the decameron(十日谈)-第182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！


the　Cittie　beside；　and　verily　they　did　so　in　deede。　Wherefore；　he
demanded　of　divers　persons；　who　had　good　understanding　of　them　both；
of　what　estate　and　condition　they　were。　And　hearing　by　every　one；　that
they　were　but　poore　men　and　Painters：　he　greatly　mervailed；　how　it
could　be　possible　for　them；　that　they　should　live　so　jocondly；　and
in　such　poverty。　It　was　related　to　him　further　beside；　that　they
were　men　of　a　quicke　and　ingenious　apprehension；　whereby　hee
politikely　imagined；　that　theyr　poore　condition　could　not　so　well
maintaine　them；　without　some　courses　else；　albeit　not　publiquely
knowne　unto　men；　yet　redounding　to　their　great　commoditie　and　profite。
In　which　regard；　he　grew　exceeding　desirous；　by　what　meanes　he　might
become　acquainted；　and　grow　into　familiarity　with　them　both；　or　any　of
them；　at　the　least：　wherein　（at　the　length）　he　prevailed；　and　Bruno
proved　to　be　the　man。
　　Now　Bruno　plainly　perceiving　（within　a　short　while　of　this　new　begun
acquaintance）　that　the　Physitian　was　a　Loggerhead；　and　meerely　no
better　then　a　Gregorian　Animall：　he　beganne　to　have　much　good
pastime　with　him；　by　telling　him　strange　and　incredible　Tales；　such　as
none　but　a　Coxcombe　would　give　credit　too；　yet　they　delighted　Doctor
Dunce　extraordinarily；　and　Brunoes　familiarity　was　so　highly
pleasing　to　him；　that　he　was　a　daily　guest　at　dinner　and　supper　with
him；　and　hee　was　not　meanly　proud　of　enjoying　his　company。　One　day；　as
they　sate　in　familiar　conference　together；　he　told　Bruno　that　he
wondred　not　a　little　at　him　and　Buffalmaco；　they　being　both　so　poore
people；　yet　lived　far　more　jovially　then　Lords；　and　therefore
desired　to　understand；　by　what　secret　meanes　they　compassed　such
mirthful　maintenance。　Bruno；　hearing　the　Doctors　demaund；　and
perceiving　that　it　savoured　more　of　the　foole；　then　any　the　very　least
taste　of　wisedome：　smiled　unto　himselfe；　and　determined　to　returne　him
such　an　answere；　as　might　be　fitting　for　his　folly；　whereupon；　thus　he
replied。
　　Beleeve　me　Master　Doctor；　I　would　not　impart　to　many　people；　what
private　helpes　we　have　for　our　maintenance：　but　yet　I　dare　boldly
acquaint　you　therewith；　in　regard　you　are　one　of　our　most　intimate
friends；　and　of　such　secrecie；　as　（I　know）　you　will　not　reveale　it
to　any。　True　it　is；　that　mine　honest　neighbor　and　my　selfe；　do　leade
our　lives　in　such　merry　manner　as　you　see；　and　better　then　all　the
world　is　aware　of；　for　I　cannot　imagine　you　to　bee　so　ignorant；　but
are　certainly　perswaded：　that　if　we　had　no　better　means；　then　our
poore　manuall　trade　and　profession；　we　might　sit　at　home　with　bread
and　water；　and　be　nothing　so　lively　spirited　as　wee　are。　Yet　Sir；　I
would　not　have　you　to　conceive；　that　wee　do　eyther　rob　or　steale；　or
use　any　other　unlawfull　courses：　onely　we　travayle　to　Corsica；　from
whence　we　bring　（without　the　least　prejudice　to　anie　other）　all　things
we　stand　in　need　of；　or　whatsoever　wee　can　desire。　Thus　do　we
maintaine　our　selves　well　and　honestly；　and　live　in　this　mirthfull
disposition。
　　Master　Doctor　hearing　this　Discourse；　and　beleeving　it　constantly；
without　any　further　instruction　or　intelligence：　became　possessed　with
verie　much　admiration；　and　had　the　most　earnest　desire　in　the　world；
to　know　what　this　Travailing　to　Corsica　might　meane：　entreating
Bruno　with　very　great　instances；　to　tell　him　what　it　was；　and　made
many　protestations　never　to　disclose　it　to　anie　one。　How　now　Master
Doctor？　answered　Bruno；　What　a　strange　motion　do　you　make　to　mee？　It
is　too　great　a　secret；　which　you　desire　to　know；　yea；　a　matter　of　mine
owne　ruine；　and　an　utter　expulsion　out　of　this　Worlde；　with
condemnation　into　the　mouth　of　Lucifer　da　San　Gallo；　if　any　man
whatsoever　should　know　it　from　me；　wherefore　I　pray　you　to　urge　it
no　more。　O　my　deer　and　honest　neighbour　Bruno　（quoth　the　Doctor）
assure　thy　selfe　upon　my　soul；　that　whatsoever　thou　revealest　to　me；
shall　be　under　seale　from　all；　but　onely　our　selves。　Fie；　fie　Master
Doctor；　answered　Bruno；　you　are　too　pressing　and　importunate。　So
