the decameron(十日谈)-第13章

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the　name　of　honesty：　as　if　there　were　no　other　honest　woman；　but
shee　that　conferres　onely　with　her　Chambermaide；　Laundresse；　or
Kitchin…woman：　as　if　nature　had　allowed　them；　（in　their　owne　idle
conceite）　no　other　kinde　of　talking。
　　Most　true　it　is；　that　as　there　is　a　respect　to　be　used　in　the　action
of　things；　so；　time　and　place　are　necessarily　to　be　considered；　and
also　whom　we　converse　withall；　because　sometimes　it　happeneth；　that
a　man　or　woman；　intending　（by　a　word　of　jest　and　merriment）　to　make
another　body　blush　or　be　ashamed：　not　knowing　what　strength　of　wit
remaineth　in　the　opposite；　doe　convert　the　same　disgrace　upon
themselves。　Therefore；　that　we　may　the　more　advisedly　stand　upon　our
owne　guard；　and　to　prevent　the　common　proverbe；　That　Women　（in　all
things）　make　choyse　of　the　worst：　I　desire　that　this　dayes　last
tale；　which　is　to　come　from　my　selfe；　may　make　us　all　wise。　To　the
end；　that　as　in　gentlenesse　of　minde　we　conferre　with　other；　so　by
excellency　in　good　manners；　we　may　shew　our　selves　not　inferiour　to
them。
　　It　is　not　many　yeares　since　（worthy　assembly）　that　in　Bulloigne
there　dwelt　a　learned　Physitian；　a　man　famous　for　skill；　and　farre
renowned；　whose　name　was　Master　Albert；　and　being　growne　aged；　to
the　estimate　of　threescore　and　tenne　yeares：　hee　had　yet　such　a
sprightly　disposition；　that　though　naturall　heate　and　vigour　had　quite
shaken　hands　with　him；　yet　amorous　flames　and　desires　had　not　wholly
forsaken　him。　Having　seene　（at　a　Banquet）　a　very　beautifull　woman；
being　then　in　the　estate　of　widdowhood；　named　（as　some　say）　Madam
Margaret　de　Chisolieri；　shee　appeared　so　pleasing　in　his　eye；　that　his
sences　became　no　lesse　disturbed；　then　as　if　he　had　beene　of　farre
younger　temper；　and　no　night　could　any　quietnesse　possesse　his
soule；　except　（the　day　before）　he　had　seene　the　sweet　countenance　of
this　lovely　widdow。　In　regard　whereof；　his　dayly　passage　was　by　her
doore；　one　while　on　horsebacke；　and　then　againe　on　foot；　as　best　might
declare　his　plaine　purpose　to　see　her。
　　Both　shee　and　other　Gentlewomen；　perceiving　the　occasion　of　his
passing　and　repassing；　would　privately　jest　thereat　together；　to　see　a
man　of　such　yeares　and　discretion；　to　be　amorously　addicted；　or
overswayed　by　effeminate　passions。　For　they　were　partly　perswaded；
that　such　wanton　Ague　fits　of　Love；　were　fit　for　none　but　youthfull
apprehensions；　as　best　agreeing　with　their　chearefull　complexion。
Master　Albert　continuing　his　dayly　walkes　by　the　widdowes　lodging；
it　chaunced　upon　a　Feastivall　day；　that　shee　（accompanied　with
divers　other　women　of　great　account）　being　sitting　at　her　doore；
espied　Master　Albert　（farre　off）　comming　thitherward；　and　a　resolved
determination　among　themselves　was　set　downe；　to　allow　him
favourable　entertainement；　and　to　jest　（in　some　merry　manner）　at　his
loving　folly；　as　afterward　they　did　indeede。
　　No　sooner　was　he　come　neere；　but　they　all　arose；　and　courteously
invited　him　to　enter　with　them；　conducting　him　into　a　goodly　Garden；
where　readily　was　prepared　choyse　of　delicate　wines　and　banquetting。
At　length；　among　other　pleasant　and　delightfull　discourses；　they
demanded　of　him；　how　it　was　possible　for　him；　to　be　amorously　affected
towards　so　beautifull　a　woman；　both　knowing　and　seeing；　how
earnestly　she　was　sollicited　by　many　gracious；　gallant；　and
youthfull　spirits；　aptly　suting　with　her　yeares　and　desires？　Master
Albert　perceiving；　that　they　had　drawne　him　in　among　them；　onely　to
scoffe　and　make　a　mockery　of　him；　set　a　merry　countenance　on　the
matter；　and　honestly　thus　answered。
　　Beleeve　mee　Gentlewoman　（speaking　to　the　widdowe　her　selfe）　it
should　not　appeare　strange　to　any　of　wisedome　and　discretion；　that　I
am　amorously　enclined；　and　especially　to　you；　because　you　are　well
worthy　of　it。　And　although　those　powers；　which　naturally　appertaine　to
the　exercises　of　Love；　are　bereft　and　gone　from　aged　people；　yet
good　will　thereto　cannot　be　taken　from　them；　neither　judgement　to　know
such　as　deserve　to　be　affected：　for；　by　how　much　they　exceede　youth　in
