the decameron(十日谈)-第139章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


pleasing　to　mee；　that　any　other　（rather　then　my　selfe）　should　have
begun　to　speake　of　this　argument；　which　it　hath　pleased　you　to　apoint。
But　seeing　it　is　your　Highnesse　pleasure；　that　I　must　make　a　passage
of　assurance　for　all　the　rest；　I　will　not　be　irregular；　because
obedience　is　our　cheefe　Article。　I　shall　therefore　（Gracious　Ladies）
strive；　to　speake　something；　which　may　bee　advantageable　to　you
heereafter；　in　regard；　that　if　other　women　bee　as　fearfull　as　we；
especially　of　Spirits；　of　which　all　our　sexe　have　generally　bin
timorous　（although；　upon　my　credite；　I　know　not　what　they　are；　nor
ever　could　meete　with　any；　to　tell　me　what　they　be）　you　may；　by　the
diligent　observation　of　my　Novell：　learne　a　wholsome　and　holy
prayer；　very　availeable；　and　of　precious　power；　to　conjure　and　drive
them　away；　whensoever　they　shall　presume　to　assault　you　in　any　place。
　　There　dwelt　sometime　in　Florence；　and　in　the　street　of　Saint
Brancazio；　a　woollen　Weaver；　named　John　of　Lorrayne；　a　man　more
happy　in　his　Art；　then　wise　in　any　thing　else　beside：　because；
savouring　somewhat　of　the　Gregorie；　and　（in　very　deede）
　　little　lesse　then　an　Ideot；　Hee　was　many　times　made　Captain　of　the
Woollen　Weavers；　in　the　quarters　belonging　to　Santa　Maria　Novella；　and
his　house　was　the　Schoole　or　receptacle；　for　all　their　meetings　and
assemblies。　He　had　divers　other　petty　Offices　beside；　by　the　gnity　and
authority　whereof；　hee　supposed　himselfe　much　exalted　or　elevated；
above　the　common　pitch　of　other　men。　And　this　humour　became　the　more
tractable　to　him；　because　he　addicted　himselfe　oftentimes　（as　being
a　man　of　an　easie　inclination）　to　be　a　benefactor　to　the　holy
Fathers　of　Santa　Maria　Novella；　giving　（beside　his　other　charitable
Almes）　to　some　one　a　paire　of　Breeches；　to　another　a　Hood；　and　to
another　a　whole　habit。　In　reward　whereof；　they　taught　him　（by　heart）
many　wholsome　prayers；　as　the　Pater　noster　in　the　vulgar　tongue；　the
Song　of　Saint　Alexis；　the　Lamentations　of　Saint　Bernard；　the　Hymne
of　Madame　Matilda；　and　many　other　such　like　matters；　which　he　kept
charily；　and　repeated　usually；　as　tending　to　the　salvation　of　his
soule。
　　This　man；　had　a　very　faire　and　lovely　wife；　named　Monna　Tessa；　the
daughter　of　Manuccio　della　Cuculia；　wise　and　well　advised；　who　knowing
the　simplicity　of　her　Husband；　and　affecting　Frederigo　di　Neri
Pegolotti；　who　was　a　comely　yong　Gentleman；　fresh；　and　in　the　floure
of　his　time；　even　as　she　was；　therefore　they　agreed　the　better
together。　By　meanes　of　her　Chambermaid；　Frederigo　and　shee　met　often
together；　at　a　Countrie　Farme　of　John　of　Lorraynes；　which　hee　had
neere　to　Florence；　and　where　she　used　to　lodge　all　the　Summer　time；
called　Camerata；　whether　John　resorted　somtimes　to　Supper；　and　lodge
for　a　night；　returning　home　againe　to　his　City　house　the　next　morning；
yet　often　he　would　stay　there　longer　with　his　owne　companions。
　　Frederigo；　who　was　no　meane　man　in　his　Mistresses　favor；　and
therefore　these　private　meetings　the　more　welcome　to　him；　received　a
summons　or　assignation　from　her；　to　be　there　on　such　a　night；　when　hir
husband　had　no　intent　of　comming　thither。　There　they　supped　merrily
together；　and　（no　doubt）　did　other　things；　nothing　appertaining　to　our
purpose；　she　both　acquainting；　and　well　instructing　him；　in　a　dozen
（at　the　least）　of　her　Husbands　devout　prayers。　Nor　did　shee　make　any
account；　or　Frederigo　either；　that　this　should　be　the　last　time　of
their　meeting；　because　（indeede）　it　was　not　the　first：　and　therfore
they　set　downe　an　order　and　conclusion　together　（because　the
Chambermaide　must　be　no　longer　the　messenger）　in　such　manner　as　you
shall　heare。
　　Frederigo　was　to　observe　especially；　that　alwayes　when　hee　went　or
came　from　his　owne　house；　which　stood　much　higher　then　John　of
Lorraynes　did；　to　looke　upon　a　Vine；　closely　adjoyning　to　her　house；
where　stood　the　scull　of　an　Asses　head；　advanced　upon　an　high　pole；
and　when　the　face　thereof　looked　towards　Florence；　he　might　safely
come；　it　being　an　assured　signe；　that　John　kept　at　home。　And　if　he
