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

第4章

the decameron(十日谈)-第4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!



repentant; as I see thou art; he would freely forgive thee。 Say you so
Father? quoth Chappelet。 What mine owne deare Mother? that bare me
in her wombe nine moneths; day and night; and afterwards fed me with
her breasts a thousand times; can I be pardoned for cursing her? Oh
no; it is too haynous a sinne; and except you pray to God very
instantly for me; he will not forgive me。
  When the religious man perceived; that nothing more was to bee
confessed by Master Chappelet; he gave him absolution; and his owne
benediction beside; reputing him to be a most holy man; as verily
beleeving all that hee had said。 And who would not have done the like;
hearing a man to speake in this manner; and being upon the very
point of death? Afterward; he saide unto him; Master Chappelet; by
Gods grace you may be soone restored to health; but if it so come to
passe; that God doe take your blessed and well disposed soule to his
mercy; will it please you to have your body buried in our Convent?
Whereto Master Chappelet answered; I thanke you Father for your good
motion; and sorry should I be; if my friends did bury me any where
else; because you have promised to pray to God for me; and beside; I
have alwayes carried a religious devotion to your Order。 Wherefore;
I beseech you; so soone as you are come home to your Convent; prevaile
so much by your good meanes; that the holy Eucharist; consecrated this
morning on your high Altar; may be brought unto me: for although I
confesse my selfe utterly unworthy; yet I purpose (by your reverend
permission) to receive it; as also your holy and latest unction; to
this ende; that having lived a greevous sinner; I may yet (at the
last) die a Christian。 These words were pleasing to the good olde man;
and he caused every thing to be performed; according as Master
Chappelet had requested。
  The two Brethren; who much doubted the dissembling of Chappelet;
being both in a small partition; which sundered the sicke mans Chamber
from theirs; heard and understood the passage of all; betweene him and
the ghostly Father; being many times scarcely able to refraine from
laughter; at the fraudulent course of his confession。 And often they
said within themselves; What manner of man is this; whom neither
age; sickenesse; nor terror of death so neere approaching; and
sensible to his owne soule; nor that which is much more; God; before
whose judgement he knowes not how soone he shall appeare; or else be
sent to a more fearefull place; none of these can alter his wicked
disposition; but that he will needes die according as he hath lived?
Notwithstanding; seeing he had so ordered the matter; that he had
buriall freely allowed him; they cared for no more。
  After that Chappelet had received the Communion; and the other
Ceremonies appointed for him; weakenesse encreasing on him more and
more; the very same day of his goodly confession; he died (not long
after) towards the evening。 Whereupon the two Brethren tooke order;
that all needefull things should be in a readinesse; to have him
buried honourably; sending to acquaint the Fathers of the Convent
therewith; that they might come to say their Vigilles; according to
precedent custome; and then on the morrow to fetch the body。 The
honest Friar that had confessed him; hearing he was dead; went to
the Prior of the Convent; and by sound of the house Bell; caused all
the Brethren to assemble together; giving them credibly to understand;
that Master Chappelet was a very holy man; as appeared by all the
parts of his confession; and made no doubt; but that many miracles
would be wrought by his sanctified body; perswading them to fetch it
thither with all devoute solemnity and reverence: whereto the Prior;
and all the credulous Brethren presently condiscended very gladly。
  When night was come; they went all to visit the dead body of
Master Chappelet; where they used an especiall and solemne Vigill; and
on the morrow; apparelled in their richest Coapes and Vestiments; with
bookes in their hands; and the Crosse borne before them; singing in
the forme of a very devoute procession; they brought the body
pompeously into their Church; accompanied with all the people of the
Towne; both men and women。 The Father Confessor; ascending up into the
Pulpit; preached wonderfull things of him; and the rare holinesse of
his life; his fastes; his virginity; simplicity; innocency; and true
sanctity; recounting also (among other especiall observations) what
Chappelet had confessed; as this most great and greevous sinne; and
how hardly he could be perswaded; that God would grant him pardon
for it。 Whereby he tooke occasion to reprove the people then
present; saying; And you (accursed of God) for the verie least and
trifling matter hapning; will not spare to blaspheme God; his
blessed Mother; and the whole Court of heavenly Paradise: Oh; take
example by this singular man; this Saint…like man; nay; a very Saint
indeede。
  Many additions more he made; concerning his faithfulnesse; truth;
and integrity; so that; by the vehement asseveration of his words
(whereto all the people there present gave credible beleefe) he
provoked them unto such zeale and earnest devotion; that the Sermon
was no sooner ended; but (in mighty crowds and throngs) they pressed
about the Biere; kissing his hands and feete; and all the garments
about him were torne in peeces; as precious Reliques of so holy a
person; and happy they thought themselves; that could get the smallest
peece or shred of any thing that came neere to his body: and thus they
continued all the day; the body lying still open; to be visited in
this manner。
  When night was come; they buried him in a goodly Marble tombe;
erected in a faire Chappell purposely; and for many dayes after
following; it was most strange to see; how the people of the Country
came thither on heapes; with holy Candles and other offerings; with
Images of waxe fastened to the Tombe; in signe of Sacred and solemne
Vowes; to this new created Saint。 And so farre was spread the fame and
renowne of his sanctity; devotion; and integrity of life; maintained
constantly by the Fathers of the Convent; that if any one fell sicke
in neede; distresse; or adversity; they would make their Vowes to no
other Saint but him: naming him (as yet to this day they do) Saint
Chappelet; affirming upon their Oathes; that infinite miracles were
there daily performed by him; and especially on such; as came in
devotion to visit his shrine。
  In this manner lived and died Master Chappelet du Prat; who before
he became a Saint; was as you have heard: and I will not deny it to be
impossible; but that he may bee at rest among other blessed bodies。
For although he lived lewdly and wickedly; yet such might be his
contrition in the latest extreamity; that (questionlesse) he might
finde mercie。 But; because such things remaine unknowne to us; and
speaking by outward appearance; vulgar judgement will censure
otherwise of him; and thinke him to be rather in perdition; then in so
blessed a place as Paradice。 But referring that to the Omnipotents
appointment; whose clemencie hath alwayes beene so great to us; that
he regards not our errors; but the integrity of our Faith; making
(by meanes of our continuall Mediator) of an open enemy; a converted
sonne and servant。 And as I began in his name; so will I conclude;
desiring that it may evermore be had in due reverence; and referre
we our selves thereto in all our necessities; with this setled
assurance; that he is alwayes ready to heare us。 And so he ceased。




                     THE FIRST DAY; THE SECOND NOVELL

          WHEREIN IS CONTAINED AND EXPRESSED; THE LIBERALITY AND
            GOODNESSE OF GOD; EXTENDED TO THE CHRISTIAN FAITH

  Abraham a Jew; being admonished or advised by a friend of his;
named Jehannot de Chevigny; travailed from Paris unto Rome: And
beholding there the wicked behaviour of men in the Church; returned
backe to Paris againe; where yet (neverthelesse) he became a
Christian。

  The Novell recited by Pamphilus; was highly pleasing to the company;
and much commended by the Ladies: and after it had beene diligently
observed among them; the Queene co

返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 1 1

你可能喜欢的