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the decameron(十日谈)-第58部分

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me; and I will doe so much as lieth in me; to make a full satisfaction
for it。 Madame; answered the Pilgrime; I know well enough what it
is; and will demand it no more of you; to winne any further
knowledge thereof; then I have already: but because in revealing it
your selfe; it may touch you with the more true compunction of
soule; let us goe to the point indeede; and tell mee; doe you
remember; that at any time you were married to an Husband; or no?
  At the hearing of these words; shee breathed foorth a very
vehement sigh; and was stricken with admiration at this question;
beleeving that not any one had knowledge thereof。 Howbeit; since the
day of the supposed Theobaldaes buriall; such a rumour ran abroade; by
meanes of some speeches; rashly dispersed by a friend of
Theobaldoes; who (indeede) knew it; whereupon shee returned him this
answer。 It appeareth to me (good man) that divine ordinativation
hath revealed unto you all the secrets of men; and therefore I am
determined; not to conceale any of mine from you。 True it is; that
in my younger yeeres; being left a widdow; I entirely affected an
unfortunate young Gentleman; who (in secret) was my Husband; and whose
death is imposed on my Father。 The death of him I have the more
bemoaned; because (in reason) it did neerely concerne me; by shewing
my selfe so savage and rigorous to him before his departure:
neverthelesse; let me assure you Sir; that neither his parting long
absence from me; or his untimely death; never had the power to bereave
my heart of his remembrance。
  Madame; saide the Pilgrime; the unfortinate young Gentleman that
is slaine; did never love you; but sure I am; that Theobaldo Elisei
loved you deerely。 But tell me; what was the occasion whereby you
conceived such hatred against him? Did he at any time offend you? No
truly Sir; quoth shee; but the reason of my anger towards him; was
by the words and threatnings of a religious Father; to whom once I
revealed (under confession) how faithfully I affected him; and what
private familiarity had passed betweene us。 When iristantly he used
such dreadfull threatnings to me; and which (even yet) doe afflict
my soule; that I did not abstaine; and utterly refuse him; the
Divell would fetch me quicke to Hell; and cast me into the bottome
of his quenchlesse and everlasting fire。
  These menaces were so prevailing with me; as I refused all further
conversition with Theobaldo; in which regard; I would receive
neither letters or messages from him。 Howbeit; I am perswaded; that if
he had continued here still; and not departed hence in such
desperate manner as hee did; seeing him melt and consume dayly away;
even as Snow by power of the Sunne…beames: my austere deliberation had
beene long agoe quite altered; because not at any time (since then)
life hath allowed me one merry day; neither did I; or ever can love
any man like unto him。
  At these wordes the Pilgrime sighed; and then proceeded on againe
thus。 Surely Madame; this one onely sin; may justly torment you;
because I know for a certainty; that Theobaldo never offered you any
in many; the day hee first became enamoured of you; and what grace
or favour you affoorded him; was your owne voluntary gift; and (as
he tooke it) no more then in modesty might well become you; for hee
loving you first; you had beene most cruell and unkinde; if you should
not have requited him with the like affection。 If then he continued so
just and loyall to you; as (of mine owne knowledge) I am able to say
he did; what should move you to repulse him so rudely? Such matters
ought well to bee considered on before hand; for if you did imagine;
that you should repent it as an action ill done; yet you could not doe
it; because as hee became yours; so were you likewise onely his; and
he being yours; you might dispose of him at your pleasure; as being
truely obliged to none but you。 How could you then with…draw your
selfe from him; being onely his; and not commit most manifest theft; a
farre unfitting thing for you to doe; except you had gone with his
consent。
  Now Madame; let me further give you to understand; that I am a
religious person; and a pilgrime; and therefore am well acquainted
with all the courses of their dealing; if therefore I speake
somewhat more amply of them; and for your good; it can not be so
unseeming for mee to doe it; as it would appeare ugly in another。 In
which respect; I will speake the more freely to you; to the ende; that
you may take better knowledge of them; then (as it seemeth) hitherto
