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the decameron(十日谈)-第159部分

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Cloake; went thence to the Ladies house; where he found Ancilla the
Waiting…woman sitting at the doore; sad and disconsolate for her
Ladies long absence; to whom thus he spake。 How now Ancilla? Where
is thy Lady and Mistris? Alas Sir (quoth she) I know not。 I thought
this morning to have found her in her bed; as usually I was wont to
do; and where I left her yesternight at our parting: but there she was
not; nor in any place else of my knowledge; neyther can I imagine what
is become of her; which is to me no meane discomfort。
  But can you (Sir) say any thing of her? Ancilla; said he; I would
thou hadst bin in her company; and at the same place where now she is;
that some punishment for thy fault might have falne uppon thee; as
already it hath done on her。 But beleeve it assuredly; that thou shalt
not freely escape from my fingers; till I have justly paide thee for
thy paines; to teach thee to abuse any Gentleman; as thou didst me。
  Having thus spoken; hee called to his servant; saying。 Give her
the Garments; and bid her go looke her Lady; if she will。 The
Servingman fulfilled his Masters command; and Ancilla having
receyved her Ladies cloaths; knowing them perfectly; and remembring
(withall) what had bin said: she waxed very doubtfull; least they
had slaine her; hardly refraining from exclaiming on them; but that
greefe and heavie weeping overcame her; so that uppon the Schollers
departing; she ranne in all hast with the garments towardes the Tower。
  Upon this fatall and unfortunate day to Madame Helena; it chanced;
that a Clowne or Countrey Peazant belonging to her Farme or Dairy
house; having two of his young Heyfers wandred astray; and he
labouring in diligent search to finde them: within a while after the
Schollers departure; came to seeke them in Woods about the Tower; and;
notwithstanding all his crying and calling for his beasts; yet he
heard the Ladies greevous moanes and lamentations。 Wherefore; he cryed
out so lowd as he could; saying: Who is it that mourneth so aloft on
the Tower? Full well she knew the voyce of her peazant; and
therefore called unto him; and sayd in this maner。
  Go (quoth she) I pray thee for my Waiting…woman Ancilla; and bid her
make some meanes to come up hither to me。 The Clowne knowing his Lady;
sayde。 How now Madame? Who hath carried you up there so high? Your
Woman Ancilla hath sought for you all this day; yet no one could
ever have immagined you to bee there。 So looking about him; he
espyed the two sides of the Ladder; which the Scholler had pulled in
sunder; as also the steppes; which he had scattered thereabout;
placing them in due order againe as they should bee; and binding
them fast with Withies and Willowes。
  By this time Ancilla was come thither; who so soone as shee was
entred into the Tower; could not refrain from teares and complaints;
beating her hands each against other; and crying out。 Madam; deare
Lady and Mistresse! Alas; Wher are you? So soone as she heard the
tongue of Ancilla; she replyed (so well as she could) saying: Ah my
sweet Woman; I am heere aloft uppon the Tarras; weepe not; neyther
make any noyse; but quickely bring me some of my Garments。 When shee
heard her answer in such comfortable maner; she mounted up the Ladder;
which the peazant had made very firme and strong; holding it fast
for her safer ascending; by which meanes she went up on the Tarras。
Beholding her Ladie in so strange a condition; resembling no humane
body; but rather the trunke of a Tree halfe burned; lying flat on
her face; naked; scorched and strangely deformed: shee beganne to
teare the lockes of her owne hayre; raving and raging in as
pittifull manner; as if her Ladie had beene quite dead。 Which storming
tempest; Madame Helena soone pacified; entreating her to use
silence; and helpe to put on her garments。
  Having understood by her; that no one knew of her being there; but
such as brought her cloathes; and the poore peazant; attending there
still to do her any service: shee became the better comforted;
entreating them by all meanes; that it might bee concealed from any
further discovery; which was on eyther side; most faithfullie
protested。
  The poore Clowne holpe to beare downe his Lady uppon his backe;
because the Ladder stood not conveniently enough for her descending;
neither were her limbes plyable for her owne use; by reason of their
rifts and smarting。 Ancilla following after; and being more respective
of her Lady; then her owne security in descending; missing the step in
the midst of the Ladder; fell downe to the ground; and quite brake her
