the decameron(十日谈)-第146章

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for　any　occasion　whatsoever。　By　means　whereof；　life　seemed　most
tedious　and　offensive　to　her；　and　she　supported　it　the　more
impatiently；　because　shee　knew　her　selfe　not　any　way　faulty。
　　Seeing　her　husband　still　persist　in　this　shamefull　course　towards
her；　she　studied；　how　she　might　best　comfort　her　selfe　in　this
desolate　case：　by　devising　some　one　meane　or　other　（if　any　at　all　were
to　bee　founde）　wherby　he　might　be　requited　in　his　kind；　and　wear
that　badge　of　shame　whereof　he　was　now　but　onely　affraid。　And
because　she　could　not　gain　so　small　a　permission；　as　to　be　seene　at
any　window；　where　（happily）　she　might　have　observed　some　one　passing
by　in　the　street；　discerning　a　litle　parcell　of　her　love：　she
remembred　at　length；　that；　in　the　next　house　to　her　Husbands　（they
both　joyning　close　together）　there　dwelt　a　comely　yong　proper
Gentleman；　whose　perfections　carried　correspondencie　with　her　desires。
She　also　considered　with　her　selfe；　that　if　there　were　any　partition
wall；　such　a　chinke　or　cranny　might　easily　be　made　therein；　by　which
（at　one　time　or　other）　she　should　gaine　a　sight　of　the　young
Gentleman；　and　finde　an　houre　so　fitting；　as　to　conferre　with　him；　and
bestow　her　lovely　favour　on　him；　if　he　pleased　to　accept　it。　If
successe　（in　this　case）　proved　answerable　to　her　hope；　then　thus　she
resolved　to　outrun　the　rest　of　her　wearisome　dayes；　except　the　frensie
of　jealousie　did　finish　her　husbands　loathed　life　before。
　　Walking　from　one　roome　to　another；　thorough　every　part　of　the　house；
and　no　wall　escaping　without　diligent　surveying；　on　a　day；　when　her
Husband　was　absent　from　home；　she　espyed　in　a　corner　very　secret；　an
indifferent　cleft　in　the　Wall；　which　though　it　yeelded　no　full　view　on
the　other　side；　yet　she　plainly　perceived　it　to　be　an　handsome
Chamber；　and　grew　more　then　halfe　perswaded；　that　either　it　might　be
the　Chamber　of　Philippo　（for　so　was　the　neighbouring　yong　Gentleman
named）　or　else　a　passage　guiding　thereto。　A　Chambermaid　of　hers；　who
compassioned　her　case　very　much；　made　such　observance；　by　her
Mistresses　direction；　that　she　found　it　to　be　Philippoes　bed
Chamber；　and　where　alwayes　he　used　to　lodge　alone。　By　often　visiting
this　rift　or　chinke　in　the　Wall；　especially　when　the　Gentleman　was
there；　and　by　throwing　in　little　stones；　flowers；　and　such　like
things；　which　fell　still　in　his　way　as　he　walked：　so　farre　she
prevailed；　that　he　stepping　to　the　chinke；　to　know　from　whence　they
came；　shee　called　softly　to　him；　who　knowing　her　voyce；　there　they　had
such　private　conference　together；　as　was　not　any　way　displeasing　to
either。　So　that　the　chinke　being　made　a　little　larger；　yet　so；　as　it
could　not　be　easily　discerned：　their　mouthes　might　meete　with　kisses
together；　and　their　hands　folded　each　in　other；　but　nothing　else　to　be
performed；　for　continuall　feare　of　her　jelous　husband。
　　Now　the　Feast　of　Christmasse　drawing　neere；　the　Gentlewoman　said
to　her　Husband；　that；　if　it　stood　with　his　liking：　she　would　do　such
duty　as　fitted　with　so　solemne　a　time；　by　going　earely　in　a　morning
unto　Church；　there　to　be　confessed；　and　receive　her　Saviour；　as
other　Christians　did。　How　now？　replied　the　jealous　Asse；　what　sinnes
have　you　committed；　that　should　neede　confession？　How　Husband？　quoth
she；　what　do　you　thinke　me　to　be　a　Saint？　Who　knoweth　not；　I　pray　you；
that　I　am　as　subject　to　sinne；　as　any　other　Woman　living　in　the　world？
But　my　sins　are　not　to　be　revealed　to　you；　because　you　are　no
Priest。　These　words　enflamed　his　jealousie　more　violently　then　before；
and　needes　must　he　know　what　sinnes　she　had　committed；　and　having
resolved　what　to　do　in　this　case；　made　her　answer：　That　hee　was
contented　with　her　motion；　alwaies　provided；　that　she　went　to　no　other
Church；　then　unto　their　owne　Chappel；　betimes　in　a　morning；　and
their　own　Chaplaine　to　confesse　her；　or　some　other　Priest　by　him
appointed；　but　not　any　other：　and　then　she　to　returne　home　presently
againe。　She　being　a　woman　of　acute　apprehension；　presently　collected
his　whole　intention：　but　seeming　to　take　no　knowledge　thereof；
