the decameron(十日谈)-第96章

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Baronchi　you'll　meet　with　one　with　a　long　narrow　face；　another　with
a　prodigiously　broad　one；　one　is　flat…nosed；　another　has　a　nose　that
measures　an　ell；　one　has　a　long　chin　and　jaws　like　an　ass；　another　has
his　short　and　flat；　and　is　monkey…faced。　Nay；　there　are　some　of　them
that　have　but　one　eye　either　larger　or　lower　than　the　others　have。
In　a　word；　their　faces　for　all　the　world　resemble　such　as　children
make　when　they　first　begin　to　draw。　Prometheus；　you　will　allow；　must
be　no　great　master　when　he　made　these　figures；　as　I　told　you　before；
and　consequently　they　must　be　more　noble　as　they　are　more　ancient。〃
　　So　diverting　an　argument　made　them　all　to　laugh　heartily。　The
representation　he　gave　of　the　Baronchi　was　so　ust　and　natural　that
they　all　agreed　he　had　won：　and　nothing　was　heard　for　a　full　quarter
of　an　hour　but　〃Scalza　has　won！〃　and　〃The　Baronchi　are　the　most
ancient　and　noble　family　in　all　Florence！〃




　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　SIXT　DAY；　THE　SEVENTH　NOVELL

　　　　　　　　　　WHEREIN　IS　DECLARED；　OF　WHAT　WORTH　IT　IS　TO　CONFESSE
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　TRUETH；　WITH　A　FACETIOUS　AND　WITTY　EXCUSE

　　Madam　Philippa；　being　accused　by　her　Husband　Rinaldo　de　Pugliese；
because　he　tooke　her　in　Adulterie；　with　a　yong　Gentleman　named
Lazarino　de　Guazzagliotri：　caused　her　to　bee　cited　before　the　Judge。
From　whom　she　delivered　her　selfe；　by　a　sodaine；　witty；　and　pleasant
answer；　and　moderated　a　severe　strict　Statute；　formerly　made　against
women。

