the decameron(十日谈)-第41章

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person；　going　alwayes　in　blacke　garments　of　good　price　and　value。　This
man；　imagining　（perhaps）　no　such　minde　in　mee；　as　truely　there　is；
hath　often　attempted　mee；　and　never　can　I　be　at　my　doore；　or　window；
but　hee　is　alwayes　present　in　my　sight；　which　is　not　a　little
displeasing　to　me；　he　watcheth　my　walks；　and　much　I　mervaile；　that
he　is　not　now　heere。
　　Let　me　tell　you　holy　Sir；　that　such　behaviours　doe　many　times　lay
bad　imputations　upon　very　honest　women；　yet　without　any　offence　in
them。　It　hath　often　run　in　my　mind；　to　let　him　have　knowledge
thereof　my　min　by　my　brethren：　but　afterward　I　considered；　that　men
（many　times）　deliver　messages　in　such　sort；　as　draw　on　very　ungentle
answers；　whereon　grow　words；　and　words　beget　actions。　In　which　regard；
because　no　harme　or　scandall　should　ensue；　I　thought　it　best　to　be
silent；　determining；　to　acquaint　you　rather　therewith；　then　to　any
other；　as　wel　because　you　seem　to　be　his　friend；　as　also　in　regard
of　your　office；　which　priviledgeth　you　to　correct　such　abuses；　not
onely　in　friends；　but　also　in　strangers。　Enow　other　women　there　are；
（more　is　the　pitty）　who　perhaps　are　better　disposed　to　such　suites
then　I　am；　and　can　both　like　and　allow　of　such　courting；　otherwise
then　I　can　doe；　as　being　willing　to　embrace　such　offers；　and　（happily）
loath　to　yeeld　deniall。　Wherefore；　most　humbly　I　entreate　you　good
Father　（even　for　our　blessed　Ladies　sake）　that　you　would　give　him　a
friendly　reprehension；　and　advise　him　to　use　such　unmanly　meanes　no
more　heereafter。　With　which　words；　she　hung　downe　her　bead　in　her
bosome；　cunningly　dissembling；　as　if　shee　wept；　wiping　her　eyes　with
her　Handkerchife；　when　not　a　teare　fel　from　them；　but　indeed　were
dry　enough。
　　The　holy　Religious　man；　so　soone　as　he　heard　her　description　of
the　man；　presently　knew　whom　shee　meant；　and　highly　commending　the
Gentlewoman　for　her　good　and　vertuous　seeming　disposition；　beleeved
faithfully　all　that　shee　had　said：　promising　her；　to　order　the
matter　so　well　and　discreetly；　as　shee　should　not　any　more　bee
offended。　And　knowing　her　to　be　a　woman　of　great　wealth　（after　all
their　usuall　manner；　when　they　cast　forth　their　fishing　nets　for
gaine：）　liberally　he　commeuned　Almesdeeds；　and　dayly　workes　of
Charity；　recounting　to　her　beside　his　owne　particular　necessities。
Then；　giving　him　two　peeces　of　Gold；　she　said：　I　pray　you　（good
Father）　to　be　mindfull　of　me；　and　if　he　chance　to　make　any　deniall；
tell　him；　that　I　spake　it　my　selfe　to　you；　and　by　the　way　of　a　sad
complaint　her　confession　being　ended；　and　penance　easie　enough
enjoyned　her；　she　promised　to　make　her　parents　bountifull
Benefactors　to　the　Convent；　and　put　more　money　into　his　hand；　desiring
him　in　his　Masses；　to　remember　the　soules　of　her　deceased　friends；　and
so　returned　home　to　her　house。
　　Within　a　short　while　after　her　departure；　the　Gentleman；　of　whome
she　made　this　counterfeit　complaint；　came　thither；　as　was　his　usuall
manner；　and　having　done　his　duty　to　the　holy　Father；　they　sate　downe
together　privately；　falling　out　of　one　discourse　into　another。　At
the　length；　the　Friar　（in　very　loving　and　friendly　sort）　mildly
reproved　him　for　such　amorous　glaunces；　and　other　pursuites；　which　（as
he　thought）　he　dayly　used　to　the　Gentlewoman；　according　to　her　owne
speeches。　The　Gentleman　mervalled　greatly　thereat；　as　one　that　had
never　seene　her；　and　very　sildome　passed　by　the　way　where　shee
dwelt；　which　made　him　the　bolder　in　his　answeres；　wherein　the
Confessour　interrupting　him；　saide。　Never　make　such　admiration　at
the　matter；　neyther　waste　more　words　in　deniall；　because　they　cannot
serve　thy　turne；　I　tell　thee　plainely；　I　heard　these　words　even　from
