the decameron(十日谈)-第58章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


remaineth　in　this　poore；　weake；　and　aged　body。　Yet；　if　needes　thou
must　have　yeelded　to　this　wanton　weaknesse；　I　would　thou　hadst　made
choise　of　a　man；　answerable　to　thy　birth　and　Nobility：　whereas　on
the　contrary；　among　so　many　worthy　spirits　as　resort　to　my　Court；　thou
likest　best　to　converse　with　that　silly　young　man　Guiscardo；　one　of
very　meane　and　base　descent；　and　by　me　（even　for　Gods　sake）
　　from　his　very　youngest　yeares；　brought　up　to　this　instant　in　my
Court；　wherein　thou　hast　given　me　much　affliction　of　minde；　and　so
overthrowne　my　senses；　as　I　cannot　well　imagine　how　I　should　deale
with　thee。　For　him；　whom　I　have　this　night　caused　to　be　surprized；
even　as　he　came　forth　of　your　close　contrived　conveyance；　and
detaine　as　my　prisoner；　I　have　resolved　how　to　proceed　with　him：　but
concerning　thy　selfe；　mine　oppressions　are　so　many　and　violent；　as　I
know　not　what　to　say　of　thee。　e。　way；　thou　hast　meerly　murthered　the
unfeigned　affection　I　bare　thee；　as　never　any　father　could　expresse
more　to　his　childe：　and　then　againe；　thou　hast　kindled　a　most　just
indignation　in　me；　by　thine　immodest　and　wilfull　folly；　and　whereas
Nature　pleadeth　pardon　for　the　one；　yet　justice　standeth　up　against
the　other；　and　urgeth　cruell　severity　against　thee：　neverthelesse；
before　I　will　determine　upon　any　resolution；　I　come　purposely　first　to
heare　thee　speake；　and　what　thou　canst　say　for　thy　selfe；　in　a　bad
case；　so　desperate　and　dangerous。
　　Having　thus　spoken；　he　hung　downe　the　head　in　his　bosome；　weeping　as
aboundantly；　as　if　he　had　beene　a　childe　severely　disciplinde。　On
the　other　side；　Ghismonda　hearing　the　speeches　of　her　Father；　and
perceiving　withall；　that　not　onely　her　secret　love　was　discovered；　but
also　Guiscardo　was　in　close　prison；　the　matter　which　most　of　all　did
torment　her；　she　fell　into　a　very　strange　kinde　of　extasie；　scorning
teares；　and　entreating　tearmes；　such　as　feminine　frailety　are
alwayes　aptest　unto：　but　rather；　with　height　of　courage；　controuling
feare　or　servile　basenesse；　and　declaring　invincible　fortitude　in
her　very　lookes；　she　concluded　with　her　selfe；　rather　then　to　urge　any
humble　perswasions；　she　would　lay　her　life　downe　at　the　stake。　For
plainely　she　perceived；　that　Guiscardo　already　was　a　dead　man　in
Law；　and　death　was　likewise　welcome　to　her；　rather　then　the
deprivation　of　her　Love；　and　therefore；　not　like　a　weeping　woman；　or
as　checkt　by　the　offence　committed；　but　carelesse　of　any　harme
happening　to　her：　stoutely　and　couragiously；　not　a　teare　appearing
in　her　eye；　or　her　soule　any　way　to　be　perturbed；　thus　she　spake　to
her　Father。
　　Tancrede；　to　denie　what　I　have　done；　or　to　entreate　any　favour
from　you；　is　now　no　part　of　my　disposition：　for　as　the　one　can
little　availe　me；　so　shall　not　the　other　any　way　advantage　me。
Moreover；　I　covet　not　that　you　should　extend　any　clemency　or　kindnesse
to　me；　but　by　my　voluntary　confession　of　the　truth　do　intend　（first　of
all）　to　defend　mine　honour；　with　reasons　sound；　good；　and
substantiall；　and　then　vertuously　pursue　to　full　effect；　the
greatnesse　of　my　minde　and　constant　resolution。　True　it　is；　that　I
have　loved；　and　still　do；　honourable　Guiscardo；　purposing　the　like
so　long　as　I　shall　live；　which　will　be　but　a　small　while：　but　if　it　be
possible　to　continue　the　same　affection　after　death；　it　is　for　ever
vowed　to　him　onely。　Nor　did　mine　owne　womanish　weaknesse　so　much
thereto　induce　me；　as　the　matchlesse　vertues　shining　clearly　in
Guiscardo；　and　the　little　respect　you　had　of　marrying　me　againe。　Why
royall　Father；　you　cannot　be　ignorant；　that　you　being　composed　of
flesh　and　blood；　have　begotten　a　Daughter　of　the　selfe　same
