the decameron(十日谈)-第107章

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returned　richly　home　with　Air；　to　the　Island　of　Liparis。

　　When　the　Queene　perceived；　that　the　Novell　recited　by　Pamphilus
was　concluded；　which　she　graced　with　especiall　commendations：　shee
commanded　Madam　Aemilia；　to　take　her　turne　as　next　in　order；　whereupon
she　thus　began。　Me　thinkes　it　is　a　matter　of　equity；　that　every　one
should　take　delight　in　those　things；　whereby　the　recompence　may　be
noted；　answerable　to　their　one　affection。　And　because　I　rather
desire　to　walke　along　by　the　paths　of　pleasure；　then　dwell　on　any
ceremonious　or　scrupulous　affectation；　I　shall　the　more　gladly　obey
our　Queene　to　day；　then　yesterday　I　did　our　melancholly　King。
　　Understand　then　（Noble　Ladies）　that　neere　to　Sicily；　there　is　a
small　Island；　commonly　called　Liparis；　wherein　（not　long　since）
lived　a　yong　Damosell；　named　Constance；　born　of　very　sufficient
parentage　in　the　same　Island。　There　dwelt　also　a　yong　man　called
Martuccio　Gomito；　of　comely　feature；　well　conditioned；　and　not
unexpert　in　many　vertuous　qualities；　affecting　Constance　in　harty
manner：　and　she　so　answerable　to　him　in　the　same　kinde；　that　to　be
in　his　company；　was　her　onely　felicity。　Martuccio　coveting　to　enjoy
her　in　marriage；　made　his　intent　knowne　to　her　Father：　who
upbraiding　him　with　poverty；　tolde　him　plainly　that　he　should　not　have
her。　Martuccio　greeving　to　see　himselfe　thus　despised；　because　he
was　poore：　made　such　good　meanes；　that　he　was　provided　of　a　small
Barke；　and　calling　such　friends　（as　he　thought　fit）　to　his
association；　made　a　solemne　vow；　that　he　would　never　returne　backe
to　Liparis；　untill　he　was　rich；　and　in　better　condition。
　　In　the　nature　and　course　of　a　Rover　or　Pirate；　so　put　thence　to　sea；
coasting　all　about　Barbarie；　robbing　and　spoyling　such　as　he　met　with；
who　were　of　no　greater　strength　then　himselfe：　wherein　Fortune　was
so　favourable　to　him；　that　he　became　wealthy　in　a　very　short　while。
But　as　felicities　are　not　alwayes　permanent；　so　he　and　his
followers；　not　contenting　themselves　with　sufficient　riches：　by　greedy
seeking　to　get　more；　happened　to　be　taken　by　certaine　ships　of　the
Sarazins；　and　so　were　robbed　themselves　of　all　that　they　had　gotten；
yet　they　resisted　them　stoutly　a　long　while　together；　though　it　proved
to　the　losse　of　many　lives　among　them。　When　the　Sarazens　had　sunke　his
ship　in　the　Sea；　they　tooke　him　with　them　to　Thunis；　where　he　was
imprisoned；　and　lived　in　extreamest　misery。
　　Newes　came　to　Liparis；　not　onely　by　one；　but　many　more　beside；
that　all　those　which　departed　thence　in　the　small　Barke　with
Martuccio；　were　drowned　in　the　Sea；　and　not　a　man　escaped。　When
Constance；　heard　these　unwelcome　tydings　（who　was　exceeding　full　of
greefe；　for　his　so　desperate　departure）　she　wept　and　lamented
extraordinarily；　desiring　now　rather　to　dye；　then　live　any　longer。　Yet
she　had　not　the　heart；　to　lay　any　violent　hand　on　her　selfe；　but
rather　to　end　her　dayes　by　some　new　kinde　of　necessity。　And
departing　privately　from　her　Fathers　house；　she　went　to　the　Port　or
Haven；　where　（by　chance）　she　found　a　small　Fisher…boate；　lying　distant
from　the　other　vessels；　the　owners　whereof　being　all　gone　on　shore；
and　it　well　furnished　with　Masts；　Sailes；　and　Oares；　she　entred　into
it；　and　putting　forth　the　Oares；　being　somewhat　skilfull　in　sayling；
（as　generally　all　the　Women　of　that　Island　are）　she　so　well　guided　the
Sailes；　Rudder；　and　Oares；　that　she　was　quickly　farre　off　from　the
Land；　and　soly　remained　at　the　mercy　of　the　windes。　For　thus　she　had
resolved　with　her　selfe；　that　the　Boat　being　uncharged；　and　without
a　guide；　would　either　be　overwhelmed　by　the　windes；　or　split　in　peeces
against　some　Rocke；　by　which　meanes　she　could　＇not＇　escape　although
she　would；　but　（as　it　was　her　desire）　must　needs　be　drowned。
　　In　this　determination；　wrapping　a　mantle　about　her　head；　and　lying
downe　weeping　in　the　boats　bottome；　she　hourely　expected　her　finall
expiration：　but　it　fell　out　otherwise；　and　contrary　to　her　desperate
intention；　because　the　wind　turning　to　the　North；　and　blowing　very
