the decameron(十日谈)-第46章

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being　brought　vailed　into　the　darke　Chamber　where　Ricciardo　was；
entred　into　the　Bath；　hoping　to　finde　none　other　there　but　her
husband；　and　the　custome　of　the　Country；　never　disallowed　such
meetings　of　men　with　their　wives；　but　held　them　to　be　good　and
commendable。　In　a　counterfeit　voyce　he　bad　her　welcome；　and　she；　not
seeming　to　be　any　other　then　shee　was　indeed；　entertained　his
imbracings　in　as　loving　manner；　yet　not　daring　to　speake；　least　he
should　know　her；　but　suffered　him　to　proceede　in　his　owne　errour。
　　Let　passe　the　wanton　follies　passing　betweene　them；　and　come　to
Madame　Catulla；　who　finding　it　a　fit　and　convenient　time；　to　vent
forth　the　tempest　of　her　spleene；　began　in　this　manner。　Alas！　how
mighty；　are　the　misfortunes　of　women；　and　how　ill　requited　is　all
the　loyall　love　of　many　wives　to　their　husbands？　I；　a　poore
miserable　Lady；　who；　for　the　space　of　eight　yeeres　now　fully
compleated；　have　loved　thee：　more　dearely　then　mine　owne　life；　finde
now　（to　my　hearts　endlesse　griefe）　how　thou　wastest　and　consumest
thy　desires；　to　delight　them　with　a　strange　woman；　like　a　most　vile
and　wicked　man　as　thou　art。　With　whom　doest　thou　now　imagine　thy　selfe
to　be？　Thou　art　with　her；　whom　thou　hast　long　time　deluded　by　false
blandishments；　feigning　to　affect　her；　when　thou　doatest　in　thy
desires　else…where。　I　am　thine　owne　Catulla；　and　not　the　wife　of
Ricciardo；　trayterous　and　unfaithfull　man；　as　thou　art。　I　am　sure　thou
knowest　my　voyce；　and　I　thinke　it　a　thousand　yeeres；　until　wee　may　see
each　other　in　the　light；　to　doe　thee　such　dishonour　as　thou　justly
deservest；　dogged；　disdainfull；　and　villainous　wretch。　By　conceiving
to　have　another　woman　in　thy　wanton　embraces　thou　hast　declared　more
joviall　disposition；　and　demonstrations　of　farre　greater　kindnesse；
then　domesticke　familiarity。　At　home　thou　lookest　sower；　sullen　or
surly；　often　froward；　and　seldome　well　pleased。　But　the　best　is；
whereas　thou　intendest　this　husbandrie　for　another　mans　ground；　thou
hast　（against　thy　will）　bestowed　it　on　thine　owne；　and　the　water
hath　runne　a　contrary　course；　quite　from　the　current　where　thou
meantst　it。
　　What　answer　canst　thou　make；　devill；　and　no　man？　What；　have　my　words
smitten　thee　dumbe？　Thou　mayest　（with　shame　enough）　hold　thy　peace；
for　with　the　face　of　a　man；　and　love　of　an　husband　to　his　wife；　thou
art　not　able　to　make　any　answere。
　　Ricciardo　durst　not　speake　one　word；　but　still　expressed　his　affable
behaviour　towards　her；　bestowing　infinite　embraces　and　kisses　on
her：　which　so　much　the　more　augmented　her　rage　and　anger；　continuing
on　her　chiding　thus。　If　by　these　flatteries　and　idle　follies；　thou
hopest　to　comfort　or　pacifie　me；　thou　runnest　quite　by　as　from　thy
reckoning；　for　I　shall　never　imagine　my　selfe　halfe　satisfied；
untill　in　the　presence　of　my　parents；　friends；　and　neighbours；　I
have　revealed　thy　base　behaviour。　Tell　mee；　treacherous　man；　am　not
I　as　faire；　as　the　wife　of　Ricciardo？　Am　I　not　as　good　a　Gentlewoman
borne；　as　shee　is？　What　canst　thou　more　respect　in　her；　then　is　in
mee？　Villaine；　monster；　why　doest　thou　not　answere　mee？　I　will　send　to
Ricciardo；　who　loveth　mee　beyond　all　other　women　in　Naples；　and　yet
could　never　vaunt；　that　I　gave　him　so　much　as　a　friendly　looke：　he
shall　know；　what　a　dishonour　thou　hadst　intended　towards　him；　which
both　he　and　his　friends　will　revenge　soundly　upon　thee。　The
exclamations　of　the　Lady　were　so　tedious　and　irksome；　that　Ricciardo
perceiving；　if　shee　continued　longer　in　these　complaints；　worse
would　ensue　thereon；　then　could　bee　easily　remedied：　resolved　to
make　himselfe　knowne　unto　her；　to　reclaime　her　out　of　this　violent
