the decameron(十日谈)-第186节

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my　selfe　against　all　her　malevolence。　And　because　I　know　right；　that
you　are　not　minded　to　become　a　Spaniard；　I　will　give　you　neither
Castle　nor　dwelling　place：　but　will　bestow　the　Chest　on　you　（in　meer
despight　of　your　malicious　fortune）　which　she　so　unjustly　tooke　away
from　you。　Carry　it　home　with　you　into　your　Countrey；　that　there　it　may
make　an　apparant　testimoney；　in　the　sight　of　all　your　well…willers；
both　of　your　owne　vertuous　deservings；　and　my　bounty。　Signior
Rogiero　humbly　receiving　the　Chest；　and　thanking　his　Majestie　for　so
liberall　a　gift；　returned　home　joyfully　therewith；　into　his　native
Countrey　of　Tuscane。




　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　TENTH　DAY；　THE　SECOND　NOVELL

　　　　WHEREIN　IS　DECLARED　THAT　GOOD　MEN　DOE　SOMETIMES　FALL　INTO　BAD
　　　　　　CONDITIONS；　ONELY　OCCASIONED　THERETO　BY　NECESSITY：　AND　WHAT
　　　　　　　MEANES　ARE　TO　BE　USED；　FOR　THEIR　REDUCING　TO　GOODNESSE
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　AGAINE

　　Ghinotto　di　Tacco；　tooke　the　Lord　Abbot　of　Clugni　as　his　prisoner；
and　cured　him　of　a　grievous　disease；　which　he　had　in　his　stomacke；　and
afterwards　set　him　at　libert。　The　same　Lord　Abbot　when　hee　returned
from　the　Court　Rome；　reconciled　Ghinotto　to　Pope　Boniface；　who　made
him　a　Knight；　and　Lord　Prior　of　a　goodly　Hospitall。

