the decameron(十日谈)-第115部分
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that they shall all die； and before I depart hence； you shall see your
Son as healthfull as ever。 And because the maner of this charm is of
such nature； that it required prayer and exorcising in two places at
once： Nurse went up with his Holye Brother into our Pigeon loft； to
exercise their devotion there； while we did the like heere。 For none
but the mother of the childe must bee present at such a mystery； nor
any enter to hinder the operation of the charme； which was the
reason of making fast the Chamber doore。 You shall see Husband anon
the Childe； which is indifferently recovered in his armes； and if
Nurse and his holy Brother were returned from theyr meditations； he
saith； that the charme would then be fully effected： for the child
beginneth to looke chearefull and merry。
So deerely did Credulano love the childe； that hee verily
beleeved； what his Wife had saide； never misdoubting any other
treachery： and； lifting up his eyes； with a vehement sigh； said。 Wife；
may not I goe in and take the child into my armes？ Oh no； not yet good
husband （quoth she） in any case； least you should overthrow all that
is done。 Stay but a little while； I will go in againe； and if all
bee well； then will I call you。 In went Agnesia againe； making the
doore fast after her； the Fryar having heard all the passed
speeches； by this time he was fitted with his habite； and taking the
childe in his armes； he said to Agnesia。 Gossip methought I heard your
Husbands voice； is hee at your Chamber doore？ Yes Gossip Reynard
（quoth Credulano without； while Agnesia opened the doore； and admitted
him entrance） indeede it is I。 Come in Sir； I pray you； replyed the
Friar； and heere receive your childe of mee； who was in great
danger； of your ever seeing him any more alive。 But you must take
order； to make an Image of waxe； agreeing with the stature of the
childe； to be placed on the Altar before the Image of S。 Frances； by
whose merites the childe is thus restored to health。
The childe； beholding his Father； made signes of comming to him；
rejoycing merrily； as yong infants use to do； and Credulano clasping
him in his armes； wept with conceite of joy； kissing him infinitely；
and heartily thanking his Gossip Reynard； for the recovery of his
God…son。 The Friars brotherly Companion； who had given sufficient
enstructions to the Nurse； and a small purse full of Sisters white
thred； which a Nunne （after shrift） had bestowed on him； upon the
husbands admittance into the Chamber （which they easily heard） came in
also to them； and seeing all in very good tearmes； they holpe to
make a joyfull conclusion； the Brother saying to Friar Reynard：
Brother； I have finished all those foure jaculatory prayers； which you
commanded me。
Brother； answered Reynard； you have a better breath then I； and your
successe hath prooved happier then mine； for before the arrivall of my
Gossip Credulano； I could accomplish but two jaculatory prayers onely。
But it appeareth； that we have both prevailed in our devout desire；
because the childe is perfectly cured。 Credulano calling for Wine
and good cheare； feasted both the Friars very jocondly； and then
conducting them forth of his house； without any further
intermission； caused the childs Image of waxe to be made； and sent
it to be placed on the Altar of Saint Frances； among many other the
like oblations。
THE SEVENTH DAY； THE FOURTH NOVELL
WHEREIN IS MANIFESTED； THAT THE MALICE AND SUBTILTY OF
WOMAN； SURPASSETH ALL THE ART OR WIT IN MAN
Tofano in the night season； did locke his wife out of his house； and
shee not prevailing to get entrance againe； by all the entreaties
she could possiblie use： made him beleeve that she had throwne her
selfe into a Well； by casting a great stone into the same Well。 Tofano
hearing the fall of the stone into the Well； and being perswaded
that it was his Wife indeed； came forth of his house； and ran to the
Welles side。 In the meane while； his wife gotte into the house； made
fast the doore against her Husband； and gave bim many reproachfull
speeches。
So soone as the King perceyved； that the Novell reported by Madame
Eliza was finished： hee turned himselfe to Madame Lauretta； and told
her as his pleasure； that she should now begin the next； whereto she
yeelded in this manner。 O Love： What； and how many are thy
prevailing forces？ How straunge are thy foresights？ And how
admirable thine attempts？ Where is； or ever was the Philosopher or
Artist； that could enstruct the wiles； escapes； preventions； and
demonstrations； which sodainly thou teachest such； as are thy apt
and understanding Schollers indeede？ Certaine it is； that the
documents and eruditions of all other whatsoever； are weak； or of no
worth； in respect of thine： as hath notably appeared； by the
remonstrances already past； and whereto （worthy Ladies） I wil adde
another of a simple woman； who taught her husband such a lesson； as
shee never learned of any； but Love himselfe。
There dwelt sometime in Arezzo （which is a faire Village of Tuscany）
