the decameron(十日谈)-第51部分
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you are not the first； neither can be the last； that shall be
deceived。 I have not beguiled you； to take any honour from you； but
onely declared； the faithfull affection I beare you； and so shall
doe for ever； as being your bounden and most obedient servant； and
as it is a long time agoe； since I dedicated my selfe and all mine
to your service； so hence…forth must I remaine for ever。 You are
wise enough （I know） in all other things： then shew your selfe not
to be silly or simple in this。
Ricciardo uttered these words； teares streaming aboundantly downe
his cheekes； and Madame Catulla （all the while） likewise showred forth
her sorrowes equally to his； now； although she was exceedingly
troubled in mind； and saw what her owne jealous folly had now
brought her to； a shame beyond all other whatsoever： in the middest of
her tormenting passions； shee considered on the words of Ricciardo；
found good reason in them； in regard of the unavoydable evils
whereupon shee thus spake。 Ricciardo； I know not how to beare the
horrible injurie； and notorious treason used by thee against me； grace
and goodnesse having so forsaken me； to let me fall in so foule a
manner。 Nor becommeth it me； to make any noyse or out…cry heere；
whereto simplicity； or rather devillish jealousie； did conduct me。 But
certaine I am of one thing； that I shall never see any one joyfull
day； till （by one meanes or other） I bee reverged on thee。 Thou hast
glutted thy desire with my disgrace； let me therefore go from thee；
never more to looke upon my wronged husband； or let any honest woman
ever see my face。
Ricciardo perceiving the extremity of her perplexed minde； used
all manly and milde perswasions； which possibly he could devise to
doe； to turne the torrent of this high tide； to a calmer course； as by
outward shew shee made appearance of； untill （in frightfull feares
shunning every one shee met withall； as arguments of her
guiltinesse） shee recovered her owne house； where remorse so
tortured her distressed soule； that she fell into so fierce a
melancholy； as never left her till shee died。 Upon the report whereof；
Ricciardo becomming likewise a widdower； and grieving
extraordinarily for his haynous transgression； penitently betooke
himselfe to live in a wildernesse； where （not long after） he ended his
dayes。
THE THIRD DAY； THE SEAVENTH NOVELL
WHEREIN IS SIGNIFIED THE POWER OF LOVE； AND THE DIVERSITY OF
DANGERS； WHEREINTO MEN MAY DAYLY FALL。
Theobaldo Elisei； having received an unkinde repulse by his beloved；
departed from Florence； and returning thither （a long while after）
in the habite of a Pilgrime； he spake with her； and made his wrongs
knowne unto her。 He delivered her Father from the danger of death；
because it was proved； that he had slaine Theobaldo： he made peace
with his brethren； and in the end； wisely enjoyed his hearts desire。
So ceased Fiammetta her discourse； being generally commended； when
the Queene； to prevent the losse of time； commanded Aemillia to follow
next； who thus began。 It liketh me best （gracious Ladies） to returne
home againe to our owne City； which it pleased the for。
mer two discoursers to part from： And there I will shew you； how a
Citizen of ours； recovered the kindnesse of his Love； after hee had
lost it。
Sometime there dwelt in Florence a young Gentleman； named
Theobaido Elisei； descended of a noble House； who became earnestly
enamoured of a Widdow； called Hermelina； the daughter to
Aldobrandino Palermini： well deserving； for his vertues and
commendable qualities； to enjoy of her whatsoever he could desire。
Secretly they were espoused together； but Fortune； the enemy to Lovers
felicities； opposed her malice against them； in depriving Theobaldo of
those deere delights； which sometime he held in free possession； and
making him as a stranger to her gracious favours。 Now grew shee
contemptibly to despise him； not onely denying to heare any message
sent from him； but scorning also to vouch safe so much as a sight of
him； causing in him extreme griefe and melancholy； yet concealling all
her unkindnesse so wisely to himselfe； as no one could understand
the reason of his sadnesse。
After he had laboured by all hopefull courses； to obtaine that
favour of her； which he had formerly lost； without any offence in him；
as his innocent soule truly witnessed with him； and saw that all his
further endeavours were fruitlesse and in vaine； he concluded to
retreate himselfe from the World； and not to be any longer irkesome in
her eye； that was the onely occasion of his unhappinesse。 Hereupon；
storing himselfe with summes of money； as suddenly he could collect
together； secretly he departed from Florence； without speaking any
word to his friends or kindred； except one kinde companion of
his； whom he acquainted with most of his secrets； and so travelled
to Ancona； where he termed himselfe by the name of Sandoloscio。
Repairing to a wealthy Merchant there； he placed himselfe as his
servant； and went in a Ship of his with him to Cyprus； his actions and
