the decameron(十日谈)-第68章

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Messer　Negro　da　Ponte　Cararo；　greeving　thereat　exceedingly；　and
accompanied　with　many　of　his　friends；　he　went　to　the　Pallace。　Being
there　arrived；　and　informed　of　the　matter　by　the　Potestate：　he
demaunded　（in　teares）　of　his　daughter；　how；　and　by　what　meanes　shee
was　brought　thither？　The　Potestate　would　needs　accuse　her　first；　of
outrage　and　wrong　offered　to　him　by　her；　rather　then　to　tarry　her
accusing　of　him；　yet；　commending　the　yong　Mayden；　and　her
constancie；　proceeded　to　say；　that　onely　to　prove　her；　he　had　made
such　a　motion　to　her；　but　finding　her　so　firme；　his　liking　was　now
so　addicted　to　her；　that…　if　her　Father　were　so　pleased　to　forget
the　remembrance　of　her　former　secret　husband；　he　willingly　would
accept　her　in　marriage。
　　While　thus　they　continued　talking；　Andreana　comming　before　her
Father；　the　teares　trickling　mainly　downe　her　cheekes；　and　falling
at　his　feete；　she　began　in　this　manner。　Deare　Father；　I　shall　not
neede　to　make　an　Historicall　relation；　either　of　my　youthfull
boldnesse　or　misfortunes；　because　you　have　both　seene　and　knowne　them：
rather　most　humbly；　I　crave　your　pardon；　for　another　errour　by　mee
committed；　in　that；　both　without　your　leave　and　liking；　I　accepted　the
man　as　my　troth…plighted　husband；　whom　（above　all　other　in　the　world　I
most　intirely　affected。　If　my　offence　heerein　doe　challenge　the
forfeite　of　my　life；　then　（good　Father）　I　free　you　from　any　such
pardon；　because　my　onely　desire　is　to　dye　your　daughter；　and　in　your
gracious　favour：　with　which　words；　in　signe　of　her　humility；　she
kissed　his　feete。　Messer　Negro　da　Ponte；　being　a　man　well　in　yeeres；
and　of　a　gentle　nature；　observing　what　his　daughter　saide；　could　not
refraine　from　teares；　and　in　his　weeping；　lovingly　tooke　her　from
the　ground；　speaking　thus　to　her。
　　Daughter；　I　could　have　wisht；　that　thou　hadst　taken　such　an　Husband；
as　（in　my　judgement）　had　bene　best　fitting　for　thee：　yet　if　thou
madest　election　of　one　answerable　to　thine　owne　good　liking；　I　have　no
just　reason　to　be　offended　therewith。　My　greatest　cause　of　complaint
is；　thy　too　severe　concealing　it　from　me；　and　the　small　trust　thou
didst　repose　in　me；　because　thou　hast　lost　him　before　I　knew　him。
Neverthelesse；　seeing　these　occasions　are　thus　come　to　passe；　and
accidents　already　ended；　cannot　possibly　be　re…called；　it　is　my
will；　that　as　I　would　gladly　have　contented　thee；　by　making　him　my　Son
in　Law　if　he　had　lived；　so　I　wil　expresse　the　like　love　to　him　now
he　is　dead。　And　so　turning　himselfe　to　his　kindred　and　friends；
lovingly　requested　of　them；　that　they　would　grace　Gabriello　with
most　honourable　obsequies。
　　By　this　time；　the　kindred　and　friends　to　the　dead　man　（uppon　noise
of　his　death　bruited　abroad）　were　likewise　come　to　the　Pallace；　yea；
most　of　the　men　and　women　dwelling　in　the　Cittie；　the　bodie　of
Gabriello　being　laide　in　the　midst　of　the　Court；　upon　the　white
Damaske　shrowd　given　by　Andreana；　with　infinite　Roses　and　other
sweet　Flowers　lying　theron：　and　such　was　the　peoples　love　to　him；　that
never　was　any　mans　death；　more　to　be　bemoaned　and　lamented。　Being
delivered　out　of　the　Court；　it　was　carried　to　buriall；　not　like　a
Burgesse　or　ordinary　Citizen；　but　with　such　pompe　as　beseemed　a　Lord
Baron；　and　on　the　shoulders　of　very　noble　Gentlemen；　with　great
honor　and　reverence。
　　Within　some　few　dayes　after；　the　Potestate　pursuing　his　former
motion　of　mariage；　and　the　father　mooving　it　to　his　daughter；　she
would　not　by　any　meanes　listen　thereto。　And　he　being　desirous　to
give　her　contentment；　delivered　her　and　her　Chamber…maid　into　a
Religious　Abbey；　very　famous　for　devotion　and　sanctity；　where
afterwards　they　ended　their　lives。




　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　FOURTH　DAY；　THE　SEVENTH　NOVELL

