the decameron(十日谈)-第69章

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dwelling　neere　to　the　Garden；　who　comming　in　sodainly　uppon　them；
and　seeing　Pasquino　lying　dead；　and　hugely　swoln；　Strambo　likewise
complaining；　and　accusing　Simonida　to　have　poysoned　him；　she　making　no
answer；　but　standing　in　a　gastly　amazement；　all　her　senses　meerely
confounded；　at　such　a　strange　and　uncouth　accident；　in　loosing　him
whom　she　so　dearely　loved：　knew　not　how　to　excuse…her　selfe；　and
therefore　every　one　verily　beleeved；　that　Strambo　had　not　unjustly
accused　her。　Poore　wofull　maide；　thus　was　she　instantly　apprehended；
and　drowned　in　her　teares；　they　led　her　along　to　the　Potes。　tates
Palace；　where　her　accusation　was　justified　by　Strambo；　Lagina；　and　two
men　more；　the　one　named　Atticciato；　and　the　other　Malagevole；　fellowes
and　companions　with　Pasquino；　who　came　into　the　Garden　also　upon　the
out…cry。
　　The　Judge；　without　any　delay　at　all；　gave　eare　to　the　busines；　and
examined　the　case　very　strictly：　but　could　by　no　meanes　comprehend；
that　any　malice　should　appeare　in　her　towards　him；　nor　that　she　was
guiltie　of　the　mans　death。　Wherefore；　in　the　presence　of　Simonida；
he　desired　to　see　the　dead　body；　and　the　place　where　he　fell　downe
dead；　because　there　he　intended　to　have　her　relate；　how　she　saw　the
accident　to　happen；　that　her　owne　speeches　might　the　sooner　condemne
her；　whereas　the　case　yet　remained　doubtfull；　and　farre　beyond　his
comprehension。　So；　without　any　further　publication；　and　to　avoid　the
following　of　the　turbulent　multitude；　they　departed　from　the　bench
of　Justice；　and　came　to　the　place；　where　Pasquinoes　body　lay　swolne
like　a　Tunne。　Demanding　there　questions；　concerning　his　behaviour；
when　they　walked　there　in　conference　together；　and；　not　a　little
admiring　the　manner　of　his　death；　while　he　stood　advisedly　considering
thereon。
　　She　going　to　the　bed　of　Sage；　reporting　the　whole　precedent　history；
even　from　the　originall　to　the　ending：　the　better　to　make　the　case
understood；　without　the　least　colour　of　ill　carriage　towardes
Pasquino；　according　as　she　had　seene　him　do；　even　so　o　she　plucke
another　leafe　of　the　Sage；　rubbing　her　teeth　therewith；　and　champing
it　as　he　formerly　did。　Strambo；　and　the　other　intimate　friends　of
Pasquino；　having　noted　in　what　manner　she　used　the　Sage；　and　this
appearing　as　her　utmost　refuge；　either　to　acquit　or　condemne　her：　in
presence　of　the　Judge　they　smiled　thereat；　mocking　and　deriding
whatsoever　she　saide；　or　did；　and　desiring　（the　more　earnestly）　the
sentence　of　death　against　her；　that　her　body　might　be　consumed　with
fire；　as　a　just　punishment　for　her　abhominable　transgression。
　　Poore　Simonida；　sighing　and　sorrowing　for　her　deere　loves　losse；　and
（perhappes）　not　meanly　terrified；　with　the　strict　infliction　of
torment　so　severely　urged　and　followed　by　Strambo　and　the　rest
standing　dumb　still；　without　answering　so　much　as　one　word；　by　tasting
of　the　same　Sage；　fell　downe　dead　by　the　bed；　even　by　the　like
accident　Pasquino　formerly　did；　to　the　admirable　astonishment　of　all
there　present。
　　Oh　poore　infortunate　Lovers；　whose　Starres　were　so　inauspicious　to
you；　as　to　finish　both　your　mortall　lives；　and　fervent　love；　in
lesse　limitation　then　a　dayes　space。　How　to　censure　of　your　deaths；
and　happines　to　ensue　thereon；　by　an　accident　so　strange　and
inevitable：　it　is　not　within　the　compasse　of　my　power；　but　to　hope　the
best；　and　so　I　leave　you。　But　yet　concerning　Simonida　her　selfe；　in
the　common　opinion　of　us　that　remaine　living：　her　true　vertue　and
innocency　（though　Fortune　was　otherwise　most　cruell　to　her）　would
not　suffer　her　to　sinke　under　the　testimony　of　Strambo；　Lagina；
Atticciato；　and　Malagevole；　being　but　carders　of　wool；　or　perhaps　of
meaner　condition；　a　happier　course　was　ordained　for　her；　to　passe
clearely　from　their　infamous　imputation；　and　follow　her　Pasquino；　in
the　very　same　manner　of　death；　and　with　such　a　speedy　expedition。
　　The　Judge　standing　amazed；　and　all　there　present　in　his　company；
were　silent　for　a　long　while　together：　but；　uppon　better
recollection　of　his　spirits；　thus　he　spake。　This　inconvenience　which
thus　hath　hapned；　and　confounded　our　senses　with　no　common　admiration；
in　mine　opinion　concerneth　the　bed　of　Sage；　avouching　it　either　to
be　venomous；　or　dangerously　infected；　which　（neverthelesse）　is
seldom　found　in　Sage。　But　to　the　end；　that　it　may　not　be　offensive
to　any　more　hereafter；　I　will　have　it　wholly　digd　up　by　the　rootes；
and　then　to　be　burnt　in　the　open　Market　place。
　　Hereupon；　the　Gardiner　was　presently　sent　for；　and　before　the
Judge　would　depart　thence；　he　saw　the　bed　of　Sage　digged　up　by　the
roots；　and　found　the　true　occasion；　whereby　these　two　poore　Lovers
lost　their　lives。　For；　just　in　the　middest　of　the　bed；　and　at　the
maine　roote；　which　directed　all　the　Sage　in　growth；　lay　an　huge　mighty
Toad；　even　weltring　（as　it　were）　in　a　hole　full　of　poyson；　by　meanes
whereof；　in　conjecture　of　the　judge；　and　all　the　rest；　the　whole　bed
of　Sage　became　envenomed；　occasioning　every　leafe　thereof　to　be　deadly
in　taste。　None　being　so　hardy；　as　to　approach　neere　the　Toade；　they
made　a　pile　of　wood　directly　over　it；　and　setting　it　on　a　flaming
fire；　threw　all　the　Sage　thereinto；　and　so　they　were　consumed
together。　So　ended　all　further　suite　in　Law；　concerning　the　deaths
of　Pasquino　and　Simonida：　whose　bodies　being　carried　to　the　Church
of　Saint　Paul；　by　their　sad　and　sorrowfull　accusers；　Strambo；
Lagina；　Atticciato　and　Malagevole；　were　buried　together　in　one
goodly　Monument；　for　a　future　memory　of　their　hard　Fortune。




