the decameron(十日谈)-第64章

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at　Folcoes　doore；　and　no　admittance　of　his　entrance；　angerly
returned　backe　to　his　Court；　protesting　severe　revenge　on　Magdalena；
if　she　gave　him　not　the　better　satisfaction；　to　cleare　her　from　thus
basely　abusing　him。　On　the　morrow　morning；　when　Magdalena　was　found
murthered　in　her　Chamber；　and　tidings　thereof　carried　to　the　Duke；
present　search　was　made　for　the　bloody　offendor；　but　Folco　being
fled　and　gone　with　Ninetta；　some　there　were；　who　bearing　deadly　hatred
to　Hugnetto；　incensed　the　Duke　against　him　and　his　wife；　as
supposing　them　to　be　guilty　of　Magdalenaes　death。　He　being　thereto
very　easily　perswaded；　in　regard　of　his　immoderate　love　to　the
slaine　Gentlewoman；　went　himselfe　in　person　（attended　on　by　his　Guard）
to　Hugnettoes　House；　where　both　he　and　his　wife　were　seized　as
prisoners。
　　These　newes　were　very　strange　to　them；　and　their　imprisonment　as
unwelcome；　and　although　they　were　truly　inocent；　either　in　knowledge
of　the　horrid　fact；　or　the　departure　of　Folco　with　Ninetta：　yet
being　unable　to　endure　the　tortures　extremity；　they　made　themselves
culpable　by　confession；　and　that　they　had　a　hand　with　Folco　in　the
murder　of　Magdalena。　Upon　this　their　forced　confession；　and　sentence
of　death　pronounced　on　them　by　the　Duke　himselfe；　before　the　day
appointed　for　their　publike　execution；　by　great　summes　of　money；　which
they　had　closely　hid　in　their　House；　to　serve　when　any　urgent
extremitie　should　happen　to　them；　they　corrupted　their　keepers；　and
before　any　intelligence　could　be　had　of　their　flight；　they　escaped
by　Sea　to　Rhodes；　where　they　lived　afterward　in　great　distresse　and
misery。　The　just　vengeance　of　Heaven　followed　after　Folco　and　Ninetta；
he　for　murthering　his　honest　wife；　and　she　for　poysoning　her　offending
Husband：　for　being　beaten　a　long　while　on　the　Seas；　by　tempestuous
stormes　and　weather；　and　not　admitted　landing　in　any　Port　or　creeke；
they　were　driven　backe　on　the　Coast　of　Candie　againe；　where　being
apprehended；　and　brought　to　the　City　before　the　Duke；　they　confessed
their　several　notorious　offences；　and　ended　their　loathed　lives　in　one
fire　together。
　　Thus　the　idle　and　loose　love　of　Restagnone；　with　the　franticke
rage　and　jealousie　of　Ninetta　and　Folco；　overturned　all　their　long
continued　happinesse；　and　threw　a　disastrous　ending　on　them　all。




　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　FOURTH　DAY；　THE　FOURTH　NOVELL

　　　　　　IN　COMMENDATION　OF　JUSTICE　BETWEENE　PRINCES；　AND　DECLARING
　　　　　　　WITHALL；　THAT　NEITHER　FEARE；　DANGERS；　NOR　DEATH　IT　SELFE；
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　CAN　ANY　WAY　DAUNT　A　TRUE　AND　LOYALL　LOVER

　　Gerbino；　contrary　to　the　former　plighted　faith　of　his
Grand…father；　King　Gulielmo；　fought　with　a　Ship　at　Sea；　belonging　to
the　King　of　Thunis；　to　take　away　his　Daughter；　who　was　then　in　the
same　Ship。　Shee　being　slaine　by　them　that　had　the　possession　of　her；
he　likewise　slew　them；　and　afterward　had　his　owne　head　smitten　off。

