the decameron(十日谈)-第12节

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where　readily　was　prepared　choyse　of　delicate　wines　and　banquetting。
At　length；　among　other　pleasant　and　delightfull　discourses；　they
demanded　of　him；　how　it　was　possible　for　him；　to　be　amorously　affected
towards　so　beautifull　a　woman；　both　knowing　and　seeing；　how
earnestly　she　was　sollicited　by　many　gracious；　gallant；　and
youthfull　spirits；　aptly　suting　with　her　yeares　and　desires？　Master
Albert　perceiving；　that　they　had　drawne　him　in　among　them；　onely　to
scoffe　and　make　a　mockery　of　him；　set　a　merry　countenance　on　the
matter；　and　honestly　thus　answered。
　　Beleeve　mee　Gentlewoman　（speaking　to　the　widdowe　her　selfe）　it
should　not　appeare　strange　to　any　of　wisedome　and　discretion；　that　I
am　amorously　enclined；　and　especially　to　you；　because　you　are　well
worthy　of　it。　And　although　those　powers；　which　naturally　appertaine　to
the　exercises　of　Love；　are　bereft　and　gone　from　aged　people；　yet
good　will　thereto　cannot　be　taken　from　them；　neither　judgement　to　know
such　as　deserve　to　be　affected：　for；　by　how　much　they　exceede　youth　in
knowledge　and　experience；　by　so　much　the　more　hath　nature　made　them
meet　for　respect　and　reverence。　The　hope　which　incited　me　（being　aged）
to　love　you；　that　are　affected　of　so　many　youthfull　Gallants；　grew
thus。　I　have　often　chaunced　into　divers　places；　where　I　have　seene
Ladies　and　Gentlwomen；　being　disposed　to　a　Collation　or　rerebanquet
after　dinner；　to　feede　on　Lupines；　and　young　Onions　or　Leekes；　and
although　it　may　be　so；　that　there　is　little　or　no　goodnesse　at　all
in　them；　yet　the　heads　of　them　are　least　hurtfull；　and　most　pleasing
in　the　mouth。　And　you　Gentlewomen　generally　（guided　by　unreasonable
appetite）　will　hold　the　heads　of　them　in　your　hands；　and　feede　upon
the　blades　or　stalkes：　which　not　onely　are　not　good　for　any　thing；　but
also　are　of　very　bad　savour。　And　what　know　I　（Lady）　whether　among
the　choise　of　friends；　it　may　fit　your　fancy　to　doe　the　like？　For；
if　you　did　so；　it　were　no　fault　of　mine　to　be　chosen　of　you；　but
thereby　were　all　the　rest　of　your　suters　the　sooner　answered。
　　The　widdowed　Gentlewoman；　and　all　the　rest　in　her　company；　being
bashfully　ashamed　of　her　owne　and　their　folly；　presently　said。
Master　Albert；　you　have　both　well　and　worthily　chastised　our　over…bold
presumption；　and　beleeve　me　Sir；　I　repute　your　love　and　kindnesse　of
no　meane　merrit；　comming　from　a　man　so　wise　and　vertuous：　And
therefore　（mine　honour　reserved）　commaund　my　uttermost；　as　alwayes
ready　to　do　you　any　honest　service。　Master　Albert；　arising　from　his
seat；　thanking　the　faire　widdow　for　her　gentle　offer；　tooke　leave　of
her　and　all　the　company；　and　she　blushing；　as　all　the　rest　were
therein　not　much　behinde　her；　thinking　to　checke　him；　became　chidden
her　selfe；　whereby　（if　we　be　wise）　let　us　all　take　warning。
　　The　Sunne　was　now　somewhat　farre　declined；　and　the　heates
extremity　well　worne　away：　when　the　Tales　of　the　seaven　Ladies　and
three　Gentlemen　were　thus　finished；　whereupon　their　Queene
pleasantly　said。　For　this　day　（faire　company）　there　remaineth　nothing
