the decameron(十日谈)-第88章

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affectionate　friend）　ordained　to　be　her　endlesse　enemy；　and　to
pursue　her　in　this　manner　for　so　many　yeares；　as　she　exercised　moneths
of　cruelty；　towards　me。　Hinder　me　not　then；　in　being　the　executioner
of　divine　justice；　for　all　thy　interposition　is　but　in　vaine；　in
seeking　to　crosse　the　appointment　of　supreame　powers。
　　Anastasio　having　attentively　heard　all　this　discourse；　his　haire
stood　upright　like　Porcupines　quils；　and　his　soule　was　so　shaken
with　the　terror；　that　he　stept　backe　to　suffer　the　Knight　to　do　what
he　was　enjoyned；　looking　yet　with　milde　commisseration　on　the　poore
woman。　Who　kneeling　Most　humbly　before　the　Knight；　and　stearnely
seized　on　by　the　two　blood…hounds；　he　opened　her　brest　with　his
weapon；　drawing　foorth　her　heart　and　bowels；　which　instantly　he
threw　to　the　dogges；　and　they　devoured　them　very　greedily。　Soone
after；　the　Damosell　（as　if　none　of　this　punishment　had　bene
inflicted　on　her）　started　up　sodainly；　running　amaine　towards　the
Sea　shore；　and　the　Hounds　swiftly　following　her；　as　the　Knight　did　the
like；　after　he　had　taken　his　sword；　and　was　mounted　on　horsebacke；
so　that　Anastasio　had　soone　lost　all　sight　of　them；　and　could　not
gesse　what　was　become　of　them。
　　After　he　had　heard　and　observed　all　these　things；　he　stoode　a
while　as　confounded　with　feare　and　pitty；　like　a　simple　silly　man；
hoodwinkt　with　his　owne　passions；　not　knowing　the　subtle　enemies
cunning　illusions　in　offering　false　suggestions　to　the　sight；　to　worke
his　owne　ends　thereby；　and　encrease　the　number　of　his　deceived
servants。　Forthwith　he　perswaded　himselfe；　that　he　might　make　good　use
of　this　womans　tormenting；　so　justly　imposed　on　the　Knight　to
prosecute；　if　thus　it　should　continue　still　every　Friday。　Wherefore；
setting　a　good　note　or　marke　upon　the　place；　he　returned　backe　to
his　owne　people；　and　at　such　time　as　he　thought　convenient；　sent　for
divers　of　his　kindred　and　friends　from　Ravenna；　who　being　present　with
him；　thus　he　spake　to　them。
　　Deare　Kinsmen　and　Friends；　ye　have　a　long　while　importuned　me；　to
discontinue　my　over…doating　love　to　her；　whom　you　all　thinke；　and　I
find　to　be　my　mortall　enemy：　as　also；　to　give　over　my　lavish　expences；
wherein　I　confesse　my　selfe　too　prodigall；　both　which　requests　of
yours；　I　will　condiscend　to；　provided；　that　you　will　performe　one
gracious　favour　for　me；　Namely；　that　on　Friday　next；　Signior　Paulo
Traversario；　his　wife；　daughter；　with　all　other　women　linked　in　linage
to　them；　and　such　beside　onely　as　you　shall　please　to　appoint；　will
vouchsafe　to　accept　a　dinner　heere　with　wi　me；　as　for　the　reason
thereto　mooving　me；　you　shall　then　more　at　large　be　acquainted
withall。　This　appeared　no　difficult　matter　for　them　to　accomplish：
wherefore；　being　returned　to　Ravenna；　and　as　they　found　the　time
answerable　to　their　purpose；　they　invited　such　as　Anastasio　had
appointed　them。　And　although　they　found　it　some…what　an　hard　matter；
to　gaine　her　company　whom　he　so　deerely　affected；　yet　notwithstanding；
the　other　women　won　her　along　with　them。
　　A　most　magnificent　dinner　had　Anastasio　provided；　and　the　tables
were　covered　under　the　Pine…trees；　where　he　saw　the　cruell　Lady　so
pursued　and　slaine：　directing　the　guests　so　in　their　seating；　that　the
yong　Gentlewoman　his　unkinde　Mistresse；　sate　with　her　face　opposite
unto　the　place；　where　the　dismall　spectacle　was　to　be　seene。　About　the
closing　up　of　dinner；　they　beganne　to　heare　the　noise　of　the　poore
prosecuted　Woman；　which　drove　them　all　to　much　admiration；　desiring　to
know　what　it　was；　and　no　one　resolving　them；　they　arose　from　the
Tables；　and　looking　directly　as　the　noise　came　to　them；　they　espyed
the　wofull　Woman；　the　Dogges　eagerly　pursuing　her；　and　the　armed
Knight　on　horsebacke；　gallopping　fiercely　after　them　with　his　drawne
