the decameron(十日谈)-第83章

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Menghino　de　Minghole。　Either　of　these　two　young　men；　before　the
Maide　was　fifteene　yeeres　old；　laboured　to　be　possessed　of　her　in
marriage；　but　her　Guardian　would　give　no　consent　thereto：　wherefore；
perceiving　their　honest　intended　meaning　to　be　frustrated；　they　now
began　to　busie　their　braines；　how　to　forestall　one　another　by　craft
and　circumvention。
　　Jacomino　had　a　Maide…servant　belonging　to　his　House；　somewhat
aged；　and　a　Manservant　beside；　named　Grinello；　of　mirthfull
disposition；　and　very　friendly；　with　whom　Giovanni　grew　in　great
familiarity；　and　when　he　found　time　fit　for　the　purpose；　he　discovered
his　love　to　him；　requesting　his　furtherance　and　assistance；　in
compassing　the　height　of　his　desire；　with　bountifull　promises　of
rich　rewarding；　wheret　Grinello　returned　this　answere。　I　know　not
how　to　sted　you　in　this　case；　but　when　my　Master　shall　sup　foorth　at
some　Neighbours　house；　to　admit　your　entrance　where　shee　is：
because；　if　I　offer　to　speake　to　her；　she　never　will　stay　to　heare
mee。　Wherefore；　if　my　service　this　way　may　doe　you　any　good；　I　promise
to　performe　it；　doe　you　beside；　as　you　shall　finde　it　most
convenient　for　you。　So　the　bargaine　was　agreed　on　betweene　them；　and
nothing　else　now　remained；　but　to　what　issue　it　should　sort　in　the
end。　Menghino；　on　the　other　side；　having　entred　into　the
Chamber…maides　acquaintance；　sped　so　well　with　her；　that　she　delivered
so　many　messages　from　him；　as　had　（already）　halfe　won　the　liking　of
the　Virgin；　passing　further　promises　to　him　beside；　of　bringing　him　to
have　conference　with　her；　whensoever　her　Master　should　be　absent
from　home。　Thus　Menghino　being　favoured　（on　the　one　side）　by　the　by
Chamber…maide；　and　Giovanni　（on　the　other）　by　trusty　Grinello；　their
amorous　warre　was　now　on　foote；　and　diligently　followed　by　both
their　sollicitors。　Within　a　short　while　after；　by　the　procurement　of
Grinello；　Jacomino　was　invited　by　a　Neighbour　to　supper；　in　company　of
divers　his　familiar　friends；　whereof　intelligence　being　given　to
Giovanni；　a　conclusion　passed　betweene　them；　that　（upon　a　certaine
signale　given）　he　should　come；　and　finde　the　doore　standing　ready
open；　to　give　him　all　accesse　unto　the　affected　Mayden。
　　The　appointed　night　being　come；　and　neither　of　these　hot　Lovers
knowing　the　others　intent；　but　their　suspition　being　alike；　and
encreasing　still　more　and　more；　they　made　choyce　of　certaine　friends
and　associates；　well　armed　and　provided；　for　eithers　safer　entrance
when　need　should　require。
　　Menghino　stayed　with　his　troope；　in　a　neere　neighbouring　house　to
the　Mayden；　attending　when　the　signall　would　be　given：　but　Giovanni
and　his　consorts；　were　ambushed　somewhat　further　off　from　the　house；
and　both　saw　when　Jacomino　went　foorth　to　supper。　Now　Grinello　and　the
Chambermaide　began　to　vary；　which　should　send　the　other　out　of　the
way；　till　they　had　effected　their　severall　invention；　wherupon
Grinello　said　to　her。　What　maketh　thee　to　walke　thus　about　the
house；　and　why　doest　thou　not　get　thee　to　bed？　And　thou　（quoth　the
Maide）　why　doest　thou　not　goe　to　attend　on　our　Master；　and　tarry　for
his　returning　home？　I　am　sure　thou　hast　supt　long　agoe；　and　I　know
no　businesse　here　in　the　house　for　thee　to　doe。　Thus　（by　no　meanes）
the　one　could　send　away　the　other；　but　either　remained　as　the　others
hinderance。
　　But　Grinello　remembring　himselfe；　that　the　houre　of　his
appointment　with　Giovanni　was　come；　he　saide　to　himselfe。　What　care
I　whether　our　olde　Maide　be　present；　or　no？　If　she　disclose　any
thing　that　I　doe；　I　can　be　revenged　on　her　when　I　list。　So；　having
made　the　signall；　he　went　to　open　the　doore；　even　when　Giovanni　（and
two　of　his　confederates）　rushed　into　the　House；　and　finding　the
