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第220章

the decameron(十日谈)-第220章

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intelligence; in so oft and convenient order; as by thee: I doe
therefore commit this last office of a friend to thy trust; desiring
thee; not to refuse me in the performance thereof。 And when thou
hast done it; to let me understand what he saith; that I may dye the
more contentedly; and disburdened of so heavy an oppression; the onely
comfort to a parting spirit: and so she ceased; her teares flowing
forth abundantly。
  Manutio did not a little wonder at the Maides great spirit; and
her desperate resolution; which moved him to exceeding
commiseration; and suddenly he conceived; that honestly he might
discharge this duty for her; whereupon; he returned her this answer。
Lisana; here I engage my faith to thee; that thou shalt find me
firme and constant; and die I will; rather then deceive thee。
Greatly I doe commend thy high attempt; in fixing thy affection on
so Potent a King; wherein I offer thee my utmost assistance: and I
make no doubt (if thou wouldest be of good comfort) to deale in such
sort; as; before three dayes are fully past; to bring such newes as
will content thee; and because I am loath to loose the least time; I
will goe about it presently。 Lisana the yong Maiden; once againe
entreated his care and diligence; promising to comfort her selfe so
well as she could; commending him to his good fortune。 When Manutio
was gone from her; hee went to a Gentleman; named Mico de Sienna;
one of the best Poets in the composing of verses; as all those parts
yeelded not the like。 At his request; Mico made for him this ensuing
Dittie。

                 THE SONG
       SUNG IN THE HEARING OF KING PIERO; ON THE
            BEHALFE OF LOVE…SICKE LISANA

    Goe Love; and tell the torments I endure;
    Say to my Soveraigne Lord; that I must die
    Except he come; some comfort to procure;
    For tell I may not; what I feele; and why。

  With heaved hands Great Love; I call to thee;
  Goe see my Soveraigne; where he doth abide;
  And say to him; in what extremity;
  Thou hast (for him) my firm affection tryed。
  To die for him; it is my sole desire;
  For live with him I may not; nor aspire;
  To have my fortunes thereby dignified;
  Onely his sight would lend me life a while:
  Grant it (great love) mine anguish to beguile。
      Goe love; and tell the torments; etc。

  Since the first houre that love enthralled me;
  I never had the heart; to tell my griefe;
  My thoughts did speake; for thoughts be alwayes free;
  Yet hopefull thoughts doe find but poore reliefe。
  When Gnats will mount to Eagles in the ayre;
  Alas! they scorne them; for full well they know;
  They were not bred to prey so base and low;
  Aloft they look; to make their flight more faire。
  And yet his sight would lend me life a while:
  Grant it (great love) mine anguish to beguile。
      Goe love; and tell the torments; etc。

  If sight shall be denyed; then tell them plaine;
  His high triumphall day procurd my death;
  The Launce that won him Honour; hath me slaine;
  For instantly it did bereave my breath。
  That speake I could not; nor durst be so bold;
  To make the Ayre acquainted with my woe:
  Alas! I lookt so high; and doing so;
  Justly deserve by death to be controld。
  Yet mercies sight would lend me life a while;
  Grant it (great love) mine anguish to beguffe。

    Goe love; and tell the torments I endure;
    Say to my Soveraigne Lord; that I must die:
    Except he come; some comfort to procure;
    For tell I may not; what I feele; and why。

  The lines contained in this Ditty; Manutio fitted with noates so
mooving and singularly musicall; that every word had the seisible
motion of life in it; where the King being (as yet) not risen from the
Table; he commanded him to use both his Lute and voyce。
  This seemed a happy opportunity to Manutio; to sing the dittie so
purposely done and devised: which hee delivered in such excellent
manner; the voice and Instrument concording so extraordinary pleasing;
that all the persons then in the Presence; seemed rather Statues; then
living men; so strangely they were wrapt with admiration; and the King
himselfe farre beyond all the rest; transported with a rare kinde of
alteration。
  When Manutio had ended the Song; the King demanded of him; whence
this Song came; because he had never heard it before? My gracious
Lord; answered Manutio; it must needes seeme straunge to your Majesty;
because it is not fully three dayes; since it was invented; made;
and set to the note。 Then the King asked; whom it concerned? Sir
(quoth Manutio) I dare not disclose that to any but onely your
selfe。 Which answer made the King much more desirous; and being
risen from the Table; he tooke him into his Bedchamber; where
Manutio related all at large to him; according to the trust reposed in
him。 Wherwith the King was wonderfully well pleased; greatly
commending the courage of the Maide; and said; that a Virgin of such a
valiant spirit; did well deserve to have her case commiserated: and
commanded him also; to goe (as sent from him) and comfort her; with
promise; that the very same day; in the evening; he would not faile to
come and see her。
  Manutio; more then contented; to carry such glad tydings to
Lisana; without staying in any place; and taking his Lute also with
him; went to the Apothecaries house; where speaking alone with the
Maide: he told her what he had done; and afterward sung the song to
her; in as excellent manner as he had done before; wherein Lisana
conceived such joy and contentment; as even in the very same moment;
it was observed by apparant signes; that the violence of her fits
forsooke her; and health began to get the upper hand of them。 SO;
without suffering any one in the house to know it; or by the least
meanes to suspect it; she comforted her selfe till the evening; in
expectation of her Soveraignes arrivall。
  Piero being a Prince; of most liberall and benigne nature; having
afterward divers times considered on the matters which Manutio had
revealed to him; knowing also the yong Maiden; to bee both
beautifull and vertuous: was so much moved with pitty of her
extremitie; as mounting on horsebacke in the evening; and seeming as
if he rode abroad for his private recreation; he went directly to
the Apothecaries house; where desiring to see a goodly garden;
appertaining then to the Apothecarie; he dismounted from his horse。
Walking into the garden; he began to question with Bernardo;
demaunding him for his Daughter; and whether he had (as yet) marryed
her; or no? My Gracious Lord; answered Bernardo; as yet shee is not
marryed; neither likely to bee; in regard shee hath had a long and
tedious sickenesse: but since Dinner time; she is indifferently
eased of her former violent paine; which we could not discerne the
like alteration in her; a long while before。
  The King understood immediately; the reason of this so sudden
alteration; and said。 In good faith Bernardo; the world would sustaine
a great maine and imperfection; by the losse of thy faire daughter;
wherefore; we will goe our selfe in person to visite her。 So; with two
of his Lords onely; and the Father; he ascended to the Maides
Chamber and being entred; he went to the Beds side; where she sate;
somewhat raised; in expectation of his comming; and taking her by
the hand; he said。 Faire Lisana; how commeth this to passe? You
being so faire a Virgin; yong; and in the delicacy of your daies;
which should be the chiefest comfort to you; will you suffer your
selfe to be over…awed with sickenesse? Let us intreat you; that (for
our sake) you will be of good comfort; and thereby recover your health
the sooner; especially; when it is requested by a King; who is sorry
to see so bright a beauty sicke; and would helpe it; it consisted in
his power。
  Lisana; feeling the touch of his hand; whom she loved above all
things else in the world; although a bashfull blush mounted up into
her cheekes: yet her heart was seazed with such a rapture of pleasure;
that she thought her selfe translated into Paradise; and; so well as
she could; thus she replyed。 Great King; by opposing my feeble
strength; against a burden of over…ponderous weight; it b

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