the decameron(十日谈)-第152章

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of　her；　refraining　travaile　abroad；　as　formerly　he　was　wont　to　doe；
and　ceassing　from　his　verie　ordinary　affayres；　addicting　all　his
care　and　endeavour；　onely　to　be　watchfull　of　his　Wife；　so　that　he
never　durst　sleepe；　untill　she　were　by　him　in　the　bed；　which　was　no
meane　mollestation　to　her；　being　thus　curbd　from　her　familiar　meetings
with　Roberto。　Neverthelesse；　having　a　long　while　consulted　with　her
wittes；　to　find　some　apte　meanes　for　conversing　with　him；　being
thereto　also　very　earnestlie　still　solicited　by　him；　you　shall　heare
what　course　she　undertooke。
　　Her　Chamber　being　on　the　streete　side；　and　somewhat　juttying　over
it；　she　observed　the　disposition　of　her　Husband；　that　every　night　it
was　long　before　he　fell　asleepe：　but　beeing　once　falne　into　it；　no
noyse　whatsoever；　could　easily　wake　him。　This　his　solemne　and　sound
sleeping；　emboldned　her　so　farre；　as　to　meete　with　Roberto　at　the
streete　doore；　which　（while　her　Husband　slept）　softly　she　would　open
to　him；　and　therein　private　converse　with　him。
　　But；　because　shee　would　know　the　certaine　houre　of　his　comming；
without　the　least　suspition　of　any：　she　hung　a　thred　forth　of　her
Chamber　Window；　descending　downe；　within　the　compasse　of　Robertoes
reach　in　the　street；　and　the　other　end　thereof；　guided　from　the　Window
to　the　bed；　being　conveyed　under　the　Cloathes；　and　shee　being　in
bed；　she　fastned　it　about　her　left　great　Toe；　wherewith　Roberto　was
sufficiently　acquainted；　and　thus　enstructed　withall；　that　at　his
comming；　he　should　plucke　the　thred；　and　if　her　husband　was　in　his
dead　sleep；　she　would　let　go　the　thred；　and　come　downe　to　him：　but
if　he　slept　not；　she　would　hold　it　strongly；　and　then　his　tarrying
would　prove　but　in　vaine；　there　could　be　no　meeting　that　night。
　　This　devise　was　highly　pleasing　both　to　Roberto　and　Simonida；
being　the　intelligencer　of　their　often　meeting；　and　many　times　also
advising　the　contrary。　But　in　the　end；　as　the　quaintest　cunning　may
faile　at　one　time　or　other；　so　it　fortuned　one　night；　that　Simonida
being　in　a　sound　sleepe；　and　Arriguccio　waking；　because　his　drowsie
houre　was　not　yet　come：　as　he　extendeth　forth　his　legge　in　the　bed；　he
found　the　thred；　which　feeling　in　his　hand；　and　perceiving　it　was　tyed
to　his　wives　great　toe；　it　prooved　apt　tinder　to　kindle　further
jealousie；　and　now　hee　suspected　some　treachery　indeede；　and　so　much
the　rather　because　the　thred　guided　（under　the　cloathes）　from　the
bed　to　the　window；　and　there　hanging　downe　into　the　streete；　as　a
warning　to　some　further　businesse。
　　Now　was　Arriguccio　so　furiously　enflamed；　that　hee　must　needes　bee
further　resolved　in　this　apparant　doubt：　and　because　therein　hee　would
not　be　deceived；　softly　he　cut　the　thred　from　his　wives　toe；　and
made　it　fast　about　his　owne；　to　trye　what　successe　would　ensue
thereon。　It　was　not　long　before　Roberto　came；　and　according　as　hee
used　to　doe；　hee　pluckt　the　thred；　which　Arriguccio　felt；　but
because　hee　had　not　tyed　it　fast；　and　Roberto　pulling　it
over…hardly；　it　fell　downe　from　the　window　into　his　hand；　which　he
understood　as　his　lesson；　to　attend　her　comming；　and　so　hee　did。
Arriguccio　stealing　softly　out　of　bed　from　his　wife；　and　taking　his
Sword　under　his　arme；　went　downe　to　the　doore；　to　see　who　it　was；　with
full　intent　of　further　revenge。　Now；　albeit　he　was　a　Merchant；　yet
he　wanted　not　courage；　and　boldnesse　of　spirit；　and　opening　the
doore　without　any　noyse；　onely　as　his　wife　was　wont　to　doe：　Roberto；
there　waiting　his　entrance；　perceived　by　the　doores　unfashionable
opening；　that　it　was　not　Simonida；　but　her　Husband；　whereupon　he
betooke　himselfe　to　flight　and　Arriguccio　fiercely　followed　him。　At
the　length；　Roberto　perceiving　that　flight　avayled　him　not；　because
his　enemy　still　pursued　him：　being　armed　also　with　a　Sword；　as
Arriguccio　was；　he　returned　backe　upon　him；　the　one　offering　to
offend；　as　the　other　stood　upon　his　defence；　and　so　in　the　darke
they　fought　together。
　　Simonida　awaking；　even　when　her　Husband　went　foorth　of　the
Chamber；　and　finding　the　thred　to　be　cut　from　her　toe；　conjectured
