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第77章

the decameron(十日谈)-第77章

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to any one; the Connies; Kids; and young Hindes skipping every where
about them; to their no meane; pleasure and contentment; Dioneus and
Fiammetta; sate singing together; of Messire Guiglielmo; and the
Lady of Vertur。 Philomena and Pamphilus playing at the Chesse; all
sporting themselves as best they pleased。 But the houre of Supper
being come; and the Tables covered about the faire fountaine; they
sate downe and supt in most loving manner。 Then Philostratus; not to
swerve from the course which had beene observed by the Queenes
before him; so soone as the Tables were taken away; gave commaund that
Madam Lauretta should beginne the dance; and likewise to sing a
Song。 My gracious Lord (quoth she) I can skill of no other Songs;
but onely a peece of mine owne; which I have already learned by heart;
and may well beseeme this assembly: if you please to allow of that;
I am ready to performe it with all obedience。 Lady; replyed the
King; you your selfe being so faire and lovely; so needs must be
whatsoever commeth from you; therefore let us heare such as you
have。 Madam Lauretta; giving enstruction to the Chorus prepared; and
began in this manner。

               THE SONG

        No soule so comfortlesse;
        Hath more cause to expresse;
        Like woe and heavinesse;
          As I poore amorous Maide。

  He that did forme the Heavens and every Starre;
    Made me as best him pleased;
  Lovely and gracious; no Element at jarre;
  Or else in gentle breasts to moove sterne Warre;
    But to have strifes appeased
  Where Beauties eye should make the deepest scarre。
    And yet when all things are confest;
    Never was any soule distrest;
    Like my poore amorous Maide。
      No soule so comfortlesse; etc。

  There was a time; when once I was held deare;
    Blest were those happy dayes:
  Numberlesse Love suites whispred in mine eare;
  All of faire hope; but none of desperate feare;
    And all sung Beauties praise。
  Why should blacke cloudes obscure so bright a cleare?
    And why should others swimme in joy;
    And no heart drowned in annoy;
    Like mine poore amorous Maide?
      No soule so comfortlesse; etc。

  Well may I curse that sad and dismall day;
    When in unkinde exchange;
  Another Beauty did my hopes betray;
  And stole my dearest Love from me away:
    Which I thought very strange;
  Considering vowes were past; and what else may
    Assure a loyall Maidens trust。
    Never was Lover so unjust;
    Like mine poore amorous Maide。
      No soule so comfortlesse; etc。

  Come then kinde Death; and finish all my woes;
    Thy helpe is now the best。
  Come lovely Nymphes; lend hands mine eyes to close;
  And let him wander wheresoere he goes;
    Vaunting of mine unrest;
  Beguiling others by his treacherous showes。
    Grave on my Monument;
    No true love was worse spent;
    Then mine poore amorous Maide。
      No soule so comfortlesse; etc。

  So did Madam Lauretta finish her Song; which being well observed
of them all; was understood by some in divers kinds: some alluding
it one way; and others according to their owne apprehensions; but
all consenting that both it was an excellent Ditty; well devised;
and most sweetly sung。 Afterward; lighted Torches being brought;
because the Stars had already richly spangled all the heavens; and the
fit houre of rest approaching: the King commanded them all to their
Chambers; where we meane to leave them untill the next morning。



                          THE FOURTH DAY

  WHEREIN ALL THE SEVERALL DESCOURSES; ARE UNDER THE GOVERNMENT OF
            HONOURABLE PHILSTRATUS: AND CONCERNING SUCH
        PERSONS; WHOSE LOVES HAVE HAD SUCCESSELESSE ENDING

  Most worthy Ladies; I have alwayes heard; as well by the sayings
of the judecious; as also by mine owne observation and reading; that
the impetuous and violent windes of envy; do sildome blow turbulently;
but on the highest Towers and tops of the trees most eminently
advanced。 Yet (in mine opinion) I have found my selfe much deceived;
because; by striving with my very uttermost endeavour; to shunne the
outrage of those implacable winds; I have laboured to go; not onely by
plaine and even pathes but likewise through the deepest vallies。 As
very easily may be seene and observed in the reading of these few
small Novels; which I have written not only in our vulgar Florentine
prose; without any ambitious title: but also in a most humble stile;
so low and gentle as possibly I could。 And although I have bene rudely
shaken; yea; almost halfe unrooted; by the extreame agitation of those
blustering winds; and torne in peeces by that base back…biter; Envy:
yet have I not (for all that) discontinued; or broken any part of mine
intended enterprize。 Wherefore; I can sufficiently witnesse (by mine
owne comprehension) the saying so much observed by the wise; to be
most true: That nothing is without Envy in this world; but misery
onely。
  But what shall I say to them; who take so great compassion on my
povertie; as they advise me to get some thing; whereon to make my
living? Assuredly; I know not what to say in this case; except by
due consideration made with my selfe; how they would answer me; if
necessitie should drive me to crave kindnesse of them;
questionlesse; they would then say: Goe; seeke comfort among thy
fables and follies。
  But now it is time (bright beauties) to returne whence we parted;
and to follow our former order begun; because it may seeme we have
wandered too farre。 By this time the Sun had chased the Starre…light
from the heavens; and the shadie moisture from the ground; when
Philostratus the King being risen; all the company arose likewise。
When being come into the goodly Garden; they spent the time in
varietie of sports; dining where they had supt the night before。 And
after that the Sunne was at his highest; and they had refreshed
their spirits with a little slumbering; they sate downe (according
to custome) about the faire Fountaine。 And then the King commanded
Madam Fiammettal that she should give beginning to the dayes Novels:
when she; without any longer delaying; began:


                    THE FOURTH DAY; THE FIRST NOVELL

   WHEREIN IS DECLARED THE POWER OF LOVE; AND THEIR CRUILTY JUSTLY
           REPREHENDED; WHO IMAGE TO MAKE THE VIGOUR THEREOF
             CEASE; BY ABUSING OR KILLING ONE OF THE LOVERS

  Tancrede; Prince of Salerne; caused the amorous friend of his
daughter to bee slaine; and sent her his heart in a cup of Gold: which
afterwards she steeped in an impoysoned water; and then drinking it;
so dyed。

  Our King (most Noble and vertuous Ladies) hath this day given us a
subject; very rough and stearne to discourse on; and so much the
rather; if we consider; that we are come hither to be merry and
pleasant; where sad Tragicall reports are no way suteable; especially;
by reviving the teares of others; to bedew our owne cheekes withall。
Nor can any such argument be spoken of; without moving compassion both
in the reporters; and hearers。 But (perhaps) it was his Highnesse
pleasure; to moderate the delights which we have already had。 Or
whatsoever else hath provoked him thereto; seeing it is not lawfull
for me; to alter or contradict his appointment; I will recount an
accident very pittifull; or rather most unfortinate; and well worthy
to be graced with bur teares。
  Tancrede; Prince of Salerne (which City; before the Consulles of
Rome held dominion in that part of Italy; stoode free; and thence
(perchance) tooke the moderne title of a Principality was a very
humane Lord; and of ingenious nature; if; in his elder yeeres; he
had not soiled his hands in the blood of Lovers; especially one of
them; being both neere and deere unto him。 So it fortuned; that during
the whole life time of this Prince; he had but one onely daughter
(albeit it had beene much better; if he had had at all) whom he so
choisely loved and esteemed; as never was any childe more deerely
affected of a Father: and so farre extended his over…curious respect
of her; as he would seldome admit her to be forth of his sight;
neither would he suffer her to marry; although she had outs

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