the decameron(十日谈)-第166章
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ready word； wherefore hee sate fretting like a mad man。 Whereupon；
Buffalmaco thus began to him。 Calandrino； if thou be angry with any
other； yet thou shouldest not have made such a mockery of us； as
thou hast done： in leaving us （like a couple of coxcombes） to the
plaine of Mugnone； whether thou leddest us with thee； to seeke a
precious stone called Helitropium。 And couldst thou steale home； never
bidding us so much as farewell？ How can we but take it in very evill
part； that thou shouldest so abuse two honest neighbours？ Well； assure
thy selfe； this is the last time that ever thou shalt serve us so。
Calandrino （by this time） being somewhat better come to himselfe；
with an humble protestation of courtesie； returned them this answer。
Alas my good friends； be not you offended； the case is farre otherwise
then you immagine。 Poore unfortunate man that I am； I found the rare
precious stone that you speake of： and marke me well； if I do not tell
you the truth of all。 When you asked one another （the first time） what
was become of me； I was hard by you： at the most； within the
distance of two yards length； and perceiving that you saw mee not；
（being still so neere； and alwaies before you：） I went on； smiling
to my selfe； to heare you brabble and rage against me。
So； proceeding on in his discourse； he recounted every accident as
it hapned； both what they had saide and did unto him； concerning the
severall blowes； with the two Flint…stones； the one hurting him
greevously in the heele； and the other paining him as extreamly in the
backe； with their speeches used then； and his laughter；
notwithstanding hee felt the harme of them both； yet beeing proud that
he did so invisibly beguile them。 Nay more （quoth he） I cannot
forbeare to tell you； that when I passed thorow the Port； I saw you
standing with the Warders； yet； by vertue of that excellent Stone；
undiscovered of you all。 Beside； going along the streets； I met many
of my Gossips； friends； and familiar acquaintance； such as used daylie
to converse with me； and drinking together in every Tavern： yet not
one of them spake to me； neyther used any courtesie or salutation；
which （indeede） I did the more freely forgive them； because they
were not able to see me。
In the end of all when I was come home into mine owne house； this
divellish and accursed woman； being aloft uppon my stayres head； by
much misfortune chanced to see me； in regard （as it is not unknowne to
you） that women cause all things to lose their vertue。 In which
respect； I that could have stild my selfe the onely happy man in
Florence； am now made most miserable。 And therefore did I justly beate
her； so long as she was able to stand against mee； and I know no
reason to the contrary； why I should not yet teare her in a thousand
peeces： for I may well curse the day of our mariage； to hinder and
bereave me of such an invisible blessednesse。
Buffalmaco and Bruno hearing this； made shew of verie much
mervailing thereat； and many times maintained what Calandrino had
said； being well neere ready to burst with laughter； considering；
how confidently he stood upon it； that he had found the wonderful
stone； and lost it by his wives speaking onely to him。 But when they
saw him rise in fury once more； with intent to beat her againe： then
they stept betweene them； affirming； That the woman had no way
offended in this case； but rather he himself： who knowing that women
cause all things to lose their vertue； had not therefore expresly
commanded her； not to be seene in his presence all that day； untill he
had made full proofe of the stones vertue。 And questionles； the
consideration of a matter so availeable and important； was quite taken
from him； because such an especiall happinesse； should not belong to
him only； but （in part） to his friends； whom he had acquainted
therewith； drew them to the plaine with him in companie； where they
tooke as much paines in serch of the stone； as possibly he did； or
could； and yet （dishonestly） he would deceive them； and beare it
away covetously； for his owne private benefit。
After many other； as wise and wholesome perswasions； which he
constantly credited； because they spake them； they reconciled him to
his wife； and she to him： but not without some difficulty in him；
who falling into wonderfull greefe and melancholy； for losse of such
an admirable precious stone； was in danger to have dyed； within
lesse then a month after。
THE EIGHT DAY； THE FOURTH NOVELL
WHEREIN IS DECLARED； HOW LOVE OFTENTIMES IS SO POWERFULL IN AGED
MEN； AND DRIVETH THEM TO SUCH DOATING； THAT IT
REDOUNDETH TO THEIR GREAT DISGRACE AND PUNISHMENT
The Provost belonging to the Cathedrall Church of Fiesola； fell in
love with a Gentlewoman； being a widdow； and named Piccarda； who hated
him as much as he loved her。 He imagining； that he lay with her： by
the Gentlewomans Bretheren； and the Byshop under whom he served； was
taken in bed with her Mayde； an ugly； foule； deformed Slut。
Ladie Eliza having concluded her Novell； not without infinite
commendations of the whole company： the Queen turning her lookes to
Madame Aimillia； gave her such an expresse signe； as she must needs
follow next after Madame Eliza； whereupon she began in this manner。
Vertuous Ladies； I very well remember （by divers Novels formerly
related） that sufficient hath beene sayde； concerning Priests and
Religious persons； and all other carrying shaven Crownes； in their
luxurious appetites and desires。 But because no one can at any time
say so much； as thereto no more may be added： beside them alreadie
spoken of； I wil tel you another concerning the Provost of a Cathedral
Church； who would needes （in despight of all the world） love a
Gentlewoman whether she would or no： and therefore； in due
chastisement both unto his age and folly； she gave him such
entertainment as he justly deserved。
It is not unknowne unto you all； that the Cittie of Fieosola； the
mountaine whereof we may very easily hither discerne； hath bene （in
times past） a very great and most ancient City： although at this day
it is wellneere all ruined： yet neverthelesse； it alwaies was； and yet
is a Byshops See； albeit not of the wealthiest。 In the same Citie； and
no long while since； neere unto the Cathedrall Church； there dwelt a
Gentlewoman； being a Widdow； and commonlie there stiled by the name of
Madame Piccarda； whose house and inheritance was but small；
wherewith yet she lived very contentedly （having no wandering eye；
or wanton desires） and no company but her two Brethren； Gentlemen of
especiall honest and gracious disposition。
This Gentlewoman； being yet in the flourishing condition of her
time； did ordinarily resort to the Cathedrall Church in holie zeale；
and religious devotion； where the Provost of the place； became so
enamored of her； as nothing （but the sight of her） yeelded him any
contentment。 Which fond affection of his； was forwarded with such an
audacious and bold carriage； as hee dared to acquaint her with his
love； requiring her enterchange of affection； and the like opinion
of him； as he had of her。 True it is； that he was very farre entred
into yeares； but yong and lustie in his own proud conceite；
presuming strangely beyond his capacity； and thinking as well of his
abilitie； as the youthfullest gallant in the World could doe。
Whereas （in verie deede） his person was utterly displeasing； his
behaviour immodest and scandaious； and his usuall Language；
savouring of such sensualitie； as； very fewe or none cared for his
company。 And if any Woman seemed respective of him； it was in regard
of his outside and profession； and more for feare； then the least
affection； and alwayes as welcome to them； as the head…ake。
His fond and foolish carriage stil continuing to this Gentlewoman；
she being wise and vertuously advised； spake thus unto him。 Holy
Sir； if you love me according as you protest； and manifest by your
outward behaviour： I am the more to thanke you for it； being bound
in dutie to love you likewise。 But if your Love have any harshe or
unsavourie taste； which mine is no way able to endure； neyther dare
ent
