the decameron(十日谈)-第143节

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　　Seeing　is　my　fortune；　Gracious　ladies；　that　I　must　give　beginning　to
this　dayes　discoursing；　by　some　such　Novel　which　I　thinke　expedient；
as　duty　bindeth　me；　I　am　therewith　well　contented。　And　because　the
deceits　of　Women　to　men；　have　beene　at　large　and　liberally　related；
I　will　tell　you　a　subtile　tricke　of　a　man　to　a　Woman。　Not　that　I　blame
him　for　the　deede；　or　thinke　the　deceyte　not　well　fitted　to　the　woman：
but　I　speake　it　in　a　contrarie　nature；　as　commending　the　man；　and
condemning　the　woman　very　justly；　as　also　to　shew；　how　men　can　as　well
beguile　those　crafty　companions；　which　least　beleeve　any　such
cunning　in　them；　as　they　that　stand　most　on　their　artificiall　skill。
　　Howbeit；　to　speake　more　properly；　the　matter　by　me　to　be　reported；
deserveth　not　the　reproachfull　title　of　deceite；　but　rather　of　a
recompence　duly　returned：　because　women　ought　to　be　chaste　and　honest；
and　to　preserve　their　honour　as　their　lives；　without　yeelding　to　the
contamination　thereof；　for　any　occasion　whatsoever。　And　yet
neverthelesse　（in　regard　of　our　frailty）　many　times　we　proove　not　so
constant　as　we　should　be：　yet　I　am　of　opinion；　that　she　which
selleth　her　honestie　for　money；　deserveth　justly　to　be　burned。　Whereas
on　the　contrary；　she　that　falleth　into　the　offence；　onely　through
intire　affection　（the　powerfull　lawes　of　Love　beeing　above　all
resistance）　in　equity　meriteth　pardon；　especially　of　a　Judge　not
over…rigorous：　as　not　long　since　wee　heard　from　Philostratus；　in
revealing　what　hapned　to　Madam　Phillippa　de　Prato；　upon　the
dangerous　Edict。
　　Understand　then；　my　most　worthy　Auditors；　that　there　lived
sometime　in　Millaine　an　Almaigne　Soldiour；　named　Gulfardo；　of
commendable　carriage　in　his　person；　and　very　faithfull　to　such　as　he
served；　a　matter　not　common　among　the　Almaignes。　And　because　he　made
just　repayment；　to　every　one　which　lent　him　monies；　he　grew　to　such
especiall　credit；　and　was　so　familiar　with　the　very　best　Marchants；　as
（manie　times）　he　could　not　be　so　ready　to　borrow；　as　they　were　willing
alwaies　to　lend　him。　He　thus　continuing　in　the　Cittie　of　Millaine；
fastened　his　affection　on　a　verie　beautifull　Gentlewoman；　named
Mistresse　Ambrosia；　Wife　unto　a　rich　Merchant；　who　was　called
Signior　Gasparuolo　Sagastraccio；　who　had　good　knowledge　of　him；　and
respectively　used　him。　Loving　this　Gentlewoman　with　great
discretion；　without　the　least　apprehension　of　her　husband：　he　sent
upon　a　day　to　entreate　conference　with　her；　for　enjoying　the
fruition　of　her　love；　and　she　should　find　him　ready　to　fulfill
whatsoever　she　pleased　to　command　him；　as；　at　any　time　he　would　make
good　his　promise。
　　The　Gentlewoman；　after　divers　of　these　private　solicitings；
resolutely　answered；　that　she　was　as　ready　to　fulfill　the　request　of
Gulfardo；　provided；　that　two　especiall　considerations　might　ensue
thereon。　First；　the　faithfull　concealing　thereof　from　any　person
living。　Next；　because　she　knew　him　to　be　rich；　and　she　had　occasion　to
use　two　hundred　Crowns；　about　businesse　of　important　consequence：　he
should　freely　bestow　so　many　on　her；　and　（ever　after）　she　was　to　be
commanded　by　him。　Gulfardo　perceiving　the　covetousnesse　of　this　woman；
who　（notwithstanding　his　doting　affection）　he　thought　to　be　intirely
honest　to　her　Husband：　became　so　deepely　offended　at　her　vile　answere；
that　his　fervent　love　converted　into　as　earnest　loathing　her；
determining　constantlie　to　deceive　her；　and　to　make　her　avaritious
motion；　the　only　means　wherby　to　effect　it。
　　He　sent　her　word；　that　he　was　willing　to　performe　her　request；　or
any　farre　greater　matter　for　her：　in　which　respect；　he　onely　desired
for　to　know；　when　she　would　be　pleased　to　have　him　come　see　her；　and
to　receive　the　money　of　him？　No　creature　hee　acquainted　with　his
setled　purpose；　but　onely　a　deere　friend　and　kinde　companion；　who
alwayes　used　to　keepe　him　company；　in　the　neerest　occasions　that
concerned　him。　The　Gentlewoman；　or　rather　most　disloyall　wife；　uppon
this　answer　sent　her；　was　extraordinarily　jocond　and　contented；
