the decameron(十日谈)-第42章

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them　till　now。
　　The　Gentleman；　seeming　as　if　he　were　much　ashamed；　saide。　Truely
Father　I　do　know　them；　and　confesse　that　I　have　done　ill；　and　very
greatly　offended：　but　now　I　will　sweare　unto　you；　seeing　I
understand　how　firmely　she　is　affected；　that　you　shall　never　heare　any
more　complaint　of　me。　Such　were　his　vowes　and　protestations；　as　in　the
end　the　ghostly　Father　gave　him　both　the　Purse　and　Girdle：　then
after　he　had　preached；　and　severely　conjured　him；　never　more　to　vexe
her　with　any　gifts　at　all；　and　he　binding　himselfe　thereto　by　a
solemne　promise；　he　gave　him　license　to　depart。　Now　grew　the　Gentleman
very　jocond；　being　so　surely　certifyed　of　his　Mistresses　love；　and
by　tokens　of　such　worthy　esteeme；　wherefore　no　sooner　was　he　gone　from
the　Frier；　but　he　went　into　such　a　secret　place；　where　he　could　let
her　behold　at　her　Window；　what　precious　tokens　he　had　received　from
her；　whereof　she　was　extraordinarily　joyfull；　because　her　devices　grew
still　better　and　better；　nothing　now　wanting；　but　her　husbands
absence；　upon　some　journey　from　the　City；　for　the　full　effecting　of
her　desire。
　　Within　a　few　dayes　after；　such　an　occasion　hapned；　as　her　husband　of
necessity　must　journey　to　Geneway；　and　no　sooner　was　he　mounted　on
horsebacke；　taking　leave　of　her　and　all　his　friends：　but　she；　being
sure　he　was　gone；　went　in　all　hast　to　her　Ghostly　Father；　and；　after　a
few　faigned　outward　shewes；　thus　she　spake。　I　must　now　plainely　tell
you；　holy　Father；　that　I　can　no　longer　endure　this　wicked　friend　of
yours；　but　because　I　promised　you　the　other　day；　that　I　would　not　do
any　thing；　before　I　had　your　counsell　therein；　I　am　now　come　to　tell
you；　the　just　reason　of　my　anger；　and　full　purpose　to　avoid　all
further　mollestation。
　　Your　friend　cannot　terme　him；　but　（questionlesse）　a　very　divell　of
hell：　this　morning；　before　the　breake　of　day；　having　heard　（but　how；　I
know　not）　that　my　husband　was　ridden　to　Geneway：　got　over　the　wall
into　my　Garden；　and　climbing　up　a　tree　which　standeth　close　before
my　Chamber　window；　when　I　was　fast　asleepe；　opened　the　Casement；　and
would　have　entred　in　at　the　window。　But；　by　great　good　fortune；　I
awaked；　and　made　shew　of　an　open　outcry：　but　that　he　entreated　me；
both　for　Gods　sake　and　yours；　to　pardon　him　this　error；　and　never
after　he　would　presume　any　more　to　offend　me。　When　he　saw；　that　（for
your　sake）　I　was　silent；　he　closed　fast　the　window　againe；　departed　as
he　came；　and　since　I　never　saw　him；　or　heard　any　tidings　of　him。　Now
Judge　you；　holy　Father；　whether　these　be　honest　courses　or　no；　and
to　be　endured　by　any　civill　Gentlewoman；　neither　would　I　so
patiently　have　suffered　this；　but　onely　in　my　dutifull　reverence　to
you。
　　The　Ghostly　Father　hearing　this；　became　the　sorrowfullest　man　in　the
world；　not　knowing　how　to　make　her　any　answere；　but　only　demanded　of
her　divers　times；　whether　she　knew　him　so　perfectly；　that　she　did
not　mistake　him　for　some　other？　Quoth　she；　I　would　I　did　not　know
him　from　any　other。　Alas　deere　daughter　（replied　the　Frier）　what　can
more　be　sayd　in　this　case；　but　that　it　was　over…much　boldnesse；　and
very　ill　done；　and　thou　shewedst　thy　selfe　a　worthy　wise　woman；　in
sending　him　away　so　mercifully；　as　thou　didst。　Once　more　I　would
entreat　thee　（deere　and　vertuous　daughter）　seeing　grace　hath
hitherto　kept　thee　from　dishonor；　and　twice　already　thou　hast　credited
my　counsell；　let　me　now　advise　thee　this　last　time。　Spare　speech；　or
