the decameron(十日谈)-第4章

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wealthy　Marchant　in　Paris；　being　a　Mercer；　or　seller　of　Silkes；
named　Jehannot　de　Chevigny；　a　man　of　faithfull；　honest；　and　upright
dealing；　who　held　great　affection　and　friendship　with　a　very　rich　Jew；
named　Abraham；　that　was　a　Merchant　also；　and　a　man　of　very　direct
conversation。　Jehannot　well　noting　the　honesty　and　loyall　dealing　of
this　Jew；　began　to　have　a　Religious　kinde　of　compassion　in　his
soule；　much　pittying　that　a　man　so　good　in　behaviour；　so　wise　and
discreete　in　all　his　actions；　should　be　in　danger　of　perdition
thorow　want　of　Faith。　In　which　regard；　lovingly　he　began　to　intreate
him；　that　he　would　leave　the　errors　of　his　Jewish　beleefe；　and
follow　the　truth　of　Christianity；　which　he　evidently　saw　（as　being
good　and　holy）　daily　to　prosper　and　enlarge　it　selfe；　whereas　on　the
contrary；　his　profession　decreased；　and　grew　to　nothing。
　　The　Jew　made　answer；　that　he　beleeved　nothing　to　be　so　good　and
holy；　as　the　Jewish　Religion；　and　having　beene　borne　therein；　therein
also　he　purposed　to　live　and　dye；　no　matter　whatsoever　being　able　to
remove　him　from　that　resolution。　For　all　this　stiffe　deniall；
Jehannot　would　not　so　give　him　over；　but　pursued　him　still　day　by
day；　reitterating　continually　his　former　speeches　to　him：　delivering
infinite　excellent　and　pregnant　reasons；　that　Merchants　themselves
were　not　ignorant；　how　farre　the　Christian　faith　excelled　the　Jewish
falshoods。　And　albeit　the　Jew　was　a　very　learned　man　in　his　owne
Law；　yet　notwithstanding　the　intire　amity　he　bare　to　Jehannot；　or
（perhaps）　his　words　fortified　by　the　blessed　Spirit；　were　so
prevailant　with　him；　that　the　Jew　felt　a　pleasing　apprehension　in
them；　though　as　yet　his　obstinacie　stoode　farre　off　from　Conversion。
But　as　he　thus　continued　strong　in　opinion；　so　Jehannot　lefte　not
hourely　to　labour　him：　insomuch；　that　the　Jew　being　conquered　by
such　earnest　and　continuall　importunity；　one　day　spake　to　Jehannot；
saying。
　　My　worthy　friend　Jehannot；　thou　art　extremely　desirous；　that　I
should　convert　to　Christianitie；　and　I　am　well　contented　to　doe　it；
onely　upon　this　condition：　That　first　I　wil　journey　to　Rome；　to　see
him　whom　thou　sayest；　is　Gods　general　Vicar　here　on　earth；　and　to
consider　on　the　course　of　his　life　and　manners；　and　likewise　of　his
Colledge　of　Cardinals。　If　he　and　they　doe　appeare　such　men　to　mee；
as　thy　speeches　affirme　them　to　be；　and　thereby　I　may　comprehend
that　thy　Faith　and　Religion　is　better　then　mine；　as　with　no　meane
paines　thou　endevourest　to　perswade　mee；　I　will　become　a　Christian
as　thou　art：　but　if　I　finde　it　otherwise；　I　will　continue　as　I　am；　a
Jew。
　　Jehannot　hearing　these　words；　became　exceeding　sorrowfull；　and　sayd
within　himselfe；　I　have　lost　all　the　paines　which　I　did　thinke　to　be
well　employed；　as　hoping　to　have　this　man　converted　heere。　For；　if
he　go　to　the　Court　of　Rome；　and　behold　there　the　wickednes　of　the
Priests　lives；　farewell　all　hope　in　me；　of　ever　seeing　him　to　become　a
Christian。　But　rather；　were　he　already　a　Christian；　without　all
question　he　would　turne　a　Jew。　And　so　going　neerer　to　Abraham；　he
said。　Alas　my　loving　friend；　why　shouldst　thou　undertake　such　a
tedious　travel；　and　so　great　a　charge；　as　thy　journey　from　hence　to
Rome　will　cost　thee？　Consider；　that　to　a　rich　man　（as　thou　art）
travaile　by　land　or　Sea　is　full　of　infinite　dangers。　Doest　thou　not
thinke；　that　here　are　Religious　men　enow；　who　wil　gladly　bestow
Baptisme　upon　thee？　To　mee　therefore　it　plainely　appeareth；　that
such　a　voyage　is　to　no　purpose。　If　thou　standest　upon　any　doubt　or
scruple；　concerning　the　faith　whereto　I　wish　thee；　where　canst　thou
desire　conference　with　greater　Doctours；　or　men　more　learned　in　all
respects；　then　this　famous　Cittie　doth　affoord　thee；　to　resolve　thee
in　any　questionable　case？　Thou　must　thinke；　that　the　Prelates　are　such
there；　as　heere　thou　seest　them　to　be；　and　yet　they　must　needes　be
in　much　better　condition　at　Rome；　because　they　are　neere　to　the
principall　Pastor。　And　therefore；　if　thou　wilt　credit　my　counsell；
reserve　this　journey　to　some　time　more　convenient；　when　the　Jubilee　of
generall　Pardon　happeneth；　and　then　（perchance）　I　will　beare　thee
company；　and　go　along　with　thee　as　in　vowed　Pilgrimage。
　　Whereto　the　Jew　replyed：　I　beleeve　Jehannot　that　all　which　thou　hast
said；　may　be　so。　But；　to　make　short　with　thee；　I　am　fully　determined
（if　thou　wouldst　have　me　a　Christian；　as　thou　instantly　urgest　me　to
bee）　to　goe　thither；　for　otherwise；　I　will　continue　as　I　am。
Jehannot　perceyving　his　setled　purpose；　said：　Goe　then　in　Gods　name。
But　perswaded　himselfe；　that　hee　would　never　become　a　Christian；　after
he　had　once　seene　the　Court　of　Rome：　neverthelesse；　he　counted　his
