贝壳电子书 > 英文原著电子书 > the decameron(十日谈) >

第98章

the decameron(十日谈)-第98章

小说: the decameron(十日谈) 字数: 每页4000字

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!



him any succour; being pierced quite through the body with the
Lance; downe he fell dead to the ground; and his men (fearing the like
misfortune to befall them) gallopped mainely backe againe to their
Lords Castle; not knowing them who had thus murthered their Master; by
reason of their armed disguises; which in those martiall times were
usually worne。
  Messer Guiglielmo Rossiglione; alighting from his horse; and
having a keene knife ready drawne in his hand; opened therewith the
brest of dead Guardastagno; and taking foorth his heart with his
owne hands; wrapped it in the Bandelote belonging to his Lance;
commanding one of his men to the charge thereof; and never to disclose
the deed。 So; mounting on horse…backe againe; and darke night
drawing on apace; he returned home to his Castle。 The Lady; who had
heard before of Guardastagnoes intent; to suppe there that night;
and (perhaps) being earnestly desirous to see him; marvailing at his
so long tarrying; saide to her husband: Beleeve me Sir (quoth she)
me thinkes it is somewhat strange; that Messer Guiglielmo Guardastagno
delayes his comming so long; he never used to do so till now。 I
received tidings from him wife (saide he) that he cannot be here
till to morrow。 Whereat the Lady appearing to be displeased; concealed
it to herselfe; and used no more words。
  Rossiglione leaving his Lady; went into the Kitchin; where calling
for the Cooke; he delivered him the heart; saying: Take this heart
of a wilde Boare; which it was my good happe to kill this day; and
dresse it in the daintiest manner thou canst devise to do; which being
so done; when I am set at the Table; send it to me in a silver dish;
with sauce beseeming so dainty a morsell。 The Cooke tooke the heart;
beleeving it to be no otherwise; then as his Lord had saide: and using
his utmost skill in dressing it; did divide it into artificiall
small slices; and made it most pleasing to be tasted。 When supper time
was come; Rossiglione sate downe at the table with his Lady: but he
had little or no appetite at all to eate; the wicked deed which he had
done so perplexed his soule; and made him to sit very strangely
musing。 At length; the Cooke brought in the dainty dish; which he
himselfe setting before his wife; began to finde fault with his owne
lacke of stomacke; yet provoked her with many faire speeches; to
tast the Cooks cunning in so rare a dish。
  The Lady having a good appetite indeede; when she had first tasted
it; fed afterward so heartily thereon; that she left very little; or
none at all remaining。 When he perceived that all was eaten; he said
unto her: Tell me Madame; how you do like this delicate kinde of
meate? In good faith Sir (quoth she) in all my life I was never better
pleased。 Now trust mee Madame; answered the Knight; I do verily
beleeve you; nor do I greatly wonder thereat; if you like that dead;
which you loved so dearly being alive。 When she heard these words; a
long while she sate silert; but afterward saide。 I pray you tell me
Sir; what meate was this which you have made me to eate? Muse no
longer (saide he) for therein I will quickly resolve thee。 Thou hast
eaten the heart of Messer Guiglielmo Guardastagno; whose love was so
deare and precious to thee; thou false; perfidious; and disloyall
Lady: I pluckt it out of his vile body with mine owne hands; and
made my Cooke to dresse it for thy diet。
  Poore Lady; how strangely was her soule afflicted; hearing these
harsh and unpleasing speeches? Teares flowed aboundantly from her
faire eies; and like tempestuous windes embowelled in the earth; so
did vehement sighes breake mainly from her heart; and after a
tedious time of silence; she spake in this manner。 My Lord and
husband; you have done a most disloyall and damnable deede;
misguided by your owne wicked jealous opinion; and not by any just
cause given you; to murther so worthy and Noble a Gentleman。 I protest
unto you upon my soule; which I wish to be confounded in eternall
perdition; if ever I were unchaste to your bed; or allowed him any
other favour; but what might well become so honourable a friend。 And
seeing my body hath bene made the receptacle for so precious a kinde
of foode; as the heart of so valiant and courteous a Knight; such as
was the Noble Guardastagno; never shall any other foode hereafter;
have entertainment there; or my selfe live the Wife to so bloody a
Husband。
  So starting up from the Table; and stepping unto a great gazing
Window; the Casement whereof standing wide open behinde her: violently
shee leaped out thereat; which beeing an huge height in distance
from the ground; the fall did not onely kill her; but also shivered
her body into many peeces。 Which Rossiglione perceiving; hee stoode
like a body without a soule; confounded with the killing of so deare a
friend; losse of a chaste and honourable wife; and all through his
owne overcredulous conceit。
  Upon further conference with his private thoughts; and remorsefull
acknowledgement of his heinous offence; which repentance (too late)
gave him eyes now to see; though rashnesse before would not permit him
to consider; these two extreamities inlarged his dulled understanding。
First; he grew fearfull of the friends and followers to murthered
Guardastagno; as also the whole Country of Provence; in regard of
the peoples generall love unto him; which being two maine and
important motives; both to the detestation of so horrid an act; and
immediate severe revenge to succeede thereon: he made such provision
as best he could; and as so sodaine a warning would give leave; he Red
away secretly in the night season。
  These unpleasing newes were soone spread abroad the next morning;
not only of the unfortunate accidents; but also of Rossiglions flight;
in regard whereof; the dead bodyes being found; and brought
together; as well by the people belonging to Guardastagno; as them
that attended on the Lady: they were layed in the Chappell of
Rossigliones Castle; where; after so much lamentation for so great a
misfortune to befall them; they were honourably enterred in one
faire Tombe; with excellent Verses engraven thereon; expressing both
their noble degree; and by what unhappy meanes; they chanced to have
buriall in that very place。




