the decameron(十日谈)-第5章

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great　desolation；　without　happy　prevention；　I　will　declare　unto　you　in
very　few　words；　and　make　it　good　according　to　my　promise。
　　Saladine；　was　a　man　so　powerfull　and　valiant；　as　not　onely　his
very　valour　made　him　Soldan　of　Babylon；　and　also　gave　him　many　signall
victories；　over　Kings　of　the　Sarrazens；　and　of　Christians　likewise。
Having　in　divers　Warres；　and　other　magnificent　employments；　of　his
owne；　wasted　all　his　treasure；　and　（by　reason　of　some　sodaine　accident
happening　to　him）　standing　in　neede　to　use　some　great　summe　of
money；　yet　not　readily　knowing　where；　or　how　to　procure　it；　he
remembred　a　rich　Jew　named　Melchisedech；　that　lent　out　money　to　use　or
interest　in　the　City　of　Alexandria。　This　man　he　imagined　best　able
to　furnish　him；　if　he　could　be　won　to　do　it　willingly：　but　he　was
knowne　to　be　so　gripple　and　miserable；　that　hardly　any　meanes　would
drawe　him　to　it。　In　the　end；　constrained　by　necessity；　and　labouring
his　wits　for　some　apt　device　whereby　he　might　have　it：　he　concluded；
though　hee　might　not　compell　him　to　do　it；　yet　by　a　practise
shadowed　with　good　reason　to　ensnare　him。　And　having　sent　for　him；
entertained　him　very　familiarly　in　his　Court；　and　sitting　downe　by
him；　thus　began。
　　Honest　man；　I　have　often　heard　it　reported　by　many；　that　thou　art
very　skilfull；　and　in　cases　concerning　God；　thou　goest　beyond　all
other　of　these　times：　wherefore；　I　would　gladly　bee　informed　by
thee；　which　of　those　three　Lawes　or　Religions；　thou　takest　to　be
truest；　that　of　the　Jew；　the　other　of　the　Sarazen；　or　that　of　the
Christian？　The　Jew；　being　a　very　wise　man；　plainely　perceived；　that
Saladine　sought　to　entrap　him　in　his　answere；　and　so　to　raise　some
quarrell　against　him。　For；　if　he　commended　any　one　of　those　Lawes
above　the　other；　he　knew　that　Saladine　had　what　he　aymed　at。
Wherefore；　bethinking　himselfe　to　shape　such　an　answere；　as　might　no
way　trouble　or　entangle　him：　summoning　all　his　sences　together；　and
considering；　that　dallying　with　the　Soldane　might　redound　to　his　no
meane　danger；　thus　he　replied。
　　My　Lord；　the　question　propounded　by　you；　is　faire　and　worthy；　and　to
answere　my　opinion　truely　thereof；　doth　necessarily　require　some
time　of　consideration；　if　it　might　stand　with　your　liking　to　allow　it：
but　if　not；　let　me　first　make　entrance　to　my　reply；　with　a　pretty
tale；　and　well　worth　the　hearing。　I　have　oftentimes　heard　it　reported；
that　（long　since）　there　was　a　very　wealthy　man；　who　（among　other
precious　Jewels　of　his　owne）　had　a　goodly　Ring　of　great　valew；　the
beauty　and　estimation　whereof；　made　him　earnestly　desirous　to　leave　it
as　a　perpetuall　memory　and　honour　to　his　successors。　Whereupon；　he
willed　and　ordained；　that　he　among　his　male　children；　with　whom　this
Ring　（being　left　by　the　Father）　should　be　found　in　custody　after　his
