贝壳电子书 > 英文原著电子书 > the decameron(十日谈) >

第225章

the decameron(十日谈)-第225章

小说: the decameron(十日谈) 字数: 每页4000字

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页,按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页,按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
————未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!



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

返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 1 1

你可能喜欢的