behaviour proved so pleasing to the Merchant； as not onely he
allowed him very sufficient wages； but also grew into such association
with him； as he gave the most of his affaires into his hands； which he
guided with such honest and discreete care； that hee himselfe （in
few yeeres compasse） proved to be a rich Merchant； and of famous
report。
While matters went on in this successefull manner； although he could
not chuse； but still he remembred his cruell Mistresse； and was very
desperately transported for her love； as coveting （above all things
else） to see her once more； yet was he of such powerfull constancy； as
7 whole yeeres together； he vanquished all those fierce conflicts。 But
on a day it chanced he heard a song sung in Cyprus； which he
himselfe had formerly made； in honour of the love he bare to his
Mistresse； and what delight he conceived； by being dayly in her
presence； whereby he gathered； that it was impossible for him to
forget her； and proceeded on so desirously； as he could not live；
except he had a sight of her once more； and therefore determined on
his returne to Florence。 Having set all his affaires in due order；
accompanied with a servant of his onely； he passed to Ancona； where
when he was arrived； he sent his Merchandises to Florence； in name
of the Merchant of Ancona； who was his especiall friend and partner；
travayling himselfe alone with his servant； in the habite of a
Pilgrime； as if he had beene newly returned from Jerusalem。
Being come to Florence； he went to an Inne kept by two brethren；
neere neighbours to the dwelling of his Mistresse； and the first thing
he did； was passing by her doore； to get a sight of her if he were
so happie。 But he found the windowes； doores； and all parts of the
house fast shut up； whereby he suspected her to be dead； or else to be
changed from her dwelling： wherefore （much perplexed in minde） he went
on to the two brothers Inne； finding foure persons standing at the
gate； attired in mourning； whereat he marvelled not a little；
knowing himselfe to be so transfigured； both in body and babite； farre
from the manner of common use at his parting thence； as it was a
difficult matter to know him： he stept boldly to a Shooe…makers shop
neere adjoyning； and demanded the reason of their wearing mourning。
The Shooe…maker made answer thus； Sir； those men are clad in mourning；
because a brother of theirs； being named Theobaldo （who hath beene
absent hence a long while） about some fifteene dayes since was slaine。
And they having heard； by proofe made in the Court of justice； that
one Aldobrandino Palermini （who is kept close prisoner） was the
murtherer of him； as he came in a disguised habite to his daughter； of
whom he was most affectionately enamoured； cannot chuse； but let the
World know by their outward habits； the inward affliction of their
hearts； for a deede so dishonourably committed。 Theobaldo wondered
greatly hereat； imagining； that some man belike resembling him in
shape； might be slaine in this manner； and by Aldobrandino； for
whose misfortune he grieved marvellously。 As concerning his Mistresse；
he understood that shee was living； and in good health； and night
drawing on apace； he went to his lodging； with infinite molestations
in his minde； where after supper； he was lodged in a Corne…loft with
his man。 Now by reason of many disturbing imaginations； which
incessantly wheeled about his braine； his bed also being none of the
best； and his supper （perhaps） somewhat of the coursest； a great
part of the night was spent； yet could he not close his eyes together。
But lying still broade awake； about the dead time of night； he heard
the treading of divers persons over his head； who discended downe a
paire of stayres by his Chamber； into the lower parts of the house；
carrying a light with them； which he discerned by the chinkes and
crannies in the wall。 Stepping softly out of his bed； to see what
the meaning hereof might be； he espied a faire young woman； who
carried a light in her hand； and three men in her company；
descending downe the stayres together； one of them speaking thus to
the young woman。 Now we may boldly warrant our saftey； because we have
heard it assuredly； that the death of Theobaldo Elisei； hath beene
sufficiently approved by the Brethren； against Aldobrandino Palermini；
and he hath confessed the fact； whereupon the sentence is already
set downe in writing。 But yet it behooveth us notwithstanding； to
conceale it very secretly； because if ever hereafter it should be
knowne； that we are they who murthered him； we shall be in the same
danger； as now Aldobrandino is。
When Theobaldo had heard these words； hee began to consider with
himselfe； how many and great the dangers are； wherewith mens minds may
dayly be molested。 First； he thought on his owne brethren in their
sorrow； and buried a stranger insteed of him； accusing afterward （by
false opinion； and upon the testimony of as false witnesses） a man
most innocent； making him ready for the stroke of death。 Next； he made
a strict observation in his soule； concerning the blinded severity
of Law； and
