the decameron(十日谈)-第7章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


answere；　perceiving　apparantly；　that　wanton　words　would　prove　but　in
vaine；　and　such　a　woman　was　not　easily　to　be　seduced；　wherefore；　as
hee　grew　enamored　on　her　inconsiderately；　so　he　found　it　best
fitting　for　his　honour；　to　quench　this　heate　with　wisedome　discreetly。
And　so；　without　any　more　words；　or　further　hope　of　speeding　in　so
unkingly　a　purpose；　dinner　being　ended；　by　a　sudden　departing；　he
smoothly　shadowed　the　cause　of　his　comming；　and　thanking　her　for　the
honour　shee　had　done　him；　commended　her　to　her　chaste　disposition；　and
posted　away　with　speede　to　Gennes。




　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　FIRST　DAY；　THE　SIXT　NOVELL

　　　　　　　　DECLARING；　THAT　IN　FEW；　DISCREETE；　AND　WELL　PLACED　WORDS；
　　　　　　THE　COVERED　CRAFT　OF　CHURCH…MEN　MAY　BEE　JUSTLY　REPROVED；　AND
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THEIR　HYPOCRISIE　HONESTLY　DISCOVERED

　　An　honest　plaine　meaning　man；　（simply　and　conscionably）
reprehended　the　malignity；　hypocrisie；　and　misdemeanour　of　many
Religious　persons。

