the decameron(十日谈)-第99章

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　　When　all　the　people　were　assembled　in　the　Church　together；　Friar
Onyon　（never　distrusting　any　injurie　offered　him；　or　that　his　close
commodities　had　bin　medled　withal）　began　his　predication；　uttering　a
thousand　lies　to　fit　his　purpose。　And　when　he　came　to　shew　the　feather
of　the　Phoenix　（having　first　in　great　devotion　finisht　the　confession）
he　caused　two　goodly　torches　to　be　lighted；　and　ducking　downe　his　head
three　severall　times；　before　hee　would　so　much　as　touch　the　Taffata；
he　opened　it　with　much　reverence。　So　soone　as　the　Cabinet　came　to　be
seen；　off　went　his　Hood；　lowly　he　bowed　downe　his　body；　and　uttering
especial　praises　of　the　Phoenix；　and　sacred　properties　of　the
wonderfull　Relique；　the　Cover　of　the　Cabinet　being　lifted　uppe；　he　saw
the　same　to　bee　full　of　Coales。　He　could　not　suspect　his　Villaine
boy　to　do　this　deede；　for　he　knew　him　not　to　be　endued　with　so　much
wit；　onely　hee　curst　him　for　keeping　it　no　better；　and　curst
himselfe　also；　for　reposing　trust　in　such　a　careles　knave；　knowing　him
to　be　slothfull；　disobedient；　negligent；　and　void　of　all　honest
understanding　or　grace。　Sodainly　（without　blushing）　lest　his　losse
should　be　discerned；　he　lifted　his　lookes　and　hands　to　heaven；
speaking　out　so　loude；　as　every　one　might　easily　heare　him；　thus：　O
thou　omnipotent　providence；　for　ever　let　thy　power　be　praised。　Then
making　fast　the　Cabinet　againe；　and　turning　himselfe　to　the　people；
with　lookes　expressing　admiration；　he　proceeded　in　this　manner。
　　Lords；　Ladies；　and　you　the　rest　of　my　worthy　Auditors：　You　are　to
understand；　that　I　（being　then　very　young）　was　sent　by　my　Superiour；
into　those　parts；　where　the　Sun　appeareth　at　his　first　rising。　And　I
had　received　charge　by　expresse　command；　that　I　should　seeke　for　（so
much　as　consisted　in　my　power　to　do）　the　especiall　vertues　and
priviledges　belonging　to　Porcellane；　which　although　the　boyling
thereof　bee　worth　but　little；　yet　it　is　very　profitable　to　any　but　us。
In　regard　whereof；　being　upon　my　journey；　and　departing　from　Venice；
passing　along　the　Borgo　de　Grecia；　I　proceeded　thence　（on　horseback）
through　the　Realme　of　Garbo；　so　to　Baldacca；　till　I　came　to　Parione；
from　whence；　not　without　great　extremity　of　thirst；　I　arrived　in
Sardignia。
　　But　why　do　I　trouble　you　with　the　repetition　of　so　many　countries？　I
coasted　on　still；　after　I　had　past　Saint　Georges　Arme；　into　Truffia；
and　then　into　Buffia　which　are　Countries　much　inhabited；　and　with
great　people。　From　thence　I　went　into　the　Land　of　Lying；　where　I　found
store　of　the　Brethren　of　our　Religion；　and　many　other　beside；　who
shunned　all　paine　and　labour；　onely　for　the　love　of　God；　and　cared
as　little；　for　the　paines　and　travailes　which　others　tooke；　except
some　benefit　arised　thereby　to　them；　nor　spend　they　any　money　in
this　Country；　but　such　as　is　without　stampe。　Thence　I　went　into　the
Land　of　Abruzzi；　where　the　men　and　women　goe　in　Galoches　over　the
Mountaines；　and　make　them　garments　of　their　Swines　guts。　Not　farre
from　thence；　I　found　people；　that　carried　bread　in　their　staves；　and
wine　in　Satchels；　when　parting　from　them；　I　arrived　among　the
Mountaines　of　Bacchus；　where　all　the　waters　run　downe　with　a　deepe
fall；　and　in　short　time；　I　went　on　so　far；　that　I　found　my　selfe　to　be
in　India　Pastinaca；　where　I　swear　to　you　by　the　holy　habit　which　I
weare　on　my　body；　that　I　saw　Serpents　Bye；　things　incredible；　and　such
as　were　never　seene　before。
　But　because　I　would　be　loth　to　lye；　so　soone　as　I　departed　thence；
I　met　with　Maso　de　Saggio；　who　was　a　great　Merchant　there；　and　whom
I　found　cracking　Nuts；　and　selling　Cockles　by　retale。　Neverthelesse；
al　this　while　I　could　not　finde　what　I　sought　for；　and　therefore　I　was
