the decameron(十日谈)-第67章

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which　sodainely　issued　forth　of　his　body；　but　the　shape　therof　she
could　not　comprehend。　It　rudely　seized　upon　Gabriello；　and　in　despight
of　her　utmost　strength；　with　incredible　force　snatched　him　out　of
her　armes；　and　sinking　with　him　into　the　earth；　they　never　after　did
see　one　another。　Whereupon；　overcome　with　extremity　of　greefe　and
sorrow；　presently　she　awaked；　being　then　not　a　little　joyfull；　that
she　found　no　such　matter　as　she　feared；　yet　continued　very　doubtfull
of　her　dreame。　In　regard　whereof；　Gabriello　being　desirous　to　visite
her　the　night　following：　she　laboured　very　diligently　to　hinder　his
comming　to　her；　yet　knowing　his　loyall　affection　toward　her；　and
fearing　least　he　should　grow　suspitious　of　some　other　matter；　she
welcommed　him　into　the　Garden；　where　gathering　both　white　and
Damaske　Roses　（according　to　the　nature　of　the　season）　at　length；
they　sate　downe　by　a　very　goodly　Fountaine；　which　stoode　in　the
middest　of　the　Garden。
　　After　some　small　familiar　Discourse　passing　betweene　them；　Gabriello
demanded　of　her；　upon　what　occasion　shee　denyed　his　comming　thither
the　night　before；　and　by　such　a　sodaine　unexpected　admonition？
Andreana　told　him；　that　it　was　in　regard　of　a　horrid　Dreame；　wherewith
her　soule　was　perplexed　the　precedent　night；　and　doubt　what　might
ensue　thereon。　Gabriello　hearing　this；　began　to　smile；　affirming　to
her；　that　it　was　an　especial　note　of　folly；　to　give　any　credit　to　idle
dreames：　because　（oftentimes）　they　are　caused　by　excesse　of　feeding；
and　continually　are　observed　to　be　meere　lyes。　For　（quoth　he）　if　I　had
any　superstitious　beleefe　of　Dreames；　I　should　not　then　have　come
hither　now：　yet　not　so　much　as　being　dismayed　by　your　dreame；　but
for　another　of　mine　owne；　which　I　am　the　more　willing　to　acquaint
you　withall。
　　Me　thought；　I　was　in　a　goodly　delightfull　Forrest；　in　the　Noble
exercise　of　sportfull　hunting；　and　became　there　possessed　of　a　young
Hinde；　the　verie　loveliest　and　most　pleasing　beast　that　was　ever
seene。　It　seemed　to　be　as　white　as　snow；　and　grew　（in　a　short　while）
so　familiar　with　me；　that　by　no　meanes　it　would　forsake　mee。　I　could
not　but　accept　this　rare　kindnes　in　the　beast；　and　fearing　least　I
should　loose　it；　I　put　a　collar　of　Gold　about　the　necke　thereof；　and
fastned　it　into　a　chaine　of　Gold　also；　which　then　I　held　strongly　in
my　hand。　The　blind　afterward　couched　downe　by　me；　laying　his　head
mildely　in　my　lap；　and　on　the　sodaine；　a　black　Grey…hound　bitch　came
rushing；　on　us　（but　whence；　or　how；　I　could　not　imagine）　seeming　halfe
hunger…starved；　and　very　ugly　to　looke　upon。　At　me　she　made　her　full
carreere；　without　any　power　in　me　of　resistance；　and　putting　her　mouth
into　the　left　side　of　my　bosom；　griped　it　so　mainly　with　her　teeth；
that　（me　thought）　I　felt　my　heart　quite　bitten　through；　and　she　tugged
on　still；　to　take　it　wholly　away　from　me；　by　which　imagined　paine
and　anguish　I　felt；　instantly　I　awaked。　Laying　then　my　hand　upon　my
side；　to　know　whether　any　such　harme　had　befalne　me；　or　no；　and
finding　none；　I　smiled　at　mine　owne　folly；　in　making　such　a
frivolous　and　idle　search。　What　can　be　said　then　in　these　or　the
like　cases？
　　Divers　times　I　have　had　as　ill　seeming　dreames；　yea；　and　much　more
to　be　feared；　yet　never　any　thing　hurtfull　to　me；　followed　thereon；
and　therefore　I　have　alwayes　made　the　lesse　account　of　them。
　　The　young　Maiden；　who　was　still　dismayed　by　her　owne　Dreame；
became　much　more　afflicted　in　her　minde；　when　shee　had　heard　this
other　reported　by　Gabriello：　but　yet　to　give　him　no　occasion　of
distast；　she　bare　it　out　in　the　best　manner　she　could　devise　to　doe。
And　albeit　they　spent　the　time　in　much　pleasing　discourse；
