the decameron(十日谈)-第59章

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right　and　justice；　that　so　worthy　a　heart　as　this　is；　should　have
any　worser　grave　then　gold；　wherein　my　Father　hath　dealt　most
wisely。　So；　lifting　the　heart　up　to　her　mouth；　and　sweetly　kissing　it；
she　proceeded　thus。　In　all　things；　even　till　this　instant；　（being
the　utmost　period　of　my　life）　I　have　evermore　found　my　Fathers　love
most　effectuall　to　me；　but　now　it　appeareth　farre　greater；　then　at　any
time　heretofore：　and　therefore　from　my　mouth；　thou　must　deliver　him
the　latest　thankes　that　ever　I　shall　give　him；　for　sending　me　such
an　honourable　present。
　　These　words　being　ended；　holding　the　Cup　fast　in　her　hand；　and
looking　seriously　upon　the　heart；　she　began　againe　in　this　manner。
Thou　sweete　entertainer　of　all　my　dearest　delights；　accursed　be　his
cruelty；　that　causeth　me　thus　to　see　thee　with　my　corporall　eyes；　it
being　sufficient　enough　for　me；　alwayes　to　behold　thee　with　the
sight　of　my　soule。　Thou　hast　runne　thy　race；　and　as　Fortune
ordained；　so　are　thy　dayes　finished：　for　as　all　flesh　hath　an
ending；　so　hast　thou　concluded；　albeit　too　soone；　and　before　thy　due
time。　The　travalles　and　miseries　of　this　World；　have　now　no　more　to
meddle　with　thee；　and　thy　very　heaviest　enemy　hath　bestowed　such　a
grave　on　thee；　as　thy　greatnesse　in　vertue　worthily　deserveth；　now
nothing　else　is　wanting；　wherewith　to　beautifie　thy　Funerall；　but　only
her　sighes　and　teares；　that　was　so　deare　unto　thee　in　thy　life　time。
And　because　thou　mightest　the　more　freely　enjoy　them；　see　how　my
mercilesse　Father　（on　his　owne　meere　motion）　hath　sent　thee　to　me；　and
truly　I　will　bestow　them　frankly　on　thee；　though　once　I　had
resolved；　to　die　with　drie　eyes；　and　not　shedding　one　teare；
dreadlesse　of　their　utmost　malice　towards　me。
　　And　when　I　have　given　thee　the　due　oblation　of　my　teares；　my
soule；　which　sometime　thou　hast　kept　most　carfully；　shall　come　to　make
a　sweet　conjunction　with　thine：　for　in　what　company　else　can　I
travaile　more　contentedly；　and　to　those　unfrequented　silent　shades；
but　onely　in　thine？　As　yet　am　sure　it　is　present　here；　in　this　Cup
sent　me　by　my　Father；　as　having　a　provident　respect　to　the　place；
for　possess'　of　our　equall　and　mutuall　pleasures；　because　thy　soule
affecting　mine　so　truly；　cannot　walke　alone；　without　his　deare
companion。
　　Having　thus　finished　her　complaint；　even　as　if　her　bead　had　been
converted　into　a　well　spring　of　water；　so　did　teares　abundantly　flow
from　her　faire　eyes；　kissing　the　heart　of　Guiscardo　infinite　times。
All　which　while；　her　women　standing　by　her；　neither　knew　what　heart　it
was；　nor　to　what　effect　her　speeches　tended：　but　being　moved　to
compassionate　teares；　they　often　demanded　（albeit　in　vaine）　the
occasion　of　her　sad　complaining；　comforting　her　to　their　utmost　power。
When　she　was　not　able　to　weepe　any　longer；　wiping　her　eyes；　and
lifting　up　her　head；　without　any　signe　of　the　least　dismay；　thus　she
spake　to　the　heart。
　　Deare　heart；　all　my　duty　is　performed　to　thee；　and　nothing　now
remaineth　uneffected；　but　onely　breathing　my　last；　to　let　my　ghost
accompany　thine。
　　Then　calling　for　the　glasse　of　water；　which　she　had　readily　prepared
the　day　before；　and　powring　it　upon　the　heart　lying　in　the　Cup；
couragiously　advancing　it　to　her　mouth；　she　dranke　it　up　every　drop；
which　being　done；　she　lay　downe　upon　her　bed；　holding　her　Lovers　heart
fast　in　her　hand；　and　laying　it　so　neere　to　her　owne　as　she　could。　Now
although　her　women　knew　not　what　water　it　was；　yet　when　they　had　seene
her　to　quaffe　it　off　in　that　manner；　they　sent　word　to　the　King；　who
much　suspecting　what　had　happened；　went　in　all　haste　to　his
Daughters　Chamber；　entring　at　the　very　instant；　when　she　was　laide
