the decameron(十日谈)-第172章

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more　in　marriage；　because　she　bare　affection　to　a　gallant　young
Gentleman；　whom　she　had　made　her　private　election　of；　and　with　whom
（having　excluded　all　other　amorous　cares　and　cogitations）　by　meanes　of
her　Waitingwoman；　she　had　divers　meetings；　and　kinde　conferences。
　　It　chanced　at　the　verie　same　time；　another　young　Gentleman　of　our
Citie；　called　Reniero；　having　long　studied　in　the　Schooles　at　Paris；
returned　home　to　Florence；　not　to　make　sale　of　his　Learning　and
experience；　as　many　doe：　but　to　understand　the　reason　of　things；　as
also　the　causes　and　effects　of　them；　which　is　mervailously　fitting　for
any　Gentleman。　Being　greatly　honoured　and　esteemed　of　every　one；　as
well　for　his　courteous　carriage　towards　all　in　generall；　as　for　his
knowledge　and　excellent　parts：　he　lived　more　like　a　familiar
Citizen；　then　in　the　nature　of　a　Courtly　Gentleman；　albeit　he　was
choisely　respected　in　either　estate。
　　But；　as　oftentimes　it　commeth　to　passe；　that　such　as　are　endued　with
the　best　judgement　and　understanding　in　naturall　occasions；　are
soonest　caught　and　intangled　in　the　snares　of　Love：　so　fel　it　out　with
our　Scholler　Reniero；　who　being　invited　to　a　solemne　Feast；　in　company
of　other　his　especiall　Friends；　this　Lady　Helena；　attyred　in　her
blacke　Garments　（as　Widowes　commonly　use　to　wear）　was　likewise　there　a
Guest。　His　eye　observing　her　beauty　and　gracious　demeanour；　she　seemed
in　his　judgement；　to　be　a　Woman　so　compleate　and　perfect；　as　he　had
never　seene　her　equall　before：　and　therefore；　he　accounted　the　man
more　then　fortunate；　that　was　worthy　to　embrace　her　in　his　armes。
Continuing　this　amorous　observation　of　her　from　time　to　time；　and
knowing　withall；　that　rare　and　excellent　things　are　not　easily
obtained；　but　by　painefull　study；　labour；　and　endeavour：　hee
resolved　with　himselfe　constantly；　to　put　in　practise　all　his　best
parts　of　industry；　onely　to　honour　and　please　her；　and　attaining　to
her　contentation；　it　would　be　the　means　to　winne　her　love；　and
compasse　thereby　his　hearts　desire。
　　The　yong　Lady；　who　fixed　not　her　eyes　on　inferiour　subjects　（but
esteemed　her　selfe　above　ordinary　reach　or　capacity）　could　moove
them　artificially；　as　curious　women　well　know　how　to　doe；　looking　on
every　side　about　her；　yet　not　in　a　gadding　or　grosse　manner：　for
she　was　not　ignorant　in　such　darting　glaunces；　as　proceeded　from　an
enflamed　affection；　which　appearing　plainely　in　Reniero；　with　a　pretty
smile；　shee　said　to　her　selfe。　I　am　not　come　hither　this　day　in　vaine；
for；　if　my　judgement　faile　me　not；　I　thinke　I　have　caught　a
Woodcocke　by　the　Bill。　And　lending　him　a　cunning　looke　or　two；
queintly　caried　with　the　corner　of　her　eye；　she　gave　him　a　kinde　of
perswading　apprehension；　that　her　heart　was　the　guide　to　her　eye。
And　in　this　artificial　Schoole…tricke　of　hers；　shee　carryed
therewith　another　consideration；　to　wit；　that　the　more　other　eyes
fedde　themselves　on　her　perfections；　and　were　（well…neere）　lost　in
them　beyond　recovery：　so　much　the　greater　reason　had　he　to　account　his
fortune　beyond　comparison；　that　was　the　sole　master　of　her　heart；
and　had　her　love　at　his　command。
　　Our　witty　Scholler　having　set　aside　his　Philosophicall
considerations；　strove　how　he　might　best　understand　her　carriage
toward　him；　and　beleeving　that　she　beheld　him　with　pleasing　regards；
hee　learned　to　know　the　house　where　shee　dwelt；　passing　daily　by　the
doore　divers　times；　under　colour　of　some　more　serious　occasions：
wherein　the　Lady　very　proudly　gloried；　in　regard　of　the　reasons　before
alleadged；　and　seemed　to　affoord　him　lookes　of　goode　liking。　Being　led
thus　with　a　hopefull　perswasion；　bee　found　the　meanes　to　gaine
acquaintance　with　her　waiting…woman；　revealing　to　her　his　intire
affection；　desiring　her　to　worke　for　him　in　such　sort　with　her　Lady；
that　his　service　might　be　gracious　in　her　acceptance。　The
Gentlewoman　made　him　a　very　willing　promise；　and　immediately　did　his
errand　to　her　Lady；　who　heard　her　with　no　small　pride　and
squemishnesse；　and　breaking　forth　into　a　scornefull　laughter；　thus　she
spake。
