the decameron(十日谈)-第225章

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The　one　is；　to　speake　somewhat　in　praise　and　commendation　of　my　selfe：
And　the　other；　justly　to　blame　and　condemne　other　mens　seeming
estimation。　But　because　both　in　the　one　and　the　other；　I　doe　not
intend　to　swerve　a　jot　from　the　Truth；　and　the　necessitie　of　the
present　case　in　question；　doth　not　onely　require；　but　also　command　it；
you　must　pardon　what　I　am　to　say。
　　〃Your　complaints　doe　proceed；　rather　from　furie　then　reason；　and
（with　continuall　murmurings；　or　rather　seditions）　slander；
backe…bite　and　condemne　Gisippus；　because　（of　his　owne　free　will　and
noble　disposition）　hee　gave　her　to　be　my　Wife；　whom　（by　your　election）
was　made　his；　wherein　I　account　him　most　highly　praiseworthy：　and
the　reasons　inducing　mee　thereunto；　are　these。　The　first；　because　he
hath　performed　no　more　then　what　a　friend　ought　to　doe：　And　the
second；　in　regard　he　hath　dealt　more　wisely；　then　you　did。　I　have　no
intention；　to　display　（at　this　present）　what　the　sacred　law　of
amitie　requireth；　to　be　acted　by　one　friend　towards　another；　it
shall　suffice　mee　onely　to　informe　you；　that　the　league　of
friendship　（farre　stronger　then　the　bond　of　bloud　and　kinred）
confirmed　us　in　our　election　of　either　at　the　first；　to　be　true；
loyall　and　perpetuall　friends；　whereas　that　of　kinred；　commeth　onely
by　fortune　or　chance。　And　therefore　if　Gisippus　affected　more　my　life；
then　your　benevolence；　I　being　ordained　for　his　friend；　as　I
confesse　my　selfe　to　be；　none　of　you　ought　to　wonder　thereat；　in
regard　it　is　no　matter　of　mervaile。
　　〃But　let　us　come　now　to　our　second　reason；　wherein；　with　farre
greater　instance　I　will　shew　you；　that　he　hath　（in　this　occasion）
shewen　himselfe　to　be　much　more　wise；　then　you　did；　or　have　done：
because　it　plainely　appeareth；　that　you　have　no　feeling　of　the
divine　providence；　and　much　lesse　knowledge　in　the　effects　of
friendship。　I　say；　that　your　foresight；　councell　and　deliberation；
gave　Sophronia　to　Gisippus；　a　yong　Gentleman；　and　a　Philosopher：
Gisippus　likewise　hath　given　her　to　a　yong　Gentleman；　and　a
Philosopher；　as　himselfe　is。　Your　discretion　gave　her　to　an
Athenian；　the　gift　of　Gisippus；　is　to　a　Romaine。　Yours；　to　a　Noble　and
honest　man；　that　of　Gisippus；　to　one　more　Noble　by　race；　and　no
lesse　honest　then　himselfe。　Your　judgement　hath　bestowed　her　on　a　rich
young　man：　Gisippus　hath　given　her　to　one　farre　richer。　Your
wisedome　gave　her　to　one　who　not　onely　loved　her　not；　but　also　one
that　had　no　desire　to　know　her：　Gisippus　gave　her　unto　him；　who；　above
all　felicitie　else；　yea；　more　than　his　owne　life；　both　entirely
loved　and　desired　her。
　　〃Now；　for　proofe　of　that　which　I　have　said；　to　be　most　true　and
infallible；　and　that　his　deede　deserveth　to　bee　much　more　commended
then　yours；　let　it　bee　duely　considered　on；　point　by　point。　That　I
am　a　young　man　and　a　Philosophe；　as　Gisippus　is；　my　yeares；　face；
and　studies；　without　seeking　after　further　proofe；　doth　sufficiently
testifie：　One　selfe…same　age　is　both　his　and　mine；　in　like　quality
of　course　have　wee　lived　and　studied　together。　True　it　is；　that　hee　is
an　Athenian；　and　I　am　a　Romaine。　But　if　the　glory　of　these　two
Cities　should　bee　disputed　on：　then　let　mee　tell　you；　that　I　am　of　a
Citie　that　is　Francke　and　Free；　and　hee　is　of　a　Tributarie　Citie。　I
say　that　I　am　of　a　Citie；　which　is　chiefe　Lady　and　Mistresse　of　the
whole　World　and　hee　is　of　a　Citie　subject　to　mine。　I　say　that　I　am
of　a　Citie；　that　is　strong　in　Arms；　Empire；　and　studies：　whereas　his
can　commend　it　selfe　but　for　Studies　onely。　And　although　you　seeme
heere　to　bee　a　Scholler；　in　appearance　meane　enough；　yet　I　am　not
descended　of　the　simplest　stocke　in　Rome。
　　〃My　houses　and　publique　places；　are　filled　with　the　ancient
Statues　of　my　Predecessors；　and　the　Annales　recorde　the　infinite
triumphs　of　the　Quintij；　brought　home　by　them　into　the　Romane
Capitole；　and　yeares　cannot　eate　out　the　glory　of　our　name；　but　it
will　live　and　flourish　to　all　posteritie。
　　〃Modest　shame　makes　me　silent　in　my　wealth　and　possessions；　my　minde
truely　telling　mee；　that　honest　contented　povertie；　is　the　most
