the decameron(十日谈)-第170章

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done？　I　have　（saide　Bruno）　alreadie　found　the　meanes　to　effect　it；
if　he　take　it　not　from　the　place　where　last　we　saw　it。　Let　us　doe　it
then　（answered　Buffalmaco）　why　should　we　not　do　it？　Sir　Domine　heere
and　we；　will　make　good　cheare　with　it　among　our　selves。　The　nimble
Priest　was　as　forward　as　the　best；　and　the　match　being　fully　agreed
on；　Bruno　thus　spake。　My　delicate　Sir　Domine；　Art　and　cunning　must
be　our　maine　helps：　for　thou　knowest　Buffalmaco；　what　a　covetous
wretch　Calandrino　is；　glad　and　readie　to　drink　alwaies　on　other　mens
expences：　let　us　go　take　him　with　us　to　the　Tavern；　where　the　Priest
（for　his　owne　honour　and　reputation）　shall　offer　to　make　paiment　of
the　whole　reckoning；　without　receiving　a　farthing　of　his；　whereof　he
will　not　be　a　little　joyfull；　so　shall　we　bring　to　passe　the　rest　of
the　businesse；　because　there　is　no　body　in　the　house；　but　onely
himselfe：　for　he　is　best　at　ease　without　company。
　　As　Bruno　had　propounded；　so　was　it　accordingly　performed；　and　when
Calandrino　perceyved；　that　the　Priest　would　suffer　none　to　pay；　but
himselfe；　he　dranke　the　more　freely；　and　when　there　was　no　neede　at
all；　tooke　his　Cuppes　couragiously　one　after　another。　Two　or　three
houres　of　the　night　were　spent；　before　they　parted　from　the　Taverne；
Calandrino　going　directly　home　to　his　house；　and　instantly　to　bed；
without　any　other　supper；　imagining　that　he　had　made　fast　his　doore；
which　（indeede）　he　left　wide　open：　sleeping　soundly；　without　suspition
of　any　harme　intended　unto　him。　Buffalmaco　and　Bruno　went　and　supt
with　the　Priest；　and　so　soone　as　supper　was　ended；　they　tooke　certaine
Engines；　for　their　better　entering　into　Calandrinoes　house；　and　so
went　on　to　effect　theyr　purpose。　Finding　the　doore　standing　readie
open；　they　entered　in；　tooke　the　Brawne；　carried　it　with　them　to　the
Priests　house；　and　afterward　went　all　to　bed。
　　When　Calandrino　had　well　slept　after　his　Wine；　he　arose　in　the
morning；　and　being　descended　downe　the　staires；　finding　the　street
doore　wide　open；　he　looked　for　the　Brawne；　but　it　was　gone。
Enquiring　of　the　neighbours　dwelling　neere　about　him；　hee　could
heare　no　tydings　of　his　Brawne；　but　became　the　wofullest　man　in　the
world；　telling　every　one　that　his　Brawne　was　stolne。　Bruno　and
Buffalmaco　being　risen　in　the　morning；　they　went　to　visite
Calandrino　to　heare　how　he　tooke　the　losse　of　his　Brawne：　and　hee　no
sooner　had　a　sight　of　them；　but　he　called　them　to　him；　and　with　the
teares　running　downe　his　cheekes；　sayde：　Ah　my　deare　friendes；　I　am
robde　of　my　Brawne。　Bruno　stepping　closely　to　him；　sayde　in　his
eare：　It　is　wonderfull；　that　once　in　thy　life　time　thou　canst　bee
wise。　How？　answered　Calandrino；　I　speake　to　you　in　good　earnest。
Speake　so　still　in　earnest　（replied　Bruno）　and　cry　it　out　so　loud　as
thou　canst；　then　let　who　list　beleeve　it　to　be　true。
　　Calandrino　stampt　and　fretted　exceedingly；　saying：　As　I　am　a　true
man　to　God；　my　Prince；　and　Countrey；　I　tell　thee　truly；　that　my　Brawne
is　stolne。　Say　so　still　I　bid　thee　（answered　Bruno）　and　let　all　the
world　beleeve　thee；　if　they　list　to　do　so；　for　I　will　not。　Wouldst
thou　（quoth　Calandrino）　have　me　damne　my　selfe　to　the　divell？　I　see
thou　dost　not　credit　what　I　say：　but　would　I　were　hanged　by　the　necke；
if　it　be　not　true；　that　my　Brawne　is　stolne。　How　can　it　possible　be；
replyed　Bruno？　Did　not　I　see　it　in　thy　house　yesternight？　Wouldst　thou
have　me　beleeve；　that　it　is　flowne　away？　Although　it　is　not　flowne
away　（quoth　Calandrino）　yet　I　am　certain；　that　it　is　stolne　away：
for　which　I　am　weary　of　my　life；　because　I　dare　not　go　home　to　mine
owne　house；　in　regard　my　wife　will　never　beleeve　it；　and　yet　if　she
should　credite　it；　we　are　sure　to　have　no　peace　for　a　twelve　months
space。
　　Bruno；　seeming　as　if　he　were　more　then　halfe　sorrowfull；　yet
supporting　still　his　former　jesting　humor；　saide：　Now　trust　mee
Calandrino；　if　it　be　so；　they　that　did　it　are　much　too　blame。　If　it　be
so？　answered　Calandrino；　Belike　thou　wouldst　have　mee　blaspheme
Heaven；　and　all　the　Saints　therein：　I　tell　thee　once　againe　Bruno；
