the decameron(十日谈)-第45章

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bee　wealthy；　named　Ricciardo　Minutolo；　who　although　hee　had　a
Gentlewoman　of　excellent　beuty；　and　worthy　the　verie　kindest　affecting
to　his　wife；　yet　his　gadding　eye　gazed　elsewhere；　and　he　became
enamored　of　another；　which　（in　generall　opinion）　surpassed　all　the
Neapolitane　Women　else；　in　feature；　favour；　and　the　choysest
perfections；　shee　being　named　Madam　Catulla　wife　to　as　gallant　a　young
Gentleman；　called　Philippello　Fighinolfi；　who　most　dearly　he　loved
beyond　all　other；　for　her　vertue　and　admired　chastity。
　　Ricciardo　loving　this　Madam　Catulla；　and　using　all　such　means
whereby　the　grace　and　liking　of　a　Lady　might　be　obtained；　found　it　yet
a　matter　beyond　possibility；　to　compasse　the　height　of　his　desire：
so　that　many　desperate　and　dangerous　resolutions　beleagred　his　braine；
seeming　so　intricate　and　unlikely　to　affoord　any　hopefull　yssue；　as
hee　wished　for　nothing　more　then　death。
　　And　death　（as　yet）　being　deafe　to　all　his　earnest　imprecations；
delayed　him　on　in　lingering　afflictions：　and　continuing　still　in
such　an　extreame　condition；　he　was　advised　by　some　of　his　best
friends；　utterly　to　abstaine　from　this　fond　pursuit；　because　his　hopes
were　meerely　in　vaine；　and　Madam　Catulla　prized　nothing　more
precious　to　her　in　the　World；　then　unstayned　loyaltie　to　her
Husband：　and　yet　shee　lived　in　such　extreame　jealousie　of　him；　as
fearing　least　some　bird　flying　in　the　ayre　should　snatch　him　from　her。
　　Ricciardo　not　unacquainted　with　this　her　jealous　humour；　as　well
by　credible　hearing　thereof；　as　also　by　daily　observation；　began　to
with　himselfe；　that　it　were　best　to　consider　for　him；　to　dissemble
amorous　affection　in　some　other　place；　and　（henceforward）　to　set　aside
all　hope；　of　ever　enjoying　the　love　of　Madam　Catulla；　because　he　was
now　become　the　servant　to　another　Gentlewoman；　pretending　（in　her
honour）　to　performe　many　worthy　actions　of　Armes；　Joustes；
Tournaments；　and　all　such　like　noble　exercises；　as　he　was　wont　to
doe　for　Madam　Catulla。　So　that　most　of　the　people　of　Naples；　but
especially　Madam　Catulla；　becam　perswaded；　that　his　former
fruitlesse　love　to　her　was　quite　changed；　and　the　new　elected　Lady　had
all　the　glory　of　his　best　endevours；　persevering　so　long　in　this
opinion；　as　now　it　passed　absolutely　for　currant。　Thus　seemed　he　now
as　meere　a　stranger　to　her；　whose　house　before　he　familiarly
frequented；　yet　as　a　neighbour　gave　her　the　daies　salutations；
according　as　he　chanced　to　see　her；　or　meet　her。
　　It　came　so　to　passe；　that　it　being　now　the　delightfull　Summer
season；　when　all　Gentlemen　and　Gentlewomen　used　to　meete　together
（according　to　a　custome　long　observed　in　that　Country）　sporting
along　on　the　Sea　Coast；　dining　and　supping　there　very　often；　Ricciardo
Minutolo　happened　to　heare；　that　Madam　Catulla　（with　a　company　of
her　friends）　intended　also　to　be　present　there　among　them；　at　which
time；　consorted　with　a　seemely　traine　of　his　confederates；　he　resorted
thither；　and　was　graciously　welcommed　by　Madam　Catulla；　where　he
pretended　no　willing　long　time　of　tarrying；　but　that　Catulla　and　the
other　Ladies　were　faine　to　entreate　him；　discoursing　of　his　love　to
his　new　elected　Mistresse：　which　Minutolo　graced　with　so　solemne　a
countenance；　as　it　ministred　much　more　matter　of　conference；　all
coveting　to　know　what　she　was。
　　So　farre　they　walked；　and　held　on　this　kinde　of　discoursing；　as
every　Lady　and　Gentlewoman；　waxing　weary　of　too　long　a　continued
argument；　began　to　separate　her　selfe　with　such　an　associate　as　shee
best　liked；　and　as　in　such　walking　women　are　wont　to　doe；　so　that
Madam　Catulla　having　few　females　left　with　her；　stayed　behind　with
Minutolo；　who　sodainly　shot　forth　a　word　concerning　her　husband
