the decameron(十日谈)-第80章

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and　furthest　from　them；　he　was　round　engirt；　and　seized　on　by　them。
When　they　had　made　him　to　dismount　from　his　horse；　questioning　him
of　whence　and　what　he　was；　and　he　resolving　them　therein；　they　fell
into　a　secret　consultation；　saying　thus　among　themselves。　This　man
is　a　friend　to　our　deadly　enemies；　how　can　wee　then　otherwise
dispose　of　him；　but　dreame　him　of　all　he　hath；　and　in　despight　of
the　Orsini　（men　in　nature　hatefull　to　us）　hang　him　up　heere　on　one
of　these　Trees？
　　All　of　them　agreeing　in　this　dismall　resolution；　they　commanded
Pedro　to　put　off　his　garments；　which　he　yeelding　to　do　（albeit
unwillingly）　it　so　fell　out；　that　five　and　twenty　other　theeves；
came　sodainly　rushing　in　upon　them；　crying；　Kill；　kill；　and　spare
not　a　man。
　　They　which　before　had　surprized　Pedro；　desiring　now　to　shift　for
their　owne　safetie；　left　him　standing　quaking　in　his　shirt；　and　so
ranne　away　mainely　to　defend　themselves。　Which　the　new　crew
perceyving；　and　that　their　number　farre　exceeded　the　other：　they
followed　to　robbe　them　of　what　they　had　gotten；　accounting　it　as　a
present　purchase　for　them。　Which　when　Pedro　perceyved；　and　saw　none
tarrying　to　prey　uppon　him；　hee　put　on　his　cloathes　againe；　and
mounting　on　his　owne　Horse；　gallopped　that　way；　which　Angelina
before　had　taken：　yet　could　he　not　descry　any　tracke　or　path；　or　so
much　as　the　footing　of　a　Horse；　but　thought　himselfe　in　sufficient
security；　being　rid　of　them　that　first　seized　on　him；　and　also　of
the　rest；　which　followed　in　the　pursuite　of　them。
　　For　the　losse　of　his　beloved　Angelina；　he　was　the　most　wofull　man　in
the　world；　wandering　one　while　this　way；　and　then　againe　another；
calling　for　her　all　about　the　Forrest；　without　any　answere　returning
to　him。　And　not　daring　to　ride　backe　againe；　on　he　travailed　still；
not　knowing　where　to　make　his　arrivall。　And　having　formerly　heard　of
savage　ravenous　beasts；　which　commonly　live　in　such　unfrequented
Forrests：　he　not　onely　was　in　feare　of　loosing　his　owne　life；　but　also
despayred　much　for　his　Angelina；　least　some　Lyon　or　Woolfe；　had
torne　her　body　in　peeces。
　　Thus　rode　on　poore　unfortunate　Pedro；　untill　the　breake　of　day
appeared；　not　finding　any　meanes　to　get　forth　of　the　Forrest；　still
crying　and　calling　for　his　fayre　friend；　riding　many　times
backeward；　when　as　hee　thought　hee　rode　forward；　untill　hee　became
so　weake　and　faint；　what　with　extreame　feare；　lowd　calling；　and
continuing　so　long　awhile　without　any　sustenance；　that　the　whole　day
being　thus　spent　in　vaine；　and　darke　night　sodainly　come　uppon　him；　he
was　not　able　to　hold　out　any　longer。
　　Now　was　he　in　farre　worse　case　then　before；　not　knowing　where；　or
how　to　dispose　of　himselfe；　or　what　might　best　be　done　in　so　great　a
necessity。　From　his　Horse　he　alighted；　and　tying　him　by　the　bridle
unto　a　great　tree；　uppe　he　climbed　into　the　same　Tree；　fearing　to　be
devoured　（in　the　night　time）　by　some　wilde　beast；　choosing　rather　to
let　his　Horse　perish；　then　himselfe。　Within　a　while　after；　the　Moone
beganne　to　rise；　and　the　skies　appeared　bright　and　cleare：　yet　durst
hee　not　nod；　or　take　a　nap；　least　he　should　fall　out　of　the　tree；
but　sate　still　greeving；　sighing；　and　mourning；　desparing　of　ever
seeing　his　Angelina　any　more；　for　he　could　not　be　comforted　by　the
smallest　hopefull　perswasion；　that　any　good　Fortune　might　befall　her
in　such　a　desolate　Forrest；　where　nothing　but　dismall　feares　was　to　be
expected；　and　no　likelihood　that　she　should　escape　with　life。
　　Now；　concerning　poore　affrighted　Angelina；　who　（as　you　heard　before）
knew　not　any　place　of　refuge　to　flye　unto：　but　even　as　it　pleased
the　horse　to　carry　her：　she　entred　so　farre　into　the　Forrest；　that　she
