the decameron(十日谈)-第174章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


could　not　affoord；　another　may　make　a　sound　amends　for。　This　I　can　and
dare　sufficiently　assure　you；　that　nothing　could　be　more　displeasing
to　my　Lady；　neither　can　she　well　be　quieted　in　her　mind：　untill　she
have　made　a　double　and　treble　requitall；　for　such　a　strange　unexpected
inconvenience；　whereof　she　had　not　the　very　least　suspition。
　　Reniero　swelling　with　discontentment；　yet　wisely　clouding　it　from
open　apprehension；　and　knowing　well　enough；　that　such　golden
speeches　and　promises；　did　alwaies　savour　of　what　intemperate
spleene　would　more　lavishly　have　vented　foorth；　and　therefore　in　a
modest　dissembling　manner；　without　the　least　shew　of　any　anger；　thus
he　answered。
　　In　good　sadnesse　Ancilla；　I　have　endured　the　most　miserablest
night　of　cold；　frost　and　snow；　that　ever　any　poore　Gentleman　suffered；
but　I　know　well　enough；　your　Lady　was　not　in　any　fault　thereof；
neither　meriteth　to　be　blamed；　for　in　her　owne　person　（as　being　truely
compassionate　of　my　distresse）　she　came　so　farre　as　the　doore　of
this　Court；　to　excuse　her　selfe；　and　comfort　mee。　But　as　you　saide；
and　very　well　too；　what　hath　failed　this　night；　another　hereafter
may　more　fortunately　performe：　in　hope　whereof；　commend　my　love　and
duteous　service　to　her；　and　（what　else　remaineth　mine）　to　your
gentle　selfe。
　　So　our　halfe　frozen　Scholler；　scarcely　able　to　walke　upon　his
legges；　returned　home；　（so　well　as　hee　could）　to　his　owne　lodging；
where；　his　spirits　being　grievously　out　of　order；　and　his　eyes　staring
gastly　through　lacke　of　sleepe：　he　lay　downe　on　h　bed；　and　after　a
little　rest；　he　found　himselfe　in　much　worse　condition　then　before；　as
meerely　taken　lame　in　his　armes　and　his　legges。　Whereupon　he　was
inforced　to　send　for　Phisitions；　to　be　advised　by　their　councell；　in
such　an　extremity　of　cold　received。　Immediately；　they　made　provision
for　his　healthes　remedie　（albeit　his　nerves　and　sinewes　could　very
hardly　extend　themselves）　yet　in　regard　he　was　yong；　and　Summer
swiftly　drawing　on；　they　had　the　better　hope　of　affecting　his　safty；
out　of　so　great　and　dangerous　a　cold。
　　But　after　he　was　become　almost　well　and　lusty　againe；　hee　used　to　be
seldome　seene　abroad　for　an　indifferent　while；　concealing　his　intended
revenge　secret　to　himselfe；　yet　appearing　more　affectionate　to
Madame　Helena；　then　formerly　he　had　beene。
　　Now；　it　came　to　passe　（within　no　long　while　after）　that　Fortune
being　favourable　to　our　injured　Scholler；　prepared　a　new　accident；
wherby　he　might　fully　effect　his　harts　desire。　For　the　lusty　yong
Gallant；　who　was　Madame　Helenaes　deare　darling　and　delight；　and　（for
whose　sake）　she　dealt　so　inhumanely　with　poore　Reniero：　became　weary
of　her　amourous　service；　and　was　falne　in　liking　of　another　Lady；
scorning　and　disdaining　his　former　Mistresse；　whereat　shee　grew
exceedingly　displeased；　and　began　to　languish　in　sighes　and　teares。
　　But　Ancilla　her　waiting…woman；　compassionating　the　perilous
condition　of　her　Lady；　and　knowing　no　likely　meanes　whereby　to　conquer
this　oppressing　melancholly；　which　shee　suffered　for　the　losse　of
her　hearts　chosen　friend：　at　length　she　began　to　consider；　that　the
Scholler　still　walked　daily　by　the　doore；　as　formerly　hee　was　wont
to　doe；　and　（by　him）　there　might　some　good　be　done。
　　A　fond　and　foolish　opinion　overswayed　her；　that　the　Scholler　was
extraordinarily　skilfull　in　the　Art　of　Nigromancy；　and　could　thereby
so　over…rule　the　heart　of　her　lost　friend；　as　hee　should　bee　compelled
to　love　her　againe；　in　as　effectuall　manner　as　before；　herewith
immediately　she　acquainted　her　Lady；　who　being　as　rashly　credulous；　as
her　maide　was　opinionative　（never　considring；　that　if　the　Scholler　had
any　experience　in　Negromancy；　hee　would　thereby　have　procured　his　owne
successe）　gave　releefe　to　her　surmise；　in　very　joviall　and　comfortable
manner；　and　entreated　her　in　all　kindnes；　to　know　of　him；　whether　he
could　worke　such　a　businesse；　or　no；　and　（upon　his　undertaking　to
effect　it）　shee　would　give　absolute　assurance；　that　（in　recompence
thereof）　he　should　unfainedly　obtaine　his　hearts　desire。　Ancilla　was
