the decameron(十日谈)-第55章

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judgement。　Upon　his　urging　by　what　possible　meanes　this　could　be
brought　to　passe：　the　Countesse　in　presence　of　the　whole　assembly；　and
unto　her　eternall　commendation；　related　the　whole　history；　even　in
such　manner　as　you　have　formerly　heard　it。　Moreover；　she　reported
the　private　speeches　in　bed；　uttered　betweene　himselfe　and　her；
being　witnessed　more　apparantly；　by　the　costly　jewels　there　openly
shewne。　All　which　infallible　proofes；　proclaiming　his　shame；　and　her
most　noble　carriage　to　her　husband；　he　confessed；　that　she　had　told
nothing　but　the　truth　in　every　point　which　she　had　reported。
　　Commending　her　admirable　constancy；　exceliency　of　wit；　and　sprightly
courage；　in　making　such　a　bold　adventure；　he　kissed　the　two　sweete
boyes；　and　to　keepe　his　promise；　whereto　he　was　earnestly
importuned；　by　all　his　best　esteemed　friends　there　present；　especially
the　honourable　Ladies；　who　would　have　no　deniall；　but　by　forgetting
his　former　harsh　and　uncivill　carriage　towards　her；　to　accept　her
for　ever　as　his　lawfull　wife；　folding　her　in　his　armes；　and　sweetly
kissing　her　divers　times　together；　he　bad　her　welcome　to　him；　as　his
vertuous；　loyall；　and　most　loving　wife；　and　so　（for　ever　after）　he
would　acknowledge　her。　Well　knew　hee　that　she　had　store　of　better
beseeming　garments　in　the　house；　and　therefore　requested　the　Ladies　to
walke　with　her　to　her　Chamber；　to　uncase　her　of　those　Pilgrimes　weeds；
and　cloath　her　in　her　owne　more　sumptuous　garments；　even　those　which
shee　wore　on　her　wedding　day；　because　that　was　not　the　day　of　his
contentment；　but　onely　this；　for　now　he　confessed　her　to　be　his　wife
indeede；　and　now　he　would　give　the　king　thanks　for　her；　and　now　was
Count　Bertrand　truly　married　to　the　faire　Juliet　of　Narbona。




　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　THIRD　DAY；　THE　TENTH　NOVELL

　　Alibech　turns　hermit；　and　a　monk；　Rustico；　teaches　her　to　put　the
Devil　in　Hell。　Afterwards　she　is　brought　home；　and　married　to
Neerbale。

　　Dioneus　listened　attentively　to　the　Queen's　discourse；　and　when
she　had　done　and　he　knew　that　only　he　remained　to　complete　the　day's
entertainment；　without　trifling　away　the　time　or　awaiting　a　command
from　the　Queen；　thus　he　began。
　　Gracious　ladies；　it　may　be　you　have　not　heard　how　the　Devil　is　put
in　Hell。　Therefore；　and　since　it　will　not　be　far　off　the　subject　of
this　day's　discourse；　I　will　tell　it　you。　Perhaps；　hearing　it；　you　may
the　better　understand　that　albeit　Love　more　affects　gay　palaces　and
luxurious　bowers　than　the　cabins　of　the　poor；　yet　he　by　no　means
disdains　to　manifest　his　power　even　in　the　depths　of　the　forest；　on
stark　mountains　and　in　the　caves　of　the　desert；　and　thus　we　must
acknowledge　that　all　things　wheresoever　they　be　are　subject　to　him。
　　Coming；　then；　to　my　story；　I　must　tell　you　that　in　Capsa；　a　city
of　Barbary；　there　dwelt　aforetime　a　very　rich　man；　who　had　among
several　children　a　little　daughter；　fair　and　of　a　docile　temper；　whose
name　was　Alibech。
　　This　girl；　a　heathen　in　a　place　where　many　were　Christian；　used
often　to　hear　her　neighbours　extol　the　Christian　faith　and　devotion　to
the　service　of　God；　wherefore　she　asked　one　of　them　how　God　could　best
be　served　and　with　the　least　hindrance。　She　was　told　that　they　best
served　Him　who　removed　themselves　farthest　from　the　things　of　the
world；　as　in　particular　the　hermits　who　had　withdrawn　from　the　city　to
the　wilds　of　Thebais。
　　The　simple　maiden；　aged　perhaps　some　fourteen　years；　moved　rather　by
a　childish　whim　than　any　real　vocation；　set　out　on　the　morrow　alone
and　telling　nobody　to　walk　into　the　desert。　So　firmly　was　she　resolved
that　after　several　days　of　hardship　she　reached　the　wilderness　of