found　the　doore　fast　shut；　he　should　softly　knocke　three　severall
times；　and　thereon　bee　admitted　entrance。　But　if　the　face　stood
towards　Fiesola；　then　he　might　not　come；　for　it　was　the　signe　of　Johns
being　there；　and　then　there　might　be　no　medling　at　all。
　　Having　thus　agreed　upon　this　conclusion；　and　had　many　merry　meetings
together：　one　night　above　the　rest；　when　Frederigo　was　appointed　to
suppe　with　Monna　Tessa；　who　had　made　ready　two　fat　Capons；　drest　in
most　dainty　and　delicate　manner：　it　fell　out　so　unfortunately；　that
John　（whose　Kue　was　not　to　come　that　night）　came　thither　very　late；
yet　before　Frederigo；　wherewith　she　being　not　a　little　offended；
gave　John　a　slight　supper；　of　Lard；　Bacon；　and　such　like　coarse
provision；　because　the　other　was　kept　for　a　better　guest。　In　the　meane
time；　and　while　John　was　at　supper；　the　Maide　（by　her　Mistresses
direction）　had　conveighed　the　two　Capons；　with　boyled　Eggs；　Bread
and　a　Bottle　of　Wine　（all　folded　up　in　a　faire　cleane　table　cloth）
into　her　Garden；　that　a　passage　to　it；　without　entering　into　the
house；　and　where　shee　had　divers　times　supt　with　Frederigo。　She
further　willed　the　Maide；　to　set　all　those　things　under　a　Peach
tree；　which　adjoyned　to　the　fields　side：　but；　so　angry　she　was　at
her　husbands　unexpected　comming；　that　shee　forgot　to　bid　her　tarrie
there；　till　Frederigoes　comming；　and　to　tell　him　of　Johns　being　there：
as　also；　to　take　what　he　found　prepared　readie　for　his　Supper。
　　John　and　she　being　gone　to　bed　together；　and　the　Maide　likewise；
it　was　not　long　after；　before　Frederigo　came；　and　knocking　once　softly
at　the　doore；　which　was　very　neere　to　their　lodging　Chamber；　John
heard　the　noise；　and　so　did　his　wife。　But　to　the　end；　that　John
might　not　have　the　least　scruple　of　suspition；　she　seemed　to　be　fast
asleepe；　and　Frederigo　pausing　a　while；　according　to　the　order
directed；　knockt　againe　the　second　time。　John　wondering　thereat　very
much；　jogd　his　wife　a　litle；　and　saide　to　her：　Tessa；　hearest　thou
nothing？　Methinkes　one　knocketh　at　our　doore。　Monna　Tessa；　who　was
better　acquainted　with　the　knocke；　then　plaine　honest　meaning　John
was；　dissembling　as　if　shee　awaked　out　of　a　drowsie　dreame；　saide：
Alas　Husband；　dost　thou　know　what　this　is？　In　the　name　of　our
blessed　Ladie；　be　not　affraid；　this　is　but　the　Spirit　which　haunts　our
Countrey　houses；　whereof　I　have　often　told　thee；　and　it　hath　many
times　much　dismayed　me；　living　heere　alone　without　thy　comfort。　Nay；
such　hath　bin　my　feare；　that　in　divers　nights　past；　so　soone　as　I
heard　the　knockes：　I　was　feigne　to　hide　my　selfe　in　the　bedde
over…head　and　eares　（as　we　usually　say）　never　daring　to　be　so　bold；　as
to　looke　out；　untill　it　was　broad　open　day。　Arise　good　wife　（quoth
John）　and　if　it　be　such　a　Spirit　of　the　Countrey；　as　thou　talkest
of；　never　be　affraid；　for　before　we　went　to　bed；　I　said　the　Telucis；
the　Intemerata；　with　many　other　good　prayers　beside。　Moreover；　I
made　the　signe　of　the　Crosse　at　every　corner　of　our　bed；　in　the　name
of　the　Father；　Son；　and　holy　Ghost；　so　that　no　doubt　at　all　needs　to
be　made；　of　any　power　it　can　have　to　hurt　or　touch　us。
　　Monna　Tessa；　because　（perhaps）　Frederigo　might　receive　some　other
suspition；　and　so　enter　into　distaste　of　her　by　anger　or　offence：
determined　to　arise　indeede；　and　to　let　him　covertly　understand；
that　John　was　there；　and　therefore　saide　to　her　husband。　Beleeve　me
John；　thy　counsell　is　good；　and　every　one　of　thy　words　hath　wisedome
in　it：　but　I　hold　it　best　for　our　owne　safety；　thou　being　heere；
that　wee　should　conjure　him　quite　away；　to　the　end　he　may　never　more
haunt　our　house。　Conjure　him　Wife？　Quoth　John；　By　what　meanes？　and
how？　Bee　patient　good　man　（quoth　Tessa）　and　I　will　enstruct　thee；　I
have　learned　an　excellent　kinde　of　conjuration；　for；　the　last　weeke；
when　I　went　to　procure　the　pardons　at　Fiesola；　one　of　the　holy　recluse
Nuns；　who　（indeede　John）　is　my　indeered　Sister　and　Friend；　and　the
most　sanctimonius　in　life　of　them　all；　perceiving　me　to　be　troubled
and　terrified　by　Spirits；　taught　me　a　wholsome　and　holy　prayer；　and
protested　withall；　that　shee　had　often　made　experiment　the