you have done。 In former passed times such as professed Religion; were
learned and most holy persons; but our religious professours now
adayes; and such as covet to bee so esteemed; have no matter at all of
Religion in them; but onely the outward shew and habite。 Which yet
is no true badge of Religion neither; because it was ordained by
religious institutions; that their garments should bee made of
arrow; plaine; and coursest spun cloth; to make a publike
manifestation to the world; that (in meere devotion; and religious
disposition) by wrapping their bodies in such base clothing; they
condemned and despised all temporall occasions。 But now adaies they
make them large; deepe; glistering; and of the finest cloth or stuffes
to bee gotten; reducing those habites to so proude and pontificall a
forme; that they walke Peacock…like; rustling; and strouting with them
in the Churches; yea; and in open publike places; as if they were
ordinary secular persons; to have their pride more notoriously
observed。 And as the Angler bestoweth his best cunning; with one
line and baite to catch many fishes at one strike; even so do these
counterfeited habit…mongers; by their dissembling and crafty
dealing; beguile many credulous widdowes: simple women; yea; and men
of weake capacity; to credit whatsoever they doe or say; and herein
they doe most of all exercise themselves。
  And to the end; that my speeches may not savor of any untruth
against them; these men which I speake of; have not any habite at
all of religious men; but onely the colour of their garments; and
whereas they in times past; desired nothing more then the salvation of
mens soules; these fresher witted fellowes; covet after women and
wealth; and employ all their paines by their whispering confessions;
and figures of painted fearefull examples; to affright and terrifie
unsetled and weake consciences; by horrible and blasphemous
speeches; yet adding perswasion withall; that their sinnes may be
purged by Almes…deedes and Masses。 To the end; that such as credit
them in these their dayly courses; being guided more by apparance of
devotion; then any true compunction of heart; to escape severe
penances by them enjoyned: may some of them bring bread; others
wine; others coyne; all of them matter of commoditie and benefit;
and simply say; these gifts are for the soules of their good friends
deceased。
  I make not any doubt; but almes…deedes and prayers; are very mighty;
and prevailing meanes; to appease heavens anger for some sinnes
committed; but if such as bestow them; did either see or know; to whom
they give them: they would more warily keepe them; or else cast them
before Swine; in regard they are altogether so unworthy of them。 But
come we now to the case of your ghostly father; crying out in your
eare; that secret mariage was a most greevous sinne: Is not the breach
thereof farre greater? Familiar conversation betweene man and man
and woman; is a concession meerely naturall: but to rob; kill; or
banish any one; proceedeth from the mindes malignity。 That thou did
rob Theobaldo; your selfe hath already sufficiently witnessed; by
taking that from him; which with free consent in mariage you gave him。
Next I must say; that by all the power remaining in you; you kild him;
because you would not permit him to remaine with you; declaring your
selfe in the very height of cruelty; that hee might destroy his life
by his owne hands。 In which case the Law requireth; that whosoever
is the occasion of an ill act committed; hee or she is as deepe in the
fault; as the party that did it。 Now concerning his banishment; and
wandring seaven yeeres in exile thorow the world; you cannot denie;
but that you were the onely occasion thereof。 In all which three
severall actions; farre more capitally have you offended; then by
contracting of mariage in such clandestine manner。
  But let us see; whether Theobaldo deserved all these severall
castigations; or not。 In trueth he did not; your selfe have
confessed (beside that which I know) that hee loved you more deerely
then himselfe; and nothing could be more honoured; magnified and
exalted; then dayly you were by him; above all other women whatsoever。
When hee came in any place; where honestly; and without suspition
hee might speake to you: all his honour; and all his liberty; lay
wholly committed into your power。 Was hee not a noble young Gentleman?
Was he (among all those parts that most adorne a man; and appertaine
to the very choycest respect) inferiour to any one of best merit in
your Citie? I know that you cannot make deniall to any of these
demands。 How could you then by the perswasion of a beast
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