maintained　with　infinite　sweete　kisses　on　either　side：　yet　was　she
still　suspitious；　but　knew　not　whereof；　fixing　her　eyes　oftentimes
upon　his　face；　and　throwing　strange　lookes　to　all　parts　of　the　Garden；
to　catch　hold　on　any　such　blacke　ugly　sight；　whereof　he　had　formerly
made　description　to　her。　As　thus　she　continued　in　these　afflicting
feares；　it　fortuned；　that　Gabriello　sodainly　breathing　forth　a　very
vehement　sighe；　and　throwing　his　armes　fast　about　her；　said：　O　helpe
me　dear　Love；　or　else　I　dye；　and；　in　speaking　the　words；　fell　downe
upon　the　ground。　Which　the　yong　Damosel　perceiving；　and　drawing　him
into　her　lappe；　weeping　saide：　Alas　sweete　Friend；　What　paine　doest
thou　feele？
　　Gabriello　answered　not　one　word；　but　being　in　an　exceeding　sweate；
without　any　ability　of　drawing　breath；　very　soon　after　gave　up　the
ghost。　How　greevous　this　strange　accident　was　to　poore　Andreana；　who
loved　him　as　deerely　as　her　owne　life：　you　that　have　felt　loves
tormenting　afflictions；　can　more　easily　conceive；　then　I　relate。
Wringing　her　hands；　and　weeping　incessantly；　calling　him；　rubbing
his　temples；　and　using　all　likely　meanes　to　reduce　life：　she　found　all
her　labour　to　be　spent　in　vaine；　because　he　was　starke　dead　indeed；
and　every　part　of　his　body　as　cold　as　ice：　whereupon；　she　was　in
such　wofull　extremity；　that　she　knew　not　what　to　do；　or　say。　All　about
the　Garden　she　went　weeping；　in　infinite　feares　and　distraction　in
soule；　calling　for　her　Chamber　maid；　the　only　secret　friend　to　their
stolne　meetings；　and　told　her　the　occasion　of　this　sodaine　sorrow。
After　they　had　sighed　and　mourned　awhile；　over　the　dead　body　of
Gabriello；　Andreana　in　this　manner　spake　to　her　maide。
　　Seeing　Fortune　hath　thus　bereft　me　of　my　Love；　mine　owne　life　must
needs　be　hatefull　to　me：　but　before　I　offer　any　violence　to　my
selfe；　let　us　devise　some　convenient　meanes；　as　may　both　preserve　mine
honour　from　any　touch　or　scandall；　and　conceale　the　secret　love
passing　betweene　us：　but　yet　in　such　honest　sort；　that　this　body
（whose　blessed　soule　hath　too　soone　forsaken　it）　may　be　honourably
enterred。　Whereto　her　Mayde　thus　answered：　Mistresse；　never　talke　of
doing　any　violence　to　your　selfe；　because　by　such　a　blacke　and　dismall
deed；　as　you　have　lost　his　kind　company　here　in　this　life；　so　shall
you　never　more　see　him　in　the　other　world：　for　immediately　you　sinke
downe　to　hell；　which　foule　place　cannot　be　a　receptacle　for　his
faire　soule；　that　was　endued　with　so　many　singular　vertues。　Wherefore；
I　hold　it　farre　better　for　you；　to　comfort　your　selfe　by　all　good
meanes；　and　with　the　power　of　fervent　praier；　to　fight　against　all
desperate　intruding　passions；　as　a　truly　vertuous　minde　ought　to
doe。　Now；　as　concerning　his　enterrement；　the　meanes　is　readily
prepared　for　you　here　in　this　Garden；　where　never　he　hath　bene　seene
by　any；　or　his　resorting　hither　knowne；　but　onely　to　our　selves。　If
you　will　not　consent　to　have　it　so；　let　you　and　I　convey　his　body
hence；　and　leave　it　in　such　an　apt　place；　where　it　may　be　found　to
morrow　morning：　and　being　then　carried　to　his　owne　house；　his
friends　and　kindred　will　give　it　honest　buriall。
　　Andreana；　although　her　soule　was　extraordinarily　sorrowfull；　and
teares　flowed　abundantly　from　her　eyes；　yet　she　listned　attentively　to
hir　maids　counsell；　allowing　her　first　advice　against　desperation；
to　be　truly　good；　but　to　the　rest　thus　she　replyed。　God　forbid
（quoth　she）　that　I　should　suffer　so　deere　a　loving　friend；　as　he
hath　alwayes　shewed　himselfe　to　me；　nay；　which　is　much　more；　my
husband；　by　sacred　and　solemne　vowes　passed　betweene　us；　to　be　put
into　the　ground　basely；　and　like　a　dog；　or　else　to　be　left　in　the　open
street。　He　hath　had　the　sacrifice　of　my　virgin　teares；　and　if　I　can