could　not　devise　where　to　seeke　her　owne　safety。　And　therefore；　even
as　it　fared　with　her　friend　Pedro；　in　the　same　manner　did　it　fall
out　with　her；　wandering　the　whole　night；　and　all　the　day　following；
one　while　taking　one　hopefull　tracke；　and　then　another；　calling；
weeping；　wringing　her　hands；　and　greevously　complaining　of　her　hard
fortune。　At　the　length；　perceiving　that　Pedro　came　not　to　her　at
all；　she　found　a　little　path　（which　she　lighted　on　by　great　good
fortune）　even　when　dark　night　was　apace　drawing；　and　followed　it　so
long；　till　it　brought　her　within　the　sight　of　a　small　poore　Cottage；
whereto　she　rode　on　so　fast　as　she　could；　and　found　therin　a　very
old　man；　having　a　wife　rather　more　aged　then　he；　who　seeing　her　to
be　without　company；　the　old　man　spake　thus　unto　her。
　　Faire　Daughter　（quoth　he）　whether　wander　you　at　such　an　unseasonable
houre；　and　all　alone　in　a　place　so　desolate？　The　Damosell　weeping；
replied；　that　she　had　lost　her　company　in　the　Forrest；　and　enquired
how　neere　shee　was　to　Alagna。　Daughter　（answered　the　old　man）　this
is　not　the　way　to　Alagna；　for　it　is　above　six　leagues　hence。　Then　shee
desired　to　know；　how　farre　off　she　was　from　such　houses；　where　she
might　have　any　reasonable　lodging？　There　are　none　so　neere；　said　the
old　man；　that　day　light　will　give　you　leave　to　reach。　May　it　please
you　then　good　Father　（replied　Angelina）　seeing　I　cannot　travalle　any
whether　else；　for　Gods　sake；　to　et　me　remaine　heere　with　you　this
night。　Daughter　answered　the　good　old　man；　we　can　gladly　give　you
entertainement　here；　for　this　night；　in　such　poore　manner　as　you
see：　but　let　mee　tell　you　withall；　that　up　and　downe　these　woods　（as
well　by　night　as　day）　walke　companies　of　all　conditions；　and　rather
enemies　then　friends；　who　do　us　many　greevous　displeasures　and　harmes。
Now　if　by　misfortune；　you　being　here；　any　such　people　should　come；　and
seeing　you　so　lovely　faire；　as　indeed　you　are；　offer　you　any　shame
or　injurie：　Alas　you　see；　it　lies　not　in　our　power　to　lend　you　any
help　or　succour。　I　thought　it　good　（therefore）　to　acquaint　you
heerewith；　because　if　any　such　mischance　do　happen；　you　should　not
afterward　complaine　of　us。
　　The　yong　Maiden；　seeing　the　time　to　be　so　farre　spent；　albeit　the
old　mans　words　did　much　dismay　her；　yet　she　thus　replyed。　If　it　be　the
will　of　heaven；　both　you　and　I　shall　be　defended　from　any
misfortune：　but　if　any　such　mischance　do　happen；　I　account　the
meanes　lesse　deserving　grief；　if　I　fall　into　the　mercy　of　men；　then　to
be　devoured　by　wild　beasts　in　this　Forrest。　So；　being　dismounted
from　her　horse；　and　entred　into　the　homely　house；　shee　supt　poorely
with　the　old　man　and　his　wife；　with　such　meane　cates　as　their
provision　affoorded：　and　after　supper；　lay　downe　in　her　garments　on
the　same　poore　pallet；　where　the　aged　couple　tooke　their　rest；　and　was
very　well　contented　therewith；　albeit　she　could　not　refraine　from
sighing　and　weeping；　to　be　thus　divided　from　her　deare　Pedro；　of　whose
life　and　welfare　she　greatly　despaired。
　　When　it　was　almost　day；　she　heard　a　great　noise　of　people　travailing
by；　whereupon　sodainly　slie　arose；　and　ranne　into　a　Garden　plot；　which
was　on　the　backside　of　the　poore　Cottage；　espying　in　one　of　the
corners　a　great　stacke　of　Hay；　wherein　she　hid　her　selfe；　to　the
end；　that　travelling　strangers　might　not　readily　finde　her　there　in
the　house。　Scarsely　was　she　fully　hidden；　but　a　great　company　of
Theeves　and　Villaines；　finding　the　doore　open；　rushed　into　the
Cottage；　where　looking　round　about　them　for　some　booty；　they　saw　the
Damosels　horse　stand　ready　sadled；　which　made　them　demand　to　whom　it
belonged。　The　good　old　man；　not　seeing　the　Maiden　present　there；　but
immagining　that　she　had　made　some　shift　for　her　selfe；　answered
