the decameron(十日谈)-第39部分

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faire　felicities　yet　to　come；　because　his　youth　would　renew　it　selfe
like　to　the　Eagle；　and　his　vigour　in　as　full　force　as　before。　But
beside　all　these　ydle　allegations；　would　needs　instruct　his　wife　in　an
Almanacke　or　Kalender；　which　he　had　（formerly）　bought　at　Ravenna；
and　wherein　he　plainely　shewed　her；　that　there　was　not　one　day　in
the　yeere；　but　it　was　dedicated　to　some　Saint　or　other。　In　reverence
of　whom；　and　for　their　sakes；　he　approved　by　divers　arguments　and
reasons；　that　a　man　and　his　wife　ought　to　abstaine　from　bedding
together。　Adding　withall；　that　those　Saints　dayes　had　their　Fasts
and　Feasts；　beside　the　foure　seasons　of　the　yeer；　the　vigils　of　the
Apostles；　and　a　thousand　other　holy　dayes；　with　Fridayes；
Saterdayes；　and　Sundayes；　in　honor　of　our　Lords　rest；　and　al　the
holy　time　of　Lent；　as　also　certain　observations　of　the　Moone；　and
infinit　other　exceptions　beside；　thinking　perhaps；　that　it　was　as
convenient　for　men　to　refraine　from　their　wives　conversation；　as　he
did　often　time　from　sitting　in　the　Court。　These　were　his　dayly
documents　to　his　young　wife；　wherewith　（poore　soule）　she　became　so
tyred；　as　nothing　could　be　more　irksom　to　her；　and　very　careful　he
was；　lest　any　other　should　teach　her　what　belonged　to　working　daies；
because　he　would　have　her　know　none　but　holy　daies。　It　came　to
passe；　that　the　season　waxing　extremely　hot；　Signior　Ricciardo　would
go　to　recreate　himselfe　at　his　house　in　the　country；　neere　to　the
blacke　Mountaine；　where　for　his　faire　wives　more　contentment；　he
continued　divers　daies　together。　And　for　her　further　recreation；　he
gave　order　to　have　a　day　of　fishing；　he　going　aboord　a　small　Pinnace
among　the　Fishers；　and　she　in　another；　consorted　with　divers　other
Gentlewomen；　in　whose　company　she　was　very　well　pleased。　Delight
made　them　launch　further　into　the　Sea；　then　either　the　Judge　was
willing　they　should　have　done；　or　agreed　with　their　owne　safety。　For
sodainly　a　Galliot　came　upon　them；　wherein　was　one　Pagamino　a　famous
Pyrate；　who　espying　the　two　Pinnaces；　made　presently　to　them；　and
seized　on　that　wherein　the　women　were。　When　he　beheld　there　so　faire　a
young　Woman；　he　coveted　after　no　other　purchase；　but　mounting　her　into
his　Galliot；　in　the　sight　of　Signior　Ricciardo；　who　by　this　time　was
fearefully　landed；　he　carried　her　away　with　him。　When　Signior　Judge
had　seene　this　theft　（he　being　so　jealous　of　his　wife；　as　scarsely
he　would　let　the　ayre　breathe　on　her）　it　were　needlesse　to　know
whether　he　was　offended；　or　no。　He　made　complaint　at　Pisa；　and　in
other　places　beside；　what　injurie　he　had　sustained　by　those　Pyrates；
in　carrying　away　his　wife　from　him：　but　all　in　vaine；　he　neither　（as
yet）　knew　the　man；　nor　what　was　become　of　him。　Pagamino　perceiving
what　a　beautifull　woman　shee　was；　made　the　more　precious　esteeme　of
his　purchase；　and　being　himselfe　a　Batchelor；　intended　to　keepe　her　as
his　owne；　comforting　her　with　kinde　and　pleasing　speeches；　not　using
any　ill　demeanor　to　her；　because　she　wept　and　lamented　greevously。　But
when　night　came；　her　husbands　Kalender　falling　from　her　girdle；　and
all　the　fasts　and　feasts　quite　out　of　her　remembrance；　she　received
such　curtesies　from　Pagamino；　that　before　they　could　arrive　at　Monaco；
the　Judge　and　his　Law　cases　were　almost　out　of　memory；　such　was　his
affable　behaviour　to　her；　and　she　began　to　converse　with　him　in　more
