the decameron(十日谈)-第167部分
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another； bestowing on one a Castle； a Towne on another； and
Baronnies on divers； som…what indiscreetly； as giving away bountiful
to men of no merit。 And restraining all his favors from him； as
seeming close fisted； and parting with nothing： he took it as a
diminishing of his former reputation； and a great empayring of his
fame； wherefore he resolved on his departure thence； and made his suit
to the king that he might obtaine it。 The king did grant it； bestowing
on him one of the very best Mules； and the goodliest that ever was
backt； a gift most highly pleasing to Rogiero； in regarde of the
long journy he intended to ride。 Which being delivcrd； the king gave
charge to one of his Gentlemen； to compasse such convenient meanes； as
to ride thorow the country； and in the company of Signior Rogiero； yet
in such manner； as he should not perceive； that the King had purposely
sent him so to do。 Respectively he should observe whatsoever he said
concerning the king； his gesture； smiles； and other behavior；
shaping his answers accordingly； and on the nexte morning to command
his returne backe with him to the King。
Nor was the Gentleman slacke in this command； but noting Rogieroes
departing forth of the city； he mounted on horseback likewise； and
immediatly after came into his company； making him beleeve； that he
journied towards Italy。 Rogiero rode on the Mule which the king had
given him； with diversity of speeches passing between them。 About
three of the clocke in the afternoone； the Gentleman said。 It were not
amisse Sir； （having such fit opportunitie）； to Stable our horses for a
while； till the heate be a little more overpast。 So taking an Inne；
and the horses being in the stable； they all staled except the Mule。
Being mounted againe； and riding on further； the Gentleman duely
observed whatsoever Rogiero spake； and comming to the passage of a
small River or Brooke： the rest of the beasts dranke； and not the
Mule； but staled in the River： which Signior Rogiero seeing；
clapping his hands on the Mules mane； hee said。 What a wicked beast
art thou？ thou art just like thy Master that gave thee to mee。 The
Gentleman committed the words to memory； as he did many other
passing from Rogiero； riding along the rest of the day； yet none in
disparagement of the King； but rather highly in his commendation。
And being the next morning mounted on horseback； seeming to hold on
still the way for Tuscane： the Gentleman fulfilled the Kings
command； causing Signior Rogiero to turne back againe with him；
which willingly he yeelded to doe。
When they were come to the Court； and the King made acquainted
with the words； which Rogiero spake to his Mule； he was called into
the presence； where the King shewed him a gracious countenance； and
demanded of him； why he had compared him to his Mule？ Signior
Rogiero nothing daunted； but with a bold and constant spirit； thus
answered。 Sir； I made the comparison； because； like as you give； where
there is no conveniency； and bestow nothing where reason requireth：
even so； the Mule would not stale where she should have done； but
where was water too much before； there she did it。 Beleeve me
Signior Rogiero； replyed the King； if I have not given you such gifts；
as （perhaps） I have done to divers other； farre inferiour to you in
honour and merit； this happened not thorough any ignorance in me； as
not knowing you to be a most valiant Knight； and well…worthy of
speciall respect： but rather through your owne ill fortune； which
would not suffer me to doe it； whereof she is guilty； and not I； as
the truth thereof shall make it selfe apparant to you。 Sir； answered
Rogiero； I complaine not； because I have received no gift from you； as
desiring thereby covetously to become the richer： but in regard you
have not as yet any way acknowledged； what vertue is remaining in
me。 Neverthelesse； I allow your excuse for good and reasonable； and am
heartely contented； to behold whatsoever you please； although I doe
confidently credit you； without any other testimony。
The King conducted him then into the great Hall； where （as hee had
before given order） stood two great Chests； fast lockt； in the
presence of all his Lords； the King thus spake。 Signior Rogiero； in
one of these Chests is mine imperiall Crowne； the Scepter Royall；
the Mound； and many more of my richest girdles； rings； plate； and
jewels； even the very best that are mine： the other is full of earth
onely。 Chuse one of these two； and which thou makest election of； upon
my Royall word thou shalt enjoy it。 Hereby shalt thou evidently
perceive； who hath bin ingreatful to the deservings； either I； or
thine owne bad fortune。 Rogiero seeing it was the kings pleasure to
have it so； chose one of them； which the King caused presently to be
opened； it approving to be the same that was full of earth； whereat
the King smyling； said thus unto him。 You see Signior Rogiero； that
what I said concerning your ill fortune； is very true： but
questionlesse； your valour is of such desert； as I ought to oppose
