the decameron(十日谈)-第81章

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strongly　back…ward；　that　breaking　the　reines　of　his　bridle；　he
laboured　to　escape　from　them。　But　being　beset　on　every　side；　and
utterly　unable　to　helpe　himself；　he　contended　with　his　teeth　and　feete
in　his　owne　defence；　till　they　haled　him　violently　to　the　ground；
and　tearing　his　body　in　pieces；　left　not　a　jot　of　him　but　the　bare
bones；　and　afterward　ran　ranging　thorow　the　Forest。　At　this　sight；
poore　Pedro　was　mightily　dismaied；　fearing　to　speed　no　better　then　his
Horse　had　done；　and　therefore　could　not　devise　what　was　best　to　be
done；　for　he　saw　no　likelihood；　of　getting　out　of　the　Forest　with
life。　But　day…light　drawing　on　apace；　and　he　almost　dead　with　cold；
having　stood　quaking　so　long　in　the　Tree；　at　length　by　continuall
looking　every　where　about　him；　to　discerne　the　least　glimpse　of　any
comfort；　he　espied　a　great　fire；　which　seemed　to　be　about　halfe　a　mile
off　from　him。
　　By　this　time　it　was　broad　day；　when　he　descended　downe　out　of　the
Tree；　（yet　not　without　much　feare）　and　tooke　his　way　towards　the　fire；
where　being　arrived；　he　found　a　company　of　Shepheards　banquetting
about　it；　whom　he　curteously　saluting；　they　tooke　pity　on　his
distresse；　and　welcommed　him　kindly。　After　he　had　tasted　of　such
cheare　as　they　had；　and　was　indifferently　refreshed　by　the　good
fire；　he　discoursed　his　hard　disasters　to　them；　as　also　how　he
happened　thither；　desiring　to　know；　if　any　Village　or　Castle　were
neere　there　about；　where　he　might　in　better　manner　releeve　himselfe。
The　Shepheards　told　him；　that　about　a　mile　and　an　halfe　from　thence；
was　the　Castle　of　Signior　Liello　di　Campo　di　Fiore；　and　that　his
Lady　was　residing　there；　which　was　no　meane　comfort　to　poore　Pedro；
requesting　that　one　of　them　would　accompany　him　thither；　as　two　of
them　did　in　loving　manner；　to　rid　him　of　all　further　feares。
　　When　he　was　arrived　at　the　Castle；　and　found　there　divers　of　his
familiar　acquaintance：　he　laboured　to　procure　some　meanes；　that　the
Damosell　might　bee　sought　for　in　the　Forrest。　Then　the　Lady　calling
for　her；　and　bringing　her　to　him；　he　ran　and　caught　her　in　his
armes；　being　ready　to　swoune　with　conceite　of　joy；　for　never　could　any
man　be　more　comforted；　then　he　was　at　the　sight　of　his　Angelina；　and
questionlesse；　her　joy　was　not　a　jot　inferiour　to　his；　such　a　simpathy
of　firme　love　was　settled　betweene　them。　The　Lady　of　the　Castle；　after
she　had　given　them　very　gracious　entertainment；　and　understood　the
scope　of　their　bold　adventure；　she　reproved　them　both　somewhat
sharpely；　for　presuming　so　farre　without　the　consent　of　their　Parents。
But　perceiving　（notwithstanding　all　her　remonstrances）　that　they
continued　still　constant　in　their　resolution；　without　any　inequality
of　either　side；　shee　saide　to　her　selfe。　Why　should　this　matter　be　any
way　offensive　to　me？　They　love　each　other　loyally；　they　are　not
inferiour　to　one　another　in　birth；　but　in　fortune；　they　are　equally
loved　and　allied　to　my　Husband；　and　their　desire　is　both　honest　and
honorable。　Moreover；　what　know　I；　if　it　be　the　will　of　Heaven　to
have　it　so？　Theeves　intended　to　hang　him；　in　malice　to　his　name　and
kinred；　from　which　hard　fate　he　hath　happily　escaped。　Her　life　was
endangered　by　a　sharpe　pointed　Javeline；　and　yet　her　fairer　starres
would　not　suffer　her　so　to　perish：　beside；　they　have　both　escaped
the　fury　of　ravenous　wild　beasts；　and　all　these　are　apparant　signes；
that　future　comforts　should　recompence　former　passed　misfortunes；
farre　be　it　therefore　from　me；　to　hinder　the　appointment　of　the
Heavens。
　　Then　turning　her　selfe　to　them；　thus　she　proceeded。　If　your　desire
be　to　joyne　in　honourable　marriage；　I　am　well　contented　therewith；　and
your　nuptials　shall　here　be　solemnized　at　my　Husbands　charges。
Afterward　both　he　and　I　will　endeavour；　to　make　peace　betweene　you　and
your　discontented　Parents。　Pedro　was　not　a　little　joyfull　at　her　kinde
offer；　and　Angelina　much　more　then　he；　so　they　were　married　together
in　the　Castle；　and　worthily　feasted　by　the　Lady；　as　Forrest
entertainment　could　permit；　and　there　they　enjoyed　the　first　fruits　of
their　love。　Within　a　short　while　after；　the　Lady　and　they　（well
mounted　on　Horsebacke；　and　attended　with　an　honourable　traine）
returned　to　Rome；　where　her　Lord　Liello　and　she　prevailed　so　well　with
Pedroes　angry　Parents：　that　the　variance　ended　in　love　and　peace；
and　afterward　they　lived　lovingly　together；　till　old　age　made　them
as　honourable；　as　their　true　and　mutuall　affection　formerly　had　done。