extasie；　and　holding　her　somewhat　strictly；　to　prevent　her　escaping
from　him；　he　said。　Madam；　afflict　your　selfe　no　further；　for；　what　I
could　not　obtaine　by　simply　loving　you；　subtilty　hath　better　taught
me；　and　I　am　your　Ricciardo：　which　she　hearing；　and　perfectly
knowing　him　by　his　voyce；　shee　would　have　leapt　out　of　the　Bath；　but
shee　could　not；　and　to　avoyde　her　crying　out；　he　layde　his　hand　on　her
mouth；　saying。　Lady；　what　is　done；　cannot　now　be　undone；　albeit　you
cried　out　all　your　life　time。　If　you　exclaime；　or　make　this　knowne
openly　by　any　meanes；　two　unavoydable　dangers　must　needes　ensue
thereon。　The　one　（which　you　ought　more　carefully　to　respect）　is　the
wounding　of　your　good　renowne　and　honour；　because；　when　you　shall　say；
that　by　treacherie　I　drew　you　hither：　I　will　boldly　maintaine　the
contrary；　avouching；　that　having　corrupted　you　with　gold；　and　not
giving　you　so　much　as　covetously　you　desired；　you　grew　offended；　and
thereon　made　the　outcry；　and　you　are　not　to　learne；　that　the　world
is　more　easily　induced　to　beleeve　the　worst；　then　any　goodnesse；　be　it
never　so　manifest。　Next　unto　this；　mortall　hatred　must　arise
betweene　your　husband　and　mee；　and　（perhaps）　I　shall　as　soone　kill
him；　as　he　me；　whereby　you　can　hardly；　live　in　any　true　contentment
after。　Wherefore；　joy　of　my　life；　doe　not　in　one　moment；　both　shame
your　selfe；　and　cause　such　perill　betweene　your　husband　and　me：　for
you　are　not　the　first；　neither　can　be　the　last；　that　shall　be
deceived。　I　have　not　beguiled　you；　to　take　any　honour　from　you；　but
onely　declared；　the　faithfull　affection　I　beare　you；　and　so　shall
doe　for　ever；　as　being　your　bounden　and　most　obedient　servant；　and
as　it　is　a　long　time　agoe；　since　I　dedicated　my　selfe　and　all　mine
to　your　service；　so　hence…forth　must　I　remaine　for　ever。　You　are
wise　enough　（I　know）　in　all　other　things：　then　shew　your　selfe　not
to　be　silly　or　simple　in　this。
　　Ricciardo　uttered　these　words；　teares　streaming　aboundantly　downe
his　cheekes；　and　Madame　Catulla　（all　the　while）　likewise　showred　forth
her　sorrowes　equally　to　his；　now；　although　she　was　exceedingly
troubled　in　mind；　and　saw　what　her　owne　jealous　folly　had　now
brought　her　to；　a　shame　beyond　all　other　whatsoever：　in　the　middest　of
her　tormenting　passions；　shee　considered　on　the　words　of　Ricciardo；
found　good　reason　in　them；　in　regard　of　the　unavoydable　evils
whereupon　shee　thus　spake。　Ricciardo；　I　know　not　how　to　beare　the
horrible　injurie；　and　notorious　treason　used　by　thee　against　me；　grace
and　goodnesse　having　so　forsaken　me；　to　let　me　fall　in　so　foule　a
manner。　Nor　becommeth　it　me；　to　make　any　noyse　or　out…cry　heere；
whereto　simplicity；　or　rather　devillish　jealousie；　did　conduct　me。　But
certaine　I　am　of　one　thing；　that　I　shall　never　see　any　one　joyfull
day；　till　（by　one　meanes　or　other）　I　bee　reverged　on　thee。　Thou　hast
glutted　thy　desire　with　my　disgrace；　let　me　therefore　go　from　thee；
never　more　to　looke　upon　my　wronged　husband；　or　let　any　honest　woman
ever　see　my　face。
　　Ricciardo　perceiving　the　extremity　of　her　perplexed　minde；　used
all　manly　and　milde　perswasions；　which　possibly　he　could　devise　to
doe；　to　turne　the　torrent　of　this　high　tide；　to　a　calmer　course；　as　by
outward　shew　shee　made　appearance　of；　untill　（in　frightfull　feares
shunning　every　one　shee　met　withall；　as　arguments　of　her
guiltinesse）　shee　recovered　her　owne　house；　where　remorse　so
tortured　her　distressed　soule；　that　she　fell　into　so　fierce　a
melancholy；　as　never　left　her　till　shee　died。　Upon　the　report　whereof；
Ricciardo　becomming　likewise　a　widdower；　and　grieving
extraordinarily　for　his　haynous　transgression；　penitently　betooke
himselfe　to　live　in　a　wildernesse；　where　（not　long　after）　he　ended　his
dayes。