　　After　that　Madame　Fiammetta　had　given　over　speaking；　and　all　the
Auditory　had　sufficiently　applauded　the　Schollers　honest　revenge；
the　Queene　enjoyned　Philostratus；　to　proceede　on　next　with　his　Novell；
which　caused　him　to　begin　thus。　Beleeve　me　Ladies；　it　is　an
excellent　and　most　commendable　thing；　to　speak　well；　and　to　all
purposes：　but　I　hold　it　a　matter　of　much　greater　worth；　to　know　how　to
do　it；　and　when　necessity　doth　most　require　it。　Which　a　Gentlewoman
（of　whom　I　am　now　to　speake）　was　so　well　enstructed　in；　as　not　onely
it　yeelded　the　hearers　mirthfull　contentment；　but　likewise　delivered
her　from　the　danger　of　death；　as　（in　few　words）　you　shal　heare
related。
　　In　the　Citie　of　Pirato；　there　was　an　Edict　or　Statute；　no　lesse
blameworthy　（to　speake　uprightly）　then　most　severe　and　cruell；　which
（without　making　any　distinction）　gave　strict　command；　That　everie
Woman　should　be　burned　with　fire；　who　husband　found　her　in　the　acte　of
Adultery；　with　any　secret　or　familiar　friend；　as　one　deserving　to
bee　thus　abandoned；　like　such　as　prostituted　their　bodies　to　publike
sale　or　hire。　During　the　continuance　of　this　sharpe　Edict；　it　fortuned
that　a　Gentlewoman；　who　was　named　Phillippa；　was　found　in　her
Chamber　one　night；　in　the　armes　of　a　yong　Gentleman　of　the　same
City；　named　Lazarino　de　Guazzagliotri；　and　by　her　owne　husband；
called　Rinaldo　de　Pugliese；　shee　loving　the　young　Gallant；　as　her　owne
life；　because　hee　was　most　compleate　in　all　perfections；　and　every　way
as　deerely　addicted　to　her。
　　This　sight　was　so　irkesome　to　Rinaldo；　that；　being　overcom　with
extreame　rage；　hee　could　hardly　containe　from　running　on　them；　with
a　violent　intent　to　kill　them　both：　but　feare　of　his　owne　life
caused　his　forbearance；　meaning　to　be　revenged　by　some　better　way。
Such　was　the　heate　of　his　spleene　and　fury；　as；　setting　aside　all
respect　of　his　owne　shame：　he　would　needs　prosecute　the　rigour　of
the　deadly　Edict；　which　he　held　lawfull　for　him　to　do；　although　it
extended　to　the　death　of　his　Wife。　Heereupon；　having　witnesses
sufficient；　to　approove　the　guiltinesse　of　her　offence：　a　day　being
appointed　（without　desiring　any　other　counsell）　he　went　in　person　to
accuse　her；　and　required　justice　against　her。
　　The　Gentlewoman；　who　was　of　an　high　and　undauntable　spirite；　as
all　such　are；　who　have　fixed　their　affection　resolvedly；　and　love
uppon　a　grounded　deliberation：　concluded；　quite　against　the　counsell
and　opinion　of　her　Parents；　Kindred；　and　Friends；　to　appeare　in　the
Court；　as　desiring　rather　to　dye；　by　confessing　the　trueth　with　a
manly　courage；　then　by　denying　it；　and　her　love　unto　so　worthy　a
person　as　he　was；　in　whose　arms　she　chanced　to　be　taken；　to　live
basely　in　exile　with　shame；　as　an　eternall　scandall　to　her　race。　So；
before　the　Potestate；　shee　made　her　apparance；　worthily　accompanied
both　with　men　and　women；　all　advising　her　to　deny　the　acte：　but　she；
not　minding　them　or　their　perswasions；　looking　on　the　Judge　with　a
constant　countenance；　and　a　voyce　of　setled　resolve；　craved　to　know　of
him；　what　hee　demaunded　of　her？
　　The　Potestate　well　noting　her　brave　carriage；　her　singular　beautie
and　praiseworthy　parts；　her　words　apparantly　witnessing　the　heighth　of
her　minde：　beganne　to　take　compassion　on　her；　and　doubted；　least
shee　would　confesse　some　such　matter；　as　should　enforce　him　to
pronounce　the　sentence　of　death　against　her。　But　she　boldly　scorning
all　delayes；　or　any　further　protraction　of　time；　demanded　again；
what　was　her　accusation？　Madame；　answered　the　Potestate；　I　am　sory
to　tel　you；　what　needs　I　must；　your　husband　（whom　you　see　present
heere）　is　the　complainant　against　you；　avouching；　that　he　tooke　you　in
the　act　of　adultery　with　another　man：　and　therefore　he　requireth；
that；　according　to　the　rigour　of　the　Statute　heere　in　force　with　us；　I
should　pronounce　sentence　against　you；　and　（consequently）　the
infliction　of　death。　Which　I　cannot　do；　if　you　confesse　not　the
fact；　and　therefore　be　well　advised；　how　you　answer　me；　and　tell　me
the　truth；　if　it　be　as　your　Husband　accuseth　you；　or　no。
　　The　Lady；　without　any　dismay　or　dread　at　all；　pleasantly　thus
replied。　My　Lord；　true　it　is；　that　Rinaldo　is　my　Husband；　and　that
he　found　me；　on　the　night　named；　betweene　the　Armes　of　Lazarino；　where
many　times　heeretofore　he　hath　embraced　mee；　according　to　the
mutuall　love　re…plighted　together；　which　I　deny　not；　nor　ever　will。
But　you　know　well　enough；　and　I　am　certaine　of　it；　that　the　Lawes
enacted　in　any　Countrey；　ought　to　be　common；　and　made　with　consent
of　them　whom　they　concerne；　whichin　this　Edict　of　yours　is　quite
contrarie。　For　it　is　rigorous　against　none；　but　poore　women　onely；　who
are　able　to　yeeld　much　better　content　and　satisfaction　generally；　then
remaineth　in　the　power　of　men　to　do。　And　moreover；　when　this　Law　was
made；　there　was　not　any　woman　that　gave　consent　to　it；　neither　were
they　called　to　like　or　allow　thoreof：　in　which　respect；　it　may
deservedly　be　termed；　an　unjust　Law。　And　if　you　will；　in　prejudice
of　my　bodie；　and　of　your　owne　soule；　be　the　executioner　of　so
unlawfull　an　Edict；　it　consisteth　in　your　power　to　do　as　you　please。
　　But　before　you　proceede　to　pronounce　any　sentence；　may　it　please　you
to　favour　me　with　one　small　request；　namely；　that　you　would　demand
of　my　Husband；　if　at　all　times；　and　whensoever　he　tooke　delight　in
my　company；　I　ever　made　any　curiosity；　or　came　to　him　unwillingly。
Whereto　Rinaldo；　without　tarrying　for　the　Potestate　to　moove　the
question；　sodainly　answered；　that　（undoubtedly）　his　wife　at　all　times；
and　oftner　then　he　could　request　it；　was　never　sparing　of　her
kindnesse；　or　put　him　off　with　any　deniall。　Then　the　Lady；
continuing　on　her　former　speeches；　thus　replyed。　Let　me　then　demand　of
you　my　Lord；　being　our　Potestate　and　Judge；　if　it　be　so；　by　my
Husbands　owne　free　confession；　that　he　hath　alwaies　had　his　pleasure
of　me；　without　the　least　refusall　in　me；　or　contradiction；　what　should
I　doe　with　the　over…plus　remaining　in　mine　owne　power；　and　whereof
he　had　no　need？　Would　you　have　mee　cast　it　away　to　the　Dogges？　Was
it　not　more　fitting　for　me；　to　pleasure　therwith　a　worthy　Gentleman；
who　was　even　at　deaths　doore　for　my　love；　then　（my　husbands
surfetting；　and　having　no　neede　of　me）　to　let　him　lye　languishing；　and
dye？
　　Never　was　heard　such　an　examination　before；　and　to　come　from　a　woman
of　such　worth；　the　most　part　of　the　honourable　Pratosians　（both
Lords　and　Ladies）　being　there　present；　who　hearing　her　urge　such　a
necessary　question；　cryed　out　all　loud　together　with　one　voice
（after　they　had　laughed　their　fill）　that　the　Lady　had　saide　well；
and　no　more　then　she　might。　So　that；　before　they　departed　thence；　by
comfortable　advice　proceeding　from　the　Potestate：　the　Edict　（being
reputed　overcruell）　was　modified；　and　interpreted　to　concerne　them
onely；　who　offered　injurie　to　their　Husbands　for　money。　By　which
meanes　Rinaldo　standing　as　one　confounded；　for　such　a　foolish　and
unadvised　enterprize；　departed　from　the　Auditorie：　and　the　Ladie；
not　a　little　joyfull　to　bee　thus　freed　and　delivered　from　the　fire；
returned　home　with　victorie　to　her　owne　house。




