the decameron(十日谈)-第151部分

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such　a　delicate　smell　of　Roses；　even　as　if　they　had　bene　made　of
Rose…leaves。　In　the　one；　they　folded　Salabetto；　and　her　in　the
other；　and　so　conveyed　them　on　their　shoulders　unto　the　prepared
Bed…Couch；　where　because　they　should　not　sweate　any　longer；　they　tooke
the　sheets　from　about　them；　and　laid　them　gently　in　the　bed。
　　Then　they　opened　the　Basket；　wherein　were　divers　goodly　Silver
bottles；　some　filled　with　Rosewaters；　others　with　flowers　of
Orenges；　and　Waters　distilled　of　Gelsomine；　Muske；　and　Amber…Greece；
wherewith　（againe）　the　slaves　bathed　their　bodyes　in　the　bed；　and
afterward　presented　them　with　variety　of　Comfites；　as　also　very
precious　Wines；　serving　them　in　stead　of　a　little　Collation。　Salabetto
supposed　himself　to　be　in　Paradise：　for　this　appeared　to　be　no　earthly
joy；　bestowing　a　thousand　gladsome　gazes　on　her；　who　（questionlesse）
was　a　most　beautifull　creature；　and　the　tarrying　of　the　Slaves；　seemed
millions　of　yeares　to　him；　that　hee　might　more　freely　embrace　his
Biancafiore。　Leaving　a　Waxe　Taper　lighted　in　the　Chamber；　the　slaves
departed；　and　then　shee　sweetly　embracing　Salabetto；　bestowed　those
further　favours　on　him；　which　hee　came　for；　and　she　was　not
squeamish　in　the　affoording；　wherof　he　was　exceedingly　joyfull；
because　he　imagined；　that　they　proceeded　from　the　integrity　of　her
affection　towards　him。
　　When　she　thought　it　convenient　time　to　depart　thence；　the　slaves
returned；　they　cloathed　themselves；　and　had　a　Banquet　standing　ready
prepared　for　them；　wherewith　they　cheared　their　wearyed　spirits；　after
they　had　first　washed　in　odorifferous　waters。　At　parting：　Salabetto
（quoth　she）　whensoever　thy　leysures　shal　best　serve　thee；　I　will
repute　it　as　my　cheefest　happinesse；　that　thou　wilt　accept　a　Supper
and　Lodging　in　my　house；　which　let　it　be　this　instant　night；　if　thou
canst。　He　being　absolutely　caught；　both　by　hir　beauty　and　flattering
behaviour：　beleeved　faithfully；　that　he　was　as　intirely　beloved　of
her；　as　the　heart　is　of　the　body：　whereuppon　hee　thus　answered。
Madame；　whatsoever　pleaseth　you；　must　needes　be　much　more　acceptable
unto　mee：　and　therefore；　not　onely　may　command　my　service　this
night；　but　likewise　the　whole　employment　of　my　life；　to　be　onely　yours
in　my　very　best　studies　and　endeavours。
　　No　sooner　did　she　heare　this　answer；　but　she　returned　home　to　her
owne　house；　which　she　decked　in　most　sumptuous　maner；　and　also　made
ready　a　costly　Supper；　expecting　the　arrivall　of　Salabetto：　who　when
the　darke　night　was　indifferently　well　entred；　went　thither；　and　was
welcommed　with　wonderfull　kindnesse；　wanting　no　costly　Wines　and
Delicates　all　the　Supper　while。　Being　afterward　conducted　into　a
goodly　Chamber；　he　smelt　there　admirable　sweete　senting　savours；
such　as　might　well　beseeme　a　Princes　Pallace。　He　beheld　a　most
costly　Bed；　and　very　rich　furniture　round　about　the　roome：　which
when　he　had　duly　considered　to　himself；　he　was　constantly　perswaded；
that　she　was　a　Lady　of　infinit　wealth。　And　although　he　had　heard
divers　flying　reports　concerning　her　life；　yet　hee　would　not　credite
any　thing　amisse　of　her；　for　albeit　she　might　（perhappes）　beguile　some
other；　yet　shee　affected　him　（he　thought）　in　better　manner；　and　no
such　misfortune　could　happen　to　him。
　　Having　spent　all　the　night　with　her　in　wanton　dalliances；　and