friendly　manner；　and　he　entreated　her　as　honourably；　as　if　she　had　bin
his　espoused　wife。
　　Within　a　short　while　after；　report　had　acquainted　the　Judge；　where
and　how　his　wife　was　kept　from　him；　whereupon　hee　determined；　not　to
send；　but　rather　to　go　himselfe　in　person；　and　to　redeeme　her　from　the
Pyrate；　with　what　summes　of　money　he　should　demand。　By　sea　he　passed
to　Monaco；　where　he　saw　his　wife；　and　she　him；　as　（soone　after）　shee
made　known　to　Pagamino。　The　next　morning；　Signior　Ricciardo　meeting
with　Pagamino；　made　meanes　to　be　acquainted　with　bim；　and　within　lesse
then　an　houres　space；　they　grew　into　familiar　conference；　Pagamino　yet
pretending　not　to　know　him；　but　expected　what　issue　this　talke　would
sort　to。　When　time　served；　the　Judge　discoursed　the　occasion　of　his
comming　thither；　desiring　him　to　demand　what　ransome　he　pleased；　and
that　he　might　have　his　wife　home　with　him。　Whereto　Pagamino　answered。
　　My　Lord　Judge；　you　are　welcome　hither；　and　to　answer　you　breefely
very　true　it　is；　that　I　have　a　yong　Gentlewoman　in　my　house；　whom　I
neither　know　to　be　your　wife；　or　any　other　mans　else　whatsoever：　for　I
am　ignorant　both　of　you　and　her；　albeit　she　hath　remained　a　while　here
with　me。　If　you　be　her　husband；　as　you　seeme　to　avouch；　I　will　bring
her　to　you；　for　you　appeare　to　be　a　worthy　Gentleman；　and
（questionlesse）　she　cannot　chuse　but　know　you　perfectly。　If　she　do
confirme　that　which　you　have　saide；　and　be　willing　to　depart　hence
with　you：　I　shal　rest　well　satisfied；　and　will　have　no　other
recompence　for　her　ransome　（in　regard　of　your　grave　and　reverend
yeeres）　but　what　your　selfe　shall　please　to　give　me。　But　if　it　fall
out　other　then　you　have　affirmed；　you　shal　offer　me　great　wrong；　in
seeking　to　get　her　from　me；　because　I　am　a　young　man；　and　can　as
well　maintaine　so　faire　a　wife　as　you；　or　any　man　else　that　I　know。
Beleeve　it　certainly；　replyed　the　judge；　that　she　is　my　wife；　and　if
you　please　to　bring　me　where　she　is；　you　shall　soone　perceive　it：
for　she　will　presently　cast　her　armes　about　my　necke；　and　I　durst
adventure　the　utter　losse　of　her；　if　she　deny　to　do　it　in　your
presence。　Come　on　then；　saide　Pagamino；　and　let　us　delay　the　time　no
longer。
　　When　they　were　entred　into　Pagaminos　house；　and　sat　downe　in　the
Hall；　he　caused　her　to　be　called；　and　she　（being　readily　prepared
for　the　purpose）；　came　forth　of　her　Chamber　before　them　both；　where
friendly　they　sate　conversing　together；　never　uttering　any　word　unto
Signieur　Ricciardo；　or　knowing　him　from　any　other　stranger；　that
Pagamino　might　bring　into　the　house　with　him。　Which　when　my　Lord　the
Judge　beheld；　（who　expected　to　finde　a　farre　more　gracious　welcome）　he
stoode　as　a　man　amazed；　saying　to　himselfe。　Perhaps　the
extraordinary　greefe　and　melancholly　suffered　by　me　since　the　time
of　her　losse；　hath　so　altred　my　wonted　complexion；　that　shee　is　not
able　to　take　knowledge　of　me。　Wherefore；　going　neerer　to　her；　he
saide：　Faire　Love；　deerely　have　I　bought　your　going　on　fishing；
because　never　man　felt　the　like　afflictions　as　I　have　done　since　the
day　when　I　lost　you：　but　by　this　your　uncivil　silence；　you　seeme　as　if
you　did　not　know　me。　Why　deerest　love；　seest　thou　not　that　I　am　thy
husband　Ricciardo；　who　am　come　to　pay　what　ransome　this　Gentleman
shall　demaund；　even　in　the　house　where　now　we　are；　so　to　convey　thee
home　againe；　upon　his　kind　promise　of　thy　deliverance；　after　the