　　The　magnificence　and　Royall　bounty；　which　King　Alphonso　bestowed
on　the　Florentine　knight；　passed　through　the　whole　assembly　with
mean　applause；　and　the　King　（who　gave　the　greatest　praise　of　al）
commanded　Madame　Eliza；　to　take　the　second　turne　in　order；
whereupon；　thus　she　began。　Faire　Ladies；　if　a　king　shewed　himselfe
magnificently　minded；　and　expressed　his　liberall　bounty　to　such　a　man；
as　had　done　him　good　and　honourable　services：　it　can　be　termed　no　more
then　a　vertuous　deed　well　done；　and　becomming　a　King。　But　what　will　we
say；　when　we　heare　that　a　Prelate　of　the　Church；　shewed　himselfe
wondrously　magnificent；　and　to　such　a　one　as　was　his　enemy：　can　any
malicious　tongue　speake　ill　of　him？　Undoubtedly；　no　other　answere　is
to　be　made；　but　the　action　of　the　King　was　meerely　vertue；　and　that　of
the　Prelate；　no　lesse　then　a　miracle：　for　how　can　it　be　otherwise；
when　they　are　more　greedily　covetous　then　women；　and　deadly　enemies　to
all　liberality？　And　although　every　man　（naturally）　desireth　revenge
for　injuries　and　abuses　done　unto　him：　yet　men　of　the　Church；　in
regard　that　dayly　they　preached　patience；　and　commaund　（above　all
things　else）　remission　of　sinnes：　it　would　appeare　a　mighty　blemish　in
them；　to　be　more　froward　and　furious　then　other　men。　But　I　am　to
speake　of　a　reverend　Prelate　of　the　Church；　as　also　concerning　his
munificent　bounty；　to　one　that　was　his　enemy；　and　yet　became　his
reconciled　friend；　as　you　shall　perceive　by　my　Novell。
　　Ghinotto　di　Tacco；　for　his　insolent　and　stout　robberies；　became　a
man　very　farre　famed；　who　being　banished　from　Sienna；　and　an　enemy
to　the　Countes　Disanta　Flore：　prevailed　so　by　his　bold　and
headstrong　perswasions；　that　the　Towne　of　Raticonfani　rebelled　against
the　Church　of　Rome；　wherein　he　remaining；　all　passengers　whatsoever；
travelling　any　way　thereabout；　were　robde　and　rifled　by　his　theeving
Companions。　At　the　time　whereof　now　I　speake；　Boniface　the　eight；
governed　as　Pope　at　Rome；　and　the　Lord　Abbot　of　Clugni　（accounted　to
be　one　of　the　richest　Prelates　in　the　world）　came　to　Rome；　and　there
either　by　some　surfeit；　excesse　of　feeding；　or　otherwise；　his　stomacke
being　grievously　offended　and　pained；　the　Phisitians　advised　him；　to
travell　to　the　Bathes　at　Sienna；　where　he　should　receive　immediate
cure。　In　which　respect；　his　departure　being　licenced　by　the　Pope；　to
set　onward　thither；　with　great　and　pompous　Cariages；　of　Horses；　Mules；
and　a　goodly　traine；　without　hearing　any　rumour　of　the　theevish
Consorts。
　　Ghinotto　di　Tacco；　being　advertised　of　his　comming；　spred　about
his　scouts　and　nettes；　and　without　missing　so　much　as　one　Page；　shut
up　the　Abbot；　with　all　his　traine　and　baggage；　in　a　place　of　narrow
restraint；　out　of　which　he　could　by　no　meanes　escape。　When　this　was
done；　he　sent　one　of　his　most　sufficient　attendants　（well　accompanyed）
to　the　Lord　Abbot；　who　said　to　him　in　his　Masters　name；　that　if　his
Lordship　were　so　pleased；　hee　might　come　and　visite　Ghinotto　at　his
Castle。　Which　the　Abbot　hearing；　answered　chollerickly；　that　he
would　not　come　thither；　because　hee　had　nothing　to　say　to　Ghinotto：
but　meant　to　proceed　on　in　his　journy；　and　would　faine　see；　who
durst　presume　to　hinder　his　passe。　To　which　rough　words；　the　messenger
thus　mildely　answered。　My　Lord　（quoth　he）　you　are　arrived　in　such　a
place；　where　we　feare　no　other　force；　but　the　all…controlling　power　of
heaven；　clearely　exempted　from　the　Popes　thunder…cracks；　of
maledictions；　interdictions；　excommunications；　or　whatsoever　else：　and
therefore　it　would　bee　much　better　for　you；　if　you　pleased　to　do　as
Ghinotto　adviseth　you。
　　During　the　time　of　this　their　interparlance；　the　place　was
suddenly　round　ingirt　with　strongly　armed　theeves；　and　the　Lord
Abbot　perceiving；　that　both　he　and　all　his　followers　were　surprized：
tooke　his　way　（though　very　impatiently）　towards　the　Castle；　and
likewise　all　his　company　and　carriages　with　him。　Being　dismounted；　hee