faire　young　Maiden　sitting　in　the　Hall；　laide　hands　on　her；　to　beare
her　away。　The　Damosell　began　to　resist　them；　crying　out　for　helpe　so
loude　as　she　could；　as　the　olde　Chamber…maide　did　the　like：　which
Menghino　hearing；　he　ranne　thither　presently　with　his　friends；　and
seeing　the　young　Damosell　brought　well…neere　out　of　the　House；　they
drew　their　Swords；　crying　out：　Traytors；　you　are　but　dead　men；　here　is
no　violence　to　be　offered；　neither　is　this　a　booty　for　such　base
groomes。　So　they　layed　about　them　lustily；　and　would　not　permit　them
to　passe　any　further。　On　the　other　side；　upon　this　mutinous　noyse
and　outcry；　the　Neighbours　came　foorth　of　their　houses；　with　lights；
staves；　and　clubbes；　greatly　reproving　them　for　this　out…rage；　yet
assisting　Menghino：　by　meanes　whereof；　after　a　long　time　of
contention；　Menghino　recovered　the　Mayden　from　Giovanni；　and　placed
her　peaceably　in　Jacominoes　House。
　　No　sooner　was　this　hurly　burly　somewhat　calmed；　but　the　Serjeants　to
the　Captine　of　the　City；　came　thither；　and　apprehended　divers　of　the
mutiners：　among　whom　were　Menghino；　Giovanni；　and　Grinello；　committing
them　immediately　to　prison。　But　after　every　thing　was　pacified；　and
Jacomino　returned　home　to　his　house　from　supper；　he　was　not　a　little
offended　at　so　grosse　an　injury。　When　he　was　fully　informed；　how　the
matter　happened；　and　apparantly　perceived；　that　no　blame　at　all
could　be　imposed　on　the　Mayden：　he　grew　the　better　contented；
resolving　with　himselfe　（because　no　more　such　inconveniences　should
happen）　to　have　her　married　so　soone　as　possibly　he　could。
　　When　morning　was　come　the　kindred　and　friends　on　either　side；
understanding　the　truth　of　the　errour　committed；　and　knowing　beside；
what　punishment　would　be　inflicted　on　the　prisoners；　if　Jacomino
pressed　the　matter　no　further；　then　as　with　reason　and　equity　well
he　might；　they　repaired　to　him；　and　（in　gentle　speeches）　entreated
him；　not　to　regard　a　wrong　offered　by　unruly　and　youthfull　people；
meerely　drawne　into　the　action　by　perswasion　of　friends；　submitting
both　themselves；　and　the　offendors；　to　such　satisfaction　as　＇he＇
pleased　to　appoint　them。　Jacomino；　who　had　seene　and　observed　many
things　in　his　time；　and　was　a　man　of　sound　understanding；　returned
them　this　answer。
　　Gentlemen；　if　I　were　in　mine　owne　Country；　as　now　I　am　in　yours；　I
would　as　for　wardly　confesse　my　selfe　your　friend；　as　here　I　must
needes　fall　short　of　any　such　service；　but　even　as　you　shall　please　to
command　me。　But　plainely；　and　without　all　further　ceremonious
complement；　I　must　agree　to　whatsoever　you　can　request；　as　thinking
you　to　be　more　injured　by　me；　then　any　great　wrong　that　I　have
sustained。　Concerning　the　young　Damosell　remaining　in　my　House；　she　is
not　（as　many　have　imagined）　either　of　Cremona；　or　Pavia；　but　borne　a
Faentine；　here　in　this　Citie：　albeit　neither　my　selfe；　she；　or　he　of
whome　I　had　her；　did　ever　know　it；　or　yet　could　learne　whose
Daughter　she　was。　Wherefore；　the　suite　you　make　to　me；　should　rather
（in　duty）　be　mine　to　you：　for　shee　is　a　native　of　your　owne；　doe　right
to　her；　and　then　you　can　doe　no　wrong　unto　mee。
　　When　the　Gentlemen　understood；　that　the　Mayden　was　borne　in
Faenza；　they　marvelled　thereat；　and　after　they　had　thanked　Jacomino
for　his　curteous　answer；　they　desired　him　to　let　them　know；　by　what
meanes　the　Damosell　came　into　his　custody；　and　how　he　knew　her　to　be
borne　in　Faenza：　when　hee；　perceiving　them　attentive　to　heare　him；
began　in　this　manner。
　　Understand　worthy　Gentlemen；　that　Guidotto　of　Cremona；　was　my
companion　and　deare　friend；　who　growing　neere　to　his　death；　tolde　me
that　when　this　City　was　surprized　by　the　Emperour　Frederigo；　and　all
things　committed　to　sacke　and　spoile；　he　and　certaine　of　his
