the decameron(十日谈)-第173部分

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secretly　visite　his　Nunne；　wherewith　she　seemed　no　way　discontented：
and　this　visitation　was　not　for　once　or　twice；　but　verie　often；　and
closely　concealed　to　themselves。
　　At　length　it　came　to　passe；　that　either　through　their　owne
indiscreete　carriage；　or　jelous　suspition　in　some　others：　it　was
espied　by　one　of　the　Sisters；　both　the　Gentlemans　comming　and
departing；　yet　unknowne　to　him　or　Isabella。　The　saide　Sister；
disclosing　the　same　to　two　or　three　more：　they　agreed　together；　to
reveale　it　to　the　Lady　Abbesse；　who　was　named　Madame　Usimbalda；　a　holy
and　devout　Lady；　in　common　opinion　of　all　the　Nunnes；　and　whosoever
else　knew　her。
　　They　further　concluded　（because　Isabella　should　not　deny　theyr
accusation）　to　contrive　the　businesse　so　cunningly：　that　the　Ladle
Abbesse　should　come　her　selfe　in　person；　and　take　the　yong　Gentleman
in　bed　with　the　Nun。　And　uppon　this　determination；　they　agreed　to
watch　nightly　by　turnes；　because　by　no　meanes　they　wold　be
prevented：　so　to　surprise　poore　Isabella；　who　beeing　ignorant　of　their
treachery；　suspected　nothing。　Presuming　thus　still　on　this　secret
felicitie；　and　fearing　no　disaster　to　befall　her：　it　chaunced　（on　a
night）　that　the　yong　Gentleman　being　entred　into　the　Nuns　Dorter；
the　Scowts　had　descried　him；　and　intended　to　be　revenged　on　her。
　　After　some　part　of　the　night　was　overpast；　they　divided　themselves
into　two　bands；　one　to　guard　Isabellaes　Dorter　doore；　the　other　to
carry　newes　to　the　Abbesse；　and　knocking　at　her　Closet　doore；　saide。
Rise　quickely　Madame；　and　use　all　the　hast　you　may；　for　we　have
seene　a　man　enter　our　Sister　Isabellaes　Dorter；　and　you　may　take　her
in　bed　with　him。　The　Lady　Abbesse；　who　（the　very　same　night）　had　the
company　of　a　lusty　Priest　in　bed　with　her　selfe；　as　oftentimes
before　she　had；　and　he　being　alwayes　brought　thither　in　a　Chest：
hearing　these　tidings；　and　fearing　also；　lest　the　Nunnes　hastie
knocking　at　her　doore；　might　cause　it　to　fly　open；　and　so　（by　their
entrance）　have　her　owne　shame　discovered：　arose　very　hastily；　and
thinking　she　had　put　on　her　plaited　vaile；　which　alwayes　she　walked
with　in　the　night　season；　and　used　to　tearme　her　Psalter；　she　put
the　Priests　breeches　upon　her　head；　and　so　went　away　in　all　hast
with　them；　supposing　them　verily　to　be　her　Psalter：　but　making　fast
the　Closet　doore　with　her　keye；　because　the　Priest　should　not　be
discovered。
　　Away　shee　went　in　all　haste　with　the　Sisters；　who　were　so　forward　in
the　detection　of　poore　Isabella；　as　they　never　regarded　what　manner　of
vaile　the　Lady　Abbesse　wore　on　her　head。　And　being　come　to　the
Dorter　doore；　quickly　they　lifted　it　off　from　the　hookes；　and　being
entred；　found　the　two　Lovers　sweetly　imbracing：　but　yet　so　amazed　at
this　sudden　surprisall；　as　they　durst　not　stirre；　nor　speake　one　word。
The　young　Nunne　Isabella；　was　raised　forthwith　by　the　other　Sisters；
and　according　as　the　Abbesse　had　comanded；　was　brought　by　them　into
the　Chapter…house：　the　yong　Gentleman　remaining　still　in　the
