the decameron(十日谈)-第200章

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more　importunately；　then　all　the　while　before　he　hadde　done。　In　regard
whereof　Nicholetta　being　one　day　come　thither；　and　Bruno　having
conferred　both　with　her　and　Phillippo；　with　ful　determination　what　was
to　be　done；　he　began　with　Calandrino；　saying。　My　honest　Neighbour
and　Friend；　this　Woman　hath　made　a　thousand　promises；　to　graunt　what
thou　art　so　desirous　to　have；　and　I　plainly　perceive　that　she　hath
no　such　meaning；　but　meerely　plaies　with　both　our　noses。　In　which
respect；　seeing　she　is　so　perfidious；　and　will　not　perfourme　one　of
all　her　faithfull…made　promises：　if　thou　wilt　consent　to　have　it　so；
she　shall　be　compelled　to　do　it　whether　she　will　or　no。　Yea　marry
Bruno；　answered　Calandrino；　that　were　an　excellent　course　indeede；
if　it　could　be　done；　and　with　expedition。
　　Bruno　stood　musing　awhile　to　himselfe；　as　if　he　had　some　strange
stratagem　in　his　braine；　and　afterward　said。　Hast　thou　so　much
corage　Calandrino；　as　but　to　handle　a　peece　of　written　parchment；
which　I　will　give　thee？　Yes；　that　I　have　answered　Calandrino；　I　hope
that　needed　not　to　be　doubted。　then；　saide　Bruno；　procure　that　I　may
have　a　piece　of　Virgin　Parchment　brought　mee；　with　a　living　Bat　or
Reremouse；　three　graines　of　Incense；　and　an　hallowed　Candle；　then
leave　me　to　effect　what　shal　content　thee。　Calandrino　watched　all
the　next　night　following；　with　such　preparation　as　he　could　make；
onely　to　catch　a　Bat；　which　being　taken　at　the　last；　he　broght　it
alive　to　Bruno　（with　all　the　other　materials　appointed）　who　taking　him
alone　into　a　backer　Chamber；　there　hee　wrote　divers　follies　on　the
Parchment；　in　the　shape　of　strange　and　unusuall　Charracters；　which
he　delivered　to　Calandrino；　saying：　Be　bold　Calandrino；　and　build
constantly　uppon　my　wordes；　that　if　thou　canst　but　touch　her　with　this
sacred　Charractred　charme；　she　will　immediately　follow　thee；　and
fulfil　whatsoever　thou　pleasest　to　command　hir。　Wherefore；　if
Phillippo　do　this　day　walke　any　whither　abroad　from　this　house；
presume　to　salute　her；　in　any　manner　whatsoever　it　be；　and　touching
her　with　the　written　lines；　go　presently　to　the　barn　of　hay；　which
thou　perceivest　so　neere　adjoyning；　the　onely　convenient　place　that
can　be；　because　few　or　none　resort　thither。　She　shall　（in　despight
of　her　blood）　follow　thee；　and　when　thou　hast　her　there；　I　leave
thee　then　to　thy　valiant　victory。　Calandrino　stood　on　tiptoe；　like　a
man　newly　molded　by　Fortune；　and　warranted　Bruno　to　fulfil　all
effectually。
　　Nello；　whom　Calandrino　most　of　all　feared　and　mistrusted；　had　a　hand
as　deepe　as　any　of　the　rest　in　this　deceite；　and　was　as　forward　also
to　have　it　performed；　by　Brunoes　direction；　hee　went　unto　Florence；
where　being　in　company　with　Calandrinoes　Wife；　thus　hee　began。
　　Cousine；　thine　unkinde　usage　by　thine　husband；　is　not　unknown　to　me；
how　he　did　beate　thee　（beyond　the　compasse　of　all　reason）　when　he
brought　home　stones　from　the　plain　of　Mugnone；　in　which　regard；　I　am
very　desirous　to　have　thee　revenged　on　him：　which　if　thou　wilt　not　do；
never　repute　me　heereafter　for　thy　Kinsman　and　Friend。　He　is　falne
in　love　with　a　Woman　of　the　common　gender；　one　that　is　to　be　hired　for
money：　he　hath　his　private　meetings　with　her；　and　the　place　is
partly　knowne　to　me；　as　by　a　secret　appointment　（made　very　lately）　I
am　credibly　given　to　understand；　wherefore　walke　presently　along
with　me；　and　thou　shalt　take　him　in　the　heat　of　his　knavery。
　　All　the　while　as　these　words　were　uttering　to　her；　shee　could　not
dissemble　her　inward　impatience；　but　starting　up　as　halfe　franticke
with　fury。　she　said。　O　notorious　villaine！　Darest　thou　abuse　thine
honest　wife　so　basely？　I　sweare　by　blessed　Saint　Bridget；　thou　shalt
be　paid　with　coyne　of　thine　owne　stampe。　So　casting　a　light　wearing
Cloake　about　her；　and　taking　a　yong　woman　in　her　company；　shee　went
away　with　Nello　in　no　meane　haste。　Bruno　seeing　her　comming　a　farre
off；　said　to　Phillippo：　You　Sir；　you　know　what　is　to　be　done；　act　your
part　according　to　your　appointment。　Phillippo　went　immediately　into
the　roome；　where　Calandrino　and　his　other　Consorts　were　at　worke；