                    THE FOURTH DAY; THE TENTH NOVELL

      WHEREIN IS DECLARED; THAT SOMETIME BY ADVENTUROUS ACCIDENT;
   RATHER THEN ANY REASONABLE COMPREHENSION; A MAN MAY ESCAPE OUT OF
      MANIFOLD PERILLES; BUT ESPECIALLY IN OCCURRENCES OF LOVE。

  A physitians wife laide a Lover of her Maides (supposing him to be
dead) in a Chest; by reason that he had drunke Water; which usually
was given to procure a sleepy entrancing。 Two Lombard usurers;
stealing the Chest; in hope of a rich booty; carryed it into their
owne house; where afterward the man awaking; was apprehended for a
Theefe。 The Chamber…maide to the Physitians wife; going before the
bench of Justice; accuseth her selfe for putting the imagined dead
body into the Chest; by which meanes he escapeth hanging。 And the
theeves which stole away the Chest; were condemned to pay a great
summe of money。

  After that the King had concluded his Novell; there remained none
now but Dioneus to tell the last: which himselfe confessing; and the
King commaunding him to proceede; hee beganne in this manner。 So
many miseries of unfortunate Love; as all of you have already related;
hath not onely swolne your eyes with weeping; but also made sicke
our hearts with sighing: yea (Gracious Ladies) I my selfe finde my
spirits not meanly afflicted thereby。 Wherefore the whole day hath
bene very irkesome to me; and I am not a little glad; that it is so
neere ending。 Now; for the better shutting it up altogether; I would
be very loath to make an addition; of any more such sad and
mournfull matter; good for nothing but onely to feede melancholly
humor; and from which (I hope) my faire Starres will defend me。
Tragicall discourse; thou art no fit companion for me; I will
therefore report a Novell which may minister a more joviall kinde of
argument; unto whose Tales that must be told to morrow; and with the
expiration of our present Kings reigne; to rid us 

返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 1 1

你可能喜欢的