Chamber；　where　he　put　on　his　garments；　awaiting　to　see　the　issue　of
this　businesse；　and　verily　intending　to　act　severe　revenge　on　his
betrayers；　if　any　harme　were　done　to　Isabella；　and　afterward　to　take
her　thence　away　with　him；　as　meaning　to　make　her　amends　by　marriage。
　　The　Abbesse　being　seated　in　the　Chapter　house；　and　all　the　other
Nunnes　then　called　before　her；　who　minded　nothing　else　but　the　poore
offending　Sister：　she　began　to　give　her　very　harsh　and　vile
speeches；　as　never　any　transgressor　suffered　the　like；　and　as　to　her
who　had　（if　it　should　be　openly　knowne　abroad）　contaminated　by　her
lewde　life　and　actions；　the　sanctity　and　good　renowne　of　the　whole
Monastery；　and　threatned　her　with　very　severe　chastisement。　Poore
Isabella；　confounded　with　feare　and　shame；　as　being　no　way　able　to
excuse　her　fault；　knew　not　what　answer　to　make；　but　standing　silent；
made　her　case　compassionable　to　all　the　rest；　even　those
hard…hearted　Sisters　which　betrayed　her。
　　And　the　Abbesse　still　continuing　her　harsh　speeches；　it　fortuned；
that　Isabella　raising　her　head；　which　before　she　dejected　into　hir
bosome；　espied　the　breeches　on　her　head；　with　the　stockings　hanging　on
either　side　of　her；　the　sight　whereof　did　so　much　encourage　her；
that　boldly　she　said。　Madam；　let　a　poore　offender　advise　you　for　to
mend　your　veile；　and　afterward　say　to　me　what　you　will。
　　The　Abbesse　being　very　angry；　and　not　understanding　what　she
meant；　frowningly　answered。　Why　how　now　saucy　companion？　What　vaile
are　you　prating　of？　Are　you　so　malapert；　to　bee　chatting　already？　Is
the　deed　you　have　done；　to　be　answered　in　such　immodest　manner？
Isabella　not　a　jot　danted　by　her　sterne　behaviour；　once　againe　said。
Good　Madam　let　me　perswade　you　to　sette　your　vaile　right；　and　then
chide　me　as　long　as　you　will。　At　these　words；　all　the　rest　of　the
Nunnes　exalted　their　lookes；　to　behold　what　vaile　the　Abbesse　wore
on　her　head；　wherewith　Isabella　should　finde　such　fault；　and　she　her
selfe　lift　up　her　hand　to　feele　it：　and　then　they　all　perceyved
plainly；　the　reason　of　Isabellas　speeches；　and　the　Abbesse　saw　her
owne　error。
　　Hereupon；　when　the　rest　observed；　that　she　had　no　help　to　cloud　this
palpable　shame　withall；　the　tide　began　to　turne；　and　hir　tongue
found　another　manner　of　Language；　then　her　former　fury　to　poore
Isabella；　growing　to　this　conclusion；　that　it　is　impossible　to
resist　against　the　temptations　of　the　flesh。　And　therefore　she
saide：　Let　all　of　you　take　occasion；　according　as　it　offereth　it
selfe；　as　both　we　and　our　predecessors　have　done：　to　be　provident
for　your　selves；　take　time　while　you　may；　having　this　sentence　alwaies
in　remembrance；　Si　non　caste；　tamen　caute。
　　So；　having　granted　the　yong　Nunne　Isabella　free　absolution：　the　Lady
Abbesse　returned　backe　againe　to　bed　to　the　Priest；　and　Isabella　to
the　Gentleman。　As　for　the　other　Sisters；　who　（as　yet）　were　without　the
benefit　of　friends；　they　intended　to　provide　themselves　so　soone　as
they　could；　being　enduced　thereto　by　so　good　example。




