the decameron(十日谈)-第40章

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appearance　of　knowing　it；　but　rather　concealed　it　to　himselfe。　Farre
from　the　indiscretion　of　some　haire…braind　men；　who　presently　would
have　answered　and　sworne；　I　came　hither　this　night；　till　now。
Whereupon　many　dangers　might　ensue；　to　the　dishonour　and　prejudice
of　the　Queene：　beside；　her　error　being　discovered　to　her；　might
afterward　be　an　occasion；　to　urge　a　wandring　in　her　appetite；　and　to
covet　after　change　againe。　But　by　this　silence；　no　shame　redounded
to　him　or　her；　whereas　prating；　must　needs　be　the　publisher　of　open
infamie：　yet　was　hee　much　vexed　in　his　minde；　which　neither　by
lookes　or　words　hee　would　discover；　but　pleasantly　said　to　the　Queene；
Why　Madam；　although　I　was　once　heere　before　to　night；　I　hope　you
mislike　not　my　second　seeing　you；　nor　if　I　should　please　to　come
againe。　No　truly　Sir；　quoth　she；　I　onely　desire　you　to　have　care　of
your　health。　Well；　said　the　King；　I　will　follow　your　counsaile；　and
now　returne　to　mine　owne　lodging　againe；　committing　my　Queene　to　her
good　rest。
　　His　blood　boyling　with　rage　and　distemper；　by　such　a　monstrous
injurie　offered　him；　he　wrapt　his　night…mantle　about　out　and　leaving
his　Chamber；　imagining；　that　whatsoever　he　was；　needs　he　must　be　one
of　his　owne　house：　he　tooke　a　light　in　his　hand；　and　convayed　it
into　a　little　Lanthorne；　purposing　to　be　resolved　in　his　suspition。　No
guests　or　strangers　were　now　in　his　Court；　but　onely　such　as
belonged　to　his　houshold；　who　lodged　altogether　about　the　Escurie
and　Stables；　being　there　appointed　to　divers　beds。　Now；　this　was　his
conceite；　that　whosoever　had　beene　so　lately　familiar　with　the　Queene；
his　heart　and　his　pulse　could　（as　yet）　be　hardly　at　rest；　but　rather
would　be　troubled　with　apparant　agitation；　as　discovering　the　guilt　of
so　great　an　offender。　Many　Chambers　had　he　passed　thorow；　where　all
were　soundly　sleeping；　and　yet　he　felt　both　their　brests　and　pulses。
　　At　last　he　came　to　the　lodging　of　the　man　indeede；　that　had　so
impudently　usurped　his　place；　who　could　not　as　yet　sleepe；　for　joy
of　atchieved　adventure。　When　he　espied　the　King　come　in；　knowing
well　the　occasion　of　his　search；　he　began　to　waxe　very　doubtfull；　so
that　his　heart　and　pulse　beating　extreamely；　he　felt　a　further
addition　of　feare；　as　being　confidently　perswaded；　that　there　was
now　no　other　way　but　death；　especially　if　the　King　discovered　his
agony。　And　although　many　considerations　were　in　his　braine；　yet
because　he　saw　that　the　King　was　unarmed；　his　best　refuge　was；　to　make
shew　of　sleepe；　in　expectation　what　the　King　intended　to　doe。　Among
them　all　he　had　sought；　yet　could　not　find　any　likelihood；　whereby
to　gather　a　grounded　probability；　he　came　to　this　Querry；　whose
heart　and　pulses　laboured　so　strongly；　that　he　said　to　himselfe；　Yea
mary；　this　is　th　man　that　did　the　deede。
　　Nevertheless；　purposing　to　make　no　apparance　of　his　further
intention；　he　did　nothing　else　to　him；　but　drawing　forth　a　paire　of
sheares；　which　purposely　he　brought　thither　with　him；　he　clipped
away　a　part　of　his　lockes；　which　（in　those　times）　they　used　to　weare
very　long；　to　the　end　that　he　might　the　better　know　him　the　next
morning；　and　so　returned　backe　to　his　lodging　againe。　The　Querry；
who　partly　saw；　but　felt　what　was　done　to　him；　perceived　plainely
（being　a　subtill　ingenious　fellow）　for　what　intent　he　was　thus　marked。
Wherefore；　without　any　longer　dallying；　up　he　rose；　and　taking　a　paire
of　sheares；　wherewith　they　used　to　trim　their　Horses；　softly　he　went
from　bed　to　bed；　where　they　all　lay　yet　soundly　sleeping；　and　clipt
away　each　mans　locke　from　his　right　eare；　in　the　selfe　same　manner
as　the　King　had　done　his；　and　being　not　perceived　by　any　one　of
them；　quietly　he　laide　him　downe　againe。
　　In　the　morning；　when　the　King　was　risen；　he　gave　command　that　before
the　Pallace　gates　were　opened；　all　his　whole　Family　should　come　before
him；　as　instantly　his　will　was　fulfilled。　Standing　all　uncovered　in
his　presence；　he　began　to　consider　with　himselfe；　which　of　them　was
the　man　that　he　had　marked。　And　seeing　the　most　part　of　them　to　have
their　lockes　cut；　all　after　one　and　the　selfe　same　manner；
marvailing　greatly；　he　saide　to　himselfe。　The　man　whom　I　seeke　for；
though　he　be　but　of　meane　and　base　condition；　yet　it　plainely
appeareth；　that　he　is　of　no　deject　or　common　understanding。　And
seeing；　that　without　further　clamour　and　noyse；　he　could　not　find
out　the　party　he　looked　for；　he　concluded；　not　to　win　eternall
shame；　by　compassing　a　poore　revenge：　but　rather　（by　way　of
admonition）　to　let　the　offender　know　in　a　word；　that　he　was　both　noted
and　observed。　So　turning　to　them　all；　he　saide；　He　that　hath　done
it；　let　him　be　silent；　and　doe　so　no　more；　and　now　depart　about　your
businesse。
　　Some　other　turbulent　spirited　man；　no　imprisonments；　tortures；
examinations；　and　interrogations；　could　have　served　his　turne；　by
which　course　of　proceeding；　he　makes　the　shame　to　be　publikely　knowne；
which　reason　requireth　to　keepe　concealed。　But　admit　that　condigne
vengeance　were　taken；　it　diminisheth　not　one　tittle　of　the　shame；
neither　qualifieth　the　peoples　bad　affections；　who　will　lash　out　as
liberally　in　scandal；　and　upon　the　very　least　babling　rumor。　Such
therfore　as　heard　the　Kings　words；　few　though　they　were；　yet　truly
wise；　marvelled　much　at　them；　and　by　long　examinations　among
themselves；　questioned；　but　came　far　short　of　his　meaning；　the　man
onely　excepted　whom　indeed　they　concerned；　and　by　whom　they　were　never
discovered；　so　long　as　the　King　lived；　neither　did　he　dare　at　any　time
after；　to　hazard　his　life　in　the　like　action；　under　the　frownes　or
favour　of　Fortune。