　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　FOURTH　DAY；　THE　EIGHT　NOVELL

　　　WHEREIN　IS　AGAINE　DECLARED；　THE　GREAT　INDISCRETION　AND　FOLLY　OF
　　　　THEM；　THAT　THINK　TO　CONSTRAINE　LOVE；　ACCORDING　TO　THEIR　WILL；
　　　　　　　　　　AFTER　IT　IS　CONSTANTLY　SETLED　BEFORE：　WITH　OTHER
　　　　　　　INSTRUCTIONS；　CONCERNING　THE　UNSPEAKEABLE　POWER　OF　LOVE

　　Jeronimo　affecting　a　yong　Maiden；　named　Silvestra；　was　constrained
（by　the　earnest　importunity　of　his　Mother）　to　take　a　journey　to　Paris。
At　his　return　home　from　thence　againe；　he　found　his　love　Silvestra
married。　By　secret　meanes；　he　got　entrance　into　her　house；　and　dyed
upon　the　bed　lying　by　her。　Afterward；　his　body　being　carried　to
Church；　to　receive　buriall；　she　likewise　died　there　instantly　upon　his
coarse。

　　Madam　Aemilia　no　sooner　concluded　her　Novell；　but　Madam　Neiphila　（by
the　Kings　command）　began　to　speake　in　this　manner。　It　seemeth　to　me
（Gracious　Ladies）　that　there　are　some　such　people　to　be　found；　who
imagine　themselves　to　know　more；　then　all　other　else　in　the　world
beside；　and　yet　indeede　do　know　nothing　at　all：　presuming　（thorough
this　arrogant　opinion　of　theirs）　to　imploy　and　oppose　their　senselesse
understanding；　against　infallible　grounded　reason；　yea；　and　to　attempt
courses；　not　only　contrary　to　the　counsell　and　judgement　of　men；　but
also　to　crosse　the　nature　of　divine　ordination。　Out　of　which　saucy　and
ambitious　presumption；　many　mighty　harmes　have　already　had
beginning；　and　more　are　like　to　ensue　uppon　such　boldnesse；　because　it
is　the　ground　of　all　evils。
　　Now；　in　regard　that　among　all　other　naturall　things；　no　one　is　lesse
subject　to　take　counsell；　or　can　be　wrought　to　contrariety；　then　Love；
whose　nature　is　such；　as　rather　to　run　upon　his　owne　rash　consumption；
then　to　be　ruled　by　admonitions　of　the　very　wisest：　my　memory　hath
inspired　it　selfe；　with　matter　incident　to　this　purpose；　effectually
to　approve；　what　I　have　already　said。　For　I　am　now　to　speake　of　a
woman　who　would　appeare　to　have　more　wit；　then　either　she　had
indeed；　or　appertained　to　her　by　any　title。　The　matter　also；　wherein
she　would　needs　shew　her　studious　judgement　and　capacity；　was　of
much　more　consequence　then　she　could　deserve　to　meddle　withall。　Yet
such　was　the　issue　of　her　fond　presuming；　that　（in　one　instant）　she
expelled　both　love；　and　the　soule　of　her　owne　sonne　out　of　his　body；
where　（doubtlesse）　it　was　planted　by　divine　favour　and　appointment。
　　In　our　owne　City　（according　to　true　and　ancient　testimony）　there
dwelt　sometime　a　very　worthy　and　wealthy　Merchant；　named　Leonardo
Sighiero；　who　by　his　wife　had　one　onely　Sonne；　called　Jeronimo；　and
within　a　short　while　after　his　birth；　Leonardo　being　very　sicke；　and
having　setled　all　his　affaires　in　good　order；　departed　out　of　this
wretched　life　to　a　better。　The　Tutors　and　Governours　of　the　Childe；