　　　　　WHEREBY　IS　GIVEN　TO　UNDERSTAND；　THAT　LOVE　AND　DEATH　DO　USE
　　　　　　　THEIR　POWER　EQUALLY　ALIKE；　AS　WELL　UPON　POORE　AND　MEANE
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　PERSONS；　AS　ON　THEM　THAT　ARE　RICH　AND　NOBLE

　　Faire　Simonida　affecting　Pasquino；　and　walking　with　him　in　a
pleasant　garden；　it　fortuned；　that　Pasquino　rubbed　his　teeth　with　a
leafe　of　Sage；　and　immediately　fell　downe　dead。　Simonida　being　brought
before　the　bench　of　Justice；　and　charged　with　the　death　of　Pasquino；
she　rubbed　her　teeth　likewise　with　one　of　the　leaves　of　the　same　Sage；
as　declaring　what　shee　saw　him　do；　and　thereon　she　dyed　also　in　the
same　manner。

　　Pamphilus　having　ended　his　Tale；　the　King　declaring　an　outward
shew　of　compassion；　in　regard　of　Andreanaes　disastrous　Fortune；
fixed　his　eye　on　Madam　Aemilia；　and　gave　her　such　an　apparant　signe；

as　expressed　his　pleasure；　for　her　next　succeeding　in　discourse；　which
being　sufficient　for　her　understanding；　thus　she　began。　Faire
assembly；　the　Novell　so　lately　delivered　by　Pamphilus；　maketh　me
willing　to　report　another　to　you；　varying　from　it；　in　any　kinde　of
resemblance；　onely　this　excepted：　that　as　Andreana　lost　her　lover　in　a
Garden；　even　so　did　she　of　whom　I　am　now　to　speake。　And　being
brought　before　the　seate　of　Justice；　according　as　Andreana　was；
freed　her　selfe　from　the　power　of　the　Law；　yet　neither　by　force；　or
her　owne　vertue；　but　by　her　sodaine　and　inopinate　death。　And
although　the　nature　of　Love　is　such　（according　as　we　have　oftentimes
heeretofore　maintained）　to　make　his　abiding　in　the　houses　of　the
Noblest　persons；　yet　men　and　women　of　poore　and　farre　inferiour
quality；　do　not　alwayes　sit　out　of　his　reach；　though　enclosed　in　their
meanest　Cottages；　declaring　himselfe　sometime　as　a　powerfull
commaunder　in　those　humble　places；　as　he　doth　in　the　richest　and
most　imperious　Palaces。　As　will　plainly　appeare　unto　you；　either　in
all；　or　a　great　part　of　my　Novell；　whereto　our　Citie　pleadeth　some
title；　though；　by　the　diversity　of　our　discourses；　talking　of　so
many　severall　accidents；　we　have　wandred　into　many　other　parts　of
the　world；　to　make　all　answerable　to　our　owne　liking。
　　It　is　not　any　long　time　since；　when　there　lived　in　our　City　of
Florence；　a　young　and　beautifull　Damosell；　yet　according　to　the　nature
of　her　condition；　because　she　was　the　Daughter　of　a　poore　Father；
and　called　by　the　name　of　Simonida。　Now；　albeit　she　was　not　supplied
by　any　better　means；　then　to　maintaine　her　selfe　by　her　owne
painfull　travell；　and　earne　her　bread　before　she　could　eate　it；　by
carding　and　spinning　to　such　as　employed　her；　yet　was　she　not　so
base　or　dejected　a　spirit；　but　had　both　courage　and　sufficient　vertue；
to　understand　the　secret　soliciting　of　love；　and　to　distinguish　the
parts　of　well　deserving　both　by　private　behaviour　and　outward
ceremony。　As　naturall　instinct　was　her　first　tutor　thereto；　so
wanted　she　not　a　second　maine　and　urging　motion；　a　chip　hewed　out　of
the　like　Timber；　one　no　better　in　birth　then　her　selfe；　a　proper　young
springall；　named　Pasquino；　whose　generous　behaviour；　and　gracefull
actions　（in　bringing　her　dayly　wooll　to　spin；　by　reason　his　Master　was
a　Clothier）　prevailed　upon　her　liking　and　affection。
　　Nor　was　he　negligent　in　the　observation　of　her　amorous　regards；
but　the　Tinder　tooke；　and　his　soule　flamed　with　the　selfe　same　fire；
making　him　as　desirous　of　her　loving　acceptance；　as　possibly　she　could
be　of　his：　so　that　the　commanding　power　of　love；　could　not　easily　be
distinguished　in　which　of　them　it　had　the　greater　predominance。　For
every　day　as　he　brought　her　fresh　supply　of　woolles；　and　found　her
seriously　busied　at　her　wheele：　her　soule　would　vent　forth　many
deepe　sighes；　and　those　sighes　fetch　floods　of　teares　from　her　eyes；
