the decameron(十日谈)-第6章
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Courtiers？ Whereto the Jew readily answered； It is strange Jehannot；
that God should give them so much as he doth。 For I will truely tell
thee； that if I had beene able to consider all those things； which
there I have both heard and seene： I could then have resolved my
selfe； never to have found in any Priest； either sanctity； devotion；
good worke； example of honest life； or any good thing else beside。 But
if a man desire to see luxury； avarice； gluttony； and such wicked
things； yea； worse； if worse may be； and held in generall estimation
of all men； let him but goe to Rome； which I thinke rather to be the
forge of damnable actions； then any way leaning to grace or goodnesse。
And； for ought I could perceive； me thinkes your chiefe Pastour； and
（consequently） all the rest of his dependants； doe strive so much as
they may （with all their engine arte and endevour） to bring to
nothing； or else to banish quite out of the world； Christian Religion；
whereof they should be the support and foundation。
But because I perceive； that their wicked intent will never come
to passe； but contrariwise； that your faith enlargeth it selfe；
shining every day much more cleare and splendant： I gather thereby
evidently； that the blessed Spirit is the true ground and defence
thereof； as being more true and holy then any other。 In which respect；
whereas I stood stiffe and obstinate against the good admonitions； and
never minded to become a Christian： now I freely open my heart unto
thee； that nothing in the world can or shall hinder me； but I will
be a Christian； as thou art。 Let us therefore presently goe to the
Church； and there （according to the true custome of your holy
faiths） helpe me to be baptized。
Jehannot； who expected a farre contrary conclusion then this；
hearing him speake it with such constancy； was the very gladdest man
in the world； and went with him to the Church of Nostre Dame in Paris；
where he requested the Priests there abiding； to bestow baptisme on
Abraham； which they joyfully did； hearing him so earnestly to desire
it。 Jehannot was his Godfather； and named him John； and afterward；
by learned Divines he was more fully instructed in the grounds of
our faith； wherein he grew of great understanding； and led a very
vertuous life。
THE FIRST DAY； THE THIRD NOVELL
WHEREBY THE AUTHOR； APPROVING THE CHRISTIAN FAITH；
SHEWETH； HOW BENEFICIALL A SODAINE AND INGENIOUS ANSWERE
MAY FALL OUT TO BEE； ESPECIALLY WHEN A MAN FINDS HIMSELFE
IN SOME EVIDENT DANGER
Melchisedech a Jew； by recounting a Tale of three Rings； to the
great Soldan； named Saladine； prevented a great danger which was
prepared for him。
Madame Neiphila having ended her Discourse； which was well allowed
of by all the company； it pleased the Queene； that Madame Philomena
should next succeede in order； who thus began。
The Tale delivered by Neiphila； maketh mee remember a doubtfull
case； which sometime hapned to another Jew。 And because that God；
and the truth of his holy Faith； hath bene already very well
discoursed on： it shall not seeme unfitting （in my poore opinion） to
descend now into the accidents of men。 Wherefore； I will relate a
matter unto you； which being attentively heard and considered； may
make you much more circumspect； in answering to divers questions and
demands； then （perhaps） otherwise you would be。 Consider then （most
woorthy assembly） that like as folly or dulnesse； many times hath
overthrowne some men from place of eminencie； into most great and
greevous miseries： even so； discreet sense and good understanding；
hath delivered many out of irksome perils； and seated them in safest
security。 And to prove it true； that folly hath made many fall from
high authority； into poore and despised calamity； may be avouched by
infinite examples； which now were needelesse to remember： But； that
good sense and able understanding； may proove to be the occasion of
great desolation； without happy prevention； I will declare unto you in
very few words； and make it good according to my promise。
Saladine； was a man so powerfull and valiant； as not onely his
very valour made him Soldan of Babylon； and also gave him many signall
victories； over Kings of the Sarrazens； and of Christians likewise。
Having in divers Warres； and other magnificent employments； of his
owne； wasted all his treasure； and （by reason of some sodaine accident
happening to him） standing in neede to use some great summe of
money； yet not readily knowing where； or how to procure it； he
remembred a rich Jew named Melchisedech； that lent out money to use or
interest in the City of Alexandria。 This man he imagined best able
to furnish him； if he could be won to do it willingly： but he was
knowne to be so gripple and miserable； that hardly any meanes would
drawe him to it。 In the end； constrained by necessity； and labouring
his wits for some apt device whereby he might have it： he concluded；
though hee might not compell him to do it； yet by a practise
shadowed with good reason to ensnare him。 And having sent for him；
entertained him very familiarly in his Court； and sitting downe by
him； thus began。
Honest man； I have often heard it reported by many； that thou art
very skilfull； and in cases concerning God； thou goest beyond all
other of these times： wherefore； I would gladly bee informed by
thee； which of those three Lawes or Religions； thou takest to be
truest； that of the Jew； the other of the Sarazen； or that of the
Christian？ The Jew； being a very wise man； plainely perceived； that
Saladine sought to entrap him in his answere； and so to raise some
quarrell against him。 For； if he commended any one of those Lawes
above the other； he knew that Saladine had what he aymed at。
Wherefore； bethinking himselfe to shape such an answere； as might no
way trouble or entangle him： summoning all his sences together； and
considering； that dallying with the Soldane might redound to his no
meane danger； thus he replied。
My Lord； the question propounded by you； is faire and worthy； and to
answere my opinion truely thereof； doth necessarily require some
time of consideration； if it might stand with your liking to allow it：
but if not； let me first make entrance to my reply； with a pretty
tale； and well worth the hearing。 I have oftentimes heard it reported；
that （long since） there was a very wealthy man； who （among other
precious Jewels of his owne） had a goodly Ring of great valew； the
beauty and estimation whereof； made him earnestly desirous to leave it
as a perpetuall memory and honour to his successors。 Whereupon； he
willed and ordained； that he among his male children； with whom this
Ring （being left by the Father） should be found in custody after his
death； hee and none other； was to bee reputed his heire； and to be
honoured and reverenced by all the rest； as being the prime and
worthiest person。 That Sonne； to whom this Ring was left by him；
kept the same course to his posterity； dealing （in all respects） as
his predecessor had done； so that （in short time） the Ring （from
hand to hand） had many owners by Legacie。
At length； came to the hand of one； who had three sonnes； all of
them goodly and vertuous persons； and verie obedient to their
Father： in which regard； he affected them all equally； without any
difference or partiall respect。 The custome of this Ring being
knowne to them； each one of them （coveting to beare esteeme above
the other） desired （as hee could best make his meanes） his Father；
that in regard he was now growne very old； he would leave that Ring to
him； whereby he should bee acknowledged for his heire。 The good man；
who loved no one of them more then the other； knew not how to make his
choise； nor to which of them he should leave the Ring： yet having past
his promise to them severally； he studied by what meanes to satisfie
them all three。 Wherefore； secretly having conferred with a curious
and excellent Goldsmith； hee caused two other Rings to bee made； so
really resembling the first made Ring； that himselfe （when he had them
in his hand） could not distinguish which was the right one。
Ly
