the decameron(十日谈)-第236章

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！


spake　to　her。　Woman；　by　concession　sent　me　from　the　Pope；　he　hath
dispensed　with　me；　to　make　choyce　of　another　Wife；　and　to　free　my
selfe　from　thee。　And　because　my　predecessors　have　beene　Noblemen；
and　great　Lords　in　this　Country；　thou　being　the　daughter　of　a　poore
Countrey　Clowne；　and　their　blood　and　mine　notoriously　imbased；　by　my
marriage　with　thee：　I　intend　to　have　thee　no　longer　my　Wife；　but
will　returne　thee　home　to　thy　Fathers　house；　with　all　the　rich　Dowry
thou　broughtest　me；　and　then　I　wil　take　another　Wife；　with　whom　I　am
already　contracted；　better　beseeming　my　birth；　and　farre　more
contenting　and　pleasing　to　my　people。
　　The　Lady　hearing　these　words　（not　without　much　paine　and　difficulty）
restrayned　her　teares；　quite　contrary　to　the　naturall　inclination　of
women；　and　thus　answered。　Great　Marquesse；　I　never　was　so　empty　of
discretion；　but　did　alwayes　acknowledge；　that　my　base　and　humble
condition；　could　not　in　any　manner　sute　with　your　high　blood　and
Nobility；　and　my　being　with　you；　I　ever　acknowledged；　to　proceed
from　heaven　and　you；　not　any　merit　of　mine；　but　onely　as　a　favour　lent
me；　which　you　being　now　pleased　to　recall　backe　againe；　I　ought　to
be　pleased　（and　so　am）　that　it　bee　restored。　Here　is　the　Ring；
wherewith　you　Espoused　me；　here　（in　all　humility）　I　deliver　it　to　you。
You　command　me；　to　carry　home　the　marriage　Dowry　which　I　brought
with　me：　there　is　no　need　of　a　Treasurer　to　repay　it　me；　neither　any
new　purse　to　carry　it　in；　much　lesse　any　Sumpter　to　be　laden　with
it。　For　（Noble　Lord）　it　was　never　out　of　my　memory；　that　you　tooke
me　starke　naked；　and　if　it　shall　seeme　sightly　to　you；　that　this
body　which　hath　borne　two　children；　and　begotten　by　you；　must　againe
be　seene　naked；　willingly　must　I　depart　hence　naked。　But　I　humbly
beg　of　your　Excellency；　in　recompence　of　my　Virginity；　which　I　brought
you　blamelesse；　so　much　as　in　thought：　that　I　may　have　but　one　of　my
wedding　Smocks；　onely　to　conceale　the　shame　of　nakednesse；　and　then
I　depart　rich　enough。
　　The　Marquesse　whose　heart　wept　bloody　teares；　as　his　eyes　would
likewise　gladly　have　yeelded　their　naturall　tribute；　covered　all
with　a　dissembled　angry　countenance；　and　starting　up；　said。　Goe；
give　her　a　Smocke　onely；　and　so　send　her　gadding。　All　there　present
about　him；　entreated　him　to　let　her　have　a　petticote；　because　it　might
not　be　said；　that　she　who　had　been　his　Wife　thirteene　yeares　and　more；
was　sent　away　so　poorely　in　her　Smocke：　but　all　their　perswasions
prevailed　not　with　him。　Naked　in　her　Smocke；　without　hose　or　shoes；
bareheaded；　and　not　so　much　as　a　Cloth　about　her　necke；　to　the　great
griefe　and　mourning　of　all　that　saw　her；　she　went　home　to　her　old
fathers　house。
　　And　he　（good　man）　never　beleeving；　that　the　Marquesse　would　long
keepe　his　daughter　as　his　Wife；　but　rather　expected　dally；　what　now
had　happened：　safely　laid　up　the　garments；　whereof　the　Marquesse
despoyled　her；　the　same　morning　when　he　espoused　her。　Wherefore　he
delivered　them　to　her；　and　she　fell　to　her　fathers　houshold　businesse；
according　as　formerly　she　had　done；　sustayning　with　a　great　and
unconquerable　spirit；　all　the　cruell　assaults　of　her　enemy　Fortune。
　　About　such　time　after；　as　suted　with　his　owne　disposition；　the
Marquesse　made　publiquely　knowne　to　his　subjects；　that　he　meant　to
joyne　in　marriage　again；　with　the　daughter　to　one　of　the　Counts　of
Panago；　and　causing　preparation　to　be　made　for　a　sumptuous　wedding；　he
sent　for　Grizelda；　and　she　being　come；　thus　he　spake　to　her。　The
Wife　that　I　have　made　the　new　election　of；　is　to　arrive　here　within
very　few　dayes；　and　at　her　first　comming；　I　would　have　her　to　be
most　honourably　entertained。　Thou　knowest　I　have　no　women　in　my　house；
that　can　decke　up　the　Chambers；　and　set　all　requisite　things　in　due
order；　befitting　for　so　solemne　a　Feast：　and　therefore　I　sent　for
thee；　who　knowing　（better　then　any　other）　all　the　partes；　provision
and　goods　in　the　house；　set　every　thing　in　such　order；　as　thou　shalt
thinke　necessary。
　　Invite　such　Ladies　and　Gentlewomen　as　thou　wilt；　and　give　them