and　said　to　them。　Honest　friends；　I　have　certaine　occasions　which
command　mine　instant　being　at　Florence：　worke　hard　while　I　am
absent；　and　I　will　not　be　unthankefull　for　it。　Away　hee　departed
from　them；　and　hid　himselfe　in　a　convenient　place；　where　he　could
not　be　descryed；　yet　see　whatsoever　Calandrino　did：　who　when　he
imagined　Phillippo　to　be　farre　enough　off；　descended　downe　into　the
Court；　where　he　found　Nicholetta　sitting　alone；　and　going　towards　her；
began　to　enter　into　discoursing　with　her。
　　She　knowing　what　remained　to　bee　done　on　her　behalfe；　drew
somewhat　neere　him；　and　shewed　her　selfe　more　familiar　then　formerly
she　had　done：　by　which　favourable　meanes；　he　touched　her　with　the
charmed　Parchment；　which　was　no　sooner　done；　but　with　out　using　any
other　kinde　of　language；　hee　went　to　the　hay…Barne；　whither
Nicholletta　followed　him；　and　both　being　entred；　he　closed　the　Barne
doore；　and　then　stood　gazing　on　her；　as　if　hee　had　never　seene　her
before。　Standing　stil　as　in　a　study；　or　bethinking　himselfe　what　he
should　say：　she　began　to　use　affable　gesture　to　him；　and　taking　him　by
the　hand；　made　shew　as　if　shee　meant　to　kisse　him；　which　yet　she
refrained；　though　he　（rather　then　his　life）　would　gladly　have　had
it。　Why　how　now　deare　Calandrino　（quoth　she）　jewell　of　my　joy；　comfort
of　my　heart；　how　many　times　have　I　longed　for　thy　sweet　Company？　And
enjoying　it　now；　according　to　mine　owne　desire；　dost　thou　stand　like　a
Statue；　or　man　alla　morte？　The　rare　tunes　of　the　Gitterne；　but　（much
more）　the　melodious　accents　of　thy　voyce；　excelling　Orpheus　or
Amphion；　so　ravished　my　soule；　as　I　know　not　how　to　expresse　the　depth
of　mine　affection；　and　yet　hast　thou　brought　me　hither；　onely　to　looke
babies　in　mine　eyes；　and　not　so　much　as　speake　one　kinde　word　to　me？
　　Bruno　and　Buffalmaco；　having　hid　themselves　close　behinde
Philippo；　they　both　heard　and　saw　all　this　amourous　conflict；　and　as
Calandrino　was　quickning　his　courage；　and　wiping　his　mouth；　with
intent　to　kisse　her：　his　wife　and　Nello　entred　into　the　Barne；　which
caused　Nicholetta　to　get　her　gone　presently；　sheltring　her　self
where　Philippo　lay　scouting。　But　the　enraged　woman　ranne　furiously
upon　poore　daunted　Calandrino；　making　such　a　pitiful　massacre　with　her
nailes；　and　tearing　the　baire　from　his　head；　as　hee　meerely　looked
like　an　infected　Anatomy。　Fowle　loathsome　dog　（quoth　she）　must　you
be　at　your　minions；　and　leave　mee　hunger…starved　at　home？　An　olde
knave　with　（almost）　never　a　good　tooth　in　thy　head；　and　yet　art　thou
neighing　after　young　wenches？　hast　thou　not　worke　enough　at　home；
but　must　bee　gadding　in　to　other　mens　grounds？　Are　these　the　fruites
of　wandring　abroad？
　Calandrino　being　in　this　pittifull　perplexity；　stood　like　one　neither
alive　nor　dead；　nor　daring　to　use　any　resistance　against　her；　but　fell
on　his　knees　before　his　Wife；　holding　up　his　hands　for　mercy；　and
entreating　her　（for　charities　sake）　not　to　torment　him　any　more：　for
he　had　committed　no　harme　at　all；　and　the　Gentlewoman　was　his
Masters　Wife；　who　came　with　no　such　intent　thither；　as　shee　fondly
imagined。　Wife；　or　wife　not　（quoth　she）　I　would　have　none　to　meddle
with　my　I　but　I　that　have　the　most　right　to　him。
　　Bruno　and　Buffalmaco；　who　had　laughed　all　this　while　heartily　at
this　pastime；　with　Phillippo　and　Nicholetta；　came　running　in　haste
to　know　the　reason　of　this　loude　noise；　and　after　they　had　pacified
the　woman　with　gentle　perswasions：　they　advised　Calandrino；　to　walke
with　his　Wife　to　Florence；　and　returne　no　more　to　worke　there
againe；　least　Phillippo　hearing　what　had　hapned；　should　be　revenged　on
him　with　some　outrage。　Thus　poore　Calandrino　miserably　misused　and
beaten；　went　home　to　Florence　with　his　Wife；　scoulded　and　raild　at　all
the　way；　beside　his　other　molestations　（day　and　night）　afterward：
his　Companions；　Phillippo　and　Nicholetta；　making　themselves　merry　at
his　mis…fortune。




　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　NINTH　DAY；　THE　SIXT　NOVELL

　　　　　　WHEREIN　IS　MANIFESTED；　THAT　AN　OFFENCE　COMMITTED　IGNORANTLY；
　　　　　　　AND　BY　MISTAKING；　OUGHT　TO　BE　COVERED　WITH　GOOD　A