ancient　and　richest　inheritance；　of　our　best　and　Noblest　Romanes；
which　opinion；　if　it　bee　condemned　by　the　understanding　of　the
ignorant　multitude；　and　heerein　wee　shall　give　way　to　them　by
preferring　riches　and　worldly　treasures；　then　I　can　say　that　I　am
aboundantly　provided；　not　as　ambitious；　or　greedily　covetous；　but
sufficiently　stored　with　the　goods　of　Fortune。
　　〃I　know　well　enough；　that　you　held　it　as　a　desired　benefit；　Gisippus
being　a　Native　of　your　Citie；　should　also　be　linked　to　you　by
alliance：　but　I　know　no　reason；　why　I　should　not　be　as　neere　and　deere
to　you　at　Rome；　as　if　I　lived　with　you　heere。　Considering；　when　I　am
there；　you　have　a　ready　and　well　wishing　friend；　to　stead　you　in　all
beneficiall　and　serviceable　offices；　as　carefull　and　provident　for
your　support；　yea；　a　protectour　of　you　and　your　affaires；　as　well
publique　as　particular。　Who　is　it　then；　not　transported　with
partiall　affection；　that　can　（in　reason）　more　approve　your　act；　then
that　which　my　friend　Gisippus　hath　done？　Questionlesse；　not　any　one；
as　I　thinke。　Sophronia　is　married　to　Titus　Quintus　Fulvius；　a　Noble
Gentleman　by　antiquitie；　a　rich　Citizen　of　Rome；　and　（which　is　above
all）　the　friend　of　Gisippus：　therfore；　such　a　one　as　thinkes　it
strange；　is　sorrie　for　it；　or　would　not　have　it　to　be；　knoweth　not
what　he　doth。
　　〃Perhaps　there　may　be　some；　who　will　say；　they　doe　not　so　much
complain；　that　Sophronia　is　the　wife　to　Titus；　but　of　the　manner
whereby　it　was　done；　as　being　made　his　wife　secretly；　and　by　theft；
not　any　of　her　parents；　kinred　or　friends　called　thereto：　no；　nor　so
much　as　advertised　thereof。　Why　Gentlemen；　this　is　no　miraculous
thing；　but　heeretofore　hath　oftentimes　happened；　and　therefore　no
noveltie。
　　〃I　cannot　count　unto　you；　how　many　there　have　beene；　who　（against
the　will　of　their　Fathers）　have　made　choice　of　their　husbands；　nor
them　that　have　fled　away　with　their　lovers　into　strange　Countries；
being　first　friends；　before　they　were　wives：
　　nor　of　them　who　have　sooner　made　testimonie　of　marriage　by　their
bellies；　then　those　ceremonies　due　to　matrimonie；　or　publication
thereof　by　the　tongue；　so　that　meere　necessity　and　constraint；　hath
forced　the　parents　to　yeeld　consent：　which　hath　not　so　happened　to
Sophronia；　for　she　was　given　to　me　by　Gisippus　discreetly；　honestly；
and　orderly。
　　〃Others　also　may　say；　that　shee　is　married　to　him；　to　whom　it
belonged　not　to　marrie　her。　These　complaints　are　foolish；　and
womanish；　proceeding　from　verie　little；　or　no　consideration　at　all。　In
these　daies　of　ours；　Fortune　makes　no　use　of　novell　or　inconsiderate
meanes；　whereby　to　bring　matters　to　their　determined　effect。　Why
should　it　offend　me；　if　a　Cobler；　rather　than　a　Scholler；　hath　ended　a
businesse　of　mine；　either　in　private　or　publique；　if　the　end　be　well
made？　Well　I　may　take　order；　if　the　Cobler　bee　indiscreet；　that　hee
meddle　no　more　with　any　matters　of　mine；　yet　I　ought；　in　courtesie；　to
thanke　him　for　that　which　hee　did。
　　〃In　like　manner；　if　Gisippus　hath　married　Sophronia　well；　it　is
foolish　and　superfluous；　to　finde　fault　with　the　manner　hee　used　in
her　marriage。　If　you　mislike　his　course　in　the　case；　beware　of　him
hereafter；　yet　thanke　him　because　it　is　no　worse。　〃Neverthelesse；
you　are　to　understand；　that　I　sought　not　by　fraud　or　deceit；　（but
onely　by　witte）　any　opportunitie；　whereby　any　way　to　sullie　the
honestie　and　cleere　Nobilitie　of　your　bloud；　in　the　person　of
Sophronia：　for　although　in　secret　I　made　her　my　wife；　yet　I　came　not
as　an　enemie；　to　take　her　perforce；　nor　（like　a　ravisher）　wronged
her　virginitie；　to　blemish　your　no。　titles；　or　despising　your
alliance。　But　fervently；　enflamed　by　her　bright　beauty；　and　incited
also　by　her　unparalleld　vertues；　I　shaped　my　course；　knowing　well
enough；　that　if　I　tooke　the　ordinarie　way　of　wiving；　by　moving　the
question　to　you；　I　should　never　winne　your　consent；　as　fearing；　lest　I
would　take　her　with　me　to　Rome；　and　so　conveigh　out　of　your　sight；　a
jewell　by　you　so　much　esteemed；　as　she　is。
　　〃For　this；　and　no　other　reason；　did　I　presume　to　use　the　secret
cunning　whic