Philipello；　and　of　his　loving　another　woman　beside　her　selfe。　She　that
was　overmuch　jealous　before；　became　so　sodainely　set　on　fire　to　know
what　shee　was　of　whom　Minutolo　spake；　as　she　sat　silent　a　long
while；　til　being　able　to　containe　no　longer；　shee　entreated
Ricciardo　even　for　the　Ladies　sake；　whose　love　he　had　so　devoutly
embraced；　to　resolve　her　certainly　in　this　strange　alteration　of　her
husband；　whereunto　thus　he　answered。
　　Madam；　you　have　so　straitly　concured　me；　by　urging　the　remembrance
of　her；　for　whose　sake　I　am　not　able　to　deny　any　thing　you　can　demand；
as　I　am　readie　therein　to　pleasure　you。　But　first　you　must　promise　me；
that　neither　you；　or　any　other　person　for　you；　shall　at　any　time
disclose　it　to　your　Husband；　untill　you　have　seene　by　effect；　that
which　I　have　told　you　proveth　to　be　true：　and　when　you　please；　I　wil
instruct　you　how　your　selfe　shall　see　it。　The　Ladie　was　not　a　little
joyfull　to　be　thus　satisfied　in　her　Husbands　folly；　and　constantly
crediting　his　words　to　be　true；　shee　sware　a　solemne　oath；　that　no　one
alive　should　ever　know　it。　So　stepping　a　little　further　aside；　because
no　listening　eare　should　heare　him；　thus　he　beganne。
　　Lady；　if　I　did　love　you　now　so　effectually　as　heeretofore　I　have
done；　I　should　be　very　circumspect；　in　uttering　any　thing　which　I
immagined　might　distast　you。　I　know　not　whether　your　husband
Philipello；　were　at　any　time　offended；　because　I　affected　you；　or
beleeved　that　I　received　any　kindnes　from　you：　but　whether　it　were
so　or　no；　I　could　never　discerne　it　by　any　outward　apparance。　But
now　awaiting　for　the　opportunity　of　time；　which　he　conceived　should
affoord　me　the　least　suspition；　he　seekes　to　compasse　that；　which　（I
doubt）　he　feares　I　would　have　done　to　him；　in　plaine　termes　Madam；
to　have　his　pleasure　of　my　wife。　And　as　by　some　carriages　I　have
observed；　within　few　daies　past　he　hath　solicited　and　pursued　his
purpose　very　secretly；　by　many　Ambassages；　and　meanes；　as　（indeed）　I
have　learned　from　her　selfe；　and　alwaies　she　hath　returned　in　such
answers；　as　she　receyved　by　my　direction。
　　And　no　longer　ago　Madam；　then　this　very　morning；　before　my　comming
hither；　I　found　a　woman…messenger　in　my　house；　in　very　close
conference　with　my　Wife；　when　growing　doubtfull　of　that　which　was　true
indeede；　I　called　my　Wife；　enquiring；　what　the　woman　would　have　with
her；　and　she　told　me；　it　was　another　pursuite　of　Philipello
Fighinolfi；　who　（quoth　shee）　upon　such　answers　as　you　have　caused　me
to　send　him　from　time　to　time；　perhappes　doth　gather　some　hope　of
prevailing　in　the　end；　which　maketh　him　still　to　importune　me　as　he
doth。　And　now　he　adventureth　so　farre；　as　to　understand　my　finall
intention；　having　thus　ordered　his　complot；　that　when　I　please；　I　must
meet　him　secretly　in　a　house　of　this　City；　where　he　hath　prepared　a
Bath　ready　for　me；　and　hopeth　to　enjoy　the　end　of　his　desire；　as
very　earnestly　he　hath　solicited　me　thereto。　But　if　you　had　not
commanded　me；　to　hold　him　in　suspense　with　so　many　frivolous
answers；　I　would　ere　this；　have　sent　him　such　a　message；　as　should
have　bene　little　to　his　liking。
　　With　patience　Madam　I　endured　all　before；　but　now　（me　thinkes）　he
proceedeth　too　farre；　which　is　not　any　way　to　be　suffered；　and
therefore　I　intended　to　let　you　know　it；　that　you　may　perceive；　how
wel　you　are　rewarded　for　the　faithfull　and　loyall　love　you　beare
him；　and　for　which；　I　was　even　at　deaths　dore。　Now；　because　you　may　be
the　surer　of　my　speeches；　not　to　be　any　lyes　or　fables；　and　that　you
may　（if　you　please）　approve　the　truth　by　your　owne　experience；　I
caused　my　wife　to　send　him　word；　that　she　would　meet　him　to　morrow
at　the　Bathing…house　appointed；　about　the　houre　of　noone…day；　when
