the decameron(十日谈)-第82章

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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
answere　from　her　Father；　and　saw　her　desire　to　be　disappointed；　not
onely　could　she　take　any　rest　the　night　following；　but　also　complained
more　of　the　heate　then　before；　not　suffering　her　Mother　to　take　any
rest；　which　made　her　go　angerly　to　her　Husband　in　the　morning；　saying。
Why　Husband；　have　we　but　one　onely　Daughter；　whom　you　pretend　to
love　right　dearly；　and　yet　can　you　be　so　carelesse　of　her；　as　to　denie
her　a　request；　which　is　no　more　then　reason？　What　matter　is　it　to
you　or　me；　to　let　her　lodge　in　the　Garden　Gallery？　Is　her　young
blood　to　be　compared　with　ours？　Can　our　weake　and　crazie　bodies；　feele
the　frolicke　temper　of　hers？　Alas；　she　is　hardly　（as　yet）　out　of　her
childish　yeeres；　and　Children　have　many　desires　farre　differing　from
ours：　the　singing　of　Birdes　is　rare　musicke　to　them；　and　chiefly　the
Nightingale；　whose　sweete　notes　will　provoke　them　to　rest；　when
neither　Art　or　Physicke　can　do　it。
　　Is　it　even　so　Wife？　answered　Messer　Lizio。　Must　your　will　and　mine
be　governed　by　our　Daughter？　Well　be　it　so　then；　let　her　bed　be　made
in　the　Garden　Gallerie；　but　I　will　have　the　keeping　of　the　key；　both
to　locke　her　in　at　night；　and　set　her　at　liberty　every　morning。　Woman；
woman；　yong　wenches　are　wily；　many　wanton　crotchets　are　busie　in　their
braines；　and　to　us　that　are　aged；　they　sing　like　Lapwings；　telling
us　one　thing；　and　intending　another；　talking　of　Nightingales；　when
their　mindes　run　on　Cocke…Sparrowes。　Seeing　Wife；　she　must　needes　have
her　minde；　let　yet　your　care　and　mine　extend　so　farre；　to　keepe　her
chastity　uncorrupted；　and　our　credulity　from　being　abused。　Catharina
having　thus　prevailed　with　her　Mother；　her　bed　made　in　the　Garden
Gallerie；　and　secret　intelligence　given　to　Ricciardo；　for　preparing
his　meanes　of　accesse　to　her　window；　old　provident　Lizio　lockes　the
doore　to　bed…ward；　and　gives　her　liberty　to　come　forth　in　the　morning；
for　his　owne　lodging　was　neere　to　the　same　Gallery。
　　In　the　dead　and　silent　time　of　night；　when　all　（but　Lovers）　take
their　rest；　Ricciardo　having　provided　a　Ladder　of　Ropes；　with　grapling
hookes　to　take　hold　above　and　below；　according　as　he　had　occasion　to
use　it。　By　helpe　thereof；　first　he　mounted　over　the　Garden　wall；　and
then　climbde　up　to　the　Gallery　window；　before　which　（as　is　every　where
in　Italie）　was　a　little　round　engirting　Tarras；　onely　for　a　man　to
stand　upon；　for　making　cleane　the　window；　or　otherwise　repairing　it。
Many　nights　（in　this　manner）　enjoyed　they　their　meetings；
entermixing　their　amorous　conference　with　infinite　kisses　and　kinde
embraces；　as　the　window　gave　leave；　he　sitting　in　the　Tarras；　and
departing　alwayes　before　breake　of　day；　for　feare　of　being
discovered　by　any。
　　But；　as　excesse　of　delight　is　the　Nurse　to　negligence；　and　begetteth
such　an　overpresuming　boldnesse；　as　afterward　proveth　to　be　sauced
with　repentance：　so　came　it　to　passe　with　our　over…fond　Lovers；　in
being　taken　tardy　through　their　owne　folly。　After　they　had　many
times　met　in　this　manner；　the　nights　（according　to　the　season）　growing
shorter　and　shorter；　which　their　stolne　delight　made　them　lesse
respective　of；　then　was　requisite　in　an　adventure　so　dangerous：　it
fortuned；　that　their　amorous　pleasure　had　so　farre　transported　them；
and　dulled　their　senses　in　such　sort；　by　these　their　continuall
nightly　watchings；　that　they　both　fell　fast　asleepe；　he　having　his
hand　closed　in　hers；　and　she　one　arme　folded　about　his　body；　and
thus　they　slept　till　broade　day　light。　Old　Messer　Lizio；　who
continually　was　the　morning　Cocke　to　the　whole　House；　going　foorth
into　his　Garden；　saw　how　his　Daughter　and　Ricciardo　were　seated　at　the
window。　In　he　went　againe；　and　going　to　his　wives　Chamber；　saide　to
her。　Rise　quickly　wife；　and　you　shall　see；　what　made　your　Daughter
so　desirous　to　lodge　in　the　Garden　Gallery。　I　perceive　that　shee　loved
to　heare　the　Nightingale；　for　she　hath　caught　one；　and　holds　him
fast　in　her　hand。　Is　it　possible；　saide　the　Mother；　that　our