returning　him　a　secret　Letter；　wherein　she　signified：　that
Gasparuolo　her　husband；　had　important　affaires　which　called　him　to
Geneway：　but　he　should　understand　of　his　departure；　and　then　（with
safety）　he　might　come　see　her；　as　also　his　bringing　of　the　Crownes。
　　In　the　meane　while；　Gulfardo　having　determined　what　he　would　do；
watched　a　convenient　time；　when　he　went　unto　Gasparuolo；　and　sayde：
Sir；　I　have　some　businesse　of　maine　importance；　and　shall　neede　to　use
but　two　hundred　Crownes　onely：　I　desire　you　to　lend　me　so　many
Crownes；　upon　such　profite　as　you　were　wont　to　take　of　mee；　at　other
times　when　I　have　made　use　of　you；　and　I　shall　not　faile　you　at　my
day。
　　Gasparuolo　was　well　contented　with　the　motion；　and　made　no　more
adoe；　but　counted　downe　the　Crownes：　departing　thence　（within　a　few
dayes　after）　for　Geneway；　according　to　his　Wives　former　message；　she
giving　Gulfardo　also　intelligence　of　his　absence；　that　now　（with
safety）　hee　might　come　see　her；　and　bring　the　two　hundred　Crownes　with
him。
　　Gulfardo；　taking　his　friend　in　his　company；　went　to　visit
Mistresse　Ambrosia；　whom　he　found　in　expectation　of　his　arrivall；
and　the　first　thing　he　did；　he　counted　downe　the　two　hundred
Crownes；　and　delivering　them　to　her　in　the　presence　of　his　friend；
saide：　Mistresse　Ambrosia；　receive　these　two　hundred　Crownes；　which
I　desire　you　to　pay　unto　your　Husband　on　my　behalfe；　when　he　is
returned　from　Geneway。　Ambrosia；　receyved　the　two　hundred　Crownes；　not
regarding　wherefore　Gulfardo　used　these　words：　because　shee　verily
beleeved；　that　hee　spake　in　such　manner；　because　his　friend　should
take　no　notice；　of　his　giving　them　to　her；　upon　any　covenant　passed
betweene　them；　whereuppon；　she　sayde。　Sir；　I　will　pay　them　to　my
Husband　for　you；　and　cause　him　to　give　you　a　sufficient　discharge：　but
first　I　will　count　them　over　my　selfe；　to　see　whether　the　summe　be
just；　or　no。　And　having　drawne　them　over　upon　the　Table；　the　summe
containing　truly　two　hundred　Crownes　（wherewith　she　was　most　highly
contented）　she　lockt　them　safe　uppe　in　her　Cuppeboord；　and
Gulfardoes　Friend　being　gone　（as　formerly　it　was　compacted　betweene
them）　shee　came　to　converse　more　familiarly　with　him；　having
provided　a　banquet　for　him。　What　passed　between　them　afterward；　both
then；　and　oftentimes　beside；　before　her　Husbande　returned　home；　is　a
matter　out　of　y　element；　and　rather　requires　my　ignoance　then
knowledge。
　　When　Gasparuolo　was　come　from　Genway；　Gulfardo　observing　a
convenient　time；　when　he　was　sitting　at　the　doore　with　his　Wife；　tooke
his　Friend　with　him；　and　comming　to　Gasparuolo；　said。　Worthy　Sir；
the　two　hundred　Crownes　which　you　lent　me　before　your　journy　to
Geneway；　in　regard　they　could　not　serve　my　turne；　to　compasse　the
businesse　for　which　I　borrowed　them：　within　a　day　or　two　after；　in　the
presence　of　this　Gentle　man　my　friend；　I　made　repayment　of　them　to
your　Wife；　and　therefore　I　pray　you　crosse　me　out　of　your　booke。
　　Gasparuolo　turning　to　his　Wife；　demanded；　Whether　it　was　so；　or
no？　She　beholding　the　witnesse　standing　by；　who　was　also　present　at
her　receyving　them：　durst　not　make　deniall；　but　thus　answered。　Indeede
Husband；　I　received　two　hundred　Crownes　of　the　Gentleman；　and　never
remembred；　to　acquaint　you　therewith　since　your　comming　home：　but
hereafter　I　will　be　made　no　more　your　receiver；　except　I　carried　a
quicker　memory。　Then　saide　Gasparuolo：　Signior　Gulfardo；　I　finde　you
alwaies　a　most　honest　Gentleman；　and　will　be　readie　at　any　time；　to
doe　you　the　like；　or　a　farre　greater　kindnesse；　depart　at　your
pleasure；　and　feare　not　the　crossing　of　my　Booke。　So　Gulfardo　went
away　merily　contented；　and　Ambrosia　was　served　as　she　justly
merited；　she　paying　the　price　of　her　owne　leudnesse　to　her　Husband；
which　she　had　a　more　covetous　intent　to　keepe；　questionlesse；　not
caring　how　many　like　lustfull　matches　shee　coulde　make；　to　be　so
liberally　rewarded；　if　this　had　succeeded　to　her　minde：　whereas　he
shewed　himselfe　wise　and　discreete；　in　paying　nothing　for　his
pleasure；　and　requiting　a　covetous　queane　in　her　kinde。




