the decameron(十日谈)-第90章

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her　ready　to　say；　that　she　would　not　have　it。　Neverthelesse　she　did
not　speake；　but　rather　tarried　to　attend　his　answer。　Which；　after　some
small　respite　and　pause；　he　returned　in　this　manner。
　　Madame；　since　the　houre；　when　first　mine　affection　became　soly
devoted　to　your　service；　Fortune　hath　bene　crosse　and　contrary　to
me；　in　many　occasions；　as　justly；　and　in　good　reason　I　may　complain　of
her；　yet　all　seemed　light　and　easie　to　be　indured；　in　comparison　of
her　present　malicious　contradiction；　to　my　utter　overthrow；　and
perpetuall　mollestation。　Considering；　that　you　are　come　hither　to　my
poore　house；　which　（while　I　was　rich　and　able）　you　would　not　so　much
as　vouchsafe　to　looke　on。　And　now　you　have　requested　a　small　matter　of
me；　wherein　she　hath　also　most　crookedly　thwarted　me；　because　she　hath
disabled　me；　in　bestowing　so　meane　a　gift；　as　your　selfe　will
confesse；　when　it　shall　be　related　to　you　in　few　words。
　　So　soone　as　I　heard；　that　it　was　your　gracious　pleasure　to　dine　with
me；　having　regard　to　your　excellency；　and　what　（by　merit）　is　justly
due　unto　you：　I　thought　it　a　part　of　my　bounden　duty；　to　entertaine
you　with　such　exquisite　viands；　as　my　poore　power　could　any　way
compasse；　and　farre　beyond　respect　or　welcome；　to　other　common　and
ordinary　persons。　Whereupon；　remembring　my　Faulcon；　which　now　you　aske
for；　and　her　goodnesse；　excelling　all　other　of　her　kinde；　I
supposed；　that　she　would　make　a　dainty　dish　for　your　dyet；　and
having　drest　her；　so　well　as　I　could　devise　to　do：　you　have　fed
heartily　on　her；　and　I　am　proud　that　I　have　so　well　bestowne　her。
But　perceiving　now；　that　you　would　have　her　for　your　sicke　Sonne；　it
is　no　meane　affliction　to　me；　that　I　am　disabled　of　yeelding　you
contentment；　which　all　my　life　time　I　have　desired　to　doe。
　　To　approve　his　words；　the　feathers；　feete；　and　beake　were　brought
in；　which　when　she　saw；　she　greatly　blamed　him　for　killing　so　rare　a
Faulcon；　to　content　the　appetite　of　any　woman　whatsoever。　Yet　she
commended　his　height　of　spirit；　which　poverty　had　no　power　to　abase。
Lastly；　her　hopes　being　frustrate　for　enjoying　the　Faulcon；　and
fearing　besides　the　health　of　her　Sonne；　she　thanked　Frederigo　for　his
honorable　kindnesse；　returning　home　againe　sad　and　melancholly。
Shortly　after；　her　sonne　either　greeving　that　he　could　not　have　the
Faulcon；　or　by　extreamity　of　his　disease；　chanced　to　dye；　leaving
his　mother　a　most　wofull　Lady。
　　After　so　much　time　was　expired；　as　conveniently　might　agree　with
sorrow；　and　mourning；　her　Brethren　made　many　motions　to　her；　to　oyne
her　selfe　in　marriage　againe；　because　she　was　extraordinarily　rich；
and　as　yet　but　yong　in　yeares。　Now　although　she　was　well　contented
never　to　be　married　any　more；　yet　being　continually　importuned　by
them；　and　remembring　the　honorable　honesty　of　Frederigo；　his　last
poore；　yet　magnificent　dinner；　in　killing　his　Faulcon　for　her　sake；
she　saide　to　her　Brethren。　This　kind　of　widdowed　estate　doth　like　me
so　well；　as　willingly　I　would　never　leave　it：　but　seeing　you　are　so
earnest　for　my　second　marriage；　let　me　plainly　tell　you；　that　I　will
never　accept　of　any　other　husband；　but　onely　Frederigo　di　Alberino。
　　Her　Brethren　in　scornefull　manner　reprooved　her；　telling　her；　that
he　was　a　begger；　and　had　nothing　left　to　keepe　him　in　the　world。　I
know　it　well　（quoth　she）　and　am　heartily　sorry　for　it。　But　give　me　a
man　that　hath　neede　of　wealth；　rather　then　wealth　that　hath　neede　of　a
man。　The　Brethren　hearing　how　she　stood　addicted；　and　knowing
Frederigo　to　be　a　worthy　Gentleman；　though　poverty　had　disgraced　him
in　the　World：　consented　thereto；　so　she　bestowed　her　selfe　and　her
riches　on　him。　He　on　the　other　side；　having　so　noble　a　Lady　to　his
Wife；　and　the　same　whom　he　had　so　long　and　deerely　loved；　submitted
all　his　fairest　Fortunes　unto　her；　became　a　better　husband　（for　the
world）　then　before；　and　they　lived；　and　loved　together　in　equall　joy
and　happinesse。