replyed；　that　she　would　not　swerve　from　his　direction。
　　When　the　appointed　day　was　come；　she　arose　very　earely；　and　being
prepared　answerable　to　her　owne　liking；　to　the　Chappell　shee　went　as
her　Husband　had　appointed；　where　her　jealous　Husband　（being　much
earlier　risen　then　she）　attended　for　her　comming：　having　so　ordred　the
matter　with　his　Chaplaine；　that　he　was　cloathed　in　his　Cowle；　with　a
large　Hood　hanging　over　his　eyes；　that　she　should　not　know　him；　and　so
he　went　and　sate　downe　in　the　Confessors　place。　Shee　being　entred　into
the　Chappell；　and　calling　for　the　Priest　to　heare　her　confession；　he
made　her　answer：　that　he　could　not　intend　it；　but　would　bring　her　to
another　holy　Brother；　who　was　at　better　leysure　then　hee。　So　to　her
Husband　he　brought　her；　that　seemed　（in　all　respects）　like　the
Confessor　himselfe：　save　onely　his　Hood　was　not　so　closely　veyled；　but
shee　knew　his　beard；　and　said　to　her　selfe。　What　a　mad　world　is　this
when　jealousie　can　metamorphose　an　ordinary　man　into　a　Priest？　But；
let　me　alone　with　him；　I　meane　to　fit　him　with　that　which　he　lookes
for。
　　So；　appearing　to　have　no　knowledge　at　all　of　him；　downe　she　fell
at　his　feete；　and　he　had　conveyed　a　few　Cherry　stones　into　his
mouth；　to　trouble　his　speech　from　her　knowledge；　for；　in　all　things
els；　he　thoght　himselfe　to　be　sufficiently　fitted　for　her。　In　the
course　of　her　confession；　she　declared；　that　she　was　married　to　a　most
wicked　jealous　Husband；　and　with　whom　she　lead　a　very　hatefull　life。
Neverthelesse　（quoth　she）　I　am　indifferently　even　with　him；　for　I　am
beloved　of　an　Holie　Fryar；　that　every　night　commeth　and　lyeth　with　me。
When　the　jealous　Husband　heard　this；　it　stabbed　him　like　a　dagger　to
the　heart；　and；　but　for　his　greedy　covetous　desire　to　know　more；　he
would　faine　have　broke　off　confession；　and　got　him　gone。　But；
perceiving　that　it　was　his　wisest　course；　he　questioned　further　with
his　wife；　saying：　Why　good　Woman；　doth　not　your　husband　lodge　with
you？　Yes　Sir；　quoth　she。　How　is　it　possible　then　（replyed　the　Husband）
that　the　Friar　can　lodge　there　with　you　too？
　　She；　dissembling　a　farre　fetcht　sigh；　thus　answered。　Reverend　Sir；　I
know　not　what　skilfull　Art　the　Fryar　useth；　but　this　I　am　sure；
every　doore　in　our　house　will　flye　open　to　him；　so　soone　as　he　doth
but　touch　it。　Moreover；　he　told　me；　that　when　he　commeth　unto　my
Chamber　doore；　he　speaketh　certaine　words　to　himselfe；　which
immediately　casteth　my　Husband　into　a　dead　sleepe；　and；
understanding　him　to　bee　thus　sleepily　entranced：　he　openeth　the
doore；　entreth　in；　lieth　downe　by　me；　and　this　every　night　he
faileth　not　to　do。　The　jealous　Coxcomb　angerly　scratching　his　head；
and　wishing　his　wife　halfe　hangd；　said：　Mistresse；　this　is　very
badly　done；　for　you　should　keepe　your　selfe　from　all　men；　but　your
husband　onely。　That　shall　I　never　doe；　answered　shee；　because　（indeed）
I　love　him　dearely。　Why　then　（quoth　our　supposed　Confessor）　I　cannot
give　you　any　absolution。　I　am　the　more　sory　Sir；　said　she；　I　came
not　hither　to　tell　you　any　leasings；　for　if　I　could；　yet　I　would
not；　because　it　is　not　good　to　fable　with　such　Saint…like　men　as　you
are。　You　do　therein　（quoth　hee）　the　better；　and　surely　I　am　very
sory　for　you；　because　in　this　dangerous　condition；　it　will　bee　the
utter　losse　of　your　soule：　neverthelesse；　both　for　your　husbands
sake　and　your　owne；　I　will　take　some　paines；　and　use　such　especiall
prayers　in　your　name；　which　may　（perchance）　greatly　avayle　you。　And
I　purpose　now　and　then；　to　send　you　a　Novice　or　young　Clearke　of　mine；
whom　you　may　safely　acquaint　with　your　minde；　and　signifie　to　me；　by
him；　whether　they　have　done　you　good；　or　no：　and　if　they　prove
helpefull；　then　will　we　further　proceed　therein。　Alas　Sir；　said　she；
never　trouble　your　selfe；　in　sending　any　body　to　our　house；　because；
if　my　Husband　should　know　it；　he　is　so　extreamly　jealous；　as　all　the
world　cannot　otherwise　perswade　him；　but　that　he　commeth　thither　for
no　honest　intent；　and　so　I　shall　live　worse　then　now　I　do。　Fear　not
that；　good　woman；　quoth　he；　but　beleeve　it　certainly；　that　I　will　have
such　a　care　in　this　c