　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　EIGHT　DAY；　THE　SECOND　NOVELL

　　　APPROVING；　THAT　NO　PROMISE　IS　TO　BE　KEPT　WITH　SUCH　WOMEN　AS　WILL
　　　　　MAKE　SALE　OF　THEIR　HONESTY　FOR　COYNE。　A　WARNING　ALSO　FOR　MEN；
　　　　　　　　　　　　NOT　TO　SUFFER　PRIESTS　TO　BE　OVER　FAMILIAR　WITH
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THEIR　WIVES

　　A　lustie　youthfull　Priest　of　Varlungo；　fell　in　love　with　a　pretty
woman；　named　Monna　Belcolore。　To　compasse　his　amorous　desire；　hee
lefte　his　Cloake　（as　a　pledge　of　further　payment）　with　her。　By　a
subtile　sleight　afterward；　he　made　meanes　to　borrow　a　Morter　of　her；
which　when　hee　sent　home　againe　in　the　presence　of　her　Husband；　he
demaunded　to　have　his　Cloake　sent　him；　as　having　left　it　in　pawne
for　the　Morter。　To　pacifie　her　Husband；　offended　that　shee　did　not
lend　the　Priest　the　Morter　without　a　pawne：　she　sent　him　backe　his
Cloake　againe；　albeit　greatly　against　her　will。

　　Both　the　Gentlemen　and　Ladies　gave　equall　commendations；　of
Gulfardoes　queint　beguiling　the　Millaine　Gentle…woman　Ambrosia；and
wishing　all　other　（of　her　minde）　might　alwaies　be　so　served。　Then
the　Queene；　sm