the decameron(十日谈)-第44章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


doubt　you　have　long　since　perceived；　what　unfeigned　affection　your
beauty　（far　excelling）　hath　compelled　me　to　beare　you。　Setting　aside
those　commendable　qualities　and　singular　vertues　gloriously　shining　in
you；　and　powerfull　enough　to　make　a　conquest　of　the　stoutest
courage；　I　held　it　utterly　needlesse；　to　let　you　understand　by
words；　how　faithfull　the　love　is　I　bear　you；　were　it　not　much　more
fervent　and　constant；　then　ever　any　other　man　can　expresse　to　a　woman。
In　which　condition　it　shall　still　continue；　without　the　least
blemish　or　impayre；　so　long　as　I　enjoy　life　or　motion；　yea；　and　I　dare
assure　you；　that　if　in　the　future　world；　affection　may　containe　the
same　powerfull　dominion；　as　it　doth　in　this；　I　am　the　man　borne　to
love　you　perpetually。　Whereby　you　may　rest　confidently　perswaded；　that
you　enjoy　not　any　thing；　how　poore　or　precious　soever　it　be；　which　you
can　so　solemnely　account　to　be　your　owne；　and　in　the　truest　title　of
right；　as　you　may　my　selfe；　in　all　that　I　have；　or　for　ever　shall　be
mine。
　　To　confirme　your　opinion　in　this　case　by　any　argument　of　greater
power；　let　me　tell　you；　that　I　should　repute　it　as　my　fairest　and　most
gracious　fortune；　if　you　would　command　me　some　such　service；　as
consisteth　in　mine　ability　to　performe；　and　in　your　courteous　favour
to　accept；　yea；　if　it　were　thorow　the　whole　world；　right　to　traval
am　I；　and　obedient。　In　which　regard　faire　Madam；　if　I　be　so　much；
yours；　as　you　heare　I　am；　I　may　boldly　adventure　（and　not　without　good
reason）　to　acquaint　your　chaste　eares　with　my　earnest　desires；　for
on　you　onely　depends　my　happinesse；　life；　and　absolute　comfort；　and　as
your　most　humble　servant；　I　beseech　you　（my　deerest　good；　and　sole
hope　of　my　soule）　that　rigour　may　dwell　no　longer　in　your　gentle
brest；　but　Lady…like　pitty　and　compassion；　whereby　I　shall　say；　that
as　your　divine　beauty　enflamed　mine　affections；　even　so　it　extended
such　a　merciful　qualification；　is　exceeded　all　my　hope；　but　not　the
halfe　part　of　your　pitty。
　　Admit　（myracle　of　Ladies）　that　I　should　die　in　this　distresse：　Alas；
my　death　would　be　but　your　dishonour；　I　cannot　be　termed　mine　owne
murtherer；　when　the　Dart　came　from　your　eye　that　did　it；　and　must
remaine　a　witnes　of　your　rigor。　You　cannot　then　chuse　but　call　to
minde；　and　say　within　your　own　soule：　Alas；　what　a　sinne　have　I
committed；　in　being　so　unmercifull　to　my　Magnifico。　Repentance　then
serves　to　no　purpose；　but　you　must　answer　for　such　unkinde　cruelty。
Wherefore；　to　prevent　so　blacke　a　scandall　to　your　bright　beauty；
beside　the　ceaselesse　acclamations；　which　will　dog　your　walkes　in
the　day　time；　and　breake　your　quiet　sleepes　in　the　night　season；
with　fearefull　sights　and　gastly　apparitions；　hovering　and　haunting
about　your　bed；　let　all　these　moove　you　to　milde　mercy；　and　spill
not　life；　when　you　may　save　it。
　　So　the　Magnifico　ceasing；　with　teares　streaming　from　his　eyes；　and
sighes　breaking　from　his　heart；　hee　sate　still　in　expectation　of　the
Ladies　answere；　who　made　neither　long　or　short　of　the　matter；
neither　Tilts　nor　Tourneying；　nor　many　lost　mornings　and　evenings；　nor
infinite　other　such　like　Offices；　which　the　Magnifico　（for　her　sake）
from　time　to　time　had　spent　in　vaine；　without　the　least　shew　of
acceptation；　or　any　hope　at　all　to　winne　her　love：　mooved　now　in
this　very　houre；　by　these　solemne　is　protestations；　or　rather　most
prevailing　asseverations；　she　began　to　finde　that　in　her；　which
（before）　she　never　felt；　namely　Love。　And　although　（to　keepe　her
promise　made　to　her　husband）　shee　spake　not　a　word：　yet　her　heart
heaving；　her　soule　throbbing；　sighes　intermixing；　and　complexion
altering；　could　not　hide　her　intended　answer　to　the　Magnifico；　if
promise　had　beene　no　hinderance　to　her　will。　All　this　while　the
Magnifico　sate　as　mute　as　she；　and　seeing　she　would　not　give　him　any
answere　at　all；　he　could　not　choose　but　wonder　thereat；　yet　at
length　perceived；　that　it　was　thus　cunningly　contrived　by　her　husband。
Notwithstanding；　observing　well　her　countenance；　that　it　was　in　a
quite　contrary　temper；　another　kinde　of　fire　sparkling　in　her　eye；
other　humours　flowing；　her　pulses　strongly　beating；　her　stomacke
rising；　and　sighes　swelling；　all　these　were　arguments　of　a　change；　and
motives　to　advance　his　hope。　Taking　courage　by　this　ticklish
perswasion；　and　instructing　his　mind　with　a　new　kinde　of　counsell；
he　would　needes　answer　himselfe　on　her　behalfe；　and　as　if　she　had
uttered　the　words；　thus　he　spake。
　　Magnifico；　and　my　friend；　surely　it　is　a　long　time　since；　when　I
first　noted　thine　affection　toward　me　to　be　very　great　and　most
perfect；　but　now　I　am　much　more　certain　thereof；　by　thine　owne