more　to　be　done　under　my　regiment；　but　onely　to　bestow　a　new　Queene
upon　you；　who　（according　to　her　judgement）　must　take　her　turne；　and
dispose　what　next　is　to　be　done；　for　continuing　our　time　in　honest
pleasure。　And　although　the　day　should　endure　till　darke　night；　in
regard；　that　when　some　time　is　taken　before；　the　better　preparation
may　bee　made　for　occasions　to　follow；　to　the　end　also；　that　whatsoever
the　new　Queene　shall　please　to　appoint；　may　be　the　better　fitted　for
the　morrow：　I　am　of　opinion；　that　at　the　same　houre　as　we　now　cease；
the　following　dayes　shall　severally　begin。　And　therefore；　in　reverence
to　him　that　giveth　life　to　all　things；　and　in　hope　of　comfort　by　our
second　day；　Madam　Philomena；　a　most　wise　young　Lady；　shall　governe
as　Queene　this　our　Kingdome。
　　So　soone　as　she　had　thus　spoken；　arising　from　her　seate　of
dignity；　and　taking　the　Lawrell　Crowne　from　off　her　owne　head；　she
reverently　placed　it　upon　Madam　Philomenaes；　shee　first　of　all
humbly　saluting　her；　and　then　all　the　rest；　openly　confessing　her　to
be　their　Queene；　made　gracious　offer　to　obey　whatsoever　she　commanded。
Philomena；　her　cheekes　delivering　a　scarlet　tincture；　to　see　her　selfe
thus　honoured　as　their　Queene；　and　well　remembring　the　words；　so
lately　uttered　by　Madam　Pampinea；　that　dulnesse　or　neglect　might　not
be　noted　in　her；　tooke　cheerefull　courage　to　her；　and　first　of　all；
she　confirmed　the　officers；　which　Pampinea　had　appointed　the　day
before；　then　she　ordained　for　the　morrowes　provision；　as　also　for
the　supper　so　neere　approiching；　before　they　departed　away　from
thence；　and　then　thus　began。
　　Lovely　Companions；　although　that　Madam　Pampinea；　more　in　her　owne
courtesie；　then　any　matter　of　merit　remaining　in　me；　hath　made　me　your
Queene：　I　am　not　determined；　to　alter　the　forme　of　our　intended
life；　nor　to　be　guided　by　mine　owne　judgement；　but　to　associate　the
same　with　your　assistance。　And　because　you　may　know　what　I　intend　to
do；　and　so　（consequently）　adde　or　diminish　at　your　pleasure；　in　very
few　words；　you　shall　plainly　understand　my　meaning。　If　you　have　well
considered　on　the　course；　which　this　day　hath　bene　kept　by　Madam
Pampinea；　me　thinkes　it　hath　bene　very　pleasing　and　commendable；　in
which　regard；　untill　by　over…tedious　continuation；　or　other
occasions　of　irkesome　offence；　it　shall　seeme　injurious；　I　am　of　the
minde；　not　to　alter　it。　Holding　on　the　order　then　as　we　have　begun
to　doe；　we　will　depart　from　hence　to　recreate　our　selves　a　while；
and　when　the　Sun　groweth　towards　setting；　we　will　sup　in　the　fresh　and
open　ayre；　afterward；　with　Canzonets　and　other　pastimes；　we　will
out…weare　the　houres　till　bed　time。　To　morrow　morning；　in　the　fresh
and　gentle　breath　thereof；　we　will　rise　and　walke　to　such　places；　as
every　one　shall　finde　fittest　for　them；　even　as　already　this　day　we
have　done；　untill　due　time　shall　summon　us　hither　againe；　to
continue　our　discoursive　Tales；　wherein　（me　thinkes）　consisteth　both
pleasure　and　profit；　especially　by　discreete　observation。
　　Very　true　it　is；　that　some　things　which　Madam　Pampinea　could　not
