the decameron(十日谈)-第179章
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the Tower？ Full well she knew the voyce of her peazant； and
therefore called unto him； and sayd in this maner。
Go （quoth she） I pray thee for my Waiting…woman Ancilla； and bid her
make some meanes to come up hither to me。 The Clowne knowing his Lady；
sayde。 How now Madame？ Who hath carried you up there so high？ Your
Woman Ancilla hath sought for you all this day； yet no one could
ever have immagined you to bee there。 So looking about him； he
espyed the two sides of the Ladder； which the Scholler had pulled in
sunder； as also the steppes； which he had scattered thereabout；
placing them in due order againe as they should bee； and binding
them fast with Withies and Willowes。
By this time Ancilla was come thither； who so soone as shee was
entred into the Tower； could not refrain from teares and complaints；
beating her hands each against other； and crying out。 Madam； deare
Lady and Mistresse！ Alas； Wher are you？ So soone as she heard the
tongue of Ancilla； she replyed （so well as she could） saying： Ah my
sweet Woman； I am heere aloft uppon the Tarras； weepe not； neyther
make any noyse； but quickely bring me some of my Garments。 When shee
heard her answer in such comfortable maner； she mounted up the Ladder；
which the peazant had made very firme and strong； holding it fast
for her safer ascending； by which meanes she went up on the Tarras。
Beholding her Ladie in so strange a condition； resembling no humane
body； but rather the trunke of a Tree halfe burned； lying flat on
her face； naked； scorched and strangely deformed： shee beganne to
teare the lockes of her owne hayre； raving and raging in as
pittifull manner； as if her Ladie had beene quite dead。 Which storming
tempest； Madame Helena soone pacified； entreating her to use
silence； and helpe to put on her garments。
Having understood by her； that no one knew of her being there； but
such as brought her cloathes； and the poore peazant； attending there
still to do her any service： shee became the better comforted；
entreating them by all meanes； that it might bee concealed from any
further discovery； which was on eyther side； most faithfullie
protested。
The poore Clowne holpe to beare downe his Lady uppon his backe；
because the Ladder stood not conveniently enough for her descending；
neither were her limbes plyable for her owne use； by reason of their
rifts and smarting。 Ancilla following after； and being more respective
of her Lady； then her owne security in descending； missing the step in
the midst of the Ladder； fell downe to the ground； and quite brake her
legge in the fall； the paine whereof was so greevous to her； that
she cried and roared extraordinarily； even like a Lyon in the desert。
When the Clowne had set his Lady safe on a faire green banke； he
returned to see what the waiting woman ayled； and finding her leg to
be quite broken： he caried her also to the same banke； and there
seated her by her Lady： who perceiving what a mischance had hapned；
and she （from whom she expected her onely best helpe） to bee now in
far greater necessity her selfe： shee lamented exceedingly；
complaining on Fortunes cruel malice toward her； in thus heaping one
misery upon another； and never ceasing to torment her； especially
now in the conclusion of all； and when shee thought all future
perils to be past。
Now was the Sun upon his setting； when the poore honest country…man；
because darke night should not overtake them； conducted the Lady
home to his owne house： and gaining the assistance of his two brethren
and wife； setting the waiting…woman in a Chaire； thither they
brought her in like manner。 And questionles； there wanted no diligence
and comfortable language； to pacifie the Ladyes continuall
lamentations。 The good wife； led the Lady into hir own poore
lodging； where （such cates as they had to feede on） lovingly she set
before her： conveying her afterward into her owne bed； and taking such
good order； that Ancilla was carried in the night time to Florence； to
prevent all further ensuing danger； by reason of her legs breaking。
Madame Helena； to colour this misfortune of her owne： as also the
great mishap of her woman： forged an artificiall and cunning tale；
to give some formall apparance of hir being in the Tower； perswading
the poore simple Country people； that in a straunge accident of
thunder and lightning； and by the illusions of wicked spirits； all
this adventure hapned to her。 Then Physitians were sent for； who；
not without much anguish and affliction to the Ladie （by reason of her
fleshes flaying off； with the Medicines and Emplaysters applyed to the
body） was glad to suffer whatsoever… they did； beside falling into a
very dangerous Feaver； out of which she was not recovered in a long
while after； but continued in daily dispayre of her life； beside other
accidents hapning in her time of Physicke； utterly unavoydable in such
extreamities： and hardly had Ancilla her legge cured。
By this unexpected pennance imposed on Madame Helena； she utterly
forgot her amorous friend； and （from thence forward） carefully kept
her selfe from fond loves allurements； and such scornfull behaviour；
wherein she was most disorderly faulty。 And Reniero the Scholler；
understanding that Ancilla had broken her leg； r ； which he reputed as
a punishment sufficient for her； held himselfe satisfyed； because
neither the Mistresse nor her Maide； could now make any great boast；
of his nights hard entertainment； and so concealed all matters else。
Thus a wanton…headed Lady； could finde no other subject to worke her
mocking folly on； but a learned Scholler； of whom shee made no more
respect； then any other ordinary man。 Never remembring； that such
men are expert （I cannot say all； but the greater part of them） to
helpe the frenzie of foolish Ladies； that must injoy their loose
desires； by Negromancy； and the Divelles meanes。 Let it therefore
（faire Ladies） be my loving admonition to you； to detest all unwomanly
mocking and scorning； but more especiallie to Schollers。
THE EIGHT DAY； THE EIGHT NOVELL
WHEREIN IS APPROVED； THAT HE WHICH OFFERETH SHAME AND DISGRACE TO
HIS NEIGHBOUR； MAY RECEIVE THE LIKE INJURY （IF
NOT IN WORSE MANNER） BY THE SAME MAN
Two neere dwelling Neighbours； the one beeing named Spineloccio
Tavena； and the other Zeppa di Mino； frequenting each others company
daily。 together； Spinelloccio Cuckolded his Friend and Neighbour。
Which happening to the knowledge of Zeppa； he prevailed so well with
the Wife of Spinelloccio； that he being lockt up in a Chest； he
revenged his wrong at that instant； so that neyther of them complained
of his misfortune。
Greevous； and full of compassion； appeared the hard Fortunes of
Madame Helena to be； having much descontented； and （well…neere）
wearied all the Ladies in hearing them recounted。 But because they
were very justly inflicted upon her； and according as （in equity） shee
had deserved； they were the more moderate in their commisseration：
howbeit； they reputed the Scholler not onely over…obstinate； but
also too strict； rigorous and severe。 Wherefore； when Madame
Pampinea had finished hir Novell； the Queene gave command to Madame
Fiammetta； that she should follow next with her discourse； whereto
shee shewing obedience； thus beganne。
Because it appeareth in my judgement （faire Ladyes） that the
Schollers cruelty hath much displeased you； making you more
melancholly then this time requireth： I holde it therefore very
convenient； that your contristed spirits should be chearfully revived；
with matter more pleasing and delightfull。 And therefore； I mean to
report a Novell of a certaine man； who too an injury done him； in much
milder manner； and revenged his wrong more moderately； then the
furious incensed Scholler did。 Whereby you may comprehend； that it
is sufficient for any man； and so he ought to esteeme it； to serve
another with the same sawce； which the offending party caused him
first to taste of： without coveting any stricter revenge； then agreeth
with the quality of the injury received。
Know then （Gracious assembly） that； as have heretofore heard；
there lived not long since
