the decameron(十日谈)-第6章

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　　No　sooner　was　he　gone；　but　the　Abbot　beganne　to　consider　with
himselfe；　what　he　were　best　to　doe　in　this　case；　either　（in　the
presence　of　all　the　other　Monkes）　to　open　the　Chamber　doore；　that　so
the　offence　being　knowne　to　them　all；　they　might　have　no　occasion　of
murmuring　against　him；　when　he　proceeded　in　the　Monkes　punishment；
or　rather　should　first　understand　of　the　Damosell　her　selfe；　how；
and　in　what　manner　shee　was　brought　thither。　Furthermore；　he
considered；　that　shee　might　be　a　woman　of　respect；　or　some　such　mans
daughter；　as　would　not　take　it　well；　to　have　her　disgraced　before
all　the　Monkes。　Wherefore　hee　concluded；　first　to　see　（himselfe）
what　shee　was；　and　then　（afterward）　to　resolve　upon　the　rest。　So　going
very　softly　to　the　Chamber；　and　entring　in；　locked　the　doore　fast　with
the　key；　when　the　poore　Damosell　thinking　it　had　beene　the　gallant
young　Monke；　but　finding　it　to　be　the　Lord　Abbot；　shee　fell　on　her
knees　weeping；　as　fearing　now　to　receive　publike　shame；　by　being
betrayed　in　this　unkinde　manner。
　　My　Lord　Abbot　looking　demurely　on　the　Maide；　and　perceiving　her　to
be　faire；　feate；　and　lovely；　felt　immediately　（although　he　was　olde）
no　lesse　spurring　on　to　fleshly　desires；　then　the　young　Monke　before
had　done；　whereupon　he　beganne　to　conferre　thus　privately　with
himselfe。　Why　should　I　not　take　pleasure；　when　I　may　freely　have　it？
Cares　and　molestations　I　endure　every　day；　but　sildome　find　such
delights　prepared　for　me。　This　is　a　delicate　sweete　young　Damosell；
and　here　is　no　eye　that　can　discover　me。　If　I　can　enduce　her　to　doe　as
I　would　have　her；　I　know　no　reason　why　I　should　gaine…say　it。　No　man
can　know　it；　or　any　tongue　blaze　it　abroade；　and　sinne　so　concealed；
is　halfe　pardoned。　Such　a　faire　fortune　as　this　is；　perhaps
hereafter　will　never　befall　me；　and　therefore　I　hold　it　wisedome；　to
take　such　a　benefit　when　a　man　may　enjoy　it。
　　Upon　this　immodest　meditation；　and　his　purpose　quite　altered　which
he　came　for；　he　went　neerer　to　her；　and　very　kindly　began　to　comfort
her；　desiring　her　to　forbeare　weeping：　and　（by　further　insinuating
speeches）　acquainted　her　with　his　amorous　intention。　The　Maide；　who
was　made　neither　of　yron　nor　diamond；　and　seeking　to　prevent　one　shame
by　another；　was　easily　wonne　to　the　Abbots　will；　which　caused　him　to
embrace　and　kisse　her　often。
　　Our　lusty　young　novice　Monke；　whom　the　Abbot　imagined　to　bee　gone
for　wood；　had　hid　himselfe　aloft　upon　the　roofe　of　the　Dorter；
where；　when　he　saw　the　Abbot　enter　alone　into　the　Chamber；　he　lost　a
great　part　of　his　former　feare；　promising　to　himselfe　a　kinde　of
perswasion；　that　somewhat　would　ensue　to　his　better　comfort；　but
when　he　beheld　him　lockt　into　the　Chamber；　then　his　hope　grew　to
undoubted　certainty。　A　little　chincke　or　crevice　favoured　him；　whereat
he　could　both　heare　and　see；　whatsoever　was　done　or　spoken　by　them：
so；　when　the　Abbot　thought　hee　had　staide　long　enough　with　the
Damosell；　leaving　her　still　there；　and　locking　the　doore　fast
againe；　hee　returned　thence　to　his　owne　Chamber。
　　Within　some　short　while　after；　the　Abbot　knowing　the　Monke　to　be
in　the　Convent；　and　supposing　him　to　be　lately　returned　with　the　wood；
determined　to　reprove　him　sharpely；　and　to　have　him　closely
imprisoned；　that　the　Damosell　might　remaine　solie　to　himselfe。　And
causing　him　to　be　called　presently　before　him；　with　a　very　stearne　and
angry　countenance；　giving　him　many　harsh　and　bitter　speeches；
commanded；　that　he　should　be　clapt　in　prison。
　　The　Monke　very　readily　answered；　saying。　My　good　Lord；　I　have　not
yet　beene　so　long　in　the　Order　of　Saint　Benedict；　as　to　learne　all　the
particularities　thereto　belonging。　And　beside　Sir；　you　never　shewed
mee　or　any　of　my　Brethren；　in　what　manner　we　young　Monkes　ought　to　use
women；　as　you　have　otherwise　done　for　our　custome　of　prayer　and
fasting。　But　seeing　you　have　so　lately　therein　instructed　mee；　and
by　your　owne　example　how　to　doe　it：　I　heere　solemnely　promise　you；
if　you　please　to　pardon　me　but　this　one　error；　I　will　never　faile
therein　againe；　but　dayly　follow　what　I　have　seene　you　doe。
　　The　Abbot；　being　a　man　of　quicke　apprehension；　perceived　instantly
by　this　answere；　that　the　Monke　not　onely　knew　as　much　as　he　did；
but　also　had　seene　（what　was　intended）　that　hee　should　not。　Wherefore；
finding　himselfe　to　be　as　faulty　as　the　Monke；　and　that　hee　could
not　shame　him；　but　worthily　had　deserved　as　much　himselfe；　pardoning
him；　and　imposing　silence　on　eithers　offence：　they　convayed　the
poore　abused　Damosell　forth　of　their　doores；　she　purposing　（never
after）　to　transgresse　in　the　like　manner。