legge in the fall; the paine whereof was so greevous to her; that
she cried and roared extraordinarily; even like a Lyon in the desert。
  When the Clowne had set his Lady safe on a faire green banke; he
returned to see what the waiting woman ayled; and finding her leg to
be quite broken: he caried her also to the same banke; and there
seated her by her Lady: who perceiving what a mischance had hapned;
and she (from whom she expected her onely best helpe) to bee now in
far greater necessity her selfe: shee lamented exceedingly;
complaining on Fortunes cruel malice toward her; in thus heaping one
misery upon another; and never ceasing to torment her; especially
now in the conclusion of all; and when shee thought all future
perils to be past。
  Now was the Sun upon his setting; when the poore honest country…man;
because darke night should not overtake them; conducted the Lady
home to his owne house: and gaining the assistance of his two brethren
and wife; setting the waiting…woman in a Chaire; thither they
brought her in like manner。 And questionles; there wanted no diligence
and comfortable language; to pacifie the Ladyes continuall
lamentations。 The good wife; led the Lady into hir own poore
lodging; where (such cates as they had to feede on) lovingly she set
before her: conveying her afterward into her owne bed; and taking such
good order; that Ancilla was carried in the night time to Florence; to
prevent all further ensuing danger; by reason of her legs breaking。
  Madame Helena; to colour this misfortune of her owne: as also the
great mishap of her woman: forged an artificiall and cunning tale;
to give some formall apparance of hir being in the Tower; perswading
the poore simple Country people; that in a straunge accident of
thunder and lightning; and by the illusions of wicked spirits; all
this adventure hapned to her。 Then Physitians were sent for; who;
not without much anguish and affliction to the Ladie (by reason of her
fleshes flaying off; with the Medicines and Emplaysters applyed to the
body) was glad to suffer whatsoever… they did; beside falling into a
very dangerous Feaver; out of which she was not recovered in a long
while after; but continued in daily dispayre of her life; beside other
accidents hapning in her time of Physicke; utterly unavoydable in such
extreamities: and hardly had Ancilla her legge cured。
  By this unexpected pennance imposed on Madame Helena; she utterly
forgot her amorous friend; and (from thence forward) carefully kept
her selfe from fond loves allurements; and such scornfull behaviour;
wherein she was most disorderly faulty。 And Reniero the Scholler;
understanding that Ancilla had broken her leg; r ; which he reputed as
a punishment sufficient for her; held himselfe satisfyed; because
neither the Mistresse nor her Maide; could now make any great boast;
of his nights hard entertainment; and so concealed all matters else。
  Thus a wanton…headed Lady; could finde no other subject to worke her
mocking folly on; but a learned Scholler; of whom shee made no more
respect; then any other ordinary man。 Never remembring; that such
men are expert (I cannot say all; but the greater part of them) to
helpe the frenzie of foolish Ladies; that must injoy their loose
desires; by Negromancy; and the Divelles meanes。 Let it therefore
(faire Ladies) be my loving admonition to you; to detest all unwomanly
mocking and scorning; but more especiallie to Schollers。




                    THE EIGHT DAY; THE EIGHT NOVELL

  WHEREIN IS APPROVED; THAT HE WHICH OFFERETH SHAME AND DISGRACE TO
             HIS NEIGHBOUR; MAY RECEIVE THE LIKE INJURY (IF
                  NOT IN WORSE MANNER) BY THE SAME MAN

  Two neere dwelling Neighbours; the one beeing named Spineloccio
Tavena; and the other Zeppa di Mino; frequenting each others company
daily。 together; Spinelloccio Cuckolded his Friend and Neighbour。
Which happening to the knowledge of Zeppa; he prevailed so well with
the Wife of Spinelloccio; that he being lockt up in a Chest; he
revenged his wrong at that instant; so that neyther of them complained
of his misfortune。

  Greevous; and full of compassion; appeared the hard Fortunes of
Madame Helena to be; having much descontented; and (well…neere)
wearied all the Ladies in hearing them recounted。 But because they
were very justly inflicted upon her; and according as (in equity) shee
had deserved; they were the more moderate in their commisseration:
howbeit; they reputed the Scholler not onely over…obstinate; but
also too strict; rigorous and severe。 Wherefore; when Madame
Pampinea had finished hir N
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