the decameron(十日谈)-第174部分

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ancient　Knight；　called　Signior　Neri　degli　Uberti。　And　waxing　ashamed
of　his　amorous　folly；　caused　both　Genevera；　and　her　fayre　Sister
Isotta；　to　be　joyned　in　marriage　with　two　Noble　Gentlemen；　the　one
named　Signior　Maffeo　da　Palizzi；　and　the　other；　Signior　Gulielmo　della
Magna。

　　Who　is　able　to　expresse　ingeniously；　the　diversity　of　opinions；
which　hapned　among　the　Ladies；　in　censuring　on　the　act　of　Madame
Dianora；　and　which　of　them　was　most　liberall；　eithet　Signior
Gilberto　the　Husband；　Lord　Ansaldo　the　importunate　suiter；　or　the
Magitian；　expecting　to　bee　bountifully　rewarded。　Surely；　it　is　a
matter　beyond　my　capacity：　but　after　the　King　had　permitted　their
disputation　a　long　while；　looking　on　Madam　Fiammetta；　he　commanded
that　she　should　report　her　Novel　to　make　an　end　of　their　controversie；
and　she　（without　any　further　delaying）　thus　began。　I　did　alwaies
（Noble　Ladies）　hold　it　fit　and　decent；　that　in　such　an　assembly　as
this　of　ours　is；　every　one　ought　to　speake　so　succinctly　and
plainly：　that　the　obscure　understanding；　concerning　the　matters　spoken
of；　should　have　no　cause　of　disputation。　For　disputes　do　much　better
become　the　Colledges　of　Schollers；　then　to　be　among　us；　who　hardly　can
manage　our　Distaves　or　Samplers。　And　therefore　I；　who　intend　to　relate
something；　which　（peradventure）　might　appeare　doubtfull：　will　forbeare
（seeing　you　in　such　a　difference；　for　that　which　hath　bin　spoken
alreadie）　to　use　any　difficult　discourse；　but　will　speake　of　one；　a
man　of　no　meane　ranke　or　quality；　being　both　a　valiant　and　vertuous
King；　and　what　he　did；　without　any　impeach　or　blemish　to　his　honor。
　　I　make　no　doubt；　but　you　have　often　heard　report；　of　king　Charls　the
Aged；　and　first　of　that　name；　by　reason　of　his　magnificent
enterprises；　as　also　his　most　glorious　victory；　which　he　obtaind
against　King　Manfred；　when　the　Ghibellines　were　expulsed　foorth　of
Florence；　and　the　Guelphes　returned　thither　againe。　By　which　occasion；
an　ancient　knight；　named　Signior　Neri　degli　Uberti；　forsaking　then　the
City；　with　all　his　family　and　great　store　of　wealth；　woulde　live　under
any　other　obedience；　then　the　awful　power　or　command　of　King
Charles。　And　coveting　to　be　in　some　solitary　place；　where　he　might
finish　the　remainder　of　his　dayes　in　peace；　he　went　to　Castello　da
Mare；　where；　about　a　Bow　shoote　distance　from　all　other　dwelling
houses；　hee　bought　a　parcel　of　ground；　plentifully　stored　with　variety
of　Trees；　bearing　Olives；　Chesnuts；　Orenges；　Lemons；　Pomcitrons；　and
other　excellent　frutages；　wherewith　the　Countrey　flourisheth
abundantly。　There　he　built　a　very　faire　and　commodious　house；　and
planted　（close　by　it）　a　pleasant　Garden；　in　the　middst　whereof；
because　he　had　great　plenty　of　water：　according　as　other　men　use　to
do；　being　in　the　like　case　so　wel　provided；　he　made　a　very　goodly
Pond；　which　forthwith　had　all　kinde　of　Fish　swimming　in　it；　it　being
his　daily　care　and　endevour；　to　tend　his　Garden；　and　encrease　his
Fish…pond。
　　It　fortuned；　that　King　Charles　in　the　Summer　time）　for　his
pleasure　and　recreation；　went　to　repose　himselfe　（for　some　certayne
dayes）　at　Castello　de　Mare；　where　having　heard　report　of　the　beautie
and　singularitie　of　Signiour　Neries　Garden；　hee　grew　very　desirous
to　see　it。　But　when　he　understoode　to　whome　it　belonged；　then　he
entred　into　consideration　with　himselfe；　that　hee　was　an　ancient