weapon；　and　came　very　nere　unto　the　company；　who　cryed　out　with　lowd
exclaimes　against　the　dogs　and　the　Knight；　stepping　forth　in
assistance　of　the　injured　woman。
　　The　Knight　spake　unto　them；　as　formerly　he　had　done　to　Anastasio；
（which　made　them　draw　backe；　possessed　with　feare　and　admiration）
acting　the　same　cruelty　as　he　did　the　Friday　before；　not　differing
in　the　least　degree。　Most　of　the　Gentlewomen　there　present；　being
neere　allyed　to　the　unfortunate　Woman；　and　likewise　to　the　Knight；
remembring　well　both　his　love　and　death；　did　shed　teares　as
plentifully；　as　if　it　had　bin　to　the　very　persons　themselves；　in
usuall　performance　of　the　action　indeede。　Which　tragicall　Sceene　being
passed　over；　and　the　Woman　and　Knight　gone　out　of　their　sight：　all
that　had　seene　this　straunge　accident；　fell　into　diversity　of　confused
opinions；　yet　not　daring　to　disclose　them；　as　doubting　some　further
danger　to　ensue　thereon。
　　But　beyond　all　the　rest；　none　could　compare　in　feare　and
astonishment　with　the　cruell　yong　Maide　affected　by　Anastasio；　who
both　saw　and　observed　all　with　a　more　inward　apprehension；　knowing
very　well；　that　the　morall　of　this　dismall　spectacle；　carried　a　much
neerer　application　to　her　then　any　other　in　all　the　company。　For　now
she　could　call　to　mind；　how　unkinde　and　cruell　she　had　shewne　her
selfe　to　Anastasio；　even　as　the　other　Gentlewoman　formerly　did　to
her　Lover；　still　flying　from　him　in　great　contempt　and　scorne：　for
which；　she　thought　the　Blood…hounds　also　pursued　her　at　the　heeles
already；　and　a　sword　of　vengeance　to　mangle　her　body。　This　feare
grew　so　powerfull　in　her；　that　to　prevent　the　like　heavy　doome　from
falling　on　her；　she　studied　（by　all　her　best　and　commendable　meanes；
and　therein　bestowed　all　the　night　season）　how　to　change　her　hatred
into　kinde　love；　which　at　the　length　she　fully　obtained；　and　then
purposed　to　prosecute　in　this　manner。
　　Secretly　she　sent　a　faithfull　Chambermaide　of　her　owne；　to　greete
Anastasio　on　her　behalfe；　humbly　entreating　him　te　come　see　her：
because　now　she　was　absolutely　determined；　to　give　him　satisfaction　in
all　which　（with　honour）　he　could　request　of　her。　Whereto　Anastasio
answered；　that　he　accepted　her　message　thankfully；　and　desired　no
other　favour　at　her　hand；　but　that　which　stood　with　her　owne　offer；
namely；　to　be　his　Wife　in　honourable　marriage；　The　Maide　knowing
sufficiently；　that　he　could　not　be　more　desirous　of　the　match；　then
her　Mistresse　shewed　her　selfe　to　be；　made　answer　in　her　name；　that
this　motion　would　be　most　welcome　to　her。
　　Heereupon；　the　Gentlewoman　her　selfe；　became　the　solicitour　to　her
Father　and　Mother；　telling　them　plainly；　that　slie　was　willing　to　be
the　Wife　of　Anastasio：　which　newes　did　so　highly　content　them；　that
upon　the　Sunday　next　following；　the　marriage　was　very　worthily
solemnized；　and　they　lived　and　loved　together　very　kindly。　Thus　the
divine　bounty　out　of　the　malignant　enemies　secret　machinations；　can
cause　good　effects　to　arise　and　succeede。　For；　from　this　conceite　of
fearfull　imagination　in　her；　not　onely　happened　this　long　desired
conversion；　of　a　Maide　so　obstinately　scornfull　and　proud；　but
likewise　all　the　women　of　Ravenna　（being　admonished　by　her　example）
grew　afterward　more　kind　and　tractable　to　mens　honest　motions；　then
ever　they　shewed　themselves　before。　And　let　me　make　some　use　hereof
（faire　Ladies）　to　you；　not　to　stand　over…nicely　conceited　of　your
beauty　and　good　parts；　when　men　（growing　enamored　of　you　by　them）
solicite　you　with　their　best　and　humblest　services。　Remember　then　this
disdainfull　Gentlewoman；　but　more　especially　her；　who　being　the
death　of　so　kinde　a　Lover；　was　therefore　condemned　to　perpetuall
punishment；　and　he　made　the　minister　thereof；　whom　she　had　cast　off
with　coy　disdaine；　from　which　I　wish　your　minds　to　be　as　free；　as　mine
is　ready　to　do　you　any　acceptable　service。