Daughter　should　catch　a　live　Nightingale　in　the　darke？　You　shall　see
that　your　selfe；　answered　Messer　Lizio；　if　you　will　make　hast；　and
go　with　me。
　She；　putting　on　her　garments　in　great　haste；　followed　her　Husband；
and　being　come　to　the　Gallery　doore；　he　opened　it　very　softly；　and
going　to　the　window；　shewed　her　how　they　both　sate　fast　asleepe；　and
in　such　manner　as　hath　bene　before　declared：　whereupon；　shee
perceiving　how　Ricciardo　and　Catharina　had　both　deceived　her；　would
have　made　an　outcry；　but　that　Messer　Lizio　spake　thus　to　her。　Wife；　as
you　love　me；　speake　not　a　word；　neither　make　any　noyse：　for；　seeing
shee　hath　loved　Ricciardo　without　our　knowledge；　and　they　have　had
their　private　meetings　in　this　manner；　yet　free　from　any　blamefu
imputation；　he　shall　enjoy　her；　and　she　him。　Ricciardo　is　a　Gentleman；
well　derived；　and　of　rich　possessions；　it　can　be　no　disparagement　to
us；　that　Catharina　match　with　him　in　mariage；　which　he　neither
shall；　or　dare　deny　to　do；　in　regard　of　our　Lawes　severity；　for
climbing　up　to　my　window　with　his　Ladder　of　Ropes；　whereby　his　life　is
forfeited　to　the　Law；　except　our　Daughter　please　to　spare　it；　as　it
remaineth　in　her　power　to　doe；　by　accepting　him　as　her　husband；　or
yeelding　his　life　up　to　the　Law；　which　surely　she　will　not　suffer；
their　love　agreeing　together　in　such　mutuall　manner；　and　he
adventuring　so　dangerously　for　her。　Madam　Jaquemina；　perceiving　that
her　husband　spake　very　reasonably；　and　was　no　more　offended　at　the
matter；　stept　side　with　him　behinde　the　drawne　Curtaines；　untill
they　should　awake　of　themselves。　At　the　last；　Ricciardo　awaked；　and
seeing　it　was　so　farre　in　the　day；　thought　himselfe　halfe　dead；　and
calling　to　Catharina；　saide。
　　Alas　deare　Love！　what　shall　we　doe？　we　have　slept　too　long；　and
shall　be　taken　here。
　　At　which　words；　Messer　Lizio　stept　forth　from　behind　the
Curtaines；　saying。　Nay；　Signior　Ricciardo；　seeing　you　have　found
such　an　unbefitting　way　hither；　we　will　provide　you　a　better　for
your　backe　returning。
　　When　Ricciardo　saw　the　Father　and　Mother　both　there　present；　he
could　not　devise　what　to　do　or　say；　his　senses　became　so　strangely
confounded；　yet　knowing　how　hainously　he　had　offended；　if　the
strictnesse　of　Law　should　bee　challenged　against　him；　falling　on　his
knees；　he　saide。　Alas　Messer　Lizio；　I　humbly　crave　your　mercy；
confessing　my　selfe　well　worthy　of　death；　that　knowing　the　sharpe
rigour　of　the　Law；　I　would　presume　so　audaciously　to　breake　it。　But
pardon　me　worthy　Sir；　my　loyall　and　unfeigned　love　to　your　Daughter
Catharina；　hath　bene　the　only　cause　of　my　transgressing。
　　Ricciardo　（replied　Messer　Lizio）　the　love　I　beare　thee；　and　the
honest　confidence　I　do　repose　in　thee；　step　up　（in　some　measure）　to
plead　thine　excuse；　especially　in　the　regard　of　my　Daughter；　whom　I
blame　thee　not　for　loving；　but　for　this　unlawfull　way　of　presuming
to　her。　Neverthelesse；　perceiving　how　the　case　now　standeth；　and
considering　withall；　that　youth　and　affection　were　the　ground　of　thine
offence：　to　free　thee　from　death；　and　my　selfe　from　dishonour；
before　thou　departest　hence；　thou　shalt　espouse　my　Daughter　Catharina；
to　make　her　thy　lawfull　wife　in　marriage；　and　wipe　off　all　scandall　to
my　House　and　me。　All　this　while　was　poore　Catharina　on　her　knees
likewise　to　her　Mother；　who　（notwithstanding　this　her　bold
adventure）　made　earnest　suite　to　her　Husband　to　remit　all；　because
Ricciardo　right　gladly　condiscended；　as　it　being　the　maine　issue　of
his　hope　and　desire；　to　accept　his　Catharina　in　marriage；　whereto
she　was　as　willing　as　he。　Messer　Lizio　presently　called　for　the
Confessour　of　his　House；　and　borrowing　one　of　his　Wives　Rings；
before　they　went　out　of　the　Gallery；　Ricciardo　and　Catharina　were
espoused　together；　to　their　no　little　joy　and　contentment。
　　Now　had　they　more　leasure　for　further　conference；　with　the　Parents
and　kindred　to　Ricciardo；　who　being　no　way　discontented　with　this
sudden　match；　but　applauding　it　in　the　highest　degree；　they　were
publikely　maried　againe　in　the　Cathedrall　Church；　and　very
honourable　triumphes　performed　at　the　nuptials；　living　long　after　in
happy　prosperity。