　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　THIRD　DAY；　THE　THIRD　NOVELL

　　　DECLARING；　THAT　THE　LEWD　QUALITIES　OF　SOME　PERSONS；　OFTENTIMES
　　　　　　　MISGUIDE　GOOD　PEOPLE；　INTO　GREAT　AND　GREEVOUS　ERRORS。

　　Under　colour　of　Confession；　and　of　a　most　pure　conscience；　a　faire
yong　Gentlewoman；　being　amourously　affected　to　an　honest　man；
induced　a　devoute　and　solemne　religious　Friar；　to　advise　her　in　the
meanes　（without　his　suspition　or　perceiving）　how　to　enjoy　the
benefit　of　her　friend；　and　bring　her　desires　to　their　full　effect。

　　When　Madam　Pampinea　sate　silent；　and　the　Querries　boldnesse　equalled
with　his　crafty　cunning；　and　great　wisedom　in　the　King　had　passed
amongst　them　with　a　generall　applause；　the　Queene　turning　her　selfe　to
Madam　Philomena；　appointed　her　to　follow　next　in　order　as　the　rest　had
done　before　her：　whereupon　Philomena　began　after　this　maner。
　　It　is　my　purpose；　to　acquaint　you　with　a　notable　mockerie；　which　was
performed　（not　in　jest；　but　earnest）　by　a　faire　Gentlewoman；　to　a
grave　and　devoute　Religious　Friar；　which　will　yeelde　so　much　the
more　pleasure　and　recreation；　to　every　secular　understander；　if　but
diligently　he　or　she　doe　observe；　how　commonly　those　Religious　persons
（at　least　the　most　part　of　them）　like　notorious　fooles；　are　the
inventers　of　new　courses　and　customes；　as　thinking　themselves　more
wise　and　skilful　in　all　things　then　any　other；　yet　prove　to　be　of　no
worth　or　validity；　addicting　the　verie　best　of　all　their　devices；　to
expresse　their　owne　vilenesse　of　mind；　and　fatten　themselves　in
their　styes　like　to　pampered　Swine。　And　assure　your　selves　worthy
Ladies；　that　I　doe　not　tell　this　tale　onely　to　follow　the　order
enjoyned　me；　but　also　to　informe　you　that　such　Saint…like　holy　Sirs；
of　whom　we　are　too　opinionate　and　credulous；　may　be；　yea　and　are
（divers　times）　cunningly　met　withall；　in　theyr　craftinesse；　not
onely　by　men；　but　likewise　some　of　our　owne　sexe；　as　shall　make　it
apparant　to　you。
　　In　our　owne　City　（more　full　of　craft　and　deceit；　then　love　or
faithfull　dealing）　there　lived　not　many　yeeres　since；　a　Gentlewoman　of
good　spirit；　highly　minded；　endued　with　beauty　and　all　commendable
qualities；　as　any　other　woman　（by　nature）　could　be。　Her　name；　or　any
others；　concerned　in　this　Novel；　I　meane　not　to　make　manifest；
albeit　I　know　them；　because　some　are　yet　living；　and　thereby　may　be
scindalized；　and　therefore　it　shall　suffice　to　passe　them　over　with
a　smile。　This　Gentlewoman；　seeing　her　selfe　to　be　descended　of　very
great　parentage；　and　（by　chance）　married　to　an　Artezan；　a　Cloathyer　or
Draper；　that　lived　by　the　making　and　selling　of　cloth。　Shee　could
not　（because　he　was　a　Tradesman）　take　downe　the　height　of　her　minde；
conceiving；　that　no　man　of　meane　condition　（how　rich　soever）　was
