the decameron(十日谈)-第43章

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Herculian　taske；　to　enjoy　his　happinesse　in　the　house；　and　without　any
suspition；　albeit　Puccio　kept　still　within　doores；　and　watched　as
hee　was　wont　to　doe。
　　Upon　a　day　as　he　sate　in　familiar　conference　with　Puccio；　he　began
to　speake　unto　him　in　this　manner；　I　have　many　times　noted；　kinde
friend　Puccio；　that　all　thy　desire　and　endeavour　is；　by　what　meanes
thou　mayst　become　very　rich；　wherein　（me　thinkes）　thou　takest　too　wide
a　course；　when　there　is　a　much　neerer　and　shorter　way；　which　Mighell
Scotus；　and　other　his　associates；　very　diligently　observed　and
followed；　yet　were　never　willing　to　instruct　other　men　therein；
whereby　the　mysterie　might　bee　drowned　in　oblivion；　and　prosecuted
by　none　but　onely　great　Lords；　that　are　able　to　undergoe　it。　But
because　thou　art　mine　especiall　friend；　and　I　have　received　from
thee　infinite　kind　favours；　whereas　I　never　intended；　that　any　man　（by
me）　should　be　acquainted　with　so　rare　a　secret；　if　thou　wilt　imitate
the　course　as　I　shall　shew　thee；　I　purpose　to　teach　it　thee　in　full
perfection。　Puccio　being　very　earnestly　desirous　to　understand　the
speediest　way　to　so　singular　a　mysterie；　first　began　to　entreat　him
（with　no　meane　instance）　to　acquaint　him　with　the　rules　of　so　rich　a
Science；　and　afterward　sware　unto　him；　never　to　disclose　it　to　any
person；　except　hee　gave　his　consent　thereto；　affirming　beside；　that　it
was　a　rarity；　not　easie　to　bee　comprehended　by　very　apprehensive
judgements。　Well　（quoth　Felice）　seeing　thou　has：　made　me　such　a
sound　and　solemne　promise；　I　will　make　it　knowne　unto　thee。
　　Know　then　friend　Puccio；　the　Philosophers　do　hold；　that　such　as
covet　to　become　rich　indeed；　must　understand　how　to　make　the　Stone：　as
I　will　tell　thee　how；　but　marke　the　manner　very　heedfully。　I　do　not
say；　that　after　the　Stone　is　obtained；　thou　shalt　bee　even　as　rich
as　now　thou　art；　but　thou　shalt　plainly　perceive；　that　the　very
grosest　substances；　which　hitherto　thou　hast　seene；　all　of　them　shalbe
made　pure　golde：　and　such　as　afterward　thou　makest；　shall　be　more
certaine；　then　to　go　or　come　with　Aqua　fortis；　as　now　they　do。　Most
expedient　is　it　therefore；　that　when　a　man　will　go　diligently　about
this　businesse；　and　purposeth　to　prosecute　such　a　singular　labour；
which　will　and　must　continue　for　the　space　of　40　nights；　he　must
give　very　carefull　attendance；　wholly　abstaining　from　sleepe；
slumbering；　or　so　much　as　nodding　all　that　while。
　　Moreover；　in　some　apt　and　convenient　place　of　thy　house；　there
must　be　a　forge　or　furnace　erected；　framed　in　decent　and　formall
fashion；　and　neere　it　a　large　table　placed；　ordered　in　such　sort；　as
standing　upright　on　feete；　and　leaning　the　reines　of　thy　backe　against
it；　thou　must　stande　stedfastly　in　that　manner　every　night；　without
the　least　motion　or　stirring；　untill　the　breake　of　day　appeareth；
and　thine　eyes　still　uppon　the　Furnace　fixed；　to　keepe　ever　in　memory；
the　true　order　which　I　have　prescribed。　So　soone　as　the　morning　is
seene；　thou　mayest　（if　thou　wilt）　walke；　or　rest　a　little　upon　thy
bed；　and　afterward　go　about　thy　businesse；　if　thou　have　any。　Then　go
to　dinner；　attending　readily　till　the　evenings　approch；　preparing　such
things　as　I　will　readily　set　thee　downe　in　writing；　without　which