Thebais。　From　afar　she　descried　a　little　hut；　and　coming　up　to　it；
found　there　a　holy　man。　Amazed　to　see　such　a　one　there；　he　asked
what　she　came　to　seek。　Her　answer　was　that；　aspiring　towards　God；
she　came　thither　to　serve　Him；　and　in　the　hope　of　finding　a　teacher　to
that　end。
　　The　pious　hermit；　seeing　her　so　young　and　fair；　was　afraid　lest
the　Devil　might　ensnare　him；　so　he　praised　her　intent；　and　giving
her　roots；　wild　apples　and　dates　to　eat　and　a　draught　of　water；
said：　〃Daughter；　not　far　from　here　there　dwells　a　holy　man　such　as
thou　seekest：　a　fitter　man　than　I。　Go　thou　to　him。〃　And　he　put　her
on　the　way。
　　The　second　hermit　advised　her　as　the　first；　and　faring　farther　she
came　to　the　cell　of　a　young　hermit；　a　very　pious　and　righteous　man；
whose　name　was　Rustico。　To　him　she　repeated　her　mission。　Willing　to
put　his　resolution　to　so　great　a　test；　he　forebore　to　send　her　away；
and　took　her　into　his　cell。　At　nightfall　he　made　her　a　bed　of
palm…leaves；　and　bade　her　lie　down　to　rest。
　　Temptations　did　not　long　delay　an　assault　on　his　constancy；　and
finding　it　much　beyond　his　strength　to　withstand　them；　he　soon　gave　up
the　battle；　and　confessed　himself　worsted。　So　putting　away　all　saintly
thoughts；　prayers　and　mortifications；　he　let　his　mind　dwell　on　the
freshness　and　beauty　of　his　companion。　From　this　he　passed　to　thinking
of　the　best　means　of　bringing　her　to　his　desires　without　giving　her
cause　to　suspect　him　of　lewdness。
　Therefore；　satisfying　himself　by　a　few　questions　that　she　had　never
had　carnal　knowledge　of　a　man；　and　was　indeed　as　innocent　as　she
seemed；　he　thought　of　a　plan　to　enjoy　her　under　colour　of　serving　God。
He　began　expounding　to　her　the　Devil's　enmity　to　the　Almighty；　and
went　on　to　impress　upon　her　that　the　most　acceptable　service　she　could
render　to　God　would　be　to　put　the　Devil　in　Hell；　whereto　the　Lord
had　condemned　him。
　　The　little　maid　asked　him　how　this　might　be　done。　〃Thou　shalt　soon
learn；〃　replied　Rustico；　〃only　do　as　thou　seest　me　do。〃　Thereupon　he
took　off　what　few　clothes　he　wore；　and　stood　stark　naked；　and　as
soon　as　the　girl　had　done　likewise　he　fell　on　his　knees　as　though　to
pray；　and　made　her　kneel　face　to　face　with　him。
　　This　done；　Rustico's　desire　was　more　than　ever　inflamed　at　the　sight
of　her　beauty；　and　the　resurrection　of　the　flesh　came　to　pass。
Seeing　this；　and　not　knowing　what　it　meant；　Alibech　asked：　〃Rustico；
what　is　it　thou　hast　that　thrusts　itself　out　in　front；　and　that　I　have
not？〃　〃My　daughter；〃　quoth　Rustico；　〃it　is　that　same　Devil　of　whom　I
have　been　telling　thee。　Dost　thou　mark　him？　Behold；　he　gives　me　such
sore　trouble　that　I　can　hardly　bear　it。〃
　　〃The　Lord　be　praised！〃　said　she；　〃for　now　I　see　that　I　am　more
blessed　than　thou　in　that　I　have　not　this　Devil。〃
　　Rustico　retorted：　〃Thou　sayest　truly；　but　thou　hast　another　thing
that　I　have　not；　and　hast　it　in　place　of　this。〃
　　〃What　is　that？〃　says　Alibech。
　　To　this　Rustico　replied：　〃Thou　hast　Hell；　and　will　tell　thee　my
belief　that　God　gave　it　thee　for　the　health　of　my　soul。　For；　if　thou
wilt　take　pity　on　me　for　the　troubling　of　this　Devil；　and　suffer　me　to
put　him　in　Hell；　thou　wilt　comfort　me　extremely；　and　at　the　same
time　please　and　serve　God　in　the　highest　measure；　to　which　end；　as
thou　sayest；　thou　art　come　hither。〃
　　All　unsuspecting；　the　girl　answered。　him：　〃My　father；　since　I　have
this　Hell；　let　the　thing　be　done　when　thou　desirest　it。〃
　　Then　Rustico　said：　〃Bless　thee；　my　dear　daughter；　let　us　go　at
once　and　put　him　in　his　place；　that　I　may　be　at　peace。〃
　　So　saying；　he　laid　her　on　one　of　their　rough　beds；　and　set　about
showing　her　how　to　shut　the　accursed　one　in　his　prison。　The　girl；
who　until　then　had　no　experience　of　putting　devils　in　Hell；　felt
some　pain　at　this　first　trial　of　it；　which　made　her　say　to　Rustico：