that　this　last　night　my　Brawne　was　stolne。　Be　patient　good　Calandrino；
replyed　Buffalmaco；　and　if　thy　Brawne　be　stolne　from　thee；　there　are
means　enow　to　get　it　againe。　Meanes　enow　to　get　it　againe？　said
Calandrino；　I　would　faine　heare　one　likely　one；　and　let　all　the　rest
go　by。　I　am　sure　Calandrino；　answered　Buffalmaco；　thou　art　verily
perswaded；　that　no　Theefe　came　from　India；　to　steale　thy　Brawne　from
thee：　in　which　respect；　it　must　needes　then　be　some　of　thy　Neighbours：
whom　if　thou　couldst　lovingly　assemble　together；　I　knowe　an　experiment
to　be　made　with　Bread　and　Cheese；　whereby　the　party　that　hath　it；　will
quickly　be　discovered。
　　I　have　heard　（quoth　Bruno）　of　such　an　experiment；　and　helde　it　to　be
infallible；　but　it　extendeth　onely　unto　persons　of　Gentilitie；　whereof
there　are　but　few　dwelling　heere　about；　and　in　the　case　of　stealing
a　Brawne；　it　is　doubtfull　to　invite　them；　neither　can　there　be　any
certainty　of　their　comming。　I　confesse　what　you　say；　aunswered
Buffalmaco；　to　be　very　true：　but　then　in　this　matter；　so　nerely
concerning　us　to　be　done；　and　for　a　deare　Friend；　what　is　your　advice？
I　would　have　Pilles　made　of　Ginger；　compounded　with　your　best　and
strongest　Malmsey；　then　let　the　ordinary　sort　of　people　be　invited
（for　such　onely　are　most　to　be　mistrusted）　and　they　will　not　faile
to　come；　because　they　are　utterly　ignorant　of　our　intention。
Besides；　the　Pilles　may　as　well　bee　hallowed　and　consecrated；　as　bread
and　cheese　on　the　like　occasion。　Indeede　you　say　true　（replyed
Buffalmaco）　but　what　is　the　opinion　of　Calandrino？　Is　he　willing　to
have　this　tryall　made；　or　no？　Yes；　by　all　meanes；　answered　Calandrino；
for　gladly　I　would　know　who　hath　stolne　my　Brawne；　and　your　good　words
have　（more　then　halfe）　comforted　me　already　in　this　case。
　　Well　then　（quoth　Bruno）　I　will　take　the　paines　to　go　to　Florence；　to
provide　all　things　necessarie　for　this　secret　service；　but　I　must
bee　furnished　with　money　to　effect　it。　Calandrino　had　some　forty
shillings　then　about　him；　which　he　delivered　to　Bruno；　who　presently
went　to　Florence；　to　a　frend　of　his　an　Apothecarie；　of　whom　he
bought　a　pound　of　white　Ginger；　which　hee　caused　him　to　make　uppe　in
small　Pilles：　and　two　other　beside　of　a　Dogges…dates　or　Dowsets；
confected　all　over　with　strong　Aloes；　yet　well　moulded　in　Sugare；　as
all　the　rest　were：　and　because　they　should　the　more　easily　bee
knowne　from　the　other；　they　were　spotted　with　Gold；　in　verie　formall
and　Physicall　manner。　He　bought　moreover；　a　big　Flaggon　of　the　best
Malmesey；　returning　backe　with　all　these　things　to　Calandrino；　and
directing　him　in　this　order。
　　You　must　put　some　friend　in　trust；　to　invite　your　Neighbors
（especially　such　as　you　suspect）　to　a　breakfast　in　the　morning：　and
because　it　is　done　as　a　feast　in　kindnesse；　they　will　come　to　you
the　more　willingly。　This　night　will　I　and　Buffalmaco　take　such
order；　that　the　Pilles　shall　have　the　charge　imposed　on　them；　and　then
wee　will　bring　them　hither　againe　in　the　morning：　and　I；　my　selfe　（for
your　sake）　will　deliver　them　to　your　guests；　and　performe　whatsoever
is　to　bee　sayde　or　done。　On　the　next　morning；　a　goodly　company　being
assembled；　under　a　faire　Elme　before　the　Church；　as　well　young
Florentynes　（who　purposely　came　to　make　themselves　merry）　as
neighbouring　Husbandmen　of　the　Village：　Bruno　was　to　begin　the
service；　with　the　Pils　in　a　faire　Cup；　and　Buffalmaco　followed　him
with　another　Cup；　to　deliver　the　wine　out　of　the　Flaggon；　all　the
company　beeing　set　round；　as　in　a　circle；　and　Bruno　with　Buffalmaco
being　in　the　midst　of　them；　Bruno　thus　spake。
　Honest　friends；　it　is　fit　that　I　should　acquaint　you　with　the
occasion；　why　we　are　thus　met　together；　and　in　this　place：　because
if　anie　thing　may　seeme　offensive　to　you；　afterward　you　shall　make
no　complaint　of　me。　From　Calandrino　（our　loving　friend　heere
present）　yesternight　there　was　a　new…kild　fat　Brawne　taken；　but　who
hath　done　the　deede；　as　yet　he　knoweth　not；　and　because　none　other；
but　some　one　（or　more）　heere　among　us；　must　needs　offend　in　this　case：
he；　desiring　to　understand　who　they　be；　would　have　each