the decameron(十日谈)-第42节
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！
Sicuranoes word was a Law with the Soldane； so that Ambroginolo and
Bernardo being brought face to face； the Soldane with a sterne and
angry countenance； in the presence of a most Princely Assembly；
commanded Ambroginolo to declare the truth； upon perill of his life；
by what meanes he won the Wager of the five thousand Golden Duckets he
received of Bernardo。 Ambroginolo seeing Sicurano there present；
upon whose favour he wholly relyed； yet perceiving her lookes likewise
to be as dreadful as the Soldans； and hearing her threaten him with
most greevous torments except he revealed the truth indeed； you may
easily guesse in what condition he stood at that instant。
Frownes and fury he beheld on either side； and Bernardo standing
before him； with a world of famous witnesses； to heare his lye
confounded by his owne confession； and his tongue to denie what it had
before so constantly avouched。 Yet dreaming on no other pain or
penalty； but restoring backe the five thousand Duckets of gold； and
the other things by him purloyned； truly he revealed the whole forme
of his falshood。 Then Sicurano according as the Soldane had formerly
commanded him； turning to Bernardo； saide。 And thou； upon the
suggestion of this foule lye； what didst thou to thy Wife？ Being
（quoth Bernardo） overcome with for the losse of my money； and the
dishonor I supposed to receive by my Wife； I caused a servant of
mine to kill her； and as hee credibly avouched； her body was
devoured by ravenous Wolves in a moment after。
These things being thus spoken and heard； in the presence of the
Soldan； and no reason （as yet） made knowne； why the case was so
seriously urged； and to what end it would succeede： Sicurano spake
in this manner to the Soldane。 My gracious Lord； you may plainly
perceive； in what degree that poore Gentlewoman might make her
vaunt； beeing so well provided； both of a loving friend； and a
husband。 Such was the friends love； that in an instant； and by a
wicked lye； hee robbed her both of her renowne and honour； and
bereft her also of her husband。 And her husband； rather crediting
anothers falshoode； then the invincible trueth； whereof he had
faithfull knowledge； by long and very honorable experience； caused her
to be slaine； and made foode for devouring Wolves。 Beside all this；
such was the good will and affection borne to that Woman both by
friend and husband； that the longest continuer of them in her company；
makes them alike in knowledge of her。 But because your great wisedom
knoweth perfectly what each of them have worthily deserved： if you
please （in your ever…knowne gracious benignity） to permit the
punishment of the deceiver； and pardon the partie so diceyved； I
will procure such meanes； that she shall appeare here in your
presence； and theirs。
The Soldane； being desirous to give Sicurano all manner of
satisfaction； having followed the course so indistriously； bad him
to produce the Woman； and hee was well contented。 Whereat Bernardo
stoode much amazed； because he verity beleeved that she was dead。
And Ambroginolo foreseeing already a preparation for punishment；
feared； that the repayment of the money would not now serve his turne：
not knowing also； what he should further hope or suspect； if the woman
her selfe did personally appeare； which hee imagined would be a
miracle。 Sicurano having thus obtained the Soldanes permission；
teares； humbling her selfe at his feete； in a moment she lost her
manly voyce and demeanour； as knowing that she was now no longer to
use them； but must truly witnesse what she was indeed； and therefore
thus spake。
Great Soldane； I am the miserable and unfortunate Genevra； that
for the space of sixe whole yeeres； have wandered through the world；
in the habite of a man； falsely and most maliciously slaundered； by
this villainous Traytor Ambroginolo； and by this unkinde cruell
husband； betraied to his servant to be slaine； and left to be devoured
by savage beasts。 Afterward； desiring such garments as better fitted
for her； and shewing her breasts； she made it apparant before the
Soldane and his assistants； that shee was the very same woman indeede。
Then turning her selfe to Ambroginolo； with more then manly courage；
she demanded of him； when； and where it was； that he lay with her；
as （villainously） he was not ashamed to make his vaunt？ But hee；
having alreadie acknowledged the contrarie； being stricken dumbe
with shamefull disgrace； was not able to utter one word。
The Soldane； who had alwayes reputed Sicurano to be a man； having