labour　not　altogither　lost；　in　regard　he　bestowed　it　to　a　good　end；
and　honest　intentions　are　to　be　commended。
　　The　Jew　mounted　on　horse…backe；　and　made　no　lingering　in　his　journey
to　Rome；　where　being　arrived；　he　was　very　honourably　entertained　by
other　Jewes　dwelling　in　Rome。　And　during　the　time　of　his　abiding　there
（without　revealing　to　any　one　the　reason　of　his　comming　thither）
very　heedfully　he　observed　the　maner　of　the　Popes　life；　of　the
Cardinals；　Prelates；　and　all　the　Courtiers。　And　being　a　man　very
discreet　and　judicious；　hee　apparantly　perceived；　both　by　his　owne
eye；　and　further　information　of　friends；　that　from　the　highest　to
the　lowest　（without　any　restraint；　remorse　of　conscience；　shame；　or
feare　of　punishment）　all　sinned　in　abhominable　luxurie；　and　not
naturally　onely；　but　in　foule　Sodomie；　so　that　the　credite　of
Strumpets　and　Boyes　was　not　small；　and　yet　might　be　too　easily
obtayned。　Moreover；　drunkards；　belly…Gods；　and　servants　of　the　paunch；
more　then　of　any　thing　else　（even　like　brutish　beasts　after　their
luxury）　were　every　where　to　be　met　withall。　And　upon　further
observation；　hee　saw　all　men　so　covetous　and　greedie　of　Coyne；　that
every　thing　was　bought　and　solde　for　ready　money；　not　onely　the
blood　of　men；　but　（in　plaine　termes）　the　faith　of　Christians；　yea；　and
matters　of　divinest　qualities；　how；　or　to　whomsoever　appertaining；
were　it　for　Sacrifices　or　Benefices；　whereof　was　made　no　mean
merchandize；　and　more　Brokers　were　there　to　be　found　（then　in　Paris
attending　upon　all　Trades）　of　manifest　Symonie；　under　the　nice　name　of
Negotiation；　and　for　gluttony；　not　sustentation：　even　as　if　God　had
not　knowne　the　signification　of　vocables；　nor　the　intentions　of　wicked
hearts；　but　would　suffer　himselfe　to　bee　deceived　by　the　outward　names
of　things；　as　wretched　men　commonly　use　to　doe。
　　These　things；　and　many　more　（fitter　for　silence；　then　for
publication）　were　so　deepely　displeasing　to　the　Jew；　being　a　most
sober　and　modest　man；　that　he　had　soone　seene　enough；　resolving　on　his
returne　to　Paris；　which　very　speedily　he　performed。　And　when
Jehannot　heard　of　his　arrivall；　crediting　much　rather　other　newes　from
him；　then　ever　to　see　him　a　converted　Christian；　he　went　to　welcome
him；　and　kindly　they　feasted　one　another。　After　some　few　dayes　of
resting；　Jehannot　demanded　of　him；　what　he　thought　of　our　holy
Father　the　Pope　and　his　Cardinals；　and　generally　of　all　the　other
Courtiers？　Whereto　the　Jew　readily　answered；　It　is　strange　Jehannot；
that　God　should　give　them　so　much　as　he　doth。　For　I　will　truely　tell
thee；　that　if　I　had　beene　able　to　consider　all　those　things；　which
there　I　have　both　heard　and　seene：　I　could　then　have　resolved　my
selfe；　never　to　have　found　in　any　Priest；　either　sanctity；　devotion；
good　worke；　example　of　honest　life；　or　any　good　thing　else　beside。　But
if　a　man　desire　to　see　luxury；　avarice；　gluttony；　and　such　wicked
things；　yea；　worse；　if　worse　may　be；　and　held　in　generall　estimation
of　all　men；　let　him　but　goe　to　Rome；　which　I　thinke　rather　to　be　the
forge　of　damnable　actions；　then　any　way　leaning　to　grace　or　goodnesse。
And；　for　ought　I　could　perceive；　me　thinkes　your　chiefe　Pastour；　and
（consequently）　all　the　rest　of　his　dependants；　doe　strive　so　much　as
they　may　（with　all　their　engine　arte　and　endevour）　to　bring　to
nothing；　or　else　to　banish　quite　out　of　the　world；　Christian　Religion；
whereof　they　should　be　the　support　and　foundation。
　　But　because　I　perceive；　that　their　wicked　intent　will　never　come
to　passe；　but　contrariwise；　that　your　faith　enlargeth　it　selfe；
shining　every　day　much　more　cleare　and　splendant：　I　gather　thereby
evidently；　that　the　blessed　Spirit　is　the　true　ground　and　defence
thereof；　as　being　more　true　and　holy　then　any　other。　In　which　respect；
whereas　I　stood　stiffe　and　obstinate　against　the　good　admonitions；　and
never　minded　to　become　a　Christian：　now　I　freely　open　my　heart　unto
thee；　that　nothing　in　the　world　can　or　shall　hinder　me；　but　I　will
be　a　Christian；　as　thou　art。　Let　us　therefore　presently　goe　to　the
Church；　and　there　（according　to　the　true　custome　of　your　holy
faiths）　helpe　me　to　be　baptized。
　　Jehannot；　who　expected　a　farre　contrary　conclusion　then　this；
hearing　him　speake　it　with　such　constancy；　was　the　very　gladdest　man
in　the　world；　and　went　with　him　to　the　Church　of　Nostre　Dame　in　Paris；
where　he　requested　the　Priests　there　abiding；　to　bestow　baptisme　on
Abraham；　which　they　joyfully　did；　hearing　him　so　earnestly　to　desire
it。　Jehannot　was　his　Godfather；　and　named　him　John；　and　afterward；
by　learned　Divines　he　was　more　fully　instructed　in　the　grounds　of
our　faith；　wherein　he　grew　of　great　understanding；　and　led　a　very
vertuous　life。




