the decameron(十日谈)-第39章

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great　Hercules；　in　giving　content　to　so　many；　and　by　continuing
dumbe　in　this　maner；　it　would　redound　to　his　no　meane　detriment。
Whereupon；　as　he　was　one　night　sitting　by　the　Abbesse；　the　string　that
retained　his　tongue　from　speech；　brake　on　a　sodaine；　and　thus　he
spake。
　　Madam；　I　have　often　heard　it　said；　that　one　Cocke　may　doe　service　to
ten　several　Hennes；　but　ten　men　can　very　hardly　even　with　all　their
best　endeavour；　give　full　satisfaction　every　way　to　one　woman；　and　yet
I　am　tied　to　content　nine；　which　is　farre　beyond　the　compasse　of　my
power　to　do。　Already　have　I　performed　so　much　Garden　and　Chamber…work；
that　I　confesse　my　selfe　starke　tired；　and　can　travaile　no　further；
and　therefore　let　me　entreate　you　to　lycense　my　departure　hence；　or
finde　some　meanes　for　my　better　ease。　The　Abbesse　bearing　him
speake；　who　had　so　long　ben　there　stricken　into　admiration；　and
accounting　it　almost　a　miracle；　said。　How　commeth　this　to　passe？　I
verily　beleeved　thee　to　be　dumbe。　Madam　（quoth　Massetto）　so　I　was
indeed；　but　not　by　Nature；　onely　I　had　a　long　lingering　sicknes
which　bereft　me　of　speech；　and　which　I　have　not　onely　recovered　againe
this　night；　but　shal　ever　remaine　thankfull　to　you　for　it。
　　The　Abbesse　verily　credited　his　answer；　demanding　what　he　meant　in
saying；　that　he　did　service　to　nine？　Madam；　quoth　he；　this　were　a
dangerous　question；　and　not　easily　answered　before　fore　the　eight
Sisters。　Upon　this　reply；　the　Abbesse　plainely　perceived；　that　not
onely　she　had　fallen　into　foll　but　all　the　Nunnes　likewise　cried
guilty　too：　wherfore　being　a　woman　of　sound　discretion；　she　would
not　grant　that　Massetto　should　depart；　but　to　keepe　him　still　about
the　Nunnes　businesse；　because　the　Monastery　should　not　be
scandalized　by　him。　And　the　Fac…totum　being　dead　a　little　before；
his　strange　recovery　of　speech　revealed；　and　some　things　else　more
neerely　concerning　them：　by　generall　consent；　and　with　the　good　liking
of　Massetto；　he　was　created　the　Fac…totum　of　the　Monasterie。
　　All　the　neighboring　people　dwelling　thereabout；　who　knew　Massetto　to
be　dumbe；　by　fetching　home　wood　daily　from　the　Forest；　and　divers
employments　in　other　places；　were　made　to　beleeve；　that　by　the
Nunnes　devout　prayers　and　discipline；　as　also　the　merite　of　the　Saint；
in　whose　honour　the　Monastery　was　built　and　erected；　Massetto　had
his　long　restrained　speech　restored；　and　was　now　become　their　sole
Factotum；　having　power　now　to　employ　others　in　drudgeries；　and　ease
himselfe　of　all　such　labours。　And　albeit　he　made　the　Nunnes　to　be
fruitfull；　by　encreasing　some　store　of　yonger　sisters；　yet　all　matters
were　so　close　and　cleanly　catried；　as　it　was　never　talkt　of；　till
after　the　death　of　the　Ladie　Abbesse；　when　Massetto　beganne　to　grow　in
good　yeeres；　and　desired　to　returne　home　to　his　native　abiding；
which　（within　a　while　after）　was　granted　him。
　　Thus　Massetto　being　rich　and　olde；　returned　home　like　a　wealthy
father；　taking　no　care　for　the　nursing　of　his　children；　but　bequeathed
them　to　the　place　where　they　were　bred　and　borne；　having　（by　his　wit
and　ingenious　apprehension）　made　such　a　benefit　of　his　youthfull
yeeres；　that　now　he　merrily　tooke　ease　in　his　age。




　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　THIRD　DAY；　THE　SECOND　NOVELL

　　　　　　　WHEREIN　IS　SIGNIFIED；　THE　PROVIDENCE　OF　A　WISE　MAN；　WHEN
　　　　　　HE　SHALL　HAVE　REASON　TO　USE　REVENGE。　AND　THE　CUNNING　MEANES
　　　　　　OF　ANOTHER；　WHEN　HEE　　COMPASSETH　CRAFT　TO　DEFEND　HIMSELFE
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　FROM　PERILL