gently；　without　disturbing　the　Seas　a　jot；　they　conducted　the　small
Boat　in　such　sort；　that　after　the　night　of　her　entering　into　it；　and
the　morrowes　sailing　untill　the　evening；　it　came　within　an　hundre
leagues　of　Thunis　and　to　a　strond　neere　a　Towne　called　Susa。　The　young
Damosell　knew　not　whether　she　were　on　the　sea　or　land；　as　one；　who　not
by　any　accident　hapning；　lifted　up　her　head　to　looke　about　her；
neither　intended　ever　to　doe。　Now　it　came　to　passe；　that　as　the
boate　was　driven　to　the　shore；　a　poore　woman　stood　at　the　Sea　side；
washing　certaine　Fishermens　Nets；　and　seeing　the　boate　comming　towards
her　under　saile；　without　any　person　appearing　in　it；　she　wondred
thereat　not　a　little。　It　being　close　at　the　shore；　and　she　thinking
the　Fishermen　to　be　asleepe　therein：　stept　boldly；　and　looked　into　the
boate；　where　she　saw　not　any　body；　but　onely　the　poore　distressed
Damosell；　whose　sorrowes　having　brought　her　now　into　a　sound　sleepe；
the　woman　gave　many　cals　before　she　could　awake　her；　which　at　the
length　she　did；　and　looked　very　strangely　about　her。
　　The　poore　woman　perceyving　by　her　habite　that　she　was　a　Christian；
demanded　of　her　（in　speaking　Latine）　how　it　was　possible　for　her；
being　all　alone　in　the　boate；　to　arrive　there　in　this　manner？　When
Constance；　heard　her　speake　the　Latine　tongue；　she　began　to　doubt；
least　some　contrary　winde　had　turned　her　backe　to　Liparis　againe；
and　starting　up　sodainly；　to　looke　with　better　advice　about　her；
shee　saw　her　selfe　at　Land：　and　not　knowing　the　Countrey；　demanded
of　the　poore　woman　where　she　was？　Daughter　（quoth　she）　you　are　heere
hard　by　Susa　in　Barbarie。　Which　Constance　hearing；　and　plainly
perceyving；　that　death　had　denied　to　end　her　miseries；　fearing　least
she　should　receive　some　dishonour；　in　such　a　barbarous　unkinde
Country；　and　not　knowing　what　should　now　become　of　her；　shee　sate
downe　by　the　boates　side；　wringing　her　hands；　and　weeping　bitterly。
　　The　good　Woman　did　greatly　compassionate　her　case；　and　prevailed
so　well　by　gentle　speeches；　that　she　conducted　her　into　her　owne　poore
habitation；　where　at　length　she　understoode；　by　what　meanes　shee
hapned　thither　so　strangely。　And　perceyving　her　to　be　fasting；　she　set
such　homely　bread　as　she　had　before　her；　a　few　small　Fishes；　and　a
Crewse　of　Water；　praying　her　for　to　accept　of　that　poore
entertainment；　which　meere　necessity　compelled　her　to　do；　and　shewed
her　selfe　very　thankefull　for　it。
　　Constance　hearing　that　she　spake　the　Latine　language　so　well；
desired　to　know　what　she　was。　Whereto　the　old　woman　thus　answered：
Gentlewoman　（quoth　she）　I　am　of　Trapanum；　named　Carapresa；　and　am　a
servant　in　this　Countrey　to　certaine　Christian　Fishermen。　The　young
Maiden　（albeit　she　was　very　full　of　sorrow）　hearing　her　name　to　be
Carapresa；　conceived　it　as　a　good　augury　to　her　selfe；　and　that　she
had　heard　the　name　before；　although　she　knew　not　what　occasion
should　move　her　thus　to　do。　Now　began　her　hopes　to　quicken　againe；　and
yet　she　could　not　relie　upon　what　ground；　nor　was　she　so　desirous　of
death　as　before；　but　made　more　precious　estimation　of　her　life；　and
without　any　further　declaration　of　her　selfe　or　Countrey；　she
entreated　the　good　woman　（even　for　charities　sake）　to　take　pitty　on
her　youth；　and　helpe　her　with　such　good　advice；　to　prevent　all
injuries　which　might　happen　to　her；　in　such　a　solitary　wofull
condition。
　　Carapresa　having　heard　her　request；　like　a　good　woman　as　she　was；
left　Constance　in　her　poore　Cottage；　and　went　hastily　to　leave　her
nets　in　safety：　which　being　done；　she　returned　backe　againe；　and
covering　Constance　with　her　Mantle；　led　her　on　to　Susa　with　her；　where
being　arrived；　the　good　woman　began　in　this　manner。　Constance；　I
will　bring　thee　to　the　house　of　a　very　worthy　Sarazin　Lady；　to　whom
I　have　done　many　honest　services；　according　as　she　pleased　to
command　me。　She　is　an　ancient　woman；　full　of　charity；　and　to　her　I
will　commend　thee　as　best　I　may；　for　I　am　well　assured；　that　she
will　gladly　entertaine　thee；　and　use　thee　as　if　thou　wert　her　own
daughter。　Now；　let　it　be　thy　part；　during　thy　time　of　remaining　with
her；　to　employ　thy　utmost　dilig