complaining　to　any　other　of　thy　friends；　and　leave…it　to　me；　to　try　if
I　can　overcome　this　unchained　divell；　whom　I　tooke　to　be　a　much　more
holy　man。　If　I　can　recall　him　from　this　sensuall　appetite；　I　shall
account　my　labour　well　employed；　but　if　I　cannot　do　it；　henceforward
（with　my　blessed　benediction）　I　give　thee　leave　to　do；　even　what　thy
heart　will　best　tutor　thee　to。　You　see　Sir　（said　shee）　what　manner
of　man　he　is；　yet　would　I　not　have　you　troubled　or　disobeyed；　only　I
desire　to　live　without　disturbance；　which　worke　（I　beseech　you）　as
best　you　may：　for　I　promise　you；　good　Father；　never　to　solicite　you
more　uppon　this　occasion：　And　so；　in　a　pretended　rage；　she　returned
backe　from　the　ghostly　Father。
　　Scarsely　was　she　gone　forth　of　the　Church；　but　in　commeth　the　man
that　had　（supposedly）　so　much　transgressed；　and　the　Fryer　taking　him
aside；　gave　him　the　most　injurious　words　that　could　be　used　to　a
man；　calling　him　disloyall；　perjured；　and　a　traitor。　He　who　had
formerly　twice　perceived；　how　high　the　holy　mans　anger　mounted；　did
nothing　but　expect　what　he　would　say；　and；　like　a　man　extreamly
perplexed；　strove　how　to　get　it　from　him；　saying；　Holy　Father；　how
come　you　to　be　so　heinously　offended？　What　have　I　done　to　incense
you　so　strangely？　Heare　me　dishonest　wretch　answered　the　Frier；　listen
what　I　shall　say　unto　thee。　Thou　answerest　me；　as　if　it　were　a　yeare
or　two　past；　since　so　foule　abuses　were　by　thee　committed；　and　they
almost　quite　out　of　thy　remembrance。　But　tell　me　wicked　man；　where
wast　thou　this　morning；　before　breake　of　the　day？　Wheresoever　I　was；
replyed　the　Gentleman；　mee　thinkes　the　tidings　come　very　quickly　to
you。　It　is　true；　said　the　Frier；　they　are　speedily　come　to　me
indeed；　and　upon　urgent　necessity。
　　After　a　little　curbing　in　of　his　wrath；　somewhat　in　a　milder
straine；　thus　he　proceeded。　Because　the　Gentlewomans　husband　is
journeyed　to　Geneway；　proves　this　a　ladder　to　your　hope；　that　to
embrace　her　in　your　armes；　you　must　climbe　over　the　Garden　wall；
like　a　treacherous　robber　in　the　night　season；　mount　up　a　tree
before　her　Chamber　window；　open　the　Casement；　as　hoping　to　compasse
that　by　importunity；　which　her　spotlesse　chastity　will　never　permit。
There　is　nothing　in　the　world；　that　she　can　hate　more　then　you；　and
possibly　yet　you　will　love　her　whether　＇she＇　will　or　no。　Many
demonstrations　her　selfe　hath　made　to　you；　how　retrograde　you　are　to
any　good　conceit　of　her；　and　my　loving　admonishments　might　have　had
better　successe　in　you；　then　as　yet　they　shew　of　outward　apparance。
But　one　thing　I　must　tell　you；　her　silent　sufferance　of　your
injuries　all　this　while；　hath　not　bin　in　any　respect　of　you；　but　at　my
earnest　entreaties；　and　for　my　sake。　But　now　she　w　be　patient　no
longer；　and　I　have　given　her　free　license；　if　ever　heereafter　you
offer　to　attempt　her　any　more；　to　make　her　complaint　before　her
Brethren；　which　will　redound　to　your　no　meane　danger。
　　The　Gentleman；　having　wisely　collected　his　Love…lesson　out　of　the
Holy　Fathers　angry　words；　pacified　the　good　old　man　so　well　as　he
could　with　very　solemne　promises　and　protestations；　that　he　should
heare　no　more）　any　misbehaviour　of　his。　And　being　gone　from　him；
followed　the　instructions　given　in　her　complaint；　by　climbing　over　the
Garden　Wall；　ascending　the　Tree；　and　entering　at　the　Casement；
standing　ready　open　to　welcome　him。　Thus　the　Friers　simplicity；
wrought　on　by　her　most　ingenious　subtiltie；　made　way　to　obtaine　both
their　longing　desires。




