the decameron(十日谈)-第62章

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what　shape　the　poore　man　pleased；　which　thus　he　ordered。　Annointing
his　naked　body　with　Hony；　he　then　covered　it　over　with　downy　small
Feathers；　and　fastening　a　chaine　about　his　necke；　and　a　strange　ugly
vizard　on　his　face；　he　gave　him　a　great　staffe　in　the　one　hand；　and
two　huge　Mastive　dogs　chained　together　in　the　other；　which　he　had
borrowed　in　the　Butchery。　Afterward；　he　sent　a　man　to　the　Rialto；
who　there　proclaimed　by　the　sound　of　Trumpet：　That　all　such　as　desired
to　see　God　Cupid；　which　the　last　nights　had　descended　downe　from　the
skies；　and　fell　（by　ill　hap）　into　the　Venetian　gulfe；　let　them　repaire
to　the　publike　Market　place　of　S。　Marke；　and　there　he　would　appeare　in
his　owne　likenesse。
　　This　being　done；　soone　after　he　left　his　house；　and　leading　him　thus
disguised　along　by　the　chaine；　he　was　followed　by　great　crowds　of
people；　every　one　questioning　of　whence；　and　what　he　was。　In　which
manner；　he　brought　him；　to　the　Market　place；　where　an　infinite
number　of　people　were　gathered　together；　as　well　of　the　followers；
as　of　them　that　before　heard　the　proclamation。　There　he　made　choice　of
a　pillar；　which　stood　in　a　place　somewhat　highly　exalted；　wherto　he
chained　his　savage　man；　making　shew；　as　if　be　meant　to　awaite　there；
till　the　hunting　should　begin：　in　which　time；　the　Flies；　Waspes；　and
Hornets；　did　so　terribly　sting　his　naked　body；　being　annointed　with
Hony；　that　he　endured　therby　unspeakable　anguish。　When　the　poore　man
saw；　that　there　needed　no　more　concourse　of　people；　pretending；　as
if　he　purposed　to　let　loose　his　Salvage　man；　he　tooke　the　maske　or
vizard　from　Alberts　face；　and　then　he　spake　aloud　in　this　manner。
Gentlemen　and　others；　seeing　the　wilde　Boare　commeth　not　to　our
hunting；　because　I　imagine　that　he　cannot　easily　be　found：　I　meane　（to
the　end　you　may　not　lose　your　labour　in　comming　hither）　to　shew　you
the　great　God　of　Love　called　Cupid；　who　Poets　feigned　long　since　to　be
a　little　boy；　but　now　growne　to　manly　stature。　You　see　in　what　maner
he　hath　left　his　high　dwelling　onely　for　the　comfort　of　our　Venetian
beauties：　but　belike；　the　night…fogs　overflagging　his　wings；　he　fell
into　our　gulfe；　and　comes　now　to　present　his　service　to　you。　No　sooner
had　he　taken　off　his　vizard；　but　every　one　knew　him　to　be　Fryar
Albert；　and　sodainely　arose　such　shoutes　outcries；　with　most　bitter
words　breathed　forth　against　him；　hurling　also　stones；　durt　and
filth　in　his　face；　that　his　best　acquaintance　then　could　take　no
knowledge　of　him；　and　not　any　one　pittying　his　abusing。　So　long
continued　the　offended　people　in　their　fury；　that　the　newes　therof　was
carried　to　the　Convent；　and　six　of　his　Religious　Brethren　came；　who
casting　an　habite　about　him；　and　releasing　him　from　his　chaine；　they
led　him　to　the　Monastery；　not　without　much　mollestation　and　trouble　of
the　people；　where　imprisoning　him　in　their　house；　severity　of　some
inflicted　punishment；　or　rather　conceite　for　his　open　shame；
shortned　his　dayes；　and　so　he　dyed。　Thus　you　see　（fayre　Ladies）　when
licentious　life　must　be　clouded　with　a　cloake　of　sanctifie；　and
evill　actions　daylie　committed；　yet　escaping　uncredited：　there　will
come　a　time　at　length；　for　just　discovering　of　all；　that　the　good
may　shine　in　their　true　luster　of　glory；　and　the　bad　sinke　in　their
owne　deserved　shame。




　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　FOURTH　DAY；　THE　THIRD　NOVELL

　　　　　HEEREIN　IS　DECLARED；　HOW　DANGEROUS　THE　OCCASION　IS；　ENSUING　BY
　　　　　　　　ANGER　AND　DESPIGHT；　IN　SUCH　AS　ENTIRELY　LOVE；　ESPECIALLY
　　　　　　　　　　　BEING　INJURIED　AND　OFFENDED　BY　THEM　THAT　THEY　LOVE

