the decameron(十日谈)-第49章

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contentment。　And　questionlesse；　if　I　speed　no　worse　then　my　good
hope　perswadeth　me；　I　will　see　you　againe　to　night；　and　acquaint　you
at　better　leysure；　in　such　things　as　I　cannot　do　now　at　this　present。
　　So　putting　on　his　Pilgrimes　habit　againe；　kissing　her　once　more；　and
comforting　her　with　future　good　successe；　he　departed　from　her；
going　to　the　prison　where　Aldobrandino　lay；　whom　hee　found　more
pensive；　as　being　in　hourely　expectation　of　death；　then　any　hope　he
had　to　be　freed　from　it。　Being　brought　neerer　to　him　by　the
prisoners　favour；　as　seeming　to　be　a　man　come　onely　to　comfort　him：
sitting　downe　by　him；　thus　he　began。　Aldobrandino；　I　am　a　friend　of
thine；　whom　Heaven　hath　sent　to　doe　thee　good；　in　meere　pittie　and
compassion　of　thine　innocency。　And　therefore；　if　thou　wilt　grant　me
one　small　request；　which　I　am　earnestly　to　crave　at　thy　hands；　thou
shalt　heare　（without　any　failing）　before　to　morrow　at　night；　the
sentence　of　thy　free　absolution；　whereas　now　thou　expectest　nothing
but　death；　whereunto　Aldobrandino　thus　answered。　Friendly　man；
seeing　thou　art　so　carefull　of　my　safety　（although　I　know　thee　not；
neither　doe　remember　that　ere　I　saw　thee　till　now）　thou　must　needs
be　some　especiall　kinde　friend　of　mine。　And　to　tell　thee　the　truth；
I　never　committed　the　sinful　deed　for　which　I　am　condemned　to　death。
True　it　is；　I　have　other　heinous　and　greevous　sins；　which
（undoubtedly）　have　throwne。　this　heavy　judgement　on　me；　and
therefore　I　am　the　more　willing　to　undergo　it。　Neverthelesse；　let　me
thus　I　us　farre　assure　thee；　that　I　would　gladly　not　onely　promise
something　which　might　be　to　the　glory　of　God；　if　he　were　pleased　in
this　case　to　have　mercy　on　me；　but　also　would　as　willingly　performe
and　accomplish　it。　Wherefore；　demaund　whatsoever　thou　pleasest；　for
unfained　（if　I　escape　with　life）　I　will　truly　keepe　promise　with　thee。
　　Sir；　replyed　the　Pilgrime；　I　desire　nor　demand　any　thing　of　you；　but
that　you　would　pardon　the　foure　Brethren　of　Theobaldo；　that　brought
you　to　this　hard　extremity；　as　thinking　you　to　be　guilty　of　their
brothers　death；　and　that　you　would　also　accept　them　as　your　brethren
and　friends　upon　their　craving　pardon　for　what　they　have　done。
　　Sir；　answered　Aldobrandino；　no　man　knoweth　how　sweet　revenge　is；　nor
with　what　heate　it　is　to　be　desired；　but　onely　the　man　who　hath　bene
wronged。　Notwithstanding；　not　to　hinder　hope；　which　onely　aymeth　at
Heaven；　I　freely　forgive　them；　and　henceforth　pardon　them　for　ever；
intending　more。　over；　that　if　mercy　give　me　life；　and　cleere　me　from
this　bloody　imputation；　to　love　and　respect　them　so　long　as　I　shall
live。　This　answere　was　most　pleasing　to　the　Pilgrime；　and　without
any　further　multiplication　of　speeches；　he　entreated　him　to　be　of　good
comfort；　for　he　feared　not　but　before　the　time　prefixed；　he　should
heare　certaine　tydings　of　his　deliverance。
　　At　his　departing　from　him；　hee　went　directly　to　the　Signoria；　and
prevailed　so　far　that　he　spake　privately　with　a　Knight；　who　was　then
one　of　the　States　chiefest　Lords；　to　whom　he　saide。　Sir；　a　man　ought
to　bestow　his　best　paines　and　diligence；　that　the　truth　of　things
should　be　apparantly　knowne；　especially；　such　men　as　hold　the　place
and　office　as　you　doe：　to　the　end；　that　those　persons　which　have
committed　no　foule　offence；　should　not　bee　punished；　but　onely　the
guilty　and　haynous　transgressors。　And　because　it　will　be　no　meane
honor　to　you；　to　lay　the　blame　where　it　worthily　deserveth；　I　am
come　hither　purposely；　to　informe　you　in　a　case　of　most　weighty
importance。　It　is　not　unknowne　to　you；　with　what　rigour　the　State　hath
proceeded　against　Aldobrandino　Palermini；　and　you　think　verily　he　is
