the decameron(十日谈)-第48章

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consent。
　　Now　Madame；　let　me　further　give　you　to　understand；　that　I　am　a
religious　person；　and　a　pilgrime；　and　therefore　am　well　acquainted
with　all　the　courses　of　their　dealing；　if　therefore　I　speake
somewhat　more　amply　of　them；　and　for　your　good；　it　can　not　be　so
unseeming　for　mee　to　doe　it；　as　it　would　appeare　ugly　in　another。　In
which　respect；　I　will　speake　the　more　freely　to　you；　to　the　ende；　that
you　may　take　better　knowledge　of　them；　then　（as　it　seemeth）　hitherto
you　have　done。　In　former　passed　times　such　as　professed　Religion；　were
learned　and　most　holy　persons；　but　our　religious　professours　now
adayes；　and　such　as　covet　to　bee　so　esteemed；　have　no　matter　at　all　of
Religion　in　them；　but　onely　the　outward　shew　and　habite。　Which　yet
is　no　true　badge　of　Religion　neither；　because　it　was　ordained　by
religious　institutions；　that　their　garments　should　bee　made　of
arrow；　plaine；　and　coursest　spun　cloth；　to　make　a　publike
manifestation　to　the　world；　that　（in　meere　devotion；　and　religious
disposition）　by　wrapping　their　bodies　in　such　base　clothing；　they
condemned　and　despised　all　temporall　occasions。　But　now　adaies　they
make　them　large；　deepe；　glistering；　and　of　the　finest　cloth　or　stuffes
to　bee　gotten；　reducing　those　habites　to　so　proude　and　pontificall　a
forme；　that　they　walke　Peacock…like；　rustling；　and　strouting　with　them
in　the　Churches；　yea；　and　in　open　publike　places；　as　if　they　were
ordinary　secular　persons；　to　have　their　pride　more　notoriously
observed。　And　as　the　Angler　bestoweth　his　best　cunning；　with　one
line　and　baite　to　catch　many　fishes　at　one　strike；　even　so　do　these
counterfeited　habit…mongers；　by　their　dissembling　and　crafty
dealing；　beguile　many　credulous　widdowes：　simple　women；　yea；　and　men
of　weake　capacity；　to　credit　whatsoever　they　doe　or　say；　and　herein
they　doe　most　of　all　exercise　themselves。
　　And　to　the　end；　that　my　speeches　may　not　savor　of　any　untruth
against　them；　these　men　which　I　speake　of；　have　not　any　habite　at
all　of　religious　men；　but　onely　the　colour　of　their　garments；　and
whereas　they　in　times　past；　desired　nothing　more　then　the　salvation　of
mens　soules；　these　fresher　witted　fellowes；　covet　after　women　and
wealth；　and　employ　all　their　paines　by　their　whispering　confessions；
and　figures　of　painted　fearefull　examples；　to　affright　and　terrifie
unsetled　and　weake　consciences；　by　horrible　and　blasphemous
speeches；　yet　adding　perswasion　withall；　that　their　sinnes　may　be
purged　by　Almes…deedes　and　Masses。　To　the　end；　that　such　as　credit
them　in　these　their　dayly　courses；　being　guided　more　by　apparance　of
devotion；　then　any　true　compunction　of　heart；　to　escape　severe
penances　by　them　enjoyned：　may　some　of　them　bring　bread；　others
wine；　others　coyne；　all　of　them　matter　of　commoditie　and　benefit；
and　simply　say；　these　gifts　are　for　the　soules　of　their　good　friends
deceased。
　　I　make　not　any　doubt；　but　almes…deedes　and　prayers；　are　very　mighty；
and　prevailing　meanes；　to　appease　heavens　anger　for　some　sinnes
committed；　but　if　such　as　bestow　them；　did　either　see　or　know；　to　whom
they　give　them：　they　would　more　warily　keepe　them；　or　else　cast　them
before　Swine；　in　regard　they　are　altogether　so　unworthy　of　them。　But
come　we　now　to　the　case　of　your　ghostly　father；　crying　out　in　your
eare；　that　secret　mariage　was　a　most　greevous　sinne：　Is　not　the　breach
thereof　farre　greater？　Familiar　conversation　betweene　man　and　man
and　woman；　is　a　concession　meerely　naturall：　but　to　rob；　kill；　or
banish　any　one；　proceedeth　from　the　mindes　malignity。　That　thou　did
rob　Theobaldo；　your　selfe　hath　already　sufficiently　witnessed；　by
taking　that　from　him；　which　with　free　consent　in　mariage　you　gave　him。
