the decameron(十日谈)-第90章

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unmarried。　A　proper　youth；　being　a　Gentleman　borne　in　Pisa；　and
named　Lorenzo；　as　a　trusty　factor　or　servant；　had　the　managing　of
the　brethrens　businesse　and　affaires。　This　Lorenzo　being　of　comely
personage；　affable；　and　excellent　in　his　behaviour；　grew　so　gracious
in　the　eyes　of　Isabella；　that　she　affoorded　him　many　very　respective
lookes；　yea；　kindnesses　of　no　common　quality。　Which　Lorenzo　taking
notice　of；　and　observing　by　degrees　from　time　to　time；　gave　over　all
other　beauties　in　the　City；　which　might　allure　any　affection　from　him；
and　onely　fixed　his　heart　on　her；　so　that　their　love　grew　to　a　mutuall
embracing；　both　equally　respecting　one　another；　and　entertaining
kindnesses；　as　occasion　gave　leave。
　　Long　time　continued　this　amorous　league：　of　love；　yet　not　so
cunningly　concealed；　but　at　the　length；　the　secret　meeting　of　Lorenzo；
and　Isabella；　to　ease　their　poore　soul　of　Loves　oppressions；　was
discovered　by　the　eldest　of　the　Brethren；　unknowne　to　them　who　were
thus　betrayed。　He　being　a　man　of　great　discretion；　although　this　sight
was　highly　displeasing　to　him：　yet　notwithstanding；　he　kept　it　to
himselfe　till　the　next　morning；　labouring　his　braine　what　might　best
be　done　in　so　urgent　a　case。　When　day　was　come；　he　resorted　to　his
other　Brethren；　and　told　them　what　he　had　seene　in　the　time　past；
betweene　their　sister　and　Lorenzo。
　　Many　deliberations　passed　on　in　this　case；　but　after　all；　thus
they　concluded　together；　to　let　it　proceede　on　with　patient　that　no
scandall　might　ensue　to　them；　or　their　Sister；　no　evill　acte　being　（as
yet）　committed。　And　seeming；　as　if　they　knew　not　of　their　love；　had
a　wary　eye　still　upon　her　secret　walkes；　awaiting　for　some
convenient　time；　when　without　their　owne　prejudice；　or　Isabellaes
knowledge；　they　might　safely　breake　off　this　their　stolne　love；
which　was　altogether　against　their　liking。　So；　shewing　no　worse
countenance　to　Lorenzo；　then　formerly　they　had　done；　but　imploying　and
conversing　with　him　in　kinde　manner；　it　fortuned；　that　riding　（all
three）　to　recreate　themselves　out　of　the　City；　they　tooke　Lorenzo　in
their　company；　and　when　they　were　come　to　a　solitarie　place；　such　as
best　suited　with　their　vile　purpose：　they　ran　sodainly　upon　Lorenzo；
slew　him；　and　afterward　enterred　his　body；　where　hardly　it　could　be
discovered　by　any　one。　Then　they　returned　backe　to　Messina；　and　gave
it　forth　（as　a　credible　report）　that　they　had　sent　him　abroad　about
their　affaires；　as　formerly　they　were　wont　to　do：　which　every　one
verily　beleeved；　because　they　knew　no　reason　why　they　should
conceite　any　otherwise。
　　Isabella；　living　in　expectation　of　his　returne；　and　perceiving　his
stay　to　her　was　so　offensive　long：　made　many　demands　to　her
Brethren；　into　what　parts　they　had　sent　him；　that　his　tarrying　was
so　quite　from　all　wonted　course。　Such　was　her　importunate　speeches
to　them；　that　they　taking　it　very　discontentedly；　one　of　them　returned
her　this　frowning　answer。　What　is　your　meaning　Sister；　by　so　many
questionings　after　Lorenzo？　What　urgent　affaires　have　you　with　him；
that　makes　you　so　impatient　upon　his　absence？　If　hereafter　you　make
any　more　demands　for　him；　we　shall　shape　you　such　a　reply；　as　will
be　but　little　to　your　liking。　At　these　harsh　words；　Isabella　fell　into
abundance　of　teares；　where…among　she　mingled　many　sighes　and
groanes；　such　as　were　able　to　overthrow　a　farre　stronger　constitution：
so　that；　being　full　of　feare　and　dismay；　yet　no　way　distrusting　her
brethrens　cruell　deede；　she　durst　not　question　any　more　after　him。
　　In　the　silence　of　darke　night；　as　she　lay　afflicted　in　her　bed；
oftentimes　would　she　call　for　Lorenzo；　entreating　his　speedy　returning
to　her：　And　then　againe；　as　if　he　had　bene　present　with　her；　she
checkt　and　reproved　him　for　his　so　long　absence。　One　night　amongst　the
rest；　she　being　growen　almost　hopelesse；　of　ever　seeing　him　againe；
having　a　long　while　wept　and　greevously　lamented；　her　senses　and
faculties　utterly　spent　and　tired；　that　she　could　not　utter　any　more
complaints；　she　fell　into　a　trance　or　sleepe；　and　dreamed；　that　the
