the decameron(十日谈)-第91章

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if　they　faile　of；　either　it　is　by　unfortunate　marriage；　or　some
imperfection　depending　on　nature；　not　through　want　of　good　will　in
themselves。　Wee　have　nothing　in　this　World　but　what　is　given　us；　in
which　regard；　wee　are　to　make　use　of　our　time；　and　employ　it　the
better　while　wee　have　it。　For；　when　wee　grow　to　bee　old；　our　Husbands；
yea；　our　very　dearest　and　nearest　Friends；　will　scarsely　looke　on
us。　Wee　are　then　fit　for　nothing；　but　to　sit　by　the　fire　in　the
Kitchin；　telling　tales　to　the　Cat；　or　counting　the　Pots　and　Pannes
on　the　shelves。　Nay；　which　is　worse；　Rimes　and　Songs　is　made　of　us；
even　in　meere　contempt　of　our　age；　and　commendation　of　such　as　are
young；　the　daintiest　morsels　are　fittest　for　them；　and　wee　referred　to
feed　on　the　scrappes　from　their　Trenchers；　or　such　reversion　as　they
can　spare　us。　I　tell　thee　Daughter；　thou　couldst　not　make　choyce　of
a　meeter　woman　in　all　the　City；　to　whom　thou　mightest　safely　open
thy　minde；　and　knowes　better　to　advise　thee　then　I　doe。　But　remember
withall；　that　I　am　poore；　and　it　is　your　part　not　to　suffer　poverty　to
bee　unsupplyed。　I　will　make　thee　partaker　of　all　these　blessed
pardons；　at　every　Altar　I　will　say　a　Pater　Noster；　and　an　Ave　Maria；
that　thou　maist　prosper　in　thy　hearts　desires；　and　be　defended　from
foule　sinne　and　shame；　and　so　she　ended　her　Motherly　counsell。
　　Within　a　while　after；　it　came　to　passe；　that　her　Husband　was　invited
foorth　to　supper；　with　one　named　Herculano；　a　kinde　Friend　of　his；　but
his　Wife　refused　to　goe；　because　she　had　appointed　a　Friend　to
Supper　with　her；　to　whom　the　old　woman　was　employed　as　her
messenger；　and　was　well　recompenced　for　her　labour。　This　friend　was
a　gallant　proper　youth；　as　any　all　Perugia　yeelded；　and　scarcely　was
hee　seated　at　the　Table；　but　her　Husband　was　returned　backe；　and
called　to　bee　let　in　at　the　doore。　Which　when　shee　perceived；　she
was　almost　halfe　dead　with　feare；　and　coveting　to　hide　the　young
man；　that　her　Husband　should　not　have　any　sight　of　him；　shee　had　no
other　meanes；　but　in　an　entry；　hard　by　the　Parlour　where　they　purposed
to　have　supt；　stood　a　Coope　or　Hen…pen；　wherein　shee　used　to　keepe　her
Pullen；　under　which　hee　crept；　and　then　shee　covered　it　with　an　olde
empty　Sacke；　and　after　ranne　ranne　to　let　her　Husband　come　in。　When
hee　was　entred　into　the　House；　as　halfe　offended　at　his　so　sudden
returne；　angerly　she　saide：　It　seemes　Sir　you　are　a　shaver　at　your
meate；　that　you　have　made　so　short　a　Supper。　In　troth　Wife　（quoth　hee）
I　have　not　supt　at　all；　no　not　so　much　as　eaten　one　bit。　How　hapned
that；　said　the　woman？　Marry　Wife　（quoth　hee）　I　will　tell　you；　and　then
thus　he　began。
　　As　Herculano；　his　Wife；　and　I　were　sitting　downe　at　the　Table；
very　neere　unto　us　wee　heard　one　sneeze；　whereof　at　the　first　wee　made
no　reckoning；　untill　wee　heard　it　againe　the　second　time；　yeal　a
third；　fourth；　and　fifth；　and　many　more　after；　whereat　wee　were　not
a　little　amazed。　Now　Wife　I　must　tell　you；　before　wee　entred　the　roome
where　we　were　to　sup；　Herculanoes　Wife　kept　the　doore　fast　shut
against　us；　and　would　not　let　us　enter　in　an　indifferent　while；
which　made　him　then　somewhat　offended；　but　now　much　more；　when　hee　had
heard　one　to　sneeze　so　often。　Demaunded　of　her　a　reason　for　it；　and
who　it　was　that　thus　sneezed　in　his　House：　hee　started　from　the　Table；
and　stepping　to　a　little　doore　neere　the　staires　head；　necessarily
made；　to　set　such　things　in；　as　otherwise　would　be　troublesome　to
the　roome；　（as　in　all　Houses　we　commonly　see　the　like）　he　perceived；
that　the　party　was　hidden　there；　which　wee　had　heard　so　often　to
sneeze　before。
　　No　sooner　had　hee　opened　the　doore；　but　stich　a　smell　of　brimstone