prevaile；　he　shall　have　some　of　his　kindreds；　as　I　have　instantly
devised；　what　（in　this　hard　case）　is　best　to　be　done。　Forthwith　she
sent　the　maid　to　her　Chamber；　for　divers　elles　of　white　Damaske
lying　in　her　Chest；　which　when　she　had　brought；　they　spread　it
abroad　on　the　grasse；　even　in　the　manner　of　a　winding　sheete；　and
therein　wrapped　the　body　of　Gabriello；　with　a　faire　wrought　pillow
under　his　head；　having　first　（with　their　teares）　closed　his　mouth
and　eyes；　and　placed　a　Chaplet　of　Flowers　on　his　head；　covering　the
whole　shrowd　over　in　the　same　manner；　which　being　done；　thus　she　spake
to　her　Maid。
　　The　doore　of　his　owne　house　is　not　farre　hence；　and　thither
（betweene　us　two）　he　may　be　easily　caried；　even　in　this　maner　as　we
have　adorned　him；　where　leaving　him　in　his　owne　Porch；　we　may
returne　back　before　it　be　day：　and　although　it　will　be　a　sad　sight
to　his　friends；　yet　because　he　dyed　in　mine　armes；　and　we　being　so
well　discharged　of　the　body；　it　will　be　a　little　comfort　to　me。　When
she　had　ended　these　words；　which　were　not　uttered　without　infinite
teares；　the　maid　entreated　her　to　make　hast；　because　the　night　swiftly
passed　on。　At　last；　she　remembred　the　Ring　on　her　finger；　wherewith
Gabriello　had　solemnly　espoused　her；　and　opening　the　shroud　againe；
she　put　it　on　his　finger；　saying；　My　deere　and　loving　husband；　if
thy　soule　can　see　my　teares；　or　any　understanding　do　remaine　in　thy
body；　being　thus　untimely　taken　from　me：　receive　the　latest　guift　thou
gavest　me；　as　a　pledge　of　our　solemne　and　spotlesse　marriage。　So；
making　up　the　shroud　againe　as　it　should　be；　and　conveighing　it
closely　out　of　the　Garden；　they　went　on　along　with　it；　towardes　his
dwelling　house。
　　As　thus　they　passed　along；　it　fortuned；　that　they　were　met　and　taken
by　the　Guard　or　Watch　belonging　to　the　Potestate；　who　had　bin　so
late　abroad；　about　very　earnest　and　important　businesse。　Andreana；
desiring　more　the　dead　mans　company；　then　theirs　whom　she　had　thus　met
withall；　boldly　spake　thus　to　them。　I　know　who　and　what　you　are；　and
can　tell　my　selfe；　that　to　offer　flight　will　nothing　availe　me：
wherfore；　I　am　ready　to　go　along　with　you　before　the　Seigneury；　and
there　will　tell　the　truth　concerning　this　accident。　But　let　not　any
man　among　you；　be　so　bold　as　to　lay　hand　on　me；　or　to　touch　me；
because　I　yeeld　so　obediently　to　you；　neyther　to　take　any　thing　from
this　body；　except　hee　intend　that　I　shall　accuse　him。　In　which
respect；　not　any　one　daring　to　displease　her；　shee　went　with　the
dead　bodle　to　the　Seigneurie；　there　to　answere　all　Objections。
　　When　notice　heereof　was　given　to　the　Potestate；　he　arose；　and　shee
being　brought　foorth　into　the　Hall　before　him；　he　questioned　with　her；
how　and　by　what　meanes　this　accident　happened。　Beside；　he　sent　for
divers　Physitians；　to　be　informed　by　them；　whether　the　Gentleman
were　poysoned；　or　otherwise　murthered？　All　of　them　affirmed　the
contrarie；　avouching　rather；　that　some　Impostumation　had　engendered
neere　his　heart；　which　sodainly　breaking；　occasioned　his　as　sodaine
death。　The　Potestate　hearing　this；　and　perceiving　that　Andreana　was
little　or　nothing　at　all　faulty　in　the　matter；　her　beauty　and　good
carriage；　kindled　a　vitlanous　and　lustful　desire　in　him　towards　her；
provoking　him　to　the　immodest　motion；　that　upon　granting　his
request；　he　would　release　her。　But　when　he　saw；　that　all　his
perswasions　were　to　no　purpose；　hee　sought　to　compasse　his　will　by
violence；　which　like　a　vertuous　and　valiant　Virago；　shee　worthily
withstood；　defending　her　honour　Nobly；　and　reprooving　him　with　many
injurious　speeches；　such　as　a　lustfull　Letcher　Justlie　deserved。
　　On　the　morrow　morning；　these　newes　being　brought　to　her　Father；
Messer　Negro　da　Ponte　Cararo；　greeving　thereat　exceedingly；　and
accompanied　wit