the decameron(十日谈)-第87章

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selfe　were　so　well　pleased　as　he。
　　The　like　motion　was　made　to　her；　to　understand　her　disposition　in
this　case；　who　hearing　what　good　hap　had　befalne　Theodoro；　and　now
in　like　manner　must　happen　to　her：　whereas　not　long　before；　when　two
such　violent　deathes　were　prepared　for　her；　and　one　of　them　shee
must　needs　embrace；　she　accounted　her　misery　beyond　all　other
womens；　but　she　now　thought　her　selfe　above　all　in　happinesse；　if
she　might　be　wife　to　her　beloved　Theodoro；　submitting　her　selfe
wholy　to　her　Fathers　disposing。　The　marriage　being　agreed　on
betweene　them；　it　was　celebrated　with　great　pompe　and　solemnity；　a
generall　Feast　being　made　for　all　the　Citizens；　and　the　young
married　couple　nourished　up　their　sweete　Son；　which　grew　to　be　a
very　comely　childe。
　　After　that　the　Embassie　was　dispatched　at　Rome；　and　Phineo　（with　the
rest）　was　returned　thither　againe；　Violenta　did　reverence　him　as　her
owne　naturall　Father；　and　he　was　not　a　little　proud　of　so　lovely　a
Daughter；　beginning　a　fresh　feasting　againe；　and　continuing　the　same　a
whole　moneth　together。　Within　some　short　while　after；　a　Galley　being
fairely　furnished　for　the　purpose；　Phineo；　his　Sonne；　Daughter；　and
their　young　Sonne；　went　aboard；　sayling　away　thence　to　Laiazzo；
where　afterward　they　lived　in　much　tranquility。




　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　FIFT　DAY；　THE　EIGHTH　NOVELL

　　DECLARING；　THAT　LOVE　NOT　ONELY　MAKES　A　MAN　PRODIGALL；　BUT　ALSO　AN
　　　ENEMY　TO　HIMSELFE。　MOREOVER；　ADVENTURE　OFTENTIMES　BRINGETH　SUCH
　　　　　　　　　　　　MATTERS　TO　PASSE；　AS　WIT　AND　CUNNING　IN　MAN
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　CAN　EVER　COMPREHEND

　　Anastasio；　a　Gentleman　of　the　Family　of　the　Honesti；　by　loving　the
Daughter　to　Signior　Paulo　Traversario；　lavishly　wasted　a　great　part　of
his　substance；　without　receiving　any　love　from　her　againe。　By
perswasion　of　some　of　his　kindred　and　friends；　he　went　to　a　Countrey
dwelling　of　his；　called　Chiasso；　where　he　saw　a　Knight　desperately
pursue　a　young　Damosell；　whom　he　slew；　and　afterward　gave　her　to　be
devoured　by　his　Hounds。　Anastasio　invited　his　friends；　and　hers　also
whom　he　so　dearely　loved；　to　take　part　of　a　dinner　with　him；　who
likewise　saw　the　same　Damosell　so　torne　in　peeces：　which　his　unkind
Love　perceiving；　and　fearing　least　the　like　ill　fortune　should
happen　to　her；　she　accepted　Anastasio　to　be　her　Husband。

