the decameron(十日谈)-第60章

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ghostly　Father；　kneel。　at　his　feete；　although　her　heart　was　high
enough；　like　a　proud　minded　woman；　（for　Venetians　are　presumptuous；
vaine…glorious；　and　witted　much　like　to　their　skittish　Gondoloes）
she　made　a　very　short　rehearsall　of　her　sinnes。　At　length　Fryar　Albert
demanded　of　her；　whether　shee　had　any　amorous　friend　or　lover？　Her
patience　being　exceedingly　provoked；　stearne　anger　appeared　in　her
lookes；　which　caused　her　to　returne　him　this　answer。　How　now　Sir
Domine？　what？　have　you　no　eyes　in　your　head？　Can　you　not　distinguish
between　mine；　and　these　other　common　beauties？　I　could　have　Lovers
enow；　if　I　were　so　pleased；　but　those　perfections　remaining　in　me；　are
not　to　be　affected　by　this　man；　or　that。　How　many　beauties　have　you
beheld；　any　way　answerable　to　mine；　and　are　more　fit　for　Gods；　then
mortals。
　　Many　other　idle　speeches　shee　uttered；　in　proud　opinion　of　her
beauty；　whereby　Friar　Albert　presently　perceived；　that　this
Gentlewoman　had　but　a　hollow　braine；　and　was　fit　game　for　folly　to
flye　at；　which　made　him　instantly　enamoured　of　her；　and　that　beyond
all　capacity　of　resisting；　which　yet　he　referred　to　a　further；　and
more　commodious　time。　Neverthelesse；　to　shew　himselfe　an　holy　and
religious　man　now；　he　began　to　reprehend　her；　and　told　her　plainely；
that　she　was　vain…glorious；　and　overcome　with　infinite　follies。
Heereupon；　him　call。ed　him　a　logger　headed　beast；　and　he　knew　not
the　difference　betweene　an　ordinary　complexion；　and　beauty　of　the
highest　merit。　In　which　respect；　Friar　Albert；　being　loth　to　offend
her　any　further；　after　confession　was　fully　ended；　let　her　passe
away　among　the　other　Gentlewomen；　she　giving　him　divers　disdainfull
lookes。
　　Within　some　few　dayes　after；　taking　one　of　his　trusty　brethren　in
his　company；　he　went　to　the　House　of　Madam　Lisetta；　where　requiring　to
have　some　conference　alone　with　her　selfe；　shee　tooke　him　into　a
private　Parlor；　and　being　there；　not　to　be　seene　by　any　body；　he
fell　on　his　knees　before　her；　speaking　in　this　manner。　Madam；　for
charities　sake；　and　in　regard　of　your　owne　most　gracious　nature；　I
beseech　you　to　pardon　those　harsh　speeches；　which　I　used　to　you　the
other　day；　when　you　were　with　me　at　confession：　because；　the　very
night　ensuing　thereon；　I　was　chastised　in　such　cruell　manner；　as　I　was
never　able　to　stirre　forth　of　my　bed；　untill　this　very　instant
morning；　whereto　the　weake…witted　Gentlewoman　thus　replyed。　And　who
I　pray　you　（quoth　she）　did　chastise　you　so　severely？　I　will　tell　you
Madam；　said　Friar　Albert；　but　it　is　a　matter　of　admirable　secrecie。
　　Being　alone　by　my　selfe　the　same　night　in　my　Dorter；　and　in　very
serious　devotion；　according　to　my　usuall　manner：　suddenly　I　saw　a
bright　splendour　about　me；　and　I　could　no　sooner　arise　to　discerne
what　it　might　be；　and　whence　it　came；　but　I　espied　a　very　goodly　young
Lad　standing　by　me；　holding　a　golden　Bow　in　his　hand；　and　a　rich
Quiver　of　Arrowes　hanging　at　his　backe。　Catching　fast　hold　on　my　Hood；
against　the　ground　he　threw　me　rudely；　trampling　on　me　with　his　feete；
and　beating　me　with　so　many　cruell　blowes；　that　I　thought　my　body　to
be　broken　in　peeces。　Then　I　desired　to　know；　why　he　was　so　rigorous　to
me　in　his　correction？　Because　（quoth　he）　thou　didst　so　saucily　presume
this　day；　to　reprove　the　celestiall　beauty　of　Madam　Lisetta；　who　（next
to　my　Mother　Venus）　I　love　most　dearely。　Whereupon　I　perceived；　he　was
the　great　commanding　God　Cupid；　and　therefore　I　craved　most　humbly
pardon　of　him。　I　will　pardon　thee　（quoth　he）　but　upon　this
condition；　that　thou　goe　to　her　so　soone　as　conveniently　thou　canst；
and　（by　lowly　humility）　prevaile　to　obtaine　her　free　pardon：　which
