the decameron(十日谈)-第95部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


the　poyson；　and　so　dye；　or　to　run　her　body　on　this　Rapiers　point；
which　if　she　denie　to　doe；　she　shall　be　haled　to　the　publike　market
place；　and　presently　be　burned　in　the　sight　of　her　lewd　companion；
according　as　shee　hath　worthily　deserved。　When　thou　hast　delivered　her
this　message；　take　he…　Bastard　brat；　so　lately　since　borne；　and　dash
his　braines　out　against　the　walles；　and　afterward　throw　him　to　my
Dogges　to　feede　on。
　　When　the　Father　had　given　this　cruell　sentence；　both　against　his
owne　Daughter；　and　her　young　Sonne；　the　servant　readier　to　do　evill；
then　any　good；　went　to　the　place　where　his　Daughter　was　kept。　Poore
condemned　Pedro；　（as　you　have　heard）　was　led　whipt　to　the　Gibbet；
and　passing　（as　it　pleased　the　Captaines　Officers　to　guide　him）　by　a
faire　Inne：　at　the　same　time　were　lodged　there　three　chiefe　persons　of
Arminia；　whom　the　King　of　the　Countrey　had　sent　to　Rome；　as
Ambassadours　to　the　Popes　Holinesse；　to　negociate　about　an　important
businesse　neerely　concerning　the　King　and　State。　Reposing　there　for
some　few　dayes；　as　being　much　wearied　with　their　journey。；　and
highly　honoured　by　the　Gentlemen　of　Trapani；　especially　Signior
Amarigo；　these　Ambassadours　standing　in　their　Chamber　window；　heard
the　wofull　lamentations　of　Pedro　in　his　passage　by。
　　Pedro　was　naked　from　the　middle　upward；　and　his　hands　bound　fast
behind　him；　but　being　well　observed　by　one　of　the　Ambassadours；　a
man　aged；　and　of　great　authority；　named　Phinio：　hee　espied　a　great　red
spot　upon　his　breast；　not　painted；　or　procured　by　his　punishment；
but　naturally　imprinted　in　the　flesh；　which　women　（in　these　parts）
terme　the　Rose。　Upon　the　sight　hereof；　he　suddenly　remembred　a　Sonne
of　his　owne；　which　was　stolne　from　him　about　fifteene　yeeres　before；
by　Pyrates　on　the　Sea…coast　of　Laiazzo；　never　hearing　any　tydings　of
him　afterward。　Upon　further　consideration；　and　comparing　his　Sonnes
age　with　the　likelyhood　of　this　poore　wretched　mans；　thus　he　conferred
with　his　owne　thoughts。　If　my　Sonne　（quoth　he）　be　living；　his　age　is
equall　to　this　mans　time；　and　by　the　red　blemish　on　his　breast；　it
plainely　speakes　him　for　to　bee　my　Sonne。
　　Moreover；　thus　he　conceived；　that　if　it　were　he；　he　could　not　but
remember　his　owne　name；　his　Fathers；　and　the　Armenian　Language；
wherefore；　when　he　was　just　opposite　before　the　window；　hee　called
aloud　to　him；　saying：　Theodoro。　Pedro　hearing　the　voyce；　presently
lifted　up　his　head；　and　Phinio　speaking　Armenian；　saide：　Of　whence　art
thou；　and　what　is　thy　Fathers　name？　The　Sergeants　（in　reverence　to　the
Lord　Ambassador）　stayed　awhile；　till　Pedro　had　returned　his　answer；
who　saide。　I　am　an　Armenian　borne；　Sonne　to　one　Phineo；　and　was
brought　hither　I　cannot　tell　by　whom。　Phineo　hearing　this；　knew　then
assuredly；　that　this　was　the　same　Sonne　which　he　had　lost；
wherefore；　the　teares　standing　in　his　eyes　with　conceite　of　joy；　downe
he　descended　from　the　window；　and　the　other　Ambassadors　with　him；
running　in　among　the　Sergeants　to　embrace　his　Sonne；　and　casting　his
owne　rich　Cloake　about　his　whipt　body；　entreating　them　to　forbeare　and
proceed　no　further；　till　they　heard　what　command　he　should　returne
withall　unto　them；　which　very　willingly　they　promised　to　do。
　　Already；　by　the　generall　rumour　dispersed　abroad；　Phineo　had
understood　the　occasion；　why　Pedro　was　thus　punished；　and　sentenced　to
bee　hanged：　wherefore；　accompanied　with　his　fellow　Ambassadors；　and
all　their　attending　traine；　he　went　to　Signior　Conrado；　and　spake　thus
to　him。　My　Lord；　he　whom　you　have　sent　to　death　as　a　slave；　is　a
free　Gentleman　borne；　and　my　Sonne；　able　to　make　her　amends　whom　he