my selfe against all her malevolence。 And because I know right； that
you are not minded to become a Spaniard； I will give you neither
Castle nor dwelling place： but will bestow the Chest on you （in meer
despight of your malicious fortune） which she so unjustly tooke away
from you。 Carry it home with you into your Countrey； that there it may
make an apparant testimoney； in the sight of all your well…willers；
both of your owne vertuous deservings； and my bounty。 Signior
Rogiero humbly receiving the Chest； and thanking his Majestie for so
liberall a gift； returned home joyfully therewith； into his native
Countrey of Tuscane。
THE TENTH DAY； THE SECOND NOVELL
WHEREIN IS DECLARED THAT GOOD MEN DOE SOMETIMES FALL INTO BAD
CONDITIONS； ONELY OCCASIONED THERETO BY NECESSITY： AND WHAT
MEANES ARE TO BE USED； FOR THEIR REDUCING TO GOODNESSE
AGAINE
Ghinotto di Tacco； tooke the Lord Abbot of Clugni as his prisoner；
and cured him of a grievous disease； which he had in his stomacke； and
afterwards set him at libert。 The same Lord Abbot when hee returned
from the Court Rome； reconciled Ghinotto to Pope Boniface； who made
him a Knight； and Lord Prior of a goodly Hospitall。
The magnificence and Royall bounty； which King Alphonso bestowed
on the Florentine knight； passed through the whole assembly with
mean applause； and the King （who gave the greatest praise of al）
commanded Madame Eliza； to take the second turne in order；
whereupon； thus she began。 Faire Ladies； if a king shewed himselfe
magnificently minded； and expressed his liberall bounty to such a man；
as had done him good and honourable services： it can be termed no more
then a vertuous deed well done； and becomming a King。 But what will we
say； when we heare that a Prelate of the Church； shewed himselfe
wondrously magnificent； and to such a one as was his enemy： can any
malicious tongue speake ill of him？ Undoubtedly； no other answere is
to be made； but the action of the King was meerely vertue； and that of
the Prelate； no lesse then a miracle： for how can it be otherwise；
when they are more greedily covetous then women； and deadly enemies to
all liberality？ And although every man （naturally） desireth revenge
for injuries and abuses done unto him： yet men of the Church； in
regard that dayly they preached patience； and commaund （above all
things else） remission of sinnes： it would appeare a mighty blemish in
them； to be more froward and furious then other men。 But I am to
speake of a reverend Prelate of the Church； as also concerning his
munificent bounty； to one that was his enemy； and yet became his
reconciled friend； as you shall perceive by my Novell。
Ghinotto di Tacco； for his insolent and stout robberies； became a
man very farre famed； who being banished from Sienna； and an enemy
to the Countes Disanta Flore： prevailed so by his bold and
headstrong perswasions； that the Towne of Raticonfani rebelled against
the Church of Rome； wherein he remaining； all passengers whatsoever；
travelling any way thereabout； were robde and rifled by his theeving
Companions。 At the time whereof now I speake； Boniface the eight；
governed as Pope at Rome； and the Lord Abbot of Clugni （accounted to
be one of the richest Prelates in the world） came to Rome； and there
either by some surfeit； excesse of feeding； or otherwise； his stomacke
being grievously offended and pained； the Phisitians advised him； to
travell to the Bathes at Sienna； where he should receive immediate
cure。 In which respect； his departure being licenced by the Pope； to
set onward thither； with great and pompous Cariages； of Horses； Mules；
and a goodly traine； without hearing any rumour of the theevish
Consorts。
Ghinotto di Tacco； being advertised of his comming； spred about
his scouts and nettes； and without missing so much as one Page； shut
up the Abbot； with all his traine and baggage； in a place of narrow
restraint； out of which he could by no meanes escape。 When this was
done； he sent one of his most sufficient attendants （well accompanyed）
to the Lord Abbot； who said to him in his Masters name； that if his
Lordship were so pleased； hee might come and visite Ghinotto at his
Castle。 Which the Abbot hearing； answered chollerickly； that he
would not come thither； because hee had nothing to say to Ghinotto：
but meant to proceed on in his journy； and would faine see； who
durst presume to hinder his passe。 To which rough words； the messenger
thus mildely answered。 My Lord （quoth he） you are arrived in such a
place； where we feare no other force； but the all…controlling power of
heaven； clearely exempted from the Popes thunder…cracks； of
maledictions； interdictions； excommunications； or whatsoever else： and
therefore it would bee much better for you； if you pleased to do as
Ghinotto adviseth you。
During the time of this their interparlance； the place was
suddenly round ingirt with strongly armed theeves； and the Lord
Abbot perceiving； that both he and all his followers were surprized：
tooke his way （though very impatiently） towards the Castle； and
likewise all his company and carria