　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　FIRST　DAY；　THE　THIRD　NOVELL

　　　　　　　　　　　　WHEREBY　THE　AUTHOR；　APPROVING　THE　CHRISTIAN　FAITH；
　　　　　　　　　SHEWETH；　HOW　BENEFICIALL　A　SODAINE　AND　INGENIOUS　ANSWERE
　　　　　　　　　MAY　FALL　OUT　TO　BEE；　ESPECIALLY　WHEN　A　MAN　FINDS　HIMSELFE
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　IN　SOME　EVIDENT　DANGER

　　Melchisedech　a　Jew；　by　recounting　a　Tale　of　three　Rings；　to　the
great　Soldan；　named　Saladine；　prevented　a　great　danger　which　was
prepared　for　him。

　　Madame　Neiphila　having　ended　her　Discourse；　which　was　well　allowed
of　by　all　the　company；　it　pleased　the　Queene；　that　Madame　Philomena
should　next　succeede　in　order；　who　thus　began。
　　The　Tale　delivered　by　Neiphila；　maketh　mee　remember　a　doubtfull
case；　which　sometime　hapned　to　another　Jew。　And　because　that　God；
and　the　truth　of　his　holy　Faith；　hath　bene　already　very　well
discoursed　on：　it　shall　not　seeme　unfitting　（in　my　poore　opinion）　to
descend　now　into　the　accidents　of　men。　Wherefore；　I　will　relate　a
matter　unto　you；　which　being　attentively　heard　and　considered；　may
make　you　much　more　circumspect；　in　answering　to　divers　questions　and
demands；　then　（perhaps）　otherwise　you　would　be。　Consider　then　（most
woorthy　assembly）　that　like　as　folly　or　dulnesse；　many　times　hath
overthrowne　some　men　from　place　of　eminencie；　into　most　great　and
greevous　miseries：　even　so；　discreet　sense　and　good　understanding；
hath　delivered　many　out　of　irksome　perils；　and　seated　them　in　safest
security。　And　to　prove　it　true；　that　folly　hath　made　many　fall　from
high　authority；　into　poore　and　despised　calamity；　may　be　avouched　by
infinite　examples；　which　now　were　needelesse　to　remember：　But；　that
good　sense　and　able　understanding；　may　proove　to　be　the　occasion　of
great　desolation；　without　happy　prevention；　I　will　declare　unto　you　in
very　few　words；　and　make　it　good　acco