　　Madam　Lauretta　having　concluded　her　Novel；　and　the　company
complaining　on　Lovers　misfortunes；　some　blaming　the　angry　and
jealous　fury　of　Ninetta；　and　every　one　delivering　their　severall
opinions；　the　King；　as　awaking　out　of　a　passionate　perplexity；　exalted
his　lookes；　giving　a　signe　to　Madame　Elisa；　that　shee　should　follow
next　in　order；　whereto　she　obeying；　began　in　this　manner。　I　have　heard
（Gracious　Ladies；　quoth　she）　of　many　people；　who　are　verily　perswaded；
that　loves　arrowes；　never　wound　any　body；　but　onely　by　the　eyes　lookes
and　gazes；　mocking　and　scorning　such　as　maintaine　that　men　may　fall　in
love　by　hearing　onely。　Wherein　（beleeve　me）　they　are　greatly　deceived；
as　will　appeare　by　a　Novell　which　I　must　now　relate　unto　you；　and
wherein　you　shall　plainely　perceive；　that　not　onely　fame　or　report
is　as　prevailing　as　sight；　but　also　hath　conducted　divers；　to　a
wretched　and　miserable　ending　of　their　lives。
　　Gulielmo　the　second；　King　of　Sicilie；　according　as　the　Sicilian
Chronicles　record；　had　two　children；　the　one　a　sonne；　named　Don
Rogero；　and　the　other　a　daughter；　called　Madame　Constance。　The　saide
Rogero　died　before　his　Father；　leaving　a　sonne　behind　him；　named
Gerbino；　who；　with　much　care　and　cost；　was　brought　up　by　his
Grand…father；　proving　to　be　a　very　goodly　Prince；　and　wonderously
esteemed　for　his　great　valour　and　humanity。　His　fame　could　not
containe　it　selfe；　within　the　bounds　or　limits　of　Sicilie　onely；　but
being　published　very　prodigally；　in　many　parts　of　the　world　beside；
flourished　with　no　meane　commendations　throughout　all　Barbarie；
which　in　those　dayes　was　tributary　to　the　King　of　Sicilie。　Among　other
persons；　deserving　most　to　be　respected；　the　renowned　vertues；　and
affability　of　this　gallant　Prince　Gerbino；　was　understood　by　the
beautious　Daughter　to　the　King　of　Tunis；　who　by　such　as　bad　seene　her；
was　reputed　to　be　one　of　the　rarest　creatures；　the　best　conditioned；
and　of　the　truest　noble　spirit；　that　ever　Nature　framed　in　her　very
choicest　pride　of　Art。
　　Of　famous；　vertuous；　and　worthy　men；　it　was　continually　her　cheefest
delight　to　heare；　and　the　admired　actions　of　valiant　Gerbino；　reported
to　her　by　many　singular　discoursers：　such　as　could　best　describe
him；　with　language　answerable　to　his　due　deservings；　won　such
honourable　entertainment　in　her　understanding　soule；　that　they　were
most　affectionately　pleasing　to　her；　and　in　recapitulating　（over　and
over　againe）　his　manifold　and　heroycall　perfections；　meere　speech　made
her　extreamely　amorous　of　him；　nor　willingly　would　she　lend　an　eare　to
any　other　discourse；　but　that　which　tended　to　his　honour　and
advancement。
　　On　the　other　side；　the　fame　of　her　incomparable　beauty；　with
addition　of　her　other　infinite　singularities　beside；　as　the　World
had　given　eare　to　innumberlesse　places；　so　Sicilie　came　at　length
acquainted　therewith；　in　such　flowing　manner；　as　was　truly
answerable　to　her　merit。　Nor　seemed　this　as　a　bare　babling　rumour；
in　the　Princely　hearing　of　royall　Gerbino；　but　was　embraced　with
such　a　reall　apprehension；　and　the　entire　probation　of　a　true
understanding：　that　he　was　no　lesse　enflamed　with　noble　affection
towards　her；　then　she　expressed　the　like　in　vertuous　opinion　of　him。
Wherefore；　awaiting　such　convenient　opportunity；　when　he　might　entreat
license　of　his　Grand…father；　for　his　owne　going　to　Thunis；　under
colour　of　some　honourable　occasion；　for　the　earnest　desire　he　had　to
see　her：　he　gave　charge　to　some　of　his　especiall　friends　（whose
affaires　required　their　presence　in　those　parts）　to　let　the
Princesse　understand；　in　such　secret　manner　as　best　they　could　devise；
what　noble　affection　he　bare　unto　her；　devoting　himselfe　onely　to
her　service。
　　One　of　his　chosen　friends　thus　put　in　trust；　being　a　jeweller；　a　man
of　singular　discretion；　and　often　resorting　to　Ladies　for　sight　of　his
jewels；　winning　like　admittance　to　the　Princesse：　related　at　large
unto　her；　the　honourable　affection　of　Gerbino；　with　full　tender　of　his
person　to　her　service；　and　that　she　onely　was　to　dispose　of　him。
Both　the　message　and　the　messenger；　were　most　graciously　welcome　to
her；　and　flaming　in　the　selfe…same　affection　towards　him：　as　a