ghost　of　Lorenzo　appeared　unto　her；　in　torne　and　unbefitting　garments；
his　lookes　pale；　meager；　and　staring：　and　（as　she　thought）　thus
spake　to　her。　My　deere　love　Isabella；　thou　dost　nothing　but　torment
thy　selfe；　with　calling　on　me；　accusing　me　for　overlong　tarrying
from　thee：　I　am　come　therefore　to　let　thee　know；　that　thou　canst　not
enjoy　my　company　any　more；　because　the　very　same　day　when　last　thou
sawest　me；　thy　brethren　most　bloodily　murthered　me。　And　acquainting
her　with　the　place　where　they　had　buried　his　mangled　body：　hee
strictly　charged　her；　not　to　call　him　at　any　time　afterward；　and　so
vanished　away。
　　The　young　Damosell　awaking；　and　giving　some　credite　to　her　Vision；
sighed　and　wept　exceedingly；　and　after　she　was　risen　in　the　morning；
not　daring　to　say　any　thing　to　her　brethren；　she　resolutely
determined；　to　go　see　the　place　formerly　appointed　her；　onely　to
make　triall；　if　that　which　she　seemed　to　see　in　her　sleepe；　should
carry　any　likelyhood　of　truth。　Having　obtained　favour　of　her　brethren；
to　ride　a　dayes　journey　ney　the　City；　in　company　of　her　trusty
Nurse；　who　long　time　had　attended　on　her　in　the　house；　and　knew　the
secret　passages　of　her　love：　they　rode　directly　to　the　designed　place；
which　being　covered　with　some　store　of　dried　leaves；　and　more　deeply
sunke　then　any　other　part　of　the　ground　therabout；　they　digged　not
farre；　but　they　found　the　body　of　murthered　Lorenzo；　as　yet　very
little　corrupted　or　impaired；　and　then　perceived　the　truth　of　her
vision。
　　Wisedome　and　government　so　much　prevailed　with　her；　as　to　instruct
her　soule；　that　her　teares　spent　there；　were　meerley　fruitelesse　and
in　vaine；　neither　did　the　time　require　any　long　tarrying　there。　Gladly
would　she　have　carried　the　whole　body　with　her；　secretly　to　bestow
honourable　enterment　on　it；　but　it　exceeded　the　compasse　of　her
ability。　Wherefore；　in　regard　she　could　not　have　all；　yet　she　would
be。　possessed　of　a　part；　and　having　brought　a　keene　razor　with　her；　by
helpe　of　the　Nurse；　she　divided　the　head　from　the　body；　and　wrapped　it
up　in　a　Napkin；　which　the　Nurse　conveyed　into　her　lap；　and　then
laide　the　body　in　the　ground　againe。　Thus　being　undiscovered　by　any；
they　departed　thence；　and　arrived　at　home　in　convenient　time；　where
being　alone　by　themselves　in　the　Chamber：　she　washed　the　head　over　and
over　with　her　teares；　and　bestowed　infinite　kisses　thereon。
　　Not　long　after；　the　Nurse　having　brought　her　a　large　earthen　pot；
such　as　we　use　to　set　Basile；　Marjerom；　Flowers；　or　other　sweet
hearbes　in；　and　shrouding　the　head　in　a　silken　Scarfe；　put　it　into　the
pot；　covering　it　with　earth；　and　planting　divers　rootes　of　excellent
Basile　therein；　which　she　never　watered；　but　either　with　her　teares；
Rose　water；　or　water　distilled　from　the　Flowers　of　Oranges。　This　pot
she　used　continually　to　sitte　by；　either　in　her　chamber；　or　any
where　else：　for　she　carried　it　alwaies　with　her；　sighing　and　breathing
foorth　sad　complaints　thereto；　even　as　if　they　had　beene　uttered　to
her　Lorenzo；　and　day　by　day　this　was　her　continuall　exercise；　to　the
no　meane　admiration　of　her　bretheren；　and　many　other　friends　that
beheld　her。
　　So　long　she　held　on　in　this　mourning　manner；　that；　what　by　the
continuall　watering　of　the　Basile；　and　putrifaction　of　the　head；　so
buried　in　the　pot　of　earth；　it　grew　very　flourishing；　and　most
odorifferous　to　such　as　scented　it；　that　as　no　other　Basile　could
possibly　yeeld　so　sweete　a　savour。　The　neighbours　noting　this
behaviour　in　her；　observing　the　long　continuance　thereof；　how　much　her
bright　beauty　was　defaced；　and　the　eyes　sunke　into　her　head　by
incessant　weeping；　made　many　kinde　and　friendly　motions；　to　understand
the　reason　of　her　so　violent　oppressions；　but　could　not　by　any
meanes　prevaile　with　her；　or　win　any　discovery　by　her　Nurse；　so
faithfull　was　she　in　secrecie　to　her。　Her　brethren　also　waxed　wearie
of　this　carriage　in　her；　and　having　very　often　reproved　her　for　it；
without　any　other　alteration　in　her：　at　length；　they　closely　stole
away　the　potte　of　Basile　from　her；　for　which　she　made　infinite
wofull　lamentations；　earnestly　entreatin