confederates　entred　into　a　House；　which　they　found　to　bee　well
furnished　with　goods；　but　utterly　forsaken　of　the　dwellers；　onely　this
poore　Mayden　excepted；　being　then　aged　but　two　yeeres；　or
thereabout。　As　hee　mounted　up　the　steps；　with　intent　to　depart　from
the　House；　she　called　him　Father；　which　word　moved　him　so
compassionately；　that　he　went　backe　againe；　brought　her　away　with　him；
and　all　things　of　worth　which　were　in　the　House：　going　thence
afterward　to　Fano；　and　there　deceasing；　hee　left　her　and　all　his　goods
to　my　charge；　conditionally；　that　I　should　see　her　married　when　due
time　required；　and　bestow　on　her　the　wealth　which　he　had　left　her。
Now；　very　true　it　is；　although　her　yeeres　are　convenient　for　marriage；
yet　I　could　never　finde　any　one　to　bestow　her　on；　at　least　that　I
thought　fitting　for　her：　howbeit　I　will　listen　thereto　much　more
respectively；　before　any　other　such　accident　shall　happen。
　　It　came　to　passe；　that　in　the　reporting　of　this　discourse；　there　was
then　a　Gentleman　in　the　company；　named　Guillemino　da　Medicina；　who
at　the　surprizall　of　the　City；　was　present　with　Guidotto　of　Cremona；
and　knew　well　the　House　which　he　had　ransacked；　the　owner　whereof
was　also　present　with　him；　wherefore　taking　him　aside；　he　said　to　him。
Bernardino；　hearest　thou　what　Jacomino　hath　related？　Yes　very　well；
replyed　Bernardino；　and　remember　withall；　that　in　that　dismall
bloody　combustion；　I　lost　a　little　Daughter；　about　the　age　as　Jacomino
speaketh。　Questionlesse　then　replyed　Guillemino；　she　must　needs　be　the
same　young　Mayden；　for　I　was　there　at　the　same　time；　and　in　the　House；
whence　Guidotto　did　bring　both　the　Girle　and　goods；　and　I　do　perfectly
remember；　that　it　was　thy　House。　I　pray　thee　call　to　minde；　if
everthou　sawest　any　scarre　or　marke　about　her；　which　may　revive　thy
former　knowledge　of　her；　for　my　minde　perswades　me；　that　the　Maide
is　thy　Daughter。
　　Bernardino　musing　awhile　with　himselfe；　remembred；　that　under　her
left　eare；　she　had　a　scarre；　in　the　forme　of　a　little　crosse；　which
happened　by　the　byting　of　a　Wolfe；　and　but　a　small　while　before　the
spoyle　was　made。　Wherefore；　without　deferring　it　to　any　further
time；　he　stept　to　Jacomino　who　as　yet　stayed　there）　and　entreated
him　to　fetch　the　Mayden　from　his　house；　because　shee　might　be　knowne
to　some　in　the　company：　whereto　right　willingly　he　condiscended；　and
there　presented　the　Maide　before　them。　So　soone　as　Bernardino　beheld
her；　he　began　to　be　much　inwardly　moved；　for　the　perfect　character
of　her　Mothers　countenance；　was　really　figured　in　her　sweete　face；
onely　that　her　beauty　was　somewhat　more　excelling。　Yet　not　herewith
satisfied；　he　desired　Jacomino　to　bee　so　pleased；　as　to　lift　up　a
little　the　lockes　of　haire；　depending　over　her　left　eare。　Jacomino　did
it　presently；　albeit　with　a　modest　blushing　in　the　Maide；　and
Bernardino　looking　advisedly　on　it；　knew　it　to　be　the　selfe…same
crosse；　which　confirmed　her　constantly　to　be　his　Daughter。
　　Overcome　with　excesse　of　joy；　which　made　the　teares　to　trickle　downe
his　cheekes；　he　proffered　to　embrace　and　kisse　the　Maide：　but　she
refusing　his　kindnesse；　because　（as　yet）　she　knew　no　reason　for　it；
hee　turned　himselfe　to　Jacomino；　saying。　My　deare　brother　and
friend；　this　Maide　is　my　Daughter；　and　my　House　was　the　same　which
Guidotto　spoyled；　in　the　generall　havocke　of　our　City；　and　thence　he
carried　this　childe　of　mine；　forgotten　（in　the　fury）　by　my　Wife　her
Mother。　But　happy　was　the　houre　of　his　becomming　her　Father；　and
carrying　her　away　with　him；　for　else　she　had　perished　in　the　fire；
because　the　House　was　instantly　burnt　downe　to　the　ground。　The
Mayden　hearing　his　words；　observing　him　also　to　be　a　man　of　yeeres　and
gravity：　she　beleeved　what　he　saide；　and　humbly　submitte