the decameron(十日谈)-第69章

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！


life；　in　mervailous　civill　and　modest　manner。　Yet　all　these　were　but
traines　to　a　further　intention；　for　the　Abbot　must　needes　be　her
ghostly　Father；　and　she　come　to　be　confessed　by　him；　which　the　foole
Ferando　tooke　as　an　especiall　favour；　and　therefore　he　gave　his
consent　the　sooner。
　　At　the　appointed　time；　when　the　woman　came　to　confession　to　the
Abbot；　and　was　on　her　knees　before　him；　to　his　no　small　contentment；
before　she　would　say　any　thing　else；　thus　she　began：　Sacred　Father；　if
God　had　not　given　me　such　an　husband　as　I　have；　or　else　had　bestowed
on　me　none　at　all；　I　might　have　beene　so　happy；　by　the　meanes　of
your　holy　doctrine；　very　easily　to　have　entred　into　the　way；　whereof
you　spake　the　other　day；　which　leadeth　to　eternall　life。　But　when　I
consider　with　my　selfe；　what　manner　of　man　Ferando　is；　and　thinke　upon
his　folly　withall；　I　may　well　terme　my　selfe　to　be　a　widow；　although　I
am　a　maried　wife；　because　while　he　liveth；　I　cannot　have　any　other
husband。　And　yet　（as　sottish　as　you　see　him）　he　is　（without　any
occasion　given　him）　so　extreamely　jealous　of　me；　as　I　am　not　able　to
live　with　him；　but　only　in　continuall　tribulation　and　hearts　griefe。
In　which　respect；　before　I　enter　into　confession；　I　most　humbly
beseech　you；　that　you　would　vouchsafe　（in　this　distresse）　to　assist　me
with　your　fatherly　advice　and　counsell；　because；　if　thereby　I　cannot
attaine　to　a　more　pleasing　kinde　of　happinesse；　neither　confessior；　or
any　thing　else；　is　able　to　doe　me　any　good　at　all。
　　These　words　were　not　a　little　welcome　to　my　Lord　Abbot；　because
（thereby）　he　halfe　assured　himselfe；　that　Fortune　had　laid　open　the
path　to　his　hoped　pleasures。　Whereupon　he　said。　Deare　daughter；　I　make
no　question　to　the　contrary；　but　it　must　needes　be　an　exceeding
infelicity；　to　so　faire　and　goodly　a　young　woman　as　you　are；　to　be
plagued　with　so　sottish　an　husband；　brainsick；　and　without　the　use
of　common　understanding；　but　yet　subject　to　a　more　hellish
affliction　then　all　these；　namely　jealousie；　and　therefore　you　being
in　this　wofull　manner　tormented；　your　tribulations　are　not　only　so
much　the　more　credited；　but　also　as　amply　grieved　for；　and　pittied。　In
which　heavy　and　irksome　perturbations；　I　see　not　any　meanes　of　remedy；
but　onely　one；　being　a　kinde　of　physicke　（beyond　all　other）　to　cure
him　of　his　foolish　jealousie；　which　medicine　is　very　familiar　to　me；
because　I　know　best　how　to　compound　it；　alwayes　provided；　that　you　can
be　of　so　strong　a　capacity；　as　to　be　secret　in　what　I　shall　say　unto
you。
　　Good　Father　（answered　the　Woman）　never　make　you　any　doubt　thereof；
for　I　would　rather　endure　death　it　selfe；　then　disclose　any　thing
which　you　enjoyne　me　to　keepe　secret：　wherefore；　I　beseech　you　Sir
to　tell　me；　how；　and　by　what　meanes　it　may　be　done。　If　（quoth　the
Abbot）　you　desire　to　have　him　perfectly　cured；　of　disease　so　dangerous
and　offensive；　of　necessity　he　Must　be　sent　into　Purgatory。　How　may
that　be　done；　saide　the　woman；　he　being　alive？　He　must　needs　die；
answered　the　Abbot；　for　his　more　speedy　passage　thither；　and　when　he
hath　endured　so　much　punishment；　as　may　expiate　the　quality　of　his
jealousie；　we　have　certaine　devoute　and　zealous　prayers；　whereby　to
bring　him　backe　againe　to　life；　in　as　able　manner　as　ever　he　was。
Why　then；　replyed　the　woman；　I　must　remaine　in　the　state　of　a
Widdow？　Very　true；　saide　the　Abbot；　for　a　certaine　time；　in　all
which　space；　you　may　not　（by　no　meanes）　marrie　againe；　because　the
heavens　will　therewith　be　highly　offended：　but　Ferando　being
returned　to　life　againe；　you　must　repossesse　him　as　your　Husband；
but　never　to　be　jealous　any　more。　Alas　Sir　（quoth　the　woman）　so　that
he　may　be　cured　of　his　wicked　jealousie；　and　I　no　longer　live　in
such　an　hellish　imprisonment；　do　as　you　please。
　　Now　was　the　Abbot　（well　neere）　on　the　highest　step　of　his　hope；
making　her　constant　promise；　to　accomplish　it：　But　（quoth　he）　what
shall　be　my　recompence　when　I　have　done　it？　Father；　saide　she；
whatsoever　you　please　to　aske；　if　it　remaine　within　the　compasse　of　my