thorough　the　singular　good　opinion　she　had　conceyved　of　him；　and
earnest　desire　to　enjoy　him。　Pasquino　on　the　other　side；　as　leysure
gave　him　leave　for　the　least　conversing　with　her：　his　disease　was
every　way　answerable　to　hers；　for　teares　stood　in　his　eyes；　sighes
flew　abroad；　to　ease　the　poore　hearts　afflicting　oppressions；　which
though　he　was　unable　to　conceale；　yet　would　he　seeme　to　clowd　them
cleanly；　by　entreating　her　that　his　Masters　worke　might　be　neatly
performed；　and　with　such　speed　as　time　would　permit　her；　intermixing
infinite　praises　of　her　artificiall　spinning；　and　affirming　withall；
that　the　Quilles　of　Yearne　received　from　her；　were　the　choisest　beauty
of　the　whole　peece；　so　that　when　other　workewomen　played；　Simonida　was
sure　to　want　no　employment。
　　Hereupon；　the　one　soliciting；　and　the　other　taking　delight　in
being　solicited；　it　came　to　passe；　that　often　accesse　bred　the
bolder　courage；　and　over…much　bashfulnesse　became　abandoned；　yet　no
immodesty　passing　betweene　them：　but　affection　grew　the　better
setled　in　them　both；　by　interchangeable　vowes　of　constant
perseverance；　so　that　death　onely；　but　no　disaster　else　had　power　to
divide　them。　Their　mutuall　delight　continuing　on　in　this　manner；
with　more　forcible　encreasing　of　their　Loves　equall　flame：　it
fortuned；　that　Pasquino　sitting　by　Simonida；　told　her　of　a　goodly
Garden；　whereto　he　was　desirous　to　bring　her；　to　the　end；　that　they
might　the　more　safely　converse　together；　without　the　suspition　of
envious　eyes。　Simonida　gave　answer　of　her　wellliking　the　motion；　and
acquainting　her　Father　therewith；　he　gave　her　leave；　on　the　Sunday
following　after　dinner；　to　go　fetch　the　pardon　of　S。　Gallo；　and
afterwards　to　visit　the　Garden。
　　A　modest　yong　maiden　named　Lagina；　following　the　same　profession；
and　being　an　intimate　familiar　friend；　Simonida　tooke　along　in　her
company；　and　came　to　the　Garden　appointed　by　Pasquino；　where　she　found
him　readily　expecting　her　comming；　and　another　friend　also　with　him；
called　Puccino　（albeit　more　usually　tearmed　Strambo）　a　secret
well…willer　to　Lagina；　whose　love　became　the　more　furthered　by　his
friendly　meeting。　Each　Lover　delighting　in　his　hearts　chosen
Mistresse；　caused　them　to　walke　alone　by　themselves；　as　the
spaciousnesse　of　the　Garden　gave　them　ample　liberty：　Puccino　with
his　Lagina　in　one　part；　and　Pasquino　with　his　Simonida　in　another。　The
walke　which　they　had　made　choise　of；　was　by　a　long　and　goodly　bed　of
Sage；　turning　and　returning　by　the　same　bed　their　conference　ministred
occasion；　and　as　they　pleased　to　recreate　themselves；　affecting　rather
to　continue　still　there；　then　in　any　part　of　the　Garden。
　　One　while　they　would　sit　downe　by　the　Sage　bed；　and　afterward　rise
to　walke　againe；　as　ease　and　wearinesse　seemed　to　invite　them。　At
length；　Pasquino　chanced　to　crop　a　leafe　of　the　Sage；　wherewith　he
both　rubbed　his　teeth　and　gummes；　and　champing　it　betweene　them
also；　saying；　that　there　was　no　better　thing　in　the　world　to　cleanse
the　teeth　withall；　after　feeding。　Not　long　had　he　thus　champed　the
Sage　in　his　teeth；　returning　to　his　former　kinde　of　discoursing；　but
his　countenance　began　to　change　very　pale；　his　sight　failed；　and
speech　forsooke　him；　so　that　（in　briefe）　he　fell　downe　dead。　Which
when　Simonida　beheld；　wringing　her　hands；　she　cryed　out　for　helpe　to
Strambo　and　Lagina；　who　immediately　came　running　to　her。　They
finding　Pasquino　not　onely　to　be　dead；　but　his　body　swolne；　and
strangely　over…spred　with　foule　black　spots；　both　on　his　face；
hands；　and　all　parts　else　beside：　Strambo　cried　out；　saying；　Ah　wicked
maide；　what　hast　thou　poisoned　him？
　　These　words　and　their　shrill　out…cries　also　were　heard　by　Neighbours
dwelling　neere　to　the　Garden；　who　comming　in　sodainly　upp