the decameron(十日谈)-第62章

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embraced；　to　resolve　her　certainly　in　this　strange　alteration　of　her
husband；　whereunto　thus　he　answered。
　　Madam；　you　have　so　straitly　concured　me；　by　urging　the　remembrance
of　her；　for　whose　sake　I　am　not　able　to　deny　any　thing　you　can　demand；
as　I　am　readie　therein　to　pleasure　you。　But　first　you　must　promise　me；
that　neither　you；　or　any　other　person　for　you；　shall　at　any　time
disclose　it　to　your　Husband；　untill　you　have　seene　by　effect；　that
which　I　have　told　you　proveth　to　be　true：　and　when　you　please；　I　wil
instruct　you　how　your　selfe　shall　see　it。　The　Ladie　was　not　a　little
joyfull　to　be　thus　satisfied　in　her　Husbands　folly；　and　constantly
crediting　his　words　to　be　true；　shee　sware　a　solemne　oath；　that　no　one
alive　should　ever　know　it。　So　stepping　a　little　further　aside；　because
no　listening　eare　should　heare　him；　thus　he　beganne。
　　Lady；　if　I　did　love　you　now　so　effectually　as　heeretofore　I　have
done；　I　should　be　very　circumspect；　in　uttering　any　thing　which　I
immagined　might　distast　you。　I　know　not　whether　your　husband
Philipello；　were　at　any　time　offended；　because　I　affected　you；　or
beleeved　that　I　received　any　kindnes　from　you：　but　whether　it　were
so　or　no；　I　could　never　discerne　it　by　any　outward　apparance。　But
now　awaiting　for　the　opportunity　of　time；　which　he　conceived　should
affoord　me　the　least　suspition；　he　seekes　to　compasse　that；　which　（I
doubt）　he　feares　I　would　have　done　to　him；　in　plaine　termes　Madam；
to　have　his　pleasure　of　my　wife。　And　as　by　some　carriages　I　have
observed；　within　few　daies　past　he　hath　solicited　and　pursued　his
purpose　very　secretly；　by　many　Ambassages；　and　meanes；　as　（indeed）　I
have　learned　from　her　selfe；　and　alwaies　she　hath　returned　in　such
answers；　as　she　receyved　by　my　direction。
　　And　no　longer　ago　Madam；　then　this　very　morning；　before　my　comming
hither；　I　found　a　woman…messenger　in　my　house；　in　very　close
conference　with　my　Wife；　when　growing　doubtfull　of　that　which　was　true
indeede；　I　called　my　Wife；　enquiring；　what　the　woman　would　have　with
her；　and　she　told　me；　it　was　another　pursuite　of　Philipello
Fighinolfi；　who　（quoth　shee）　upon　such　answers　as　you　have　caused　me
to　send　him　from　time　to　time；　perhappes　doth　gather　some　hope　of
prevailing　in　the　end；　which　maketh　him　still　to　importune　me　as　he
doth。　And　now　he　adventureth　so　farre；　as　to　understand　my　finall
intention；　having　thus　ordered　his　complot；　that　when　I　please；　I　must
meet　him　secretly　in　a　house　of　this　City；　where　he　hath　prepared　a
Bath　ready　for　me；　and　hopeth　to　enjoy　the　end　of　his　desire；　as
very　earnestly　he　hath　solicited　me　thereto。　But　if　you　had　not
commanded　me；　to　hold　him　in　suspense　with　so　many　frivolous
answers；　I　would　ere　this；　have　sent　him　such　a　message；　as　should
have　bene　little　to　his　liking。
　　With　patience　Madam　I　endured　all　before；　but　now　（me　thinkes）　he
proceedeth　too　farre；　which　is　not　any　way　to　be　suffered；　and
therefore　I　intended　to　let　you　know　it；　that　you　may　perceive；　how
wel　you　are　rewarded　for　the　faithfull　and　loyall　love　you　beare
him；　and　for　which；　I　was　even　at　deaths　dore。　Now；　because　you　may　be
the　surer　of　my　speeches；　not　to　be　any　lyes　or　fables；　and　that　you
may　（if　you　please）　approve　the　truth　by　your　owne　experience；　I
caused　my　wife　to　send　him　word；　that　she　would　meet　him　to　morrow
at　the　Bathing…house　appointed；　about　the　houre　of　noone…day；　when
people　repose　themselves　in　regard　of　the　heates　violence；　with
which　answer　the　woman　returned　very　jocondly。　Let　me　now　tell　you
Lady；　I　hope　you　have　better　opinion　of　my　wit；　then　any　meaning　in
me；　to　send　my　wife　thither；　I　rather　did　it　to　this　end；　that
having　acquainted　you　with　his　treacherous　intent；　you　should　supply
my　wives　place；　by　saving　both　his　reputation　and　your　owne；　and
frustrating　his　unkind　purpose　to　me。　Moreover；　upon　the　view　of　his
owne　delusion；　wrought　by　my　wife　in　meere　love　to　you；　he　shall　see
his　foule　shame；　and　your　most　noble　care；　to　keepe　the　rites　of
marriage　betweene　you　still　unstained。