if　she　will　not　vouchsafe　to　grant　thee；　then　shall　I　in　stearne　anger
returne　againe；　and　lay　so　many　torturing　afflictions　on　thee；　that
all　thy　whole　life　time　shall　be　most　hatefull　to　thee。　And　what　the
displeased　God　saide　else　beside；　I　dare　not　disclose；　except　you
please　first　to　pardon　me。
　　Mistresse　shallow…braine；　being　swolne　big　with　this　wind；　like　an
empty　bladder；　conceived　no　small　pride　in　hearing　these　words；
constantly　crediting　them　to　be　true；　and　therefore　thus　answered。　Did
I　not　tel　you　Father　Albert；　that　my　beauty　was　celestiall？　But　I
sweare　by　my　beauty；　notwithstanding　your　idle　passed　arrogancy；　I
am　heartily　sorry　for　your　so　severe　correction；　which　that　it　may
no　more　be　inflicted　on　you；　I　do　freely　pardon　you；　yet　with　this
proviso；　that　you　tell　me　what　the　God　else　saide　unto　you；　whereto
Fryar　Albert　thus　replyed。　Madam；　seeing　you　have　so　graciously
vouchsafed　to　pardon　me；　I　will　thankfully　tell　you　all：　but　you
must　be　very　carefull　and　respective；　that　whatsoever　I　shall
reveale　unto　you；　must　so　closely　be　concealed；　as　no　living
creature　in　the　World　may　know　it；　for　you　are　the　onely　happy　Lady
now　living；　and　that　happinesse　relleth　on　your　silence　and
secrecie：　with　solemne　vowes　and　protestations　she　sealed　up　her
many　promises；　and　then　the　Fryar　thus　proceeded。
　　Madam；　the　further　charge　imposed　on　me　by　God　Cupid；　was　to　tell
you；　that　himselfe　is　so　extremely　enamored　of　your　beauty；　and　you
are　become　so　gracious　in　his　affection；　as；　many　nights　he　hath
come　to　see　you　in　your　Chamber；　sitting　on　your　pillow；　while　you
slept　sweetly；　and　desiring　very　often　to　awake　you；　but　onely　fearing
to　affright　you。　Wherefore；　now　he　sends　you　word　by　me；　that　one
night　he　intendeth　to　come　visite　you；　and　to　spend　some　time　in
conversing　with　you。　But　in　regard　he　is　a　God；　and　meerely　a　spirit
in　forme；　whereby　neither　you　or　any　else　have　capacity　of　beholding
him；　much　lesse　to　touch　or　feele　him：　he　saith　that　（for　your　sake）
he　will　come　in　the　shape　of　a　man；　giving　me　charge　also　to　know　of
you；　when　you　shall　please　to　have　him　come；　and　in　whose　similitude
you　would　have　him　to　come；　whereof　he　will　not　falle；　in　which
respect；　you　may　justly　thinke　your　selfe　to　be　the　onely　happy
woman　livng；　and　farre　beyond　all　other　in　your　good　fortune。
　　Mistresse　want…wit　presently　answered；　shee　was　well　contented；　that
God　Cupid　should　love　her；　and　she　would　returne　the　like　love
againe　to　him；　protesting　withill；　that　wheresoever　shee　should　see
his　majesticall　picture；　she　would　set　a　hallowed　burning　Taper　before
it。　Moreover；　at　all　times　he　should　be　most　welcome　to　her；
whensoever　hee　would　vouchsafe　to　visite　her；　for；　he　should　alwayes
finde　her　alone　in　her　private　Chamber：　on　this　condition；　that　his
olde　Love　Psyches；　and　all　other　beauties　else　whatsoever；　must　be　set
aside；　and　none　but　her　selfe　onely　to　be　his　best　Mistresse；
referring　his　personall　forme　of　appearance；　to　what　shape　himselfe
best　pleased　to　assume；　so　that　it　might　not　be　frightfull；　or
offensive　to　her。
　　Madam　（quoth　Friar　Albert）　most　wisely　have　you　answered；　and
leave　the　matter　to　me；　for　I　will　take　order　sufficiently；　and　to
your　contentment。　But　you　may　do　me　a　great　grace；　and　without　any
prejudice　to　your　selfe；　in　granting　me　one　poore　request；　namely；
to　vouchsafe　the　Gods　appearance　to　you；　in　my　bodily　shape　and
person；　and　in　the　perfect　forme　of　a　man　as　now　you　behold　me：　so　may
you　safely　give　him　entertainment；　without　any　taxation　of　the
world；　or　ill　apprehension　of　the　most　curious　inquisition。　Beside；
a　greater　happinesse　can　never　befall　me：　for；　while　he　assumeth　the
soule　out　of　my　body；　and　walketh　on　the　earth　in　my　humane　figure：