her　owne　selfe；　in　a　very　sorowfull　and　sad　complaint。　And　though
（perhaps）　heereafter；　thou　canst　very　hardly　refraine　such　follies；
yet　let　me　tell　thee　so　much　of　her　（and　under　the　seale　of　absolute
assurance）　that　she　is　the　onely　woman　of　the　world；　who　to　my
judgement；　doth　abhorre　all　such　base　behaviour。　In　regard　therefore
of　thine　owne　honour；　as　also　not　to　vex　and　prejudice　so　vertuous　a
Gentlewoman；　I　pray　thee　refraine　such　idlenesse　henceforward；　and
suffer　her　to　live　in　peace。
　　The　Gentleman　being　a　little　wiser　then　his　ghostly　Father；
perceived　immediately；　the　notable　pollicy　of　the　Woman。　Whereupon；
making　somewhat　bashfull　appearance　of　any　error　already　committed；　he
said；　He　would　afterward　be　better　advised。　So　departing　from　the
Friar；　hee　went　on　directly；　to　passe　by　the　house　where　the
Gentlewoman　dwelt；　and　shee　stood　alwayes　ready　on　her　watch；　at　a
little　Window；　to　observe　when　he　would　walke　that　way。　And　seeing　him
comming；　shee　shewed　her　selfe　so　joyfull　and　gracious　to　him；　as　he
easily　understood；　whereto　the　substance　of　the　holy　Fathers　chiding
tended。　And　from　that　time　forward；　he　used　dayly　though　in　covert
manner　（to　the　no　litle　liking　of　the　Gentlewoman　and　himselfe）　to
make　his　passage　thorough　that　street；　under　colour　of　some
important　occasions　there　concerning　him。
　　Soone　after；　it　being　plainely　discerned　on　either　side；　that　the
one　was　as　well　contented　with　these　walkes；　as　the　other　could　be：
she　desired　to　enflame　him　a　little　further；　by　a　more　liberall
illustration　of　her　affection　towards　him；　when　time　and　place
affoorded　convenient　opportunity。　To　the　holy　Father　againe　she
went；　（for　she　had　beene　too　long　from　shrift）　and　kneeling　downe　at
his　feete；　intended　to　begin　her　confession　in　teares；　which　the　Friar
perceiving；　sorrowfully　demanded　of　her；　what　accident　had　happened？
Holy　Father　（quoth　shee）　no　novell　accident；　only　your　wicked　and
ungracious　friend；　by　whom　（since　I　was　heere　with　you；　yea；　no　longer
agoe　then　yesterday）　I　have　been　so　wronged；　as　I　verily　beleeve
that　he　was　borne　to　bee　my　mortall　enemy；　and　to　make　me　do
somthing　to　my　utter　disgrace　for　ever；　and　whereby　I　shall　not　dare
to　be　seene　any　more　of　you　my　deare　Father。　How　is　this？　answered　the
Friar；　hath　he　not　refrained　from　afflicting　you　so　abusively？
　　Pausing　a　while；　and　breathing　foorth　many　a　dissembled　sighe；
thus　shee　replyed。　No　truely；　holy　Father；　there　is　no　likelyhood　of
his　abstaining；　for　since　I　made　my　complaint　to　you；　he　belike　taking
it　in　evil　part；　to　bee　contraried　in　his　wanton　humours；　hath
（meerely　in　despight）　walked　seaven　times　in　a　day　by　my　doore；
whereas　formerly　he　never　used　it　above　once　or　twice。　And　well　were
it　（good　Father）　if　he　could　be　contented　with　those　walkes；　and
gazing　glances　which　hee　dartes　at　me：　but　growne　he　is　so　bolde　and
shamelesse；　that　even　yesterday；　（as　I　tolde　you）　hee　sent　a　woman
to　me；　one　of　his　Pandoraes；　as　it　appeared；　and　as　if　I　had　wanted
either　Purses　or　Girdies；　hee　sent　me　by　her；　a　Purse　and　a　Girdle。
Whereat　I　grew　so　greevously　offended；　as　had　it　not　bene　for　my　due
respect　and　feare　of　God；　and　next　the　sacred　reverence　I　beare　to　you
my　ghostly　Father；　doubtlesse　I　had　done　some　wicked　deede。
Neverthelesse；　happily　I　withstood　it；　and　wil　neither　say　or　do　any
thing　in　this　case；　till　first　I　have　made　it　knowne　to　you。
　　Then　I　called　to　minde；　that　having　redelivered　the　Purse　and　Girdle
to　his　shee…Messenger；　which　brought　them　with　lookes　sufficient　to
declare　my　discontentment：　I　called　her　backe　againe；　fearing　least
she　would　keep　them　to　her　selfe；　and　make　him　beleeve　that　I　had
received　them　（as　I　have　heard　such　kinde　of　women　use　to　do
