the decameron(十日谈)-第67节
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judgement。 Upon his urging by what possible meanes this could be
brought to passe： the Countesse in presence of the whole assembly； and
unto her eternall commendation； related the whole history； even in
such manner as you have formerly heard it。 Moreover； she reported
the private speeches in bed； uttered betweene himselfe and her；
being witnessed more apparantly； by the costly jewels there openly
shewne。 All which infallible proofes； proclaiming his shame； and her
most noble carriage to her husband； he confessed； that she had told
nothing but the truth in every point which she had reported。
Commending her admirable constancy； exceliency of wit； and sprightly
courage； in making such a bold adventure； he kissed the two sweete
boyes； and to keepe his promise； whereto he was earnestly
importuned； by all his best esteemed friends there present； especially
the honourable Ladies； who would have no deniall； but by forgetting
his former harsh and uncivill carriage towards her； to accept her
for ever as his lawfull wife； folding her in his armes； and sweetly
kissing her divers times together； he bad her welcome to him； as his
vertuous； loyall； and most loving wife； and so （for ever after） he
would acknowledge her。 Well knew hee that she had store of better
beseeming garments in the house； and therefore requested the Ladies to
walke with her to her Chamber； to uncase her of those Pilgrimes weeds；
and cloath her in her owne more sumptuous garments； even those which
shee wore on her wedding day； because that was not the day of his
contentment； but onely this； for now he confessed her to be his wife
indeede； and now he would give the king thanks for her； and now was
Count Bertrand truly married to the faire Juliet of Narbona。
THE THIRD DAY； THE TENTH NOVELL
Alibech turns hermit； and a monk； Rustico； teaches her to put the
Devil in Hell。 Afterwards she is brought home； and married to
Neerbale。
Dioneus listened attentively to the Queen's discourse； and when
she had done and he knew that only he remained to complete the day's
entertainment； without trifling away the time or awaiting a command
from the Queen； thus he began。
Gracious ladies； it may be you have not heard how the Devil is put
in Hell。 Therefore； and since it will not be far off the subject of
this day's discourse； I will tell it you。 Perhaps； hearing it； you may
the better understand that albeit Love more affects gay palaces and
luxurious bowers than the cabins of the poor； yet he by no means
disdains to manifest his power even in the depths of the forest； on
stark mountains and in the caves of the desert； and thus we must
acknowledge that all things wheresoever they be are subject to him。
Coming； then； to my story； I must tell you that in Capsa； a city
of Barbary； there dwelt aforetime a very rich man； who had among
several children a little daughter； fair and of a docile temper； whose
name was Alibech。
This girl； a heathen in a place where many were Christian； used
often to hear her neighbours extol the Christian faith and devotion to
the service of God； wherefore she asked one of them how God could best
be served and with the least hindrance。 She was told that they best
served Him who removed themselves farthest from the things of the
world； as in particular the hermits who had withdrawn from the city to
the wilds of Thebais。
The simple maiden； aged perhaps some fourteen years； moved rather by
a childish whim than any real vocation； set out on the morrow alone
and telling nobody to walk into the desert。 So firmly was she resolved
that after several days of hardship she reached the wilderness of
Thebais。 From afar she descried a little hut； and coming up to it；
found there a holy man。 Amazed to see such a one there； he asked
what she came to seek。 Her answer was that； aspiring towards God；
she came thither to serve Him； and in the hope of finding a teacher to
that end。
The pious hermit； seeing her so young and fair； was afraid lest
the Devil might ensnare him； so he praised her intent； and giving
her roots； wild apples and dates to eat and a draught of water；
said： 〃Daughter； not far from here there dwells a holy man such as
thou seekest： a fitter man than I。 Go thou to him。〃 And he put her
on the way。
The second hermit advised her as the first； and faring farther she
came to the cell of a young hermit； a very pious and righteous man；
whose name was Rustico。 To him she repeated her mission。 Willing to
put his resolution to so great a test； he forebore to send her away；
