the decameron(十日谈)-第218章

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they　both　went　into　the　Pond；　the　water　whereof　reached　so　high　as
to　their　bosomes。　One　of　the　Servants　to　Signior　Neri；　presently
kindled　the　fire；　setting　the　Trevit　over　it；　and　putting　Oyle　into
the　Frying…panne；　held　it　uppon　the　Trevit；　awaiting　untill　the
Damosels　should　cast　him　uppe　Fish。　One　of　them　did　beate　a　place　with
the　staffe；　where　she　was　assured　of　the　Fishes　resort；　and　the
other　hadde　lodged　the　Nets　so　conveniently；　as　they　quickly　caught
great　store　of　Fish；　to　the　Kings　high　contentment；　who　observed　their
behaviour　very　respectively。
　　As　the　Fishes　were　throwne　up　to　the　servant；　alive　as　they　were；　he
tooke　the　best　and　fairest　of　them；　and　brought　them　to　the　Table；
where　they　skipt　and　mounted　before　the　King；　Count　Guy　de　Montfort
and　the　Father：　some　leaping　from　the　Table　into　the　Pond　againe；
and　others；　the　King　（in　a　pleasing　humour）　voluntarily　threw　backe　to
the　Damosels。　jesting　and　sporting　in　this　manner；　till　the　servant
had　drest　divers　of　them　in　exquisite　order；　and　served　them　to　the
Table　according　as　Signior　Neri　had　ordained。　When　the　Damosels　saw
the　Fishes　service　performed；　and　perceived　that　they　had　fished
sufficiently：　they　came　forth　of　the　water；　their　garments　then　（being
wet）　hanging　close　about　them；　even　as　if　they　hid　no　part　of　their
bodies。　Each　having　taken　those　things　againe；　which　at　first　they
brought　with　them；　and　saluting　the　king　in　like　humility　as　they
did　before；　returned　home　to　the　mansion　house。
　　The　King　and　Count　likewise；　as　also　the　other　attending
Gentlemen；　having　duely　considered　the　behavior　of　the　Damosels：
commended　extraordinarily　their　beauty　and　faire　feature；　with　those
other　perfections　of　Nature　so　gloriously　shining　in　them。　But　（beyond
all　the　rest）　the　King　was　boundlesse　in　his　praises　given　of　them；
having　observed　their　going　into　the　water；　the　equall　carriage
there　of　them　both；　their　comming　forth；　and　gracious　demeanor　at
their　departing　（yet　neither　knowing　of　whence；　or　what　they　were）
he　felt　his　affection　very　violently　flamed；　and　grew　into　such　an
amourous　desire　to　them　both；　not　knowing　which　of　them　pleased　him
most；　they　so　choisely　resembled　one　another　in　all　things。
　　But　after　he　had　dwelt　long　enough　upon　these　thoughts；　he　turned
him　selfe　to　Signior　Neri；　and　demanded　of　him；　what　Damosels　they
were。　Sir　（answered　Neri）　they　are　my　Daughters；　both　brought　into　the
world　at　one　birth；　and　Twinnes；　the　one　being　named　Genevera　the
faire；　and　the　other　Isotta　the　amiable。　The　King　began　againe　to
commend　them　both；　and　gave　him　advise　to　get　them　both　married：
wherein　he　excused　himselfe；　alleadging；　that　he　wanted　power　to　doe
it。　At　the　same　time　instant；　no　other　service　remaining　to　be　brought
to　the　table；　except　Fruit　and　Cheese；　the　two　Damosels　returned
againe；　attyred　in　goodly　Roabes　of　Carnation　Sattin；　formed　after　the
Turkish　fashion；　carrying　two　fayre　Silver　dishes　in　their　hands；
filled　with　divers　delicate　Fruites；　such　as　the　season　then　afforded；
setting　them　on　the　Table　before　the　King。　Which　being　done；　they
retyred　a　little　backeward；　and　with　sweet　melodious　voyces；　sung　a
ditty；　beginning　in　this　manner。
　　Where　Love　presumeth　into　place：
　　Let　no　one　sing　in　Loves　disgrace。
　　So　sweet　and　pleasing　seemed　the　Song　to　the　King　（who　tooke　no
small　delight；　both　to　heare　and　behold　the　Damosels）　even　as　if　all
the　Hirarchies　of　Angels　were　descended　from　the　Heavens　to　sing
before　him。　No　sooner　was　the　Song　ended；　but　（humbly　on　their
knees）　they　craved　favour　of　the　King　for　their　departing。　Now；
although　their　departure　was　greatly　grieving　to　him；　yet　（in
outward　appearance）　he　seemed　willing　to　grant　it。
　　When　Supper　was　concluded；　and　the　King　and　his　Company　remounted　on
horsebacke：　thankefully　departing　from　Signior　Neri；　the　King　returned
to　his　lodging；　concealing　there　closely　his　affection　to　himselfe；
and　whatsoever　important　affaires　happened：　yet　he　could　not　forget
the　beauty；　and　gracious　behaviour　of　Genevera　the　faire　（for　whose
