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第29章

the decameron(十日谈)-第29章

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more hope for any future happinesse? And how can I get forth of this
prison; except it bee by death onely? How now; replyed the Officer
of the Guard? What doth this businesse of great Kings concerne thee?
What affayres hast thou in Sicily?
  Once more Jehannot sighed extreamly; and returned him this answer。
Me thinkes my heart (quoth hee) doeth cleave in sunder; when I call to
minde the charge which my Father had there; for although I was but a
little boy when I fled thence; yet I can well remember; that I saw him
Governor there; at such time as King Manfred lived。 The Guard;
pursuing on still his purpose; demanded of him; what and who his
Father was? My Father (replied Jehannot?) I may now securely speake of
him; being out of the perill which neerely concerned me if I had beene
discovered: he was the named (and so still if he be living) henriet
Capece; and my name is Geoffrey; and not Jehannot; and I make no
doubt; but if I were freed from hence; and might returned home to
Sicily; I should (for his sake) be placed in some authority。
  The honest man of the Guard; without seeking after any further
information; so soone as he could compasse any leysure; reported all
to Messer Conrado; who having heard these newes (albeit he made no
shew thereof to the revealer) went to Madam Beritola; graciously
demaunding of her; if she had any sonne by her husband; who was called
Geoffrey。 The Lady replyed in teares; that if her eldest sonne were as
yet living; he was so named; and now aged about two and twenty yeeres。
Conrado hearing this; imagined this same to be the man; considering
further withall; that if it fell out to prove so; hee might have the
better meanes of mercie; and closely concealing his daughters shame;
joyfully joyne them in marriage together。
  Hereupon; he secretly called Jehannot before him; examining him
particularly of all his passed life; and finding (by most manifest
arguments) that his name was truly Geoffrey; and the eldest son of
Henriet Capece; he spake thus to him。 Jehannot; thou knowest how great
the injuries are that thou hast done me; and my deere daughter; gently
intreating thee (as became an honest servant) that thou shouldest
alwayes have bene respective of mine honor; and all that appertaine
unto me。 There are many noble Gentlemen; who sustaining the wrong
which thou hast offred me; they would have procured thy shamefull
death; which pitty and compassion will not suffer in me。 Wherefore
seeing (as thou informest me) that thou art honourably derived both by
father and mother; I will give end to all thy anguishes; even when thy
selfe art so pleased; releasing thee from that captivity wherein I
have so long kept thee; and in one instant; reduce thine honor and
mine into compleat perfection。 As thou knowest my daughter Spina; whom
thou hast embraced as a friend (although far unfitting for thee; or
her) is a widdow; and her marriage is both great and good; what her
manners and conditions are; thou indifferently knowest; and art not
ignorant of her father and mother: concerning thine owne estate; as
now I purpose not to speake any thing。 Therefore; when thou wilt; I am
determined; that whereas thou hast immodestly affected her; she
shall become thy honest wife; and accepting thee as my sonne; to
remaine with me so long as you both please。
  Imprisonment had somwhat mishapen Jehannot in his outward forme; but
not impaired a jot of his noble spirit; much lesse the true love which
he bare his friend。 And although most earnestly he desired that
which now Conrado had so frankly offered him; and was in his power
onely to bestow on him; yet could he not cloud any part of his
greatnes; but with a resolved judgement; thus replied。 My Lord;
affectation of rule; desire of welthy possessions; or any other matter
whatsoever could never make me a traitor to you or yours; but that I
have loved; do love; and for ever shal love your beauteous daughter:
if that be treason; I do free confesse it; and will die a thousand
deaths before you or any else shall enforce me to deny it; for I
hold her highly worthy of my love。 If I have bin more unmannerly
with her then became me; I have committed but that error; which
evermore is so attendant uppon youth; that to deny; is to denie
youth also。 And if reverend age would but remember; that once he was
young and measure others offences by his owne; they would not be
thoght so great; as you (and many more) account them to be; mine being
committed as a friend; and not as an enemy。 What you make offer of
so willingly; I have alwayes desired; and if I had thought it would
have beene granted; long since I had most humbly requested it: and
so much the more acceptable would it have bin to me; by how much the
further off it stood from my hopes。 But if you bee so forward as
your words doe witnesse; then feed me not with any further
fruitlesse expectation; but rather send me backe to prison; and lay as
many afflictions on me as you please。 For my endeered love to your
daughter Spina; maketh mee to love you the more for her sake; how
hardly soever you intreat me; and bindeth me in the greater
reverence to you; as being the Father of my fairest friend。
  Messer Conrado hearing these words; stood as one confounded with
admiration; reputing him to be a man of loftie spirit; and his
affection most fervent to his Daughter; which was not a little to
his liking。 Wherefore; embracing him; and kissing his cheeke;
without any longer dallying; hee sent in like manner for his Daughter。
Her restraint in prison; had made her lookes meager; pale; and
wanne; and very weake was she also of her person; faire differing from
the Woman she was wont to be; before be; before her affection to
Jehannot。 There in presence of her Father; and with free consent of
either; they were contracted as man and wife; and the espousals agreed
on according to custome。 Some few dayes after; (without any ones
knowledge of that which was done) having furnished them with all
things fit for the purpose; and time aptly serving; that the Mothers
should be partakers in this joy; he called his wife; and Madam
Beritola; to whom first he spake in this manner。
  What will you say Madame; if I cause you to see your eldest Son; not
long since married to one of my daughters? Whereunto Beritola thus
replied。 My Lord; I can say nothing else unto you; but that I shal
be much more obliged to you; then already I am; and the rather;
because you will let me see the thing which is deerer then mine owne
life; and rendering it unto me in such manner as you speake of; you
will recall backe some part of my former lost hopes: and with these
words; the teares streamed aboundantly from her eyes。 Then turning
to his wife; he said: And you deere Love; if I shew you such a Son
in law; what will you thinke of it? Sir (quoth she) what pleaseth you;
must and shall satisfie me; be he gentleman or beggar。 Well said
Madam; answered Messer Conrado; I hope shortly; to make you both
joyfull。 So when the amorous couple had recovered their former
feature; and honorable garments prepared for them; privately thus he
said to Geoffrey; Beyond the joy which already thou art inriched
withall; how would it please thee to meete thine owne Mother here? I
cannot beleeve Sir (replied Geoffrey) that her greevous misfortunes
have suffered her to live so long; and yet; if heaven hath bin so
mercifull to her; my joyes were incomparable; for by her gracious
counsel; I might well hope to recover no meane happines in Sicily。
Soone after; both the mothers were sent for; who were transported with
unspeakable joy; when they beheld the so lately married couple:
being much amazed what inspiration had guided Messer Conrado to this
extraordinary benignity; in joyning Jehannot in marriage with Spina。
 Hereupon; Madam Beritola remembring the speeches betweene her and
Messer Conrado; began to observe him very advisedly; and by a hidden
vertue which long had silently slept in her; and now with joy of
spirit awaked; calling to mind the lineatures of her sonnes infancy;
without awaiting for any other demonstration; she folded him in her
armes with earnest affection。 Motherly joy and pity now contended 

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