hath　dishonoured；　by　taking　her　in　marriage　as　his　lawfull　Wife。　Let
me　therefore　entreat　you；　to　make　stay　of　the　execution；　ill　it　may　be
knowne；　whether　she　will　accept　him　as　her　Husband；　or　no；　least　（if
she　be　so　pleased）　you　offend　directly　against　your　owne　Law。　When
Signior　Conrado　heard；　that　Pedro　was　Sonne　to　the　Lord　Ambassador；　he
wondred　thereat　not　a　little；　and　being　somewhat　ashamed　of　his
fortunes　errour；　confessed；　that　the　claime　of　Phineo　was
comformable　to　Law；　and　ought　not　to　be　denied　him；　going　presently　to
the　Counsell　Chamber；　sending　for　Signior　Amarigo　immediately　thither；
and　acquainting　him　fully　with　the　case。
　　Amarigo；　who　beleeved　that　his　Daughter　and　her　Child　were　already
dead；　was　the　wofullest　man　in　the　World；　for　his　so　rash
proceeding；　knowing　very　well；　that　if　she　were　not　dead；　the　scandall
would　easily　be　wipt　away　with　credit。　Wherefore　he　sent　in　all
poast　haste；　to　the　place　where　his　Daughter　lay；　that　if　his
command　were　not　already　executed；　by　no　meanes　to　have　it　done　at
all。　He　who　went　on　this　speedy　errand；　found　there　Signior
Amarigoes　servant　standing　before　Violenta；　with　the　Cup　of　poyson
in　the　one　hand；　and　the　drawne　Rapier　in　the　other；　reproaching　her
with　very　foule　and　injurious　speeches；　because　she　had　delayed　the
time　so　long；　and　would　not　accept　the　one　or　other；　striving　（by
violence）　to　make　her　take　the　one。　But　hearing　his　Masters　command　to
the　contrary；　he　left　her；　and　returned　backe　to　him；　certifying　him
how　the　case　stood。
　　Most　highly　pleased　was　Amarigo　with　these　glad　newes；　and　going
to　the　Ambassadour　Phineo；　in　teares　excused　himselfe　（so　well　as　he
could）　for　his　severity；　and　craving　pardon；　assured　him；　that　if
Theodoro　would　accept　his　Daughter　in　marriage；　willingly　he　would
bestow　her　on　him。　Phineo　allowed　his　excuses　to　be　tollerable；　and
saide　beside；　If　my　Son　will　not　marry　your　Daughter；　then　let　the
sentence　of　death　be　executed　on　him。　Amarigo　and　Phineo　being　thus
accorded；　they　went　to　poore　Theodoro；　fearefully　looking　every　minute
when　he　should　dye；　yet　joyfull　that　he　had　found　his　Father；　who
presently　moved　the　question　to　him。　Theodoro　hearing　that　Violenta
should　bee　his　Wife；　if　he　would　so　accept　her：　was　over　come　with
such　exceeding　joy；　as　if　he　had　leapt　out　of　hell　into　Paradise；
confessing；　that　no　greater　felicity　could　befall　him；　if　Violenta　her
selfe　were　so　well　pleased　as　he。
　　The　like　motion　was　made　to　her；　to　understand　her　disposition　in
this　case；　who　hearing　what　good　hap　had　befalne　Theodoro；　and　now
in　like　manner　must　happen　to　her：　whereas　not　long　before；　when　two
such　violent　deathes　were　prepared　for　her；　and　one　of　them　shee
must　needs　embrace；　she　accounted　her　misery　beyond　all　other
womens；　but　she　now　thought　her　selfe　above　all　in　happinesse；　if
she　might　be　wife　to　her　beloved　Theodoro；　submitting　her　selfe
wholy　to　her　Fathers　disposing。　The　marriage　being　agreed　on
betweene　them；　it　was　celebrated　with　great　pompe　and　solemnity；　a
generall　Feast　being　made　for　all　the　Citizens；　and　the　young
married　couple　nourished　up　their　sweete　Son；　which　grew　to　be　a
very　comely　childe。
　　After　that　the　Embassie　was　dispatched　at　Rome；　and　Phineo　（with　the
rest）　was　returned　thither　againe；　Violenta　did　reverence　him　as　her
owne　naturall　Father；　and　he　was　not　a　little　proud　of　so　lovely　a
Daughter；　beginning　a　fresh　feasting　againe；　and　continuing　the　same　a
whole　moneth　together。　Within　some　short　while　after；　a　Galley　being
fairely　furnished　for　the　purpose；　Phineo；　his　Sonne；　Daughter；　and
their　young　Sonne；　went　aboard；　sayling　away　thence　to　Laiazzo；
where　afterward　they　lived　in　much　tranquility。




