the decameron(十日谈)-第163章
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word shall be of better worth with you。 Consider the conveniency of
time； wee being so privately here alone： whereas at my returning
hither againe； some hinderance may thwart me； and the like opportunity
be never obtained。 Sir； she） you have heard my resolution； if you will
fetche the Florines； doe； otherwise； walke about your businesse； for I
am a woman of my word。
Sir Simon perceiving； that she would not trust him upon bare
words； nor any thing was to be done； without Salvum me fac； whereas
his meaning was Sine custodia； thus answered。 Well Belcolove； seeing
you dare not credit my bringing the tenne Florines； according to my
promised day： I will leave you a good pawne； my very best Cloake；
lyned quite thorough with rich Silke； and made up in the choysest
manner。
Belcolore looking on the Cloake； said。 How much may this Cloake
bee worth？ How much？ quoth Sir Simon； upon my word Belcolore； it is of
a right fine Flanders Serdge； and not above eight dayes since； I
bought it thus （ready made） of Lotto the Fripperer； and payed for it
sixe and twenty Florines； a pledge then sufficient for your ten。 Is it
possible； said shee； that it should cost so much？ Well； Sir Simon；
deliver it me first； I will lay it up safe for you against Saturday；
when if you fetch it not； I will redeeme mine owne things with it； and
leave you to release it your selfe。
The Cloake is laid up by Belcolore； and Sir Simon so forward in
his affection； that （in briefe） he enjoyed what hee came for； and
departed afterward in his light tripping Cassocke； but yet thorow
by…Lanes； and no much frequented places； smelling on a Nosegay； as
if hee had beene at some wedding in the Countrey； and went thus
lightly without his Cloake； for his better ease。 As commonly after
actions of evill； Repentance knocketh at the doore of Conscience；
and urgeth a guilty remembrance； with some sence of sorrow： so was
it now with sweet Sir Simon； who survayin over all his vailes of
offering Candles； the validity of his yearely benefits； and all
comming nothing neere the summe of （scarce halfe） sixe and twenty
Florines； he began to repent his deed of darkenesse； although it was
acted in the day…time； and considered with himselfe； by what honest
（yet unsuspected meanes） hee might recover his Cloake againe； before
it went to the Broaker； in redemption of Belcolores pawned
apparrell； and yet to send her no Florines neither。
Having a cunning reaching wit； especially in matters for his owne
advantage； and pretending to have a dinner at his lodging； for a few
of some invited friends： he made use of a neighbours Boy； sending
him to the house of Belcolore； with request of lending him her Stone
Morter； to make Greenesawce in for his guests； because hee had meate
required such sawce。 Belcolore suspecting no treachery； sent him the
Stone Morter with the Pestell； and about dinner time； when he knew
Bentivegna to bee at home with his wife； by a spye which was set for
the purpose； hee called the Clearke （usually attending on him） and
said。 Take this Morter and Pestell； beare them home to Belcolore；
and tell her： Sir Simon sends them home with thankes； they having
sufficiently served his turne； and desire her likewise； to send me
my Cloake； which the Boy left as a pledge for better remembrance；
and because she would not lend it without a pawne。
The Clearke comming to the house of Belcolore； found her sitting
at dinner with her Husband； and delivering her the Pestell and Morter；
performed the rest of Sir Simons message。 Belcolore hearing the Cloake
demaunded； stept up to make answere： But Bentivegna； seeming （by his
lookes） to be much offended； roughly replyed。 Why how now wife？ Is not
Sir Simon our especiall friend； and cannot he be pleasured without a
pawne？ I protest upon my word； I could find in my heart to smite
thee for it。 Rise quickely thou wert best； and send him backe his
Cloake； with this warning hereafter； that whatsoever he will have；
be it your poore Asse； or any thing else being ours； let him have
it： and tell him （Master Clearke） he may command it。 Belcolore rose
grumbling from the Table； and fetching the Cloake forth of the
Chest； which stood neere at hand in the same roome； shee delivered
it to the Clearke； saying。 Tell Sir Simon from me； and boldly say
you heard me speake it： that I make a vow to my selfe； he shall
never make use of my Morter hereafter； to beat any more of his
sawcinesse in； let my Husband say whatsoever he will； I speake the
word； and will performe it。
Away went the Clearke home with the Cloake； and told Sir Simon
what she had said； whereto he replyed。 If I must make use of her
Morter no more； I will not trust her with the keeping of my Cloake；
for feare it goe to gage indeed。
Bentivegna was a little displeased at his wives words； because hee
thought she spake but in jest； albeit Belcolore was so angry with
Sir Simon； that she would not speake to him till vintage time
following。 But then Sir Simon； what by sharpe threatenings； of her
soule to be in danger of hell fire； continuing so long in hatred of
a holy Priest； which words did not a little terrifie her； besides
daily presents to her； of sweet new Wines； roasted Chesse…nuts； Figges
and Almonds： all unkindnesse became converted to former familiarity；
the garments were redeemed： he gave her Sonnets which she would
sweetly sing to her Cimbale； and further friendship increased betweene
her and sweet Sir Simon。
THE EIGHT DAY； THE THIRD NOVELL
JUSTLY REPREHENDING THE SIMPLICITY OF SUCH MEN； AS ARE TOO MUCH
ADDICTED TO CREDULITIE； AND WILL GIVE CREDIT TO EVERY
THING THEY HEARE
Calandrino； Bruno； and Buffalmaco； all of them being Painters by
profession； travelled to the Plaine of Mugnone； to finde the
precious Stone called Helitropium。 Calandrino no perswaded himselfe to
have found it； returned home to his house heavily loaden with
stones。 His Wife rebuking him for his absence； hee groweth into anger；
and shrewdly beateth her。 Afterward； when the case is debated among
his other friends Bruno and Buffalmaco； all is found to be meere
foolery。
Pamphilus having ended his Novell； whereat the Ladies laughed
exceedingly； so that very hardly they could give over。 The Queene gave
charge to Madame Eliza； that shee should next succeed in order；
when； being scarcely able to refraine from smyling； thus she began。
I know not （Gracious Ladies） whether I can move you to as hearty
laughter； with a briefe Novell of mine owne； as Pamphilus lately did
with his： yet I dare assure you； that it is both true and pleasant；
and I will relate it in the best manner I can。
In our owne Citie； which evermore hath contained all sorts of
people； not long since there dwelt； a Painter； named Calandrino； a
simple man； yet as much adicted to matters of novelty； as any man
whatsoever could be。 The most part of his time； he spent in the
company of two other Painters； the one called Bruno； and the other
Buffalmaco； men of very recreative spirits； and of indifferent good
capacity； often resorting to the said Calandrino； because they tooke
delight in his honest simplicity； and pleasant order of behaviour。
At the same time likewise； there dwelt in Florence； a yong Gentleman
of singular disposition； to every generous and witty conceite； as
the world did not yeeld a more pleasant companion； he being named Maso
del Saggio； who having heard somwhat of Calandrinos sillinesse：
determined to jest with him in merry manner； and to suggest his
longing humors after Novelties； with some conceit of extraordinary
nature。
He happening （on a day） to meete him in the Church of Saint John；
and seeing him seriously busied； in beholding the rare pictures； and
the curious carved Tabernacle； which （not long before） was placed on
the。 high Altar in the said Church： considered with himselfe； that
he had now fit place and opportunity； to effect what hee had long time
desired。 And having imparted his minde to a very intimate friend；
how he intended to deale with simple Calandrino： they went both very
neere him； where he sate all alone； and making shew as if they saw him
not； began