〃Father；　this　Devil　must　indeed　be　wicked；　and　in　very　sooth　an
enemy　of　God；　for　he　hurts　Hell　itself；　let　alone　other　things；　when
he　is　put　back　in　it。〃
　　〃My　daughter；〃　said　Rustico；　〃it　will　not　always　be　so。〃　And　to　make
sure　of　it；　before　either　of　them　moved　from　the　bed　they　put　him　in
six　times；　after　which　the　Devil　hung　his　head　and　was　glad　to　let
them　be。
　　But　in　the　succeeding　days　he　rose　up　many　times；　and　the　girl；
always　disposing　herself　to　subdue　him；　began　to　take　pleasure　in
the　exercise；　and　to　say　such　things　as：　〃I　see　now　the　truth　of
what　the　good　folk　in　Capsa　told　me；　that　serving　God　is　a　delight；
for　I　never　remember　doing　anything　that　gave　me　as　much　joy　and
pleasure　as　this　putting　the　Devil　in　Hell。　So　I　think　the　people
who　spend　their　time　otherwise　than　in　serving　God　must　be　very
foolish。〃
　　Often　she　would　come　to　Rustico　and　say：　〃Father；　I　came　hither　to
serve　God；　not　to　stand　idle。　Let　us　go　put　the　Devil　in　Hell。〃　And
once；　when　it　had　been　done；　she　asked：　〃Rustico；　why　does　he　want
to　get　out　of　Hell？　If　only　he　would　stay　there　as　willingly　as　Hell
takes　him　in　and　holds　him；　he　would　never　want　to　come　out　at　all。〃
By　thus　constantly　egging　him　on　and　exhorting　him　to　God's　service
the　girl　so　preyed　upon　Rustico　that　he　shivered　with　cold　when
another　man　would　have　sweated。　He　had　perforce　to　tell　her　that　it
was　not　just　to　punish　the　Devil　by　putting　him　in　Hell　save　when　he
had　lifted　his　head　in　pride；　and　that　by　God's　mercy　they　had　so
chastened　him　that　he　only　implored　Heaven　to　be　left　in　peace。　Thus
for　a　time　he　silenced　her。
　　But　she；　finding　that　Rustico　did　not　call　on　her　to　put　the　Devil
in　Hell；　said　one　day：　〃Even　though　your　Devil　is　punished　and　no
longer　troubles　you；　my　Hell　gives　me　no　peace。　You　will　do　a
charity　if　with　your　Devil　you　will　quiet　the　raging　of　my　Hell；　as
with　my　Hell　I　tamed　the　pride　of　your　Devil　To　these　demands
Rustico　on　a　diet　of　herbs　and　water　could　ill　respond；　and　he　told
her　that　to　appease　Hell　would　need　too　many　devils；　none　the　less
he　would　do　all　that　in　him　lay。　At　times　he　could　satisfy　her；　but　so
seldom　that　it　was　like　feeding　an　elephant　with　peas。　Therefore　the
girl　thought　she　was　not　serving　God　as　well　as　she　would　like；　and
she　grumbled　most　of　the　time。
　　Whilst　things　stood　thus　amiss　between　Rustico's　Devil　and　Alibech's
Hell；　for　overmuch　eagerness　of　the　one　part　and　too　little
performance　of　the　other；　a　fire　broke　out　in　Capsa　and　burned　the
father　of　Alibech　with　his　children　and　every　one　of　his　kin；　so
that　Alibech　became　the　sole　heiress　to　his　goods。　Whereupon　a　certain
Neerbale；　a　young　man　who　had　wasted　his　patrimony　in　high　living；
sought　for　Alibech　in　the　belief　that　she　was　alive；　and　succeeded
in　finding　her　before　the　Court　had　declared　her　father's　goods
forfeit　as　being　without　an　owner。　Much　to　the　relief　of　Rustico　and
against　the　girl's　will；　Neerbale　brought　her　back　to　Capsa　and
married　her；　so　becoming　entitled　in　her　right　to　a　large　fortune。
　　One　day；　when　as　yet　Neerbale　had　not　lain　with　her；　some　of　her
women　asked　how　she　had　served　God　in　the　desert。　She　replied　that　she
had　served　Him　by　putting　the　Devil　in　Hell；　and　that　Neerbale　had
committed　a　grievous　sin　in　taking　her　from　such　pious　work。　Then　they
asked：　〃How　is　the　Devil　put　in　Hell？〃　To　which　the　girl　answered　with
words　and　gestures　showing　how　it　had　been　done。　The　women　laughed
so　heartily　that　they　have　not　done　laughing　yet；　and　said　to　her：
〃Grieve　not；　my　child；　that　is　done　as　well　here。　Neerbale　will
serve　God　right　well　with　thee　in　this　way。〃
　　As　one　repeated　the　words　to　another　throughout　the　town；　it
became　a　familiar　saying　tha