the decameron(十日谈)-第47章

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forget　her；　and　proceeded　on　so　desirously；　as　he　could　not　live；
except　he　had　a　sight　of　her　once　more；　and　therefore　determined　on
his　returne　to　Florence。　Having　set　all　his　affaires　in　due　order；
accompanied　with　a　servant　of　his　onely；　he　passed　to　Ancona；　where
when　he　was　arrived；　he　sent　his　Merchandises　to　Florence；　in　name
of　the　Merchant　of　Ancona；　who　was　his　especiall　friend　and　partner；
travayling　himselfe　alone　with　his　servant；　in　the　habite　of　a
Pilgrime；　as　if　he　had　beene　newly　returned　from　Jerusalem。
　　Being　come　to　Florence；　he　went　to　an　Inne　kept　by　two　brethren；
neere　neighbours　to　the　dwelling　of　his　Mistresse；　and　the　first　thing
he　did；　was　passing　by　her　doore；　to　get　a　sight　of　her　if　he　were
so　happie。　But　he　found　the　windowes；　doores；　and　all　parts　of　the
house　fast　shut　up；　whereby　he　suspected　her　to　be　dead；　or　else　to　be
changed　from　her　dwelling：　wherefore　（much　perplexed　in　minde）　he　went
on　to　the　two　brothers　Inne；　finding　foure　persons　standing　at　the
gate；　attired　in　mourning；　whereat　he　marvelled　not　a　little；
knowing　himselfe　to　be　so　transfigured；　both　in　body　and　babite；　farre
from　the　manner　of　common　use　at　his　parting　thence；　as　it　was　a
difficult　matter　to　know　him：　he　stept　boldly　to　a　Shooe…makers　shop
neere　adjoyning；　and　demanded　the　reason　of　their　wearing　mourning。
The　Shooe…maker　made　answer　thus；　Sir；　those　men　are　clad　in　mourning；
because　a　brother　of　theirs；　being　named　Theobaldo　（who　hath　beene
absent　hence　a　long　while）　about　some　fifteene　dayes　since　was　slaine。
And　they　having　heard；　by　proofe　made　in　the　Court　of　justice；　that
one　Aldobrandino　Palermini　（who　is　kept　close　prisoner）　was　the
murtherer　of　him；　as　he　came　in　a　disguised　habite　to　his　daughter；　of
whom　he　was　most　affectionately　enamoured；　cannot　chuse；　but　let　the
World　know　by　their　outward　habits；　the　inward　affliction　of　their
hearts；　for　a　deede　so　dishonourably　committed。　Theobaldo　wondered
greatly　hereat；　imagining；　that　some　man　belike　resembling　him　in
shape；　might　be　slaine　in　this　manner；　and　by　Aldobrandino；　for
whose　misfortune　he　grieved　marvellously。　As　concerning　his　Mistresse；
he　understood　that　shee　was　living；　and　in　good　health；　and　night
drawing　on　apace；　he　went　to　his　lodging；　with　infinite　molestations
in　his　minde；　where　after　supper；　he　was　lodged　in　a　Corne…loft　with
his　man。　Now　by　reason　of　many　disturbing　imaginations；　which
incessantly　wheeled　about　his　braine；　his　bed　also　being　none　of　the
best；　and　his　supper　（perhaps）　somewhat　of　the　coursest；　a　great
part　of　the　night　was　spent；　yet　could　he　not　close　his　eyes　together。
But　lying　still　broade　awake；　about　the　dead　time　of　night；　he　heard
the　treading　of　divers　persons　over　his　head；　who　discended　downe　a
paire　of　stayres　by　his　Chamber；　into　the　lower　parts　of　the　house；
carrying　a　light　with　them；　which　he　discerned　by　the　chinkes　and
crannies　in　the　wall。　Stepping　softly　out　of　his　bed；　to　see　what
the　meaning　hereof　might　be；　he　espied　a　faire　young　woman；　who
carried　a　light　in　her　hand；　and　three　men　in　her　company；
descending　downe　the　stayres　together；　one　of　them　speaking　thus　to
the　young　woman。　Now　we　may　boldly　warrant　our　saftey；　because　we　have
heard　it　assuredly；　that　the　death　of　Theobaldo　Elisei；　hath　beene
sufficiently　approved　by　the　Brethren；　against　Aldobrandino　Palermini；
and　he　hath　confessed　the　fact；　whereupon　the　sentence　is　already
set　downe　in　writing。　But　yet　it　behooveth　us　notwithstanding；　to
conceale　it　very　secretly；　because　if　ever　hereafter　it　should　be
knowne；　that　we　are　they　who　murthered　him；　we　shall　be　in　the　same
danger；　as　now　Aldobrandino　is。
