the decameron(十日谈)-第189部分

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！


money；　as　wretched　and　miserable　Worldlings　make　it　their　onely
felicity；　but；　contending　in　bounty　to　spend　what　is　thine；　didst　hold
it　for　no　shame　to　kil　me；　thereby　to　make　thy　selfe　so　much　the
more　worthily　famous。
　　Nor　is　it　any　matter　to　be　wondred　at；　in　regard　that　Emperors；
and　the　greatest　Kings；　hadde　never　made　such　extendure　of　their
Dominions；　and　consequently　of　their　renowne；　by　any　other　Art；　then
killing；　yet　not　one　man　onely；　as　thou　wouldst　have　done：　but
infinite　numbers；　burning　whole　Countries；　and　making　desolate　huge
Townes　and　Cities；　onely　to　enlarge　their　dominion；　and　further
spreading　of　their　fame。　Wherefore；　if　for　the　increasing　of　thine
owne　renowne；　thou　wast　desirous　of　my　death：　it　is　no　matter　of
novelty；　and　therefore　deserving　the　lesse　mervaile；　seeing　men　are
slaine　daily；　and　all　for　one　purpose　or　other。
　　Mithridanes；　excusing　no　further　his　malevolent　deliberation；　but
rather　commending　the　honest　defence；　which　Nathan　made　on　his
behalfe；　proceeded　so　farre　in　after　discoursing；　as　to　tel　him
plainely；　that　it　did　wondrously　amaze　him；　how　he　durst　come　to　the
fatall　appointed　place；　himselfe　having　so　exactly　plotted　and
contrived　his　owne　death：　whereunto　Nathan　returned　this　aunswere。
　　I　would　not　have　thee　Mithridanes；　to　wonder　at　my　counsel　or
determination；　because；　since　age　hath　made　mee　Maister　of　mine　owne
will；　and　I　resolved　to　doe　that；　wherein　thou　hast　begun　to　follow
me：　never　came　any　man　to　mee；　whom　I　did　not　content　（if　I　could）
in　any　thing　he　demanded　of　me。　It　was　thy　fortune　to　come　for　my
life；　which　when　I　saw　thee　so　desirous　to　have　it；　I　resolved
immediately　to　bestow　it　on　thee：　and　so　much　the　rather；　because　thou
shouldst　not　be　the　onely　man；　that　ever　departed　hence；　without
enjoying　whatsoever　hee　demanded。　And；　to　the　end　thou　mightst　the
more　assuredly　have　it；　I　gave　thee　that　advice；　least　by　not　enjoying
mine；　thou　shouldest　chance　to　loose　thine　owne。　I　have　had　the　use　of
it　full　fourescore　yeares；　with　the　consummation　of　all　my　delights
and　pleasures：　and　well　I　know；　that　according　to　the　course　of　Nature
（as　it　fares　with　other　men；　and　generally　all　things　else）　it
cannot　bee　long　before　it　must　leave　mee。
　　Wherefore；　I　hold　it　much　better　for　me　to　give　it　away　freely；　as　I
have　alwayes　done　my　goods　and　treasure；　then　bee　curious　in　keeping