composition；　and　not　made　of　stone　or　iron。　Moreover；　you　ought　to
remember　（although　now　you　are　farre　stept　in　yeeres）　what　the　Lawes
of　youth　are；　and　with　what　difficulty　they　are　to　be　contradicted。
Considering　withall；　that　albeit　（during　the　vigour　of　your　best　time）
you　evermore　were　exercised　in　Armes；　yet　you　should　likewise
understand；　that　negligence　and　idle　delights；　have　mighty　power；
not　onely　in　young　people；　but　also　in　them　of　greatest　yeares。
　　I　being　then　made　of　flesh　and　blood；　and　so　derived　from　your
selfe；　having　had　also　so　little　benefit　of　life；　that　I　am　yet　in　the
spring；　and　blooming　time　of　my　blood：　by　either　of　these　reasons；　I
must　needs　be　subject　to　naturall　desires；　wherein　such　knowledge　as　I
have　once　already　had；　in　the　estate　of　my　marriage；　perhaps　might
move　a　further　intelligence　of　the　like　delights；　according　to　the
better　ability　of　strength；　which　exceeding　all　capacity　of
resistance；　induced　a　second　motive　to　affection；　answerable　to　my
time　and　youthfull　desires；　and　so　（like　a　yong　woman）　I　became　came
againe；　yet　did　I　strive；　even　with　all　my　utmost　might；　and　best
vertuous　faculties　abiding　in　me；　no　way　to　disgrace　either　you　or
my　selfe；　as　（in　equall　censure）　yet　have　I　not　done。　But　Nature　is
above　all　humane　power；　and　Love　commanded　by　Nature；　hath　prevailed
for　Love；　joyning　with　Fortune：　in　meere　pitty　and　commiseration　of　my
extreame　wrong；　I　found　them　both　most　benigne　and　gracious；
teaching　mee　a　way　secret　enough；　whereby　I　might　reach　the　height
of　my　desires；　howsoever　you　became　instructed；　or　（perhaps）　found
it　out　by　accident；　so　it　was；　and　I　deny　it　not。
　　Nor　did　I　make　election　of　Guiscardo　by　chance；　or　rashly；　as　many
women　doe；　but　by　deliberate　counsell　in　my　soule；　and　most　mature
advise；　I　chose　him　above　all　other；　and　having　his　honest
harmelesse　conversation；　mutually　we　enjoyed　our　hearts　contentment。
Now　it　appeareth；　that　I　have　not　offended　but　by　love；　in　imitation
of　vulgar　opinion；　rather　then　truth：　you　seeke　to　reprove　me
bitterly；　alleaging　no　other　maine　argument　for　your　anger；　but
onely　my　not　choosing　a　Gentleman；　or　one　more　worthy。　Wherein　it　is
most　evident；　that　you　do　not　so　much　checke　my　fault；　as　the
ordination　of　Fortune；　who　many　times　advanceth　men　of　meanest
esteeme；　and　abaseth　them　of　greater　merit。　But　leaving　this
discourse；　let　us　looke　into　the　originall　of　things；　wherein　we　are
first　to　observe；　that　from　one　masse　or　lumpe　of　flesh；　both　we；
and　all　other　received　our　flesh；　and　one　Creator　hath　created　all
things；　yea；　all　creatures；　equally　in　their　forces　and　faculties；　and
equall　likewise　in　their　vertue：　which　vertue　was　the　first　that
made　distinction　of　birth　and　equality；　in　regard；　that　such　as　have
the　most　liberall　portion　thereof；　and　performed　actions　thereto
answerable；　were　thereby　tearmed　noble；　all　the　rest　remaining
unnoble：　now　although　contrary　use　did　afterward　hide　and　conceale
this　Law；　yet　was　it　not　therefore　banished　from　Nature　or　good
manners。　In　which　respect；　whosoever　did　execute　all　his　actions　by
vertue；　declared　himselfe　openly　to　be　noble；　and　he　that　tearmed
him　otherwise；　it　was　an　errour　in　the　miscaller；　and　not　in　the
person　so　wrongfully　called；　as　the　very　same　priviledge　is　yet　in
full　force　among　us　at　this　day。
　　Cast　an　heedfull　eye　then　（good　Father）　upon　all　your　Gentlemen；　and
advisedly　examine　their　vertues；　conditions；　and　manner　of
behaviour。　On　the　other　side；　observe　those　parts　remaining　in
Guiscardo：　and　then　if　you　will　Judge　truly；　and　without　affection；
you　will　confesse　him　to　be　most　Noble；　and　that　all　your　Gentlemen
（in　respect　of　him）　are　but　base　Groomes　and　villaines。　His　vertues
and　excelling　perfections；　I　never　credited　from　the　report　or
