the decameron(十日谈)-第103部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


taste　of　this　honest　mans　Wine；　perhaps　it　is　so　good；　that　we　shall
not　neede　to　repent　our　labour。
　　Heereupon；　he　went　with　them　to　Cistio；　who　had　caused　an　handsome
seate　to　be　fetched　forth　of　his　house；　whereon　he　requested　them　to
sit　downe；　and　having　commanded　his　men　to　wash　cleane　the　Glasses；　he
saide。　Fellowes；　now　get　you　gone；　and　leave　me　to　the　performance
of　this　service；　for　I　am　no　worse　a　skinker；　then　a　Baker；　and
tarry　you　never　so　long；　you　shall　not　drinke　a　drop。　Having　thus
spoken；　himselfe　washed　foure　or　five　small　glasses；　faire　and　new；
and　causing　a　Viall　of　his　best　wine　to　be　brought　him：　hee　diligently
filled　it　out　to　Messer　Geri　and　the　Ambassadours；　to　whom　it　seemed
the　very　best　Wine；　that　they　had　drunke　of　in　a　long　while　before。
And　having　given　Cistio　most　hearty　thankes　for　his　kindnesse；　and　the
Wine　his　due　commendation：　many　dayes　afterwardes　（so　long　as　they
continued　there）　they　found　the　like　courteous　entertainment；　and　with
the　good　liking　of　honest　Cistio。
　　But　when　the　affayres　were　fully　concluded；　for　which　they　wer
thus　sent　to　Florence；　and　their　parting　preparation　in　due
readinesse：　Messer　Geri　made　a　very　sumptuous　Feast　for　them；　inviting
thereto　the　most　part　of　the　honourablest　Citizens；　and　Cistio　to　be
one　amongst　them；　who　（by　no　meanes）　would　bee　seene　in　an　assembly　of
such　State　and　pompe；　albeit　he　was　thereto　（by　the　saide　Messer　Geri）
most　earnestly　entreated。
　　In　regard　of　which　deniall；　Messer　Geri　commaunded　one　of　his
servants；　to　take　a　small　Bottle；　and　request　Cistio　to　fill　it　with
his　good　Wine；　then　afterward；　to　serve　it　in　such　sparing　manner　to
the　Table；　that　each　Gentleman　might　be　allowed　halfe　a　glasse…full　at
their　down…sitting。　The　Serving…man；　who　had　heard　great　report　of　the
Wine；　and　was　halfe　offended　because　he　could　never　taste　thereof：
tooke　a　great　Flaggon　Bottle；　containing　foure　or　five　Gallons　at
the　least；　and　comming　there…with　unto　Cistio；　saide　unto　him。　Cistio；
because　my　Master　cannot　have　your　companie　among　his　friends；　he
prayes　you　to　fill　this　Bottle　with　your　best　Wine。　Cistio　looking
uppon　the　huge　Flaggon；　replyed　thus。　Honest　Fellow；　Messer　Geri　never
sent　thee　with　such　a　Message　to　me：　which　although　the　Serving…man
very　stoutly　maintained；　yet　getting　no　other　answer；　he　returned
backe　therwith　to　his　Master。
　　Messer　Geri　returned　the　Servant　backe　againe　unto　Cistio；　saying：
Goe；　and　assure　Cistio；　that　I　sent　thee　to　him；　and　if　hee　make
thee　any　more　such　answeres；　then　demaund　of　him；　to　what　place　else　I
should　send　thee？　Being　come　againe　to　Cistio；　hee　avouched　that　his
Maister　had　sent　him；　but　Cistio　affirming；　that　hee　did　not：　the
Servant　asked；　to　what　place　else　hee　should　send　him？　Marrie　（quoth
Cistio）　unto　the　River　of　Arno；　which　runneth　by　Florence；　there
thou　mayest　be　sure　to　fill　thy　Flaggon。　When　the　Servant　had　reported
this　answer　to　Messer　Geri；　the　eyes　of　his　understanding　beganne　to
open；　and　calling　to　see　what　Bottle　hee　had　carried　with　him：　no
sooner　looked　he　on　the　huge　Flaggon；　but　severely　reproving　the
sawcinesse　of　his　Servant；　hee　sayde。　Now　trust　mee；　Cistio　told
thee　nothing　but　trueth；　for　neither　did　I　send　thee　with　any　such
dishonest　message；　nor　had　the　reason　to　yeeld　or　grant　it。
　　Then　he　sent　him　with　a　bottle　of　more　reasonable　competencie；　which
so　soone　as　Cistio　saw：　Yea　mary　my　friend；　quoth　he；　now　I　am　sure
that　thy　Master　sent　thee　to　me；　and　he　shall　have　his　desire　with　all
my　hart。　So；　commaunding　the　Bottle　to　be　filled；　he　sent　it　away　by
the　Servant；　and　presently　following　after　him；　when　he　came　unto
Messer　Geri；　he　spake　unto　him　after　this　maner。　Sir；　I　would　not　have
you　to　imagine；　that　the　huge　flaggon　（which　first　came）　did　any　jotte
dismay　mee；　but　rather　I　conceyved；　that　the　small　Viall　whereof　you
tasted　every　morning；　yet　filled　many　mannerly　Glasses　together；　was
fallen　quite　out　of　your　remembrance；　in　plainer　tearmes；　it　beeing　no
Wine　for　Groomes　or　Peazants；　as　your　selfe　affirmed　yesterday。　And
because　I　meane　to　bee　a　Skinker　no　longer；　by　keeping　Wine　to
please　any　other　pallate　but　mine　owne：　I　have　sent　you　halfe　my
store；　and　heereafter　thinke　of　mee　as　you　shall　please。　Messer　Geri
tooke　both　his　guifte　and　speeches　in　most　thankefull　manner；
accepting　him　alwayes　after；　as　his　intimate　Friend；　because　he　had　so
graced　him　before　the　Ambassadours。




