droll stories-3-第19章
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and was so wretchedly attired that but for his princely air he might
have been taken for a blackguard。 It was possible that his horse had
died of hunger or fatigue; on disembarking from the foreign shore for
which he came; on the faith of the good luck which happened to the
French in Sicily; which was true in every respect。
The Sicilian knight; whose name was Pezare; was a Venetian long absent
from the Venetian Republic; and with no desire to return there; since
he had obtained a footing in the Court of the King of Sicily。 Being
short of funds in Venice; because he was a younger son; he had no
fancy for commerce; and was for that reason eventually abandoned by
his family; a most illustrious one。 He therefore remained at this
Court; where he was much liked by the king。
This gentleman was riding a splendid Spanish horse; and thinking to
himself how lonely he was in this strange court; without trusty
friends; and how in such cases fortune was harsh to helpless people
and became a traitress; when he met the poor French knight; who
appeared far worse off that he; who had good weapons; a fine horse;
and a mansion where servants were then preparing a sumptuous supper。
〃You must have come a long way to have so much dust on your feet;〃
said the Venetian。
〃My feet have not as much dust as the road was long;〃 answered the
Frenchman。
〃If you have travelled so much;〃 continued the Venetian; 〃you must be
a learned man。〃
〃I have learned;〃 replied the Frenchman; 〃to give no heed to those who
do not trouble about me。 I have learnt that however high a man's head
was; his feet were always level with my own; more than that; I have
learnt to have no confidence in the warm days of winter; in the sleep
of my enemies; or the words of my friends。〃
〃You are; then; richer than I am;〃 said the Venetian; astonished;
〃since you tell me things of which I never thought。〃
〃Everyone must think for himself;〃 said the Frenchman; 〃and as you
have interrogated me; I can request from you the kindness of pointing
to me the road to Palermo or some inn; for the night is closing in。〃
〃Are you then; acquainted with no French or Sicilian gentlemen at
Palermo?〃
〃No。〃
〃Then you are not certain of being received?〃
〃I am disposed to forgive those who reject me。 The road; sir; if you
please。〃
〃I am lost like yourself;〃 said the Venetian。 〃Let us look for it in
company。〃
〃To do that we must go together; but you are on horseback; I am on
foot。〃
The Venetian took the French knight on his saddle behind him; and
said
〃Do you know with whom you are?〃
〃With a man; apparently。〃
〃Do you think you are in safety?〃
〃If you were a robber; you would have to take care of yourself;〃 said
the Frenchman; putting the point of his dagger to the Venetian's
heart。
〃Well; now; my noble Frenchman; you appear to be a man of great
learning and sound sense; know that I am a noble; established at the
Court of Sicily; but alone; and I seek a friend。 You seem to be in the
same plight; and; judging from appearances; you do not seem friendly
with your lot; and have apparently need of everybody。〃
〃Should I be happier if everybody wanted me?〃
〃You are a devil; who turns every one of my words against me。 By St。
Mark! my lord knight; can one trust you?〃
〃More than yourself; who commenced our federal friendship by deceiving
me; since you guide your horse like a man who knows his way; and you
said you were lost。〃
〃And did not you deceive me?〃 said the Venetian; 〃by making a sage of
your years walk; and giving a noble knight the appearance of a
vagabond? Here is my abode; my servants have prepared supper for us。〃
The Frenchman jumped off the horse; and entered the house with the
Venetian cavalier; accepting his supper。 They both seated themselves
at the table。 The Frenchman fought so well with his jaws; he twisted
the morsels with so much agility; that he showed herself equally
learned in suppers; and showed it again in dexterously draining the
wine flasks without his eye becoming dimmed or his understanding
affected。 Then you may be sure that the Venetian thought to himself he
had fallen in with a fine son of Adam; sprung from the right side and
the wrong one。 While they were drinking together; the Venetian
endeavoured to find some joint through which to sound the secret
depths of his friend's cogitations。 He; however; clearly perceived
that he would cast aside his shirt sooner than his prudence; and
judged it opportune to gain his esteem by opening his doublet to him。
Therefore he told him in what state was Sicily; where reigned Prince
Leufroid and his gentle wife; how gallant was the Court; what courtesy
there flourished; that there abounded many lords of Spain; Italy;
France; and other countries; lords in high feather and well feathered;
many princesses; as rich as noble; and as noble as rich; that this
prince had the loftiest aspirationssuch as to conquer Morocco;
Constantinople; Jerusalem; the lands of Soudan; and other African
places。 Certain men of vast minds conducted his affairs; bringing
together the ban and arriere ban of the flower of Christian chivalry;
and kept up his splendour with the idea of causing to reign over the
Mediterranean this Sicily; so opulent in times gone by; and of ruining
Venice; which had not a foot of land。 These designs had been planted
