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第25章

the decameron(十日谈)-第25章

小说: the decameron(十日谈) 字数: 每页4000字

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street。 This is shamefull villany (quoth one) and not to be
suffered; that honest women should thus be molested in their houses;
with foolish idle words; and at such an unseasonable time of the
night。 For Gods sake (good man) be gone; and let us sleepe; if thou
have any thing to say to the Gentlewoman of the house; come tomorrow
in the daytime; and no doubt but she will make thee sufficient answer。
  Andrea; being some what pacified with these speeches; a
shagge…hayr'd swash…buckler; a grim visagde Ruffian (as sildome
bawdy houses are without such swaggering Champions) not seene or heard
by Andrea; all the while of his being in the house; rapping out two or
three terrible Oathes; opening a Casement; and with a stearne
dreadfull voyce; demanded; who durst keepe that noyse beneath?
Andrea fearefully looking up; and (by a little glimmering of the
Moone) seeing such a rough fellow; with a blacke beard; strowting like
the quilles of a Porcupine; and patches on his face; for hurts
received in no honest quarrels; yawning also and stretching; as
angry to have his sleepe disturbed: trembling and quaking; answered; I
am the Gentlewomans brother of the house。 The Ruffian interrupting
him; and speaking more fiercely then before; sealing his words with
horrible Oathes; said。 Sirra; Rascall; I know not of whence; or what
thou art; but if I come downe to thee; I will so bumbast thy prating
Coxecombe; as thou wast never so beaten in all thy life; like a
drunken slave and beast as thou art; that all this night wilt not
let us sleepe。 And so hee clapt to the window againe。
  The Neighbours well acquainted with this Ruffians rude conditions;
speaking in gentle manner to Andrea; said。 Shift for thy selfe (good
man) in time; and tarrie not for his comming downe to thee; except
thou art weary of thy life: Be gone therefore; and say thou hast a
friendly warning。 These words dismaying Andrea; but much more the
sterne oathes and ougly sight of the Ruffian; incited also by the
Neighbours counsell; whom he imagined to advise him in charitable
manner: it caused him to depart thence; taking the way home…ward to
his Inne; in no mean affliction and torment of minde; for the
monstrous abuse offered him; and losse of his money。 Well he remembred
the passages; whereby the day before the young Gyrle had guided him;
but the loathsome smell about him; was so extreamely to himselfe; that
desiring to wash him at the Sea side; he strayed too farre wide on the
contrary hand; wandring up the street called Ruga Gatellana。
  Proceeding on still; even to the highest part of the Citie; hee
espyed a Lanthorne and light; as also a man carrying it; and another
man with him in company; both of them comming towards him。 Now;
because he suspected them two of the watch; or some persons that would
apprehend him。; he stept aside to shunne them; and entred into an olde
house hard by at hand。 The other mens intention was to the very same
place; and going in; without any knowledge of Andreaes beeing there;
one of them layde downe divers instruments of Iron which he had
brought thither on his backe; and had much talke with his fellow
concerning those Engines。 At last one of them saide; I smell the
most abhominable stinke that ever I felt in all my life。 So; lifting
up the Lanthorn; he espied poore pittifull Andrea; closely couched
behinde the wall。 Which sight somewhat affrighting him; he yet
boldly demaunded; what and who he was? Whereto Andrea answered
nothing; but lay still and held his peace。 Neerer they drew towards
him with their light; demanding how hee came thither; and in that
filthy manner。
  Constraint having now no other evasion; but that (of necessitie) all
must out: hee related to them the whole adventure; in the same sort as
it had befalne him。 They greatly pittying his misfortune; one of
them said to the other: Questionlesse; this villanie was done in the
house of Scarabone Buttafucco。 And then turning to Andrea; proceeded
thus。 In good faith poore man; albeit thou hast lost thy money; yet
art thou much beholding to Fortune; for falling (though in a foule
place) yet in a succesfull manner; and entring no more backe into
the house。 For beleeve mee friend; if thou haddest not falne; but
quietly gone to sleepe in the house; that sleepe had beene thy last in
this world; and with thy money; thou hadst lost thy life likewise。 But
teares and lamentations are now helpelesse; because as easily mayest
thou plucke the Starres from the Firmament; as get againe the least
doyt of thy losse。 And for that shag…haird Slave in the house; he will
be thy deathsman; if hee but understand that thou makest any
enquirie after thy money。 When he had thus admonished him; he began
also in this manner to comfort him。 Honest fellow;… we cannot but
pitty thy present condition: wherfore if thou wilt frendly associate
us; in a businesse which we are instantly going to effect; thy losse
hath not bene so great; but on our words we will warrant thee; that
thine immediate gaine shall farre exceede it。 What will not a man
(in desperate extremity) both well like and allow of; especially
when it carryeth apparance of present comfort。 So fared it with
Andrea; hee perswaded himselfe; worse then had already happened; could
not befall him; and therefore he would gladly adventure with them。
  The selfe same day preceding this disastrous night to Andrea; in the
cheefe Church of the Cittie; had beene buried the Archbishop of Naples
named Signior Phillippo Minutulo; in his richest pontificall Robes and
Ornaments; and a Ruby on his finger valued to be worth five hundred
duckets of gold: this dead body they purposed to rob and rifle;
acquainting Andrea with their whole intent; whose necessitie
(coupled with a covetous desire) made him more forward then well
advised; to joyne with them in this sacriligious enterprize。 On they
went towards the great Church; Andreaes unsavourie perfume much
displeasing them; whereupon the one said to his fellow: Can we
devise no ease for this foule and noysome inconveniences? the very
smell of him will be a meanes to betray us。 There is a Well…pit hard
by; answered the other; with a pulley and bucket descending downe into
it; and there we may wash him from this filthinesse。 To the Well…pit
they came; where they found the rope and pulley hanging readie; but
the bucket for safety was taken away; whereon they concluded; to
fasten the rope about him; and so let him downe into the Well…pit; and
when he had washed himselfe; hee should wagge the rope; and then
they would draw him up againe; which accordingly they forthwith
performed。
  Now it came to passe; that while he was thus washing himselfe in the
Well…pit; the Watch of the Citie walking the round; and finding it
to bee a very hote and sweltring night; they grew dry and thirsty; and
therefore went to the Well to drinke。 The other two men; perceiving
the Watch so neere upon them; left Andrea in the pit to shift for
himselfe; running away to shelter themselves。 Their flight was not
discovered by the Watch; but they comming to the Wellpit; Andrea
remained still in the bottome; and having cleansed himselfe so well as
hee could; sate wagging the rope; expecting when hee should be haled
up。 This dumbe signe the Watch discerned not; but sitting downe by the
Welles side; they layde downe their Billes and other weapons;
tugging to draw up the rope; thinking the Bucket was fastened thereto;
and full of water。 Andrea being haled up to the Pits brim; left
holding the rope any longer; catching fast hold with his hands for his
better safety; and the Watch at the sight hereof being greatly
agrighted; as thinking that they had dragd up a Spirit; not daring
to speake one word; ran away with all the hast they could make。
  Andrea hereat was not a little amazed; so that if he had not taken
very good hold on the brim: he might have falne to the bottome; and
doubtlesse there his life had perished。 Being come forth of the
Well; and treading on Billes and Halbards; which he well knew that his
companions had not brought thither with them; his mervaile so much the
more encreased; ignorance and feare still seizing him; with silent
bemoaning his many 

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