　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　FIFT　DAY；　THE　FOURTH　NOVELL

　　　DECLARING　THE　DISCREETE　PROVIDENCE　OF　PARENTS；　IN　CARE　OF　THEIR
　　　　　　　　　　　　CHILDRENS　LOVE　AND　THEIR　OWNE　CREDIT；　TO　CUT　OFF
　　　　　　　　　　　INCONVENIENCES；　BEFORE　THEY　DO　PROCEEDE　TOO　FARRE

　　Ricciardo　Manardy；　was　found　by　Messer　Lizio　da　Valbonna；　as　he　sate
fast　asleepe　at　his　Daughters　Chamber　window；　having　his　hand　fast
in　hers；　and　she　sleeping　in　the　same　manner。　Whereupon；　they　are
joyned　together　in　marriage；　and　their　long　loyall　love　mutually
recompenced。

　　Madam　Eliza　having　ended　her　Tale；　and　heard　what　commendations
the　whole　company　gave　thereof；　the　Queene　commanded　Philostratus；
to　tell　a　Novell　agreeing　with　his　owne　minde；　smiling　thereat；　thus
replyed。　Faire　Ladies；　I　have　bene　so　often　checkt　and　snapt；　for　my
yesterdayes　matter　and　argument　of　discoursing；　which　was　both　tedious
and　offensive　to　you；　that　if　I　intended　to　make　you　any　amends；　I
should　now　undertake　to　tell　such　a　Tale；　as　might　put　you　into　a
mirthfull　humour。　Which　I　am　determined　to　do；　in　relating　a　briefe
and　pleasant　Novell；　not　any　way　offensive　（as　I　trust）　but
exemplary　for　some　good　notes　of　observation。
　　Not　long　since；　there　lived　in　Romania；　a　Knight；　a　very　honest
Gentleman；　and　well　qualified；　whose　name　was　Messer　Lizio　da
Valbonna；　to　whom　it　fortuned；　that　（at　his　entrance　into　age）　by
his　Lady　and　wife；　called　Jaquemina；　he　had　a　Daughter；　the　very
choycest　and　goodliest　gentlewoman　in　all　those　places。　Now　because
such　a　happy　blessing　（in　their　olde　yeeres）　was　not　a　little
comfortable　to　them；　they　thought　themselves　the　more　bound　in　duty；
to　be　circumspect　of　her　education；　by　keeping　her　out　of
over…frequent　companies；　but　onely　such　as　agreed　best　with　their
gravity；　and　might　give　the　least　ill　example　to　their　Daughter；　who
was　named　Catharina；　as　making　no　doubt；　but　by　this　their　provident
and　wary　respect；　to　match　her　in　marriage　answerable　to　their　liking。
There　was　also　a　yong　Gentleman；　in　the　very　flourishing　estate　of　his
youthfull　time；　descended　from　the　Family　of　the　Manardy　da
Brettinoro；　named　Messer　Ricciardo；　who　oftentimes　frequented　the
House　of　Messer　Lizio；　and　was　a　continuall　welcome　guest　to　his
Table；　Messer　Lizio　and　his　wife　making　the　like　account　of　him；
even　as　if　hee　＇had＇　bene　their　owne　Sonne。
　　This　young　Gallant；　perceiving　the　Maiden　to　be　very　beautifull；
of　singular　behaviour；　and　of　such　yeeres　as　was　fit　for　marriage；
became　exceeding　enamoured　of　her；　yet　concealed　his　affection　so
closely　as　he　could；　which　was　not　so　covertly　carried；　but　that　she
perceived　it；　and　grew　into　as　good　liking　of　him。　Many　times　he　had
an　earnest　desire　to　have　conference　with　her；　which　yet　still　he
deferred；　as　fearing　to　displease　her；　at　the　length　he　lighted　on
an　apt　opportunity；　and　boldly　spake　to　her　in　this　manner。　Faire
Catharina；　I　hope　thou　wilt　not　let　me　die　for　thy　love？　Signior
Ricciardo　（replyed　she　suddenly　againe）　I　hope　you　will　extend　the
like　mercy　to　me；　as　you　desire　that　I　should　shew　to　you。　This
answere　was　so　pleasing　to　Messer　Ricciardo；　that　presently　he
saide。　Alas　deare　Love；　I　have　dedicated　all　my　fairest　fortunes　onely
to　thy　service；　so　that　it　remaineth　soly　in　thy　power　to　dispose　of
me　as　best　shall　please　thee；　and　to　appoint　such　times　of　private