　　So　soone　as　Madam　Lauretta　held　her　peace；　Madam　Pampinea　（by　the
Queenes　command）　began；　and　said。　Lovely　Ladies；　as　pitty　is　most
highly　commended　in　our　sexe；　even　so　is　cruelty　in　us　as　severely
revenged　（oftentimes）　by　divine　ordination。　Which　that　you　may　the
better　know；　and　learne　likewise　to　shun；　as　a　deadly　evill；　I　purpose
to　make　apparant　by　a　Novell；　no　lesse　full　of　compassion；　then
delectable。
　　Ravenna　being　a　very　ancient　City　in　Romania；　there　dwelt　sometime　a
great　number　of　worthy　Gentlemen；　among　whom　I　am　to　speake　of　one
more　especially；　named　Anastasio；　descended　from　the　Family　of　the
Honesti；　who　by　the　death　of　his　Father；　and　an　Unckle　of　his；　was
left　extraordinarily　abounding　in　riches；　and　growing　to　yeares
fitting　for　marriage；　（as　young　Gallants　are　easily　apt　enough　to
do）　he　became　enamored　of　a　very　bountifull　Gentlewoman；　who　was
Daughter　to　Signior　Paulo　Traversario；　one　of　the　most　ancient　and
noble　Families　in　all　the　Countrey。　Nor　made　he　any　doubt；　but　by
his　meanes　and　industrious　endeavour；　to　derive　affection　from　her
againe；　for　he　carried　himselfe　like　a　brave…minded　Gentleman；
liberall　in　his　expences；　honest　and　affable　in　all　his　actions；　which
commonly　are　the　true　notes　of　a　good　nature；　and　highly　to　be
commended　in　any　man。　But；　howsoever　Fortune　became　his　enemy；　these
laudable　parts　of　manhood　did　not　any　way　friend　him；　but　rather
appeared　hurtfull　to　himselfe：　so　cruell；　unkind；　and　almost　meerely
savage　did　she　shew　her　selfe　to　him；　perhaps　in　pride　of　her　singular
beauty；　or　presuming　on　her　nobility　by　birth；　both　which　are　rather
blemishes；　then　ornaments　in　a　woman；　especially　when　they　be　abused。
　　The　harsh　and　uncivill　usage　in　her；　grew　very　distastefull　to
Anastasio；　and　so　unsufferable；　that　after　a　long　time　of　fruitlesse
service；　requited　still　with　nothing　but　coy　disdaine；　desperate
resolutions　entred　into　his　brain；　and　often　he　was　minded　to　kill
himselfe。　But　better　thoughts　supplanting　those　furious　passions；　he
abstained　from　any　such　violent　act；　and　governed　by　more　manly
consideration；　determined；　that　as　shee　hated　him；　he　would　requite
her　with　the　like；　if　he　could：　wherein　he　became　altogether　deceived；
because　as　his　hopes　grew　to　a　dayly　decaying；　yet　his　love　enlarged
it　selfe　more　and　more。
　　Thus　Anastasio　persevering　still　in　his　bootlesse　affection；　and　his
expences　not　limited　within　any　compasse；　it　appeared　in　the　judgement
of　his　Kindred　and　Friends；　that　he　was　falne　into　a　mighty
consumption；　both　of　his　body　and　meanes。　In　which　respect；　many　times
they　advised　him　to　leave　the　City　of　Ravenna；　and　live　in　some
other　place　for　such　a　while；　as　might　set　a　more　moderate　stint
upon　his　spendings；　and　bridle　the　indiscreete　course　of　his　love；　the
onely　fuell　which　fed　this　furious　fire。
　　Anastasio　held　out　thus　a　long　time；　without　lending　an　eare　to　such
friendly　counsell：　but　in　the　end；　he　was　so　neerely　followed　by　them；
as　being　no　longer　able　to　deny　them；　he　promised　to　accomplish
their　request。　Whereupon；　making　such　extraordinary　preparation；　as　if
he　were　to　set　thence　for　France　or　Spaine；　or　else　into　some
further　distant　countrey：　he　mounted　on　horsebacke；　and　accompanied
with　some　few　of　his　familiar　friends；　departed　from　Ravenna；　and　rode
to　a　countrey　dwelling　house　of　his　owne；　about　three　or　foure　miles
distant　from　the　Cittie　which　was　called　Chiasso；　and　there　（upon　a
very　goodly　greene）　erecting　divers　Tents　and　Pavillions；　such　as
great　persons　make　use　of　in　the　time　of　a　Progresse：　he　said　to　his
friends；　which　came　with　him　thither；　that　there　he　determined　to　make
his　abiding；　they　all　returning　backe　unto　Ravenna；　and　might　come
to　visite　him　againe　so　often　as　they　pleased。
　　Now；　it　came　to　passe；　that　about　the　beginning　of　May；　it　being
then　a　very　milde　and　serrene　season；　and　he　leading　there　a　much　more
magnificent　life；　then　ever　hee　had　done　before；　inviting　divers　to
dine　with　him　this　day；　and　as　many　to　morrow；　and　not　to　leave　him
till　after　supper：　upon　the　sodaine；　falling　into　remembrance　of　his
cruell　Mistris；　hee　commanded　all　his　servants　to　forbeare　his
company；　and　suffer　him　to　walke　alone　by　himselfe　awhile；　because
he　had　occasion　of　private　meditations；　wherein　he　would　not　（by　any
meanes）　be　troubled。　It　was　then　about　the　ninth　houre　of　the　day；　and
he　walking　on　solitary　all　alone；　having　gone　some　halfe　miles
