the decameron(十日谈)-第70章

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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　frustrating　his　hope　for　ever　enjoying　her；　and　so　we
shall　have　the　better　meanes；　to　match　him　with　one　of　greater
quality。　The　Tutors　did　like　well　of　her　advice；　not　doubting　but　it
would　take　answerable　effect：　and　therefore；　calling　Jeronimo　into　a
private　Parlor；　one　of　them　began　in　this　manner。
　　Jeronimo；　you　are　now　growne　to　an　indifferent　stature；　and　（almost）
able　to　take　government　of　your　selfe。　It　cannot　then　seeme　any　way
inconvenient；　to　acquaint　you　with　your　deceased　Fathers　affaires；　and
by　what　good　courses　he　came　to　such　wealth。　You　are　his　onely　sonne
and　heire；　to　whom　he　hath　bequeathed　his　rich　possessions　（your
Mothers　moity　evermore　remembred）　and　travaile　would　now　seeme　fitting
for　you；　as　well　to　gaine　experience　in　Trafficke　and　Merchandize；
as　also　to　let　you　see　the　worlds　occurrences。　Your　Mother　therefore
（and　we　have　thought　it　expedient）　that　you　should　journey　from
hence　to　Paris；　there　to　continue　for　some　such　fitting　time；　as　may
grant　you　full　and　free　opportunity；　to　survey　what　stocke　of　wealth
is　there　employed　for　you；　and　to　make　you　understand；　how　your
Factors　are　furtherous　to　your　affaires。　Beside；　this　is　the　way　to
make　you　a　man　of　more　solid　apprehension；　and　perfect　instruction
in　civill　courses　of　life；　rather　then　by　continuing　here　to　see
none　but　Lords；　Barons；　and　Gentlemen；　whereof　we　have　too　great　a
number。　When　you　are　sufficiently　qualified　there；　and　have　learned
what　belongeth　to　a　worthy　Marchant；　such　as　was　Leonardo　Sighiero
your　famous　Father；　you　may　returne　home　againe　at　your　owne　pleasure。
　　The　youth　gave　them　attentive　hearing；　and　（in　few　words）　returned
them　answer：　That　he　would　not　give　way　to　any　such　travaile；
because　he　knew　how　to　dispose　of　himselfe　in　Florence；　as　well　as
in　any　other　place　he　should　be　sent　too。　Which　when　his　Tutors　heard；
they　reproved　him　with　many　severe　speeches：　and　seeing　they　could　win
no　other　answer　from　him；　they　made　returne　thereof　to　his　Mother。　She
storming　extreamly　thereat；　yet　not　so　much　for　denying　the　journey　to
Paris；　as　in　regard　of　his　violent　affection　to　the　Maide；　gave　him
very　bitter　and　harsh　language。　All　which　availing　nothing；　she
began　to　speake　in　a　more　milde　and　gentle　straine；　entreating　him
with　flattering　and　affable　words；　to　be　governed　in　this　case　by
his　Tutors　good　advice。　And　so　farre　（in　the　end）　she　prevailed　with
him；　that　he　yeelded　to　live　at　Paris　for　the　space　of　a　yeare；　but
further　time　he　would　not　grant；　and　so　all　was　ended。
　　Jeronimo　being　gone　to　remaine　at　Paris；　his　love　daily　increasing
more　and　more；　by　reason　of　his　absence　from　Silvestra；　under　faire
and　friendly　promises；　of　this　moneth；　and　the　next　moneth；　sending
for　him　home；　there　they　detained　him　two　whole　yeares　together。
Whereuppon；　his　love　was　growne　to　stich　an　extremity；　that　he　neither
would；　or　could　abide　any　longer　there；　but　home　he　returned；　before
he　was　expected。　His　love　Silvestra；　by　the　cunning　compacting　of
his　Mother　and　Tutors；　he　found　married　to　a　Tent…makers　Sonne；
whereat　he　vexed　and　greeved　beyond　all　measure。　Neverthelesse；　seeing
the　case　was　now　no　way　to　be　holpen；　he　strove　to　beare　it　with　so
much　patience；　as　so　great　a　wrong；　and　his　hearts　tormenting
greefe；　would　give　leave　to　doe。
　　Having　found　out　the　place　where　she　dwelt；　he　began　（as　it　is　the
custome　of　yong　Lovers）　to　use　divers　daily　walkes　by　her　doore：　as
thinking　in　his　minde；　that　her　remembrance　of　him　was　constantly
continued；　as　his　was　most　intirely　fixed　on　her。　But　the　case　was
