the decameron(十日谈)-第37章

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　　By　that　which　hath　bin　saide；　you　may　easily　conceive；　that　the
course　which　we　have　hitherto　continued；　cannot　bee　prosecuted　in
one　and　the　same　manner：　where。　fore；　I　would　advise　and　do　hold　it　an
action　wel　performed　by　us；　to　cease　for　these　few　dayes；　from
recounting　any　other　Novels。　And　because　we　have　remained　here　foure
daies　already；　except　we　would　allow　the　enlarging　of　our　company；
with　some　other　friends　that　may　resort　unto　us：　I　thinke　it　necessary
to　remove　from　hence；　and　take　our　pleasure　in　another　place；　which　is
already　by　me　determined。　When　we　shalbe　there　assembled；　and　have
slept　on　the　discourses　formerly　delivered；　let　our　next　argument　be
still　the　mutabilities　of　Fortune；　but　especially　to　concerne　such
persons；　as　by　their　wit　and　ingenuity；　industriously　have　attained　to
some　matter　earnestly　desired；　or　else　recovered　againe；　after　the
losse。　Heereon　let　us　severally　study　and　premeditate；　that　the
hearers　may　receive　benefit　thereby；　with　the　comfortable
maintenance　of　our　harmelesse　recreations；　the　priviledge　of　Dioneus
alwayes　reserved　to　himselfe。
　　Every　one　commended　the　Queens　deliberation；　concluding　that　it
shold　be　accordingly　prosecuted：　and　thereupon；　the　master　of　the
houshold　was　called；　to　give　him　order　for　that　evenings　Table
service；　and　what　else　concerned　the　time　of　the　Queenes　Royalty；
wherein　he　was　sufficiently　instructed：　which　being　done；　the
company　arose；　licensing　every　one　to　doe　what　they　listed。　The　Ladies
and　Gentlemen　walked　to　the　Garden；　and　having　sported　themselves
there　a　while；　when　the　houre　of　supper　came；　they　sate　downe；　and
fared　very　daintily。　Being　risen　from　the　Table；　according　to　the
Queenes　command；　Madam　Aemilia　led　the　dance；　and　the　ditty　following；
was　sung　by　Madam　Pampinea；　being　answered　by　all　the　rest；　as　a
Chorus。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　SONG

　　And　if　not　I；　what　Lady　else　can　sing；
　　Of　those　delights；　which　kind　contentment　bring？
　　Come；　come；　sweet　Love；　the　cause　of　my　chiefe　good；
　　Of　all　my　hopes；　the　firme　and　full　effect；
　　Sing　wee　together；　but　in　no　sad　mood；
　　Of　sighes　or　teares；　which　joy　doth　countercheck：
　　Stolne　pleasures　are　delightfull　in　the　taste；
　　But　yet　Loves　fire　is　oftentimes　too　fierce；
　　Consuming　comfort　with　ore…speedy　haste；
　　Which　into　gentle　hearts　too　far　doth　pierce。
　　　　And　if　not　I；　etc。
　　The　first　day　that　I　felt　this　fiery　heate；
　　So　sweete　a　passion　did　possesse　my　soule；
　　That　though　I　found　the　torment　sharp；　and　great；
　　Yet　still　me　thought　t'was　but　a　sweete　controule。
　　Nor　could　I　count　it　rude；　or　rigorous；
　　Taking　my　wound　from　such　a　piercing　eye：
　　As　made　the　paine　most　pleasing；　gracious；
　　That　I　desire　in　such　assaults　to　die。
　　　　And　if　not　I；　etc。

　　Grant　then　great　God　of　Love；　that　I　may　still
　　Enjoy　the　benefit　of　my　desire；
　　And　honour　her　with　all　my　deepest　skill；
　　That　first　enflam'd　my　heart　with　holy　fire。
　　To　her　my　bondage　is　free　liberty；
　　My　sicknesse　health；　my　tortures　sweet　repose；
　　Say　shee　the　word；　in　full　felicity
　　All　my　extreames　joyne　in　an　happy　close。
　　　　Then　if　not　I；　what　Lover　else　can　sing；
　　　　Of　those　delights　which　kind　contentment　bring？

　　After　this　Song　was　ended；　they　sung　divers　other　beside；　and　having
great　variety　of　instruments'　they　played　to　them　as　many　pleasing
dances。　But　the　Queene　considering　that　the　meete　houre　for　rest　was
come；　with　their　lighted　Torches　before　them；　they　all　repaired　to
their　Chambers；　sparing　the　other　dayes　next　succeeding；　for　those
reasons　by　the　Queene　alledged；　and　spending　the　Sunday　in　solemne
devotion。