sometimes）　and　in　anger　I　snatcht　them　from　her；　and　have　brought　them
you；　to　the　end；　that　you　may　give　him　them　againe；　and　tell　him；　I
have　no　need　of　any　such　things；　thankes　be　to　heaven　and　my
husband；　as　no　woman　can　be　better　stored　then　I　am。　Wherefore　good
Father；　purposely　am　I　now　come　to　you；　to　let　him　know；　that　if　he
will　not　abstaine　from　thus　molesting　me；　I　will　disclose　it　to　my
Husband；　Father；　and　Brethren；　whatsoever　befall。　For　I　had　rather
he　should　receive　the　injury；　then　I　to　be　causelessly　blamed　for　him；
wherein　good　Father　tell　me；　if　I　dooe　not　well。　With　many
counterfet　sobbes；　sighes；　and　teares　these　words　were　delivered；
and　drawing　foorth　from　under　her　gowne；　a　very　faire　and　rich
purse；　as　also　a　Girdle　of　great　worth；　she　threw　them　into　the　Friars
lappe。
　　He　verily　beleeving　all　this　false　report；　being　troubled　in　his
minde　thereat　beyond　measure；　tooke　the　Gentlewoman　by　the　hand；
saying：　Daughter；　if　thou　be　offended　at　these　impudent　follies；
assuredly　I　cannot　blame　thee；　nor　will　any　wiseman　reproove　thee
for　it；　and　I　commend　thee　for　following　my　counsell。　But　let　me　alone
for　schooling　of　my　Gentleman；　ill　hath　he　kept　his　promise　made　to
me；　wherefore；　in　regard　of　his　former　offence；　as　also　this　other
so　lately　committed；　I　hope　to　set　him　in　such　heate；　as　shall　make
him　leave　off　from　further　injurying　thee。　Suffer　not　thy　selfe　to
be　conquerd　by　choller；　in　disclosing　this　to　thy　kindred　or
husband；　because　too　much　harme　may　ensue　thereon。　But　feare　not　any
wrong　to　thy　selfe；　for　I　am　a　true　witnesse　of　thine　honesty　and
vertue。
　　Now　began　she　to　seeme　better　comforted；　and　forbearing　to　play　on
this　string　any　longer；　as　well　knowing　the　covetousnes　of　him　and　his
equals；　she　said：　Holy　Father；　some　few　nights　past；　me　thought　in
my　sleepe；　that　divers　spirits　of　my　kindred　appeared　to　me　in　a
vision；　who　me　thought　were　in　very　great　pains；　and　desired　nothing
els　but　Almes；　especially　my　Godmother；　who　seemed　to　be　afflicted
with　such　extrem　poverty；　that　it　was　most　Pittifull　to　behold。　And
I　am　halfe　perswaded；　that　her　torments　are　the　greater；　seeing　me
troubled　with　such　an　enemy　to　goodnesse。　Wherefore　（good　Father）　to
deliver　her　soule　and　the　others　out　of　those　fearfull　flames；　among
your　infinite　other　devout　prayers；　I　would　have　you　to　say　the
forty　Masses　of　S。　Gregory；　as　a　means　for　their　happy　deliverance；
and　so　she　put　ten　ducates　into　his　hand。　Which　the　holy　man　accepted
thankfully；　and　with　good　words；　as　also　many　singular　examples；
confirmed　her　bountifull　devotion：　and　when　he　had　given　her　his
benediction；　home　she　departed。
　　After　that　the　Gentlewoman　was　gone；　hee　sent　for　his　friend　whom
she　so　much　seemed　to　be　troubled　withall；　and　when　he　was　come；　hee
beholding　his　Holy　Father　to　looke　discontentedly；　thought；　that　now
he　should　heare　some　newes　from　his　Mistresse；　and　therefore
expected　what　he　would　say。　The　Friar；　falling　into　the　course　of
his　former　reprehensions；　but　yet　in　more　rough　and　impatient
minner；　sharpely　checkt　him　for　his　immodest　behaviour　towards　the
Gentlewoman；　in　sending　her　the　Purse　and　Girdle。　The　Gentleman；　who
as　yet　could　not　guesse　whereto　his　speeches　tended；　somewhat　coldly
and　temperately；　denied　the　sending　of　such　tokens　to　her；　to　the
end　that　he　would　not　bee　utterly　discredited　with　the　good　man；　if　so
bee　the　Gentlewoman　had　shewne　him　any　such　things。　But　then　the
Frier；　waxing　much　more　angry；　sternly　said。　Bad　man　as　thou　art；
how　canst　thou　deny　a　manifest　truth？　See　sir；　these　are　none　of
your　amorous　tokens？　No；　I　am　sure　you　doe　not　know　them；　nor　ever　saw
them　till　now。
　　The　Gentleman；　seeming　as　if　he　were　much　ashamed；　saide。　Truely
Father　I　do　know　them；　and　c