Knight；　maintaining　a　contrarie　faction　to　his：　wherefore；　he
thought　it　fit　to　goe　in　some　familiar　manner；　and　with　no　trayne
attending　on　him。　Wherupon　he　sent　him　word；　that　he　wold　come　to
visit　him；　with　foure　Gentlemen　onely　in　his　companie；　meaning　to
sup　with　him　in　his　Garden　the　next　night　ensuing。　The　newes　was
very　welcome　to　Signior　Neri；　who　took　order　in　costly　maner　for　all
things　to　bee　done；　entertaining　the　King　most　joyfully　into　his
beautifull　Garden。
　　When　the　King　had　survayed　all；　and　the　house　likewise；　he　commended
it　beyond　all　other　comparison；　and　the　Tables　being　placed　by　the
Ponds　side；　he　washed　his　hands　therin；　and　then　sat　down　at　the　the
Count；　Sir　Guy　de　Montforte　（who　was　one　of　them　which　came　in　his
company）　to　sitte　downe　by　him；　and　Signior　Neri　on　his　other　side。　As
for　the　other　three　of　the　traine；　hee　commaunded　them　to　attend　on
his　service；　as　Signior　Neri　had　given　order。　There　wanted　no
exquisite　Viandes　and　excellent　Wines；　all　performed　in　most　decent
manner；　and　without　the　least　noise　or　disturbance；　wherein　the　King
tooke　no　little　delight。
　　Feeding　thus　in　this　contented　manner；　and　fancying　the　solitude
of　the　place：　sodainly　entred　into　the　garden；　two　yong　Damosels；　each
aged　about　some　fifteene　yeares；　their　haire　resembling　wyars　of　Gold；
and　curiously　curled；　having　Chaplets　（made　like　provinciall
Crownes）　on　their　heades；　and　their　delicate　faces；　expressing　them　to
be　rather　Angels；　then　mortall　creatures；　such　was　the　appearance　of
their　admired　beauty。　Their　under…garments　were　of　costly　Silke；　yet
white　as　the　finest　snow；　framed　（from　the　girdle　upward）　close　to
their　bodies；　but　spreading　largely　downward；　like　the　extendure　of
a　Pavillion；　and　so　descending　to　the　feet。　She　that　first　came　in
sight；　caried　on　her　shoulder　a　couple　of　fishing　Netts；　which　she
held　fast　with　her　left　hand；　and　in　the　right　she　carryed　a　long
staffe。　The　other　following　her；　had　on　her　left　shoulder　a
Frying…pan；　and　under　the　same　arme　a　small　Faggot　of　woodde；　with　a
Trevit　in　her　hand；　and　in　the　other　hand　a　pot　of　Oyle；　as　also　a
brand　of　fire　flaming。
　　No　sooner　did　the　King　behold　them；　but　he　greatly　wondered　what
they　should　be；　and；　without　uttering　one　word；　attended　to　listen
what　they　wold　say。　Both　the　yong　damosels；　when　they　were　come　before
the　King；　with　modest　and　bashfull　gesture；　they　performed　very　humble
reverence　to　him；　and　going　to　the　place　of　entrance　into　the　Pond；
she　who　held　the　Trevit；　set　it　downe　on　the　ground；　with　the　other
things　also；　and　taking　the　staffe　which　the　other　Damosell　carried：
they　both　went　into　the　Pond；　the　water　whereof　reached　so　high　as
to　their　bosomes。　One　of　the　Servants　to　Signior　Neri；　presently
kindled　the　fire；　setting　the　Trevit　over　it；　and　putting　Oyle　into
the　Frying…panne；　held　it　uppon　the　Trevit；　awaiting　untill　the
Damosels　should　cast　him　uppe　Fish。　One　of　them　did　beate　a　place　with
the　staffe；　where　she　was　assured　of　the　Fishes　resort；　and　the
other　hadde　lodged　the　Nets　so　conveniently；　as　they　quickly　caught
great　store　of　Fish；　to　the　Kings　high　contentment；　who　observed　their
behaviour　very　respectively。
　　As　the　Fishes　were　throwne　up　to　the　servant；　alive　as　they　were；　he
tooke　the　best　and　fairest　of　them；　and　brought　them　to　the　Table；
where　they　skipt　and　mounted　before　the　King；　Count　Guy　de　Montfort