quicke　and　expeditious；　in　delivering　this　message　to　discontented
Reniero；　whose　soule　being　ready　to　mount　out　of　his　body；　onely　by
conceit　of　joy；　chearefully　thus　he　said　within　himselfe。　Gracious
Fortune！　how　highly　am　I　obliged　to　thee　for　this　so　great　favour？　Now
thou　hast　blest　me　with　a　happy　time；　to　be　justly　revenged　on　so
wicked　a　woman；　who　sought　the　utter　ruine　of　my　life；　in　recompence
of　the　unfaigned　affection　I　bare　her。　Returne　to　thy　Lady　（quoth
he）　and　saluting　her　first　on　my　behalfe；　bid　her　to　abandon　all
care　in　this　businesse；　for；　if　her　amourous　Friend　were　in　India；　I
would　make　him　come　（in　meere　despight　of　his　heart）　and　crave　mercy
of　her　for　his　base　transgression。　But　concerning　the　meanes　how；
and　in　what　manner　it　is　to　bee　done；　especially　on　her　owne
behalfe：　I　will　impart　it　to　her　so　soone　as　she　pleaseth：　faile　not
to　tell　her　so　constantly　from　me；　with　all　my　utmost　paines　at　her
service。
　　Ancilla　came　jocondly　home　with　her　answere；　and　a　conclusion　was
set　downe　for　their　meeting　together　at　Santa　Lucia　del　prato；　which
accordingly　was　performed；　in　very　solemne　conference　between　them。
Her　fond　affection　had　such　power　over　her；　that　shee　had　forgot；　into
what　peril　she　brought　his　life；　by　such　an　unnatural　nightwalke：
but　disclosed　all　her　other　intention　to　him；　how　loth　she　was　to　lose
so　deare　a　friend；　and　desiring　him　to　exercise　his　utmost　height　of
skil；　with　large　promises　of　her　manifold　favours　to　him；　whereto
our　Scholler　thus　replyed。
　　Very　true　it　is　Madam；　that　among　other　studies　at　Paris；　I
learned　the　Art　of　Negromancy；　the　depth　whereof　I　am　as　skilfull
in；　as　anie　other　Scholler　whatsoever。　But；　because　it　is　greatly
displeasing　unto　God；　I　made　a　vow　never　to　use　it；　either　for　my
selfe；　or　anie　other。　Neverthelesse；　the　love　I　beare　you　is　of　such
power；　as　I　know　not　well　how　to　denie；　whatsoever　you　please　to
command　me：　in　which　respect；　if　in　doing　you　my　very　best　service；
I　were　sure　to　bee　seized　on　by　all　the　divels：　I　will　not　faile　to
accomplish　your　desire；　you　onely　having　the　power　to　command　me。
But　let　me　tell　you　Madame；　it　is　a　matter　not　so　easie　to　be
performed；　as　you　perhaps　may　rashly　imagine；　especially；　when　a　Woman
would　repeale　a　man　to　love　her；　or　a　man　a　woman：　because；　it　is
not　to　be　done；　but　by　the　person　whom　it　properly　concerneth。　And
therefore　it　behoveth；　that　such　as　would　have　this　businesse
effected；　must　be　of　a　constant　minde；　without　the　least　scruple　of
feare：　because　it　is　to　be　accomplished　in　the　darke　night　season；
in　which　difficulties　I　doe　not　know；　how　you　are　able　to　warrant　your
selfe；　or　whether　you　have　such　courage　of　spirit；　as　（with　boldnes）
to　adventure。
　　Madame　Helena；　more　hot　in　pursuite　of　her　amorous　contentment；　then
any　way　governed　by　temperate　discretion；　presently　thus　answered。
Sir；　Love　hath　set　such　a　keene　edge　on　my　unconquerable　affection；　as
there　is　not　any　daunger　so　difficult；　but　I　dare　resolutely　undertake
it；　for　the　recovery　of　him；　who　hath　so　shamefullie　refused　my
kindnesse：　wherefore　（if　you　please）　shew　mee；　wherein　I　must　be　so
constant　and　dreadlesse。　The　Scholler；　who　had　（more　then　halfe）
caught　a　right　Ninnyhammer　by　the　beake；　thus　replyed。　Madame；　of
necessity　I　must　make　an　image　of　Tin；　in　the　name　of　him　whom　you
desire　to　recall。　Which　when　I　have　sent　you；　the　Moone　being　then
in　her　full；　and　your　selfe　stript　starke　naked：　immediately　after
your　first　sleepe；　seaven　times　you　must　bathe　your　selfe　with　it　in　a
swift　running　River。　Afterward；　naked　as　you　are；　you　must　climbe　up
upon　some　tree；　or　else　upon　an　uninhabited　house　top；　where
standing　dreadlesse　of　any　perill；　and　turning　your　face　to　the　North；
with　the　Image　in　your　hand；　seaven　times　you　must　speake　such　wordes；
as　I　will　deliver　to　you　in　writing。
　　After　you　have　so　often　spoken　them；　two　goodly　Ladies　（the　very
fairest　that　ever　you　beheld）　wil　appeare　unto　you；　very　graciously
saluting　you；　and　demanding　what　you　would　have　them　to　performe　for
you。　Safely　you　may　speake　unt