the decameron(十日谈)-第84章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


Mayden　hearing　his　words；　observing　him　also　to　be　a　man　of　yeeres　and
gravity：　she　beleeved　what　he　saide；　and　humbly　submitted　her　selfe　to
his　kisses　and　embraces；　even　as　instructed　thereto　by　instinct　of
nature。　Bernardino　instantly　sent　for　his　wife；　her　owne　Mother；　his
daughters；　sonnes；　and　kindred；　who　being　acquainted　with　this
admirable　accident；　gave　her　most　gracious　and　kinde　welcome；　he
receiving　her　from　Jacomino　as　his　childe；　and　the　legacies　which
Guidotto　had　left　her。
　　When　the　Captaine　of　the　City　（being　a　very　wise　and　worthy
Gentleman）　heard　these　tydings；　and　knowing　that　Giovanni；　then　his
prisoner；　was　the　Son　to　Bernardino；　and　naturall　Brother　to　the　newly
recovered　Maide：　he　bethought　himselfe；　how　best　he　might　qualifie　the
fault　committed　by　him。　And　entring　into　the　Hall　among　them；
handled　the　matter　so　discreetly；　that　a　loving　league　of　peace　was
confirmed　betweene　Giovanni　and　Menghino；　to　whom　（with　free　and
full　consent　on　all　sides）　the　faire　Maide；　named　Agatha；　was　given　in
marriage；　with　a　more　honourable　enlargement　of　her　dowry；　and
Grinello；　with　the　rest；　delivered　out　of　prison；　which　for　their
tumultuous　riot　they　had　justly　deserved。　Menghino　and　Agatha　had
their　wedding　worthily　solemnized；　with　all　due　honours　belonging
thereto；　and　long　time　after　they　had　lived　in　Faenza；　highly　beloved；
and　graciously　esteemed。




　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　FIFT　DAY；　THE　SIXTH　NOVELL

　　WHEREIN　IS　MANIFESTED；　THAT　LOVE　CAN　LEADE　A　MAN　INTO　NUMBERLESSE
　　　　　　　　　　　　　PERILS：　OUT　OF　WHICH　HE　ESCAPETH　WITH　NO　MEANE
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　DIFFICULTY。

　　Guion　di　Procida；　being　found　familiarly　conversing　with　a　young
Damosell；　which　he　loved；　and　had　beene　given　（formerly）　to　Frederigo；
King　of　Sicilie：　was　bound　to　a　stake；　to　be　consumed　with　fire。
From　which　h　dan　ger　（neverthelesse）　he　escaped；　being　knowne　by　Don
Rogiero　de　Oria；　Lord　Admirall　of　Sicilie；　and　afterward　married　the
Damosell。