distance　from　his　Tents；　entred　into　a　Grove　of　Pine…trees；　never
minding　dinner　time；　or　any　thing　else；　but　onely　the　unkind　requitall
of　his　love。
　　Sodainly　he　heard　the　voice　of　a　woman；　seeming　to　make　most
mournfull　complaints；　which　breaking　off　his　silent　considerations；
made　him　to　lift　up　his　head；　to　know　the　reason　of　this　noise。　When
he　saw　himselfe　so　farre　entred　into　the　Grove；　before　he　could
imagine　where　he　was；　hee　looked　amazedly　round　about　him；　and　out
of　a　little　thicket　of　bushes　and　briars　round　engirt　with　spreading
trees；　hee　espyed　a　young　Damosell　come　running　towards　him；　naked
from　the　middle　upward；　her　haire　dishevelled　on　her　shoulders；　and
her　faire　skinne　rent　and　torne　with　the　briars　and　brambles；　so
that　the　blood　ran　trickling　downe　mainely；　she　weeping；　wringing
her　hands；　and　crying　out　for　mercy　so　lowde　as　she　could。　Two
fierce　Bloodhounds　also　followed　swiftly　after；　and　where　their
teeth　tooke　hold；　did　most　cruelly　bite　her。　Last　of　all　（mounted　on　a
lusty　blacke　Courser）　came　gallopping　a　Knight；　with　a　very　sterne　and
angry　countenance；　holding　a　drawne　short　Sword　in　his　hand；　giving
her　very　vile　and　dreadfull　speeches；　and　threatning　every　minute　to
kill　her。
　　This　strange　and　uncouth　sight；　bred　in　him　no　meane　admiration；
as　also　kinde　compassion　to　the　unfortunate　woman；　out　of　which
compassion；　sprung　an　earnest　desire；　to　deliver　her　（if　he　could）
from　a　death　so　full　of　anguish　and　horror：　but　seeing　himselfe　to
be　without　Armes；　he　ran　and　pluckt　up　the　plant　of　a　Tree；　which
handling　as　if　it　had　bene　a　staffe；　he　opposed　himselfe　against　the
Dogges　and　the　Knight；　who　seeing　him　comming；　cryed　out　in　this
manner　to　him。　Anastasio；　put　not　thy　selfe　in　any　opposition；　but
referre　to　my　Hounds　and　me；　to　punish　this　wicked　woman　as　she　hath
justly　deserved。　And　in　speaking　these　words；　the　Hounds　tooke　fast
hold　on　her　body；　so　staying　her；　untill　the　Knight　was　come　neerer　to
her；　and　alighted　from　his　horse：　when　Anastasio　（after　some　other
angry　speeches）　spake　thus　unto　him：　I　cannot　tell　what　or　who　thou
art；　albeit　thou　takest　such　knowledge　of　me；　yet　I　must　say；　that
it　is　meere　cowardize　in　a　Knight；　being　armed　as　thou　art；　to　offer
to　kill　a　naked　woman；　and　make　thy　dogges　thus　to　seize　on　her；　as　if
she　were　a　savage　beast；　therefore　beleeve　me；　I　will　defend　her　so
farre　as　I　am　able。
　　Anastasio；　answered　the　Knight；　I　am　of　the　same　City　as　thou　art；
and　do　well　remember；　that　thou　wast　a　little　Ladde；　when　I　（who　was
then　named　Guido　Anastasio；　and　thine　Unckle）　became　as　intirely　in
love　with　this　woman；　as　now　thou　art　of　Paulo　Traversarioes　daughter。
But　through　her　coy　disdaine　and　cruelty；　such　was　my　heavy　fate；　that
desperately　I　slew　my　selfe　with　this　short　sword　which　thou　beholdest
in　mine　hand：　for　which　rash　sinfull　deede；　I　was；　and　am　condemned　to
eternall　punishment。　This　wicked　woman；　rejoycing　immeasurably　in　mine
unhappy　death；　remained　no　long　time　alive　after　me；　and　for　her
mercilesse　sinne　of　cruelty；　and　taking　pleasure　in　my　oppressing
torments；　dying　unrepentant；　and　in　pride　of　her　scorne；　she　had　the
like　sentence　of　condemnation　pronounced　on　her；　and　sent　to　the
same　place　where　I　was　tormented。
　　There　the　three　impartiall　judges；　imposed　this　further　infliction
on　us　both；　namely；　that　she　should　flye　in　this　manner　before　me；　and
I　（who　loved　her　so　deerely　while　I　lived）　must　pursue　her　as　my
deadly　enemy；　not　like　a　woman　that　had　a　taste　of　love　in　her。　And　so
often　as　I　can　overtake　her；　I　am　to　kill　her　with　this　sword；　the
same　Weapon　wherewith　I　slew　my　selfe。　Then　am　I　enjoyned；　therewith
to　open　her　accursed　body；　and　teare　out　her　hard　and　frozen　heart；
with　her　other　inwards；　as　now　thou　seest　me　doe；　which　I　give　unto　my
Hounds　to　feede　on。　Afterward；　such　is　the　appointment　of　the　supreame
powers；　that　she　re…assumeth　life　againe；　even　as　if　she　had　not
bene　dead　at　all；　and　falling　to　the　same　kinde　of　flight；　I　with　my
Hounds　am　still　to　follow　her；　without　any　respite　or　intermission。
Every　Friday；　and　just　at　this　houre；　our　course　is　this　way；　where
she　suffereth　the　just　punishment　inflicted　on　her。　Nor　do　we　rest　any
of　the　other　dayes；　but　are　appointed　unto　other　places；　where　she
cruelly　executed　her　malice　against　me；　being　now　（of　her　deare
affectionate　friend）　ordained　to　be　her　endlesse　enemy；　and　t