　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　THIRD　DAY；　THE　SEAVENTH　NOVELL

　　　　　WHEREIN　IS　SIGNIFIED　THE　POWER　OF　LOVE；　AND　THE　DIVERSITY　OF
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　DANGERS；　WHEREINTO　MEN　MAY　DAYLY　FALL。

　　Theobaldo　Elisei；　having　received　an　unkinde　repulse　by　his　beloved；
departed　from　Florence；　and　returning　thither　（a　long　while　after）
in　the　habite　of　a　Pilgrime；　he　spake　with　her；　and　made　his　wrongs
knowne　unto　her。　He　delivered　her　Father　from　the　danger　of　death；
because　it　was　proved；　that　he　had　slaine　Theobaldo：　he　made　peace
with　his　brethren；　and　in　the　end；　wisely　enjoyed　his　hearts　desire。

　　So　ceased　Fiammetta　her　discourse；　being　generally　commended；　when
the　Queene；　to　prevent　the　losse　of　time；　commanded　Aemillia　to　follow
next；　who　thus　began。　It　liketh　me　best　（gracious　Ladies）　to　returne
home　againe　to　our　owne　City；　which　it　pleased　the　for。
　　mer　two　discoursers　to　part　from：　And　there　I　will　shew　you；　how　a
Citizen　of　ours；　recovered　the　kindnesse　of　his　Love；　after　hee　had
lost　it。
　　Sometime　there　dwelt　in　Florence　a　young　Gentleman；　named
Theobaido　Elisei；　descended　of　a　noble　House；　who　became　earnestly
enamoured　of　a　Widdow；　called　Hermelina；　the　daughter　to
Aldobrandino　Palermini：　well　deserving；　for　his　vertues　and
commendable　qualities；　to　enjoy　of　her　whatsoever　he　could　desire。
Secretly　they　were　espoused　together；　but　Fortune；　the　enemy　to　Lovers
felicities；　opposed　her　malice　against　them；　in　depriving　Theobaldo　of
those　deere　delights；　which　sometime　he　held　in　free　possession；　and
making　him　as　a　stranger　to　her　gracious　favours。　Now　grew　shee
contemptibly　to　despise　him；　not　onely　denying　to　heare　any　message
sent　from　him；　but　scorning　also　to　vouch　safe　so　much　as　a　sight　of
him；　causing　in　him　extreme　griefe　and　melancholy；　yet　concealling　all
her　unkindnesse　so　wisely　to　himselfe；　as　no　one　could　understand
the　reason　of　his　sadnesse。
　　After　he　had　laboured　by　all　hopefull　courses；　to　obtaine　that
favour　of　her；　which　he　had　formerly　lost；　without　any　offence　in　him；
as　his　innocent　soule　truly　witnessed　with　him；　and　saw　that　all　his
further　endeavours　were　fruitlesse　and　in　vaine；　he　concluded　to
retreate　himselfe　from　the　World；　and　not　to　be　any　longer　irkesome　in
her　eye；　that　was　the　onely　occasion　of　his　unhappinesse。　Hereupon；
storing　himselfe　with　summes　of　money；　as　suddenly　he　could　collect
together；　secretly　he　departed　from　Florence；　without　speaking　any
word　to　his　friends　or　kindred；　except　one　kinde　companion　of
his；　whom　he　acquainted　with　most　of　his　secrets；　and　so　travelled
to　Ancona；　where　he　termed　himselfe　by　the　name　of　Sandoloscio。
Repairing　to　a　wealthy　Merchant　there；　he　placed　himselfe　as　his
servant；　and　went　in　a　Ship　of　his　with　him　to　Cyprus；　his　actions　and
behaviour　proved　so　pleasing　to　the　Merchant；　as　not　onely　he
allowed　him　very　sufficient　wages；　but　also　grew　into　such　association
with　him；　as　he　gave　the　most　of　his　affaires　into　his　hands；　which　he
guided　with　such　honest　and　discreete　care；　that　hee　himselfe　（in
few　yeeres　compasse）　proved　to　be　a　rich　Merchant；　and　of　famous
report。
　　While　matters　went　on　in　this　successefull　manner；　although　he　could
not　chuse；　but　still　he　remembred　his　cruell　Mistresse；　and　was　very
desperately　transported　for　her　love；　as　coveting　（above　all　things
else）　to　see　her　once　more；　yet　was　he　of　such　powerfull　constancy；　as
7　whole　yeeres　together；　he　vanquished　all　those　fierce　conflicts。　But
on　a　day　it　chanced　he　heard　a　song　sung　in　Cyprus；　which　he
himselfe　had　formerly　made；　in　honour　of　the　love　he　bare　to　his
Mistresse；　and　what　delight　he　conceived；　by　being　dayly　in　her
presence；　whereby　he　gathered；　that　it　was　impossible　for　him　to
forget　her；　and　proceeded　on　so　desirously；　as　he　could　not　live；
except　he　had　a　sight　of　her　once　more；