there　is　not　any　thing　to　bee　done；　and　then　returne　to　the　same　taske
againe；　not　varying　a　jot　from　the　course　directed。　Before　the　time　be
fully　expired；　thou　shalt　perceive　many　apparant　signes；　that　the
stone　is　still　in　absolute　forwardnesse；　but　it　will　bee　utterly
lost　if　thou　fayle　in　the　least　of　all　the　observances。　And　when　the
experience　hath　crowned　thy　labour；　thou　art　sure　to　have　the
Philosophers　stone；　and　thereby　shalt　be　able　to　enrich　all；　and　worke
wonders　beside。
　　Puccio　instantly　replyed。　Now　trust　me　Sir；　there　is　no　great
difficultie　in　this　labour；　neither　doth　it　require　any
extraordinary　length　of　time：　but　it　may　very　easily　be　followed　and
performed；　and　（by　your　friendly　favor；　in　helping　to　direct　the
Furnace　and　Table；　according　as　you　imagine　most　convenient）　on　Sunday
at　night　next；　I　will　begin　my　taske。
　The　place　which　Puccio　had　chosen；　for　his　hopefull　attaining　to
the　Philosophers　Stone；　was　close　to　the　Chamber　where　his　daughter
lay　having　no　other　separation　or　division；　but　an　old　ruinous
tottring　wall。　So　that；　when　the　Scholler　was　playing　his　prize；
Puccio　heard　an　unwonted　noise　in　the　house；　which　he　had　never
observed　before；　neither　knew　the　wall　to　have　any　such　motion：
wherefore；　not　daring　to　stirre　from　his　standing；　least　all　should　be
marrd　in　the　very　beginning；　he　called　to　his　daughter；　demanding；
what　busle　labour　she　was　about？　The　widdow；　being　much　addicted　to
frumping　according　as　questions　were　demanded　of　her；　and　（perhaps）
forgetting　who　spake　to　her；　pleasantly　replied：　Whoop　Sir；　where
are　we　now？　Are　the　Spirits　of　Alchimy　walking　in　the　house；　that　we
cannot　lye　quietly　in　our　beds？
　　Pucclo　mervalling　at　this　answere；　knowing　she　never　gave　him　the
like　before；　demanded　againe；　what　she　did？　The　subtle　wench；
remembring　that　she　had　not　answered　as　became　her；　said：　Pardon　mee
Father；　my　wits　were　not　mine　owne；　when　you　demanded　such　a　sodaine
question；　and　I　have　heard　you　say　an　hundred　times；　that　when　folke
go　supperles　to　bed；　either　they　walke　in　their　sleepe；　or　being
awake；　talke　very　idely；　as　（no　doubt）　you　have　discern'd　by　me。　Nay
daughter　（quoth　he）　it　may　be；　that　I　was　in　a　waking　dreame；　and
thought　I　heard　the　olde　wall　totter：　but　I　see　I　was　deceived；　for　no
it　is　quiet　and　still　enough。　Talke　no　more　good　Father；　saide　she；
least　you　stirre　from　your　place；　and　hinder　your　labour：　take　no　care
for　mee；　I　am　able　enough　to　have　care　of　my　selfe。
　　To　prevent　any　more　of　these　nightly　disturbances；　they　went　to
lodge　in　another　part　of　the　house；　where　they　continued　out　the
time　of　Puccioes　paines；　with　equall　contentment　to　them　both；　which
made　her　divers　times　say　to　Felice：　You　teach　my　father　the　cheefe
grounds　of　Alchimy；　while　we　helpe　to　waste　away　his　treasure。　Thus
the　Scholler　being　but　poore；　yet　well　forwarded　in　Learning；　made　use
of　Puccioes　folly；　and　found　benefit　thereby；　to　keepe　him　out　of
wants；　which　is　the　bane　and　overthrow　of　numberlesse　good　wits。　And
Puccio　dying；　before　the　date　of　his　limited　time；　because　he　failed
of　the　Philosophers　Stone；　Isabetta　joyned　in　marriage　with　Felice；　to
make　him　amends　for　instructing　her　father；　by　which　meanes　he　came　to
be　her　husband。