it；　and　suffer　it　to　be　taken　from　me　（whether　I　will　or　no）　by
Nature。　A　small　gift　it　is；　if　time　make　me　up　the　full　summe　of　an
hundred　yeares：　how　miserable　is　it　then；　to　stand　beholding　but　for
foure　or　five；　and　all　of　them　vexation　too？　Take　it　then　I　intreate
thee；　if　thou　wilt　have　it；　for　I　never　met　with　any　man　before　（but
thy　selfe）　that　di　desire　it；　nor　（perhaps）　shall　finde　any　other　to
request　it：　for　the　longer　I　keepe　it；　the　worse　it　wil　be　esteemed：
and　before　it　grow　contemptible；　take　it　I　pray　thee。
　　Mithridanes；　being　exceedingly　confounded　with　shame；　bashfully
sayde：　Fortune　fore…fend；　that　I　should　take　away　a　thing　so
precious　as　your　life　is；　or　once　to　have　so　vile　a　thought　of　it　as
lately　I　had；　but　rather　then　I　would　diminish　one　day　thereof；　I
could　wish；　that　my　time　might　more　amply　enlarge　it。　Forthwith
aunswered　Nathan；　saying。　Wouldst　thou　（if　thou　couldst）　shorten　thine
owne　dayes；　onely　to　lengthen　mine？　Why　then　thou　wouldest　have　me
to　do　that　to　thee；　which　（as　yet）　I　never　did　unto　any　man；　namely；
robbe　thee；　to　enrich　my　selfe。　I　will　enstruct　thee　in　a　much
better　course；　if　thou　wilt　be　advised　by　mee。　Lusty　and　young；　as　now
thou　art；　thou　shalt　dwell　heere　in　my　house；　and　be　called　by　the
name　of　Nathan。　Aged；　and　spent　with　yeares；　as　thou　seest　I　am；　I
will　goe　live　in　thy　house；　and　bee　called　by　the　name　of　Mithridanes。
So；　both　the　name　and　place　shall　illustrate　thy　Glorie；　and　I　live
contentedly；　without　the　very　least　thought　of　envie。
　　Deare　Father；　answered　Mithridanes；　if　I　knew　so　well　howe　to　direct
mine　owne　actions；　as　you　doe；　and　alwayes　have　done；　I　would　gladly
accept　your　most　liberall　offer：　but　because　I　plainlie　perceive；　that
my　very　best　endeavours；　must　remayne　darkened　by　the　bright　renowne
of　Nathan：　I　will　never　seeke　to　impayre　that　in　another；　which　I
cannot　（by　any　means）　increase　in　my　selfe；　but　（as　you　have
worthily　taught　me）　live　contented　with　my　owne　condition。
　　After　these；　and　many　more　like　loving　speeches　had　passed　between
them；　according　as　Nathan　very　instantly　requested；　Mithridanes
returned　back　with　him　to　the　Pallace；　where　many　dayes　he　highly
honored　and　respected　him；　comforting　and　counselling　him；　to　persever
alwayes　in　his　honourable　determination。　But　in　the　end；　when
Mithridanes　could　abide　there　no　longer；　because　necessary　occasions
called　him　home：　he　departed　thence　with　his　men；　having　found　by　good
experience；　that　hee　could　never　goe　beyond　Nathan　in　liberality。




