the decameron(十日谈)-第40节

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if　she　endured　any　such　suite；　either　shee　answered　yea；　or　no。　And
albeit　I　know　this　to　be　true；　by　many　infallible　and　naturall
reasons；　yet　could　I　not　speak　so　exactly　as　I　doe；　if　I　had　not　tried
experimentally；　the　humours　and　affections　of　divers　Women。　Yea；　and
let　me　tell　thee　more　Bernardo；　were　I　in　private　company　with　thy
wife；　howsoever　thou　presumest　to　thinke　her　to　be；　I　should　account
it　a　matter　of　no　impossibility；　to　finde　in　her　the　selfesame
frailty。
　　Bernardoes　blood　now　began　to　boyle；　and　patience　being　a　little　put
downe　by　choller；　thus　he　replyed。　A　combat　of　words　requires
over…long　continuance；　for　I　maintaine　the　matter　which　thou
deniest；　and　all　this　sorts　to　nothing　in　the　end。　But　seeing　thou
presumest；　that　all　women　are　so　apt　and　tractable；　and　thy　selfe　so
confident　of　thine　owne　power：　I　willingly　yeeld　（for　the　better
assurance　of　my　wifes　constant　loyalty）　to　have　my　head　smitten　off；
if　thou　canst　winne　her　to　any　such　dishonest　act；　by　any　meanes
whatsoever　thou　canst　use　unto　her；　which　if　thou　canst　not　doe；
thou　shalt　onely　loose　a　thousand　duckets　of　Gold。　Now　began
Ambroginolo　to　be　heated　with　these　words；　answering　thus。　Bernardo；
if　I　had　won　the　wager；　I　know　not　what　I　should　doe　with　thy　head；
but　if　thou　be　willing　to　stand　upon　the　proofe；　pawne　downe　five
thousand　Duckets　of　gold；　（a　matter　of　much　lesse　value　then　thy　head）
against　a　thousand　Duckets　of　mine；　granting　me　a　lawfull　limited
time；　which　I　require　to　be　no　more　then　the　space　of　three　moneths；
after　the　day　of　my　departing　hence。　I　will　stand　bound　to　goe　for
Geneway；　and　there　winne　such　kinde　consent　of　thy　Wife；　as　shall　be
to　mine　owne　content。　In　witnesse　whereof；　I　will　bring　backe　with
me　such　private　and　especiall　tokens；　as　thou　thy　selfe　shalt　confesse
that　I　have　not　failed。　Provided；　that　thou　doe　first　promise　upon　thy
faith；　to　absent　thy　selfe　thence　during　my　limitted　time；　and　be　no
hinderance　to　me　by　thy　Letters；　concerning　the　attempt　by　me
undertaken。
　　Bernardo　saide；　Be　it　a　bargaine；　am　the　man　that　will　make　good
my　five　thousand　Duckets；　and　albeit　the　other　Merchants　then　present；
earnestly　laboured　to　breake　the　wager；　knowing　great　harme　must　needs
ensue　thereon：　yet　both　the　parties　were　so　hot　and　fiery；　as　all
the　other　men　spake　to　no　effect；　but　writings　was　made；　sealed；　and
delivered　under　either　of　their　hands；　Bernardo　remaining　at　Paris；
and　Ambroginolo　departing　for　Geneway。　There　he　remained　some　few
dayes；　to　learne　the　streetes　name　where　Bernardo　dwelt；　as　also　the
conditions　and　qualities　of　his　Wife；　which　scarcely　pleased　him
when　he　heard　them；　because　they　were　farre　beyond　her　Husbands
relation；　and　shee　reputed　to　be　the　onely　wonder　of　women；　whereby　he
plainely　perceived；　that　he　had　undertaken　a　very　idle　enterprise；　yet
would　he　not　give　it　over　so；　but　proceeded　therein　a　little　further。
　　He　wrought　such　meanes；　that　he　came　acquainted　with　a　poore