　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　INDUCTION　TO　THE　THIRD　DAY

　　　　　UPON　WHICH　DAY；　ALL　MATTERS　TO　BE　DISCOURSED　ON；　DOE　PASSE
　　　　UNDER　THE　REGIMENT　OF　MADAM　NEIPHILA：　CONCERNING　SUCH　PERSONS
　　　　　AS　（BY　THEIR　WIT　AND　INDUSTRY）　HAVE　ATTAINED　TO　THEIR　LONG
　　　　　WISHED　DESIRES；　OR　RECOVERED　SOMETHING；　SUPPOSED　TO　BE　LOST

　　The　morning　put　on　a　vermillion　countenance　and　made　the　Sunne　to
rise　blushing　red；　when　the　Queene　（and　all　the　faire　company）　were
come　abroad　forth　of　their　Chambers；　the　Seneshall　or　great　Master
of　the　Houshold；　having　（long　before）；　sent　all　things　necessary　to
the　place　of　their　next　intended　meeting。　And　the　people　which
prepared　there　every　needfull　matter；　suddainely　when　they　saw　the
Queene　was　setting　forward；　charged　all　the　rest　of　their　followers；
as　if　it　had　beene　prepatation　for　a　Campe；　to　make　hast　away　with　the
carriages；　the　rest　of　the　Familie　remaining　behind；　to　attend　upon
the　Ladies　and　Gentlemen。
　　With　a　milde；　majesticke；　and　gentle　pace；　the　Queene　rode　on；　being
followed　by　the　other　Ladies；　and　the　three　young　Gentlemen；　taking
their　way　towards　the　West；　conducted　by　the　musicall　notes　of
sweete　singing　Nightingales；　and　infinite　other　pretty　Birds　beside；
riding　in　a　tract　not　much　frequented；　but　richly　abounding　with　faire
hearbes　and　flowres；　which　by　reason　of　the　Sunnes　high　mounting；
beganne　to　open　their　bosome。
　　But；　after　the　dayes　warmth　was　more　mildely　qualified；　and　every
one　had　made　benefit　of　their　best　content：　they　went　（by　order　sent
from　the　Queene）　into　the　Meadow　where　the　Fountaine　stood；　and
being　set　about　it；　as　they　used　to　do　in　telling　their　Tales　（the
argument　appointed　by　the　Queene　being　propounded）　the　first　that
had　the　charge　imposed；　was　Philostratus；　who　began　in　this　manner。




　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　THIRD　DAY；　THE　FIRST　NOVELL

　　　　　　　　WHEREIN　IS　DECLARED；　THAT　VIRGINITY　IS　VERY　HARDLY　TO　BE
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　KEPT　IN　ALL　PLACES

　　Massetto　di　Lamporechio；　by　counterfetting　himselfe　to　be　dumbe；
became　a　Gardiner　in　a　Monastery　of　Nunnes；　where　he　had　familiar
conversation　with　them　all。