I　shall　be　wandering　in　the　joyes　of　Lovers　Paradise；　feeling　the
fruition　of　their　felicities；　which　are　such；　as　no　mortality　can　be
capeable　of；　no；　not　so　much　as　in　imagination。
　　　The　wise　Gentlewoman　replied；　that　she　was　well　contented；　in
regard　of　the　severe　punishment　inflicted　on　him　by　God　Cupid；　for　the
reproachfull　speeches　he　had　given　her；　to　allow　him　so　poore　a
kinde　of　consolation；　as　he　had　requested　her　to　grant　him。　Whereuppon
Friar　Albert　saide：　Be　ready　then　Madam　to　give　him　welcome　to
morrow　in　the　evening；　at　the　entering　into　your　house；　for　comming　in
an　humane　body；　he　cannot　but　enter　at　your　doores：　n　e　whereas；　if
（in　powerfull　manner）　he　made　use　of　his　wings；　he　then　would　Eye　in
at　your　window；　and　then　you　could　not　be　able　to　see　him。
　　　Upon　this　conclusion；　Albert　departed；　leaving　Lisetta　in　no
meane　pride　of　imagination；　that　God　Cupid　should　be　enamoured　of
her　beauty；　and　therefore　she　thought　each　houre　a　yeare；　till　she
might　see　him　in　the　mortall　shape　of　Friar　Albert。　And　now　was　his
braine　wonderfully　busied；　to　visite　her　in　more　then　common　or　humane
manner；　and　therefore　he　made　him　a　sute　（close　to　his　body）　of
white　Taffata；　all　poudred　over　with　Starres；　and　spangles　of　Gold；
a　Bow　and　Quiver　of　Arrowes；　with　wings　also　fastened　to　his　backe
behinde　him；　and　all　cunningly　covered　with　his　Friars　habit；　which
must　be　the　sole　meanes　of　his　safe　passage。
　　　Having　obtained　licence　of　his　Superiour；　and　being　accompanied
with　an　holy　Brother　of　the　Convent；　yet　ignorant　of　the　businesse
by　him　intended；　he　went　to　the　house　of　a　friend　of　his；　which　was
his　usuall　receptacle；　whensoever　he　went　about　such　deeds　of　darknes。
There　did　he　put　on　his　dissembled　habit　of　God　Cupid；　with　his
winges；　Bowe；　and　Quiver；　in　formall　fashion；　and　then　（clouded　over
with　his　Monkes　Cowle）　leaves　his　companion　to　awaite　his　returning
backe；　while　he　visited　foolish　Lisetta；　according　to　her　expectation；
readily　attending　for　the　Gods　arrivall。
　　　Albert　being　come　to　the　house；　knocked　at　the　doore；　and　the　Maide
admitting　him　entrance；　according　as　her　Mistresse　had　appointed；
she　conducted　him　to　her　Mistresses　Chamber；　where　laying　aside　his
Friars　habite；　and　she　seeing　him　shine　with　such　glorious
splendour；　adding　action　also　to　his　assumed　dissimulation；　with
majesticke　motion　of　his　body；　wings；　and　bow；　as　if　he　had　bene　God
Cupid　indeede；　converted　into　a　body　much　bigger　of　stature；　then
Painters　commonly　do　describe　him；　her　wisedome　was　overcome　with
feare　and　admiration；　that　she　fell　on　her　knees　before　him；
expressing　all　humble　reverence　unto　him。　And　he　spreading　his　wings
over　her；　as　with　wiers　and　strings　he　had　made　them　pliant；　shewed
how　graciously　he　accepted　her　humiliation；　folding　her　in　his
armes；　and　sweetly　kissing　her　many　times　together；　with　repetition　of
his　entire　love　and　affection　towards　her。　So　delicately　was　he
perfumed　with　odorifferous　savours；　and　so　compleate　of　person　in
his　spangled　garments；　that　she　could　do　nothing　else；　but　wonder　at
his　rare　behaviour；　reputing　her　felicity　beyond　all　Womens　in　the
world；　and　utterly　impossible　to　be　equalled；　such　was　the　pride　of
her　presuming。　For　he　told　her　clivers　tales　and　fables；　of　his
awefull　power　among　the　other　Gods；　and　stolne　pleasures　of　his　upon
the　earth；　yet　gracing　her　praises　above　all　his　other　Loves；　and
vowes　made　now；　to　affect　none　but　her　onely；　as　his　often　visitations
should　more　constantly　assure　her；　that　she　verily　credited　all　his
protestations；　and　thought　his　kisses　and　embraces；　farre　to　exceed
any　mortall　comparison。
　　After　they　had　spent　so　much　time　in　amorous　discoursing；　as　might
best　fit　with　this　their　first　meeting；　and　stand　cleare　from