　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　FIFT　DAY；　THE　FIFTH　NOVELL

　　　　　　　WHEREIN　MAY　BE　OBSERVED；　WHAT　QUARRELS　AND　CONTENTIONS　ARE
　　　　　　　　　OCCASIONED　BY　LOVE；　WITH　SOME　PARTICULAR　DESCRIPTION；
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　CONCERNING　THE　SINCERITY　OF　A　LOYALL　FRIEND

　　Guidotto　of　Cremona；　out　of　this　mortall　life；　left　a　Daughter　of
his；　with　Jacomino　of　Pavia。　Giovanni　di　Severino；　and　Menghino　da
Minghole；　fell　both　in　love　with　the　young　Maiden；　and　fought　for　her；
who　being　afterward　knowne　to　be　the　Sister　to　Giovanni；　she　was　given
in　mariage　to　Menghino。

　　All　the　Ladies　laughing　heartily；　at　the　Novell　of　the
Nightingale；　so　pleasingly　delivered　by　Philostratus；　when　they　saw
the　same　to　be　fully　ended；　the　Queene　thus　spake。　Now　trust　me
Philostratus；　though　yesterday　you　did　much　oppresse　mee　with
melancholly；　yet　you　have　made　me　such　an　amends　to　day；　as　we　have
little　reason　to　complaine　any　more　of　you。　So　converting　her　speech
to　Madam　Neiphila；　shee　commanded　her　to　succeede　with　her
discourse；　which　willingly　she　yeelded　to；　beginning　in　this　manner。
Seing　it　pleased　Philostratus；　to　produce　his　Novell　out　of　Romania：　I
meane　to　walke　with　him　in　the　same　jurisdiction；　concerning　what　I　am
to　say。
　　There　dwelt　sometime　in　the　City　of　Fano；　two　Lombards；　the　one
being　named　Guidotto　of　Cremona；　and　the　other　Jacomino　of　Pavia；
men　of　sufficient　entrance　into　yeares；　having　followed　the　warres　（as
Souldiers）　all　their　youthfull　time。　Guidotto　feeling　sicknesse　to
over…master　him；　and　having　no　sonne；　kinsman；　or　friend；　in　whom　he
might　repose　more　trust；　then　he　did　in　Jacomino：　having　long
conference　with　him　about　his　worldly　affaires；　and　setled　his　whole
estate　in　good　order；　he　left　a　Daughter　to　his　charge；　about　ten
yeeres　of　age；　with　all　such　goods　as　he　enjoyed；　and　then　departed
out　of　this　life。　It　came　to　passe；　that　the　City　of　Faenza；　long　time
being　molested　with　tedious　warres；　and　subjected　to　very　servile
condition；　beganne　now　to　recover　her　former　strength；　with　free
permission　（for　all　such　as　pleased）　to　returne　and　possesse　their
former　dwellings。　Whereupon；　Jacomino　（having　sometime　bene　an
inhabitant　there）　was　desirous　to　live　in　Faenza　againe；　convaying
thither　all　his　goods；　and　taking　with　him　also　the　young　Girle；　which
Guidotto　had　left　him；　whom　hee　loved；　and　respected　as　his　owne
childe。
　　As　shee　grew　in　stature；　so　she　did　in　beauty　and　vertuous
qualities；　as　none　was　more　commended　throughout　the　whole　City；　for
faire；　civill；　and　honest　demeanour；　which　incited　many　amorously　to
affect　her。　But　（above　all　the　rest）　two　very　honest　young　men；　of
good　fame　and　repute；　who　were　so　equally　in　love　addicted　to　her；
that　being。　jealous　of　each　others　fortune；　in　preventing　of　their
severall　hopefull　expectation；　a　deadly　hatred　grew　suddenly
betweene　them；　the　one　being　named　Giovanni　de　Severino；　and　the　other
Menghino　de　Minghole。　Either　of　these　two　young　men；　before　the
M