　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　FIFT　DAY；　THE　TENTH　NOVELL

　　　　　REPREHENDING　THE　CUNNING　OF　IMMODEST　WOMEN；　WHO　BY　ABUSING
　　　　　　　　THEMSELVES；　DO　THROW　EVILL　ASPERSIONS　ON　ALL　THEIR　SEXE

　　Pedro　di　Vinciolo　went　to　sup　at　a　friends　house　in　the　City。　His
wife　（in　the　meane　while）　had　a　young　man　whom　shee　loved；　at　supper
with　Pedro　returning　home　on　a　sodaine；　the　young　man　was　hidden　under
a　Coope　for　Hens。　Pedro　in　excuse　of　his　so　soone　comming　home；
declareth；　how　in　the　house　of　Herculano　（with　whom　he　should　have
supt）　a　friend　of　his　Wives　was　found；　which　was　the　reason　of　the
Suppers　breaking　off。　Pedroes　Wife　reproving　the　error　of
Herculanoes　wife；　an　Asse　（by　chance）　treads　on　the　yong　mans
fingers　that　lay　hidden　under　the　Hen…coope。　Upon　his　crying　out　Pedro
steppeth　thither；　sees　him；　knowes　him；　and　findeth　the　fallacy　of　his
wife；　with　whom　（nevertbelesse）　he　groweth　to　agreement；　in　regard
of　some　imperfections　in　himselfe。