　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　FIRST　DAY；　THE　FIFT　NOVELL

　　　　　　　　　DECLARING；　THAT　WISE　AND　VERTUOUS　LADIES；　OUGHT　TO　HOLD
　　　　　　　　　THEIR　CHASTITIE　IN　MORE　ESTEEME；　THEN　THE　GREATNESSE　AND
　　　　　　　　TREASURES　OF　PRINCES：　AND　THAT　A　DISCREETE　LORD　SHOULD　NOT
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　OFFER　MODESTIE　VIOLENCE

　　The　Lady　Marquesse　of　Montferrat；　with　a　Banquet　of　Hennes；　and
divers　other　gracious　speeches　beside；　repressed　the　fond　love　of
the　King　of　France。

　　The　Tale　reported　by　Dioneus；　at　the　first　hearing　of　the　Ladies；
began　to　rellish　of　some　immodestie；　as　the　bashfull　blood　mounting　up
into　their　faces；　delivered　by　apparant　testimonie。　And　beholding
one　another　with　scarse…pleasing　lookes；　during　all　the　time　it　was　in
discoursing；　no　sooner　had　he　concluded：　but　with　a　few　milde　and
gentle　speeches；　they　gave　him　a　modest　reprehension；　and　meaning　to
let　him　know　that　such　tales　ought　not　to　be　tolde　among　women。
Afterward；　the　Queene　commaunded　Madam　Fiammetta；　（sitting　on　a
banke　of　flowers　before　her）　to　take　her　turne　as　next　in　order；　and
she；　smiling　with　such　a　virgin　blush；　as　very　beautifully　became　her；
began　in　this　manner。
　　It　is　no　little　joy　to　mee；　that　we　understand　so　well　（by　the
discourses　already　past）　what　power　consisteth　in　the　delivery　of　wise
and　readie　answeres；　And　because　it　is　a　great　part　of　sence　and
judgement　in　men；　to　affect　women　of　greater　birth　and　quality　then
themselves；　as　also　an　admirable　fore…sight　in　women；　to　keepe　off
from　being　surprized　in　love；　by　Lords　going　beyond　them　in　degree：
a　matter　offereth　it　selfe　to　my　memory；　well　deserving　my　speech
and　your　attention；　how　a　Gentlewoman　（both　in　word　and　deede）
should　defend　her　honor　in　that　kind；　when　importunity　laboureth　to
betray　it。
　　The　Marquesse　of　Montferrat　was　a　worthy　and　valiant　Knight；　who
being　Captaine　Generall　for　the　Church；　the　necessary　service　required
his　company　on　the　Seas；　in　a　goodly　Army　of　the　Christians　against
the　Turkes。　Upon　a　day；　in　the　Court　of　King　Philip；　sirnamed　the
one　eyed　King　（who　likewise　made　preparation　in　France；　for　a　royall
assistance　to　that　expedition）　as　many　speeches　were　delivered；
concerning　the　valour　and　manhoode　of　this　Marquesse：　it　fortuned；
that　a　Knight　was　then　present；　who　knew　him　very　familiarly；　and　he
gave　an　addition　to　the　former　commendation；　that　the　whole　world
contained　not　a　more　equall　couple　in　marriage；　then　the　Marquesse　and
his　Lady。　For；　as　among　all　knights；　the　Marquesse　could　hardly　be
paraleld　for　Armes　and　Honour；　even　so　his　wife；　in　comparison　of
all　other　Ladies；　was　scarcely　matchable　for　beauty　and　vertue。
Which　words　were　so　weighty　in　the　apprehension　of　King　Philip；　that
sodainly　（having　as　yet　never　seen　her）　he　began　to　affect　her　very
earnestly；　concluding　to　embarke　himselfe　at　Gennes　or　Genoua；　there
to　set　forward　on　the　intended　voyage；　and　journying　thither　by
land；　hee　would　shape　some　honest　excuse　to　see　the　Lady　Marquesse；
whose　Lord　being　then　from　home；　opinion　perswaded　him　over　fondly；
that　he　should　easily　obtaine　the　issue　of　his　amorous　desire。
　　When　hee　was　come　within　a　dayes　journey；　where　the　Ladie
Marquesse　then　lay；　he　sent　her　word　that　she　should　expect　his