death；　hee　and　none　other；　was　to　bee　reputed　his　heire；　and　to　be
honoured　and　reverenced　by　all　the　rest；　as　being　the　prime　and
worthiest　person。　That　Sonne；　to　whom　this　Ring　was　left　by　him；
kept　the　same　course　to　his　posterity；　dealing　（in　all　respects）　as
his　predecessor　had　done；　so　that　（in　short　time）　the　Ring　（from
hand　to　hand）　had　many　owners　by　Legacie。
　　At　length；　came　to　the　hand　of　one；　who　had　three　sonnes；　all　of
them　goodly　and　vertuous　persons；　and　verie　obedient　to　their
Father：　in　which　regard；　he　affected　them　all　equally；　without　any
difference　or　partiall　respect。　The　custome　of　this　Ring　being
knowne　to　them；　each　one　of　them　（coveting　to　beare　esteeme　above
the　other）　desired　（as　hee　could　best　make　his　meanes）　his　Father；
that　in　regard　he　was　now　growne　very　old；　he　would　leave　that　Ring　to
him；　whereby　he　should　bee　acknowledged　for　his　heire。　The　good　man；
who　loved　no　one　of　them　more　then　the　other；　knew　not　how　to　make　his
choise；　nor　to　which　of　them　he　should　leave　the　Ring：　yet　having　past
his　promise　to　them　severally；　he　studied　by　what　meanes　to　satisfie
them　all　three。　Wherefore；　secretly　having　conferred　with　a　curious
and　excellent　Goldsmith；　hee　caused　two　other　Rings　to　bee　made；　so
really　resembling　the　first　made　Ring；　that　himselfe　（when　he　had　them
in　his　hand）　could　not　distinguish　which　was　the　right　one。
　　Lying　upon　his　death…bed；　and　his　Sonnes　then　plying　him　by　their
best　opportunities；　he　gave　to　each　of　them　a　Ring。　And　they　（after
his　death）　presuming　severally　upon　their　right　to　the　inheritance　and
honor；　grew　to　great　contradiction　and　square：　each　man　producing　then
his　Ring；　which　were　so　truely　all　alike　in　resemblance；　as　no　one
could　know　the　right　Ring　from　the　other。　And　therefore；　suite　in　Law；
to　distinguish　the　true　heire　to　his　Father；　continued　long　time；
and　so　it　dooth　yet　to　this　very　day。　In　like　manner　my　good　Lord；
concerning　those　three　Lawes　given　by　God　the　Father；　to　three　such
people　as　you　have　propounded：　each　of　them　do　imagine　that　they
have　the　heritage　of　God；　and　his　true　Law；　and　also　duely　to　performe
his　Commandements；　but　which　of　them　do　so　indeede；　the　question　（as
of　the　three　Rings）　is　yet　remaining。
　　Saladine　well　perceyving；　that　the　Jew　was　too　cunning　to　bee　caught
in　his　snare；　and　had　answered　so　well；　that　to　doe　him　further
violence；　would　redound　unto　his　perpetuall　dishonour；　resolved　to
reveale　his　neede　and　extremity；　and　try　if　hee　would　therein　friendly
sted　him。　Having　disclosed　the　matter；　and　how　he　purposed　to　have
dealt　with　him；　if　he　had　not　returned　so　wise　an　answere；　the　Jew
lent　him　so　great　a　sum　of　money　as　hee　demanded；　and　Saladine　repayed
it　againe　to　him　justly；　giving　him　other　great　gifts　beside：
respecting　him　as　his　especiall　friend；　and　maintaining　him　in　very
honourable　condition；　neere　unto　his　owne　person。