knowledge　and　experience；　by　so　much　the　more　hath　nature　made　them
meet　for　respect　and　reverence。　The　hope　which　incited　me　（being　aged）
to　love　you；　that　are　affected　of　so　many　youthfull　Gallants；　grew
thus。　I　have　often　chaunced　into　divers　places；　where　I　have　seene
Ladies　and　Gentlwomen；　being　disposed　to　a　Collation　or　rerebanquet
after　dinner；　to　feede　on　Lupines；　and　young　Onions　or　Leekes；　and
although　it　may　be　so；　that　there　is　little　or　no　goodnesse　at　all
in　them；　yet　the　heads　of　them　are　least　hurtfull；　and　most　pleasing
in　the　mouth。　And　you　Gentlewomen　generally　（guided　by　unreasonable
appetite）　will　hold　the　heads　of　them　in　your　hands；　and　feede　upon
the　blades　or　stalkes：　which　not　onely　are　not　good　for　any　thing；　but
also　are　of　very　bad　savour。　And　what　know　I　（Lady）　whether　among
the　choise　of　friends；　it　may　fit　your　fancy　to　doe　the　like？　For；
if　you　did　so；　it　were　no　fault　of　mine　to　be　chosen　of　you；　but
thereby　were　all　the　rest　of　your　suters　the　sooner　answered。
　　The　widdowed　Gentlewoman；　and　all　the　rest　in　her　company；　being
bashfully　ashamed　of　her　owne　and　their　folly；　presently　said。
Master　Albert；　you　have　both　well　and　worthily　chastised　our　over…bold
presumption；　and　beleeve　me　Sir；　I　repute　your　love　and　kindnesse　of
no　meane　merrit；　comming　from　a　man　so　wise　and　vertuous：　And
therefore　（mine　honour　reserved）　commaund　my　uttermost；　as　alwayes
ready　to　do　you　any　honest　service。　Master　Albert；　arising　from　his
seat；　thanking　the　faire　widdow　for　her　gentle　offer；　tooke　leave　of
her　and　all　the　company；　and　she　blushing；　as　all　the　rest　were
therein　not　much　behinde　her；　thinking　to　checke　him；　became　chidden
her　selfe；　whereby　（if　we　be　wise）　let　us　all　take　warning。
　　The　Sunne　was　now　somewhat　farre　declined；　and　the　heates
extremity　well　worne　away：　when　the　Tales　of　the　seaven　Ladies　and
three　Gentlemen　were　thus　finished；　whereupon　their　Queene
pleasantly　said。　For　this　day　（faire　company）　there　remaineth　nothing
more　to　be　done　under　my　regiment；　but　onely　to　bestow　a　new　Queene
upon　you；　who　（according　to　her　judgement）　must　take　her　turne；　and
dispose　what　next　is　to　be　done；　for　continuing　our　time　in　honest
pleasure。　And　although　the　day　should　endure　till　darke　night；　in
regard；　that　when　some　time　is　taken　before；　the　better　preparation
may　bee　made　for　occasions　to　follow；　to　the　end　also；　that　whatsoever
the　new　Queene　shall　please　to　appoint；　may　be　the　better　fitted　for
the　morrow：　I　am　of　opinion；　that　at　the　same　houre　as　we　now　cease；
the　following　dayes　shall　severally　begin。　And　therefore；　in　reverence
to　him　that　giveth　life　to　all　things；　and　in　hope　of　comfort　by　our
second　day；　Madam　Philomena；　a　most　wise　young　Lady；　shall　governe
as　Queene　this　our　Kingdome。
　　So　soone　as　she　had　thus　spoken；　arising　from　her　seate　of
dignity；　and　taking　the　Lawrell　Crowne　from　off　her　owne　head；　she
reverently　placed　it　upon　Madam　Philomenaes；　shee　first　of　all
humbly　saluting　her；　and　then　all　the　rest；　openly　confessing　her　to
be　their　Queene；　made　gracious　offer　to　obey　whatsoever　she　commanded。
Philomena；　her　cheekes　delivering　a　scarlet　tincture；　to　see　her　selfe
thus　honoured　as　their　Queene；　and　well　remembring　the　words；　so
lately　uttered　by　Madam　Pampinea；　that　dulnesse　or　neglect　might　not
be　noted　in　her；　tooke　cheerefull　courage　to　her；　and　first　of　all；
she　confirmed　the　officers；　which　Pampinea　had　appointed　the　day
before；　then　she　ordained　for　the　morrowes　provision；　as　also　for
the　supper　so　neere　approiching；　before　they　departed　away　from
thence；　and　then　thus　began。
　　Lovely　Companions；　although　that　Madam　Pampinea；　more　in　her　owne
courtesie；　then　any　matter　of　merit　remaining　in　me；　hath　made　me　your
Queene：　I　am　not　determined；　to　alter　the　forme　of　our　intended
life；　nor　to　be　guided　by　mine　owne　judgement；　but　to　associate　the
same　with　your　assistance。　And　because　you　may　know　what　I　intend　to
do；　and　so　（consequently）　adde　or　diminish　at　your　pleasure；　in　very
few　words；　you　shall　plainly　understand　my　meaning。　If　you　have　well
considered　on　the　course；　which　this　da