the decameron(十日谈)-第101章

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shame　to　all　his　friends　and　kindred。　He　could　say　little　for
himselfe；　never　denying　his　taking　in　the　house；　and　therefore
desiring　to　finish　all　his　fortunes　together；　desperately　confessed；
that　he　came　with　a　fellonious　intent　to　rob　them；　and　the　Governor
gave　him　sentence　to　be　hanged。
　　Soone　were　the　newes　spread　throughout　Salerne；　that　Ruggiero　was
apprehended；　about　robbing　the　house　of　the　two　usuring　Lombardes：
which　when　Mistresse　Doctor　and　her　Chamber…maide　heard；　they　were
confounded　with　most　strange　admiration；　and　scarsely　credited　what
they　themselves　had　done　the　night　before；　but　rather　imagined　all
matters　past；　to　be　no　more　than　meerely　a　dreame；　concerning
Ruggieroes　dying　in　the　house；　and　their　putting　him　into　the　Chest；
so　that　by　no　likely　or　possible　meanes；　he　could　be　the　man　in　this
perillous　extreamitie。
　　In　a　short　while　after；　Master　Doctor　Mazzeo　was　returned　from
Malfy；　to　proceede　in　his　cure　of　the　poore　mans　legge；　and　calling
for　his　glasse　of　Water；　which　he　left　standing　in　his　owne　Chamber
window；　it　was　found　quite　empty；　and　not　a　drop　in　it：　whereat　he
raged　so　extreamly；　as　never　had　the　like　impatience　bene　noted　in
him。　His　wife；　and　her　Maide；　who　had　another　kinde　of　businesse　in
their　braine；　about　a　dead　man　so　strangely　come　to　life　againe；
knew　not　well　what　to　say；　but　at　the　last；　his　Wife　thus　replyed
somewhat　angerly。　Sir　（quoth　she）　what　a　coyle　is　here　about　a
paltry　glasse　of　Water；　which　perhaps　hath　bene　spilt；　yet　neyther
of　us　faulty　therein？　Is　there　no　more　such　water　to　be　had　in　the
world？　Alas　deere　Wife　（saide　he）　you　might　repute　it　to　be　a　common
kinde　of　Water；　but　indeed　it　was　not　so；　for　I　did　purposely　compound
it；　onely　to　procure　a　dead　seeming　sleepe：　And　so　related　the　whole
matter　at　large；　of　the　Pacients　legge；　and　his　Waters　losse。
　　When　she　had　heard　these　words　of　her　husband；　presently　she
conceived；　that　the　water　was　drunke　off　by　Ruggiero；　which　had　so
sleepily　entranced　his　sences；　as　they　verily　thought　him　to　be
dead；　wherefore　she　saide。　Beleeve　me　Sir；　you　never　acquainted　us
with　any　such　matter；　which　would　have　procured　more　carefull
respect　of　it：　but　seeing　it　is　gone；　your　skill　extendeth　to　make
more；　for　now　there　is　no　other　remedy。　While　thus　Master　Doctor　and
his　Wife　were　conferring　together；　the　Maide　went　speedily　into　the
City；　to　understand　truly；　whither　the　condemned　man　was　Ruggiero；　and
what　would　now　become　of　him。　Being　returned　home　againe；　and　alone
with　her　Mistresse　in　the　Chamber；　thus　she　spake。　Now　trust　me
Mistresse；　not　one　in　the　City　speaketh　well　of　Ruggiero；　who　is　the
man　condemned　to　dye；　and；　for　ought　I　can　perceive；　he　hath　neither
Kinsman　nor　Friend　that　will　doe　any　thing　for　him；　but　he　is　left
with　the　Provost；　and　must　be　executed　to　morrow　morning。　Moreover
Mistresse；　by　such　instructions　as　I　have　received；　I　can　well…neere
informe　you；　by　what　meanes　he　came　to　the　two　Lombards　house；　if
all　be　true　that　I　have　heard。
　　You　know　the　joyner　before　whose　doore　the　Chest　stoode；　wherein
we　did　put　Ruggiero；　there　is　now　a　contention　betweene　him　and
another　man；　to　whom　（it　seemeth）　the　Chest　doth　belong；　in　regard
whereof；　they　are　ready　to　quarrell　extreamly　each　with　other。　For　the
one　owing　the　Chest；　and　trusting　the　joyner　to　sell　it　for　him；　would
have　him　to　pay　him　for　the　Chest。　The　joyner　denieth　any　sale
thereof；　avouching；　that　the　last　night　it　was　stolne　from　his
doore。　Which　the　other　man　contrarying；　maintaineth　that　he　solde
the　Chest　to　the　two　Lombard　usurers；　as　himselfe　is　able　to
affirme；　because　he　found　it　in　the　house；　when　he　（being　present　at
the　apprehension　of　Ruggiero）　sawe　it　there　in　the　same　house。
Hereupon；　the　joyner　gave　him　the　lye；　because　he　never　sold　it　to　any
man；　but　if　it　were　there；　they　had　robd　him　of　it；　as　he　would　make
it　manifest　to　their　faces。　Then　falling　into　clamerous　speeches
they　went　together　to　the　Lombardes　house；　even　as　I　returned　home。