testimony　thereof；　one　of　the　very　choisest　Jewels　which　she　bought　of
him；　she　sent　by　him　to　the　Prince　Gerbino；　it　being　received　by　him
with　such　joy　and　contentment；　as　nothing　in　the　world　could　be　more
pleasing　to　him。　So　that　afterward；　by　the　trusty　carriage　of　this
Jeweller；　many　Letters　and　Love…tokens　passed　betweene　them；　each
being　as　highly　pleased　with　this　poore；　yet　happy　kind　of
entercourse；　as　if　they　had　seene　and　conversed　with　one　another。
　　Matters　proceeding　on　in　this　manner；　and　continuing　longer　then
their　love…sick　passions　easily　could　permit；　yet　neither　being　able
to　finde　out　any　other　meanes　of　helpe；　it　fortuned　that　the　King　of
Thunis　promised　his　daughter　in　marriage　to　the　King　of　Granada；
whereat　she　grew　exceedingly　sorrowfull；　perceiving；　that　not　onely
she　should　be　sent　further　off；　by　a　large　distance　of　way　from　her
friend；　but　also　be　deprived　utterly；　of　all　hope　ever　to　enjoy　him。
And　if　she　could　have　devised　any　meanes；　either　by　secret　flight　from
her　Father；　or　any　way　else　to　further　her　intention；　she　would　have
adventured　it　for　the　Princes　sake。　Gerbino　in　like　maner　bearing　of
this　purposed　marriage；　lived　in　a　hell　of　torments；　consulting
oftentimes　with　his　soule；　how　he　might　be　possessed　of　her　by
power；　when　she　should　be　sent　by　Sea　to　her　husband；　or　private
stealing　her　away　from　her　Fathers　Court　before：　with　these　and
infinite　other　thoughts；　was　he　incessantly　afflicted；　both　day　and
night。
　　By　some　unhappy　accident　or　other；　the　King　of　Thunis　heard　of
this　their　secret　love；　as　also　of　Gerbinoes　purposed　policy　to
surprize　her；　and　how　likely　he　was　to　effect　it；　in　regard　of　his
manly　valour；　and　store　of　stout　friends　to　assist　him。　Hereupon；　when
the　time　was　come；　that　he　would　convey　his　daughter　thence　to　her
marriage；　and　fearing　to　be　prevented　by　Gerbino：　he　sent　to　the
King　of　Sicilie；　to　let　him　understand　his　determination；　craving　safe
conduct　from　him；　without　impeachment　of　Gerbino；　or　any　one　else；
untill　such　time　as　his　intent　was　accomplished。　King　Gulielmo　being
aged；　and　never　acquainted　with　the　affectiotiate　proceedings　of
Gerbino；　nor　any　doubtfull　reason　to　urge　this　security　from　him；　in　a
case　convenient　to　be　granted：　yeelded　the　sooner　thereto　right
willingly；　and　as　a　signall　of　his　honourable　meaning；　he　sent　him　his
royall　Glove；　with　a　full　confirmation　for　his　safe　conduct。
　　No　sooner　were　these　Princely　assurances　received；　but　a　goodly　ship
was　prepared　in　the　Port　of　Carthagena；　well　furnished　with　all
thinges　thereto　belonging；　for　the　sending　his　daughter　to　the　King　of
Granada；　waiting　for　nothing　else　but　best　favouring　windes。　The　young
Princesse；　who　understood　and　saw　all　this　great　preparation；　secretly
sent　a　servant　of　hers　to　Palermo；　giving　him　especiall　charge；　on　her
behalfe；　to　salute　the　Prince　Gerbino；　and　to　tell　him　that　（within
few　dayes）　she　must　be　transported　to　Granada。　And　now　opportunity
gave　faire　and　free　meanes；　to　let　the　world　know；　whether　he　were　a
man　of　that　magnanimous　spirit；　or　no；　as　generall　opinion　had
formerly　conceived　of　him；　and　whether　he　affected　her　so　firmely；
as　by　many　close　messages　he　had　assured　her。　He　who　had　the　charge　of
this　embassie；　effectually　performed　it；　and　then　returned　backe　to
Thunis。
　　The　Prince　Gerbino；　having　heard　this　message　from　his　divine
Mistresse；　and　knowing　also；　that　the　Kin　his　Grandfather；　had　past
his　safe　conduct　to　the　King　of　Thunis；　for　peaceable　passage
through　his　Seas：　was　at　his　wits　end；　in　this　urgent　necessity；
what　might　best　bee　done。　Notwithstanding；　moved　by　the　setled
constancy　of　his　plighted　Love；　and　the　speeches　delivered　to　him　by
the　messenger　from　the　Princesse：　to　shew　himselfe　a　man　endued　with
courage；　he　departed　thence　unto　Messina；　where　he　made　ready　two
speedy　gallies；　and　fitting　them　with　men　of　valiant　disposition；
set　away　to　Sardignia；　as　making　full　account；　that　the　Ship　which
carried　the　Princesse；　must　come　along　that　Coast。　Nor　was　his
expectation　therein　deceived：　for；　within　few　dayes　after；　the　Ship
（not　over…swiftly