upon　her　bed；　beholding　her　in　such　passionate　pangs；　with　teares
streaming　downe　his　reverend　beard；　he　used　many　kinde　words　to
comfort　her：　when　boldly　thus　she　spake　unto　him。　Father　（quoth　she）
well　may　you　spare　these　teares；　because　they　are　unfitting　for　you；
and　not　any　way　desired　by　me；　who　but　your　selfe；　hath　seene　any
man　to　mourne　for　his　owne　wilfull　offence。　Neverthelesse；　if　but
the　least　jot　of　that　love　do　yet　abide　in　you；　whereof　you　have
made　such　liberall　profession　to　me；　let　me　obtaine　this　my　very
last　request；　to　wit；　that　seeing　I　might　not　privately　enjoy　the
benefit　of　Guiscardoes　love；　and　while　he　lived；　let　yet　（in　death）
one　publike　grave　containe　both　our　bodies；　that　death　may　affoord　us；
what　you　so　cruelly　in　life　denied　us。
　　Extremity　of　griefe　and　sorrow；　withheld　his　tongue　from　returning
any　answer；　and　she　perceiving　her　end　approaching；　held　the　heart
still　closer　to　her　owne　bare　brest；　saying；　Here　Fortune；　receive　two
true　hearts　latest　oblation；　for；　in　this　manner　are　we　comming　to
thee。　So　closing　her　eyes；　all　sense　forsooke　her；　life　leaving　her
body　breathlesse。　Thus　ended　the　haplesse　love　of　Guiscardo；　and
Ghismonda；　for　whose　sad　disaster；　when　the　King　had　mourned
sufficiently；　and　repented　fruitlesly；　he　caused　both　their　bodies
to　be　honourably　embalmed；　and　buried　in　a　most　royall　Monument；　not
without　generall　sorrow　of　the　subjects　of　Salerne。




　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　FOURTH　DAY；　THE　SECOND　NOVELL
　　　　　　　REPREHENDING　THE　LEWD　LIVES　OF　DISSEMBLING　HYPOCRITES；　AND
　　　　　　　　　　　CHECKING　THE　ARROGANT　PRIDE　OF　VAINE…HEADED　WOMEN

　　Fryar　Albert　made　a　young　Venetian　Gentlewoman　beleeve；　that　God
Cupid　was　falne　in　love　with　her；　and　he　resorted　oftentimes　unto　her；
in　the　disguise　of　the　same　God。　Afterward；　being　frighted　by　the
Gentlewomans　kindred　and　friends；　he　cast　himselfe　out　of　her
Chamber　window；　and　was　bidden　in　a　poore　mans　House；　on　the　day
following；　in　the　shape　of　a　wilde　or　savage　man；　he　was　brought
upon　the　Rialto　of　Saint　Marke；　and　being　there　publikely　knowne　by
the　Brethren　of　his　Order；　he　was　committed　to　Prison。

　　The　Novell　recounted　by　Madam　Fiammetta；　caused　teares　many　times　in
the　eyes　of　all　the　company；　but　it　being　finished；　the　King　shewing　a
stearne　countenance；　saide；　I　should　have　much　commended　the　kindnesse
of　fortune；　if　in　the　whole　course　of　my　life；　I　had　tasted　the
least　moity　of　that　delight；　which　Guiscardo　received　by　conversing
with　faire　Ghismonda。　Nor　neede　any　of　you　to　wonder　thereat；　or　how
it　can　be　otherwise；　because　hourely　I　feele　a　thousand　dying
torments；　without　enjoying　any　hope　of　ease　or　pleasure：　but　referring
my　fortunes　to　their　owne　poore　condition；　it　is　my　will；　that　Madam
Pampinea　proceed　next　in　the　argument　of　successelesse　love；　according
as　Madam　Fiammetta　hath　already　begun；　to　let　fall　more　dew…drops　on
the　fire　of　mine　afflictions。　Madam　Pampinea　perceiving　what　a　taske
was　imposed　on　her；　knew　well　（by　her　owne　disposition）　the
inclination　of　the　company；　whereof　shee　was　more　respective　then　of
the　Kings　command：　wherefore；　chusing　rather　to　recreate　their
spirits；　then　to　satisfie　the　Kings　melancholy　humour；　she
determined　to　relate　a　Tale　of　mirthfull　matter；　and　yet　to　keepe
within　compasse　of　the　purposed　Argument　It　hath　bene　continually　used
as　a　common　Proverbe；　that　a　bad　man　taken　and　reputed　to　be　honest
and　good；　may　commit　many　evils；　yet　neither　credited；　or　suspected：
which　proverbe　giveth　me　very　ample　matter　to　speake　of；　and　yet　not
varying　from　our　intention；　concerning　the　hypocrisie　of　some
religious　persons；　who　having　their　garments　long　and　large；　their
faces　made　artificially　pale；　their　language　meeke　and　humble　to　get