honest　and　gentle　speeches；　which　content　me　as　they　ought　to　do。
Neverthelesse；　if　heretofore　I　have　seemed　cruell　and　unkinde　to　thee；
I　would　not　have　thee　thinke；　that　my　heart　was　any　way　guilty　of　my
outward　severity；　but　did　evermore　love　thee；　and　held　thee　deerer
then　any　man　living。　But　yet　it　became　me　to　do　so；　as　well　in　feare
of　others；　as　for　the　renowne　of　mine　owne　reputation。　But　now　is
the　time　at　hand；　to　let　thee　knowe　more　clearly；　whether　I　do
affect　thee　or　no：　as　a　just　guerdon　of　thy　constant　love
which　long　thou　hast；　and　still　doest　beare　to　me。　Wherefore；
comfort　thy　selfe；　and　dwell　on　this　undoubted　hope；　because　Signior
Francesco　my　husband；　is　to　be　absent　hence　for　many　dayes；　beeing
chosen　Podesta　at　Millaine；　as　thou　canst　not　choose　but　heare；　for　it
is　common　through　the　Country。
　　I　know　（for　my　sake）　thou　hast　given　him　thy　goodly　ambling　Gelding；
and　so　soone　as　he　is　gone；　I　promise　thee　upon　my　word；　and　by　the
faithfull　love　I　beare　thee；　that　I　will　have　further　conference
with　thee；　and　let　thee　understand　somewhat　more　of　my　minde。　And
because　this　is　neither　fitting　time　nor　place；　to　discourse　on
matters　of　such　serious　moment：　observe　heereafter；　as　a　signall；　when
thou　seest　my　Crimson　Skarfe　hanging　in　the　window　of　my　Chamber；
which　is　upon　the　Garden　side；　that　evening　（so　soone　as　it　is
night）　come　to　the　Garden　gate；　with　wary　respect　that　no　eye　do
discover　thee；　and　there　thou　shalt　finde　me　walking；　and　ready　to
acquaint　thee　with　other　matters；　according　as　I　shall　finde　occasion。
　　When　the　Magnifico　in　the　person　of　the　Lady；　had　spoken　thus；
then　he　returned　her　this　answer。　Most　vertuous　Lady；　my　spirits　are
so　transported　with　extraordinary　joy；　for　this　your　gracious　and
welcome　answer；　that　my　sences　faile　me；　and　all　my　faculties　quite
forsake　me；　that　I　cannot　give　you　such　thankes　as　I　would。　And　if　I
could　speak　equally　to　my　desire；　yet　the　season　suites　not　therewith；
neither　were　it　convenient　that　I　should　be　so　troublesome　to　you。　Let
me　therefore　humbly　beseech　you；　that　the　desire　I　have　to
accomplish　your　will　（which　wordes　availe　not　to　expresse）　may　remaine
in　your　kinde　consideration。　And　as　you　have　commanded　me；　so　will　I
not　faile　to　performe　it　accordingly；　and　in　more　thankfull　manner；
then　（as　yet）　I　am　able　to　let　you　know。　Now　there　resteth　nothing
else　to　do；　but　under　the　protection　of　your　gracious　pardon；　I　to
give　over　speech；　and　you　to　attend　your　woorthy　Husband。
　　Notwithstanding　all　that　hee　had　spoken；　yet　shee　replyed　not　one
word；　wherefore　the　Magnifico　arose；　and　returned　to　the　Knight；　who
went　to　meete　him；　saying　in　a　lowd　laughter。　How　now　man？　Have　I
not　kept　my　promise　with　thee？　No　Sir；　answered　the　Magnifico；　for　you
promised　I　should　speake　with　your　wife；　and　you　have　made　mee　talke
to　a　marble　Statue。　This　answere；　was　greatly　pleasing　to　the
Knight；　who；　although　hee　had　an　undoubted　opinion　of　his　wife；　yet
this　did　much　more　strengthen　his　beliefe；　and　hee　said。　Now　thou
confessest　thy　Gelding　to　bee　mine？　I　doe；　replied　the　Magnifico；
but　if　I　had　thought；　that　no　better　successe　would　have　ensued　on　the
bargaine；　without　your　motion　for　the　horse；　I　would　have　given　him
you：　and　I　am　sorie　that　I　did　not；　because　now　you　have　bought　my
horse；　and　yet　I　have　not　sold　him。　The　Knight　laughed　heartily　at
this　answer；　and　being　thus　provided　of　so　faire　a　beast；　hee　rode
on　his　journey　to　Millaine；　and　there　entred　into　his　authority　of
Podesta。
　　The　Lady　remained　now　in　liberty　at　home；　considering　on　the
Magnificoes　words；　and　likewise　the　Gelding；　which　（for　her　sake）
was　given　to　her　husband。　Oftentimes　shee　saw　him　passe　too　and　fro
before　her　windowe；　still　looking　when　the　Flagge　of　defiance　should
be　hanged　forth；　that　hee　might　fight　valiantly　under　her　Colours。　The
Story　saith；　that　among　many　of　her　much　better　meditations；　shee
was　heard　to　talke　thus　idely　to　her　selfe。　What　doe　I　meane？
Wherefore　is　my　youth？　The　olde　miserable　man　is　gone　to　Millaine；　and
God　knoweth　when　hee　comes　backe　againe；　ever；　or　never。　Is　dignity
preferred　before　wedlockes　holy　duty；　and　pleasures　abroade；　more　then
comforts　at　home？　Ill　can　age　pay　youths　arrerages；　when：　time　is
spent；　and　no　hope　sparde。　Actions　omitted；　are　oftentimes　repented；
but　done　in　due　season；　they　are　sildome　sorrowed　for。　Upon　these
un…Lady…like　private　consultations；　whether　the　window　shewed　the
signa　or　no；　it　is　no　matter　belonging　to　my　charge：　I　say；　husbands
are　unwise；　to　graunt　such　ill　advantages；　and　wives　much　worse；　if
they　take　hold　of　them；　onely　Judge　you　the　best；　and　so　the　Tale　is
ended。