　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　SIXT　DAY；　THE　EIGHTH　NOVELL

　　IN　JUST　SCORNE　OF　SUCH　UNSIGHTLY　AND　ILL…PLEASING　SURLY　SLUTS；　WHO
　　　　　　　　　　　　　IMAGINE　NONE　TO　BE　FAIRE　OR　WELL…FAVOURED；　BUT
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THEMSELVES

　　Fresco　da　Celatico；　counselled　and　advised　his　Neece　Cesca：　That
if　such　as　deserved　to　be　looked　on；　were　offensive　to　her　eyes；　as
she　had　often　told　him；　she　should　forbeare　to　looke　on　any。

　　All　the　while　as　Philostratus　was　recounting　his　Novell；　it
seemed；　that　the　Ladies　（who　heard　it）　found　themselves　much　mooved
thereat；　as　by　the　wanton　blood　mounting　up　into　their　cheekes；　it
plainly　appeared。
　　But　in　the　end；　looking　on　each　other　with　strange　behaviour；　they
could　not　forbeare　smiling：　which　the　Queene　interrupting　by　a　command
of　attention；　turning　to　Madame　Aemillia；　willed　her　to　follow　next。
When　she；　puffing　and　blowing；　as　if　she　had　bene　newly　awaked　from
sleepe；　began　in　this　manner。
　　Faire　Beauties；　My　thoughts　having　wandred　a　great　distance　hence；
and　further　then　I　can　easily　collect　them　together　againe；　in
obedience　yet　to　our　Queene；　I　shall　report　a　much　shorter　Novell；
then　otherwise　（perhappes）　I　should　have　done；　if　my　minde　had　beene　a
little　neerer　home。　I　shall　tell　you　the　grosse　fault　of　a　foolish
Damosell；　well　corrected　by　a　witty　reprehension　of　her　Unckle；　if
shee　had　bin　endued　but　with　so　much　sence；　as　to　have　understood　it。
　　An　honest　man；　named　Fresco　da　Celatico；　had　a　good　fulsom　wench
to　his　Neece；　who　for　her　folly　and　squemishnes；　was　generally
called　Cesta；　or　nice　Francesca。　And　althogh　she　had　stature
sufficient；　yet　none　of　the　handsomest；　and　a　good　hard　favourd
countenance；　nothing　nere　such　Angelical　beauties　as　we　have　seen；　yet
she　was　endued　with　such　height　of　minde；　and　so　proud　an　opinion　of
her　selfe；　that　it　appeared　as　a　custome　bred　in　hir；　or　rather　a　gift
bestowed　on　hir　by　nature　（thogh　none　of　the　best）　to　blame　and
despise　both　men　and　women；　yea　whosoever　she　lookt　on；　without　any
consideration　of　her　self；　she　being　as　unsightly；　ill　shaped；　and
ugly　faced；　as　a　worse　was　very　hardly　to　be　found。
　　Nothing　could　be　done　at　any　time；　to　yeilde　her　liking　or
content：　moreover；　she　was　so　waspish；　nice　and　squemish；　that　when
she　cam　into　the　royall　Court　of　France；　it　was　hatefull　and
contemptible　to　hir。　Whensoever　she　went　through　the　streets；　every
thing　stunke　and　was　noisome　to　her；　so　that　she　never　did　any　thing
but　stop　her　nose；　as　if　all　men　or　women　she　met　withall；　and
whatsoever　else　she　lookt　on；　were　stinking　and　offensive。　But　let
us　leave　all　fu