　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　SIXT　DAY；　THE　THIRD　NOVELL

　　　　　　　WHEREIN　IS　DECLARED；　THAT　MOCKERS　DO　SOMETIMES　MEETE　WITH
　　　　　　　　　　　THEIR　MATCHES　IN　MOCKERY；　AND　TO　THEIR　OWNE　SHAME

　　Madame　Nonna　de　Pulci；　by　a　sodaine　answere；　did　put　to　silence　a
Byshop　of　Florence；　and　the　Lord　Marshall：　having　moved　a　question
to　the　said　Lady；　which　seemed　to　come　short　of　honesty。

　　When　Madame　Pampinea　had　ended　her　Discourse；　and　（by　the　whole
company）　the　answere　and　bounty　of　Cistio；　had　past　with　deserved
commendation：　it　pleased　the　Queene；　that　Madame　Lauretta　should
next　succeed：　whereupon　verie　chearefully　thus　she　beganne。
　　Faire　assembly；　Madame　Pampinea　（not　long　time　since）　gave
beginning；　and　Madam　Philomena　hath　also　seconded　the　same　argument；
concerning　the　slender　vertue　remaining　in　our　sexe；　and　likewise
the　beautie　of　wittie　words；　delivered　on　apt　occasion；　and　in
convenient　meetings。　Now；　because　it　is　needlesse　to　proceede　any
further；　then　what　hath　beene　already　spoken：　let　mee　onely　tell　you
（over　and　beside）　and　commit　it　to　memorie；　that　the　nature　of
meetings　and　speeches　are　such；　as　they　ought　to　nippe　or　touch　the
hearer；　like　unto　the　Sheepes　nibling　on　the　tender　grasse；　and　not　as
the　sullen　Dogge　byteth。　For；　if　their　biting　be　answereable　to　the
Dogges；　they　deserve　not　to　be　termed　witty　jests　or　quips；　but
foule　and　offensive　language：　as　plainly　appeareth　by　the　words　of
Madame　Oretta；　and　the　mery；　yet　sensible　answer　of　Cistio。
　　True　it　is；　that　if　it　be　spoken　by　way　of　answer；　and　the
answerer　biteth　doggedly；　because　himselfe　was　bitten　in　the　same
manner　before：　he　is　the　lesse　to　bee　blamed；　because　hee　maketh
payment　but　with　coine　of　the　same　stampe。　In　which　respect；　an
especiall　care　is　to　bee　had；　how；　when；　with　whom；　and　where　we
jest　or　gibe；　whereof　very　many　proove　too　unmindfull；　as　appeared
（not　long　since）　by　a　Prelate　of　ours；　who　met　with　a　byting；　no　lesse
sharpe　and　bitter；　then　had　first　come　from　himselfe　before；　as
verie　briefely　I　intend　to　tell　you　how。
　　Messer　Antonio　d'Orso；　being　Byshoppe　of　Florence；　a　vertuous；　wise；
and　reverend　Prelate；　it　fortuned　that　a　Gentleman　of　Catalogna；　named
Messer　Diego　de　la　Ratta；　and　Lord　Marshall　to　King　Robert　of
Naples；　came　thither　to　visite　him。　Hee　being　a　man　of　very　comely
personage；　and　a　great　observer　of　the　choysest　beauties　in　Court：
among　all　the　other　Florentine　Dames；　one　proved　to　bee　most
pleasing　in　his　eye；　who　was　a　verie　faire　Woman　indeede；　and　Neece　to
the　Brother　of　the　saide　Messer　Antonio。
　　The　Husband　of　this　Gentlewoman　（albeit　descended　of　a　worthie
Family）　was；　neverthelesse；　immeasurably　covetous；　and　a　verie　harsh
natured　man。　Which　the　Lord　Marshall　understanding；　made　such　a
madde　composition　with　him；　as　to　give　him　five　hundred　Ducates　of
Gold；　on　condition；　that　hee　would　let　him　lye　one　night　with　his