to　passe　from　hence　by　water；　if　I　intended　to　travaile　thither；　and
so　into　the　Holy　Land；　where　coole　fresh　bread　is　sold　for　foure
pence；　and　the　hot　is　given　away　for　nothing。　There　I　found　the
venerable　Father　（blame　me　not　I　beseech　you）　the　most　woorthie
Patriarch　of　Jerusalem；　who　for　the　reverence　due　to　the　habite　I
weare；　and　love　to　our　Lord　Baron　Saint　Anthony；　would　have　me　to
see　al　the　holy　Reliques；　which　he　had　there　under　his　charge：
wherof　there　were　so　many；　as　if　I　should　recount　them　all　to　you；　I
never　could　come　to　a　conclusion。　But　yet　not　to　leave　you
discomforted；　I　will　relate　some　few　of　them　to　you。　First　of　all；
he　shewed　me　the　finger　of　the　holy　Ghost；　so　whole　and　perfect；　as
ever　it　was。　Next；　the　nose　of　the　Cherubin；　which　appeared　to　Saint
Frances；　with　the　payring　of　the　naile　of　a　Seraphin；　and　one　of　the
ribbes　of　Verbum　caro；　fastened　to　one　of　the　Windowes'　covered　with
the　holy　garments　of　the　Catholique　Faith。　Then　he　tooke　me　into　a
darke　Chappel；　where　he　shewed　me　divers　beames　of　the　Starre　that
appeared　to　the　three　Kings　in　the　East。　Also　a　Violl　of　Saint
Michaels　sweate；　when　he　combatted　with　the　divell：　And　the　jaw…bone
of　dead　Lazarus；　with　many　other　precious　things　beside。　And　because　I
was　liberall　to　him；　giving　him　two　of　the　Plaines　of　Monte　Morello；
in　the　Vulgare　Edition；　and　some　of　the　Chapters　del　Caprezio；　which
he　had　long　laboured　in　search　of；　he　bestowed　on　me　some　of　his
Reliques。　First；　he　gave　me　one　of　the　eye…teeth　of　Santa　Crux；　and
a　litle　Violl；　filled　with　some　part　of　the　sound　of　those　Belles；
which　hung　in　the　sumptuous　Temple　of　Salomon。　Next；　he　gave　mee　the
Feather　of　the　Phoenix；　which　was　with　Noah　in　the　Arke；　as　before　I
told　you。　And　one　of　the　Woodden　Pattens；　which　the　good　Saint　Gerrard
de　Magnavilla　used　to　weare　in　his　travailes；　and　which　I　gave　（not
long　since）　to　Gerrardo　di　Bousy　at　Florence；　where　it　is　respected
with　much　devotion。　Moreover；　he　gave　me　a　few　of　those　Coales；
wherwith　the　Phoenix　of　Noah　was　roasted；　all　which　things　I　brought
away　thence　with　me。　Now；　most　true　it　is；　that　my　Superiour　would
never　suffer　mee　to　shew　them　any　where；　untill　he　was　faithfully
certified；　whether　they　were　the　same　precious　Reliques；　or　no。　But
perceyving　by　sundrie　Myracles　which　they　have　wrought；　and　Letters　of
sufficient　credence　receyved　from　the　reverend　Patriarch；　that　all
is　true；　he　hath　graunted　me　permission　to　them；　and　because　I　wold
not　trust　any　one　with　matters　of　such　moment；　I　my　selfe　brought　them
hither　with　me。　Now　I　must　tell　you；　that　the　Feather　of　the　same
Phoenix；　I　conveyed　into　a　small　Cabinet　or　Casket；　because　it
should　not　be　bent　or　broken。　And　the　Coales　wherewith　the　said
Phoenix　was　roasted；　I　put　into　another　Casket；　in　all　respects　so
like　to　the　former；　that　many　times　I　have　taken　one　for　another。　As
now　at　this　instant　it　hath　bin　my　fortune：　for；　imagining　that　I
brought　the　Casket　with　the　feather；　I　mistooke　my　self；　and　brought
the　other　with　the　coales。　Wherein　doubtles　I　have　not　offended；
because　I　am　certaine；　that　we　of　our　Order　do　not　any　thing；　but　it
is　ordred　by　divine　direction；　and　our　blessed　Patron　the　Lorde
Baron　Saint　Anthony。　And　so　much　the　rather；　because　about　a　senight
hence；　the　Feast　of　Saint　Anthony　is　to　bee　solemnized；　against　the
preparation　whereof；　and　to　kindle　your　zeale　with　the　greater
fervencie：　he　put　the　Casket　with　the　Coales　into　my　hand；　meaning；
let　you　see　the　Feather；　at　some　more　fitting　season。　And　therefore　my
blessed　Sonnes　and　Daughters；　put　off　your　Bonnets；　and　come　hither
with　devotion　to　looke　upon　them。　But　first　let　me　tell　you；　whosoever
is　marked　by　any　of　these　Coales；　with　the　signe　of　the　Crosse：　he