sake　he　loved　her　Sister　likewise）　but　became　so　linked　to　her　in
vehement　maner；　as　he　had　no　power　to　think　on　any　thing　else。
Pretending　other　urgent　occasions；　he　fell　into　great　familiarity　with
Signior　Neri；　visiting　very　often　his　goodly　Garden；　onely　to　see
his　faire　Daughter　Genevera；　the　Adamant　which　drew　him　thither。
　　When　he　felt　his　amourous　assaults；　to　exceed　all　power　of　longer
sufferance：　he　resolved　determinately　with　himselfe；　（being　unprovided
of　any　better　meanes）　to　take　her　away　from　her　Father；　and　not
onely　she；　but　her　Sister　also；　discovering　both　his　love　and　intent
to　Count　Guy　de　Montforte；　who　being　a　very　worthy　and　vertuous
Lord；　and　meet　to　be　a　Counseller　for　a　King；　delivered　his　mind　in
this　manner。
　　Gracious　Lord；　I　wonder　not　a　little　at　your　speeches；　and　so　much
the　greater　is　my　admiration；　because　no　man　els　can　be　subject　to　the
like；　in　regard　I　have　knowne　you　from　the　time　of　your　infancy；
even　to　this　instant　houre；　and　alwayes　your　carriage　to　bee　one　and
the　same。　I　could　never　perceive　in　your　youthfull　dayes　（when　love
should　have　the　greatest　meanes　to　assaile　you）　any　such　oppressing
passions：　which　is　now　the　more　novell　and　strange　to　me；　to　heare
it　but　said；　that　you　being　old；　and　called　the　Aged；　should　be　growne
amorous；　surely　to　me　it　seemeth　a　miracle。　And　if　it　appertained　to
me　to　reprehend　you　in　this　case；　I　know　well　enough　what　I　could　say。
Considering；　you　have　yet　your　Armour　on　your　backe；　in　a　Kingdome
newly　conquered；　among　a　Nation　not　knowne　to　you；　full　of　falsehoods；
breaches；　and　treasons；　all　which　are　no　meane　motives　to　care　and
needfull　respect。　But　having　now　wone　a　little　leisure；　to　rest　your
selfe　a　while　from　such　serious　affaires；　can　you　give　way　to　the　idle
suggestions　of　Love？　Beleeve　me　Sir；　it　is　no　act　becomming　a
magnanimious　King；　but　rather　the　giddy　folly　of　a　young　braine。
　　Moreover　you　say　（which　most　of　all　I　mislike）　that　you　intend　to
take　the　two　Virgines　from　the　Knight；　who　hath　given　you
entertainment　in　his　house　beyond　his　ability；　and　to　testifie　how
much　he　honoured　you；　he　suffered　you　to　have　a　sight　of　them；　meerely
（almost）　in　a　naked　manner：　witnessing　thereby；　what　constant　faith　he
reposed　in　you；　beleeving　verily；　that　you　were　a　just　King；　and　not　a
ravenous　Woolfe。　Have　you　so　soone　forgot；　that　the　rapes　and
violent　actions；　done　by　King　Manfred　to　harmelesse　Ladies；　made
your　onely　way　of　entrance　into　this　Kingdome？　What　treason　was　ever
committed；　more　worthy　of　eternall　punishment；　then　this　will　be　in
you：　to　take　away　from　him　（who　hath　so　highly　honoured　you）　his
chiefest　hope　and　consolation？　What　will　be　said　by　all　men；　if　you
doe　it？
　　Peradventure　you　thinke；　it　will　be　a　sufficient　excuse　for　you；
to　say：　I　did　it；　in　regard　hee　was　a　Ghibelline。　Can　you　imagine　this
to　be　justice　in　a　King；　that　such　as　get　into　their　possession　in
this　manner　（whatsoever　it　be）　ought　to　use　it　in　this　sort？　Let　me
tell　you　Sir；　it　was　a　most　worthy　victory　for　you；　to　conquer　King
Manfred：　but　it　is　farre　more　famous　victory；　for　a　man　to　conquer
himselfe。　You　therfore；　who　are　ordained　to　correct　vices　in　other
men；　learne　first　to　subdue　them　in　your　selfe；　and　（by　brideling　this
inordinate　appetite）　set　not　a　foule　blemish　on　so　faire　a　fame；　as
will　be　honour　to　you　to　preserve　spotlesse。
　　These　words　pierced　the　heart　of　the　King　deepely；　and　so　much　the
more　afflicted　him；　because　he　knew　them　to　be　most　true：　wherefore；
after　he　had　ventred　a　very　vehement　sigh；　thus　he　replyed。　Beleeve　me
noble　Count；　there　is　not　any　enemy；　how　strong　soever　he　be；　but　I
hold　him　weake　and　easie　to　be　vanquished；　by　him　who　is　skilfull　in
the　warre；　where　a　man　may　learne　to　conquere　his　owne　appetite。　But
because　he　shall　find　it　a　laborious　taske；　requiring　inestimable
strength　and　courage；　your　words　have　so　toucht　me　to　the　quicke；　that
it　becommeth　me　to　let　you　effectually　perceive　（and　within　the
compasse　of　few　dayes）　that　as　I　have　learned　to　conquer　others；　so
I　am　not　ignorant；　in　expressing　the　like