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第186章

the decameron(十日谈)-第186章

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that he cannot daunt you; hee will gently come neere you; which when
he hath done; you may descend from off the Tombe; and; without
naming or thinking on God; or any of his Saintes; mount boldly on
his backe; for he will stand ready to receive you。 Being so seated;
crosse your armes over your brest; without presuming to touch or
handle the Beast; for he will carry you thence softly; and so bring
you along to the company。 But if in all this time of your travaile;
you call on heaven; any Saint; or bee possessed with the least thought
of feare: I must plainely tell you; that either hee will cast you
dangerously; or throw you into some noysom place。 And therefore; if
you know your selfe; not to be of a constant courage; and sprightly
bold; to undertake such an adventure as this: never presume any
further; because you may doe us a great deale of injurie; without
any gaine or benefite to your selfe; but rather such wrong; as we
would be very sorry should happen unto so deere a Friend。
  Alas honest Buffalmaco; answered the Physitian; thou art not halfe
acquainted with me as yet: because I walke with gloves upon my
hands; and in a long Gowne; thou perhappes doest imagine mee a
faint…hearted fellow。 If thou didst know; what I have heeretofore done
at Bologna in the night time; when I and my Consorts went to visite
pretty wenches; thou wouldst wonder at my couragious attempts。 As I am
a Gentleman; one night; we met with a young Bona Roba; a paltry
greene…sicknesse baggage; scarsely above a Cubite in height; and
because she refused to go with us willingly; I gave her a kicke on the
bum; and spurnde her more then a Crosse…bowe shoote in distance from
me; and made her walke with us whether she would; or no。 Another
time I remember; when having no other company but my boy; I went
thorow the Churchyard of the Fryars Minors; after the sounding of
Ave Maria: a woman hadde beene buried there the very same day; and yet
I was not a jotte affraid。
  Wherefore; never be distrustfull of mee; but resolvedly builde
upon my courage。 And in regard of my more honourable entertainment;
I will then weare my Scarlet Gowne and Hood; wherein I receyved my
graduation; and then do both of you observe; what a rejoycing will
be among the whole company; at the entertaining of such a man as I am;
enough to create me Captaine immediatly。 You shall perceive also how
the case will go; after I have beene there but a while; in regard that
the Countesse (having as yet never seene me) is so deepely enamored of
mee: she cannot choose but bestow the Bathe and Knighthood on me;
which shee shall have the more honour of; in regard I am well able
to maintaine it; therefore referre all the rest to mee; and never
misdoubt your injurie or mine。
  Spoken like a Gallant; replyed Buffalmaco; and I feare not now;
but we shall winne credite by your company。 But be carefull I pray
you; that you make not a mockery of us; and come not at all; or
fayle to be there; when the Beast shall be sent for you; I speake it
the rather; because it is cold weather; and you Gentlemen Physitians
can hardly endure it。 You are carefull of mee (quoth the Doctor) and I
thanke you for it; but I applaud my faire Starres; I am none of your
nice or easie…frozen fellowes; because cold weather is very familiar
to me。 I dare assure you; when I arise in the night time for that
naturall office whereto all men are subject; I weare no warmer
defence; then my thin wastcoat over my shirt; and finde it
sufficient for the coldest weather at any time。 When Bruno and
Buffalmaco had taken their leave; the Physitian; so soone as night
drew neere; used many apt excuses to his wife; stealing forth his
Scarlet Gowne and Hood unseene of any; wherewith being clothed: at the
time appointed; he got upon one of the Marble Tombes; staying there
(quaking with cold) awaiting when the Beast should come。 Buffalmaco;
being a lusty tall man of person; had got an ugly masking suite;
such as are made use of in Tragedies and Playes; the out…side being of
black shagged haire; wherwith being cloathed; he seemed like a strange
deformed Beare; and a Divels vizard over his face; with two gastly
horrible hornes; and thus disguised; Bruno following him; they went to
behold the issue of the businesse; so farre as the new Market place;
closely adjoining to Santa Maria Novella。
  Having espyed Master Doctor uppon the Tombe; Buffalmaco in his
mishapen habite; began to bound; leape; and carriere; snuffling and
blowing in mad and raging manner: which when the Physitian saw; his
haire stood on end; he quaked and trembled; as being more fearfull
then a Woman; wishing himselfe at home againe in his house; rather
then to behold a sight so dreadfull。 But because he was come forth;
and had such an earnest desire; to see the wonders related to him;
he made himselfe so coragious as possibly he could; and bare all out
in formall manner。 After that Buiffalmaco had (an indifferent while)
plaide his horsetrickes; ramping and stamping somewhat strangely:
seeming as become of much milder temper; he went neere to the Tomb
whereon the Physitian stood; and there appeared to stay contentedly。
  Master Doctor; trembling and quaking still extreamely; was so
farre dismayed; as he knew not what was best to be done; either to
mount on the beasts backe; or not to mount at all。 In the end;

thinking no harme could happen to him; if he were once mounted; with
the second feare; hee expelled the former; and descending downe softly
from the Tombe; mounted on the beast; saying out alowde: God; Saint
Dominicke; and my good Angell helpe to defend mee。 Seating himselfe so
well as he could; but trembling still exceedingly; he crossed his
armes over his stomacke; according to the Lesson given him。
  Then did Buffalmaco shape his course in milde manner; toward Santa
Maria della Scala; and groping to finde his way in the darke; went
on so farre as the Sisters of Ripole; commonly called the Virgin
Sanctuary。 Not farre off from thence; were divers trenches and
ditches; wherein such men as are imployed in necessary
nightservices; used to empty the Countesse di Cimillari; and afterward
imployed it for manuring Husbandmens grounds。 Buffalmaco; being come
neere one of them; he stayed to breath himselfe awhile; and then
catching fast hold on one of the Doctours feete; raysed him somewhat
higher on his back; for the easier discharging of his burthen; and
so pitched him (with his head forwardes) into the Laystall。
  Then began he to make a dreadful kinde of noise; stamping and
trampling with his feete; passing backe againe to Santa Maria della
Scala; and to Prato d'Ognissanti; where hee met with Bruno; who was
constrained to forsake him; because he could not refraine from lowde
Laughter; then both together went backe once more; to see how the
Physitian would behave himselfe; being so sweetely embrued。
  Master Doctor; seeing himselfe to bee in such an abhominable
stinking place; laboured with all his utmost endevour; to get
himself released thence: but the more he contended and strove for
getting forth; he plunged himselfe the further in; being most
pitifully myred from head to foot; sighing and sorrowing
extraordinarily; because much of the foule water entred in at his
mouth。 In the end; being forced to leave his hood behinde him;
scrambling both with his hands and feet; he got landing out of his
stinking Labyrinth; and having no other means; home he returned to his
own house; where knocking at the door he was at length admitted
entrance。 The doore being scarse made fast againe after his letting
in; Buffalmaco and Bruno were there arrived; listning how M。 Doctor
should bee welcomd home by his angry wife: who scolding and railing at
him with wonderfull impatience; gave him most hard and bitter
speeches; terming him the vilest man living。
  Where have you bin Sir? quoth she。 Are you becom a night…walker
after other Women? And could no worse garments serve your turne; but
your Doctors gown of Scarlet? Am I to suffer this behaviour? Or am not
I sufficient to content you; but you must be longing after change? I
would thou hadst bin stifled in that foule filth; where thy fouler
life did jus

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