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第165章

the decameron(十日谈)-第165章

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chance to speed before us; and so wee may lose both our trot and
amble。 Wherefore; by my consent; if your opinion jumpe with mine; this
is an enterprize onely to be perfourmed in an early morning; when
the blacke stones are to be distinguisht from the white; and a
Festivall day were the best of all other; for then there will be
none to discover us。
  Buffalmaco applauded the advice of Bruno; and Calandrino did no
lesse; concluding all together; that Sunday morning (next ensuing)
should be the time; and then they all three would go see the Stone。
But Calandrino was verie earnest with them; that they shold not
reveale it to any living body; because it was tolde him as an
especiall secret: disclosing further to them; what hee had heard
concerning the Countrey of Bengodi; maintaining (with solemn oaths and
protestations) that every part thereof was true。 Uppon this agreement;
they parted from Calandrino who hardly enjoyed anie rest at all;
either by night or day; so greedie he was to bee possessed of the
stone。 On the Sonday morning; hee called up his Companions before
breake of day; and going forth at S。 Galls Port; they stayed not; till
they came to the plaine of Mugnone; where they searched all about to
finde this strange stone。
  Calandrino went stealing before the other two; and verilie perswaded
himselfe; that he was borne to finde the Helitropium; and looking on
every side about him; hee rejected all other Stones but the blacke;
whereof first he filled his bosome; and afterwards; both his
Pockets。 Then he tooke off his large painting Apron; which he fastened
with his girdle in the manner of a sacke; and that he filled full of
stones likewise。 Yet not so satisfied; he spred abroad his Cloake;
which being also full of stones; hee bound it up carefully; for
feare of loosing the very least of them。 All which Buffalmaco and
Bruno well observing (the day growing on; and hardly they could
reach home by dinner time) according as merrily they had concluded;
and pretending not to see Calandrino; albeit he was not farre from
them: What is become of Calandrino? saide Buffalmaco。 Bruno gazing
strangely every where about him; as if hee were desirous to finde him;
replyed。 I saw him not long since; for then he was hard by before
us; questionlesse; he hath given us the slippe; is privilie gone
home to dinner; and making starke fooles of us; hath lefte us to picke
up blacke stones; upon the parching plaines of Mugnone。 Well (quoth
Buffalmaco) this is but the tricke of an hollow…hearted friend; and
not such as he protested himselfe to be; to us。 Could any but wee have
bin so sottish; to credit his frivolous perswasions; hoping to finde
any stones of such vertue; and here on the fruitlesse plains of
Mugnone? No; no; none but we would have beleeved him。
  Calandrino (who was close by them) hearing these wordes; and
seeing the whole manner of their wondering behaviour: became
constantly perswaded; that hee had not onely found the precious stone;
but also had some store of them about him; by reason he was so neere
to them; and yet they could not see him; therefore he walked before
them。 Now was his joy beyond all compasse of expression; and being
exceedingly proud of so happy an adventure: did not meane to speake
one word to them; but (heavily laden as hee was) to steale home
faire and softly before them; which indeede he did; leaving them to
follow after; if they would。 Bruno perceiving his intent; said to
Buffalmaco: What remaineth now for us to doe? Why should not we go
home; as well as hee? And reason too; replyed Bruno。 It is in vaine to
tarry any longer heere: but I solemnly protest; Calandrino shall no
more make an Asse of me: and were I now as neere him; as not long
since I was; I would give him such a remembrance on the heele with
this Flint stone; as should sticke by him this moneth; to teach him
a lesson for abusing his friends。
  Hee threw the stone; and hit him shrewdly on the heele therewith;
but all was one to Calandrino; whatsoever they saide; or did; as
thus they still followed after him。 And although the blow of the stone
was painfull to him; yet he mended his pace so wel as he was able;
in regard of beeing over…loaden with stones; and gave them not one
word all the way; because he tooke himselfe to bee invisible; and
utterly unseene of them。 Buffalmaco taking uppe another Flintstone;
which was indifferent heavie and sharp; said to Bruno。 Seest thou this
Flint? Casting it from him; he smote Calandrino just in the backe
therewith; saying that Calandrino had bin so neere as I might have hit
him on the backe with the stone。 And thus all the way on the plaine of
Mugnone; they did nothing else but pelt him with stones; even so farre
as the Port of S。 Gall; where they threwe downe what other stones they
had gathered; meaning not to molest him any more; because they had
done enough already。
  There they stept before him unto the Port; and acquainted the
Warders with the whole matter; who laughing heartily at the jest;
the better to upholde it; would seeme not to see Calandrino in his
passage by them; but suffered him to go on; sore wearied with his
burthen; and sweating extreamly。 Without resting himselfe in any
place; he came home to his house; which was neere to the corner of the
Milles; Fortune being so favourable to him in the course of this
mockery; that as he passed along the Rivers side; and afterward
through part of the City; he was neither met nor seen by any; in
regard they were all in their houses at dinner。
  Calandrino; every minute ready to sinke under his weightie
burthen; entred into his owne house; where (by great ill luck) his
wife; being a comely and very honest woman; and named Monna Trista;
was standing aloft on the stayres head。 She being somewhat angry for
his so long absence; and seeing him come in grunting and groaning;
frowningly said。 I thought that the divell would never let thee come
home; all the whole Citie have dined; and yet wee must remaine without
our dinner。 When Calandrino heard this; and perceived that he was
not invisible to his Wife: full of rage and wroth; hee began to raile;
saying。 Ah thou wicked woman; where art thou? Thou hast utterly undone
me: but (as I live) I will pay thee soundly for it。 Up the staires
he ascended into a small Parlour; where when he hadde spred all his
burthen of stones on the floore: he ran to his wife; catching frer
by the haire of the head; and throwing her at his feete; giving her so
many spurns and cruel blowes; as shee was not able to moove either
armes or legges; notwithstanding all her teares; and humble
submission。
  Now Buffalmaco and Bruno; after they had spent an indifferent while;
with the Warders at the Port in laughter; in a faire and gentle
pace; they followed Calandrino home to his house; and being come to
the doore; they heard the harsh bickering betweene him and his Wife;
and seeming as if they were but newly arrived; they called out alowd
to him。 Calandrino being in a sweate; stamping and raving still at his
Wife: looking forth of the window; entreated them to ascend up to him;
which they did; counterfetting greevous displeasure against him。 Being
come into the roome; which they saw all covered over with stones;
his Wife sitting in a corner; all the haire (well…neere) torne off her
head; her face broken and bleeding; and all her body cruelly beaten;
on the other side; Calandrino standing unbraced and ungirded;
strugling and wallowing; like a man quite out of breath: after a
little pausing; Bruno thus spake。
  Why how now Calandrino? What may the meaning of this matter be?
What; art thou preparing for building; that thou hast provided such
plenty of stones? How sitteth thy poore wife? How hast thou misused
her? Are these the behaviours of a wise or honest man? Calandrino;
over…spent with travalle; and carrying such an huge burthen of stones;
as also the toylesome beating of his Wife; (but much more impatient
and offended; for that high good Fortune; which he imagined to have
lost:) could not collect his spirits together; to answer them one
ready word; wherefore hee sate fretting like a mad man。 Whereupon;
Buffalmaco thus began to him。 

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