　　Most　worthy　Ladies；　there　wants　no　store　of　men　and　women；　that
are　so　simple；　as　to　credit　for　a　certainty；　that　so　soon　as　a　yong
virgin　hath　the　veile　put　on　hir　head；　and　the　black　Cowle　given　to
cover　withall；　she　is　no　longer　a　woman；　nor　more　sensible　of　feminine
affections；　then　as　if　in　turning　Nun；　shee　became　converted　to　a
stone。　And　if　（perchance）　they　heard　some　matters；　contrary　to　their
former　perswasion；　then　they　grow　so　furiously　offended；　as　if　one　had
committed　a　most　foule　and　enormous　sinne；　directly　against　the　course
of　Nature。　And　the　torrent　of　this　opinion　burries　them　on　so
violently；　that　they　wil　admit　no　leisure　to　consider；　how　（in　such
a　scope　of　liberty）　they　have　power　to　doe　what　they　list；　yea
beyond　all　meanes　of　sufficient　satisfying；　never　remembring　how
potent　the　priviledge　of　idlenes　is；　especially　when　it　is　backt　by
solitude。　In　like　manner；　there　are　other　people　now；　who　verily
beleeve；　that　the　Spade　and　Pickaxe；　grosse　feeding　and　labour；　do
quench　al　sensual　and　fleshly　concupiscence；　yea；　in　such　as　till
and　husband　the　ground；　by　making　them　dull；　blockish；　and　（almost）
meere　senslesse　of　understanding。　But　I　will　approve　（according　as　the
Queene　hath　commanded　me；　and　within　the　compasse　of　her　direction）　by
a　short　and　pleasant　Tale；　how　greatly　they　are　abused　by　errour；　that
build　upon　so　weake　a　foundation。
　　Not　farre　from　Alexandria；　there　was　a　great　and　goodly
Monasterie；　belonging　to　the　Lord　of　those　parts；　who　is　termed　the
Admirall。　And　therein；　under　the　care　and　trust　of　one　woman；　divers
virgins　were　kept　as　recluses；　or　Nuns；　vowed　to　chastity　of　life；　out
of　whose　number；　the　Soldan　of　Babylon　（under　whom　they　lived　in
subjection）　at　every　three　yeers　end；　had　usually　three　of　these
virgins　sent　him。　At　the　time　wherof　I　am　now　to　speake；　there
remained　in　the　Monastery；　no　more　but　eight　religious　Sisters　only；
beside　the　Lady　Abbesse；　and　an　honest　poor　man；　who　was　a　Gardiner；
and　kept　the　Garden　in　commendable　order。
　　His　wages　being　small；　and　he　not　well　contented　therewith；　would
serve　there　no　longer：　but　making　his　accounts　even；　with　the　Factotum
or　Bayliffe　belonging　to　the　house；　returned　thence　to　the　village
of　Lamporechio；　being　a　native　of　the　place。　Among　many　other　that
gave　him　welcom　home；　was　a　yong　Hebrew　pezant　of　the　country；　sturdy；
strong　and　yet　comely　of　person；　being　named　Masset。　But　because　he
was　born　not　farre　off　from　Lamporechio；　and　had　there　bin　brought
up　all　his　yonger　dayes；　his　name　of　Masset　（according　to　their　vulgar
speech）　was　turnec　to　Massetto；　and　therefore　he　was　usually　called
and　knowne　by　the　name　of　Massetto　of　Lamporechio。
　　Massetto；　falling　in　talke　with　the　honest　poore　man；　whose　name　was
Lurco；　demanded　of　him　what　services　hee　had　done　in　the　Monasterie；
having　continued　there　so　long　a　time？　Quoth　Lurco；　I　laboured　in
the　Garden；　which　is　very　faire　and　great；　then　I　went　to　the　Forest
to　fetch　home　wood；　and　cleft　it　for　their　Chamber　fuell；　drawing　up
all　theyr　water　beside；　with　many　other　toilsome　services　else：　but
the　allowance　of　my　wages　was　so　little；　as　it　would　not　pay　for　the
shoes　I　wore。　And　that　which　was　worst　of　all；　they　being　all　women；　I
thinke　the　divel　dwels　among　g　them；　for　a　man　cannot　doe　any　thing　to
please　them。　When　I　have　bene　busie　at　my　worke　in　the　garden；　one
would　come　and　say；　Put　this　heere；　put　that　there；　and　others　would
take　the　dibble　out　of　my　hand；　telling　me；　that　I　did　not　performe
any　thing　well；　making　me　so　weary　of　their　continuall　trifling；　as
I　have　lefte　all　busines；　given　over　the　Garden；　and　what　for　one
mollestation；　as　also　many　other；　I　intended　to　tarry　no　longer　there；
but　came　away；　as　thou　seest。　And　yet　the　Factotum　desired　me　at　my
departing；　that　if　I　knew　any　one　who　would　undertake　the　aforesaid
labours；　I　should　send　him　thither；　as　（indeed）　I　promised　to　do：
but　let　mee　fall　sicke　and　dye；　before　I　helpe　to　send　them　any。
　　When　Massetto　had　heard　the　words　of　Lurco；　hee　was　so　desirous　to
dwell　among　the　Nunnes；　that　nothing　else　now　hammered　in　his　head：
for　he　meant　more　subtilly　than　poore　Lurco　did；　and　made　no　doubt
to　please　them　sufficiently。　Then　considering　with　himselfe；　how
best　he　might　bring　his　intent　to　effect；　which　appeared　not　easily　to
bee　done。　He　could　question　no　further　therein　with　Lurco；　but　onely
demaunded　other　matter　of　him；　saying：　Introth　thou　didst　well
Lurco；　to　come　away　from　so　tedious　a　dwelling；　had　he　need　to　be　more
then　a　man　that　is　to　live　with　such　women？　It　were　better　for　him
to　dwell　among　so　many　divels；　because　they　understand　not　the　tenth
part　that　womens　wily　wits　can　dive　into。
　　After　their　conference　was　ended；　Massetto　began　to　beate　his
braines　how　he　might　compasse　to　dwell　among　them；　and　knowing　that　he
could　wel　enough　performe　all　the　labours　whereof　Lurco　had　made
mention；　he　cared　not　for　any　losse　he　should　sustaine　thereby；　but
onely　stood　in　doubt　of　his　entertainment；　because　he　was　too　yong　and
sprightly。　Having　pondered　on　many　imaginations；　he　said　to
himselfe。　The　place　is　farre　enough　distant　hence；　and　none　there
can　take　knowledge　of　mee；　if　I　have　wit　sufficient；　cleanely　to
make　them　beleeve　that　I　am　dumbe；　then　（questionles）　I　shal　be
received。　And　resolving　to　prosecute　this　determination；　he　tooke　a
Spade　on　his　shoulder；　and　without　revealing　to