and　the　Father：　some　leaping　from　the　Table　into　the　Pond　againe；
and　others；　the　King　（in　a　pleasing　humour）　voluntarily　threw　backe　to
the　Damosels。　jesting　and　sporting　in　this　manner；　till　the　servant
had　drest　divers　of　them　in　exquisite　order；　and　served　them　to　the
Table　according　as　Signior　Neri　had　ordained。　When　the　Damosels　saw
the　Fishes　service　performed；　and　perceived　that　they　had　fished
sufficiently：　they　came　forth　of　the　water；　their　garments　then　（being
wet）　hanging　close　about　them；　even　as　if　they　hid　no　part　of　their
bodies。　Each　having　taken　those　things　againe；　which　at　first　they
brought　with　them；　and　saluting　the　king　in　like　humility　as　they
did　before；　returned　home　to　the　mansion　house。
　　The　King　and　Count　likewise；　as　also　the　other　attending
Gentlemen；　having　duely　considered　the　behavior　of　the　Damosels：
commended　extraordinarily　their　beauty　and　faire　feature；　with　those
other　perfections　of　Nature　so　gloriously　shining　in　them。　But　（beyond
all　the　rest）　the　King　was　boundlesse　in　his　praises　given　of　them；
having　observed　their　going　into　the　water；　the　equall　carriage
there　of　them　both；　their　comming　forth；　and　gracious　demeanor　at
their　departing　（yet　neither　knowing　of　whence；　or　what　they　were）
he　felt　his　affection　very　violently　flamed；　and　grew　into　such　an
amourous　desire　to　them　both；　not　knowing　which　of　them　pleased　him
most；　they　so　choisely　resembled　one　another　in　all　things。
　　But　after　he　had　dwelt　long　enough　upon　these　thoughts；　he　turned
him　selfe　to　Signior　Neri；　and　demanded　of　him；　what　Damosels　they
were。　Sir　（answered　Neri）　they　are　my　Daughters；　both　brought　into　the
world　at　one　birth；　and　Twinnes；　the　one　being　named　Genevera　the
faire；　and　the　other　Isotta　the　amiable。　The　King　began　againe　to
commend　them　both；　and　gave　him　advise　to　get　them　both　married：
wherein　he　excused　himselfe；　alleadging；　that　he　wanted　power　to　doe
it。　At　the　same　time　instant；　no　other　service　remaining　to　be　brought
to　the　table；　except　Fruit　and　Cheese；　the　two　Damosels　returned
againe；　attyred　in　goodly　Roabes　of　Carnation　Sattin；　formed　after　the
Turkish　fashion；　carrying　two　fayre　Silver　dishes　in　their　hands；
filled　with　divers　delicate　Fruites；　such　as　the　season　then　afforded；
setting　them　on　the　Table　before　the　King。　Which　being　done；　they
retyred　a　little　backeward；　and　with　sweet　melodious　voyces；　sung　a
ditty；　beginning　in　this　manner。
　　Where　Love　presumeth　into　place：
　　Let　no　one　sing　in　Loves　disgrace。
　　So　sweet　and　pleasing　seemed　the　Song　to　the　King　（who　tooke　no
small　delight；　both　to　heare　and　behold　the　Damosels）　even　as　if　all
the　Hirarchies　of　Angels　were　descended　from　the　Heavens　to　sing
before　him。　No　sooner　was　the　Song　ended；　but　（humbly　on　their
knees）　they　craved　favour　of　the　King　for　their　departing。　Now；
although　their　departure　was　greatly　grieving　to　him；　yet　（in
outward　appearance）　he　seemed　willing　to　grant　it。
　　When　Supper　was　concluded；　and　the　King　and　his　Company　remounted　on
horsebacke：　thankefully　departing　from　Signior　Neri；　the　King　returned
to　his　lodging；　concealing　there　closely　his　affection　to　himselfe；
and　whatsoever　important　affaires　happened：　yet　he　could　not　forget
the　beauty；　and　gracious　behaviour　of　Genevera　the　faire　（for　whose
sake　he　loved　her　Sister　likewise）　but　became　so　linked　to　her　in
vehement　maner；　as　he　had　no　power　to　think　on　any　thing　els