heard and seene so admirable an accident； was so amazed in his
minde； that many times he was very doubtfull； whether this was a
dreame； or an absolute relation of trueth。 But； after hee had more
seriously considered thereon； and found it to be reall and infallible：
with extraordinary gracious praises； he commended the life； constancy；
condition and vertues of Genevra； whom （til that time） he had
alwayes called Sicurano。 So committing her to the company of
honourable Ladies； to be changed from her manly habite； he pardoned
Bernardo her husband （according to her request formerly made） although
hee had more justly deserved death： which likewise himselfe confessed；
and falling at the feet of Genevra； desired her （in teares） to forgive
his rash transgression； which most lovingly she did； kissing and
embracing him a thousand times。
Then the Soldane strictly commaunded； that on some high and
eminent place of the Citie； Ambroginolo should be bound and impaled on
a stake； having his naked body nointed all over with hony； and never
to bee taken off； untill （of it selfe） it fell in peeces； which；
according to the sentence； was presently performed。 Next； he gave
expresse charge； that all his mony and goods should be given to
Genevra； which valued above ten thousand double Duckets。 Forthwith a
solemne Feast was prepared； wherein much honor was done to Bernardo；
being the husband of Genevra： and to her； as to a most worthy woman；
and matchlesse wife； he gave in costly jewels； as also vessels of gold
and silver plate； so much as did amount to above ten thousand double
Duckets more。
When the feasting was finished； he caused a Ship to be furnished for
them； graunting them license to depart from Geneway when they pleased；
whither they returned most richly and joyfully； being welcomed home
with great honour； especially Madam Genevra； whom every one supposed
to be dead； and alwayes after； so long as she lived； shee was most
famous for her manifold vertues。 But as for Ambroginolo； the verie
same day that hee was impaled on the stake； annointed with honey；
and fixed in the place appointed； to his no meane torment： he not
onely died； but likewise was devoured to the bare bones； by Flies；
Waspes； and Hornets； whereof the Countrey notoriously aboundeth。 And
his bones； in full forme and fashion； remained strangely blacke for
a long time after； knit together by the sinewes； as a witnesse to many
thousands of people； which afterward beheld the Carkasse of his
wickednesse against so good and vertuous a Woman； that had not so much
as a thought of any evill towards him。 And thus was the Proverbe truly
verified； that shame succeedeth after ugly sinne； and the deceiver
is trampled and trod； by such as himselfe hath deceived。
THE SECOND DAY； THE TENTH NOVELL
WHEREIN OLDE MEN ARE WITTILY REPREHENDED； THAT WILL MATCH
THEMSELVES WITH YOUNGER WOMEN THEN IS FIT FOR THEIR YEERES；
AND INSUFFICIENT； NEVER CONSIDERING WHAT MAY HAPPEN TO THEM
Pagamino da Monaco； a roving Pyrate on the Seas； carried away the
fayre Wife of Signior Ricciardo de Chinzica； who understanding where
shee was； went thither； and falling into friendship with Pagamino；
demanded his Wife of him； whereto he yeelde； provided； that shee
would willing goe away with him。 She denied to part thence with her
Husband； and Signior Ricciardo dying； she became the wife of Pagamino。
Every one in this honest and gracious assembly； most highly
commended the Novell re…counted by the Queene： but especially Dioneus；
who remained to finish that dayes pleasure with his owne Discourse；
and after many praises of the former tale were past； thus he began。
Faire Ladies； part of the Queenes Novell hath made an alteration of my
minde； from that which I intended to proceede next withall； and
therfore I will report another。 I cannot forget the unmanly
indiscretion of Bernardo； but much more the base arrogance of
Ambroginolo； how justly deserved shame fell upon him； as well it may
happen to all other； that are so vile in their owne opinions； as he
apparantly approved himselfe to be。 For； as men wander abroad in the
world； according to their occasions in diversity of Countries and
observations of the peoples behaviour； so are their humours as
variously transported。 And if they finde women wantonly disposed
abroade； the like judgement they give of their Wives at home； as if
they had never knowne their birth and breeding； or made proofe of
their loyall carriage towards them。 Wherefore； the Tale that I purpose
to relate； will likewise condemne all the like kind of men； but more
especially such as thinke themselves e