very　strangely　altred；　because　she　was　now　growne　no　more　mindfull
of　him；　then　if　she　had　never　seene　him　before。　Or　if　she　did　any
way　remember　him；　it　appeared　to　be　so　little；　that　manifest　signes
declared　the　contrary。　Which　Jeronimo　very　quickely　perceived；
albeit　not　without　many　melancholly　perturbations。　Notwithstanding；　he
laboured　by　all　possible　meanes；　to　recover　her　former　kindnesse
againe：　but　finding　all　his　paines　frivolously　employed；　he　resolved
to　dye；　and　yet　to　compasse　some　speech　with　her　before。
　　By　meanes　of　a　neere　dwelling　neighbour　（that　was　his　very　deare　and
intimate　friend）　he　came　acquainted　with　every　part　of　the　house；
and　prevailed　so　far；　that　one　evening；　when　she　and　her　husband
supt　at　a　neighbours　house；　he　compassed　accesse　into　the　same　bed
chamber；　where　Silvestra　used　most　to　lodge。　Finding　the　Curtaines
ready　drawne；　he　hid　himselfe　behinde　them　on　the　further　side　of
the　bed；　and　so　tarried　there　untill　Silvestra　and　her　husband　were
returned　home；　and　laide　downe　in　bed　to　take　their　rest。　The　husbands
sences　were　soone　overcome　with　sleepe；　by　reason　of　his　painefull
toyling　all　the　day；　and　bodies　that　are　exercised　with　much　labour；
are　the　more　desirous　to　have　ease。
　　She　staying　up　last；　to　put　out　the　light；　and　hearing　her　husband
sleepe　so　soundly；　that　his　snoring　gave　good　evidence　thereof：
layed　her　selfe　downe　the　more　respectively；　as　being　very　loath　any
way　to　disease　him；　but　sweetly　to　let　him　enjoy　his　rest。
　　Silvestra　lay　on　the　same　side　of　the　bed；　where　Jeronimo　had　hid
himselfe　behinde　the　Curtaines；　who　stepping　softly　to　her　in　the
darke；　and　laying　his　hand　gently　on　her　brest；　saide：　Deare　Love；
forbeare　a　little　while　to　sleepe；　for　heere　is　thy　loyall　friend
Jeronimo。　The　yong　woman　starting　with　amazement；　would　have　cried
out；　but　that　he　entreated　her　to　the　contrary；　protesting；　that　he
came　for　no　ill　intent　to　her；　but　onely　to　take　his　latest　leave　of
her。　Alas　Jeronimo　（quoth　she）　those　idle　dayes　are　past　and　gone；
when　it　was　no　way　unseemly　for　our　youth；　to　entertaine　equality　of
those　desires；　which　then　well　agreed　with　our　young　blood。　Since
when；　you　have　lived　in　forraine　Countries；　which　appeared　to　me　to
alter　your　former　disposition：　for；　in　the　space　of　two　whole
yeares；　either　you　grew　forgetfull　of　me　（as　change　of　ayre；　may
change　affection）　or　（at　the　best）　made　such　account　of　me；　as　I　never
heard　the　least　salutation　from　you。　Now　you　know　me　to　be　a　married
wife；　in　regard　whereof；　my　thoughts　have　embraced　that　chaste　and
honourable　resolution；　not　to　minde　any　man　but　my　husband；　and
therefore；　as　you　are　come　hither　Without　my　love　or　license；　so　in
like　manner　I　do　desire　you　to　be　gone。　Let　this　priviledge　of　my
Husbandes　sound　sleeping；　be　no　colour　to　your　longer　continuing　here；
or　encourage　you　to　finde　any　further　favour　at　mine　hand：　for　if　mine
husband　should　awake；　beside　the　danger　that　thereon　may　follow　to
you；　I　cannot　but　loose　the　sweet　happinesse　of　peacefull　life；
which　hitherto　we　have　both　mutually　embraced。
　　The　yong　man；　hearing　these　wordes；　and　remembring　what　loving
kindnesse　he　had　formerly　found；　what　secret　love　Letters　he　had
sent　from　Paris；　with　other　private　intelligences　and　tokens；　which
never　came　to　her　receite　and　knowledge；　so　cunningly　his　Mother　and
Tutors　had　carried　the　matter：　immediately　felt　his　heart…strings　to
breake；　and　lying　downe　upon　the　beds　side　by　her；　uttered　these　his
very　last　words。　Silvestra　farewell；　thou　hast　kilde　the　kindest　heart
that　ever　loved　a　woman：　and　speaking　no　more；　gave　up　the　ghost。
She　hearing　these　words　delivered　with　an　entire　sighe；　and
deepe…fetcht　groane；　did　not　imagine　the　strange　consequence　following
