the decameron(十日谈)-第59部分

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the　Count　for　his　unkindnesse　towards　her。
　　After　that　the　whole　Country　of　Roussillion　（by　the　policy　and
wisedome　of　this　worthy　Lady）　was　fully　reestablished　in　their　ancient
liberties；　she　made　choise　of　two　discreet　knights；　whom　she　sent　to
the　Count　her　husband；　to　let　him　understand；　that　if　in　displeasure
to　her；　hee　was　thus　become　a　stranger　to　his　owne　Country：　upon　the
returne　of　his　answer；　to　give　him　contentment；　she　would　depart
thence；　and　by　no　meanes　disturbe　him。　Roughly　and　churlishly　he
replied；　Let　her　do　as　she　list；　for　I　have　no　determination　to
dwell　with　her；　or　neere　where　she　is。　Tell　her　from　me；　when　she
shall　have　this　Ring；　which　you　behold　heere　on　my　finger；　and　a　Sonne
in　her　armes　begotten　by　me；　then　will　I　come　live　with　her；　and　be
her　love。　The　Ring　he　made　most　precious　and　deere　account　of；　and
never　tooke　it　off　from　his　finger；　in　regard　of　an　especiall　vertue

and　property；　which　he　well　knew　to　be　remaining　in　it。　And　these
two　Knights；　hearing　the　impossibility　of　these　two　strict　conditions；
with　no　other　favour　else　to　be　derived　from　him；　sorrowfully　returned
backe　to　their　Lady；　and　acquainted　her　with　this　unkinde　answer；　as
also　his　unalterable　determination；　which　well　you　may　conceive；
must　needs　be　very　unwelcome　to　her。
　　After　she　had　an　indifferent　while　considered　with　her　selfe；　her
resolution　became　so　indauntable；　that　she　would　adventure　to　practise
such　meanes；　whereby　to　compasse　those　two　apparant　impossibilities；
and　so　to　enjoy　the　love　of　her　husband。　Having　absolutely　concluded
what　was　to　be　done；　she　assembled　all　the　cheefest　men　of　the
country；　revealing　unto　them　（in　mournfull　manner）　what　an　attempt　she
had　made　already；　in　hope　of　recovering　her　husbands　favour；　and
what　a　rude　answer　was　thereon　returned。　In　the　end；　she　told　them；
that　it　did　not　sute　with　her　unworthinesse；　to　make　the　Count　live　as
an　exile　from　his　owne　inheritance；　upon　no　other　inducement；　but
onely　in　regard　of　her：　wherefore；　she　had　determined　betweene
heaven　and　her　soule；　to　spend　the　remainder　of　her　dayes　in
Pilgrimages　and　prayers；　for　preservation　of　the　Counts　soule　and
her　owne；　earnestly　desiring　them；　to　undertake　the　charge　and
government　of　the　Country；　and　signifying　unto　the　Count；　how　she
had　forsaken　his　house；　and　purposed　to　wander　so　farre　thence；　that
never　would　she　visit　Roussillion　any　more。　In　the　deliverie　of
these　words；　the　Lords　and　Gentlemen　wept　and　sighed
extraordinarily；　using　many　earnest　imprecations　to　alter　this　resolve
in　her；　but　all　was　in　vaine。
　　Having　taken　her　sad　and　sorrowfull　farewell　of　them　all；
accompanied　onely　with　her　Maide；　and　one　of　her　Kinsmen；　away　she
went；　attired　in　a　Pilgrimes　habit；　yet　well　furnished　with　money
and　precious　jewels；　to　avoyde　all　wants　which　might：　befall　her　in
travaile；　not　acquainting　any　one　whether　she　went。　In　no　place　stayed
she；　untill　she　was　arrived　at　Florence；　where　happening　into　a
poore　Widdowes　house；　like　a　poore　Pilgrime；　she　seemed　well　contented
therewith。　And　desiring　to　heare　some　tydings　of　the　Count；　the　next
day　shee　saw　him　passe　by　the　house　on　horse…backe；　with　his
company。　Now；　albeit　shee　knew　him　well　enough；　yet　shee　demanded　of
the　good　old　Widdow；　what　Gentleman　he　was？　She　made　answer；　that　he
