the decameron(十日谈)-第53章

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to　more　vehement　extreamitie；　compelling　the　King；　as　dispairing
utterly　of　all　helpe；　to　give　over　any　further　counsell　or　advice。
Heereof　faire　Juliet　was　wondrously　joyfull；　as　hoping　that　this
accident　would　prove　the　meanes；　not　onely　of　her　journey　to　Paris；
but　if　the　disease　were　no　more　then　she　imagined；　she　could　easily
cure　it；　and　thereby　compasse　Count　Bertrand　to　be　her　husband。
Hereupon；　quickning　up　her　wits；　with　remembrance　of　those　rules　of
Art；　which　（by　long　practise　and　experience）　she　had　learned　of　her
skilfull　Father；　she　compounded　certaine　hearbes　together；　such　as　she
knew　fitting　for　that　kinde　of　infirmity；　and　having　reduced　her
compound　into　powder；　away　she　rode　forthwith　to　Paris。
　　　Being　there　arrived；　all　other　serious　matters　set　aside；　first
shee　must　needs　have　a　sight　of　Count　Bertrand；　as　being　the　onely
Saint　that　caused　her　pilgrimage。　Next　she　made　meanes　for　her　accesse
to　the　King；　humbly　entreating　his　Majesty；　to　vouchsafe　her　the　sight
of　his　Fistula。　When　the　King　saw　her；　her　modest　lookes　did
plainely　deliver；　that　she　was　a　faire；　comely；　and　discreete　young
Gentlewoman；　wherefore；　he　would　no　longer　hide　it；　but　layed　it
open　to　her　view。　When　shee　had　seene　and　felt　it；　presently　she　put
the　King　in　comfort；　affirming；　that　she　knew　her　selfe　able　to　cure
his　Fistula；　saying：　Sir；　if　your　Highnesse　will　referre　the　matter　to
me；　without　any　perill　of　life；　or　any　the　least　paine　to　your　person；
I　hope　（by　the　helpe　of　heaven）　to　make　you　whole　and　sound　within
eight　dayes　space。　The　King　hearing　her　words；　beganne　merrily　to
smile　at　her；　saying：　How　is　it　possible　for　thee；　being　a　yong
Maiden；　to　do　that　which　the　best　Physitians　in　Europe；　are　not　able
to　performe？　I　commend　thy　kindnesse；　and　will　not　remaine
unthankefull　for　thy　forward　willingnesse：　but　I　am　fully
determined；　to　use　no　more　counsell；　or　to　make　any　further　triall
of　Physicke　or　Chirurgery。　Whereto　faire　Juliet　thus　replyed：　Great
King；　let　not　my　skill　and　experience　be　despised；　because　I　am　young；
and　a　Maiden；　for　my　profession　is　not　Physicke；　neither　do　I
undertake　the　ministering　thereof；　as　depending　on　mine　owne
knowledge；　but　by　the　gracious　assistance　of　heaven；　and　some　rules　of
skilfull　observation；　which　I　learned　of　reverend　Gerard　of　Narbona
who　was　my　worthy　Father；　and　a　Physitian　of　no　meane　fame；　all　the
while　he　lived。
　　At　the　hearing　of　these　words；　the　King　began　somewhat　to　admire
at　her　gracious　carriage；　and　saide　within　himselfe。　What　know　I；
whether　this　Virgin　is　sent　to　me　by　the　direction　of　heaven；　or　no？
Why　should　I　disdaine　to　make　proofe　of　her　skill？　Her　promise　is；
to　cure　me　in　a　small　times　compasse；　and　without　any　paine　or
affliction　to　me：　she　shall　not　come　so　farre；　to　returne　againe
with　the　losse　of　he　labour；　I　am　resolved　to　try　her　cunning；　and
thereon　saide。　Faire　Virgin；　if　you　cause　me　to　breake　my　setled
determination；　and　faile　of　curing　me；　what　can　you　expect　to　follow
thereon？　Whatsoever　great　King　（quoth　she）　shall　please　you。　Let　me　be
strongly　guarded；　yet　not　hindered；　when　I　am　to　prosecute　the
businesse：　and　then　if　I　do　not　perfectly　heale　you　within　eight
daies；　let　a　good　fire　be　made；　and　therein　consume　my　body　unto
ashes。　But　if　I　accomplish　the　cure；　and　set　your　Highnesse　free
from　all　further　greevance；　what　recompence　then　shall　remaine　to　me？
　　Much　did　the　King　commend　the　confident　perswasion　which　she　had
of　her　owne　power；　and　presently　replyed。　Faire　beauty　（quoth　he）　in
regard　that　thou　art　a　Maide　and　unmaried；　if　thou　keepe　promise；
and　I　finde　my　selfe　to　be　fully　cured：　I　will　match　thee　with　some