came　foorth　（whereof　wee　felt　not　the　least　savour　before）　as　made
us　likewise　to　cough　and　sneeze；　being　no　way　able　to　refraine　it。
Shee　seeing　her　Husband　to　bee　much　moved；　excused　the　matter　thus：
that　（but　a　little　while　before）　shee　had　whited　certaine　linnen
with　the　smoake　of　brimstone；　as　it　is　a　usuall　thing　to　doe；　and　then
set　the　Pan　into　that　spare　place；　because　it　should　not　bee　offensive
to　us。　By　this　time；　Herculano　had　espied　him　that　sneezed；　who
being　almost　stifled　with　the　smell；　and　closenesse　of　the　small　roome
wherein　hee　lay；　had　not　any　power　to　helpe　himselfe；　but　still
continued　coughing　and　sneezing；　even　as　if　his　heart　would　have　split
in　twaine。　Foorth　hee　pluckt　him　by　the　heeles；　and　perceiving　how
matter　had　past；　hee　saide　to　her。　I　thanke　you　Wife　now　I　see　the
reason；　why　you　kept　us　so　long　from　comming　into　this　roome：　let
mee　die；　if　I　beare　this　wrong　at　your　hands。　When　his　Wife　heard
these　words；　and　saw　the　discovery　of　her　shame；　without　returning
either　excuse　or　answere；　foorth　of　doores　shee　ranne；　but　whither；
wee　know　not。　Herculano　drew　his　Dagger；　and　would　have　slaine　him
that　still　lay　sneezing：　but　I　disswaded　him　from　it；　as　well　in
respect　of　his；　as　also　mine　owne　danger；　when　the　Law　should
censure　on　the　deede。　And　after　the　young　man　was　indifferently
recovered；　by　the　perswasion　of　some　Neighbours　comming　in：　hee　was
closely　conveyed　out　of　the　House；　and　all　the　noyse　quietly　pacified。
Onely　（by　this　meanes；　and　the　flight　of　Herculanoes　Wife）　wee　were
disappointed　of　our　Supper；　and　now　you　know　the　reason　of　my　so　soone
returning。
　　When　shee　had　heard　this　whole　discourse；　then　shee　perceived；
that　other　Women　were　subject　to　the　like　infirmitie；　and　as　wise
for　themselves；　as　shee　could　be；　though　these　the　like　sinister
accidents　might　sometime　crosse　them：　and　gladly　shee　wished；　that
Herculanoes　Wives　excuse；　might　now　serve　to　acquite　her：　but
because　in　blaming　others　errours；　our　owne　may　sometime　chance　to
escape　discovery；　and　cleare　us；　albeit　wee　are　as　guilty；　in　a　sharpe
reprehending　manner；　thus　shee　began。　See　Husband；　heere　is　hansome
behaviour；　of　an　holy　faire…seeming；　and　Saint…like　woman；　to　whom　I
durst　have　confest　my　sinnes；　I　conceived　such　a　religious
perswasion　of　her　lives　integrety；　free　from　the　least　scruple　of
taxation。　A　woman；　so　farre　stept　into　yeeres；　as　shee　is；　to　give
such　an　evill　example　to　younger　women；　is　it　not　a　sinne　beyond　all
sufferance？　Accursed　be　the　houre；　when　she　was　borne　into　this　World；
and　her　selfe　likewise；　to　bee　so　lewdly　and　incontinently　given；　an
universall　shame　and　slaunder；　to　all　the　good　women　of　our　City。
　　Shall　I　tearme　her　a　woman；　or　rather　some　savage　monster　in　a
womans　shape？　Hath　shee　not　made　an　open　prostitution　of　her
honesty；　broken　her　plighted　faith　to　her　Husband；　and　all　the　womanly
reputation　shee　had　in　this　World？　Her　Husband；　being　an　honourable
Citizen；　entreating　her　alwayes；　as　few　men　else　in　the　City　doe　their
wives；　what　an　heart…breake　must　this　needes　bee　to　him；　good　man？
Neither　I；　nor　any　honest　man　else；　ought　to　have　any　pity　on　her；　but
（with　our　owne　hands）　teare　her　in　peeces；　or　dragge　her　along　to　a
good　fire　in　the　Market　place；　wherein　she　and　her　minion　should　be
consumed　together；　and　their　base　ashes　dispersed　abroad　in　the　winde；
least　the　pure　Aire　should　be　infected　with　them。
　　Then；　remembring　her　owne　case；　and　her　poore　affrighted　friend；　who
lay　in　such　distresse　under　the　Hen…coope；　she　began　to　advise　her
Husband；　that　he　would　be　pleased　to　go　to　bed；　because　the　night
passed　on　apace。　But　Pedro；　having　a　better　will　to　eate；　then　to
sleepe；　desired　her　to　let　him　have　some　meate；　else　hee　must　goe　to
