the decameron(十日谈)-第9章

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an　argument　sufficient；　that　goodnesse　is　gone　up　to　heaven；　and
hath　quite　forsaken　these　loathed　lower　Regions；　where　men　are　drowned
in　the　mud　of　all　abhominable　vices。
　　But　returning　where　I　left　（being　led　out　of　my　way　by　a　just　and
religious　anger　against　such　deformity）　this　Gentleman；　Master
Guillaume　Boursier；　was　willingly　seene；　and　gladly　welcommed　by　all
the　best　men　in　Geneway。　Having　remained　some　few　daies　in　the　City；
and　amongst　other　matters；　heard　much　talke　of　the　miserable
covetousnesse　of　master　Herminio；　he　grew　very　desirous　to　have　a
sight　of　him。　Master　Herminio　had　already　understood；　that　this
Gentleman；　Master　Guillaume　Boursier　was　vertuously　disposed；　and　（how
covetously　soever　hee　was　inclined）　having　in　him　some　sparkes　of
noble　nature；　gave　him　very　good　words；　and　gracious　entertainment；
discoursing　with　him　on　divers　occasions。
　　In　company　of　other　Genewayes　with　him；　he　brought　him　to　a　new
erected　house　of　his；　a　building　of　great　cost　and　beauty；　where；
after　he　had　shewne　him　all　the　variable　rarieties；　he　beganne　thus。
Master　Guillaume；　no　doubt　but　you　have　heard　and　seene　many　things；
and　you　can　instruct　me　in　some　queint　conceit　or　device；　to　be　fairly
figured　in　painting；　at　the　entrance　into　the　great　Hall　of　my
House。　Master　Guillaume　hearing　him　speake　so　simply；　returned　him
this　answer：　Sir；　I　cannot　advise　you　in　any　thing；　so　rare　or　unseene
as　you　talk　of：　but　how　to　sneeze　（after　a　new　manner）　upon　a　full　and
over…cloyed　stomacke；　to　avoyde　base　humours　that　stupifie　the　braine；
or　other　matters　of　the　like　quality。　But　if　you　would　be　taught　a
good　one　indeede；　and　had　a　disposition　to　see　it　fairely　effected；
I　could　instruct　you　in　an　excellent　Emblem；　wherwith　（as　yet）　you
never　came　acquainted。
　　Master　Herminio　hearing　him　say　so；　and　expecting　no　such　answer
as　he　had；　saide；　Good　Master　Guillaume；　tell　me　what　it　is；　and　on　my
faith　I　will　have　it　fairely　painted。　Whereto　Master　Guillaume
suddenly　replied；　Do　nothing　but　this　Sir：　Paint　over　the　Portall　of
your　Halles　enterance；　the　lively　picture　of　Liberality；　to　bid　all
your　friends　better　welcome；　then　hitherto　they　have　beene。　When
Master　Herminio　heard　these　words；　he　becam　possessed　with　such　a
sudden　shame；　that　his　complexion　changed　from　the　former　palenesse；
and　answered　thus。　Master　Guillaume；　I　will　have　your　advice　so
truly　figured　over　my　gate；　and　shee　shall　give　so　good　welcome　to　all
my　guests；　that　both　you；　and　all　these　Gentlemen　shall　say；　I　have
both　seene　her；　and　am　become　reasonably　acquainted　with　her。　From
that　time　forward；　the　words　of　Master　Guillaume　were　so　effectuall
with　Signior　Herminio；　that　he　became　the　most　bountifull　and　best
house…keeper；　which　lived　in　his　time　in　Geneway：　no　man　more
honouring　and　friendly　welcoming　both　strangers　and　Citizens；　then
he　continually　used　to　do。




　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　FIRST　DAY；　THE　NINTH　NOVELL

　　　　　　　　GIVING　ALL　MEN　TO　UNDERSTAND；　THAT　JUSTICE　IS　NECESSARY
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　IN　A　KING　ABOVE　AL　THINGS　ELSE　WHATSOEVER

　　The　King　of　Cyprus　was　wittily　reprehended；　by　the　words　of　a
Gentlewoman　of　Gascoignie；　and　became　vertuously　altered　from　his
vicious　disposition。