wife；　not　thinking　him　so　base　minded　as　to　give　consent。　Which　in　a
greedy　avaritious　humour　he　did；　and　the　bargaine　being　absolutely
agreed　on；　the　Lord　Marshall　prepared　to　fit　him　with　a　payment；
such　as　it　should　be。　He　caused　so　many　peeces　of　silver　to　be
cunningly　guilded；　as　then　went　for　currant　mony　in　Florence；　and
called　Popolines；　and　after　he　had　lyen　with　the　Lady　（contrary　to　her
will　and　knowledge；　her　husband　had　so　closely　carried　the
businesse）　the　money　was　duely　paid　to　the　cornuted　Coxcombe。
Afterwards；　this　impudent　shame　chanced　to　be　generally　knowne；
nothing　remaining　to　the　wilful　Wittoll；　but　losse　of　his　expected
gaine；　and　scorne　in　every　place　where　he　went。　The　Bishop　likewise
（beeing　a　discreete　and　sober　man）　would　seeme　to　take　no　knowledge
thereof；　but　bare　out　all　scoffes　with　a　well　setled　countenance。
　　Within　a　short　while　after；　the　Bishop　and　the　Lord　Marshal　（alwaies
conversing　together）　it　came　to　passe；　that　upon　Saint　johns　day；　they
riding　thorow　the　City；　side　by　side；　and　viewing　the　brave
beauties；　which　of　them　might　best　deserve　to　win　the　prize：　the
Byshop　espied　a　yong　married　Lady　（which　our　late　greevous
pestilence　bereaved　us　of）　she　being　named　Madame　Nonna　de　Pulci；
and　Cousine　to　Messer　Alexio　Rinucci；　a　Gentleman　well　knowne　unto
us　all。　A　very　goodly　beautifull　yong　woman　she　was；　of　delicate
language；　and　singular　spirite；　dwelling　close　by　S。　Peters　gate。　This
Lady　did　the　Bishop　shew　to　the　Marshall；　and　when　they　were　come　to
her；　laying　his　hand　uppon　her　shoulder；　he　said。　Madam　Nonna；　What
thinke　you　of　this　Gallant？　Dare　you　adventure　another　wager　with　him？
　　Such　was　the　apprehension　of　this　witty　Lady；　that　these　words
seemed　to　taxe　her　honour；　or　else　to　contaminate　the　hearers
understanding；　whereof　there　were　great　plenty　about　her；　whose
judgement　might　be　as　vile；　as　the　speeches　were　scandalous。
Wherefore；　never　seeking　for　any　further　purgation　of　her　cleare
conscience；　but　onely　to　retort　taunt　for　taunt；　presently　thus　she
replied。　My　Lord；　if　I　should　make　such　a　vile　adventure；　I　would
looke　to　bee　payde　with　better　money。
　　These　words　being　heard　both　by　the　Bishop　and　Marshall；　they　felt
themselves　touched　to　the　quicke；　the　one；　as　the　Factor　or　Broker；
for　so　dishonest　a　businesse；　to　the　Brother　of　the　Bishop；　and　the
other；　as　receiving　（in　his　owne　person）　the　shame　belonging　to　his
Brother。　So；　not　so　much　as　looking　each　on　other；　or　speaking　one
word　together　all　the　rest　of　that　day；　they　rode　away　with　blushing
cheekes。　Whereby　we　may　collect；　that　the　yong　Lady；　being　so
injuriously　provoked；　did　no　more　then　well　became　her；　to　bite
their　basenesse　neerely；　that　so　abused　her　openly。




　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　SIXT　DAY；　THE　FOURTH　NOVELL

　　　WHEREBY　PLAINLY　APPEARETH；　THAT　A　SODAIN