being　risen　in　the　morning；　to　enflame　his　affection　more　and　more
towards　her；　and　to　prevent　any　ill　opinion　he　might　conceyve　of
her；　she　bestowed　a　rich　and　costly　Girdle　on　him；　as　also　a　pursse
most　curiously　wrought；　saying　to　him。　My　sweet　Salabetto；　with
these　testimonies　of　my　true　affection　to　thee；　I　give　thee　faithfully
to　understand；　that　as　my　person　is　onely　subjected　thine；　so　this
house　and　all　the　riches　in　it；　remaineth　absolutely　at　thy
disposition；　or　whatsoever　hereafter　shal　happen　within　the　compasse
of　my　power。
　　He　being　not　a　little　proud　of　this　her　bountifull　offer　（having
never　bestowed　any　gift　on　her；　because　by　no　meanes　shee　would
admit　it）　after　many　sweet　kisses　and　embraces；　departed　thence；　to
the　place　where　the　Merchants　usually　frequented：　resorting　to　her
（from　time　to　time）　as　occasion　served；　and　paying　not　one　single　peny
for　all　his　wanton　pleasure；　by　which　cunning　baytes　（at　length）　she
caught　him。
　　It　came　to　passe；　that　having　made　sale　of　all　his　Clothes；
whereby　hee　had　great　gaines；　and　the　moneyes　justly　payed　him　at
the　times　appointed：　Biancafiore　got　intelligence　thereof；　yet　not
by　him；　but　from　one　of　the　Brokers。　Salabetto　comming　one　night　to
sup　with　her；　she　embraced　and　kissed　him　as　she　was　wont　to　doe；
and　seemed　so　wonderfully　addicted　in　love　to　him；　even　as　if　shee
would　have　dyed　with　delight　in　his　armes。　Instantly；　shee　would　needs
bestow　two　goodly　gilt　standing　Cuppes　on　him；　which　Salabetto　by　no
meanes　would　receive；　because　she　had　formerly　bin　very　bountifull
to　him；　to　above　the　value　of　an　hundred　Crowns；　and　yet　she　would　not
take　of　him　so　much　as　a　mite。　At　length；　pressing　still　more　tokens
of　her　love　and　bounty　on　him；　which　he　as　courteously　denied；　as
she　kindly　offered：　one　of　her　Women…slaves　（as　shee　had　before
cunningly　appointed）　sodainely　calling　her；　forthwith　she　departed　out
of　her　Chamber。　And　when　she　had　continued　a　pretty　while　absent；
she　returned　againe　weeping；　and　throwing　her　selfe　downe　upon　her
Pallet；　breathed　forth　such　sighes　and　wofull　lamentations；　as　no
Woman　could　possibly　doe　the　like。
　　Salabetto　amazedly　wondering　thereat；　tooke　her　in　his　Armes；　and
weeping　also　with　her；　said。　Alas　my　deare　Love；　what　sodain
accident　hath　befalne　you；　to　urge　this　lamentable　alteration？　If
you　love　me；　hide　it　not　from　me。　After　he　had　of　entreated　her　in
this　manner；　casting　her　armes　about　his　necke；　and　sighing　as　if
her　heart　would　breake；　thus　she　replyed。　Ah　Salabetto；　the　onely
jewell　of　my　joy　on　earth；　I　knowe　not　what　to　do；　or　say；　for　（even
now）　I　received　Letters　from　Messina；　wherein　my　Brother　writes　to　me；
that　although　it　cost　the　sale　of　all　my　goods；　or　whatsoever　else　I
have　beside；　I　must　（within　eight　dayes　space）　not　faile　to　send　him　a
thousand　Florins　of　gold；　or　else　he　must　have　his　head　smitten　off；
and　I　know　not　by　what　meanes　to　procure　them　so　soone。　For；　if　the
limitation　of　fifteene　dayes　might　serve　the　turne；　I　could　borrow
them　in　a　place；　where　I　can　command　a　farre　greater　summe；　or　else
I　would　sell　some　part　of　our　Lands。　But　beeing　no　way　able　to
furnish　him　so　soone；　I　would　I　had　died　before　I　heard　these
dismall　tydings。　And　in　the　uttering　of　these　words；　she　graced　them
with　such　cunning　dissembled　sorrow；　as　if　she　had　meant　truly　indeed。
Salabetto；　in　whom　the　fury　of　his　amorous　flames；　had　consumed　a
great　part　of　his　necessary　understanding；　beleeving　these