the　man　that　hath　slaine　Theobaldo　Elisei；　whereupon　your　Law　hath
condemned　him　to　die。　I　dare　assure　you　Sir；　that　a　very　unjust　course
hath　beene　taken　in　this　case；　because　Aldobrandino　is　falsly
accused　as　you　your　selfe　will　confesse　before　midnight；　when　they　are
delivered　into　your　power；　that　were　the　murderers　of　the　man。
　　The　honest　Knight；　who　was　very　sorrowfull　for　Aldobrandino；
gladly　gave　attention　to　the　Pilgrime；　and　having　conferred　on　many
matters；　appertaining　to　the　fact　committed：　the　two　Brethren　who　were
Theobaldoes　Hostes；　and　their　Chambermaid；　upon　good　advice　given；
were　apprehended　in　their　first　sleep；　without　any　resistance　made
in　their　defence。　But　when　the　tortures　were　sent　for；　to　understand
truly　how　the　case　went；　they　would　not　endure　any　paine　at　all；　but
each　aside　by　himselfe；　and　then　altogether　confessed　openly；　that
they　did　the　deede；　yet　not　knowing　him　to　be　Theobaldo　Elisei。　And
when　it　was　demanded　of　them；　upon　what　occasion　they　did　so　foule
an　act；　they　answered；　that　they　were　so　hatefull　against　the　mans
life；　because　he　would　luxuriouslie　have　abused　one　of　their　wives；
when　they　both　were　absent　from　their　owne　home。
　　When　the　Pilgrim　had　heard　their　voluntary　confession；　he　tooke
his　leave　of　his　Knight；　returning　secretly　to　the　house　of　Madam
Hermelina；　and　there　（because　all　her　people　were　in　their　beds）　she
carefully　awaited　his　returne；　to　beare　some　glad　tydings　of　her
father；　and　to　make　a　further　reconciliation　betweene　her　and
Theobaldo；　when　sitting　downe　by　her；　he　said：　Deare　Love；　be　of
good　cheere；　for　（upon　my　word）　to　morrow　you　shall　have　your　father
home　safe；　well；　and　delivered　from　all　further　danger：　and　to
confirme　her　the　more　confidently　in　his　words；　he　declared　at　large
the　whole　carriage　of　the　businesse。　Hermelina　being　wondrously
joyfull；　for　two　such　succesefull　accidents　to　injoy　her　husband　alive
and　in　health；　and　also　to　have　her　father　freed　from　so　great　a
danger；　kissed　and　embraced　him　most　affectionately；　welcomming　him
lovingly　into　her　bed；　whereto　so　long　time　hee　had　beene　a　stranger。
　　No　sooner　did　bright　day　appeare；　but　Theobaldo　arose；　having
acquainted　her　with　such　matters　as　were　to　be　done；　and　once　more
earnestly　desiring　her；　to　conceale　（as　yet）　these　occurrences　to
her　selfe。　So　in　his　Pilgrims　habit；　he　departed　from　her　house；　to
awaite　convenient：　opportunity；　for　attending　on　the　businesse
belonging　to　Aldobrandino。　At　the　usuall　houre　appointed；　the　Lords
were　all　set　in　the　Signioria；　and　had　received　full　information；
concerning　the　offence　imputed　to　Aldobrandino；　setting　him　at　liberty
by　publique　consent；　and　sentencing　the　other　malefactors　with
death；　who　（within　a　few　dayes　after）　were　beheaded　in　place　the
murther　was　committed。　Thus　Aldobrandino　being　released；　to　his
exceeding　comfort；　and　no　small　joy　of　his　daughter；　kindred；　and
friends；　all　knowing　perfectly；　that　this　had　happened　by　the　Pilgrims
meanes；　they　conducted　him　home　to　Aldobrandinoes　house；　where　they
desired　him　to　continue　so　long　as　himselfe　pleased；　using　him　with
most　honourable　and　gracious　respect；　bilt　especially　Hermelina；　who
knew　（better　then　the　rest）　on　whom　she　bestowed　her　liberall　favours；
yet　concealing　all　closely　to　her　selfe。　After　two　or　three　dayes　were
over…past；　in　these　complementall　entercoursings　of　kindnesse；
Theobaldo　began　to　consider；　that　it　was　high　time　for　reconciliation；
to　be　solemnely　past　betweene　his　brethren　and　Aldobrandino。　For；　they
were　not　a　little　amazed　at　his　strange　deliverance；　and　went　likewise
continually　armed；　as　standing　in　feare　of　Aldobrandino　and　his
friends；　which　made　him　the　more　earnest；　for　accomplishment　of　the
