the decameron(十日谈)-第76章
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what is it thou hast that thrusts itself out in front； and that I have
not？〃 〃My daughter；〃 quoth Rustico； 〃it is that same Devil of whom I
have been telling thee。 Dost thou mark him？ Behold； he gives me such
sore trouble that I can hardly bear it。〃
〃The Lord be praised！〃 said she； 〃for now I see that I am more
blessed than thou in that I have not this Devil。〃
Rustico retorted： 〃Thou sayest truly； but thou hast another thing
that I have not； and hast it in place of this。〃
〃What is that？〃 says Alibech。
To this Rustico replied： 〃Thou hast Hell； and will tell thee my
belief that God gave it thee for the health of my soul。 For； if thou
wilt take pity on me for the troubling of this Devil； and suffer me to
put him in Hell； thou wilt comfort me extremely； and at the same
time please and serve God in the highest measure； to which end； as
thou sayest； thou art come hither。〃
All unsuspecting； the girl answered。 him： 〃My father； since I have
this Hell； let the thing be done when thou desirest it。〃
Then Rustico said： 〃Bless thee； my dear daughter； let us go at
once and put him in his place； that I may be at peace。〃
So saying； he laid her on one of their rough beds； and set about
showing her how to shut the accursed one in his prison。 The girl；
who until then had no experience of putting devils in Hell； felt
some pain at this first trial of it； which made her say to Rustico：
〃Father； this Devil must indeed be wicked； and in very sooth an
enemy of God； for he hurts Hell itself； let alone other things； when
he is put back in it。〃
〃My daughter；〃 said Rustico； 〃it will not always be so。〃 And to make
sure of it； before either of them moved from the bed they put him in
six times； after which the Devil hung his head and was glad to let
them be。
But in the succeeding days he rose up many times； and the girl；
always disposing herself to subdue him； began to take pleasure in
the exercise； and to say such things as： 〃I see now the truth of
what the good folk in Capsa told me； that serving God is a delight；
for I never remember doing anything that gave me as much joy and
pleasure as this putting the Devil in Hell。 So I think the people
who spend their time otherwise than in serving God must be very
foolish。〃
Often she would come to Rustico and say： 〃Father； I came hither to
serve God； not to stand idle。 Let us go put the Devil in Hell。〃 And
once； when it had been done； she asked： 〃Rustico； why does he want
to get out of Hell？ If only he would stay there as willingly as Hell
takes him in and holds him； he would never want to come out at all。〃
By thus constantly egging him on and exhorting him to God's service
the girl so preyed upon Rustico that he shivered with cold when
another man would have sweated。 He had perforce to tell her that it
was not just to punish the Devil by putting him in Hell save when he
had lifted his head in pride； and that by God's mercy they had so
chastened him that he only implored Heaven to be left in peace。 Thus
for a time he silenced her。
But she； finding that Rustico did not call on her to put the Devil
in Hell； said one day： 〃Even though your Devil is punished and no
longer troubles you； my Hell gives me no peace。 You will do a
charity if with your Devil you will quiet the raging of my Hell； as
with my Hell I tamed the pride of your Devil To these demands
Rustico on a diet of herbs and water could ill respond； and he told
her that to appease Hell would need too many devils； none the less
he would do all that in him lay。 At times he could satisfy her； but so
seldom that it was like feeding an elephant with peas。 Therefore the
girl thought she was not serving God as well as she would like； and
she grumbled most of the time。
Whilst things stood thus amiss between Rustico's Devil and Alibech's
Hell； for overmuch eagerness of the one part and too little
performance of the other； a fire broke out in Capsa and burned the
father of Alibech with his children and every one of his kin； so
that Alibech became the sole heiress to his goods。 Whereupon a certain
Neerbale； a young man who had wasted his patrimony in high living；
sought for Alibech in the belief that she was alive； and succeeded
in finding her before the Court had declared her father's goods
forfeit as being without an owner。 Much to the relief of Rustico and
against the girl's will； Neerbale brought her back to Capsa and
married her； so becoming entitled in her right to a large fortune。
One day； when as yet Neerbale had not lain with her； some of her
women asked how she had served God in the desert。 She replied that she
had served Him by putting the Devil in Hell； and that Neerbale had
committed a grievous sin in taking her from such pious work。 Then they
asked： 〃How is the Devil put in Hell？〃 To which the girl answered with
words and gestures showing how it had been done。 The women laughed
so heartily that they have not done laughing yet； and said to her：
〃Grieve not； my child； that is done as well here。 Neerbale will
serve God right well with thee in this way。〃
As one repeated the words to another throughout the town； it
became a familiar saying that the most acceptable of all services to
God is to put the Devil in Hell。 The saying has crossed the sea and
become current among us； as it still is。
Wherefore； young ladies； I beseech you if you would deserve Heaven's
grace； lend yourselves to the putting of the Devil in Hell； for it
is a thing beloved of God； pleasing to the participants； and one
from which much good comes and ensues。
A thousand times and more were the chaste ladies moved to laughter
by Dioneus's novel； so much were his phrases to their liking。 And
the Queen perceiving that as his tale was ended； her office had
expired； took the crown of laurel from her head and graciously
placed it on the head of Philostratus； saying： 〃Now we shall see
whether the wolf will rule the sheep better than the sheep ruled the
wolves。〃 At this Philostratus laughed； and retorted： 〃If I had my way；
the wolves would have taught the sheep to put the Devil in Hell； no
less well than Rustico taught Alibech。 Since we did not； call us not
wolves； for ye were no sheep。 Howbeit； I will reign as best I may；
seeing ye have laid the trust on me。〃
Neiphila cried out： 〃Mark this； Philostratus； in trying to teach
us you might have had such a lesson as Masetto di Lamporechio had of
the nuns； and recovered your speech just as your bare bones had
learned to whistle without a master。〃 Finding himself thus evenly
matched； Philostratus ceased his pleasantries； and beginning to
consider on the charge committed to his care； called the Master of the
houshold； to know in what estate all matters were； because where any
defect appeared； every thing might be the sooner remedied； for the
better satisfaction of the company； during the time of his
authority。 Then returning backe to the assembly； thus he began。 Lovely
Ladies； I would have you to know； that since the time of ability in
me； to distinguish betweene good and evill； I have alwayes bene
subject （perhaps by the meanes of some beauty heere among us） to the
proud and imperious dominion of love； with expression of all duty；
humility； and most intimate desire to please yet all hath prooved to
no purpose； but still I have bin rejected for some other； whereby my
condition hath falne from ill to worse； and so still it is likely；
even to the houre： of my death。 In which respect； it best pleaseth me；
that our conferences to morrow； shall extend to no other argument； bit
only such cases as are most conformable to my calamity； namely of
such； whose love hath had unhappy ending； because I await no other
issue of mine； nor willingly would I be called by any other name；
but only； the miserable and unfortunate Lover。
Having thus spoken； he arose againe； granting leave to the rest；
to recreate themselves till supper time。 The Garden was very faire and
spacious； affoording； large limits for their severall walkes； the
Sun being already so low descended； that it could not be offensive
to any one； the Connies； Kids； and young Hindes skipping every where
about them； to their no meane； pleasure and contentment； Dioneus