　　Three　yong　Gentlemen　affecting　three　Sisters；　fledde　with　them
into　Candie。　The　eldest　of　them　（through　jealousie）　becommeth　the
death　of　her　Lover；　The　second；　by　consenting　to　the　Duke　of　Candies
request；　is　the　meanes　of　saving　her　life。　Afterward；　her　owne
Friend　killeth　her；　and　thence　flyeth　away　with　the　elder　Sister。
The　third　couple；　are　charged　with　her　death；　and　being　committed
prisoners；　they　confesse　the　fact；　and　fearing　death；　by　corruption　of
money　they　prevaile　with　their　Keepers；　escaping　from　thence　to
Rhodes；　where　they　dyed　in　great　poverty。

　　When　the　King　perceyved　that　Madame　Pampinea　had　ended　her
discourse；　he　sat　sadly　a　pretty　while；　without　uttering　one　word；　but
afterward　spake　thus。　Little　goodnesse　appeared　in　the　beginning　of
this　Novell；　because　it　ministred　occasion　of　mirth；　yet　the　ending
proved　better；　and　I　could　wish；　that　worse　inflictions　had　falne　on
the　venerious　Friar。　Then　turning　towards　Madam　Lauretta；　he　said；
Lady；　do　you　tell　us　a　better　tale；　if　possible　it　may　be。　She
smiling；　thus　answered　the　King：　Sir；　you　are　over…cruelly　bent
against　poore　Lovers；　in　desiring；　that　their　amourous　processions
should　have　harsh　and　sinister　concludings。　Neverthelesse；　in
obedience　to　your　severe　command；　among　three　persons　amourously
perplexed；　I　will　relate　an　unhappy　ending；　whereas　all　may　be　saide
to　speede　as　unfortunately；　being　equally　alike；　in　enjoying　the　issue
of　their　desires；　and　thus　I　purpose　to　proceed。
　　Every　Vice　（choice　Ladies）　as　very　well　you　know；　redoundeth　to
the　great　disgrace　and　prejudice　of　him；　or　her；　by　whom　it　is
practised；　and　oftentimes　to　others。　Now；　among　those　common
hurtfull　enemies；　the　sinne　or　vice　which　most　carrieth　us　with　full
carrere；　and　draweth　us　into　unadvoydable　dangers　（in　mine　opinion）
seemeth　to　be　that　of　choller　or　anger；　which　is　a　sodain　and
inconsiderate　moving；　provoked　by　some　received　injury；　which　having
excluded　all　respect　of　reason；　and　dimnd　（with　darke　vapors）　the
bright　discerning　sight　of　the　understanding；　enflameth　the　minde　with
most　violent　fury。　And　albeit　this　inconvenience　hapneth　most　to
men；　and　more　to　some　few　then　others；　yet　notwithstanding；　it　hath
bene　noted；　that　women　have　felt　the　selfesame　infirmity；　and　in
more　extreme　manner；　because　it　much　sooner　is　kindled　in　them；　and
burneth　with　the　brighter　flame；　in　regard　they　have　the　lesser
consideration；　and　therefore　not　to　be　wondred　at。　For　if　we　wil
advisedly　observe；　we　shall　plainely　perceive；　that　fire　even　of　his
owne　nature）　taketh　hold　on　such　things　as　are　light　and　tender；
much　sooner　then　it　can　on　hard　and　weighty　substances；　and　some　of　us
women　（let　men　take　no　offence　at　my　words）　are　farre　more　soft　and
delicate　then　they　be；　and　therefore　more　fraile。　In　which　regard；
seeing　wee　are　naturally　enclined　hereto；　and　considering　also；　how
much　our　affability　and　gentlenesse　do　shew　themselves　pleasing　and
full　of　content　to　those　men　with　whom　we　are　to　live；　and　likewise；
how　anger　and　fury　are　compacted　of　extraordinary　perils：　I　purpose
（because　we　may　be　the　more　valiant　in　our　courage；　to　outstand　the
fierce　assaults　of　wrath　and　rage）　to　shew　you　by　mine　ensuing　Novell；
how　the　loves　of　three　yong　Gentlemen；　and　of　as　many　Gentlewomen；
came　to　fatall　and　fortunat　successe　by　the　tempestuous　anger　of　one
among　them；　as　I　have　formerly　related　unto　you。
　　Marseilles　（as　you　are　not　now　to　learne）　is　in　Provence；　seated
on　the　Sea；　and　is　also　a　very　ancient　and　most　Noble　Citty；　which
hath　bene　（heeretofore）　inhabited　with　farre　richer　and　more　wealthy
Merchants；　then　at　this　instant　time　it　is。　Among　whom；　there　was
one　named　Narnaldo　Civida；　a　man　but　of　meane　condition；　yet　cleare　in
faith　and　reputation；　and　in　lands；　goods；　and　ready　monies；
