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第155章

the decameron(十日谈)-第155章

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him: and (indeede) shall dye; except the sooner I may enjoy him。 And
therefore; if my life and well…fare be respected by thee; let him
understand the integrity of mine affection; by such good means as thou
findest it most expedient to be done: entreating him from me; that I
may have some conference with him; when he shall thereto be
solicited by me。
  The Chamber…Gentlewoman Lesca; willingly undertooke the Ladies
Embassie; and so soone as opportunity did favor her: having withdrawne
Pyrrhus into an apt and commodious place; shee delivered the Message
to him; in the best manner she could devise。 Which Pyrrhus hearing;
did not a little wonder thereat; never having noted any such matter;
and therefore sodainly conceyved; that the Lady did this onely to
try him; whereupon; somewhat roundly and roughly; hee returned this
answere。 Lesca; I am not so simple; as to credite any such Message
to be sent from my Lady; and therefore be better advised of thy words。
But admit that it should come from her; yet I cannot be perswaded;
that her soule consented to such harsh Language; far differing from
a forme so full of beuty。 And yet admit againe; that her hart and
tongue herein were relatives: My Lord and Master hath so farre
honoured mee; and so much beyond the least part of merite in mee: as I
will rather dye; then any way offer to disgrace him: And therefore I
charge thee; never more to move mee in this matter。
  Lesca; not a jot danted at his stearne words; presently she saide。
Pyrrhus; Both in this and all other Messages my Lady shall command me;
I wil speake to thee whensoever shee pleaseth; receive what discontent
thou canst thereby; or make presumption of what doubts thou maist
devise。 But as I found thee a senselesse fellow; dull; and not
shaped to any understanding; so I leave thee: And in that anger parted
from him; carrying backe the same answer to her Lady。 She no sooner
heard it; but instantly shee wished her selfe to be dead; and within
some few dayes after; she conferred againe with her Chamber…woman;
saying。 Lesca; thou knowest well enough; that the Oxe falleth not at
the first blow of the Axel neither is the victory won; upon a silly
and shallow adventure: Wherefore; I thinke it convenient; that once
more thou shouldst make another tryall of him; who (in prejudice to
me) standeth so strictly on his loyalty; and choosing such an houre as
seemeth most commodious; soundly possesse him with my tormenting
passions。 Bestirre thy Wittes; and tippe thy tongue with a Womans
eloquence; to effect what I so earnestly desire: because; by
languishing in this lovesicke affliction; it will bee the danger of my
death; and some severe detriment to him; to be the occasion of so
great a losse。
  Lesca; comforted her Lady; so much as lay in her power to doe; and
having sought for Pyrrhus; whom she found at good leysure; and; in a
pleasing humor; thus she beganne。 Pyrrhus; some few dayes since I
tolde thee; in what extreame Agonies thy Lady and mine was; onely in
regarde of her love to thee: and now againe I come once more; to
give thee further assurance thereof: Wherefore; beleeve it
unfeignedly; that if thy obstinacie continue still; in like manner
as the other day it did; expect very shortly to heare the tydings of
her death。
  It is my part therefore; to entreat thee; to comfort her long
languishing desires: but if thou persist in thy harsh opinion; in
stead of reputing thee a wise and fortunate yong man; I shall confesse
thee to bee an ignoraunt Asse。 What a glorie is it to thee; to be
affected of so faire and worthy a Lady; beyond all men else
whatsoever? Next to this; tell me; how highly maist thou confesse
thy self beholding to Fortune; if thou but duly consider; how shee
hath elected thee as sole soveraigne of her hopes; which is a crowne
of honour to thy youth and a sufficient refuge against all wants and
necessities? Where is any to thy knowledge like thy selfe; that can
make such advantage of his time; as thou maist do; if thou wert
wise? Where canst thou find any one to go beyond thee in Armes;
Horses; sumptuous garments; and Gold; as will be heaped on thee; if
Lydia may be the Lady of thy love? Open then thine understanding to my
words; returne into thine owne souie; and bee wise for thy selfe。
  Remember (Pyrrhus) that Fortune presents her selfe but once before
any one; with cheerefull lookes; and her lappe wide open of richest
favours; where if choice be not quickely made; before she folde it up;
not quic and turn her backe; let no complaint afterward be made of
her; if the Fellow that had so faire an offer; proove to be miserable;
wretched; and a Begger; only thorow his owne negligence。 Beside;
what else hath formerly bin saide; there is now no such neede of
loyaltie in servants to their Ladies; as should be among deare Friends
and Kindred: but servants ought rather (as best they may) be such to
their Masters; as they are to them。 Doest thou imagine; that if thou
hadst a faire Wife; Mother; Daughter; or Sister; pleasing in the eye
of our Nicostratus; he would stand on such nice tearmes of duty or
Loyaltie; as now thou doest to his Ladie? Thou wert a verie foole to
rest so perswaded。 Assure thy selfe; that if entreaties and faire
means might not prevalle; force; and compulsion (whatsoever ensued
thereon) woulde winne the masterie。 Let us then use them; and the
commodities unto them belonging; as they would us and ours。 Use the
benefit of thy Fortune; and beware of abusing her favour。 She yet
smiles on thee; but take heede least she turne her backe; it will then
be over…late to repent thy folly。 And if my Ladie die through thy
disdaine; be assured; that thou canst not escape with life; beside
open shame and disgrace for ever。
  Pyrrhus; who had often considered on Lescaes first message;
concluded with himselfe; that if any more she moved the same matter:
hee would returne her another kinde of answere; wholly yeelding to
content his Lady; provided; that he might remaine assured;
concerning the intyre truth of the motion; and that it was not urged
onely to trie him; wherefore; thus he replyed。 Lesca; do not imagine
mee so ignorant; as not to know the certaintie of all thy former
allegations; confessing them as freely as thou doest; or canst。 But
yet let mee tell thee withall; that I knowe my Lord to be wise and
judicious; and having committed all his affaires to my care and trust:
never blame mee to misdoubt; least my Ladie (by his counsell and
advice) make thee the messenger of this motion; therby to call my
Fidelitie in question。
  To cleare which doubt; and for my further assurance of her well
meanning toward me; if she wil undertake the performance of three such
things as I must needes require in this case: I am afterward her owne;
in any service she can command me。 The first of them; is; that in
the presence of my Lord and Master; she kill his faire Faulcon;
which so dearly hee affecteth。 The second; to send me a locke or
tuft of his beard; being puld away with her owne hand。 The third and
last; with the same hand also; to pluck out one of his best and
soundest teeth; and send it mee as her loves true token。 When I
finde all these three effectually performed; I am wholly hers; and not
before。
  These three strict impositions; seemed to Lesca; and her Ladie
likewise; almost beyond the compasse of all possibility。 Nevertheles
Love; being a powerfull Oratour in perswading; as also adventurous
even on the most difficult dangers; gave her courage to undertake them
all: sending Lesca backe againe to him; with full assurance; of
these more then Herculean labours。 Moreover; her selfe did intend to
adde a fourth taske; in regard of his strong opinion concerning the
great Wisedome of his Lord and Maister。 After she had effected all the
other three; she would not permit him to kisse her; but before his
Lords face: which yet should be accomplished in such sort; as
Nicostratus himselfe should not beleeve it; although apparantly he saw
it。 Well; (quoth Pyrrhus) when all these wonders are performed; assure
my Ladie。 that I am truelie hers。
  Within a short while after; Nicostratus made a solemne Feastival
(accorling as yearely 

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