　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　FIFT　DAY；　THE　EIGHTH　NOVELL

　　DECLARING；　THAT　LOVE　NOT　ONELY　MAKES　A　MAN　PRODIGALL；　BUT　ALSO　AN
　　　ENEMY　TO　HIMSELFE。　MOREOVER；　ADVENTURE　OFTENTIMES　BRINGETH　SUCH
　　　　　　　　　　　　MATTERS　TO　PASSE；　AS　WIT　AND　CUNNING　IN　MAN
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　CAN　EVER　COMPREHEND

　　Anastasio；　a　Gentleman　of　the　Family　of　the　Honesti；　by　loving　the
Daughter　to　Signior　Paulo　Traversario；　lavishly　wasted　a　great　part　of
his　substance；　without　receiving　any　love　from　her　againe。　By
perswasion　of　some　of　his　kindred　and　friends；　he　went　to　a　Countrey
dwelling　of　his；　called　Chiasso；　where　he　saw　a　Knight　desperately
pursue　a　young　Damosell；　whom　he　slew；　and　afterward　gave　her　to　be
devoured　by　his　Hounds。　Anastasio　invited　his　friends；　and　hers　also
whom　he　so　dearely　loved；　to　take　part　of　a　dinner　with　him；　who
likewise　saw　the　same　Damosell　so　torne　in　peeces：　which　his　unkind
Love　perceiving；　and　fearing　least　the　like　ill　fortune　should
happen　to　her；　she　accepted　Anastasio　to　be　her　Husband。

　　So　soone　as　Madam　Lauretta　held　her　peace；　Madam　Pampinea　（by　the
Queenes　command）　began；　and　said。　Lovely　Ladies；　as　pitty　is　most
highly　commended　in　our　sexe；　even　so　is　cruelty　in　us　as　severely
revenged　（oftentimes）　by　divine　ordination。　Which　that　you　may　the
better　know；　and　learne　likewise　to　shun；　as　a　deadly　evill；　I　purpose
to　make　apparant　by　a　Novell；　no　lesse　full　of　compassion；　then
delectable。
　　Ravenna　being　a　very　ancient　City　in　Romania；　there　dwelt　sometime　a
great　number　of　worthy　Gentlemen；　among　whom　I　am　to　speake　of　one
more　especially；　named　Anastasio；　descended　from　the　Family　of　the
Honesti；　who　by　the　death　of　his　Father；　and　an　Unckle　of　his；　was
left　extraordinarily　abounding　in　riches；　and　growing　to　yeares
fitting　for　marriage；　（as　young　Gallants　are　easily　apt　enough　to
do）　he　became　enamored　of　a　very　bountifull　Gentlewoman；　who　was
Daughter　to　Signior　Paulo　Traversario；　one　of　the　most　ancient　and
noble　Families　in　all　the　Countrey。　Nor　made　he　any　doubt；　but　by
his　meanes　and　industrious　endeavour；　to　derive　affection　from　her
againe；　for　he　carried　himselfe　like　a　brave…minded　Gentleman；
liberall　in　his　expences；　honest　and　affable　in　all　his　actions；　which
commonly　are　the　true　notes　of　a　good　nature；　and　highly　to　be
commended　in　any　man。　But；　howsoever　Fortune　became　his　enemy；　these
laudable　parts　of　manhood　did　not　any　way　friend　him；　but　rather
appeared　hurtfull　to　himselfe：　so　cruell；　unkind；　and　almost　meerely
savage　did　she　shew　her　selfe　to　him；　perhaps　in　pride　of　her　singular
beauty；　or　presuming　on　her　nobility　by　birth；　both　which　are　rather
blemishes；　then　ornaments　in　a　woman；　especially　when　they　be　abused。
　　The　harsh　and　uncivill　usage　in　her；　grew　very　distastefull　to
Anastasio；　and　so　unsufferable；　that　after　a　long　time　of　fruitle