Wherefore　Mistresse；　as　you　may　easily　perceive；　Ruggiero　was
（questionlesse）　carried　thither　in　the　Chest；　and　so　there　found；
but　how　he　revived　againe；　I　cannot　comprehend。
　　The　Mistresse　understanding　now　apparantly；　the　full　effect　of　the
whole　businesse；　and　in　what　manner　it　had　bene　carried；　revealed　to
the　Maide　her　husbands　speeches；　concerning　the　glasse　of　sleepie
Water；　which　was　the　onely　engine　of　all　this　trouble；　clearly
acquitting　Ruggiero　of　the　robbery；　howsoever　（in　desparate　fury；
and　to　make　an　end　of　a　life　so　contemptible）　he　had　wrongfully
accused　himselfe。　And　notwithstanding　this　his　hard　fortune；　which
hath　made　him　much　more　infamous　then　before；　in　all　the　dissolute
behaviour　of　his　life：　yet　it　could　not　quaile　her　affection　towards
him；　but　being　loath　he　should　dye　for　some　other　mans　offence；　and
hoping　his　future　reformation；　she　fell　on　her　knees　before　her
Mistresse；　and　（drowned　in　her　teares）　most　earnestly　entreated　her；
to　advise　her　with　some　such　happy　course；　as　might　be　the　safety　of
poore　Ruggieroes　life。　Mistresse　Doctor；　affecting　her　Maide
dearely；　and　plainely　perceiving；　that　no　disastrous　fortune
whatsoever；　could　alter　her　love　to　condemned　Ruggiero；　hoping　the
best　hereafter；　as　the　Maide　her　selfe　did；　and　willing　to　save　life
rather　then　suffer　it　to　be　lost　without　just　cause；　she　directed
her　in　such　discreet　manner；　as　you　will　better　conceive　by　the
successe。
　　According　as　she　was　instructed　by　her　Mistresse；　she　fell　at　the
feete　of　Master　Doctor；　desiring　him　to　pardon　a　great　error；
whereby　she　had　over…much　offended　him。　As　how？　said　Master　Doctor。　In
this　manner　（quoth　the　Maide）　and　thus　proceeded。　You　are　not　ignorant
Sir；　what　a　lewde　liver　Ruggiero　de　Jeroly　is；　and　notwithstanding　all
his　imperfections；　how　deerely　I　love　him；　as　he　protesteth　the　like
to　me；　and　thus　hath　our　love　continued　a　yeere；　and　more。　You　being
gone　to　Malfy；　and　your　absence　granting　me　apt　opportunity；　for
conference　with　so　kinde　a　friend；　I　made　the　bolder；　and　gave　him
entrance　into　your　house；　yea　even　into　mine　owne　Chamber；　yet　free
from　any　abuse；　neither　did　he　（bad　though　he　be）　offer　any。　Thirsty
he　was　before　his　comming　thither；　either　by　salt　meat；　or　distempered
diet；　and　I　being　unable　to　fetch　him　wine　or　water；　by　reason　my
Mistresse　sat　in　the　Hall；　seriously　talking　with　her　Sisters；
remembred；　that　I　saw　a　violl　of　Water　standing　in　your　Chamber
Window；　which　he　drinking　quite　off；　I　set　it　empty　in　the　place
againe。　I　have　heard　your　discontentment　for　the　said　Water；　and
confesse　my　fault　to　you　therein：　but　who　liveth　so　justly；　without
offending　at　one　time　or　other？　And　I　am　heartily　sory　for　my
transgression；　yet　not　so　much　for　the　water；　as　the　hard　fortune　that
hath　followed　thereon；　because　thereby　Ruggiero　is　in　danger　to　lose
his　life；　and　all　my　hopes　are　utterly　lost。　Let　me　entreat　you
therefore　（gentle　Master）　first　to　pardon　me；　and　then　to　grant　me
permission；　to　succour　my　poore　condemned　friend；　by　all　the　best
meanes　I　can　devise。
　　When　the　Doctor　had　heard　all　her　discourse；　angry　though　he　were；
yet　thus　he　answered　with　a　smile。　Much　better　had　it　bin；　if　thy
follies　punishment　had　falne　on　thy　selfe；　that　it　might　have　paide
thee　with　deserved　repentance；　upon　thy　Mistresses　finding　thee
sleeping。　But　go　and　get　his　deliverance　if　thou　canst；　with　this
caution；　that　if　ever　hereafter　he　be　seene　in　my　house；　the　perill
thereof　shall　light　on　thy　selfe。　Receiving　this　answer；　for　her　first
entrance　into　the　attempt；　and　as　her　Mistresse　had　advised　her；　in
all　hast　she　went　to　the　prison；　where　she　prevailed　so　well　with
the　Jaylor；　that　hee　granted　her　private　conference　with　Ruggiero。　She
having　instructed　him　what　he　should　say　to　the　Provost；　if　he　had　any
purpose　to　escape　with　life；　went　thither　before　him　to　the　Provost；
who　admitting　her　into　his　presence；　and　knowing　that　shee　was
Master　Doctors　Maid；　a　man　especially　respected　of　all　the　City；　he
was　the　more　willing　to　heare　her　message；　he　imagining　that　shee
was　sent　by　her　Master。
　　Sir　（quoth　shee）　you　have　ap