immeasurably　rich。　Many　children　he　had　by　his　Wife；　among　whom　were
three　Daughters；　which　exceeded　his　Sonnes　in　yeeres。　Two　of　them
being　twinnes；　and　borne　of　one　body；　were　counted　to　be　fifteene
yeeres　old；　the　third　was　foureteene；　and　nothing　hindered　marriage　in
their　Parents　owne　expectation　but　the　returne　home　of　Narnaldo；　who
was　then　abroad　in　Spaine　with　his　Merchandizes。　The　eldest　of　these
Sisters　was　named　Ninetta；　the　second　Magdalena；　and　the　third
Bertella。　A　Gentleman　（albeit　but　poore　in　fortunes）　and　called
Restagnone；　was　so　extraordinarily　enamoured　of　Ninetta；　as　no　man
possibly　could　be　more；　and　she　likewise　as　earnest　in　affection
towards　him；　yet　both　carrying　their　loves　proceeding　with　such
secrecy；　as　long　time　they　enjoyed　their　hearts　sweet　contentment；　yet
undiscovered。
　　It　came　to　passe；　that　two　other　young　Gallants；　the　one　named
Folco；　and　the　other　Hugnetto；　（who　had　attained　to　incredible　wealth；
by　the　decease　of　their　Father）　were　also　as　far　in　love；　the　one　with
Magdalena；　and　the　other　with　Bertella。　When　Restagnone　had
intelligence　thereof；　by　the　meanes　of　his　faire　friend　Ninetta；　he
purposed　to　releeve　his　poverty；　by　friendly　furthering　both　their
love；　and　his　owne：　and　growing　into　familiarity　with　them；　one
while　he　would　walke　abroad　with　Folco；　and　then　againe　with　Hugnetto；
but　oftner　with　them　both　together；　to　visite　their　Mistresses；　and
continue　worthy　friendship。　On　a　day；　when　hee　saw　the　time　suteable
to　his　intent；　and　that　hee　had　invited　the　two　Gentlemen　home　unto
his　House；　he　fell　into　this　like　Conference　with　them。
　　Kinde　Friends　（quoth　he）　the　honest　familiarity　which　hath　past
betweene　us；　may　render　you　some　certaine　assurance；　of　the　constant
love　I　beare　to　you　both；　being　as　willing　to　worke　any　meanes　that
may　tend　to　your　good；　as　I　desire　to　compasse　And　because　the　truth
of　mine　affection　cannot　conceale　it　selfe　to　you；　I　meane　to　acquaint
you　with　an　intention；　wherewith　my　braine　hath　a　long　While　travelled
and　now　may　soone　be　delivered　of；　if　it　may　passe　with　your　liking
and　approbation。　Let　me　then　tell　you；　that　except　your　speeches
savour　of　untruth；　and　your　actions　carry　a　double　understaning；　in
common　behaviour　both　by　night　and　day；　you　appeare　to　and　consume
away；　in　the　cordiall　love　you　beare　to　two　of　the　Sisters；　as　I
suffer　the　same　afflictions　for　the　third；　with　reciprocall。　requitall
of　their　deerest　affection　to　us。　Now；　to　qualifie　the　heate　of　our
tormenting　flames；　if　you　will　condescend　to　such　a　course　as　I
shall　advise　you；　the　remedy　will　yeild　them　equall　ease　to　ours；
and　we　may　safely　injoy　the　benefit　of　contentment。　As　wealth
aboundeth　with　you　both；　so　doth　want　most　extremely　tyrannize　over
me：　but　if　one　banke　might　be　made　of　both　your　rich　substances；　I
embraced　therein　as　a　third　partaker；　and　some　quarter　of　the　world
dissigned　out　by　us；　where　to　live　at　hearts　ease　upon　your
possessions；　I　durst　engage　my　credit；　that　all　the　sisters　（not
meanely　stored　with　their　Fathers　treasure）　shall　beare　us　company
to　what　place　soever　we　please。　There　each　man　freely　enjoying　his
owne　deerest　love；　may　live　like　three　brethren；　without　any
hinderance　to　our　mutuall　content：　it　remaineth　now　in　you
Gentlemen；　to　accept　this　comfortable　offer；　or　to　refuse　it。
　　The　two　Brothers；　whose　pass　exceeded　their　best　means　for
support；　perceiving　some　hope　how　to　enjoy　their　loves；　desired　no
long　time　of　deliberation；　or　greatly　disputed　with　their　thoughts
what　was　best　to　be　done：　but　readily　replyed；　that　let　happen　any
danger　whatsoever；　they　would　joyne　with　him　in　this　determination；
and　he　should　partake　with　them　in　their　wealthiest　fortunes。　After
Restagnone　had　heard　their　answer；　within　some　few　dayes　following；　he
went　to　confer　wi