　　A　querry　of　the　Stable；　belonging　to　Agilulffo；　King　of　the
Lombardes；　found　the　meanes　of　accesse　to　the　Queenes　bed；　without　any
knowledge　or　consent　in　her。　This　being　secretly　discovered　by　the
King；　and　the　party　known；　he　gave　him　a　marke；　by　shearing　the
haire　of　his　head。　Whereupon；　he　that　was　so　shorne；　sheared
likewise　the　heads　of　all　his　fellowes　in　the　lodging；　and　so
escaped　the　punishment　intended　towards　him。

　　When　the　Novel　of　Philostratus　was　concluded；　which　made　some　of　the
Ladies　blush；　and　the　rest　to　smile：　it　pleased　the　Queene；　that　Madam
Pampinea　should　follow　next；　to　second　the　other　gone　before；　when
she；　smiling　on　the　whole　assembly；　began　thus。　There　are　some　men
so　shallow　of　capacity；　that　they　will　（neverthelesse）　make　shew　of
knowing　and　understanding　such　things；　as　neither　they　are　able　to
doe；　nor　appertaine　to　them：　whereby　they　will　sometimes　reprehend
other　new　errours；　and　such　faults　as　they　have　unwillingly　committed；
thinking　thereby　to　hide　their　owne　shame；　when　they　make　it　much　more
apparant　and　manifest。　For　proofe　whereof；　faire　company；　in　a
contrary　kinde　I　will　shew　you　the　subtill　cunning　of　one；　who
（perhaps）　may　bee　reputed　of　lesse　reckning　then　Massetto；　and　yet
he　went　beyond　a　King；　that　thought　himselfe　to　be　a　much　wiser　man。
　　Agilulffo；　King　of　Lombardie；　according　as　his　Predecessours　had
done　before　him；　made　the　principall　seate　of　his　Kingdome；　in　the
Citie　of　Pavia；　having　embraced　in　mariage；　Tendelinga；　the　late
left　widdow　of　Vetario；　who　likewise　had　beene　King　of　the　Lombards；　a
most　beautifull　wife　and　vertuous　Lady；　but　made　unfortunate　by　a
mischance。　The　occurrences　and　estate　of　the　whole　Realme；　being　in　an
honourable；　quiet　and　well　setled　condition；　by　the　discreete　care　and
providence　of　the　King；　a　Querrie　appertaining　to　the　Queenes　Stable
of　Horse；　being　a　man　but　of　meane　and　low　quality；　though　comely　of
person；　and　of　equall　stature　to　the　King；　became　immeasurably　amorous
of　the　Queene。　And　because　his　base　and　servile　condition；　had
endued　him　with　so　much　understanding；　as　to　know　infallibly；　that　his
affection　was　mounted　beyond　the　compasse　of　conveniencie：　wisely　he
concealed　it　to　himselfe；　not　acquainting　any　one　therewith；　or　daring
so　much；　as　to　discover　it　either　by　lookes；　or　any　other　affectionate
behaviour。
　　And　although　hee　lived　utterly　hopelesse；　of　ever　attaining　to　his
hearts　desires；　yet　notwithstanding；　hee　proudly　gloried；　that　his
love　had　soared　so　high　a　pitch；　as　to　be　enamoured　of　a　Queene。　And
dayly；　as　the　fury　of　his　flame　encreased；　so　his　cariage　was　farre
above　his　fellowes　and　companions；　in　the　performing　of　all　such
serviceable　duties；　as　any　way　he　imagined　might　content　the　Queene。
Whereon　ensued；　that　whensoever　shee　roade　abroad　to　take　the　ayre；
shee　used　oftner　to　mount　on　the　Horse；　which　this　Querrie　brought
when　shee　made　her　choise；　then　any　of　the　other　that　were　led　by
his　fellowes。　And　this　did　he　esteeme　as　no　meane　happinesse　to　him；
to　order　the　stirrope　for　her　mounting；　and　therefore　gave　dayly　his
due　attendance：　so　that；　to　touch　the　Stirrop；　but　（much　more）　to
put　her　foote　into　it；　or　touch　any　part　of　her　garments；　he　thought
it　the　onely　heaven　on　earth。
　　But；　as　we　see　it　oftentimes　come　to　passe；　that　by　how　much　the
lower　hope　declineth；　so　much　the　higher　love　ascendeth；　even　so
fell　it　out　with　this　poore　Querry；　for；　most　irkesome　was　it　to
him；　to　endure　the　heavy　waight　of　his　continuall　oppressions；　not
having　any　hope　at　all　of　the　very　least　mitigation。　And　being　utterly
unable　to　relinquish　his　love　divers　times　he　resolved　on　some
desperate　conclusion；　which　might　yet　give　the　world　an　evident
testimony；　that　he　dyed　for　the　love　he　bare　to　the　Queene。　And　upon
this　determination；　hee　grounded　the　successe　of　his　future　fortune；