　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　THIRD　DAY；　THE　FOURTH　NOVELL

　　　　　　WHEREIN　IS　DECLARED；　WHAT　CRAFT　AND　SUBTILTY　SOME　WILY　WITS
　　　　　　CAN　DEVISE；　TO　DECEIVE　THE　SIMPLE；　AND　COMPASSE　THEIR　OWNE
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　DESIRES。

　　A　yong　Scholler；　named　Felice；　enstructed　Puccio　di　Rinieri；　how
to　become　rich　in　a　very　short　time。　While　Puccio　made　experience　of
the　instructions　taught　him；　Felice　obtained　the　favour　of　his
Daughter。

　　After　that　Philomena　had　finished　her　Tale；　she　sate　still；　and
Dioneus　（with　faire　and　pleasing　Language）　commended　the
Gentlewomans　quaint　cunning；　but　smiling　at　the　Confessors　witlesse
simplicity。　Then　the　Queene；　turning　with　chearefull　looks　toward
Pamphilus；　commaunded　him　to　continue　on　their　delight；　who　gladly
yeelded；　and　thus　began。　Madame；　many　men　there　are；　who　while　they
strive　to　climbe　from　a　good　estate；　to　a　seeming　better；　doe　become
in　much　worse　condition　then　they　were　before。　As　happened　to　a
neighbour　of　ours；　and　no　long　time　since；　as　the　accident　will　better
acquaint　you　withall。
　　According　as　I　have　heard　it　reported；　neere　to　Saint　Brancazio；
there　dwelt　an　honest　man；　and　some…what　rich；　who　was　called　Puccio
di　Rinieri；　and　who　addicted　all　his　paines　and　endeavours　to　Alchimy：
wherefore；　he　kept　no　other　family；　but　onely　a　widdowed　daughter；　and
a　servant；　and　because　he　had　no　other　Art　or　exercise；　he　used
often　to　frequent　the　market　place。　And　in　regard　he　was　but　a　weake
witted　man　and　a　gourmand　or　grosse　feeder；　his　language　was　the
more　harsh　and　rude；　like　to　our　common　Porters　or　sottish　men；　and
his　carriage　also　absurd；　boore…like；　and　clownish。　His　daughter；
being　named　Monna　Isabetta；　aged　not　above　eight　and　twenty；　or　thirty
yeeres；　was　a　fresh　indifferent　faire；　plumpe；　round　woman；　cherry
cheekt；　like　a　Queene…Apple；　and；　to　please　her　Father；　fed　not　so
sparingly；　as　otherwise　she　would　have　done；　but　when　she　communed
or　jested　with　any　body；　she　would　talke　of　nothing；　but　onely
concerning　the　great　vertue　in　Alchimy；　extolling　it　above　all　other
Arts。
　　Much　about　this　season　of　the　yeare；　there　returned　a　young　Scholler
from　Paris；　named　Felice；　faire　of　complexion；　comely　of　person；
ingeniously　witted　and　skilfully　learned；　who　（soone　after）　grew
into　familiarity；　with　Puccio：　now　because　he　could　resolve　him　in
many　doubts；　depending　on　his　profession　of　Alchimy；　（himselfe
having　onely　practise；　but　no　great　learning）　he　used　many　questions
to　him；　shewed　him　very　especiall　matters　of　secrecy；　entertaining　him
often　to　dinners　and　suppers；　whensoever　he　pleased　to　come　and
converse　with　him；　and　his　daughter　likewise；　perceiving　with　what
favour　her　Father　respected　him；　became　the　more　familiar　with　him；
allowing　him　good　regard　and　reverence。
　　The　young　man　continuing　his　resort　to　the　House　of　Puccio；　and
observing　the　widdow　to　be　faire；　fresh；　and　prettily　formall；　he
began　to　consider　with　himselfe；　what　those　things　might　be；　wherein
she　was　most　wanting；　and　（if　he　could）　to　save　anothers　labour；
supply　them　by　his　best　endeavours。　Thus　not　alwayes　carrying　his　eyes
before　him；　but　using　many　backe　and　circumspect　regards；　he　proceeded
so　farre　in　his　wylie　apprehensions；　that　（by　a　few　sparkes　close　kept
together）　he　kindled　part　of　the　same　fire　in　her；　which　began　to
flame　apparantly　in　him。　And　hee　very　wittily　observing　the　same；　as
occasion　first　smiled　on　him；　and　allowed　him　favourable
opportunity；　so　did　hee　impart　his　intention　to　her。
　　Now　albeit　he　found　her　plyant　enough；　to　gaine　physicke　for　her
owne　griefe；　as　soone　as　his；　yet　the　meanes　and　manner　were　（as
yet）　quite　out　of　all　apprehension。　For　shee　in　no　other　part　of　the
World；　would　trust　her　selfe　in　the　young　mans　company；　but　onely　in
her　Fathers　house；　and　that　was　a　place　out　of　all　possibility；
because　Puccio　（by　a　long　continued　custome）　used　to　watch
well…neere　all　the　night；　as　commonly　he　did；　each　night　after
other；　never　stirring　foorth　of　the　roomes；　which　much　abated　the　edge
of　the　young　mans　appetite。　After　infinite　intricate　revolvings；
wheeling　about　his　busied　braine；　he　thought　it　not　altogether　an
Herculian　taske；　to　enjoy　his　happinesse　in　the　house；　and　without　any
suspition；　albeit