a rich man； named Tofano； who enjoyed in marriage a young beautifull
woman； called Cheta： of whom （without any occasion given； or reason
knowne to himselfe） he became exceeding… jealous。 Which his wife
perceyving； she grew much offended thereat； and tooke it in great
scorne； that she should be servile to so vile and slavish a condition。
Oftentimes； she demanded of him； from whence this jealousie in him
received originall； he having never seene or heard of any； he could
make her no other answer； but who his owne bad humour suggested； and
drove him every day （almost） to deaths doore； by feare of that which
no way needed。 But； whether as a just scourge for this his grosse
folly； or a secret decree； ordained to him by Fortune and the Fates； I
am not able to distinguish： It came so to passe； that a young
Gallant made meanes to enjoy her favour； and she was so discreetly
wise in judging of his worthinesse； that affection passed so farre
mutually betweene them； as nothing wanted； but effects to answere
words； suited with time and place convenient； for which order was
taken as best they might； yet to stand free from all suspition。
Among many other evill conditions； very frequent and familiar in her
husband Tofano； he tooke a great delight in drinking； which not only
he held to be a commendable quality； but was alwaies so often
solicited thereto： that Cheta her selfe began to like and allow it
in him； feeding his humor so effectually； with quaffing and carowsing；
that （at any time when she listed） she could make him bowsie beyonde
all measure： and leaving him sleeping in this drunkennesse； would
alwayes get her selfe to bed。 By helpe heereof； she compassed the
first familiarity with her friend； yea； divers times after； as
occasion served： and so confidently did she builde on her husbands
drunkennesse； that not onely shee adventured to bring her friend
home into her owne house； but also would as often go to his； which was
some…what neere at hand； and abide with him there； the most part of
the night season。
While Cheta thus continued on these amorous courses； it fortuned；
that her slye suspitious husband； beganne to perceive； that though
shee drunke very much with him； yea； untill he was quite spent and
gone： yet she remained fresh and sober still； and therby imagined
strange matters； that he being fast asleepe； his wife then tooke
advantage of his drowsinesse； and mightand so forth。 Beeing desirous
to make experience of this his distrust； hee returned home at night
（not having drunke any thing all the whole day） dissembling both by
his words and behaviour； as if he were notoriously drunke indeede。
Which his Wife constantly beleeving； saide to her selfe： That hee
had now more neede of sleepe； then drinke； getting him immediately
into his warme bed； and then going downe the staires againe； softly
went out of doores unto her Friends house； as formerly she had used to
do； and there shee remained untill midnight。
Tofano perceiving that his Wife came not to bed； and imagining to
have heard his doore both open and shut： arose out of his bed； and
calling his Wife Cheta divers times； without any answere returned： hee
went downe the staires； and finding the doore but closed too； made
it fast and sure on the inside； and then got him up to the window；
to watch the returning home of his wife； from whence shee came； and
then to make her conditions apparantly knowne。 So long there he
stayed； till at the last she returned indeede； and finding the doore
so surely shut； shee was exceeding sorrowful； essaying how she might
get it open by strength： which when Tofano had long suffered her in
vaine to approove； thus hee spake to her。 Cheta； all thy labour is
meerely lost； because heere is no entrance allowed for thee； therefore
return to the place from whence thou camest； that all thy friends
may Judge of thy behaviour； and know what a night…walker thou art
become。
The woman hearing this unpleasing language； began to use all
humble entreaties； desiring him （for charities sake） to open the doore
and admit her entrance； because she had not bin in any such place；
as his jelous suspition might suggest to him： but onely to visit a
weak and sickly neighbour； the nights being long； she not （as yet）
capeable of sleepe； nor willing to sit alone in the house。 But all her
perswasions served to no purpose； he was so setled in his owne
opinion； that all the Town should now see her nightly gading； which
before was not so much as suspected。 Cheta seeing； that faire meanes
would not prevalle； shee entred into roughe speeches and
threatnings； saying： If thou wilt not open the doore and let me come
in； I will so shame thee； as never base man was。 As how I pray thee？
answered Tofano； what canst thou do to me？
The woman； whom love had inspired with sprightly counsell；
ingeniously enstructing her what to do in this distresse； stearnly
thus replyed。 Before I will suffer any such shame as thou intendest
towards mee； I will drowne my selfe heere in this Well before our
doore； where being found dead； and thy villanous jealousie so
apparantly knowne； beside thy more then b