promise　formerly　made　unto　him。　Aldobrandino　lovingly　replied；　that　he
was　ready　to　make　good　his　word。　Whereupon；　the　Pilgrime　provided　a
goodly　Banquet；　whereat　he　pursued　to　have　present　Aldobrandino；　his
Daughter；　Kindred；　and　their　wives。　But　first；　himselfe　went　in
person；　to　invite　them　in　peace　to　his　banquet；　using　many　pregnant
and　forcible　reasons　to　them；　such　as　are　requisite　in　the　like
discordant　cases。　In　the　end；　they　were　so　wise　and　prevailing　with
them　that　they　willingly　condiscended；　and　thought　it　no　disparagement
unto　them；　for　the　recovery　of　Aldobrandinoes　kindnesse　againe；　to
crave　pardon　for　their　great　error　committed。　On　the　morrow　following；
about　dinner　time；　the　foure　brethren　of　Theobaldo；　attired　in　their
mourning　garments；　with　their　wives　and　frends　came　first　to　the　house
of　Aldobrandino；　who　purposely　stayed　for　them；　and　having　laid
downe　their　weapons　on　the　ground；　in　the　presence　of　all　such　as
Aldobrandino　had　invited　as　his　witnesses；　they　offered　themselves
to　his　mercy；　and　humbly　required　pardon　of　him；　for　the　matter
wherein　they　had　offended　him。　Aldobrandino　shedding　teares；　most
lovingly　embraced　them；　and　（to　be　briefe）　pardoned　whatsoever
injuries　he　had　received。　After　this；　the　sisters　and　wives；　all
clad　in　mourning；　courteously　submitted　themselves；　and　were
graciously　welcommed　by　Madame　Hermelina；　as　also　divers　other
Gentlewomen　there　present　with　her。　Being　all　seated　at　the　Tables；
which　were　furnished　with　such　rarities　as　could　be　wished　for；　al
things　else　deserved　their　due　commendation；　but　onely　sad　silence；
occasioned　by　the　fresh　remembrance　of　sorow；　appearing　in　the　habites
of　Theobaldoes　friends　and　kindred；　which　the　Pilgrim　himselfe　plainly
perceived；　to　be　the　onely　disgrace　to　him　and　his　feast。　Wherefore；
as　before　he　had　resolved；　when　time　served　to　purge　away　this
melancholly；　he　arose　from　the　Table；　when　some　（as　yet）　had　scarse
begun　to　eate；　and　thus　spake。
　　Gracious　company；　there　is　no　defect　in　this　Banquet；　or　more　debars
it　of　the　honour　it　might　else　have；　but　onely　the　presence　of
Theobaldo；　who　having　bin　continually　in　your　company；　it　seemes　you
are　not　willing　to　take　knowledge　of　him；　and　therefore　I　meane　my
selfe　to　shew　him。　So；　uncasing　himselfe　out　of　his　Pilgrimes　clothes；
and　standing　in　his　Hose　and　Doublet；　to　their　no　little　admiration；
they　all　knew　him；　yet　doubted　whether　it　were　he；　or　no。　Which　he
perceiving；　he　repeated　his　brethrens　and　absent　kindreds　names；　and
what　occurrences　hapned　betweene　them　from　time　to　time；　beside　the
relation　of　his　owne　passed　fortunes；　inciting　teares　in　the　eyes　of
his　brethren；　and　all　else　there　present；　every　one　hugging　and
embracing　him；　yea；　many　beside；　who　were　no　kin　at　all　to　him。
Hermelina　onely　excepted：　which　when　Aldobrandino　saw；　he　said　unto
her；　How　now　Hermelina？　Why　doest　thou　not　welcome　home　Theobaldo；
so　kindly　as　the　rest　have　done？
　　She　making　a　modest　courtesie　to　her　Father；　and　answering　so
loude　as　every　one　might　her；　There　is　not　any　one　in　this　assembly
that　more　willingly　would　give　him　all　expression　of　a　joyfull
welcom　home　and　thankefull　gratitude　for　such　especiall　favours
received；　then　in　my　heart　I　could　affoord　to　do；　but　onely　in
regard　of　those　infamous　speeches　noysed　out　against　me；　on　the　day
when　we　wept　for　him；　who　was　supposed　to　be　Theobaldo；　which
slander　was　to　my　great　discredit。　Go　on　boldly；　replied　Aldobrandino；
doest　thou　think　that　I　regard　any　such　praters？　In　the　procuring　of
my　deliverance；　he　hath　approved　them　to　be　manifest　lyars；　albeit　I
my　selfe　did　never　credit　them。　Go　then　I　command　thee；　and…　let　me
see　thee　both　kisse　and　embrace　him。　She　who　desired　nothing　more；
shewed　her　selfe　not　sloth　full