　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　NINTH　DAY；　THE　THIRD　NOVELL

　　　　　DISCOVERING　THE　SIMPLICITY　OF　SOME　SILLY　WITTED　MEN；　AND　HOW
　　　　　　　　　　　　　EASIE　A　MATTER　IT　IS　TO　ABUSE　AND　BEGUILE　THEM

　　Master　Simon　the　Physitian；　by　the　perswasions　of　Bruno；　Buffalmaco；
and　a　third　Companion；　named　Nello；　made　Calandrino　to　beleeve；　that
he　was　conceived　great　with　childe。　And　having　Physicke　ministred　to
him　for　the　disease：　they　got　both　good　fatte　Capons　and　money　of　him；
and　so　cured　him；　without　any　other　man　of　deliverance。

　　After　that　Madame　Eliza　had　concluded　her　Novell；　and　every　one　of
the　company　given　thankes　to　Fortune；　for　delivering　poore　Isabella
the　faire　young　Nunne；　from　the　bitter　reprehensions　of　the　as
faulty　Abbesse；　as　also　the　malice　of　her　envious　Sisters；　the
Queene　gave　command　unto　Philostratus；　that　he　should　be　the　next　in
order；　and　hee　（without　expecting　anie　other　warning）　began　in　this
manner。
　　Faire　Ladies；　the　paltry　Judge　of　the　Marquisate；　whereof
yesterday　I　made　relation　to　you；　hindred　mee　then　of　another
Novell；　concerning　silly　Calandrino；　wherewith　I　purpose　now　to
acquaint　you。　And　because　whatsoever　hath　already　bin　spoken　of　him；
tended　to　no　other　end　but　matter　of　meriment；　hee　and　his
companions　duly　considered；　the　Novel　which　I　shal　now　report；　keepeth
within　the　selfesame　compasse；　and　aimeth　also　at　your　contentment；
according　to　the　scope　of　imposed　variety。
　　You　have　already　heard　what　manner　of　man　Calandrino　was；　and
likewise　the　rest　of　his　pleasant　Companions；　who　likewise　are　now
againe　to　be　remembred；　because　they　are　actors　in　our　present
discourse。　It　came　so　to　passe；　that　an　Aunt　of　Calandrinoes　dying；
left　him　a　legacy　of　two　hundred　Florines；　wherewith　he　purposed　to
purchase　some　small　Farme…house　in　the　countrey；　or　else　to　enlarge
the　other；　whereof　he　was　possessed　already。　And；　as　if　bee　were　to
disburse　some　ten　thousand　Florines；　there　was　not　a　Broker　in　all
Florence；　but　understood　what　he　intended　to　doe：　and　all　the　worst
was；　that　the　strings　of　his　purse　could　stretch　no　higher。　Bruno；　and
Buffalmaco　（his　auncient　Confederates）　who　heard　of　this　good
Fortune　befalne　him；　advised　him　in　such　manner　as　they　were　wont　to
do；　allowing　it　much　better　for　him；　to　make　merrie　with　the　money
in　good　cheare　among　them；　then　to　lay　it　out　in　paltry　Land；
whereto　he　would　not　by　any　meanes　listen；　but　ridde　himselfe　of
them　with　a　dinners　cost；　as　loath　to　bee　at　anie　further　charge
with　them。
　　These　merry　Laddes　meant　not　to　leave　him　so；　but　sitting　one　day　in
serious　consultation；　and　a　third　man　in　their　companie；　named
Nello；　they　all　three　layde　their　braines　in　steep；　by　what　means　to
wash　their　mouths　well；　and　Calandrino　to　bee　at　the　cost　thereof。
　　And　having　resolved　what　was　to　bee　done；　they　met　togither　the　next
morning；　even　as　Calandrino　was　comming　foorth　of　his　house；　and
sundering　themselves；　to　avoyd　all　suspition；　yet　beeing　not　farre
distant　each　from　other；　Nello　first　met　him；　and　saide　unto　him；　Good
Morrow　Calandrino：　which　he　requited　backe　agayne　with　the　same
salutation。　But　then　Nello　standing　still；　looked　him　s