immediately；　that　her　subtle　cunning　was　discovered；　and　supposing　her
Husband　in　pursuite　of　Roberto；　presently　she　arose；　and；
considering　what　was　likely　to　ensue　thereon；　called　her　Chamber…maide
（who　was　not　ignorant　of　the　businesse）　and　by　perswasions　prevailed
so　with　her；　that　she　lay　downe　in　her　place　in　the　bed；　upon
solemne　protestations　and　liberall　promises；　not　to　make　her　selfe
knowne；　but　to　suffer　all　patiently；　either　blowes；　or　other　ill　usage
of　her　Husband；　which　shee　would　recompence　in　such　bountifull　sort；
as　she　should　have　no　occasion　to　complaine。　So；　putting　out　the
watchlight；　which　every　night　burned　in　the　Chamber；　she　departed
thence；　and　sate　downe　in　a　close　corner　of　the　house；　to　see　what
would　be　the　end　of　all　this　stirre；　after　her　Husbands　comming　home。
　　The　fight　（as　you　have　formerly　heard）　continuing　betweene　Roberto
and　Arriguccio；　the　neighbours　hearing　of　the　clashing　of　their　Swords
in　the　streets；　arose　out　of　their　beds；　and　reproved　them　in　very
harsh　manner。　In　which　respect　Arriguccio；　fearing　to　be　knowne；　and
ignorant　also　what　his　adversary　was　（no　harme　being　as　yet　done　on
either　side）　permitted　him　to　depart；　and　extreamely　full　of　anger；
returned　backe　againe　to　his　house。　Being　come　up　into　his
bed…chamber；　thus　he　began；　Where　is　this　lewde　and　wicked　woman？
what？　hast　thou　put　out　the　light；　because　I　should　not　finde　thee？
that　shall　not　avayle　thee；　for　I　can　well　enough　finde　a　drab　in
the　darke。　So；　groping　on　to　the　beds　side；　and　thinking　hee　had　taken
holde　on　his　wife；　he　grasped　the　Chamber…maide；　so　beating　her　with
his　fists；　and　spurning　her　with　his　feet；　that　al　her　face　was　bloody
and　bruised。　Next；　with　his　knife　he　cut　off　a　great　deal　of　her
haire；　giving　her　the　most　villanous　speeches　as　could　be　devised：
swearing；　that　he　would　make　her　a　shame　to　all　the　world。
　　You　need　make　no　doubt；　but　the　poore　maide　wept　exceedingly；　as　she
had　good　occasion　to　doe：　and　albeit　many　times　she　desired　mercy；　and
that　hee　would　not　bee　so　cruell　to　her：　yet　notwithstanding；　her
voyce　was　so　broken　with　crying；　and　his　impacience　so　extreame；
that　rage　hindered　all　power　of　distinguishing；　or　knowing　his　wives
tongue　from　a　strangers。　Having　thus　madly　beaten　her；　and　cut　the
lockes　off　from　her　head；　thus　he　spake　to　her。　Wicked　woman；　and　no
wife　of　mine；　be　sure　I　have　not　done　with　thee　yet；　for；　although　I
meane　not　now　to　beate　thee　any　longer：　I　will　goe　to　thy　brethren；
and　they　shall　understand　thy　dishonest　behaviour。　Then　will　I　bring
them　home　with　me；　and　they　perceiving　how　much　thou　hast　abused
both　their　honour　and　thine　owne；　let　them　deale　with　thee　as　they
finde　occasion；　for　thou　art　no　more　a　companion　for　me。　No　sooner　had
he　uttered　these　angry　words；　but　hee　went　forth　of　the　Chamber；
bolting　it　fast　on　the　outward　side；　as　meaning　to　keepe　her　safely
inclosed；　and　out　of　the　house　he　went　alone　by　himselfe。
　　Simonida；　who　had　heard　all　this　tempestuous　conflict；　perceiving
that　her　Husband　had　lockt　the　streete　doore　after　him；　and　was　gone
whether　he　pleased：　unbolted　the　Chamber　doore；　lighted　a　waxe　candle；
and　went　in　to　see　her　poore　maide；　whom　she　found　to　be　most
pittifully　misused。　She　comforted　her　as　well　as　she　could；　brought
her　into　her　owne　lodging　Chamber；　where　washing　her　face　and　hurts　in
very　soveraigne　waters；　and　rewarding　her　liberally　with
Arriguccioes　owne　Gold；　she　held　her　selfe　to　be　sufficiently
satisfyed。　So；　leaving　the　maide　in　her　lodging；　and　returning　again
to　her　owne　Chamber：　she　made　up　the　bed　in　such　former　manner；　as
if　no　body　had　lodged　therein　that　night。　Then　hanging　up　her　Lampe
fresh　fild　with　oyle；　and　clearly　lighted；　she　deckt　her　selfe　in　so
decent　sort；　as　if　she　had　bin　in　no　bed　all　that　night。
　　Then　taking　sowing　worke　in　her　hand；　either　shirts　or　bands　of
her　Husbands；　hanging　the　Lampe　by　her；　and　sitting　downe　at　the
stayres　head；　she　fell　to　worke　in　very　serious　manner；　as　if　shee　had
undertaken　some　imposed　taske。
　　On　the　other　side；　Arriguccio　had　travelled　so　farr