thereon；　yet　was　mooved　to　much　compassion；　in　regard　of　her　former
affection　to　him。　Silent　she　lay　an　indifferent　while；　as　being　unable
to　returne　him　any　answer；　and　looking　when　he　would　be　gone；
according　as　before　she　had　earnestly　entreated　him。　But　when　she
perceyved　him　to　lye　so　still；　as　neither　word　or　motion　came　from
him；　she　saide：　Kinde　Jeronimo；　why　doest　thou　not　depart　and　get　thee
gone？　So　putting　forth　her　hand；　it　hapned　to　light　upon　his　face；
which　she　felt　to　be　as　cold　as　yce：　whereat　marvailing　not　a
little；　as　also　at　his　continued　silence；　she　jogged　him；　and　felt　his
hands　in　like　manner；　which　were　stiffely　extended　forth；　and　all
his　body　cold；　as　not　having　any　life　remaining　in　him；　which
greatly　amazing　her；　and　confounding　her　with　sorrow　beyond　all
measure；　she　was　in　such　perplexity；　that　she　could　not　devise　what　to
do　or　say。
　　In　the　end；　she　resolved　to　try　how　her　husband　would　take　it；
that　so　strange　an　accident　should　thus　happen　in　his　house；　and
putting　the　case　as　if　it　did　not　concerne　them；　but　any　other　of
the　neighbours；　awaking　him　first；　demaunded　of　him　what　was　best　to
be　done；　if　a　man　should　steale　into　a　neighbours　house；　unknowne　to
him；　or　any　of　his　family；　and　in　his　bed　chamber　to　be　found　dead。　He
presently　replyed　（as　not　thinking　the　case　concerned　himselfe）
that；　the　onely　helpe　in　such　an　unexpected　extremity；　was　to　take　the
dead　body；　and　convey　it　to　his　owne　house；　if　he　had　any；　whereby
no　scandall　or　reproach　would　follow　to　them；　in　whose　house　he　had　so
unfortunately　dyed。　Hereupon　she　immediately　arose；　and　lighting　a
candle；　shewed　him　the　dead　body　of　Jeronimo；　with　protestation　of
every　particular；　both　of　her　innocency；　either　of　knowledge　of　his
comming　thither；　or　any　other　blame　that　could　concerne　her。　Which
he　both　constantly　knowing　and　beleeving；　made　no　more　ceremony；　but
putting　on　his　Garments；　tooke　the　dead　body　upon　his　shoulders；　and
carried　it　to　the　Mothers　doore；　where　he　left　it；　and　afterward
returned　to　his　owne　house　againe。
　　When　day　light　was　come；　and　the　dead　body　found　lying　in　the　Porch；
it　moved　very　much　greefe　and　amazement；　considering；　he　had　bin　seene
the　day　before；　in　perfect　health　to　outward　appearance。　Nor　neede
we　to　urge　any　question　of　his　Mothers　sorrow　upon　this　strange
accident；　who；　causing　his　body　to　be　carefully　searched；　without
any　blow；　bruise；　wound；　or　hurt　uppon　it；　the　Physitians　could　not
give　any　other　opinion；　but　that　some　inward　conceyte　of　greefe　had
caused　his　death；　as　it　did　indeed；　and　no　way　otherwise。　To　the
cheefe　Church　was　the　dead　body　carried；　to　be　generally　seene　of
all　the　people；　his　Mother　and　Friends　weeping　heavily　by　it；　as
many　more　did　the　like　beside；　because　he　was　beloved　of　every　one。　In
which　time　of　universall　mourning；　the　honest　man　（in　whose　house　he
dyed）　spake　thus　to　his　wife：　Disguise　thy　selfe　in　some　decent
manner；　and　go　to　the　Church；　where　（as　I　heare）　they　have　laide　the
body　of　Jeronimo。　Crowde　in　amongest　the　Women；　as　I　will　do　the
like　amongst　the　men；　to　heare　what　opinion　passeth　of　his　death；
and　whether　we　shall　be　scandalized　thereby；　or　no。
　　Silvestra；　who　was　now　become　full　of　pitty　too　late；　quickely
condiscended；　as　desiring　to　see　him　dead；　whom　sometime　she　dearly
affected　in　life。　And　being　come　to　the　Church；　it　is　a　matter　to　be
admired；　if　advisedly　we　consider　on　the　powerfull　working　of　love；
for　the　heart　of　this　woman；　which　the　prosperous　fortune　of
Jeronimo　could　not　pierce；　now　in　his　wofull　death　split　in　sunder；
and　the　ancient　sparks　of　love　so　long　concealed　in　the　embers；
brake　foorth　into　a　furious　flame；　and　being　viol