mens　goods　from　them；　yet　sowre；　harsh　and　stearne　enough；　in　checking
and　controuling　other　mens　errours；　as　also　in　urging　others　to
give；　and　themselves　to　take；　without　any　other　hope　or　meanes　of
salvation。　Nor　doe　they　endeavour　like　other　men；　to　worke　out　their
soules　health　with　feare　and　trembling；　but；　even　as　if　they　were　sole
owners；　Lords；　and　possessors　of　Paradice；　will　appoint　to　every　dying
person；　place　（there）　of　greater　or　lesser　excellency；　according　as
they　thinke　good；　or　as　the　legacies　left　by　them　are　in　quantity；
whereby　they　not　onely　deceive　themselves；　but　all　such　as　give　credit
to　their　subtile　perswasions。　And　were　it　lawfull　for　me；　to　make
knowne　no　more　then　is　meerely　necessary；　I　could　quickly　disclose
to　simple　credulous　people；　what　craft　lieth　concealed　under　their
holy　habites：　and　I　would　wish；　that　their　lies　and　deluding　should
speed　with　them；　as　they　did　with　a　Franciscane　Friar；　none　of　the
younger　Novices；　but　one　of　them　of　greatest　reputation；　and　belonging
to　one　of　the　best　Monasteries　in　Venice。　Which　I　am　the　rather
desirous　to　report；　to　recreate　your　spirits；　after　your　teares　for
the　death　of　faire　Ghismonda。
　　Sometime　（Honourable　Ladies）　there　lived　in　the　City　of　Imola；　a　man
of　most　lewd　and　wicked　life；　named；　Bertho　de　la　messa；　whose
shamelesse　deedes　were　so　well　knowne　to　all　the　Citizens；　and　won
such　respect　among　them；　as　all　his　lies　could　not　compasse　any
beleefe；　no；　not　when　he　delivered　a　matter　of　sound　truth。　Wherefore；
perceiving　that　his　lewdnesse　allowed　him　no　longer　dwelling　there；
like　a　desperate　adventurer；　he　transported　himselfe　thence　to　Venice；
the　receptacle　of　all　foule　sinne　and　abhomination；　intending　there　to
exercise　his　wonted　bad　behaviour；　and　live　as　wickedly　as　ever　he　had
done　before。　It　came　to　passe；　that　some　remorse　of　conscience　tooke
hold　of　him；　for　the　former　passages　of　his　dissolute　life；　and　he
pretended　to　be　surprized　with　very　great　devotion；　becomming　much
more　Catholike　then　any　other　man；　taking　on　him　the　profession　of　a
Franciscane　coldelier；　and　calling　himselfe；　Fryar　Albert　of　Imola。
　　In　this　habite　and　outward　appearance；　hee　seemed　to　leade　an
austere　and　sanctimonious　life；　highly　commending　penance　and
abstinence；　never　eating　flesh；　or　drinking　wine；　but　when　he　was
provided　of　both　in　a　close　corner。　And　before　any　person　could　take
notice　thereof；　hee　became　（of　a　theefe）　Ruffian；　forswearer；　and
murtherer；　as　formerly　he　had…beene　a　great　Preacher；　yet　not
abandoning　the　forenamed　vices；　when　secretly　he　could　put　any　of　them
in　execution。　Moreover；　being　made　Priest；　when　he　was　celebrating
Masse　at　the　Altar；　if　he　saw　himselfe　to　be　observed　by　any；　he　would
most　mournefully　reade　the　passion　of　our　Saviour；　as　one　whose　teares
cost　him　little；　whensoever　hee　pleased　to　use　them；　so　that；　in　a
short　while；　by　his　preaching　and　teares；　he　fed　the　humours　of　the
Venetians　so　pleasingly；　that　they　made　him　executor　（well…neere）　of
all　their　Testaments；　yea；　many　chose　him　as　depositary　or　Guardion　of
their　monies；　because　he　was　both　Confessour　and　Councellor；　almost　to
all　the　men　and　women。
　　By　this　well　seeming　out…side　of　sanctity；　the　Wolfe　became　a
Shepheard；　and　his　renowne　for　holinesse　was　so　famous　in　those　parts；
as　Saint　Frances　himselfe　had　hardly　any　more。　It　fortuned；　that　a
young　Gentlewoman；　being　somewhat　foolish；　wanton　and　proud　minded；
named　Madam　Lisetta　de　Caquirino；　wife　to　a　wealthy　Merchant；　who　went
with　certaine　Gallies　into　Flanders；　and　there　lay　as　Lieger　long
time：　in　company　of　other　Gentlewomen；　went　to　be　confessed　by　this
ghostly　Father；　kneel。　at　his　feete；　although　her　heart　was　high
enough；　like　a　proud　minded　woman；　（for　Venetians　are