　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　FIFT　DAY；　THE　NINTH　NOVELL

　　　　　　WHEREIN　IS　FIGURED　TO　THE　LIFE；　THE　NOTABLE　KINDNESSE　AND
　　　　　　　　COURTESIE；　OF　A　TRUE　AND　CONSTANT　LOVER：　AS　ALSO　THE
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　MAGNANIMOUS　MINDE　OF　A　FAMOUS　LADY

　　Frederigo；　of　the　Alberighi　Family；　loved　a　Gentlewoman；　and　was　not
requited　with　like　love　againe。　By　bountifull　expences；　and　over
liberall　invitations；　he　wasted　and　consumed　all　his　lands　and
goods；　having　nothing　left　him；　but　a　Hawke　or　Faulcon。　His　unkinde
Mistresse　happeneth　to　come　visite　him；　and　he　not　having　any　other
foode　for　her　dinner；　made　a　dainty　dish　of　his　Faulcone　for　her　to
feede　on。　Being　conquered　by　this　exceeding　kinde　courtesie；　she
changed　her　former　hatred　towardes　him；　accepting　him　as　her　Husband
in　marriage；　and　made　him　a　man　of　wealthy　possessions。

　　Madam　Philomena　having　finished　her　discourse；　the　Queene
perceiving；　that　her　turne　was　the　next；　in　regard　of　the　priviledge
granted　to　Dioneus；　with　a　smiling　countenance　thus　she　spake。　Now
or　never　am　I　to　maintaine　the　order　which　was　instituted　when　wee
began　this　commendable　exercise；　whereto　I　yeeld　with　all　humble
obedience。　And　（worthy　Ladies）　I　am　to　acquaint　you　with　a　Novell；
in　some　sort　answerable　to　the　precedent；　not　onely　to　let　you　know；
how　powerfully　your　kindnesses　do　prevalle；　in　such　as　have　a　free　and
gentle　soule：　but　also　to　dvise　you；　in　being　bountifull；　where　vertue
doth　justly　challenge　it。　And　evermore；　let　your　favours　shine　on
worthy　deservers；　without　the　direction　of　chaunce　or　Fortune；　who
never　bestoweth　any　gift　by　discretion；　but　rashly　without
consideration；　even　to　the　first　she　blindly　meets　withall。
　　You　are　to　understand　then；　that　Coppo　di　Borghese　Domenichi；　who
was　of　our　owne　City；　and　perhaps　（as　yet）　his　name　remaineth　in　great
and　reverend　authority；　now　in　these　dayes　of　ours；　as　well
deserving　eternall　memory；　yet　more　for　his　vertues　and　commendable
qualities；　then　any　boast　of　Nobility　from　his　predecessors。　This　man；
being　well　entred　into　yeares；　and　drawing　towards　the　finishing　of
his　dayes；　it　was　his　only　delight　and　felicity；　in　conversation　among
his　neighbours；　to　talke　of　matters　concerning　antiquity；　and　some
other　things　within　compasse　of　his　owne　knowledge：　which　he　would
deliver　in　such　singular　order　（having　an　absolute　memory）　and　with
the　best　Language；　as　very　few　or　none　could　do　the　like。　Among　the
multiplicity　of　his　queint　discourses；　I　remember　he　told　us；　that
sometime　there　lived　in　Florence　a　yong　Gentleman；　named　Frederigo；
Sonne　to　Signior　Phillippo　Alberigo；　who　was　held　and　reputed；　both
for　Armes；　and　all　other　actions　beseeming　a　Gentleman；　hardly　to　have
his　equall　through　all　Tuscany。
　　This　Frederigo　（as　it　is　no　rare　matter　in　yong　Gentlemen）　became
enamored　of　a　Gentlewoman；　named　Madam　Giana；　who　was　esteemed　（in　her
time）　to　be　the　fairest　and　most　gracious　Lady　in　all　Florence。　In
which　respect；　and　to　reach　the　height　of　his　desire；　he　made　many
sumptuous　Feasts　and　Banquets；　joustes；　Tilties；　Tournaments；　and
all　other　noble　actions　of　Armes；　beside；　sending　her　infinite　rich
and　costly　presents；　making　spare　of　nothing；　but　lashing　all　out　in
lavish　expence。　Notwithstanding；　she　being　no　lesse　honest　then　faire；
made　no　reckoning　of　whatsoever　he　did　for　her　sake；　or　the　least
respect　of　his　owne　person。　So　that　Frederigo；　spending　thus　daily
more；　then　his　meanes　and　ability　could　maintaine；　and　no　supplies　any
way　redounding　to　him；　or　his　faculties　（as　very　easil