　in　the　end；　without　any　other
successe；　left　his　wife　there；　and　returned　home　to　Pisa。　There
further　afflictions　fell　upon　him；　because　the　people　began　to
scorne　him；　demanding　dayly　of　him；　what　was　become　of　his　gallant
young　wife；　making　hornes；　with　ridiculous　pointings　at　him：　whereby
his　sences　became　distracted；　so　that　he　ran　raving　about　the
streetes；　and　afterward　died　in　very　miserable　manner。　Which　newes
came　no　sooner　to　the　eare　of　Pagamino；　but；　in　the　honourable
affection　hee　bare　to　Bertolomea；　he　maried　her；　with　great　solemnity；
banishing　all　Fasts；　Vigils；　and　Lents　from　his　house；　and　living　with
her　in　much　felicity。　Wherfore　（faire　Ladies）　I　am　of　opinion；　that
Bernardo　of　Geneway；　in　his　disputation　with　Ambroginolo；　might　have
shewne　himselfe　a　great　deale　wiser；　and　sparing　his　rash　proceeding
with　his　wife。
　　This　tale　was　so　merrily　entertained　among　the　whole　company；　that
each　one　smiling　upon　another；　with　one　consent　commended　Dioneus；
maintaining　that　he　spake　nothing　but　the　truth；　and　condemning
Bernardo　for　his　cruelty。　Upon　a　generall　silence　commanded；　the　Queen
perceiving　that　the　time　was　now　very　farre　spent；　and　every　one　had
delivered　their　severall　Novels；　which　likewise　gave　a　period　to　her
Royalty：　she　gave　the　Crowne　to　Madam　Neiphila；　pleasantly　speaking　to
her　in　this　order。　Heereafter；　the　government　of　these　few　people　is
committed　to　your　trust　and　care；　for　with　the　day　concludeth　my
dominion。　Madam　Neiphila；　blushing；　at　the　honor　done　unto　her；　her
cheekes　appeared　of　a　vermillion　tincture；　her　eyes　glittering　with
gracefull　desires；　and　sparkeling　like　the　morning　Starre。　And　after
the　modest　murmure　of　the　Assistants　was　ceased；　and　her　courage　in
chearfull　manner　setled；　seating　her　selfe　higher　then　she　did　before；
thus　she　spake。
　　Seeing　it　is　so；　that　you　have　elected　me　your　Queene；　to　varie
somewhat　from　the　course　observed　by　them　that　went　before　me；　whose
governement　you　have　all　so　much　commended：　by　approbation　of　your
counsell；　I　am　desirous　to　speake　my　mind；　concerning　what　I　wold　have
to　be　next　followed。　It　is　not　unknowne　to　you　all；　that　to　morrow
shal　be　Friday；　and　Saturday　the　next　day　following；　which　are　daies
somewhat　molestuous　to　the　most　part　of　men；　for　preparation　of
their　weekly　food　and　sustenance。　Moreover；　Friday　ought　to　be
reverendly　respected；　in　remembrance　of　him；　who　died　to　give　us　life；
and　endured　his　bitter　passion；　as　on　that　day；　which　makes　me　to　hold
it　fit　and　expedient；　that　wee　should　mind　more　weight）；　matters；
and　rather　attend　our　prayers　and　devotions　then　the　repetition　of
tales　or　Novels。　Now　concerning　Saturday；　it　hath　bin　a　custome
observed　among　women；　to　bath　and　wash　themselves　from　such
immundicities　as　the　former　weekes　toile　hath　imposed　on　them。　Beside；
it　is　a　day　of　fasting；　in　honour　of　the　ensuing　Sabbath；　whereon　no
labor　may　be　done；　but　the　observation　of　holy　exercises。
　　By　that　which　hath　bin　saide；　you　may　easily　conceive；　that　the
course　which　we　h