the decameron(十日谈)-第140章
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and terrified by Spirits； taught me a wholsome and holy prayer； and
protested withall； that shee had often made experiment thereof； before
she became a Recluse； and found it （alwayes） a present helpe to her。
Yet never durst I adventure to essay it； living heere by my selfe
all alone： but honest John； seeing thou art heere with me； we will
go both together； and conjure this Spirit。 John replyed； that he was
very willing； and being both up； they went fayre and softly to the
doore； where Frederigo stoode still without； and was growne somewhat
suspitious of his long attendance。
When they were come to the doore； Monna Tessa said to John： Thou
must cough and spet； at such time as I shall bid thee。 Well （quoth
John） I will not faile you。 Immediately she beganne her prayer in this
manner。
Spirit； that walkst thus in the night；
Poore Countrey people to affright：
Thou hast mistane thy marke and ayme；
The head stood right； but John home came；
And therefore thou must packe away；
For I have nothing else to say：
But to my Garden get the gone；
Under the Peach…tree stands alone；
There shalt thou finde two Capons drest；
And Egges laide in mine owne Hennes nest；
Bread； and a Bottle of good Wine；
All wrapt up in a cloath most fine。
Is not this good Goblins fare？
Packe and say you have your share；
Not doing harme to John or me；
Who this night keepes me companie。
No sooner had she ended her devoute conjuring prayer； but she
saide to her husband： Now John； cough and spet： which John accordingly
did。 And Frederigo； being all this while without； hearing her witty
conjuration of a Spirit； which he himselfe was supposed to be； being
ridde of his former jealous suspition： in the middst of all his
melancholy； could very hardly refraine from laughing； the jest
appeared so pleasing to him： But when John cought and spet； softly
he said to himselfe： When next thou spetst； spet out all thy teeth。
The woman having three severall times conjured the Spirite； in
such manner as you have already heard； returned to bed againe with her
husband： and Frederigo； who came as perswaded to sup with her； being
supperlesse all this while； directed by the words of Monna Tessa in
hir praier； went into the Garden。 At the foot of the Peach…tree； there
he found the linnen cloth； with the two hot Capons； Bread； Egges；
and a Bottle of Wine in it； all which he carried away with him； and
went to Supper at better leysure。 Oftentimes afterward； upon other
meetings of Frederigo and she together； they laughed heartily at her
enchantment； and the honest beleefe of silly John。
I cannot deny； but that some do affirme； that the Woman had turned
the face of the Asses head towards Fiesola； and a Country Travailer
passing by the Vine； having a long piked staffe on his necke： the
staffe （by chance） touched the head； and made it turne divers times
about； and in the end faced Florence； which being the cal for
Frederigoes comming； by this meanes he was disappointed。 In like
manner some say； that Monna Tessaes prayer for conjuring the Spirit；
was in this order。
Spirit； Spirit； thy way；
And come againe some other day。
It was not I that turnd the head；
But some other。 In our Bed
Are John and I： Go from our dore；
And see thou trouble us no more。
So that Frederigo departed thence； both with the losse of his labour
and supper。 But a neighbour of mine； who is a woman of good yeares；
told me； that both the one and other were true； as she her selfe
heard； when she was a little Girle。 And concerning the latter
accident； it was not to John of Lorrayne； but to another； named John
de Nello； that dwelt at S。 Peters Gate； and of the same profession
as John of Lorrayne was。 Wherefore （faire Ladies） it remaineth in your
owne choice； to entertain which of the two prayers you please； or both
together if you will： for they are of extraordinary vertue in such
strange occurrences； as you have heeretofore heard； and （upon doubt）
may prove by experience。 It shall not therefore be amisse for you；
to learne them both by hart； for （peradventure） they may stand you
in good sted； if ever you chance to have the like occasion。
THE SEVENTH DAY； THE SECOND NOVELL
WHEREIN IS DECLARED； WHAT HARD AND NARROW SHIFTS AND DISTRESSES；
SUCH AS BEE SERIOUSLY LINKED IN LOVE； ARE MANY TIMES ENFORCED TO
UNDERGO： ACCORDING AS THEIR OWNE WIT； AND CAPACITIE OF THEIR
SURPRIZERS； DRIVE THEM TO IN EXTREMITIES
Peronella hid a yong man her friend and Lover； under a great brewing
Fat； upon the sodaine returning home of her Husband； who told her；
that hee had solde the saide Fat and brought him that bought it； to
cary it away。 Peronella replyed； that shee had formerly solde it
unto another； who was now underneath it； to see whether it were
whole and sound； or no。 Whereupon； he being come forth from under
it； she caused her Husband to make it neate and cleane； and so the
last buyer carried it away。
Not without much laughter and good liking； was the Tale of Madame
Aemillia listened unto； and both the prayers commended to be sound and
soveraigne： but it being ended； the King commaunded Philostratus； that
hee should follow next in order； whereupon thus he began。
Deare Ladies； the deceites used by men towards your sexe； but
especially Husbands； have bene so great and many； as when it hath
sometime happened； or yet may； that husbands are requited in the
self…same kinde： you need not finde fault at any such accident； either
by knowledge thereof afterward； or hearing the same reported by any
one； but rather you should referre it to generall publication； to
the end； that immodest men may know； and finde it for trueth； that
if they have apprehension and capacity； women are therein not a jote
inferiour to them。 Which cannot but redound to your great benefite；
because； when any one knoweth； that another is as cunning and
subtile as himselfe； he will not be so rashly adventurous in
deceite。 And who maketh any doubt； that if those sleights and trickes；
whereof this dayes argument may give us occasion to speake； should
afterwardes be put in execution by men： would it not minister just
reason； of punishing themselves for beguiling you； knowing； that （if
you please） you have the like abilitie in your owne power？ Mine intent
therefore is to tell you； what a woman （though but of meane
qualitie） did to her husband； upon a sodaine； and in a moment （as it
were） for her owne safety。
Not long since； there lived in Naples； an honest meane man； who
did take to Wife； a fayre and lustie young Woman； being named
Peronella。…He professing the Trade of a Mason； and shee Carding and
Spinning； maintained themselves in a reasonable condition； abating and
abounding as their Fortunes served。 It came to passe； that a
certayne young man； well observing the beauty and good parts of
Peronella； became much addicted in affection towardes her： and by
his often and secret sollicitations； which he found not to be
unkindely entertayned； his successe proved answerable to his hope；
no unindifferencie appearing in their purposes； but where her estate
seemed weakest； his supplies made an addition of more strength。
Now； for their securer meeting； to stand cleare from all matter of
scandal or detection； they concluded in this order between themselves。
Lazaro； for so was Peronellaes Husband named； being an earely riser
every morning； either to seeke for worke； or to effect it being
undertaken： this amorous friend being therewith acquainted； and
standing in some such convenient place； where hee could see Lazaroes
departure from his house； and yet himselfe no way discerned； poore
Lazaro was no sooner gone； but presently he enters the house； which
stood in a verie solitarie street； called the Avorio。 Many mornings
had they thus met together； to their no meane delight and
contentation； till one especial morning among the rest； when Lazaro
was gone forth to worke； and Striguario （so was the amorous young
man named） visiting Peronella in the house： upon a verie urgent
occasion； Lazaro returned backe againe； quite contrary to his former
wont； keeping foorth
