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第3章

the decameron(十日谈)-第3章

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 Sonne; Sonne; replied the Confessour; these sinnes are naturall;
and very light; and therefore I would not have thee to charge thy
conscience with them; more then is needfull。 It happeneth to every man
(how holy soever he be) that after he hath fasted overlong; feeding
will be welcome to him; and drinking good drinke after his travaile。 O
Sir; (said Maister Chappelet) never tell me this to comfort me; for
well you know; and I am not ignorant therein; that such things as
are done for the service of God; ought all to be performed purely; and
without any blemish of the minde; what otherwise is done; savoureth of
sinne。 The Friar being well contented with his words; said: It is
not amisse that thou understandest it in this manner; and thy
conscience thus purely cleared; is no little comfort to me。 But tell
me now concerning Avarice; hast thou sinned therein; by desiring
more then was reasonable; or withholding from others; such things as
thou oughtst not to detaine? Wherein Maister Chappelet answered。
Good Father; I would not have you to imagine; because you see me
lodged heere in the house of two Usurers; that therefore I am of any
such disposition。 No truely Sir; I came hither to no other end; but
onely to chastise and admonish them in friendly manner; to clense
their mindes from such abhominable profit: And assuredly; I should
have prevailed therein; had not this violent sicknesse hindered mine
intention。 But understand (holy Father) that my parents left me a rich
man; and immediatly after my Fathers death; the greater part of his
goods I gave away for Gods sake; and then; to sustaine mine owne life;
and to helpe the poore members of Jesus Christ; I betooke my selfe
to a meane estate of Merchandise; desiring none other then honest
gaine thereby; and evermore whatsoever benefit came to me; I
imparted halfe thereof to the poore; converting mine owne small
portion about my necessary affaires; which that other part would
scarcely serve to supply: yet alwayes God gave thereto such a
mercifull blessing; that my businesse dayly thrived more and more;
arising still from good to better。
  Well hast thou done therein good Sonne; said the Confessour: but how
oftentimes hast thou beene angry? Oh Sir (said Maister Chappelet)
therein I assure yee; I have often transgressed。 And what man is
able to forbeare it; beholding the dayly actions of men to be so
dishonest? No care of keeping Gods Commandements; nor any feare of his
dreadfull judgements。 Many times in a day; I have rather wished my
selfe dead then living; beholding youth pursuing idle vanities; to
sweare and forsweare themselves; tipling in Tavernes; and never
haunting Churches; but rather affecting the worlds follies; then any
such duties as they owe to God。 Alas Sonne (quoth the Friar) this is a
good and holy anger; and I can impose no penance on thee for it。 But
tell me; hath not rage or furie at any time so over…ruled thee; as
to commit murther or man…slaughter; or to speake evill of any man;
or to doe any other such kinde of injurie? Oh Father (answered Maister
Chappelet) you that seeme to be a man of God; how dare you use any
such vile words? If I had had the very least thought; to doe any
such act as you speake; doe you thinke that God would have suffered me
to live? These are deeds of darknesse; fit for villaines and wicked
livers; of which hellish crew; when at any time I have happened to
meet with some one of them; I have said; God; God convert thee。
  Worthy; and charitable words; replied the Friar: but tell me
Sonne; Didst thou ever beare false witnes against any man; or hast
spoken falsly; or taken ought from any one; contrary to the will of
the owner? Yes indeed Father; said Maister Chappelet; I have spoken
ill of another; because I have sometime seene one of my neighbors; who
with no meane shame of the world; would do nothing else but beat his
wife: and of him once I complained to the poore mans parents;
saying; that he never did it but when he was overcome with drinke。
Those were no ill words; quoth the Friar; but I remember you said;
that you were a Merchant: Did you ever deceive any; as some
Merchants use to doe? Truely Father; answered M。 Chappelet; I thinke
not any; except one man; who one day brought me money which he owed me
for a certaine peece of cloath I sold him; and I put it into a purse
without accounting it。 About a moneth afterward; I found that there
were foure small pence more then was due to mee: and never happening
to meete with the man againe; after I had kept them the space of a
whole yeare; I then gave them away unto foure poore people; for Gods
sake。
  A small matter; said the Friar; and truly payed backe againe to
the owner; in bestowing them on the poore。 Many other questions he
demanded of him; whereto still he answered in the same manner。 But
before he proceeded to absolution; Master Chappelet spake thus: I have
yet one sinne more; which I have not revealed to you: when being urged
by the Friar to confesse it; he said。 I remember; that I should afford
one day in the weeke; to cleanse the house of my soule; for better
entertainement to my Lord and Saviour; and yet I have done no such
reverence to the Sunday or Sabbath; as I ought to have done。 A small
fault Sonne; replyed the Friar。 O no (quoth Master Chappelet)
doe not terme it a small fault; because Sunday being a holy day;
is highly to be reverenced: for as on that day; our blessed Lord arose
from death to life。 But (quoth the Confessor) hast thou done nothing
else on that day? Yes; said he; being forgetfull of my selfe; once I
did spet in Gods Church。 The Friar smiling; said: Alas Sonne; that
is a matter of no moment; for wee that are Religious persons; doe
use to spet there every day。 The more is your shame; answered Master
Chappelet; for no place ought to bee kept more pure and cleane then
the sacred Temple; wherein our daily sacrifices are offered up to God。
  In this manner he held on an houre and more; uttering the like
transgressions as these; and at last began to sigh very
passionately; and to shed a few teares; as one that was skilfull
enough in such dissembling pranks: whereat the Confessor being much
mooved; saide: Alas Sonne; what aylest thou? Oh Father (quoth
Chappelet) there remaineth yet one sinne more upon my conscience;
wherof I never at any time made confession; so shamefull it
appeareth to mee to disclose it; and I am partly perswaded; that God
will never pardon me for that sinne。 How now Sonne? said the Friar;
never say so; for if all the sinnes that ever were committed by men;
or shall be committed so long as the World endureth; were onely in one
man; and he repenting them; and being so contrite for them; as I see
thou art; the grace and mercy of God is so great; that upon penitent
confession; he will freely pardon him; and therefore spare not to
speake it boldly。 Alas Father (said Chappelet; still in pretended
weeping) this sinne of mine is so great; that I can hardly beleeve (if
your earnest prayers do not assist me) that ever I shall obtaine
remission for it。 Speake it Sonne; said the Friar; and feare not; I
promise that I will pray to God for thee。
  Master Chappelet still wept and sighed; and continued silent;
notwithstanding all the Confessors comfortable perswasions; but
after hee had helde him a long while in suspence; breathing forth a
sighe; even as if his very heart would have broken; he saide; Holy
Father; seeing you promise to pray to God for me; I will reveale it to
you: Know then; that when I was a little boy; I did once curse my
Mother; which he had no sooner spoken; but he wrung his hands; and
greeved extraordinarily。 Oh good Son; saide the Friar: doth that seeme
so great a sinne to thee? Why; men doe daily blaspheme our Lord God;
and yet neverthelesse; upon their hearty repentance; he is alwayes
ready to forgive them; and wilt not thou beleeve to obtaine remission;
for a sinne so ignorantly committed? Weepe no more deare Sonne; but
comfort thy selfe and rest resolved; that if thou wert one of them;
who nayled our blessed Saviour to his Crosse; yet being so truly
repentant; as I see thou art; he would freely forgive thee。 Say you so
Father?

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