power：　but　you　being　such　a　vertuous　and　sanctified　man；　and　I　a　woman
of　so　meane　worth　or　merit；　what　sufficient　recompence　can　I　be　able
to　make　you？　Whereunto　the　Abbot　thus　replyed。　Faire　woman；　you　are
able　to　do　as　much　for　me；　as　I　am　for　you；　because　I　doe　dispose　my
selfe；　to　performe　a　matter　for　your　comfort　and　consolation；　even
so　ought　you　to　be　as　mindfull　of　me；　in　any　action　concerning　my　life
and　welfare。　In　any　such　matter　Sir　（quoth　she）　depending　on　your
benefit　so　strictly；　you　may　safely　presume　to　command　me。　You　must
then　（saide　the　Abbot）　grant　me　your　love；　and　the　kinde　embracing
of　your　person；　because　so　violent　are　mine　affections；　as　I　pine
and　consume　away　daily；　till　I　enjoy　the　fruition　of　my　desires；　and
none　can　helpe　me　therein　but　you。
　When　the　woman　heard　these　words；　as　one　confounded　with　much
amazement；　thus　shee　replied。　Alas；　holy　Father！　What　a　strange　motion
have　you　made　to　me？　I　beleeved　very　faithfully；　that　you　were　no
lesse　then　a　Saint；　and　is　it　convenient；　that　when　silly　women　come
to　ask　counsell　of　such　sanctified　men；　they　should　returne　them
such　unfitting　answeres？　Be　not　amazed　good　woman；　saide　the　Abbot；　at
the　motion　which　I　have　made　unto　you；　because　holinesse　is　not
thereby　impaired　a　jot　in　me；　for　it　is　the　inhabitant　of　the　soule；
the　other　is　an　imperfection　attending　on　the　body：　but　be　it
whatsoever；　your　beauty　hath　so　powerfully　prevailed　on　me；　that
entire　love　hath　compelld　me　to　let　you　know　it。　And　more　may　you
boast　of　your　beauty；　then　any　that　ever　I　beheld　before；　considering；
it　is　so　pleasing　to　a　sanctified　man；　that　it　can　draw　him　from
divine　contemplations；　to　regard　a　matter　of　so　humble　an　equalitie。
　　Let　me　tell　you　moreover；　woorthy　Woman；　that　see　me　reverenced　here
as　Lord　Abbot；　yet　am　I　but　as　other　men　are；　and　in　regard　I　am
neither　aged；　nor　mishapen；　me　thinkes　the　motion　I　have　made；
should　be　the　lesse　offensive　to　you；　and　therefore　the　sooner
granted。　For；　all　the　while　as　Ferando　remaineth　in　Purgatory；　doe　you
but　imagine　him　to　be　present　with　you；　and　your　perswasion　will　the
more　absolutely　be　confirmed。　No　man　can；　or　shall　be　privy　to　our
close　meetings；　for　I　carry　the　same　holy　opinion　among　all　men；　as
you　your　selfe　conceived　of　me；　and　none　dare　be　so　saucie；　as　to　call
in　question　whatsoever　I　doe　or　say；　because　my　words　are　Oracles；　and
mine　actions　more　than　halfe　miracles；　doe　you　not　then　refuse　so
gracious　an　offer。　Enow　there　are；　who　would　gladly　enjoy　that；
which　is　francke　and　freely　presented　to　you；　and　which　（if　you　be　a
wise　Woman）　is　meerely　impossible　for　you　to　refuse。　Richly　am　I
possessed　of　Gold　and　Jewels；　which　shall　be　all　yours；　if　you
please　in　favour　to　be　mine；　wherein　I　will　not　be　gaine…saide；　except
your　selfe　do　deny　me。
　　The　Woman　having　her　eyes　fixed　on　the　ground；　knew　not　well　how
shee　should　denie　him；　and　yet　in　plaine　words；　to　say　shee　consented；
shee　held　it　to　be　overbase　and　immodest；　and　ill　agreeing　with　her
former　reputation：　when　the　Abbot　had　well　noted　this　attention　in
her；　and　how　silent　shee　stood　without　returning　any　answere；　he
accounted　the　conquest　to　be　more　then　halfe　his　owne：　so　that
continuing　on　his　former　perswasions；　hee　never　ceased；　but　allured
her　still　to　beleeve　whatsoever　he　saide。　And　much　ashamed　of　his
importunity；　but　more　of　her　owne　flexible　yeelding　weaknesse；　made
answere；　that　shee　would　willingly　accomplish　his　request；　which　yet
shee　did　not　absolutely　grant；　untill　Ferando　were　first　sent　into
Purgatory。　And　till　then　（quoth　the　Abbot）　I　will　not　urge　any　more；
because　I　purpose　his　speedy　sending　thither：　but　yet；　so　farre　lend
me　your　assistance；　that　either　to　morrow；　or　else　the　next　day；　he
may　come　hither　once　more　to　converse　with　me。　So　putting　a　faire　gold
Ring　on　her　finger；　they　parted　till　the　next　meeting。
　　Not　a　little　joyfull　was　the　Woman　of　so　rich　a　gift；　hoping　to
enjoy　a　great　many　more　of　them；　and　returning　home　to　her　neighbours；
acquainted　them　with　wonderfull　matters；　all　concerning　the
sanctimonious　life　of　the　Abbot；　a　meere　mi