to　dye　in　compassing　some　part　of　his　desire；　without　either
speaking　to　the　Queene；　or　sending　any　missive　of　his　love；　for　to
speake　or　write；　were　meerely　in　vaine；　and　drew　on　a　worser
consequence　then　death；　which　he　could　bestow　on　himselfe　more　easily；
and　when　he　listed。
　　No　other　course　now　beleagers　his　braines；　but　onely　for　secret
accesse　to　the　Queenes　bed；　and　how　he　might　get　entrance　into　her
Chamber；　under　colour　of　the　King；　who　（as　he　knew　very　well）　slept
many　nights　together　from　the　Queene。　Wherefore；　to　see　in　what
manner；　and　what　the　usuall　habit　was　of　the　King；　when　he　came　to
keepe　companie　with　his　Queene：　he　hid　himselfe　divers　nights　in　a
Gallery；　which　was　betweene　both　their　lodging　Chambers。　At　length；　he
saw　the　King　come　forth　of　his　Chamber；　himselfe　all　alone；　with　a
faire　night…mantle　wrapt　about　him；　carrying　a　lighted　Taper　in　the
one　hand；　and　a　small　white　Wand　in　the　other；　so　went　he　on　to　the
Queenes　lodging；　and　knocking　at　the　doore　once　or　twice　with　the
wand；　and　not　using　any　word；　the　doore　opened；　the　light　was　left
without；　and　he　entered　the　Chamber；　where　he　stayed　not　long；
before　his　returning　backe　againe；　which　likewise　very　diligently　he
observed。
　　So　familiar　was　he　in　the　Wardrobe；　by　often　fetching　and
returning　the　King　and　Queenes　furnitures；　that　the　fellowes　to　the
same　Mantle　which　the　King　wore　when　he　went　to　the　Queene；　very
secretly　he　conveighed　away　thence　with　him；　being　provided　of　a
Light；　and　the　very　like　Wand。　Now　bestowes　he　costly　bathings　on
his　body；　that　the　least　sent　of　the　Stable　might　not　be　felt　about
him；　and　finding　a　time　sutable　to　his　desire；　when　he　knew　the　King
to　bee　at　rest　in　his　owne　Lodging；　and　all　else　sleeping　in　their
bed；　closely　he　steals　into　the　Gallery；　where　alighting　his　Taper；
with　the　Tinder　purposely　brought　thither；　the　Mantle　folded　about
him；　and　the　Wand　in　his　hand；　valiantly　he　adventures　upon　his
lives　perill。　Twice　hee　knockt　softly　at　the　doore；　which　a　wayting
woman　immediately　opened；　and　receyving　the　Light；　went　forth　into　the
Gallery；　while　the　supposed　King；　was　conversing　with　the　Queene。
　　Alas　good　Queene；　heere　is　a　sinne　commited　without　any　guiltie
thought　in　thee；　as　（within　a　while　after）　it　plainely　appeared。
For；　the　Querry　having　compassed　what　he　most　coveted；　and　fearing
to　forfelte　his　life　by　delay；　when　his　amorous　desire　was
indifferently　satisfied：　returned　backe　as　he　came；　the　sleepy　waiting
woman　not　so　much　as　looking　on　him；　but　rather　glad；　that　she　might
get　her　to　rest　againe。　Scarcely　was　the　Querrie　stept　into　his　bed；
unheard　or　discerned　by　any　of　his　fellowes；　divers　of　them　lodging
both　in　that　and　the　next　Chamber：　but　it　pleased　the　King　to　visite
the　Queene；　according　to　his　wonted　manner；　to　the　no　little
mervaile　of　the　drowsie　wayting　woman；　who　was　never　twice　troubled　in
a　night　before。　The　King　being　in　bed；　whereas　alwayes　till　then；
his　resort　to　the　Queene；　was　altogether　in　sadnesse　and
melancholly；　both　comming　and　departing　without　speaking　one　word：　now
his　Majestie　was　become　more　pleasantly　disposing；　whereat　the
Queene　began　not　a　little　to　mervaile。　Now　trust　mee　Sir；　quoth
shee；　this　hath　beene　a　long　wished；　and　now　most　welcome
alteration；　vouchsafing　twice　in　a　night　to　visite　me；　and　both　within
the　compasse　of　one　houre；　for　it　cannot　be　much　more；　since　your
being　here；　and　now　comming　againe。
　　The　King　hearing　these　words；　sodainely　presumed；　that　by　some
counterfeit　person　or　other；　the　Queene　had　beene　this　night　beguiled：
wherefore　（very　advisedly）　hee　considered；　that　in　regard　the　party
was　unknowne　to　her；　and　all　the　women　about　her；　to　make　no　outward
appearance　of　knowing　it；　but　rather　concealed　it　to　himselfe。　Farre
from　the　indiscretion　of　some　haire…braind　men；　who　presen