　　Madame　Catulla；　having　heard　this　long　and　unpleasing　report；
without　any　consideration；　either　what　he　was　that　tolde　the　tale；
or　what　a　treason　he　intended　against　her：　immediately　（as　jealous
persons　use　to　doe）　she　gave　faith　to　his　forgerie；　and　began　to
discourse　many　things　to　him；　which　imagination　had　often　misguided
her　in；　against　her　honest　minded　husband；　and　enflamed　with　rage；
suddenly　replied；　that　shee　would　doe　according　as　he　had　advised　her；
as　being　a　matter　of　no　difficulty。　But　if　he　came；　she　would　so　shame
and　dishonour　him；　as　no　woman　whatsoever　should　better　schoole　him。
Ricciardo　highly　pleased　herewith；　and　being　perswaded；　that　his
purpose　would　take　the　full　effect：　confirmed　the　Lady　in　her
determination　with　many　words　more；　yet　putting　her　in　memory；　to
keepe　her　faithfull　promise　made；　without　revealing　the　matter　to
any　living　person；　as　shee　had　sworne　upon　her　faith。
　　On　the　morrow　morning；　Ricciardo　went　to　an　auncient　woman　of　his
acquaintance；　who　was　the　Mistresse　of　a　Bathing…house；　and　there
where　he　had　appointed　Madame　Catulla；　that　the　Bath　should　bee
prepared　for　her；　giving　her　to　understand　the　whole　businesse；　and
desiring　her　to　be　favourable　therein　to　him。　The　woman；　who　had　beene
much　beholding　to　him　in　other　matters；　promised　very　willingly　to
fulfill　his　request；　concluding　with　him；　both　what　should　be　done　and
said。　She　had　in　her　house　a　very　darke　Chamber；　without　any　window　to
affoord　it　the　least　light；　which　Chamber　she　had　made　ready；
according　to　Ricciardoes　direction；　with　a　rich　Bed　thereir；　so　soft
and　delicate　as　possible　could　bee；　wherein　he　entred　so　soone　as　he
had　dined；　to　attend　the　arrivall　of　Madame　Catulla。　On　the　same
day；　as　she　had　heard　the　speeches　of　Ricciardo；　and　gave　more
credit　to　them　then　became　her；　shee　returned　home　to　her　house　in
wonderfull　impatience。　And　Philippello　her　husband　came　home
discontentedly　too；　whose　head　being　busied　about　some　worldly
affaires；　perhaps　he　looked　not　so　pleasantly；　neither　used　her　so
kindly；　as　he　was　wont　to　doe。　Which　Catulla　perceiving；　shee　was
ten　times　more　suspicious　then　before；　saying　to　her　selfe。　Now
apparent　trueth　doth　disclose　it　selfe；　my　husbands　head　is　troubled
now　with　nothing　else；　but　Ricciardoes　wife；　with　whom　（to　morrow）
he　purposeth　his　meeting；　wherein　he　shall　be　disappointed；　if　I　live；
taking　no　rest　at　all　the　whole　night；　for　thinking　how　to　handle
her　husband。
　　What　shall　I　say　more？　On　the　morrow；　at　the　houre　of　mid…day
accompanied　onely　with　her　Chamber…mayde；　and　without　any　other
alteration　in　opinion；　shee　went　to　the　house　where　the　Bath　was
promised；　and　meeting　there　with　the　olde　woman；　demaunded　of　her；
if　Philippello　were　come　thither　as　yet　or　no？　The　woman；　being　well
instructed　by　Ricciardo；　answered：　Are　you　shee　that　should　meete
him　heere？　Yes；　replied　Catulla。　Goe　in　then　to　him　（quoth　the
woman）　for　he　is　not　farre　off　before　you。
　　Madame　Catulla；　who　went　to　seeke　that　which　shee　would　not　finde；
being　brought　vailed　into　the　darke　Chamber　where　Ricciardo　was；
entred　into　the　Bath；　hoping　to　finde　none　other　there　but　her
husband；　and　the　custome　of　the　Country；　never　disallowed　such
meetings　of　men　with　their　wives；　but　held　them　to　be　good　and
commendable。　In　a　counterfeit　voyce　he　bad　her　welcome；　and　she；　not
seeming　to　be　any　other　then　shee　was　indeed；　entertained　his
imbracings　in　as　loving　manner；　yet　not　daring　to　speake；　least　he
should　know　her；　but　suffered　him　to　proceede　in　his　owne　errour。
　　Let　passe　the　wanton　follies　passing　betweene　them；　and　come　to
Madame　Catulla；　who　finding　it　a　fit　and　convenient　time；　to　vent
forth　the　tempest　of　her　spleene；　began　in　this　manner。　Alas！　how
mighty；　are　the　misfortunes　of　women；　and　how　ill　requited　is　all
the　loyall　love　of　many　wives　to　their　husbands？　I；　a　poore
miserable　Lady；　who；　for　the　space　of　eight　yeeres　now　fully
compleated；　have　loved　thee：　more　dearely　then　mine　owne　life；　finde
now　（to　my　hearts　endlesse　griefe）　how　thou　wastest　and　consumest
thy　desires；　to　delight　them　with　a　strange　woman；　like　a　most　vil