　　When　Theobaldo　had　heard　these　words；　hee　began　to　consider　with
himselfe；　how　many　and　great　the　dangers　are；　wherewith　mens　minds　may
dayly　be　molested。　First；　he　thought　on　his　owne　brethren　in　their
sorrow；　and　buried　a　stranger　insteed　of　him；　accusing　afterward　（by
false　opinion；　and　upon　the　testimony　of　as　false　witnesses）　a　man
most　innocent；　making　him　ready　for　the　stroke　of　death。　Next；　he　made
a　strict　observation　in　his　soule；　concerning　the　blinded　severity
of　Law；　and　the　Ministers　thereto　belonging；　who　pretending　a　diligent
and　carefull　inquisition　for　truth；　doe　oftentimes　（by　their
tortures　and　torments）　heare　lies　avouched　（onely　for　ease　of　paine）
in　the　place　of　a　true　confession；　yet　thinking　themselves　（by　doing
so）　to　be　the　Ministers　of　God　and　justice；　whereas　indeede　they　are
the　Divels　executioners　of　his　wickednesse。　Lastly；　converting　his
thoughts　to　Aldobrandino；　the　imagined　murtherer　of　a　man　yet
living；　infinite　cares　beleagured　his　soule；　in　devising　what　might
best　be　done　for　his　deliverance。
　　So　soone　as　he　was　risen　in　the　morning；　leaving　his　servant　behinde
him　in　his　lodging；　he　went　（when　he　thought　it　fit　time）　all　alone
toward　the　house　of　his　Mistresse；　where　finding　by　good　fortune　the
gate　open；　he　entred　into　a　small　Parlour　beneath；　and　where　he　saw
his　Mistresse　sitting　on　the　ground；　wringing　hands；　and　wofully
weeping；　which　（in　meere　compassion）　moved　him　to　weepe　likewise；
and　going　somewhat　neere　her；　he　saide。　Madame；　torment　your　selfe
no　more；　for　your　peace　is　not　farre　off　from　you。　The　Gentlewoman
hearing　him　say　so；　lifted　up　her　head；　and　in　teares　spake　thus。　Good
man；　thou　seemest　to　me　to　be　a　Pilgrime　stranger；　what　doest　thou
know；　either　concerning　my　peace；　or　mine　affliction？　Madame
（replied　the　Pilgrime）　I　am　of　Constantinople；　and　（doubtlesse）　am
conducted　hither　by　the　hand　of　Heaven；　to　convert　your　teares　into
rejoycing；　and　to　deliver　your　Father　from　death。　How　is　this？
answered　shee：　If　thou　be　of　Constantinople；　and　art　but　now　arrived
here；　doest　thou　know　who　we　are；　either　I；　or　my　Father？
　　The　Pilgrime　discoursed　to　her；　even　from　the　one　end　to　the
other；　the　history　of　her　husbands　sad　disasters；　telling　her；　how
many　yeeres　since　she　was　espoused　to　him；　and　many　other　important
matters；　which　well　shee　knew；　and　was　greatly　amazed　thereat；
thinking　him　verily　to　be　a　Prophet；　and　kneeling　at　his　feete；
entreated　him　very　earnestly；　that　if　he　were　come　to　deliver　her
Father　Aldobrandino　from　death；　to　doe　it　speedily；　because　the　time
was　very　short。　The　Pilgrime　appearing　to　be　a　man　of　great　holinesse；
saide。　Rise　up　Madame；　refraine　from　weeping；　and　observe
attentively　what　I　shall　say；　yet　with　this　caution；　that　you　never
reveale　it　to　any　person　whatsoever。　This　tribulation　whereinto　you
are　falne；　（as　by　revelation　I　am　faithfully　informed）　is　for　a
grievous　sinne　by　you　heretofore　committed；　whereof　divine　mercy　is
willing　to　purge　you；　and　to　make　a　perfect　amends　by　a　sensible
feeling　of　this　affliction；　as　seeking　your　sound　and　absolute
recovery；　least　you　fall　into　farre　greater　danger　then　before。　Good
man　（quoth　shee）　I　am　burthened　with　many　sinnes；　and　doe　not　know　for
which　any　amends　should　be　made　by　me；　any　one　sooner　then　other：
wherefore　if　you　have　intelligence　thereof；　for　charities　sake　tell　it
me；　and　I　will　doe　so　much　as　lieth　in　me；　to　make　a　full　satisfaction
for　it。　Madame；　answered　the　Pilgrime；　I　know　well　enough　what　it
is；　and　will　demand　it　no　more　of　you；　to　winne　any　further
knowledge　thereof；　then　I　have　already：　but　because　in　revealing　it
your　selfe；　it　may　touch　you　with　the　more　true　compunction　of
soule；　let　us　goe　to　the　point　indeede；　and　tell　mee；　doe　you