thus。　Gentlemen；　there　is　no　body　here　but　my　wife　and　my　selfe：　as
for　this　Horse；　which　seemeth　to　be　escaped　from　the　Owner；　hee　came
hither　yesternight；　and　we　gave　him　house…roome　heere；　rather　then
to　be　devoured　by　Wolves　abroad。　Then　said　the　principall　of　the
Theevish　crew：　This　horse　shall　be　ours；　in　regard　he　hath　no　other
Master；　and　let　the　owner　come　claime　him　of　us。
　　When　they　had　searched　every　corner　of　the　poore　Cottage；　and
found　no　such　prey　as　they　looked　for；　some　of　them　went　into　the
backeside；　where　they　had　left　their　Javelins　and　Targets；　wherwith
they　used　commonly　to　travaile。　It　fortuned；　that　one　of　them；　being
more　subtily　suspitious　then　the　rest；　thrust　his　javelin　into　the
stacke　of　Hay；　in　the　very　same　place　where　the　Damosell　lay　hidden；
missing　very　little　of　killing　her；　for　it　entred　so　farre；　that　the
iron　head　pierced　quite　thorough　her　Garments；　and　touched　her　left
bare　brest：　whereupon；　shee　was　ready　to　cry　out；　as　fearing　that
she　was　wounded：　but　considering　the　place　where　she　was；　she　lay
still；　and　spake　not　a　word。　This　disordered　company；　after　they　had
fed　on　some　young　Kids；　and　other　flesh　which　they　brought　with　them
thither；　they　went　thence　about　their　theeving　exercise；　taking　the
Damosels　horse　along　with　them。
　　After　they　were　gone　a　good　distance　off；　the　good　old　man　began
thus　to　question　his　Wife。　What　is　become　of　（quoth　hee）　our　young
Gentlewoman；　which　came　so　late　to　us　yesternight？　I　have　not　seen　her
to　day　since　our　arising。　The　old　woman　made　answer；　that　she　knew　not
where　she　was；　and　sought　all　about　to　finde　her。　Angelinaes　feares
being　well　over…blowne；　and　hearing　none　of　the　former　noise；　which
made　her　the　better　hope　of　their　departure；　came　forth　of　the
Hay…stack；　wherof　the　good　old　man　was　not　a　little　joyfull；　and
because　she　had　so　well　escaped　from　them：　so　seeing　it　was　now
broad　day…light；　he　said　unto　her。　Now　that　the　morning　is　so
fairely　begun；　if　you　can　be　so　well　contented；　we　will　bring　you　to　a
Castle；　which　stands　about　two　miles　and　an　halfe　hence；　where　you
will　be　sure　to　remaine　in　safety。　But　you　must　needs　travaile　thither
on　foot；　because　the　nightwalkers　that　happened　hither；　have　taken
away　your　horse　with　them。
　　Angelina　making　little　or　no　account　of　such　a　losse；　entreated　them
for　charities　sake；　to　conduct　her　to　that　Castle；　which　accordingly
they　did；　and　arrived　there　betweene　seven　and　eight　of　the　clock。　The
Castle　belonged　to　one　of　the　Orsini；　being　called；　Liello　di　Campo　di
Fiore；　and　by　great　good　fortune；　his　wife　was　then　there；　she　being　a
very　vertuous　and　religious　Lady。　No　sooner　did　she　looke　upon
Angelina；　but　she　knew　her　immediately；　and　entertaining　her　very
willingly；　requested；　to　know　the　reason　of　her　thus　arriving　there：
which　she　at　large　related；　and　moved　the　Lady　（who　likewise　knew
Pedro　perfectly　well）　to　much　compassion；　because　he　was　a　kinsman　and
deare　friend　to　her　Husband；　and　understanding　how　the　Theeves　had
surprized　him；　she　feared；　that　he　was　slaine　among　them；　whereupon
she　spake　thus　to　Angelina。　Seeing　you　know　not　what　is　become　of　my
kinsman　Pedro；　you　shall　remaine　here　with　me；　untill　such　time；　as
（if　we　heare　no　other　tidings　of　him）　you　may　with　safety　be　sent
backe　to　Rome。
　　Pedro　all　this　while　sitting　in　the　Tree；　so　full　of　griefe；　as　no
man　could　be　more；　about　the　houre　of　midnight　（by　the　bright
splendour　of　the　Moone）　espied　about　some　twenty　Wolves；　who；　so　soone
as　they　got　a　sight　of　the　Horse；　ran　and　engirt　him　round　about。
The　Horse　when　he　perceived　them　so　neere　him；　drew　his　head　so
strongly　back…ward；　that　breaking　the　reines　of　his　bridle；　he
laboured　to　escape　from　them。　But　being　beset　on　every　s