Next　I　must　say；　that　by　all　the　power　remaining　in　you；　you　kild　him；
because　you　would　not　permit　him　to　remaine　with　you；　declaring　your
selfe　in　the　very　height　of　cruelty；　that　hee　might　destroy　his　life
by　his　owne　hands。　In　which　case　the　Law　requireth；　that　whosoever
is　the　occasion　of　an　ill　act　committed；　hee　or　she　is　as　deepe　in　the
fault；　as　the　party　that　did　it。　Now　concerning　his　banishment；　and
wandring　seaven　yeeres　in　exile　thorow　the　world；　you　cannot　denie；
but　that　you　were　the　onely　occasion　thereof。　In　all　which　three
severall　actions；　farre　more　capitally　have　you　offended；　then　by
contracting　of　mariage　in　such　clandestine　manner。
　　But　let　us　see；　whether　Theobaldo　deserved　all　these　severall
castigations；　or　not。　In　trueth　he　did　not；　your　selfe　have
confessed　（beside　that　which　I　know）　that　hee　loved　you　more　deerely
then　himselfe；　and　nothing　could　be　more　honoured；　magnified　and
exalted；　then　dayly　you　were　by　him；　above　all　other　women　whatsoever。
When　hee　came　in　any　place；　where　honestly；　and　without　suspition
hee　might　speake　to　you：　all　his　honour；　and　all　his　liberty；　lay
wholly　committed　into　your　power。　Was　hee　not　a　noble　young　Gentleman？
Was　he　（among　all　those　parts　that　most　adorne　a　man；　and　appertaine
to　the　very　choycest　respect）　inferiour　to　any　one　of　best　merit　in
your　Citie？　I　know　that　you　cannot　make　deniall　to　any　of　these
demands。　How　could　you　then　by　the　perswasion　of　a　beast；　a　foole；　a
villaine；　yea；　a　vagabond；　envying　both　his　happinesse　and　yours；
enter　into　so　cruell　a　minde　against　him？　I　know　not　what　error
misguideth　women；　in　scorning　and　despising　their　husbands：　but　if
they　entred　into　a　better　consideration；　understanding　triely　what
they　are；　and　what　nobility　of　nature　God　hath　endued　man　withall；
farre　above　all　other　creatures；　it　would　bee　their　highest　title　of
glory；　when　they　are　so　preciously　esteemed　of　them；　so　dearely
affected　by　them；　and　so　gladly　embraced　in　all　their　best　abilities。
　　This　is　so　great　a　sinne；　as　the　divine　justice　（which　in　an
equall　Ballance　bringeth　all　operations　to　their　full　effect）　did
not　purpose　to　leave　unpunished；　but　as　you　enforced　against　all
reason；　to　take　away　Theobaldo　from　your　selfe：　even　so　your　father
Aldobrandino；　without　any　occasion　given　by　Theobaldo；　is　in　perill　of
his　life；　and　you　a　partaker　of　his　tribulation。　Out　of　which　if　you
desire　to　be　delivered；　it　is　very　convenient　that　you　promise　one
thing　which　I　shall　tell　you；　and　may　much　better　be　by　you　performed。
Namely；　that　if　Theobaido　do　returne　from　his　long　banishment；　you
shall　restore　him　to　your　love；　grace；　and　good　acceptation；
accounting　him　in　the　selfe…same　degree　of　favour　and　private
entertainment；　as　he　was　at　the　first；　before　your　wicked　ghostly
father　so　hellishly　incensed　you　against　him。
　　When　the　Pilgrim　had　finished　his　speeches；　the　Gentlewoman　who
had　listned　to　them　very　attentively　（because　all　the　edged　reasons
appeared　to　be　plainly　true）　became　verily　perswaded；　that　all　these
afictions　had　falne　on　her　and　her　father；　for　the　ingratefull　offence
by　her　committed；　and　therefore　thus　is　replied。　Worthy　man；　and　the
friend　to　goodnesse；　I　know　undoubtedly；　that　the　words　which　you　have
spoken　are　true；　and　also　I　understand　by　your　demonstration；　what
manner　of　people　some　of　those　religious　persons　are；　whom
heretofore　I　have　reputed　to　be　Saints；　but　find　them　now　to　be　far
otherwise。　And　to　speake　truly；　I　perceive　the　fault　to　be　great　and
greevous；　wherein　I　have　offended　against　Theobaldo；　and　would　（if　I
could）　willingly　make　amends；　even　in　such　manner　as　you　have　advised。
But　how　is　it　possible　to　be　done？　Theobaldo　being　dead；　can　be　＇no＇