　　Madam　Aemilia　sitting　next　to　the　gentle　Lady　Fiammetta；
perceiving　the　modest　chastisement；　which　the　vertuous　Lady
Marquesse　had　given　to　the　King　of　France；　was　generally　graced　by　the
whole　Assembly；　began　（after　the　Queene　had　thereto　appointed　her）
in　these　words。　Nor　will　I　conceale　the　deserved　reprehension；　which
an　honest　simple　lay…man；　gave　to　a　covetous　holy　Father；　in　very
few　words；　yet　more　to　be　commended；　then　derided。
　　Not　long　since　（worthy　Ladies）　there　dwelt　in　our　owne　native
City；　a　Friar　Minor；　an　Inquisitor　after　matters　of　Faith；　who；
although　he　laboured　greatly　to　seeme　a　sanctified　man；　and　an　earnest
affecter　of　Christian　Religion；　（as　all　of　them　appeare　to　be　in
outward　shew；）　yet　he　was　a　much　better　Inquisitor　after　them　that　had
their　purses　plenteously　stored　with　money；　then　of　such　as　were
slenderly　grounded　in　Faith。　By　which　diligent　continued　care　in
him；　he　found　out　a　man；　more　rich　in　purse；　then　understanding；　and
yet　not　so　defective　in　matters　of　faith；　as　misguided　by　his　owne
simple　speaking；　and　（perhaps）　when　his　braine　was　well　warmed　with
wine；　words　fell　more　foolishly　from　him；　then　in　better　judgement
they　could　have　done。
　　Being　on　a　day　in　company；　（very　little　differing　in　quality　from
him　selfe）　he　chanced　to　say；　that　he　had　beene　at　such　good　wine；
as　God　himselfe　did　never　drinke　better。　Which　words　（by　some
Sicophant　then　in　presence）　being　carried　to　this　curious
Inquisitor；　and　he　well　knowing；　that　the　mans　faculties　were　great；
and　his　bagges　swolne　up　full　with　no　meane　abundance：　Cum　gladijs
et　fustibus；　With　Booke；　Bell；　and　Candle；　he　raysed　an　hoast　of
execrations　against　him；　and　the　Sumner　cited　him　with　a　solemne
Processe　to　appeare　before　him；　understanding　sufficiently；　that
this　course　would　sooner　fetch　money　from　him；　then　amend　any
misbeliefe　in　the　man；　for　no　further　reformation　did　he　seeke　after。
　　The　man　comming　before　him；　hee　demanded；　if　the　accusation
intimated　against　him；　was　true　or　no？　Whereto　the　honest　man
answered；　that　he　could　not　denie　the　speaking　of　such　words；　and
declared　in　what　manner　they　were　uttered。　Presently　the　Inquisitor；
most　devoutly　addicted　to　Saint　John　with　the　golden　beard；　saide；
What？　Doest　thou　make　our　Lord　a　drinker；　and　a　curious　quaffer　of
wines；　as　if　he　were　a　glutton；　a　belly…god；　or　a　Taverne　haunter；
as　thou；　and　other　drunkards　are。　Being　an　hypocrite；　as　thou　art；
thou　thinkest　this　to　be　but　a　light　matter；　because　it　may　seeme　so
in　thine　owne　opinion：　but　I　tell　thee　plainely；　that　it　deserveth
fire　and　faggot；　if　I　should　proceede　in　justice　to　inflict　it　on
thee：　with　these；　and　other　such　like　threatning　words；　as　also　a　very
stearne　and　angry　countenance；　he　made　the　man　beleeve　himselfe　to
be　an　Epicure；　and　that　hee　denied　the　eternity　of　the　soule；
whereby　he　fell　into　such　a　trembling　feare；　as　doubting　indeede；
least　he　should　be　burned；　that；　to　be　more　mercifully　dealt　withal；
he　rounded　him　in　the　eare；　and　by　secret　meanes；　so　annointed　his
hands　with　Saint　Johns　golden　grease　（a　verie　singular　remedie　against
the　Disease　Pestilentiall　in　covetous　Priests；　especially　Friars
Minors；　that　dare　touch　no　money）　as　the　case　became　very　quickly
altered。
　　This　soveraigne　Unction　was　of　such　vertue　（though　Galen　speakes　not
a　word　thereof　among　all　his　cheefest　Medicines）　and　so　farre
prevailed；　that　the　terrible　threatning　words　of　fire　and　faggot；
became　meerly　frozen　up；　and　gracious　language　blew　a　more　gentle
and　calmer　ayre；　the　Inquisitor　delivering　him　an　hallowed
Crucifixe；　creating　him　a　Soldier　of　the　Crosse　（because　he　had
payed　Crosses　good　store　for　it；）　and　even　as　if　he　were　to　travell
under　that　Standard　to　the　holy　Land；　so　did　hee　appoint　him　a
home…paying　pennance；　namely；　to　visit　him　thrice　every　weeke　in　his
Chamber；　and　to　annoint　his　hands　with　the　selfe…same　yellow
unguent；　and　afterward；　to　heare　Masse　of　the　holy　Crosse；　visiting
him　also　at　dinner　time；　which　being　ended；　to　do　nothing　all　the　rest
of　the　day；　but　according　as　he　directed　him。
　　The　simple　man；　yet　not　so　simple；　but　seeing　that　this　weekely
greazing　the　Inquisitors　hands；　would　in　time　graspe　away　all　his
gold；　grew　weary　of　this　annointing；　and　began　to　consider　with
himselfe；　how　to　stay　the　course　of　this　chargeable　penance。　And
comming　one　morning　（according　to　his　injunction）　to　heare　Masse；　in
the　Gospell　he　observed　these　words；　You　shall　receive　an　hundred
for　one；　and　so　possesse　eternall　life；　which　saying；　he　kept
perfectly　in　his　memory：　and　as　he　was　commanded；　at　dinner　time；　he
came　to　the　Inquisitor；　finding　him　（among　his　fellowes）　seated　at　the
Table。　The　Inquisitor　presently　demaunded　of　him；　whether　he　had　heard
Masse　that　morning；　or　no？　Yes　Sir；　replyed　the　man　very　readily。　Hast
thou　heard　any　thing　therein　（quoth　the　Inquisitor）　whereof　thou　art
doubtfull；　or　desirst　to　be　further　informed？　Surely　Sir；　answered　the
plaine…meaning　man；　I　make　no　doubt　of　any　thing　I　have　heard；　but
do　beleeve　all　constantly：　onely　one　thing　troubleth　me　much；　and
maketh　me　very　compassionate　of　you；　and　of　all　these　holy　Fathers
your　brethren；　perceiving　in　what　wofull　and　wretched　estate　you
will　be；　when　you　shall　come　into　another　world。　What　words　are　these；
quoth　the　Inquisitor？　And　why　art　thou　moved　to　such　compassion　of　us？
O　good　Sir；　saide　the　man；　do　you　remember　the　wordes　in　the　Gospell
this　morning；　You　shall　receive　an　hundred　for　one？　That　is　verie　true
replyed　the　Inquisitor；　but　what　mooveth　thee　to　urge　those　words？
　I　will　tell　you　Sir；　answered　the　plain　fellow；　so　it　might　please
you　not　to　be　offended。　Since　the　time　of　my　resorting　hither；　I
have　daily　seene　many　poore　people　at　your　doore；　and　（out　of　your
abundance）　when　you　and　your　Brethren　have　fed　sufficiently；　every　one
hath　had　a　good　messe　of　Pottage：　now　Sir；　if　for　every　dishfull
given；　you　are　sure　to　receive　an　hundred　againe；　you　will　all　be
meerely　drowned　in　pottage。　Although　the　rest　（sitting　at　the　Table
with　the　Inquisitor）　laughed　heartily　at　this　jest；　yet　he　found
himselfe　toucht　in　another　nature；　having　hypocritically　received　for
one　poore　offence；　above　three　hundred　peeces　of　Gold；　and　not　a　mite
to　be　restored　againe。　But　fearing　to　be　further　disclosed；　yet
threatning　him　with　another　Processe　in　law；　for　abusing　the　words　of
the　Gospel；　he　was　content　to　dismisse　him　for　altogither；　without
any　more　golden　greasing　in　the　hand。