　　The　Queenes　Novell　being　ended；　and　all　applauding　the　happy　fortune
of　Frederigo；　as　also　the　noble　nature　of　Madam　Giana；　Dioneus
expecting　no　command；　prepared　to　deliver　his　discourse　in　this　maner。
I　know　not　whether　I　should　terme　it　a　vice　accidentall；　and　insuing
thorow　the　badnes　of　complexions　on　us　mortals；　or　an　error　in　Nature；
to　rejoyce　rather　at　lewd　accidents；　then　at　deeds　that　deserve
commendation；　especially　when　they　no　way　concern　our　selves。　Now；
in　regard　that　all　the　paines　I　have　hitherto　taken；　and　am　also　to
undergo　at　this　present　aymeth　at　no　other　end；　but　onely　to　purge
your　minds　of　melancholly；　and　entertain　the　time　with　mirthful
matter：　pardon　me　I　pray　you　（faire　Lacties）　if　my　Tale　trip　in　some
part；　and　savour　a　little　of　immodesty；　yet　in　hearing　it；　you　may
observe　the　same　course；　as　you　doe　in　pleasing　and　delightfull
Gardens；　plucke　a　sweete　Rose；　and　preserve　your　fingers　from
pricking。　Which　very　easily　you　may　doe；　winking　at　the
imperfections　of　a　foolish　man；　and　at　the　amourous　subtilties　of
his　Wife；　compassionating　the　misfortune　of　others；　where　urgent
necessity　doth　require　it。
　　There　dwelt　not　long　since　in　Perugia；　a　wealthy　man　named　Pedro
di　Vinciolo；　who　perhaps　more　to　deceive　some　other；　and　restraine
an　evill　opinion　which　the　Perugians　had　conceived　of　him；　in　matter
no　way　beseeming　a　man；　then　any　beauty　or　good　feature　remaining　in
the　woman　entred　into　the　estate　of　marriage。　And　Fortune　was　so
conforme　to　him　in　his　election；　that　the　woman　whom　he　had　made　his
wife；　had　a　yong；　lusty；　and　well　enabled　bodie；　a　red…haird　Wench；
hot　and　fiery　spirited；　standing　more　in　neede　of　three　Husbands；　then
he；　who　could　not　any　way　well　content　one　Wife；　because　his　minde　ran
more　on　his　mony；　then　those　offices　and　duties　belonging　to
wedlock；　which　time　acquainted　his　Wife　withall；　contrary　to　her
owne　expectation；　and　those　delights　which　the　estate　of　marriage
afforded；　knowing　her　selfe　also　to　be　of　a　sprightly　disposition；　and
not　to　be　easily　tamed　by　houshold　cares　and　attendances；　shee　waxed
weary　of　her　husbands　unkind　courses；　upbraided　him　daily　with　harsh
speeches；　making　his　owne　home　meerly　as　a　hell　to　him。
　　When　she　saw　that　this　domesticke　disquietnesse　returned　her　no
benefit；　but　rather　tended　to　her　own　consumption；　then　any
amendment　in　her　miserable　Husband；　shee　began　thus　to　conferre　with
her　private　thoughts。　This　Husband　of　mine　liveth　with　me；　as　if　he
were　no　Husband；　or　I　his　Wife；　the　marriage　bed；　which　should　be　a
comfort　to　us　both；　seemeth　hatefull　to　him；　and　as　little　pleasing　to
mee；　because　his　minde　is　on　his　money；　his　head　busied　with　worldly
cogitations；　and　early　and　late　in　his　counting…house；　admitting　no
familiar　conversation　with　me。　Why　should　not　I　be　as　respectlesse
of　him；　as　he　declares　him　selfe　to　be　of　me？　I　tooke　him　for　an
Husband；　brought　him　a　good　and　sufficient　Dowry；　thinking　him　to　be
man；　and　affected　a　woman　as　a　man　ought　to　doe；　else　he　had　never
beene　any　Husband　of　mine。　If　he　be　a　Woman　hater；　why　did　he　make
choice　of　me　to　be　his　Wife？　If　I　had　not　intended　to　be　of　the　World；
I　could　have　coopt　my　selfe　up　in　a　Cloyster；　and　shorne　my　selfe　a
Nunne；　but　that　I　was　not　born　to　such　severity　of　life。　My　youth
shall　be　blasted　with　age　before　I　can　truly　understand　what　youth　is；
and　I　shall　be　branded　with　the　disgraceful　word　barrennesse；
knowing　my　selfe　meete　and　able　to　be　a　Mother；　were　my　Husband　but
wort　the　name　of　a　Father；　or　expected　issue　and　posterity；　to　leave
our　memoriall　to　after　times　in　our　race；　as　all　our　predecessours
formerly　have　done；　and　for　which　mariage　was　chiefly　instituted。
Castles　long　besieged；　doe　yeeld　at　the　last；　and　women　wronged　by
their　owne　husbands；　can　hardly　warrant　their　owne　frailety；
especially　living　among　so　many　temptations；　which　flesh　and　bloud　are
not　alwaies　able　to　resist。　Well；　I　meane　to　be　advised　in　this
case；　before　I　will　hazard　my　honest　reputation；　either　to　suspition
or　scandall；　then　which；　no　woman　can　have　two　heavier　enemies；　and
very　few　there　are　that　can　escape　them。
　　Having　thus　a　long　while　consulted　with　her　selfe；　and　（perhaps）
oftner　then　twice　or　thrice；　she　became　secretly　acquainted　with　an
aged　woman；　generally　reputed　to　be　more　then　halfe　a　Saint；　walking
alwayes　very　demurely　in　the　streetes；　counting　（over　and　over）　her
Paters　Nosters；　and　all　the　Cities　holy　pardons　hanging　at　her
girdle　never　talking　of　any　thing；　but　the　lives　of　the　holy
Fathers；　or　the　woundes　of　Saint　Frances；　all　the　World　admiring　her
sanctity　of　life；　even　as　if　shee　were　divinely　inspired：　this　shee
Saint　must　bee　our　distressed　womans　Counsellour；　and　having　found　out
a　convenient　season；　at　large　she　imparted　all　her　minde　to　her；　in
some　such　manner　as　formerly　you　have　heard；　whereto　she　returned　this
answer。
　　Now　trust　me　Daughter；　thy　case　is　to　be　pittied；　and　so　much　the
rather；　because　thou　art　in　the　flowre　and　spring　time　of　thy　youth；
when　not　a　minute　of　time　is　to　bee　left：　for　there　is　no　greater　an
errour　in　this　life；　then　the　losse　of　time；　because　it　cannot　bee
recovered　againe；　and　when　the　fiends　themselves　affright　us；　yet　if
wee　keepe　our　embers　still　covered　with　warme　ashes　on　the　hearth；
they　have　not　any　power　to　hurt　us。　If　any　one　can　truly　speake
thereof；　then　I　am　able　to　deliver　true　testimony；　for　I　know；　but　not
without　much　perturbation　of　minde；　and　piercing　afflictions　in　the
spirit；　how　much　time　I　lost　without　any　profit。　And　yet　I　lost　not
all；　for　I　would　not　have　thee　thinke　me　to　bee　so　foolish；　that　I　did
altogether　neglect　such　an　especiall　benefit；　which　when　I　call　to
mind；　and　consider　now　in　what　condition　I　am；　thou　must　imagine；　it
is　no　small　hearts　griefe　to　mee；　that　age　should　make　me　utterly
despised；　and　no　fire　affoorded　to　light　my　tinder。
　　With　men　it　is　not　so；　they　are　borne　apt　for　a　thousand
occasions；　as　well　for　the　present　purpose　wee　talke　of；　as　infinite
other　beside；　yea；　and　many　of　them　are　more　esteemed　being　aged；　then
when　they　were　young。　But　women　serve　onely　for　mens　contentation；　and
to　bring　Children；　and　therefore　are　they　generally　beloved；　which
if　they　faile　of；　either　it　is　by　unfortunate　marriage；　or　some
imp