people　repose　themselves　in　regard　of　the　heates　violence；　with
which　answer　the　woman　returned　very　jocondly。　Let　me　now　tell　you
Lady；　I　hope　you　have　better　opinion　of　my　wit；　then　any　meaning　in
me；　to　send　my　wife　thither；　I　rather　did　it　to　this　end；　that
having　acquainted　you　with　his　treacherous　intent；　you　should　supply
my　wives　place；　by　saving　both　his　reputation　and　your　owne；　and
frustrating　his　unkind　purpose　to　me。　Moreover；　upon　the　view　of　his
owne　delusion；　wrought　by　my　wife　in　meere　love　to　you；　he　shall　see
his　foule　shame；　and　your　most　noble　care；　to　keepe　the　rites　of
marriage　betweene　you　still　unstained。
　　Madame　Catulla；　having　heard　this　long　and　unpleasing　report；
without　any　consideration；　either　what　he　was　that　tolde　the　tale；
or　what　a　treason　he　intended　against　her：　immediately　（as　jealous
persons　use　to　doe）　she　gave　faith　to　his　forgerie；　and　began　to
discourse　many　things　to　him；　which　imagination　had　often　misguided
her　in；　against　her　honest　minded　husband；　and　enflamed　with　rage；
suddenly　replied；　that　shee　would　doe　according　as　he　had　advised　her；
as　being　a　matter　of　no　difficulty。　But　if　he　came；　she　would　so　shame
and　dishonour　him；　as　no　woman　whatsoever　should　better　schoole　him。
Ricciardo　highly　pleased　herewith；　and　being　perswaded；　that　his
purpose　would　take　the　full　effect：　confirmed　the　Lady　in　her
determination　with　many　words　more；　yet　putting　her　in　memory；　to
keepe　her　faithfull　promise　made；　without　revealing　the　matter　to
any　living　person；　as　shee　had　sworne　upon　her　faith。
　　On　the　morrow　morning；　Ricciardo　went　to　an　auncient　woman　of　his
acquaintance；　who　was　the　Mistresse　of　a　Bathing…house；　and　there
where　he　had　appointed　Madame　Catulla；　that　the　Bath　should　bee
prepared　for　her；　giving　her　to　understand　the　whole　businesse；　and
desiring　her　to　be　favourable　therein　to　him。　The　woman；　who　had　beene
much　beholding　to　him　in　other　matters；　promised　very　willingly　to
fulfill　his　request；　concluding　with　him；　both　what　should　be　done　and
said。　She　had　in　her　house　a　very　darke　Chamber；　without　any　window　to
affoord　it　the　least　light；　which　Chamber　she　had　made　ready；
according　to　Ricciardoes　direction；　with　a　rich　Bed　thereir；　so　soft
and　delicate　as　possible　could　bee；　wherein　he　entred　so　soone　as　he
had　dined；　to　attend　the　arrivall　of　Madame　Catulla。　On　the　same
day；　as　she　had　heard　the　speeches　of　Ricciardo；　and　gave　more
credit　to　them　then　became　her；　shee　returned　home　to　her　house　in
wonderfull　impatience。　And　Philippello　her　husband　came　home
discontentedly　too；　whose　head　being　busied　about　some　worldly
affaires；　perhaps　he　looked　not　so　pleasantly；　neither　used　her　so
kindly；　as　he　was　wont　to　doe。　Which　Catulla　perceiving；　shee　was
ten　times　more　suspicious　then　before；　saying　to　her　selfe。　Now
apparent　trueth　doth　disclose　it　selfe；　my　husbands　head　is　troubled
now　with　nothing　else；　but　Ricciardoes　wife；　with　whom　（to　morrow）
he　purposeth　his　meeting；　wherein　he　shall　be　disappointed；　if　I　live；
taking　no　rest　at　all　the　whole　night；　for　thinking　how　to　handle
her　husband。
　　What　shall　I　say　more？　On　the　morrow；　at　the　houre　of　mid…day
accompanied　onely　with　her　Chamber…mayde；　and　without　any　other
alteration　in　opinion；　shee　went　to　the　house　where　the　Bath　was
promised；　and　meeting　there　with　the　olde　woman；　demaunded　of　her；
if　Philippello　were　come　thither　as　yet　or　no？　The　woman；　being　well
instructed　by　Ricciardo；　answered：　Are　you　shee　that　should　meete
him　heere？　Yes；　replied　Catulla。　Goe　in　then　to　him　（quoth　the
woman）　for　he　is　not　farre　off　before　you。
　　Madame　Catulla；　who　went　to　seeke　that　which　shee　would　not　finde；
being　brought　vailed　into　the　darke　Chamber　where　Ricciardo　was；
entred　into　the　Bath；　hoping　to　finde　none　ot