or　she　shal　live　all　this　yeare　happily；　and　no　fire　whatsoever
shall　come　neere　to　touch　or　hurt　them。　So；　singing　a　solemne
Antheme　in　the　praise　of　S。　Anthony；　he　unveyled　the　Casket；　and
shewed　the　Coales　openly。
　The　simple　multitude；　having　（with　great　admiration　and　reverence）
a　long　while　beheld　them；　they　thronged　in　crouds　to　Fryar　Onyon；
giving　him　farre　greater　offerings；　then　before　they　had；　and
entreating　him　to　marke　them　each　after　other。　Whereupon；　he　taking
the　coales　in　his　hand；　began　to　marke　their　garments　of　white；　and
the　veyles　on　the　Womens　heads；　with　Crosses　of　no　meane　extendure：
affirming　to　them；　that　the　more　the　Coales　wasted　with　making　those
great　crosses；　the　more　they　still　encreased　in　the　Casket；　as　often
before　hee　had　made　triall。
　　In　this　manner；　having　crossed　all　the　Certaldanes　（to　his　great
benefit）　and　their　abuse：　he　smiled　at　his　sodaine　and　dexterious
devise；　in　mockery　of　them；　who　thought　to　have　made　a　scorne　of
him；　by　dispossessing　him　of　the　Feather。　For　Bragoniero　and
Pizzino；　being　present　at　his　Learned　predication；　and　having　heard
what　a　cunning　shift　he　found；　to　come　off　cleanly；　without　the
least　detection；　and　all　delivered　with　such　admirable
protestations：　they　were　faine　to　forsake　the　Church；　least　they
should　have　burst　with　laughing。
　　But　when　all　the　people　were　parted　and　gone；　they　met　Friar　Onyon
at　his　Inne；　where　closely　they　discovered　to　him；　what　they　had　done；
delivering　him　his　Feather　againe：　which　the　yeare　following；　did
yeeld　him　as　much　money；　as　now　the　Coales　had　done。

　　This　Novell　affoorded　equall　pleasing　to　the　whole　companie；　Friar
Onyons　Sermon　being　much　commended；　but　especially　his　long
Pilgrimage；　and　the　Reliques　he　had　both　seene；　and　brought　home
with　him。　Afterward；　the　Queene　perceiving；　that　her　reigne　had　now
the　full　expiration；　graciously　she　arose；　and　taking　the　Crowne
from　off　her　owne　head；　placed　＇it＇　on　the　head　of　Dioneus；　saying。　It
is　high　time　Dioneus；　that　you　should　taste　part　of　the　charge　and
paine；　which　poore　women　have　felt　and　undergone　in　their　soveraigntie
and　government：　wherefore；　be　you　our　King；　and　rule　us　with　such
awefull　authority；　that　the　ending　of　your　dominion　may　yeelde　us
all　contentment。　Dioneus　being　thus　invested　with　the　Crowne；　returned
this　answer。
　　I　make　no　doubt　（bright　Beauties）　but　you　many　times　have　seene　as
good；　or　a　better　King　among　the　Chessemen；　then　I　am。　But　yet　of　a
certainty；　if　you　would　be　obedient　to　me；　as　you　ought　in　dutie
unto　a　true　King：　I　should　grant　you　a　liberall　freedome　of　that；
wherein　you　take　the　most　delight；　and　without　which；　our　choisest
desires　can　never　be　compleate。　Neverthelesse；　I　meane；　that　my
government　shal　be　according　to　mine　owne　minde。　So；　causing　the
Master　of　the　Houshold　to　be　called　for；　as　all　the　rest　were　wont
to　do　for　conference　with　him：　he　gave　him　direction；　for　al　things
fitting　the　time　of　his　Regiment；　and　then　turning　to　the　Ladies；　thus
he　proceeded。
　　Honest　Ladies；　we　have　alreadie　discoursed　of　variable　devises；
and　so　many　severall　manners　of　humane　industry；　concerning　the

busines　wherewith　Lacisca　came　to　acquaint　us：　that　her　very　words；
have　ministred　me　matter；　sufficient　for　our　morrowes　conference；　or
else　I　stand　in　doubt；　that　I　could　not　have　devised　a　more　convenient
Theame　for　us　to　talke　on。　She　（as　you　have　all　heard）　saide；　that
shee　had　not　anie　neighbour；　who　came　a　true　Virgin　to　her　Husband；
and　added　moreover；　that　she　knew　some　others；　who　had　beguiled
their　Husbandes；　in　very　cunning　and　crafty　manner。　But　setting
aside　the　first　part；　concerning　the　proofe　of　children；　I　conceive
the　second　to　bee　more　apte　for　our　in