sitting　smiling　to　himselfe；　shaking　his　head；　and　beating　his　breast；
as　if　hee　were　in　some　straunge　distraction　of　minde；　stamping　with
his　feete；　and　beating　his　Fiste　oftentimes　on　the　Table；　at　ast　he
started　uppe；　and　spake　in　this　manner。
　　Ah　Master　Doctor；　the　love　I　be　to　your　capricious　and　rarely
circumcised　experience；　and　likewise　the　confidence　I　repose　in　your
scrutinous　taciturnitie；　are　both　of　such　mighty　and　prevailing
power　as　I　cannot　conceale　any　thing　from　you；　which　you　covet　to
know。　And　therefore；　if　you　wil　sweare　unto　me　by　the　crosse　of
Monteson；　that　never　（as　you　have　already　faithfully　promised）　you
will　disclose　a　secret　so　admirable；　I　will　relate　it　unto　you；　and
not　otherwise。　The　Doctor　sware；　and　sware　againe；　and　then　Bruno　thus
began。
　　Know　then　my　learned　and　judicious　Doctor；　that　it　is　not　long
time　since；　when　there　lived　in　this　Citie　of　ours；　a　man　very
excellent　in　the　Art　of　Nigromancie；　who　named　himselfe　Michale　Scoto；
because　he　was　a　Scottishman　borne；　of　many　woorthy　Gentlemen　（very
few　of　them　being　now　living）　hee　was　much　honoured　and　respected。
When　he　grew　desirous　to　depart　from　hence；　upon　their　earnest
motion　and　entreaty；　he　left　here　two　of　his　Schollers　behinde　him；
men　of　absolute　skill　and　experience：　giving　them　especial　charge
and　command；　to　do　all　possible　services　they　could　devise；　for
those　Gentlemen　who　had　so　highly　honoured　him。　The　two　famous
Schollers；　were　very　helpefull　to　those　Gentlemen；　in　divers　of
their　amorous　occasions；　and　verie　many　other　matters　besides。
　　Not　long　after；　they　finding　the　Citie；　and　behaviour　of　the
people　sufficiently　pleasing　to　them；　they　resolved　on　their
continuance　heere；　entering　into　a　league　of　love　and　friendshippe
with　divers；　never　regarding；　whether　they　were　Gentlemen；　or　no；　or
distinguishing　the　poore　from　the　rich：　but　only　in　being　conforme
to　their　complexions；　sociable　and　fit　for　friendship。
　　They　created　a　kinde　Society；　consisting　of　about　five　and　twenty
men；　who　should　meete　together　twice　in　a　moneth；　and　in　a　place
reputed　convenient　for　them：　where　being　so　assembled；　every　man
uttered　his　minde　to　those　two　Schollers；　in　such　cases　as　they　most
desired；　to　have　wherwith　they　were　all　satisfied　the　self…same　night。
It　came　so　to　passe；　that　Buffalmaco　and　I；　grew　into　acquaintance
with　those　two　worthy　Schollers；　and　our　private　familiarity
together　proved　so　prosperous；　that　we　were　admitted　into　the　same
Society；　and　so　have　ever　since　continued。　Now　Sir；　I　am　to　tell　you
matter　deserving　admiration；　and　which　（in　very　good　judgements）　would
seeme　to　exceed　all　beleefe。
　　For；　at　every　time　when　we　were　assembled　together：　you　are　not　able
to　imagine；　what　sumptuous　hangings　of　Tapistrie；　did　adorne　the
Hall　where　we　sate　at　meate；　the　Tables　covered　in　such　Royall　manner；
waited　on　by　numberless　Noble　and　goodly　attendants；　both　Women　and
Men；　serving　readily；　at　each　mans　command　of　the　company。　The　Basins；
Ewers；　Pots；　Flaggons；　and　all　the　vessels　else　which　stood　before；
and　for　the　service　of　our　diet；　being　composed　onely　of　Gold　and
Silver；　and　out　of　no　worse　did　we　both　eate　and　drinke：　the　viands
being　very　rare　and　dainty；　abounding　in　plenty　and　variety；　according
to　the　appetite　of　everie　person；　as　nothing　could　be　wished　for；
but　it　was　instantly　obtained。
　　In　good　sadnesse　Sir；　I　am　not　able　to　remember　and　tell　you　（within
the　compasse　of　a　thousand　yeares）　what；　and　how　manie　severall　kindes
of　Musicall　Instruments；　were　continually　played　on　before　us；　what
multiplicity　of　Waxe　lights　burned　in　all　partes　of　the　roomes；
neither　the　excessive　store　of　rich　Drugs；　Marchpanes；　Comfites；　and
rare　Banquetting　stuffe；　consumed　there　at　one　Feasting；　wherein　there
wanted　no　bounty　of　the　best　and　purest　wines。　Nor　do　I　（Master
Doctor）　repute　you　so　weakly　witted；　as　to　think；　that　in　the　time
of　our　being　thus　assembled　there；　any　of　us　al　were　cloathed　in
such　simple　and　meane　Garments；　as　ordinarily　are　worne　in　the　streets
on　mens　bodies；　or　any　so　silly　as　the　verie　best　you　have：　No　Sir；
not　any　one　man　among　us；　but　a