　　Ancilla　（for　so　she　was　named）　dost　thou　not　observe；　how　this
Scholler　is　come　to　lose　all　the　wit　heere；　which　he　studyed　so　long
for　in　the　University　of　Paris？　Let　us　make　him　our　onely　Table
argument；　and　seeing　his　folly　soareth　so　high；　we　will　feed　him
with　such　a　dyet　as　hee　deserveth。　Yet　when　thou　speakest　next　with
him；　tell　him；　that　I　affect　him　more　then　he　can　doe　me；　but　it
becommeth　me　to　be　carefull　of　mine　honour；　and　to　walke　with　an
untainted　brow；　as　other　Ladies　and　Gentlewomen　doe：　which　he　is　not
to　mislike；　if　he　be　so　wise　as　he　maketh　shew　of；　but　rather　will　the
more　commend　me。　Alas　good　Lady　lack…wit；　little　did　she　understand
（faire　assembly）　how　dangerous　a　case　it　is　＇to＇　deale　with　Schollers。
　　At　his　next　meeting　with　the　waiting　woman；　shee　delivered　the
message；　as　her　Lady　had　commanded　her；　whereof　poore　Reniero　was　so
joyfull：　that　hee　pursued　his　love…suite　the　more　earnestly；　and　began
to　write　letters；　send　gifts；　and　tokens；　all　which　were　still
received；　yet　without　any　other　answere　to　give　hope；　but　onely　in
generall；　and　thus　shee　dallied　with　him　a　long　while。　In　the　end；　she
discovered　this　matter　to　her　secret　chosen　friend；　who　fell
suddenly　sicke　of　the　head…ake；　onely　through　meere　conceit　of
jealousie：　which　she　perceiving；　and　grieving　to　be　suspected
without　any　cause；　especially　by　him　whom　shee　esteemed　above　all
other；　shee　intended　to　rid　him　quickely　of　that　Idle　disease。　And
being　more　and　more　solicited　by　the　Scholler；　she　sent　him　word　by
her　maide　Ancilla；　that　（as　yet）　she　could　find　no　convenient
opportunity；　to　yeeld　him　such　assurance；　as　hee　should　not　any　way　be
distrustfull　of　her　love。
　　But　the　Feast　of　Christmas　was　now　neere　at　hand；　which　afforded
leisures　much　more　hopefull；　then　any　other　formerly　passed。　And
therefore；　the　next　night　after　the　first　Feasting　day；　if　he
pleased　to　walke　in　the　open　Court　of　her　house：　she　would　soone
send　for　him；　into　a　place　much　better　beseeming；　and　where　they　might
freely　converse　together。
　　Now　was　our　Scholler　the　onely　jocond　man　of　the　world；　and　failed
not　the　time　assigned　him；　but　went　unto　the　Ladies　house；　where
Ancilla　was　ready　to　give　him　entertainment；　conducting　him　into　the
base　Court；　where　she　lockt　him　up　fast；　untill　her　Lady　should　send
for　him。　This　night　shee　had　privately　sent　for　her　friend　also；　and
sitting　merrily　at　supper　with　him；　told　him；　what　welcome　she　had
given　the　Scholler；　and　how　she　further　meant　to　use　him；　saying。
Now　Sir；　consider　with　your　selfe；　what　hot　affection　I　beare　to
him；　of　whom　you　became　so　fondly　jealous。　The　which　words　were　very
welcome　to　him；　and　made　him　extraordinarily　joyful；　desiring　to　see
them　as　effectually　performed；　as　they　appeared　to　him　by　her
protestations。
　　Heere　you　are　to　understand　（Gracious　Ladies）　that　according　to
the　season　of　the　yeare；　a　great　snow　had　falne　the　day　before；　so
as　the　whole　Court　was　covered　therewith；　and　being　an　extreame
frost　upon　it；　our　Scholler　could　not　boast　of　any　warme　walking；　when
the　teeth　quivered　in　his　head　with　cold；　as　a　Dog　could　not　be　more
discourteously　used：　yet　hope　of　enjoying　Loves　recompence　at
length；　made　him　to　support　all　this　injury　with　admirable　patience。
　　Within　a　while　after；　Madame　Helena　said　to　her　friend。　Walke　with
me　（deare　sal　heart）　into　my　Chamber；　and　there　at　a　secret　little
window；　I　shall　shew　thee　what　he　doth；　that　drove　thee　to　such　a
suspition　of　me；　and　we　shall　heare　beside；　what　answere　he　will
give　my　maide　Ancilla；　whom　I　will　send　to　comfort　him　in　his
coldnesse。
　　When　she　had　so　said；　they　went　to　the　appointed　chamber　window；
where　they　could　easily　see　him；　but　he　not　them：　and　then　they
heard　Ancilla　also；　calling　to　him　forth　of　another　windowe；　saying。
Signior　Reniero；　my　Lady　is　the　wofullest　woman　in　the　world；
because　（as　yet）　she　cannot　come　to　you；　in　regard　that　one　of　her
brethren　came　this　evening　to　visite　her；　and　held　her　with　much
longer　discourse　then　she　expected：　whereby　she　was　constrained　to
invite　him　to　sup　with　her；　and　yet　he　is　not　gone；　b