　　The　Novell　of　Madame　Neiphila　being　ended；　which　proved　very
pleasing　to　the　Ladies：　the　Queene　commanded　Madam　Pampinea；　that
she　should　prepare　to　take　her　turne　next；　whereto　willingly
obeying；　thus　she　began。　Many　and　mighty　（Gracious　Ladies）　are　the
prevailing　powers　of　love；　conducting　amorous　soules　into　infinite
travels；　with　inconveniences　no　way　avoidable；　and　not　easily　to　be
foreseene；　or　prevented。　As　partly　already　hath　bene　observed；　by
divers　of　our　former　Novels　related；　and　some　（no　doubt）　to　ensue
hereafter；　for　one　of　them　（comming　now　to　my　memory）　I　shall　acquaint
you　withall；　in　so　good　tearmes　as　I　can。
　　Ischia　is　an　Iland　very　neere　to　Naples；　wherein　（not　long　since）
lived　a　faire　and　lovely　Gentlewoman；　named　Restituta；　Daughter　to　a
Gentleman　of　the　same　Isle；　whose　name　was　Marino　Bolgaro。　A　proper
youth　called　Guion；　dwelling　also　in　a　neere　neighbouring　Isle；　called
Procida；　did　love　her　as　dearly　as　his　owne　life；　and　she　was　as
intimately　affected　towards　him。　Now　because　the　sight　of　her　was
his　onely　comfort；　as　occasion　gave　him　leave；　he　resorted　to　Ischia
very　often　in　the　day　time；　and　as　often　also　in　the　night　season；
when　any　Barke　passed　from　Procida　to　Ischia；　if　to　see　nothing
else；　yet　to　behold　the　walles　that　enclosed　his　Mistresse　thus。
　　While　this　love　continued　in　equall　fervency；　it　chanced　upon　a
faire　Summers　day；　that　Restituta　walked　alone　upon　the　Sea…shore；
going　from　Rocke　to　Rocke；　having　a　naked　knife　in　her　hand；　wherewith
she　opened　such　Oysters　as　shee　found　among　the　stones；　seeking　for
small　pearles　enclosed　in　their　shelles。　Her　walke　was　very　solitary
and　shady；　with　a　faire　Spring　or　Well　adjoyning　to　it；　and　thither
（at　that　very　instant　time）　certaine　Sicilian　young　Gentlemen；　which
came　from　Naples；　had　made　their　retreate。　They　perceiving　the
Gentlewoman　to　be　very　beautifull　（she　as　yet　not　having　any　sight
of　them）　and　in　such　a　silent　place　alone　by　her　selfe：　concluded
together；　to　make　a　purchase　of　her；　and　carry　her　thence　away　with
them；　as　indeed　they　did；　notwithstanding　all　her　out　cryes　and
exclaimes；　bearing　her　perforce　aboard　their　Barke。
　　Setting　sayle　thence；　they　arrived　in　Calabria；　and　then　there
grew　a　great　contention　betweene　them；　to　which　of　them　this　booty
of　beauty　should　belong；　because　each　of　them　pleaded　a　title　to
her。　But　when　they　could　not　grow　to　any　agreement；　but　doubted
greater　disasters　would　ensue　thereon；　by　breaking　their　former　league
of　friendship：　by　an　equall　conformity　in　consent；　they　resolved；　to
bestow　her　as　a　rich　present；　on　Frederigo　King　of　Sicille；　who　was
then　young　and　joviall；　and　could　not　be　pleased　with　a　better　gift；
wherefore；　they　were　no　sooner　landed　at　Palermo；　but　they　did
according　as　they　had　determined。　The　King　did　commend　her　beauty
extraordinarily；　and　liked　her　farre　beyond　all　his　other　Loves：
but；　being　at　that　time　empaired　in　his　health；　and　his　body　much
distempered　by　ill　dyet；　he　gave　command；　that　untill　he　should　be
in　more　able　disposition；　she　must　be　kept　in　a　goodly　house　of　his
owne；　erected　in　a　beautifull　Garden；　called　the　Cube；　where　she　was
attended　in　most　pompous　manner。
　Now　grew　the　noyse　and　rumor　great　in　Ischia；　about　this　rape　or
stealing　away　of　Restituta；　but　the　chiefest　greevance　of　all；　was；
that　it　could　not　be　knowne　how；　by　whom；　or　by　what　meanes。　But　Guion
di　Procida；　whom　this　injury　concerned　much　more　then　any　other：　stood
not　in　expectation　of　better　tydings　from　Ischia；　but　h　earing　what
course　the　Barke　had　taken；　made　ready　another；　to　follow　after　with
all　possible　speede。　Flying　thus　on　the　winged　winds　through　the　Seas；
even　from　Minerva；　unto　the　Scalea　in　Calabria；　searching　for　his　lost
Love　in　every　angle：　at　length　it　was　told　him　at　the　Scalea；　that
shee　was　carryed　away　by　certaine　Sicillian　Marriners；　to　Palermo；
whither　Guion　set　sayle　immediately。
　　After　some　diligent　search　made　there；　he　understood；　that　she　was
delivered　to　the　King；　and　he　had　given　strict　command；　for　keeping
her　in　his　place　of　pleasure；　called　the　Cube：　which　newes　were　not
a　little　greevous　to　him；　for　now　he　was　almost　quite　out　of　hope；　not
onely　of　ever　enjoying　her；　but　also　of　seeing　her。　Neverthelesse；
Love　would　not　let　him　utterly　despaire；　whereupon　he　sent　away　his
Barque；　and　perceiving　himselfe　to　be　unknowne　of　any；　he　continued
for　some　time　in　Palermo；　walking　many　times　by　that　goodly　place　of
pleasure。　It　chanced　on　a　day；　that　keeping　his　walke　as　he　used　to
do；　Fortune　was　so　favourable　to　him；　as　to　let　him　have　a　sight　of