remember；　that　at　any　time　you　were　married　to　an　Husband；　or　no？
　　At　the　hearing　of　these　words；　shee　breathed　foorth　a　very
vehement　sigh；　and　was　stricken　with　admiration　at　this　question；
beleeving　that　not　any　one　had　knowledge　thereof。　Howbeit；　since　the
day　of　the　supposed　Theobaldaes　buriall；　such　a　rumour　ran　abroade；　by
meanes　of　some　speeches；　rashly　dispersed　by　a　friend　of
Theobaldoes；　who　（indeede）　knew　it；　whereupon　shee　returned　him　this
answer。　It　appeareth　to　me　（good　man）　that　divine　ordinativation
hath　revealed　unto　you　all　the　secrets　of　men；　and　therefore　I　am
determined；　not　to　conceale　any　of　mine　from　you。　True　it　is；　that
in　my　younger　yeeres；　being　left　a　widdow；　I　entirely　affected　an
unfortunate　young　Gentleman；　who　（in　secret）　was　my　Husband；　and　whose
death　is　imposed　on　my　Father。　The　death　of　him　I　have　the　more
bemoaned；　because　（in　reason）　it　did　neerely　concerne　me；　by　shewing
my　selfe　so　savage　and　rigorous　to　him　before　his　departure：
neverthelesse；　let　me　assure　you　Sir；　that　neither　his　parting　long
absence　from　me；　or　his　untimely　death；　never　had　the　power　to　bereave
my　heart　of　his　remembrance。
　　Madame；　saide　the　Pilgrime；　the　unfortinate　young　Gentleman　that
is　slaine；　did　never　love　you；　but　sure　I　am；　that　Theobaldo　Elisei
loved　you　deerely。　But　tell　me；　what　was　the　occasion　whereby　you
conceived　such　hatred　against　him？　Did　he　at　any　time　offend　you？　No
truly　Sir；　quoth　shee；　but　the　reason　of　my　anger　towards　him；　was
by　the　words　and　threatnings　of　a　religious　Father；　to　whom　once　I
revealed　（under　confession）　how　faithfully　I　affected　him；　and　what
private　familiarity　had　passed　betweene　us。　When　iristantly　he　used
such　dreadfull　threatnings　to　me；　and　which　（even　yet）　doe　afflict
my　soule；　that　I　did　not　abstaine；　and　utterly　refuse　him；　the
Divell　would　fetch　me　quicke　to　Hell；　and　cast　me　into　the　bottome
of　his　quenchlesse　and　everlasting　fire。
　　These　menaces　were　so　prevailing　with　me；　as　I　refused　all　further
conversition　with　Theobaldo；　in　which　regard；　I　would　receive
neither　letters　or　messages　from　him。　Howbeit；　I　am　perswaded；　that　if
he　had　continued　here　still；　and　not　departed　hence　in　such
desperate　manner　as　hee　did；　seeing　him　melt　and　consume　dayly　away；
even　as　Snow　by　power　of　the　Sunne…beames：　my　austere　deliberation　had
beene　long　agoe　quite　altered；　because　not　at　any　time　（since　then）
life　hath　allowed　me　one　merry　day；　neither　did　I；　or　ever　can　love
any　man　like　unto　him。
　　At　these　wordes　the　Pilgrime　sighed；　and　then　proceeded　on　againe
thus。　Surely　Madame；　this　one　onely　sin；　may　justly　torment　you；
because　I　know　for　a　certainty；　that　Theobaldo　never　offered　you　any
in　many；　the　day　hee　first　became　enamoured　of　you；　and　what　grace
or　favour　you　affoorded　him；　was　your　owne　voluntary　gift；　and　（as
he　tooke　it）　no　more　then　in　modesty　might　well　become　you；　for　hee
loving　you　first；　you　had　beene　most　cruell　and　unkinde；　if　you　should
not　have　requited　him　with　the　like　affection。　If　then　he　continued　so
just　and　loyall　to　you；　as　（of　mine　owne　knowledge）　I　am　able　to　say
he　did；　what　should　move　you　to　repulse　him　so　rudely？　Such　matters
ought　well　to　bee　considered　on　before　hand；　for　if　you　did　imagine；
that　you　should　repent　it　as　an　action　ill　done；　yet　you　could　not　doe
it；　because　as　hee　became　yours；　so　were　you　likewise　onely　his；　and
he　being　yours；　you　might　dispose　of　him　at　your　pleasure；　as　being
truely　obliged　to　none　but　you。　How　could　you　then　with…draw　your
selfe　from　him；　being　onely　his；　and　not　commit　most　manifest　theft；　a
farre　unfitting　thing　for　you　to　doe；　except　you　had　gone　with　his
consent。
　　Now　Madame；　let　me　further　give　you　to　understand；　that　I　am　a
religious　person；　and　a　pilgr