bed　with　an　empty　bellie；　whereto　shee　answered。　Why　Husband　（quoth
shee）　doe　I　make　any　large　provision；　when　I　am　de。　bard　of　your
company？　I　would　I　were　the　Wife　of　Herculano；　seeing　you　cannot
content　your　selfe　from　one　nights　feeding；　considering；　it　is　now
over…late　to　make　any　thing　ready。
　　It　fortuned；　that　certaine　Husbandmen；　which　had　the　charge　of
Pedroes　Farmehouse　in　the　Countrey；　and　there　followed　his　affaires　of
Husbandry；　were　returned　home　this　instant　night；　having　their　Asses
laden　with　such　provision；　as　was　to　bee　used　in　his　City…house。
When　the　Asses　were　unladen；　and　set　up　in　a　small　Stable；　without
watering；　one　off　them　being　（belike）　more　thirsty　then　the　rest；
brake　loose；　and　wandering　all　about　smelling　to　seeke　water；　happened
into　the　entry；　where　the　young　man　lay　hidden　under　the　Hen　pen。　Now；
hee　being　constrained　（like　a　Carpe）　to　lye　flat　on　his　belly；　because
the　Coope　was　over…weighty　for　him　to　carry；　and　one　of　his　hands　more
extended　foorth；　then　was　requisite　for　him　in　so　urgent　a　shift：　it
was　his　hap　（or　ill　fortune　rather）　that　the　Asse　set　his　foote　on　the
young　mans　fingers；　treading　so　hard；　and　the　paine　being　very
irkesome　to　him；　as　hee　was　enforced　to　cry　out　aloude：　which　Pedro
hearing；　he　wondered　thereat　not　a　little。
　　Knowing　that　this　cry　was　in　his　house；　hee　tooke　the　Candle　in
his　hand；　and　going　foorth　of　the　Parlour；　heard　the　cry　to　be　louder；
because　the　Asse　removed　not　his　foote；　but　rather　trod　the　more
firmely　on　his　hand。　Comming　to　the　Coope；　driving　the　Asse；　and
taking　off　the　old　sacke；　he　espyed　the　young　man；　who；　beside　the
painefull　anguish　he　felt　of　his　fingers；　arose　up　trembling；　as
fearing　some　outrage　beside　to　bee　offered　him　by　Pedro；　who　knew
the　youth　perfectly；　and　demaunded　of　him；　how　he　came　thither。　No
answere　did　hee　make　to　that　question；　but　humbly　entreated　（for
charities　sake）　that　hee　would　not　doe　him　any　harme。　Feare　not　（quoth
Pedro）　I　will　not　offer　thee　any　violence：　onely　tell　mee　how　thou
camest　hither；　and　for　what　occasion；　wherein　the　youth　fully　resolved
him。
　　Pedro　being　no　lesse　joyfull　for　thus　find。　him；　then　his　Wife　was
sorrowfull；　tooke　him　by　the　hand；　and　brought　him　into　the　Parlour；
where　shee　sate　trembling　and　quaking；　as　not　knowing　what　to　say　in
this　distresse。　Seating　himselfe　directly　before　her；　and　holding
the　youth　still　fast　by　the　hand；　thus　hee　began。　Oh　Wife！　What　bitter
speeches　did　you　use　（even　now）　against　the　Wife　of　Herculano；
maintaining　that　shee　had　shamed　all　other　women；　and　justly
deserved　to　be　burned？　Why　did　you　not　say　as　much　of　your　selfe？
Or；　if　you　had　not　the　heart　to　speake；　how　could　you　bee　so　cruell
against　her；　knowing　your　offence　as　great　as　hers？　Questionlesse；
nothing　else　urged　you　thereto；　but　that　all　women　are　of　one　and
the　same　condition；　covering　their　owne　grosse　faults　by　farre
inferiour　infirmities　in　others。　You　are　a　perverse　generation；
meerely　false　in　your　fairest　shewes。
　　When　she　saw　that　he　offered　her　no　other　violence；　but　gave　her
such　vaunting　and　reproachfull　speeches；　holding　still　the　young　man
before　her　face；　meerely　vexe　and　despight　her：　shee　began　to　take
heart；　and　thus　replied。　Doest　thou　compare　mee　with　the　Wife　of
Herculano；　who　is　an　old；　dissembling　hypocrite？　Yet　she　can　have　of
him　whatsoever　shee　desireth；　and　he　useth　her　as　a　woman　ought　to　be；
which　favour　I　could　never　yet　finde　at　thy　hands。　Put　the　case；
that　thou　keepest　me　in　good　garments；　allowing　mee　to　goe　neatly
hosed　and　shod；　yet　well　thou　knowest；　there　are　other　meere　matters
belonging　to　a　woman；　and　every　way　as　necessarily　required；　both
for　the　preservation　of　Houshold　quietnesse；　and　those　other　rites
b