was　a　stranger　there；　yet　a　Nobleman；　called　Count　Bertrand　of
Roussillion；　a　very　courteous　Knight；　beloved　and　much　respected　in
the　City。　Moreover；　that　he　was　farre　in　love　with　a　neighbour　of
hers；　a　young　Gentlewoman；　but　very　poore　and　meane　in　substance；
yet　of　honest　life；　vertuous；　and　never　taxed　with　any　evill　report：
onely　her　poverty　was　the　maine　imbarment　of　her　marriage；　dwelling　in
house　with　her　mother；　who　was　a　wise；　honest；　and　worthy　Lady。
　　The　Countesse　having　well　observed　her　words；　and　considered　thereon
from　point　to　point；　debating　soberly　with　her　owne　thoughts；　in
such　a　doubtfull　case　what　was　best　to　be　done。　When　she　had
understood　which　was　the　house；　the　ancient　Ladies　name；　and
likewise　her　daughters；　to　whom　her　husband　was　now　so
affectionately　devoted；　she　made　choise　of　a　fit　and　convenient
time；　when　（in　her　Pilgrimes　habit）　secretly　she　went　to　the　house。
There　she　found　the　mother　and　daughter　in　poore　condition；　and　with
as　poore　a　family：　whom　after　she　had　ceremoniously　saluted；　she
told　the　old　Lady；　that　she　requested　but　a　little　conference　with
her。　The　Lady　arose；　and　giving　her　kinde　entertainement；　they　went
together　into　a　withdrawing　Chamber；　where　being　both　set　downe；　the
Countesse　began　in　this　manner。
　　Madame；　in　my　poore　opinion；　you　are　not　free　from　the　frownes　of
Fortune；　no　more　then　I　my　selfe　am：　but　if　you　were　so　well
pleased；　there　is　no　one　that　can　comfort　both　our　calamities　in
such　manner；　as　you　are　able　to　do。　And　beleeve　me　answered　the
Lady；　there　is　nothing　in　the　world　that　can　be　so　welcome　to　me；　as
honest　comfort。　The　Countesse　proceeding　on　in　her　former　speeches
said：　I　have　now　need　（good　Madame）　both　of　your　trust　and　fidelity；
whereon　if　I　should　rely；　and　you　faile　me；　it　will　be　your　owne
undoing　as　well　as　mine。　Speake　then　boldly；　replied　the　old　Lady；　and
remaine　constantly　assured；　that　you　shall　no　way　be　deceived　by　me。
Hereupon；　the　Countesse　declared　the　whole　course　of　her　love；　from
the　very　originall　to　the　instant；　revealing　also　what　she　was；　and
the　occasion　of　her　comming　thither；　relating　every　thing　so
perfectly；　that　the　Lady　verily　beleeved　her；　by　some　reports　which
she　had　formerly　heard；　and　which　mooved　her　the　more　to　compassion。
Now；　when　all　circumstances　were　at　full　discovered；　thus　spake　the
Countesse。
　　Among　my　other　miseries　and　misfortunes；　which　hath　halfe　broken
my　heart　in　the　meere　repetition；　beside　the　sad　and　afflicting
sufferance；　two　things　there　are；　which　if　I　cannot　compasse　to
have；　all　hope　is　quite　frustrate　for　ever；　of　gaining　the　grace　of　my
Lord　and　Husband。　Yet　these　two　things　may　I　obtaine　by　your　helpe；　if
all　be　true　which　I　have　heard；　and　you　can　therein　best　resolve
mee。　Since　my　comming　to　this　City；　it　hath　credibly　bene　told　me；
that　the　Count　my　husband；　is　deeply　in　love　with　your　daughter。　If
the　Count　（quoth　the　Ladie）　love　my　daughter；　and　have　a　wife　of　his
owne；　he　must　thinke；　and　so　shall　surely　finde　it；　that　his
greatnesse　is　no　priviledge　for　him；　whereby　to　worke　dishonour　upon
her　poverty。　But　indeede；　some　apparances　there　are；　and　such　a　matter
as　you　speake　of；　may　be　so　presumed；　yet　so　farre　from　a　very　thought
of　entertaining　in　her　or　me；　as　whatsoever　I　am　able　to　doe；　to　yeeld
you　any　comfort　and　content；　you　shall　find　me　therein　both　willing
and　ready：　for　I　prize　my　daughters　spotlesse　poverty　at　as　high　a
