the decameron(十日谈)-第126章
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Or； if you had not the heart to speake； how could you bee so cruell
against her； knowing your offence as great as hers？ Questionlesse；
nothing else urged you thereto； but that all women are of one and
the same condition； covering their owne grosse faults by farre
inferiour infirmities in others。 You are a perverse generation；
meerely false in your fairest shewes。
When she saw that he offered her no other violence； but gave her
such vaunting and reproachfull speeches； holding still the young man
before her face； meerely vexe and despight her： shee began to take
heart； and thus replied。 Doest thou compare mee with the Wife of
Herculano； who is an old； dissembling hypocrite？ Yet she can have of
him whatsoever shee desireth； and he useth her as a woman ought to be；
which favour I could never yet finde at thy hands。 Put the case；
that thou keepest me in good garments； allowing mee to goe neatly
hosed and shod； yet well thou knowest； there are other meere matters
belonging to a woman； and every way as necessarily required； both
for the preservation of Houshold quietnesse； and those other rites
betweene a Husband and Wife。 Let mee be worser garmented； courser
dieted； yea； debarred of all pleasure and delights； so I might once be
worthy the name of a Mother； and leave some remembrance of
woman…hood behinde me。 I tell thee plainely Pedro； I am a woman as
others are； and subject to the same desires； as （by nature）
attendeth on flesh and blood： looke how thou failest in kindnesse
towards me； thinke it not amisse； if I doe the like to thee； and
endeavour thou to win the worthy title of a Father； because I was made
to be a Mother。
When Pedro perceived； that his Wife had spoken nothing but reason；
in regard of his over…much neglect towards her； and not using such
Houshold kindnesse； as ought to be betweene Man and Wife； hee returned
her this answer。 Well Wife （quoth he） I confesse my fault； and
hereafter will labour to amend it； conditionally； that this youth； nor
any other； may no more visite my House in my absence。 Get me therefore
something to eate； for doubtlesse； this young man and thy selfe fell
short of your Supper； by reason of my so soone returning home。 In
troth Husband； saide she； we did not eate one bit of any thing； and
I will be a true and loyall Wife to thee； so thou wilt be the like
to me。 No more words then Wife； replyed Pedro； all is forgotten and
forgiven； let us to Supper； and we are all friends。 She seeing his
anger was so well appeased； lovingly kissed him； and laying the cloth；
set on the supper； which she had provided for her selfe and the youth；
and so they supt together merrily； not one unkinde word passing
betweene them。 After Supper； the youth was sent away in friendly
manner； and Pedro was alwayes afterward more loving to his Wife；
then formerly hee had beene； and no complaint passed on either side；
but mutuall joy and Houshold contentment； such as ought to bee
betweene Man and Wife。
Dioneus having ended this his Tale； for which the Ladies returned
him no thankes； but rather angerly frowned on him： the Queene； knowing
that her government was now concluded； arose； and taking off her
Crowne of Lawrell； placed it graciously on the head of Madame Eliza；
saying。 Now Madame； it is your turne to commaund。 Eliza having
received the honour； did （in all respects） as others formerly had
done； and after shee had enstructed the Master of the Houshold；
concerning his charge during the time of her Regiment； for
contentation of all the company； thus shee spake。
We have long since heard； that with witty words； ready answeres
and sudden jests or taunts； many have checkt and reproved great
folly in others； and to their no meane owne commendation。 Now； because
it is a pleasing kinde of argument； ministring occasion of mirth and
wit： my desire is； that all our discourse to morrow shall tend
thereto。 I meane of such persons； either Men or Women； who with some
sudden witty answere； have encountred a scorner in his owne intention；
and layed the blame where it justly belonged。 Every one commended
the Queenes appointment； because it savoured of good wit and
judgement； and the Queene being risen； they were all discharged till
supper time； falling to such severall exercises as themselves best
fancyed。
When Supper was ended； and the instruments layed before them； by the
Queenes consent； Madam Aemilia undertooke the daunce； and the Song was
appointed to Dioneus； who began many； but none that proved to any
liking； they were so palpably obsceene and idle； savouring
altogether of his owne wanton disposition。 At the length； the Queene
looking stearnely on him； and commanding him to sing a good one； or
none at all； thus he began。
THE SONG
Eyes； can ye not refraine your hourely weeping？
Eares； how are you depriv'd of sweete attention？
Thoughts； have you lost your quiet silent sleeping。
Wit； who hath rob'd thee of thy rare invention？
The lacke of these； being life and motion giving：
Are senselesse shapes； and no true signes of living。
Eyes； when you gaz'd upon her Angell beauty；
Eares； while you heard her sweete delitious straines；
Thoughts （sleeping then） did yet performe their duty；
Wit； tooke sprightly pleasure in his paines。
While shee did live； then none of these were scanting；
But now （being dead） they all are gone； and wanting。
After that Dioneus （by proceeding no further） declared the finishing
of his Song； many more were sung beside； and that of Dioneus highly
commended。 Some part of the night being spent in other delightfull
exercises； and a fitting houre for rest drawing on： they betooke
themselves to their Chambers； where we will leave them till to
morrow morning。
THE INDUCTION TO THE SIXT DAY
GOVERNED UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF MADAM ELIZA； AND THE ARGUMENT
OF THE DISCOURSES OR NOVELLS THERE TO BE RECOUNTED； DOE CONCERNE
SUDDEN； PERSONS； WHO BY SOME WITTY WORDS （WHEN ANY HAVE CHECKT OR
RETORTING THEM） HAVE REVENGED THEMSELVES； IN A SUDDEN； UNEXPECTED
AND DISCREET ANSWERE； THEREBY PREVENTING LOSSE； DANGER； SCORNE
AND DISGRACE； RETORTING THEM ON THE BUSI…HEADED QUESTIONERS
The Moone having past the heaven； lost her bright splendor； by the
arising of a more powerfull light； and every part of our world began
to looke cleare： when the Queene （being risen） caused all the
Company to be called； walking forth afterward upon the pearled dewe
（so farre as was supposed convenient） in faire and familiar conference
together； according as severally they were disposed； and repetition of
divers the passed Novels； especially those which were most pleasing；
and seemed so by their present commendations。 But the Sunne beeing
somewhat higher mounted； gave such a sensible warmth to the ayre； as
caused their returne backe to the Pallace； where the Tables were
readily covered against their comming； strewed with sweete hearbes and
odoriferous flowers； seating themselves at the Tables （before the heat
grew more violent） according as the Queene commanded。
After dinner； they sung divers excellent Canzonnets； and then some
went to sleepe； others played at the Chesse； and some at the Tables：
But Dioneus and Madam Lauretta； they sung the love…conflict betweene
Troylus and Cressida。 Now was the houre come； of repairing to their
former Consistory or meeting place； the Queene having thereto
generally summoned them； and seating themselves （as they were wont
to doe） about the faire fountaine。 As the Queene was commanding to
begin the first Novell； an accident suddenly happened； which never had
befalne before： to wit； they heard a great noyse and tumult； among the
houshold servants in the Kitchin。 Whereupon； the Queene caused the
Master of the Houshold to be called； demaunding of him； what noyse
it was； and what might be the occasion thereof？ He made answere；
that Lacisca and Tindaro were at some words of discontentment； but
what was the occasion thereof； he knew not。 Whereupon； the Queene
commanded that they should be sent for； （their anger and violent
speeches still continuing） and being come into her presence； she
demau