such　Gentleman　in　marriage；　as　shall　be　of　honourable　and　worthy
reputation；　with　a　sufficient　dowry　beside。　My　gracious　Soveraigne
saide　she；　willing　am　I；　and　most　heirtily　thankfull　withall；　that
your　Highnesse　shall　bestow　me　in　marriage：　but　I　desire　then；　to　have
such　a　husband；　as　I　shall　desire　or　demand　by　your　gracious　favour；
without　presuming　to　crave　any　of　your　Sonnes；　Kindred；　or　Alliance；
or　appertaining　unto　your　Royal　blood。　Whereto　the　King　gladly
granted。　Young　Juliet　began　to　minister　her　Physicke；　and　within　fewer
dayes　then　her　limited　time；　the　King　was　sound　and　perfectly　cured；
which　when　he　perceived；　he　saide　unto　her。　Trust　me　vertuous　Mayde；
most　woorthily　hast　thou　wonne　a　Husband；　name　him；　and　thou　shalt
have　him。　Royall　King　（quoth　she）　then　have　I　won　the　Count　Bertrand
of　Roussillion；　whom　I　have　most　entirely　loved　from　mine　Infancy；　and
cannot　（in　my　soule）　affect　any　other。　Very　loath　was　the　King　to
grant　her　the　young　Count；　but　in　regard　of　his　solemne　passed
promise；　and　his　royal　word　engaged；　which　he　would　not　by　any
meanes　breake；　he　commanded；　that　the　Count　should　be　sent　for；　and
spake　thus　to　him。　Noble　Count；　it　is　not　unknowne　to　us；　that　you　are
a　Gentleman　of　great　honour；　and　it　is　our　Royall　pleasure；　to
discharge　your　wardship；　that　you　may　repaire　home　to　your　owne　House；
there　to　settle　your　affaires　in　such　order；　as　you　may　be　the　readier
to　enjoy　a　Wife；　which　we　intend　to　bestowe　upon　you。　The　Count
returned　his　Highnesse　most　humble　thankes；　desiring　to　know　of
whence；　and　what　she　was？　It　is　this　Gentlewoman；　answered　the　King；
who　（by　the　helpe　of　Heaven）　hath　beene　the　meanes　to　save　my　life。
Well　did　the　Count　know　her；　as　having　very　often　before　seene　her；
and　although　she　was　very　faire　and　amiable；　yet　in　regard　of　her
meane　birth；　which　he　held　as　a　disparagement　to　his　Nobility　in
blood；　he　made　a　scorne　of　her；　and　spake　thus　to　the　King。　Would　your
Highnesse　give　me　a　Quacksalver　to　my　Wife；　one　that　deales　in　drugges
and　Physicarie？　I　hope　I　am　able　to　bestowe　my　selfe　much　better
then　so。　Why？　quoth　the　King；　wouldst　thou　have　us　breake　our　faith；
which　for　the　recovery　of　our　health；　we　have　given　to　this　vertuous
virgin；　and　she　will　have　no　other　reward；　but　onely　Count　Bertrand　to
be　her　husband？　Sir；　replied　the　Count；　you　may　dispossesse　me　of
all　that　is　mine；　because　I　am　your　Ward　and　Subject；　any　where　else
you　may　bestow　me：　but　pardon　me　to　tell　you；　that　this　marriage
cannot　be　made　with　any　liking　or　allowance　of　mine；　neither　will　I
ever　give　consent　thereto。
　　Sir；　saide　the　King；　it　is　our　will　that　it　shall　be　so；　vertuous
she　is；　faire　and　wise；　she　loveth　thee　most　affectionately；　and
with　her　mayest　thou　lead　a　more　Noble　life；　then　with　the　greatest
Lady　in　our　Kingdome。　Silent；　and　discontented　stoode　the　Count；　but
the　King　commanded　preparation　for　the　marriage；　and　when　the
appointed　time　was　come；　the　Count　（albeit　against　his　will）
received　his　wife　at　the　Kings　hand；　she　loving　him　deerly　as　her　owne
life。　When　all　was　done；　the　Count　requested　of　the　King；　that　what
else　remained　for　further　solemnization　of　the　marriage；　it　might　be
performed　in　his　owne　Country；　reserving　to　himselfe　what　else　he
intended。　Being　mounted　on　horseback；　and　humbly　taking　their　leave　of
the　King；　the　Count　would　not　ride　home　to　his　owne　dwelling；　but　into
Tuscany；　where　he　heard　of　a　warre　between　the　Florentines　and　the
Senesi；　purposing　to　take　part　with　the　Florentines；　to　whom　he　was
willingly　and　honourably　welcommed；　being　created　Captaine　of　a　worthy
Company；　and　continuing　there　a　long　while　in　service。
　　The　poore　forsaken　new　married　Countesse；　could　scarsely　be