accomplish；　by　reason　of　her　so　small　time　of　authority；　I　will
begin　to　undergo；　to　wit；　in　restraining　some　matters　whereon　we　are
to　speake；　that　better　premeditation　may　passe　upon　them。　For；　when
respite　and　a　little　leysure　goeth　before　them；　each　discourse　will
savour　of　the　more　formality；　and　if　it　might　so　please　you；　thus
would　I　direct　the　order。　As　since　the　beginning　of　the　world；　all　men
have　bene　guided　（by　Fortune）　thorow　divers　accidents　and　occasions：
so　beyond　all　hope　and　expectation；　the　issue　and　successe　hath　bin
good　and　successful；　and　accordingly　should　every　one　of　our　arguments
be　chosen。
　　The　Ladies；　and　the　yong　Gentlemen　likewise；　commended　her　advice；
and　promised　to　imitate　it；　onely　Dioneus　excepted；　who　when　every　one
was　silent；　spake　thus。　Madam；　I　say　as　all　the　rest　have　done；　that
the　order　by　you　appointed；　is　most　pleasing　and　worthy　to　bee
allowed。　But　I　intreate　one　speciall　favour　for　my　selfe；　and　to　have
it　confirmed　to　mee；　so　long　as　our　company　continueth；　namely；　that　I
may　not　be　constrained　to　this　Law　of　direction；　but　to　tell　my　Tale
at　liberty；　after　mine　owne　minde；　and　according　to　the　freedome　first
instituted。　And　because　no　one　shall　imagine；　that　I　urge　this　grace
of　you；　as　being　unfurnished　of　discourses　in　this　kinde；　I　am　well
contented　to　bee　the　last　in　every　dayes　exercise。
　　The　Queene；　knowing　him　to　be　a　man　full　of　mirth　and　matter；
began　to　consider　very　advisedly；　that　he　would　not　have　mooved　this
request；　but　onely　to　the　end；　that　if　the　company　grew　wearied　by　any
of　the　Tales　re…counted；　hee　would　shut　up　the　dayes　disport　with　some
mirthfull　accident。　Wherefore　willingly；　and　with　consent　of　all　the
rest　he　had　his　suite　granted。　So；　arising　all；　they　walked　to　a
Christall　river；　descending　downe　a　little　hill　into　a　valley；
graciously　shaded　with　goodly　Trees；　where　washing　both　their　hands
and　feete；　much　pretty　pleasure　passed　among　them；　till　supper　time
drawing　neere；　made　them　returne　home　to　the　Palace。　When　supper　was
ended；　and　bookes　and　instruments　being　laide　before　them；　the
Queene　commanded　a　dance；　and　that　Madam　Aemilia；　assisted　by　Madam
Lauretta　and　Dioneus；　should　sing　a　sweet　ditty。　At　which　command；
Lauretta　undertooke　the　dance；　and　led　it；　Aemilia　singing　this　song
ensuing。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　SONG

　　So　much　delight　my　beauty　yeelds　to　mee；
　　　　　　　　　　That　any　other　Love；
　　　　　　　　　　To　wish　or　prove；
　　Can　never　sute　it　selfe　with　my　desire。

　　Therein　I　see；　upon　good　observation；
　　What　sweet　content　due　understanding　lends：
　　Old　or　new　thoughts　cannot　in　any　fashion
　　Rob　me　of　that；　which　mine　owne　soule　commends。
　　　　　　　　　　What　object　then；
　　　　　　　　　　　　（mongst　infinites　of　men）
　　　　　　　　　　Can　I　never　finde
　　　　　　　　　　　　to　dispossesse　my　minde；
　　And　plaint　therein　another　new　desire？
　　　　　　So　much　delight；　etc。

　　But　were　it　so；　the　blisse　that　I　would　chuse；
　　Is；　by　continuall　sight　to　comfort　me：
　　So　rare　a　presence　never　to　refuse；
　　Which　mortall　tongue　or　thought；　what　ere　it　be