　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　FIRST　DAY；　THE　FOURTH　NOVELL

　　　　　　　WHEREIN　MAY　BEE　NOTED；　THAT　SUCH　MEN　AS　WILL　REPROVE　THOSE
　　　　　　ERROURS　IN　OTHERS；　WHICH　REMAINE　IN　THEMSELVES；　COMMONLY　ARE
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　AUTHORS　OF　THEIR　OWNE　REPREHENSION

　　A　Monke　having　committed　an　offence；　deserving　to　be　very　greevously
punished；　freed　himselfe　from　the　paine　to　be　inflicted　on　him；　by
wittily　reprehending　his　Abbot；　with　the　very　same　fault。

　　So　ceased　Madame　Philotnena；　after　the　conclusion　of　her　Tale：
when　Dioneus　sitting　next　unto　her；　（without　tarrying　for　any　other
command　from　the　Queene；　knowing　by　the　order　formerly　begun；　that　hee
was　to　follow　in　the　same　course）　spake　in　this　manner。
　　Gracious　Ladies；　if　I　faile　not　in　understanding　your　generall
intention；　we　are　purposely　assembled　heere　to　tell　Tales；　and
especially　such　as　may　please　our　selves。　In　which　respect；　because
nothing　shold　be　done　disorderly；　I　hold　it　lawfull　for　every　one
（as　our　Queene　decreed　before　her　Dignity）　to　relate　such　a
Noveltie；　as　in　their　owne　judgement　may　cause　most　contentment。
Wherefore　having　heard　that　by　the　good　admonitions　of　Jehannot　de
Chevigny；　Abraham　the　Jew　was　advised　to　the　salvation　of　his　soule；
and　Melchisedech　（by　his　witty　understanding）　defended　his　riches　from
the　traines　of　Saladine：　I　now　purpose　to　tell　you　in　a　few　plaine
words；　without　feare　of　receiving　any　reprehension；　how　cunningly　a
Monke　compassed　his　deliverance；　from　a　punishment　intended　towards
him。
　　There　was　in　the　Country　of　Lunigiana　（which　is　not　far　distant　from
our　owne）　a　Monastery；　which　sometime　was　better　furnished　with
holinesse　and　Religion；　then　now　adayes　they　are：　wherein　lived　（among
divers　other）　a　yong　Novice　Monke；　whose　hot　and　lusty　disposition
（being　in　the　vigour　of　his　yeeres）　was　such；　as　neither　Fasts　nor
prayers　had　any　great　power　over　him。　It　chanced　on　a　fasting　day
about　high　noon；　when　all　the　other　Monkes　were　asleep　in　their
Dormitaries　or　Dorters；　this　frolicke　Friar　was　walking　alone　in　their
Church；　which　stoode　in　a　very　solitarie　place；　where　ruminating　on
many　matters　by　himselfe；　hee　espyed　a　prettie　handsome　Wench　（some
Husbandmans　daughter　in　the　Countrey；　that　had　beene　gathering
rootes　and　hearbes　in　the　field）　upon　her　knees　before　in　Altar；
whom　he　had　no　sooner　seene；　but　immediately　hee　felt　effeminate
temptations；　and　such　as　ill　fitted　with　his　profession。
　　Lascivious　desire；　and　no　religious　devotion；　made　him　draw　neere
her；　and　whether　under　shrift　（the　onely　cloake　to　compasse　carnal
affections）　or　some　other　as　close　conference　to　as　pernitious　and
vile　a　purpose；　I　know　not：　but　so　farre　he　prevailed　upon　her
frailety；　and　such　a　bargaine　passed　betweene　them；　that　from　the
Church；　he　wonne　her　to　his　Chamber；　before　any　person　could
perceive　it。　Now；　while　this　yong　lusty　Monke　（transported　with
overfond　affection）　was　more　carelesse　of　his　dalliance；　then　he
should　have　bene：　the　Lord　Abbot　being　newly　arisen　from　sleepe；　and
walking　softly　about　the　Cloyster；　came　to　the　Monkes　Dorter　doore；
where　hearing　what　noyse　was　made　betweene　them；　and　a　feminine
voyce　more　strange　then　hee　was　wont　to　heare；　he　layed　his　eare　close
to　the　Chamber　doore；　and　plainly　perceived；　that　a　woman　was
within。　Wherewith　being　much　moved；　he　intended　sodainly　to　make　him
open　the　doore；　but　（upon　better　consideration）　hee　conceyved　it　farre
more　fitting　for　him；　to　returne　backe　to　his　owne　Chamber；　and
tarry　till　the　Monke　should　come　forth。
　　The　Monke；　though　his　delight　with　the　Damosell　was　extraordinary；
yet　feare　and　suspition　followed　upon　it；　for；　in　the　very　height　of
all　his　wantonnesse；　he　heard　a　soft　treading　about　the　doore。　And
prying　thorow　a　small　crevice　in　the　same　dore；　perceived　apparantly；
that　the　Abbot　himselfe　stood　listening　there；　and　could　not　be
ignorant　but　that　the　Maide　was　with　him　in　the　Chamber。　As　after
pleasure　ensueth　paine；　for　the　veniall　Monke　knew　well　enough　（though
wanton　heate　would　not　let　him　heede　it　before）　that　most　greevous
punishment　must　bee　inflicted　on　him；　which　made　him　sad　beyond　all
measure：　Neverthelesse；　without　disclosing　his　dismay　to　the　yong
Maiden；　he　began　to　consider　with　himselfe　on　many　meanes；　whereby
to　find　out　one　that　might　best　fit　his　turne。　And　suddenly
conceited　an　apt　stratagem；　which　sorted　to　such　effect　as　he　would
have　it：　whereupon；　seeming　satisfied　for　that　season；　he　tolde　the
Damosell；　that　（being　carefull　of　her　credit）　as　hee　had　brought　her
in　unseene　of　any；　so　he　would　free　her　from　thence　againe；　desiring
her　to　tarrie　there　（without　making　any　noyse　at　all）　untill　such　time
as　he　returned　to　her。
　　Going　forth　of　the　chamber；　and　locking　it　fast　with　the　key；　he
went　directly　to　the　Lord　Abbots　lodging；　and　delivering　him　the　saide
key　（as　every　Monke　used　to　doe　the　like；　when　he　went　abroade　out
of　the　Convent）　setting　a　good　countenance　on　the　matter；　boldly
saide；　My　Lord；　I　have　not　yet　brought　in　all　my　part　of　the　wood；
which　lieth　ready　cut　downe　in　the　Forrest；　and　having　now
convenient　time　to　doe　it；　if　you　please　to　give　me　leave；　I　will
goe　and　fetch　it。　The　Abbot　perswading　himselfe；　that　he　had　not　beene
discovered　by　the　Monke；　and　to　be　resolved　more　assuredly　in　the
offence　committed；　being　not　a　little　jocund　of　so　happy　an
accident；　gladly　tooke　the　key；　and　gave　him　leave　to　fetch　the　wood。
　　No　sooner　was　he　gone；　but　the　Abbot　beganne　to　con