pleased　with　such　dishonourable　unkindnesse；　yet　governing　her
impatience　with　no　meane　discretion；　and　hoping　by　her　vertuous
carriage；　to　compasse　the　meanes　of　his　recall：　home　she　rode　to
Roussillion；　where　all　the　people　received　her　very　lovingly。　Now；
by　reason　of　the　Counts　so　long　absence；　all　things　were　there　farre
out　of　order；　mutinies；　quarrels；　and　civill　dissentions；　having
procured　many　dissolute　irruptions；　to　the　expence　of　much　blood　in
many　places。　But　she；　like　a　jolly　stirring　Lady；　very　wise　and
provident　in　such　disturbances；　reduced　all　occasions　to　such　civility
againe；　that　the　people　admired　her　rare　behaviour；　and　condemned
the　Count　for　his　unkindnesse　towards　her。
　　After　that　the　whole　Country　of　Roussillion　（by　the　policy　and
wisedome　of　this　worthy　Lady）　was　fully　reestablished　in　their　ancient
liberties；　she　made　choise　of　two　discreet　knights；　whom　she　sent　to
the　Count　her　husband；　to　let　him　understand；　that　if　in　displeasure
to　her；　hee　was　thus　become　a　stranger　to　his　owne　Country：　upon　the
returne　of　his　answer；　to　give　him　contentment；　she　would　depart
thence；　and　by　no　meanes　disturbe　him。　Roughly　and　churlishly　he
replied；　Let　her　do　as　she　list；　for　I　have　no　determination　to
dwell　with　her；　or　neere　where　she　is。　Tell　her　from　me；　when　she
shall　have　this　Ring；　which　you　behold　heere　on　my　finger；　and　a　Sonne
in　her　armes　begotten　by　me；　then　will　I　come　live　with　her；　and　be
her　love。　The　Ring　he　made　most　precious　and　deere　account　of；　and
never　tooke　it　off　from　his　finger；　in　regard　of　an　especiall　vertue

and　property；　which　he　well　knew　to　be　remaining　in　it。　And　these
two　Knights；　hearing　the　impossibility　of　these　two　strict　conditions；
with　no　other　favour　else　to　be　derived　from　him；　sorrowfully　returned
backe　to　their　Lady；　and　acquainted　her　with　this　unkinde　answer；　as
also　his　unalterable　determination；　which　well　you　may　conceive；
must　needs　be　very　unwelcome　to　her。
　　After　she　had　an　indifferent　while　considered　with　her　selfe；　her
resolution　became　so　indauntable；　that　she　would　adventure　to　practise
such　meanes；　whereby　to　compasse　those　two　apparant　impossibilities；
and　so　to　enjoy　the　love　of　her　husband。　Having　absolutely　concluded
what　was　to　be　done；　she　assembled　all　the　cheefest　men　of　the
country；　revealing　unto　them　（in　mournfull　manner）　what　an　attempt　she
had　made　already；　in　hope　of　recovering　her　husbands　favour；　and
what　a　rude　answer　was　thereon　returned。　In　the　end；　she　told　them；
that　it　did　not　sute　with　her　unworthinesse；　to　make　the　Count　live　as
an　exile　from　his　owne　inheritance；　upon　no　other　inducement；　but
onely　in　regard　of　her：　wherefore；　she　had　determined　betweene
heaven　and　her　soule；　to　spend　the　remainder　of　her　dayes　in
Pilgrimages　and　prayers；　for　preservation　of　the　Counts　soule　and
her　owne；　earnestly　desiring　them；　to　undertake　the　charge　and
government　of　the　Country；　and　signifying　unto　the　Count；　how　she
had　forsaken　his　house；　and　purposed　to　wander　so　farre　thence；　that
never　would　she　visit　Roussillion　any　more。　In　the　deliverie　of
these　words；　the　Lords　and　Gentlemen　wept　and　sighed
extraordinarily；　using　many　earnest　imprecations　to　alter　this　resolve
in　her；　but　all　was　in　vaine。
　　Having　taken　her　sad　and　sorrowfull　farewell　of　them　all；
accompanied　onely　with　her　Maide；　and　one　of　her　Kinsmen；　away　she
went；　attired　in　a　Pilgrimes　habit；　yet　well　furnished　with　money
and　precious　jewels；　to　avoyde　all　wants　which　might：　befall　her　in
travaile；　not　acquainting　any　one　whether　she　went。　In　no　place　stayed
she；　untill　she　was　arrived　at　Florence；　where　happening　into　a
poore　Widdowes　house；　like　a　poore　Pilgrime；　she　seemed　well　contented
therewith。　And　desiring　to　heare　some　tydings　of　the　Count；　the　next