woman；　who　often　frequented　Bernardoes　house；　and　was　greatly　in
favour　with　his　wife；　upon　whose　poverty　he　so　prevailed；　by　earnest
perswasions；　but　much　more　by　large　gifts　of　money；　that　he　won　her　to
further　him　in　this　manner　following。　A　faire　and　artificiall　Chest　he
caused　to　be　purposely　made；　wherein　himselfe　might　be　aptly
contained；　and　so　conveyed　into　the　House　of　Bernardoes　Wife；　under
colour　of　a　formall　excuse；　that　the　poore　woman　should　be　absent　from
the　City　two　or　three　dayes；　and　shee　must　keepe　it　safe　till　she
returne。　The　Gentlewoman　suspecting　no　guile；　but　that　the　Chest　was
the　receptacle　of　all　the　womans　wealth；　would　trust　it　in　no　other
roome；　then　her　owne　Bed…chamber；　which　was　the　place　where
Ambroginolo　most　desired　to　bee。
　　Being　thus　conveyed　into　the　Chamber；　the　night　going　on　apace；
and　the　Gentlewoman　fast　asleepe　in　her　bed；　a　lighted　Taper　stood
burning　on　the　Table　by　her；　as　in　her　Husbands　absence　shee　ever　used
to　have：　Ambroginolo　softly　opened　the　Chest；　according　as　cunningly
hee　had　contrived　it；　and　stepping　forth　in　his　sockes　made　of　cloath；
observed　the　scituation　of　the　Chamber；　the　paintings；　pictures；　and
beautifull　hangings；　with　all　things　else　that　were　remarkable；
which　perfectly　he　committed　to　his　memory。　Going　neere　to　the　bed；　he
saw　her　lie　there　sweetly　sleeping；　and　her　young　Daughter　in　like
manner　by　her；　she　seeming　then　as　compleate　and　pleasing　a
creature；　as　when　shee　was　attired　in　her　best　bravery。　No　especiall
note　or　marke　could　hee　descrie；　whereof　he　might　make　credible
report；　but　onely　a　small　wart　upon　her　left　pappe；　with　some　few
haires　growing　thereon；　appearing　to　be　as　yellow　as　gold。
　　Sufficient　had　he　seene；　and　durst　presume　no　further；　but　taking
one　of　her　Rings；　which　lay　upon　the　Table；　a　purse　of　hers；　hanging
by　on　the　wall；　a　light　wearing　Robe　of　silke；　and　her　girdle；　all
which　he　put　into　the　Chest；　and　being　in　himselfe；　closed　it　fast
as　it　was　before；　so　continuing　there　in　the　Chamber　two　severall
nights；　the　Gentlewoman　neither　mistrusting　or　missing　any　thing。
The　third　day　being　come；　the　poore　woman；　according　as　formerly　was
concluded；　came　to　have　home　her　Chest　againe；　and　brought　it　safely
into　her　owne　house；　where　Ambroginolo　comming　forth　of　it；
satisfied　the　poore　woman　to　her　owne　liking；　returning　（with　all
the　forenamed　things）　so　fast　as　conveniently　he　could　to　Paris。
　　Being　arrived　there　long　before　his　limmitted　time；　he　called　the
Merchants　together；　who　were　present　at　the　passed　words　and　wager；
avouching　before　Bernardo；　that　he　had　won　his　five　thousand
Duckets；　and　performed　the　taske　he　undertooke。　To　make　good　his
protestation；　first　he　described　the　forme　of　the　Chamber；　the　curious
pictures　hanging　about　it；　in　what　manner　the　bed　stood；　and　every
circumstance　else　beside。　Next　he　shewed　the　severall　things；　which　he
brought　away　thence　with　him；　affirming　that　he　had　received　them　of
her　selfe。　Bernardo　confessed；　that　his　description　of　the　Chamber　was
true；　and　acknowledged　moreover；　that　these　other　things　did　belong　to