rate；　as　he　can　doe　the　pride　of　his　honour。
　　Madame；　quoth　the　Countesse；　most　heartily　I　thanke　you。　But
before　I　presume　any　further　on　your　kindnesse；　let　me　first　tell　you；
what　faithfully　I　intend　to　do　for　you；　if　I　can　bring　my　purpose　to
effect。　I　see　that　your　daughter　is　beautifull；　and　of　sufficient
yeeres　for　marriage；　and　is　debarred　thereof　（as　I　have　heard）　onely
by　lack　of　a　competent　dowry。　Wherefore　Madame；　in　recompence　of　the
favour　I　expect　from　you；　I　will　enrich　her　with　so　much　ready　money
as　you　shall　thinke　sufficient　to　match　her　in　the　degree　of　honour。
Poverty　made　the　poore　Lady；　very　well　to　like　of　such　a　bountifull
offer；　and　having　a　noble　heart　shee　said：　Great　Countesse　say；
wherein　am　I　able　to　do　you　any　service；　as　can　deserve　such　a
gracious　offer？　If　the　action　be　honest；　without　blame　or　scandall
to　my　poore；　yet　undetected　reputation；　gladly　I　will　do　it；　and　it
being　accomplished；　let　the　requitall　rest　in　your　owne　noble　nature。
　　Observe　me　then　Madame；　replied　the　Countesse。　It　is　most　convenient
for　my　purpose；　that　by　some　trusty　and　faithfull　messenger；　you
should　advertise　the　Count　my　husband；　that　your　daughter　is；　and
shall　be　at　his　command：　but　that　she　may　remaine　absolutely
assured；　that　his　love　is　constant　to　her；　and　above　all　other：　shee
must　entreat　him；　to　send　her　（as　a　testimony　thereof）　the　Ring
which　he　weareth　upon　his　little　finger；　albeit　shee　hath　heard；
that　he　loveth　it　deerly。　If　he　send　the　Ring；　you　shall　give　it　me；
and　afterward　send　him　word；　that　your　daughter　is　ready　to　accomplish
his　pleasure；　but；　for　the　more　safety　and　secrecie；　he　must　repaire
hither　to　your　house；　where　I　being　in　bed　insteed　of　your　daughter；
faire　Fortune　may　so　favour　mee；　that　（unknowne　to　him）　I　may　conceive
with　childe。　Upon　which　good　successe；　when　time　shall　serve；　having
the　Ring　on　my　finger；　and　a　childe　in　my　armes　begotten　by　him；　his
love　and　liking　may　be　recovered；　and　（by　your　meanes）　I　continue　with
my　Husband；　as　every　vertuous　Wife　ought　to　doe。
　　The　good　old　Lady　imagined；　that　this　was　a　matter　somewhat
difficult；　and　might　lay　a　blamefull　imputation　on　her　daughter。
Neverthelesse；　considering；　what　an　honest　office　it　was　in　her；　to
bee　the　meanes；　whereby　so　worthy　a　Countesse　should　recover　an
unkinde　husband；　led　altogether　by　lust；　and　not　a　jot　of　cordiall
love；　she　knew　the　intent　to　be　honest；　the　Countesse　vertuous；　and
her　promise　religious；　and　therefore　undertooke　to　effect　it。　Within
few　dayes　after；　verie　ingeniously；　and　according　to　the　instructed
order；　the　Ring　was　obtayned；　albeit　much　against　the　Counts　will；　and
the　Countesse；　in　sted　of　the　Ladies　vertuous　daughter；　was　embraced
by　him　in　bed：　the　houre　proving　so　auspicious；　and　juno　being　Lady　of
the　ascendent；　conjoyned　with　the　witty　Mercury；　shee　conceived　of　two
goodly　Sonnes；　and　her　deliverance　agreed　correspondently　with　the
just　time。
　Thus　the　old　Lady；　not　at　this　time　onely；　but　at　many　other　meetings
besides；　gave　the　Countesse　free　possession　of　her　husbands　pleasures；
yet　alwayes　in　such　darke　and　concealed　secrecie；　as　it　was　never
suspected；　nor　knowne　by　any　but　themselves；　the　Count　lying　with
his　owne　wife；　and　disappointed　of　her　whom　he　more　deerely　loved。
Alwayes　at　his　uprising　in　the　mornings　（which　usually　was　before
the　break　of　day；　for　preventing　the　least　scruple　of　susp