the decameron(十日谈)-第79章

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field。　The　Guard　reported　these　speeches　to　his　Master；　who
presently　acquainted　the　King　therewith；　and　Martuccio　being　sent　for；
he　was　commanded　to　speake　his　minde：　Whereupon　he　began　in　this
manner。
　　My　gracious　Lord；　during　the　time　that　I　have　frequented　your
countrey；　I　have　heedfully　observed；　that　the　Militarie　Discipline
used　in　your　fights　and　battailes；　dependeth　more　upon　your　Archers；
then　any　other　men　imployed　in　your　war　And　therefore；　if　it　could
be　so　ordered；　that　this　kinde　of　Artillery　may　faile　in　your
enemies　Campe；　and　yours　be　sufficiently　furnished　therewith；　you
neede　make　no　doubt　of　winning　the　battaile：　whereto　the　King　thus
replyed。　Doubtlesse；　if　such　an　act　were　possible　to　be　done；　it　would
give　great　hope　of　successefull　prevalling。　Sir；　said　Martuccio；　if
you　please　it　may　be　done；　and　I　can　quickly　resolve　you　how。　Let
the　strings　of　your　Archers　Bowes　be　made　more　soft　and　gentle；　then
those　which　heretofore　they　have　formerly　used；　and　next；　let　the
nockes　of　the　Arrowes　be　so　provided；　as　not　to　receive　any　other；
then　those　pliant　gentle　strings。　But　this　must　be　done　so　secretly；
that　your　enemies　may　have　no　knowledge　thereof；　least　they　should
provide　themselves　in　the　same　manner。　Now　the　reason　（Gracious
Lord）　why　thus　I　counsell　you；　is　to　this　end。　When　the　Archers　on　the
Enemies　side　have　shot　their　Arrowes　at　your　men；　and　yours　in　the
like　maner　at　them：　it　followeth；　that　（upon　meere　constraint）　they
must　gather　up　your　Arrowes；　to　shoote　them　backe　againe　at　you；　for
so　long　while　as　the　battell　endureth；　as　no　doubt　but　your　men　wil　do
the　like　to　them。　But　your　enemies　finde　themselves　much　deceived；
because　they　can　make　no　use　of　your　peoples　Arrowes；　in　regard　that
the　nockes　are　too　narrow　to　receive　their　boystrous　strings。　Which
will　fall　out　contrary　with　your　followers；　for　the　pliant　strings
belonging　to　your　Bowes；　are　as　apt　for　their　enemies　great　nockt
Arrowes；　as　their　owne；　and　so　they　shall　have　free　use　of　both；
reserving　them　in　plentifull　store；　when　your　adversaries　must　stand
unfurnished　of　any；　but　them　that　they　cannot　any　way　use。
　　This　counsell　pleased　the　King　very　highly；　and　he　being　a　Prince　of
great　understanding；　gave　order　to　have　it　accordingly　followed；　and
thereby　valiantly　vanquished　his　enemies。　Heereupon；　Martuccio　came　to
be　great　in　his　grace；　as　also　consequently　rich；　and　seated　in　no
meane　place　of　authority。　Now　as　worthy　and　commendable　actions　are
soone　spread　abroad；　in　honor　of　the　man　by　whom　they　hapned：　even
so　the　fame　of　this　rare　got　victory；　was　quickly　noysed　throughout
the　Countrey；　and　came　to　the　hearing　of　poore　Constance；　that
Martuccio　Gomito　（whom　she　supposed　so　long　since　to　be　dead）　was
living；　and　in　honourable　condition。　The　love　which　formerly　she
bare　unto　him；　being　not　altogether　extinct　in　her　heart；　of　a　small
sparke；　brake　forth　into　a　sodaine　flame；　and　so　encreased　day　by　day；
that　her　hope　（being　before　almost　quite　dead）　revived　againe　in
chearfull　manner。
　　Having　imparted　all　her　fortunes　to　the　good　old　Lady　with　whom
she　dwelt；　she　told　her　beside；　that　she　had　an　earnest　desire　to
see　Thunis；　to　satisfie　her　eyes　as　well　as　her　eares；　concerning
the　rumor　blazed　abroad。　The　good　old　Lady　commended　her　desire；　and
（even　as　if　she　had　bene　her　Mother）　tooke　her　with　her　aboord　a
Barke；　and　so　sayled　thence　to　Thunis；　where　both　she　and　Constance