thought　it　fittest　to　let　him　live　with　his　Mother；　where　he　had　his
whole　education；　though　schooled　among　many　other　worthy　neighbours
children；　according　as　in　most　Cities　they　use　to　do。　Yong　Jeronimo
growing　on　in　yeares；　and　frequenting　dayly　the　company　of　his
Schoole…fellowes　and　others：　he　would　often　sport　（as　the　rest　did）
with　the　neighbors　children；　and　much　pretty　pastime　they　found
together。
　　In　the　harmlesse　recreations　of　youth；　graver　judgements　have
often　observed；　that　some　especiall　matter　received　then　such
originall；　as　greater　effect　hath　followed　thereon。　And　many　times；
parents　and　kindred　have　bene　the　occasion　（although　perhaps　beyond
their　expectation）　of　very　strange　and　extraordinary　accidents；　by
names　of　familiarity　passing　betweene　Boyes　and　Girles；　as　King　and
Queene；　sweet　heart　and　sweet　heart；　friend　and　friend；　husband　and
wife；　and　divers　other　such　like　kind　tearmes；　prooving　afterwards
to　be　true　indeed。　It　fell　out　so　with　our　yong　Jeronimo；　for；　among　a
number　of　pretty　Damosels；　daughters　to　men　of　especiall　respect；
and　others　of　farre　inferiour　quality：　a　Taylors　daughter；　excelling
the　rest　in　favour　and　feature　（albeit　her　Father　was　but　poore）
Jeronimo　most　delighted　to　sport　withall；　and　no　other　titles　passed
betweene　them；　even　in　the　hearing　of　their　parents　and　friends；　but
wife　and　husband：　such　was　the　beginning　of　their　yong　affection；
presaging　（no　doubt）　effectually　to　follow。
　　Nor　grew　this　familiarity　（as　yet）　any　way　distasted；　till　by
their　daily　conversing　together；　and　enterchange　of　infinite　pretty
speeches；　Jeronimo　felt　a　strange　alteration　in　his　soule；　with　such
enforcing　and　powerfull　afflictions；　as　he　was　never　well　but　in　her
company；　nor　she　enjoyed　any　rest　if　Jeronimo　were　absent。　At　the
length；　this　being　noted　by　his　Mother；　she　began　to　rebuke　him；　yea
many　times　gave　him　both　threatnings　and　blowes；　which　proving　to　no
purpose；　not　hindering　his　accesse　to　her；　she　complained　to　his
Tutors；　and　like　one　that　in　regard　of　her　riches；　thought　to　plant　an
Orange　upon　a　blacke　thorne；　spake　as　followeth。
　　This　Sonne　of　mine　Jeronimo；　being　as　yet　but　foureteene　years　of
age；　is　so　deeply　enamoured　of　a　yong　Girle；　named　Silvestra；　daughter
unto　a　poore　Tailor；　our　neere　dwelling　neighbour：　that　if　we　do　not
send　him　out　of　her　company；　one　day　（perhaps）　he　may　make　her　his
wife；　and　yet　without　any　knowledge　of　ours；　which　questionlesse　would
be　my　death。　Otherwise；　he　may　pine　and　consume　himselfe　away；　if　he
see　us　procure　her　marriage　to　some　other。　Wherefore；　hold　it　good；
that　to　avoid　so　great　an　inconvenience；　we　should　send　Jeronimo
some　far　distance　hence；　to　remaine　where　some　of　our　Factors　are
employed：　because；　when　he　shall　be　out　of　her　sight；　and　their
often　meetings　utterly　disappointed；　his　affection　to　her　will　the
sooner　cease；　by　f