　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　THIRD　DAY　THE　SIXTH　NOVELL

　　　　　　DECLARING；　HOW　MUCH　PERSEVERANCE；　AND　A　COURAGIOUS　SPIRIT　IS
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　AVAILABLE　IN　LOVE

　　Ricciardo　Minutolo　fell　in　love　with　the　wife　of　Philippello
Fighinolfi；　and　knowing　her　to　be　very　jealous　of　her　Husband；　gave
her　to　understand；　that　hee　was　greatly　enamoured　of　his　Wife；　and　had
appointed　to　meete　her　privately　in　a　Bathing　house；　on　the　next　day
following：　where　shee　hoping　to　take　him　tardie　with　his　close
compacted　Mistresse；　found　her　selfe　to　be　deceived　by　the　said
Ricciardo。

　　No　more　remained　to　be　spoken　by　Madame　Eliza；　but　the　cunning　of
the　Magnifico；　being　much　commended　by　all　the　company：　the　Queene
commanded　Madame　Fiammetta；　to　succede　next　in　order　with　one　of　her
Novels；　who　（smiling）　made　answer　that　shee　would；　and　began　thus。
Gracious　Ladies；　mee　thinkes　wee　have　spoken　enough　already；
concerning　our　owne　Citie；　which　as　it　aboundeth　copiously　in　all
commodities；　so　is　it　an　example　also　to　every　convenient　purpose。　And
as　Madam　Eliza　hath　done；　by　recounting　occasions　happening　in　another
World；　so　must　we　now　leape　a　little　further　off；　even　so　far　as
Naples；　to　see　how　one　of　those　Saint…like　Dames　that　nicely　seemes　to
shun　loves　allurings；　was　guided　by　the　good　spirit　to　a　friend　of
hers；　and　tasted　of　the　fruite；　before　she　knew　the　flowers。　A
sufficient　warning　for　you　to　apprehend　before　hand　what　may　follow
after；　and　to　let　you　see　beside；　that　when　an　error　is　committed；　how
to　bee　discreete　in　keeping　it　from　publike　knowledge。
　　In　the　Citie　of　Naples；　it　being　of　great　antiquity；　and　（perhaps）
as　pleasantly　situated；　as　any　other　City　in　all　Italy；　there　dwelt
sometime　a　yong　Gentleman；　of　noble　parentage；　and　well　knowne　to
bee　wealthy；　named　Ricciardo　Minutolo；　who　although　hee　had　a
Gentlew