conversation；　as　may　yeeld　more　comfort　to　my　poore　afflicted　soule。
　　Catharina　standing　musing　awhile；　at　last　returned　him　this　answere。
Signio　Ricciardo；　quoth　she；　you　see　what　a　restraint　is　set　on　my
liberty；　how　short　I　am　kept　from　conversing　with　any　one；　that　I　hold
this　our　enterparlance　now　almost　miraculous。　But　if　you　could
devise　any　convenient　meanes；　to　admit　us　more　familiar　freedome；
without　any　prejudice　to　mine　honour；　or　the　least　distaste　to　my
Parents；　do　but　enstruct　it；　and　I　will　adventure　it。　Ricciardo　having
considered　on　many　wayes　and　meanes；　thought　one　to　be　the　fittest
of　all；　and　therefore　thus　replyed。　Catharina　（quoth　he）　the　onely
place　for　our　more　private　talking　together；　I　conceive　to　be　the
Gallery　over　your　Fathers　Garden。　If　you　can　winne　your　Mother　to
let　you　lodge　there；　I　will　make　meanes　to　climbe　over　the　wall；　and
at　the　goodly　gazing　window；　we　may　discourse　so　long　as　we　please。
Now　trust　me　deare　Love　（answered　Catharina）　no　place　can　be　more
convenient　for　our　purpose；　there　shall　we　heare　the　sweete　Birds
sing；　especially　the　Nightingale　which　I　have　heard　singing　there
all　the　night　long；　I　will　breake　the　matter　to　my　Mother；　and　how　I
speede；　you　shall　heare　further　from　me。　So；　with　divers　parting
kisses；　they　brake　off　conference；　till　their　next　meeting。
　　On　the　day　following；　which　was　towards　the　ending　of　the　moneth
of　May；　Catharina　began　to　complaine　to　her　Mother　that　the　season　was
over…hot　and　tedious；　to　be　still　lodged　in　her　Mothers　Chamber；
because　it　was　an　hinderance　to　her　sleeping；　and　wanting　rest；　it
would　be　an　empairing　of　her　health。　Why　Daughter　（quoth　the　Mother）
the　weather　（as　yet）　is　not　so　hot；　but　（in　my　minde）　you　may　very
well　endure　it。　Alas　Mother；　saide　she；　aged　people；　as　you　and　my
Father　are；　do　not　feele　the　heates　of　youthfull　blood；　by　reason　of
your　farre　colder　complexion；　which　is　not　to　be　measured　by　younger
yeeres。　I　know　that　well　Daughter；　replyed　the　Mother；　but　is　it　in　my
power；　to　make　the　weather　warme　or　coole；　as　thou　perhaps　wouldst
have　it？　Seasons　are　to　be　suffered；　according　to　their　severall
qualities；　and　though　the　last　night　might　seeme　hot；　this　next
ensuing　may　be　cooler；　and　then　thy　rest　will　be　the　better。　No
Mother；　quoth　Catharina；　that　cannot　be；　for　as　Summer　proceedeth
on；　so　the　heate　encreaseth；　and　no　expectation　can　be　of　temperate
weather；　untill　it　groweth　to　Winter　againe。　Why　Daughter；　saide　the
Mother；　what　wouldest　thou　have　me　to　do？　Mother　（quoth　she）　if　it
might　stand　with　my　Fathers　good　liking　and　yours；　I　would　be　spared
from　the　Garden　Gallery；　which　is　a　great　deale　more　coole　lodged。
There　shall　I　heare　the　sweete　Nightingale　sing；　as　every　night　she
useth　to　do；　and　many　other　pretty　Birdes　beside；　which　I　cannot　do
lodging　in　your　Chamber。
　　The　Mother　loving　her　Daughter　dearely；　as　being　somewhat
over…fond　of　her；　and　very　willing　to　give　her　contentment；　promised
to　impart　her　minde　to　her　Father；　not　doubting　but　to　compasse　what
shee　requested。　When　she　had　mooved　the　matter　to　Messer　Lizio　whose
age　made　him　somewhat　froward　and　teasty；　angerly　said　to　his　wife。
Why　how　now　woman？　Cannot　our　Daughter　sleepe；　except　she　heare　the
Nightingale　sing？　Let　there　be　a　bed　made　for　her　in　the　Oven；　and
there　let　the　Crickets　make　her　melody。　When　Catharina　heard　this