　　The　last　command　of　the　Queene；　remained　upon　Madam　Elissa；　or
Eliza；　who　（without　any　delaying）　thus　beganne。　Young　Ladies；　it
hath　often　beene　seene；　that　much　paine　hath　beene　bestowed；　and
many　reprehensions　spent　in　vaine；　till　a　word　happening　at　adventure；
and　perhaps　not　purposely　determined；　hath　effectually　done　the　deede：
as　appeareth　by　the　Tale　of　Madame　Lauretta；　and　another　of　mine　owne；
where　with　I　intend　briefly　to　acquaint　you；　approving　that　when
good　words　are　discreetly　observed；　they　are　of　soveraigne　power　and
vertue。
　　In　the　dayes　of　the　first　King　of　Cyprus；　after　the　Conquest　made　in
the　holy　Land　by　Godfrey　of　Bullen；　it　fortuned　that　a　Gentlewoman
of　Gascoignie；　travelling　in　pilgrimage　to　visit　the　sacred
Sepulcher　in　Jerusalem；　returning　home　againe；　arrived　at　Cyprus；
where　shee　was　villanously　abused　by　certaine　base　wretches。
Complaining　thereof；　without　any　comfort　or　redresse；　shee　intended　to
make　her　moane　to　the　King　of　the　Country。　Whereupon　it　was　tolde　her；
that　therein　shee　should　but　loose　her　labour；　because　hee　was　so
womanish；　and　faint…hearted；　that　not　onely　he　refused　to　punish
with　justice　the　offence　of　others；　but　also　suffered　shamefull
injuries　done　to　himselfe。　And　therefore；　such　as　were　displeased　by
his　negligence；　might　easily　discharge　their　spleene　against　him；
and　doe　him　what　dishonour　they　would。
　　When　the　Gentlewoman　heard　this；　despairing　of　any　consolation；　or
revenge　for　her　wrongs；　shee　resolved　to　checke　the　Kings　deniall　of
justice；　and　comming　before　him　weeping；　spake　in　this　manner。　Sir；
I　presume　not　into　your　presence；　as　hoping　to　have　redresse　by　you；
for　divers　dishonourable　injuries　done　unto　me；　but；　as　full
satisfaction　for　them；　doe　but　teach　me　how　you　suffer　such　vile
abuses；　as　daily　are　offered　to　your　selfe。　To　the　end；　that　being
therein　instructed　by　you；　I　may　the　more　patiently　beare　mine　owne；
which　（as　God　knoweth）　I　would　bestow　on　you　very　gladly；　because
you　know　so　well　how　to　endure　them。
　　The　King；　who　（till　then）　had　beene　very　bad；　dull；　and　slothfull；
even　as　sleeping　out　his　time　of　governement；　beganne　to　revenge　the
wrongs　done　to　this　Gentlewoman　very　severely；　and　（thence　forward）
became　a　most　sharpe　Justicer；　for　the　least　offence　offered　against
the　honour　of　his　Crowne；　or　to　any　of　his　subjects　beside。




　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　FIRST　DAY；　THE　TENTH　NOVELL

　　　　　　　WHEREIN　IS　DECLARED；　THAT　HONEST　LOVE　AGREETH　WITH　PEOPLE
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　OF　ALL　AGES

　　Master　Albert　of　Bullen；　honestly　made　a　Lady　to　blush；　that　thought
to　have　done　as　much　to　him；　because　shee　perceived　him；　to　be
amorously　affected　towards　her。