welcome；　even　as　if　thou　wert　the　Lady　of　the　house：　and　when　the
marriage　is　ended；　returne　then　home　to　thy　father　againe。
　　Although　these　words　pierced　like　wonding　daggers；　the　heart　of
poore　（but　Noble　patient）　Grizelda；　as　being　unable　to　forget　the
unequal'd　love　she　bare　to　the　Marquesse；　though　the　dignitie　of　her
former　fortune；　more　easily　slipt　out　of　her　remembrance；　yet
neverthelesse；　thus　she　answered。
　　My　Gracious　Lord；　I　am　glad　I　can　doe　you　any　service；　wherein　you
shall　find　mee　both　willing　and　ready。　In　the　same　poore　garments；
as　she　came　from　her　fathers　house；　（although　shee　was　turned　out　in
her　Smocke）　she　began　to　sweep　and　make　cleane　the　Chambers；　rubbe　the
stooles　and　benches　in　the　Hall；　and　ordered　every　in　the　Kitchin；
as　if　she　were　the　worst　maide　in　all　the　house；　never　ceasing　or
giving　over；　till　all　things　were　in　due　and　decent　order　as　best
beseemed　in　such　a　case。　After　all　which　was　done；　the　Marquesse；
having　invited　all　the　Ladies　of　the　Countrey；　to　be　present　at　so
great　a　Feast：　when　the　marriage　day　came；　Grizelda；　in　her　gowne　of
Countrey　gray；　gave　them　welcome；　in　honourable　manner；　and　graced
them　all　with　very　cheerefull　countenance。
　　Gualtiero　the　Marquesse；　who　had　caused　his　two　children　to　be　nobly
nourished　at　Bologna；　with　a　neere　kinswoman　of　his；　who　had　married
with　one　of　the　Counts　of　Panago；　his　daughter　being　now　aged　twelve
yeares　old；　and　somewhat　more；　as　also　the　Son　about　sixe　or　seven。　He
sent　a　Gentleman　expresly　to　his　kindred；　to　have　them　come　and　visite
him　at　Saluzza；　bringing　his　daughter　and　Sonne　with　them；　attended　in
very　honourable　manner；　and　publishing　every　where　as　they　came　along；
that　the　young　Virgin　（knowne　to　none　but　himselfe　and　them）　should　be
the　Wife　to　the　Marquesse；　and　that　onely　was　the　cause　of　her
comming。　The　Gentleman　was　not　slacke；　in　the　execution　of　the　trust
reposed　in　him：　but　having　made　convenient　preparation；　with　the
kindred；　Sonne；　daughter；　and　a　worthy　company　attending　on　them；
arrived　at　Saluzza　about　dinner　time；　where　wanted　no　resort；　from　all
neighbouring　parts　round　about；　to　see　the　comming　of　the　Lord
Marquesses　new　Spouse。
　　By　the　Lords　and　Ladies　she　was　joyfully　entertained；　and　comming
into　the　great　Hall；　where　the　tables　were　readily　covered：
Grizelda；　in　her　homely　Country　habite；　humbled　her　selfe　before
her；　saying。　Gracious　welcome；　to　the　new　elected　Spouse　of　the　Lord
Marquesse。
　　All　the　Ladies　there　present；　who　had　very　earnestly　importuned
Gualtiero　（but　in　vaine）　that　Grizelda；　might　better　be　shut　up　in
some　Chamber；　or　else　to　lend　her　the　wearing　of　any　other　garments；
which　formerly　had　been　her　owne；　because　she　should　not　be　so　poorely
seene　among　strangers：　being　seated　at　the　Tables；　she　waited　on
them　very　serviceably。　The　yong　Virgin　was　observed　by　every　one；
who　spared　not　to　say；　that　the　Marquesse　had　made　an　excellent
change：　but　above　them　all；　Grizelda　did　most　commend　her；　and　so
did　her　brother　likewise；　as　young　as　he　was；　yet　not　knowing　her　to
be　his　Sister。
　　Now　was　the　Marquesse　sufficiently　satisfied　in　his　soule；　that　he
had　seene　so　much　as　he　desired；　concerning　the　patience　of　his
Wife；　who　in　so　many　hart…grieving　trials；　was　never　noated　so　much　as
to　alter　her　countenance。　And　being　absolutely　perswaded；　that　this
proceeded　not　from　any　want　of　understanding　in　her；　because　he　knew
her　to　be　singularly　wise：　he　thought　it　high　time　now；　to　free　her
from　these　afflicting　oppressions；　and　give　her　such　assurance　as
she　ought　to　have。　Wherefore；　commanding　her　into　his　presence；　openly
before　all　his　assembled　friends；　smiling　on　her；　he　said。　What
thinkst　thou　Grizelda　of　our　new　chosen　Spouse？　My　Lord　（quoth　she）
I　like　her　exceeding　well；　and　if　she　be　so　wise；　as　she　is　faire
（which　verely　I　thinke　she　is）　I　make　no　doubt　but　you　shall　live　with
her；　as　the　onely　happy　man　of　the　world。　But　I　humbly　entreat　your
Honor　（if　I　have　any　power　in　me　to　prevaile　by）　that　you　would　not
give　her　such　cutting　and　unkind　language；　as　you　did　to　your　other