his　Wife：　But　（quoth　he）　this　may　be　gotten；　by　corrupting　some
servant　of　mine；　both　for　intelligence　of　the　Chamber；　as　also　of
the　Ring；　Purse；　and　what　else　is　beside；　all　which　suffice　not　to　win
the　wager；　without　some　other　more　apparant　and　pregnant　token。　In
troth；　answered　Ambroginolo；　me　thinkes　these　should　serve　for
sufficient　proofes；　but　seeing　thou　art　so　desirous　to　know　more：　I
plainely　tell　thee；　that　faire　Genevra　thy　Wife；　hath　a　small　round
wart　upon　her　left　pappe；　and　some　few　little　golden　haires　growing
thereon。
　　When　Bernardo　heard　these　words；　they　were　as　so　many　stabs　to　his
heart；　yea；　beyond　all　compasse　of　patient　sufferance；　and　by　the
changing　of　his　colour；　it　was　noted　manifestly；　（being　unable　to
utter　one　word）　that　Ambroginolo　had　spoken　nothing　but　the　truth。
Within　a　while　after；　he　saide；　Gentlemen；　that　which　Ambroginolo　hath
saide；　is　very　true；　wherefore　let　him　come　when　he　will；　and　he　shall
be　paide；　which　accordingly　he　performed　on　the　very　next　day；　even　to
the　utmost　penny；　departing　then　from　Paris　towards　Geneway；　with　a
most　malitious　intention　to　his　Wife：　Being　come　neere　to　the　City；　he
would　not　enter　it；　but　rode　to　a　Country　house　of　his；　standing　about
tenne　miles　distant　thence。　Being　there　arrived；　he　called　a
servant；　in　whom　hee　reposed　especiall　trust；　sending　him　to　Geneway
with　two　Horses；　writing　to　his　Wife；　that　he　was　returned；　and　shee
should　come　thither　to　see　him。　But　secretly　he　charged　his　servant；
that　so　soone　as　he　had　brought　her　to　a　convenient　place；　he　should
there　kill　her；　without　any　pitty　or　compassion；　and　then　returne　to
him　againe。
　　When　the　servant　was　come　to　Geneway；　and　had　delivered　his　Letter
and　message；　Genevra　gave　him　most　joyfull　welcome；　and　on　the
morrow　morning　mounting　on　Horse…backe　with　the　servant；　rode
merrily　towards　the　Country　house；　divers　things　shee　discoursed　on　by
the　way；　till　they　descended　into　a　deepe　solitary　valey；　very　thickly
beset　with　high　and　huge　spreading　Trees；　which　the　servant　supposed
to　be　a　meete　place；　for　the　execution　of　his　Masters　command。
Suddenly　drawing　forth　his　Sword；　and　holding　Genevra　fast　by　the
arme；　he　saide；　Mistresse；　quickly　commend　your　soule　to　God；　for
you　must　die；　before　you　passe　any　further。　Genevra　seeing　the　naked
Sword；　and　hearing　the　words　so　peremptorily　delivered；　fearefully
answered；　Alas　deare　friend；　mercy　for　Gods　sake；　and　before　thou　kill
me；　tell　me　wherein　I　have　offended　thee；　and　why　thou　must　kill　me？
Alas　good　Mistresse　replied　the　servant；　you　have　not　any　way　offended
me；　but　in　what　occasion　you　have　displeased　your　Husband；　it　is
utterly　unknowne　to　me：　for　he　hath　strictly　commanded　me；　without
respect　of　pitty　or　compassion；　to　kill　you　by　the　way　as　I　bring　you；
and　if　I　doe　it　not；　he　hath　sworne　to　hang　me　by　the　necke。　You
know　good　Mistresse；　how　much　I　stand　obliged　to　him；　and　how
impossible　it　is　for　me；　to　contradict　any　thing　that　he　commandeth。
God　is　my　witnesse；　that　I　am　truly　compassionate　of　you；　and　yet
（by　no　mea