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第132章

the decameron(十日谈)-第132章

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  This sight was so irkesome to Rinaldo; that; being overcom with
extreame rage; hee could hardly containe from running on them; with
a violent intent to kill them both: but feare of his owne life
caused his forbearance; meaning to be revenged by some better way。
Such was the heate of his spleene and fury; as; setting aside all
respect of his owne shame: he would needs prosecute the rigour of
the deadly Edict; which he held lawfull for him to do; although it
extended to the death of his Wife。 Heereupon; having witnesses
sufficient; to approove the guiltinesse of her offence: a day being
appointed (without desiring any other counsell) he went in person to
accuse her; and required justice against her。
  The Gentlewoman; who was of an high and undauntable spirite; as
all such are; who have fixed their affection resolvedly; and love
uppon a grounded deliberation: concluded; quite against the counsell
and opinion of her Parents; Kindred; and Friends; to appeare in the
Court; as desiring rather to dye; by confessing the trueth with a
manly courage; then by denying it; and her love unto so worthy a
person as he was; in whose arms she chanced to be taken; to live
basely in exile with shame; as an eternall scandall to her race。 So;
before the Potestate; shee made her apparance; worthily accompanied
both with men and women; all advising her to deny the acte: but she;
not minding them or their perswasions; looking on the Judge with a
constant countenance; and a voyce of setled resolve; craved to know of
him; what hee demaunded of her?
  The Potestate well noting her brave carriage; her singular beautie
and praiseworthy parts; her words apparantly witnessing the heighth of
her minde: beganne to take compassion on her; and doubted; least
shee would confesse some such matter; as should enforce him to
pronounce the sentence of death against her。 But she boldly scorning
all delayes; or any further protraction of time; demanded again;
what was her accusation? Madame; answered the Potestate; I am sory
to tel you; what needs I must; your husband (whom you see present
heere) is the complainant against you; avouching; that he tooke you in
the act of adultery with another man: and therefore he requireth;
that; according to the rigour of the Statute heere in force with us; I
should pronounce sentence against you; and (consequently) the
infliction of death。 Which I cannot do; if you confesse not the
fact; and therefore be well advised; how you answer me; and tell me
the truth; if it be as your Husband accuseth you; or no。
  The Lady; without any dismay or dread at all; pleasantly thus
replied。 My Lord; true it is; that Rinaldo is my Husband; and that
he found me; on the night named; betweene the Armes of Lazarino; where
many times heeretofore he hath embraced mee; according to the
mutuall love re…plighted together; which I deny not; nor ever will。
But you know well enough; and I am certaine of it; that the Lawes
enacted in any Countrey; ought to be common; and made with consent
of them whom they concerne; whichin this Edict of yours is quite
contrarie。 For it is rigorous against none; but poore women onely; who
are able to yeeld much better content and satisfaction generally; then
remaineth in the power of men to do。 And moreover; when this Law was
made; there was not any woman that gave consent to it; neither were
they called to like or allow thoreof: in which respect; it may
deservedly be termed; an unjust Law。 And if you will; in prejudice
of my bodie; and of your owne soule; be the executioner of so
unlawfull an Edict; it consisteth in your power to do as you please。
  But before you proceede to pronounce any sentence; may it please you
to favour me with one small request; namely; that you would demand
of my Husband; if at all times; and whensoever he tooke delight in
my company; I ever made any curiosity; or came to him unwillingly。
Whereto Rinaldo; without tarrying for the Potestate to moove the
question; sodainly answered; that (undoubtedly) his wife at all times;
and oftner then he could request it; was never sparing of her
kindnesse; or put him off with any deniall。 Then the Lady;
continuing on her former speeches; thus replyed。 Let me then demand of
you my Lord; being our Potestate and Judge; if it be so; by my
Husbands owne free confession; that he hath alwaies had his pleasure
of me; without the least refusall in me; or contradiction; what should
I doe with the over…plus remaining in mine owne power; and whereof
he had no need? Would you have mee cast it away to the Dogges? Was
it not more fitting for me; to pleasure therwith a worthy Gentleman;
who was even at deaths doore for my love; then (my husbands
surfetting; and having no neede of me) to let him lye languishing; and
dye?
  Never was heard such an examination before; and to come from a woman
of such worth; the most part of the honourable Pratosians (both
Lords and Ladies) being there present; who hearing her urge such a
necessary question; cryed out all loud together with one voice
(after they had laughed their fill) that the Lady had saide well;
and no more then she might。 So that; before they departed thence; by
comfortable advice proceeding from the Potestate: the Edict (being
reputed overcruell) was modified; and interpreted to concerne them
onely; who offered injurie to their Husbands for money。 By which
meanes Rinaldo standing as one confounded; for such a foolish and
unadvised enterprize; departed from the Auditorie: and the Ladie;
not a little joyfull to bee thus freed and delivered from the fire;
returned home with victorie to her owne house。




                    THE SIXT DAY; THE EIGHTH NOVELL

  IN JUST SCORNE OF SUCH UNSIGHTLY AND ILL…PLEASING SURLY SLUTS; WHO
             IMAGINE NONE TO BE FAIRE OR WELL…FAVOURED; BUT
                              THEMSELVES

  Fresco da Celatico; counselled and advised his Neece Cesca: That
if such as deserved to be looked on; were offensive to her eyes; as
she had often told him; she should forbeare to looke on any。

  All the while as Philostratus was recounting his Novell; it
seemed; that the Ladies (who heard it) found themselves much mooved
thereat; as by the wanton blood mounting up into their cheekes; it
plainly appeared。
  But in the end; looking on each other with strange behaviour; they
could not forbeare smiling: which the Queene interrupting by a command
of attention; turning to Madame Aemillia; willed her to follow next。
When she; puffing and blowing; as if she had bene newly awaked from
sleepe; began in this manner。
  Faire Beauties; My thoughts having wandred a great distance hence;
and further then I can easily collect them together againe; in
obedience yet to our Queene; I shall report a much shorter Novell;
then otherwise (perhappes) I should have done; if my minde had beene a
little neerer home。 I shall tell you the grosse fault of a foolish
Damosell; well corrected by a witty reprehension of her Unckle; if
shee had bin endued but with so much sence; as to have understood it。
  An honest man; named Fresco da Celatico; had a good fulsom wench
to his Neece; who for her folly and squemishnes; was generally
called Cesta; or nice Francesca。 And althogh she had stature
sufficient; yet none of the handsomest; and a good hard favourd
countenance; nothing nere such Angelical beauties as we have seen; yet
she was endued with such height of minde; and so proud an opinion of
her selfe; that it appeared as a custome bred in hir; or rather a gift
bestowed on hir by nature (thogh none of the best) to blame and
despise both men and women; yea whosoever she lookt on; without any
consideration of her self; she being as unsightly; ill shaped; and
ugly faced; as a worse was very hardly to be found。
  Nothing could be done at any time; to yeilde her liking or
content: moreover; she was so waspish; nice and squemish; that when
she cam into the royall Court of France; it was hatefull and
contemptible to hir。 Whensoever she went through the streets; every
thing stunke and was noisome to her; so that she never did any thing
but stop her nose; as if all men or women she met withall; and
whatsoever else she lookt on;

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