more　recalled　to　this　life；　and　therefore；　I　know　not　what　promise　I
should　make；　in　a　matter　which　is　not　to　bee　performed。　Whereto　the
Pilgrime　without　any　longer　pausing；　thus　answered。
　　Madam；　by　such　revelations　as　have　beene　shewne　to　me；　I　know　for
a　certainety；　that　Theobaldo　is　not　dead；　but　living；　in　health；　and
in　good　estate；　if　he　had　the　fruition　of　your　grace　and　favour。
Take　heede　what　you　say　Sir　（quoth　the　Gentlewoman）　for　I　saw　him
lye　slain　before　my　doore；　his　bodie　having　received　many　wounds；
which　I　folded　in　mine　armes；　and　washed　his　face　with　my　brinish
teares；　whereby　（perhaps）　the　scandall　arose；　that　flew　abroad　to　my
disgrace。　Beleeve　me　Madam；　replyed　the　Pilgrim；　say　what　you　will；
I　dare　assure　you　that　Theobaldo　is　living；　and　if　you　dare　make
promise；　concerning　what　hath　bin　formerly　requested；　and　keepe　it
inviolably；　I　make　no　doubt；　but　you　your　selfe　shall　shortly　see　him。
I　promise　it　（quoth　she）　and　binde　my　selfe　thereto　by　a　sacred
oath；　to　keepe　it　faithfully：　for　never　could　any　thing　happen　to
yeeld　me　the　like　contentment；　as　to　see　my　Father　free　from　danger；
and　Theobaldo　living。
　　At　this　instant　Theobaldo　thought　it　to　be　a　very　apt　and　convenient
time　to　disclose　himselfe；　and　to　comfort　the　Lady；　with　an　assured
signall　of　hope；　for　the　deliverance　of　her　Father；　wherefore　he　said：
Ladie；　to　the　end　that　I　may　comfort　you　infallibly　in　this
dangerous　perill　of　your　fathers　life；　I　am　to　make　knowne　an
especiall　secret　to　you；　which　you　are　to　keepe　carefully　（as　you
tender　your　owne　life）　from　ever　being　revealed　to　the　world。　They
were　then　in　a　place　of　sufficient　privacie；　and　by　themselves；
because　she　reposed　great　confidence　in　the　Pilgrims　sanctity　or　life；
as　thinking　him　none　other　then　he　seemed　to　be。　Theobaldo　tooke　out
of　his　Purse　a　Ring；　which　she　gave　him　the　last　night　of　their
conversing　together；　and　he　had　kept　with　no　meane　care：　and　shewing
it　to　her；　said；　Do　you　know　this　Ring　Madam？　So　soone　as　she　saw
it；　immediatly　she　knew　it；　and　answered；　Yes　Sir；　I　know　the　Ring；
and　confesse　that　heretofore　I　gave　it　to　Theobaldo。
　　Heereupon　the　Pilgrime　stood　up；　and　sodainly　putting　off　his
poore　linnen　Frock；　and　the　Hood　from　his　head；　using　his　Florentine
tongue；　he　said；　Tell　me　Madam；　do　you　not　know　me？　When　she　had
advisedly　beheld　him；　and　knew　him　indeed　to　be　Theobaldo；　she　was
stricken　into　a　wonderfull　astonishment；　being　as　fearfull　of　him；
as　she　was　of　the　dead　body　which　she　saw　lying　in　the　street。　And　I
dare　assure　you；　that　she　durst　not　go　neere　him；　to　respect　him　as
Theobaldo　lately　come　from　Cyprus；　but　（in　terror）　fled　away　from　him；
as　if　Theobaldo　had　bin　newly　risen　out　of　his　grave；　and　came　thither
purposely　to　affright　her；　wherefore　he　said。　Be　not　affraid　Madam；
I　am　your　Theobaldo；　in　health；　alive；　and　never　as　yet　died；
neither　have　I　received　any　wounds　to　kill　mee；　as　you　and　my　brethren
had　formerly　imagined。
　　Some　better　assurance　getting　possession　of　her；　as　knowing　him
perfectly　by　his　voice；　and　looking　more　stedfastly　on　his　face；　which
constantly　avouched　him　to　be　Theobaldo；　the　teares　trickling　amaine
downe　her　faire　cheekes；　she　ran　to　embrace　him；　casting　her　armes
about　his　necke；　and　kissing　him　a　thousand　times；　my　faithfull
husband；　nothing　in　the　world　can　be　so　welcom　to　me。　Theobaldo　having
most　kindly　kissed　and　embraced　her；　said；　Sweet　wife；　time　wit　not
now　allow　us　those　ceremonious　courtesies；　which　（indeed）　so　long　a
separation　do　justly　challenge；　for　I　must　about　a　more　weighty
busines；　to　have　your　Father　safely　delivered；　which　I　hope　to　do
before　to　morow　night　when　you　shall　heare　tydings　to　your　better
contentment。　And　questionlesse；　if　I　speed　no　worse　then　my　good
hope　perswad