her　at　her　window；　from　whence　also　she　had　a　full　view　of　him；　to
their　exceeding　comfort　and　contentment。　And　Guion　observing；　that　the
Cube　was　seated　in　a　place　of　small　resort；　approached　so　neere　as
possibly　he　durst；　to　have　some　conference　with　Restituta。
　　As　Love　sets　a　keene　edge　on　the　dullest　spirit；　and　（by　a　small
advantage）　makes　a　man　the　more　adventurous：　so　this　little　time　of
unseene　talke；　inspired　him　with　courage；　and　her　with　witty　advice；
by　what　meanes　his　accesse　might　be　much　neerer　to　her；　and　their
communication　concealed　from　any　discovery；　the　scituation　of　the
place；　and　benefit　of　time　duly　considered。　Night　must　be　the　cloud　to
their　amorous　conclusion；　and　therefore；　so　much　thereof　being
spent；　as　was　thought　convenient；　he　returned　thither　againe；　provided
of　such　grappling…yrons；　as　is　required　when　men　will　clamber；　made
fast　unto　his　hands　and　knees；　by　their　helpe　hee　attained　to　the
top　of　the　wall；　whence　discending　downe　into　the　Garden；　there　he
found　the　maine　yard　of　a　ship；　whereof　before　she　had　given　him
instruction；　and　rearing　it　up　against　her　Chamber　window；　made　that
his　meanes　for　ascending　thereto；　she　having　left　it　open　for　his
easier　entrance。
　　You　cannot　denie　（faire　Ladies）　but　here　was　a　very　hopefull
beginning；　and　likely　to　have　as　happy　an　ending；　were　it　not　true
Loves　fatal　misery；　even　in　the　very　height　of　promised　assurance；
to　be　thwarted　by　unkind　prevention；　and　in　such　manner　as　I　will　tell
you。　This　night；　intended　for　our　Lovers　meeting；　proved　disastrous
and　dreadfull　to　them　both：　for　the　King；　who　at　the　first　sight　of
Restituta；　was　highly　pleased　with　her　excelling　beauty；　gave　order　to
his　Eunuches　and　other　women；　that　a　costly　bathe　should　be　prepared
for　her；　and　therein　to　let　her　weare　away　that　night；　because　the
next　day　he　intended　to　visit　her。　Restituta　being　royally　conducted
from　her　Chamber　to　the　Bathe；　attended　on　with　Torchlight；　as　if
she　had　bene　a　Queene：　none　remained　there　behind；　but　such　women　as
waited　on　her；　and　the　Guards　without；　which　watched　the　Chamber。
　　No　sooner　was　poore　Guion　aloft　at　the　window；　calling　softly　to　his
Mistresse；　as　if　she　had　bene　there；　but　he　was　over…heard　by　the
women　in　the　darke：　and　immediately　apprehended　by　the　Guard；　who
forthwith　brought　him　before　the　Lord　Marshall；　where　being
examined；　and　he　avouching；　that　Restituta　was　his　elected　wife；　and
for　her　he　had　presumed　in　that　manner；　closely　was　he　kept　in
prison　till　the　next　morning。　When　he　came　into　the　Kings　presence；
and　there　boldly　justified　the　goodnesse　of　his　cause：　Restituta
likewise　was　sent　for；　who　no　sooner　saw　her　deare　Love　Guion；　but　she
ran　and　caught　him　fast　about　the　necke；　kissing　him　in　teares；　and
greeving　not　a　little　at　his　hard　fortune。　Heereat　the　King　grew
exceedingly　enraged；　loathing　and　hating　her　now；　much　more　then
formerly　hee　did　affect　her；　and　having　himselfe　seene　by　what　strange
meanes　he　did　climbe　over　the　wall；　and　then　mounted　to　her　Chamber
window；　he　was　extreamely　impatient；　and　could　not　otherwise　bee
perswaded；　but　that　their　meetings　thus　had　bene　very　many。
　　Forthwith　hee　sentenced　them　both　with　death；　commanding；　that
they　should　be　conveyed　thence　to　Palermo；　and　there　（being　stript
starke　naked）　be　bound　to　a　stake　backe　to　backe；　and　so　to　stand
the　full　space　of　nine　houres；　to　see　if　any　could　take　knowledge；
of　whence；　or　what　they　were；　then　afterward；　to　be　consumed　with
fire。　The　sentence　of　death；　did　not　so　much　daunt　or　dismay　the　poore
Lovers；　as　the　uncivill　and　unsightly　manner；　which　（in　feare　of　the
Kings　wrathfull　displeasure）　no　man　durst　presume　to　contradict。
Wherefore；　as　he　had　commanded；　so　were　they　carryed　thence　to
Palermo；　and　bound　naked　to　a　stake　in　the　open　Market　place；　and
（before　their　eyes）　the　fire　of　wood　brought；　which　was　to　consume
them；　according　to　the　houre　as　the　King　had　appointed。　You　neede
not　make　any　question；　what　an　huge　concourse　of　people　were　soone
assembled　together；　to　behold　such　a　sad　and　wofull　spectacle；　even
the　whole　City　of　Palermo；　both　men　and　women。　The　men　were　stricken
with　admiration；　beholding　the　unequalled　beauty　of　faire　Restituta；
and　the　selfe…same　passion　possessed　the　women；　seeing　Guion　to　be
such　a　goodly　and　compleat　young　man：　but　the　poore　infortunate　Lovers
themselves；　they　stood　with　their　lookes　dejected　to　the　ground；　being
much　pittied　of　all；　but　no　way　to　be　holpen　or　rescued　by　any；
awaiting　when　the　happy　houre　would　come；　to　finish　both　their　shame
and　lives　together。
　　Du