payment　of　thy　ransome？
　　Bertolomea　turning　towards　him；　and　seeming　as　if　shee　smiled　to　her
selfe；　thus　answered。　Sir；　speake　you　to　me？　Advise　your　selfe　well；
least　you　mistake　me　for　some　other；　for　mine　owne　part；　I　never　saw
you　till　now。　How　now　quoth　Ricciardo？　Consider　better　what　you　say；
looke　more　circumspectly　on　me；　and　then　you　will　remember；　that　I
am　your　loving　husband；　and　my　name　is　Ricciardo　di　Cinzica。　You
must　pardon　me　Sir；　replyed　Bertolomea；　I　know　it　not　so　fitting　for　a
modest；　woman　to　stand　gazing　in　the　faces　of　men：　and　let　me　looke
uppon　you　never　so　often；　certaine　I　am；　that　（till　this　instant）　I
have　not　seene　you。　My　Lord　Judge　conceived　in　his　minde；　that　thus
she　denied　all　knowledge　of　him；　as　standing　in　feare　of　Pagamino；　and
would　not　confesse　him　in　his　presence。　Wherefore　hee　entreated　of
Pagamino；　to　affoord　him　so　much　favour；　that　he　might　speake　alone
with　her　in　her　Chamber。　Pagamino　answered；　that　he　was　well　contented
therewith；　provided；　that　he　should　not　kisse　her　against　her　will。
Then　he　requested　Bartolomea；　to　goe　with　him　alone　into　her
Chamber；　there　to　heare　what　he　could　say；　and　to　answere　him　as
shee　found　occasion。　When　they　were　come　into　the　Chamber；　and　none
there　present　but　he　and　shee；　Signior　Ricciardo　began　in　this　manner。
Heart　of　my　heart；　life　of　my　life；　the　sweetest　hope　that　I　have　in
this　world；　wilt　thou　not　know　thine　owne　Ricciardo；　who　loveth　thee
more　then　he　doth　himselfe？　Why　art　thou　so　strange？　Am　I　so
disfigured；　that　thou　knowest　me　not？　Behold　me　with　a　more　pleasing
eye；　I　pray　thee。
　　Bartolomea　smiled　to　her　self　and　without　suffering　him　to　proceed
any　further　in　speech；　returned　him　this　answere。　I　would　have　you
to　understand　Sir；　that　my　memory　is　not　so　oblivious；　but　I　know
you　to　be　Signior　Ricciardo　di　Cinzica；　and　my　husband　by　name　or
title；　but　during　the　time　that　I　was　with　you；　it　very　ill　appeared
that　you　had　any　knowledge　of　me。　For　if　you　had　bene　so　wise　and
considerate；　as　（in　your　own　judgement）　the　world　reputed　you　to　be；
you　could　not　be　voide　of　so　much　apprehension；　but　did　apparantly
perceive；　that　I　was　yong；　fresh；　and　cheerefully　disposed；　and　so　（by
consequent）　meet　to　know　matters　requisite　for　such　young　women；
beside　allowance　of　food　and　garments；　though　bashfulnesse　and　modesty
forbid　to　utter　it。　But　if　studying　the　Lawes　were　more　welcome　to　you
then　a　wife；　you　ought　not　to　have　maried；　and　you　loose　the　worthy
reputation　of　a　judge；　when　you　fall　from　that　venerable　profession；
and　make　your　selfe　a　common　proclaimer　of　feasts　and　fasting　dayes；
lenten　seasons；　vigils；　and　solemnities　due　to　Saints；　which　prohibite
the　houshold　conversation　of　husbands　and　wives。
　　Here　am　I　now　with　a　worthy　Gentleman；　that　entertaineth　me　with
very　honourable　respect；　and　here　I　live　in　this　Chamber；　not　so
much　as　hearing　of　any　feasts　or　fasting　dayes；　for；　neither　Fridaies；
Saturdaies；　vigils　of　Saints；　or　any　lingering　Lent；　enter　at　this
doore：　but　heere　is　honest　and　civill　conversation；　better　agreeing
with　a　youthfull　disposition；　then　those　harsh　documents　wherewith　you
tutord　me。　Wherefore　my　purpose　is　to　continue　here　with　him；　as　being
a　place　sutable　to　my　minde　and　youth；　referring　feasts；　vigils；　and
fasting　daies；　to　a　more　mature　and　stayed　time　of　age；　when　the
body　is　better　able　to　endure　them；　and　the　mind　may　be　pre