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第140章

the decameron(十日谈)-第140章

小说: the decameron(十日谈) 字数: 每页4000字

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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 

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