was　conducted　（as　Ghinotto　had　appointed）　all　alone；　into　a　small
Chamber　of　the　Castle；　it　being　very　darke　and　uneasie：　but　the　rest
of　his　traine；　every　one　according　to　his　ranck　and　quality；　were
all　well　lodged　in　the　Castle；　their　horses；　goods　and　all　things
else；　delivered　into　secure　keeping；　without　the　least　touch　of　injury
or　prejudice。　All　which　being　orderly　done；　Ghinotto　himselfe　went
to　the　Lord　Abbot；　and　said。　My　Lord；　Ghinotto；　to　whom　you　are　a
welcome　guest；　requesteth；　that　it　might　be　your　pleasure　to　tell　him；
whither　you　are　travelling；　and　upon　what　occasion？
　　The　Lord　Abbot　being　a　very　wise　man；　and　his　angry　distemper　more
moderately　qualified；　revealed　whither　he　went；　and　the　cause　of　his
going　thither。　Which　when　Ghinotto　had　heard；　hee　departed　courteously
from　him；　and　began　to　consider　with　himselfe；　how　he　might　cure　the
Abbot；　yet　without　any　Bathe。　So；　commanding　a　good　fire　to　be　kept
continually　in　his　small　Chamber；　and　very　good　attendance　on　him：　the
next　morning；　he　came　to　visite　him　againe；　bringing　a　faire　white
Napkin　on　his　arme；　and　in　it　two　slices　or　toasts　of　fine　Manchet；
a　goodly　cleare　Glasse；　full　of　the　purest　white…Bastard　of
Corniglia　（but　indeed；　of　the　Abbots　owne　provision　brought　thither
with　him）　and　then　hee　spoke　to　him　in　this　manner。
　　My　Lord；　when　Ghinotto　was　yonger　then　now　he　is；　he　studyed
Physicke；　and　he　commanded　me　to　tell　you；　that　the　very　best
medicine；　he　could　ever　learne；　against　any　disease　in　the　stomacke；
was　this　which　he　had　provided　for　your　Lordship；　as　an　especial
preparative；　and　which　he　should　finde　to　be　very　comfortable。　The
Abbot；　who　had　a　better　stomacke　to　eate；　then　any　will　or　desire　to
talke：　although　hee　did　it　somewhat　disdainfully；　yet　hee　eate　up　both
the　toastes；　and　roundly　dranke　the　Glasse　of　Bastard。　Afterward；
divers　other　speeches　passed　betweene　them；　the　one　still　advising
in　Phisicall　manner；　and　the　other　seeming　to　care　little　for　it：
but　moved　many　questions　concerning　Ghinotto；　and　earnestly　requesting
to　see　him。　Such　speeches　as　savoured　of　the　Abbots　discontentment；
and　came　from　him　in　passion；　were　clouded　with　courteous
acceptance；　and　not　the　least　signe　of　any　mislike：　but　assuring　his
Lordship；　that　Ghinotto　intended　very　shortly　to　see　him；　and　so
they　parted　for　that　time。
　Nor　returned　he　any　more；　till　the　next　morning　with　the　like　two
toastes　of　bread；　and　such　another　Glasse　of　white　Bastard；　as　he
had　brought　him　at　the　first；　continuing　the　same　course　for　divers
dayes　after：　till　the　Abbot　had　eaten　（and　very　hungerly　too）　a　pretty
store　of　dryed　Beanes；　which　Ghinotto　purposely；　（yet　secretly）　had
hidden　in　the　Chamber。　Whereupon　he　demaunded　of　him　（as　seeming　to　be
so　enjoyned　by　his　pretended　master）　in　what　temper　he　found　his
stomacke　now？　I　should　finde　my　stomacke　well　enough　（answered　the
Lord　Abbot）　if　I　could　get　forth　of　thy　masters　fingers；　and　then　have
some　good　food　to　feed　on：　for　his　medicines　have　made　me　so　soundly
stomackt；　that　I　am　ready　to　starve　with　hunger。
　　When　Ghinotto　was　gone　from　him；　hee　then　prepared　a　very　faire
Chamber　for　him；　adorning　it　with　the　Abbots　owne　rich　hangings；　as
also　his　Plate　and　other　moveables；　such　as　were　alwayes　used　for
his　service。　A　costly　dinner　he　provided　likewise；　whereto　he
invited　divers　of　the　Towne；　and　many　of　the　Abbots　chiefest
followers：　then　going　to　him　againe　the　next　morning；　he　said。　My
Lord；　seeing　you　doe　feele　your　stomacke　so　well；　it　is　time　you
should　come　forth　of　the　Infirmary。　And　taking　him　by　the　hand；　he
brought　him　into　the　prepared　Chamber；　where　he　left　him　with　his　owne
people；　and　went　to　give　order　for　the　dinners　serving　in；　that　it
might　be　performed　in　magnificent　manner。
　　The　Lord　Abbot　recreated　himselfe　a　while　with　his　owne　people；　to
whom　he　recounted；　the　course　of　his　life　since　hee　saw　them；　and　they
likewise　told　him；　how　kindly　they　had　bin　initeated　by　Ghi