company　on　the　morrow　at　dinner。　The　Lady；　being　singularly　wise　and
judicious；　answered　the　Messenger；　that　she　reputed　the　Kings
comming　to　her；　as　an　extraordinary　grace　and　favour；　and　that　he
should　bee　most　heartily　welcome。　Afterward；　entring　into　further
consideration　with　her　selfe；　what　the　King　might　meane　by　his　private
visitation；　knowing　her　Husband　to　be　from　home；　and　it　to　bee　no
meane　barre　to　his　apter　entertainement：　at　last　she　discreetly
conceited　（and　therin　was　not　deceived）　that　babling　report　of　her
beauty　and　perfections；　might　thus　occasion　the　Kings　comming　thither；
his　journey　lying　else　a　quite　contrary　way。　Notwithstanding；　being
a　Princely　Lady；　and　so　loyal　a　wife　as　ever　lived　shee　intended　to
give　him　her　best　entertainement：　summoning　the　chiefest　Gentlemen
in　the　Country　together；　to　take　due　order　（by　their　advice）　for
giving　the　King　a　gracious　Welcome。　But　concerning　the　dinner；　and
diet　for　service　to　his　Table；　that　remained　onely　at　her　own
disposing。
　　Sending　presently　abroad；　and　buying　all　the　Hennes　that　the　Country
affoorded；　shee　commaunded　her　Cookes；　that　onely　of　them　（without　any
other　provision　beside）　they　should　prepare　all　the　services　that　they
could　devise。　On　the　morrow；　the　King　came　according　to　his　promise；
and　was　most　honourably　welcomed　by　the　Lady；　who　seemed　in　his　eye
（far　beyond　the　Knights　speeches　of　her）　the　fairest　creature　that
ever　he　had　seene　before；　whereat　he　mervailed　not　a　little；　extolling
her　perfections　to　be　peerelesse；　which　much　the　more　enflamed　his
affections；　and　（almost）　made　his　desires　impatient。　The　King　beeing
withdrawne　into　such　Chambers；　as　orderly　were　prepared　for　him；　and
as　beseemed　so　great　a　Prince：　the　houre　of　dinner　drawing　on；　the
King　and　the　Lady　Marquesse　were　seated　at　one　Table；　and　his
attendants　placed　at　other　tables；　answerable　to　their　degrees　of
honour。
　　Plenty　of　dishes　being　served　in；　and　the　rarest　Wines　that　the
Countrey　yeelded；　the　King　had　more　minde　to　the　faire　Lady　Marques；
then　any　meate　that　stood　on　the　Table。　Neverthelesse；　observing
each　service　after　other；　and　that　all　the　Viands　（though　variously
cooked；　and　in　divers　kindes）　were　nothing　else　but　Hennes　onely；　he
began　to　wonder；　and　so　much　the　rather；　because　he　knew　the　Country
to　be　of　such　quality；　that　it　afforded　all　plenty　both　of　Fowles
and　Venison：　beside；　after　the　time　of　his　comming　was　heard；　they　had
respite　enough；　both　for　hawking　and　hunting；　and　therefore　it
encreased　his　marvell　the　more；　that　nothing　was　provided　for　him；　but
Hennes　onely：　wherein　to　be　the　better　resolved；　turning　a　merry
countenance　to　the　Lady；　thus　he　spake。　Madam；　are　Hennes　onely　bred
in　this　Country；　and　no　Cockes？　The　Lady　Marquesse；　very　well
understanding　his　demand；　which　fitted　her　with　an　apt　opportunity；　to
thwart　his　idle　hope；　and　defend　her　owne　honour；　boldly　returned
the　King　this　answere。　Not　so　my　Lord；　but　women　and　wives；
howsoever　they　differ　in　garments　and　graces　one　from　another；　yet
notwithstanding；　they　are　all　heere　as　they　bee　in　other　places。
　　When　the　King　heard　this　reply；　he　knew　well　enough　the　occasion
of　his　Henne　dinner；　as　also；　what　vertue　lay　couched　under　her
answere；　perceiving　apparantly；　that　wanton　words　would　prove　but　in
vaine；　and　such　a　woman　was　not　easily