the decameron(十日谈)-第168章

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not　a　little　joyfull；　it　jumping　so　justly　with　their　intent。
　　Being　come　to　the　Widdowes　house；　they　passed　through　a　smal
nether　Court；　where　lights　stood　ready　to　welcome　him　thither；　and
entring　into　a　goodly　Hall；　there　was　store　of　good　wine　and
banquetting；　which　the　Bishop　accepted　in　very　thankefull　manner：
and　courteous　complement　being　overpassed；　one　of　the　Brethren；　thus
spake。　My　good　Lord；　seeing　it　hath　pleased　you　to　honour　our　poore
Widdowed　Sisters　house　with　your　presence；　for　which　wee　shall
thanke　you　while　we　live：　We　would　intreate　one　favour　more　of　you；
onely　but　to　see　a　sight　which　we　will　shew　you。　The　Lord　Bishop　was
well　contented　with　the　motion：　so　the　Brethren　conducting　him　by
the　hand；　brought　him　into　their　Sisters　Chamber；　where　the　Provoste
was　in　bed　with　Ciutazza；　both　soundly　sleeping；　but　enfolded　in　his
armes；　as　wearied　（belike）　with　their　former　wantonning；　and　whereof
his　age　had　but　little　need。
　　The　Courtaines　being　close　drawne　about　the　bed；　although　the　season
was　exceeding　hot；　they　having　lighted　Torches　in　their　hands；　drew
open　the　Curtaines；　and　shewed　the　Bishop　his　Provoste；　close　snugging
betweene　the　armes　of　Ciutazza。　Upon　a　sudden　the　Provoste　awaked；　and
seeing　so　great　a　light；　as　also　so　many　people　about　him：　shame　and
feare　so　daunted　him；　that　hee　shrunke　downe　in　the　bed；　and　hid　his
head。　But　the　Bishop　being　displeased　at　a　sight　so　unseemely；　made
him　to　discover　his　head　againe；　to　see　whom　he　was　in　bed　withall。
Now　the　poore　Provoste　perceiving　the　Gentlewomans　deceite；　and　the
proper　hansome　person　so　sweetly　embracing　him：　it　made　him　so
confounded　with　shame；　as　he　had　not　the　power　to　utter　one　word：
but　having　put　on　his　cloathes　by　the　Bishops　command；　hee　sent　him
（under　sufficient　guard）　to　his　Pallace；　to　suffer　due　chastisement
for　his　sinne　committed；　and　afterward　he　desired　to　know；　by　what
meanes　hee　became　so　favoured　of　Ciutazza；　the　whole　Historie　whereof；
the　two　brethren　related　at　large　to　him。
　　When　the　Bishop　had　heard　all　the　discourse；　highly　he　commended　the
wisedome　of　the　Gentlewoman；　and　worthy　assistance　of　her　brethren；
who　contemning　to　soile　their　hands　in　the　blood　of　a　Priest；　rather
sought　to　shame　him　as　hee　deserved。　The　Bishop　enjoyned　him　a
pennance　of　repentance　for　forty　dayes　after；　but　love　and　disdaine
made　him　weepe　nine　and　forty：　Moreover；　it　was　a　long　while　after；
before　he　durst　be　seene　abroad。　But　when　he　came　to　walke　the
streets；　the　Boyes　would　point　their　fingers　at　him；　saying。　Behold
the　Provoste　that　lay　with　Ciutazza：　Which　was　such　a　wearisome　life
to　him；　that　he　became　（well　neere）　distracted　in　his　wits。　In　this
manner　the　honest　Gentlewoman　discharged　her　dutie；　and　rid　her
selfe　of　the　Provosts　importunity：　Ciutazza　had　a　merry　night　of　it；
and　a　new　Smocke　also　for　her　labour。




　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　EIGHT　DAY；　THE　FIFT　NOVELL

　　GIVING　ADMONITION；　THAT　FOR　THE　MANAGING　OF　PUBLIQUE　AFFAIRES；　NO
　　OTHER　PERSONS　ARE　OR　OUGHT　TO　BE　APPOINTED；　BUT　SUCH　AS　BE　HONEST；
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　AND　MEET　TO　SIT　ON　THE　SEATE　OF　AUTHORITY

　　Three　pleasant　Companions；　plaide　a　merry　pranke　with　a　Judge
（belonging　to　the　Marquesate　of　Ancona）　at　Florence；　at　such　time　as
he　sate　on　the　Bench；　and　hearing　criminall　causes。