worthy　to　enjoy　a　Gentlewoman　in　marriage。　Observing　moreover；　that
with　all　his　wealth　and　treasure；　he　understood　nothing　better；　then
to　open　skeines　of　yarne；　fill　shuttles　lay　webbes　in　his　Loomes；　or
dispute　with　his　Spinsters；　about　their　businesse。
　　Being　thus　over…swayed　with　her　proud　opinion；　she　would　no　longer
be　embraced　or　regarded　by　him　in　any　manner；　saving　only　because
she　could　not　refuse　him；　but　would　find　some　other　for　her　better
satisfaction；　who　might　seeme　more　worthy　of　her　respect；　then　the
Draper　her　Husband　did。　Heereupon　shee　fell　so　deepe　in　love　with　a
verie　honest　man　of　our　City　also；　and　of　indifferent　yeeres；　as
what　day　shee　saw　him　not；　shee　could　take　no　rest　the　night
ensuing。　The　man　himselfe　knew　nothing　hereof；　and　therefore　was　the
more　carelesse：　and　she　being　curious；　nice；　yet　wisely　considerate；
durst　not　let　him　understand　it；　neither　by　any　womans　close
conveyed　message；　nor　yet　by　Letters；　as　fearing　the　perils　which
happen　in　such　cases。　But　her　eye　observing　his　dayly　walkes　and
resorts；　gave　her　notice　of　his　often　conversing　with　a　religious
Friar；　who　albeit　he　was　a　fat　and　corpulent　man；　yet　notwithstanding；
because　he　seemed　to　leade　a　sanctimonious　life；　and　was　reported　to
be　a　most　honest　man；　she　perswaded　her　selfe；　that　he　might　be　the
best　meanes　betweene　her　and　her　friend。
　　Having　considered　with　her　selfe；　what　course　was　best　to　be
observed　in　this　case；　uppon　a　day　apt　and　convenient；　she　went　to　the
Convent　where　he　kept；　and　having　caused　him　to　be　called；　shee　told
him；　that　if　his　leysure　so　served；　very　gladly　would　she　be
confessed；　and　onely　had　made　her　choice　of　him。　The　holy　man　seeing
her　to　be　a　Gentlewoman　（as　indeed　she　was）　willingly　heard　her；　and
when　she　had　confessed　what　she　could；　she　had　yet　another　matter　to
acquaint　him　withall；　and　thereupon　thus　she　began。
　　Holy　Father；　it　is　no　more　then　convenient　that　I　should　have
recourse　to　you；　to　be　assisted　by　your　helpe　and　counsell；　in　a
matter　which　I　will　impart　unto　you。　I　know；　that　you　are　not　ignorant
of　my　parents　and　husband；　of　whom　I　am　affected　as　deerely　as　his
life；　for　proofe　whereof；　there　is　not　any　thing　that　I　can　desire；
but　immediately　I　have　it　of　him；　he　being　a　most　rich　man；　and　may
very　sufficiently　affoord　it。　In　regard　whereof；　I　love　him　equally　as
my　selfe；　and　（setting　aside　my　best　endevours　for　him）　I　must　tell
you　one　thing　quite　contrary　to　his　liking　and　honour：　no　woman
could　more　worthily　deserve　death；　then　my　selfe。　Understand　then
（good　Father）　that　there　is　a　man；　whose　name　I　know　not；　but　he
seemeth　to　be　honest；　and　of　good　worth；　moreover　（if　I　am　not
deceived）　he　resorteth　oftentimes　to　you；　being　faire　and　comely　of
person；　going　alwayes　in　blacke　garments　of　good　price　and　value。　Thi