and took her into his cell。 At nightfall he made her a bed of
palm…leaves； and bade her lie down to rest。
Temptations did not long delay an assault on his constancy； and
finding it much beyond his strength to withstand them； he soon gave up
the battle； and confessed himself worsted。 So putting away all saintly
thoughts； prayers and mortifications； he let his mind dwell on the
freshness and beauty of his companion。 From this he passed to thinking
of the best means of bringing her to his desires without giving her
cause to suspect him of lewdness。
Therefore； satisfying himself by a few questions that she had never
had carnal knowledge of a man； and was indeed as innocent as she
seemed； he thought of a plan to enjoy her under colour of serving God。
He began expounding to her the Devil's enmity to the Almighty； and
went on to impress upon her that the most acceptable service she could
render to God would be to put the Devil in Hell； whereto the Lord
had condemned him。
The little maid asked him how this might be done。 〃Thou shalt soon
learn；〃 replied Rustico； 〃only do as thou seest me do。〃 Thereupon he
took off what few clothes he wore； and stood stark naked； and as
soon as the girl had done likewise he fell on his knees as though to
pray； and made her kneel face to face with him。
This done； Rustico's desire was more than ever inflamed at the sight
of her beauty； and the resurrection of the flesh came to pass。
Seeing this； and not knowing what it meant； Alibech asked： 〃Rustico；
what is it thou hast that thrusts itself out in front； and that I have
not？〃 〃My daughter；〃 quoth Rustico； 〃it is that same Devil of whom I
have been telling thee。 Dost thou mark him？ Behold； he gives me such
sore trouble that I can hardly bear it。〃
〃The Lord be praised！〃 said she； 〃for now I see that I am more
blessed than thou in that I have not this Devil。〃
Rustico retorted： 〃Thou sayest truly； but thou hast another thing
that I have not； and hast it in place of this。〃
〃What is that？〃 says Alibech。
To this Rustico replied： 〃Thou hast Hell； and will tell thee my
belief that God gave it thee for the health of my soul。 For； if thou
wilt take pity on me for the troubling of this Devil； and suffer me to
put him in Hell； thou wilt comfort me extremely； and at the same
time please and serve God in the highest measure； to which end； as
thou sayest； thou art come hither。〃
All unsuspecting； the girl answered。 him： 〃My father； since I have
this Hell； let the thing be done when thou desirest it。〃
Then Rustico said： 〃Bless thee； my dear daughter； let us go at
once and put him in his place； that I may be at peace。〃
So saying； he laid her on one of their rough beds； and set about
showing her how to shut the accursed one in his prison。 The girl；
who until then had no experience of putting devils in Hell； felt
some pain at this first trial of it； which made her say to Rustico：
〃Father； this Devil must indeed be wicked； and in very sooth an
enemy of God； for he hurts Hell itself； let alone other things； when
he is put back in it。〃
〃My daughter；〃 said Rustico； 〃it will not always be so。〃 And to make
sure of it； before either of them moved from the bed they put him in
six times； after which the Devil hung his head and was glad to let
them be。
But in the succeeding days he rose up many times； and the girl；
always disposing herself to subdue him； began to take pleasure in
the exercise； and to say such things as： 〃I see now the truth of
what the good folk in Capsa told me； that serving God is a delight；
for I never remember doing anything that gave me as much joy and
pleasure as this putting the Devil in Hell。 So I think the people
who spend their time otherwise than in serving God must be very
foolish。〃
Often she would come to Rustico and say： 〃Father； I came hither to
serve God； not to stand idle。 Let us go put the Devil in Hell。〃 And
once； when it had been done； she asked： 〃Rustico； why does he want
to get out of Hell？ If only he would stay there as willingly as Hell
takes him in and holds him； he would never want to come out at all。〃
By thus constantly egging him on and exhorting him to God's service
the girl so preyed upon Rustico that he shivered with cold when
another man would have sweated。 He had perforce to tell her that it
was not just to punish the Devil by putting him in Hell save when he
had lifted his head in pride； and that by God's mercy they had so
chastened him that he only implored Heaven to be left in peace。 Thus
for a time he silenced her。
But she； finding that Rustico did not call on her to put the Devil
in Hell； said one day： 〃Even