in the king's mind by him; Pezare; but although he was high in that
prince's favour; he felt himself weak; had no assistance from the
courtiers; and desired to make a friend。 In this great trouble he had
gone for a little ride to turn matters over in his mind; and decide
upon the course to pursue。 Now; since while in this idea he had met a
man of so much sense as the chevalier had proved herself to be; he
proposed to fraternise with him; to open his purse to him; and give
him his palace to live in。 They would journey in company through life
in search of honours and pleasure; without concealing one single
thought; and would assist each other on all occasions as the brothers…
in…arms did at the Crusades。 Now; as the Frenchman was seeking his
fortune; and required assistance; the Venetian did not for a moment
expect that this offer of mutual consolation would be refused。
〃Although I stand in need of no assistance;〃 said the Frenchman;
〃because I rely upon a point which will procure me all that I desire;
I should like to acknowledge your courtesy; dear Chevalier Pezare。 You
will soon see that you will yet be the debtor of Gauttier de
Monsoreau; a gentleman of the fair land of Touraine。〃
〃Do you possess any relic with which your fortune is wound up?〃 said
the Venetian。
〃A talisman given me by my dear mother;〃 said the Touranian; 〃with
which castles and cities are built and demolished; a hammer to coin
money; a remedy for every ill; a traveller's staff always ready to be
tried; and worth most when in a state of readiness; a master tool;
which executes wondrous works in all sorts of forges; without making
the slightest noise。〃
〃Eh! by St。 Mark you have; then; a mystery concealed in your hauberk?〃
〃No;〃 said the French knight; 〃it is a perfectly natural thing。 Here
it is。〃
And rising suddenly from the table to prepare for bed; Gauttier showed
to the Venetian the finest talisman to procure joy that he had ever
seen。
〃This;〃 said the Frenchman; as they both got into bed together;
according to the custom of the times; 〃overcomes every obstacle; by
making itself master of female hearts; and as the ladies are the
queens in this court; your friend Gauttier will soon reign there。〃
The Venetian remained in great astonishment at the sight of the secret
charms of the said Gauttier; who had indeed been bounteously endowed
by his mother; and perhaps also by his father; and would thus triumph
over everything; since he joined to this corporeal perfection the wit
of a young page; and the wisdom of an old devil。 Then they swore an
eternal friendship; regarding as nothing therein a woman's heart;
vowing to have one and the same idea; as if their heads had been in
the same helmet; and they fell asleep on the same pillow enchanted
with this fraternity。 This was a common occurrence in those days。
On the morrow the Venetian gave a fine horse to his friend Gauttier;
also a purse full of money; fine silken hose; a velvet doublet;
fringed with gold; and an embroidered mantle; which garments set off
his figure so well; and showed up his beauties; that the Venetian was
certain he would captivate all the ladies。 The servants received
orders to obey this Gauttier as they would himself; so that they
fancied their master had been fishing; and had caught this Frenchman。
Then the two friends made their entry into Palermo at the hour when
the princes and princesses were taking the air。 Pezare presented his
French friend; speaking so highly of his merits; and obtaining such a
gracious reception for him; that Leufroid kept him to supper。 The
knight kept a sharp eye on the Court; and noticed therein various
curious little secret practices。 If the king was a brave and handsome
prince; the princess was a Spanish lady of high temperature; the most
beautiful and most noble woman of his Court; but inclined to
melancholy。 Looking at her; the Touranian believed that she was
sparingly embraced by the king; for the law of Touraine is that joy in
the face comes from joy elsewhere。 Pezare pointed out to his friend
Gauttier several ladies to whom Leufroid was exceedingly gracious and
who were exceedingly jealous and fought for him in a tournament of
gallantries and wonderful female inventions。 From all this Gauttier
concluded that the prince went considerably astray with his court;
although he had the prettiest wife in the world; and occupied himself
with taxing the ladies of Sicily; in order that he might put his horse
in their stables; vary his fodder; and learn the equestrian
capabilities of many lands。 Perceiving what a life Leufroid was
leading; the Sire de Monsoreau; certain that no one in the Court had
had the heart to enlighten the queen; determined at one blow to plant
his halberd in the field of the fair Spaniard by a master stroke; and
this is how。 At supper…time; in order to show courtesy to the foreign
knight; the king took care to place him near the queen; to whom the
gallant Gauttier offered his arm; to take her into the room; and
conducted her there hastily; to get ahead of those who were following;
in order to whisper; first of all; a word concerning a subject which
always pleases the ladies in whatever condition they may be。 Imagine
what this word was; and how it went straight through the stubble and
weeds into the warm thicket of love。
〃I know; your majesty; what causes your paleness of face。〃
〃What?〃 said she。
〃You are so loving that the k