　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　THIRD　DAY　THE　FIFTH　NOVELL

　　　　WHEREIN　IS　DESCRIBED　THE　FRAILETY　OF　SOME　WOMEN；　AND　FOLLY　OF
　　　　SUCH　HUSBANDS；　AS　LEAVE　THEM　ALONE　TO　THEIR　OWNE　DISPOSITION

　　Ricciardo　surnamed　the　Magnifico；　gave　a　Horse　to　Signior
Francesco　Vergillisi；　on　condition　that　he　might　speake　to　his　wife　in
his　presence；　which　he　did；　and　she　not　returning　him　any　answer；　made
answer　to　himselfe　on　her　behalfe；　and　according　to　his　answer；　so　the
effect　followed。

　　Pamphilus　having　ended　his　novell　of　Puccio　the　Alchimist；　the
Queene　fixing　her　eye　on　Madam　Eliza；　gave　order；　that　shee　should
succeed。　She　looking　somewhat　more　austerely　then　any　of　the　rest
not　in　any　spleen；　but　as　it　was　her　usuall　manner；　thus　began。　The
world　containeth　some　particular　people；　who　beleeve　（because　they
know　something）　that　others　are　ignorant　in　all　things；　who　for　the
most　part；　while　they　intend　to　make　a　scorne　of　other　men；　upon
triall；　finde　themselves　to　carry　away　the　scorne。　Therefore；　I
account　it　no　meane　folly　in　them；　who　（upon　no　occasion）　wil　tempt
the　power　of　another　mans　wit　or　experience。　But　because　all　men　and
women　are　not　of　my　opinion；　I　meane　that　you　shall　perceive　it　more
apparantly；　by　an　accident　happening　to　a　Knight　of　Pistoia；　as　you
shall　heare　by　me　related。
　　In　the　Town　of　Pistoia；　bordering　upon　Florence；　there　lived　not
long　since；　a　Knight　named　Signieur　Francesco；　descended　of　the　linage
or　family　of　the　Vergellisi；　a　man　very　rich；　wise；　and　in　many　things
provident；　but　gripple；　covetous；　and　too　close　handed；　without
respect　to　his　worth　and　reputation。　He　being　called　to　the　Office
of　Podesta　in　the　City　of　Millaine；　furnished　himselfe　with　all　things
（in　honourable　manner）　beseeming　such　a　charge；　onely；　a　comely
horse　for　his　owne　saddle　excepted；　which　he　knew　not　by　any　meanes
how　to　compasse；　so　loath　hee　was　lay　out　money；　albeit　his　credit
much　depended　thereon。
　　At　the　same　time；　there　lived　in　Pistoya　likewise；　a　young　man；
named　Ricciardo；　derived　of　meane　birth；　but　very　wealthy；　quicke
witted；　and　of　commendable　person；　alwayes　going　so　neate；　fine；　and
formall　in　his　apparrell；　that　he　was　generally　tearmed　the　Magnifico；
who　had　long　time　affected；　yea；　and　closely　courted；　（though　any
advantage　or　successe）　the　Lady　and　wife　of　Signior　Francesco；　who　was
very　beautifull；　vertuous；　and　chaste。　It　so　chanced；　that　this
Magnifico　had　the　very　choisest　and　goodliest　ambling　Gelding　in　all
Tuscany；　which　hee　loved　dearely；　for　his　faire　forme；　and　other
good　parts。　Upon　a　flying　rumor　throughout　Pistoia；　that　he　daily　made
love　to　the　foresaid　Ladie；　some　busie…body　put　it　into　the　head　of
Signior　Francesco；　that　if　he　pleased　to　request　the　Gelding；　the
Magnifico　would　frankely　give　it　him；　in　regard　of　the　love　he　bare　to
his　wife。
　　The　base…minded　Knight；　coveting　to　have　the　Horse；　and　yet　not　to
part　with　any　money；　sent　for　the　Magnifico；　desiring　to　buy　his　fayre
Gelding　of　him；　because　he　hoped　to　have　him　of　free　gift。　The
Magnifico　hearing　this　request；　was　very　joyfull；　and　thus　answered；
Sir；　if　you　would　give　me　all　the　wealth　which　you　possesse　in　this
world；　I　wil　not　sell　you　my　horse；　rather　I　wil　bestow　him　on　you
as　a　Gentlemans　gift：　but　yet　upon　this　condition；　that　before　you
have　him　delivered；　I　may　with　your　license；　and　in　your　presence
speake　a　few　words　to　your　vertuous　Ladie；　and　so　farre　off　in
distance　from　you；　as　I　may　not　be　heard　by　any；　but　onely　her
selfe。　Signior　Francesco；　wholly　conducted　by　his　base　avaricious
desire；　and　meaning　to　make　a　scorne　at　the　Magnifico；　made　answer；
that　he　was　well　contented　to　let　him　speak　with　her　when　he　would；
and　leaving　him　in　the　great　Hall　of　the　house；　went　to　his　wives
Chamber；　and　told　her　how　easily　he　might　enjoy　the　horse；
commanding　her　forthwith　to　come　and　heare　what　he　could　say　to　her；
only　she　should　abstaine；　and　not　returne　him　any　answer。　The　Lady
with　a　modest　blush；　much　condemned　this　folly　in　him；　that　his
covetousnes　should　serve　as　a　cloake　to　cover　any　unfitting　speeches
which　her　chaste　eares　could　never　endure　to　heare。　Neverthelesse
being　to　obey　her　husbands　will；　she　promised　to　do　it；　and　followed
him　down　into　the　Hall；　to　heare　what　the　Magnifico　would　say。
Againe　he　there　confirmed　the　bargaine　made　with　her　husband；　and
sitting　downe　by　her　in　a　corner　of　the　Hall；　farre　enough　off　from
any　ones　hearing；　taking　her　curteously　by　the　hand；　thus　he　spake。
　　Worthy　Lady；　it　seemeth　to　me；　that　you　are　so　truly　wise；　as　no
doubt　you　have　long　since　perceived；　what　unfeigned　affection　your
beauty　（far　excelling）　hath　compelled　me　to　beare　you。　Setting　asid