found　honourable　welcome；　in　the　house　of　a　kinsman　to　the　Sarazin
Lady。　Carapresa　also　went　along　with　them　thither；　and　her　they　sent
abroad　into　the　City；　to　understand　the　newes　of　Martuccio　Gomito。
After　they　knew　for　a　certainty　that　he　was　living；　and　in　great
authority　about　the　King；　according　as　the　former　report　went　of
him。　Then　the　good　old　Lady；　being　desirous　to　let　Martuccio　know；
that　his　faire　friend　Constance　was　come　thither　to　see　him；　went
her　selfe　to　the　place　of　his　abiding；　and　spake　unto　him　in　this
manner。　Noble　Martuccio；　there　is　a　servant　of　thine　in　my　house；
which　came　from　Liparis；　and　requireth　to　have　a　little　private
conference　with　thee：　but　because　I　durst　not　trust　any　other　with　the
message；　my　selfe　（at　her　entreaty）　am　come　to　acquaint　thee
therewith。　Martuccio　gave　her　kinde　and　hearty　thankes；　and　then
went　along　with　her　to　the　house。
　　No　sooner　did　Constance　behold　him；　but　she　was　ready　to　dye　with
conceite　of　joy；　and　being　unable　to　containe　her　passion：　sodainely
she　threw　her　armes　about　his　necke；　and　in　meere　compassion　of　her
many　misfortunes；　as　also　the　instant　solace　of　her　soule　（not　being
able　to　utter　one　word）　the　teares　trickled　abundantly　downe　her
cheekes。　Martuccio　also　seeing　his　faire　friend；　was　overcome　with
exceeding　admiration；　and　stood　awhile；　as　not　knowing　what　to　say；
till　venting　forth　a　vehement　sighe；　thus　he　spake。　My　deerest　love
Constance！　Art　thou　yet　living？　It　is　a　tedious　long　while　since　I
heard　thou　wast　lost；　and　never　any　tydings　knowne　of　thee　in　thine
owne　Fathers　house。　With　which　words；　the　teares　standing　in　his　eyes；
most　lovingly　he　embraced　her；　Constance　recounted　to　him　all　her
fortunes；　and　what　kindnesse　she　had　receyved　from　the　Sarazine
Lady；　since　her　first　houre　of　comming　to　her。　And　after　much　other
discourse　passing　betweene　them；　Martuccio　departed　from　her；　and
returning　to　the　King　his　master；　tolde　him　all　the　history　of　his
fortunes；　and　those　beside　of　his　Love　Constance；　being　purposely
minded　（with　his　gracious　liking）　to　marry　her　according　to　the
Christian　Law。
　　The　King　was　much　amazed　at　so　many　strange　accidents；　and　sending
for　Constance　to　come　before　him；　from　her　owne　mouth　he　heard　the
whole　relation　of　her　continued　affection　to　Martuccio；　whereupon
hee　saide。　Now　trust　me　faire　Damosell；　thou　hast　dearely　deserved　him
to　be　thy　husband。　Then　sending　for　very　costly　Jewels；　and　rich
presents；　the　one　halfe　of　them　he　gave　to　her；　and　the　other　to
Martuccio；　graunting　them　license　withall；　to　marry　according　to　their
owne　mindes。
　　Martuccio　did　many　honors；　and　gave　great　gifts　to　the　aged　Sarazine
Lady；　with　whom　Constance　had　lived　so　kindly　respected：　which
although　she　had　no　neede　of；　neither　ever　expected　any　such
rewarding；　yet　（conquered　by　their　urgent　importunity；　especially
Constance；　who　could　not　be　thankfull　enough　to　her）　she　was
enforced　to　receive　them；　and　taking　her　leave　of　them　weeping；　sayled
backe　againe　to　Susa。
　　Within　a　short　while　after；　the　King　licensing　their　departure
thence；　they　entred　into　a　small　Barke；　and　Carapresa　with　them；
sailing　on　with　prosperous　gales　of　winde；　untill　they　arrived　at
Liparis；　where　they　were　entertained　with　generall　rejoycing。　And
because　their　marriage　was　not　sufficiently　performed　at　Thunis；　in
regard　of　divers　Christian　ceremonies　there　wanting；　their　Nuptials
were　againe　most　honourably　solemnized；　and　they　lived　（many　yeares
after）　in　health　and　much　happinesse。