　　After　that　Madam　Eliza　sate　silent；　the　last　charge　and　labour　of
the　like　employment；　remained　to　the　Queene　her　selfe；　whereupon
shee　beganne　thus　to　speake：　Honest　and　vertuous　young　Ladies；　like　as
the　Starres　（when　the　Ayre　is　faire　and　cleere）　are　the　adorning　and
beauty　of　Heaven；　and　flowers　（while　the　Spring　time　lasteth）　doe
graciously　embellish　the　Meadowes；　even　so　sweete　speeches　and
pleasing　conferences；　to　passe　the　time　with　commendable　discourses；
are　the　best　habit　of　the　minde；　and　an　outward　beauty　to　the　body：
which　ornaments　of　words；　when　they　appeare　to　be　short　and　sweete；
are　much　more　seemely　in　women；　then　in　men；　because　long　and
tedious　talking　（when　it　may　be　done　in　lesser　time）　is　a　greater
blemish　in　women；　then　in　men。
　　Among　us　women；　this　day；　I　thinke　few　or　none　have　therein
offended；　but　as　readily　have　understood　short　and　pithy　speeches；　as
they　have　beene　quicke　and　quaintly　delivered。　But　when　answering
suteth　not　with　understanding；　it　is　generally　a　shame　in　us；　and　all
such　as　live；　because　our　moderne　times　have　converted　that　vertue；
which　was　within　them　who　lived　before　us；　into　garments　of　the　body；
and　shew　whose　habites　were　noted　to　bee　most　gaudy；　fullest　of
imbroyderies　and　fantastick　fashions：　she　was　reputed　to　have　most
matter　in　her；　and　therefore　to　be　more　honoured　and　esteemed。　Never
considering；　that　whosoever　loadeth　the　backe　of　an　Asse；　or　puts　upon
him　the　richest　braverie；　he　becommeth　not　thereby　a　jot　the　wiser；　or
meriteth　any　more　honor　then　an　Asse　should　have。　I　am　ashamed　to
speake　it；　because　in　detecting　other；　I　may　（perhaps）　as　justly　taxe
my　selfe。
　　Such　imbroydered　bodies；　tricked　and　trimmed　in　such　boasting
bravery；　are　they　any　thing　else　but　as　Marble　Statues；　dumbe；　dull；
and　utterly　insensible？　Or　if　（perchaunce）　they　make　an　answere；
when　some　question　is　demanded　of　them；　it　were　much　better　for　them
to　be　silent。　For　defence　of　honest　devise　and　conference　among　men
and　women；　they　would　have　the　world　to　thinke；　that　it　proceedeth　but
from　simplicity　and　precise　opinion；　covering　their　owne　folly　with
the　name　of　honesty：　as　if　there　were　no　other　honest　woman；　but
shee　that　conferres　onely　with　her　Chambermaide；　Laundresse；　or
Kitchin…woman：　as　if　nature　had　allowed　them；　（in　their　owne　idle
conceite）　no　other　kinde　of　talking。
　　Most　true　it　is；　that　as　there　is　a　respect　to　be　used　in　the　action
of　things；　so；　time　and　place　are　necessarily　to　be　considered；　and
also　whom　we　converse　withall；　because　sometimes　it　happeneth；　that
a　man　or　woman；　intending　（by　a　word　of　jest　and　merriment）　to　make
another　body　blush　or　be　ashamed：　not　knowing　what　strength　of　wit
remaineth　in　the　opposite；　doe　convert　the　same　disgrace　upon
themselves。　Therefore；　that　we　may　the　more　advisedly　stand　upon　our
owne　guard；　and　to　prevent　the　common　proverbe；　That　Women　（in　all
things）　make　choyse　of　the　worst：　I　desire　that　this　dayes　last
tale；　which　is　to　come　from　my　selfe；　may　make　us　all　wise。　To　the
end；　that　as　in　gentlenesse　of　minde　we　conferre　with　other；　so　by
excellency　in　good　manners；　we　may　shew　our　selves　not　inferiour　to
them。
　　It　is　not　many　yeares　since　（worthy　assembly）　that　in　Bulloigne
there　dwelt　a　learned　Physitian；　a　man　famous　for　skill；　and　farre
renowned；　whose　name　was　Master　Albert；　and　being　growne　aged；　to
the　estimate　of　threescore　and　tenne　yeares：　hee　had　yet　such　a
sprightly　disposition；　that　though　naturall　heate　and　vigour　had　quite
shaken　hands　with　him；　yet　amorous　flames　and　desires　had　not　wholly
forsaken　him。　Having　seene　（at　a　Banquet）　a　very　beautifull　woman；
being　then　in　the　estate　of　widdowhood；　named　（as　some　say）　Madam
Margaret　de　Chisolieri；　shee　appeared　so　pleasing　in　his　eye；　that　his
sences　became　no　lesse　disturbed；　then　as　if　he　had　beene　of　farre
younger　temper；　and　no　night　could　any　quietnesse　possesse　his
soule；　except　（the　day　before）　he　had　seene　the　sweet　countenance　of
this　lovely　widdow。　In　regard　whereof；　his　dayly　passage　was　by　her
doore；　one　while　on　horsebacke；　and　then　againe　on　foot；　as　best　might
declare　his　plaine　purpose　to　see　her。
　　Both　shee　and　other　Gentlewomen；　perceiving　the　occasion　of　his
passing　and　repassing；　would　privately　jest　thereat　together；　to　see　a
man　of　such　yeares　and　discretion；　to　be　amorously　addicted；　or
overswayed　by　effeminate　passions。　For　they　were　partly　perswaded；
that　such　wanton　Ague　fits　of　Love；　were　fit　for　none　but　youthfull
apprehensions；　as　best　agreeing　with　their　chearefull　complexion。
Master　Albert　continuing　his　dayly　walkes　by　the　widdowes　lodging；
it　chaunced　upon　a　Feastivall　day；　that　shee　（accompanied　with
divers　other　women　of　great　account）　being　sitting　at　her　doore；
espied　Master　Albert　（farre　off）　comming　thitherward；　and　a　resolved
determination　among　themselves　was　set　downe；　to　allow　him
favourable　entertainement；　and　to　jest　（in　some　merry　manner）　at　his
loving　folly；　as　afterward　they　did　indeede。
　　No　sooner　was　he　come　neere；　but　they　all　arose；　and　courteously
invited　him　to　enter　with　them；　conducting　him　into　a　goodly　Garden；
where　readily　was　prepared　choyse　of　delicate　wines　and　banquetting。
At　length；　among　other　pleasant　and　delightfull　discou