the decameron(十日谈)-第93章
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how and by what meanes this accident happened。 Beside； he sent for
divers Physitians； to be informed by them； whether the Gentleman
were poysoned； or otherwise murthered？ All of them affirmed the
contrarie； avouching rather； that some Impostumation had engendered
neere his heart； which sodainly breaking； occasioned his as sodaine
death。 The Potestate hearing this； and perceiving that Andreana was
little or nothing at all faulty in the matter； her beauty and good
carriage； kindled a vitlanous and lustful desire in him towards her；
provoking him to the immodest motion； that upon granting his
request； he would release her。 But when he saw； that all his
perswasions were to no purpose； hee sought to compasse his will by
violence； which like a vertuous and valiant Virago； shee worthily
withstood； defending her honour Nobly； and reprooving him with many
injurious speeches； such as a lustfull Letcher Justlie deserved。
On the morrow morning； these newes being brought to her Father；
Messer Negro da Ponte Cararo； greeving thereat exceedingly； and
accompanied with many of his friends； he went to the Pallace。 Being
there arrived； and informed of the matter by the Potestate： he
demaunded （in teares） of his daughter； how； and by what meanes shee
was brought thither？ The Potestate would needs accuse her first； of
outrage and wrong offered to him by her； rather then to tarry her
accusing of him； yet； commending the yong Mayden； and her
constancie； proceeded to say； that onely to prove her； he had made
such a motion to her； but finding her so firme； his liking was now
so addicted to her； that… if her Father were so pleased to forget
the remembrance of her former secret husband； he willingly would
accept her in marriage。
While thus they continued talking； Andreana comming before her
Father； the teares trickling mainly downe her cheekes； and falling
at his feete； she began in this manner。 Deare Father； I shall not
neede to make an Historicall relation； either of my youthfull
boldnesse or misfortunes； because you have both seene and knowne them：
rather most humbly； I crave your pardon； for another errour by mee
committed； in that； both without your leave and liking； I accepted the
man as my troth…plighted husband； whom （above all other in the world I
most intirely affected。 If my offence heerein doe challenge the
forfeite of my life； then （good Father） I free you from any such
pardon； because my onely desire is to dye your daughter； and in your
gracious favour： with which words； in signe of her humility； she
kissed his feete。 Messer Negro da Ponte； being a man well in yeeres；
and of a gentle nature； observing what his daughter saide； could not
refraine from teares； and in his weeping； lovingly tooke her from
the ground； speaking thus to her。
Daughter； I could have wisht； that thou hadst taken such an Husband；
as （in my judgement） had bene best fitting for thee： yet if thou
madest election of one answerable to thine owne good liking； I have no
just reason to be offended therewith。 My greatest cause of complaint
is； thy too severe concealing it from me； and the small trust thou
didst repose in me； because thou hast lost him before I knew him。
Neverthelesse； seeing these occasions are thus come to passe； and
accidents already ended； cannot possibly be re…called； it is my
will； that as I would gladly have contented thee； by making him my Son
in Law if he had lived； so I wil expresse the like love to him now
he is dead。 And so turning himselfe to his kindred and friends；
lovingly requested of them； that they would grace Gabriello with
most honourable obsequies。
By this time； the kindred and friends to the dead man （uppon noise
of his death bruited abroad） were likewise come to the Pallace； yea；
most of the men and women dwelling in the Cittie； the bodie of
Gabriello being laide in the midst of the Court； upon the white
Damaske shrowd given by Andreana； with infinite Roses and other
sweet Flowers lying theron： and such was the peoples love to him； that
never was any mans death； more to be bemoaned and lamented。 Being
delivered out of the Court； it was carried to buriall； not like a
Burgesse or ordinary Citizen； but with such pompe as beseemed a Lord
Baron； and on the shoulders of very noble Gentlemen； with great
honor and reverence。
Within some few dayes after； the Potestate pursuing his former
motion of mariage； and the father mooving it to his daughter； she
would not by any meanes listen thereto。 And he being desirous to
give her contentment； delivered her and her Chamber…maid into a
Religious Abbey； very famous for devotion and sanctity； where
afterwards they ended their lives。
THE FOURTH DAY； THE SEVENTH NOVELL
WHEREBY IS GIVEN TO UNDERSTAND； THAT LOVE AND DEATH DO USE
THEIR POWER EQUALLY ALIKE； AS WELL UPON POORE AND MEANE
PERSONS； AS ON THEM THAT ARE RICH AND NOBLE
Faire Simonida affecting Pasquino； and walking with him in a
pleasant garden； it fortuned； that Pasquino rubbed his teeth with a
leafe of Sage； and immediately fell downe dead。 Simonida being brought
before the bench of Justice； and charged with the death of Pasquino；
she rubbed her teeth likewise with one of the leaves of the same Sage；
as declaring what shee saw him do； and thereon she dyed also in the
same manner。
Pamphilus having ended his Tale； the King declaring an outward
shew of compassion； in regard of Andreanaes disastrous Fortune；
fixed his eye on Madam Aemilia； and gave her such an apparant signe；
as expressed his pleasure； for her next succeeding in discourse； which
being sufficient for her understanding； thus she began。 Faire
assembly； the Novell so lately delivered by Pamphilus； maketh me
willing to report another to you； varying from it； in any kinde of
resemblance； onely this excepted： that as Andreana lost her lover in a
Garden； even so did she of whom I am now to speake。 And being
brought before the seate of Justice； according as Andreana was；
freed her selfe from the power of the Law； yet neither by force； or
her owne vertue； but by her sodaine and inopinate death。 And
although the nature of Love is such （according as we have oftentimes
heeretofore maintained） to make his abiding in the houses of the
Noblest persons； yet men and women of poore and farre inferiour
quality； do not alwayes sit out of his reach； though enclosed in their
meanest Cottages； declaring himselfe sometime as a powerfull
commaunder in those humble places； as he doth in the richest and
most imperious Palaces。 As will plainly appeare unto you； either in
all； or a great part of my Novell； whereto our Citie pleadeth some
title； though； by the diversity of our discourses； talking of so
many severall accidents； we have wandred into many other parts of
the world； to make all answerable to our owne liking。
It is not any long time since； when there lived in our City of
Florence； a young and beautifull Damosell； yet according to the nature
of her condition； because she was the Daughter of a poore Father；
and called by the name of Simonida。 Now； albeit she was not supplied
by any better means； then to maintaine her selfe by her owne
painfull travell； and earne her bread before she could eate it； by
carding and spinning to such as employed her； yet was she not so
base or dejected a spirit； but had both courage and sufficient vertue；
to understand the secret soliciting of love； and to distinguish the
parts of well deserving both by private behaviour and outward
ceremony。 As naturall instinct was her first tutor thereto； so
wanted she not a second maine and urging motion； a chip hewed out of
the like Timber； one no better in birth then her selfe； a proper young
springall； named Pasquino； whose generous behaviour； and gracefull
actions （in bringing her dayly wooll to spin； by reason his Master was
a Clothier） prevailed upon her liking and affection。
Nor was he negligent in the observation of her amorous regards；
but the Tinder tooke； and his soule flamed with the selfe same fire；
making him as desirous of her loving acceptance； as possibly she could
be of his： so that the commanding power of love； could not easily b