　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　TENTH　DAY；　THE　FOURTH　NOVELL

　　　　　WHEREIN　IS　SHEWNE；　THAT　TRUE　LOVE　HATH　ALWAYES　BIN；　AND　SO　STILL
　　　　　　　　　　　　　IS；　THE　OCCASION　OF　MANY　GREAT　AND　WORTHY　COURTESIES

　　Signior　Gentile　de　Carisendi；　being　come　from　Modena；　took　a
Gentlewoman；　named　Madam　Catharina；　forth　of　a　grave；　wherin　she　was
buried　for　dead：　which　act　he　did；　in　regard　of　his　former　honest
affection　to　the　said　Gentlewoman。　Madame　Catharina　remaining　there
afterward；　and　delivered　of　a　goodly　Sonne：　was　（by　Signior　Gentile）
delivered　to　her　owne　Husband；　named　Signior　Nicoluccio
Caccianimico；　and　the　yong　infant　with　her。

　　By　judgment　of　all　the　honorable　assembly；　it　was　reputed
wonderfull；　that　a　man　should　be　so　bountifull；　as　to　give　away　his
owne　life；　and　to　his　hatefull　enemy。　In　which　respect；　it　passed　with
generall　affirmation；　that　Nathan　（in　the　vertue　of　liberallity）　had
exceeded　Alphonso；　King　of　Spain；　but　（especially）　the　Abbot　of
Clugny。　So；　after　every　one　had　delivered　their　opinion；　the　King；
turning　himselfe　to　Madame　Lauretta；　gave　her　such　a　signe；　as　well
instructed　her　understanding；　that　she　should　be　the　next　in　order；
whereto　she　gladly　yeelding；　began　in　this　manner。
　　Youthfull　Ladies；　the　discourses　already　past；　have　been　so　worthy
and　magnificent；　yea；　reaching　to　such　a　height　of　glorious　splendour；
as　（me　thinkes）　there　remaineth　no　more　matter；　for　us　that　are　yet　to
speake；　whereby　to　enlarge　so　famous　an　Argument；　and　in　such　manner
as　it　ought　to　be：　except　we　lay　hold　on　the　actions　of　love；
wherein　is　never　any　want　of　subject；　it　is　so　faire　and　spacious　a
field　to　walke　in。　Wherefore；　as　well　in　behalfe　of　the　one；　as
advancement　of　the　other；　whereto　our　instant　age　is　most　of　all
inclined：　I　purpose　to　acquaint　you　with　a　generous　and　magnificent
act；　of　an　amourous　Gentleman；　which　when　it　shall　be　duely　considered
on；　perhaps　will　appeare　equall　to　any　of　the　rest。　At　least；　if　it
may　passe　for　currant；　that　men　may　give　away　their　treasures；　forgive
mighty　injuries；　and　lay　downe　life　it　selfe；　honour　and　renowne
（which　is　farre　greater）　to　infinite　dangers；　only　to　attaine　any
thing　esteemed　and　affected。
　　Understand　then　（Gracious　hearers）　that　in　Bologna；　a　very　famous
City　of　Lombardicy　there　lived　sometime　a　Knight；　most　highly
respected　for　his　vertues；　named　Signior　Gentile　de　Carisendi；　who　（in
his　yonger　dayes）　was　enamoured　of　a　Gentlewoman；　called　Madam
Catharina；　the　Wife　of　Signior　Nicoluccio　Caccianimico。　And　because
during　the　time　of　his　amourous　pursuite；　he　found　but　a　sorry
enterchange　of　affection　from　the　Lady；　hee　went　（as　hopelesse　of
any　successe）　to　be　Potestate　of　Modena；　whereto　he　was　called　by
place　and　order。
　　At　the　same　time；　Signior　Nicoluccio　being　absent　from　Bologna；
and　his　Lady　at　a　Farme…house　of　his　in　the　Countrey　（about　three
miles　distant　from　the　City）　because　she　was　great　with　child；；　and
somewhat　neere　the　time　of　her　teeming：　it　came　to　passe；　that　some
dangerous　accident　befell　her；　which　was　so　powerfull　in　operation；　as
no　signe　of　life　appeared　remained　in　her；　but　she　was　reputed　（even
in　the　judgement　of　the　best　Phisitians；　whereof　she　wanted　no
attendance）　to　be　verily　dead。　And　because　in　the　opinion　of　her
parents　and　neerest　kinred；　the　time　for　her　deliverance　was　yet　so
farre　off；　as　the　Infant　within　her；　wanted　much　of　a　perfect
creature：　they　made　the　lesse　mourning；　but　in　the　next　Church；　as
also　the　vault　belonging　to　her　Ancestors；　they　gave　her　buriall
very　speedily。
　　Which　tydings　comming　to　the　hearing　of　Signior　Gentile；　by　one　that
was　his　endeared　friend：　Although　（while　she　lived）　he　could　never
be　gracious　n　her　favour；　yet　her　so　sudden　death　did　greatly　grieve
him；　whereupon　he　discoursed　in　this　sort　with　himselfe。　Deare
Madame　Catharina；　I　am　not　a　little　sorry　for　thy　death；　although
（during　thy　life…time）　I　was　scarcely　worthy　of　one　kind　looke：　Yet
now　being　dead；　thou　canst　not　prohibite　me；　but　I　may　robbe　thee　of　a
kisse。　No　sooner　had　hee　spoke　the　words；　but　it　beeing　then　night；
and　taking　such　order；　as　none　might　know　of　his　departure：　hee
mounted　on　horsebacke；　accompanied　onely　with　one　servant；　and
stayed　no　where；　till　hee　came　to