judgement　of　any　person；　but　onely　by　your　speeches；　and　mine　owne
eyes　as　true　witnesses。　Who　did　ever　more　commend　Guiscardo；　extolling
all　those　singularities　in　him；　most　requisite　to　be　in　an　honest
vertuous　man；　then　you　your　selfe　have　done？　Nor　neede　you　to　be
sorry；　or　ashamed　of　your　good　opinion　concerning　him：　for　if　mine
eyes　have　not　deceived　my　judgement；　you　never　gave　him　the　least　part
of　praise；　but　I　have　knowne　much　more　in　him；　then　ever　your　words
were　able　to　expresse：　wherefore；　if　I　have　beene　any　way　deceived；
truly　the　deceit　proceeded　onely　from　you。　How　wil　you　then　maintaine；
that　I　have　throwne　my　liking　on　a　man　of　base　condition？　In　troth
（Sir）　you　cannot。　Perhaps　you　will　alledge；　that　he　is　but　meane　and
poore；　I　confesse　it；　and　surely　it　is　to　your　shame；　that　you　have
not　bestowne　place　of　more　preferment；　on　a　man　so　honest　and　well
deserving；　and　having　bene　so　long　a　time　your　servant。
Neverthelesse　poverty　impayreth　not　any　part　of　noble　Nature；　but
wealth　hurries　into　horrible　confusions。　Many　Kings　and　great
Princes　have　heeretofore　beene　poore；　when　divers　of　them　that　have
delved　into　the　earth；　and　kept　Flockes　in　the　field；　have　beene
advanced　to　riches；　and　exceeded　the　other　in　wealth。
　　Now；　as　concerning　your　last　doubt；　which　most　of　all　afflicteth
you；　namely；　how　you　shall　deale　with　me；　boldly　rid　your　braine　of
any　such　disturbance；　for　if　you　have　resolved　now　in　your　extremity
of　yeres；　to　doe　that　which　your　younger　dayes　evermore　despised；　I
meane；　to　become　cruell；　use　your　utmost　cruelty　against　me：　for　I　wil
never　intreat　you　to　the　contrary；　because　I　am　the　sole　occasion　of
this　offence；　if　it　doe　deserve　the　name　of　an　offence。　And　this　I
dare　assure　you；　that　if　you　deale　not　with　me；　as　you　have　done
already；　or　intend　to　Guiscardo；　mine　owne　hands　shall　act　as　much：
and　therfore　give　over　your　teares　to　women；　and　if　you　purpose　to
be　cruel；　let　him　and　me　in　death　drinke　both　of　one　cup；　at　least
if　you　imagine　that　we　have　deserved　it。
　　The　King　knew　well　enough　the　high　spirit　of　his　Daughter；　but　yet
（neverthelesse）　he　did　not　beleeve；　that　her　words　would　prove
actions；　or　she　do　as　she　said。　And　therefore　parting　from　her；　and
without　intent　of　using　any　cruelty　to　her；　concluded；　by　quenching
the　heat　of　another　to　coole　the　fiery　rage　of　her　distemper；
commanding　two　of　his　follow　（who　had　the　custody　of　Guiscardo）　that
without　any　rumour　or　noise　at　all；　they　should　strangle　him　the　night
ensuing；　and　taking　the　heart　forth　of　his　body；　to　bring　it　to　him；
which　they　performed　according　to　their　charge。　On　the　next　day；　the
King　called　for　a　goodly　standing　cup　of　Gold；　wherein　he　put　the
heart　of　Guiscardo；　sending　it　by　one　of　his　most　familiar　servants　to
his　Daughter；　with　command　also　to　use　these　words　to　her。　Thy
Father　hath　sent　thee　this　present；　to　comfort　thee　with　that　thing
which　most　of　all　thou　affectest；　even　as　thou　hast　comforted　him　with
that　which　he　most　hated。
　　Ghismonda；　nothing　altered　from　her　cruell　deliberation；　after　her
Father　was　departed　from　her；　caused　certaine　poisonous　roots　and
hearbes　to　be　brought　her；　which　shee　（by　distillation）　made　a　water
of；　to　drinke　sodainly；　whensoever　any　crosse　accident　should　come
from　her　Father；　whereupon；　when　the　Messenger　from　her　Father　had
delivered　her　the　present；　and　uttered　the　words　as　he　was　commaunded：
shee　tooke　the　Cup；　and　looking　into　it　with　a　setled　countenance；
by　sight　of　the　heart；　and　effect　of　the　message；　she　knew　certainely；
that　was　the　heart　of　Guiscardo；　then　looking　stearnely　on　the
servant；　thus　she　spake　unto　him。　My　honest　friend；　it　is　no　more　then
right　and　justice；　that　so　worthy　a　heart　as　this　is；