　　No　sooner　had　Madam　Aemillia　finished　her　Novell；　wherin；　the
excellent　wisdome　of　Piccarda；　for　so　worthily　punishing　the　luxurious
old　Provoste；　had　generall　commendations　of　the　whole　Assembly：　but
the　Queene；　looking　on　Philostratus；　said。　I　command　you　next　to
supply　the　place：　whereto　he　made　answere；　that　hee　was　both　ready　and
willing；　and　then　thus　began。　Honourable　Ladies；　the　merry
Gentleman；　so　lately　remembred　by　Madame　Eliza；　being　named　Maso　del
Saggio；　causeth　me　to　passe　over　an　intended　Tale；　which　I　had
resolved　on　when　it　came　to　my　turne：　to　report　another　concerning
him；　and　two　men　more；　his　friendly　Companions。　Which　although　it
may　appeare　to　you　somewhat　unpleasing；　in　regard　of　a　little　grosse
and　unmannerly　behaviour：　yet　it　will　move　merriment　without　any
offence；　and　that　is　the　maine　reason　why　I　relate　it。
　　It　is　not　unknowne　to　you；　partly　by　intelligence　from　our
reverend　predecessours；　as　also　some　understanding　of　your　owne；
that　many　time　have　resorted　to　our　City　of　Florence；　Potestates　and
Officers；　belonging　to　the　Marquesate　of　Anconia；　who　commonly　were
men　of　lowe　spirit；　and　their　lives　so　wretched　and　penurious；　as　they
rather　deserved　to　be　tearmed　Misers；　then　men。　And　in　regard　of
this　their　naturall　covetousnesse　and　misery；　the　Judges　would　bring
also　in　their　company；　such　Scribes　or　Notaries；　as　being　paralelde
with　their　Masters：　they　all　seemed　like　Swaines　come　from　the　Plough；
or　bred　up　in　some　Coblers　quality；　rather　then　Schollers；　or　Students
of　Law。
　　At　one　time　（above　all　the　rest）　among　other　Potestates　and
Judges；　there　came　an　especiall　man；　as　pickt　out　of　purpose；　who
was　named　Messer　Niccolao　da　San　Lepidio；　who　（at　the　first　beholding）
looked　rather　like　a　Tinker；　then　any　Officer　in　authority。　This
hansome　man　（among　the　rest）　was　deputed　to　heare　criminall　causes。
And；　as　often　it　happeneth；　that　Citizens；　although　no　businesse
inviteth　them　to　Judiciall　Courts；　yet　they　still　resort　thither；
sometimes　accidentally：　So　it　fortuned；　that　Maso　times　del　Saggio；
being　one　morning　in　search　of　an　especiall　friend；　went　to　the
Court…house；　and　being　there；　observed　in　what　manner　Messer
Niccolao　was　seated；　who　looking　like　some　strange　Fowle；　lately
come　forth　of　a　farre　Countrey；　he　began　to　survay　him　the　more
seriously；　even　from　the　head　to　the　foot；　as　we　use　to　say。
　And　albeit　he　saw　his　Gowne　furred　with　Miniver；　as　also　the　hood
about　his　necke；　a　Penne　and　Inkehorne　hanging　at　his　girdle；　and
one　skirt　of　his　Garment　longer　then　the　other；　with　more　misshapen
sights　about　him；　farre　unfitting　for　a　man　of　so　civill　profession：
yet　he　spyed　one　errour　extraordinary；　the　most　notable　（in　his
opinion）　that　ever　he　had　seene　before。　Namely；　a　paultry　paire　of
Breeches；　wickedly　made；　and　worse　worne；　hanging　downe　lowe　as
halfe　his　legge；　even　as　he　sate　upon　the　Bench；　yet　cut　so
sparingly　of　the　Cloath；　that　they　gaped　wide　open　before；　as　a
wheele…barrow　might　have　full　entrance　allowed　it。　This　strange
sight　was　so　pleasing　to　him；　as　leaving　off　further　search　of　his
friend；　and　scorning　to　have　such　a　spectacle　alone　by　himselfe：　hee
went　upon　another　Inquisition；　Namely；　for　two　other　merry　Lads　like
hirnselfe；　the　one　being　called　Ribi；　and　the　other　Matteuzzo；　men
of　the　same　mirth…full　disposition　as　he　was；　and　therefore　the　fitter
for　his　Company。
　　After　he　had　met　with　them；　these　were　his　salutations：　My　honest
Boyes；　if　ever　you　did　me　any　kindnesse；　declare　it　more　effectually
now；　in　accompanying　me　to　the　Court…house；　where　you　shall　behold
such　a　singular　spectacle；　as　（I　am　sure）　you　never　yet　saw　the
like。　Forthwith　they　went　along　altogether；　and　being　come　to　the
Courthouse；　he　shewed　them　the　Judges　hansome　paire　of　Breeches；
hanging　down　in　such　base　and　beastly　manner；　that　（being　as　yet　farre
off　from　the　Bench）　their　hearts　did　ake　with　extreamity　of
laughter。　But　when　they　came　neere　to　the　seat　whereon　Messer　Niccolao
sate；　they　plainely　perceived；　that　it　was　very　easie　to　be　crept
under；　and　withall；　that　the　board　whereon　he　set　his　feet；　was　rotten
and　broken；　so　that　it　was　no　difficult　matter；　to　reach　it；　and
pull　it　downe　as　a　man　pleased；　and　let　him　fall　bare　Breecht　to　the
ground。　Cheare　up　your　spirits　（my　hearts）　quoth　Maso；　and　if　your
longing　be　like　to　mine；　we　will　have　yonder　Breeches　a　good　deale
lower；　for　I　see　how　it　may　be　easily　done。
　Laying　their　heads　together；　plotting　and　contriving　severall
wayes；　which　might　be　the　likelyest　to；　compasse　their　intent：　each　of
them　had　his　peculiar　appointment；　to　undertake　the　businesse
without　fayling　and　it　was　to　be　performed　the　next　morning。　At　the
houre　assigned；　they　met　there　againe；　and　finding　the　Court　well
filled　with　people；　the　Plaintiffes　and　Defendants　earnestly　pleading：
M