　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　FIFT　DAY；　THE　THIRD　NOVELL

　　　　　　　WHEREIN；　THE　SEVERALL　POWERS　BOTH　OF　LOVE　AND　FORTUNE；　IS
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　MORE　AT　LARGE　APPROVED

　　Pedro　Bocamazzo；　escaping　away　with　a　yong　Damosell　which　he
loved；　named　Angelina；　met　with　Theeves　in　his　journey。　The　Damosell
flying　fearfully　into　a　Forrest；　by　chance　arriveth　at　a　Castle。　Pedro
being　taken　by　the　Theeves；　and　happening　afterward　to　escape　from
them；　commeth　（accidentally）　to　the　same　Castle　where　Angelina　was。
And　marrying　her；　they　then　returned　home　to　Rome。

　　There　was　not　any　one　in　the　whole　company；　but　much　commended　the
Novell　reported　by　Madam　Aemilia；　and　when　the　Queene　perceived　it　was
ended；　she　turned　towards　Madam　Eliza；　commanding　her　to　continue　on
their　delightfull　exercise：　whereto　she　declaring　her　willing
obedience；　began　to　speake　thus。　Courteous　Ladies；　I　remember　one
unfortunate　night；　which　happened　to　two　Lovers；　that　were　not
indued　with　the　greatest　discretion。　But　because　they　had　very　many
faire　and　happy　dayes　afterwards；　I　am　the　more　willing　for　to　let　you
heare　it。
　　In　the　City　of　Rome；　which　（in　times　past）　was　called　the　Lady　and
Mistresse　of　the　world；　though　now　scarsely　so　good　as　the　waiting；
maid：　there　dwelt　sometime　yong　Gentleman；　named　Pedro　Boccamazzo；
descended　from　one　of　the　most　honorable　families　in　Rome；　who　was
much　enamoured　of　a　beautifull　Gentlewoman；　called　Angelina；
Daughter　to　one　named　Gigliuozzo　Saullo；　whose　fortunes　were　none　of
the　fairest；　yet　he　greatly　esteemed　among　the　Romanes。　The
entercourse　of　love　betweene　these　twaine；　had　so　equally　enstructed
their　hearts　and　soule；　that　it　could　hardly　be　judged　which　of　them
was　the　more　fervent　in　affection。　But　he；　not　being　inured　to　such
oppressing　passions；　and　therefore　the　lesse　able　to　support　them；
except　he　were　sure　to　compasse　his　desire；　plainly　made　the　motion；
that　he　might　enjoy　her　in　honourable　mariage。　Which　his　parents　and
friends　hearing；　they　went　to　conferre　with　him；　blaming　him　with
over…much　basenesse；　so　farre　to　disgrace　himselfe　and　his　stocke。
Beside；　they　advised　the　Father　to　the　Maid；　neither　to　credit　what
Pedro　saide　in　this　case；　or　to　live　in　hope　of　any　such　match；
because　they　all　did　wholly　despise　it。
　　Pedro　perceiving；　that　the　way　was　shut　up；　whereby　（and　none　other）
he　was　to　mount　the　Ladder　of　his　hopes；　began　to　wax　weary　of
longer　living：　and　if　he　could　have　won　her　fathers　consent；　he
would　have　maried　her　in　the　despight　of　all　his　friends。
Neverthelesse；　he　had　a　conceit　hammering　in　his　head；　which　if　the
maid　would　bee　as　forward　as　himselfe；　should　bring　the　matter　to　full
effect。　Letters　and　secret　intelligences　passing　still　betweene；　at
length　he　understood　her　ready　resolution；　to　adventure　with　him
thorough　all　fortunes　whatsoever；　concluding　on　their　sodaine　and
secret　flight　from　Rome。　For　which　Pedro　did　so　well　provide；　that
very　early　in　a　morning；　and　well　mounted　on　horsebacke；　they　tooke
the　way　leading　unto　Alagna；　where　Pedro　had　some　honest　friends；　in
whom　he　reposed　especiall　trust。　Riding　on　thus　thorow　the　countrey；
having　no　leysure　to　accomplish　their　marriage；　because　they　stood
in　feare　of　pursuite：　they　were　ridden　above　foure　leagues　from
Rome；　still　shortning　the　way　with　their　amorous　discoursing。
　　It　fortuned；　that　Pedro　having　no　certaine　knowledge　of　the　way；　but
following　a　trackt　guiding　too　farre　on　the　left　hand；　rode　quite
out　of　course；　and　came　at　last　within　sight　of　a　small　Castle；　out　of
which　（before　they　were　aware）　yssued　twelve　Villaines；　whom
Angelina　sooner　espyed；　then　Pedro　could　do；　which　made　her　cry　out　to
him；　saying：　Helpe　deere　Love　to　save　us；　or　else　we　shall　be
assayled。　Pedro　then　turning　his　horse　so　expeditiously　as　he　could；
and　giving　him　the　spurres　as　need　required；　mainly　he　gallopped
into　a　neere　adjoyning　Forrest；　more　minding　the　following　of
Angelina；　then　any　direction　of　way；　or　them　that　endeavoured　to　bee
his　hindrance。　So　that　by　often　winding　and　turning　about；　as　the
passage　appeared　troublesome　to　him；　when　he　thought　him　selfe　free
and　furthest　from　them；　he　was　round　engirt；　and　seized　on　by　them