　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　FIRST　DAY；　THE　SEVENTH　NOVELL

　　　　　　APPROVING；　THAT　IT　IS　MUCH　UNFITTING　FOR　A　PRINCE；　OR　GREAT
　　　　　　　　　PERSON；　TO　BEE　COVETOUS；　BUT　RATHER　TO　BE　LIBERALL　TO
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　ALL　MEN

　　Bergamino；　by　telling　a　tale　of　a　skilfull　man；　named　Primasso；
and　of　an　Abbot　of　Clugni；　honestly　checked　a　new　kinde　of
Covetousnesse；　in　Mayster　Can　de　la　Scala。

　　The　courteous　demeanor　of　Madam　Aemilia；　and　the　quaintnesse　of
her　discourse；　caused　both　the　Queene；　and　the　rest　of　the　company；　to
commend　the　invention　of　carrying　the　Crosse；　and　the　golden
oyntment　appointed　for　pennance。　Afterward；　Philostratus；　who　was　in
order　to　speake　next；　began　in　this　manner。
　　It　is　a　commendable　thing　（faire　Ladies）　to　hit　a　But　that　never
stirreth　out　of　his　place：　but　it　is　a　matter　much　more　admirable；
to　see　a　thing　suddainely　appearing；　and　sildome　or　never　frequented
before；　to　bee　as　suddenly　hit　by　an　ordinary　Archer。　The　vicious
and　polluted　lives　of　Priests；　yeeldeth　matter　of　it　selfe　in　many
things；　deserving　speech　and　reprehension；　as　a　true　But　of　wickednes；
and　well　worthy　to　be　sharply　shot　at。　And　therefore；　though　that
honest　meaning　man　did　wisely；　in　touching　Master　Inquisitor　to　the
quicke；　with　the　hypocriticall　charity　of　Monkes　and　Friars；　in　giving
such　things　to　the　poore；　as　were　more　meete　for　Swine；　or　to　be　worse
throwne　away；　yet　I　hold　him　more　to　be　commended；　who　（by　occasion　of
a　former　tale；　and　which　I　purpose　to　relate）　pleasantly　reprooved
Master　Can　de　la　Scala；　a　Magnifico　and　mighty　Lord；　for　a　sudden
and　unaccustomed　covetousnesse　appearing　in　him；　figuring　by　other
men；　that　which　hee　intended　to　say　of　him；　in　manner　following。
　　Master　Can　de　la　Scala；　as　fame　ranne　abroad　of　him　in　all　places；
was　（beyond　the　infinite　favours　of　Fortune　towards　him）　one　of　the
most　notable　and　magnificent　Lords　that　ever　lived　in　Italy；　since　the
daies　of　Fredericke　the　second；　Emperor。　He　determining　to　procure　a
very　solemne　assembly　at　Verona；　and　many　people　being　met　there
from　divers　places；　especially　Gentlemen　of　all　degrees；　suddenly
（upon　what　occasion　I　know　not）　his　minde　altred；　and　hee　would　not
goe　forward　with　his　intention。　Most　of　them　he　partly　recompenced
which　were　come　thither；　and　they　dismissed　to　depart　at　their
pleasure；　one　onely　man　remained　unrespected；　or　in　any　kinde　sort
sent　away；　whose　name　was　Bergamino；　a　man　very　pleasantly　disposed；
and　so　wittily　readie　in　speaking　and　answering；　as　none　could
easily　credit　it；　but　such　as　heard　him；　and　although　his　recompence
seemed　over…long　delayed；　yet　hee　made　no　doubt　of　a　beneficiall
ending。
　　By　some　enemies　of　his；　Master　Can　de　la　Scala　was　incensed；　that
whatsoever　he　gave　or　bestowed　on　him；　was　as　ill　imployed　and　utterly
lost；　as　if　it　were　throwne　into　the　fire；　and　therefore　he　neither
did　or　spake　any　thing　to　him。　Some　few　dayes　being　passed　over；　and
Bergamino　perceiving；　that　hee　was　neither　called；　nor　any　account
made　of；　notwithstanding　many　manly　good　parts　in　him；　observing
beside；　that　hee　found　a　shrewd　consumption　in　his　purse；　his　Inne；
horses；　and　servants；　being　chargeable　to　him；　he　began　to　grow
extremely　melancholly；　and　yet　hee　attended　in　expectation　day　by　day；
as　thinking　it　farre　unfitting　for　him；　to　depart　before　he　was　bidden
farewell。
　　Having　brought　with　him　thither　three　goodly　rich　garments；　which
had　beene　given　him　by　sundrie　Lords；　for　his　more　sightly
appearance　at　this　great　meeting；　the　importunate　Host　being　greedie
of　payment；　first　he　delivered　him　one　of　them；　and　yet　not　halfe
the　score　being　wiped　off；　the　second　must　needes　follow；　and
beside；　except　he