counterfetted　tears　and　complaints　of　hers；　to　proceed　from　an
honest　meaning　soule；　rashly　and　foolishly　thus　replied。　Deare
Biancafiore；　I　cannot　furnish　you　with　a　thousand　golden　Florines；　but
am　able　to　lend　you　five　hundred　if　I　were　sure　of　their　repayment
at　fifteene　dayes；　wherein　you　are　highly　beholding　to　Fortune；　that　I
have　made　sale　of　all　my　Cloathes；　which　if　they　had　lyen　still　on
my　hand；　my　power　could　not　stretch　to　lend　you　five　Florines。　Alas
deare　heart　（quoth　she）　would　you　be　in　such　want　of　money；　and　hide
it　from　her　that　loves　you　so　loyally？　Why　did　you　not　make　your
need　knowne　to　me？　Although　I　am　not　furnished　of　a　thousand　Florines；
yet　I　have　alwaies　ready　three　or　foure　hundred　by　me；　to　do　any　kinde
office　for　my　friend。　In　thus　wronging　me；　you　have　robd　me　of　all
boldnes；　to　presume　upon　your　offer　made　me。　Salabetto；　far　faster
inveigled　by　these　words　then　before；　said。　Let　not　my　folly　（bright
Biancafiore）　cause　you　to　refuse　my　friendly　offer；　in　such　a　case
of　extreme　necessity：　I　have　them　ready　pre。　pared　for　you；　and　am
heartily　sory；　that　my　power　cannot　furnish　you　with　the　whole　summe。
　　Then　catching　him　fast　in　her　armes；　thus　she　answered。　Now　I
plainly　perceive；　my　dearest　Salabetto；　that　the　love　thou　bearest
me　is　true　and　perfect；　when；　without　expectation　of　being
requested；　thou　art　readie　to　succour　me　in　such　an　urgent　neede；
and　with　so　faire　a　summe　of　Florines。　Sufficiently　was　I　thine　owne
before；　but　now　am　much　more　ingaged　by　so　high　deserving；　with　this
particular　acknowledgement　for　ever；　that　my　Brothers　head　was
redeemed　by　thy　goodnesse　onely。　Heaven　beareth　me　record；　how
unwilling　I　am　to　be　beholding　in　this　kind；　considring　that　you　are　a
Merchant；　and　Merchants　furnish　al　their　affairs　with　ready　monis：　but
seeing　necessity　constraineth　me；　and　I　make　no　doubt　of　repaiment
at　the　time　appointed：　I　。　p　shall　the　more　boldly　accept　your
kindnes；　with　this　absolute　promise　beside；　that　I　wil　rather　sell　all
the　houses　I　have；　then　breake　my　honest　word　with　you。
　　Counterfeit　teares　still　drayning　downe　her　cheeks；　and　Salabetto
kindly　comforting　her；　he　continued　there　with　hir　all　that　night；
to　expresse　him　selfe　her　most　liberall　servant。　And；　without
expecting　any　more　requesting；　the　next　morning　he　brought　her　the
five　hundred　Florines；　which　she　received　with　a　laughing　heart；　but
outward　dissembled　weeping　eies；　Salabetto　never　demanding　any　other
security；　but　onely　her　single　promise。
　　Biancafiore；　having　thus　received　the　five　hundred　Florines；　the
indiction　of　the　Almanacke　began　to　alter：　and　whereas　（before）
Salabetto　could　come　see　her　whensoever　he　pleased；　many　occasions　now
happened；　whereby　he　came　seven　times　for　once；　and　yet　his　entrance
was　scarsely　admitted；　neither　was　his　entertainment　so　affable；　or
his　cheare　so　bountifull；　as　in　his　former　accesses　thither。　Moreover；
when　the　time　for　repaiment　was　come；　yea　a　moneth　or　two　over…past；
and　he　demanded　to　have　his　money；　hee　could　have　nothing　but　words
for　paiment。　Now　he　began　to　consider　on　the　craft　and　cunning　of　this
wicked　Woman；　as　also　his　owne　shallow　understanding；　knowing　he　could
make　no　proofe　of　his　debt；　but　what　her　selfe　listed　to　say；　having
neither　witnes；　specialty；　bill　or　bond　to　shew：　which　made　his
folly　so　shamefull　to　him；　that　he　durst　not　complaine　to　any
pe